Neighborhood News Digest – 12 October 2023

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Establishes Commission for Afghan Refugees’ Return – Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate established a special commission to address the problems of Afghan refugees based in Pakistan. The commission, which is led by the deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate held its first meeting to discuss creating procedures for its activities. The commission was established based on the decree of the leader of the Islamic Emirate.Click here to read… [2]

Work on Second Phase of Qosh Tepa Canal Starts – Tolo News

Following the completion of the work of the first phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal, work on its second phase started on Wednesday. Senior officials of the Islamic Emirate who went to Balkh province to participate in the opening ceremony of the second phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal, said that Afghanistan will reach self-sufficiency in growing its own grains.Click here to read… [3]

Fresh earthquake of magnitude 6.3 strikes northwestern Afghanistan, at least one killed - The Hindu

An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck northwestern Afghanistan on October 11, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said, claiming at least one life and causing panic among residents already traumatised by a series of tremors that killed around 2,000 people at the weekend.Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

3 Essential Commodities: Price caps prove a total failure in Bangladesh - Asia News Network

The government failed to enforce the price cap on onions and potatoes even for a single day since it issued the order about a month ago. Government agencies raided kitchen markets numerous times across the country, but the retail and wholesale prices stayed way above the limit set by the agriculture ministry on September 14. And the victims are the people of limited income already struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.Click here to read… [5]

Transforming Bangladesh - China Daily

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, and it has been a fruitful year for China-Bangladesh cooperation under the Belt and Road framework. The opening of the Padma Bridge has put an end to the history of crossing the mighty Padma river between the 21 districts in southern Bangladesh and the capital of Dhaka only by ferry or boat. Bangladeshi people laud the bridge as the Bridge of Dreams and the Bridge of Pride.Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

Close to 43,000 Bhutanese are abroad, MoFAET data shows – Kuensel

During the question-and-answer session on October 9, Foreign Minister Dr Tandin Dorji revealed that approximately 42,829 Bhutanese citizens are residing in 112 countries worldwide. Foreign ministry issued passports to about 44,000 people below the age of 30, while 36,000 fall within the 31 to 40 age group.Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

Maldives to hold telethon to aid Palestinians- Sun Online International

In a press conference on Wednesday, the International Aid Campaign (IAC)’s international relations director Mohamed Ali said Palestine holds a special place in the hearts of the Maldivian people, and that the organization has always paid a special focus on the plight of the Palestinian people. Media outlets in Maldives will hold a telethon to aid Palestinians from October 14-17.Click here to read… [8]

The Maldives, the evolution of a democracy- The Hindu

The Island Nation held yet another free and fair election which fortifies the country’s international prestige. The key issues coined in the campaigns were related to the young voters, economy, employment, housing, tourism industry, education, and health care. Therefore, to portray the election as a football match between China and India resulting in India’s defeat — as some western news agencies have done — is to betray ignorance of how the nation of 1,192 islands functions.Click here to read… [9]

Myanmar

KIA Dismisses Myanmar Junta Massacre Denials - The Irrawaddy

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has rejected Myanmar junta’s denial of involvement in a massacre at a Kachin State displacement camp as “pure propaganda”. At least 29 people, including 13 children, died at Mung Lai Hkyet village in Waingmaw Township on Monday night. The site is about 3km north of Laiza, where the KIA has its headquarters. The ethnic armed group is fighting the junta.Click here to read… [10]

Russia and Myanmar discuss gas pipeline construction in Myanmar - Deccan Herald

Top energy officials from Russia and Myanmar held discussions in Moscow on Wednesday on Russian participation in the construction of a gas pipeline to Yangon, the Russian energy ministry said. ADVERTISEMENT It did not provide further details. Myanmar started buying Russian oil products last year and said it was ready to pay in roubles.Click here to read… [11]

Can a divided ASEAN solve the Myanmar crisis - Hindustan Times

As soon as the military took over power and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) came to the forefront with the Five Point Consensus (FPC) to bring normalcy in Myanmar. While ASEAN received international recognition for its role to restore normalcy in Myanmar, it has failed to achieve its goal due to the lack of commitment by Myanmar generals towards the implementation of FPC and differences within the grouping on how to deal with the military leaders and opposition forces. In the past few months, ASEAN has become more conscious of its divided approach towards Myanmar.Click here to read… [12]

Nepal

Geovation Nepal: Empowering Geospatial Technology For Efficient Surveying & Mapping - Silicon India

Geovation Nepal began its journey in 2021, and it has been operating as a startup for the past two years. The driving force behind its establishment was the realization that although there were numerous companies offering drone services, the focus was mainly on traditional surveying and mapping techniques utilizing total stations and GPS devices.Click here to read… [13]

Nepal to bring its 250 nationals from Israel, repatriation of student bodies to take time - Siasat

In the first round of evacuation from Israel, Nepal has planned to evacuate a total of 250 nationals from Israel while the bodies of 10 Nepali students killed will be repatriated later, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday. Sewa Lamsal, the Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press briefing announced that Nepal Airlines will fly for Tel Aviv late on Wednesday. Only 250 out of 288 who have registered to fly to the homeland would be brought back, the official announced.Click here to read… [14]

Diplomat hands over school built with Indian assistance in Kathmandu - Times of India

Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Prasanna Shrivastava, on Wednesday handed over the building of Mahendra Rashtriya Secondary School here to the local authorities. The school building was built with Indian assistance.Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

Imran challenges upcoming indictment in cipher case – Dawn

PTI chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, challenging the trial court’s order for his upcoming indictment in the cipher case. He has also sought bail in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases. The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) on Oct 9 distributed copies of the challan among the counsel for Mr Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi and decided to indict them on Oct 17.Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan, Unicef sign MoU for procurement of polio vaccines – Dawn

Paki­stan and Unicef on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Under­standing (MoU) for procurement of vaccines critical to the Polio Emergency Programme. According to a statement, the journey to this moment began with the government declaring a state of emergency in 2011 and launching an effort to combat polio. Substantial financial resources were channelled into the Polio Emergency Programme.Click here to read… [17]

Pathankot attack mastermind Shahid Latif killed in Pakistan mosque – The Hindu

Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Shahid Latif, believed to be the mastermind of the 2016 attack on an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, was gunned down on October 11 by unidentified assailants in a mosque in Daska town of Pakistan's Sialkot district, officials said.Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

At Indian Ocean conference in Colombo, Jaishankar raises dangers of unviable debt, projects- The Hindu

speaking at the annual meeting of the 23-member Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) being held in Colombo, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, raised the “dangers” of unsustainable debt. Mr. Jaishankar, met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the meeting witnessed the signing of three agreements on bilateral cooperation.Click here to read… [19]

Three new bilateral agreements signed with India- Daily Mirror

Three new bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation between India and Sri Lanka were signed during the meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and President Ranil Wickremesinghe today. These projects include; the modernization of 27 schools, improvement of college training centre, housing initiatives, establishment of 2,889 rainwater harvesting projects, construction of greenhouse facilities, a joint project to elevate the local dairy industry, and a new surgical unit for the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.Click here to read… [20]

IMF says Sri Lanka debt talks ongoing, unaware of specific deals- Reuters

The International Monetary Fund had not been informed about any specific agreements regarding Sri Lankan debt talks, a fund official said on Wednesday, after China announced, it had come to an agreement with the country. China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Exim bank reached a preliminary deal on the disposal of China-related debts, but did not share details.Click here to read… [21]