Neighborhood News Digest- 07 October 2024

Afghanistan

Moscow Format meeting raises global concerns over terrorist’s presence in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Participants in the sixth Moscow Format meeting issued a joint statement on Friday, October 4th, expressing concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, calling it a threat to global security. The participating delegations assessed the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan as a regional and global threat. They called on the Taliban to prevent the use of Afghanistan’s territory against neighboring countries, the region, and beyond.Click here to read… [2]

Nearly 240,000 Afghan Migrants Return from Iran in One Month-Tolo News

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 240,000 Afghan migrants returned to their country from Iran in the past month. According to the report, around 43% of these returnees were forcibly expelled by Iranian authorities, while the remaining migrants returned voluntarily to Afghanistan.Click here to read… [3]

Foreign Carpet Imports Hurt Local Market, Say Balkh Sellers-Tolo News

The representative of the carpet sellers in Balkh said that due to the lack of a proper market for locally handmade carpets, only a few shops have remained open over time, out of dozens that previously existed.Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

IGP: Three-tier security plan rolled out for Durga Puja celebrations – Dhaka Tribune

Ahead of Durga Puja, security has been significantly ramped up across nearly 31,500 puja mandaps nationwide. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam said on Monday that members of Ansar and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be on 24-hour duty at each mandap to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration.Click here to read… [5]

Media reform commission to be formed upon talks with stakeholders: Nahid – The Daily Star

Information Adviser Nahid Islam today said a media reform commission will be formed upon discussions with all stakeholders involved. Nahid said journalists' organisations should work to protect the interests of its members.Click here to read… [6]

Dhaka expresses deep concern to Myanmar over new Rohingya influx – The Daily Star

Dhaka has expressed deep concern over the new arrivals of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals in recent times due to armed conflicts in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The concern was expressed when Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U Kyaw Soe Moe paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, said a press release.Click here to read… [7]

Creation of Islamic radicalism in Bangladesh will abet radicals in India: Nahid Islam – Prothom Alo

Naming two Indian media outlets, information adviser to the interim government Nahid Islam has said “propaganda” has been going on over the mass uprising in Bangladesh. According to him, a creation of Islamic radicalism in Bangladesh will be helpful to the radicals in India, and such a propaganda might be carried out from this perspective.Click here to read… [8]

Bangladesh foreign secretary to visit New York, Washington – Bussiness Standard

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin is scheduled to make an official visit to the United States from October 7-14 to hold a series of meetings as the two sides eye stronger relations in diverse areas. The foreign secretary is scheduled to leave Dhaka shortly after Sunday midnight, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Sunday (6 October).Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Commits To Boost Fintech Connectivity with Bhutan – Times Now

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced India's commitment to enhance fintech support to Bhutan, highlighting the increasing adoption of UPI and RuPay cards in the country. During a meeting with Bhutanese Finance Minister Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, she emphasiSed the strong partnership between the two nations and their shared growth aspirations.Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

President Muizzu meets Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar– Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on October 6, 2024. This is the first meeting on his ongoing state visit to India. Several members of the 50-strong delegation joined the meeting. According to the President's Office, issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting. However, no details were provided. Jaishankar said, after the meeting, that the talks between Muizzu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will further strengthen ties. Muizzu and Jaishankar had met on two previous occasions - during Muizzu's trip to India for Modi's swearing-in ceremony and during Jaishankar's official visit to the Maldives in August.Click here to read… [11]

Maldives President Muizzu meets PM Modi today, says India aware of fiscal situation, will ease burden – Indian Express

Ahead of his bilateral meeting on October 7 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has flagged the need for financial aid to his country, saying Delhi is “fully cognisant” of the island nation’s fiscal situation and will always be ready to “ease the burden” as one of Male’s biggest development partners. Ties between the two countries have been under strain ever since Muizzu rode to power last November on an ‘India Out’ election plank. Muizzu reached New Delhi on October 6 on his first bilateral State visit. He was received at the airport by Minister of State (External Affairs) Kirti Vardhan Singh. During his five-day visit — from October 6 to 10 — he will also travel to Agra, Mumbai and Bengaluru.Click here to read… [12]

Gov't aims to increase revenue from tourism to USD 7 billion – PSM News

Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has revealed that the government aims to increase the revenue generated through the tourism industry to USD 7 billion, during this tenure. Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Minister Faisal reiterated the government's overarching goal of boosting the revenue generated from tourism. The tourism industry contributes the greatest portion of the state revenue. The minister stated that the government has adopted plans to boost the revenue to USD 7 billion, adding that efforts are also underway to increase tourist arrivals to four million annually.Click here to read… [13]

Pakistan

Karachi terror attack killing 2 Chinese nationals to not go unpunished: FO-Dawn

The Foreign Office on Monday said last night’s terror attack near the Karachi airport, which left two Chinese nationals dead, would not “go unpunished”. Late on Sunday night, a massive explosion occurred on a road near Jinnah International Airport, killing a total of three people and injuring at least 11 others, including a Chinese citizen.Click here to read… [14]

Govt imposes ban on Pashtun Tahaffuz Move¬ment-Dawn

The federal government on Sunday imposed a ban on the Pashtun Tahaffuz Move¬ment (PTM), citing threats to national peace and security. The PTM was declared “unlawful” under Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. A notification issued by the interior ministry mentioned that the PTM posed a “significant danger” to public order and safety in the country, and wans being in the First Schedule of ATA as a proscribed organisation.Click here to read… [15]

Chinese embassy condemns 'terrorist attack' on citizens in Karachi-The Express Tribune

The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has strongly condemned the deadly explosion near Karachi’s international airport, labelling it a "terrorist attack" that resulted in the tragic deaths of two Chinese nationals.Click here to read… [16]

Sri Lanka

Over 120 independent groups place deposits for General Elections – Daily Mirror

A total of 122 independent groups have placed their cash deposits for the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 14, 2024, the Election Commission stated. The groups made their deposits between September 25 to October 04.Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka secures USD 200 Mn from World Bank - Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka secured USD 200 million from the World Bank’s IDA for Phase 2 of the Resilience, Stability and Economic Turnaround (RESET) programme, the President's Media Division (PMD) said. This funding supports economic reforms for stability, growth and protection of the vulnerable, the PMD added.Click here to read… [18]

Dozens of MPs to quit parliamentary politics – Daily Mirror

Dozens of MPs who were in the ninth Parliament which is now dissolved have decided to quit politics due to reasons ranging from old age, ill health to unfavourable political realities for them, Daily Mirror learns. Political dynamics appear to be changing drastically as far as the traditional parties are concerned in the aftermath of the Presidential election. For the first time in the history of post-independence Sri Lanka, the National People’s Power (NPP, a force outside the traditional mainstream, was elected to power at the latest Presidential election setting the stage for it to grab parliamentary power at the General Election on November 14.Click here to read… [19]