VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 15, 2021

Afghanistan

World Ulema Calls for Inclusive Govt in Afghanistan: Tolo News

Islamic clerics from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Palestine Iraq and Croatia held a virtual conference on Sunday, where they called for the formation of an inclusive government in AfghanistanClick here to read... [2]

Uzbekistan Sends Team to Repair Balkh Airport: Tolo News

Esmatullah Ergashev, special representative of Uzbekistan's president, in a meeting with local officials in the northern Afghan province of Balkh on Sunday said his country will reconstruct Maulana Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi international airport in Mazar-e-Sharif. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban to reassess documents of residential towns, estate dealers: The Khaama Press

The Justice Ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that they reassess the documents of residential towns, estate dealers, and car dealers in Kabul. Click here to read... [4]

Afghan exports amounted to $820m this year: Afghan officials: The Khaama Press

Head of the Afghan commerce chamber Yunus Mohmand said that there has been a 30% increase in the Afghan exports to that reaches $820 and added that the amount will increase as four months of the ongoing year are still left. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

CLIMATE ‘LOSS AND DAMAGE’: COP26 recognizes it but offers nothing- Daily Star

An agreement reached on Saturday night as the COP26 climate talks closed pushed concerns about growing "loss and damage" from climate change up the agenda. Click here to read... [6]

‘Law enforcers stood mum’- Daily Star

Law enforcers stood mum as the marauders conducted their mayhem at the puja mandaps during Durga Puja, several of the victims told the hearing while giving their deposition to it.Click here to read... [7]

Out of robbers’ jaw, into loan sharks’- Daily Star

Finally rid of robbers in 2018, they have now become "captive" to a high interest loan or "dadon" system, which they have to subscribe to even get access to the forest's waters. Click here to read... [8]

Awami League its own worst enemy at Union Parishad polls- Dhaka Tribune

The Awami League proved to be its own worst enemy in the Union Parishad polls, as candidates with ruling party tickets are faced off against rebels while major opposition party BNP refuses to participate. Click here to read... [9]

Bangladesh reports four more deaths from Covid-19- Daily Observer

Bangladesh on Sunday reported 223 Covid-19 cases while the coronavirus claimed overnight four lives.

Finance Minister Kamal defends fuel price hike- Asian Age

Defending the fuel price hike, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said that the fuel price hike in international market is the main reason for recent hike in domestic market. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Govt. to reintroduce Mines and Minerals Bill in the next summer session- Kuensel

The government will table the Mines and Minerals Bill 2020 in the summer session next year. The bill had faced uncertainty after it was deferred indefinitely by the last session of Parliament. Click here to read... [11]

PII needs 2,000 workers to meet July 2023 deadline- Kuensel

Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions and stringent Covid-19 protocols, Punatsangchu Hydropower Project-II (PII) currently has a shortage of about 2,000 workers at the site. Click here to read... [12]
New water supply- new hope in Trashi Yangtse- BBS

In the early 2000s, when farmers of Toedtsho Gewog in Trashi Yangtse got a new water supply, their long-standing water woes were solved. However, their joy didn’t last long.
Click here to read... [13]

Maldives

Visit Maldives woos Indian travellers - TTR Weekly

Visit Maldives launches a campaign this week with India’s online travel agency, Yatra and Go First airline. The campaign runs for three months through to mid-February to revive travel bookings from Indian travellers and ultimately encourage arrivals back to the levels the Maldives enjoyed in pre-Covid-19 times. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives may sink by 2100, stark warning by its president - WION Climate tracker

World leaders are making Net-Zero pledges but for the island nations of the world, it is a do or die situation, they are the most threatened by climate change. The Maldives is one of these nations which is calling for more climate funding from rich nations. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

U.S. condemns conviction of journalist in army-ruled Myanmar - Reuters

The United States on Friday condemned an11-year jail sentencing of American journalist Danny Fenster by a court in military-ruled Myanmar, calling the ruling an "unjust conviction of an innocent person.” Click here to read... [16]

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is nearing completion with Mizoram: Governor - Economic Times

Mizoram governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said that the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP), which aims to connect North East India with Kolkata through the Sittwe Port of Myanmar via the Bay of Bengal, is almost nearing completion within the Mizoram side. Click here to read... [17]

Resistance Groups Claim to Have Killed 90 Myanmar Junta Troops in Two Days - The Irrawaddy

Almost 90 junta soldiers and at least three civilian resistance fighters were reportedly killed in fighting in Sagaing, Mandalay and Yangon regions and Chin and Kayah states over the past two days. However, The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the casualties and the regime does not comment.

Tens of thousands Flee Myanmar Junta Raids in Upper Myanmar - The Irrawaddy

Tens of thousands of people in upcountry Sagaing Region have been forced to flee their homes after junta raids and are in urgent need of food and medical supplies. Four helicopters landed junta troops in Tabayin Township in Sagaing on Monday. The soldiers started raiding villages the following day, displacing some 30,000 residents from around 20 villages in the township, according to local sources. Click here to read... [18]

Former Yangon Chief Minister’s Wife Testifies Preparing Bribes for Suu Kyi - The Irrawaddy

The wife of the former Yangon Region Chief Minister testified on Friday that she prepared and packed gold and US dollars at the request of her husband to give to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, The Irrawaddy has learned. Click here to read... [19]

Japan’s Kirin to End Beer Joint Venture With Myanmar Military ‘by December’ - The Irrawaddy

Japanese beverage giant Kirin plans to dissolve by next month its joint venture with the Myanmar military, Myanmar Brewery, whose profits plunged by almost 50 percent on-year in the third quarter, its financial results for the period show.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/japans-kirin-to-end-beer-joint-venture-with-myanmar-military-by-december.html" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Manipur ambush brings China role in Northeast back in focus - Hindustan Times

A deadly ambush near the Myanmar border in Manipur that killed five soldiers including a colonel, his wife and their eight-year-old son on Saturday has brought China’s possible support to insurgencies in India’s Northeast back in focus, and the neighbour may be plotting to foment trouble in the region amid border tensions, China watchers and security officials said on Sunday. Click here to read... [20]

Nepal

Govt's arbitrary decision hits media lifeline- Himalaya

The Media Society Nepal and alcoholic beverage manufacturers have condemned the Advertisement Board's recent notice that asked media outlets not to run ads related to alcoholic beverages. Click here to read... [21]

Landslides increase after earthquake: Study- Himalaya

The 2015 earthquakes caused devastation across vast areas of Nepal, killing almost 9,000 people and leaving 3.5 million others homeless. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal working to set up facilities to store over 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine- TKP

Health Ministry has bought 6 million doses of the vaccine. UNICEF, USAID and FHI have promised to provide ultra-cold freezers that can store the vaccine at minus 60 to 80 degrees Celsius. Click here to read... [23]

Nepal Oil proposes to utilise stabilisation fund- TKP

It is back to the bad old days for Nepal Oil Corporation when the usually loss-making, cash-strapped public enterprise used to ask the government for handouts to import petroleum products. Click here to read... [24]

Lawyers ratchet up protest. Judges in bid to find a middle path out of court row

With Chief Justice Rana refusing to relent, justices are under pressure as hearings have been affected for three weeks. Nepal Bar calls on judges to not hear cases. Click here to read... [25]

CPN (Unified Socialist) to publish statute- Republica

The second meeting of the CPN (Unified Socialist) has decided to issue an inter-party directive along with the work division of the central committee. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

Remittances hit $10.6bn in July-October: Dawn

Inflows from overseas Pakistanis declined by 7.4 per cent in October when compared to a month earlier even though cumulative remittances reached a record $10.6 billion during the first four months (July-October) of the current financial year. Click here to read... [27]

People in two provinces may not benefit from subsidy package: Dawn

Under the Ehsaas Rashan programme, poor households will get Rs1,000 each subsidy per month. The proposed federal government’s contribution to the subsidy is Rs350 while provincial share stands at Rs650. Click here to read... [28]

EU wants Islamabad to do more for GSP Plus windfall: The Express Tribune

In an interview with The Express Tribune last weekend, Heidi also underscored the challenges that Pakistan may face in case of expulsion of the French ambassador to Islamabad. She said that “Islamophobia in Europe was an exaggeration”. Click here to read... [29]

Joining China camp to invite 'US wrath', parliament told: The Express Tribune

The lawmakers were informed that Pakistan had to maintain a “balance” in ties with the US and China. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka

Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery to Halt Production for First Time - Ceylon Today

Petroleum trade unions claimed that due to the depletion of crude oil stored at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, production will be halted today (15) for the first time. According to Ananda Palitha, Convener of the Petroleum Trade Union Collective, there may be an oil shortage in the near future as a result. He further said the shortage was not a result of scarcity but because Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila, delayed importing crude oil on time. Click here to read... [31]

8000 Covid patients treated at Navinna Ayurveda, no deaths: State Minister - Daily Mirror

As many as 8000 Covid-19 patients sought treatment at Ayurveda hospital in Navinna, Maharagama but none of them succumbed to the disease, a minister said. State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development and Community Health Sisira Jayakodi said it proved the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicine in the management of Covid-19 patients. Click here to read... [32]

Chinese fertiliser company makes tough demands to withdraw shipment - Sunday Times

The Chinese organic fertiliser manufacturer Qingdao Biotech Group Co. Ltd has put forwarded a set of conditions to the Agriculture Ministry, demanding the payment of 70 percent of agreed price in the original tender agreement and additional freight charges.

The company is trying to push through a controversial shipment of organic fertiliser and has placed fresh demands for the return of its ship as the controversy over the shipment continues. Click here to read... [33]

Forex shortage: Special deposit accounts draw $ 500 million - Sunday Morning

The special deposit accounts (SDAs) established by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) last year aimed at seeking assistance to overcome the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak have drawn $ 500 million by the end of September, The Sunday Morning learnt.

Responding to a query by The Sunday Morning, CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said the scheme introduced in 2020 had attracted deposits of over $ 500 million by the end of September. Click here to read... [34]