VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: January 05, 2022

Afghanistan

No Place for Ex-Officials in Cabinet: Mullah Baradar: Tolo News

Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in an interview with Radio-Television of Afghanistan (RTA) on Monday said that the Islamic Emirate will not include members of the fallen republic government in its cabinet.Click here to read... [2]

Afghan Media Faces Budget Problems, Restrictions: Tolo News

Dozens of Afghan media officials from across the country, especially those from radio stations, gathered in Kabul on Monday and shared their concerns over financial problems and restrictions in accessing information from Islamic Emirate officials.Click here to read... [3]

IEA providing uniform for Taliban affiliates in Kabul: The Khaama Press

Interior ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that the process of providing a specific uniform for police (Taliban affiliates) in Kabul has begun and will soon get completed.Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Omicron threat: It’s real and it’s looming- Daily Star

Say experts; govt to slap curbs in 7 days.Click here to read... [5]

5th phase UP polls: Voting underway- Daily Star

The fifth phase of union parishad (UP) election began in 708 unions across the country this morning.Click here to read... [6]

UGC report: Universities struggling to spend research budget- Dhaka Tribune

Analysis of commission data show that some private universities are ahead of public universities in spending on research.Click here to read... [7]

Financial sector heading for severe catastrophes!- Asian Age

It has been noted with alarm that a few big corporate owners are controlling the banking and financial sectors of Bangladesh. These mega borrowers have taken around 80% loans from the country's banking systemClick here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Bangladesh confirms Bandwidth to Bhutan for the third Internet Gateway- Kuensel

Bangladesh and Bhutan are going to enter into a new era of cooperation in the information and communication sector as Bangladesh confirms providing a 10 Gbps IPLC (International Private Leased Circuit) to Bhutan at a friendly rate, a press release from the Bangladesh Embassy stated.Click here to read... [9]

Samuh wins a copyright infringement case- BBS

The Thimphu District Court today ordered three individuals to pay compensation ranging from Nu 100,000 to about Nu 400,000 in a copyright infringement case. Click here to read... [10]

Goods and services became costlier by 6.47 percent in October last year- Bhutan Times

The prices of goods and services became costlier by 6.47 percent in October 2021 compared to the price in the same month last year, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) October 2021 report published by National Statistics Bureau.Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Maldives' tourist arrivals increase 138 pct in 2021 - Xinhuanet

Tourist arrivals in the Maldives increased 138 percent in 2021 compared with 2020, state media citing data from the Ministry of Tourism reported here Monday. State-owned PSM News reported that the Maldives recorded 1.3 million tourist arrivals in 2021 compared to 55,494 tourist arrivals in 2020.Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Indian Rebel Outfits Regrouping in Myanmar Again - The Diplomat

Separatist rebel outfits from India’s frontier region of the northeast are regrouping in Myanmar more than two years after their camps and training facilities were dismantled in an operation lasting several months.Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar Resistance Groups Claim New Year Victories Over Junta Forces - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar groups have continued to report intense firefights over new year as People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) attacked regime forces, including in Yangon.Click here to read... [14]

‘A normal tactic’: Myanmar’s aid workers vow to press on despite Christmas Eve massacre - The Guardian

“The events of last week are just par for the army’s inhumanity and immorality.” So says Michael Isherwood, chair of the Burma Humanitarian Mission and program director of Backpack Medics, after Myanmar’s junta massacred more than 35 people, including two Save the Children workers, on Christmas Eve. Click here to read... [15]

New Year clashes in Karenni State kill at least 35 junta soldiers: KNDF - Myanmar Now

An anti-coup resistance force in eastern Myanmar’s Karenni (Kayah) State said at least 35 junta soldiers were killed in clashes over the two-day New Year period in Demoso and Hpruso townships.Click here to read... [16]

1,000 Villagers Flee Their Homes As Fighting Breaks out on the Kawkariek-Myawaddy Asia-Highway - BNI Online

As many as 1,000 villagers living along the Kawkariek-Myawaddy Asia Highway were forced from their homes in Kawkariek Township, Karen State as fighting broke out between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Burma Army on December 26, 2021.Click here to read... [17]

Nepal

Dues of sugarcane farmers yet to be paid- Republica

Sugarcane farmers are yet to receive their payment for their produce, despite frequent directives by the parliamentary committee to the government to clear their dues.Click here to read... [18]

file nominations for 19 NA seats- Himalaya

Forty-three candidates from the five-party ruling alliance and opposition parties today filed their candidacies for the 19 National Assembly seats, which are slated to go to polls on January 26.Click here to read... [19]

Nepal suspends deal to buy 6 million Pfizer doses from US manufacturer- TKP

Sources say the country has enough Moderna shots for children aged 12-17 years. Negotiations under way to buy 8.4 million Pfizer doses suitable for 5-11-year-olds.Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

PTI tried to keep lid on foreign accounts, reveals ECP: Dawn

A damning report compiled by the scrutiny committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has confirmed that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) received funding from foreign nationals and companies, under-reported funds and concealed dozens of its bank accounts.
Click here to read... [21]

Cabinet meets another IMF condition for $1b loan: The Express Tribune

The massive surge in the contingent liabilities underscores deterioration in the health of the Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), mainly the power sector, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).
Click here to read... [22]

China glad at enhanced cooperation with Pakistan: The Express Tribune

Launched on Monday, the forum had been formed in collaboration with the Board of Investment (BOI) and the All Pakistan Chinese Enterprises Association to increase investment by the Chinese companies in Pakistan and enhance business-to-business industrial cooperation.
Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

President to appoint committee to negotiate with ‘friendly nations‘ for funds: Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is likely to appoint  a Cabinet-level negotiation committee to hold discussions with ‘friendly countries’ seeking financial assistance ahead of the country’s external debt repayments this year.Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka announces $1 billion economic relief package; says won’t default on debt: The Hindu

The Sri Lankan Government on January 4 announced a $1.2 billion economic relief package amidst a severe foreign exchange crisis even as Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa claimed that the country will not default on its international debt despite the projection of rating agencies about its inability to meet the obligations.Click here to read... [25]