Neighborhood News Digest – 29 November 2023

Afghanistan

Extraction to Begin at 8 New Wells in Amu Oil Field-Tolo News

The commencement of oil extraction from eight new wells in the Amu oil field was inaugurated on Tuesday in Sar-e Pul province. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Shahabuddin Delawar and other senior officials of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read... [2]

Regional Engagement Called For at Herat Security Dialogue-Tolo News

The 11th Herat Security Dialogue “Reimagining Afghanistan: Ways Forward” was held from 27-28 November, 2023 in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan. The participants of the Herat Security Dialogue in their second day of meeting stressed the importance of a regional agreement and the role of the regional countries to solve the issue of Afghanistan. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

4-member EU election monitoring mission arrives today - The Daily Star

A four-member European Union election monitoring mission will arrive in Bangladesh today. Earlier, the EU communicated to Bangladesh that they were not sending a full-fledged election observation mission. The decision was made after it sent an election exploratory mission in September. Later, the EU said it would send a four-member expert mission that will stay in Bangladesh for two months. Click here to read... [4]

BNP’s 24-hour blockade underway with reports of arson attacks - Dhaka Tribune

The latest 24-hour road-rail-waterway blockade called by the BNP is underway across the country with reports of arson attacks. Dhaka was witnessing the usual traffic on Wednesday morning despite the blockade. Commuters were going to their destinations in a rush while activities at government and private offices were going on as usual. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan to focus on sustaining carbon neutrality – Kuensel

More than 150 national and international delegates will participate at Bhutan Pavilion in the 28th Conference of Parties (COP) from November 30 to December 12, emphasising the commitment to carbon neutrality. COP, an annual event serving as the highest global authority for climate crisis decision-making, brings together world leaders, government officials, Non-Government Organisations, and climate activists to discuss collective goals and address climate change issues. COP28, hosted at Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will be attended by representatives from 198 UN member states and others. Click here to read... [6]

Blackout for elections begin – Kuensel

The 48-hour blackout period for the fourth National Assembly elections 2023-24 begins at 8am today, extending until the end of polls on November 30. The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) issued the notification in accordance with Section 305 of the Election Act, which stipulates that no candidate or political party is permitted to convene public meetings or engage in campaigning on the day of the poll and during the 48 hours preceding the commencement of the poll. Click here to read... [7]

Electricity export declines – Kuensel

Bhutan’s electricity export witnessed a significant drop of 18.8 percent in the initial nine months (January to September), despite the consistent electricity generation. The recorded export sales amounted to Nu 15.04 billion, compared to Nu 18.52 billion in the corresponding period last year. Hydropower sales constitute over 75 percent of the total electricity exports. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

The Maldives and Türkiye hold Official Talks– Avas

President Dr Muizzu, accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level Ministerial Delegation, made his first Official Visit overseas to Türkiye from 26-29 November. The official talks took place on November 27 at the Presidential Palace in Ankara. Click here to read... [9]

Approval to form Yameen’s PNF to be issued- Sun Online

Elections Commission (EC)’s Chairperson Fuad Thaufeeq states the commission will grant approval to form People’s National Front (PNF), the new political party spearheaded by former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom. The unexpected split emanates from deep-seated internal conflicts and disagreements within their political party or coalition. Earlier, a faction led by Yameen called for the resignation of President Muizzu of the Maldives. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Chinese PLA delegation visits Myanmar Naval Headquarters-GNLM

A delegation headed by Senior Captain Sun Bo, Commander of Operations of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), on a goodwill visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, visited the Naval Training Headquarters on 28 November 2023. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar showcases investment opportunities at 2023 ASEAN Investment Forum in Nanning, China-GNLM

According to the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar delegates explained and discussed potential investment opportunities in Myanmar at the 2023 ASEAN Investment Forum. The 2023 ASEAN Investment Forum was held at Guangxi Minzu University, located in Nanning City of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the People’s Republic of China, on 24 November. Myanmar delegates, led by Consul-General to Nanning U Kyaw Soe Thein and Commercial Attaché Daw Kay Khaing Kyaw, attended the event. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Three Nepalis in Russian army killed, says embassy - The Kathmandu Post

The Nepali Embassy in Moscow confirmed that three Nepali youths serving in the Russian Army have recently been killed. They died during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Nepali Ambassador to Russia Milan Raj Tuladhar told the Post over the phone from the Russian capital. They were reportedly killed in an explosion. Click here to read... [13]

Over 1,000 new mothers struggle under tarpaulins in wake of Jajarkot earthquake- The Himalayan Times

With the heavy loss of damages to physical properties, mostly the buildings, from the Jajarkot Earthquake happened on November 3, the new mothers, senior citizens and children are severely affected. They are facing different health issues due to inadequate living facilities. As most of them are forced to live under the tarpaulins, the quake-survivors are facing hardships and cold related illness with the start of the winter season. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Caretaker PM Kakar reaches Kuwait to cement ties – Dawn

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar after completing his two-day official visit to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening reached Kuwait, where several me­­m­­orandums of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be inked between the two states in different fields. During his two-day visit, the caretaker premier will meet Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Jaber Al Sabah and his Kuwait counterpart Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah. Click here to read... [15]

UAE Likely To Invest $20-25 Billion In Cash-Strapped Pakistan: Report – NDTV World

Pakistan and the UAE have inked several agreements under which the Gulf nation is likely to invest between USD 20-25 billion in the cash-strapped nation, according to a media report. The signing ceremony took place on Monday in Abu Dhabi after caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar's meeting with the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan: Imran Khan's party ordered to conduct fresh intra-party polls within 20 days for 'bat' symbol – India TV

On November 23, the Election Commission said that the intra-party polls held last year were objectionable and controversial, saying that it had amended the constitution before the elections. The fresh elections will have to be conducted as per the time frame set by the ECP to retain the bat symbol. Click here to read... [17]

For Pakistan, political and economic considerations outweigh inhumane deportation of refugees – Scroll

Pakistan’s move to expel “illegal” immigrants since November 1 had already drawn widespread criticism when the government went a step further and slapped an exorbitant exit fee on Afghan refugees in the country awaiting resettlement elsewhere. Refugees who fled to Pakistan following the Taliban’s capture of Kabul in August 2021 have now been told to pay an “exit permit fee” of $830 per person when they receive asylum in other countries. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan: Court rules Imran Khan’s trial in cypher case to be conducted in Adiala jail – The Print

A special court on Tuesday ruled that the hearing in the cypher case against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be conducted at the Adiala jail but in an open court, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who is hearing the cypher case, against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, announced the decision. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

21 fishermen reach Chennai after being released from Sri Lanka prisons - Business Standard

Twenty one fishermen who were released from Sri Lankan prisons reached Chennai airport on Wednesday. A total of 64 fishermen who belong to Rameshwaram and Mandapam were arrested in three separate arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, allegedly for cross-border fishing in the month of October. Their boats and fishing nets were also taken by the Sri Lankan Navy. Click here to read... [20]

Creditor nations likely to agree on Sri Lanka debt restructuring – report - Daily Mirror Online

A group of Sri Lanka's creditor nations are likely to reach an agreement on debt relief and an extension of repayment deadlines for the South Asian nation, Japan's Jiji News reported on Wednesday, without naming a source or giving any details. Japan co-chairs this group, together with France and India. China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor and has steered clear of joining this group as a formal member. Click here to read... [21]