VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: March 04, 2022

Afghanistan

Afghan Economy on UNSC Agenda: Tolo News

The UN Secretary-General’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, said that the reconstitution of the Afghan economy needs international community engagement with the current Afghan government. Click here to read... [2]

Qatar holds meeting on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation: The Khaama Press

As China and Germany plan to hold conferences on Afghanistan this month and the next respectively, the Qatari capital Doha hosted a round table on Afghanistan’s current and future situation on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Click here to read... [3]

Ukraine crisis: Afghan family pleads for Canada's help: BBC News

Former government prosecutor Mir Safi was among the thousands of people evacuated from Afghanistan's Kabul airport last August, fearful of retribution from the rapidly advancing Taliban. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Sanctions on Russia: Bangladesh considering implications and way forward- The Daily Star

"We make important imports from Ukraine and Belarus. We discussed the possible implications of sanctions, and how transactions can be made in a changed situation," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the foreign ministry. Click here to read... [5]

Not at all unexpected- The Daily Star

Bangladesh's abstention from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution, which reprimanded Russia for invading Ukraine, is not unexpected, said international relations analysts. Click here to read... [6]

Minister: Bangladesh to try alternative channels for trade with Russia- Dhaka Tribune

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said that Bangladesh will pursue alternative channels like currency swap to overcome any problem in trading with Russia, hit by US-led sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read... [7]

Evacuation of stranded sailors raises questions- Dhaka Tribune

Authorities have yet to make a decision on the rescue of the remaining crew members of “Banglar Samriddhi” from Ukraine following the death of a sailor. The sailor was killed in a missile attack on the port of Olvia in the Mykolaiv region. Click here to read... [8]

Bangladesh Pledges to do Business with Russia despite Intl Sanctions over Ukraine- Benar News

Bangladesh will carry on with completing its first nuclear energy plant being built by Russia and will not stop doing business with Moscow, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other officials said Thursday, despite many other nations imposing sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read... [9]

Climate change impact: IPCC paints grim picture for Bangladesh- The Daily Star

Bangladesh would face serious challenges due to climate change and the national economy might bear the burnt, suggested a report of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Click here to read... [10]

First UK-Bangladesh Defence Dialogue- GOV.UK

“Delighted to have been able to initiate our UK-Bangladesh Defence Dialogue. The Dialogue provides an important opportunity for us to reflect on how our strong bilateral defence relationship, established at the time of Bangladesh’s independence over 50 years ago, can be developed in preparation for the next 50.”- British High Commision Dhaka. Click here to read... [11]

Bangladesh sets target to send 1 million workers abroad in 2022- Arab News

Authorities hopeful to reach target as 70% of Bangladeshis should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in April. Over 10 million Bangladeshis are living and working abroad, mainly in the Middle East. Click here to read... [12]

India and Bangladesh fear trade disruption and payment challenges- The Load Star

Amid uncertainty over receiving timely payments, due to sanctions imposed by western nations on Russia, Bangladeshi garment makers have been urged to be cautious in exporting to Moscow. Click here to read... [13]

Bhutan

Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives support Ukraine in UN vote on Russia invasion as Sri Lanka abstains- Economy Next
Sri Lanka has abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh while Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan voted for Ukraine. Click here to read... [14]

Pfizer pediatric vaccines for aged five to 11 arrive- Kuensel

Around 180,000 doses of Pfizer Pediatric vaccine for children of age five to 11 and 90,090 doses of Pfizer for adults arrived in the country yesterday. Click here to read... [15]

Fate of lockdowns in your hands now: PM- Kuensel

Bhutan will not lockdown even if there are positive cases in the community starting mid of April as the country switches to a different strategy of managing the pandemic, Lyonchhen Dr Lotay Tshering said in his national address from Gelephu yesterday morning. Click here to read... [16]

A viral video on social media helps a Bhutanese man return to the country- BBS

A Bhutanese national who reportedly lost his way in India returned to the country today. The Anti-Human Trafficking, an NGO based in Odlabari in West Bengal of India, helped the man return to the country. Click here to read... [17]

Maldives

Four companies bid to develop Haminaadhoo Airport: SUN

Economic Ministry states that four companies have submitted bids for the project to develop the Hanimaadhoo International Airport. Click here to read... [18]

COVID-19: 535 new cases; 14,887 active cases: SUN

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Thursday, announced 535 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in the Maldives to 171,649. Click here to read... [19]

Ukraine Crisis: Russian Billionaires Move Superyachts To Maldives To Escape Sanctions: Sahara Reporters

Late on Wednesday Forbes reported that Germany had seized Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov's mega yacht in a Hamburg shipyard. Click here to read... [20]

Myanmar

Army fortifies its positions on India-Myanmar border - Mizzima

Some 35 junta troops from Reed military outpost in Falam Township on the India-Myanmar border stationed on Ti O Chaung Hill in Ward 2 have fortified their positions, according to the Chin Defence Force (CDF). Click here to read... [21]

Armed conflict intensifies in southeastern Myanmar, with more than 220,000 displaced between Feb 1, 2021 and Feb 21, 2022: OCHA

MYANMAR

According to the statement, armed clashes between Tatmadaw and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) have escalated in southeast Myanmar. Click here to read... [22]

Myanmar’s farmers, driven to desperation, among fiercest anti-junta fighters - RFA

Farmers in Myanmar’s Magway and Sagaing regions have emerged as the fiercest fighters to military rule, after years of drought, a global pandemic, and the devastation wrought by pro-junta forces have left them, they say, with little left to lose. Click here to read... [23]

ASEAN envoy plans maiden visit to Myanmar this month - Nikkei Asia

Cambodia's foreign minister plans to visit Myanmar this month in his capacity as special envoy for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which would mark the first time the country hosts the group's diplomat since the military took power last year. Click here to read... [24]

Telenor caught in GDPR conundrum over Myanmar subsidiary sale - Compliance Week

Norwegian telecommunications firm Telenor has been trying to exit Myanmar since the military junta seized power in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, but the sale of its operations can only take place with the consent of the Myanmar government. Click here to read... [25]

US Government issues advisory on risks of doing business with Myanmar - Mizzima

The US Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Labor, Homeland Security and the Office of the US Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a joint advisory on 26 January saying that there may be certain supply chain related risks for companies who have Myanmar related business. Click here to read... [26]

Nepal

Active caseload drops t0 7517 as 70 new covid cases surface on Thursday- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal dropped to 7,517 on Thursday as 70 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [27]

(EDITORIAL) Stranded Nepalis- Himalaya

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) claims that 244 Nepalis stranded in Ukraine in the midst of the current crisis following Russia's invasion last week have reached safe destinations in neighbouring countries, namely, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Moldova. Click here to read... [28]

Dahal braces for tough grilling by Maoist party members over MCC- Kathmandu Post

Some hardliners in Maoist Centre want him to address too many issues, including the party’s U-turn on US compact. Click here to read... [29]

UN vote on Ukraine shows geopolitical shift in South Asia, observers say- Kathmandu Post

Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives vote for resolution to deplore Russia. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan abstain. Click here to read... [30]

Sugarcane production sees huge downfall as sugar factories linger to pay farmers on time- Republica

Sugarcane production declined by almost half in the past three years after farmers turned apathetic to planting the raw material of sugar, citing the delay in getting payment from the sugar mills. Click here to read... [31]

Sri Lanka

IMF urges Sri Lanka to increase taxes: Taipei Times

The IMF yesterday told Sri Lanka that its foreign debt was “unsustainabl”. Click here to read... [32]

Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacks two Cabinet ministers for blaming brother Basil for economic woes: Indian Express

Sri Lanka is currently reeling under a severe foreign exchange crisis with falling reserves. Click here to read... [33]

Sri Lanka sacks energy minister as economic crisis deepens: Straits Times

Sri Lanka's president sacked his energy minister on Thursday as fuel shortages left the near-bankrupt island facing its worst blackouts in 26 years and the nation's buses largely sidelined. Click here to read... [34]

Pakistan

Pakistan likely to remain on FATF grey list until June: Dawn

The concluding session of the plenary meeting of the FATF, a Paris-based global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, is due on Friday (today) and includes Pakistan’s review on the agenda. Click here to read... [35]

Pakistan presents three-point formula to solve Ukraine crisis: The News

Pakistan's permanent representative at the United Nations, Munir Akram, Thursday presented a three-point formula to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. Click here to read... [36]

Pakistan stays on sidelines as UN debates Ukraine crisis: report: The Hindu

Pakistan allowed its turn to pass as the UN General Assembly continued to debate a resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, according to a media report on March 2. Click here to read... [37]