De/Cypher Data Dive 📈
The Civil Society Participation Index (CSPI) is a metric that assesses the level and quality of participation by civil society organizations (CSOs) and citizens in a country’s political and policymaking processes.
Asia View
A Bugatti car, a first lady and the fake stories aimed at Americans
By Paul Myers, Olga Robinson, Shayan Sardarizadeh and Mike Wendling, Published in BBC Verify and BBC News
Analysis By Priyanka Garodia, Geopolitical Research Analyst – South Asia
A syndicate of Russian websites has been using AI generated fake stories to spread misinformation among American voters before the upcoming US general election. The stories have been posted as articles published in dysfunctional newspapers like The Chicago Crier, Houston Post, Boston Times, and DC Weekly that have shut down years ago. The stories being circulated are not completely fake but have used artificial intelligence to push a conservative narrative. Heading the operations is a retired cop from Florida presently in Moscow. This group recently posted an article about the misappropriation of US military aid to Ukraine for the purchase of upscale goods. The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, was reported to have bought a Bugatti worth 4.8 million dollars while visiting Paris. This report was completely false but was made viral in minutes of its surfacing.
The use of AI generated misinformation has been threatening election processes globally. Similar claims were made during the Indian elections, with reports of Israeli forces planting positive stories against the opposition Indian National Congress (INC) to influence voters. A report released by OpenAI refuted this, emphasizing unequivocally that Israeli intelligence did not interfere in the Indian election. Political ads using ‘deepfakes’ that manipulate what people say and do have infiltrated the pre-election scenario in multiple countries, including America.
Af-Pak De/Cypher
8 July, 2024
Economy
Pakistan Imposed a Milk Tax, Now the Dairy Staple Costs More in Karachi Than Paris
Faseesh Mangi writes in Bloomberg that milk prices in Pakistan surged by more than a fifth after a new tax was applied, making the dairy staple more expensive than in France, Australia and some other developed nations. Ultra-high temperature, or UHT, milk now costs 370 rupees ($1.33) a liter in supermarkets in Karachi. That compares with $1.29 in Amsterdam, $1.23 in Paris, and $1.08 in Melbourne, according to data collected by Bloomberg. An 18% tax was applied to packaged milk as part of taxation changes approved in the national budget last week. Previously, it was tax-exempt.
Pakistan Stocks Downgraded to Frontier Market by FTSE Russell
John Cheng writes in Bloomberg that Pakistan was lowered to frontier market status from secondary emerging market status by FTSE Russell, dealing a blow to the nation’s equities and potentially driving millions of dollars in outflows. The index compiler stated in a statement on Wednesday that the market of the South Asian nation did not meet the minimum securities count requirement to maintain its current status. The decision comes into effect on September 23, it added. Debt concerns and political turmoil have caused volatility in the nation’s stocks over the years, eroding market capitalization. Pakistan lost its emerging-market status at MSCI Inc. in 2021, just four years after it was upgraded, due to its shrinking market size and liquidity.
Internal Politics 🏛️
Former Sharif Ally Forms New Party to Change Pakistan’s Politics
Ismail Dilawar writes in Bloomberg that former Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi launched a new party on Saturday as part of his fallout with the country’s powerful Sharif clan, amid growing public anger with the government’s austerity measures. Abbasi, who led the country between 2017 and 2018, unveiled Awam Pakistan, or the People’s Pakistan party, with a group of former members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, or PML-N. The former premier was a PML-N stalwart and an ally of de facto leader Nawaz Sharif for more than three decades until he left the party last year. Miftah Ismail, who left PML-N in 2023, was Shehbaz Sharif’s finance minister in his first tenure two years ago, and Zafar Mirza, an ex-health minister and Imran Khan’s aide, have also joined the new party.
Punjab govt to treat smog as ‘year-round epidemic’
Mansoor Malik writes in Dawn that the Punjab government is embarking upon a policy shift from treating smog as a seasonal issue to a year-round epidemic requiring urgent interventions. Pakistan ranked as the second most polluted country, and Lahore was the fourth most polluted city in the world during 2023. Lahore’s Air Quality Index in winter last year had touched as high as 435 against 200-300 moderately polluted AQI value. Acknowledging that the province effectively handled the dengue epidemic to the extent it became an international case study, the Punjab Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD) has begun treating smog as a year-round epidemic requiring urgent interventions. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has emphasised the importance of not just combating smog but preventing it altogether.
Security
CTD officer DSP Ali Raza shot dead in Karachi
The Express Tribune reports that Counter Terrorism Department officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ali Raza, was shot dead outside Shakil Corporation flats in Karimabad area of District Central in Karachi on Sunday. He was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Senior officials of the police and security agencies reached the scene upon receiving reports of firing by unidentified persons that killed one and severely injured a security guard who later succumbed to his injuries as well. Immediate actions have been ordered to apprehend the perpetrators involved in the attack by Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, stressing that no effort should be spared in ensuring the proper treatment and care of the injured police officer.
A roadside bomb planted on a bridge hits a rickshaw in Pakistan, killing 3 people and wounding 7
Ground News reports that a roadside bomb planted on a bridge struck a rickshaw in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killed at least three people and wounded seven others. The attack took place in Mardan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Such attacks previously have been blamed on Islamic militants and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary and are even living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover.
Five people including former senator killed in Bajaur bomb blast
Hasbanullah writes in The News that Former senator Hidayat Ullah’s vehicle was targeted via a “remote-controlled” bomb, leaving the lawmaker killed along with four others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Bajaur’s Damadola village where the former senator’s vehicle was targeted via a remote-controlled device, Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Bakht Munir said. Hidayat, who was a former independent senator from erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), was killed in the bomb explosion along with four others, he added.
Afghanistan Update
Taliban praise ‘spirit of cooperation’ of UN talks
The Express Tribune reports that the Taliban government praised on Wednesday the “spirit of cooperation” towards Afghanistan in UN-led talks that excluded women from the country. This round of Doha talks centred on efforts to bolster Afghanistan’s private sector and support counter-narcotics work in a country that has historically been the largest producer of opium. The process was launched to discuss increasing and coordinating engagement with Afghanistan. The UN was criticised for only including civil society organisations and women in the meetings raising questions of actual legitimacy of the talks.
Taliban and US envoys have discussed the release of 2 American prisoners at third Doha meeting
Rahim Faeiz writes in AP that the Taliban’s delegation to the third United Nations-led Doha meeting on increasing engagement with Afghanistan met with U.S. envoys on the sidelines and discussed the two Americans imprisoned in the central Asian country. Special Representative Thomas West and Special Envoy Rina Amiri met directly with the Taliban, according to State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. West pressed for the immediate and unconditional release of U.S. citizens unjustly detained in Afghanistan. The matter was simply raised with no concrete conclusion.
Afghan Asylum Seekers Face Hostility in Iran
Kourosh Ziabari writes for Foreign Policy that discrimination and racial prejudice against Afghans have recently been on the rise in Iran, especially as economic hardships take a toll on citizens squeezed by corruption and poor governance at home and the burden of international sanctions from abroad. A succession of hate crimes and violent acts targeting Afghan migrants, often provoked by the irresponsible rhetoric of politicians and state media, testifies to an overtly unwelcoming and intimidating environment for the desperate asylum-seekers. It has become commonplace for security personnel to mistreat Afghan nationals through physical assault, verbal abuse, and other degrading acts at public places and ports of entry. The Raisi administration’s hostile rhetoric, which weaponized a combination of nationalism and religious zeal to rally a base of conservative loyalists around an anti-immigration platform, contributed to the spread of anti-Afghan sentiment in the public sphere. Spurred by lingering economic woes, the Islamic Republic insists it doesn’t have the resources to host more Afghans. According to a report published by the Danish Refugee Council, Iranian authorities have deported more than 1 million Afghan refugees since 2022. Some deportees have complained about facing maltreatment at the hands of law enforcement officers. Newer Afghan arrivals are likely to face an uphill battle as well. The Iranian public, which is often confident in its progressivism, is undermining its self-proclaimed image of hospitality and exposing the hidden dimensions of its racial tolerance in the lack of responsible leaders to provide rationality to the discussion.
The Doha Talks: Afghanistan’s Road to Redemption?
Written By Priyanka Garodia, Geopolitical Research Analyst – South Asia
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 left the South Asian nation isolated from the internal community, with no one officially recognizing the Taliban regime. Since then, the country has faced an acute humanitarian crisis, further aggravated by climate change and economic decline. The international community responded to this takeover with the freezing of funds by the IMF, the World Bank and the United States.
Three rounds of diplomatic talks regarding Afghanistan have taken place in Doha. The first round of talks excluded the Taliban while the second round of talks was rejected by the Taliban due to the presence of civil society forces and women – two parties the Taliban refused to entertain at any cost. The third round took place between representatives from 24 countries and the Taliban after the exclusion of women and CSOs.
The international community is divided on the purpose of these talks – one camp believes that they legitimize the Taliban’s rule, while the other believes that in order to ease the plight of ordinary Afghani citizens, engagement with the Taliban is a must. According to the UN, these discussions are essential to bringing about regional and internal peace in Central and South Asia, as well as some semblance of accountability for human rights, particularly for women and children.
Although there were no significant results from the discussions, U.N. representatives characterized the conversation as a chance for both parties to hear each other out. While diplomats voiced concerns about the strain on the Afghan economy, the Taliban demanded that the sanctions be lifted. A primary topic of discussion that did not yield any significant decisions was how to increase aid to the Afghan people. While some organizations, like the European Union (EU) have allocated an aid fund of $10.9 million to help mitigate the crisis, it remains short of the actual funding assistance Afghanistan requires. Only 16% of the funding for the humanitarian response in the region has been met.
While the talks may appear to be solidifying the regime of perhaps one of the most brutal rulers in modern times, the isolation of Afghanistan has not done the people living there any good. The use of international participation to influence change domestically is the route that offers the most potential when engaging with Afghanistan, given that the military intervention of America failed its objective of nation-building. However, the Taliban should not be given concessions when it comes to the participation of women and civil society bodies in meetings like this.
The UN needs to adopt a stronger stance, saying that economic engagement with Afghanistan will not come at the cost of gender apartheid in the country. While there is a complete blackout of information from the ground in Afghanistan, there have been reports of the abysmal condition of women in the country. The exclusion of women in international negotiations and diplomacy is the norm of the international order; however, this exclusion brings with it the erasure of essential perspectives that allow long lasting peace in societies torn by conflict. Bosnia, the DRC, and Yugoslavia have been historic examples of how the exclusion of women from reconstruction and rehabilitation talks has led to instability. If we are to see Afghanistan recover from the acute humanitarian crisis it is in, the exclusion of women will not help its case.
Bangladesh De/Cypher
8 July, 2024
Economy
Gross Forex Reserve Stands at $26.88 Billion
The Daily Observer reports that Bangladesh’s gross foreign currency reserve is $26.88 billion, while the Net International Reserves (NIR) is $16.77 billion, exceeding the IMF’s $14.7 billion target for June. This marks the first time Bangladesh has surpassed the target since the IMF’s $4.7 billion loan package approval in February last year, according to Bangladesh Bank Spokesperson Md Mezbaul Haque.
Bangladesh’s Blue Economy May Double in the Next 10-15 Years: ADB Vice President
The Daily Sun reports that ADB Vice President Yingming Yang predicts Bangladesh’s blue economy could double in the next 10-15 years. He emphasized Bangladesh’s strategic maritime location, extensive coastline, and significant fish and shrimp production. ADB plans a $1.5 billion pipeline for 2025-2027, targeting coastal resilience, wetlands, and river system management. Yang highlighted the potential in renewable energy, tourism, and port development, stressing the need for modern infrastructure and efficient operations to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.
Tourism Sector Contributes 4% to GDP: Faruk
The Business Post reports that Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan stated the tourism sector contributes 4% to Bangladesh’s GDP and 1.78% to employment generation. Established in 1972 under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s directive, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has developed 53 tourism-related structures, including hotels and amusement parks, to boost tourism. These facilities, operated by the corporation, significantly support the sector, according to Faruk’s response to treasury bench member AFM Bahauddin Nasim.
Internal Politics 🏛️
2018 BNP Protest: Charges Framed Against Alal, Tuku, 87 Others
The Daily Star reports that a Dhaka court has framed charges against 89 BNP leaders and activists, including Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, and Sultan Salauddin Tuku, for instigating destructive activities during a 2018 protest. The demonstration occurred ahead of a court verdict on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
Protesters Defy BCL Barricades at DU Halls, Block Shahbagh
Tausiful Islam writes in the Daily Observer that Dhaka University students defied barricades set up by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) to block the Shahbagh Intersection for the third consecutive day, demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs. The protest caused severe traffic jams for over six hours. Despite BCL leaders’ attempts to obstruct them, the students continued their rally, chanting slogans and singing patriotic songs.
889 Schools Closed in Sylhet Division
The Daily Star reports that 889 primary schools in Sylhet division have suspended academic activities indefinitely due to severe flooding. Of the 5,054 primary schools in the division, many are submerged or being used as shelters for flood-affected individuals. The ongoing floods have impacted 649,378 people, with 19,820 currently staying in 366 shelters across four districts. Floodwaters have made it impossible to conduct classes, with some schools standing like isolated islands. Efforts to mitigate future flooding include plans to excavate around 20 rivers in the region.
Security
St Martin’s Cut Off from Mainland, Residents Suffer from Food Crisis
Gias Uddin reports in Prothom Alo that the waterway between St Martin’s Island and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar has been closed since June 8, leaving 10,000 residents in a severe crisis of daily essentials. Alternative routes were also halted on June 22, exacerbating the situation. Residents, including school children, are struggling as supplies of food and other essentials dwindle, with prices skyrocketing. Local authorities are seeking solutions, including enhanced patrolling and dredging of the Badarmokam area, but rough seas hinder efforts. The crisis continues to impact education and daily living on the island.
11.4% in Bangladesh Thalassemia Carriers
The Daily Observer reports that a Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) study reveals 11.4% of the population are thalassemia carriers, with 11.9% among men and 11.2% among women. The “National Thalassemia Survey 2024,” testing 8,680 people, shows the highest carrier rates in Rangpur (27.70%), followed by Rajshahi (11.30%) and Chattogram (11.20%). Dhaka has 8.60%. BBS Director General Mizanur Rahman highlighted the survey’s importance for policymaking on this inherited blood disorder, which causes abnormal haemoglobin and anaemia.
Bangladesh And The World🌐
Dhaka, Beijing to Ink 20 MoUs but Loan Deal Unlikely
The Daily Star reports that Bangladesh and China will sign around 20 MoUs during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit from July 8-11, focusing on trade, economic cooperation, digital economy, and infrastructure. No loan agreements are expected, though an MoU on economic cooperation might lead to future loans. Hasina will meet Chinese leaders to discuss development projects and seek support for investment, trade, and Rohingya repatriation. This visit, following her recent trip to India, aims to balance relations between the two powers.
Indian Navy Chief Calls on Bangladesh Air Force Chief
The Financial Express reports that Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met with Bangladesh Air Force Chief Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan at the BAF Headquarters. They discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. Admiral Tripathi, accompanied by his spouse and delegation, arrived in Bangladesh on June 30 for an official visit. This visit aims to enhance cooperation and strengthen the friendly relationship between the two countries.
PM Greets Starmer
The Daily Sun reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated British Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on his historic victory in the July 4 elections and his assumption of office as the UK’s Prime Minister. In a letter sent via the Bangladesh High Commission in London, Hasina praised Starmer’s leadership and expressed eagerness to strengthen political, economic, climate, and strategic partnerships. She highlighted the enduring friendship between the Awami League and the Labour Party since Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.
PM Hasina Calls for Enhanced Trade, Investment Between Bangladesh, Spain
The Business Standard reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the need to boost trade and investment between Bangladesh and Spain during a meeting with Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Maria Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru on 4 July 2024. Hasina encouraged increased Spanish investment, particularly in Bangladesh’s new economic zones, and sought Spanish support post-LDC graduation. The ambassador praised Bangladesh’s budget, highlighting its focus on education and social safety nets, and noted ongoing negotiations for a bilateral partnership agreement.
Bangladesh Pays Russia $15m in Taka for Rooppur Plant as Dollar Payment Stalled
Joynal Abedin Shishir writes in The Business Standard reports that Bangladesh paid $15 million in taka to Russia for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant due to international sanctions on Russian banks linked to the Ukraine conflict. With dollar payments halted for 2.5 years, Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Rosatom, accepted partial payments in taka. This decision, approved by the Project Implementation Committee, allows the project, currently 78.14% complete, to maintain progress. The $12.65 billion project, primarily financed by a Russian loan, is expected to begin trial production by year-end.
Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia Emphasize Increasing Saudi Investment
Risingbd reports that Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia focused on boosting Saudi investment in Bangladesh during the second round of political consultations in Riyadh. Led by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the meeting explored enhancing Saudi investments in Bangladesh’s special economic zones and depositing Saudi funds in Bangladesh’s offshore accounts. Both nations emphasized revitalizing the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council to strengthen commercial ties.
UNCERF Disburses $6.2m to Vulnerable Communities
The Business Post reports that the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) has disbursed $6.2 million to support 400,000 vulnerable families in five districts of the Jamuna basin ahead of predicted floods. Funds were allocated to FAO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WFP, providing cash transfers, water purification supplies, agricultural support, and gender-based violence information services. This anticipatory action, based on monsoon rainfall predictions, aims to mitigate flood impacts and support quicker recovery, benefiting Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura, and Sirajganj districts.
Jica’s SVP Visits Bangladesh to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
Dhaka Tribune reports that Hara Shohei, senior vice president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), visited Bangladesh to honor the victims of the Holey Artisan Attack and strengthen bilateral ties. He met with key ministers, discussing cooperation in climate change, power grid stability, and economic growth. Shohei visited several Jica-supported projects, including the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, Dhaka MRT Line 6, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal 3, and Matarbari Power Plant.
European Brands Planning Wind Power Project in Bangladesh
Ashraful Islam Raana writes in The Business Post that H&M Group and Bestseller are developing a 500MW offshore wind project in Bangladesh, marking the first energy infrastructure project by foreign clothing brands in the country. Partnering with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), the project aims to begin by 2028. This initiative, part of the readymade garment sector’s green energy shift, is expected to reduce annual emissions by 725,000 tonnes. The EU supports this transition with a 15 billion euro credit facility to boost renewable energy in Bangladesh’s textile industries.
KOICA Offers $10m to Create Skilled Manpower
Md Samiur Rahman Sazzad writes in The Business Post that the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has offered $10 million to enhance infrastructure and academic collaboration in Bangladesh, aiming to create skilled manpower. KOICA plans a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project to renovate the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre (BKTTC) in Chittagong, develop curricula, provide training, and collaborate with universities. The project, starting in August or September, will train workers for both South Korea and Bangladesh in fields like shipbuilding and welding.
Adapt or Die: Bangladesh Joins the Race to Climate-Proof Cities
Summarized By De/Cypher Team, Published in Prothom Alo
Dhaka has launched its first climate action plan, which aims to prepare the city for rising climate hazards such as floods and heatwaves. The plan includes strategies for transitioning to renewable energy, introducing electric vehicles, and restoring natural drainage systems. With a goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050, the plan addresses the pressing need to manage the city’s climate risks while accommodating its growing population. Financing remains a significant challenge, and global cooperation and funding will be required to meet these climate targets.
In addition, the plan focuses on improving urban green spaces and promoting sustainable urban agriculture to combat urban heat island effects. It also focuses on increasing infrastructure resilience by modifying buildings and roads to withstand extreme weather. Public awareness campaigns and educational programs are being developed to engage citizens in climate action and promote sustainable practices. Collaboration with international organizations and neighboring countries is also on the agenda for knowledge and resource exchange. The initiative is a significant step forward for Dhaka, setting a precedent for other cities in Bangladesh to follow as the country deals with the profound effects of climate change on its urban environments. (Prothom Alo)
Why 1,900 PhD-Holders Want Jobs as Drivers and Cleaners Abroad
Written By Kamran Siddiqui
Summarized By De/Cypher Team, Published in The Business Standard
Over 1,900 PhD holders in Bangladesh have chosen low-skilled jobs abroad due to a lack of suitable local opportunities. These individuals are registered on the Ami Probashi app and are looking for jobs as laborers, cleaners, and drivers. The trend extends to 50,000 graduates and postgraduates who take similar paths. Experts attribute this to Bangladesh’s limited professional prospects versus the broader opportunities available abroad. Asif Munier, a migration expert, believes that frustration with the local job market is driving this shift. The quality of PhD programs and educated unemployment rates, which are currently at 12%, exacerbate the problem.
Professor Syeda Rozana Rashid of Dhaka University observes that many highly educated people choose low-skilled jobs abroad to establish a foothold for better future opportunities. This trend also raises concerns about the quality of PhD programs, as political influence and inadequate research standards reduce the value of these degrees. The situation is exacerbated by the rising unemployment rate among graduates, which has doubled over the last five years. The lack of employment highlights the need for improved job creation and higher education reforms to combat this alarming trend. (TBS)
Southeast Asia in BRICS Is Good for the Global Order
By Sarang Shidore, the director of the Quincy Institute’s Global South Program
Summarized by De/Cypher Team, Published in Foreign Policy
Southeast Asia joining BRICS signifies the Global South’s hedging strategy and sends a message to major powers. Historically absent from BRICS, Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand now seek membership, potentially diversifying BRICS and diluting Russian and Chinese influence. This expansion reflects dissatisfaction with the U.S.-led global order and a desire for multi-alignment. Southeast Asian countries, balancing ties with both the U.S. and China, see BRICS membership as enhancing their strategic interests. This move underscores their priority of “hedge-mony” over hegemony, highlighting the region’s diverse and pragmatic approach to global politics and economics. (FP)
Headlines Quick Recap
Hungary’s Orban arrives in China on Ukraine peace mission
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, days after holding talks on a potential Ukrainian peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that angered some European Union leaders. (Reuters)
Iran Elects President Who Wants to Revive Nuclear Talks With West
Masoud Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and former health minister, was elected president of Iran, defeating hardliner Saeed Jalili by nearly 3 million votes. Pezeshkian, who aims to revive the nuclear deal with the West, faces significant challenges both domestically and internationally. (Bloomberg)
Iran’s Sahand Warship Capsizes in Bandar Abbas Port, Fars Says
The Sahand, a destroyer in Iran’s Navy, capsized in the port of Bandar Abbas during repair work, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency. The accident, which resulted in several injuries, likely occurred while repairs were being made to the vessel’s propulsion system or ballast tank. (Bloomberg)
Japan and Philippines sign defense pact allowing their forces to train in each other’s territory
Japan and the Philippines signed a significant defense pact on July 8, 2024, allowing for the deployment of Japanese forces to the Philippines for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills. This Reciprocal Access Agreement also permits Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training. (AP)
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