Neighborhood News Digest - 05 November 2024

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Calls for Realistic Policies from Next US President-Tolo News

With just one day remaining until the US presidential election, the Islamic Emirate has expressed that whoever is elected president must adopt realistic policies toward Afghanistan. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, stated: "The Islamic Emirate seeks good relations with all countries, including the United States. What matters to us is that whoever assumes power takes a realistic approach regarding Afghanistan." Click here to read... [2]

Public Health Ministry Responds to OCHA Report-Tolo News

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, Sharafat Zaman Amar Khil, says that Afghanistan's health system has largely become self-sufficient.Speaking to TOLO news, Mr. Amar Khil stated that many services are now funded through the national budget. The spokesperson made these remarks in response to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Click here to read... [3]

Iranian Official: Tajik and Afghan suicide bombers entering Iran as fuel carriers-The Khaama Press

Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces in Iran, has attributed the rise in insecurity in the country to “foreign nationals,” claiming that ” citizens of Tajikistan and Afghanistan suicide bombers disguised as fuel carriers” are entering Iran. Click here to read... [4]

MoE Begins Capacity Building Seminar for Madrasa Teachers-Tolo News

The Ministry of Education said that enhancing the capacity of madrasas [religious schools] is one of its main priorities. According to the Ministry of Education, the purpose is to raise the professional capacity of teachers through standard teaching methods and techniques to improve the quality of education across the 34 provinces of the country. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

The constitution: Reforms only after a strong consensus - The Daily Star

Constitutional reforms should be done after taking people's opinions into account, said Dr Kamal Hossain, one of the framers of the constitution. Bangladesh Democratic Lawyers' Association organised an event to mark the day the constitution was adopted 52 years ago. Click here to read... [6]

Govt will scrap CSA within a week – The Daily Star

The Cyber Security Act will be repealed within a week and all cases filed under the act will be withdrawn, Nahid Islam, adviser to the posts, telecommunications, and information technology ministry, said yesterday. "Not only this law [CSA], but all laws that hinder freedom of expression are under review," he said. Click here to read... [7]

‘BNP believes in equal rights for all’ – Dhaka Tribune

Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury, a central leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a former member of the Jatiya Sangsad spoke with Dhaka Tribune’s Tanvir Hasan about the current political situation, activities of the interim government, India-Bangladesh relations, and the BNP’s plans. He stated, “We will unite to build this country as a corruption-free, communalism-free, developed, and prosperous nation. Once again, the whole world will flock to Bengal as it did in the past.” Click here to read... [8]

21 Bangladesh missions to get new ambassadors – Prothom Alo

The interim government had decided to recall six ambassadors, who were appointed on contracts, between 8 and 15 August, and bring back the ambassadors, who will go on PRL (post-retirement leave) by 31 December, to Dhaka. Click here to read... [9]

Election after all necessary reforms: Adviser Nahid Islam – Prothom Alo

Posts, telecommunications and information technology adviser Md Nahid Islam on Monday said general elections will be held on the basis of national unity after all necessary reforms. The adviser said this while Norway ambassador Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen made a call on him at his office at ICT division, a press release of the ministry said. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s Drukair expands international network with Dubai operations – ET Travel World

Drukair has started twice weekly flights to Dubai via Delhi and expects the new international connectivity to boost trade and tourism between the two countries and offer new accessibility to international guests who want to visit Bhutan. Bhutan's national airline Drukair, launched a new route connecting Paro to Dubai. The route will operate twice a week. The airline hopes to attract more visitors from the Middle East and improve connectivity for Bhutanese residents in UAE. Click here to read... [11]

Gautam Adani eyes investment in Bhutan’s mega project – Greater Kashmir

In an ambitious plan to draw investment and create an economic hub in Bhutan, second richest billionaire of India, Gautam Adani is exploring opportunities in “Gelephu Mindfulness City” (GMC), a large urban project planned to transform Bhutan’s southern Gelephu region near the Indian border. According to sources quoted by Bloomberg, Bhutan’s newly appointed Gelephu Governor, Lotay Tshering, confirmed that Adani Group is in talks to develop solar and hydroelectric plants within the 1,000-square-kilometer township. This project will mark a forward-looking opportunity for Adani’s green energy initiatives as Adani’s multilateral company continues to extend its infrastructure portfolio beyond Indian borders, across Asia and beyond. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

Maldives and Türkiye enter free trade agreement– PSM News

The Maldives and Türkiye have signed a free trade agreement to strengthen trade relations. The agreement was signed by Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed and Minister of Trade Professor Dr. Omer Bolat. The agreement will not only ease fish exports to Turkiye but also reduce trade barriers, bolster trade relations between the two countries, and facilitate increased bilateral trade. Maldivian fish exporters will have the opportunity to expand their business in the Turkish market, while Maldivian consumers and businesses will benefit from access to Turkish products at lower prices. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

Parliament passes key bills on SC expansion, military chiefs’ tenure extension-The Express Tribune

The National Assembly on Monday approved a legislative amendment to extend the tenures of all armed services chiefs from three to five years. Hours later, the Senate approved the same set of bills, sending them to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval. Click here to read... [14]

SITUATIONER: LEFT GASPING FOR AIR-Dawn

Hazardous environment forcing Lahoris to alter their lifestyles. Experts say dearth of accurate data means govt actions fail to adequately address issue. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan Navy successfully tests ship-launched ballistic missile-The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Navy has successfully conducted a flight test of a new indigenously developed ship-launched ballistic missile, as announced in a press release by the Directorate General Public Relations (Navy) on Monday. Click here to read... [16]

Every case shouldn't be sent to constitutional benches: Justice Mansoor-The Express Tribune

Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday opposed transferring every case to constitutional benches, suggesting that more cases should remain with regular top court benches for efficiency. Justice Mansoor made the remarks during a hearing on an overbilling case, where the SC judge, speaking to the petitioner’s counsel, advised against forwarding every case to a constitutional bench, noting, “Leave some cases with us too.” Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

No coalition, national Govt. after General Election: Tilvin Silva – Daily Mirror

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the core ally of the ruling National People’s Power (NPP), ruled out any coalition, or national government after the General Election. In response to a question by Daily Mirror whether the NPP would opt for coalition governance, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said such a necessity would not arise because the party is certain of a clear majority at the November 14 General Election. Click here to read... [18]

Confusion still reigns on Arugam Bay issue: Ruwan - Daily Mirror

There is confusion with regard to the situation in Arugam Bay as there seems to be two schools of thought as to who was planning to stage an attack, UNP Deputy Leader and National Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Ruwan Wijewardene said. Click here to read... [19]

Over 190 arrested over complaints related to Sri Lanka parliamentary polls – The Hindu

“As many as 191 people, including six candidates, have been arrested so far in connection with complaints related to the 2024 parliamentary elections,” police said on Saturday (November 3, 2024). Voting for parliamentary polls is set to take place on November 14, 2024. Police said they have received 168 complaints related to the parliamentary elections. Click here to read... [20]