Neighborhood News Digest - 02 January 2025

Afghanistan

UN Calls for Lifting Ban on Women Working in NGOs-Tolo News

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) has called for the repeal of the ban on women working in non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner, stated that the Islamic Emirate must reconsider its decrees regarding women for the future of Afghanistan. She emphasized that banning women's activities in these organizations would directly impact people's access to humanitarian aid. Click here to read… [2]

1 Billion Afs Spent Annually on Addiction Treatment: Official- Tolo News

Abdul Haq Akhund, Deputy Interior Minister for Counter Narcotics, speaking at the graduation ceremony of a Quran recitation and Tajweed course for recovering addicts in one of Kabul's rehabilitation camps, stated that nearly one billion afghani are allocated annually from the Islamic Emirate's budget for the treatment of addicts. He said that rehabilitation centers operate in all provinces of the country to improve the condition of addicts. Click here to read… [3]

UK Special Forces face War Crime allegations in Syria and Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The UK Ministry of Defence has recently announced that ten Special Forces soldiers may face legal action for committing war crimes in Syria and Afghanistan. According to British media reports citing the Ministry of Defence, these soldiers could be prosecuted for actions such as the killing of civilians or the excessive use of force during operations. Click here to read… [4]

Iran executes over 70 Afghan citizens in 2024, marking a 300% increase-The Khaama Press

In 2024, the execution rate of Afghan citizens in Iran has seen a sharp rise, with reports from Iran’s Human Rights Organization indicating a nearly 300% increase compared to the previous year. Most of these executions were carried out on charges related to drug trafficking, with many occurring in the Qezel Hesar prison, one of the most notorious detention centers in Iran. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

SC lawyers’ team to seek Chinmoy’s bail today – The Daily Star

A team of 11 Supreme Court lawyers will take part in today's bail hearing for former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. Court sources said the team, led by lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, will represent Chinmoy, also spokesperson for Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, in the sedition case filed over disrespecting the national flag. Click here to read… [6]

Gap widening between BNP, interim govt – The Daily Star

Unresolved issues, including delays in declaring a polls roadmap and resolving politically motivated cases, are creating a distance between the BNP and the interim government. Some comments made by government advisers and the BNP's apprehension of a new "government-backed political party" in the works are making things even worse, party insiders said. Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh receives $2.69bn remittance in Dec’24 -Dhaka Tribune

Expatriates made history by sending the highest remittance for a single month in the history of Bangladesh in December last year through banking channels. The previous highest was during the Covid-19 period in July 2020, when Bangladesh received $2.598 billion in remittances. Click here to read… [8]

Local, foreign conspiracies at play once again: Fakhrul – Prothom Alo

The secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has observed that a new wave of conspiracy has begun in the country, with efforts to sideline those who truly believe in Bangladesh. Referring to the current political situation and crisis, Mirza Fakhrul Islam reiterated the demand for an inclusive and credible election at the earliest, saying, “The only solution to this crisis is a credible election. It is proven in history, and we are saying it time and again.” Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Assam eyes big gains as Bhutan green lights use of its water resources – The Assam Tribune

Assam and Bhutan are poised to enhance their engagement in 2025, with new infrastructural projects set to deepen ties between the state and the Himalayan kingdom. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday, announced that Assam has received the green light to utilise Bhutan's water resources for electricity generation and irrigation projects. Click here to read… [10]

Red tape and inefficient policies hold back private sector-Kuensel

A review of the business regulatory landscape in the country, conducted earlier this year, has revealed several hurdles across various sectors that impede private sector growth. The review analysed and validated 235 issues within business regulations. Among these, 31 issues were tied to licensing and permit regulations, 37 related to tax policies and financial charges, and 27 pertained to the service delivery standards by regulators. In addition, 16 were linked to quality management systems, and 13 focused on access to finance, among others. Click here to read… [11]

Samrang Farm back in business-Kuensel

Once plagued by setbacks and embroiled in political controversy, the sprawling 800-acre Integrated Livestock Production Division, formerly known as Samrang Mega Farm in Samdrup Jongkhar, is undergoing a quiet transformation with renewed efforts to revitalise its operations to bolster food self-sufficiency in the country. Click here to read… [12]

Maldives

Foreign Currency Act comes into force – Adhadhu

The Foreign Currency Act which requires tourism businesses to exchange a percentage of their dollar income has come into force on January 1. The law mandates that all domestic transactions must be conducted in Rufiyaa except under specific circumstances. It also forbids charging Maldivian nationals for any services provided or acquired within the Maldives in any currency other than the Rufiyaa. It introduces a framework for businesses operating under Maldivian law to exchange foreign currency obtained from realized sales proceeds. These businesses are required to exchange their foreign currency with banks operating in the Maldives, which, in turn, must sell a specified percentage of these exchanges to the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). Click here to read… [13]

Gov’t releases list of top terrorist organizations; excludes Israel and IDF who are slaughtering innocents in Gaza– Raajje

The government has published a list of terrorist organizations, maintaining the designation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which recently took control of Syria's new government, as a terrorist group, while not including Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as terrorist organizations despite their ongoing genocide and mass killings of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza. HTS took control of Syria after overthrowing the 24-year rule of Bashar al-Assad. This group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Maldives since 2019. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar

India completes over 9 km fencing at Manipur’s Moreh amid rising clashes in Myanmar – India

India has completed a 9.214 km-long border fencing project at Manipur’s Moreh along the India-Myanmar border and work on constructing a road parallel to the fence is currently in progress, a project aimed at enhancing security and curbing illegal cross-border activities as well as improve accessibility and strengthen patrolling in the region, the MHA report said. The India-Myanmar border stretches over 1,600 km and traverses four northeastern states, including Manipur. This porous border has been a hotspot for smuggling, illegal migration, and insurgent activities. The fencing project at Moreh, a key border town and a significant trade hub, is part of India’s broader effort to secure its borders and promote infrastructural development in the northeast. Click here to read… [15]

China-backed election raises fears of 'negative peace' in Myanmar – Voice of America

As Myanmar’s military government prepares for elections in 2025, attention turns to neighboring China, which, critics say, is pressuring Southeast Asian nations to treat the vote as a solution to Myanmar’s ongoing political crisis. A military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 overthrew the democratically elected government and triggered a civil war that left thousands of people dead and millions displaced. Myanmar’s neighbors have been seeking a solution to the crisis and recently held meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss it. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

Peace brokered in Kurram as warring sides sign agreement: KP govt spokesperson-Dawn

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government said on Wednesday that both warring sides in Kurram districts finally signed a peace agreement after more than three weeks of efforts to broker a ceasefire amid violence in the area. The Grand Jirga was working towards a peace accord that would lead to the reopening of roads in restive Kurram. The efforts hit a snag on Tuesday, as two representatives from Lower Kurram were not available, delaying the solemnisation of an agreement between the warring sides. Click here to read… [17]

Govt notifies pension reforms to cut expenses-Dawn

The government on Wednesday notified major reforms to the country’s pension system, abolishing multiple pensions and shifting future pensionable benefit calculations to an average of the salaries drawn over the last two years of service, instead of the last pay drawn before retirement. Click here to read… [18]

Pakistan met IMF’s December tax target despite challenges: PM Shehbaz- The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted on Wednesday that despite persistent political unrest and protests aimed at destabilising the government, Pakistan has managed to achieve economic stability and to meet its fiscal targets. He highlighted that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) achieved 97% of its December tax collection target, meeting commitments made to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Click here to read… [19]

Seventh Agricultural Census kicks off-The Express Tribune

The 7th Agricultural Census 2025 - Integrated Digital Count was officially launched on Wednesday. Highlighting the census's objectives, "The 7th Agricultural Census will provide critical insights into Pakistan's agrarian structure, crop patterns, livestock population, and mechanisation trends. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

Air Force to get 8 Bell helicopters from the USA & trainer aircraft from Pakistan– Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is to enhance its air capabilities with the addition of eight Bell 206 helicopters from the United States and an FT-7 trainer aircraft from Pakistan this year, the Daily Mirror learns. Commander of the LAF Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa said that the United States will deliver eight TH-57 Sea Ranger Bell 206 helicopters to the SLAF in the first quarter of 2025. Click here to read… [21]

Ruwan Wanigasooriya appointed Chief of National Intelligence – Daily Mirror

Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya (Retd) has been appointed as the new Chief of National Intelligence, the Ministry of Defence said. He officially received his letter of appointment from Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) yesterday. Click here to read… [22]

‘Treat us like humans’: Fishing wars trap Indians in Sri Lankan waters - Aljazeera

A record number of Indian fisherfolk were arrested by Sri Lanka in 2024 amid depleting catch in Indian waters. Click here to read… [23]