Neighborhood News Digest- 23 August 2024

Afghanistan

Vice and Virtue Law Ratified By Islamic Emirate Leader-Tolo News

The Ministry of Justice has announced the enforcement of the law concerning the Ministry of Vice and Virtue after it was ratified by the leader of the Islamic Emirate. This law consists of four chapters and thirty-five articles addressing various issues. Matters such as women's hijab, men's covering, media regulations, and how the ministry's enforcers should interact with the public are among the most important articles of this law. Click here to read... [2]

Uzbekistan-Supported Construction of Religious School in Balkh Begins-Tolo News

The foundation stone of a religious school was laid on sixty acres of land with financial cooperation from Uzbekistan in the New City area of Mazar-e-Sharif. Furqat Nazarov, the Consul General of Uzbekistan in Mazar-e-Sharif, said that the construction of this school will cost 6 million dollars and will have the capacity to accommodate one thousand people. Click here to read... [3]

UN: Deportation of Afghan Migrants from Pakistan Has Decreased-Tolo News

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported a decrease in the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan. In a newly released report, this organization said that the number of returnees from Pakistan in July has decreased compared to May and June. Click here to read... [4]

Kazakhstan accredits Taliban-appointed envoy as charge d’Affaires-The Khaama Press

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday, August 21, that it has approved Mr. Rahmani as the chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan. According to a press release from the ministry, Ali-Bek Bakayev, the deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan, stated that the approval aims to enhance trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation between Astana and Kabul. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Revocation of red passports: A new reality for Hasina in India – The Daily Star

After the interim government revoked all diplomatic passports yesterday, questions have now arisen as to how long Sheikh Hasina can stay in India and whether she faces a possible extradition. Click here to read... [6]

Chief adviser proposes high-level Bangladesh-India mechanism for flood response – The Daily Star

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has shared the idea of developing a high-level mechanism between Bangladesh and India to jointly tackle emergency situations like floods. Click here to read... [7]

Regaining the confidence of Bangladeshis is key to safeguarding India’s national security – The Print

During the 15-year rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League from 2009 to 2024, India-Bangladesh relations have been a win-win situation for both. There was mutual cooperation in all spheres of national security. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Vehicle prices skyrocket due to 2022 tax revisions- Kuensel

The initial excitement over the lifting of the vehicle import moratorium on August 18 has quickly turned to dismay, as prospective car buyers are now shocked by the sharp rise in vehicle prices. The increase in price is attributed to revisions in the Tax Bill 2022, which have significantly impacted the pricing of automobiles in the country. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Minister Shaheem appointed to OIC's International Islamic Fiqh Academy– Avas

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has appointed Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed as a member of its International Islamic Fiqh Academy. Shaheem was appointed to the post after an administrative meeting of the OIC Fiqh Academy held on August 8. Shaheem has previously held several OIC positions, including serving as an advisor to the OIC Secretary General and leading the OIC's Voice of Wisdom Centre. Earlier in April, he was appointed to the Muslim World League's Supreme Council. Click here to read... [10]

Health Minister Khaleel Links Unhygienic Food Production to Illegal Migrants in the Maldives– The Maldives Journal

Health Minister Abdulla Khaleel has highlighted a concerning link between unhygienic food production and illegal immigrants in the Maldives, underscoring the government's ongoing efforts to enforce stricter food safety regulations. Speaking at a press conference organized by the Health Ministry, Minister Khaleel revealed that since January 2024, the ministry has conducted raids on 1,579 establishments suspected of selling food items without proper registration. Of these, 14 establishments were closed, while 13 were permitted to reopen after complying with food safety standards. Click here to read... [11]

Pakistan

Rs20bn allocated for Azm-i-Istehkam-Dawn

The government appr¬oved a Rs20 billion “special allocation” on Thursday for Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, an initiative announced three months ago to combat terrorism and extremism. The decision was made during a meeting of the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who sanctioned supplementary grants totalling Rs2.23bn for security forces. Click here to read... [12]

ECP notifies Aimal as ANP chief after over three months- Dawn

A day after a revised list of political parties issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan showed Asfandyar Wali Khan as the Awami National Party president, the ECP on Thursday notified certificate of ANP’s intra-party elections conducted after a year’s delay. Though the ‘updated’ list of political parties remains unchanged, the notification recognises Aimal Wali Khan as president of the party around three and a half months after the exercise. Click here to read... [13]

Loans from Middle East sought-The Express Tribune

As Pakistan begins seeking commercial loans from Middle Eastern banks to bridge a $2 billion external financing gap, the government informed a Senate panel on Thursday that the cost of borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has exceeded 5%, making it an expensive option. On Thursday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reached out to Dubai Islamic Bank, requesting a commercial loan. This marked his second meeting with a Gulf bank in one week, following an earlier meeting with Mashreq Bank for financing. Click here to read... [14]

PML-N solo stance on key issues frustrates PPP-The Express Tribune

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday expressed his disappointment to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif over lack of progress on an agreement reached earlier regarding issues being faced by the two allies in Punjab, stressing that absence of consultation on key issues was straining their alliance. Click here to read... [15]

Sri Lanka

Namal Rajapaksa calls for collective effort to build brighter future – Daily Mirror

While acknowledging past mistakes, SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa emphasised the need for a collective effort to build a better future for all. Click here to read... [16]

Ruwan briefs visiting U.S. official - Daily Mirror

Senior advisor to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on climate change Ruwan Wijewardene, in his meeting with Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn and U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, briefed that Sri Lanka is grappling with issues such as medical wastes from neighbouring countries. Click here to read... [17]

‘We need strong mandate to make revolutionary change’: Anura Kumara – Daily Mirror

Claiming that a minority government will not help make the expected change, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today he was hoping for a strong mandate to make a revolutionary change. Click here to read... [18]