4,000 killed and injured in Herat earthquake: Ministry
The Khaama Press | 9th October
The Ministry of Disaster Management of Afghanistan has announced that on Saturday, four thousand people were killed and injured due to the earthquake in Herat.
Officials from this Ministry stated in a press conference in Kabul that 1,983 residential houses have also been destroyed in 20 villages in Herat. The Taliban has not yet provided a breakdown of the casualties and injuries caused by the Herat earthquake.
Pakistan eyes $25b Saudi investment
The Express Tribune | 4th October
Saudi Arabia will invest up to $25 billion in Pakistan over the next two to five years in various sectors, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said on Monday, announcing that his interim government would also revive a stalled privatisation process. Speaking to journalists at his official residence, Kakar said that the Saudi investment would come in the mining, agriculture and information technology sectors, and was a part of the push to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.
India’s External Affairs Minister to visit Sri Lanka on 10-12 October
Colombo Page | 10th October
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar (EAM) will visit Sri Lanka on 10-12 October, 2023. This would be EAM’s second visit to Sri Lanka in 2023.
In Colombo, EAM will attend the 23rd Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on October 11, 2023, hosted by Sri Lanka, the current IORA Chair. At this meeting, India will assume the Vice-Chair role of IORA for 2023-25, leading to Chairship in 2025-27. The COM will review IORA’s recent activities and outline future cooperation.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan supports two-state solution to Palestine issue: PM Kakar
The News | 10th October
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq on Monday said that the resolution of the Palestine issue as per their aspirations was inevitable for peace in the Middle East as Israel was currently escalating measures against the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to a “total blockade”.
Fears of ground invasion are growing as Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the water supply to the area, besides airstrikes targeting housing areas and public buildings.
1,700 ‘illegal’ Afghan nationals arrested in Karachi so far: home minister
Dawn | 9th October
Sindh interim Home Minister retired Brigadier Haris Nawaz on Monday said authorities have so far arrested 1,700 Afghan nationals “illegally residing” in Karachi.
“All illegal immigrants living in Sindh would be deported,” he said in a media talk outside the office of West Zone deputy inspector general of police.
The development comes a week after the caretaker government gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan by October 31, or else risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.
Sami Saeed vows to fast track implementation of projects under CPEC
The Nation | 9th October
Caretaker Minister for Planning and Development Sami Saeed has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fast track implementation of projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
Talking to Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad on Monday, he said work on special economic zones has been expedited. He said the government is taking vigorous steps to further improve the security of the staff working on the CPEC related projects.
The Chinese Ambassador was appreciative of the steps being taken by the Ministry of Planning for the completion of projects under the CPEC.
SRI LANKA
Malaysia to support Sri Lanka’s entry into RCEP
Colombo Page | 10th October
Malaysia will support Sri Lanka’s application to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), visiting Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has assured when he held discussions with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo on Sunday (October 9).
The Prime Minister stated that Sri Lanka’s entry into RCEP would bolster its economic connectivity within the broader South East Asian region and the Malaysian Minister assured fullest support to Sri Lanka and said, “Sri Lanka belongs to our region.”
SL accords a great deal of importance to Indian Ocean
Daily Mirror | 11th October
Sri Lanka accords a great deal of importance to the Indian Ocean, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane said.
Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) Member States gathered in Colombo for the Twenty Fifth Meeting of the IORA Committee of Senior Officials.
The two-day meeting from 9-10 October 2023 was chaired by Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane.
Emergency food supplies: Japan spent USD 10 mn since June last year
The Island | 11th October
The Japanese Embassy in Colombo yesterday (10) said that since June last year, two million Lankans had benefited from a WFP programme funded by Japan. The announcement was made after Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Komura Masahiro attended the handing over of emergency food assistance and nutrition support at the President’s Office.
Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs, and Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director of WFP Sri Lanka, were present on the occasion.
AFGHANISTAN
Taliban ask female doctors to return to hospitals following deadly Herat quake
Afghanistan Times | 8th October
Local Taliban officials in Herat city are making a desperate plea for female doctors to immediately return to the district’s hospital in the wake of a powerful earthquake that struck the province yesterday. The seismic event has not only caused widespread devastation but has also led to a surge in casualties now surpassing 2,000 dead, pushing the district’s hospital into a state of emergency.
The urgent request, issued by local authorities, extends to all health department personnel and specifically emphasizes the need for female doctors, citing a critical shortage of medical professionals.
UN Partners Assessing Needs of Earthquake Victims, Guterres Says
TOLO News | 10th October
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed sadness over the loss of life caused due to the earthquake that occurred in Herat province, according to his spokesman.
Over 2,400 people were killed, and more than 2,000 others were injured in the earthquake that also targeted many provinces in the neighborhood.
“The Secretary-General expresses his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to those injured,” Guterres’ spokesman said in a statement.
BANGLADESH
Dengue: Deaths cross 1100-mark
Prothom Alo | 10th October
Thirteen more people died of dengue in the last 24 hours until 8:00 am Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 1,109.
An alarming 120 deaths have been recorded in the first nine days of the current month.
Besides, a total of 2,555 people have been hospitalised with the mosquito-borne viral fever during the period, according to the health directorate (DGHS).
Of the new deaths, nine have been reported from Dhaka, while the remaining four are from outside the capital.
Dhaka, Seoul committed to forging brighter future
Bangladesh Post | 10th October
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Park Young-sik on Tuesday said building on the achievements of the past 50 years, both Bangladesh and Korea are committed to forging a brighter and more prosperous future for the two nations.
“As we celebrate this significant milestone in our diplomatic relations, we must acknowledge the vital role that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays in this journey,” he said while speaking at the K-CSR Seminar 2023: “Korean Investors CSRs Activities and Investment Outlooks.”
Envoy: China to provide $3.5m in anti-dengue aid to Bangladesh
Dhaka Tribune | 11th October
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday said President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government are deeply concerned by the dengue epidemic in Bangladesh and announced that China will provide 25 million RMB ($3.5 million) in anti-dengue aid to Bangladesh.
“Today, the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh is handing over 700 sets of dengue test kits to Enam Medical College and Hospital, which will meet the demand for tests of over 18,000 people,” he said at the hospital in Savar.
BHUTAN
About USD 23,377,000 generated since September last year
Business Bhutan | 11th October
Between September 23, 2022 till October 1, 2023, 89,326 tourists visited Bhutan. From January 2023 to September 2023, 67673 tourists visited Bhutan. From the 89,326, 61,162 were Indian nationals, and 28,164 were other international guests. From the international guests, 10,844 have paid the old SDF rate, with 17,320 paying the new SDF rate. 13,573 Indian guests applied for their permit before arriving in Bhutan, while 47,589 received the permit on arrival.
Rice self -sufficiency drops to 25.2%
Kuensel | 5th October
Bhutan’s rice production saw an average annual decline of 11 percent – 26,680 metric tonnes (MT) of rice in 2022 compared to 41,520MT in 2018, according to the Department of Agriculture (DoA).
In past the five years, the rice self-sufficiency rate (SSR) dropped from 40.8 percent to 25.2 percent in 2022-2023.
Chief of Agriculture Research and Innovation Division, DoA, Rinzin Wangchuk said that the decrease in rice production has affected the SSR.
MALDIVES
UN assures Muizzu on aiding in developmental projects
Sun | 10th October
The United Nations has given assurance that they will provide assistance for the development of Maldives in various fields, as the new government is preparing to take over.
UN Resident Coordinator for the Maldives, Catherine Haswell, during a courtesy call on President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday, said UN will provide full cooperation for the new government in the implementation of its first 100-day pledges plan and other pledges he made in his manifesto for the national development of Maldives.
Dr. Muizzu assures he would strengthen the special relationship of Maldives-India
Raajje | 5th October
President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has assured that his administration would work to strengthen the special relationship between India and Maldives.
Dr. Muizzu stated this during his meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Munu Mahawar.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, and Dr. Muizzu was accompanied by the Vice-President-elect Hussain Mohamed Latheef.
MYANMAR
Over 27,000 Flee to Relief Camps in Myanmar’s Flood-Hit Bago
The Irrawaddy | 11th October
Although water levels have fallen in Bago Region after four days of flooding, nearly 30,000 residents are still sheltering in relief camps and urgently need assistance, according to relief volunteers.
On Tuesday, the military regime announced that more than 27,000 flood victims in Bago had entered 47 relief camps since Saturday (October 7).
Junta pushes to close IDP camps to make way for China’s Belt and Road
Myanmar Now | 11th October
China’s State Council Information Office released a white paper on Tuesday promoting Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): a global development plan that has seen the East Asian superpower invest in infrastructure projects in more than 150 countries since 2013.
“Over the past decade, BRI cooperation has delivered real gains to participating countries,” Chinese state news organ Xinhuanet wrote, citing the white paper. “It has contributed to the sound development of economic globalization… opened up a new path for all humanity to realize modernization, and ensured that the efforts of building a global community of shared future are delivering real results.”
NEPAL
Nepal, India fail to finalise Pancheshwar detailed project report
The Kathmandu Post | 9th October
Nepal and India have failed to finalise the detailed project report (DPR) of the much talked about Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project although Nepali officials claimed they had sorted most of their differences during a bilateral meeting.
The fifth meeting of the teams of experts from the two countries was held in Kathmandu on Friday and Saturday. They took one more day to prepare the minutes.
Govt condoles Nepali victims of Hamas violence
The Himalayan Times | 9th October
The government condoled the death 10 Nepali nationals who were killed by Hamas militants in Israel on Friday. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held here today wished speedy recovery of the injured Nepali nationals.
According to a press releaseissued by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s private secretariat, the government declared nat i o n a l mourning day on October 10 and directed government buildings and Nepali missions abroad to fly national flags at halfmast.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s diplomatic dance: Unexpected triumphs in US and China relations
Onlinekhabar | 11th October
During a period when the media was abuzz with discourse, all eyes and ears were fixed on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the chair of the Maoist Centre. The focal point was how he would address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) issue while managing the persistent pressure exerted by self-proclaimed elite communities, who consistently voiced their opinions through Twitter. In a surprising turn of events, Dahal cleverly outmanoeuvred them, taking a bold step that ultimately led to his victory.
