Neighborhood News Digest- 17 October 2024

Afghanistan

Pakistani PM: World Should Ask Afghan Authorities to Form Inclusive Gov’t-Tolo News

Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has called on the international community to encourage the caretaker government in Afghanistan to establish a politically inclusive government during the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At this meeting, Sharif also stated that Pakistan wants a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan and that Afghanistan's territory should not be used against other countries. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan to Participate in Istanbul International Exhibition-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that Afghanistan will participate in the Istanbul International Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Turkey in one and a half months. Click here to read... [3]

Turkish Maarif Foundation continues educational operations in Afghanistan with 4,500 students-The Khaama Press

The head of the Turkish Maarif Foundation stated that the foundation continues its operations in Afghanistan with approximately 4,500 students and 1,000 staff members. Ahmet Tokur, the head of the Turkish Maarif Foundation in Afghanistan, mentioned during a press conference held on Tuesday, October 15, that the foundation provides educational services through 46 institutions across eight provinces in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [4]

Over 250 Afghan migrants killed in shooting by Iranian border guards-The Khaama Press

The Iran Human Rights Organization (Halvash) reported that Iranian border guards shot at Afghan refugees attempting to enter the country, resulting in the deaths of 260 individuals. The organization shared a video showing the bodies of the victims, stating that these individuals were killed last Sunday night in the border region of Kalgan Saravan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Govt takes first step to join China-led trade bloc - The Daily Star

The commerce ministry on Monday sent a letter of consent to the foreign ministry, requesting Bangladesh's entry into the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest trade pact. It is the first formal step taken by Bangladesh to join the RCEP, which is a major trade agreement that includes trade in services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, and dispute settlement. Click here to read... [6]

BNP seeks review of caretaker govt cancellation – The Daily Star

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday filed a petition seeking review of a 2010 Supreme Court verdict that scrapped the non-party caretaker government system. The application was filed with the section concerned of the Appellate Division of the SC by Fakhrul's lawyers Zainul Abedin and Mohammad Shishir Manir. Click here to read... [7]

US urges accountability for all acts of violence in Bangladesh, regardless of identity - Dhaka Tribune

The United States insists that anyone responsible for violence must be held accountable, regardless of their identity. The question came as the interim government had said in a statement recently that the students and people who had actively participated in the July movement and worked in favour of it during this period would not face any cases, arrests or harassment for any incidents related to the uprising. Click here to read... [8]

Bangladesh government cancels national holidays introduced by Hasina regime – The Hindu

Bangladesh has cancelled the annual birth anniversary celebration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with several other national holidays that the Sheikh Hasina government had introduced, according to an announcement by interim government. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

China Has Constructed 22 Villages in Bhutan; Eyes Doklam for Strategic Supremacy Over India: New Report – EurAsian Times

A research report reveals that China has built 22 villages and settlements within Bhutan’s traditional borders, including 19 villages and three small settlements. Three of the villages are set to be upgraded to towns. Notably, seven of these cross-border constructions have emerged since early 2023, indicating a significant acceleration in development in the annexed areas. Click here to read... [10]

His Majesty meets Bhutanese in Perth-Kuensel

In a gathering unlike any seen before on a foreign soil yesterday, Perth’s HBF Park Stadium was filled with close to 16,000 Bhutanese eager to meet Their Majesties the King and Gyaltsuen. The event marked the first of two Royal audiences scheduled in the city, which is home to the largest Bhutanese community outside Bhutan. Click here to read... [11]

An honorary doctorate?-Kuensel

This social media advertisement has enticed many Bhutanese yearning to upgrade their academic qualification without having to pen a word or attend a single class. An organiser or host company claiming to be the Nomination Committee Member and Academic Counselor for a university in Paris, France, claims to have awarded the doctorate to more than 5,000 people. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

MNU under fire for inviting US State Department for lecture– Adhadhu

The Maldives National University (MNU) has come under fire for inviting US State Department officials to give a lecture on terrorism. The event was jointly organized by MNU's Society of Sharia and Law and the US State Department. The event was titled Terrorism Prosecutions - A US Perspective. Social media users criticized MNU for collaborating with the US which has been the biggest ally in Israel's genocide against the Palestinians. Click here to read... [13]

Chinese Embassy provides assistance to 32 higher education students– PSM News

The Chinese Embassy in the Maldives has provided assistance to 32 students pursuing higher education. These students, enrolled at the Maldives National University (MNU) and the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM), received scholarships through the Chinese Ambassador Bursary Programme. The scholarships were presented during a handover ceremony attended by State Minister for Higher Education Ahmed Shafeeu, MNU Vice Chancellor Dr. Aishath Adam, IUM Deputy Vice Chancellor Aishath Waheedha, along with representatives and students from both universities. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

As SCO summit concludes in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz urges investment for regional connectivity-Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for investing in the region’s collective capacity for connectivity as he chaired the 23rd Shan¬ghai Cooperation Organi¬sation (SCO) summit in Islamabad on Wednesday. Click here to read... [15]

Pak-Afghan Highway reopens after talks-The Express Tribune

The Pak-Afghan Highway, which was closed by protesting Kokikhel tribesmen, reopened on Wednesday after 65 days of closure. The tribesmen, led by Malik Naseer Kokikhel, had set up a camp at Bagyari Check Post on the Pak-Afghan Highway to record their protest against the government. Hundreds of tribesmen and political leaders, including Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, as well as PTI and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl notables, were part of the protest. Click here to read... [16]

Leaders urge robust SCO connectivity-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for the expansion of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and emphasised the need for advancing the shared vision of an economically integrated region and investment in the connectivity projects without looking at them through political prism. Click here to read... [17]

SCO summit: Members sign eight agreements, endorse China as 2024-25 chair-The Express Tribune

During the summit, eight significant agreements were signed, focusing on issues like the SCO’s budget, the operations of its secretariat, and regional counterterrorism efforts. These agreements signed on Wednesday highlight the organisation's commitment to cooperation in areas such as security, trade, and economic development. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

Tourist arrivals surpass 63,000 in first half of October – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka welcomed 63,491 tourists in the first half of October, in continuing with the slowdown in tourist arrivals, ahead of the winter season, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data showed. From October 07 to 15, the tourist arrival average was 4169.4 tourists per day, down from the daily average of 4327.6 tourists during the first six days of the month but marginally up from 4071.3 tourists recorded for September this year. The tourist arrivals grew at the slowest pace in September, with a 9.11 percent year-on-year growth rate. Click here to read... [19]

Has the govt. overborrowed in its first month in office? – Daily Mirror

Admitting the fact that the Central Bank has issued treasury bills of Rs. 465.1 billion during the period between September 27 and October 15, a top economist of the government said it was not an additional loan obtained by the new government as alleged by some but it is a routine practice of the Central Bank to issue treasury bills for debt servicing. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lankan president Anura to visit India after parliamentary polls – Business Standard

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will happen only after November this year, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said on Tuesday. We will discuss dates for the visit only after we form the new government, Herath told reporters here. Click here to read... [21]