Neighborhood News Digest - 09 September 2024

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Embassy in London set to close-The Khaama Press

According to the report, the Afghanistan embassy in London will close. The British Foreign Office officially informed Zalmay Rasul, the former ambassador to London, of this decision. Reports indicate that Mr. Rasul was summoned to the British Foreign Office on Friday, September 6, and was asked to close the Afghanistan embassy within 20 days. Click here to read… [2]

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to visit Kabul for talks with Afghan officials-The Khaama Press

Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan, has announced that he will travel to Kabul regardless of whether Islamabad approves or disapproves of his visit. According to Dawn newspaper, Mr Gandapur made this statement during a public gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, September 5. Click here to read… [3]

UN: Afghanistan one of the most challenging countries for women-The Khaama Press

The World Food Programme announced on Sunday that consecutive crises in Afghanistan have placed the greatest burden on women and girls. This UN-affiliated organization stated that Afghanistan is one of the most challenging countries in the world for women. Click here to read… [4]

Energy Projects to Boost Domestic Power Supply to Launch Worth $18.7M-Tolo News

The Ministry of Energy and Water announced the commencement of work on the new 252 MVA Tarakhil substation and the 220 kV transmission line from Chimtala to the new Tarakhil substation. The acting minister said that the implementation of these projects will resolve the power outage challenges in Kabul's industrial parks, hospitals, and government offices. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Bank to rescue problem banks - The Daily Star

The Bangladesh Bank is set to rescue problem banks including some Shariah-based banks controlled by S Alam Group by managing liquidity or merging a few. The condition of a few crisis-hit banks is at the stage of bankruptcy but the government has no plan to declare them bankrupt, said BB Governor Ahsan H Mansur at a press conference yesterday. Click here to read… [6]

Rohingyas sneaking in thru Naf river – The Daily Star

A few hundred Rohingyas have been crossing the border into Bangladesh daily through the Naf river over the past few days, facing attacks by both the Myanmar military and Arakan Army rebels in Rakhine state. Click here to read… [7]

Yunus: Dhaka-Delhi relations should be based on equity, fairness – Dhaka Tribune

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has said relations between Bangladesh and India should be based on equity and fairness. "We need to maintain good relations with India, but it should be based on equity and fairness," Mahfuz Alam, special assistant to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, quoted the chief adviser as saying during a dialogue with students who had participated in the student-people revolution, at Chief Adviser's Office in Dhaka on Sunday. Click here to read… [8]

‘Restoring democracy through reforms is BNP’s main focus’ – Dhaka Tribune

In an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune’s Nawaz Farhin Antara, BNP Standing Committee Member and former minister of commerce Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury spoke about the party’s plans for the upcoming days and talked about the current steps of BNP in favor of the establishment of people’s government through fair elections and nation-building in a clean political process. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

DGPC and Adani Group yet to finalise shareholding of Wangchhu project- Kuensel

The Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) has clarified that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with India’s Adani Group on the development of the Wangchhu Hydropower Project does not include specifics on the shareholding structure for the joint venture project. In June this year, the DGPC and the Adani Group signed the MoU to take forward the development of the Wangchhu Hydropower Project in Chukha. Click here to read… [10]

India, Bhutan look forward to harnessing space science for betterment of people- Deccan Herald

At the first meeting of the Bhutan-India Joint Working Group, both sides reviewed the ongoing bilateral space cooperation and charted out the way forward on the different areas outlined in the Joint Plan of Action (JPoA) on Space Cooperation. The JPoA -- which provides a concrete roadmap for bilateral cooperation in the Space sector -- was signed during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bhutan in March 2024. In consonance with the JPoA, signed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and GovTech Agency of Bhutan, additional 16 MHz bandwidth was allocated to Bhutan on the South Asia Satellite by the ISRO, the joint press release said. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives

First time since troops withdrawal, a thaw in chill: India, Maldives hold defence talks– Indian Express

For the first time since India withdrew its uniformed military personnel from the Maldives early this year, New Delhi and Male held a defence dialogue on September 7, at the level of top officials where they discussed “ongoing defence cooperation projects” and “forthcoming bilateral military exercises”. This is significant since a chill has gripped bilateral relations since President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office last year on the plank of his “India Out” campaign. According to an official statement by the Defence Ministry on the 5th Defence Cooperation Dialogue between India and the Maldives, the Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane while the Maldivian delegation was headed by Chief of Defence Force, Maldives National Defence Force General lbrahim Hilmy. Click here to read… [12]

Usable reserves increase to USD 61 million at the end of August– Adhadhu

Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Septemebr 4. The meeting was held in Abu Dhabi yesterday during his ongoing official visit to the UAE. During the meeting, Zameer formally delivered a letter from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu addressed to the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Foreign Ministry said both ministers discussed ways to deepen the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Zameer conveyed appreciation to the leadership and the government of the UAE for the generous support and close cooperation extended to the Maldives over the years. Click here to read… [13]

Pakistan

PTI leaders call for Imran Khan's release in Islamabad rally-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) concluded its highly-anticipated public gathering on the outskirts of Islamabad well after the deadline imposed by the district administration on Sunday. The rally commenced with PTI leader Hammad Azhar addressing the attendees. He asserted that the obstacles imposed by the current rulers indicated their fear of Imran Khan and his supporters. Click here to read… [14]

Balochistan cabinet set to be shuffled-The Express Tribune

A major reshuffle in the Balochistan cabinet is expected in the coming days, with key ministerial changes likely, sources within the provincial government told The Express Tribune. The shake-up appears to follow recent visits by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nayar Bukhari and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif, indicating a possible shift in the political landscape. Click here to read… [15]

Eight Afghan troops killed in border clash-Dawn

A clash between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban on the border near the Kurram district resulted in the death of eight Afghan soldiers, including two ‘key’ commanders, and injuries to at least 16, Dawn has learnt. Sources said the Afghan side attacked a Pakistani check post with heavy weapons in the Palosin area on the Pak-Afghan border on Saturday morning. Click here to read… [16]

3,500 Balochistan schools shut due to teachers’ shortage-Dawn

More than 3,500 schools in Balochistan are non-functional due to a shortage of teachers, the provincial education department has disclosed. In a written reply to a query posed by a Balochistan Assembly member, the department revealed that 542 schools have been closed since the new government took power in February, taking the total number of non-functional girls and boys schools to 3,694 in all 35 districts. Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka

Ruwan predicts another Presidential election in two years if Ranil loses – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka will have to go for another Presidential election in two years time if Ranil Wickremesinghe loses the Presidential election this month, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said today. "Sri Lanka will have to face another Presidential election if either Sajith Premadasa or Anura Kumara Dissanayake emerge victorious at the Presidential election 2024. This is because they don't have a proper understanding on running the economy," Mr. Wijewardene told a ceremony held at UNP Sirikotha Headquarters to mark the 78th anniversary of the party. Click here to read… [18]

Visa issues jeopardise Sri Lanka’s tourism: Industry cautions – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is at risk of a winter season collapse due to delays in reactivating the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, stakeholders warned this week. The ongoing visa issuance issues have caused significant setbacks to international visitors. Click here to read… [19]

Namal’s Economic policies - The good, the bad, the ugly – Daily Mirror

Namal Rajapakse's (RW) English manifesto, spanning 11,809 words, appears to have been hastily prepared. It is poorly conceived, riddled with inconsistencies, lacking in specifics and heavily relies on invoking the legacy of his father, Mahinda Rajapakse (MR). Click here to read… [20]