VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 08, 2021

Afghanistan

UN Defers Decision on Afghanistan Seat at the World Body: Tolo News

The UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to delay a decision on who will represent Afghanistan and Mynamar at the world body, meaning the envoys appointed by the former governments will remain in place. Click here to read... [2]

Afghan Currency Heavily Loses Value Against Dollar: Tolo News

Afghanistan’s currency dramatically dropped in value against the US dollar on Tuesday, with one US dollar being sold for more than 100 Afghanis in the Kabul market. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban’s provincial governors directed to resolve problems of those seeking asylum abroad: The Khaama Press

In a recent decree, supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mullah Hebtullah Akhund directed all the provincial governors of Afghanistan to solve the problems of those who are fleeing Afghanistan and seeking asylum elsewhere. Click here to read... [4]

Afghanistan’s central bank receives second package of humanitarian cash: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan’s central bank-De Afghanistan Bank- in a statement on Tuesday, December 7 said that they received a second package of cash in humanitarian aids to the bank. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Bangabandhu Tri-Tower: Skyscrapers made of glass and light- Dhaka Tribune

Within a decade, Bangladesh will witness a world-class business district in the capital’s Purbachal with all the country’s tallest buildings in the same compound. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh-India ties 'sweet' despite unsolved issues- Dhaka Tribune

Pending issues like border killings and Teesta need to be addressed, Dhaka tells Indian foreign secretary. Click here to read... [7]

Audio scandal: Murad Hassan resigns from cabinet on prime minister’s order- Dhaka Tribune

The premier wields the axe following his offensive remarks on women and scandalous audio leaks. Click here to read... [8]

12 injured in pre-polls violence in Jashore- Daily Star

At least 12 persons were critically injured in a clash ensued between ruling Awami League-backed and independent candidates at Churamankati union under Jashore Sadar upazila yesterday. Click here to read... [9]

Bangladesh’s liberation changed the political, ideological map of South Asia: Doraiswami- Daily Star

The liberation of Bangladesh changed the political as well as ideological map of South Asia, said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami today. Click here to read... [10]

PM for united efforts to address Covid-19 challenges, impacts- Daily Observer

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday laid emphasis on united efforts to address the Covid-19 challenges and its impacts on public health as the pandemic has marked a significant setback on the nutrition initiatives. Click here to read... [11]

India-Bangladesh ties now in 'Golden Period': Shringla- Asian Age

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said that ties between New Delhi and Dhaka were at its best as the two South Asian neighbours celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties. Click here to read... [12]

Bhutan

The burden of increasing housing rents- Kuensel

In about six months, the loan deferral service extended to Bhutanese who borrowed before April 2020 to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic will be over. Click here to read... [13]

RAA reinstates clearance for nine LG candidates- Kuensel

Royal Audit Authority (RAA) yesterday reinstated audit clearances for the nine local government candidates whose clearances were revoked last month disqualifying them from participating in the local government elections. Click here to read... [14]

The Omicron threat to Bhutan after it arrives in neighboring India- The Bhutanese

Twenty-one COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in India so far. There are more suspected cases in India who are quarantined with their genome reports awaited in the coming days. Click here to read... [15]

5G is definite and will happen soon- Bhutan Times

With Bhutan taking major strides in mobile connectivity, Bhutan Telecom Limited (BTL) and Tashi InfoComm Limited (TashiCell) are confident that they will be able to introduce 5G network services by this year end. Click here to read... [16]

Bhutan was the first South Asian country to vaccinate children against Covid-19- Daily Bhutan

Bhutanese children aged 12 to 19 years old were vaccinated. Immunising the kids was necessary to achieve herd immunity. Click here to read... [17]

His Majesty offers prayers and Karmi Tongchhey for late Anthony Smith- BBS

His Majesty The King offered prayers and Karmi Tongchhey at the Simtokha Dzong today morning for Anthony Smith, CBE, who passed away in London on November 28th. Click here to read... [18]

Maldives

Pandora Papers Unveil Ex-Putin Aide, Indian Businessmen Behind Maldives Island Scandal Deals - OCCRP

A former deputy chief of staff for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as well as a wealthy Russian businessman with reputed organized crime ties, were secretly involved in the illegal leasing of a lagoon for tourist developments in the Maldives, newly leaked documents show. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar

Myanmar military joining hands with Indian rebels - Asia Times

When separatist rebels launched a lethal ambush in India’s northeastern state of Manipur on November 13, the shadowy attack acted to bring India and Myanmar’s hot-and-cold bilateral relations to a new boil. Click here to read... [20]

Former Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison & Faces Further Charges - Deadline

Former Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was deposed by a military coup in February this year, has been given a four-year jail term for crimes of dissent and breaking Covid rules. Click here to read... [21]

Rohingya sue Facebook for $150bn for fueling Myanmar hate speech - Aljazeera

Rohingya refugees have sued the social media giant Facebook for $150bn over claims the social network is failing to stem hate speech on its platform, exacerbating violence against the vulnerable Myanmar minority. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal

CJ's resignation won't end crisis in judiciary: Oli- Himalaya

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli told office bearers of the Nepal Bar Association that their demand for Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana's resignation was not enough to bring the required reform in the Judiciary. Click here to read... [23]

13 swab samples sent to capital to confirm Omicron- Himalaya

Amidst suspicion of a new coronavirus variant, 13 swab samples have been collected and sent for tests in Kathmandu. Click here to read... [24]

13 swab samples sent to capital to confirm Omicron- Himalaya

Amidst suspicion of a new coronavirus variant, 13 swab samples have been collected and sent for tests in Kathmandu. Click here to read... [24]

Dalits living in rented homes hesitant to reveal caste during census- TKP

Enumerators say they found many families who were not keen to disclose their last names fearing eviction. Click here to read... [25]

Dhanusha attorney office says no need to probe Musahar’s custodial death- TKP

District attorney’s office claims Musahar committed suicide. Family members say he was tortured to death. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

PDM adamant on its Pakistan Day long march protest: Dawn

“So far, we have decided to reach Islamabad. The duration of the stay will be decided [by the leadership] after reaching the capital,” PDM spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah said at a news conference after a meeting of the steering committee of the alliance. Click here to read... [27]

Public Accounts Committee accepts NAB chief’s request for in-camera session: Dawn

Chairman of the National Accounta¬bility Bureau retired justice Javed Iqbal finally appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament on Tuesday. Click here to read... [28]

PM appoints Dr Ijaz Akram as Rehmatulil Aalmeen Authority chairman: The Express Tribune

Dr Ijaz is a prominent Islamic scholar having teaching experience in a number of international universities, the Federal Education Ministry said in a statement. Click here to read... [29]

Majority of CPEC projects completed: envoy: The Express Tribune

During his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), the senior diplomat maintained that Pakistan-China ties were not limited to CPEC, although it was playing a key role in regional development. Click here to read... [30]