Neighborhood News Digest- 21 October 2024

Afghanistan

Three-Day Afghan-Kazakh Exhibition Opens in Almaty-Tolo News

The second three-day Afghan-Kazakh exhibition was inaugurated in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, with the presence of the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate and the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. Nooriddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, described the exhibition as beneficial for strengthening the economic, trade, and transit relations between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. He urged Kazakhstan to provide more facilities for Afghan exports to regional markets. Click here to read… [2]

Nearly 1.5 Million Students Enrolled in Afghan Private Schools: Union-Tolo News

The Union of Private Schools of Afghanistan said that nearly one and a half million students are enrolled in private schools across the country. Azim Maydanwal, the head of the union, also reported that among these, two to three hundred thousand are female students. Click here to read… [3]

UN creates over 270,000 short-term jobs for Afghans amid humanitarian crisis-The Khaama Press

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced that since 2023, it has created short-term jobs for 272,600 people in Afghanistan. In a statement, FAO mentioned that it has assisted Afghan farmers in irrigating and safeguarding their farmland. Click here to read… [4]

Iran calls on UN to increase budget for Afghan refugees-The Khaama Press

Naderyar Ahmadi, head of the Migration Affairs Department of Iran’s Ministry of Interior, has called on the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to increase its budget due to the many Afghan refugees in Iran. He made these remarks on Saturday, October 19, in Geneva, during a meeting with Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Hasina’s resignation: ‘I have no documentary evidence’ - The Daily Star

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has said he heard Sheikh Hasina had resigned as the prime minister, but he does not have any documentary evidence. "I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time," he added. Click here to read… [6]

Dhaka, Delhi discuss ways to take ties forward – The Daily Star

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma yesterday met Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and discussed how the two countries can take forward the relations in the coming days on all fronts. Click here to read… [7]

‘Disappointed’ Jatiya party wants to support interim govt - Dhaka Tribune

Leaders of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) have expressed disappointment at being excluded from Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s regular dialogues with political parties, stating their desire to support the interim government with reforms. Click here to read… [8]

AL has no right of politics unless it apologises – Prothom Alo

The president of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Andaleeve Rahman Partho, spoke about politics after the student-people uprising and initiatives of the interim government, during an interview with Prothom Alo’s Sohrab Hassan. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

The Bhutanese identity transcends borders-Kuensel

The eight-day visit to Australia by His Majesty The King and the Royal family has redefined the convention of Royal visits, State visits, and international diplomacy. And the interaction of the Royal family with about 26,000 people of the Bhutanese diaspora was a stark validation of the intensity of the Bhutanese identity. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

President decides introducing India’s “Unified Payment Interface” – Sun Online

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday has made the decision to introduce India’s “Unified Payment Interface” (UPI) in the Maldives on the recommendation of the cabinet. This move is expected to bring significant benefits to the country’s economy, including increased financial inclusion, improved efficiency in financial transactions, and enhanced digital infrastructure, the President’s Office in a statement said. The president made the declaration following Sunday’s cabinet meeting, after discussing on the paper submitted by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade towards ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the matter. Click here to read… [11]

Vice President departs to attend CHOGM 2024 – PSM News

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has departed to Samoa on an official visit. The Vice President is visiting Samoa to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 (CHOGM), scheduled to take place from October 21 to 26. He is accompanied by a high-level Government delegation, and is scheduled to participate in numerous events and deliver remarks and interventions. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a biennial gathering of the leaders of the Commonwealth nations, focusing on global issues and collective action. Key topics often include sustainable development, climate change, trade, and human rights. This meeting is a crucial platform for member countries to discuss shared challenges and strengthen cooperation. Click here to read… [12]

Maldives Notifies New Foreign Currency Rules– News 18

Dollar-starved Maldives has floated a new foreign currency regulation, limiting types of transactions allowed in foreign currency and imposing mandatory foreign currency exchange controls on tourism establishments and banks. With its forex reserves not matching its import bill, the island nation’s central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) on October 1 introduced a new regulation, requiring all foreign currency income generated by the tourism industry to be deposited in local banks. The Foreign Currency Regulation (Regulation No: 2024/R-91) mandates that all transactions within Maldives must be conducted in Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), except for those explicitly allowed in foreign currency. It also provides for payment for goods and services, value for works, fees, charges, rent and wages be made in local currency and prohibits invoicing for these transactions in foreign currency. Click here to read… [13]

Pakistan

Ruling coalition’s efforts fruitful as 26th Constitutional Amendment finally sails through parliament-Dawn

Month-long political negotiations concluded early Monday morning as the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, also known as the Constitutional Package, became law following approval from both houses of parliament. The bill, which was initially greenlit by the Senate with a two-thirds majority, was presented in the National Assembly during a late-night session that began at 11:36pm and extended well past midnight, finally passing at 5am. Click here to read… [14]

Fazlur Rehman says coalition effectively neutralised opposition to constitutional amendment-The Express Tribune

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that the coalition had effectively neutralised opposition to the constitutional amendment. Speaking alongside Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan during a media briefing, he remarked, "Overall, we have broken the fangs of the black snake concerning the constitutional amendment." Click here to read… [15]

PTI to boycott vote on constitutional amendments-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to boycott the voting process in the National Assembly and Senate concerning the 26th Constitutional Amendments. The PTI statement emphasised that the party would not be part of what it termed a "non-transparent" and "controversial" process of amending the constitution. It declared a complete boycott of the voting process in both houses of Parliament. Click here to read… [16]

World Bank to fund Pakistan’s pandemic preparedness plan-Dawn

The World Bank will fund Pakistan’s pandemic preparedness programme to bolster the country’s prevention, readiness and response capacity to deal with future disease outbreaks. The programme has been selected by the governing board of the World Bank-hosted Pandemic Fund for its second round of grants. Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka

Govt. yet to decide as it awaits committee recommendations – Daily Mirror

The government is yet to take a decision on the curtailment of perks and benefits of former presidents and their widows since it awaits the recommendations of the committee that has been appointed to look into it, a top source said. Click here to read… [18]

Will launch ’Clean Sri Lanka’ project to make Sri Lanka cleanest in Asian region: President - Daily Mirror

The Government will launch a special project 'Clean Sri Lanka' aiming to make Sri Lanka the cleanest country in the Asian region, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today. Speaking at an election rally in Katunayake, he said a special Presidential Task Force (PTF) will be set up for this purpose. Click here to read… [19]

SLPP to set up strategic committee targeting forthcoming elections – Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to set up a strategic committee to provide the necessary support for the successful conduct of the election and to provide leadership and correct guidance for future decisions. The decision was taken by the party targeting the upcoming general elections and the Provincial Council election. Click here to read… [20]