VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 14, 2020

PAKISTAN

PM blames PDM for endangering lives as PTI exults at ‘flop show’: DAWN

Soon after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)’s public meeting at Minar-i-Pakistan on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan lambasted the joint opposition for “endangering people’s lives during Covid-19 spike” and reiterated that he would not give an NRO to the opposition leaders. “Let me once again reiterate: I will never give an NRO. Whatever future plans of further blackmail PDM may have, my message is categorical: There will never be an NRO from my govt no matter what tactics the looters devise,” the prime minister said in a tweet. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Negotiators to Return to Kabul Monday: TOLO News

The negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will return to Kabul Monday, having called for a 23-day break in their three-month discussions, calling it the end of the current round of talks. The negotiators reached an agreement on a 21-article list of procedural rules for the talks after three months of discussion and have finalized an initial list for the agenda of the peace negotiations. “The delegation will return to Kabul for consultations not for rest, to find common ground for all sides in the talks,” said Habiba Sarabi, a member of the Afghan republic’s negotiating teamClick here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

PM pays tribute to martyred intellectuals: Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur on Monday morning, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day. On behalf of the premier, her Military Secretary Major General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury placed the floral wreaths around 7.10am to pay homage to the great heroes of the country. The day is being observed on a limited scale due to fresh surge of the Covid-19 cases. Click here to read... [4]

NEPAL

Sugarcane farmers are back in the Capital as Oli administration broke its promise: The Kathmandu Post

Hari Shyam Ray should be harvesting his sugarcane crop in Sisautiya of Sarlahi right now. Instead, he is in Kathmandu demanding payment from sugar mills for crops he sold them in the past. “Annapurna Sugar Mill and Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill owe me Rs400,000 for the sugarcane I sold them three years ago,” he said. “I have a loan of more than Rs500,000 which I took two years ago.” The small group of 50 that began its protests in Kathmandu on Sunday will soon be joined by others like Maya Shankar Yadav of Ramnagar Rural Municipality, Sarlahi. Dhankaul Sugar Mill owes him Rs800,000 for the sugarcane he sold them over the past four years. Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

Banks barred from buying Lankan sovereign bonds: Daily Mirror

The Central Bank has barred licensed commercial banks and National Savings Bank (NSB) from purchasing Sri Lanka international sovereign bonds (ISBs) for a period of six months unless such purchases are funded with new dollars sourced abroad. The Central Bank said the Direction would be implemented with immediate effect. The Central Bank said the move was aimed at easing the pressure on the exchange rate and the stress on financial market due to impacts of COVID-19 outbreak. Click here to read... [6]