VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: March 09, 2022

Afghanistan

Afghan, Iranian Forces Clash in Nimroz: Tolo News

Residents and local officials said that a clash erupted between the Islamic Emirate’s border forces and Iranian border guards in Kang district of Nimroz province on Monday evening. Click here to read... [2]

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... [3]

FM Mottaqi calls on China’s ambassador to Kabul: The Khaama Press

Chief spokesperson and Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Zabiullah Mujahid said that acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Amir khan Mottaqi met with China’s ambassador to Kabul Wang Yu on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh, India, Nepal finalize MoU to enable inter-vehicular movement- The Daily Star

Bangladesh, India and Nepal have finalized an enabling memorandum of understanding (MoU), to be signed by the three countries, for implementation of the much-awaited BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), pending its ratification by Bhutan, to facilitate movement of passenger, personal, and cargo vehicular traffic. Click here to read... [5]

‘Motherly affection will win people over’- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that people will continue to support her due to her motherly affection as a leader of the countryClick here to read... [6]

Edible Oil: Stock sufficient, price still high- The Daily Star

The country has sufficient stock of edible oil to meet the demand till Ramadan, but the market remains volatile, said the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Click here to read... [7]

HC questions discriminations against women- The Daily Star

With respect to women on International Women's Day, the High Court yesterday issued a suo moto rule questioning the discrimination against women in social status, jobs and inheritanceClick here to read... [8]

AL central leaders to visit Chattogram- The Daily Star

To strengthen the party's grassroots in Chattogram and resolve intra-party feud, Awami League's (AL) central committee instructed local leaders to organize a delegate meeting in all the three organizational units in the district immediatelyClick here to read... [9]

Environmentalist Rizwana Hasan to get US Int'l Women of Courage Award- The Daily Star

The US Department of State has decided to recognise Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan with the International Women of Courage Award 2022Click here to read... [10]

Ukraine war: Bangladesh’s position fairly balanced- The Daily Star

Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque yesterday said Bangladesh's position on the Russia-Ukraine issue was "neutral and fairly balanced" but it might require a review in the coming days. Click here to read... [11]

Home beckons- The Daily Star

The 28 crew members of the ill-fated Bangladeshi ship are finally on their way home, having escaped death when the ship came under attack in Ukraine on March 2Click here to read... [12]

Bhutan

India, B'desh, Bhutan and Nepal hold a meeting on Motor Vehicles Agreement: The Economics Times

According to MEA officials, this BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) agreement was signed on June 15, 2015, and the last meeting was held in February 2020 in New Delhi. Click here to read... [13]

Across the Border From Arunachal, Bhutan Shows the Way To Save Black-Necked Cranes: The Science Wire

Bhutanese school children dressed as black-necked cranes perform a dance at a festival, in 2021. Photo: Sangeeta Barooah PisharotyClick here to read... [14]

Maldives

MALDIVES DROPS PRE-TRAVEL TEST FOR VACCINATED TRAVELLERS: Independent

The winter sun favourite hopes to return to 80 per cent of its usual tourist numbers this year. Click here to read... [15]

India and Maldives to strengthen professional capabilities in Maldives: The Hindu

CAG of India and Auditor General of Maldives hold bilateral meeting. Click here to read... [16]

Anti-Terrorism Act amendment demands divulging info-sharing limit with Maldives President: Edition

The latest amendments to Maldives Anti-Terrorism Act have enforced divulging intelligence information sharing threshold or limit with the Maldives President. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar

Myanmar defectors describe military culture of abuse, fear - Aljazeera

Captain Pyae Sone waited deep into the night before making preparations to flee. His superiors had ordered him to gather 25 infantry soldiers under his command to attack anti-coup protesters the next morning. Click here to read... [18]

The Emergence of Civilian Resistance to Military Rule in Myanmar - The Diplomat

Initially, the new junta government was keen to be seen dealing with the protests in a proportional manner. Police relied on conventional crowd control tactics and used non-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets and tear gas. However, this was soon abandoned in favor of a more aggressive approach in which armed police and the military employed lethal force during repressive crackdowns. Click here to read... [19]

Arakan Army spokesman says nearly 4,000 cases filed in ULA/AA courts - Mizzima

The administration and judiciary in Rakhine State are overseen by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) and up to 3,838 complaints were filed in the ULA/AA courts in 2021, according to an Arakan Army (AA) spokesman. Click here to read... [20]

AA spokesman lauds PDFs’ resistance movement - BNI Online

Arakan Army (AA) spokesman U Khaing Thukha has heaped praise on the People’s Defense Force (PDF) units fighting against the Myanmar junta. “Speaking of the combat capability of the PDF, I can’t help but praise their courage to fight while they have no weapons,” said U Khaing Thukha during an online press conference held by the ethnic armed group on Saturday. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

On Ukraine, Nepal has not taken sides, foreign minister says- The Kathmandu Post

In his first press conference since he was appointed foreign minister on September 22, Khadka defended Nepal’s decision to vote in favor of Ukraine that has been under attack from Russia since February 24. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal, USAID set to sign $659 million deal for five years- The Kathmandu Post

Weeks after parliamentary ratification of the Millenium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact, a $500 million US grant to Nepal, the two countries are all set to sign a new five-year agreement to continue regular US aid to Nepal. Click here to read... [23]

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

These days, the Kurtha-Jayanagar cross-border railway track between Nepal and India offers an interesting sight. Locals see two trains chugging along the tracks once every day, between 11am and 1pm. But neither carries passengers. Click here to read... [24]

CPN (US) CWC meeting in Kathmandu- The Himalayan Times

CPN (Unified Socialist) has scheduled a meeting of its Central Working Committee on March 9-10 in Kathmandu. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan

Editorial: Rocky road for PM: Dawn

Even though the onus of proof that Mr Khan has lost the confidence of the National Assembly is on the opposition, the odds, at least for now, appear stacked against him. Mr Khan, facing a bigger threat from within his party, has a maximum of 21 days to defeat the motion. Click here to read... [26]

Budget deficit to surpass IMF’s target: The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s revised estimates show that its primary budget deficit will breach the recently agreed limits with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and inflation will remain high but there is positivity in economic growth rate trajectory. Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan under western pressure to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Business Standard

The ongoing conflict, triggered through the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, has brought the world into a divided approach between the west and the east. The NATO, US, UK and the European Union (EU) are taking to global platforms like the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to gather global support in condemning Russia over its aggression in Ukraine. Click here to read... [28]

Sri Lanka

Overwhelming support for Sri Lanka at the Interactive Dialogue at the Human Rights Council: The Island

Sri Lanka received overwhelming support from countries of the Global South at the Interactive Dialogue on the written update of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka, which concluded on Monday (7 March). Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister to visit New Delhi for talks on further assistance: The Hindu

Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will visit New Delhi later this month, Indian authorities said. Click here to read... [30]

SAARC Finance Ministers Meet now to help Sri Lanka: The Island

Dr. Sudath Gunasekara, suggest Sri Lanka calls for an urgent meeting of Finance Ministers of SAARC countries immediately. Click here to read... [31]