VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 16, 2021

Afghanistan

Iran Concerned By Rise of Extremism In Region: Tolo News

The Iran special envoy for Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, in a visit to Kabul on Monday said that some countries are seeking to increase extremism in the region, and that a stable Afghanistan is helpful for regional stability. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan Faces Rapid Surge in Measles: WHO: Tolo News

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that Afghanistan has been hit with a rapid surge in the outbreak of measles and due to lack of vaccine the problem is getting worseClick here to read... [3]

Move to stabilize Afghani, Taliban intends to auction $10 million today: The Khaama Press

As Afghanistan has been dealing with western sanctions and no foreign aid, the local currency-Afghani- hit the lowest level against US dollar in the past twenty years, with 1$ trading for 95 Afghani. Click here to read... [4]

Taliban arrests 11 Daesh suspects in central Daikundi province: The Khaama Press

Provincial officials in central Daikundi province said that their intelligence personnel arrested 11 people who are suspected to be ISIS-K affiliates. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

India extends ban on Zakir Naik’s organisation- Daily Star

India has extended the ban imposed on Zakir Naik's organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) by five years. Click here to read... [6]

Rice price remains high despite huge imports, stocks- Daily Star

Rice price in Bangladesh has remained at an elevated level despite higher imports in recent months on the back of lower customs duty and reduced price in the international market as well as a record stock in government warehouses. Click here to read... [7]

PM Hasina: Bangladesh capable of manufacturing, exporting Covid vaccine- Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh got global recognition for its success in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, she says. Click here to read... [8]

Bangladesh, Tanzania keen to work on blue economy, agriculture- Daily Observer

Bangladesh and Tanzania have agreed to work with Bangladesh in agriculture, blue economy and other economic sectors through establishing official contacts. Click here to read... [9]
EU to observe BD elections very closely- Asian Age

Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Monday said that EU will be following the next general election "very closely"Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Procurement procedures revised to fix accountability- Kuensel

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has revised the Simplified Procurement Rules and Regulations (SPRR) 2020 to negate the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read... [11]

Need for rigorous awareness on IP rights- Kuensel

Indifference to intellectual property (IP) rights and complexity of IP remain challenges in the creative industry. Click here to read... [12]

School dropout rate drops to 5.9 %- Kuensel

Bhutan saw a relative drop in the school dropout rate, with a rate of 5.9 percent in 2021 compared to the 7.4 percent recorded last year. Click here to read... [13]

In the footsteps of a visionary King- Bhutan Times

Bhutan marked the birth of a great leader and statesman, as the nation celebrated the 66th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo last week. Click here to read... [14]

How to make your own Bhutanese suja (butter tea) at home- Daily Bhutan

Suja is Bhutanese butter tea, loved for its savoury and creamy nature. The butter in suja gives it a salty taste, setting it apart from the typical sweet Indian tea. Some people think that suja is the inspiration behind the Bulletproof coffee, a high-calorie coffee drink whose main ingredients are coffee beans and butter. Click here to read... [15]

Paro sees increasing number of youth abusing thinner- BBS

Youth abusing paint thinners is on the rise in Paro. This is according to a drop-in centre, called Jurwa which conducts daily counselling and outreach programmes in the district. Click here to read... [16]

Maldives

Maldives reports 127 new Covid-19 cases, 159 recoveries - Raajje

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 4,138 samples were tested for the virus between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday. Click here to read... [17]

New Philippine Ambassador discusses climate change, vulnerabilities with Maldivian president - Raajje

The new Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Maldives Alan L. Deniega has held discussions with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih regarding climate change and vulnerabilities. During a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Monday afternoon, the new Philippine Ambassador presented his credentials to the Maldivian presidentClick here to read... [18]

Pres. discusses expanding access to higher education with new High Commissioner of New Zealand - Raajje

Following a ceremony held at the President’s Office where the new High Commissioner of New Zealand to the Maldives, Michael Edward Appleton presented his Letters of Credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the pair engaged in discussions regarding a wide array of topics. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar

Myanmar Military-Linked Trio Claim to Be on Shadow Govt’s ‘Hit List’ - The Irrawaddy

Three people known for their proximity to the Myanmar military and involved in the previous military proxy government’s and the current regime’s peace process have claimed they are on a “hit list” put out by Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG) and its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force (PDF), according to a complaint one of them sent to international embassies. Click here to read... [20]

Myanmar Coup Leader Meets Senior Officials From China, Japan and Thailand - The Irrawaddy

Sun Guoxiang, the Special Envoy of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, arrived unannounced in Myanmar and is set to meet the country’s military leadership, sources monitoring the Sino-Myanmar relationship told The Irrawaddy.Click here to read... [21]

‘What Happens Next Depends On Myanmar Military, AA Spokesman Says - Eurasia Review

Fighting will continue if the Myanmar military launches offensive attacks against the Arakan Army (AA) in northern Arakan State, U Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the ethnic armed group, told DMG on Wednesday. Click here to read... [22]

Myanmar Junta Releases US Journalist After Ex-Diplomat’s Intervention - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta released and deported the US journalist Danny Fenster on Monday, three days after sentencing him to 11 years for incitement, contacting an illegal organization and breaching visa regulations. Click here to read... [23]

Nepal

CJ seeks negotiated settlement with NBA- Himalaya

Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana today issued a press statement urging the Nepal Bar Association and dissident justices of the Supreme Court to find a negotiated settlement to end the NBA's agitation. The NBA has, however, rejected the CJ's offer of dialogue. Click here to read... [24]

Demonstration held over death of kids- Himalaya

A demonstration was held in Rautahat's Garuda Municipality today over the death of two children caused by rat poison yesterday. Click here to read... [25]

Nepal on track to vaccinate its eligible population as more jabs are on way- Republica

After a brief setback, Nepal by and large has managed to secure Covid-19 vaccine doses on a regular basis to continue its vaccination campaign. And with some new deals the government has signed, along with the promises to provide the jabs in grants, the country is set to receive enough doses to inoculate the rest of the targeted population. Click here to read... [26]

Corruptions in local governments still alarming: CIAA report- Republica

The irregularities related to federal affairs and local governments are still on the top list of complaints that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) received in the last fiscal year. Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan

Chinese firms briefed on CPEC opportunities: Dawn

CPEC Authority (CPECA) chairman Khalid Mansoor briefed the chief executive officers and representatives of the Chinese companies on latest developments on the CPEC horizon, various business opportunities and incentives for investment. Click here to read... [28]

Govt calls parliament’s joint sitting tomorrow: Dawn

The government finally decided to convene a joint sitting of parliament on Wednesday to get controversial bills, including the one on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), passed. Click here to read... [29]

PTI wins support of allies on electoral reforms: Fawad: The Express Tribune

He said this while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after Prime Minister Imran Khan met with the leaders of allied parties — MQM-P, PML-Q, GDA and BAP. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka

Agriculture Department unfazed by Chinese firm’s UN threat - The Morning

The Agriculture Department has stated that China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd., which has been the subject of controversy due to the organic fertiliser issue with the Sri Lankan authorities, is free to file complaints with any organisation, but that the Sri Lankan authorities would stick to the results of the tests conducted by the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) on the said company’s fertiliser samples. Click here to read... [31]

China’s Ambition Health Care to invest USD 25 mn on cancer detection center - Daily News

Ambition Health Care Beijing, China, a manufacturer of health care equipment and into advanced medical technology systems will invest USD. 25 million in Sri Lanka to set up a unique cancer detection center. This would be the first time such a center is being set up in the South Asian region. Click here to read... [32]

Will Hambantota Port Become a Chinese Military Base? - Ceylon Today

The United States Department of Defence released a report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China on 2 November 2021, citing that China has likely considered setting up a military base in Sri Lanka and this had been coming as Beijing has been projecting its power far beyond the Chinese mainland. Click here to read... [33]