Neighborhood News Digest – 08 November 2023

Afghanistan

Deadly bus explosion in Kabul kills seven: Police – The Khaama Press

According to Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran, the explosion took place in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of the capital. This area is known for being home to the historically marginalized Shia Hazara community. An explosion occurred in a bus carrying civilian passengers in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul, resulting in the unfortunate loss of seven lives and injuries to 20 others, according to Zadran shared on social media X. Click here to read… [2]

Mullah Baradar in Iran Calls for Increased Political, Economic Ties – Tolo News

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy PM for economic affairs, in his meeting with Energy and Agricultural Jihad ministers of Iran, emphasized the development of political, economic, and commercial relations with Tehran. The office of the Deputy PM for economic affairs wrote on X that Abdul Ghani Baradar in a meeting with Iran's Energy minister mentioned the visit of the Iranian delegation from the Helmand river and said that the water of the river has declined several times in recent years. Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh hikes minimum wage for garment workers after protests - Devi discourse

Bangladesh will raise the minimum wage for garment workers by 56.25%, the first hike since 2019, the junior labour minister said on Tuesday after a week of protests calling for higher salaries. The minimum wage for workers will rise to 12,500 taka ($114) per month from Dec. 1, State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian said. Click here to read… [4]

Why is BSF installing beehives on India-Bangladesh border fence - News9Live

Border Security Force (BSF) has come up with a unique solution to safeguard international borders from trespassers. It has opted for a natural formula to secure its 4,096-kilometre-long India-Bangaladesh border with a unique experiment of installing beehives on the border fence in West Bengal. This unique move of the BSF is expected to help them tackle the instance of cutting the hedge for cattle smuggling and other crimes. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

The Party Presidents Debate – Kuensel

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s (DPT) President Dorji Wangdi devoted his presidential debate focusing primarily on pledges to achieve long-term economic prosperity for the country. The party vowed to establish three new hydropower projects in the country if elected ensuring equity and justice. Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan King plans Gelphu mega city project along Assam border – Northeast Now

The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is on a 10-day trip to India which got started by his visit to Assam on the 3rd of November. He is presently in a two-day visit to Mumbai and it has been learnt that he is stated to meet top Indian business honchos and political leaders with whom he wants to have one-on-one discussions about his dream project of constructing a mega-city in Gelephu which is just across the border of Assam in Chirang district. Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

44th Session of the Universal Periodic Review commences- Raajje

The 44th UPR session, commenced at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on November 6, will continue for a period of two weeks and is set to conclude on November 17. The delegation of Maldives comprises of Counsellor Adam Hamid, Counsellor Aminath Shifaya Ibrahim, Second Secretary Maryam Fathika Fayaz, Third Secretary Mizna Waheed and Attache at the Maldives Mission in Geneva Mohamed Raaidh Saeed. The delegation is being led by Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Offices at Geneva Dr. Asim Ahmed. Click here to read… [8]

Muizzu returns after unofficial UAE visit- Atoll Times

President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has returned to Maldives after an unofficial visit to Abu Dhabi. Muizzu, who left for Abu Dhabi on November 6, returned to Male’ City a day later on November 7. Muizzu had also travelled to Singapore with his family on October 30. He returned on November 5. The officials are yet to disclose details for the purpose of these unofficial visits. Click here to read… [9]

Myanmar

Myanmar rebels capture provincial town as anti-junta offensive widens - Devi Discourse

The shadow National Unity Government (NUG) hailed it as a key victory, although an analyst cautioned that the fighters may struggle to hold Kawlin, which has a population of around 25,000. Myanmar's military is battling a surge in violence as forces opposed to it, including ethnic minority armies, have launched fresh attacks over two years after the generals unseated an democratically elected government in a 2021 coup. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar’s Wa army accepts 5,000 refugees back from China - RFA

Around 5,000 people who fled from northern Myanmar into China are being accepted back by an ethnic army, refugees told Radio Free Asia. The United Wa State Army began taking them back on Sunday. After allied resistance troops captured three cities in northern Shan state in early November, locals initially fled into Chinese territory. Authorities there provided the group shelter in Yunnan province’s Mengding township in a former COVID-19 testing center, but refugees still struggled to obtain food and water. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar Junta Blitzes Kachin Army’s Laiza HQ After Losing Two Bases - The Irrawaddy

Junta forces have been continuously bombarding the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)’s Laiza headquarters since the ethnic armed group seized two key regime outposts on the Myitkyina-Bhamo road in Waingmaw Township, Kachin State. The KIA seized the Aungja base on October 20 and the Gangdau Yang outpost on October 31. Click here to read… [12]

Nepal

What is causing Nepal's deadly earthquakes - First Post

The recent earthquake in Nepal serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle the country faces due to its seismic vulnerability. The Himalayan region’s geological processes have created an environment where earthquakes are an unfortunate reality. While the government and international organisations are making efforts to provide assistance to those affected, the remote and mountainous terrain of Western Nepal poses significant challenges to relief operations. Click here to read… [13]

Brain Drain: A Concerning Trend in Nepal - My Republica

Frequent political changes and uncertainties in Nepal have contributed to the brain drain. One of the primary factors driving Nepali students to study abroad is the limited availability of higher education opportunities within the country. Nepal has a limited number of universities and colleges, resulting in intense competition for admission. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

98% of China's aid to Pak is in form of less-than-generous loans: Report – Business Standard

As much as 98 per cent of China's development funding for its all-weather ally Pakistan came in the form of less-than-generous loans, with only two per cent coming in the form of grants between 2000 and 2021, according to a research report. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan: PML-N, MQM to contest general elections together – The Print

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML-N and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday announced that they would contest the upcoming general elections in Pakistan together, Dawn reported. The announcement comes days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Pakistan President Arif Alvi agreed on February 8, 2024, as the date for polls. Click here to read… [16]

Satellite images show more damage at Pakistan's airbase than officially stated – India Today

As nine militants from Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), an alleged offshoot of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), attacked the MM Alam airbase in Mianwali on Saturday, Pakistan's military public relations wing was quick to issue a clarification, claiming that no substantial harm had been done. Click here to read… [17]

Caretakers stopped from moving bill in Senate – Dawn

In a bizarre move, the caretaker information minister atte­m­pted to move a bill in the Senate but was schooled by the elected members that this was a transgression of his constitutional domain. Murtaza Solangi sought to move the Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill in the house on Tuesday but was stopped by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and other members. Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

The National Policy Conference on Women’s Access to Decent Work in Sri Lanka- Lanka Business

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), in collaboration with Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) and Co-Impact, hosted the National Policy Conference on Women’s Access to Decent Work in Sri Lanka on October 31, 2023. The conference served as a platform for policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss means of improving women’s access to decent work in the country, focusing on two main aspects: the importance of creating decent jobs for women and the role of childcare facilities in enhancing women’s access to decent work in Sri Lanka. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka issues EoI for 200 MW of floating solar- Renewables Now

The government of Sri Lanka will launch a tender for the construction of two floating solar photovoltaic (PV) parks totalling 200 MW to be installed on the surface of Samanalawewa Reservoir, currently used for hydropower generation. An invitation for expression of interest (EoI) was recently launched by government-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), with proposals to be accepted by December 13, 2023. Click here to read… [20]

US to provide $553 million for terminal venture at Sri Lanka port- Hindustan Times

The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said it will provide $553 million financing for a Colombo port terminal project, partly owned by India's Adani Group, advancing the first foray by an Indian company into the sector. Ports-to-edible oils Adani group, controlled by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, holds a 51% stake in the west container terminal of the port, which also has a terminal run by China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd. Click here to read… [21]