Neighbourhood News Digest – 3 December 2024

Afghanistan

UNSC to Hold Meeting on Afghanistan This Month – Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council has stated that the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will present a quarterly report on the situation in Afghanistan at a meeting of the Security Council scheduled for December 12. Additionally, the Chair of the Afghanistan Sanctions Committee and an official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to provide further explanations about the situation in Afghanistan to the Security Council members during the meeting. Click here to read... [2]

Delawar in China Highlights Afghanistan's Humanitarian Needs – Tolo News

Shahabuddin Delawar, acting Director of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, shared information with participants at a seminar in China about Afghanistan's humanitarian needs, the activities of the Afghan Red Crescent, and the organization's future programs. The Afghan Red Crescent Society stated that the seminar was organized in China by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the national societies of 11 countries. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

"Deeply Regrettable": India After Bangladesh Mission Breached In Tripura – NDTV

On December 2, 2024, India described as "deeply regrettable" an incident of breach of premises at the Bangladesh assistant high commission in Agartala. Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The MEA's response came hours after hundreds of people took out a massive rally around the Bangladeshi mission in Tripura's capital, protesting against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh as well as attacks on minorities in the neighbouring country. Click here to read... [4]

Wealth inequality way worse than income disparity – Daily Star

Bangladesh ranks among the countries with the highest income disparities globally, but there is another problem way worse than that: wealth inequality, which means a minuscule portion of the population owns a disproportionate amount of wealth compared to the majority. The Gini coefficient, a way of measuring inequality in a population, increased from 0.48 in 2016 to 0.50 in 2022 for income inequality, according to the white paper. Meanwhile, wealth inequality rose from 0.82 to 0.84 over the same period, said the "White Paper on the State of the Bangladesh Economy". Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

MPs call for clear thromde development guidelines – Kuensel

Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised concerns over the lack of clear guidelines and support for thromde and Yenlag throm development across the country, which has hindered their development. Kilkhorthang-Mendrelgang MP Kamal Bahadur Gurung, during the National Assembly’s question-answer session on November 29, highlighted challenges faced by thromde officials and residents in Tsirang. He urged the need for government support in preparing local area plans (LAPs), allocating land for industrial services and workshops, and granting permission for multi-story buildings and hotels in thromde core centers. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

PPM Senate decides to dissolve the party– PSM News

The Senate of the political party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has decided to dissolve the party. A statement released by the party outlined that the political party registered at the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), under the name, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), was currently running as a coalition. PPM stated that it was unreasonable for the party to be managed under a separate leadership, as it's coalition party, the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) is managed under a similar mindset and like-policies. Additionally, several PPM members are joining the ruling party as well. Click here to read... [7]

Muizzu administration’s claims of empowering women crumble as two long-serving female staff at PO are sacked– Raajje

Amid its towering promises of championing women’s rights, the incumbent administration has faced backlash as two long-serving female staff members at the President’s Office are abruptly dismissed, in turn shattering claims of “empowerment” and “protecting” women’s rights. The case came to light after one of the two women who were abruptly sacked by the incumbent administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu spoke out about it on the social media platform Facebook. According to one of the two employees who spoke to RaajjeMV on the condition of anonymity, they were instructed by the President’s Office to submit their resignations on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 27. Click here to read... [8]

Myanmar

China backing wrong side in Myanmar’s civil war – Asia Times

China faces criticism for supporting Myanmar’s military junta amid its ongoing civil war. Beijing has maintained ties with the military regime, prioritizing stability for its Belt and Road Initiative projects, including vital infrastructure investments. Critics argue this support undermines regional peace, empowering a regime accused of widespread atrocities. However, China’s balancing act includes limited engagement with opposition groups to safeguard its strategic interests. This dual approach risks alienating Myanmar’s broader populace and complicates Beijing's relations with other ASEAN nations concerned about stability. Click here to read... [9]

UN experts call for ‘course correction’ as civilian deaths reach 6,000 – UN News

“There are now 6,000 reminders that the international community is failing the people of Myanmar,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts stated in a news release on December 2. “It is time for a change, starting with moving this disaster out of the shadows of international attention”. The experts called for an urgent “course correction” in the international response, emphasising that while targeted action has proven effective – with sanctions reducing the junta’s weapons procurement by one-third – current measures “remain grossly inadequate and lack the coordination and strategic targeting necessary to deliver the support the people of Myanmar need and deserve”. Click here to read... [10]

Thailand Protests Myanmar’s Firing on Thai Fishing Boats – Bharat Shakti

Thailand protested an incident involving Myanmar’s navy firing on Thai fishing vessels, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made a statement on December 1. One fisherman drowned during the incident and two were injured. Dozens of Thai fishermen were also detained from one of the boats. Shinawatra had questioned claims that the fishing boats had intruded into Myanmar’s territorial waters when the country’s navy opened fire on the vessels late last week. The Thai defense ministry had earlier said two of 15 Thai fishing vessels were fired on when they were 4 to 5.7 nautical miles (7.4 to 10.6 km) inside Myanmar’s territorial waters near the southern Thai province of Ranong. Click here to read... [11]

Pakistan

Pakistan's anti-terrorism court sends Imran Khan on 14-day judicial remand in connection with seven new cases - The Hindu

An anti-terrorism court on Monday (December 2, 2024) sent former prime minister Imran Khan on a 14-day judicial remand in connection with seven cases related to the recent protests by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Mr. Khan, 72, was presented before the anti-terrorism court judge at Adiala jail, where he has been incarcerated for months, after the completion of a six-day police remand in a separate case about his party's September 28 protest in Rawalpindi. Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearing, during which the court approved Khan's judicial remand in the New Town police station case, as well as in six other cases. The judge ordered that Mr. Khan should be sent to jail on judicial remand. Click here to read... [12]

New task force to probe fake news of PTI casualties – The Dawn

The federal cabinet endorsed a decision by the prime minister regarding the formation of a joint task force to trace perpetrators involved in ‘fake news’ regarding the deaths of protesters in a crackdown by the government to disperse the PTI protesters who converged on the D-Chowk last week. The formation of the joint task force came amid claims by the PTI that at least 12 party supporters died in Islamabad as a result of firing by law enforcement agencies during the party’s ‘final call’ protest. PTI Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar also shared the same figure while talking to the media outside Adiala Jail. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan ramps up military operations amid surge in violent attacks – AlJazeera

The Pakistani military has said it carried out major “intelligence-based operations” over the weekend, eliminating eight individuals in two separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It claimed the men killed in the operations were involved in violent activities. In a statement released on Sunday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the military’s media wing – said the operations took place in the Bannu and Khyber districts. Two military personnel were also killed in the operations. Click here to read... [14]

Sri Lanka

Senior US diplomat to visit India, Sri Lanka, Nepal – The Economics Times

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu embarks on a visit to India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal from December 3 to 10. The trip focuses on strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, promoting regional prosperity, combating corruption, and advancing sustainable development and environmental protection with key partners in South Asia. Click here to read... [15]

Ather Energy Opens its First Experience Centre in Sri Lanka – News 18

The electric two-wheeler in India, Ather Energy has launched its first Experience Centre in Sri Lanka Colombo. This is the second international store after Nepal, which debuted last year in November. This marks a significant move for the brand as it started spreading roots in the international market. Ather said the newly opened Experience Centre will allow all Sri Lankan customers to have overall access to the company’s latest offerings. It also allows the customers to have an overview of its flagship scooter Ather 450X, offering them a test ride for a better understanding. Click here to read... [16]