Neighborhood News Digest- 11 February 2025

Afghanistan

Qosh Tepa Canal Second Phase Excavation 87% Complete: NDC-Tolo News

The National Development Company (NDC) says that 87% of the excavation work for the second phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal has been completed, and the construction of the canal’s headworks has reached 75%. According to the company’s officials, they are carrying out the canal’s construction in accordance with global engineering standards. Click here to read… [2]

Imam Khomeini 120-Bed Hospital completed in Bamyan Province-The Khaama Press

Local officials in Bamyan province report that the construction of the Imam Khomeini 120-bed specialty hospital, funded by the Islamic Republic of Iran, has been completed. The total cost of the project, including operational and medical equipment, was $42 million. They added that the hospital will soon be ready to provide advanced medical services for the people of Bamiyan and neighboring provinces. Click here to read… [3]

Russia warns UN Security Council about ISIS access to US Weapons in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

On Monday, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations stated at a Security Council meeting that the rise of ISIS-Khorasan’s activities in Afghanistan is not coincidental or without cause. He highlighted that the international community had not adequately addressed the access terrorist groups like ISIS have to leftover American weapons in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [4]

Norwegian Refugee Council to halt operations in Afghanistan due to US Aid suspension-The Khaama Press

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) announced on Monday, February 10, that it would suspend its humanitarian activities in nearly 20 countries, including Afghanistan, following the suspension of foreign aid from the United States. The organization, which received approximately 20% (150 million dollars) of its 2024 budget from the U.S., stated that it had no choice but to withdraw its staff from Afghanistan and other countries. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Yunus condemns attack at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, orders swift action – The Daily Star

The chief adviser has strongly condemned the recent mob attack on a bookstall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, calling it an affront to the rights of Bangladeshi citizens and the country's laws. In a statement, the chief adviser denounced the violence, emphasising that it goes against the open-minded spirit of the book fair, which honours the language martyrs of February 21, 1952, according to the CA's press wing. Click here to read… [6]

Default loans may exceed 30% by June – The Daily Star

The banking sector continues to face challenges, including rising non-performing loans (NPLs), which are likely to exceed 30 percent of total outstanding loans by June this year, raising serious concerns, said Bangladesh Bank (BB). Click here to read… [7]

Fakhrul: Govt preparing for polls by December – Dhaka Tribune

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the interim government is preparing for elections in mid-December. The government may make a statement in this regard by February 15, Fakhrul told the media after a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his official residence, State Guest House Jamuna, on Monday. Click here to read… [8]

‘Mob’ to be dealt with sternly from now on: Advisor Mahfuj Alam – Prothom Alo

Interim government’s Advisor Mahfuj Alam has called for stopping the practice of “mob” or chaos. “Please stop mobs if you are in favour of mass uprising; but if you don’t stop this mob, you will also be treated as devil,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Siliguri declaration adopted at Indo-Bhutan meet – The Statesman

Years after the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Meet was last held in Siliguri, representatives from both nations gathered once again to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly fostering “people-to-people” connections alongside diplomatic relations. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem to visit India on official trip-edition.mv

Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla is scheduled to depart for India today on an official visit. He announced his departure during today’s Parliament sitting, before handing over the chair to Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim. Abdul Raheem is visiting India at the invitation of Om Birla, Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament of India. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives tenders up to 150 MW of solar-pv magazine

The Ministry of Finance and Planning of the Maldives has kicked off a tender for installation of a large-scale solar project. According to the tender notice, the project will encompass 100 MW to 150 MW of solar alongside battery energy storage to balance solar supply and demand within the grid. It will be built in the greater Malé region of the archipelago and developed under a design, build, finance, own, operate and transfer basis. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar Border Areas to Stay in the Dark, Thailand Says – The Irrawaddy

The Thai government insisted on Monday its priority is to protect Thais from call-center gangs, and it will not be influenced by protests calling for a boycott of Thai goods following the cutting of power, fuel and internet services to the five border areas where these criminal networks are based. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the protesters are free to express their frustration, but their rallies will not affect the government’s decision to disconnect electricity, fuel and the internet in the Tachileik, Myawaddy and Payathonzu border regions of Myanmar. Click here to read… [13]

AA Shelling Signals Imminent Assault on Rakhine Capital as Myanmar Junta Digs In – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military regime and the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) have been exchanging artillery fire in Rakhine State’s Sittwe Township since Friday, prompting speculation of an impending battle. Sittwe, the state’s capital and seat of junta administration, is the only town in northern Rakhine still controlled by the regime. In southern Rakhine, its control has shrunk to only two townships – Manaung and Kyaukphyu. The AA has captured the remaining 14 Rakhine townships since launching its offensive in November 2023. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

Remittances surge $5bn in 7 months-Dawn

Amid a robust inflow of remittances, Pakistan met the $5 billion annual growth target in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.The latest data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday showed that the country received $20.8bn in remittances during the July-January FY25 compared to $15.8bn, showing the country received an additional $5bn with a growth of 31.7pc. Click here to read… [15]

PM Shehbaz lays out plan for economic growth after stability- Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that Pakistan achieved macroeconomic stability last year with the help of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Speaking to Pakistani business leaders and investors in Dubai, the PM said the macro-level economy had gradually improved in the previous year as inflation slowed to 2.4 per cent in January with the policy rate reduced to 12pc. Click here to read… [16]

PM Sharif to meet IMF chief in Dubai-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Managing Director (MD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, will meet today (Tuesday) in Dubai three weeks ahead of the expected March 3 start of review talks for the $1 billion second loan tranche. Government and diplomatic sources told The Express Tribune that the meeting would take place on the sidelines of the World Governments' Summit in Dubai. Pakistan has requested the meeting. Click here to read… [17]

President Zardari visits Lisbon to pay tribute to late Aga Khan IV-The Express Tribune

President Asif Ali Zardari met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, in Lisbon to express condolences over the passing of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan. Click here to read… [18]

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to convene urgent OIC meeting on Gaza crisis-The Express Tribune

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to urgently convene an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting of foreign ministers to address the ongoing developments in Gaza. This decision came during a telephone conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Monday, Radio Pakistan reported. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

Sajith criticises government’s handling of power outages - Daily Mirror

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticised the government's response to the recent power outages, claiming that the ongoing electricity disruptions result from a fragile national grid that is incapable of supporting both solar energy growth and periods of low demand. Click here to read… [20]

Coal power plant failures behind islandwide blackouts: Experts – Daily Mirror

If a countrywide power outage occurred and took longer to restore, the primary cause of both recent and past islandwide blackouts would be the failure of the country's three coal power plants, energy expert, advisor and former member of the Renewable Energy Ministry, Asoka Abeygunawardana said. Click here to read… [21]