Neighborhood News Digest- 16 January 2025

Afghanistan

Land along Qosh Tepa Canal Reserved for Major Development Projects-Tolo News

The National Development Corporation has announced that, based on a decree from the leader of the Islamic Emirate, one million acres of land along the Qosh Tepa Canal route will be allocated to the corporation. According to the corporation, this land in the provinces of Balkh, Jawzjan, and Faryab will be used for constructing agricultural and industrial complexes. Click here to read... [2]

57 new historical sites registered in Maidan Wardak amid preservation concerns-The Khaama Press

Taliban Officials in Maidan Wardak province say that 57 new historical sites have been registered in the province this year. Habibullah Mujahid, the Taliban director of Information and Culture in Maidan Wardak, stated that some of these newly registered sites date back hundreds of years. The sites include shrines, forts, mosques, and stupas from the Kushan era. As a result, the total number of registered historical sites in the province has now reached 75. Click here to read... [3]

Pakistani Police ban Afghan refugee deportations from Islamabad after January 15: Official-The Khaama Press

Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the Taliban Ambassador in Islamabad, stated that Pakistani police have banned the exit of Afghans from the capital, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi after January 15. The Taliban Embassy in Islamabad announced on Wednesday, January 15, that the ambassador had met with Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner for Refugees at the United Nations. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

A new chapter for the nation begins – The Daily Star

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said a new chapter has begun as the reform commissions have charted a course for a Bangladesh long aspired by its people. He made the observation while receiving reports from the reform commissions on constitution, electoral, police, and anti-corruption commission at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon around 11:30am. Click here to read... [5]

90% want local govt polls before national elections: study – The Daily Star

A study by the Election Reform Commission found that nearly 90 percent of respondents prefer local government elections before national parliamentary polls. The findings were revealed today at a press briefing held at the commission's office within the national parliament premises. The study, carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on behalf of the commission, surveyed 46,000 people nationwide. Click here to read... [6]

Two detained over attack on ethnic minority protesters – Dhaka Tribune

Police have detained two individuals in connection with an attack on students and protesters from ethnic minority groups in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in the capital’s Motijheel area. The detainees were Md Abbas and Arif Al Kabir, Motijheel police station Sub-Inspector Tuhin Shikder confirmed on Thursday morning. Click here to read... [7]

Charter of new Bangladesh to be formed: Chief Adviser – Prothom Alo

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus Wednesday said a charter of new Bangladesh will be formed by building national unity through talks.“...what we want to form is to make a charter of the mass uprising, which will be the charter of a new Bangladesh. It will be based on unity. There will be elections; there will be all but we should not move from the charter,” he said in his opening speech at an event here. Click here to read... [8]

Secularism, 2 other principles to be dropped, 4 new ones to be added in constitution – Prothom Alo

The constitution reform commission has proposed removal of secularism and two other fundamental principles from the constitution while introducing four new ones. Among the existing four principles, only democracy is proposed to keep unchanged. The current principles are nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism. Those were enshrined in the 1972 constitution, which was drafted after the country's independence through the 1971 Liberation War. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Bhutan running out of non-renewable resources-Kuensel

The country’s non-renewable resources paint a mixed picture of stability and decline, with coal and talc known reserves fully exhausted and others showing worrying downward trends. Data from the Environmental Accounts Statistics 2024 reveals a decade of contrasting trajectories for key minerals, including dolomite, limestone, gypsum, and iron ore. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Maldives-Azerbaijan Seek Collaboration on Trade, Tourism, Climate – PSM News

The visiting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov paid a courtesy call on Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef on January 15. At the meeting held at the President’s Office, the Vice President stated that the launch of the direct flight from the Maldives to Azerbaijan represents a significant milestone for promoting tourism and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. The Vice President and the Deputy Foreign Minister also discussed ways to enhance both countries' relations and collaborate on areas of mutual interest, including climate change, culture, trade, and tourism. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives, Estonia sign MoU on knowledge exchange, cooperation in climate change, environment and energy – Raajje

The governments of Maldives and Estonia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to exchange information and cooperate in the areas of climate change, environment, and energy. The MoU was signed on behalf of the Maldives by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulla Khaleel. Estonia’s Minister of Climate Yoko Alender signed on behalf of the government of Estonia. The MoU on Knowledge Exchange, Cooperation and Support in the Field of Climate Change, Environment and Energy aims to strengthen collaboration on climate action, environmental sustainability, and clean energy solutions. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar shrimp exports reach US$21M in April-Dec – The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Fisheries Department stated that Myanmar exported more than 6,250 tonnes of shrimp to international trading partners in the past nine months of the current financial year 2024-2025 beginning 1 April 2024, with an estimated value of US$21 million. Myanmar’s seaborne shrimp export reached over 5,070 tonnes worth $14.5 million and the border saw exports of over 1,170 tonnes worth $6.5 million between 1 April and 31 December 2024. Myanmar exports fishery products to 40 international countries including Japan, Bangladesh, China and Thailand, through maritime and border trade channels. Myanmar earned $256.6 million from more than 240,000 tonnes of fish exports in April-November, indicating an increase of $39.344 million compared to that of the corresponding period in the last FY, according to the Fisheries Department. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar Junta Frantically Bolsters Defenses Near Ayeyarwady Beach Town – The Irrawaddy

The junta is deploying large numbers of troops to Ayeyarwady Region’s beach resort areas in an attempt to establish defensive lines following the Arakan Army (AA)’s recent move into Shwe Thaung Yan on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, according to residents and sources close to the regime’s military. Combined forces of the AA and local resistance groups in Ayeyarwady Region launched attacks on junta soldiers and police stationed in Magyizin Village in Shwe Thaung Yan earlier this month. Clashes were reported in Magyizin, Kalarchaung, Wat Thay and Bomie villages until Jan. 10. Since then, there has been no further fighting, according to local residents. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan tops annual smoking death toll in South Asia: report-Dawn

Pakistan’s annual death toll from smoking is the highest in South Asia and higher than the global average, according to Gallup Pakistan’s analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2024 report. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2024, Pakistan reported an annual death rate from smoking of 91.1 per 100,000 people, notably higher than the averages for South Asia (78.1) and the rest of the world (72.6), according to Gallup Pakistan, which is not affiliated with Gallup, the multinational analytics and advisory firm based in Washington DC. Click here to read... [15]

Saudi looking into $100m investment in Pakistan’s mining sector with focus on Reko Diq: minister-Dawn

Saudi Mining Minister Bandar Alkhorayef told Reuters on Wednesday that Saudi Arabian mining company Manara Minerals was looking at investing in Balochistan’s Reko Diq mine. He added that the Saudi Development Fund could contribute over $100 million to Pakistan’s mining infrastructure. Click here to read... [16]

World Bank approves $20 billion loan-The Express Tribune

The World Bank board has approved a $20 billion loan package for Pakistan, but the framework document stated there will be challenges in its successful implementation due to political divisions and a worsening security situation in two provinces. Click here to read... [17]

Over 10,000 Pakistanis imprisoned in Saudi Arabia: Ishaq Dar-The Express Tribune

The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that approximately half of the 20,000 Pakistani nationals currently detained in overseas jails are held in Saudi Arabia for various crimes. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, revealed during the question break that a total of 10,279 Pakistanis are imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. The figure is part of a larger total of 19,997 Pakistani nationals detained in foreign jails, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

President attends ’Invest in Sri Lanka’ round table meeting – Daily Mirror

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is currently on a four-day state visit to China, participated in the 'Invest in Sri Lanka - Round Table Meeting 2025' today. The event was organised by both public and private sector entities with the aim of promoting investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [19]

15 MoUs signed between Sri Lanka, China: Vijitha – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka and China signed fifteen Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) following bi-lateral talks bewteen the two countries, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said today. The Minister said the MoUs are very important to Sri Lanka in sectors such as economy, education, media and culture. Click here to read... [20]

China ready to work closely with Sri Lanka in ushering in new era of development: Xi Jinping – Daily Mirror

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized China’s readiness to work closely with Sri Lanka in ushering in a new era of development, President’s Media Division (PMD)said today. President Jinping made these remarks during the bilateral talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is on an official visit to China. Click here to read... [21]