Neighborhood News Digest – 07 November 2023

Afghanistan

Over 15,000 Afghan families expelled from Pakistan in 6 days – The Khaama Press

The de facto administration has announced that in the past six days, from the first of November until the 6th, approximately 15,270 families have returned to the country via the Torkham border crossing. According to the media report Monday, approximately 15,270 families have returned to Afghanistan from the beginning of November this year until today. Click here to read… [2]

Mullah Baradar’s Meeting with Senior Iranian Officials Continues – Tolo News

The deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in his visit to Tehran, met with the Interior Minister and the First Vice-President of Iran. In his meeting with Mohammad Mokhber, the First Vice-President of Iran, Baradar said that the Islamic Emirate wants to expand its political, economic, transit and trade relations with Iran based on its economy-oriented foreign policy. Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

EC yet to decide on appointing polls officials - Daily Star

Election commissioners are yet to reach a unanimous decision on the process of appointing polling officials for the next national election. Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman is for appointment of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers through a committee that has local administration and police representatives, said EC sources. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh: 8,000 opposition figures arrested amid raging political crisis ahead of elections - Wion News

Bangladesh police have arrested nearly 8,000 opposition figures in a nationwide crackdown since officers broke up a major rally in the capital a week ago, a report said Sunday (Nov 5). The sweeping wave of detentions comes ahead of a general election due in January. The country's major opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its allies have been staging giant rallies in recent months demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down and allow a neutral government to supervise the vote. Click here to read… [5]

Redefine ‘rape’ in Bangladesh Penal Code to protect hijra and transgender rape victims - TBS News

In the 21st century, we are still living in a patriarchal concept which believes that rape is a binary notion. The traditional definition of rape stands on the belief that only a female can be raped by a male as the definition of rape does not mention rape as a crime against a male or a hijra or transgender person. Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

India, Bhutan to discuss new routes of regional connectivity – The Hindu

India and Bhutan agreed to discuss new routes of regional connectivity, and upgrade border and immigration posts to support Bhutan’s 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s plans for a smart city at Gelephu on the border between Bhutan and Assam, after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday. While no mention was made of India’s overhanging concerns over Bhutan’s boundary delimitation agreement process with China, the Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders “held discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues of mutual interest”. Click here to read… [7]

Foreign currency reserves fell to USD 472.4M in July – Kuensel

Bhutan’s foreign currency reserves as of July hung at USD 472.4 million, enough to cover 12.22 months of the country’s essential imports, according to the latest data shared by the Royal Monetary Authority for July. A decline in reserves by USD 8.4 million from July would touch the minimum reserve threshold determined by the government, which is at USD 464 million. In the previous month, foreign currency reserves was recorded at USD 532.23 million. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

Maldives condemns Israeli minister’s suggestion to drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza- Raajje

The government of Maldives issued a statement strongly condemned the recent statement made by Heritage Minister of Israel, Amihay Eliyahu, suggesting dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza. Maldives has expressed its deep concern regarding the insufficient response from the Israeli government for a statement that represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian laws. the Maldivian government has urged immediate ceasefire to allow and strengthen efforts made to provide unobstructed humanitarian aid to the people in Palestine. Click here to read… [9]

Stalin urges Centre to seek waiver on fine imposed on T.N. fishermen by the Maldives- The Hindu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday wrote to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar to seek a waiver of the imposed penalty of ₹2.25 crore (MVR 42,00,000) by the Maldives government and secure the release of 12 fisherman, along with the vessel, in Maldivian custody. The fishermen were apprehended by the Maldives National Defense Force on October 22 over alleged charges of trespassing and fishing in the maritime zones of the island nation. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

‘Cheaper than beer’: Laos meth prices plummet as Myanmar chaos fuels trade - Aljazeera

The Golden Triangle, the remote area in which the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, has long been one of the world’s major drug-producing hotspots. Historically, it was notorious for opium, but recent years have seen drug syndicates turn to producing methamphetamine pills and crystal meth – a distilled, more potent and expensive variety of the drug. Click here to read… [11]

Mizoram becoming transit route for drugs supply from Myanmar, says DGP - North East Now

The Northeast state of Mizoram is becoming the transit route for illegal drugs supply to various parts of the country from Myanmar. This was stated by Mizoram director general of police (DGP) Anil Shukla. “Mizoram is facing a major movement of drugs and the drugs are transiting through Mizoram which is then taken to various parts of the country and even beyond,” DGP Shukla told ANI. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar: a new abnormal - Lowly Institute

Analysis of conflict in Myanmar is dominated by direct data on actual armed combat or its immediate effects: casualty rates, desertions, arson attacks, air strikes, and civilian displacement. These are all important aspects that must be factored into determining the course of the civil war. Analysing political trends – such as the recent purges of officials, the cabinet, and the senior military regime or State Administration Council (SAC), and assassinations of alleged pro-junta arms dealers – are also crucial, if opaque, measures. Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

India sends over 9 tonnes of relief material to Nepal's Nepalgunj - Zee Biz

The Indian Air Force's C-130 J aircraft carrying over 9 tonnes of relief material departed from India to deliver relief material to Nepalgunj as the ongoing humanitarian relief mission for Nepal continues. The IAF noted that the overall relief material that has been airlifted for Nepal is more than 21 tonnes. Taking to X, the Indian Air Force stated, "IAF's participation in the ongoing Humanitarian Relief Mission for Nepal continues. Another C-130 J aircraft got airborne on 06 Nov 23, airlifting over 9 tonnes of relief material to Nepalganj. The overall relief load airlifted till now exceeds 21 tonnes." Click here to read… [14]

China-Nepal Ties ‘Nose-Dive’ Over Encroachment, Espionage & Economy; $64B BRI Fails To Impress - Eurasian Times

Nepal Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Naryan Kaji Shrestha recently visited China to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. There was a meeting before the hectic BRI Forum summit to address various core issues raised by Nepal time and again. Further, discussions with Chinese officials were also planned during the forum. However, these meetings were cut short due to Shrestha’s hospitalization following an unfortunate cardiac arrest. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

Army officer, 3 soldiers killed in restive northwest Pakistan – India Today

A Pakistan Army officer and three soldiers were killed during an intense exchange of fire with militants in the Tirah area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Khyber district, the army said on Monday. Lt. Col. Muhammad Hassan Haider and three soldiers were killed during an intelligence-based operation that resulted in heavy exchange of fire, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said in a statement. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan informs IMF its debt serving costs may go up to PKR 8.5 trn – Business Standard

Pakistan has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that its debt servicing costs may escalate to Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 8.5 trillion, reflecting a PKR 1.2 trillion deviation from the allocated budget, The Express Tribune reported. The country faces challenges in securing around $ 6.5 billion in external debt this year due to unfavourable economic conditions. Click here to read… [17]

Saudi Arabia promises more scholarships for Pakistani students – Dawn

Saudi Arabia has decided to increase scholarships for Pakistani students as well as introduce an exchange programme for teachers to conduct research on the life of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), said its representatives in a meeting with caretaker Education Minister Madad Ali Sindhi on Monday. Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

US-DFC Chief Executive in Colombo on Tuesday (7) for Port of Colombo investment launch- News First

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Nathan will visit Colombo from November 7-8, 2023. The US Embassy in Colombo said that Scott Nathan will participate in a launch event for a new DFC investment at the Port of Colombo that will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region. CEO Nathan will also participate in a signing ceremony for DFC’s investment commitment to Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB), which in collaboration with USAID Sri Lanka will promote inclusive lending in Sri Lanka. Click here to read… [19]

Officials must effectively implement the directives related to the country’s development – President emphasizes during the Nuwara Eliya DCC meeting– News.lk

During the Nuwara Eliya Special District Coordination Committee (DCC) meeting held November 4, at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of effective implementation of directives related to the country’s development. He underscored that government officials must promptly execute decisions made during district development committee meetings and stated his commitment to preventing any programs that could hinder the country’s progress. Furthermore, he warned that action would be taken against the heads of government institutions who fail to properly implement the instructions regarding the country’s development activities. Click here to read… [20]

Leaders of Sri Lankan Tamil parties should increase their engagement with India for resolving the Tamil issue, says Varatharaja Perumal- The Hindu

Leaders of Sri Lankan Tamil parties need to step up their engagement with India for resolving the Tamil issue, according to A. Varatharaja Perumal, former Chief Minister of the once-unified North-Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Emphasising that the 13th Amendment of Sri Lankan Constitution, dealing with devolution through elected bodies of provincial councils, should be “properly” implemented, he said if it was interpreted on the lines of similar features of the Indian Constitution in India, “this will take care of 70% to 75% of the political issues.” Click here to read… [21]