VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: February 10, 2022

Afghanistan

IOM seeks $589m for Afghanistan, neighbours- Pajhwok

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has sought more than $589 million to respond to the urgent humanitarian and protection needs of people in Afghanistan and six neighbouring countries. Click here to read... [2]

A million malnourished Afghan children at risk of dying: UNICEF- Pajhwok

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned of a possible death of a million children in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [3]

U.S. Pledges $10 Million in Reward for Information on ISIS-K Leader- Afghanistan Times

The U.S. Department of State announced to offer up to 10-million-dollar reward for information on identification of the ISIS-K Leader’s location. Click here to read... [4]

Al-Qaeda, Daesh “Reconstituting” in Afghanistan: US General- Tolo News

The nominee to head the US Central Command, Gen. Michael Michael Erik Kurilla, warned that the al-Qaeda and Daesh groups are “reconstituting” in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

A surprising reason behind factory fires, high taxes on fire safety equipment- Dhaka Tribune

Experts think that one of the reasons for the lack of safety is that entrepreneurs are simply uninterested to invest in fire prevention. Click here to read... [6]

Tea sales picking up, inching towards pre-pandemic level- Daily Star

Tea sales in Bangladesh are inching towards the pre-pandemic level as people shake off Covid-19 jitters to take a sip at their beloved drink outside of their homes where most consumption takes place. Click here to read... [7]

Centuries-old fish fair draws thousands- Daily Star

A fish fair believed to be centuries old was held in a festive mood in Bogura yesterday in spite of a ban imposed by the district administration for the pandemic. Click here to read... [8]

Don't forget your promises to people: PM- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the newly-elected public representatives of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) to honor the promises they made to voters during the election campaign and work for the welfare of people. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Existing restrictions to continue for Thimphu- Kuensel

With mass testing still underway, the existing practice of movement within the mega zones will continue in Thimphu until the mass testing is complete. This comes as an extension to the last three-day extension, which ended yesterday. Click here to read... [10]

Frontliners working in red building and quarantine facility test positive in Gelephu- Kuensel

While the number of community cases in Sarpang dropped in the past week, the number of frontline workers getting exposed to the virus is on the rise in the dzongkhag. Click here to read... [11]

No buyers for weavers of Thongsa village in Pema Gatshel amid the pandemic- BBS

The weavers of Thongsa village in Pema Gatshel are having a tough time finding buyers for their products. And they are blaming the COVID pandemic for it. The people of Thongsa have been weaving cotton products for decades and they say they have never faced such problems before. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

Mauritius sails to Maldives to ascertain rights over the Chagos Archipelago- RFI.

Mauritius has sent a scientific expedition to survey its maritime borders with the Maldives about an ongoing dispute with Britain over the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago. The survey will help resolve the conflict between both countries over the maritime boundary near the Chagos islands. Click here to read... [13]

V. Aarah case: hearing slated for Thursday in Yameen's money laundering trial- Raajje

A hearing in the money laundering trial of Abdulla Yameen, former president of Maldives, over the leasing of Aarah island in Vaavu atoll to a foreign party for resort development has been scheduled for Thursday. Click here to read... [14]

What does the by-poll result mean for Maldives politics?-ORF

The recent by-elections raise some key questions regarding the future of the Maldivian democracy. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

Bangladesh and Myanmar Resume Talks on Rohingya Repatriation - The Diplomat

The first-ever meeting of the recently formed technical level Ad-Hoc Task Force for Verification of the Displaced Persons from Rakhine was held virtually on January 27. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar Military Clashes with Arakan Army, Threatening Ceasefire - The Diplomat

Since Friday, violent clashes have taken place between the Myanmar military and one of the country’s largest rebel groups in Rakhine State, threatening to undermine a ceasefire that is vital to the military junta’s control of the country. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar military junta discusses economy, voting system, and controversial conscription - Mizzima

At the meeting the junta made a statement about the three tasks they would prioritise in 2022: to improve the economy; to set up a genuine, disciplined multi-party democracy through the general election scheduled for 2023; and to form an all-inclusive defence system. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal

Fissure in ruling alliance over MCC compact- Himalaya

Political parties have intensified their inter- and intra-party consultations over the Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal compact in the past few days, but a common stand on it continues to be ever elusive for the ruling alliance. Click here to read... [19]

Call to launch stringent protest against MCC- Himalaya

Six political parties held a protest rally in Tanahun's district headquarters Damauli against the American assistance package Millennium Challenge Corporation. Click here to read... [20]

Politicians, individuals compete to form new parties as elections near- Kathmandu Post

Ten political parties were registered with the Election Commission in past three months and more are coming. Click here to read... [21]

NTB CEO files case against nine persons including Tourism Minister Ale- Republica

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Chief Executive Officer Dhananjay Regmi has filed a contempt and defamation case against nine people, including Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale in the Supreme Court. Click here to read... [22]

Pakistan

Bilawal dares PM Imran to dissolve NA to test public support for govt- Dawn

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday dared Prime Minister Imran Khan to dissolve the National Assembly and announce a fresh election if he believed the public was still on his side. Click here to read... [23]

Opposition takes PM Imran to task for ‘thief mantra’- Dawn

The opposition on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan for sticking to his “thief mantra” since coming to power over three years ago, saying the “threat” of a no-confidence move had unnerved him. Click here to read... [24]

PM Imran Khan blasts opposition leaders for evading accountability- The News

Imran said that he wanted to give a last warning to the gang of dacoits as he had been hearing for the last three years that they would oust his government in a day or two, or the other. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan, UAE agree on FATF cooperation- The Tribune

Decision came in telephonic conversation between FM Qureshi, Emirati counterpart. Click here to read... [26]

Sri Lanka

CB reiterates commitment to honour all debt obligations- Daily Mirror

The Central Bank yesterday reiterated that Sri Lanka is committed to honour all forthcoming debt obligations and thereby maintaining the country’s unblemished record of debt servicing. Click here to read... [27]

Sri Lanka and Nepal continue collaborations in the construction sector- NewsLK

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Nepal and the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) jointly organized a virtual meeting for Sri Lankan Construction Companies to interact with the Nepal Ministry of Physical Infrastructure & Transport (MPIT) and learn about procedures and regulations applicable to foreign investors, including for joint ventures. Click here to read... [28]

35% spike in COVID-19 cases reported in Sri Lanka; 15% increase in COVID deaths- News1st

Sri Lanka has recorded a 35% spike in COVID-19 cases compared to the first week of February 2022. Click here to read... [29]

In talks with India on two Dornier aircraft- Indian Express

New Delhi and Colombo are discussing a proposal for the supply of two Dornier aircraft for the Sri Lankan military. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka had no choice but to auction Tamil Nadu vessels- The Hindu

According to Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, India “delaying” assistance promised to northern Sri Lankan fishermen, a space constraint along the coast, and the risk of dengue and pollution from old, damaged fishing vessels berthed along the northern coastline left Sri Lanka with little choice but to auction the Indian boats. Click here to read... [31]

Sri Lanka’s central bank denies risk of default- Aljazeera

Sri Lanka’s central bank has said that the country is committed to honouring all forthcoming debt obligations, and that the island nation is not on the verge of a sovereign default. Click here to read... [32]