Afghan refguees forced to retun to Afghanistan at worst possible time: WFP
The Khaama Press | 28th November
The director of the World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan, Hsiao-Wei Lee, has expressed deep concern regarding the forced deportation of refugees from Pakistan ahead of the harsh winter.
Lee highlighted that more than one million people are expected to leave Pakistan, with over 370,000 already arriving in Afghanistan. These refugees are being compelled to return to Afghanistan during what is considered the most challenging time of the year. Lee emphasized the grim prospects for these families, stating that they are uncertain about their survival in the upcoming freezing winter.
Pakistan, UAE sign multibillion-dollar pacts to boost economic ties
The Nation | 28th November
Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have signed different MoUs worth multibillion dollars at Abu Dhabi on Monday. In his special video message from Abu Dhabi, he congratulated the people of both states over signing of these MoUs. He said these MoU will usher in a new era of economic cooperation, regional stability and strategic cooperation. The prime minister said the economic benefits of these MoU will soon be witnessed through different tangible projects. He said the
friendship between the two countries that was founded by Sheikh Zayed in 70s has now been entered into a new era by his son Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Saudi Arabia keen to strengthen economic ties with Sri Lanka in Garment and Tourism Sectors
Colombo Page | 27th November
The Minister of Economy and Planning for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Faisal F. Alibrahim, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe this afternoon (27) at the Presidential Secretariat. During the discussions, Minister Alibrahim emphasized Saudi Arabia’s keen interest in strengthening economic ties with Sri Lanka across various sectors, including garments and tourism. President’s Media Division said the Saudi Minister explained that his government was focused on expanding economic relations within the region and regarded Sri Lanka with significant importance.
PAKISTAN
Caretaker PM Kakar reaches Kuwait
to cement ties
Dawn | 29th November
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.
As the year 2023 marked the 60th anniversary of establishing
diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Kuwait, the two sides are likely to
sign MoUs in several fields, including food security, manpower, information
technology, mineral exploration, energy and defence.
Business confidence improves, but
still negative
The Express Tribune | 29th November
The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(OICCI) on Tuesday reported that business confidence in Pakistan improved seven
percentage points but it still remained negative 18% in October-November 2023.
Results of the Business Confidence Index Survey (BCI) – Wave
24 suggested that business sentiment had bottomed out at negative 25% in May
2023 compared to positive 17% in May 2022.
COAS Munir, Saudi commander discuss
Middle East conflict
The News | 27th November
Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) Lieutenant General
Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mutair met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim
Munir at the General headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military’s media affairs
wing said on Monday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR),
during the meeting, both sides discussed various areas of mutual interest
including cooperation in the fields of defence, security and military training
as well as the regional situation and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka and Paris Club official
creditors reach preliminary debt deal
Daily Mirror | 29th November
Sri Lanka and the country’s Official Creditor Committee
(OCC) co-chaired by India, Japan and France as the Chair of the Paris Club have
agreed on a debt restructuring deal, a statement issued by the Paris Club
Secretariat said.
“The OCC and Sri Lanka agreed on the main parameters of a
debt treatment consistent with those of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF)
arrangement between Sri Lanka and the IMF,” the statement said.
President to make three proposals
at COP28 in Dubai
The Island | 29th November
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to present three
proposals at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop28) to be held in
Dubai.
Sri Lanka’s main proposal is to establish a Climate Change
University here.
The other two proposals are the establishment of a Climate
Justice Forum for Third World countries that are inconvenienced by the
activities of developed countries and the establishment of a Tropical Belt Forum
for tropical rainforests.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Female Journalists Face
Unemployment and Information Barriers
Afghanistan Times | 28th November
The “Afghan Women Journalists Association” has released
survey findings detailing the status of female journalists in Afghanistan over
the past two years. The report highlights that a majority of women journalists
have experienced challenges, leading to many becoming housebound during this
period.
Over 200 female journalists and media personnel from both
the capital and provinces participated in the survey, sharing insights into the
difficulties they have faced in the wake of recent changes.
Facing Poppy Ban, Afghan Farmers
Call for Help Planting Alternatives
TOLO News | 29th November
Some farmers in different provinces of the country want more
cooperation from the Islamic Emirate in the field of alternatives to
cultivating crops used for illicit drugs in the country.
They said that since the prohibition of poppy cultivation
and drug production in the country, they have not received any cooperation in
the field of alternative cultivation.
“When it was opium cultivation, we used to be able to earn a
lot of money and work hard, now there is no opium, and the government did not
cooperate with us because of alternative cultivation,” said Ghulam Nabi, a
farmer.
BANGLADESH
EU expects inclusive elections
Prothom Alo | 29th November
The European Union (EU) hopes to see a democratic, credible,
peaceful and inclusive election in Bangladesh.
EU ambassador Charles Whiteley made the remark after holding
a meeting with the election commission on Wednesday afternoon.
He said the entire world expects such an election.
A EU delegation held a meeting with the election commission
at the Nirbachan Bhaban ahead of the 12th parliamentary election slated to be
held on 7 January.
Address climate displacement to
avert future human crisis
Bangladesh Post | 28th November
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called for
International support for the countries affected worst due to climate
displacement, suggesting five things need to be addressed on human mobility to
protect them from human crisis.
“Most climate displacements take place within national
borders and across borders in some dire situations. The worst-affected
countries need international support and solidarity to prevent such situations
from turning into a humanitarian crisis,” she said.
Borrowing to get costlier as BB
raises repo rate
Dhaka Tribune | 26th November
Bangladesh Bank on Sunday again raised the repo rate by 50
basis points to 7.75%, in an attempt to contain inflation by making money
costlier.
After this hike, the repo rate will be effective from
Monday.
The repo rate is the rate at which the Bangladesh Bank lends
money to commercial banks or financial institutions.
In the case of a repo, a dealer sells government securities
to investors, usually on an overnight basis, and buys them back the following
day at a slightly higher price.
BHUTAN
Bhutan honoured for best
sustainable tourism
Kuensel | 30th November
Bhutan was bestowed with the esteemed award—Best
Sustainability Initiative—by a Destination at the 2023 Luxury Travel Gold List
Awards Australia.
Sonam Tobgay, the Bhutanese Ambassador to Australia,
accepted this accolade during the awards ceremony in Sydney yesterday.
The award applauds a destination that has implemented a consumer-facing
sustainability initiative, allowing travelers to actively engage and contribute
to the sustainable goals of the destination.
Bhutan National Elections:
Bhutanese Ready to Cast Their Votes
Daily Bhutan | 29th November
Bhutan is the youngest democracy in South Asia, having
transitioned from a monarchy to a parliamentary system in 2008. It has gone
through three general elections, each of them having seen the incumbent
defeated and a new party given the chance to helm the government.
On November 30, a total of
496,836 eligible voters will have the opportunity to choose their
representatives for the 47 seats in the fourth parliament.
Access Points-The Bridges of
Financial Inclusion
Business Bhutan | 27th November
Access points, over the years, have numbered and enhanced
financial access to the Bhutanese populace, facilitating and easing transaction
costs
An ‘access point’ is any physical entity where an individual
can perform cash-in and cash-out transactions with a regulated financial
institution, such as a bank branch, any type of banking office, Automatic
Teller Machine (ATM), agent or Point of Sales (POS) device that performs
cash-in and cash-out transactions (physical and electronic).
The overall number of access points in the country has
increased since 2019 onwards. Among all the access points, the branches and
extension has not increased much.
MALDIVES
President Dr. Muizzu Heads to Dubai for COP28 Summit
The Edition | 30th November
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is set to participate in the
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (COP28) in Dubai. His arrival in the city took place yesterday, accompanied
by a high-level delegation from the Maldives, as confirmed by the President’s
Office.
The visit to Dubai comes following his first official trip
to Turkey at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who
recently concluded a two-day state visit to the Maldives. This marks President
Dr. Muizzu’s inaugural international visit since assuming office on November
17th.
President Muizzu: Confident new chapter of
Maldives-Türkiye relations will broaden cooperation
Sun | 30th November
aldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says he is confident
that this new chapter of Maldives-Türkiye relations lead to strengthened and
broader cooperation in a far wider range of areas.
He made the remark in a post on X, announcing his departure
from Türkiye after a successful visit.
In his post, he also expressed “profound appreciation” to
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the nation’s leadership for the
special consideration that is accorded to the Maldives.
Raajje | 29th November
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has called Israel to immediately
end the illegal occupation and return the forcefully seized lands of Palestine.
The Maldivian President made this statement on his message
on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People, on Wednesday.
In his message, President Dr. Muizzu reasserted the
unwavering support of the people and the Government of the Maldives to the
people and the Government of the State of Palestine in their legitimate right
for full sovereignty and to live in peace with safety and security.
MYANMAR
Myanmar Junta Chief Says ‘Foreign
Experts’ Helping in Offensive Against Military
The Irrawaddy | 30th November
Myanmar’s junta chief said on Wednesday “foreign experts”
were helping ethnic minority armed groups in their widespread offensive against
the military along the northern border with China.
Clashes have raged across Myanmar’s northern Shan State
after an armed alliance of three ethnic minority groups launched surprise
attacks against the military in October.
The groups have seized dozens of military positions and a
town important for trade with China, in what analysts say is the biggest
military challenge to the junta since it seized power in 2021.
China navy ships arrive in Myanmar
for joint drills
Myanmar Now | 29th November
Three Chinese navy ships have arrived in Myanmar for joint
drills with its navy, the country’s junta said, as a border conflict strains
ties between the Southeast Asian nation and its most important ally.
A destroyer, frigate and a supply vessel carrying hundreds
of sailors arrived at Thilawa port on Monday ahead of “naval security exercises
between Myanmar and China,” the junta’s information team said.
It did not give details about the drills or when they would
begin but state media reported the Chinese “naval task force” was 700 sailors
strong.
NEPAL
PM Dahal in Dubai to attend COP 28
The Himalayan Times | 30th November
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has reached
Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, leading Nepal’s high-level
delegation to the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP 28).
COP 28 is kicking off in Dubai from today and will run till
12 December 2023.
He is scheduled to attend the high-level segment of the COP
28-World Climate Action Summit that runs from December 1 to 2.
Nepal becomes second country in
Asia to register same-sex marriage
The Kathmandu Post | 30th November
Nepal registered the country’s first same-sex marriage in
Lamjung on Wednesday.
According to Dordi Rural Municipality Chairman Yuvaraj
Adhikari, the marriage was registered at the ward 2 office of the rural
municipality between Surendra Pandey, aged 27, of Kawasoti Municipality-8 in
Nawalparasi East, and 37-year-old Ram Bahadur Gurung, who goes by the name
Maya, of Dordi Rural Municipality-2 in Lamjung.
Surendra and Maya registered their marriage five years after
getting married at a temple, according to Maya.
Onlinekhabar | 30th November
The government, having banned TikTok, is now extending its
monitoring efforts to include other social media platforms such as Telegram and
Snapchat. Prakash Rayamajhi, the Prime Minister’s information technology
expert, has indicated that studies are underway to explore regulatory measures
or potential bans on these apps, similar to the action taken against TikTok.
The government states that it banned TikTok due to its
impact on social harmony and family disruption.
