News Highlights From South Asia: July 15, 2013

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor: Rate Cut Possible In September or October
Sri Lanka’s central bank might cut short-term interest rates again in September or October if inflation continues to fall as expected, bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said Monday.By Ian Talley (@iantalley)
From The Wall Street Journal http://on.wsj.com/14UXrBt

Bangladesh
Bangladesh Gives Former Islamist Leader Life For War Crimes
Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal convicted and sentenced a former Islamist party leader to life imprisonment on Monday, in the fifth such conviction since January, as violence broke out between police and his supporters across the country.
By Ruma Paul and Nandita Bose (@nanditab1)
From Reuters http://reut.rs/1biddLK

 

Maldives

Alert Issued After Migrant Construction Worker Die Of Dengue In Male

 By Leah Malone

The Maldives Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued a dengue fever alert, following the death of a foreign migrant worker and the hospitalisation of two children for hemorrhagic dengue fever in Male’, with the HPA and World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasising that construction workers are particularly at risk.

From Minivan News http://bit.ly/1bidqyB

 

Pakistan

Prime Minister Inaugurates First Hydro Power Plant In Pakistan

Pakistan opened its first private hydroelectric power plant on Monday, moving to tackle a deepening energy crisis that has devastated its already struggling economy.

From DAWN/AP http://bit.ly/15INhVs

 

Myanmar

Myanmar President Disbands Controversial Border Force

By Jared Ferrie

Myanmar’s president has disbanded a security force accused of rights violations against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State in the west of the country, scene of deadly violence between Muslims and majority Buddhists in the past year.

From Reuters http://reut.rs/1bDY1r2

 

Nepal

Nepal Government, UN Development Program Ink Deal

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Nepal today inked an agreement to implement the Community Based Flood and Glacial Lake Outburst Risk Reduction Project (CBFGLOF) to minimise threats from climate change to nearly 100,000 people.

From Himalaya News http://bit.ly/17h4dlm

 

Afghanistan

Election Law Approved By Lower House Of Parliament

After deliberations on the educational qualification of the President and MPs, allocation of one seat for Hindu minority, allocation of 10 seats for the Kuchis and discarding the 25 percent reservation of women in the Provincial Councils the House finally reached an agreement after five days.

From TOLO News http://bit.ly/10XfHJz

 

India

Falling Rupee, Rising Crude Oil Prices Dash Rate Cut Hopes

All hopes of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India in 2013 are fast evaporating as the sliding currency and rising crude oil prices are expected to keep inflation high
From The Economic Times http://bit.ly/14UZKo1

 

Column

Here’s Listening To You, Mr. Modi

By Kapil Sibal

From The Indian Express http://bit.ly/18ZmrMf