Neighborhood News Digest- 18 November 2024

Afghanistan

Abbas Stanikzai: Peaceful Afghanistan Benefits Region and World-Tolo News

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of both regional countries and the world. During a program in Kabul, Stanikzai urged the international community and global organizations to cooperate comprehensively with the caretaker government based on the Doha Agreement. In his remarks, Stanikzai emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has adopted an economy-focused policy in its dealings with other countries. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan-Iran Trade Reaches $1.827 Billion in Seven Months-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has reported that over the past seven months of the current solar year, trade with Iran reached a value of $1.827 billion. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated that out of this total, $30 million accounted for exports, while the remainder consisted of imports. Click here to read... [3]

New Afghan TV channel launched in exile-The Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has welcomed the official launch of the “Deeyar” television network and emphasized the importance of increasing free media outside the country. The broadcasting platform has officially started operations from the state of Virginia, USA, aiming to provide news and insights relevant to the Afghan community. Click here to read... [4]

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir Calls to Strengthen Kabul-Kuala Lumpur Ties-Tolo News

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, stated during a meeting with the acting ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Malaysia that the relations between Kabul and Kuala Lumpur are highly important and require further expansion. According to the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir in this meeting asked Naqibullah Ahmadi to prioritize addressing the problems faced by Afghans and to better represent the caretaker government. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

4 years could be maximum one can go before election: Yunus tells Al Jazeera- The Daily Star

Chief Adviser to the interim government Prof Muhammad Yunus has said that the tenure of the interim government will be less than four years. "While the exact timeframe for the interim government's tenure has not been determined, it should be under four years that's for sure, it may be less," he said while speaking in an interview with Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera. Click here to read... [6]

Have patience for election – The Daily Star

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said the government would issue a roadmap to the election as soon decisions on electoral reforms are made. In a televised address to the nation, marking 100 days of the interim government, Yunus said that the reforms may delay the election by a few months. Click here to read... [7]

Yunus: Reports on violence against minorities exaggerated – Dhaka Tribune

Much of the reporting on violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh was exaggerated, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said. In his address to the nation on Sunday to mark 100 days of governance, Yunus said when his interim government assumed responsibility, Bangladesh was in a highly vulnerable state. Click here to read... [8]

India’s relations with Bangladesh can’t be reduced to a ‘single issue’: Pranay Verma – Prothom Alo

Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma said India’s relations with Bangladesh is multifaceted and cannot be reduced to a ‘single agenda’ or a single issue. There are irritants in the relations but that has not restricted overall relations. The Indian envoy made this comment while speaking on India-Bangladesh relations during the Bay of Bengal Conversations organized by the Centre for Governance Studies being held in Dhaka today. Click here to read... [9]

Bangladesh will seek extradition of ex-premier Sheikh Hasina from India: Interim chief Yunus – The Hindu

Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus said Sunday (November 17, 2024) that his administration will seek the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, where she has been in exile since fleeing a mass uprising in August 2024. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s making tourism easier, counting on travellers to revive economy– The Economic Times

For a country that’s long prioritized a balanced lifestyle and good governance over economic gain, Bhutan is doing something it’s never done before: embrace more independent, cost-conscious travelers in an urgent bid to revive its faltering economy. Tshering Tobgay, now prime minister, characterized Bhutan’s economy as “on the brink of collapse” in a November 2023 election manifesto for his People’s Democratic Party, citing an average economic growth rate of just 1.7% over five years. As a result, Bhutan is seeing high levels of youth unemployment and dwindling foreign currency reserves. Tourism is seen as a major lever to pull. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Chinese company to build 12 towers with 1,000 housing units in Eydhafushi– Adhadhu

The government has signed the project agreement with a Chinese company to build 1,000 housing units in Baa Eydhafushi under an MoU reached in May. Construction Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib and Sinohydro Corporation's Country Manager Pen Guangshu signed the agreement at a ceremony at the President's Office. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Muththalib said twelve 15-storey towers would be built in Edhafushi under the project, adding that the project will include 336 three-bedroom flats and 772 two-bedroom flats. Click here to read... [12]

Finance Minister Zameer says credit downgrading linked to proposed Israeli passport ban– Adhadhu

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer has said there is a connection between the downgrading of Maldives' credit rating and the proposed ban on Israeli passports. Fitch downgraded the Maldives' rating to "CC" in August with the assumption that the country will not be able to repay foreign debt while Moody's downgraded Maldives' credit rating to Caa1 in September because of high credit risk. During a meeting of the budget review committee on Thursday, Zameer said there was a link between the credit rating downgrade and the government's political decisions. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

Govt to unveil new economic plan-The Express Tribune

As the country's economy took strides on the path to stability, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Sunday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will soon present a new economic roadmap, indicating that no new taxes were being levied to meet any revenue shortfall. Click here to read... [14]

Council of Islamic Ideology chairman clarifies VPN proclamation-Dawn

In a proclamation on Friday, the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) — which advises parliament on aligning legislation with Islamic teachings — said using VPNs to access “immoral or illegal content” was against Sharia. The CII, Allama Dr Raghib Naeemi, said that the “positive use” of virtual private networks (VPNs) in the country was very rare as they were largely used to access “immoral content” anonymously, and urged users to register their VPNs to ensure traceability and promote responsible use. Click here to read... [15]

Direct Pak-BD shipping route marks ties revival-The Express Tribune

The first cargo ship in decades to sail directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh successfully unloaded its containers, port officials told AFP on Sunday, as both sides seek to rebuild ties after decades of frosty relations. The 182-metre long container ship – the Panama-flagged Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan – had sailed from Karachi to Chittagong. Top Chittagong port official Omar Faruq confirmed to AFP on Sunday that the ship had unloaded its cargo on November 11 before departing. Click here to read... [16]

Internal rifts emerge ahead of PTI march-The Express Tribune

Internal differences within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have emerged ahead of the planned protest on November 24. Following the resignations of the general secretary and senior vice president of PTI's Peshawar City East chapter, new office-bearers have been appointed. The party's founding chairman has taken notice of these disputes, instructing members to resolve their differences. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

NPP secures over two-thirds majority in Parliament – Daily Mirror

The NPP secured more than 2/3rds majority in Parliament, winning 159 seats. 141 of the seats were elected and 18 were through the National List. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) trailing behind got 40 seats. Click here to read... [18]

Twenty four member cabinet to be sworn in today – Daily Mirror

The board of Cabinet ministers and their deputies of the new government is slated to be representative of women MPs and all three main ethnicities, a source said. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya will continue to hold the same post. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will retain the defense portfolio . According to informed sources , it will be a Cabinet of 24 members including the President . Click here to read... [19]

More than 160 freshers in new Parliament - Daily Mirror

The new Parliament will see 160 fresh MPs who have been elected for the very first time as people have given the green light to only around 37 members who represented House from 2020 to return. More than 100 new comers are from the National Peoples Power (NPP) which won a landslide victory at this year’s general election. Other new comers are from Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Independent group 17 of Jaffna District while one new MP is slated to enter from Sarwa Jana Balaya. Click here to read... [20]

IMF team to review Sri Lanka’s EFF programme – Daily Mirror

A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to visit Sri Lanka from November 17 to 23 to conduct the third review under the country’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. Led by IMF Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer, the team will evaluate Sri Lanka’s economic policies, the progress of ongoing reforms, and the implementation of previous agreements with the IMF. Following the review, the IMF is expected to release the next installment of the loan to Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [21]