VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: February 15, 2022

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Meets Envoys of Gulf States in Doha: FM: Tolo News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet that the delegation of the Islamic Emirate led by the acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, which arrived in Qatar on Sunday, has begun talks with representatives of the Gulf states in Doha on Monday. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan will initially have a-110,000-member army: acting Defense Minister: The Khaama Press

Acting Defense Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid said that Afghanistan will initially have a-110,000-mbember army and will then increase if needed. Click here to read... [3]

India’s wheat delivery to Afghanistan through Pakistan to begin in days:The Khaama Press

INDIA TODAY has cited its sources as saying India’s 50,000 tonnes of wheat shipment to Afghanistan via Pakistan to begin as soon as next week. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Uniform export fetches half a billion dollars- Daily Star

Bangladesh has turned into a major sourcing hub for uniforms for the military, navy, air force, fire brigade and police for countries around the world as local garment manufacturers have enhanced their capacity and diversified products. Click here to read... [5]

Weekly test positivity drops by 44% in two weeks- Dhaka Tribune

Infection rate may come down below 5% within March, experts predict.Click here to read... [6]

322 names proposed for CEC, ECs published- Observer

The Cabinet Division has published the names of 322 individuals proposed to Search Committee for the formation of new Election Commission. Different political parties, professional bodies, eminent persons and individuals proposed the names. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan Medical and Health Council to investigate the death of the 34-year-old woman who died in an isolation hotel in Thimphu- The Bhutanese

Bhutan Medical and Health Council (BMHC) will be investigating the recent death of a 34-year-old woman, Sostika Gurung, in an isolation hotel in Thimphu. Click here to read... [8]

58 percent of Amochhu temporary shelter units infected- Kuensel

The Amochhu temporary settlement in Phuentsholing has recorded 180 positive cases between January 17 and yesterday. Click here to read... [9]

Phuentsholing landlords warn tenants to vacate- Bhutan Times

This bleak situation is in Phuentsholing amid the raging outbreak of omicron variant and even when tenants have lost their incomes following a strict lockdown. The situation is grim for many who may not be able to pay their monthly rentals on time and face the threat of eviction from the landlords. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan reports more than 100 daily cases for 22 straight days- BBS

Starting January 24, the country has been seeing more than a hundred cases of COVID-19 every day. With 237 new cases detected in the last 24 hours, the total cases reported in the country now stands at 7,666. The cases are reported from seven districts. Meanwhile, 190 individuals were declared recovered after they tested negative while in isolation. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Maldives ruling party moves Bill against Opposition's ‘India Out’ campaign - Economic Times

The speaker of Maldives’ Parliament and former president, Mohamed Nasheed, has submitted the Bill to the country's National Security Committee for review due to the potentially damaging consequences of this movement. Click here to read... [12]

The mystery of Maldives’ dying mangroves and India’s role in the quest to save them - The Indian Express

Alarmed by the fast-declining health of its crucial mangroves, the Maldives is desperately trying to save them, particularly one species which holds historical and cultural significance to its people. Helping the archipelagic nation is a team of scientists from India’s Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT). Click here to read... [13]

Australia to open mission in Maldives; invest in Bangladesh – WION

In a significant upping of engagement in South Asia and the larger Indian Ocean region, Australia has announced that it will be opening its High Commission in the Maldives and invest $36.5 million over five years in the region. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar

Myanmar military committed war crimes in Karenni state: Report: AlJazeera

The Myanmar military has murdered civilians, and used them as human shields, in a series of atrocities in eastern Karenni State that may amount to war crimes, prominent human rights group Fortify Rights said in a new report published on Tuesday. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

UML threatens to impeach four SC justices- Himalaya

The main opposition party CPN-UML is threatening to impeach four justices of the Supreme Court who constitute the constitutional bench - Acting Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Karki, Meera Khadka, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, and Anand Mohan Bhattarai.

Import of petroleum products doubles- Himalaya

The import of petroleum products via the Birgunj transit, the country's major transit point, has significantly increased this year compared to the previous year. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal APF hold Sankata; Sherpa, NRT play draw- Himalaya

The two matches of the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League played today at the Dasharath Stadium failed to produce a single goal. Click here to read... [17]

Snakebite, an invisible neglected crisis in Nepal- Kathmandu Post

Close to 3,000 people die of snakebites every year in Tarai alone, many before reaching the hospital. Click here to read... [18]

We have not issued any threat whatsoever to Nepali leaders to accept MCC grant: Ambassador Berry- Republica

The 'false' narrative created by a section of political parties in Nepal that senior US officials had threatened Nepali political leaders to ratify the MCC agreement, US Embassy in Kathmandu clarified that none of the US officials were engaged in issuing any threat. Click here to read... [19]

Pakistan

Army chief holds rare same-day talks with President Alvi, PM Imran: Dawn

Although the army chief’s meeting with the prime minister took place on the sidelines of the apex committee on Afghanistan’s session, it is rare for an army chief to meet both heads of the state and the government on the same day. Click here to read... [20]

Major hike in petroleum prices likely today: Dawn

Prices of all key petroleum products are estimated to go up by Rs6-12 on Tuesday (today) for the next 14 days, mainly because of higher international oil prices and application of additional petroleum levy. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan seeks joint action with Iran on border security: The Express Tribune

The visit of the Iranian interior minister came against the backdrop of recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan that borders both Iran and Afghanistan. The Iranian minister, who was leading a delegation, also met his Pakistani counterpart Shaikh Rashid and separately held talks with Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Click here to read... [22]

Key PDM, PPP leaders hope 30 PTI MPs will revolt: The News

Opposition’s decision to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan has some method to madness, as key leaders have high hopes that things would unfold as per the “plan” which is kept secret and is known to a few. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

Prominent Sri Lankan legislators call for ‘orderly renegotiation’ of foreign debt to combat crisis: The Hindu

A group of senior parliamentarians in Sri Lanka, including some aligned to the government, have called for an “orderly negotiated postponement” of outstanding foreign debt, and corrective policy measures including a “strong social welfare scheme”, to combat the island nation’s economic crisis. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves in freefall despite currency swaps from India and China: Tamil Guardian

Sri Lanka's foreign currency reserves have fallen over 24% to USD $2.36 billion by the end of January from USD $3.14 billion at the end of December 2021, despite currency swaps and debt deferments from India and China. Click here to read... [25]

International rights groups back Sri Lankan activist, condemn govt’s ‘harassment’: The Print

Eight international organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the Sri Lankan government’s response to a prominent activist’s testimony before the European Parliament about the human rights situation in the country, terming it an act of “harassment and intimidation”. Click here to read... [26]