VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: October 22, 2021

Afghanistan

Qureshi's Visit on Afghan-Pakistani Trade: Officials: Tolo News

The Pakistani foreign minister paid an unexpected visit to Kabul on Thursday, where he held talks with the head of the Islamic Emirate cabinet and other top officials. Click here to read... [2]

Afghan Women Protest Lack of Representatives in Moscow: Tolo News

A number of women activists expressed criticism over the lack of women within the Afghan delegation of the Moscow conference. Click here to read... [3]

NATO to convene meeting on Afghanistan in Brussels: The Khaama Press

NATO chief Gens Stoltenberg said that the organization plans to convene a summit of defense ministers of the state members in which Afghanistan will be concentrated upon. Click here to read... [4]

We will respectfully interact with Taliban as new Afghan authorities: Moscow Format: The Khaama Press

Third Moscow Format on Afghanistan released a joint statement after concluding the meeting saying that the Taliban are now new authorities in Afghanistan and acknowledged that the member states will interact with them respectfully. Click here to read... [5]

Taliban pledge strengthening diplomatic, economic ties with India, Iran: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan’s delegation led by Deputy PM Abul Salaam Hanafi met with special representatives of Iran and India to Afghanistan in the sideline of Moscow Format. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

Comilla attacks: Prime suspect Iqbal arrested from Cox’s Bazar- Dhaka Tribune

Police have arrested Iqbal Hossain, the person responsible for keeping the Quran at a Durga Puja venue in Comilla, from Cox’s Bazar. Click here to read... [7]

Covid-19: Bangladesh records lowest single-day caseload in 1.5 years- Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh recorded 243 new Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8am on Thursday, which is the lowest in 18 months. Click here to read... [8]

Temple vandalized in Bogra- Dhaka Tribune

Locals on Thursday found the idols vandalized at the Durga Mandir at Sadar upazila’s Shabgram union’s Nathpara area, said police. Click here to read... [9]

OP-ED: Assert leadership, restore 1972 constitution- Dhaka Tribune

Let us be under no illusion. The reality before us, before the multitudes who constitute this republic, is that Bangladesh is under threat from within. Click here to read... [10]

Hajiganj communal attack: Jamaat leader confesses involvement- The Daily Star

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Md Kamal Uddin Abbasi has given a confessional statement before a court over his involvement in the vandalism at puja mandaps and clash with police in Chandpur's Hajiganj. Click here to read... [11]

‘Defaming’ Bangabandhu: Complaint filed against Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury- The Daily Star

A complaint has been filed with a Chattogram court accusing Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury of Dhaka University and two others of defaming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in an article. Click here to read... [12]

Attack on JM Sen Hall puja mandap: 3 Chhatra Jubo Odhikar Parishad leaders arrested- The Daily Star

In a drive last night, police arrested three leaders of Chhatra Jubo Odhikar Parishad's Chattogram unit in a case filed over attacking the JM Sen Hall puja mandap on October 15 in the port city's Andarkillah area. Click here to read... [13]

PM: Focus on fostering communal harmony- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on Awami League leaders and activists to organise peace rallies and conferences across the country aimed at fostering communal harmony, while remaining alert to the threat of disruptive elements. Click here to read... [14]

India's guarded reaction over attacks on Hindus in BD- Asian Age

Reactions from the Indian government over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have been guarded and cautious. Click here to read... [15]

Khaleda Zia's appearance in 11 cases on Nov 22- Observer

A Dhaka court set November 22 for the appearance of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia before it in 11 cases lodged against her. Click here to read... [16]

172 Bangladeshi workers held in Malaysia- Observer

Some 172 Bangladeshi nationals among the 213 undocumented migrant workers have been detained in a joint operation in Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Click here to read... [17]

'Communal violence in Noakhali could be avoided if those in power took steps'- Prothom Alo

As a sequel to the Cumilla incident, miscreants carried out attacks on members of the Hindu community and vandalised 12 temples, and looted and damaged a few shops and homes for three hours in Chowmuhani of Begumganj, Noakhali on Friday. Click here to read... [18]

Dhaka-Beijing political trust continues to deepen: Li Jiming- Prothom Alo

Terming China the largest trading partner of Bangladesh, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Wednesday said the Bangladesh-China relations have achieved a rapid development, reports UNB. Click here to read... [19]

Macron writes to Hasina over French photographer Riboud’s exhibition in Dhaka- The Independent

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his happiness over the exhibition of photographs taken in December 1971 by French photographer Marc Riboud that is taking place at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka. Click here to read... [20]

Bhutan

Bhutan PM congratulates India for crossing 1 billion COVID vaccine doses- ANI News

Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for achieving one billion COVID-19 vaccination doses on Thursday morning. Click here to read... [21]

Bhutan's attitude toward China is changing, while India still a great challenge: Global Times

Whether Bhutan and China could yield any results on the border negotiations, there needs to be a full-scale improvement in China-India relations, Zhang Jiadong, professor at the Center for American Studies of Fudan University, told the Global Times. Click here to read... [22]

China may push Bhutan for ‘definitive response’ on border dispute: Ex-envoy Nambiar on MoU- The Print

Former Indian envoy to China Vijay K. Nambiar was speaking at a webinar hosted by Institute of Chinese Studies on linkages between Tawang region in Arunachal Pradesh, and Bhutan. Click here to read... [23]

Wishes pour in from WHO, Bhutan, Sri Lanka as India achieves 100 crore Covid vaccine dose landmark- Times of India

Wishes poured in for India from the World Health Organisation and the leadership of Bhutan and Sri Lanka after it scripted history on Thursday with the cumulative Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country surpassing the 100-crore milestone. Click here to read... [24]

South Asia Diary | Bhutan opens first Judo dojo- Wion

Bhutan inaugurated its first judo school, months after making an Olympic debut in the same sport. The project, funded by Japan, could make martial art more popular in Bhutan. Maiam Wardak gets you a report. Click here to read... [25]

MoE reviewing policy to enhance tertiary education- Kuensel

To bring changes in line with the 21st Century higher education system, the Ministry of Education has begun reviewing the decade-old Tertiary Education Policy 2010. Click here to read... [26]

Rains damage about 1,945MT of rice in Paro- Kuensel

The continuous rainfall in the past three days damaged about 793 acres of paddy fields damaging an estimated 1,945 metric tonnes of rice production in Paro. Click here to read... [27]

His Majesty’s Kidu mobile medical camp for highlanders- Kuensel

Covering one of the remotest parts of the country, His Majesty’s Kidu mobile medical unit completed a 13-day medical camp in Soe and Lingzhi gewogs of Thimphu dzongkhag. Click here to read... [28]

Truckers struggle living on the road- Namling block- BBS

More than 30 truckers transporting goods from Sorchen in Chhukha to eastern districts are stranded at Namling block along the Bumthang-Monggar highway for over a week now. Click here to read... [29]

His Majesty to grant kidu to paddy growers affected by the continuous rainfall- BBS

Under the Royal Kidu, His Majesty the King will compensate the families whose paddies were damaged by continuous rain in the last few days. Click here to read... [30]

Incumbent SJ Thrompon to not contest in the upcoming election- BBS

As the tenure of the current Thrompon of Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde completes at the end of this month, the constituents will get to choose a new representative. Click here to read... [31]

Maldives

Maldives Defence Minister Says Country's Relationship With India Today Is Stronger Than Ever - Republic World

The relationship between the Maldives and India today is "stronger than ever" and New Delhi has been the first and best responder to Malé in all times of need, the island nation's Defence Minister Mariya Didi has said. Click here to read... [32]

Experts of Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women Ask Maldives about how Radicalised Religious Groups - Mirage News

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its review of the sixth periodic report of Maldives on measures taken to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women with Committee Experts inquiring about how radicalised religious groups and discriminatory practices affected women. Click here to read... [33]

Myanmar

Myanmar Situation - Inter-Agency Operational Update - October 2021 - Relief Web

The volatile situation in Myanmar following the 01 February 2021 coup has resulted in increased displacement both within the country and across borders, including into Thailand. Click here to read... [34]

Bhasan Char: The Need For Rohingya Relocation In The Current Context – OpEd - Eurasia Review

Of the nearly 80 million displaced people in different parts of the world, 1.1 million Rohingyas are living in 34 Rohingya camps in the more densely populated Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. Click here to read... [35]

UN Envoy: Myanmar Is Now in Conflict, Could Be Failed State - US News

The U.N. special envoy for Myanmar warned Thursday that the country already faces “an internal armed conflict” and if power isn’t returned to the people in a democratic way “we will go in the direction of a failed state.” Click here to read... [36]

Pakistan

Tarin leaves US without concluding IMF negotiations: Dawn

The minister, however, leaves behind Finance Secretary Yousaf Khan to further pursue the talks for the resumption of a $6 billion loan facility that would bring an immediate relief to the cash-starved government by delivering a suspended tranche of $1bn. Click here to read... [37]

Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list: Dawn

Pakistan has been on the grey list for deficiencies in its counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering regimes since June 2018. Click here to read... [38]

Pakistan desires durable peace, stability in Afghanistan: Qureshi: The Express Tribune

The foreign minister, who reached Kabul today on a one-day visit, held a meeting with Afghanistan's interim Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund. Click here to read... [39]

Economist reports Pakistan inflation fourth highest out of 42 country index: The News

In its latest edition, the Economist magazine tracked inflation in 42 countries plus the Euro region and found that Argentina was on the top with inflation, standing at 51.4 percent, Turkey on the second with 19.6 percent, Brazil at third position with 10.2 percent and then on the fourth position was Pakistan with inflation standing at 9 percent. Click here to read... [40]

Govt may increase gas tariff by 10-22pc on November 1

The government is set to increase the local gas tariff by 10-22 percent by November 1, 2021 as per the undertaking extended to the IMF. Click here to read... [41]

Sri Lanka

Namal meets Modi, gifts him Bhagwad Gita Sinhala version - Ceylon Today

Minister Namal Rajapaksa today (20) met with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and gifted him a Sinhala version of Bhagwad Gita. Click here to read... [42]

555 persons test positive for COVID-19 - Daily FT

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 533,860 with the detection of 555 COVID-19 patients yesterday. Click here to read... [43]

E-sport driver and athlete training programme by Mandarin Reid - The Sunday Times

Globally, eGaming is considered a whopping $2.4 billion USD industry. In Sri Lanka, eSports are now taking centre stage, with the country being estimated to have approximately 3.2 million gamers; true numbers, however, extend far beyond that. Meanwhile, enriching and uplifting the gaming community has only just begun. Click here to read... [44]