VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 24, 2021

Afghanistan
Status of Economic Situation Under the Islamic Emirate: Tolo News

Afghanistan faced a severe economic crisis following the collapse of the former government when the international aid to Afghanistan ceased and the banking system was disrupted. Click here to read…

After 100 Days, Islamic Emirate Still Seeks Intl Recognition: Tolo News

Islamic Emirate officials flew to various regional countries–and further–to seek engagement and to build relations with foreign governments. In return, representatives of at least six countries visited Afghanistan and held talks with officials. Click here to read…

Pakistan pledges $28m in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan has announced a sum of twenty-eight million US Dollars as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan which includes food, medical, and other humanitarian assistance, Aljazeera reported citing an official from Imran Khan’s office. Click here to read…

Afghanistan tops the world ranking as the ‘least happy’ country: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan has once again been recognized as the ‘least happy’ country in the world according to the World Population Review 2021 report. Click here to read…

Bangladesh
Rumours over Khaleda’s health: Police on high alert- Daily Star

Police around the country were asked to remain vigilant to prevent any kind of unrest in case of rumors on social media about the health condition of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Click here to read…

Killers trained, target clear: Say law enforcers on Cumilla double murder; motive still a mystery- Daily Star

The death of Haripada Das, the close aide to the councillor, was possibly a “collateral damage”, they said. Click here to read…

Case filed against Gazipur Mayor over remarks on Bangabandhu, freedom fighters- Daily Star

A case has been filed with Rajbari court against Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam over recent comments on Bangabandhu and martyred freedom fighters at a programme. Click here to read…

How replacement creates displacement in the hill tracts- Dhaka Tribune

Among the 78,000 displacement cases recorded in 2017, around five thousand took place in Rangamati. Click here to read…

Homegrown vaccine Bangavax approved for human trial- Asian Age

Bangladesh Medical Research Council, or BMRC, has given ethical clearance to the Bangavax COVID-19 vaccine of Globe Biotech for a small Phase-1 clinical trial on humans. Click here to read…

Bhutan
Phuentsholing beyond the 100 Covid-free days- Kuensel

When Phuentsholing came out of the four-month lockdown in August this year, nobody expected the pandemic to fade easily. For days people remained indoors fearing transmission.Click here to read…

Women and politics- Kuensel

A small yet encouraging development in the on-going local government (LG) elections is the improved participation of women. Although in the initial stage of nominating candidates, more women had come out to compete for the LG posts. Click here to read…

3 Ministers, NA Speaker and NC Chairman get second hybrid duty vehicle worth Nu 3.2 mn each in violation of Pay Revision Act- The Bhutanese

The 2019 Pay Revision Act is very clear that Ministers or positions equivalent to them are entitled to one chauffer driven SUV of 3,000 cc each, which means one Toyota Prado for each of them. Click here to read…

Unwise to disregard pandemic norms- Bhutan Times

New cases around the world are mounting up with even new variants invading us every now and then. Some countries are again imposing restrictions to contain the spread of virus. Click here to read…

Maldives
Maldives: India first or India out? – Lowly Institute

Recent protests in Maldives against India’s influence in the country calling for “Indian military out” has led the Maldives government to respond by reiterating its “India First” policy. This has highlighted the difficulties that both countries face in building a stable strategic partnership while also addressing popular sensitivities. It’s not something that India has been good at elsewhere in the neighbourhood. Click here to read…

Myanmar
96.21 per cent work on Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project completed: Mizoram PWD tells Guv – The North East Today

The Mizoram Public Works Department (PWD) has claimed to have completed 96.21 per cent work of the ambitious Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP). Informing this to the Governor on November 23, PWD officials stated that the department has completed 84.19 km of work on the project, including the construction of eight bridges on the highway, out of 87.51 km route inside Mizoram. Click here to read…

Myanmar opposition raises $6.3 mln on launch of ‘revolution’ bonds – Reuters

A shadow government in Myanmar said it has raised $6.3 million on the opening day of its inaugural bonds sale, in its biggest move yet to generate funds for its “revolution” to topple the ruling military junta. Click here to read…

Myanmar Army stint beefed up Manipur PLA: intelligence report – The Hindu

Fighting the Myanmar army’s war against pro-democracy resistance groups may have emboldened the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a Manipur-based extremist group, to ambush an Assam Rifles convoy killing seven, including a colonel, his wife and minor son, on November 13. Click here to read…

Are Ukrainian Weapons Fueling State Repression in Myanmar? – The Defence Post

After Myanmar’s armed forces seized control of the country in February, the Southeast Asian nation was thrown into chaos. At least 1,000 civilians were killed in demonstrations, and thousands of others fled to neighboring India and Thailand. Click here to read…

Nepal
EC warns NC, UML against using govt staff- Himalaya

The Election Commission issued a press release today warning parties against giving membership to teachers, professors, or government employees.
https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/ec-warns-nc-uml-against-using-govt-staff” target=”_blank”>Click here to read…

NBA protest against chief justice continues- Himalaya

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

Oli looks firmly in charge as he bids to placate UML office bearer hopefuls- TKP

A contest is likely for office bearer posts where party chair, however, would make efforts to install leaders of his choice. Click here to read…

Kinship, karma, and kung fu- Nepali Times

Nepali nuns from a centuries-old Buddhist order redefine what it means to be of service. Click here to read…
Revenue collection at Birgunj Customs Office surpasses target by Rs 5 billion- Republica

The Birgunj Customs Office collected customs revenue worth Rs 70.12 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year, around eight percent more than its target of Rs 65.11 billion for the period. Click here to read…

Pakistan
Ministerial body set up to hold 2023 polls through EVMs: Dawn

The federal cabinet on Tuesday established a ministerial committee for holding the 2023 general elections through electronic voting machines (EVMs), in which over nine million overseas Pakistanis will exercise their right of franchise for the first time. Click here to read…

PM orders inquiry against senior bureaucrat for mocking PTI govt on social media: Dawn

According to a statement of allegations issued by the Establishment Division on Monday, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, BS-21 officer Hammad Shamimi had posted a comment on a social media page/platform that was tantamount to misconduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020. Click here to read…

IMF rejects borrowing request: The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has rejected Pakistan’s request to keep a door open for borrowing from the central bank and also did not agree on any meaningful accountability of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Click here to read…

Rising debt, low revenue ‘national security’ issue: PM: The Express Tribune

He also maintained that the country’s very sustainability was at stake because of the absence of a “tax culture” and hoped that the use of technology would take revenue collection to Rs8 trillion per year. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka
Cash-strapped govt. seeks Indian lifeline: Basil to visit New Delhi – The Island

Declaring that Sri Lanka was experiencing the worst ever post-independence economic crisis, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s forthcoming visit to New Delhi might give the country an opportunity to explore ways and means of overcoming the overwhelming challenges.

Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, emphasised that the Finance Minister’s visit was meant to seek not only loans but also wider cooperation on a range of other matters, including investment, trade and tourism. Click here to read…

SL-Pakistan private sector steps up collaboration to boost trade, investment – Daily FT

Having shared a deep-rooted strong political, cultural and economic relationship for decades, Sri Lanka and Pakistan private sectors yesterday stepped up efforts to boost business and investment opportunities.

The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) of Pakistan inked a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (CCC) and Federation of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and few individual firms, to enhance trade ties between the two countries. Click here to read…

The Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka Rita Manella met Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Monday 22 November – MFA Sri Lanka

The discussion focused on issues of mutual interest including political relations; further consolidation of bilateral trade, investment and tourism ties; Sri Lanka – EU cooperation; and the exchange of visits. The Italian Ambassador also referred to the promotion of cultural cooperation between Sri Lanka and Italy ina range of spheres including architecture, fashion design and Italian cuisine.

The Foreign Minister expressed his deep appreciation to the Italian Ambassador for the support extended in facilitating the successful visit of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to Italy to participate as a special guest in the G20 Interfaith Forum 2021 in Bologna, in September. Click here to read…