VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 12, 2021

Afghanistan

HRW Calls on UN, World Bank to Address Afghan Crisis: Tolo News

The Human Rights Watch expressed its deepest concern on the economic meltdown of Afghanistan, urging the UN and international financial institutions to urgently ease the imposed-sanctions that has been affecting the country’s economic. Click here to read... [2]

Islamabad Hosts 'Troika Plus' Conference on Afghanistan: Tolo News

Islamabad hosted today a “Troika Plus” conference, where the representatives of US, Russia and China discussed the current challenges in AfghanistanClick here to read... [3]

Afghanistan to import 100 MWs of electricity from Iran: The Khaama Press

Spokesperson of the De Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS)- Afghanistan’s electricity body Hekmatullah Noorzai said that they have reached an agreement with Iran based on which Afghanistan will buy 100 megawatts of electricity. Click here to read... [4]

Intl-Community should avoid repeating past mistakes: Pakistani FM: The Khaama Press

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the opening session of the ninth meeting of Troika Plus in Islamabad said that the International Community should engage with the Taliban and avoid repeating mistakes of the past. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

PM Hasina urges world leaders to act for prompt Rohingya repatriation- Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the world leaders to act seriously for the prompt repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to avert the spread of security risks beyond borders. Click here to read... [6]

Afghanistan ‘at brink of collapse’- Daily Star

Afghanistan is "at the brink of economic collapse" and the international community must urgently resume funding and provide humanitarian assistance, Pakistan's foreign minister warned yesterday at a meeting with US, Chinese, Russian and Taliban diplomats in Islamabad. Click here to read... [7]

PM Hasina: Bangladesh wants to contribute to betterment of global community- Daily Tribune

The premier has handed over the Unesco-Bangabandhu prize for the creative economy to MoTIV, a Uganda-based integrated creative studio. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Tourists will not have to pay SDF while in quarantine- Kuensel

The sustainable development fee (SDF) of Nu 1,200 for regional tourists and USD 65 for international tourists will not be imposed while the tourist is in quarantine, but will only apply to time spent in the country after the quarantine period is completed. Click here to read... [9]
Five gewogs in Thimphu nominate their LG election contestants- Kuensel

Election officials conducted dhamngoi zomdu in five out of the eight gewogs in Thimphu: they were conducted in Chang, Kawang, Ge-Nyen, Soe, and Maedwang by yesterday afternoon. Click here to read... [10]

Agriculture minister called for accessible and sustainable climate finance for LDCs at COP26- BBS

As the chair of Least Developed Countries, Bhutan called for accessible and sustainable climate financing for vulnerable countries. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

FM Shahid urges to increase joint actions to respond to future health security threats effectively - Raajje

In a statement delivered at the Covid-19 ministerial on Thursday, the Maldives foreign minister called on member states to renew the vow to increase cooperation in order to ensure success of global mechanisms and prevent, detect and respond to future health security threats effectively. Click here to read... [12]

Over 360,000 persons receive both doses of Covid-19 vaccination - Raajje

Latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that By Tuesday’s end the total number of persons who have completed both doses of the vaccine rose to 360,161. Further, 394,930 persons have received first doses nationwide as well. Click here to read... [13]

MoU signed with GCA to support climate adaptation - Avas

An agreement has been signed between the Maldives and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) to support climate adaptation projects in the Maldives. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Maldives government by Environment Minister Aminath Shauna and CEO of GCA, Patrick Verkooijen. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s Transition From Electoral Politics to Gun Politics - The Irrawaddy

It has been a year since the 2020 general election. Within that year, instead of post-pandemic normalization and economic recovery, the military’s coup has plunged the country into political, economic and social turmoil. The whole country is increasingly inundated with violence and armed conflicts.Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar’s Civilian Government Blacklists Junta Conglomerates - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) announced that it has blacklisted two junta-controlled conglomerates and their subsidiaries on Wednesday. The NUG said its Commerce Ministry had found that the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) committed high treason and control numerous businesses by abusing military power and exerting undue influence. Click here to read... [16]

UN Security Council Expresses ‘Deep Concern’ as Myanmar Violence Worsens - The Irrawaddy

The UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed “deep concern” over the intensifying armed clashes and violence in Myanmar. Showing rare agreement on the crisis in the country, the council’s 15 members issued a statement calling for an immediate end to fighting and for the military to exercise “utmost restraint”. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar’s junta blocked from attending global climate summit - RFA

Myanmar’s military regime has been snubbed once again on the international stage, this time by the organizers of the United Nations climate change conference, who turned its five-person delegation away at the door to the summit in Glasgow, Scotland, this week. Click here to read... [18]

Mizoram mulls Covid jabs for 12,000+ Myanmar refugees - East Mojo

Mizoram is planning to give COVID-19 vaccines to more than 12,000 Myanmar nationals who are currently taking shelter in the state after fleeing their country following a military coup this February, a health department official said on Thursday. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar rebels lock down town on China border as Covid spikes - Bangkok Post

Almost 2,000 cases had been detected in the town of Laiza, said a spokesman for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a rebel group that controls swathes of territory bordering China's Yunnan province. Click here to read... [20]

Nepal

Nepal Army chief receives the honorary rank of Indian Army chief- Online Khabar

Nepal Army Chief General Prabhu Ram Sharma has received the honorary rank of the Indian Army chief, in New Delhi of India, on Wednesday. Click here to read... [21]

Parties’ reluctance to speak on judiciary row stems from fears- TKP

The crisis in the judiciary has deepened further. The Supreme Court has not heard a single case since October 25 except for some habeas corpus petitions. Click here to read... [22]

COP26 and Nepal’s climate commitments- TKP

On November 8, People’s Climate Mobilization—a group of 20 organisations—staged demonstrations on climate justice at Basantapur in Kathmandu. Click here to read... [23]

Tourism businesses received around 51 percent of refinance loans issued in Q1- Republica

The tourism sector that was among the hardest-hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic was the largest recipient of the refinance facility in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Click here to read... [24]

Limpiyadhura Kalapani, Lipulekh on census map- Himalaya

The government is considering the option of using satellite technology to collect census data from Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura for the new national population and household census.

Prez, PM, Vice-prez participate in 12th National Census- Himalaya

The 12th National Population Census formally kicked off today with collection of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari's personal details. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan

Opposition seeks written assurances from govt before talks: Dawn

The decision that the opposition would seek everything in writing from the speaker was taken by members of the recently-formed steering committee of the joint opposition in a meeting. Click here to read... [26]

Plan to provide gas to domestic sector three times a day: Dawn

This is part of the Gas Load Management Plan for winter 2021-22 presented to the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) at a meeting presided over by Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar.Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan will not abandon Afghanistan, PM assures Afghan FM: The Express Tribune

The prime minister made these remarks in a meeting with Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and his dozen-strong delegation who called on the premier in Islamabad. Click here to read... [28]

TLP chief Saad Rizvi's name 'deleted' from Fourth Schedule: The Express Tribune

According to the order, Rizvi was enlisted in the list on the “recommendations of the District Intelligence Committee, Lahore”. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka

BOI spent over Rs. 3.3 b with no formal plan: COPE - Daily FT

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday found that the Board of Investment (BOI) has spent over Rs. 3,352.92 million without a formal project proposal on infrastructure development and a repayment plan. Of the total, over Rs. 2,300.53 million has been spent on infrastructure development projects in Milleniya Export Processing Zone (EPZ), whilst Rs. 1,052.39 million has been spent on Bingiriya EPZ. COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath and its members questioned the BOI officials for spending an enormous amount on infrastructure development without even clearing the land issues on the proposed EPZ in Milleniya.
Click here to read... [30]

Chinese fertiliser issue: Agriculture Ministry to reject 3rd party test report

The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that it will not accept the reports of any tests carried out by a third party on the controversial fertiliser samples of China-based Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd.

Speaking to The Morning, Ministry of Agriculture Secretary Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige said: “It is not possible to import fertiliser from this company based on test reports of a third party. If the company wants to supply fertiliser to Sri Lanka, they should follow the prescribed procedure from the beginning by submitting samples to the local testing agencies, mainly the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS).” Click here to read... [31]