In Brief

B’desh July uprising to get constitutional recognition on Aug 5

Dhaka: The Bangladesh interim government wants to give constitutional recognition to the student-led uprising that took place last year in July-August, which led to the ouster the Sheikh Hasina. This recognition is known as the July Declaration. It would be unveiled on August 5. Information adviser Mahfuj Alam, whom Yunus earlier called the “main brain” or the mastermind of what is dubbed the July uprising, meanwhile, said the much-anticipated July Declaration was now a “reality”.

Islamabad gets $5 bn for Balochistan mining project

Islamabad: Pakistan received a USD 5 billion offer from multinational donors and agencies to execute the multibillion-dollar Reko Diq copper and gold mining project in Balochistan province. The commitments received from foreign donors were more than the funding requirement for the Reko Diq project, which is estimated at USD 3 billion. The donors included the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and US Exim Bank. Development agencies from Germany and Denmark have also offered financing. It is interesting to note that the US Exim Bank has offered no cap on financing and is ready to provide capital, which Pakistan and other partners desperately need.

Maldives to use $6.48-mn India grant to expand ferry network

Male: Maldives is set to mobilise the USD 6.48 million grant aid provided by India to expand the public ferry network, state-run media said on Saturday. Maldives and India had on May 18 signed 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for enhancing ferry services in the archipelagic nation with the grant of MVR 100 million to be used for enhancing ferry services, expanding maritime connectivity and uplifting community livelihoods.

The projects are to be implemented under the Indian grant assistance scheme, the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) Phase III. Initially scheduled for completion in 2027, the project is now expected to be finalised by the year-end.

Iran President in Pak to strengthen ties

Islamabad: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday on a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening ties and increasing bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion annually. PM Shehbaz Sharif Pezeshkian at Noor Khan Air Base. 

Rain relief for Nepal’s drought-hit Madhesh

Kathmandu: Several districts in Nepal’s Madhesh Prades, grappling with a prolonged dry spell since the start of the monsoon season, received moderate to heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours offering much-needed relief to farmers. 

Thai protesters want suspended PM ousted

Bangkok: Protesters rallied on Saturday in the Thai capital to demand the resignation of court-suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and in support of the armed forces following a violent border dispute with Cambodia that killed more than three dozen people.