VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: February 17, 2022

Afghanistan

US Not Backing 'Armed Opposition' to Islamic Emirate: West: Tolo News

The US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West said at an event on Monday that Washington is not backing “organized armed opposition” to the Islamic Emirate and that it would “discourage other powers from doing so as well." Click here to read... [2]

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... [3]

EU to deliver Є500 million to Afghan people: The Khaama Press

Special representative of European Union for Afghanistan Thomas Niklasson said that they remain committed to Afghan people adding that the Union will deliver up to Є500 million to address the humanitarian situation of the Afghan people. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Seven NBFIs risk losing Tk 2,050cr for anomalies- Daily Star

Seven non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) are now finding it difficult to recover Tk 2,050 crore they had lent to their subsidiaries and associates in breach of rules. Click here to read... [5]

Essentials’ prices go up ahead of Ramadan- Daily Star

Like clockwork, the prices of Ramadan essentials like edible oil, chickpea, dried pea, date and sugar have started to spiral in the lead-up to the holy month despite higher imports. Click here to read... [6]

Government moves to regularize alcohol- Dhaka Tribune

Anyone over the age of 21 will be allowed to apply for a drinking permit. Click here to read... [7]

Central bank takes tough stance against trade-based money laundering- Asian Age

Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country's central bank, has taken up a tough stance against trade-based money laundering. A big portion of the laundered money is being spent to finance separatist groups, terrorist organizations and militants in various countries. Click here to read... [8]

6-day Bangladesh-US air exercise begins on Feb 20- Daily Observer

A six-day bilateral tactical airlift exercise between the air forces of Bangladesh and the US will begin in this country on February 20. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Board exams will begin on February 28- Kuensel

In Thimphu Thromde, which has mega zones and is a low-risk area, Class X and XII students will take the board exams in schools that have been identified in their own mega zones beginning on February 28. Click here to read... [10]

Dagana supports local farmers, bans imported chillies- Kuensel

In what is a bold step towards supporting local farmers, the Dagana’s dzongkhag agriculture sector has asked the Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited (FCBL) not to distribute imported green chillies to vendors in the dzongkhag without formal consultation and study. Click here to read... [11]

COVID-19 cases in the country hit a single-day high of 381- BBS

The country reported a single-day spike of 381 new cases of COVID-19 today, the highest since the pandemic stuck the country in March 2020. After a month of lockdown, Wangdue Phodrang, Chhukha, Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar continue to detect cases from the community. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Nepal records 639 fresh COVID-19 cases, three fatalities on Wednesday- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal climbed to 18,251 on Wednesday as 454 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [13]

Police, protesters clash in Baneshwar- Himalaya

A clash took place between protesters demonstrating against US aid project, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and police in New Baneshwar. Click here to read... [14]

Transmission lines’ worth lost in the din of charged-up MCC row- Kathmandu Post

Projects to be developed under the US grant will be the backbone of a high capacity system to transport power on a large scale in the country and beyond, stakeholders say. Click here to read... [15]

SC issues order to register earlier rejected writ petition on local election- Republica

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order to register a writ petition on civic poll. A single bench of SC Justice Iswar Prasad Khatiwada issued an order to register the writ petition related to local election, shared SC Spokesperson Baburam Dahal. Click here to read... [16]

Maldives

British High Commission established in Maldives - SUN

A British High Commission has been established in the Maldives. The diplomatic mission was opened during a special ceremony held yesterday by Maldivian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and UK Minister of State for South and Central Asia, the UN and the Commonwealth Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon. Click here to read... [17]

Elderly Maldivian woman arrested in India over drug case – SUN

A Maldivian woman has been arrested by India’s Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) under suspicion of trying to smuggle drugs from India’s Mumbai to Maldives. The woman, Aishath Rasheedha, was arrested at Kochi International Airport on a reported tip-off. Click here to read... [18]

Minister discusses military cooperation between Maldives and Bangladesh – Avas

Minister of Defence Mariya Didi met with Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on Tuesday. The Defense Ministry said discussions focused on ways to boost further cooperation between MNDF and the Bangladesh Army, including capacity-building and training opportunities for MNDF officers in various fields.

Ex-pres requests to pause hearings until they can be live-streamed – Avas

Former President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has asked the Criminal Court to halt hearings in the V. Aarah money-laundering case until the hearings can be live-streamed. He requested a hearing held Wednesday.

Myanmar

India must prioritise stability in Myanmar- The Indian Express

The military cannot ensure a stable political environment. Delhi must look beyond the junta and forge new friendships. Click here to read... [19]

ASEAN to discuss Myanmar military violence, visit by special envoy- The Print

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers will be discussing how to approach the Myanmar military as the group seeks an immediate cessation of violence and a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar on Thursday. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

Changes in cabinets coming soon, says Fawad Chaudhry: Dawn

Prime Minister Imran Khan has also asked some frontline PTI leaders to concentrate on restructuring and strengthening the party in order to better tackle the threat from opposition parties. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan unveils strategy to counter hate speech: The Express Tribune

The minister delivered the keynote address to the inaugural session of the 8th meeting of the Istanbul Process, on the theme of the “10th anniversary of UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18: Looking Back and Moving Forward”. Click here to read... [22]

Public outcry at hefty rise in petrol prices: The News

With petroleum product prices having been increased, people expressed their anger on Wednesday while the government came up with justifications for what it described as a last-resort hike. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

India delivers 40,000-MT of fuel to Sri Lanka amid energy crisis- News Track

Sri Lanka has a loyal partner and true friend in India. According to a statement published by the Indian High Commission here, the High Commissioner, Gopal Baglay, handed over a 40,000 MT petroleum consignment from the Indian Oil Company. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission calls for repeal of anti-terror law- The Print

Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission has called for the repeal of a controversial anti-terror law that gives police sweeping powers to arrest suspects without trial, amid mounting pressure from the Tamil and Muslim political parties and the European Union over concerns that the law violates human rights. Click here to read... [25]