COLOMBO, 29 July 2021, (TON): Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system Hon. Leader of the House and Foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated that Senior Professor and Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Prof. Sudantha Liyanage has been appointed as the Chairman to the Expert Committee appointed for the purpose of analyzing proposals for Reforming Election Structure and Electoral Law.

Dr. Anura Karunathilake, Suren Fernando, Prof. P. Balasundarampillai and Gautham Balachandran are among the other members appointed to the said committee.

The above names were announced by the Chairman of the Committee Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena at the Committee meeting held July (28).

Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera said “in addition, 155 proposals from the public and civil society organizations have been received for the purpose of Reforming Election Structure and Electoral Law, the Secretary to the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system.”

NAYPYITAW, 29 July 2021, (TON): Local charities said that Junta-controlled authorities have offered no help as floods have inundated homes in southeastern Myanmar, leaving at least hundreds without shelter in the Mon State capital of Mawlamyine and the border town of Myawaddy.

Rescue efforts have been self-organised and supported by volunteers, they said, while authorities have failed to set up flood relief camps or provide food aid to those affected. 

Residents in the Mawlamyine neighbourhoods of Zayar Thiri, Zayar Myaing, Thaya Aye and Hlaing were evacuated after the Salween river burst its banks on Monday, the leader of a charity group in the city told media.

There is no relief camp right now, said a representative from another Mawlamyine charity. We delivered steamed rice, eggs and Ma Ma instant noodles to those who could still live upstairs. We donated food along with individual donors.

The representative said “according to our list, the dead are of various ages.”

Five neighbourhoods in Myawaddy near the Thai border, and three in Kyainseikgyi in Kayin State, were also inundated and residents have been evacuated by local charity groups, according to a resident and a volunteer.

A Myawaddy resident said “there are about 1,000 flood victims. The military has not provided assistance yet. Only free funeral service groups came, and they rescued every victim.”

KATHMANDU, 29 July 2021, (TON): Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has extended his best wishes for the success of the term of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

In a congratulatory message sent on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal, the Chinese Premier has said that he would like to work together with his counterpart to push forward the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new height.

In the message, Chinese Premier Li has also noted that China will remain active to support Nepal through the Belt and Road Initiative, in Corona Virus pandemic control and response and reviving the economy hit by the pandemic.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi handed over the message from Premier Keqiang to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to be delivered to Prime Minister Deuba, who also currently holds the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

By Usman Khan

The small country of Bhutan across mountainous terrain in the heart of the Himalayas has one of the world’stiniest and smallest developed economies based on farming and forestry. However, the central source of revenue is the sale of electricity to India. The country has a continued growth due to the development of the hydroelectric sector and the vitality of the tourism area. Development was estimated to have raised to 5.3% in 2019 from 3.7% a year previous advanced power exports and domestic consumption provided support. This was also 0.4 percentage point higher than IMF's earlier estimation for growth. A reduction in tourism revenue in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus epidemic and communal quarantine measures has jeopardized the financial stability and economic growth. GDP is expected to lose -1.9% in 2021, after shrinking by an estimated 0.8% in 2020. However, economic growth is supported by the hydropower sector, and in 2022 it is predictable to reach 5.7%.

The government has been working on devolution from national to local governments, by expanding the share of resources allocated and by increasing their authority and functions. National self-sufficiency and inclusive socio-economic growth also remain among the pillars of the new five-year plan, meaning the government will pursue an expansive budgetary policy. Debt-to-GDP ratio spiked from 106.6% in 2019 to 120.7% in 2020; however, most debt is considered sustainable as they are covered by financial arrangements with India under which the latter finances the construction of hydropower plans in Bhutan in exchange of power imports. At the same time, government liability is anticipated to increase to 123.4% this year.

Bhutan modified its tourism policy in order to attract more tourists, who are not subjected to the daily tourism tax of USD 250. Due to this modification, the number of tourists increased substantially. Inflation is closely linked to the Indian economy as Bhutan's domestic currency ngultrum is attached to the Indian rupee. Inflation increased to 4.2% in 2020, against 2.8% in 2019 and to rise further to 4.9% in 2021/22 as the rupee loses value against major international currencies and food prices rise in the country. Fiscal deficit is forecast to widen to 4.9% by 2021 before stabilizing in the medium term amid rising revenue collection. Bhutan is seeking to expand the base for the green tax by including tourist vehicles.

Bhutan remains a poor country, where living conditions are made difficult by hilly areas and a poor-quality infrastructure. However, GDP per capita doubled between 2004 and 2014 whereas the poverty rate fell to 9.9% in 2019. Unemployment remained low at 2.4% in 2020 unchanged from a year earlier (2.3%). Bhutan is also the first country using the Gross National Happiness index to enhance the well-being of its population not only based on economic indicators but also on sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, environmental conservation, preservation and promotion of culture and good governance.

Economic growth in Bhutan is forecast to contract by 3.4% this fiscal year (FY) 2021 from 0.9% in FY2020 on account of strict pandemic restraint measures, including two lengthy nationwide lockdowns that down-graded the economic activity across sectors, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021, ADB’s flagship annual economic publication says economic growth is expected to recover moderately to 3.7% in FY2022 with strong policy responses to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including the country’s vaccination drive.

 “Inflation is expected to remain elevated on higher prices for food and transportation. Risks to the growth outlook tilt to the downside, particularly slower than expected revival in tourism amid renewed virus outbreaks with new variants. ” Inflation is expected to rise 6.4% in FY2021 due to supply chain disruption and panic buying. However, inflation is forecast to ease to 5.3% in FY2022 as prices are expected to trend lower in India and domestic conditions improve. The current account deficit will moderate to 7.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) in FY2021 as imports contract on falling domestic demand. In FY2022, imports are forecast to revive on recovery in investment and private consumption, boosting the current account deficit to 10.4% of GDP.

The government of Bhutan should resolve nonperforming loans (NPL) to strengthen financial stability and contain their impact on the broader financial system, which remains critical including granting more autonomy to financial institutions in how they restructure loans, and capital strengthening through measures to improve credit underwriting at both banks and nonbank financial institutions (NBFI) and the introduction of NBFI stress-testing for credit exposure. ADB has been supporting Bhutan since 1982, concentrating its efforts on programs and projects in energy, transport, finance, and urban development. ADB has committed loans totaling $584.06 million, grants of $269.22 million, and technical assistance worth $57.23 million for Bhutan. Cumulative loan and grant disbursements to Bhutan amount to $728.5 million. In 2020, ADB responded swiftly to assist with the government’s most urgent pandemic needs through a combination of program loan, investment projects, grants, and technical assistance worth $108.9 million. Overall assistance aims to help promote reforms, support inclusive growth, domestic resource mobilization and environmental sustainability. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.

Economic recovery is needed to be backed by swift and strong policy response by the government, including the nationwide vaccination drive that started on 27 March 2021 with over 90% of population received the first dose in a week, restoring mobility and economic activity; strong government investment spending; and global economic recovery, reviving tourism moderately. However, it is anticipated that the Bhutan’s upward growth trajectory is possible because the country fulfills its enormous potential for hydropower and as key drivers it has means and sources to generate growth, development and prosperity, with the hydropower industry, agriculture and forestry. Bhutan needs plans to up-grade its production market.

BRUSSELS, 28 July 2021, (TON): NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday reiterated calls for a “negotiated settlement” with the Taliban in Afghanistan, admitting the country faced a deeply challenging security situation as foreign troops leave.

Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter after speaking to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani “the security situation in Afghanistan remains deeply challenging, and requires a negotiated settlement. NATO will continue to support Afghanistan, including with funding; civilian presence; and out-of-country training.”

NEW DELHI, 28 July 2021, (TON): Amid the stand-off with Mizoram in Cachar on Monday that cost five cops their lives, Assam on Tuesday beefed up security along another potential border flashpoint, its long-disputed boundary with Nagaland in Jorhat district.

A senior police officer in Jorhat said that security forces have been put on high alert at all vulnerable points along the inter-state boundary to pre-empt any untoward incident.”

He said that we have received strict instructions to ensure law and order in the disputed areas. Besides anti-social elements, members of some rebel groups are active along the border.

YAOUNDE, 28 July 2021, (TON): According to a defense ministry statement on state radio “an attack by Boko Haram killed five Cameroonian soldiers and a civilian.”

The attack took place in the far north of the central African country near the border with Nigeria, where operations by the Islamist group have been on the rise.

Meanwhile, the attack happened during a raid on the military outpost in the country’s far north, local authorities said on Tuesday, the second deadly raid in the area in the past week.

An army post in the village of Zigue was attacked at around 9 p.m. (20:00 GMT), according to two officials who asked not to be identified.

According to the defense ministry “the attack follows a raid that took place around 50 km (30 miles) north of Zigue, which was claimed by Daesh. Eight soldiers were killed in that raid.”

Cameroon, alongside neighboring Nigeria and Chad, has been battling the Boko Haram militant group for years, but more recently has clashed with fighters who identify themselves as Daesh West African Province (DWAP).

ISLAMABAD, 28 July 2021, (TON): The issue was flagged both by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in their separate meetings with visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The Saudi top diplomat visited Pakistan as a follow-up of the visit undertaken by PM Imran to Riyadh in May this year.

Apart from other issues, one of the agenda items of the discussions during the Saudi foreign minister’s interaction with the Pakistani leadership was to seek the early return of Pakistani workers to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is home to almost 2 million Pakistanis working in different fields. However, many Pakistanis returned to the country but since then they are unable to go back to the kingdom due to travel restrictions.

FM Qureshi told a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart that there were about 400,000 Pakistanis who had been waiting for the travel restrictions to be eased so that they could resume their work in the kingdom.

An official statement issued by the PM Office after the premier’s meeting with the Saudi foreign minister said “noting the difficulties being faced by Pakistani nationals due to travel restrictions, the prime minister underlined the importance of timely measures for facilitation of their return to Saudi Arabia.”

The tens of thousands of Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have been the source of precious foreign exchange.

Last year overseas Pakistanis sent record remittances, much to the relief of government desperately looking for foreign exchange reserves.

Qureshi at the news conference also talked about Saudi Arabia importing Pakistani manpower for Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision.

WASHINGTON, 28 July 2021, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to New Delhi, India, to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to strengthening our partnership and underscore cooperation on our shared priorities. Secretary Blinken will meet with Prime Minister Nare-ndra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to discuss a wide range of issues, including Indo-Pacific engagement, shared regional security interests, shared democratic values, and ad-dressing the climate crisis.

The United States and India have a strong strategic partnership founded on shared values and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The United States supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and vital partner in efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace, stability, and growing prosperity and economic inclusion.

The United States and India cooperate on a wide range of diplomatic, economic and security issues, including defense, non-proliferation, regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, shared democratic values, counterterrorism, climate change, health, energy, trade and investment, peacekeeping, the environment, education, science and technology, agriculture, space, and oceans.

In 2008, the United States and India signed an agreement, making India a full partner in the governance and funding of the Fulbright Program. An increase in exchanges under the agreement has allowed for the development of new and innovative programs, and India now has the largest Fulbright Scholar (faculty) program in the world. In FY 2019, this funding provided opportunities for 61 US Scholars, 66 Indian Scholars, 80 US students, including 29 English Teaching Assistants, and 55 Indian students, including 13 Foreign Language Teaching Assistants.

NAYPAITAW, 28 July 2021, (TON): Seven naval vessels carrying troops and weapons up the Ayeyarwady River were fired on by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near the town of Shwegu, according to a KIA spokesperson.

KIA information officer Col. Nawbu told media “the attack on the naval convoy began near the village of Shwebonthar, about three miles from Shwegu.”

He said “they seem to be planning something, sending reinforcements like this. I heard there were also tanks. We’re still monitoring the situation.”

He added that local People’s Defence Force (KIA) troops fought alongside the KIA during the clashes.

He said “we occasionally collaborate with the PDF, though it’s not something that was arranged or ordered by our central command.”

The joint force managed to inflict some damage, but there were no reports of casualties, and the convoy was able to continue its journey, which it began in Mandalay three days earlier.

According to Kachin Wave, a local news outlet, “one of the vessels was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) but was not disabled by the attack”.