VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: September 16, 2021

Afghanistan

Taliban Says it Will Build Regular Army, Include Former Members: Tolo News

Two weeks after the announcement of members of a Taliban caretaker government, the Taliban government's acting army chief of staff, Qari Fasihuddin, on Wednesday said they are working to form a "regular" and "strong" army.
Click here to read... [2]

Afghan Journalists: Reporting Hindered by Lack of Govt Sources: Tolo News

Several journalists on Tuesday complained that they face many restrictions while reporting, and media workers said that their questions sent to official sources remain unanswered most of the time.
Click here to read... [3]

Over $12 million seized from former officials given to central bank by Taliban: The Khaama Press

Taliban gave the total amount of 12368246 dollars in cash to the central bank-De Afghanistan bank-that were seized from the residences of officials of the former government. In addition to the cash, the Taliban has also given the central bank gold bricks on Wednesday, September 15.
Click here to read... [4]

EU announces additional 100 million euros in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Head of the European Union Urela Von Der Leyen said that the union of 27 European states is standing beside Afghanistan and is announcing additional 100 million euros in humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan.
Click here to read... [5]

We will suppress those who defend gains of past two decades: Taliban: The Khaama Press

Chief of Army Staff of the Taliban Fasihudin said that they will suppress all who defend the gains of the past two decades under the name of specific ethnic groups or resistance in Afghanistan.
Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

Will jab 50pc by year-end- Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament said efforts were underway to vaccinate students aged 12.
Click here to read... [7]

DU provost committee recommends reopening halls from October 5- Daily Star

Dhaka University's (DU's) provost committee yesterday recommended reopening residential halls for master's and final-year honours students from October 5.
Click here to read... [8]

No need for hired leadership- Daily Star

A section of BNP leaders yesterday slammed the party's leadership for contesting the 2018 parliamentary election under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront.
Click here to read... [9]

About two-thirds industrial loan now gone bad- Daily Star

About two-thirds of the industrial loan has been turned default as of March, said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday.
Click here to read... [10]

India considers resuming vaccine exports soon- Asian News Desk

India is considering resuming exports of Covid-19 vaccines soon, mainly to Africa.
Click here to read... [11]

Bangladesh inks TIFA deal with Australia- The Asian Age

Bangladesh on Wednesday inked a framework on trade and investment with Australia to provide a platform for institutionalized economic interactions.
Click here to read... [12]

Covid-19: Bangladesh records 51 more deaths, 1,901 new cases- Dhaka Tribune

The country recorded 35 and 41 deaths on Tuesday and Monday respectively. On Sunday, the single-day death toll stood at 51.
Click here to read... [13]

Canadian buyers urged to import more garments from Bangladesh- Daily Observer

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has called on Canadian buyers to choose Bangladesh as a safe, sustainable and ethical apparel-sourcing destination.
Click here to read... [14]

NU graduates lag behind in Bangladesh job market- New Age

The National University has failed to produce quality graduates for the job market, said educationists and private sector employers.
Click here to read... [15]

Bhutan

Embracing solar power to promote clean energy- Kuensel

To diversify renewable energy resources, Department of Renewable Energy (DRE) launched an 11.7-kilowatt peak (kWp) in an hour grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) car park.
Click here to read... [16]

Geptay-Satsam road in dire need of maintenance- Kuensel

Motorists and pedestrians commuting towards Geptay from Paro town are frustrated with the worsening road condition every year.

Chang residents disappointed with agriculture marketing agent- Kuensel

Thimphu dzongkhag agriculture officials will assess the performance of the agriculture marketing agent in Hongtsho.
Click here to read... [17]

Yathra weaving, the uniquely Bumthang culture- Daily Bhutan

Traditionally, every household owns a backstrap loom and girls are taught to weave from as young as 8 years old. The more women who weave in the family, the greater the source of pride.
Click here to read... [18]

Maldives

Authorities detain foreign vessels trespassing on Maldivian waters - Avas

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said two vessels fishing in the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone were detained on September 11 and September 13.
Click here to read... [19]

Munu Mahawar appointed as HC of India to Maldives - BigNewsNetwork

Munu Mahawar, presently Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.
Click here to read... [20]

76th UNGA President Shahid officially assumes office - Raajje

The President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid has officially assumed office.
Click here to read... [21]

Myanmar

Myanmar: Southeast Asia’s Next Frontline of Jihadism? - Global Risks Insights

In November 2020, Myanmar’s first explicitly Salafi-Jihadist militant group, Katibah al-Mahdi fi Bilad al-Arakan, declared jihad against Naypyidaw to avenge the persecution of Rohingya Muslims by Myanmar’s military junta.
Click here to read... [22]

Myanmar Junta Troops Suspected of Killing and Mutilating Civilians - The Irrawaddy

Five civilians have been found dead with their bodies mutilated close to where junta troops clashed last week with local resistance fighters in Magwe Region’s Gangaw Township.
Click here to read... [23]

Any Embassy Sales by Junta Would Be Illegal, Myanmar’s Shadow Govt Warns - The Irrawaddy

Amid reports that the Myanmar military junta seeks to sell the land housing the country’s embassy in Japan, the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) has warned that any sale, in part or in whole, of a Myanmar diplomatic mission by the “illegal” military regime would be unlawful.
Click here to read... [24]

Junta’s Demand to Spy on Customers Prompts Telenor to Leave Myanmar - The Irrawaddy

The Norwegian parent company of telecom operator Telenor Myanmar said Wednesday it could not maintain its presence in Myanmar, as doing so would require it to help the military regime conduct surveillance of its clients.
Click here to read... [25]

Myanmar Junta Cuts Internet Access in Anti-Regime Resistance Strongholds - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military regime has cut off internet access in several townships in Sagaing and Mandalay regions. The affected townships are strongholds of anti-regime resistance groups who have inflicted heavy casualties on junta forces.
Click here to read... [26]

Nepal

First Private Cargo Train Arrives in Nepal from India After 17 Years- Rising Nepal

The private sector cargo train has arrived in Nepal from India for the first time in 17 years after the operation of Nepal-India railway service. The first private cargo train has arrived at Birgunj-based dry port Wednesday morning.
Click here to read... [27]

70% migrant workers say they will not choose same recruiting agency again- Khabarahub

This is the finding of an analysis report of the Migrant Recruitment Advisor (MRA) in Nepal which was shared in a sub-regional South Asia meeting on MRA.
Click here to read... [28]

पुस्तान्तरणको मुद्दाले दबाबमा देउवा (Deuba under the pressure of generational transfer)- Kantipur Daily

Deuba, who has been trying to do arithmetic in the work and appointment of the government, has been delaying the appointment of his own advisor and the formation of the secretariat.
Click here to read... [29]

Deuba Cabinet expansion faces ordinance hurdle- Himalayan

Even two months after coming to power, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has not been able to expand his Cabinet.
Click here to read... [30]

Quake-damaged school rebuilt, handed over- Himalayan

A handover ceremony of the reconstructed Namuna Machhindra Secondary School was held in Lagankhel today.
Click here to read... [31]

Journalists, activists against human trafficking awarded- Himalayan

The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens has honoured various institutions and individuals for their contribution to controlling human trafficking.
Click here to read... [32]

UML looks set for a showdown amid spending halt- Kathmandu Post

Ruling alliance may steamroller the budget through lower house, but its passage from upper house looks difficult without a deal with main opposition.

Click here to read... [33]

Country’s three key state organs are in disarray- Kathmandu Post

The executive is hobbling, legislature is facing an impasse, and the judiciary is caught in tangles.
Click here to read... [34]

Health Ministry raises an alarm over resuming physical classes in educational institutions- Republica

The Ministry of Health and Population has directed concerned authorities not to take the decision of allowing educational institutions to reopen in haste.
Click here to read... [35]

Kathmandu recorded a high number of road accidents during the lockdown. Is it safe other times?- OnlineKhabar

The police and other agencies need to find common mistakes done by these drivers because there are places where accidents happen on a regular basis.
Click here to read... [36]

Pakistan

World should incentivise Taliban instead of trying to control Afghanistan from outside: PM Imran on CNN: Dawn

In an exclusive interview on CNN programme 'Connect the World' on Wednesday, host Becky Anderson asked Prime Minister Imran about apprehensions that the Taliban will not protect human rights, especially those of women and children.
Click here to read... [37]

NSA assails world’s ‘wait and watch’ policy on Afghanistan: Dawn

National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf on Wednesday denounced the world’s ‘wait and watch’ policy on recognising Afghanistan’s Taliban regime as a flawed strategy that would push the war-ravaged country further towards economic collapse.
Click here to read... [38]

Govt jacks up petrol, diesel prices by Rs5 per litre: The Express Tribune

According to the notification the per-litre price of petrol goes up by Rs5, HSD by Rs5.01, kerosene oil by Rs5.46 and light diesel oil (LDO) by R 5.92.
Click here to read... [39]

Pakistan participates in first China-hosted multinational peacekeeping drill: The Express Tribune

Troops from Pakistan, Thailand and Mongolia joined China's armed forces for the 10-day exercise dubbed "Shared Destiny 2021" at the military base in Queshan county in central Henan province.
Click here to read... [40]

Use of EVM in elections is not new: IHC: The News

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved judgment on the maintainability of a petition filed against holding election through Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).
Click here to read... [41]

PM flies to Dushanbe to attend SCO meeting today: The News

All eyes are on Dushanbe to see who represents Afghanistan at the two-day 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) starting today (16-17 September).
Click here to read... [42]

Sri Lanka

High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka calls on Foreign Secretary of India - Daily FT

High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary of India Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla yesterday at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
Click here to read... [43]

2,314 persons test positive for COVID-19, over 3,000 delayed cases added to total - Daily FT

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections exceeded 496,000 with the detection of 2,314 COVID-19 cases yesterday and the addition of over 3,000 delayed cases. The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.
Click here to read... [44]

UN intervention will cause embarrassment – SJB - Ceylon Today

The SJB said it would be a disgrace to Sri Lanka if UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has to intervene to ensure the existence of democracy in the country. SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said the Sri Lankans in Italy are pushing the international community to protest because of the loss of democracy and the loss of human rights of people in Sri Lanka.
Click here to read... [45]

UN office in Colombo condemns ill-treatment of prisoners - The Island

The United Nations (UN) office in Sri Lanka says it condemns any ill-treatment of prisoners.
“In our work on prison reform and drug rehabilitation UN Sri Lanka works to strengthen capacities to uphold the rights of all those in custody and condemns any ill treatment of prisoners,” Hanaa Singer-Hamdy tweeted.
Click here to read... [46]