Neighborhood News Digest- 18 July 2024

Afghanistan

Nadim: Afghanistan's Affairs Guided by Islamic and Cultural Principles- Tolo News

The Acting Minister of Higher Education, during a meeting with the Uzbek Ambassador in Kabul, stated that Afghanistan, as an independent country, conducts all its internal and external affairs based on Islamic and cultural values. Neda Mohammad Nadim also discussed the expansion of academic and cultural relations between the two countries with Yadgar Shadmanov. Click here to read… [2]

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir: Islamic Emirate has Complete Authority in 34 Provinces-Tolo News

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy Prime Minister, said in a meeting with the heads of public universities and the Ministry of Higher Education that the Islamic Emirate has authority over all parts of Afghanistan. According to the political deputy PM, currently no village in the country is outside the government's control. Click here to read… [3]

Islamic Emirate Bans Personal Use of Govt Buildings-Tolo News

The leader of the Islamic Emirate, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, has issued a new decree prohibiting the use of government buildings for personal purposes. He has mandated that all individuals residing in government premises must vacate and relocate elsewhere. Click here to read… [2]

Bangladesh

229 BGB platoons deployed across country to maintain law and order – The Daily Star

To maintain law and order, a total of 229 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country. The BGB was deployed to keep law and order normal amid "complete shutdown". Click here to read… [4]

We want to see a quick resolution of present situation: EU envoy – The Daily Star

Outgoing Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley has said all friends and partners of Bangladesh want to see a quick resolution of the present situation and the avoidance of further violence and bloodshed. Click here to read… [5]

BNP extends full support to quota protestors’ nationwide shutdown – Dhaka Tribune

BNP has extended all-out support to the nationwide “complete shutdown” program for Thursday, announced by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement in protest against attacks on students at various university campuses that resulted in at least six deaths. Click here to read… [6]

Why are students protesting in Bangladesh? – Indian Express

Bangladesh announced it will indefinitely shut down all public and private universities from Wednesday (July 17) after massive country-wide protests against a controversial quota system in government jobs have left at least six dead, and over 400 injured. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

Ministry proposes autonomy for teaching service-Kuensel

Amidst high civil servant attrition, particularly within the education sector, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development is in discussions with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) to secure autonomy for the national teaching service. The ministry is seeking authority to oversee recruitment, selection, and other management aspects of the teaching service. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

UNODC presents two drones to Police for marine operations – The Edition

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has gifted two drones to Maldives Police Service to be used in marine operations to ensure safety and protection at sea. Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan received the drones. At the handover ceremony, Ihusan stated that the drones will be used by the Marine Operations Division of the Police. Click here to read… [9]

Customs to enhance border security with new drones from US and China – Avas

The Maldives will receive two drones from the United States and China to enhance the monitoring of vessels and aircraft entering the country's borders, Commissioner General of Customs Yoosuf Maaniu Mohamed has disclosed. Speaking before Parliament’s 241 Committee, Maaniu stated that the customs currently lacks the resources to independently manage border security. He noted significant progress in the efforts made to strengthen border security by obtaining resources from the friendly allies, with the US and Chinese governments each providing a drone. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

Malaysia urged to lead Asean against Myanmar's humanitarian crisis, Rohingya persecution - The Edge Malaysia

As chair of the upcoming Asean Summit in 2025, Malaysia is being called upon to take a leading role in addressing the humanitarian crisis and safeguarding the rights and lives of the Rohingya people in Myanmar. The ongoing violence against the predominantly Muslim Rohingya population has prompted the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) to call for urgent international intervention. In a recent interview with Bernama, its president, Tun Khin, said that despite provisional measures by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) intended to protect the Rohingya population, these protective measures have proven insufficient. Click here to read… [11]

Thailand Arrests over 100,000 Undocumented Workers, Including 80,000 Myanmar Nationals - ASEAN Now

In a significant crackdown, the Thai Ministry of Labour has announced the arrest of more than 100,000 undocumented foreign workers within the past 36 days. The massive operation forms part of a 120-day initiative aiming to curb illegal employment across Thailand. The operation, launched on June 5, targeted various businesses and industries nationwide. According to the Department of Employment, Immigration Department, and police, joint inspection teams visited sites such as shops in Huai Khwang, Bangkok, coconut factories in Ratchaburi, restaurants in Udon Thani, and construction sites in Chachoengsao. Click here to read… [12]

As Myanmar junta falters, rival ethnic armies jostle in Shan state - RFA

The rout of military junta troops and seizure of territory across Myanmar’s border with China has brought the Three Brotherhood Alliance a new struggle in Shan state: dealing with a myriad of actors and shifting alliances seeking to profit from the rapidly changing political landscape. The region’s multiple well-armed ethnic armies include a powerful force that is a de facto ally of Beijing, groups that are aligned with the junta, and other militias with no allegiance to the democratic opposition National Unity Government or the fight to reverse the 2021 military coup. Click here to read… [13]

Great Powers and the Myanmar Crisis - STIMSON

Now in its fourth year since the military coup, the civil war in Myanmar continues to complicate international engagement with the country. China, as Myanmar’s northern neighbor, and the United States, as one of the largest providers of humanitarian aid, are both following the developments in Myanmar closely. How have the U.S. and Chinese approaches to Myanmar evolved during the civil war, and how are their forms of engagement shaped by their interests in the region and the larger context of the U.S.-China relationship? Yun Sun and Michael Martin will discuss the intricate dynamics of the relationship between Myanmar, China, and the United States. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

Nepal, India and Bangladesh to sign electricity trade deal on July 28 - Kathmandu Post

Nepal, India and Bangladesh have agreed to sign an agreement on July 28 on the export of Nepal’s 40MW of electricity to Bangladesh via India. Officials from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN) of India will sign the agreement at a function in Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Dipak Khadka of Nepal; Power Minister Manohar Lal of India; and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Nasrul Hamid of Bangladesh are scheduled to witness the signing ceremony in Kathmandu, NEA Spokesperson Nabinraj Singh said. Click here to read… [15]

IREDA to invest ₹290 crore in Nepal’s 900 MW hydroelectric project - Economic Times

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is set to invest approximately ₹290 crore in a hydroelectric project in Nepal, acquiring up to a 10% shareholding in GMR Upper Karnali Hydro Power Limited and Karnali Transmission Company Pvt Ltd. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal establishes diplomatic relations with Kiribati - Khabar Hub

Nepal has established diplomatic relations with Republic of Kiribati today. With this, the number of countries with which Nepal has diplomatic relations has reached 183. Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas), which is located in the central Pacific Ocean, gained independence on 12 July 1979 from Britain. It has a total land area of 811 square kilometers with a population of over 120,000 people. Kiribati became a member of the United Nations on 14 September 1999. Both Nepal and Kiribati are members of G77 and China and the Least Developed Countries. Click here to read… [17]

Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to seek vote of confidence on Sunday - Telegraph India

Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli will take a vote of confidence in parliament on July 21, a senior official announced on Wednesday, nearly a week after he was sworn in. The 72-year-old veteran Communist leader was sworn in on Monday as the Himalayan nation’s Prime Minister for the fourth time. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy along with 21 other members of the cabinet. Click here to read… [18]

Pakistan

New Gwadar Airport ready to start flight operations- The Express Tribune

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof Ahsan Iqbal said that the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) is ready to be opened and hoped that this airport would become an important hub of air transportation and a gateway to connect different regions in future. The New Gwadar International Airport has been gifted by government of China to the people of Pakistan in general and people of Gwadar particular and it will stand as a monument of Pakistan-China friendship, he added. Click here to read… [19]

Inter-tribal jirga to review security-The Express Tribune

A grand meeting of the joint Jirga of Bajaur, Tarklani and Utmankhel tribes will be held on July 18 to discuss security matters in tribal districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

SL should not have major issues in shaking off current default status: Experts – Daily Mirror

As Sri Lanka awaits the removal from ‘restrictive default’, a status discouraging the potential investors, experts are optimistic about the nation’s ability to move beyond this ranking. Click here to read… [21]

SLPP will field a common candidate: MR - Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will field a common candidate for presidency as it had always done in the past, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. Click here to read… [22]

Indian Navy rescues nine crew including one Sri Lankan from tanker capsized off Oman – Daily Mirror

More than a day after the search began for the missing crew of a small oil tanker, the Prestige Falcon, that capsized off Oman, the Indian Navy is reporting that it has found nine of the 16 crew members alive. Click here to read… [23]