VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: January 17, 2022

Afghanistan

Muttaqi Discusses Major Projects with Turkmen Officials: Tolo News

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, held a discussion over major development projects with Turkmen officials in a visit to Ashgabat Click here to read... [2]

Lack of access to information may lead to closure of media in Afghanistan: survey: The Khaama Press

National Union of Afghanistan’s Journalists said that they do not have a legal document and guideline for media coverage by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan that has put media and Afghan journalists in great trouble. Click here to read... [3]

US revenging Afghans by imposing economic sanctions: Chinese envoy to Kabul : The Khaama Press

Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu in a meeting with acting Minister of Interior Sarajudin Haqqani said that the US has been defeated in Afghanistan and now the country revenges the Afghan people by imposing economic sanctions on them. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Awami League's Shuvo wins Tangail 7 by-polls- Dhaka Tribune

Shuvo bagged 100,459 votes while his closest rival Jatiya Party's Zahirul Haque Zahir received 16,773 votes. Click here to read... [5]

President Hamid urges transparency in government activities- Dhaka Tribune

He also asked to remain vigilant in preventing the misuse of government funds. Click here to read... [6]

NCC polls: Awami League dominates councillor posts- Dhaka Tribune

A total of 148 candidates contested 27 councillor posts, while 34 female candidates contested nine reserved seats. Click here to read... [7]

Financing the economic growth of Bangladesh- Daily Star

The official statistics show that the growth rate dropped to 3.5 percent in FY 2019-20 from 7.9 percent in FY 2018-19 due to Covid-19. However, it was estimated to grow by 5.4 percent in FY 2020-21, and is projected to grow by 7.2 percent in FY 2021-22, according to government statistics. Click here to read... [8]

'US sanctions on officials not punishment, rather a warning'- Asian Age

The US imposed the sanction on seven current and former officials of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) not to punish Bangladesh but to warn against the violation of human rights, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

All 14 dzongkhags open up to zoning system- Kuensel

Massive Covid-19 screening across 14 dzongkhags after local case emerges in Wangdue. Click here to read... [10]

The Omicron scare- Kuensel

The New Year for Bhutan began with a lot of hope and expectations even as the world was seeing an upsurge in Covid-19 cases because of the Omicron variant. On January 2, there were only seven active cases in the country. Click here to read... [11]

(Opinion) Right to internet must be fundamental right- Kuensel

The Article 7 of our Constitution recognises the right to life, liberty, security, freedom of thought, right to information and, the freedom of press, including electronic; and right to vote as the fundamental right. In 21st century, all these rights are directly affected by the internet and how we interact in the virtual world. Click here to read... [12]

24 hour lockdown in 14 districts- BBS

A 24-hour lockdown has been placed in 14 districts starting 5AM today. The 14 districts are Thimphu, Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha, Paro, Gasa, Haa, Chhukha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Dagana, Sarpang, Tsirang, Samtse and Zhemgang. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives

India to Maldives – South Asia can build greener future post-Covid, curb old patterns - The Print

Home to one-quarter of the world’s population, South Asia has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The magnitude has been particularly acute due to the vast proportion of the population living at the margins, fragmented coverage of social protection, pervasive informality in economic activities and employment, and wide gaps in public health infrastructure. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives: Extremist Attacks Go Unpunished - Human Rights Watch

The Maldives authorities during 2021 failed to adequately address threats and violence by extremist Islamist groups against politicians, journalists, and activists, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2022. Despite some advances in media freedom under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the government threatened to impose new restrictions and employed abusive laws limiting freedom of assembly to quell protests. Click here to read... [15]

Maldives engulfed in another Covid-19 wave; case tally surpasses 100,000! - Raajje

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 816 new Covid-19 cases and 354 additional recoveries were confirmed across the archipelago nation between 6pm Wednesday and 6pm Thursday. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar

Military Junta Administrators Quit After Armed Group’s Death Threats - The Irrawaddy

More than 50 ward and village administrators in Sagaing Township have resigned following death threats from a resistance group. Zeyar Nyi Naung Guerillas warned military-appointed administrators in the capital of Sagaing Region to quit by Jan. 30 or face consequences, according to residents. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar military replaces air force chief amid bombing campaign - Aljazeera

Myanmar’s military leader has removed the head of the air force, media and sources close to the armed forces said, after a series of deadly bombing raids to crush resistance that drew global condemnation. Click here to read... [18]

People in Loikaw Continue to Flee due to intense Fighting - BNI Online

The fighting continues between the Tatmadaw and the People’s Defense Forces, in the area of Loikaw, Kayah State. As a result civilians are still fleeing, according to an aid worker who recently had to leave the area. “People are fleeing to Rangoon, Mandalay, Taunggyi and Nay Pyi Taw every day. Most of them have gone. However, there are some people who can’t go anywhere at all,” said the aid worker. Click here to read... [19]

Aung San Suu Kyi faces 5 new corruption charges in Myanmar - NPR

Myanmar's military-installed government has filed five new corruption charges against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in connection with granting permits to rent and buy a helicopter, a legal official said Friday. Click here to read... [20]

No ‘significant progress’ in implementing Asean’s Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar: PM Lee to PM Hun Sen - Today Online

There has not been “any significant progress” in the implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (Asean) Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar since its adoption last year, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted during a video call with his Cambodian counterpart on Friday (Jan 14). Click here to read... [21]

Free and fair election can be held only when ethnic armed organizations join peace process in accordance with law: Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing - Eleven Myanmar

State Administration Council Chairman and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing when meeting with cabinet members of Taninthayi Region government, departmental officials and town elders at the hall of the regional government office in Dawei on January 14 said that election cannot be convened if there is no peace and free and fair election can be held only when ethnic armed organizations join peace process in accordance with law. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal

Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, Kalapani integral parts of Nepal: Govt- Himalaya

The Government of Nepal has officially responded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement concerning Lipulekh. Click here to read... [23]

Govt issues new order to contain spread of coronavirus infection- Republica

he government has issued an order for the control and prevention of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the emergence of new Omicron variant, said spokesperson for the government and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki. Click here to read... [24]

Govt revenue collection falls short of target by Rs 17 billion in first half of current FY- Republica

The government fell short of its revenue collection target by Rs 17 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year. Click here to read... [25]

The historic Kathmandu beneath our feet- Nepali Times

Archeological sites hold clues to past earthquakes and the heritage of Kathmandu Valley civilisation, and need protection. Click here to read... [26]

People were called for boosters. And they were returned without one- Kathmandu Post

Vaccination centres say they were not properly instructed about booster shots and they lacked time for preparations. Click here to read... [27]

Deuba in poll dilemma— whether to listen to his party or alliance partners- Kathmandu Post

At least two parties in his coalition want three tiers of elections in one go. Congress thinks otherwise. Click here to read... [28]

(Editorial)Migrants return

The reverse movement of migrants can be perceived either as a problem or an opportunity by the authorities. Click here to read... [29]

Pakistan

Rule of law is immediate challenge, says PM Imran: Dawn

These views were expressed by the prime minister in an article he had written for various newspapers under the caption “Spirit of Riyasat-i-Madina: Transforming Pakistan”, which was released to the media by the PM Office outlining reasons for setting up the NRA and launch of the social security programmes. Click here to read... [30]

NSA set to visit Afghanistan to assess humanitarian situation: The Express Tribune

Official sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that a high-powered delegation led by the NSA would undertake a two-day trip to the Afghan capital on Tuesday on directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The delegation has been tasked to assess the on-ground situation and to evaluate the requirements of the locals. Click here to read... [31]

Economy - looking beyond numbers: The Express Tribune

In his speech to a gathering of more than 60 business leaders from all over Pakistan last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan gave an overall account of economic progress under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rule. Click here to read... [32]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka invites more Indian investments in ports, energy, manufacturing: Business Standard

Sri Lanka has urged more Indian investments in ports, infrastructure, energy, power and manufacturing sectors, days after New Delhi announced a USD 900 million loan to Colombo to build up its depleted foreign reserves and for food imports amid a shortage of almost all essential commodities in the island nation. Click here to read... [33]

Sri Lanka economists tell government to default on bond, buy food: Nikkei Asia

Sri Lanka's top economists and business leaders are urging President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's government to default on a debt repayment next week and to use the nation's foreign currency reserves to buy fuel, food, medicine and other essentials. Click here to read... [34]