Neighborhood News Digest – 01 January 2024

Afghanistan

UN Security Council Adopts Resolution on Afghanistan-Tolo News

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday co-penned by the UAE and Japan that focuses on a path for Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community referencing the recently completed independent assessment on Afghanistan. The resolution was adopted after 13 members of the Security Council voted in favour, while Russia and China abstained. Click here to read... [2]

Kazakhstan Removes Islamic Emirate from Banned Group List-Tolo News

Kazakhstan ambassador to Afghanistan Alim Khan Yasin Galdiev in a meeting with the acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said that his country has taken the Islamic Emirate off the list of groups whose activities are banned in this country. Click here to read... [3]

Veiled rebellion: Female medical students go underground in Afghanistan- Al Jazeera

In Afghanistan, many women have refused to give up on their chosen path and have continued studying on their own or online, hoping that they will one day be allowed to study officially at university and medical school again. Some women have managed to work around the restrictions, finding secret internships and residency opportunities. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Changes being made to keep pace with world - The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said changes are being made in the curriculum as the government wants to develop an education system of international standard in Bangladesh. Click here to read... [5]

ULFA leaders say crackdown in Bangladesh forced them to join peace talks with govt - Deccan Herald

Leaders of insurgent group ULFA on Sunday said that the crackdown against Indian insurgent groups by the "pro-India" Awami League government in neighbouring Bangladesh pushed them towards no option but to join the peace talks with the government in 2011. Click here to read... [6]

‘Upcoming polls more like an AL council’ – The Daily star

A sense of unease has gripped the country, said human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra's Executive Committee Chairperson Advocate ZI Khan Panna yesterday. He was speaking at an event while describing the country's rights situation ahead of the national polls. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Sarpang residents hopeful of Mindfulness City – Kuensel

Ten out of the 12 gewogs in Sarpang are designated for the ambitious Gelephu Mindfulness City development. The groundbreaking ceremonies (salhang tendrel) were recently conducted, coinciding with the Gelephu International Airport ceremony. The ceremonies in these gewogs were conducted earlier, as there are no auspicious days in the coming months. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Major economic strides anticipated during Pres Dr. Muizzu's first year: Econ Minister– Avas

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed has expressed optimism about the anticipated economic progress during the first year of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's administration. In a post on social media platform X, Saeed said that the positive results will become evident within President Muizzu's first year in office. Click here to read... [9]

"2023 Presidential Election was the most peaceful in the country’s constitutional history" – Raajje

The Elections Commission has stated that the 2023 presidential election was the most peaceful and smooth election held in the constitutional history of the country. The EC revealed this in the report on the 2023 presidential election. As such, they noted that the political parties, candidates and the public showed patience in the election held during a politically turbulent period. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Myanmar to participate in ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 - India Tribune

Myanmar will participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum 2024 in Laos next year, the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association said on Saturday. “Until now, four travel companies registered to represent Myanmar in the forum,” U Naung Naung Han, president of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, told Xinhua news agency. Click here to read... [11]

151 Myanmar soldiers cross international border, surrender before Assam Rifles in Mizoram – OpIndia

On Friday (29th December), about 151 army personnel from the neighbouring country of Myanmar crossed the international border and reached the Indian State of Mizoram. Popularly known as ‘Tatmadaw’, they surrendered before the central paramilitary force ‘Assam Rifles’ in Tuisentlang village in Lawngtlai district of Mizoram. The development amid clashes between armed resistance groups and the Myanmar military. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Mag. 4.6 earthquake - Sindhupalchowk, Province 2, 56 km east of Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal, on Sunday, Dec 31 - Volcano Discovery

A strong magnitude 4.6 earthquake hit 56 km (35 mi) away from Kathmandu, Province 2, Nepal, late in the evening of Sunday, Dec 31, 2023 at 10.21 pm local time (GMT +5:45). The quake had a very shallow depth of 22 km (14 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would. Click here to read... [13]

A 500-member procession from Nepal will bring 1100 wedding gifts to Ayodhya - New Indian Express

A 500-member procession from Janaki Mandir Nepal will reach Ayodhya on January 6th along with 1100 bhar (baskets/thalis) of wedding gifts meant for Lord Ram on behalf of Janakpur, the birthplace of his bride Sita. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Imran denied election bid on ‘moral’ grounds, says returning officer-Dawn

A verdict issued by the returning officer of NA-122 on Sunday regarding the rejection of the nomination papers of Imran Khan stated that the papers of the former premier were rejected on “moral” and other grounds, whereas Shehbaz Sharif’s papers were accepted from the NA-132 (Kasur) constituency on late Saturday night. Click here to read... [15]

PTI to challenge rejection of nomination papers today-Dawn

A day after most of its nominees failed to clear the scrutiny of nomination papers filed for the 2024 general elections, the PTI has decided to move election tribunals on Monday, 01 January 2024 to contest the rejection of nomination papers of scores of its candidates, including party founder Imran Khan. Click here to read... [16]

Sri Lanka

Everyone’s duty to ensure SL’s resurgence in the New Year: President – Daily Mirror Online

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his New Year message urged all citizens to be conscious of their duty of seeing the nation resurging from its crisis in the New Year. Click here to read... [17]

Colombo bans Chinese research ships from entering Sri Lankan ports for a year – Hindustan Times

Sri Lanka has informed India that it will not allow any Chinese research vessel to dock at its ports or operate within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for a period of one year, people aware of the matter said on Sunday. The move comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging President Ranil Wickremesinghe to respect Indian strategic and security concerns during their meeting on July 21, 2023. Click here to read... [18]

No government can deviate from current IMF path: CB Governor- Daily Mirror Online

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday any government could renegotiate the programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but it would be required to follow the path chosen currently to get international support. Click here to read... [19]