Neighborhood News Digest - 03 October 2024

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Exports to Pakistan Decline in the Current Solar Year-Tolo News

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce reports that from the beginning of Hamal (solar calendar) to the 10th of Mizan (solar calendar) of the current solar year, Afghanistan's exports to Pakistan reached $319 million. In comparison, during the same period last year, this figure was $344 million.Click here to read… [2]

Middle East Tensions Escalate: Will Afghanistan Be Affected?-Tolo News

Moeen Gul Samakni, a political analyst, commented on the effects of Iran's missile strike on Israel: "Israel will certainly retaliate. In any case, the first consequence will be that life becomes difficult for Afghan refugees in Iran, forcing them to return to Afghanistan. Iranians may also flee to Afghanistan because they won’t be able to live in a state of war."Click here to read… [3]

Over 300,000 Tons of Goods Transported via Afghan Railways-Tolo News

The Ministry of Public Works reported that over 300,000 tons of goods were transported via the country's railways during the month of Sunbula (22 August to 21 September) this year. According to Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, the ministry's spokesperson, more than 8,000 tons of these goods were exports, with a significant portion consisting of dried fruits and pomegranate juice.Click here to read… [4]

Thomas West steps down as US envoy for Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Thomas West, announcing his resignation as Washington’s special envoy for Afghanistan, stated that the U.S. remains committed to supporting Afghanistan and its people. West mentioned that the “resilience and courage” of Afghans have given him hope for the country’s future.Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Govt to sit with major political parties Oct 5 – The Daily Star

The interim government will hold talks with major political parties on October 5 regarding the progress of the six reform commissions and the law and order situation in the country.Click here to read… [6]

Egypt invites Chief Adviser to attend D-8 Summit – Dhaka Tribune

Egypt has invited Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to attend the D-8 Summit which will be held later this year. Ambassador of Egypt to Bangladesh Omar Mohie Eldin Ahmed Fahmy met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday and informed that Egypt would host the D-8 Summit in 2024.Click here to read… [7]

Dhaka, Delhi stress promoting bilateral relations – Prothom Alo

Bangladesh and India have emphasized that the two neighbouring countries need to work together in promoting bilateral relations for the welfare of their people. This was observed today, Wednesday while Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on the foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry in the capital, a foreign ministry’s press release said.Click here to read… [8]

Inflation eases to 9.92pc, food inflation still above 10pc – Prothom Alo

Inflation has eased in September, for the second consecutive month under the interim government. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the overall inflation rate now stands at 9.92 per cent, down from 10.49 per cent in August, while food inflation remained high at 10.40 per cent.Click here to read… [9]

RMG workers call off road-blockade after army assurance – Prothom Alo

RMG workers from four factories under the Birds Group, who had been blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra highway in the Baipail area of Ashulia in Savar, have ended their two-day protest following assurances from the army.Click here to read… [10]

Bhutan

Anil Ambani's co partners DHI to set up 1.2 GW solar, hydro power in Bhutan – Business Standard

Marking its first foreign venture, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group on Wednesday said it has entered into a partnership with Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), the commercial arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan, to jointly develop solar and hydropower projects in the neighbouring country.Click here to read… [11]

Bhutan unveils GMC as a model of futuristic sustainable urban development – Kuensel

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is poised to become a gateway between the world and South Asia, as well as the Vajrayana capital of the world. This vision was shared by Bjarke Ingels, founding partner and creative director of BIG, during the unveiling of GMC’s master plan at the Bhutan Innovation Forum yesterday.Click here to read… [12]

Maldives

Maldives attends ministerial meeting of Global Coalition to Defeat IS– Adhadhu

Maldives has participated in the 10th ministerial meeting of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS terrorist group. All member countries attended the meeting held in Washington. This was the first ministerial meeting attended by Maldives since becoming a member of the coalition in August. The coalition was formed in 2014 by the US in response to the attacks by the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq. The United States claimed that the Iraqi government had requested the formation of a coalition against IS.Click here to read… [13]

MDP to form think tank, academy and launch a business– Adhadhu

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) national council has decided to set up a think tank and an academy to train politicians under a road map to strengthen the party and sustain it as an institution. MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said the think tank is being formed to promote good policies on behalf of the party and to promote the party. "Our constitution mentions a think tank within the standing committees. However, we are now choosing to form such a think tank as a separate institution by registering it on behalf of the MDP," Fayyaz said.Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

Govt lacks two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments: Bilawal- The Express Tribune

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that the judiciary must remain completely apolitical, noting that the government lacks the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments and is attempting to bring Maulana Fazlur Rehman on board regarding this issue.Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan, Russia ink historic trade deal-The Express Tribune

The first-ever Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum was held in Moscow, marking a significant event in the evolving trade relationship between the two nations.The forum saw the participation of a 60-member Pakistani business delegation, led by Federal Minister for Privatisation, Board of Investment, and Communication, Abdul Aleem Khan.Click here to read… [16]

Malaysian PM arrives for three-day official visit-Dawn

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Islamabad for his three-day official visit aimed at reinvigorating the bilateral strategic partnership between Malaysia and Pakistan. He was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Nur Khan Airbase.Click here to read… [17]

'Inflation drop was more than we expected': Fin Min Aurangzeb-The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that the country has seen a "sharper-than-expected drop in inflation", with the economy moving towards improvement. Speaking at the launch of the Pakistan Economic Dashboard on Wednesday, the finance czar highlighted key economic progress and stressed the need for structural reforms to ensure sustainable stability.Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

UNP-SJB electoral pact now a non-event – Daily Mirror

An electoral alliance between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) is now going to be a non-event, with each of them planning for different strategies to contest the upcoming General Elections, Daily Mirror learns.Click here to read… [19]

President appoints two senior economic advisors on honorary basis - Daily Mirror

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Duminda Hulangamuwa and Prof. Anil Fernando of the Sri Jayawardenapura University as Senior Advisors for Economic Affairs and Finance on honorary basis.Click here to read… [20]

IMF delegation, government’s economic team review IMF programme – Daily Mirror

A high-level delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that arrived in Sri Lanka today held discussions with the economic team of the new government where they reviewed the IMF programme thus far, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.Click here to read… [21]