Neighborhood News Digest - 23 July 2024

Afghanistan

Foreign Investors Show Strong Interest in Afghanistan's Mining Sector-Tolo News

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum reported the interest of Turkish and Kyrgyz investors in the mining sector of Afghanistan. The spokesperson for the ministry said that investors from these countries have expressed their desire to invest in gold, marble, onyx, antimony, and oil during separate meetings with the acting minister. Click here to read… [2]

Travellers Say Movement Still Restricted at Spin Boldak-Chaman Crossing-Tolo News

The Spin Boldak - Chaman crossing has once again been closed to travelers by Pakistan for unclear reasons. Travelers and officials at this crossing have said that the travel restrictions at the Spin Boldak - Chaman crossing, as before, remain enforced by Pakistan. According to them, Pakistan is not allowing travellers with identification cards and national ID cards to pass for unknown reasons. Click here to read… [3]

Customs Tariffs on selected imported goods increased in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Ministry of Finance has announced an increase in customs tariffs on certain imported goods to support local production. In a statement released on Sunday, July 21, the ministry explained that this decision was made during the second tariff committee meeting of the current solar year. The ministry’s statement indicated that national tariff codes will also be established to facilitate customs activities. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Quota protests in Bangladesh: Government’s grim test – The Indian Express

On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court scaled down the quota in government jobs for descendants of freedom fighters from 30 per cent to 5 per cent. The decision will hopefully restore calm in the country after nearly a month of unrest. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh PM's Office, Police Websites Hacked Amid Unrest Over Job Quota- NDTV

Amid the unrest in Bangladesh, the official websites of Bangladesh's Prime Minister's Office, Central Bank and police appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself "THE R3SISTANC3". Click here to read… [6]

Bangladesh violence: Student leader suspends protests against employment quotas for 48 hours – The Hindu

A Bangladeshi student organiser on July 22 suspended for 48 hours the protests against employment quotas that have spiralled into deadly violence. “We are suspending the shutdown protests for 48 hours,” Nahid Islam, the top leader of the main protest organiser Students Against Discrimination,” told AFP. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan delegation on three-day visit to Gujarat-The Hindu

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Monday arrived in Gujarat for a three-day visit to the State. This visit underlines the strong diplomatic ties between India and Bhutan, coming just days after a high-level meeting between the two nations’ foreign secretaries. Click here to read… [8]

Exports from Gujarat to Bhutan increase by 52% to $21.98 mn in five years-Business Standard

The bond between Gujarat, known as India's Growth Engine, and Bhutan has deepened significantly over the past few years. Bhutan's enthusiasm for strengthening business relations with Gujarat was evident when a high-level Bhutanese delegation visited Gujarat in 2014. Due to the pivotal focus on boosting economic ties, exports from Gujarat to Bhutan have surged substantially in the last five years. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

President's letters to Xi Jinping on fiscal challenges delivered to China – Adhadhu

A ministerial delegation currently on an official visit to China briefed senior Chinese government officials yesterday about the fiscal reforms planned by the current administration. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, Finance Minister Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq and Construction Minister Dr. Abdul Muththalib. During the trip, Foreign Minister Zameer met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on July 22. Click here to read… [10]

Over 80 Israeli tourists visited Maldives in June – Adhadhu

More than 80 Israelis visited the Maldives after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government decided to bar entry to Israeli passport holders, official statistics have revealed. The cabinet decided on June 2, 2024 to make the necessary legal changes for banning the Israeli passport over Israel’s ongoing genocide against the Muslim brothers and sisters of Palestine. More than 38,000 Palestinians have been martyred in Israel’s ongoing genocide since October 7, 2023. Click here to read… [11]

Parliament approves entering cooperation agreement with Sri Lanka on criminal investigations – The Edition

Parliament has today approved entering an agreement on collaboration with Sri Lanka on criminal investigations. In today's vote in parliament, 72 MPs voted unanimously in favour of this motion. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had sent a letter earlier this month seeking parliament approval for signing this agreement. The letter said the agreement is being made to further strengthen ties between the countries, and to provide mutual assistance in criminal investigation cases. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing takes on acting president’s duty - Mizzima

Myanmar’s acting president has taken medical leave and transferred his duties to military chief Min Aung Hlaing, the junta said on Monday. Acting president Myint Swe “took sick leave and is getting treatment according to his current health situation”, the junta’s information team said in a statement, aired on MRTV’s 8.00 pm news. Acting president duties have been handed over to the chairman of State Administration Council (SAC), the statement said. Click here to read… [13]

Progressive Voice calls for worldwide embargo on arms and aviation fuel sales to Myanmar - Mizzima

Advocacy group Progressive Voice has called for a worldwide comprehensive embargo on arms, aviation fuel, and dual-use goods to Myanmar, along with targeted sanctions and well-coordinated enforcement. Progressive Voice says that with junta airstrikes having increased five-fold over the past six months, the international community has blood on its hands. Because of the world’s inaction, lack of coordination, and outright facilitation by countries like China and Vietnam, the military junta is still receiving aviation fuel and weapons, which it uses to deliberately bomb Myanmar’s civilians countrywide. Click here to read… [14]

Mae Sot: An escape route from Myanmar - Mizzima

Mae Sot. This once sleepy Thai border town has assumed new significance since General Ming Aung Hlaing’s military junta seized control of Myanmar in February 2021. Mae Sot faces the town of Myawaddy, which lies close to the Andaman Sea port of Mawlamyine and the Kayin or Karen State capital Hpa-an. Bridges connecting Myawaddy and Mae Sot provide a southern exit from Myanmar, an exit route from Yangon five hours away when peace prevails. In recent times the journey from Yangon to Myawaddy can take two days because of fighting and a proliferation of checkpoints. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal

Nepal will settle Kalapani through diplomacy: PM- Kathmandu Post

Prime Minister KP Sharma said that the Nepal government is committed to resolving boundary issues through diplomacy. The prime minister also defended the July 1 seven-point agreement signed between his party CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress. Responding to lawmakers’ questions in the House of Representatives on Monday, for the first time after becoming the prime minister last Sunday, the prime minister clarified that the boundary dispute with India will be resolved through talks and diplomatic channels, on the basis of the Treaty of Sugauli, various maps, and historical facts and evidence. This has been a consistent commitment of the government of Nepal, he added. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal’s foreign trade volume declined 1.33 percent to Rs 1.745 trillion in FY 2023/24 - My Republica

Nepal’s total trade volume in Fiscal Year 2023/24 declined 1.33 percent compared to the previous fiscal year due to the economic slowdown that grappled the country throughout the period. The records of the Department of Customs (DoC) show that the country carried out foreign trade of Rs 1.745 trillion during mid-July 2023 and mid-July 2024. In the FY 2022/23, the total amount under the heading was Rs 1.768 trillion. Click here to read… [17]

Economic Digest: Nepal’s Business News in a Snap - Khabar Hub

Economic Digest offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant business happenings in Nepal, presented in easily digestible summaries. The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) showed a minor increase, closing at 2488.09 points amid overall volatility. Despite gains in the Manufacturing group, other indices like the Sensitive Index and Float Index experienced declines. Trading was active with shares from 309 companies changing hands, contributing to a trading volume nearing Rs 14 billion. Click here to read… [18]

IREDA clarifies on NSE's query over Nepal hydropower project. Details here - MSN

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) Ltd on Saturday issued its clarification in response to NSE's emailed query over the recent equity investment of 10 per cent shareholding in GMR Upper Karnali Hydro Power Ltd and Karnali Transmission Company Pvt Ltd to set up a 900 MW Hydroelectric Power Project in Nepal. The stock exchange sought clarity on the acquisition parameters. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

PM ‘delays’ cabinet meet to take up PTI ban-Dawn

An imp¬ortant cabinet meeting, which was expected to consider the issue of banning the opposition PTI today (Tuesday), was postponed due to the prime minister’s “hectic schedule”, PM House sources said. The meeting was called off on Monday even thou¬¬gh it had been reported that the apex body would deliberate upon the propo¬sal that has become a thor¬¬ny issue for the ruling coalition. Click here to read… [20]

Bannu jirga opposes Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, demands permanent end to TTP-The Express Tribune

In a meeting held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister's House on Monday, jirga leaders called for a permanent end to both 'good' and 'bad' Taliban in Bannu and opposed Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. According to details reported by Express News, the Jirga was attended by K-P chief secretary, IG police, commissioner and regional police officer of Bannu, deputy commissioner, and chaired by K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur. The elders in the jirga presented 11 demands to K-P CM. Click here to read… [21]

‘Good Taliban’ feature in KP govt-jirga talks-Dawn

The issue of ‘good Taliban’ — a euphemism for militants who surrendered to security forces — was one of the main items on the table when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met with representatives of the 40-strong Bannu Aman Jirga. Click here to read… [22]

Sri Lanka

22A to Constitution unlikely to see the light of day – Daily Mirror

The enactment of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament is heading to be unrealistic because it is all set to deny two-thirds for the ruling party in case a vote is taken. Click here to read… [23]

National prices accelerate to 2.4% in June – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s inflation, measured by the National Consumer Price Index, gained pace in June to 2.4 percent from a year ago, from 1.6 percent through May, as the food prices rose in June, largely due to the weather-related disruptions to the crops. Click here to read… [24]

Nine fishermen from Rameswaram arrested by Sri Lankan Navy – The Hindu

Nine fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimdam, were arrested by SriLankan Navy while fishing in two mechanised boats near Neduntheevu in early hours of Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Click here to read… [25]