VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 01, 2021

Afghanistan

5 injured in blast near school in Kabul- Afghanistan Times

At least five people were injured after a powerful magnetic bomb went off near a school in Kabul city. Click here to read... [2]

Saudi Arabia Calls for OIC Meeting on Afghanistan- Tolo News

Saudi Arabia on Monday called on members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an extraordinary meeting on Afghanistan to discuss the humanitarian situation in the country. Click here to read... [3]

Doha Talks: Islamic Emirate Insists on Release of Assets- Tolo News

Delegations from the United States and the Islamic Emirate held two-day talks in Doha and discussed a range of issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. . Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

More deaths, more outrage- Daily Star

Young protesters won’t leave streets as demand for safe roads get louder; another student dies in crash. Click here to read... [5]

2 shot in AL infighting in Narayanganj after UP polls, 8 injured- Daily Star

At least 10 persons were injured, including two sustaining bullet wounds, in the post polls violence between two factions of Awami League in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila last night. Click here to read... [6]

Special drive against buses without route permits from Wednesday- Dhaka Tribune

1,847 buses currently operating without route permits in Dhaka. Click here to read... [7]

'240 travellers from S Africa traceless'- Asian Age

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that Bangladesh reported the arrival of 240 individuals from South Africa, where the new coronavirus variant Omicron was found, but authorities are unable to track down any of them. Click here to read... [8]

Dhaka University's centenary celebration begins Wednesday- Daily Observer

Dhaka University, the highest echelon of academic excellence, is set to begin the celebration of its hundredth founding anniversary and the golden jubilee of the country's independence tomorrow.

Bhutan

DPT accuse DNT of polarized politics, policy corruption- Bhutan Today

The Opposition Party expressed dissatisfaction over the reprioritization of the 12th Plan activities. Click here to read... [9]

LG candidates turn to High Court after last-minute bizarre disqualification- Kuensel

Seven of the nine local leaders, whose audit clearances were revoked after Dhamngoi Zomdu, appealed to the High Court yesterday. Click here to read... [10]

Remittance rush continues with record breaking Nu 5.139 bn till Aug 2021- The Bhutanese

In 2020 Bhutan saw the highest ever remittance flow of Nu 8.269 billion (bn). This was higher than the combined remittance of Nu 2.901 bn in 2019 and 3.032 bn in 2020. Click here to read... [11]

New Deal: Digital Banking Dominates Financial Transactions- Bhutan Times

The Department of Payment and Settlement System’s Quarterly Payment System Report Q3, 2021 (July-September). Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

Maldives' ex-president Yameen walks free after graft conviction overturned - Reuters

Maldives' former president Abdulla Yameen was freed from house arrest on Tuesday after a top court overturned a money-laundering and embezzlement conviction, allowing him to potentially make a return to politics. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives defends defence pact with India - Economic Times

The Parliament Committee on National Security (241 Committee) of Maldives recently stated that agreements between Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and the Indian military do not contain any clauses that cause concern to the island nation. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar

Myanmar court postpones verdict for ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi - New Indian Express

A court in Myanmar postponed its verdict on Tuesday in the trial of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to allow testimony from an additional witness, a senior member of her political party. Click here to read... [15]

Chronicling Four Decades of Separatist Activity by Manipur’s PLA in Myanmar The Irrawaddy

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in India’s northeast is in the news again for orchestrating an ambush that killed seven people including a commanding officer of the Assam Rifles in the state of Manipur, which borders Myanmar. Click here to read... [16]

Arakan People’s Authority investigating violent altercation at Sittwe KTV venue - BNI Online

The Arakan People’s Authority, under the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has indicated that some people involved in a brawl at the Eain Phyu Taw (White House) KTV in Sittwe’s Anaut Sanpya ward, along with the owner of the KTV venue, are being investigated. Click here to read... [17]

Drug use a concern in shadow of Mrauk-U’s ancient pagodas - BNI Online

Illicit drug use in the vicinity of the ancient pagodas, walls and temples of the Mrauk-U cultural zone and its Let Sel Kan ward is on the rise significantly, according to some locals in the Arakan State township. Click here to read... [18]
Myanmar military seizes boat carrying 228 Rohingyas - LaPrensalatina

Myanmar has arrested 228 members of the oppressed Rohingya minority after seizing the boat in which they were traveling near the waters of Sittwe in the northwest of the country, state media reported Tuesday. Click here to read... [19]
Nepal

Oli elected UML chair yet again as party's general convention concludes- Himalaya

KP Sharma Oli was elected chairman of the CPN-UML for another term today after he defeated Bhim Rawal in a one-sided contest. Click here to read... [20]

Top court resumes business from today after over a month of crisis

Lottery system to come into force, stripping Chief Justice Rana of prerogative to assign cases. There, however, are still problems galore. Click here to read... [21]

What to do with Pokhara’s ‘extra’ airport?

As the new international airport nears completion, the fate of the old one is up in the air. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

Speaker blasts ministers who often skip sittings- Island

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena expressed his displeasure over ministers skipping Parliament sessions while there were questions that they should be answering. Click here to read... [23]

New health guidelines issued; multiple restrictions eased- Daily Mirror

The Health Ministry today issued a set of new guidelines easing several restrictions effective from December 01 to 15. Click here to read... [24]

PM directs preparations for 74th Independence Day- Daily News

The first meeting of the organizing committee of the 74th Independence Day Celebrations - 2022 was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday. Click here to read... [25]

EU, UNODC gift narcotic detection machines to SL Navy- Ceylon Today

Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union Thorsten Bargfrede and representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) handed over four portable backscatter X-ray Machines to Commander of the Navy. Click here to read... [26]