VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: March 03, 2022

Afghanistan

Afghan Envoy at UN Condemns Ukraine Invasion- Tolo News

The chargé d'affaires of the Afghanistan permanent mission to the United Nations told TOLOnews that he would condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine on behalf of the people of Afghanistan at the General Assembly of the Eleventh Emergency Special Session on UkraineClick here to read... [2]

Online backlash from Arabs and Afghans over 'uncivilised' Ukraine commentary- The National News

An online backlash over the perceived relativism and racist undertones of reactions to the war in Ukraine is brewing on social mediaClick here to read... [3]

World Bank Board Backs Using $1B in Frozen Afghan Funds for Aid- Tolo News

The executive board of the World Bank on Tuesday approved a plan to use more than $1 billion from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to finance urgently needed education, agriculture, health and family programs, the bank announced. Click here to read... [4]

House-to-House Searches Enter 6th Day Despite Intl Criticism- Tolo News

The house-to-house searches launched last week by the forces of the Islamic Emirate in Kabul and in some provinces continue despite national and international reactions. Click here to read... [5]

Former Judges Hold Protest Over Their 'Uncertain Fate’- Tolo News

Dozens of former judges held a demonstration in the capital Kabul to criticize what they called an “uncertain fate” and the government’s negligence toward themClick here to read... [6]

UNSC Holds Meeting on Afghanistan- Tolo News

The members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday held a conference to discuss the situation in Afghanistan as the country struggles with a humanitarian and economic crisis despite efforts of humanitarian organizationsClick here to read... [7]

Rina Amiri Meets With Qatari Women Leaders- Tolo News

The US special envoy for women, girls and human rights in Afghanistan, Rina Amiri, met with Qatari officials and leaders in Doha and discussed the situation of women and human rights in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [8]

Bangladesh

Missile attack kills Bangladeshi sailor in Ukraine- Daily Star

A sailor of Bangladeshi flagged vessel Banglar Samriddhi, that remained stranded at a Ukrainian port, was killed after a missile attack on the bridge of the ship last night. Click here to read... [9]

Bangladesh feels the heat of Ukraine invasion- Daily Star

BPC losing Tk 19cr a day for soaring oil prices. Click here to read... [10]

Books to better understand the Ukraine-Russia conflict- Daily Star

Click here to read... [11]

Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed takes over as new BGB chief- Dhaka Tribune

He previously served as adjutant general of Bangladesh Army at army headquarters. Click here to read... [12]

PM reaffirms pledge to ensure improved for people- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday reiterated her vows to provide an improved and developed life to the countrymen through implementing the spirit and ideology of the War of Liberation. Click here to read... [13]

Bhutan

RMA projects 5.5 percent economic growth in 2022- Kuensel

With the commissioning of Punatshangchhu-II and Nikachhu hydroelectric projects in 2023 and with the gradual recovery of the industrial and services sectors followed by the agriculture sector, Bhutan’s economic growth is projected to rebound to pre-Covid-19 level at 5.5 percent in 2022. Click here to read... [14]

COVID-19 Restrictions to be lifted and lessened from mid-April but with conditions in Phase 2- Bhutan Times

The Prime Minister Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering announced that restrictions will be relaxed once the children from five to 11 get fully vaccinated by mid April 2022. Click here to read... [15]

Bhutan will be rolling out nationwide vaccination drive for children- Daily Bhutan

With the arrival of all the required vaccines to vaccinate children 5-11 years with both doses and boosters for 12-17 years, MOH will begin nationwide vaccination immediately. Click here to read... [16]

Prime Minister speaks on phone with His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation- Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

On 2nd March 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on phone with his Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation. The leaders discussed the Ukraine situation in the city of Kharkiv where many Indian students are stuck. Click here to read... [17]

India abstained on the vote in the UN General Assembly emergency special session resolution on Ukraine

On 3rd March 2022, India abstained from voting on resolution against Russia over Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly. “India is deeply concerned about deteriorating situation in Ukraine. An Indian national was killed in Kharkiv yesterday. Click here to read... [18]

Maldives

Sanctioned Russian billionaire’s yacht docks in Maldives- SUN

News outlets reported that the superyacht named ‘Clio’ belonging to Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, allegedly docked near the capital of Maldives, Male’ City. However, none of the news outlets confirmed whether Deripaska is onboardClick here to read... [19]

Maldivians in Ukraine traveling towards Hungary border- SUN

Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that all the remaining Maldivians in Ukraine are traveling towards the Hungary border to leave the country. Click here to read... [20]

All Maldivians in Ukraine being evacuated: Foreign Ministry- Avas

Since Russia declared war on Ukraine, the Maldives government has been working on evacuating Maldivians stranded in UkraineClick here to read... [21]

How Did Asian Countries Vote on the UN’s Ukraine Resolution?- The Diplomat

In South Asia, countries were evenly divided, with four supporting the resolution (Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Nepal) and four abstaining (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Click here to read... [22]

5 oligarch yachts in Maldives as sanctions tighten- The Telegraph

At least five superyachts owned by Russian billionaires were anchored or cruising on Wednesday in Maldives, ship tracking data showed. Click here to read... [23]

Minister of Defence meets with Ambassador of Japan to Maldives- Raajje

Minister stated that she was looking forward to continuing this excellent tradition of cooperation with JapanClick here to read... [24]

Gov't to install solar power systems in over 100 islands- Avas

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Shauna said the administration aims to ensure that 26 percent of the electricity provided is solar-powered before the end of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's five-year term.

MMA researching financial inclusion in Maldives- SUN

Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) on Wednesday announced conducting research to find out the level of financial inclusion in Maldives. The purpose of this research was to compile the national financial inclusion strategy. Click here to read... [25]

Ex-STELCO MD Mughnee appointed State Minister for Environment- SUN

Former Managing Director of State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) Hassan Mughnee has been appointed State Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Technology by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Former President of Elections Commission Ahmed Shareef has been appointed STELCO’s Managing Director. Click here to read... [26]

Addu's Koagannu cemetery listed on 2022 World Monuments Watch- SUN

The World Monuments Watch is a selection of 25 heritage sites of worldwide significance, whose preservation is urgent and vital to the communities surrounding them. Click here to read... [27]

Myanmar

Wa an Early Winner of Myanmar’s Post-Coup War - The Irrawaddy

The anniversary of the Myanmar military’s February 2021 coup has briefly refocused the fickle attentions of the international media with a flurry of “one year on” reporting on popular resistance and its prospects for success or failure. Click here to read... [28]

ICC Prosecutor, Karim A. A. Khan QC, concludes first visit to Bangladesh, underlines commitment to advance investigations into alleged atrocity crimes against the Rohingya - International Criminal Court

On Sunday, 27 February 2022, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court"), Mr Karim A. A. Khan QC, concluded a five-day visit to Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Myanmar army storms villages, murders civilians in northwestern resistance stronghold, locals say - Myanmar Now

More than 10 people were killed in a military raid on three villages in Gangaw Township in northwestern Myanmar’s Magway Region on Monday morning, according to locals. Click here to read... [29]

A Message From Myanmar To Ordinary Ukrainians Who Took Up Arms To Thwart Russian Onslaught - Eurasian Times

Ordinary citizens in Ukraine who have taken up arms against the Russian invaders may take their cue from this Southeast Asian nation. Click here to read... [30]

How Did Asian Countries Vote on the UN’s Ukraine Resolution? - The Diplomat

Within the Asia-Pacific region covered by The Diplomat, just two countries voted against the resolution: Russia itself and North Korea. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal

Trapped in war, Nepali students fleeing Ukraine ache for home- Kathmandu Post

They say they were duped by consultancies and now the Nepal government is doing nothing to evacuate them. Click here to read... [31]

Impeachment motion against CJ Rana next agenda in HoR- Himalayan Post

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dilendra Prasad Badu has said that the government will seek to initiate debate on the impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana in the next meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for March 6.

Deuba, Blinken discuss Ukraine-Russia crisis, among other issues- Himalayan
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a telephonic conversation with with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday evening to discuss Russia's attack on Ukraine, among other issues. Click here to read... [32]

Ceiling of internal remittances decreased- Republica

The Nepal Rastra Bank has reduced the ceiling of remittance that an individual can send from one place to another place within the country. The central bank has reduced the remittance limit with effect from Wednesday. Click here to read... [33]

Pakistan

India, Pakistan, China among 35 nations to abstain from voting on anti-Russia resolution- Times of India

Pakistan was among 35 countries that abstained from voting on a resolution deploring in the strongest terms Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

3 dead, 24 injured in blast in Pakistan's Quetta- ANI

At least three people were killed and 24 others injured in a blast near a police van at Quetta's Fatima Jinnah Road, local media reported citing officials as saying on Wednesday. Click here to read... [34]

Pakistan logs 765 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths in past 24 hours- ANI

Pakistan reported 765 new COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths in the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka

Milk sachets, chicken, fuel- basics slip out of reach for Sri Lankans as economic crisis bites- The Guardian

The country is in the midst of one of the worst financial crises in decades, exacerbated by a tourism collapse in the wake of Covid. Click here to read... [35]

Explained: Why has Sri Lanka imposed its longest power cuts in 26 years?- Indian Express

Sri Lanka has announced nationwide daily power cuts, lasting up to seven-and-a-half hours. What is the reason for this? What impact does it have? Click here to read... [36]

Sri Lanka still welcoming Russian tourists- Daily Mirror

Despite the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Sri Lanka is still welcoming tourists from Russia as Russia continues to be the leading market for Sri Lanka Tourism. Click here to read... [37]