VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: February 23, 2022

Afghanistan

Haqqani: 'Silent' Intl Recognition of Govt Underway: Tolo News

Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, said that a process of "silent" or tacit recognition of the Islamic Emirate by the international community is underway, and there have been positive improvements in the political sector. Click here to read... [2]

Ghani Removed From UN Heads of State List: Tolo News

The United Nations has removed former president Ashraf Ghani's name from its list of Heads of State. The list was released on the UN website on February 15. The name of Mohammad Hanif Atmar, the former foreign minister, also has been removed from the list of Ministers for Foreign Affairs. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

(Opinion) Search Committee for EC: Transparency can counter confidence crisis- Daily Star

In a recent press briefing, Justice Obaidul Hassan, chair of the Search Committee for the Election Commission (EC), confirmed their decision not to disclose the names of the 10 individuals they will recommend to the president to constitute the new EC. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh considers fighting sanctions on RAB in US courts- Dhaka Tribune

Decision likely to be taken this week. Click here to read... [5]

Subsidy on gas, electricity should end in phases- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for gradual withdrawal of subsidies, particularly from electricity and gas. "The subsidy is a serious matter. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Why Bhutan is India’s Achilles’ heel- The Tribune

One reason for the PLA aggression in East Ladakh in 2020 was the Indian rebuff to China at Doklam. Disengagement from Doklam did not stop the aggression. Click here to read... [7]

Movement restriction in Thimphu and Paro Thromde beginning tomorrow- BBS

Movements in the four Mega Zones of Thimphu Thromde and Paro Thromde will be restricted to zones starting at 5 AM tomorrow. The decision came following the emergence of more COVID-19 cases from the community. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

President Solih orders to facilitate return of Maldivians in Ukraine – SUN

According to the Spokesperson for the President’s Office Mabrook Azeez, upon the President’s orders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commenced efforts to repatriate Maldivians residing in Ukraine amidst fears of a war breaking out between Ukraine and Russia. Click here to read... [9]

National digital identification system to be established in Maldives – SUN

President Solih, upon the recommendation of his cabinet, decided to establish a national digital identification system at a cabinet meeting held this afternoon at the President’s Office. Establishing and adopting a National Digital Identification System is carried out under the current administration’s National Resilience and Recovery PlanClick here to read... [10]

Chinese government to provide equipment assistance to Maldives Police Service – SUN

The Chinese government and Maldives Police Service have signed an Exchange of Notes regarding the provision of equipment assistance by the Chinese government to Maldives Police Service. The Exchange of Notes was signed at a special ceremony held today, by the Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin and Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar logs 2,897 new Covid-19 cases, 7 more deaths: The Star

Myanmar reported 2,897 new coronavirus cases on Monday (Feb 21), bringing the tally in the country to 568,564, according to a release from the Ministry of Health. Click here to read... [12]

China, Russia arming Myanmar junta: U.N. rights expert: The Hindu

Tom Andrews urged the Security Council to convene an emergency session “to debate and vote on a resolution to, at a minimum, ban those arms transfers” Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar opposition protests mark general strike anniversary: Hindustan Times

The protests on Tuesday marked the anniversary of last year's “Five-Twos Revolution,” a massive nationwide general strike against army rule just weeks after the military seized power. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

Garbage piles up on Kathmandu's footpaths- Himalaya

Piles of waste materials accumulated around the roadsides inside the core urban areas of Kathmandu valley have again become a common sight as the authorised government bodies have failed to transport waste to the Sisdole landfill site in Nuwakot. Click here to read... [15]

'Voting against govt proposal unethical'- Himalaya

General-Secretary of Nepali Congress Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that ruling partners are not expected to vote against the proposal brought by the government. Click here to read... [16]

JSP leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai floats points two options for ratification of MCC agreement- Republica

The Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Federal Council Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai has put forward two options as disagreements surfaced in the ruling coalition over the ratification of US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Click here to read... [17]

Oli meets Deuba after talks with US ambassador as MCC deadline approaches- Kathmandu Post

Nepali Congress, CPN-UML expedite dialogue on a new deal just as coalition partners drift apart over the American grant. Efforts are on to save the ruling alliance. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Editorial: Improving ties with Moscow: Dawn

PRIME MINISTER Imran Khan is visiting Moscow on the latter’s invitation amidst rising tensions in a region on the brink of a full-scale military conflict that can have massive global implications. Click here to read... [19]

Opposition huddle takes no-trust plans forward: The Express Tribune

According to a joint statement issued by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after the meeting, the leadership of the PPP and the PML-N would hold another meeting on Wednesday, which would be attended by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

‘We need IMF-mediated debt restructuring’: The Times Of India

Sri Lanka is today facing dire economic circumstances. Ranga Jayasuriya, researcher and former senior fellow at Institute of National Security Studies, Sri Lanka, spoke with Rudroneel Ghosh about what led to the mess: Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka Imposes Power Cuts as Cash Crisis Deepens: VOA

Authorities in Sri Lanka are imposing rolling power cuts across the island nation as its deepening financial crisis leads to shortages of fuel and handicaps in its power grid. Click here to read... [22]

Masks still mandatory vs Covid in Sri Lanka: The Manila Times

Sri Lanka's health authorities on Tuesday said face masks will remain compulsory for outdoor events considering that the South Asian country still records over 1,000 new cases of Covid-19 on a daily basis. Click here to read... [23]