Neighborhood News Digest- 25 September 2024

Afghanistan

Culture Ministry Stresses National Language Development-Tolo News

Atiqullah Azizi, Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture at the Ministry of Information and Culture, has emphasized the development of national languages in the country. During a regular meeting of the High Council of Languages, attended by members of the Ministries of Higher Education, Education, and the Academy of Sciences, Azizi stated that all languages have rights within the system and that work must be done on them. Click here to read… [2]

Afghani’s Value Rises, But Market Prices Remain Unchanged-Tolo News

The Central Bank of Afghanistan reports that the value of the national currency has increased by 2.24 Afghanis against foreign currencies in the past month. The bank attributes this rise in Afghani’s value to the implementation of better monetary policies, prevention of dollar smuggling, increased exports, and the use of Afghani in currency markets. Click here to read… [3]

Opium Use for Pain Relief Rises Amid Lack of Medical Care in Wakhan-Tolo News

Some residents of Wakhan district in Badakhshan have told TOLOnews that due to the cold weather and the lack of medical centers and medicine, some patients use opium to relieve pain. They have called on authorities to address the challenges faced by the people in this district, as the use of opium for pain relief can lead to addiction. According to Wakhan residents, over the past 20 years, there has been little attention to implementing development projects in this district. Click here to read… [4]

Qatar pledges $75 million to support education and healthcare for women in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

During a special United Nations session on women, the Qatari Minister of International Cooperation pledged $75 million to support education and healthcare for women in Afghanistan. Lolwah Al-Khater highlighted that women’s access to education, economic participation, and other freedoms are crucial for Afghanistan’s development. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

ADB President Reaffirms Strong Partnership with Bhutan during Official Visit-ADB

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to supporting Bhutan’s development goals and praised the country’s recent achievements during a 3-day official visit to the country. Click here to read… [6]

ADB, Bhutan sign loan agreement for solar power project-Social News

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has signed a US$30 million loan agreement with Bhutan to fund a solar power project. The Distributed Solar for Public Infrastructure Project aims to generate up to 35 megawatts of solar power systems on rooftops of public infrastructure across the country, according to Xinhua news agency. Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

President Muizzu meets EU Commission President and Palestinian President– Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who openly supports Israel's genocide in Gaza, during his ongoing visit to New York. Muizzu is in New York to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and a Special Session of the UN Security Council. According to the information publicized by the President's Office, Muizzu met with Ursula before meeting Abbas. The President's Office said Abbas thanked the government and people of Maldives for their assistance and support. Click here to read… [8]

President announces vision to transform Maldives into a developed nation by 2040– PSM News

In a bold move, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced an ambitious goal to transform the Maldives into a developed country by 2024. He made the statement at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79). President Dr. Muizzu emphasized that destiny is shaped by choices and expressed confidence that this goal is achievable with a clear plan in place. The President highlighted the Maldives’ journey from being one of the poorest countries at independence in 1965 to reaching middle-income status in just five decades. He stated that boosting productivity is key to economic transformation, which will involve reforming institutions, increasing state capacity, and leveraging the private sector. Click here to read… [9]

Muizzu told me anti-India pledges were made to win polls: Ranil – Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu claimed his anti-India pledges were made to win last year's presidential election, Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said. Ranil, who lost Sri Lanka's presidential election this week, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with India's First Post on September 19. In reference to India, Ranil said that Muizzu told him after the elections that "he had to make some promises in the election. That’s what he had to do. I was there in person when Mr. Modi was sworn in and I found the chemistry between them having really improved," Ranil said about how the relationship between Muizzu and Modi has changed since last year's polls. Click here to read… [10]

Pakistan

Minister hopes to clinch IMF deal today-The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday expressed optimism that the IMF board would approve the 37-month $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Pakistan in its meeting scheduled on Wednesday. Click here to read… [11]

ANP chief Aimal Wali Khan calls PTI 'Taliban’s political wing'-The Express Tribune

Awami National Party (ANP) President Senator Aimal Wali Khan, accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of reintroducing 40,000 terrorists into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), calling it the political wing of the Taliban. He made these remarks during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. Click here to read… [12]

Govt to go all-out against non-filers-The Express Tribune

The government has decided to abolish non-filers from the tax laws and gradually ban their 15 types of activities, as it has won rare support from Pakistan's top industrialists for getting more revenues from existing filers and punishing non-compliant citizens. Click here to read… [13]

Imran won’t be tried in military court, govt tells IHC-Dawn

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday disposed of a petition of former prime minister Imran Khan against his possible military trial as the government said his court-martial is not on the cards and any such move will be initiated after completing formalities. Click here to read… [14]