Neighborhood News Digest – 02 November 2023

Afghanistan

Over 1 lakh undocumented Afghans returned to Afghanistan: Pak official – Hindustan Times

Pakistan's deadline to expel all undocumented immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals, is expiring later on Wednesday. More than 100,000 undocumented Afghan nationals have returned voluntary to Afghanistan through the northwestern Torkham border crossing in the last two weeks, a Pakistani government official said on Wednesday. Click here to read… [2]

Chamber Calls for Way to Transfer Capital From Pakistan to Afghanistan - Tolo News

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce asked the Islamic Emirate to develop a solution to transfer the capital of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan. The head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, Khanjan Alkozi, added that Afghan investors had made almost three billion dollars in Pakistan. Click here to read… [3]

Trade and Transit Top Agenda as Uzbek Delegation Visits Afghanistan – The Diplomat

The Taliban asked Uzbekistan to lower transit fees for cargo moving through the Central Asian country while praising the bilateral relationship and airing anticipation of increasing Afghan exports. The topic arose during the visit of a high-level Uzbek delegation to Kabul in late October. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Narendra Modi, Sheikh Hasina open 3 rail, power projects in Bangladesh - Tribune India

In an expression of solidarity with the embattled Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, PM Narendra Modi joined her to virtually inaugurate three projects that could boost her political capital ahead of the general election in January next year. Among the three projects inaugurated are Unit-2 of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant, a 65-km rail line from Khulna to Mongla Port and a cross-country rail link between Tripura’s Nischintapur and Gangasagar in Bangladesh. Click here to read… [5]

Why is the U.S. Meddling in Bangladesh Elections? | Vantage with Palki Sharma - First Post

Bangladesh's prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said that she will hold talks with the opposition if US president Joe Biden talks to his rival Donald Trump. Her comments came after the US ambassador in Dhaka called for talks and "transparency" ahead of general elections in January. Arab American support for US President Joe Biden has plummeted to an all-time low of 17% as he continues to back Israel. Respondents say they had a negative attitude towards Biden with his approval rating tumbling to 29%. Click here to read… [6]

Bangladesh Becomes World’s First Country to Eliminate Visceral Leishmaniasis - Health Policy

Bangladesh has become the first country globally to be validated by the World Health Organization for the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar, as a public health problem. VL, a life-threatening neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a parasite transmitted by sandflies, affects some one million people worldwide every year, mostly in Southeast Asia and North Africa. Bangladesh, India, and Nepal accounted for 70% of the global cases between 2004 and 2008. By 2016, Bangladesh and Nepal brought down the number of cases drastically while the burden in India remains relatively high. While death rates are relatively low, disfigurement of limbs, sexual organs, etc. create huge levels of disability among those untreated. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan appoints interim government ahead of national election – Deccan Herald

Bhutan's king appointed a nine-member interim government on Wednesday to oversee the Himalayan nation's parliamentary election, to be held within three months, a palace statement said. The free vote will be the fourth to be held since democracy was established in 2008 in Bhutan, a country of fewer than 800,000 people nestled between China and India. Click here to read… [8]

Experts study Thorthomi Lake outburst – Kuensel

Residents along Phochhu were cautioned to be alert as Lake Thorthomi in Lunana burst on October 30 evening. The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology reported an increase in water level at Thanza Flood Monitoring Station at 7.41pm on October 30 from Thanza Flood Warning Station. Thorthoromi Lake flooded at 7.20pm. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan envoy meets Assam CM ahead of King’s visit to state – The Print

Bhutan’s Ambassador to India Maj Gen Vetsop Namgyel on Wednesday called on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ahead of a three-day private visit of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to the state from November 3. Sarma conveyed to the Ambassador that he along with officials and people of the state were ”excited to welcome His Majesty, the King of Bhutan, along with Her Majesty the Queen”, the Chief Minister’s Office posted on X. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Indian High Commissioner Meets Maldives' FM Abdulla Shahid, Reaffirms Strong Ties- News 18

High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Maldives, Munu Mahawar met Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid in Male on November 2, 2023. They took stock of accomplishments under various pillars of the bilateral ties and reaffirmed commitment to further strengthening relations between the two countries. The meeting came ahead of inauguration of President-elect Mohamed Muizzu later this month. His election raised expectations in China that the archipelagic state strategically located in the Indian Ocean close to India’s southern coast will pursue pro-Beijing policies, unlike incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who pursued India’s first policy and established close ties with New Delhi. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives condemns Israeli air raid on Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp- Raajje

The government of Maldives has condemned the Israeli air raid on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, on October 31, 2023. In a statement publicized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strongly condemned the Israeli air raid on the Jabalia refugee camp and noted that this attack took the lives of many innocent Palestinians, including many children, leaving dozens injured. The government also called Israel to stop the attacks against innocent Palestinian civilians and on the international community to do everything possible in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on October 27. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar Ethnic Alliance Says ‘Operation 1027’ Has Spread to Sagaing - The Irrawaddy

The Brotherhood Alliance—which comprises the Arakan Army (AA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)—launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State on Friday targeting junta military camps, outposts and police stations. It said on Monday that in the operation’s first three days, alliance forces had seized 67 outposts and taken control of Chin Shwe Haw, a trade town near the Chinese border. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar Rebel Forces Capture Key Trade Routes With China - The Wire

As per an October 30 report on The Irawaddy, “All trade routes with China, including the busiest border checkpoint in Muse, are now reportedly under Brotherhood Alliance control and currently closed due to ongoing fighting. Chin Shwe Haw, a trading town that borders China, also fell to the insurgents.” Click here to read… [14]

Chinese Security Minister Meets Myanmar Junta Chief as Border Violence Grows - The Irrawaddy

China’s public security minister met Myanmar’s junta boss Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday in Naypyitaw, following clashes near the Chinese border in northern Shan State, displacing thousands. The areas affected include the site of a proposed Belt and Road Initiative train line. Click here to read… [15]

Myanmar seeking to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh - Aljazeera

Myanmar officials have met with Rohingya refugee families in Bangladesh to discuss their repatriation to Myanmar. The officials travelled to Bangladesh on Tuesday to meet with refugees amid a new repatriation plan brokered by China. The push is part of a pilot repatriation scheme discussed in a three-way meeting between the two countries and China in April. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal

What Does Nepal Want From China - The Diplomat

Leading only the third largest political party in the federal parliament of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, is prime minister of the rather ideologically and statistically unconventional coalition between his party – the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) – the Nepali Congress, and other smaller political parties. The fact that the Maoist Center is only a fraction in the crucible of the coalition means the survival and the longevity of his government is the top priority for Dahal. In light of this pragmatic calculation, the prime minister has limited space to work on his visions of both domestic and foreign affairs. Click here to read… [17]

Climate change impact: Nepal’s snow mountains lose one-third of ice - Ground Report

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning about the impacts of climate change, revealing that Nepal’s snow-capped mountains have lost nearly one-third of their ice over the past three decades. This alarming revelation came during his visit to the area near Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. Click here to read… [18]

On sacred ground in Nepal, UN chief calls for global action for peace - UN News

“It is an honor to be here in Lumbini – a site of spirituality, serenity, and peace,” Mr. Guterres began. “I am deeply moved to have been invited to pay tribute to Lord Buddha.” A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lumbini in southern Nepal, is known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It holds immense spiritual significance and draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

PPP open to electoral alliance with PTI against PML-N – Dawn

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has expressed its willingness to form an electoral alliance with its arch-rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), to counter its former ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “We may enter into an (electoral) alliance with other parties, including the PTI, against the PML-N,” said Punjab PPP acting president Rana Farooq Saeed at a press conference here on Wednesday. Click here to read… [20]

Six terrorists killed in Pakistan's Balochistan in intelligence-based operations – Hindustan Times

The operation was carried out late on Tuesday night in Sambaza area of the Zhob district, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing said. Six terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s restive south-western Balochistan province, the military said on Wednesday. Click here to read… [21]

Pakistan's October consumer inflation declines to 26.9%: Statistics Bureau – Business Standard

Pakistan's consumer inflation in October was 26.9% year-on-year compared with 31.4% in September, statistics bureau data showed on Wednesday, as the country awaits its first review following a loan from the International Monetary Fund. Click here to read… [22]

Pak, IMF to start negotiations on Thursday for release of USD 710 mn second tranche of USD 3 bn loan –PTI News

Pakistan and the IMF will start their negotiations Thursday for the release of USD 710 million second tranche of a USD 3 billion loan to the cash-strapped country to stabilise its debt-ridden economy - a real challenge for the caretaker government ahead of the elections expected in January. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka

India, Sri Lanka resume talks for economic and technology cooperation agreement- The Times of India

India and Sri Lanka held twelfth round negotiations on Economic and Technology Corporation Agreement (ETCA) in Colombo from October 30 – November 1, 2023. The talks resumed after a gap of nearly five years, the prior 11 rounds of negotiations held between 2016-2018. During this round, it said, both the sides engaged in discussions on various issues, including trade in goods, technical barriers to trade, sanitary (human and animal health) and phytosanitary (plant health) measures, trade in services, custom procedure, trade facilitation, rules of origin, trade remedies, and dispute settlement. Click here to read… [24]

Days after Chinese ship docks at Colombo, India and Sri Lanka navies top brass meet for maritime cooperation– The Hindu Business Line

Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar met Sri Lanka Navy’s Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and discussed modalities of increasing maritime co-operation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Goa Maritime Conclave 2023 where both discussed modalities for increasing maritime cooperation in the field of hydrography, training and capability enhancement and progress of various capacity building project. Later, Vice-Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, held bilateral discussion with Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Commando further increase their friendly cooperation. Click here to read… [25]

Sri Lanka: Indian Finance Minister meets Mahanayake Theros, briefs on Solar Power project- News First

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reached Colombo on November 1, 2023, on a three-day visit of Sri Lanka. On November 1, Finance Minister paid her obeisance at the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple at Kandy and called on Mahanayake of the Malwathu Chapter of the Siam Sect, the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero. During this meeting Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated the strong connect the people of India feel through the Prime Minister of India for the people of Sri Lanka. Indian FM is set to attend Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated the strong connect the people of India feel through the Prime Minister of India for the people of Sri Lanka, on November 2. Click here to read… [26]