Neighborhood News Digest - 12 November 2024

Afghanistan

India Considers Accepting Islamic Emirate Representative-Tolo News

Indian newspaper the Sunday Guardian has reported on the possibility of India's accepting the Islamic Emirate's request to appoint a second secretary for the Afghanistan consulate in Mumbai. According to the report, Ikrarmuddin Kamil has been introduced as Afghanistan’s second secretary for the Afghanistan consulate in Mumbai. Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan’s Mumbai Consulate begins Passport issuance-The Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Consulate in Mumbai has announced the commencement of passport issuance. According to the announcement posted on the consulate’s X/ Twitter account, passport issuance will begin on Monday, November 11. On Sunday, November 10, the consulate stated, “The distribution of passports by the Afghanistan Consulate General in Mumbai will start from November 11, 2024, to meet the needs of Afghan citizens.” Click here to read… [3]

Stanikzai Calls for UN Seat for Islamic Emirate-Tolo News

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, has requested that the United Nations grant Afghanistan’s seat to the caretaker government. In a meeting in Kabul, he discussed establishing relations with various countries and emphasized that the Islamic Emirate seeks positive relations with all nations, including the United States. Click here to read… [4]

Pakistan blames India, Taliban for deadly Quetta attack-The Khaama Press

Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, has described the deadly attack in Quetta as part of India’s “proxy war” against Pakistan, accusing the Afghan Taliban of “collusion and overlooking” such actions. On Monday, he stated that the use of Afghanistan territory for such attacks is considered an “act of aggression against Pakistan.” Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Yunus asks Bangladesh to make extra efforts in COP29 - The Daily Star

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today asked the Bangladesh officials and NGOs and civil society leaders to put up extra efforts to highlight the country's climate crisis concern at the COP 29 conference in Baku. He made the call in Baku just after he arrived in the Azerbaijan capital to lead Bangladesh in the annual UN-led climate change summit. Click here to read… [6]

‘Govt must stop giving key posts to AL loyalists’ – The Daily Star

A group of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders yesterday demanded that the government remove those, who they believe are "allies of the fascists", from the posts of advisers. Some of them also warned that they would not hesitate to take to the streets and remove the entire council of advisers "if the government continued to rehabilitate Awami allies". Click here to read… [7]

BB: Working to bring back laundered money, economy not at risk of recession – Dhaka Tribune

The Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Ahsan H Mansur on Monday said they are still managing the financial mess left behind by the previous government, adding that even if economic growth slows, there was no threat of recession in Bangladesh. He also informed that Bangladesh Bank was expediting its effort to repatriate laundered money back through legal channels. Click here to read… [8]

No need to change electoral system: Former CEC Abu Hena – Prothom Alo

Former chief election commissioner Abu Hena feels there is no need to bring any changes in the existing electoral system. He said the existing system could be proven effective. The people of the country are also quite familiar with the system. Success of an election depends on the implications of electoral rules. The election commission needs a competent group of people. Click here to read… [9]

Sheikh Mujib’s photo removed from Bangabhaban – Prothom Alo

The photo of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been removed from the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban, the official residence of the president of Bangladesh. Interim government’s newly appointed adviser Mahfuj Alam said this through a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday. Click here to read… [10]

Bhutan

Buddhist Bhutan to build 'mindfulness city' to woo investment, create jobs – Reuters

Bhutan, the Himalayan kingdom that brought the world the concept of gross national happiness, is set to build a "mindfulness city" and began raising funds on Monday to help start the ambitious project. The "Gelephu Mindfulness City" (GMC) will lie in a special administrative region with separate rules and laws that will aim to be an economic corridor linking South Asia to Southeast Asia, officials said. The city will promote walking and cycling to reduce emissions, green spaces for meditation and relaxation, mindfulness-based education, public community activities, healthcare and wellness centres, and eco-tourism. Click here to read… [11]

Govt. to partner with private IT firms on future procurement: Finance Minister – Kuensel

Following a wave of concerns raised by Bhutan’s private IT firms regarding the government’s decision to directly award contracts for procurement of laptops and desktops to the State Trading Corporation of Bhutan Limited (STCBL), Finance Minister Lekey Dorji said that the ministry will implement a new approach for future procurement cycles. The finance minister confirmed that the issue has been amicably resolved after a meeting on November 6 between representatives of the IT Association of Bhutan (ITAB) and the finance ministry. Click here to read… [12]

Maldives

President Muizzu's letter to UK states Maldives is more deserving of sovereignty over Chagos– Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has revealed that he sent a letter to the UK government stating that the Maldives is more deserving of sovereignty over the Chagos islands located to the south of the country. In a lengthy speech at the Republic Day ceremony on Sunday night, Muizzu said he sent the letter in response to Britain's agreement to cede sovereignty over the Chagos to Mauritius. The President was referring to the joint statement issued by the governments of UK and Mauritius to arrange the handover of Chagos. The agreement was the result of years of negotiations between the two countries. The agreement will be finalized when they sign a treaty together. Click here to read… [13]

President Muizzu now describes Saudi Arabia as leader of Islamic world– Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has described Saudi Arabia as the leader of the Islamic world. He made the remarks at the Republic Day ceremony on Sunday night ahead of his official visit to the country. "Saudi Arabia is the leader of the Islamic world. We are proud of the country that is working at the forefront of the Islamic world. We fully participate in the work of the King of Saudi Arabia," Muizzu said. The President's visit to Saudi Arabia is for a summit organized by the Saudi government, the Organization for Islamic Corporation (OIC) and the Arab League to find a solution to Israel's attacks on Palestine and Lebanon. Click here to read… [14]

Maldives to open embassy in Italy – Adhahu

The government has decided to open a Maldives embassy in Italy, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said on Sunday night. Speaking at the Republic Day ceremony, President Muizzu said the Italian government has granted permission to open the embassy. Apart from Italy, more embassies and high commissions will be opened in several countries that are important and useful to the Maldives. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

COAS Gen Asim Munir, Australian army chief agree to boost defence, security ties-The Express Tribune

Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir in Rawalpindi on Monday to discuss global and regional security issues and mutual defence cooperation. During the meeting, both military leaders highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations to promote shared goals of peace and stability. Click here to read… [16]

Air quality experts write letter urging PM to take immediate steps to counter smog-Dawn

The Pakistan Air Quality Experts (PAQx) on Monday addressed a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging his government to take immediate steps to tackle the hazardous air quality choking parts of the country such as Punjab. The air quality was declared a “calamity” in the province last month. Schools have closed in the main cities of Punjab until November 17 in a bid to lower children’s exposure to pollution. Click here to read… [17]

Beijing renews resolve to help Pakistan in tackling terrorism-Dawn

China on Mon¬day reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts and socio-economic development, moving to patch up bilateral ties that were tested by recent attacks on Chinese citizens in Pakistan. Increased violence targeting Chinese nationals, especially those working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, has heightened Beijing’s security apprehensions. Click here to read… [18]

PM Shehbaz to attend Climate Summit in Azerbaijan on Tuesday-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday to attend the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, part of the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), Radio Pakistan reported. Hosted by Azerbaijan’s presidency, the two-day summit will see world leaders presenting national climate action plans and reaffirming commitments under the Paris Agreement. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka requests U.S. to remove security alert on Arugam Bay – Daily Mirror

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has requested the U.S. Embassy to remove the security alert issued earlier asking its nationals to avoid the Arugam Bay area until further notice, a spokesperson said yesterday. The U.S. Embassy issued the alert on October 23. It said, “The Embassy received credible information warning of an attack targeting popular tourist locations in the Arugam Bay area. Due to the serious risk posed by this threat, the Embassy imposed a travel restriction on Embassy personnel for Arugam Bay effective immediately and until further notice. U.S. citizens are strongly urged to avoid the Arugam Bay area until further notice.” Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lankans falling prey to cyber scam centres in Myanmar on the rise, Defence Ministry warns - Daily Mirror

Sri Lankans currently staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being sent to cyber scam centres in Myanmar in groups and the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) has received information through reliable sources that there is an increase in the number of newly recruited Sri Lankan citizens there, the Defence Ministry said. Click here to read… [21]

Sri Lanka will receive IMF third tranche by end of February: President – Daily Mirror

Claiming that the debt restructuring process will be completed by December this year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will receive the third tranche under the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) by the end of January or early February next year. Click here to read… [22]