VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 1, 2021

Afghanistan

TAPI Pipeline Project to Resume in Afghanistan: Tolo News

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at a press conference with Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said the Turkmenistan delegation and Islamic Emirate held good talks on economic and political issues. Click here to read... [2]

Kabul Residents Despair Over Fuel Prices As Winter Approaches: Tolo News

A number of Kabul residents say the price of fuel, especially wood, has risen dramatically compared to last year in the markets as the cold weather approaches. Click here to read... [3]

Tajikistan and China deny military base adjacent with Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Tajikistan’s interior ministry has denied construction of any military base on the country’s border with Afghanistan while China’s foreign ministry has also ruled out the possibility of a military base in central Asia. Click here to read... [4]

World must recognize Taliban if they don’t want to be threatened from Afghanistan: Taliban: The Khaama Press

Deputy Minister of information and culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid said that the international community must recognize the Taliban if they do not want to receive any threat from Afghanistan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Most Vulnerable Nations: PM for increased climate funding- The Daily Star

Prime Minister and Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Sheikh Hasina has stressed the need for increased financing for the survival of the most vulnerable countries from the adverse impact of climate change. Click here to read... [6]

PM reaches Scotland to attend COP26- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached Scotland yesterday as she embarked on a two-week visit to the United Kingdom and France to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and other events. Click here to read... [7]

COP26: What would success look like at the climate summit?- Dhaka Tribune

Making a final assessment of the progress achieved over the two weeks of the COP26 talks in Glasgow will be complex. Unlike past climate summits, the event will not deliver a new treaty or one big "win".Click here to read... [8]

Case against Cox’s Bazar mayor sparks protest- Daily Observer

Supporters of Cox’s Bazar municipality mayor and the district unit Awami League general secretary Majibur Rahman on Sunday staged demonstration by blocking the roads in the town as he was made main accused in a case. Click here to read... [9]

Delhi should fully back Hasina against Bangladesh’s Islamic radicals

Attacks on Hindu temples, defilement of places sacred to Hindus, vandalising Durga Pooja celebrations, killing Hindu priests, destroying villages with Hindu majority are all not new in Bangladesh. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Export to Assam, India undergoes major changes- Kuensel

Exporters of boulders and aggregates to India are now required to make export-related payments through official banking channels. Click here to read... [11]

Import of vehicles surge in vehicle rich Bhutan- Kuensel

If the progress of a country’s development were measured by the number of vehicles on the roads, Bhutan is a rich country. Click here to read... [12]

Second dose for remaining children to rollout from 26 October- Bhutan Times

About 7,000 adults will be jabbed with their second doses of Moderna vaccine along with 42,900 remaining children in 15 districts across the country. Click here to read... [13]

The pursuit of Happiness’- Bhutan Times

Yarab, 40, from Dangling in Lhuentse is a passionate person who believes that lifes’ various struggles should mould individuals into stronger human beings. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

Maldives economy expected to improve by 12 percent in 2022: Avas

The Maldives' economy is expected to increase by 12 percent next year. While presenting the proposed budget for 2022 at the Parliament, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer said countries such as the Maldives, which depend on tourism for livelihood, suffered the unprecedented economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to a large degree. Click here to read... [15]

Finance Ministry proposes MVR 37 bln budget: Avas

The Finance Ministry has proposed a budget of MVR 36.9 billion for the upcoming year. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar

Descent into chaos: On the Myanmar crisis: The Hindu

The decision by ASEAN to exclude Myanmar’s military junta from its annual summit held on October 26-28 is a major setback for the Generals’ attempts to gain regional legitimacy for their brutal regime. " target="_blank">Click here to read... [17]

Army shelling in Myanmar blamed for setting 160 homes ablaze: Tribune

More than 160 buildings in a town in northwestern Myanmar, including at least two churches, have been destroyed by fires caused by shelling by government troops, local media and activists reported Saturday. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal

Prime Minister Deuba arrives in Scotland- Republica

Prime Minister Deuba is scheduled to attend the inaugural session of the conference on Monday afternoon and then address the conclave. Click here to read... [19]

Jump in inflation sparks worries about economic recovery- TKP

Onion, tomato, cauliflower, bottle gourd, yard long beans, flat beans, round eggplant, potato, okra, capsicum, lentils. Click here to read... [20]

MCC headquarters concerned over delay in compact ratification- TKP

While the US grant has become a political hot potato in Nepal, a Maoist leader says its endorsement by Parliament is unlikely before the upcoming general elections. Click here to read... [21]

Maldives supplies 201,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Nepal

The country is also getting 1.9 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine in grant from China in the next couple of days. Click here to read... [22]

Current session of parliament prorogued- Himalaya

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, on recommendation of the government, prorogued the current session of the Parliament from today. Click here to read... [23]

PM Deuba urges investment in Nepal's clean energy development- The Himalaya

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is currently in the UK, remained busy today attending programmes and meetings. Click here to read... [24]

Lawyers to keep protesting till CJ Rana quits- Himalaya

Heeding the call of the Nepal Bar Association and the Supreme Court Bar Association, lawyers protested against Rana by tying black armbands. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan

Government, TLP ink deal to end impasse: Dawn

Members of the negotiating team from the government side on Sunday claimed that they had reached an ‘agreement’ with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in order to end the nearly two-week-long impasse, but refused to divulge its details. Click here to read... [26]

Maulana Fazl warns against attempt to rig elections ‘again’: Dawn

Addressing a PDM public meeting here on Sunday night, he warned that any attempt to rig the vote ‘again’ would lead to rebellion. Click here to read... [27]

Saudi Vision 2030 provides opportunity to materialise 'Naya Pakistan': PM Imran: The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 provided opportunities to Pakistan to engage with the Gulf country in realising 'Naya Pakistan’s' ambitious plan. Click here to read... [28]

Inflation, poverty have broken people’s back, Imran’s time has ended: Shehbaz: The News

Opposition leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has said price-hike and poverty have broken the back of people. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka

Chinese fertiliser vessel entering SL waters not illegal: Sri Lanka Ports Authority - The Morning

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has said that even if the Seiyo Explorer vessel, formerly known as Hippo Spirit, which is carrying tonnes of Chinese fertiliser that have failed quality tests, has entered Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, it is not illegal. Click here to read... [30]

Harsha faults Govt. for maligning Moody’s; warns hardships piling on people - Daily FT

Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva over the weekend faulted the Government for maligning an independent and world reputed institution such as Moody’s whilst warning hardships are piling on people due to the current regime’s sheer mismanagement of the economy. Click here to read... [31]

SL to be part of broader UK investment portfolio - Ceylon Today

Foreign secretary of the United Kingdom Elizabeth Truss says the UK is developing a broader investment portfolio which Sri Lanka could be a part of. The two countries need to engage more on investments, she stresses. Truss had talks with visiting foreign minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in London recently. Click here to read... [32]