Neighborhood News Digest- 30 December 2024

Afghanistan

Pakistan's Rocket Attack on Afghan Mosque Kills 3 People- Tolo News

Residents of Dand-e-Patan district in Paktia province report that on Saturday, three people were killed and five others were injured when a rocket fired by Pakistan struck a mosque. Some family members of the victims are calling on the international community for justice. Meanwhile, over a thousand residents of Dand-e-Patan district in Paktia have been displaced to safer areas following recent clashes with Pakistan. Click here to read... [2]

Religious Scholars Voice Support for Islamic Emirate’s Window Regulations-Tolo News

A number of religious scholars in the country have welcomed the leader of the Islamic Emirate’s decree on regulations to prevent the construction of windows in buildings facing towards neighbors. Some of these scholars consider this decree important and effective in preventing potential harm to women. Haseebullah Hanafi, a religious scholar, stated: "This decree is a good initiative because in Kabul, especially in urban areas, tall buildings often cause religious and social discomfort to the people living in the lower buildings." Click here to read... [3]

Uruzgan Farmers Embrace Heng Cultivation After Poppy Ban- Tolo News

Following the ban on poppy cultivation, farmers in Uruzgan have turned to growing the heng plant. Some farmers in this province say that with support in training and marketing, heng cultivation could be further promoted. Click here to read... [4]

Afghanistan Receives Oil Extraction Equipment for Amu Darya Basin- Tolo News

Homayoun Afghan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, announced that all necessary equipment for oil extraction from the Amu Darya basin has arrived in Afghanistan from China. The spokesperson stated that exploration and extraction work is currently underway on some oil wells in the area, with the work on some of them already completed. Click here to read... [5]

Kam Air banned from European Airspace-The Khaama Press

The European Union recently published a list of 129 airlines from various countries that are not permitted to fly within European airspace. At least one airline from Afghanistan is included in this list. Kam Air has not yet commented on its loss of flight rights within the European Union. According to the European Union’s website, these airlines have been prohibited from flying in its airspace because they are deemed “unsafe.” Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

Students’ proclamation move: BNP, others raise questions, Jamaat welcomes it – The Daily Star

BNP and several other political parties raise questions about the Students Against Discrimination's decision to proclaim what it calls the July Revolution while Jamaat welcomes it. Click here to read... [7]

Foreign fund flow, new pledges dwindle as debt servicing surges – The Daily Star

Bangladesh's foreign debt servicing surged 28 percent year-on-year in the first five months of fiscal year 2024-25 owing to the country's expanded foreign loan portfolio and a rise in global interest rates. Click here to read... [8]

Govt not involved with proclamation of July revolution: CA’s press secretary – Prothom Alo

The interim government does not have any involvement in the proclamation of the July revolution, which the Students Against Discrimination is set to announce on 31 December. Chief Adviser’s press secretary Md Shafiqul Alam revealed this at a media briefing at state guest house Jamuna on Sunday. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Bhutan Holds Special Prayers For Manmohan Singh, King Attends Funeral - NDTV

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Saturday attended the funeral of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a day after leading the Himalayan nation in offering prayers for the Indian leader at a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu. Click here to read... [10]

ADGM from Abu Dhabi to GMC-A gateway for foreign investment-Kuensel

The adoption of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) legal framework for Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) marks a pivotal development in Bhutan’s economic strategy. This framework not only aligns with His Majesty’s vision for attracting foreign investment but also provides essential regulatory advantages, fostering sustainable growth that meets Bhutan’s ambitious targets for the future. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Sri Lankan fishing boat located using drone, States MNDF – Adhadhu

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has revealed that a Sri Lankan fishing boat was located using a drone from the MNDF Air Corps on December 26. MNDF said there were three people onboard the vessel in the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and that they have been handed over to police custody. The MNDF regularly intercepts vessels from various countries entering the Maldivian EEZ. On 16 November 2013, a foreign fishing vessel was also seized with the assistance of a drone. The drone was purchased by the MNDF from a Turkish company at a cost of USD 37 million (MVR 570 million) from the state budget. Click here to read... [12]

ADFD Provides Another USD40 Million for Maldives Airport Project – PSM News

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has announced a new loan of USD40 million to support the ongoing development of the Maldives’ main airport, Velana International Airport. This follows an earlier loan of USD50 million provided by ADFD in 2017 for the project’s initial phases, underscoring the airport’s significance in driving tourism. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Maldives government by the Minister of Finance Moosa Zameer while Director General Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi signed on behalf of the ADFD. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Myanmar junta partners with Chinese firm to build natural gas terminal despite Rakhine State conflict – Myanmar Now

Myanmar's military regime is collaborating with a major Chinese pipeline company to build a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, aiming to boost power generation across the country. The junta’s Ministry of Energy announced that they plan to increase domestic power generation by sharing natural gas between the two countries, but they have yet to officially release details about where the project will be implemented. According to a source close to the junta’s Ministry of Energy, the military is planning to implement the project in the Mahar natural gas block, located in Rakhine State’s offshore oil and gas field."That LNG terminal is more likely to be built in Kyaukphyu,” the source told Myanmar Now. “But Chinese interest is low due to both high investment costs and fighting in Rakhine.” Click here to read... [14]

Free Movement Limit on Indo-Myanmar Border Tightened To 10 Km, With Pass – NDTV

The Centre has tightened the rules for movement of people from either side of the border in India and Myanmar, sources said. The new rules further restrict movements of people from 16 km under the free movement regime (FMR) to 10 km now, on either side. The FMR, which in its current form enables entry without visas and passports, began as a formal system in the 1950s to allow tribes who share familial, social and ethnic ties on both sides of the border to keep in touch with their people, though it was not known by that acronym officially till decades later. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

New year likely to start with hike in diesel prices-Dawn

Owing to impact of oil prices in international market, the prices of high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene and light diesel oil (LDO) are estimated to increase by about Rs4 to Rs5 per litre on New Year’s Eve, for the first fortnight of 2025. Click here to read... [16]

Chinese being provided security on priority basis, says Sindh IGP-Dawn

Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon has said that security to Chinese nationals is being provided on a priority basis wherever they are working in the province. He said police were conducting targeted operations against criminals and also a crackdown on anti-social elements. Click here to read... [17]

Madrassa registration issue resolved as President Zardari approves new bill-The Express Tribune

The issue of registration for religious schools has been addressed as President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Societies Registration Act 2024. With the President’s signature, the bill has become law, and the National Assembly will soon issue the Gazette notification for the Societies Registration Act, Express News reported. Under this law, the registration of religious schools will follow the Societies Registration Act. Click here to read... [18]

Quaid-e-Azam posters displayed in Tehran for first time in 30 years- The Express Tribune

For the first time in three decades, the city of Tehran, Iran, displayed posters of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at prominent locations in a show of solidarity with Pakistan. This gesture was made in support of the commemorative events being organised by the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Cultural Institute (ECI), based in Tehran. The ECI, in collaboration with the Urdu Language Student Union of Iran and the Embassy of Pakistan in Tehran, arranged the week-long celebrations, a press release said. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Human Rights body cries foul over denial to visit Rohingyas – Daily Excelsior

Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission has written a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake alleging that they have been denied permission to meet Rohingya refugees staying at a military camp since last week. Click here to read... [20]

New Army, Navy Commanders to be appointed - Daily Mirror

Major General Lasantha Rodrigo will assume the position of the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, succeeding retiring Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage. In addition, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy is set to take over as the 26th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, effective January 1, 2025. Click here to read... [21]

Open Diwadana, Basnayaka Nilame posts to all citizens, like Parliament under NPP: JPP President – Daily Mirror

Just as Parliament is open to professionals under the National People's Power (NPP) government, the positions of Diwadana Nilame and Basnayaka Nilame in the Buddhist temple system of Sri Lanka should also be open to any citizen of the country, Jathika Paribhogika Peramuna (JPP) President, Asela Sampath said. Click here to read... [22]