Neighborhood News Digest – 31 October 2023

Afghanistan

World Food Program assists 23 Million Afghans with Food in One year – The Khaama Press

The World Food Program reports that approximately 23 million citizens in Afghanistan received food assistance in the past year. The World Food Program has stated on its social media platform X that this year, due to the widespread financial crisis, food assistance has been reduced for 10 million people. Click here to read… [2]

Pakistan's Bugti Outlines Plan for Deportations Following Nov. 1 Deadline - Tolo News

The Interior Minister of the caretaker government of Pakistan, Sarfraz Bugti highlighted the deportation of “illegal Afghan refugees” as the November 1 deadline for Afghan nationals is reaching its end. According to Bugti, the deportation process will begin on November 2, which will includes two to three rounds each week. Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

Custom officials of India and Bangladesh extend time for border trade by two hours - Telegraph India

The time for border trade between India and Bangladesh via Changrabandha in Cooch Behar district has been extended by two hours in the morning. From now, exporters and importers of both countries get a 12-hour window from 6am to 6pm. The decision was made at a high-level meeting held in Changrabandha on Monday between senior Customs officials of India and Bangladesh, and senior officials of the Border Security Force and the Border Guard Bangladesh. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh deploys paramilitary troops amid escalated political tensions - Hindustan Times

The Bangladesh government overnight deployed paramilitary troops and asked police departments and other law enforcement agencies to intensify security vigil, as a three-day nationwide transport blockade called by the main opposition BNP began on Tuesday, escalating tensions after two days of deadly violence this week. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh political protests turn violent - Wion News

Bangladesh gets into election mode. Opposition BNP has staged a string of protests against the ruling Sheikh Hasina government demanding it step down and make way for an interim non-political party administration that will ensure a free and fair election. The pre-poll caretaker government issue has remained a contentious one for years, with the BNP alleging massive rigging over successive elections in its absence. Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

Cabinet to table national workforce’s wage revision today – Kuensel

The Cabinet will discuss the revision of the wage for the national workforce in its final meeting today, Lyonchhen Dr Lotay Tshering announced in the 51st Meet-the-Press session on October 27. The National Assembly also dissolves today. However, the Cabinet can continue to function until the appointment of the interim government. Click here to read… [7]

Migration cloud on Bhutan’s guiding idea of Gross National Happiness – The Telegraph online

A recent trend of large-scale migration out of Bhutan by working-age people has thrown up the question whether the country’s guiding idea of Gross National Happiness, a measure of well-being broader than that reflected in the gross domestic product, is relevant any more to its 7.7 lakh people. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

New vessel arrives in Male' to advance Thilamale' Bridge pillar installation- Avas

A jack-up platform has been brought to Male' to embed the pillars of the Thilamale' Bridge into the seabed. This is the third vessel brought by the bridge project contractor, India's AFCONS Infrastructure, for the project. According to AFCONS, with the vessel, Mahaksiyaa's arrival, the bridge project is expected to make significant progress. The 6.695 km Greater Male’ Connectivity project, which will include the bridge and causeways linking Male', Vilimale', Thifafushi, and Gulhifalhu, is funded by the Government of India. This includes a US$100 million grant from India and a $400 million loan from Exim Bank. The entire project will cost MVR 7.7 billion. Click here to read… [9]

76th Session of WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Region commences- Raajje

The 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Region kicked off in New Delhi, India on Monday. Minister of Health Order of the Diginified Rule of Muleege Dynasty Ahmed Naseem is leading a high-level delegation from the Maldives at the meeting. Director General of WHO, Regional Director for South-East Asia Region and other high-level officials from the WHO Headquarters, Regional Office and the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives to the Republic of India will be participating in the meeting. The discussion will be around “Strengthening primary health care as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage”. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

China security minister in Myanmar following border clashes - Head Topics

Wang Xiaohong, who is also a member of China’s cabinet, the State Council, met the junta’s home minister Lieutenant-General Yar Pyae in the capital Naypyidaw, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said they had seized several military posts and key roads. Click here to read… [11]

‘Operation 1027’: A Turning-Point For Myanmar’s Resistance Struggle - The Diplomat

“Operation 1027” was launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BTA), which comprises the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA). Its goal is to combat the junta’s armed forces and allied militias in northern Shan State, close to the Myanmar-China border. Click here to read… [12]

Mizoram: Gadkari assures road connectivity with Myanmar to be completed by November - North east Now

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that a cross-border road under the ambitious Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) to link south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district and Myanmar’s Sittwe port will be completed by November this year. Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

"Stop the madness" of climate change - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres from the Everest region in Nepal - Media UN

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited in Nepal on Monday 30 October, where he issued a strong call for Climate Action. "The world cannot wait!" the UN chief said from the base of Mt. Everest, on the terrible impact of the climate crisis on the Himalayas. Click here to read… [14]

Connectivity and cooperation: Adding new dimensions to India-Nepal ties - First Post

There is a glaring urgency to modernise transport and transit agreements between India and Nepal as per the changing fundamentals, aspirations and needs, a lot will depend on how Nepal shows the willingness to augment its trade-related institutional capacity and recalibrate its industrial capacity. Click here to read… [15]

Nepal Foreign Minister NP Saud Held A Meeting With The US Secretary Of State Antony J. Blinken - Orissa Diary

Meeting between Foreign Minister and US Secretary of State The Minister for Foreign Affairs Honorable Mr. N. P. Saud held a bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State His Excellency Mr. Antony J. Blinken at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. today and exchanged views on matters of common interest in bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

India deploys S-400 missile units on China, Pakistan border – Rediff.com

With the Indian Air Force having already operationalised three of its S-400 air defence missile squadrons along borders with China and Pakistan, Indian and Russian officials are set to meet soon to discuss the final delivery schedule for the remaining two squadrons. Click here to read… [17]

Troops to be deployed for elections in Punjab – Dawn

Army troops and Rangers personnel will be deployed for the upcoming general elections in Punjab to perform security duties, the provincial caretaker government has said. Chief Election Commi­s­s­­ioner (CEC) Sikandar Sul­tan Raja held a meeting with caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his cabinet members on Monday to discuss measures for ensuring ‘free and fair’ elections. Click here to read… [18]

Gas tariffs increased – Business Recorder

Federal government on Monday approved increase in price of natural gas for different categories of the consumers as advised by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) with effect from 1st November 2023. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet earlier on 23rd October 2023 considered the summary submitted by the Petroleum Division and approved the increase in the natural gas prices. The Federal Cabinet in its meeting held on 30th October, 2023 referred back the summary for reconsideration of the ECC. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Arrests 37 Indian Fishermen For Allegedly Straying In Its Waters- Times of India

37 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested and five of their fishing trawlers were seized by the Sri Lankan navy after they allegedly strayed into Lankan territorial waters, a fisheries official in Chennai said on Sunday. This month alone, 10 fishing boats and 64 fishermen from the state have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy. Chief Minister M K Stalin urged Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to initiate necessary steps to secure the release all the fishermen and their fishing boats. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lankan government renews Lanka IOC’s petroleum licence for 20 years – The Indian Express

The licence originally issued in 2003 was to expire in January 2024. This will allow Lanka IOC to continue its retail operations on the debt-trapped island nation until January 22, 2044. Chief Financial Officer of LIOC, Aseem Bhargav, stated that; the licence renewal letter was handed over by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to Dipak Das the Managing Director of LIOC late last week. The LIOC holds around 20 per cent of the market share in the auto fuel segment in Sri Lanka. Speaking at a press conference held at the opposition leader’s office in Colombo, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Deputy General Secretary Mujibur Rahman raised questions regarding the basis on which the licence renewal was granted by the Government. Click here to read… [21]

Chinese vessel begins research off Sri Lankan coast on 30 November- The Hindu

The research will be pursued off Sri Lanka’s western coast, and in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) and the University of Ruhuna. As per the state-run, China Global Television Network, research ship Shiyan 6 was added to China’s fleet of marine research vessels in December 2020 and is country’s first scientific research vessel focusing on geophysical exploration, it is scheduled to operate at sea for about 80 days, with 13 research teams onboard pursuing 28 scientific research projects across 12,000 nautical miles. Both, India and the US raised concern over the vessel’s visit. Click here to read… [22]