VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: March 08, 2022

Afghanistan

Flights between Afghanistan, Russia to resume soon- Pajhwok

The Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation says flights between Afghanistan and Russia will resume in near future. Click here to read... [2]

University Students’ Class Time Limited, Told to 'Self-Study’- Tolo News

It has been two weeks since public universities in the cold climate areas opened, including Kabul University, but overnight students claim that the university authorities are now implementing a “self-study” plan, which limits the amount of time that students spend in class. Click here to read... [3]

WFP Calls for More Funds for Afghan Relief- Tolo News

The World Food Program (WFP) recently stated the organization’s Afghanistan-allocated funds are running dry as the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues, saying nearly no family can access enough to eat and humanitarian needs may reach levels the WFP we cannot help. Click here to read... [4]

Afghanistan Tops List of Countries Impacted by Terrorism in 2021- Tolo News

Afghanistan and Iraq are at the top of the list of countries impacted by terrorism in 2021 according to the Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

Ex-Defense Minister Shahnavaz Tani Dies in Islamabad- Tolo News

Tani was the leader of the Peace Movement party during the rule of Hamid Karzai, which included a number of members of the former People's Democratic Party.
Relatives of Shahnavaz Tani reported that he died from an illness at a hospital in Islamabad. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Covid, war in Ukraine behind price hike: PM- The Daily Star

"The prices of essentials have marked a rise not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world due to the Covid-induced global economic recession. That's why the prices have gone up in every country of the world," she said. Click here to read... [6]

Nation observes historic March 7- The Daily Star

The nation yesterday observed the historic March 7, marking the landmark speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The speech was touted as an indirect declaration of the country's independence in 1971. Click here to read... [7]

Health hazards stalk female tea workers- The Daily Star

For all their significant contributions to the tea industry, female tea workers suffer from malnutrition and a host of other diseases, while child marriage and early childbirth refuse to leave them aloneClick here to read... [8]

India looks to advance trade deal with Bangladesh: Piyush Goyal- Business Standard

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said India was looking to advance a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Bangladesh. Click here to read... [9]

Security Advisor to Bangladesh PM dials Modi- United News of India

Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Security Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. "He thanked the Prime Minister for strengthening India Bangladesh friendship and standing firmly with Bangladesh in times of crisesClick here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Cardamom growers experience the brunt of recent heavy snowfall in Zhemgang- BBS

The heavy snowfall in February, which was the first after decades in Zhemgang, has damaged all cardamom plants in Tali village. This has left the farmers disappointed. The farmers in Tali grow cardamom as one of the main cash crops. Click here to read... [11]

Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign for children aged five to 11 begins- BBS

The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign for five to 11-year-olds began yesterday. A girl child born in the year of bird received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Jigme Namgyel Lower Secondary School in Thimphu at 10:30 AM, marking the rollout. Click here to read... [12]

Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign for children aged five to 11 begins- BBS

The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign for five to 11-year-olds began yesterday. A girl child born in the year of bird received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Jigme Namgyel Lower Secondary School in Thimphu at 10:30 AM, marking the rollout. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

India, Maldives to strengthen professional capabilities in audit fields: Business standard

During the meeting, Murmu emphasised the role of technology in today's rapidly changing world, which constantly create fresh avenues for audit and make audits more efficientClick here to read... [13]

COVID-19: the Maldives records 488 new cases in 24 hours: SUN

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Monday, announced 488 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in Nepal

Nepal records 88 fresh COVID-19 cases, one fatality on Monday- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal climbed to 6,510 on Monday as 66 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal-India secretary-level joint taskforce meeting concludes- Himalaya

The secretary-level meeting of the joint taskforce of Nepal and India, formed to facilitate supply of petroleum products and gas concluded. Click here to read... [15]

‘A diverse workforce ensures you have the best talent’ Kathmandu Post

I feel a gender-equal world is one where gender is not a consideration in any form or fashion, and we are still some way away from that goal. Click here to read... [16]

Women look for a human economy— equal for all- Kathmandu Post

Problems ranging from managing cash, paying workers, rent and repaying loans caused distress to women during Covid-19 pandemic, forcing many to quit entrepreneurship. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal-India railway service becomes uncertain as ordinance has expired- Kathmandu Post

Nepal Railway Company has been operating trains on the 35-kilometre Kurtha-Jayanagar Cross Border Railway without passengers since February 13. Click here to read... [18]

Can Nepal elections change its male-stream politics?- Nepali Times

This May, vote for women leaders and minority groups and make our local governments more inclusive and less tokenistic. Click here to read... [19]

Govt decides to provide Rs 4.25 billion to NOC for fuel purchase- Republica

The government has decided to provide funds for the purchase of petroleum products to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), which is in trouble after accumulated savings fell to zero due to a hike in the prices of petroleum products in the international market.

Myanmar

The new paradigm of strategic economic coercion: do sanctions work? - Mizzima

Myanmar, Russia and China are rapped for their transgressions through economic war. But, as this commentary explores, there are serious questions over the efficacy of the tools employed. Click here to read... [20]

Myanmar Junta Starts Seizing Properties of Activists’ Families - The Irrawaddy

In a bid to intimidate opponents, Myanmar’s junta is targeting the homes and other property belonging to the relatives of its opponents. Click here to read... [21]

Cracks in the Myanmar military armour as more servicemen desert - Mizzima

They come in their ones and twos – Myanmar junta soldiers changing sides or fleeing from the horrors of supporting an illegal military regime. Click here to read... [22]

Over 100 Rohingya refugees arrive by sea in Indonesia's Aceh province - Reuters

Over 100 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar arrived by boat on the shores of Indonesia's Aceh province in the early hours of Sunday, an NGO group at the scene said. Click here to read... [23]

The Myanmar Army’s Criminal Alliance - USIP

In December 2021, at a grand ceremony in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, the country’s military chief — and leader of last year’s coup — awarded the highest honors for “extraordinary contributions to the development of the state” to an internationally obscure entrepreneur named Liu Zhengxiang.
https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/03/myanmar-armys-criminal-alliance" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Sri Lanka

India-Sri Lanka maritime exercise SLINEX begins in Visakhapatnam: Indian Express

SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) is being conducted in two phases. The first one, the harbour phase at Visakhapatnam on March 7 and 8, followed by the sea phase on March 9 and 10 in the Bay of Bengal. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka sharply depreciates currency as crisis bites: Deccan Herald

Sri Lanka announced a near-15 per cent depreciation of its currency Monday, four days after the IMF called for devaluation and higher taxes to revive the almost-bankrupt economy. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka’s central bank chief says measures to deal with the economic crisis may not be ‘palatable’: CNBC

As Sri Lanka battles one of its worst economic crises in over 70 years, its central bank governor expressed optimism the country would be able to pull through. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

'Pakistan responsible for present Afghan humanitarian crisis': ANI

An international NGO called 'The Organisation for Poverty Alleviation and Development' held Pakistan completely responsible for the present humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [27]

The lists of the FATF and Pakistan’s position: The Hindu

The global financial crime watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in its latest plenary meeting, decided to retain Pakistan on its terror-financing ‘grey list’. Click here to read... [28]

Pak PM Khan discusses Russia-Ukraine war with European Council President: Business Standard

The prime minister stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and de-escalation in violence. Khan hoped the dispute would be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Click here to read... [29]