Neighborhood News Digest - 06 January 2025

Afghanistan

Blinken: US Foreign Policy toward Afghanistan Will Not Change-Tolo News

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, said that the future administration of Donald Trump will not change US foreign policy toward Afghanistan. In an interview with the New York Times, Blinken stated that Washington no longer wants to engage in wars and considers ending the war in Afghanistan one of the achievements of the Biden administration. Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan's Trade Volume Reaches $12.4 Billion in 2024-Tolo News

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has reported that Afghanistan conducted trade transactions worth $12.422 billion with various countries in 2024. The ministry stated that Afghanistan's exports during this period amounted to $1.803 billion, which represents a 4% decrease compared to 2023. The total value of imports was reported to be $10.619 billion. According to Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the ministry, the country's imports in 2024 increased by 38% compared to the previous year. Click here to read… [3]

Guided Missile Activated in Afghanistan for First Time-Tolo News

The Ministry of Defense has announced the activation of the Milan Konkursi (9M135) guided missile for the first time in Afghanistan. According to the ministry, these missiles can target armored tanks, warships, and low-flying helicopters. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, the ministry's spokesperson, stated that 13 personnel have completed training on operating these missiles. Click here to read… [4]

Afghan refugees in Tajikistan facing risk of deportation-The Khaama Press

Afghans who fled to Tajikistan after the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan report facing difficulties with residency and exploitation by entities that claim to support migrants. An Afghan refugee in Tajikistan told Khaama Press that many refugees, despite possessing all necessary documents for legal residency, are at risk of deportation. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Unemployment rises – The Daily Star

Bangladesh's unemployment rate rose to 4.49 percent in the July-September quarter of 2024 from 4.07 percent a year earlier, with women bearing the brunt of the downturn, according to official data, as political turmoil and security concerns took a toll on the labour market. The jobless rate for women surged to 7.16 percent from 6.15 percent year-on-year, while the unemployment rate for men edged higher to 3.81 percent from 3.46 percent over the same period, data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed. Click here to read… [6]

BNP to strengthen national unity against fascism – The Daily Star

BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed yesterday said their party's acting chairman has instructed them to make every possible effort to maintain national unity to resist the rise of fascist forces in the country. In response to a question about the message Tarique Rahman sent through him, Salahuddin said, "Our acting chairman has instructed us to make every effort to keep the nation united, as otherwise, we understand that fascist forces and their associates could be emboldened." Click here to read… [7]

Shafiqul Alam: Discussions to be held with political parties regarding July Proclamation -Dhaka Tribune

The Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam on Sunday said the interim government will discuss the July Proclamation with political parties. He said that talks will be held with political parties regarding the July Proclamation. However, a specific date has not been fixed yet. Click here to read… [8]

35 cases filed over July killing during Awami League regime were trumped-up – Prothom Alo

Police had filed at least 35 cases in Dhaka city over the July killing during Awami League’s term. Those trumped-up cases implicated BNP and Jamaat men. However, investigation by police now revealed that BNP and Jamaat men were not involved in those killings of protesters in July last year. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Inward remittance to break record, surpassing Nu 10 billion - Kuensel

For many Bhutanese families, money sent by relatives abroad provides vital financial support, helping them overcome financial challenges. As more Bhutanese study and work overseas, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) projects that the country’s inward remittance will surpass Nu 10 billion by the end of 2024. As of September 2024, inward remittance had already reached Nu 9.94 billion, surpassing the previous year’s total of Nu 9.56 billion. Since 2020, the average annual remittance inflow has been about Nu 8 billion. Click here to read… [10]

GMC adopts 18 Singaporean laws and 10 Abu Dhabi financial regulations-Kuensel

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) has adopted 18 Singaporean laws and 10 Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial regulations to guide its governance in areas such as company incorporation, employment, taxation, and financial services, among others. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives

Maldives foreign minister concludes official visit to India – DD News

Abdulla Khaleel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, has wrapped up his first official visit to India, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen the diplomatic and development cooperation between the two nations. The visit featured high-level talks and the signing of key agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral relations. Khaleel met with India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, where the two leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions on expanding cooperation across a range of sectors, including development projects, infrastructure, and socio-economic initiatives. Click here to read… [12]

Defence Minister Ghassan to pay an official visit to India this week – Adhadhu

Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon will pay an official visit to India this week, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Khaleel has announced. Khaleel, who is on an official visit to India, told WION TV that Ghassan's visit will further strengthen security and safety ties between Maldives and India. WION reported that Ghassan will visit India on January 7 and 8. This is his first visit to India as Defense Minister. In his interview with WION, Khaleel said the current government is no longer connected to the India Out campaign. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar

China hits JACKPOT as Xi Jinping makes Myanmar a hub for me in mining of…, India, US, UK may soon become… – India.com

China is reportedly stockpiling rare minerals from Myanmar, which will soon position the country as a major supplier of these minerals. According to Chinese customs data, China increased its rare mineral imports from Myanmar by 70 percent in the first half of 2023. This strategy could enable China to control the supply chain of rare minerals in the future. The mining companies in China are spreading their operations in Myanmar’s Kachin region, an area rich in rare minerals. Mining activities are particularly concentrated around the towns of Panwa and Chipwe, near the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar refugees enter Mizoram’s Champhai dist – The Times of India

A large number of refugees from Chin state of Myanmar belonging to over 100 families, mainly from Falam township, has entered Champhai district and has taken shelter mainly in Champhai town, bordering Myanmar, a civil society leader said on January 5. Robert Zoremtluanga, leader of Champhai district Young Mizo Association and Champhai district committee on Myanmar refugees, told TOI over phone that the refugees are mainly from Falam township in Chin state where intense fighting between the Myanmar army and the Chin resistance groups trying to capture military camps in and around Falam area has been going on. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

IMF wants strict levy on captive power plants-Dawn

Showing no flexibility towards changing a key structural benchmark, the Inter¬national Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked the government to impose a substantial levy on gas supply to industrial captive power plants (CPPs) to eliminate any cost benefit between the grid power and their in-house electricity generation. Click here to read… [16]

In talks with PM, UAE president hints at more investment-Dawn

The United Arab Emirates expressed keen interest in collaboration with Pakis¬tan in the minerals and agriculture sectors during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Rahim Yar Khan on Sunday. Click here to read… [17]

Uzbek ambassador reveals plans for direct flight from Tashkent to Karachi-The Express Tribune

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, has announced plans for a new direct flight route between Uzbekistan and Karachi, aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations. This significant development comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance regional connectivity and foster closer economic cooperation. Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

Government aims to attract high-end tourists: Vijitha Herath – Daily Mirror

The government is aiming to increase the quality in the tourism sector just as quantity in order to attract high-end tourists to the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath said. The Minister said Sri Lanka achieved the target of two million tourist arrivals in 2024 and that the government is planning to attract three million tourists to Sri Lanka in 2025. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lankan Govt to Appoint Committee For Reviewing Adani Group's Projects in the Country – The Wire

The Ministry of Power and Energy in Sri Lanka has decided to appoint a committee to review and conduct a study of the Adani Group’s projects in Sri Lanka. The proposal for the appointment of the committee is expected to be presented in the upcoming cabinet meeting, reported Newsfirst. Click here to read… [20]