VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: October 05, 2021

Afghanistan

Daesh Hideout Targeted in Kabul: Mujahid: Tolo News

Zabihullah Mujahid, the deputy minister of information and culture, said that a Daesh hideout was eliminated in an operation by Islamic emirate forces on Sunday. Click here to read…

EU: Afghanistan Facing Socio-Economic Collapse: Tolo News

Afghanistan is facing a breakdown of its economic and social systems that risks turning into a humanitarian catastrophe, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Sunday. Click here to read…

Taliban to begin issuance of NIDs, Passport: The Khaama Press

The council of ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has said that they will sooner begin issuance of the National IDs and passport in the country. Click here to read…

Afghan traders ask for facilitation in trades with neighboring countries: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan’s chamber of commerce and industry in a statement on Monday, October 4 said that they want more facilitation between them and the traders of the neighboring countries. Click here to read…

Afghanistan’s problems getting solved gradually: Taliban: The Khaama Press

The administration of affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in its official Facebook page said that the governance in Afghanistan is getting better. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh-Bhutan business dialogue held- Dhaka Tribune

The event provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with the local business community on maximizing the benefits of the recently signed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries. Click here to read…

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp reconnecting after nearly six-hour outage- Dhaka Tribune

Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp lit up again early Tuesday in Bangladesh after a nearly six-hour outage that prevented the company’s 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media and messaging services. Click here to read…

Experts: Neutral election-time government necessary to give EC freedom- Dhaka Tribune

A neutral election-time government is necessary to give the Election Commission the freedom to function and perform without any outside influence, experts have said. Click here to read…

Padma boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 5- Dhaka Tribune

The death toll from last week’s tragic boat accident in the Padma River rose to five with the recovery of another child’s body on Monday. Click here to read…

Abdul Awal Mintoo’s Nepalese business partner Binod Chaudhary named in Pandora Papers- Dhaka Tribune

BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo’s name came in the Pandora Papers files, leaked on Sunday, as a partner of Nepalese business tycoon Binod Chaudhary. Click here to read…

High Prices of Essentials: Double blow for those with fixed income- Daily Star

Prices of almost all daily essentials have shot up in the kitchen market, adding woes to the fixed-income people who are reeling from the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. Click here to read…

Foreign TV Channels: No bar to airing 24 ad-free ones- Daily Star

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said there was no bar to air the 24 ad-free foreign channels. Click here to read…

We are able to resist militancy: PM- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Bangladesh is able to control and resist militancy. She laid emphasis on making people more aware of the detrimental effect of militancy and radicalism Click here to read…
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‘ADB Bangladesh’s vital development partner’- Asian Age

AHM Mustafa Kamal stated that ADB is one of the most vital development partners of Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Mohib Ullah’s killing part of int’l plot: BNP- The Observer

BNP standing committee has called for beefing up security at Rohingya camps as it thinks this community leader Mohib Ullah was shot dead as part of a deep-rooted “international conspiracy”. Click here to read…

Bhutan

His Majesty returns from Royal tour- Kuensel

His Majesty The King arrived in the capital today after a Royal tour during which His Majesty visited Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Tashiyangtse, and Tashigang. Click here to read…

Jail “protest” linked to mobile phone raid inside Chamgang prison- Kuensel

A video showing inmates at Chamgang central jail in Thimphu protesting against alleged police brutality has raised eyebrows. Click here to read…

DAMC develops strategies to address agricultural marketing challenges- Kuensel

The strategy has identified four issues in the present marketing scenario. Click here to read…

Torma, the multipurpose Buddhist ritual cake- Daily Bhutan

A torma is a ritual cake. It holds different meanings. It could symbolise a deity, act as an offering, or even be used as a medicine. Click here to read…

A better respite for our elderlies- Bhutan Times

For the population 65 years and above and people living with disabilities who present to health facilities for numerous health problems and taking different medications can become overwhelming. Click here to read…

Bracing for new tourism standards- Bhutan Times

The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has developed an operational guideline for tourism services to guide the stakeholders in the tourism industry to operate in the “new normal era”. Click here to read…

TCB listed world 75 most innovative organizations- Bhutan Times

Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has been listed among the World’s 75 Most Innovative Organizations in Tourism Policy 2021. Click here to read…

Residents in Omchuna grapple with water shortage- BBS

After the development of Shaychamthang village in Gakiling Gewog in Sarpang into a satellite town in 2017, the water supply to an adjacent village Omchuna was discontinued. Since then, Omchuna village has been plagued with water shortage. Click here to read…

Another leap in Bhutan’s sustainable energy endeavour- BBS

Bhutan is inching closer towards its dream of energy security through a diversified and sustainable energy supply mix. On Monday, the economic affairs ministry (MoEA) officially inaugurated the country’s first grid-tied solar power plant in Ruebisa gewog, Wangdue Phodrang. Click here to read…

Nepal

Take up border issue with Beijing, Home Ministry asks Foreign Ministry- TKP

A week after a panel submitted its report recommending the formation of a joint boundary inspection team to address the boundary issues between Nepal and China in line with the Nepal-China Joint Boundary Treaty. Click here to read…

CPN (US) Chair Nepal discharged from hospital- Himalaya

Chairperson of the CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has been discharged from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital today. Click here to read…

Gandhi Jayanti celebrated- Himalaya

On the occasion of the 152nd Gandhi Jayanti, an art exhibition on the theme ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy for a better world’ was inaugurated by Charge d’affaires of the Indian embassy Namgya Khampa at Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu. Click here to read…

Province 2 sees rise in drowning incidents-TKP

Two hundred and eighty-five cases of death by drowning were reported in eight districts of Province 2 in the past 27 months, according to the data of the Provincial Police Office in Janakpur. Click here to read…

As chief justice comes under scrutiny, concerns grow if the rot has set in

Judiciary head getting caught into controversy over ‘bargains’ with executive when legislature is dysfunctional bodes ill for democracy and constitution, observers say. Click here to read…

Govt once again bans import of peppercorns, peas, dates, and betel nuts- Republica

The government has banned completely the import of peppercorns, peas, dates, and betel nuts. Click here to read…

Will an ascent of Manaslu ‘true summit’ end a historic debate on Nepal mountains?- Online Khabar

When Mingma Gyalje Sherpa (better known as Mingma G) announced that he was going to the “true summit” of Manaslu this autumn, everyone was sceptical. Why would not they be? No one had been there for the past 45 years. Click here to read…

Experts worried about negative economic indicators- Rising Nepal

Nepal’s economy is now in an alarming situation with growing negative macroeconomic indicators, said the economists. Click here to read…

India, Nepal to discuss border issues from Tuesday- India TV

The 12-member SSB delegation will be led by DG Kumar Rajesh Chandra while the nine-member Nepalese side will be headed by the APF’s IG Shailendra Khanal. Click here to read…

Oli’s nationalism, Prachanda’s insecurity and the Hindu politics of India, Nepal- Hindustan Times

When the country witnessed a devastating earthquake and promulgated its Constitution in 2015. Click here to read…

Maldives

Upon President Solih’s invitation, PGA Shahid schedules official visit to Maldives – Raajje

Upon the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), Abdulla Shahid is scheduled to visit the Maldives this week. Click here to read…

Maldives reports 65 new Covid-19 cases, 92 recoveries – Raajje

By sundown on Monday, the country’s active coronavirus case count sat at 1,477, according to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Click here to read…

Myanmar

SOUTHWARD PUSH: How will China’s influence affect conflict-ridden Shan State? – Mizzima

At a time when the world has its eye on the worsening crisis in Myanmar – in which the main focus is on the conflict between the junta’s military and the people – a nasty spat between Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAO) in Shan State may beggar belief. Click here to read…

Open Letter To Russian President Vladimir Putin: Russia Could Easily Solve Rohingya Refugee Crisis – OpEd – Eurasia Review

His Excellency Mr. President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, please help us. Please help the Bangladeshi people. You and your country can easily solve the refugee crisis. Bangladesh is in trouble with Rohingyas, this time Dhaka is on the doorstep of Russia to return the refugees. Click here to read…

ASEAN ‘disappointed’ with Myanmar military’s peace commitment – Aljazeera

Myanmar’s military has made no significant progress in implementing a Southeast Asian roadmap for peace following their coup or given any feedback on the work of a regional envoy in the country, Indonesia’s foreign minister has said. Click here to read…

Pakistan

High-powered cell formed to investigate offshore firm owners: Dawn

Prime Minis¬ter Imran Khan on Monday formed a high-powered cell to investigate if any irregularity had been committed by the 700 Pakistanis named in the Pandora Papers. Click here to read…

Govt not part of talks with TTP, claims Fazl: Dawn

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has downplayed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that the government is in talks with some groups of banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Click here to read…

PM Imran launches Kamyab Pakistan Programme: The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the Kamyab Pakistan Program (KPP) worth Rs1,400 billion with an aim to uplift 3.7 million households across the country. Click here to read…

Pakistan, China joint anti-terrorist exercise concludes: The Express Tribune

This is the first-ever military exercise conducted in Pakistan under the ambit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), the military’s media wing said. Click here to read…

Nepra allows Discos to collect additional Rs1.65 per unit: The News

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Monday revised the quarterly adjustments of the power cost for consumers by Rs 0.03/unit to Rs 1.65 for 2021/22 against Rs 1.62 of last year. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Pandora Papers: ICIJ’s Questions To Nirupama Rajapaksa & Thirukumar Nadesan – Colombo Telegraph

Former Sri Lanka Minister and a niece of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Nirupama Rajapaksa’s name has been mentioned in Pandora Papers. Click here to read…

Hold provincial council polls without delay, India urges Sri Lanka – The Hindu

India has urged Sri Lanka to hold elections to its provincial councils without further delay, according to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) whose delegation met visiting Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday. Click here to read…

GoSL Debt Up Rs 1.63 Trillion – Ceylon Today

Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) debt increased by 10.81 per cent (Rs 1,634.5 billion or by Rs 1.63 trillion) to Rs 16,751.7 billion (Rs 16.75 trillion) by end July 2021 compared to Rs 15,117.2 billion (Rs 15.12 trillion) by end December 2020, latest Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data showed. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka to boost tourism, trade and investment via World Expo – Dubai – Daily FT

Sri Lanka aims to boost tourism, investments and exports through its participation in the six-month World Expo 2020 in Dubai — the largest global gathering since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. Click here to read…

Basil talks of boosting bilateral ties with Indian Foreign Secy. – Daily FT

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and his delegation yesterday called on Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday. Click here to read…