VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 20, 2021

Afghanistan

Taliban Says Governing Structure May Include Council: Tolo News

Wahidullah Hashemi, a member of the Taliban leadership, on Thursday said there is a possibility that Afghanistan will be led by a council that will govern under the authority of the Taliban's top leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. The statement by Hashemi came on Thursday, August 19, which marks Afghanistan’s Independence Day. Celebrations were not as large as in previous years, before the Taliban takeover. Wahidullah Hashemi, a senior Taliban member, told Reuters that Afghanistan might be ruled by a council and the authority of the council will be determined by the supreme Taliban leader Akhundzada.
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IMF Blocks Afghanistan’s Access to Emergency Reserves: Tolo News

The International Monetary Fund has suspended Afghanistan’s access to IMF resources, including around $440 million in new monetary reserves, due to a lack of clarity over the country’s government after the Taliban took control of Kabul, Reuters reported on Thursday. The IMF’s announcement came amid pressure from the US Treasury, which holds a controlling share in the Fund, to ensure that Afghanistan’s share of a Special Drawing Rights reserves allocation scheduled for Monday not fall into Taliban hands.
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No progress is seen in filling political vacuum by Taliban: The Khaama Press

It has been now five days after the Taliban took over the Afghan capital Kabul but there is yet to be seen any progress in filling the current political vacuum.Afghanistan is currently devoid of any kind of government and head of state and the Taliban have not been able to make progress in this regard.The only move towards shaping government by the Taliban has been the meetings of their key members and visit of Mullah Baradar-head of Taliban’s political office in Doha- to Kandahar province.
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Curfew imposed, life in Kabul under Taliban’s control: The Khaama Press

As the Taliban have taken control over the metropolis, life in the busiest and most populated city of Afghanistan thoroughly changed and the residents are not living a life they used to do just until August 14. The Taliban have imposed a curfew and no one is allowed to go out of home after 9 pm but in cases of emergencies. Members of the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate have announced the curfew in every mosque of Kabul and have shared their contact numbers in case people need help after the banned time.
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Afghans celebrate Independence Day amid Taliban takeover: The Khaama Press

As the Taliban are grabbing control over entire Afghanistan but Panjsher province, hundreds of people have taken to the streets in different cities and celebrate Afghanistan’s Independence Day which is normally celebrated on August 19. In the Afghan capital Kabul, hundreds of people including women are walking on the streets holding the flag of Afghanistan. They also went to the well-known hill-Wazir Akbar Khan- where the Taliban brought down the city’s iconic and biggest flag of Afghanistan.

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Bangladesh

August 21 grenade attack 2004: Wounds unhealed not only physical- Daily Star

“Last year, Md Selim and Mahbuba Parvin gave interviews to different media outlets to express their anguish and dismay over the delay in implementing the verdict over the August 21, 2004 grenade attack.”
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1st phase of vaccination drive for Rohingyas ends in Cox's Bazar- The Independent

“The first phase of vaccination drive for the Rohingyas has concluded in Cox’s Bazar district. A total of 1950 Rohingyas were vaccinated against Covid-19 under the initiative of BRAC till August 18. As part of the government’s National Vaccination Programme, Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP) of BRAC organized the campaign titled ‘Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign for Rohingya Community’.”
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Ansar al-Islam lives on, clinging to Jihadism imported by HujiB from Afghanistan 30 years ago- Dhaka Tribune

“Remnants of HujiB still exist but the possibility of the group regaining its past prowess is highly unlikely; Ansar al-Islam is now the biggest threat.”
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Govt yet to take move to evacuate 21 stranded Bangladeshis- New Age

“The government is yet to take move for evacuating 21 Bangladesh nationals stranded in different places in trouble-torn Afghanistan since Taliban takeover of the country four days ago. Some 21 Bangladeshi nationals have been stranded in various places of trouble-torn Afghanistan since the takeover of its power by the Taliban four days ago, according to foreign ministry officials.”
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Bangladesh seeks Russian investment in Ishwardi airport- New Age

“Bangladesh has invited Russia to invest in Ishwardi airport to make it functional. State minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam discussed the issue when newly appointed ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy met with him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Bangladesh is firmly committed to taking bilateral relations with Russia to a higher level, the state minister said.”
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13 Bangladeshis rescued in Mediterranean return home- Daily Sun

“Thirteen Bangladeshis, rescued in the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Italy, returned to Dhaka Thursday from Tunisia. All of them, who were victims of human trafficking, came back home on a Turkish Airlines at 1:15pm, Brac Migration Programme head Shariful Hasan said. They are now under the care of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport authority and being provided with emergency support, including food and water. Among the 13 returnees, nine are from Shariatpur, two from Madaripur, and one each from Chandpur and Cumilla districts.”
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Bangladesh unlocks tourism- Asian Age

“After a gap of nearly five months, tourist places in Bangladesh finally reopened on Thursday. The move comes days after the government had eased Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the movement of public transport services. However, people will not be allowed to enter the tourist spots without face masks and everyone will have to follow all Covid-19-safety protocols, as per a government order.”
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Killing of Bangabandhu and global politics- Bangladesh Post

“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proved that socialism can be established through votes in parliament. Socio-political changes brought about by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were unique indeed. The aim was to transform the society by establishing socialism in a democratic way and make it functional. He declared that he would not import socialism of a typical type from other countries but he would form a socialist society keeping democracy and people’s right undisturbed.”

Bhutan

His Majesty in Trongsa- Kuensel

“His Majesty The King visited the De-Suung Skilling Centre at Dzongkhalum, Trongsa on August 17 and 18 to inspect the facility and meet with the first cohort of De-Suups participating in training programmes there. The De-Suung Skilling Programme (DSP) is a series of multiple short-term accelerated training by local and foreign experts, focusing on practical, hands-on skilling, customised for the youth.”
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Kurims at border towns to pacify the pandemic- Kuensel

“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic at the border towns, the Zhung Dratshang (Central Monk Body) will conduct a series of rituals and religious ceremonies to contain and pacify the pandemic starting from tomorrow. The Dhuemang Lhentshog of Zhung Dratshang came up with a long list of rituals and kurims that will be conducted for a period of one week to 30 days. Zhung Dratshang’s Laytshog Lopon Sangay Dorji will lead a group of lams, lopon and monks to conduct a week long kurim and rituals at Rinchending Goenpa in Phuentsholing.”
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Employment and youth- Kuensel

“The Labour Force Survey 2020 projects youth unemployment rate to be 22.6 percent, almost double the rate of 11.9 percent in 2019. There are 6,922 unemployed youth who are actively looking for jobs. The overall unemployment rate has increased to 5 percent. Except for 2019, we have marked an increasing trend in unemployment rate over the recent years.”
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Bhutan Responds to a Double Crisis- Kuensel

“The world observes World Humanitarian Day today amidst the double crisis of COVID-19 and the impact of climate change As someone who has always felt vulnerable to climate change, Jana Pelzom, 23, spends a lot of time thinking about a global crisis, which could accelerate the impact of climate change.”

Maldives

Moody's downgrades Maldives' rating, changes outlook to stable - Avas

Moody's Investor Service has downgraded Maldives' credit rating once again. Moody's graded the Maldive's credit rating at 'B3' during its 2020 review. However, in its most recent rating dated August 17, the Maldives' rating was revised to CAA1, while changing the outlook to stable from negative.
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241 committee asked to assess any risks to Maldives due to situation in Afghanistan - Raajje

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Eva Abdulla has called on the committee on national security services, or the 241 committee, to assess whether Maldives faces any dangers due to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. Eva, who is presiding over the sittings since Speaker Mohamed Nasheed is on leave seeking treatment for the injuries sustained in the May 6 assassination attempt, made the request via a letter addressed to 241 committee Chair and North-Hithadhoo constituency MP Mohamed Aslam.
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Maldives among six countries removed from Abu Dhabi's Covid-19 'green list’ - Raajje

Less than a month after being included in Abu Dhabi's green list of countries and destinations from which travelers can enter the emirate without needing to quarantine on arrival, Maldives has been removed from the list. The latest update on Monday removed six countries -Maldives, United States, Israel, Austria, Italy and Armenia- while adding three to the green list. The countries that were added are Ireland, Malta and Sweden.
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Development projects to pick up pace over the next two years - Avas

Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam has stated that the government projects will pick up pace over the course of the remainder of the presidential term. The minister made the statement while speaking at a ceremony held in Th. Omadhoo on Wednesday to inaugurate the island's harbour.
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Exports increase by 8 percent - Avas

The Maldives' exports have increased over the last month. Maldives Customs Service's most recent statistics show goods worth MVR 219 million were exported from the Maldives in July. This is an 8 percent increase compared to July 2020. Goods worth MVR 203 million were exported during the same period last year. According to customs, the largest amount of goods were exported to Thailand, which is equivalent to 37 percent of exports. 16 percent of goods were exported to Germany.
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Myanmar

From junta chief to prime minister - Dhaka Tribune

What is next for Min Aung Hlaing? Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing visited Russia on June 21 as his second overseas visit following the Asean summit since seizing power through a military coup on February 1. In addition to attending the Moscow Conference on International Security (June 22-24), he met with the head of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, the Minister of Defense Sergei Shuigo, and head of arms exporter Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheev. During the visit, he was not greeted with Russia’s traditional “salty bread,” and could not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Myanmar – Humanitarian Snapshot (August 2021) - Relief Web

A total of 3 million people are targeted for humanitarian assistance across the country. This includes 1 million people in need in conflict-affected areas previously identified and a further 2 million people since 1 February. Monsoon flash floods affected around 125,000 people in the regions and states of Kachin, Kayin, Mandalay, Mon, Rakhine, eastern Shan and Tanintharyi between late July and mid-August, according to local actors. Immediate needs of families affected or evacuated have been addressed by local aid workers and communities. The humanitarian situation is further compounded by the growing number of COVID-19 positive cases, including in communities and displacement sites already affected by conflicts and in need of assistance.
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Ethnic health care systems strained in Myanmar amid pandemic - WSLS

When February's military takeover of Myanmar led to the collapse of the central health care system, independent ethnic organizations that had operated for decades on the Southeast Asian country's borders stepped in. They provided basic medical services, treated COVID-19-patients and occasionally even tended to injuries from armed skirmishes. But a fierce new wave of coronavirus cases, and myriad other challenges — closed borders, shrinking support from international donors, and a crackdown on aid by the military, which has been accused of hoarding medical supplies for its own use — are stretching their abilities to the limit.
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Myanmar military 'can be punished for atrocities’ - UCA News

The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, established by ousted lawmakers, has been urged to engage the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold the military accountable for atrocities. The NUG can delegate jurisdiction to the ICC to investigate and prosecute mass atrocities that occurred in the country since 2002, according to a legal analysis by Fortify Rights. It said the NUG can do this in two ways: first, by lodging what is known as an Article 12(3) declaration with the ICC, and second, by formally acceding to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
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Nepal

Covid-19 caseload advances to 742,228, 33 more fatalities logged Thursday- The Himlayan

“Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 742,228 on Thursday with 2,321 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours.”
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Petitions registered at Supreme Court against ordinance to amend Political Parties Act- Kathmandu Post

“As many as six writ petitions have been registered at the Supreme Court on Thursday against the ordinance to amend the Political Parties Act-2017. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday promulgated the ordinance on the recommendation of the Sher Bahadur Deuba government. According to Supreme Court spokesperson Baburam Dahal, six petitions have been registered at the Apex Court against the government-issued ordinance.”
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(Editorial) Taliban takeover- Kathmandu Post

“The Deuba administration, which is yet to appoint a foreign minister, must feel the heat of the fast deteriorating situation. It must use all its resources and engage with the international community to ensure the safe and swift evacuation of all Nepalis stuck in Kabul. Second, the leadership must explore routes to engage diplomatically with the Taliban instead of a wait-and-watch policy and introspect how Nepal’s policy in Afghanistan will evolve shortly now that Pakistan, China and Russia have communicated their interest to work with the Taliban.”
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(Opinion) Nepal and the Taliban’s second coming- Nepali Times

“Even though Nepal and Afghanistan are separated geographically, Nepali and Pashtun warriors have met face-to-face over more than 200 years. While the Pashtun were in their home territory, the Nepalis were fronting for others, and now with the Taliban’s second-time total victory in Afghanistan, new dynamics will have to evolve.”
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Commercial banks’ profits increased by around 20 pc in FY 2020/21- Republica

“The profits earned by the 27 commercial banks in the last fiscal year soared by 19.31 percent, backed by the flexible monetary policy and the banks’ earnings from the transaction of shares amid the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA), the banks earned a profit of Rs 63 billion in 2020/21 compared to that of Rs 52.80 billion in 2019/20.”
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Remaining doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Japan to arrive in Kathmandu on August 21 and 23- Republica

“The remaining doses of AstraZeneca vaccine Japan pledged for Nepal through COVAX Facility are expected to arrive in Kathmandu on August 21 and 23, according to the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu. The half of approximately 1.6 million doses was delivered to Nepal on August 7 and 8. The vaccines are being used in the current vaccination campaign. The exact amount of vaccine donated from Japan to Nepal will be 1,614,740 doses in total, the Embassy said in a statement on Thursday.”

Bhajans are popular in Nepal, but the industry hasn’t been commercialised- Online Khabar

“Go on a morning tour, you can hear bhajans (Hindu and Buddhist religious hymns) and devotional songs everywhere. Not only around the temples but bhajans have also been making the ambience of homes musical. Playing and singing bhajans are also considered mandatory in any religious activities, ceremonies, and worship. Further, most radios and televisions in Nepal also start their mornings by playing bhajan music.”
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Nepal-Bangladesh ties: It’s time to assess the potential for mutual benefits- Online Khabar

“Currently, there is a global uproar about the political economy. For this reason, middle-class countries are wary of investing in developed and influential countries. But, Nepalis will welcome Bangladesh’s investment. The friendly relations between the two countries will also be useful in international politics. Both countries are committed to building a peaceful and prosperous South Asia.”
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Digital Signatures in Govt Offices To Be Mandatory Soon- Rising Nepal

“Digital Signature (DS), which was previously brought into use in 2015 for both governmental and non-governmental offices, has not yet found widespread use in the country. In the presence of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during his first term as PM in 2015, former Minister for Communication and Information Technology Sher Dhan Rai and President Bidya Devi Bhandari had formally launched the use of DS for the first time in Nepal on December 2, 2015.”
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Expansion of the Council of Ministers only after the new party is recognized by the Election Commission (नयाँ दलले निर्वाचन आयोगबाट मान्यता पाएपछि मात्रै मन्त्रिपरिषद् विस्तार)- Kantipur

“It will take a few more days for the Council of Ministers to complete its work. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has started preparations to expand the Council of Ministers as soon as the registration process of the new political party led by Madhav Kumar Nepal is completed in the Election Commission and Parliament.”
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UK govt ready for talks, Ex-British Gurkhas end hunger strike- Khabarhub

“The British government has agreed to form a two-nation talks team to discuss the demands of ex-Gurkha soldiers, who were staging hunger strike outside the British Prime Minister’s Office for the past 13 days, Thursday. British Minister of Defense, People and Veterans Leo Dochardi and Nepali Ambassador to the UK Lok Darshan Regmi offered juice to ex-British Gurkhas Gyan Raj Rai, Pushpa Ghale and Dhan Gurung. The ex-British Gurkhas had staged a fast unto death demanding equal pension rights.”
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300 Nepalis fill in application form to return home from Afghanistan- Nepal News

“t least 300 Nepalis in Afghanistan have registered their details, request support to return home. They registered their information on the web portal run by the Department of Consular Services (DoCS). Likewise, a total of 42 Nepalis registered their details via the phone number and email address managed by the Deputy Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs till 5:00 pm, on Thursday.”
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Govt recommends Prabhu Ram Sharma as CoAS- Nepal News

“A meeting of the Council of Ministers held today recommended to the President for Sharma’s appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Spokesperson of the Government of Nepal Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said. The government also decided to announce a public holiday to the Newar Community across the country on the occasion of Gaijatra. Prior to this, a public holiday was given in the Kathmandu Valley only.”
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Pakistan

Pakistani ambassador meets Karzai, Abdullah to discuss 'efforts for stability' in Afghanistan: Dawn

Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan on Thursday met former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official in the ousted government, to discuss the situation in the neighbouring country where the Taliban have announced the creation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Khan shared a picture of their meeting on Twitter, saying the two sides had "constructive discussions on efforts for lasting stability in Afghanistan".

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PM for checking imports amid serious spike: The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked his economic team to check the increase in the import of non-essential goods, including that of vehicles, as his government might face a challenge of an unmanageable current account deficit because of a projected record of $70 billion in imports this fiscal year.On Tuesday, PM Imran was briefed on the month-wise status of foreign inflows and outflows.
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China for increased coordination with Pakistan over Afghan issue: The Express Tribune

China and Pakistan should strengthen communication and coordination on Afghan issue to support a stable power transition in the country and peace in the region, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. “As responsible neighbours to Afghanistan, China and Pakistan need to strengthen communication and coordination to support a stable transition in the country, and play constructive roles in maintaining regional peace and stability,”
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FM to undertake visit of regional countries: The Express Tribune

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday he will undertake a visit of regional countries including Iran, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to hold consultations on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, he urged all Afghans to work together for “an inclusive political settlement” stressing that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and the region.

Pakistan ranks 30th after recording 15,000 virus cases in a week: Dawn

With over 15,000 more cases of coronavirus being reported over the past one week, Pakistan has been ranked 30th among the countries having detected most number of cases since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic according to global ranking. So far, the country has reported a little less than a million cases (i.e. 989,275) including 22,781 deaths, while India has reported the second highest number of cases (over 31 million) after the US where over 34m cases have been detected.
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Peace in region not possible without alliance with Pakistan: Afghan delegation: The News

A delegation of Afghan politicians said Thursday that peace in the region does not seem possible without an alliance with Pakistan, according to Geo News. The Afghan delegation, who arrived on Monday for talks with Pakistan's civil and military leadership, were speaking during a news conference today. The delegation comprised Speaker Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani, Salahud din Rabbani, Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, Ustad Mohammad Karim Khalili, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Ahmad Wali Massoud, Abdul Latif Pedram, and Khalid Noor.
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Sri Lanka

Joint Letter on Police Scotland Training for Sri Lankan Police - Human Rights Watch

Several international human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Watch, have called for a review of Police Scotland training for Sri Lankan police in a letter to the Scottish govt. In a letter addressed to the Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown, the Human Rights Watch, Freedom from Torture, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice, and Pax Christi Scotland expressed their concerns over allegations of abuse by the Sri Lanka Police.
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Sri Lanka undecided on accepting Taliban rule in Afghanistan - Colombo Gazette

Cabinet co-spokesman and Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed the Foreign Ministry to decide on the matter. He said that Sri Lanka has been following the developments in Afghanistan. Alahapperuma said that Sri Lanka has taken note of the situation in Afghanistan as it is a country from the SARRC region. The Minister said that the Foreign Ministry will discuss and announce Sri Lanka’s stand on a Government being formed in Afghanistan led by the Taliban.
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The Vatican to issue a statement on Easter Sunday attack soon: Catholic priest - DailyMirror

The Vatican is expected to make a statement on Easter Sunday attacks soon, a prominent Catholic priest said today. Member of the special communication’s committee on Easter Sunday attacks Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said a written statement from the Vatican is expected soon on the Easter Sunday attacks. This he said would be a response to the letter sent by Archbishop His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith to the relevant council of Vatican which deals with injustice to Catholics.

“We have already seen some response from the Vatican in the form a new item on its official news website and we await a written statement soon,” Fr. Fernando said.
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‘World will lose faith in all Lankan data’ - The Island

The discrepancies in Sri Lankan COVID numbers will soon create doubt on all data that comes from Sri Lanka, former governor, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said. In recent weeks there had been many verified reports of the discrepancies, however, the manipulation of numbers began in mid-2021, he said.

“I had brought some discrepancies to light in May 2021. However, at that time the discrepancies were not that great, but the numbers that are coming out now is unbelievable,” he said.
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Record 3,806 persons test positive for COVID-19 - DailyFT

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections yesterday exceeded 370,000 with the detection of 3,806 COVID-19 patients. This is the highest number of COVID-19 patients detected in a day in Sri Lanka. The patients detected yesterday include 3,793 persons from the New Year cluster, which has a total patient count of 266,572. The Prisons cluster has a patient count of 7,986.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 82,785 patients have been linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 patients have been linked to the Divulapitiya cluster. In terms of imported cases, 6,715 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. 13 overseas arrivals were among the COVID-19 patients detected yesterday.
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