VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 22, 2021

Afghanistan

US to Pursue 'Over-the-Horizon' Mission in Afghanistan: Tolo News

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US will pursue an "over-the-horizon" mission in Afghanistan in response to counterterrorism. Click here to read... [2]

UAE Reopens Its Embassy in Kabul: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Saturday evening said the UAE had reopened its diplomatic mission in Kabul. Click here to read... [3]

Over 1M Afghan Children 'At Risk of Death': UN: Tolo News

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) says that more than three million Afghan children are struggling with malnutrition and that if their situation is not considered, over one million of them will be at risk of dying.Click here to read... [4]

United Kingdom must engage with Taliban in Afghanistan: Boris Johnson: The Khaama Press

United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that his country must engage with Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to tackle current humanitarian situation in the country. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Army should be people’s: PM says on Armed Forces Day- Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the members of the Armed Forces to uphold the glory of the country by contributing to its development activities alongside protecting the sovereignty. Click here to read... [6]

It’s time to talk about sustainability and finance in RMG sector- Daily Star

One thing that our industry people appear to be the best at is explaining, often in great detail, the problems and challenges that Bangladesh face. Click here to read... [7]

Fakhrul: Let Khaleda go abroad else face movement for ousting govt- Dhaka Tribune

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday threatened to wage a one-point movement seeking the fall of the government if Khaleda Zia is not allowed to go abroad for treatment. Click here to read... [8]

BNP to hold rallies Monday demanding Khaleda's treatment abroad- Daily Observer

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme on Saturday afternoon while concluding their hunger-strike programme in front of BNP's Nayapaltan central office, reports UNB. Click here to read... [9]

7.5 crore people to be fully vaccinated by Jan: Health Minister- Independent

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said the government will administer 6 crore more Covid-19 vaccine doses by January next across the country. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

89 percent of capital budget of 12th FYP to be exhausted this fiscal year- Kuensel

About 89 percent of the 12th Five-Year Plan (FYP) capital budget will be exhausted at the end of the fiscal year 2021-22 if all the estimated capital budget of the ongoing fiscal year is spent. Click here to read... [11]

Sibjam: A platform for local farm products- Bhutan Times

With an aim to address food self-sufficiency and security in the future, Sibjam or bees, was launched by Kinley Wangchuk, a businessman in Thimphu last week. Click here to read... [12]

Smart solutions for better lives- Bhutan Times

Bhutan Professional Services (BPS), a private company launched their experience centers showcasing smart building solutions on 4 November this week. Click here to read... [13]

Government procurement perceived as major area of fraud and corruption: Audit Report- BBS

The government procurement is still being perceived as a major area of fraud and corruption, inefficiencies and wastage involving huge public resources. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

Maldives inches closer to tourist arrival target for 2021 as figure reaches 1,092,105 - Raajje

Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrival target of 1.3 million as the country records 1,092,105 arrivals so far. According to the latest figures publicized by the Ministry of Tourism, tourist arrivals between January 1 – November 17 were at 1,092,105 which is a 147.6 percent increase from the arrivals recorded in 2020, a sluggish year for Maldives tourism due to border-closure. Click here to read... [15]

Indian HC, VP Naseem discuss challenges facing Maldives health sector - Raajje

The new High Commissioner of India to Maldives, Munu Mahawar has engaged in discussions regarding challenges facing the Maldives’ heath sector, with Vice President Faisal Naseem. The Indian HC paid a courtesy call on the vice president at the President’s Office on Sunday. Click here to read... [16]

Gov't will prioritize expanding religious teachings across Maldives, says president - Raajje

The government will place high priority to expand religious knowledge and teachings of Islam across the entire nation, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Taking the podium at the graduation ceremony of students enrolled at the National Centre for the Holy Quran, President Solih revealed that it is a pledge of his administration, to do so. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar

Military Launches Crackdown On Urban Guerrilla Forces - Eurasia review

Myanmar security forces are deploying large numbers of forces to crack down on dissident groups in various townships in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, as anti-coup forces continue to intensify attacks against military assets and affiliates. Click here to read... [18]

Junta uses attack helicopters against resistance fighters in Magway Region - Myanmar Now

The Myanmar military sent two attack helicopters to a battle in Magway’s Saw Township on Friday after resistance fighters killed 20 junta soldiers, the local People’s Defence Force (PDF) said. A column of about 60 junta soldiers left the village of Taw Ma at around 6am and were quickly met by defence forces from Saw, Kyaukhtu, Kanpetlet, and Mindat townships, a battalion commander from the Saw PDF said.Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar devotees climb mountain for full moon festival Devotees - UCA News

In predawn darkness in western Myanmar, thousands of devotees scramble to the top of a mountain said to be home to a spirit guarding 500 mythical ducks to mark the Tazaungdaing festival of lights. Click here to read... [20]

Thailand’s Deputy PM Says he had Constructive Talks With Myanmar Coup Leader - The Irrawaddy

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai finally revealed that he travelled to the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw last Sunday, to deliver humanitarian aid and to hold talks with coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Click here to read... [21]

National Unity Government calls on Interpol to review junta’s invitation to 89th General Assembly - Myanmar Now

A Myanmar junta delegation is participating in the 89th Interpol General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey next week as the country’s official representatives, Myanmar Now has confirmed. Click here to read... [22]

NUG warns of plans to escalate attacks in Yangon and neighbouring regions - Myanmar Now

A wave of explosions and shootings in Yangon on Monday was just part of a wider operation that is set to see an increase in attacks on regime targets in Yangon, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions, Myanmar’s underground government has warned. Click here to read... [23]

United Nations adopts resolution on Rohingyas by consensus - Dhaka Tribune

The United Nations has adopted a resolution on Rohingyas by consensus for the first time. The resolution, titled “The Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar”, maintained its strong focus on the ongoing justice and accountability processes, ,according to a media statement by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York. Click here to read... [24]

Japanese envoy Sasakawa says he told AA to hold its fire in wake of brief clash last week - BNI Online

The chairman of Nippon Foundation and Japan’s special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, Yohei Sasakawa, said he told the Arakan Army to maintain a situation of no armed conflict in Arakan State during an online meeting with the ethnic armed group. Click here to read... [25]

Nepal

Rawal to challenge Oli for CPN-UML chairmanship- Himalaya

CPN-UML Vice-chair Bhim Rawal organised a press conference and announced his candidature for party presidency. Click here to read... [26]

Protest against CJ Rana continues- Himalaya

The Nepal Bar Association and dissident justices of the Supreme Court continued to protest against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana today. Click here to read... [27]

Nepal Bibeksheel Party registered in Election commission- Himalaya

A meeting of the Election Commisson held on November 16, 2021 has decided to register the Nepal Bibeksheel Party. Click here to read... [28]

After poor response from priority group, government opens Pfizer jabs for all children above 12- TKP

Some 7,000 people with comorbidities took the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in one week. Around 1,500 children were given the shots on Sunday. Click here to read... [29]

Parties’ opaque finances are cause for concern as they fuel corruption- TKP

Poll body plans to implement ‘accounting format’ to ensure transparency, but experts are not hopeful. A strong law is a must to make parties accountable, observers sayClick here to read... [30]

(Opinion) Restructuring Nepali Army- TKP

We must make security forces more inclusive and effective to make them more attractive for peacekeeping. Click here to read... [31]

Farmers likely to face shortage of chemical fertilizers in upcoming plantation season- Republica

Farmers are likely to face a shortage of chemical fertilizers this year too as the importers turn reluctant to purchase adequate quantities of the agricultural input citing soaring prices in the international market. Click here to read... [32]

Pakistan

Pakistan, IMF reach staff-level agreement on steps for revival of package: Dawn

The agreement is subject to approval by the Fund's Executive Board, following the implementation of prior actions, notably on fiscal and institutional reforms, the IMF said. Click here to read... [33]

Saad Rizvi urges people to vote for TLP in next polls: Dawn

He was addressing an event termed the Shuhada-i-Namoos-i-Risalat Conference on Sunday. Hundreds of people who had come to attend the concluding ceremony of the three-day Urs of Khadim Hussain Rizvi were in attendance. Click here to read... [34]

Digital data reveals land worth Rs5.59tr encroached: The Express Tribune

The premier shared the survey on Twitter, according to which the value of encroached land in three major cities – Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore -- stood at Rs2.63 trillion. Click here to read... [35]

TTP wants ‘political office’ in third country: The Express Tribune

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) wants to open a political office in a third country is part of one of the three demands the terrorist groups made to Pakistani authorities during their initial talks. Click here to read... [36]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka moves to relax fertilizer ban for some crops as food prices soar - EconomyNext

Sri Lanka is progressively relaxing a sudden ban on chemical fertilizer and allowing urea and ‘plant nutrients’ for several crops, a top official has said, while the minister of agriculture has denied any relaxation for paddy or vegetables. Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Udith K Jayasinghe has told media that it was not possible to meet all fertilizer needs from domestically produced fertilizer. “The nitrogen content of organic fertilizer is about 3 to 4 percent,” Jayasinghe explained. “For paddy 80,000 metric tonnes of nitrogen is needed for this season.” Click here to read... [37]

SL needs to increase GDP growth: Hans Timmer - The Island

World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia Hans Timmer says it is imperative for Sri Lanka to maximize debt service, with least resources possible. Timmer said so at a webinar organised by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka recently under the theme, ‘Impact of the Pandemic on South Asian Economies and How Digitisation And Services Led Growth Can Help Sri Lanka to Rebound’. Click here to read... [38]