VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 2, 2021

Afghanistan

Former Govt Forces Join Daesh: Reports: Tolo News

The Wall Street journal reported on Sunday that some security forces of the former Afghan government who feared for their personal safety had joined ISIS-K (Daesh). Click here to read... [2]

Craft Fair Held in Kabul, First Since Govt Change: Tolo News

For the first time since the fall of the former government, a joint exhibition of artisan women and men was held in Kabul on Sunday. Click here to read... [3]

The Growing Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Following the collapse of the previous government, Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is rapidly growing due to the uncertain and chaotic economic and political situation. Click here to read... [4]

Ashraf Ghani promised to fight to death but fled: Antonio Blinken: The Khaama Press

US secretary of state Antonio Blinken has exposed his conversations with former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and said that he had promised with him to be fighting the Taliban to his death. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

BNP: Dhaka is now a poisonous gas chamber- Dhaka Tribune

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday bemoaned that the major cities in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, have become poisonous gas chambers due to widespread pollution. Click here to read... [6]

No repeat of attacks on Hindu religious sites, govt reassures int’l community- Dhaka Tribune

The government has reiterated its commitment to the international community that any future attacks on the religious sites of the country’s Hindu community will be prevented. Click here to read... [7]

PM Hasina: Work together, no country is immune to climate change consequences- Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Commonwealth members to work together to act as a catalyst for implementing the Paris Agreement. Click here to read... [8]

France delays sanctions as fishing talks continue- Asian Age

France will delay retaliatory measures against the UK while talks over post-Brexit fishing rights continue, Emmanuel Macron has said. Click here to read... [9]

PM joins world leaders for 'last, best hope' climate summit- Daily Observer

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday joined the world leaders in UK’s Glasgow for what is dubbed as “last, best hope” climate summit against the backdrop of growing worries about the fate of the planet earth. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Astrology college marks 25 years of promoting astrology- Kuensel

In 1996, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and His Holiness the 60th Je Khenpo formally established the country’s first school of astrology in Dechen Phodrang, Thimphu. Click here to read... [11]

Climate change: a local perspective- Kuensel

Thirty-eight-year-old Dema grew up surrounded by mandarin trees in her parents’ three-acre orchard in Tsirang. Click here to read... [12]

Thousands of Bhutanese attended Buddhist circuit of India through virtual tour- Bhutan Times

As part of the ongoing India@75 Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the Embassy of India (EoI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, hosted a virtual tour of the Buddhist Circuit in India. Click here to read... [13]

Bhutan’s First Ever Bio-Fertilizer Company towards becoming 100 percent organic agriculture- Bhutan Times

The Farm Machinery Corporation Limited (FMCL) in collaboration with B&B Korea Corporation Limited will establish a first ever bio-fertilizer company in the country to fulfill national aspiration of becoming 100 percent organic agriculture. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

Ex-Maldives president to tell Cop26: do not compromise on 1.5C: The Guardian

Mohamed Nasheed says the island state is already harmed by rising sea levels caused by climate change Click here to read... [15]

Information war waged against India in Maldives under garb of nationalist identity: Report: ANI News

A new report by Colombo based agency has revealed that big information warfare is being waged by certain parties in Maldives. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar

Time to support democracy in Myanmar: The New Indian Express

The 39th ASEAN summit that met on October 26 had a notable absentee—Gen Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar’s ruling junta. Click here to read... [17]

Closed trial of ousted Myanmar leader Suu Kyi continues: The Tribune

Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi testified in court for a second time Monday, addressing charges that she violated coronavirus pandemic restrictions during the 2020 election campaign. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal

Nepal Province 1 CM Acharya resigns- Himalaya

Bhim Acharya, the Chief Minister of Province 1, has tendered his resignation. Click here to read... [19]

MCC issues statement on delay in ratification of Nepal Compact Himalaya

The Millennium Challenge Corporation released a statement on the delay in ratifying the Nepal Compact owing to the Parliament's recess. Click here to read... [20]

Congress mum as Dahal, Nepal claim coalition will forge electoral alliance- TKP

Top leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the CPN (Unified Socialist) have continuously been claiming that the ruling five parties will contest the upcoming polls as an alliance. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal sees highest post-Covid monthly arrivals in October- TKP

Nepal saw the highest post-Covid monthly arrivals in October, pushing the total number since the start of the year across the 100,000 mark. Click here to read... [22]

PM Deuba Addresses UN Climate Meet In Glasgow: Accord High Priority To Mountain Vulnerability- The Rising Nepal

Prime Minister Deuba said that rapid warming in the Himalayas had posed a serious threat to food, water, energy, and human security of the entire region. Click here to read... [23]

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Writes: Building a community of shared future for mankind- Republica

The Chinese people will never forget that Nepal, as one of the co-sponsors of the Resolution 2758, made great contributions to the restoration of China’s lawful seat in the UN. Click here to read... [24]

Pakistan

Inflation rises to 9.2pc in October: Dawn

Inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to its highest level in four months — the period when global oil prices kept on rising steadily undermining earlier gains. Click here to read... [25]

PM wants PTI leaders to back Azam Swati, Fawad Chaudhry in row with ECP: Dawn

The prime minister, however, barred PTI leaders from commenting on government’s latest deal with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) as a source claimed that PM Khan wanted to keep the TLP chief behind bars. Click here to read... [26]

Agreement with IMF to be signed this week: Tarin: The Express Tribune

According to Express News, the finance adviser said that a formal accord in this regard will be signed later this week. Click here to read... [27]

Azerbaijan thanks Pakistan on 1st anniversary of ‘patriotic war’ against Armenia: The Express Tribune

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Azerbaijani Ambassador Khazar Farhadov thanked Pakistan for standing with his country on the Karabakh issue, saying his nation will always remember its true friends. Click here to read... [28]

Sir Vivian Richards, David Gower meet PM: The News

Leading cricketers Sir Vivian Richards and David Gower met Imran Khan here and both sides discussed the promotion of national cricket, especially provision of facilities and opportunities to young players. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka state docs take step back as Pliny sows fertilizer crisis down millennia - Economynext

Sri Lanka’s Government Medical Officers Association which has campaigned against agro-chemicals appeared to distance itself from a fertilizer ban, saying that they did not advocate immediate action which has created a crisis in agriculture. Click here to read... [30]

Sino Lanka signs $ 5.6 m BOI agreement for mixed development project - Daily FT

The Board of Investment (BOI) has entered into an agreement with Sino Lanka Group for its latest development via Sino Lanka Properties Two Ltd., for a mixed development project at Rajagiriya. Click here to read... [31]

Sri Lanka fisher leaders meet Indian envoy - The Hindu

The Indian High Commissioner in Colombo on Monday assured Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen that he would convey their concerns over bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait to both New Delhi and Tamil Nadu and look at some immediate measures to address the problem. Click here to read... [32]