Neighborhood News Digest- 19 July 2024

Afghanistan

Shaheen Reacts to Pakistan's Summoning of Deputy Ambassador in Islamabad-Tolo News

Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Doha, reacted to the statement from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the summoning of the Islamic Emirate's deputy ambassador in Islamabad. He said that Pakistan should focus on ensuring its own security instead of making excuses. Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan Journalists Center: Taliban shut down 7 media outlets in first half of 2024-The Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported that seven media outlets have been shut down in the first half of 2024 under Taliban orders. The center also documented 89 violations against journalists and media, including 60 threats and 29 detentions. On Thursday, July 18th, the Afghanistan Journalists Center highlighted the situation of media and journalists during the first half of 2024. It reported increased pressure and censorship of independent media content by the Taliban. Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

Over 30 killed in Bangladesh protests: 5 points on crisis in India's neighbourhood – India Today

As the quota protests and turmoil continue in Bangladesh, at least 39 people have reportedly been killed following nationwide clashes with security personnel. The stir that has left thousands injured, has crippled life in several cities in Bangladesh. The trains, metro, and the internet were hit. A TV station was torched too. Click here to read… [4]

Sheikh Hasina govt calls in army as Bangladesh job quota crisis deepens, India keeps a close watch – Economic Times

The Sheikh Hasina government on Thursday evening called in the Army as Bangladesh plunged into its worst crisis in recent years. Violence escalated in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere over student protests, demanding quota system reform for government jobs. Click here to read… [5]

"Avoid Travel": Advisory Issued For Indians In Bangladesh Amid Unrest – NDTV

The advisory comes in response to recent violent clashes between students and police in Dhaka, following the Bangladeshi government's decision to close all public and private universities. Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

Govt. earmarks record Nu 4.58 billion for culture in 13th Plan-Kuensel Online

Cultural development in the country will receive a major boost with a budget allocation of Nu 4.577 billion in the 13th Plan – a record 55 percent increase from the 12th Plan’s Nu 2.56B. This announcement was made during the on-going coordination meeting on the 13th Plan implementation with local government leaders in Thimphu yesterday. Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

ADB pledges $25 mln to modernize Maldives Customs Service – Avas

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $25 million in assistance to the Maldives Customs Service. The information was disclosed by Commissioner General of Customs, Yoosuf Maaniu, while appearing before the Security Services Committee of the Parliament. According to Maaniu, the ADB assistance will significantly enhance the computerization and digitization of customs operations, along with the establishment of essential IT infrastructure. Click here to read… [8]

Pakistan gifts computers and laptops to Islamic Ministry – Sun Online

Pakistan High Commission in the Maldives has gifted 10 computer systems and seven laptops to the Islamic Ministry. A special ceremony was held at the Islamic Ministry on Thursday morning to hand over the items. The items were handed over by High Commissioner Vice Admiral (Retired) Muhammad Fayyaz Gilani on behalf of the High Commission and received by Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed on behalf of the Islamic Ministry. Click here to read… [9]

Myanmar

Thai FM Denies Banks' Involvement in Myanmar Arms Sales - ASEAN Now

Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa today firmly denied allegations from a United Nations report claiming that Thai-owned banks were involved in arms sales transactions with Myanmar's government forces. During a House of Representatives session, Maris rebuffed claims from Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar, who asserted that nearly $130 million in weapon sales had been funneled through unnamed Thai banks to Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw. The UN report, titled "The Billion Dollar Death Trade," accused Thailand of being a key supplier of arms fueling Myanmar's internal conflict. Click here to read… [10]

30,000 civilians trapped by conflict in Myanmar’s Lashio - RFA

Around 30,000 civilians are trapped in the largest town in northeastern Myanmar’s Shan state amid intensified fighting between the military and ethnic Kokang rebels, residents and aid workers said Thursday. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, is part of an alliance of three ethnic minority insurgent forces known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance. The alliance launched an offensive last October, codenamed Operation 1027 for the date it began, and pushed back junta forces in several regions. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar: Rohingya returns unthinkable until apartheid system is dismantled - Amnesty

In response to news that the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to return close to a million Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh, Amnesty International’s Director for Refugee and Migrant Rights, Charmain Mohamed, said: “While precise details of this deal have not yet been revealed, talk of returns is clearly premature at a time when Rohingya refugees continue to trickle into Bangladesh on an almost daily basis as they flee ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. Click here to read… [12]

Brotherhood Alliance Hails Victories Over Myanmar Junta in Mandalay and Shan - The Irrawaddy

Clashes between Myanmar’s regime and the Brotherhood Alliance continued in Mandalay Region and northern Shan State on Wednesday, despite a ceasefire announced by the alliance. Alliance member, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), said it clashed with regime forces near Pann Ma Hteik village in the east of Mogoke Township in northern Mandalay Region on Wednesday as junta troops advanced into the area. Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

Nepal Police rescues six girls from guesthouse in Koteshwar - My Republica

Six girls have been rescued from a guesthouse in Koteshwar. Acting on information that the girls were engaged in anti-social activities, personnel from the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police rescued them from the guesthouse last night. Gautam Mishra, the information officer at the Bureau, informed that the girls were rescued from the Ramechhap Khajaghar and Guesthouse, operated by Nabin Thapa of Ramechhap, after receiving reports that they were being forced into anti-social work. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal, India and Bangladesh set to ink tripartite agreement on cross-border power trade - My Republica

According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), Union Power Minister of India, Manohar Lal Khattar, and State Minister of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh, Nasrul Hamid, will be visiting Nepal in the last week of July. “Nepal’s Energy Minister Deepak Khadka will be hosting a meeting on July 28. The meeting is set to ink the tripartite agreement for electricity trade,” said Nabin Raj Singh, spokesperson for the MoEWRI. Click here to read… [15]

USAID claims better-than-expected results in sectors of support in Nepal - Kathmandu Post

The US Agency for International Development says its support of the economic sector, particularly in agriculture, has yielded better-than-expected results in Nepal, with output boosted by 139 percent. USAID on Thursday held an interaction in Kathmandu to explore the depth of the Nepal-US partnership and review the achievements. Officials said that among the five major sectors USAID supports—including health, education, democracy and governance, economic growth and environment, and resilience—the farmers and small enterprises sector achieved better-than-expected results. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal can’t backtrack on BRI, says UML leader - Kathmandu Post

CPN-UML standing committee member Rajan Bhattarai, who is also the head of the party's Department of Foreign Affairs, said that Nepal cannot withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Speaking at a function organised by the Nepal Communist Party led by Netra Bikram Chand on “the reality and illusion on BRI” on Wednesday, the UML leader said that since Nepal has already signed the agreement seven years ago, it cannot backtrack. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan

Fitch predicts technocrat takeover if PML-N fails-The Express Tribune

Global credit rating agency Fitch has predicted a technocrat set-up in Pakistan in case the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is ousted. In its latest report on Pakistan, the agency projected that the PML-N led coalition government will remain in power for the next 18 months with no immediate plans for fresh elections. Click here to read… [18]

‘N’ plea on reserved seats verdict deferred till after vacations-Dawn

The three-judge committee, constituted under the SC Practice and Procedure Act 2023 to decide which bench will hear which case, on Thursday deferred a proposal to fix PML-N’s petition against the July 12 short order in the reserved seat case. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

Wijeyadasa delays gazette on 22nd amendment – Daily Mirror

Ahead of the Presidential election, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has directed Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to withhold the publication of the Gazette notification concerning the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. Click here to read… [20]

Economic Transformation Bill to be debated in Parliament next week – Daily Mirror

The party leaders representing parliament have decided to take up for debate the Economic Transformation Bill and the Public Financial Management (PFM) Bill on July 25, the Communications Department of Parliament said. Click here to read… [21]