VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: September 21, 2021

Afghanistan

After Recognition We Will Address Rights Issues: Mujahid: Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, deputy minister of the Ministry of Information and Culture of the caretaker cabinet, said on Monday that if the international community recognizes the new government, they will address the concerns over allegations of human rights violations.
Click here to read... [2]

IMF Funds for Afghanistan 'On Hold,' Says Spokesman: Tolo News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently announced a $650 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation for member countries, but Afghanistan at the moment will not be allowed to access these funds.
Click here to read... [3]

China to provide unconditional aid to Afghanistan by winter: The Khaama Press

Chinese ambassador to Kabul Wang yu said that his country is prepared to continue his country’s unconditional humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan.
Click here to read... [4]

ISIS-K claims responsibly for blasts in Nangarhar province: The Khaama Press

The Khurasan branch of Islamic State (ISIS-K) has claimed that they have conducted three blasts on Saturday, September 18 and one the following day in the capital city-Jalalabad- of eastern Nangarhar province.
Click here to read... [5]

Ex-Officials Seek Urgent Attention as Banking Crisis Deepens: Tolo News

As the banking crisis deepens in Afghanistan, some senior officials from the previous administration at a meeting on Monday asked immediate attention by the US government and the Taliban to make sure Afghan reserves are unfrozen as a short-term solution to the current crisis in the country.
Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

PM plants tree, unveils bench dedicated to Bangabandhu at UN gardens- Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday planted a honey locust tree and unveiled a bench at UN gardens.
Click here to read... [7]

First Phase Up Polls: Three killed as violence rules the day- Daily Star

At least three people were killed and dozens others injured in clashes between supporters of ruling Awami League's chairman candidates and party rebels.
Click here to read... [8]

Strictly implement Paris accord- Daily Star

Sheikh Hasina has asked global leaders to take stronger steps urgently to address the planetary emergency of climate change.
Click here to read... [9]

Child Marriage: Creeping through the pandemic- Daily Star

Eighty-five girl students out of 345 of Baravita Girls High School in Kurigram's Phulbari upazila have been married off during the closure of the school amid the pandemic.
Click here to read... [10]

Bangladesh to get vaccines from India as priority- Dhaka Tribune

India is set to resume export under “Vaccine Maitri” in the fourth quarter starting from October.
Click here to read... [11]

Covid-19: Less than 10% fully vaccinated in Bangladesh- Dhaka Tribune

Less than 10% of the country’s population has been fully vaccinated despite the frantic efforts of the government.
Click here to read... [12]

Four new sectors to get cash assistance on export- The Daily Observer

The government has taken a decision to provide export incentive or cash assistance to four new sectors for the current fiscal year 2021-22.
Click here to read... [13]

Bangladesh health department driver jailed for 30 years- New Age

The Dhaka Special Tribunal-4 on Monday jailed Abdul Malek, a driver at the Directorate General of Health Service, for 30 years in a case of possessing an illegal firearm and ammunitions.
Click here to read... [14]

3 killed as violence, rigging mark Bangladesh local body polls- New Age

At least three people were killed and several dozens injured in violence over the first phase of union parishad elections held on Monday.
Click here to read... [15]

Saudi Arabia keen to invest more in Bangladesh- The Independent

Noting that Bangladesh has an investment-friendly climate, the Saudi investment minister said there is a potential for more Saudi investment in Bangladesh.
Click here to read... [16]

Bhutan

MoE seeks urgent strategised interventions to improve students’ performance- Kuensel

Around 46 percent of Class IV-XII students scored lower than 40 percent on the 2021 midterm examinations, according to the Ministry of Education’s consolidated midterm examination report.
Click here to read... [17]

The importance of agriculture- Kuensel

Agriculture development in the country must take a new turn. Otherwise, we would be talking about the same problems 100 years from now.
https://kuenselonline.com/the-importance-of-agriculture/" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Potato exporters worry as their trucks stopped at border- Kuensel

Customs officials in India stopped trucks carrying potatoes from Bhutan without a plant quarantine certificate (PQC), which has affected business for potato exporters and bidders in Samdrupjongkhar.
Click here to read... [18]

Maintaining small, compact and efficient Civil Service still a challenge- BBS

As per the commission’s Annual Report 2020 – 2021, this time, the increase in the number of civil servants is due to the increased demand in the education and health sectors.
Click here to read... [19]

HH awards Toedtse Jim to Khenpo Karma Loday- BBS

The special award is an honorary appreciation for 59-year-old Khenpo Karma Loday’s unwavering service for the benefit of all sentient beings. He is from Toepaisa in Punakha.
Click here to read... [20]

Maldives

Three pilots trained by India for MNDF - Edition

Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir said India have been training pilots for helicopters and the Dornier aircrafts gifted to Maldives. Three pilots have returned to Maldives after completing their training, according to the high commissioner.
Click here to read... [21]

UNGA President hosts special dinner for President Solih upon arrival to attend 76th UNGA session - Raajje

President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has hosted a special dinner in honor of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is currently in the states to attend the 76th UNGA session.
Click here to read... [22]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Denies False Reports That She Opposes Armed Resistance to Junta - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has denied false reports that she didn’t accept armed resistance against the military regime.
Click here to read... [23]

Agreement Moves Myanmar’s Kyaukphyu Port Project a Step Forward - The Irrawaddy

An agreement to conduct preliminary field investigation work for the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Deep Sea Port Project has been signed.
Click here to read... [24]

Rohingya Armed Groups Active Again in Western Myanmar - The Irrawaddy

Long before the junta’s February 1 coup, the Rohingya crisis was making headlines in the international media.
Click here to read... [25]

Nepal

Govt told not to arrest anyone for negative remarks- Himalaya

The Supreme Court today issued a stay order against the government asking it not to arrest anyone for making negative statements.
Click here to read... [26]

India to resume export of COVID-19 vaccines under the 'Vaccine Maitri' programme from October-December- Himalaya

India is all set to resume the export of surplus COVID-19 vaccines under the 'Vaccine Maitri' program.
Click here to read... [27]

'Opposition must play responsible role in Parliament- Himalaya

The government has urged the opposition to play a responsible role in running the federal Parliament.
Click here to read... [28]

Deuba’s plan for Cabinet expansion constrained by coalition partners- Kathmandu Post

Janata Samajbadi Party wants ordinance to ease party splits withdrawn while CPN (Unified Socialist) wants the prime minister to wait until court order on Oli’s petition/
Click here to read... [29]

Government allocates record Rs15 billion to ensure fertiliser- Kathmandu Post

The government has set aside a record Rs15 billion for its fertiliser subsidy programme this year, fearing steep price rises in the world market may result in shortages.
Click here to read... [30]

Mahalaya in Nepal: Why Hindus remember their forefathers before the festive season- OnlineKhabar

The offerings made to the priest during the ceremony is believed to reach the three generations caught in pitri lok.
Click here to read... [31]

Budhigandaki hydropower project delay incurs a loss of billions: BRB- OnlineKhabar

Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai joins a protest programme demanding the early launch of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, in Kathmandu, on Monday, September 20, 2021.
Click here to read... [32]

Energy Roadmap Launched for Achieving SDG-7- Rising Nepal

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal formally launched the roadmap for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-7) on Monday.
Click here to read... [33]

Supreme Court hearing writ against 14 lawmakers today- KhabarHub

A hearing of the writ petition filed at the Supreme Court (SC) demanding to revoke the membership of 14 UML lawmakers will be conducted today.
Click here to read... [34]

लोकतन्त्रविरोधी अध्यादेश खारेजी नभएसम्म सरकारले पूर्णता पाउँदैन : उपेन्द्र यादव

(Government will not be complete until anti-democracy ordinance is repealed: Upendra Yadav)- Nepal News

Yadav said that the Council of Ministers would not be complete until the ordinance weakening democracy and political parties was repealed.
Click here to read... [35]

Pakistan

Pakistan satisfied with security assurances by Afghan Taliban: ISPR: Dawn

Pakistan is maintaining a regular engagement with the Afghan Taliban for safeguarding the country’s security interests, said military spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar on Monday.
Click here to read... [36]

Pakistan GDP to grow at 4.2pc: Fitch: Dawn

With some subdued downward risks, Fitch Ratings on Monday forecast Pakistan’s economic growth at 4.2 per cent — against the government’s target of 4.8pc.
Click here to read... [37]

Govt refuses to reveal details of foreign gifts given to PM Imran: The Express Tribune

The federal government has refused to make public details of gifts given to Prime Minister Imran Khan by foreign heads of states, saying the disclosure can damage country’s national interest and its relations with other states.
Click here to read... [38]

Saudi Arabia offers to play role in easing Pakistan-India tension: The Express Tribune

Saudi Foreign Minister Amir Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who is on his maiden visit to India, has said that Saudi Arabia could play a role in easing tensions between archrivals Pakistan and India.
Click here to read... [39]

Security concerns: ECB also pulls out of October twin series: The News

England cricket chiefs on Monday withdrew their men’s and women’s teams from next month’s white-ball series in Pakistan citing "increasing concerns about travelling to the region".
Click here to read... [40]

‘Contact with Taliban in national interest’: The News

Pakistan is confident that the Taliban will fulfil their commitment of not allowing any terrorist organisation to use the Afghan soil against any country including Pakistan.
Click here to read... [41]

Sri Lanka

Lanka, Turkish FMs powwow in NY- The Island

Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris has expressed condolences on the death of two Turkish nationals as a result of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks when he met the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu at the Turkish House.
Click here to read... [42]

‘War crimes’: Lanka rejects fresh probe- The Island

Sri Lanka yesterday (14) rejected the UNHCR proposal to initiate a fresh inquiry into accountability issues.
Click here to read... [43]

Vaccination centres drying up as youngsters refuse vaccines- Daily Mirror

Health authorities yesterday raised serious concerns over the lack of interest among the 20 to 29 age group to get themselves vaccinated against COVID19 with many having fears that it may lead to infertility while some preferred unproven natural remedies.
Click here to read... [44]

Jayantha Ketagoda to be sworn in today- Daily Mirror

Jayantha Ketagoda who is expected to fill the National List MP slot created after the resignation of former State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal is to be sworn in today, Serjeant-at-arms Narendra Fernando said yesterday.
Click here to read... [45]