VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: March 16, 2022

Afghanistan

Officials: Foreign Institutions Deceive with Wrong Figures: Tolo News

The National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) says that some foreign institutions are misleading the people and the world by presenting false statistics about humanitarian aid. Click here to read... [2]

Turkey’s third humanitarian shipment arrives in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Turkey’s “Kindness Train” coordinated by Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) that left Afghanistan in February arrived in Afghanistan on Monday, March 14. Click here to read... [3]

Pashtun Jirga in Bannu Calls for Elections, Jirga in Afghanistan: Tolo News

A jirga gathering of Pashtuns in Bannu city in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan that was held from 11 to 14 of March, called for Loya Jirga and general elections in Afghanistan to elect a representative government. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

How justified is Bangladesh’s position on Ukraine issue?- Porthomalo

The diplomatic front is one of most important fronts in any war. This front fights alongside the actual battleground and economic front. Both the warring sides seek to ensure support of most countries around the globe. Click here to read... [5]

Russia’s Ukraine war impacts Bangladesh’s trade and development programs- The North Lines

The US/EU-led bloc of countries have hit out at Bangladesh viciously, while they still assess their options vis-à-vis its bigger neighbour, India. Click here to read... [6]

US sanctions on RAB: Relations won’t be affected- The Daily Star

Sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion and its top officials do not mean that the US does not want to build on its relationship with Bangladesh, which is based on shared values of human rights, democracy, security and development, said an embassy official. Click here to read... [7]

Insurgents murdered Rohingya leader- The Daily Star

Police admitted for the first time yesterday that an insurgent group ordered last year's murder of a respected Rohingya leader, saying they were threatened by his growing popularity. Click here to read... [8]

Foreign diplomats applaud Bangladesh’s proactive policy of women empowerment- The Daily Star

Foreign diplomats applauded Bangladesh's proactive policy of women empowerment, while also calling for continuing efforts that are imperative for sustainable development. Click here to read... [9]

Saudi Foreign Minister arrives in Dhaka on two-day visit- The Daily Star

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit for holding the first ever political dialogue.
Click here to read... [10]

Cooperation between US-Bangladesh on development, security, climate change shows range of partnership’- The Daily Star

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter D Haas today said Bangladesh is an important US partner and the bilateral relationship is "broad and dynamic".Click here to read... [11]

Unbearable today: Dhaka traffic comes to standstill- The Daily Star

Ishtiaq Hossain, a private firm employee, left his home in Khilgaon at 9am for his office in Farmgate. The commute usually takes him 45 minutes, but it took him nearly two and a half hours today. Click here to read... [12]

Bhutan

Government announces more relaxations- Kuensel

Shopkeepers in Thimphu can cross over to other mega zones to operate businesses after obtaining a one-time e-pass beginning today. The e-pass can be used to move between home and their shops every day. Click here to read... [13]

US & China once agreed Ukraine & Belarus are akin to Bhutan & Sikkim- Economic Times

The transcript of a conversation between the then US national security adviser Henry Kissinger and Chinese Prime Minister Chou en Lai in Beijing on February 18, 1973, released by the US State Department, reveals that China had backed the US on the Ukraine issue at the time and compared the position of Ukraine, which was then part of the USSR, with that of Bhutan, often considered India’s closest neighbour. Click here to read... [14]

A Day trip from Thimphu without a test is unscientific and discriminatory- Kuensel

This week, despite an alarming rate of community cases in the capital, the National Covid-19 Task Force permitted a day trip from Thimphu to nearby Dzongkhags without any test or quarantine. But if residents from Paro or Wangdue must travel, they require a test mandatorily. Click here to read... [15]

Million Fruit Trees Plantation Initiative launched- BBS

To bring youth closer to rural Bhutan, foster food security and support farmers, a million fruit trees will be planted across the country in two and a half months. The project, an initiative of the DeSuung National Service in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry was inaugurated today. It will engage around 2,000 DeSuups. Click here to read... [16]

Maldives

Maldives President Solih thanks India for 'generous' COVID, financial aid in last 2 years: Te Sun

Highlighting the positive role played by India in the last two years, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in his national address has especially thanked the Indian Government's role in helping his country cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, including gifting vaccines. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar

Myanmar: ‘Appalling’ violations demand ‘unified and resolute international response’ - UN News

In a new report warning that serious rights abuses uncovered in Myanmar may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, appealed to the international community to take “concerted, immediate measures to stem the spiral of violence” there.

Myanmar's message to the EU amid Ukraine crisis: 'Don't forget about us' - Euro News

On February 21, the European Union imposed its fourth round of sanctions on the military junta that ousted Myanmar’s democratically-elected government in 2021. Going further than the US, Brussels sanctioned the country’s state-run oil and gas behemoth, the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, a major revenue earner for the junta. Click here to read... [18]

Myanmar eyes using rupee for border trade - Tribune India

Myanmar’s military-led administration on Tuesday agreed to accept Thai baht as an official currency in border trade dealings and plans a similar arrangement for use of India’s rupee, seeking to limit the country’s reliance on the US dollar in trade. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar eases Covid-19 restrictions to allow public gatherings of up to 400 people - The Star

Myanmar's Ministry of Health on Tuesday (March 15) issued an order to increase the maximum size of public gatherings from 200 people to 400. The ministry said the maximum ceiling of 400 people is to be allowed at public gatherings starting from March 16 excluding unpermitted ones as Covid-19 cases and death toll has significantly declined in the country. Click here to read... [20]

Japanese Special Envoy Meets Ethnic Armed Groups In Chiang Mai - BNI Online

The Special Envoy of Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar met separately with several ethnic armed groups fighting the military in the Southeast Asian country for the first time since the coup a year ago. Yōhei Sasakawa held talks in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai on 10 March with Karenni National Progressive Party leader Khu Oo Reh, the party's second secretary Aung San Myint and Ko Nelneh Plo, head of the Karenni Emergency Rescue Team, mainly on humanitarian aid. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

We will crush ruling parties in the upcoming election: Oli- Republica

Chairman of the main opposition party CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli has said that his party will defeat the ruling coalition alone in the upcoming election. Click here to read... [22]

Parliament prorogued- Himalayan Times

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, on recommendation of the government, prorogued the current session of the Paraliament from midnight today. Click here to read... [23]

Poll expenditure cap 'unrealistic'- Himalayan

The Election Commission's decision to put a ceiling on poll expenditure for candidates vying for top posts in municipalities and rural municipalities has drawn flak from civil society members. Click here to read... [24]

High prices of imported electricity could affect power utility’s finances- Kathmandu Post

Nepal has been importing around 1,000MW of electricity from India a day as peak hour demand is around 1,600MW. Click here to read... [25]

Cholendra Shamsher Rana is unlikely to be impeached. He won’t return to the office either- Online Khabar

The government on Tuesday prorogued the ongoing session of both houses of the federal parliament. With this, the impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana has been pushed into limbo. Click here to read... [26]

Sri Lanka

Protests hit Sri Lanka's capital amid severe economic crisis: Hindustan Times

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office in Colombo, led by supporters of the opposition party of the United People's Force. Click here to read... [27]

US TAMIL DIASPORA GROUPS URGE IMF TO CONDITION AID TO SRI LANKA WITH TAKING STEPS ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ATROCITY CRIMES: News Wires

In a united initiative by key Tamil Diaspora organizations in the US today, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is being called upon to promote accountability and protect human rights by imposing conditions to any aid to Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [28]

Vaiko demands solution to 'frequent' attacks by Lankan navy on TN fishermen: Business Standard

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Upper House, Vaiko said for the past 38 years, fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been targeted repeatedly by the Sri Lankan Navy and their boats destroyed. Click here to read... [29]

Pakistan

PML-Q calls for ‘ceasefire’ in national interest: Dawn

Amid rising political temperatures in the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has ‘appealed’ to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the opposition parties to show restraint and urged them to cancel their planned public meetings at D-Chowk in the larger national interest. Click here to read... [30]

Qureshi discusses Ukraine crisis with Belarusian counterpart: The Express Tribune

The two ministers discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse areas including the situation in Ukraine, the foreign office said in a statement. Click here to read... [31]

Editorial: Unwise positions: Dawn

APPREHENSIONS of a violent conflict between the ruling PTI and the opposition political parties are growing after the PDM’s call for a ‘long march’ on the federal capital on Pakistan Day. Click here to read... [32]