VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 31, 2021

Afghanistan

Ghani Says He Expected to Flee to Khost, Was Told It Had Fallen: Tolo News

Former President Ashraf Ghani in a BBC broadcast on Thursday gave his account of events on August 15, the day that Kabul fell to the Taliban. Click here to read... [2]

Pakistan’s first consignment of 1,800 tons of wheat arrives in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

The first consignment of 1,800 metric tons of what was donated by Pakistan arrived in Afghanistan and was handed over to Afghan officials at the eastern crossing point between the two countries, Torkham. Click here to read... [3]

Moscow to host Troika Plus on Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Russia’s special representative to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov announced that his country will host Troika Plus on Afghanistan in January 2022 inviting the US, China, and Pakistan. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Three white knights of economy- Daily Star

Agriculture, export, remittance helping country weather pandemic turbulence. Click here to read... [5]

Stricken boat with over 100 Rohingya refugees docks in Indonesia- Daily Star

More than 100 Rohingya refugees who had been adrift on a sinking boat off the western coast of Indonesia were allowed to disembark early today after authorities relented following international pressure to allow the group to seek refuge. Click here to read... [6]

2021 In Review: A Year Marked by Vaccine Diplomacy, US Sanctions On RAB- Dhaka Tribune

No progress on Rohingya repatriation; golden jubilee of independence and Bangabandhu birth centenary celebrated. Click here to read... [7]

PM: Sad I couldn't present textbooks to children myself- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she was disappointed that she could not hand over textbooks to the children in person because of Covid-19. International Conference Centre. Click here to read... [8]

Justice Hasan Foez Siddique appointed as chief justice- Asian Age

Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, a judge of the Appellate Division, has been appointed as the chief justice of Bangladesh's top court, a Bangabhaban official has confirmed. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Proponents in dredging business appeal to ACC- Kuensel

Representatives of the 11 proponents who proposed to dredge and collect river bed materials (RBM) will appeal to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today after suspecting policy corruption in the award of dredging sites in the Amochhu basin in Phuentsholing and Samtse. Click here to read... [10]

(Editorial) Some year-end thoughts- Kuensel

We saw the senior-most serving justice of the Supreme Court, a district court judge, a former Royal Body Guards commandant and a woman convicted in a case concerning the commission of criminal conspiracy, mutiny, abettor of mutiny, and other criminal offences involving. Click here to read... [11]

MoAF makes steady head ways in 2021- Bhutan Times

The year 2021 saw the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) assisting the sourcing excess of vegetables, fruits and livestock products from the dzongkhags to Thimphu during the lockdown. Click here to read... [12]

More than 25,000 stray dogs to be sterilised in March- BBS

As part of the National Accelerated Dog Population Management Programme, more than 25,000 stray dogs will be sterilised in March next year. To this effect, the Department of Livestock along with the DeSuups carried out the first nationwide stray dog population survey. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives

Wang Yi to visit Maldives, Sri Lanka in Indian Ocean outreach - The Hindu

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will begin the new year visiting five littoral countries in the Indian Ocean Region including Maldives and Sri Lanka, underlining China’s growing economic and security stakes in the neighbourhood. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives confirms 198 new Covid-19 cases, 120 recoveries - Raajje

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 3,918 samples were tested for the infection between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

More Churches in Thantlang Burned Down by the Junta- Persecution.org

Although the town in Christian-majority Chin state is now deserted after four months of intense fighting, and hundreds of houses have been burned to the ground, the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) continues to set houses and churches in Thantlang on fire. Click here to read... [16]

2021: Myanmar’s Post-Coup Bloodshed Eclipsed Other Conflicts, Violence in Southeast Asia- Benar News

Since the coup, the Burmese military has killed at least 1,375 people, according to reports. While fighting the National Unity Government (NUG) and a myriad of armed ethnic groups this year, the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is known, has attacked civilian populations, especially in Chin State, Kayah State, and the Sagaing region. Click here to read... [17]

The Myanmar military is employing a familiar strategy of massacres and burnings- NPR

The Myanmar military had stormed Done Taw at 11 a.m. on Dec. 7, he told the AP, with about 50 soldiers hunting people on foot. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal

Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba likely to visit India by mid-January- Online Khabar

Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is highly likely to visit India by mid-January 2022, according to Deuba’s secretariat. Click here to read... [19]

Neupane calls Dahal's document regressive- Himalaya

Neupane submits a note of dissent. Click here to read... [20]

A year of political ups and downs and surprises- TKP

Political one-upmanship and power struggles dominated the greater part of 2021. Click here to read... [21]

Amid the risk of a third Covid wave, expert panel advises booster shots- TKP

National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommends booster shots of the same vaccine starting with frontline workers, the elderly and those having existing conditions. Click here to read... [22]

(Opinion) Constitution Prevails, Pandemic Subsides- Rising Nepal

Nepalis bade adieu to the year 2021 as annus horribilis as the year was marked by political mess, pandemic, pollution and natural disasters. Nepali people demonstrated greater patience and remarkable resilience to overcome human or nature-made crises. Click here to read... [23]

Pakistan

17pc tax on number of items proposed; Shaukat Tarin dismisses inflation fears: Dawn

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin presented in the National Assembly on Thursday the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 envisaging withdrawal of sales tax exemptions worth Rs343 billion on machinery, pharma and imported food items. Click here to read... [24]

PTI CEC approves party’s draft constitution: The Express Tribune

A meeting of the CEC was held on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by Foreign Minister and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and CEC members, including Minister for Planning and General-Secretary Asad Umar. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka seeks $1.5 billion Indian credit line to tide over crisis: Economic Times

Sri Lanka has sought a $ one billion credit line for essential imports and a $ 500 million credit line for petroleum imports from India to tide over the economic crisis, Click here to read... [26]

41 more Omicron cases identified in Sri Lanka: Daily Mirror

A total of 41 more cases of Omicron COVID variant have been recorded in the country. Click here to read... [27]