Neighborhood News Digest – 28 December 2023

Afghanistan

'Afghanistan Future Thought Forum' Held in Istanbul-Tolo News

Sultan Barakat, the founding director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies of Doha said that the 8th Afghanistan Future Thought Forum (AFTF) was held in Istanbul, Turkey. The Afghanistan Future Thought Forum (AFTF) has 30 members that include the employees of the former government, civil activists and university scholars. Click here to read... [2]

Afghan Migrants awaiting US Visa deported from Pakistan-The Khama Press

International media have reported that following the mass deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, at least 130 migrants awaiting U.S. visas were also deported. Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing its sources that the Pakistani government has ignored U.S. letters confirming the migrants’ eligibility for relocation to US during the mass deportation of migrants. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Most Ctg BNP men on the run to evade arrest - The Daily Star

Most BNP leaders and activists in Chattogram went into hiding to evade arrest or "police harassment" since the incidents of violence during the party's rally on October 28.BNP sources claimed most party men have not been seen in public recently as police have been arresting them indiscriminately. Click here to read... [4]

No arrest on political grounds, FM tells EU team – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen informed the European Union Election Expert Mission on Wednesday that no arrest was made for political reasons. The meeting was held from 6 pm to 8 pm. However, the two members of the EU monitoring team did not speak to the media after the meeting. Click here to read... [5]

Commerce Secy: EPA to be signed with Japan by Dec 2025 – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh will complete the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, the world’s 3rd largest economy, by December 2025 to strengthen bilateral economic relations alongside availing duty-free market facilities to that country. The joint press conference was organized to mark the release of the joint study group report on the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh polls: Sheikh Hasina's party manifesto pledges ongoing cooperation, friendly ties with India – DNA

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised to maintain cooperation and friendly relations with India if she is re-elected in the parliamentary polls next month. The reaffirmation came as she unveiled the manifesto of the ruling Awami League party on Wednesday for the upcoming general elections scheduled for January 7. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Bhutanese Embrace His Majesty’s Economic Vision in Solidarity – Bhutan Today

On December 17, 2023, commemorating Bhutan’s 116th National Day, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck unveiled an ambitious vision to transform the country into an economic hub for South Asia. Central to this vision is the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region (SAR) in the southern part of the Kingdom. His Majesty outlined plans for strategic investments in green energy, physical and digital connectivity, infrastructure, and education. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Mosquito control program launched nationwide– The Edition

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, and the Ministry of Defense participated in a nationwide program to control mosquito, launched by the Maldives Government to control Filariasis cases. The anti-mosquito campaign taskforce will work in the Greater Malé region. The disease is caused by a chronic mosquito-borne parasitic infection. Mosquito carries this parasite, called Culex pipiens, and they are typically found in dirty or congested waters. As the vector, when the mosquito chronically bites people, the parasites are transmitted to the person. Inside the host body, the parasites begin to populate within the blood, leading to Filariasis. Click here to read... [9]

State expenditure reaches MVR 46.7 billion– Raajje

The state expenditure had reached MVR 46 billion by 21 December 2023. Statistics revealed by the Ministry of Finance show that the government expenditure is more than the amount they spent during the same period last year. As such, while the state has so far spent MVR 46.7 billion in 2023, for the same period of 2022, the government expenditure was recorded at MVR 41.1 billion. The total Recurrent and Capital Expenditure of the state currently sits at MVR 44.6 billion. During the same period of 2022, the total Recurrent and Capital Expenditure of the state sat at MVR 38.4 billion. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

China urges evacuation by nationals in northern Myanmar - Devidiscourse

China's embassy in Myanmar urged its nationals on Thursday to evacuate as soon as possible from the Laukkai area in the northern region of Kokang, citing growing security risks. Myanmar's military has been battling coordinated rebel attacks in its biggest battlefield challenge since the 2021 coup. Click here to read... [11]

Instability in Myanmar, weapons with Manipur groups key issues in restoring peace: Lt Gen Kalita - Nagaland Post

Eastern Army Commander Lt General RP Kalita on Wednesday said the availability of a large number of firearms with the warring groups in Manipur and instability in Myanmar leading to influx of people from the neighbouring country are the key challenges in restoring peace in the strife-torn Northeastern state. Click here to read... [12]

Defying Traditions: Myanmar’s Female Fighters in Armed Resistance Against Military Junta - BNN Breaking

In Myanmar, an 18-year-old recruit named Moe Moe prepares to launch a drone strike against junta troops. As part of a pro-democracy fighting unit, the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), Moe Moe embodies the growing defiance of traditional gender roles in the predominantly Buddhist country. Fueled by outrage and her mother’s encouragement, she, like many other women, has become actively engaged in combat and support roles within the PDF. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Tourist arrivals in Nepal cross one million mark; Indians highest number of visitors - Deccan Herald

Nepal received one million foreign tourists in 2023, with Indians being the highest number of visitors to the Himalayan nation where the tourism sector was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said on Wednesday. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal PM hints at possible cabinet reshuffle in address on completion of one year in office - Times of India

Nepal Prime Minister Dahal hints at possible cabinet reshuffle; expresses unwillingness to tolerate subpar performances. He emphasises the need for ministers to deliver their best for the nation's best interests and warms against underperformance. Dahal also includes himself in the call for efficiency and states that stepping down becomes imperative if one cannot exhibit it. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

PML-N’s top brass ‘cleared’ in election scrutiny phase- Dawn

With the initial approval of nomination papers for several political leaders, including PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, by respective returning officers, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is progressing towards issuing the final list of candidates eligible to contest the coming general elections. The initial clearance was also granted to other notable leaders, including Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and Shehbaz Sharif. Click here to read... [16]

Faisal Saleh Hayat quits PPP for the second time, joins PML-N- Dawn

In line with expectations, former federal minister for interior Faisal Saleh Hayat on Wednesday quit the PPP and joined the PML-N ahead of the upcoming general elections. The announcement was made on Wednesday outside Hayat’s residence in Shah Jewana in the presence of Shehbaz Sharif. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

Economic crisis hits hard: 60.5% households struggle – Daily Mirror Online

The economic crisis is bearing on people with as many as 60.5 percent of households finding their monthly average incomes reduced while 91.0 percent of households experiencing an increase in their monthly expenditure levels, according to a survey by the Department of Census and Statistics. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka’s digital lending user base witnesses 125-fold growth in two years – Daily Mirror Online

Sri Lanka has witnessed a substantial increase in the user base for online loan applications across leading lending applications, Robocash, a leading legal and authorised online lender, revealed. From a modest 10,600 in August 2021, the user base for online loan applications in Sri Lanka skyrocketed to 1.3 million by November 2023. Click here to read... [19]

Collective progress essential to forge a robust nation – President – Daily News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted two critical challenges facing the nation in building a stable economy and addressing the ethnic problem at the centenary celebration of Badulla Guruthalawa Muslim Central College yesterday morning (27). President Wickremesinghe emphasized his commitment to safeguarding the rights of all citizens and expressed a desire to swiftly resolve lingering issues related to reconciliation. Click here to read... [20]