VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: October 27, 2021

Afghanistan

China Pledges Support to Afghanistan- Tolo News

During the two days of high-level talks in the Qatari capital city of Doha, the Chinese delegation and Islamic Emirate officials agreed to work on strengthening diplomatic relations and implementing Chinese projects in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

Burning Coal and Plastic Increases Air Pollution: Officials: Tolo News

Kabul Municipality officials have called attention to Kabul air pollution, which is bound to greatly increase during the winter season as the residents mostly use cheap coal, plastic, and other harmful sources of heat. Click here to read... [3]

Women protest over closed schools for girls in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

A number of women took to the streets of Kabul on Tuesday, October 26 to protest against the closed school for girls and accused the international community of being silent about what is going on in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [4]

Taliban denial of cooperating US in controlling Al-Qaida is war announcement: Lindsey Graham: The Khaama Press

The prominent Republican Lindsey Graham has dragged the US president Joe Biden as the most incompetent president in his life as the Afghanistan crisis is looming. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Communal violence: Ministers hint at BNP-Jamaat involvement to be revealed soon- Dhaka Tribune

Plan of destroying communal harmony in the country made by a top BNP leader staying in London, says the information minister. Click here to read... [6]

Digital Security Act: EU concerned over some provisions- Daily Star

The European Union has expressed concerns over some provisions of the Digital Security Act (DSA) as those may go beyond the stated purpose of fighting digital crime. Click here to read... [7]

Rally taken out to express solidarity with minorities in Bangladesh- The Hindu

Various Hindu organisations took out a rally in Belagavi on Tuesday, expressing solidarity with the minority communities in Bangladesh. Click here to read... [8]

81 UP chairman candidates set to be elected unopposed- Daily Star

A total of 81 candidates are set to be elected unopposed as union parishad (UP) chairmen in the second phase of polls slated for November 11. Click here to read... [9]

‘Killing in Rohingya camps, repatriation two separate issues’- Daily Star

It can be understood that a force is trying to create a negative image of the Rohingya and posing obstacles so that effective leadership cannot be formed. Click here to read... [10]

Mass vaccination with second dose tomorrow- Asian Age

Citizens who received the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the campaign to mark Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday a month ago will get the second dose on Thursday. Click here to read... [11]

Bangladesh-US exercise for disaster response begins in city- Daily Observer

Bangladesh Armed Forces and US Army Pacific began a three-day disaster response exercise on search and rescue operations after earthquake at Army Golf Club in the city on Tuesday. Click here to read... [12]

Bhutan

Making the most of the Covid-19 pandemic interventions- Kuensel

The Covid-19 pandemic has not differentiated by social class, gender or nationality, as it infected millions and claimed lives in the hundreds of thousands across the world. Click here to read... [13]

All eyes on LG elections- Kuensel

All local leaders elected during the second local government elections in 2016 will vacate their office today. Click here to read... [14]

NA finalises winter session agenda- Kuensel

The pre-session plenary of the National Assembly (NA) held yesterday finalised the agenda for the winter session, with the Forest and Nature Conservation Bill 2021 as a new legislative Bill. Click here to read... [15]

Paro DT wants FMCL’s services streamlined- Kuensel

Local leaders and farmers of Paro say Farm Machinery Corporation Limited (FMCL) was responsible for losing significant paddy crops to recent rainfall. Click here to read... [16]

His Majesty Concludes Royal Tour of the South- The Bhutanese

His Majesty The King arrived in Thimphu after a Royal Tour of the South on 21 October, and entered quarantine. During the tour, His Majesty visited Gelephu, Samtse, Lhamoyzhingkha and Phuentsholing. Click here to read... [17]

Things to avoid based on the day of the twelve Buddhist zodiac animals- Daily Bhutan

“La Za” “Sog Za” and “She’ Za” are Good Day, Soul Day and Bad Day respectively. Click here to read... [18]

NI-TAG urges all eligible population to get vaccinated- BBS

The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group is urging all eligible Bhutanese who are yet to receive the first dose of the COVID vaccines to get the jab before the end of this month. Click here to read... [19]

Bhutan to achieve herd immunity soon but experts warn of looming danger- BBS

By this weekend, Bhutan would have fully vaccinated almost 80 per cent of its population against COVID-19. Click here to read... [20]

Climate Smart Exhibition- local response to climate change- BBS

Building up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26 scheduled to be held in Scotland from Sunday, the UNDP country office’s final segment of the Climate Series started yesterday. Click here to read... [21]

Tourist hub at India-Bhutan border- The Telegraph

The Alipurduar district administration has come up with nine cottages at Daragaon, a tiny hilly hamlet, in the district, built at around Rs 1 crore. Click here to read... [22]

Maldives

Maldives reports 92 new Covid-19 cases, 88 additional recoveries - Raajje

Maldives reported 92 new Covid-19 cases and 88 additional recoveries by sundown on Sunday. Latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that the new cases were confirmed through 3,710 samples tested between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday. Click here to read... [23]

Maldives Investment Forum graced by President of Maldives at Expo 2020 Dubai - Emirates News Agency

Maldives is experiencing a new wave of growth as the country’s economy makes a remarkable recovery from the effects of the pandemic, said the President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in his keynote address at the Maldives Investment Forum, held to coincide with the Maldives Honour Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Click here to read... [24]

Maldives records over 100,000 tourist arrivals in October - Xinhuanet

Tourism ministry data showed that 102,434 tourists visited the Maldives from Oct. 1 to 24, a 599 percent increase from the same period in 2020 but a 2 percent decrease compared to 2019. Click here to read... [25]

Myanmar

Unusual small pro-military rallies held in Myanmar - Start Tribune

Rare demonstrations in support of Myanmar's military-installed government were held Monday in several of the country's towns and cities, as militants opposed to the army's February seizure of power continued their resistance. Click here to read... [26]

Tatmadaw Convoy Targeting Villages In Chin State - BNI Online

The Tatmadaw burnt churches and more than 20 houses in villages while sending troops and equipment from Falam to Hakha. Click here to read... [27]

Myanmar Boycotts ASEAN Summit After Bloc Shuts Out Tatmadaw Head General Min Aung Hlaing - Republic World

In a major snub to Myanmar's junta, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in its opening statement made no mention of the absence of any delegate from the country in its annual conference that kicked off today (October 26) morning. Click here to read... [28]

Myanmar: Junta Rearrests Scores Of Political Prisoners Released In Recent Amnesty - Eurasia Review

At least 110 political prisoners in Myanmar who were detained for opposing the military coup and freed earlier this month following a supposed amnesty were rearrested shortly after their release, according to figures compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Click here to read... [29]

Nepal

CJ Rana says he won't step down in meeting with SC justices- Himalaya

Amid widespread demands for Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana's resignation following the recent controversy involving him, the SC chief has made it clear that he will not step down. Click here to read... [30]

Bank of Kathmandu (BOKL) proposes 14 per cent dividend- Himalaya

Bank of Kathmandu (BOKL) has proposed a 14 per cent dividend payout for the FY 2077-78. Click here to read... [31]

Israeli Embassy along with Shalom Club Nepal organises "Tree Plantation Program" in Kathmandu- The Himalaya

The Embassy of Israel together with Shalom Club Nepal organized "Tree Plantation Program", in Rastriya Shahid Tatha Shanti Park, Nijamati (Smarak), Gokarneswor-4 on Tuesday. Click here to read... [32]

Taskforce formed to study losses incurred by farmers- Himalaya

The Government has formed a taskforce to carry out a study about losses caused by unseasonal rain-induced flood and inundation on crops across the country. Click here to read... [33]

Kathmandu metropolis to administer second dose of AstraZeneca from today- Himalaya

Kathmandu Metropolitan City is administrating the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 from today. Click here to read... [34]

Nepal’s judiciary is plagued by systemic problems- TKP

Current crisis in Supreme Court has been in the making for years and is a result of bad precedents, political meddling and flawed appointment process, observers say. Click here to read... [35]

Those aged 12 and older with compromised immunity to be given Pfizer vaccine- TKP

24 hospitals throughout the country will administer the mRNA shots from November 14. Click here to read... [36]

(Op-Ed) Let the autumn anguish end: CK Lal- TKP

The poor have to bear the greatest burden of climate change. Their suffering can somewhat be alleviated through better governance. This autumn has been such a season of doom and gloom that just the prospect of the chilling winter ahead appears frightening. Click here to read... [37]

Where Nepal’s banner once waved: From Nalapani to Kalapani - Part 4- Nepali Times

The Anglo-Gorkha War officially began in November 1814 and came to a resounding close in March 1816 with the Treaty of Sugauli, the echoes of which are still heard across Nepal, India and Britain today. Click here to read... [38]

Nepal’s trade deficit widened by 68.13 percent in Q1- Republica

Nepal’s trade deficit widened by 68.13 percent to Rs 543.57 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Click here to read... [39]

Pakistan

PM Imran appoints Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as new DG ISI: Dawn

The Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday notified the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the new chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Click here to read... [40]

'No reservations' on any of TLP's demands except shutting down French embassy: Sheikh Rashid: Dawn

The minister, who was addressing the media in Islamabad after a meeting of the country's civil and military leadership, said there was agreement on all issues discussed with the TLP and it was decided that their demands pertaining to the French embassy and ambassador could not be accepted. Click here to read... [41]

Saudi Arabia provides $4.2b lifeline to Pakistan: The Express Tribune

Saudi Arabia would deposit $3 billion cash in the State Bank of Pakistan and also provide $1.2 billion worth of oil on deferred payments, said Chaudhry while talking to The Express Tribune. Click here to read... [42]

PM Imran, Xi Jinping agree to further cement bilateral ties: The Express Tribune

The resolve came during a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). Click here to read... [43]

Increasing inflation: Innumerable meetings, notices, tweets by PM unable to contain price hike: The News

There have been numerous mentions in the last three years of the mounting level of inflation in the country in public forums, countless meetings and multiple tweets by Prime Minister Imran Khan Click here to read... [44]

Sri Lanka

Polish Venture Capital Firm to Invest Rs 12.8 Bn - Ceylon Today

Colombo Commercial Fertilisers Ltd. entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Polish venture capital firm Regina Purpurea Fundus yesterday (26) , to establish preliminary parameters to form a joint venture for an organic fertiliser manufacturing operation in Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [45]

Moscow Kremlin presents grand welcome to Sri Lankan Army Chief - Daily FT

The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces, General of the Army Oleg Salyukov of the Russian Ministry of Defence, on Monday (25) morning, formally extended a warm reception to his Sri Lankan counterpart Commander of the Army/Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, who is now in Moscow on the invitation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces. Click here to read... [46]

Sri Lanka preparing agreements for US$3.6bn for Oman credit line amid money printing - Economynext

Sri Lanka is now preparing agreements for a 3.6 billion US dollar credit line for oil imports from Oman, after the cabinet of ministers gave the nod for the deal Petroleum Minister Udaya Gammanpila said as money printing created forex shortages. Click here to read... [47]

Govt won’t go back on decision – Dr Pathirana - Ceylon Today

The Government will not go back on its decision to reject the cargo of bulk organic fertiliser, which is currently on the vessel sent by Quingdao Seawin Biotech Group Company Ltd. Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said even though the ship is in Colombo’s outer harbour, it has not been granted permission to anchor and will never be allowed to anchor in Sri Lankan waters. Click here to read... [48]