Neighborhood News Digest- 29 October 2024

Afghanistan

Source: New Uzbekistan Envoy Arrives in Kabul-Tolo News

A source told TOLO news that Oybek Usmanov has arrived in Kabul as the new Uzbekistan ambassador and is expected to present his credentials to the prime minister in the coming days. Usmanov succeeds Yadgar Shadmanov, the former ambassador to Afghanistan, who served for nearly twelve years in the country. Click here to read... [2]

Islamic Emirate Seeks Foreign Embassies' Relocation to Kabul from Doha-Tolo News

The head of the Islamic Emirate's political office in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said that this office is working to persuade countries to transfer their embassies from Doha to Kabul. Shaheen told TOLO news that foreign diplomats in Qatar are consistently requested to travel to Kabul and discuss this matter with the senior officials of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read... [3]

Afghanistan-Iran annual trade surpasses $4 billion mark-The Khaama Press

Iranian officials report that the volume of trade between Afghanistan and Iran has reached $4 billion annually. Alireza Marhamati, Iran’s Consul General in Herat, stated on Monday during a visit to Taybad that “Afghanistan is Iran’s most important economic partner.” Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

BNP mulls rallies in Nov to press for polls roadmap - The Daily Star

BNP is considering rallies next month to push for a roadmap to election while keeping a close watch on the issue of the president's probable removal. The party high-ups have already discussed the programmes, which will be finalised soon, said its leaders. Click here to read... [5]

GDP growth lowest in five quarters – The Daily Star

Bangladesh recorded its lowest economic growth in the past five quarters in the last quarter of fiscal 2023-24 due to contractionary monetary and fiscal policies to tackle the dwindling forex reserves and high inflation. Between April and June this year, the GDP grew by 3.91 percent, according to the latest published quarterly data by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) yesterday. A year earlier, the country clocked in 6.88 percent GDP growth. Click here to read... [6]

'We want to bring a group of youth to power through election' – Dhaka Tribune

Nasir Uddin Patwari was appointed as the convener of this committee. Bangla Tribune’s Abid Hasan spoke to him about what the citizens’ committee wants, how their activities will be conducted, and what are their thoughts on building Bangladesh in the future. Click here to read... [7]

No decision yet to ban any political party: CA press wing – Prothom Alo

The interim government has taken no decision so far to ban any political party. Chief adviser’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said this while addressing a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital this evening. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Tata Power Acquires 40% Stake in Bhutan's Khorlochhu Hydro Power – Rediff

Tata Power on Monday said it has acquired 40 per cent stake in Bhutan-based Khorlochhu Hydro Power Limited for Rs 830 crore. "It has today executed the Share Purchase Agreement between the company, existing shareholder of KHPL and KHPL," Tata Power said in an exchange filing. Click here to read... [9]

Rising AI threats: GovTech promotes responsible use and regulation – Kuensel

The global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is projected to soar from USD 397 billion in 2022 to USD 1.58 trillion by 2028, according to Grand View Research. The PwC predicts that AI could contribute a staggering USD 15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

WTO praises government's economic reforms – PSM News

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has commended the government's initiatives to strengthen economic resilience through the implementation of reforms and efforts to promote economic diversification. During the fourth WTO Trade Policy Review Session, several member countries recognized the Maldives' trade policies and lauded the nation for its remarkable achievement in transitioning from a least developed country to upper middle-income status in just over a decade. They further praised the ongoing economic reforms and initiatives aimed at diversifying the economy. Delegations acknowledged that the Maldives' economic successes demonstrate the extraordinary resilience and adaptability of its populace. Click here to read... [11]

First Lady Sajidha departs on official visit to Tanzania – Adhadhu

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed departed on an official visit to Tanzania on the eve of October 27, 2024. She is scheduled to attend the 11th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Annual Conference. According to the President's Office, she will participate in the High-Level First Ladies Panel, deliver a keynote address and speak at the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee Meeting. The 11th edition of the conference, taking place from October 29-30, 2024, brings together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and academics to discuss topics such as women’s empowerment, disease management, and expanding access to quality healthcare across Africa and Asia. Click here to read... [12]

Pakistan

Pakistan, KSA sign 30 MoUs for skilled worker employment-The Express Tribune

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed 30 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to facilitate the employment of skilled Pakistani workers in various sectors within Saudi Arabia. Click here to read... [13]

PM Shehbaz departs for investment moot in Riyadh-Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday departed for Saudi Arabia to attend the eight edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) being held in Riyadh. The FII, scheduled for Oct 29-30, serves as a major platform for countries to promote economic potential, attract foreign investments, and discuss strategies for sustainable growth. Click here to read... [14]

Sri Lanka

Government refutes printing money, obtaining foreign loans – Daily Mirror

While refuting reports of printing money under the new government, Cabinet spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath said today the government had neither printed money nor obtained loans from foreign countries or institutions. He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that if money has been printed, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as the Finance Minister should have signed the currency notes, adding that no such notes signed by the President have been issued. Click here to read... [15]

Sri Lanka must shift to trade-oriented production to manage debt post-IMF: Economist - Daily Mirror

As Sri Lanka prepares to resume repayment of its significant sovereign debt by 2028, a leading economist has called for a strategic shift towards trade-oriented production, to secure a primary surplus essential for debt management, once the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme concludes. Click here to read... [16]

India hands over rooftop solar systems at religious sites in Sri Lanka – Deccan Herald

India has handed over rooftop solar systems to multiple religious locations in Sri Lanka in continuation of its energy partnership with the island nation, the Indian High Commission here said. The representatives from the High Commission of India, the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority handed over the solar panels and other materials to a Buddhist temple at Hokandara, Sri Aanjaneyar Temple, St. Anthony’. Click here to read... [17]