Neighborhood News Digest- 17 July 2024

Afghanistan

Taliban to open Electronic ID centers for Afghans in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey-The Khaama Press

The Taliban Statistics and Information Office has announced the opening of electronic ID distribution centers in Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. The spokesperson of this office stated on Tuesday that a team from Kabul recently travelled to the United Arab Emirates for electronic ID distribution. On July 14th, the Taliban Statistics and Information Office declared that an electronic ID distribution center had commenced operations in the United Arab Emirates to facilitate Afghan residents there. Click here to read... [2]

Indian FM: People-to-people ‘Foundation’ of Afghanistan ties-The Khaama Press

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized the foundational role of people-to-people connections in India’s relationship with Afghanistan during an interview with Kazinform News Agency in Astana, Kazakhstan. He underscored India’s commitment to supporting Afghan people through humanitarian aid, including food, essential medicines, and pesticides. Click here to read... [3]

Italy and Spain considering reopening embassies in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that Italy and Spain are considering reopening their embassies in Kabul. Some European countries are examining similar actions, but French, German, and British officials have denied such plans. Click here to read... [4]

Increased Customs Tariffs Halt Afghanistan’s Fruit Exports to Pakistan-Tolo News

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce has announced that fresh fruit exports to Pakistan have been halted for the past two weeks due to an increase in customs tariffs imposed by Pakistan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Chinese ambassador dismisses claims about duration of Hasina-Xi meeting as 'nonsense' – The Daily Star

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today binned claims of a "brief" meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the former's recent visit to China as "nonsense". Click here to read... [6]

Raid at BNP office aimed at diverting quota reform movement - The Daily Star

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today accused the government of "staging" a raid on the BNP office. Questioning the timing of the raid, Rizvi asked, "Why didn't they conduct the raid when leaders and journalists were inside the office?" Click here to read... [7]

A slogan lost in translation – The Daily Star

The course of the ongoing quota reform protests has taken a drastic turn over the last two days. On Tuesday, at least six individuals, mostly students, died during clashes between protesters and members of Bangladesh Chhatra League and the police—marking a further escalation from the previous day's events. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Their Majesties conclude State Visit to Mongolia-Kuensel Online

His Majesty, The King and Her Majesty, The Gyaltsuen concluded the State Visit to Mongolia and arrived back in Thimphu yesterday. Their Majesties were seen off at Chinggis Khaan Airport by the Mongolian Foreign Minister, Batmunkh Battsetseg, and a guard of honour by the State Honour Guard. The 8-day State Visit was a historic milestone in the diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Mongolia, as it marked the first State Royal Visit from Bhutan to Mongolia. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Drones to be bought from US and China for Customs – Adhadhu

Customs has decided to bring drones from America and China, Commissioner General of Customs Yoosuf Maniu Mohamed has said. Briefing the Parliament's 241 Committee about Customs operations, Maniu said the agency presently lacks the capacity to monitor foreign vessels and control the country's border. "In addition to that, we're bringing drones from America, too. We're bringing drones from China as well. We need drones. What happens is that we don't have any way to monitor vessels that come from abroad," Maniu said. At present, Customs seeks assistance from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to use coastguard vessels to stop or search ships, he noted. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives actively participates in 56th HRC Session – Raajje

The delegation of Maldives has actively participated in the 56th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The 56th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council was held in Geneva, Switzerland and wrapped up on July 12. At the 56th Session of the UNHRC, the Human Rights Council adopted 26 resolutions. Maldives co-sponsored 15 resolutions including those on the Safety of the Child in the Digital Environment, Plastic Pollution Implications on the Full Enjoyment of Human Rights, Promotion, Protection of Human Rights in the context of Peaceful Protests and Menstrual Hygiene Management, Human Rights and Gender Equality among others. Click here to read... [11]

New Irish Ambassador committed to increase collaborative opportunities with Maldives – Raajje

Kevin Kelly, the newly appointed Ambassador of Ireland to the Maldives has expressed commitment to increase collaborative opportunities with the government of Maldives. This was done during a courtesy call he paid on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 15. The newly appointed Irish Ambassador presented his Letters of Credence to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier on Monday. Welcoming the new Irish Ambassador to the Maldives, FM Zameer congratulated him on the presentation of his credentials. Click here to read... [12]

Japan donates vehicles to MPS under grant aid – Raajje

The government of Japan has donated vehicles to the Maldives Police Service (MPS). In a press release, the police institution revealed that the ceremony to officially hand over the vehicles, was held at Iskandar Koshi on July 14. Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Takeuchi Midori presented the vehicles to Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau during the ceremony. Donated were 54 patrol cars and four vans valued at USD four million, which is approximately MVR 61 million. MPS revealed that the vehicles were provided under the grant aid project, valued at USD six million. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Manipur: Joint operation uncovers 60 Myanmar refugees in Moreh border village - India Today

A coordinated effort by state and central forces led to the identification of 60 Myanmar refugees in Govajang village, near Border Pillar 80 in Moreh, Manipur. The operation, conducted on July 15, involved personnel from the state police, Assam Rifles, and Border Security Force (BSF). Moreh Additional SP (Ops) Md Riyajuddin spearheaded the early morning operation, which verified 280 individuals. Among those checked, 60 were confirmed as individuals who had crossed over from Myanmar. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar Junta Steps Up Security In Mandalay As Fighting Spreads Across Region - Eurasia Review

Junta forces have tightened security in Myanmar’s second-biggest city, Mandalay, while shelling civilians elsewhere in the region, after coming under renewed attack from an alliance of insurgent forces battling to end military rule. Click here to read... [15]

Junta deploys first round of military recruits to Myanmar’s frontlines - RFA

The first round of soldiers recruited under Myanmar’s controversial military draft law have completed their training and are being deployed to the frontlines of the junta’s war against rebels in the country’s remote border areas, their family members said Tuesday. The deployment marked the latest chapter in the junta’s bid to shore up its forces amid heavy losses against various ethnic armies and rebel militias since its 2021 coup d’etat, prompting the junta to enact the People’s Military Service Law in February. Click here to read... [16]

More political will needed for international courts to bring Myanmar junta to justice - Mizzima

Despite cases moving against the Myanmar junta in international courts more political will and resources are needed to bring the junta to justice, according to advocacy group, Progressive Voice It said that the processes around international accountability for the crimes committed by the Myanmar military inched forward in the past week, as Argentina’s judiciary moves closer to issuing arrest warrants under universal jurisdiction for those responsible for the Rohingya genocide in 2017. Additionally, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) approved seven countries to join the genocide case against Myanmar. Progressive Voice believes that while such processes have the unique potential to give a form of justice to victims and survivors, not just of the Rohingya genocide but of the plethora of crimes committed by the military against the people of Myanmar, more political will and resources are needed for such mechanisms to really work for those who need it most and end impunity for good. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal

Annex on IMF report shows Nepal cooperatives risks, advises actions - Kathmandu Post

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has inserted a separate annex on savings and credit cooperatives in its staff country report, flagging a risk to Nepal’s economy that could trigger social unrest if the ongoing problems are not sorted out. It said that several cooperatives have collapsed in the past six months, causing a loss or freezing of client savings and creating small-scale social unrest. The international financial institution released the full text of the IMF staff country report on Tuesday. It warned that problems in the savings and cooperatives sector are expanding. Click here to read... [18]

Need of political stability and economic growth in Nepal - Daily Mirror

On Monday, Nepal saw another change of government – the second in two years. This is not new as Nepal has seen 12 changes in Premiership in 16 years. Political instability has been the hallmark of Nepalese politics, but stability remains a fond dream. It is hoped that the new coalition of the Nepali Congress (NC) led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) led by K.P.Sharma Oli will last till the next elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) in 2027. Click here to read... [19]

Leader of Nepal’s largest communist party inaugurated as prime minister - Peoples World

The leader of Nepal’s largest communist party was inaugurated as prime minister at a ceremony in Kathmandu on Sunday. Khadga Prasad Oli, who heads the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), was named to the post following the collapse of a previous coalition government. The new government is a coalition of Oli’s party with the Nepali Congress. The two parties are the largest in Nepal. Two deputy prime ministers and 19 ministers appointed by him also took the oath of office. Click here to read... [20]

Indian Ambassador to Nepal discusses mutual concerns with new Deputy PM, FM - Business Standard

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Tuesday called on newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh and Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana and discussed matters related to bilateral interest and mutual concerns. Srivastava met Singh, who is also the Minister for Urban Development, and Rana at their respective office a day they assumed charge as part of the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government of Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Nepali Congress sworn in on Monday. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan

PML-N promises to consult allies over PTI ban-Dawn

A day after it came out ‘all guns blazing’ against the PTI, the PML-N leadership modified its stance on the federal government’s announcement that it was looking to ban the PTI, with a senior member of the Nawaz camp clarifying on Tuesday that no final decision has been made on the matter. Click here to read... [22]

PPP against ban on any party: Murad-The Express Tribune

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf is responsible for whatever is going on against it. As far as the decision to ban it has to be taken by the federal government and the judiciary. “Our party has already disclosed that PPP leadership has not been consulted on the matter.” Click here to read... [23]

PPP disowns views of party leaders opposed to action against PTI-Dawn

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally of the ruling coalition, has distanced itself from the statements issued by some party stalwarts opposing the government move to ban the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) as a political party, terming it their “personal” opinion. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka

Three Sri Lankans among 16 missing after oil tanker capsizes off Oman coast – Daily Mirror

Sixteen crew members including three Sri Lankans, were missing after their Comorian-flagged oil tanker capsized off the coast of Oman, the sultanate’s Maritime Security Centre (MSC) said Tuesday. Click here to read... [25]

Public keener than ever on Presidential election: EC – Daily Mirror

As the Presidential election is around the corner, the Election Commission said it has observed an unprecedented level of interest and enthusiasm from both the general public and institutional bodies towards the election. Click here to read... [26]

Consumer confidence hits record high in June – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s consumer confidence expanded in June, reaching an all-time high, a report from the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) showed. The Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS), the broadest measure of the public’s view of their personal economic status and the national economy increased 7 points to 36 points. In June, all three consumer confidence indices increased. Click here to read... [27]