Neighborhood News Digest- 24 October 2024

Afghanistan

Ministry of Economy Denies Interference in Aid Following OCHA Claims-Tolo News

Recently, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan reported an increase in the Islamic Emirate's interference in the activities of aid organizations, adding that 83 projects in Afghanistan have been halted as a result. Click here to read… [2]

Qatar, Italy Supports Continuation of Doha Process on Afghanistan-Tolo News

Qatar and Italy, in a joint statement, announced the continuation of their cooperation in the Doha process and emphasized the importance of bilateral strategic talks regarding Afghanistan. Part of the joint statement reads: "Italy is grateful to Qatar for hosting the Embassy of Italy to Afghanistan and will continue to contribute to the Doha Process on Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Qatar's special representative met with members of the German parliament to discuss strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [3]

Afghanistan’s export increase by over $70 million compared to last month-The Khaama Press

The National Statistics and Information Authority of Afghanistan announced that the country’s exports in September 2024 increased compared to the previous month, reaching a value of over $173 million. It is worth mentioning that the majority of exports during this month were to Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates, while most imports came from Iran, Pakistan, and China. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Chhatra League banned - The Daily Star

The interim government last night banned Bangladesh Chhatra League amid demands from the student movement against discrimination. The home ministry issued a gazette notification with immediate effect, stating that the government invoked the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 to ban BCL, a 76-year-old pro-Awami League student organisation. Click here to read… [5]

Reforms ahead of polls: BNP waits with cautious optimism – The Daily Star

Having weathered a very difficult 15 years as de facto opposition, the BNP now wants only the essential reforms done to ensure free and fair polls. The party has reservations about sweeping reforms, which are likely to delay the holding of elections. Click here to read… [6]

Army Chief calls for exploring new horizons to enhance Bangladesh-Canada ties – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman has stressed exploring new horizons for enhancing Bangladesh-Canada relations in multifarious aspects during his visit to Ottawa. Ajit Singh, director of the Privy Council Office of Canada, and high commissioner-designate of Bangladesh to Canada Nahida Sobhan received him upon his arrival in Ottawa on Wednesday from the US. Click here to read… [7]

India seeks stable relationship with Bangladesh: Verma – Prothom Alo

Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has said India will continue to seek a ‘stable, positive and constructive’ relationship with Bangladesh built upon their interdependencies, in which people of both countries remain the main stakeholders. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Fuel imports skyrocket; electricity exports plummet-Kuensel

Bhutan’s electricity export dropped by 28.95 percent while the fuel imports, specifically petrol and diesel, skyrocketed by 45.57 percent last year, according to the Environmental Accounts Statistics 2024 published by the National Statistics Bureau yesterday. Click here to read… [9]

Nobel laureate lauds Bhutan’s education system but cautions about digital dangers-Kuensel

Speaking at the inaugural Jigme Singye Wangchuck lecture series yesterday, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi expressed his happiness and gratitude for Bhutan’s success in free education, rooted in the principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Maldives to Co-Chair 2026 Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States – PSM News

Maldives is set to co-chair the Commonwealth’s Ministerial Meeting on Small States (CMMSS) to be held in 2026. The decision was announced during the ongoing Ministerial Meeting of the Small States ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maldives is set to assume the role of co-chair of this meeting along with the host country of CHOGM in 2026. As the co-chair, the Maldives will focus on continuing the advocacy efforts in support of the interests of the Small States. The ministry stated that this role will further enhance the Maldives’s efforts in championing the cause of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the global stage. Click here to read… [11]

Vice President explores potential areas for collaboration with Samoan Prime Minister – PSM News

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa. During the meeting, the Vice President expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister's warm hospitality and the exceptional preparations made for CHOGM 2024. He also praised Samoa's leadership role in the Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS) and its efforts in organizing CHOGM 2024. Click here to read… [12]

Pakistan

Choice of new CJP splits legal community-Dawn

With Justice Yahya Afridi set to take oath on Saturday as the chief justice of Pakistan, the legal community across the country remains divided, with some bodies warning the government that their opposition to the constitutional amendments could snowball into a full-fledged movement. Click here to read… [13]

Pakistan, India renew Kartarpur Corridor Agreement for 5-year term: FO-Dawn

Pakistan and India have renewed their agreement to facilitate pilgrims via the Kartarpur Corridor for an additional five-year period, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday. A statement issued by the FO said that the “Agreement between the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan” had been signed for an additional period of five years. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan Air Force conducts multinational air exercises with key allies-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Air Force is currently conducting important multinational air exercises involving several key allies, including the air forces of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir is scheduled to observe the Indus Shield 2024 air exercises and will receive a comprehensive briefing on the scope of the operations. Click here to read… [15]

Sri Lanka

Indian Intelligence alerts Sri Lanka to potential attack in Arugam Bay – Daily Mirror

Sri Lankan security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals. Indian intelligence agencies have supplied Sri Lankan authorities with all relevant information, including the names of the individuals involved. Click here to read… [16]

Growing Israeli presence puts SL in a spot - Daily Mirror

Growing Israeli presence in the Southern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka has put Sri Lanka in a spotlight with local intelligence agencies being informed of a possible threat from Islamic extremists several weeks ago, senior defense sources told the Daily Mirror yesterday. Click here to read… [17]

China gives $100,000 as humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka after floods – Business Standard

The Chinese government on Tuesday granted flood relief assistance of USD 100,000 to Sri Lanka, marking China's first show of goodwill towards the new government headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the president's office said. Click here to read… [18]

Will change any law hindering equal application to all communities: President – Daily Mirror

Speaking at an election rally in Trincomalee, he said people in Trincomalee district have a special responsibility to form a government which promotes peace while ending the era of divisions. Click here to read… [19]