Neighborhood News Digest – 17 October 2023

Afghanistan

Okada-Hanafi Meeting Focused on Expanding of Relations: Arg – Tolo News

The outgoing ambassador of Japan in Kabul, Takashi Okada, in his farewell meeting with the deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, discussed Japan’s efforts to expand Islamic Emirate’s relations with the international community and the provision of humanitarian assistance, the Arg said in a statement. Click here to read... [2]

15M People Beyond 7M Most Vulnerable Face Food Insecurity: WFP – Tolo News

The Country Director for the World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan, Hsiao-Wei Lee, said that there are 15 million people in Afghanistan who are struggling with food insecurity beyond the 7 million most vulnerable people. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Gaza resolution co-sponsored by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia fails in UNSC - Daiji World

A UN Security Council resolution co-sponsored by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, and several Arab countries calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, but made no mention of Hamas, has failed. The resolution was put to vote Monday night after the Council members could not agree on a common approach despite a last-minute attempt by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to forge a consensus at a closed meeting. Click here to read... [4]

Top Bangladesh Rights Activists Released on Bail - VOA News

Bangladesh rights activists Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan were released on bail Sunday evening after being in prison since Sept. 14 in a cybercrime case. Khan is the founder and secretary of Odhikar, a human rights organization internationally known for documenting thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. Elan is the organization’s director. Click here to read... [5]

Indo-Bangladesh joint military exercise concludes at Umroi - Highland Post

The 11th edition of Indo-Bangladesh joint military exercise, ‘SAMPRITI’ concluded today in Umroi. The exercise aims to enhance the defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh, fostering deeper bilateral relations, cultural understanding and mutual benefits from shared experiences. It also aims to achieve inter-operability and to acquaint each other with employment of joint task force in Sub Conventional operations under Chapter-VII of UN Mandate (UNPKO). Click here to read... [6]

No space for militancy on our soil, says senior Bangladesh Army officer - Sentinel Assam

A high-ranking Bangladesh Army officer, Major General Chowdhury Mohammed Aizizul Haque Hazary, stated on Monday that Bangladesh unequivocally rejects the presence of militancy within its borders, emphasizing that the country has never served as a sanctuary for militants. Major General Hazary, currently serving as the General Officer Commanding of 17 Division and the Area Commander of Sylhet Area, is leading a contingent from the Bangladesh Army in an Indo-Bangladesh joint training exercise. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Wood and wood-based products export to bring Nu 10B – Kuensel

Bhutan, a forest-abundant country, aims to earn a revenue of Nu 10 billion from the export of wood and wood products in the next five years. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Loknath Sharma, announced this during a recent live television discussion. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Maldives in discussions with Saudi for USD 150M in grant aid- Sun Online

Finance Ministry of Maldives has briefed that discussions are underway with Saudi Arabia for USD 150 million in grant assistance. The plan was to allocate USD 100 million to upgrade Velana International Airport and USD 50 million to further boost the health sector, although the funds have yet to be officially greenlighted. Click here to read... [9]

IAC Fund raises over MVR 7 million for Palestine humanitarian relief- The Edition

The International Aid Campaign (IAC) a Maldives based organisation has received MVR 7 million to provide Palestine with humanitarian aid. The collection of funds initiated from 8 October, 2023. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

India Participates in Myanmar’s Anniversary for Ceasefire as Junta Woos Ethnic Groups - The Wire

India participated in the Myanmar government’s commemorative event to mark eight years of the Nationwide Ceasefire agreement on Sunday, October 25 – an event which is part of Nyay Pyi Taw’s charm offensive to bring back ethnic armed groups into a peace process which had been scuttled by the coup two years ago. Click here to read... [11]

Key Myanmar EAOs Shun Junta’s Peace Deal Anniversary Celebration - The Irrawaddy

Powerful ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) boycotted the eighth anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) hosted by junta boss Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Sunday. Ten EAOs have signed the agreement—eight of them with Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government on Oct. 15, 2015, and two more in February 2018 under the since ousted National League for Democracy government. Click here to read... [12]

Thailand pledges support of National Ceasefire Agreement in Myanmar - Thai PBS World

Thailand has pledged support for the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Myanmar, during the commemoration of its 8th anniversary in Naypyidaw on Monday, according to the website of Myanmar’s Ministry of Information. Deputy Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said that Thailand fully supports the NCA and its vision, which is aimed at “securing an enduring peace based in the principles of dignity and justice through an inclusive political dialogue process involving all relevant stakeholders.” Click here to read... [13]

China Begins Surveys for Railway on Myanmar’s Indian Ocean - The Irrawaddy

China has started surveying for a railway to Kyaukphyu on Myanmar’s Indian Ocean coast from Kunming in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, according to Rakhine State residents. Junta police guarded Chinese technicians investigating the Maei-Ann road in Ann Township earlier this month, said a civil society organization member, who did not want to be named. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

Debt hole: China-built Pokhara International airport may become Nepal's Gwadar Port – MSN

Nepal's very expensive Pokhara nternational airport is shaping up to be an economic albatross for the cash-strapped nation and has saddled it with debt to creditors in Beijing for years to come. The fate of the airport strongly parallels that of Gwadar Port in Pakistan which was built under China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI). The multi-billion dollar port has failed to bring in investment and prosperity in the region, and has left Islamabad with a crushing debt that nearly pushed it into default. Click here to read... [15]

CBI nabs 4 more in fake passport case, suspects trafficking of women to Nepal - Indian Express

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested four more persons in connection with the fake passport case in West Bengal and Sikkim. With this, the total number of arrests in the case is now six. In the investigations following the arrest, the role of several individuals, including employees of the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata, has surfaced, officials said. The central agency is also probing alleged international links of those arrested as those involved in the nexus are likely involved in the trafficking of women to the neighbouring countries, especially Nepal, it is learnt. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan

Nawaz’s legal team all set to move IHC for relief – Dawn

The legal team of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has completed its preparations to procure protective bail for the elder Sharif, with at least three petitions likely to be filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the coming days, seeking relief in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Toshakhana cases. Click here to read... [17]

PM Kakar lands in China to mark decade of CPEC – Dawn

Carr­ying high hopes about the future of the China-Pak­istan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar arrived in Beijing on Monday to participate in the 3rd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for Inter­national Cooperation. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan's annual expenditure on public servants is over PKR 8 trillion: Report – Mint

A recent study has shed light on Pakistan's substantial annual expenditure of over Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 8 trillion on public servants, encompassing 1.92 million employees, pension payments, and numerous perks and privileges, Dawn reported. Click here to read... [19]

UK firm shows interest in buying Shell Pakistan – DawnM

Shell Pakistan Ltd (SPL) said on Monday it has received a public announcement of intention from UK-based Prax Overseas Holdings Ltd to buy its 77.42 per cent shares, which are currently held by the oil firm’s foreign sponsor. The potential acquirer is a British investment firm with its entire shareholding resting with fuel supplier State Oil Ltd. Click here to read... [20]

Saudi Aramco, PSO, TAPI gas pipeline: Oil, gas issues now come under sharper SIFC focus – Business Recorder

The Apex Committee (AC) of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and Petroleum Division to expedite resolution of issues of Saudi Aramco and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and TAPI gas pipeline. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka

PRESIDENT IN CHINA: A 4-day visit and talks on debt restructuring expected- News First

President Ranil Wickremesinghe left for China on an official 4-day visit on Sunday (15) night. The President is set to discuss debt restructuring and participate in the conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. This will be his first visit to China after taking office and he will be visiting the country until the 20th of October. Click here to read... [22]

DigiGo.lk Aims to Enable Over 1 million SMEs to Go Digital and Drive a USD 15 Billion Digital Economy by 2030- News lK

In a pioneering move to bolster the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector in Sri Lanka, the apex body of the ICT industry, FITIS, has unveiled the “DigiGo” Digital Playbook for SMEs. DigiGo aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for SMEs seeking affordable local digital services, guiding them on their journey towards digital transformation. Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that the government has initiated the “Digicon 2030” program, with the primary objective of formulating a national digital economic policy for the year 2030. Click here to read... [23]

Navy recovers narcotic substances valued at Rs. 94 Mn in Talaimannar- The Island

A special search operation mounted by the Sri Lanka Navy in the beach area of Urumalei, Talaimannar on 16th October 2023 led to the recovery of worth Rs. 94 million of narcotic drugs, as per the gross street value of the stock. Click here to read... [24]