VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: October 07, 2021

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s electricity body to sell estate to pay off debt: The Khaama Press

De Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS)- the electricity body of Afghanistan- decided to sell the estate of its debtors so that they pay nearly $62 million bills of the power to the central Asian countries. Click here to read... [2]

DABS to Sell Off Property of Former Govt Officials: Tolo News

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) on Wednesday said it is preparing to sell off the properties of a number of former government officials. Click here to read... [3]

Afghan Blind Athlete to Compete in Race in London: Tolo News

Wali Mohammad Noori, an Afghan athlete who lost his eyesight in a blast in Helmand a decade ago has now become a well-known athlete in the country and abroad. Click here to read... [4]

UN calls on donors to scale up life-saving response to crisis in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Displaced Afghans from the northern provinces are evacuated from a makeshift IDP camp in Share-e-Naw park to various mosques and schools on August 12, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Click here to read... [5]

We will issue 6,000 passports daily: Taliban officials: The Khaama Press

Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan resumed the issuance of passports on Tuesday, October 5. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh trade facilitation initiative launched- The Observer

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has launched the "Bangladesh Trade Facilitation," a new agriculture and economic development project funded by the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. Click here to read... [7]

Tensions ‘highest in decades’`- Daily Star

Military tensions between China and Taiwan are at their highest in four decades, the island's defence minister warned yesterday. Click here to read... [8]

Covid-19: Bangladesh records 21 more deaths, 703 new cases- Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh recorded 21 more deaths from Covid-19 and 703 new cases in the 24 hours between 8am Tuesday and 8am Wednesday. Click here to read... [9]

How Covid-19 in Southeast Asia is threatening global supply chains- Dhaka Tribune

Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand are three of the region's major manufacturing hubs and produce goods for some of the world's largest consumer brands. Click here to read... [10]

Mohib Ullah murder: 3 more remanded for 3 days- Dhaka Tribune

A Cox’s Bazar court has granted police three days to interrogate three more suspects in the case filed over the murder of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah at a refugee camp in Ukhiya. Click here to read... [11]

10C in gold bars found in tissue boxes on Biman flight- Dhaka Tribune

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has recovered Tk10 crore in gold bars that were being smuggled into the country on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dubai. " target="_blank">Click here to read... [12]

Fear and loathing in refugee camps- Daily Star

It's not that fear gripped the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar only after the recent killing of a popular leader; it has always been there due to unrestrained crimes, rivalry between groups, and lax security. Click here to read... [13]

Gun-Running in Southwest: Barrelling on political clout- Daily Star

Some Awami League leaders and activists in Jashore have long been running an illegal arms business in the country's south-western districts, exploiting their political links to make big money. Click here to read... [14]

Investigation reveals mass trafficking of women from Bangladesh for flesh trade- The Hindu

Investigation into the international prostitution racket busted by the Hyderabad city police revealed a mass trafficking of women from Bangladesh to the country. Click here to read... [15]

Bangladesh honours Indian war veterans- The Tribune

Muhammad Imran, High Commissioner of Bangladesh, honoured 10 Indian naval war veterans from across the country. Click here to read... [16]

Malda lotus to brighten Durga Puja in Bangladesh- The Telegraph

A consignment of lotus will be exported to Bangladesh from Malda ahead of Durga Puja for the first time. Click here to read... [17]

Bhutan

TCB undecided on restarting tourism with normal protocols- Kuensel

Bhutan is yet to decide on when it would open its border for normal tourism like the neighbouring countries. Click here to read... [18]

Road works in Thimphu to be completed by end of October- Kuensel

Road between Jungshina and the Bhutan Telecom office in Chubachu in Thimphu is expected to be completed by the end of this month, Thimphu Thromde officials said. Click here to read... [19]

Quality of blacktopping work under scrutiny- Kuensel

Nn the Mongar-Trashigang highway several potholes have emerged causing problems for travellers and drivers on the highway. It is recently constructed highway. Click here to read... [20]

Pressure mounts on the Bhutan border with Jaigaon as enquiries start- The Bhutanese

Following reports by The Bhutanese on an extortion network in Jaigaon comprising of five local journalists, some SSB, some customs and others that preyed on Bhutanese exports and even imports, it has been learnt that senior officials in New Delhi are instituting their own enquiries. Click here to read... [21]

RAA plans to audit Discretionary Grant of Ministers, MPs and Dzongdas- The Bhutanese

The Royal Audit Authority (RAA) in a notification issued on 1st July 2021 announced its intention to audit the discretionary grant given to ministers. Click here to read... [22]

Treating patients the safe way by local healers- BBS

Besides the modern and traditional medicines, Bhutanese also depend on local healers to treat for treatment. Click here to read... [23]

Maldives

Pres confers Order of Izzuddin to PGA76 Shahid – Avas

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has presented the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin to the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid. Click here to read... [24]

Tamil Nadu: Coast Guard coordinates rescue of crew of stranded Maldives bound vessel - Indian Express

The Coast Guard on Wednesday said it successfully coordinated the rescue of a mechanised sailing vessel’s crew of nine, with the ship bound for Maldives from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu getting flooded during its voyage. Click here to read... [25]

Maldives tourist arrivals figure tops 890,363 - Raajje

The Ministry of Tourism, through its latest daily statistics publicized on Wednesday, revealed that the figure crossed 890,000 by Tuesday, with 19,501 visitors having been welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) so far in October. Click here to read... [26]

Maldives signs UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework with UN in Maldives – Raajje

During the signing ceremony where the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid was in attendance, the UNSDC Framework was signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel. Click here to read... [27]

“Today, Maldivians epitomize what the UN stands for; equality for all” - Raajje

During a joint press conference held at the President’s Office following the PGA’s courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Wednesday morning, Click here to read... [28]

Myanmar

In the wake of Burma's coup, new US legislation offers a roadmap for action - The Hill

Yesterday, Congress introduced the BURMA Act of 2021, a critical next step in responding to the calls of the Burmese people to do everything the U.S. can to support a return to democratic governance and to cut off the money funding the Burmese military. Click here to read... [29]

Checkpoint blown up and one Tatmadaw killed - BNI Online

The checkpoint at the Thilawa Development Junction, Thanlyin township Yangon Region was blown up and one soldier killed and two seriously injured, according to the Thanlyin People's Defence Force (TLPDF). The TLPDF detonated a remote-controlled mine. Click here to read... [30]

Myanmar’s Opposition Should Focus on Diplomacy, Not War - World Politics Review

With Myanmar’s junta laying waste to the country’s economy and bungling its COVID-19 response, the country stands on the verge of becoming a failed state. Click here to read... [31]

Myanmar junta leader inaugurates armed coastguard - France24

Myanmar's junta chief announced the formation of a new military coastguard on Wednesday, made up of four armed vessels officials said would improve the nation's law enforcement capabilities. " target="_blank">Click here to read... [32]

Nepal

Nepal's overall covid tally nears 800000-mark- Himalaya

Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 799,615 on Wednesday with 849 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours. Click here to read... [33]

China to provide additional 1 million doses of SinoVac under grant assistance- Himalaya

The Chinese government is set to provide Nepal with one million doses of the SinoVac Covid-19 vaccination under grant assistance. Click here to read... [34]

As Nepal runs dry, communities tap water harvesting- Himalaya

When Sita Poddar wants some water, she walks from her home in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley to a neighbouring town 15 minutes away, where she waits at the public tap in the yard of a temple. Click here to read... [35]

Rule through ordinance threat to democracy, observers say- TKP

Under the principle of separation of powers, lawmaking is the prerogative of the federal parliament—the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. Click here to read... [36]

Private sector wants MCC compact endorsed from Parliament- TKP

Three major private sector bodies on Wednesday urged the government, political parties represented in Parliament, civil society and other stakeholders to implement the MCC. Click here to read... [37]

Nepal’s surplus energy is going to waste as there are no buyers yet- TKP

Nepal until 2017 was power-starved, facing outages up to 18 hours a day. The country now has surplus energy, but it does not have a concrete plan to export power. Click here to read... [38]

Fare of public transport in Kathmandu Valley hiked- Republica

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development (MoPID) of Bagmati Province has hiked the fare of the public transport in Kathmandu Valley as well as in all 13 districts in the Province. Click here to read... [39]

Construction of 220 kV Koshi Corridor Package-1 completed- Republica

The construction of the package-1 of the Koshi Corridor 220 kV transmission line has been completed. Click here to read... [40]

Pakistan

Ordinance issued to extend term of NAB chairman: Dawn

Amid criticism by opposition parties, President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday signed an ordinance that sharply reduces the jurisdiction of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Click here to read... [41]

ISI gets new chief in army reshuffle: Dawn

Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum was on Wednesday appo¬inted as new chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Click here to read... [42]

Pakistan does not have a 'Chinese debt problem', says Umar: The Express Tribune

In a press conference flanked by CPEC Authority head Khalid Mansoor, the planning minister said the report raised questions on transparency, debt sustainability, and 'secret loans' to Pakistan under CPEC. Click here to read... [43]

PM asks Bill Gates to consider humanitarian assistance for Afghans: The Express Tribune

During the telephonic conversation, held on October 5, the premier stated that more than half of the population in Afghanistan was living below the poverty line and in dire need of financial assistance. Click here to read... [44]

World press, publishers, journalists condemn PMDA: The News

The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), the International Publishers Association (IPA), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have called on Pakistani authorities to retract plans to establish the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). Click here to read... [45]

Sri Lanka

Former LTTE intelligence operative nabbed in Chennai - The Hindu

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has nabbed a senior intelligence operative of the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Chennai on Tuesday. Click here to read... [46]

“New Zealand in talks with Sri Lanka on security cooperation to curb extremism” -Michael Appleton High Commissioner New Zealand - Daily Mirror

Economically we want to build a larger, more diverse trading relationship for the benefit of both sides. We believe in an open, free and inclusive region. Click here to read... [47]

EU GSP+ monitoring mission concludes visit to Sri Lanka - Daily FT

The monitoring mission from the European Union (EU) on its GSP+ scheme has successfully concluded its week-long visit to Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [48]

India provides Rs 300M to construct smart classrooms in Galle - Ceylon Today

Recognizing the urgent need to provide Sri Lankan children with fair access to quality educational opportunities with modern technology, the Government of India has agreed to provide financial assistance of Rs. 300 million for the construction of smart classrooms and modern computer labs for 200 schools in Galle. Click here to read... [49]