VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 16, 2021

Afghanistan

Amnesty Intl Says ICC Must Probe All Sides in Afghan Conflict: Tolo News

Amnesty International in report released on Wednesday said that "repeated war crimes and relentless bloodshed" have marked the collapse of the former Afghan government, adding that all the warring parties--the Taliban, US soldiers, and the former government security forces--are responsible for the war crimes that occurred in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

WFP Says Afghans Face ‘Avalanche of Hunger and Destitution’: Tolo News

Almost all Afghans do not have enough to eat and a failing economy could tip Afghanistan's increasingly dire situation under Islamic Emirate rule into catastrophe next year, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday. Click here to read... [3]

Fourth batch of $19.2 million arrives in Kabul: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan’s central bank (Da Afghanistan Bank) announced that Afghanistan International Bank (AIB) received the fourth batch of dollars in cash that contained $19.2 million. Click here to read... [4]

Turkmenistan’s over $1 million worth of humanitarian aids arrive in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

A spokesperson of the Taliban Ahmadullah Wasiq said that Turkmenistan provided Afghanistan’s people with $ one million and 200 thousand worth of humanitarian aids. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Kovind seeks enhanced joint efforts to promote BD-India relations- Asian Age

Visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday expressed his eagerness to increase the existing trade and business ties with Bangladesh through joint-efforts as he paid courtesy call on his Bangladeshi counterpart M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the capital in the evening. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh at 50: The story of a rising economic juggernaut- Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh now ranks as world's 41st largest economy and second-largest one in South Asia, and forecasts suggest that size of its economy may double by 2030. Click here to read... [7]

Making the first flag of Bangladesh- Dhaka Tribune

The story of the creation of the first flag of Bangladesh is both attractive and exciting. It’s the fruit of a team spirit and a creative expression of the fertile brains of rebellious Chhatra League leaders and workers. Click here to read... [8]

Partners in progress- Daily Star

Dhaka-Delhi ties comprehensive, vibrant, Kovind tells Hasina. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Dredging site allotment: Possible policy corruption?- Kuensel

Government denies allegations of favouritism and nepotism. Click here to read... [10]

Penjore rebuts defamation charges- Kuensel

In the first hearing on November 23, the police charged Penjore of accusing the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of not charging the Bhutan National Bank (BNB) officials in question, despite their official misconduct during staff recruitment. Click here to read... [11]

One ban, other lifts- The laws in Bhutan sometimes become a trivial matter- Bhutan Times

With the advent of democracy, one political party coming into power frames one law and the next party changes it or roots out. Currently, this is a matter of concern with the lift of the alcohol ban. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Khadka, Gurung elected NC vice-presidents- Himalaya

Nepali Congress leaders Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dhanaraj Gurung have been elected as the vice-presidents of the party. Click here to read... [13]

Won't let 'powers' spoil India's relation with Nepal: Indian Defence Minister- Himalaya

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has shared a willingness to mend India-Nepal relations at a gathering in Dehradun on Wednesday. Click here to read... [14]

Deuba’s comeback as party chief reassuring for ruling alliance, but concerns remain- TKP

Coalition members want long-term partnership, but much will depend on how the Congress president, also prime minister, deals with issues like MCC and House obstruction. Click here to read... [15]

Nepali Congress party time- Nepali Times

It's the turn of the leading party in the ruling coalition to have its own tamashaClick here to read... [16]

Nepal’s foreign currency reserves declined further in first four months of current FY- Republica

Nepal’s balance of payments (BoP) further plunged to negative Rs 150.38 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year, thanks to falling remittance earnings and widening trade deficit. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan

PM Imran stresses green urbanisation to reduce pollution, smog: Dawn

While chairing a meeting on the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project and Central Business District (CBD) Lahore, the prime minister emphasised the use of environment-friendly material, including smart trees, blue roads and energy-efficient construction material, on these projects. Click here to read... [18]

Govt reduces petrol, diesel prices by Rs5 per litre: Dawn

The government slashed the prices of petrol and high speed diesel by Rs5 per litre on Wednesday in an effort to provide relief to the people. Click here to read... [19]

Deadlines for 5 projects extended: The Express Tribune

The commercial operations dates of 884MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, 720MW Karot Hydropower Project, 330MW Tel project at Thar block-II, 330MW ThalNova Thar block-II and 1,320MW Thar block-I have been extended. Click here to read... [20]

Anarchy in Afghanistan will strengthen terror outfits: FM: The Express Tribune

In a statement ahead of a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) in Islamabad next Sunday, Qureshi further warned that if the situation deteriorated in Afghanistan, it would not only affect Pakistan, but also the other countries of the region and beyond. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka

Forex crisis hits pharmaceutical imports: Daily Mirror

The present foreign exchange crisis has affected the establishment of Letters of Credit(lc) for import of essential pharmaceuticals including the ones used in the treatment of people suffering from some non-communicable diseases, Daily Mirror learns. Click here to read... [22]

Vessel with 2,000 MT of gas reaches Colombo: News1st

Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority on Thursday (16) confirmed that a vessel with 2,000 MT of gas has reached the Colombo Port. Click here to read... [23]