VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 5, 2021

Afghanistan

WFP Distributes Cash to Poor Families in Kabul: Tolo News

The World Food Program (WFP) started distributing cash to poor families, with each receiving 3,500 Afghanis (approx. 33 US dollars) per month in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

Kabul Residents Turn to Bicycles as Fuel Prices Spike: Tolo News

The number of people using bicycle for their daily commute in the city has increased in Kabul city recently. Click here to read... [3]

UNICEF plans to directly fund Afghan teachers: The Khaama Press

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has announced that they will be funding Afghan teachers directly and without involving the de-facto authorities, the Taliban. Click here to read... [4]

Russia calls on intra-Afghan parties not arouse internal conflicts: The Khaama Press

Russia’s foreign ministry has called on resistance front-co-led by Ahmad Masoud and Amrullah Saleh- to solve their conflicts through dialogue and do not provoke internal conflicts in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Study: Second wave of Covid lockdowns pushed 32.4 million into poverty in Bangladesh-Dhaka Tribune

The second wave of the Covid-19 lockdown in Bangladesh pushed an estimated 32.4 million people into poverty, according to a study. Click here to read... [6]

Fuel price hike: Transport owners, workers call nationwide strike from Friday- Dhaka Tribune

Owners and workers of public and cargo transports have announced they will go on a nationwide indefinite strike from Friday morning protesting the hike in diesel oil price that came into effect from Thursday. Click here to read... [7]

Russia expels second journalist in move against Western media- Daily Star

Russia has expelled a journalist from a Dutch newspaper for "administrative violations," the publication reported on Thursday, the second move against a member of a Western media organisation in months. Click here to read... [8]

Another private airline 'Air Astra' gets nod to operate flights- Daily Observer

Another private airline has received no objection certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). Click here to read... [9]

"Avail lucrative opportunities," PM to British investors- Daily Observer

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday invited the investors of the United Kingdom (UK) to be part of the developmental journey of Bangladesh by investing in a host of lucrative sectors. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

A need for collective climate action across sectors- Kuensel

The impacts of climate change are more evident than ever, with reports stating that global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century, unless a deep reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions occurs in the coming decades. Click here to read... [11]

His Majesty gifts Tsendrong UN Garden- Kuensel

As a part of the celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bhutan’s membership of the United Nations (UN), the Salang tendrel (groundbreaking ceremony) of the Tsendrong UN Garden was held in Thimphu, yesterday. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

38 Million Residents in Great Lakes Region Threatened by Worsening Climate Change - Nature World News

Modification is prominently covered on the COP26 action plan, along with the Glasgow Transformation Expedient, which assesses actions made and intervention required to satisfy the Paris Agreement goal of acclimation and advertise a much lower carbon years ahead for all, especially the most disadvantaged populace and ecologies. Click here to read... [13]

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on Climate Risk & Surviving Assassination Attempt - Democracy Now

We speak to Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the low-lying island nation of the Maldives, at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow. Nasheed is one of the world’s leading climate advocates, who once held a cabinet meeting underwater to bring attention to the threat of global warming, pledged to make the Maldives the first carbon-neutral country and installed solar panels on the roof of his presidential residence. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives' Defence Minister: Indian Military Personnel Serving in the Country to Be ‘Unarmed’ - Sputnik News

The ‘India Out’ campaign is an ongoing on and offline criticism of New Delhi’s policies in the region and its warm ties with the nation’s current leadership. The campaign was launched last year and is led by the main opposition group, which organised a massive demonstration against New Delhi in Malé last month. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

Peace Coordination Committee and PCG, Kachin religious leaders meet in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss resettlement of refugees - Eleven Myanmar

The National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and the Kachin Peace-Talk Creation Group (PCG), Kachin religious leaders met in Nay Pyi Taw on November 1 to discuss the return of Kachin refugees, said PCG member La Mai Gon Ja. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar Junta Aims to Wipe Out Armed Resistance in Three Months - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military rulers are confident they can wipe out armed civilian resistance against them in three months, after instructing commanders and all forces to annihilate People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)—guerrilla-style resistance groups that have been active locally across the country. Click here to read... [17]

Clash reported between Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and Border Guard Police in Maungdaw Twsp - BNI Online

A clash broke out between the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Border Guard Police (BGP) near old Zee Bin Chaung village in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, on October 31, residents said. The fighting occurred after BGP forces discovered an ARSAoutpost and the BGP arrested five ARSA members and seized two guns, said U A Tun Chay, head of Nant Thar Taung village in northern Maungdaw Township. Click here to read... [18]

Three Brotherhood Alliance condemns Myanmar military’s shelling of Thantlang - BNI Online

The Three Brotherhood Alliance ethnic armed group coalition, which includes the Arakan Army, released a statement on November 1 strongly condemning the actions of the Myanmar military against the Chin State town of Thantlang, where more than 100 homes and two churches burnt down in a Tatmadaw shelling. The statement said the Myanmar military had carried out such attacks several times in recent years in the Kokang, Ta’ang and Arakan areas, where the three allies are based. Click here to read... [19]

Executive of Myanmar army-linked telecom firm fatally shot - AP News

A top executive of Myanmar’s military-linked telecommunications company was fatally shot Thursday near his home in Yangon, the country’s commercial capital, in an apparent assassination linked to the country’s violent political unrest. Click here to read... [20]

Nepal

CJ Rana buckles under lawyers' pressure- The Himalayan

Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana has referred cases that prevented the constitutional bench from hearing petitions filed against appointments to the constitutional bodies to the constitutional bench yesterday. Click here to read... [21]

NC alone will form govt after election, says Mahat- The Himalayan

Nepali Congress Joint General Secretary Prakash Sharan Mahat said the Nepali Congress would garner majority votes in the upcoming general election and form the government on its own. Click here to read... [22]

Coalition will last for full term: PM Deuba- The Himalayan

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the present alliance of the ruling parties will last for the full term. Click here to read... [23]

Health Ministry plans to purchase 5 million Covishield doses from India- TKP

The Ministry of Health and Population has been planning to purchase an additional 5 million doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. Click here to read... [24]

Oli asks opponents not to dream of finishing CPN-UML- Republica

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has urged the opponent forces not to dream of finishing off his party. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan

Govt reaches understanding with TTP for temporary truce

Pakistani officials have reached a tentative understanding with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to seek a broader peace agreement to end nearly two decades of militancy in the country, multiple sources familiar with the development told Dawn. Click here to read... [26]

In new record, petroleum prices hiked by up to Rs8.14: Dawn

The decision was announced after 1:30am [Friday] by the ministry of finance. The prime minister had early this week put on hold the increase in the wake of protest by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan. Click here to read... [27]

108m citizens administered Covid vaccines, NCOC told: The Express Tribune

The NCOC session was held in Islamabad participated by National Coordinator NCOC Major General Zafar Iqbal along with SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Chairman NDMA. Click here to read... [28]

Imran enlightens Muslim envoys on Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority: The News

Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday held an interactive session with the ambassadors of Muslim countries, and enlightened them about the concept of establishment of the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka

Yugadanavi deal beneficial despite shady signing: Janaka Ratnayake - The Morning

Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake yesterday (4) said that while he disapproves of the “shady manner” in which the agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and US-based energy company New Fortress Energy Inc. concerning the Yugadanavi Power Station in Kerawalapitiya was signed, he believes the sale of shares would ultimately benefit Sri Lanka.

“The PUCSL plays no politics because, as the electricity sector regulator, we look at the interests of all stakeholders alike. Personally, with my business acumen, this sale of the shares in Yugadanavi is very fair and is the best value for the Government. However, I don’t agree with the way the deal was struck,” Ratnayake told The Morning yesterday. Click here to read... [30]

India comes to Lanka’s rescue as farmers’ protests intensify- Daily FT

India has come to the rescue of Sri Lanka by airlifting 100,000 kg of liquid nano nitrogen for urgent distribution among farmers protesting against the government’s failure to provide required fertilizer and agro-chemicals.

Two Indian Air Force Globemasters arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in perhaps one of the largest if not the biggest single airlift carried out by a foreign air force here. Click here to read... [31]