VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 03, 2021

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Reacts to UN Decision on Afghanistan: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate on Thursday reacted to the UN credential committee's choice to defer a decision on who will represent Afghanistan at the United Nations, meaning the Islamic Emirate will not be allowed into the world body for now. Click here to read... [2]

Muttaqi Meets 16 Foreign Envoys in Doha: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate delegates led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi today in Doha met with "16 designated ambassadors and representatives" from various countries and discussed issues related to Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry announced. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban need domestic legitimacy to be recognized: Karzai: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan’s former president Hamid Karzai in his recent interview said the Taliban’s government must represent the entire Afghan population and gain domestic legitimacy to be recognized by the International Community. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Global aid needs will surge in 2022: Says UN amid pandemic, conflict- Daily Star

The UN warned yesterday that the need for humanitarian aid was skyrocketing worldwide, as the pandemic continues to rage, and climate change and conflicts push more people to the brink of famine. Click here to read... [5]

Quarantine for People from Africa: Stern action if rules breached- Daily Star

Stern action will be taken against both hotel authorities and the incoming passengers from southern Africa, the epicentre of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, for breaching quarantine protocols. Click here to read... [6]

Operation Kilo Flight: The birth of Bangladesh Air Force- Dhaka Tribune

On December 3 and 4, 1971, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) announced its arrival in the Liberation War with the first of several daring raids. Click here to read... [7]

Indian army and Mukti Bahini form allied force- Dhaka Tribune

On this day, in response to Pakistani air force attacks in the western sector, India officially declared war against Pakistan with full force, thereby adding impetus to the liberation war of Bangladesh. Click here to read... [8]

'Tokyo to continue efforts in Rohingya repatriation'- Asian Age

Japanese foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has assured that his country will continue its efforts in commencing repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingya from Bangladesh to Myanmar. Click here to read... [9]

Key accused in Cumilla councillor murder killed in 'gunfight'- Daily Observer

The prime accused in Cumilla ward councillor Syed Mohammad Sohel murder case was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Sadar upazila in Cumilla district early Thursday. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Government did not drop most activities: PM- Kuensel

The government has not dropped most development activities, including the construction of Lhamoizingkha-Sarpang road and Nganglam hospital, according to Lyonchhen Dr Lotay Tshering. Click here to read... [11]

Annual Audit Report submitted to Parliament before prescribed time- Kuensel

The submission of the Annual Audit Report 2020-21 to Parliament has not been in compliance with the Audit Act 2018, Members of Parliament familiar with the process of the tabling of audit reports say. Click here to read... [12]

Something sweet is brewing: Bhutan and Indian counterparts meet to promote and share their common love for tea and coffee- Bhutan Times

Bhutanese tea and coffee importers interacted with their Indian counterparts this week to sweeten up our common love for the age-old concoctionsClick here to read... [13]

Alleged tax evasion of about Nu 45 M by Education Consultancy and Placement Firms- BBS

Education Consultancy and Placement Firms appears to have evaded tax amounting to Nu 45 M between 2014 and 2019. This is according to a study on the Tax Compliance Strategy on Education Consultancy and Placement Firms. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

Active caseload increases to 7,045 on Thursday vs 6,954 a day before- Himalaya

Nepal recorded 298 new coronavirus infections in last 24 hours, pushing the nationwide tally to 821,949, while the death toll climbed to 11,535 with six fatalities today. Click here to read... [15]

Ruling alliance advises CJ Rana to assign deputy- Himalaya

Top leaders of five-party alliance have advised Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana to stay on leave and assign an acting CJ. Click here to read... [16]

Fertiliser crisis could spell economic disaster, experts warn- TKP

Essential farm nutrients could be in short supply in Nepal amid global shortages. Click here to read... [17]

Deuba-led Tribhuvan University meeting decides to hire teachers without open competition- TKP

Experts say such a practice will promote incompetence and ruin students’ future. Click here to read... [18]

The enigma of arrival of Nepal’s gods- Nepali Times

The re-consecration in Kathmandu of a sacred sculpture 40 years after it was stolen sets a precedent, but throws up new dilemmas. Click here to read... [19]

Bagmati Province shares about half of service sector’s earnings of Nepal’s GDP- Republica

About half of the transactions in Nepal’s service sector take place in Bagmati Province, where the country’s Federal Capital Kathmandu lies. Click here to read... [20]

Balachaturdashi: Know everything about the annual festival dedicated to lost family members- OnlineKhabar

Pashupatinath temple is thronged by people all year round. Among the many occasions that attract devotees and sightseers from everywhere to the temple, Balachaturdashi has its own charm and religious importance in people’s hearts. Click here to read... [21]

Maldives

Discussions held on promoting Maldives tourism in South Korea - Raajje

Ambassador of Korea to Maldives, Jeong Woonjin paid a courtesy call on Vice President Faisal Naseem on Wednesday, during which the pair engaged in discussions regarding a wide array of topics, including the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, tourism cooperation, education opportunities as well as strengthening ties. Click here to read... [22]

Chinese firm inks deal with Maldives - Indian Express

A Chinese renewable energy firm signed an agreement with the Maldives earlier this week to provide a hybrid solar-diesel power system in the inhabited islands of an atoll south of capital Male. Sino Soar Hybrid (Beijing) Technology Co. Ltd won the bid for the mini-grid project in August. Click here to read... [23]

Myanmar

Burmese Army Fires Weapons Targeting Churches in Chin State - persecution.org

As the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) continues to fight opposition in various states in Myanmar, more churches in Christian-majority Chin state fall victims to the armed attacks followed by looting by the Tatmadaw soldiers. Click here to read... [24]

Kokang Armed Group Reports Escalating Fighting With Myanmar Junta - The Irrawaddy

The ethnic Kokang army said it clashed with Myanmar’s junta 126 times during November in northern Shan State. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is fighting around Kokang, Mongkoe and Hsenwi to gain control to the west of Salween River with violence increasing last month after the arrival of junta reinforcements. Click here to read... [25]

At least 90 Myanmar lawmakers detained by junta, report says - LaPrensalatina

At least 90 lawmakers of Myanmar’s ousted government have been imprisoned or put under house arrest by the military junta, while dozens have fled the country, according to a report over the growing persecution of Southeast Asian lawmakers released on Thursday. Click here to read... [26]

Japan assures repatriation of displaced citizens of Myanmar - TBS News

Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has said that Japan will continue to work for the repatriation of Myanmar nationals who have been forcibly displaced from Bangladesh. The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr A K Abdul Momen sent a congratulatory letter to Hayashi Yoshimasa on being newly appointed as the Foreign Minister of Japan.Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan

‘Mini-budget’ with adjustments worth Rs600bn finalised: Dawn

The steps will serve to reverse the effects of the federal government’s ‘pro-growth budget’ for Fiscal Year 2022 adopted only five months ago, according to some analysts. Click here to read... [28]

IMF warns of 'economic collapse' unless G20 extends debt relief: The Express Tribune

The IMF on Thursday urged advanced economies in the G20 to extend and improve their debt relief initiative, warning that many countries face a dire crisis without the help.Click here to read... [29]

PML-N chides govt over galloping inflation: Dawn

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Mr Abbasi, without mentioning his source of information, claimed that in the list of 200 countries with highest inflation, Pakistan was trailing at number three behind Argentine and Turkey. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka

China pulls out of Northern hybrid power projects - Ceylon Today

China said the hybrid energy projects to be constructed on three islands in the Northern Province have been suspended. The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka tweeted that the suspension came after a third party’s security concerns. Click here to read... [31]

Modi skips Basil meeting on scheduled day - Daily FT

A meeting between Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was scheduled to be held yesterday (2), has failed to materialise for what government sources indicated were scheduling issues, The Morning learnt.Click here to read... [32]