Neighborhood News Digest- 24 January 2024

Afghanistan

4 Countries to Soon Hold Meeting on Afghanistan: Kabulov- Tolo News

Russia said that a quadrilateral meeting will take place by the end of January to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, in an interview with Tass News Agency said that Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran are preparing for the meeting. Click here to read... [2]

Torkham border crossing reopens after 11-day closure-The Khama Press

The Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened on Tuesday after being closed for 11 days, according to officials. The decision to reopen the Torkham crossing followed after meetings between a delegation of Afghan transporters and Chamber of Commerce representatives and Pakistani trade officials at the embassy in Kabul. Click here to read... [3]

Afghan Women Treated Based on Islamic Law: Deputy Minister- Tolo News

The deputy Minister of Vice and Virtue, Mohammad Faqir Mohammadi, said that whatever is enforced on women in Afghanistan is based on Islamic law. In an interview with TOLO news, Mohammadi referred to the detention of women and said that the women were arrested by the female forces of the Interior Ministry because they had not observed hijab. Click here to read... [4]

Afghan nationals top the list of asylum seekers in France in 2023-The Khama Press

The Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons in France (OFPRA) has announced that Afghans, with 17,500 requests, were the largest group of asylum seekers in the country in 2023. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

BNP in two minds about local polls - The Daily Star

The BNP will not participate in the upcoming upazila polls as per its previous decision, but it has two different thoughts on the elections. Click here to read... [6]

Trinamool BNP awaits a rebound – Dhaka Tribune

Their enthusiasm created much hype ahead of the 12th general election, but none of the 135 candidates of the Trinamool BNP came out victorious. The party's chairperson and secretary general also lost their security deposit in the January 7 polls and have not visited the central office since then. Click here to read... [7]

Awami League to hold rally in Dhaka on Saturday– Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League will hold a “Peace and Democracy” rally at Bangabandhu Avenue at 3pm on Saturday. The party issued a press release signed by Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League Office Secretary Riaz Uddin to the media, informing about the rally on Tuesday. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Decrease in irregularities: Fiscal year 2022-23 – Kuensel

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, irregularities totaling Nu 2.8 billion were identified by the Royal Audit Authority (RAA), with 79.04 percent (Nu 2.2B) attributed to non-compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. This marks a notable shift from the previous year, where cases of shortfall, lapses, and deficiencies dominated. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Maldives says welcomes friendly vessels as Chinese ship heads to Male– The Hindustan Times

The Indian Navy has been tracking the Chinese vessel since it entered the Indian Ocean region through the Sunda strait in Indonesia on January 22. The Maldives on January 23 stated that Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 would be making a port call at Male following a diplomatic request by Chinese government for the necessary clearances for rotation of personnel and replenishment. Although, the vessel will not conduct surveys in the Maldives, as stated by the Maldives mInistry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Such port calls not only enhance bilateral ties between the Maldives and its partner countries, but also demonstrate the centuries old tradition of the Maldivian people welcoming vessels from friendly countries’ stated Maldives through a statement. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives ready to work with France on shared priorities: Zameer– Raajje

Ambassador of France to the Maldives Jean-François Pactet paid a courtesy call on the foreign minister of Maldives at the foreign ministry. Welcoming Ambassador Pactet, FM Zameer shed light on the close and friendly relations that the Maldives and France have enjoyed over the years. Moosa Zameer, Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that ‘the government of Maldives is willing to work with the government of France on shared priorities’, during a meeting with Ambassador of France to the Maldives Jean-François Pactet on January 23. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar Plane Overshoots Runway, Crash-Lands Into Bush At Mizoram Airport –NDTV

All the 14 passengers of a small Myanmar military plane had a miraculous escape on Tuesday after the aircraft overshot the table-top Lengpui airport runway near Aizawl and crash-landed into a bush, officials said. Of the 14 people aboard the plane, including the pilot, eight sustained minor injuries and were treated in a local health centre, they said. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar Junta Troops Escape to China After KIA Attack - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar junta troops near the Chinese border in Kachin State have fled into China after an attack by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), according to residents. Light Infantry Battalion 424 troops at Man Wein Gyi village in Mansi Township retreated after Sunday’s attack by KIA Brigade 3 and Kachin People’s Defense Force. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Janamat mulls quitting the federal government - Himalayan Times

The Janamat Party, which left the Madhes government led by the Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal, is considering withdrawing its support from the federal government and launching a full-fledged anti-corruption campaign in the Taria region.Dr. C.K. Raut, Chair of Janamat, told THT that the Madhes government was rife with corruption and that we could not be a part of it. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal reiterates its commitment to disarmament and global peace - khabar Hub

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has reiterated Nepal’s commitment to disarmament and world peace. “Nepal’s commitment to disarmament is total and unequivocal. It is one of the objectives of Nepal foreign policy as well,” he said adding that as a party to NPT, CWC, BWC and a signatory to CTBT and TPNW, Nepal has been advocating for the promotion of disarmament. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

Trade resumes as Torkham crossing reopens – Dawn

Excitement and jubilation by the exhausted transporters marked the resumption of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan via the Torkham border on Tuesday as Pakistan announced a relaxation in visa conditions for Afghan transporters till end of March. Local custom clearing agents told Dawn that preference was given to vehicles loaded with perishable items which included oranges and potatoes from Pakistan side and onion from Afghan side. Click here to read... [16]

Govt approves troop deployment for poll security – The Express Tribune

The caretaker federal cabinet on Tuesday – on the recommendation of the interim interior ministry – approved the deployment of the army and civil armed forces’ troops for conducting the next general elections peacefully. The soldiers will not only perform duties in sensitive constituencies and at polling stations but also act as a rapid response force. Click here to read... [17]

SBP to launch platform for FX interbank market – Business Recorder

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided to revamp the foreign exchange trading system and announced to introduce a Centralized Foreign Exchange (FX) Trading Platform called “FX Matching” for the interbank FX market to bring more transparency to the interbank market. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

Central Bank maintains key policy rates amidst inflation concerns– Daily Mirror Online

In line with widespread predictions, the Central Bank opted to keep its key policy rates unchanged at 9 and 10 percent during its inaugural Monetary Policy announcement for the year. Click here to read... [19]

Speaker endorses Office of National Unity and Reconciliation Bill – Daily Mirror Online

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced today that he has endorsed the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation Bill. The Bill therefore becomes law with effect from today. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka Navy says ready for Red Sea deployment- Daily Mirror Online

Although a date has not been fixed, the Sri Lanka Navy said yesterday that it is now prepared to send a deployment to the Red Sea to assist in defending shipping lanes from Houthi activities, once the government greenlights and authorizes the deployment. Click here to read... [21]