VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: February 08, 2022

Afghanistan

Kabul Denies UN Report of Foreign Groups in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate on Monday rejected a report by the United Nations Security Council Monitoring Team which said that following the political change in Afghanistan, foreign insurgent groups enjoy greater freedom in the country. Click here to read... [2]

Former UK defense chief says US will recognize Taliban sooner or later: Khaama Press

United Kingdom’s former chief of defense David Richards warned that it was time to accept that the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan has been lost and that the United States must start working with the new leadership for the sake of the Afghan people. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

BNP refuses to recommend EC candidates- Dhaka Tribune

The search committee is meaningless and there is no point in suggesting them any names, says Fakhrul. Click here to read... [4]

Young, educated and jobless- Dhaka Tribune

A look into the grim unemployment situation of Bangladesh. Click here to read... [5]

Amount hiked for projects this FY could make another Padma bridge- Daily Star

But how big a malaise it is has come to the fore this fiscal year: a second Padma bridge could be built with the additional amount allocated to the revised projects so far, raising serious questions about the project implementation procedures of the ministries.Click here to read... [6]

Luxembourg reaffirms its support on Rohingya repatriation- Daily Observer

Luxembourg has reaffirmed Bangladesh to continue its support regarding the repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar alongside exploring new opportunities to widen and deepen the existing bilateral relations further. Click here to read... [7]

Japan pledges $2 million for Rohingyas in Bangladesh- The Independent

Japan will contribute a total of US$ 2 million in emergency grant aid for supporting the displaced Rohingya Muslims living on Bhasan Char. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

PM says no plans to live with Omicron for the sake of our children and parents health- The Bhutanese

The Office of the Prime Minister said that Thimphu will continue with the same arrangement of movement within mega-zone for another three days starting Monday. Any change in the strategy will commence from February 10. Click here to read... [9]

Mike and Darren live the good life in Canada as their MLM Pyramid Scam goes after the savings of ordinary Bhutanese- The Bhutanese

The Bhutanese has found that the two masterminds behind the major Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Pyramid Scheme in Bhutan selling expensive Enagic Water Ionizers are two men named Mike Dreher and Darren Ewert based in Vancouver, Canada. Click here to read... [10]

HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck attends 2022 Winter Olympics- Keunsel

His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, His Majesty’s representative and the President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC), is attending the XXIV Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Click here to read... [11]

RCSC radar: Civil servants to be implicated if they underperform- Bhutan Times

The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) is in the process of gauging the performances of Secretaries and Director-Generals and will soon communicate the outcomes to them. Click here to read... [12]

Several districts receive snowfall after many years- BBS

The heavy snowfall this time surprised many people across the country. Places like Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha received snowfall after several decades. Trashi Yangtse experienced snow after 14 years and declared today a holiday. It was the same in Trongsa where snow fell after a decade. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives

Maldives: Visa-free entry for Indian business travelers comes into effect. REPUBLIC WORLD.COM

The government of Maldives has initiated the process of granting Indian Nationals visa-free entry for business purposes, for a period not exceeding the visa-free period of 90 days. Click here to read... [14]

Japan pledges to provide eight ambulances to Maldives. Raajje.

The ministry will allocate two ambulances to National Ambulance Services in Hulhumalé and each of six local islands. The Grant Contract was signed by Mrs. Takeuchi Midori, Ambassador of Japan to Maldives and Dr. Shah Abdulla Mahir, Minister of State for Health. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

Myanmar reaches a political impasse - Bangkok Post

Myanmar is engulfed in a civil war that is growing daily leaving diminishing options available to try to resolve it in what is a growing political impasse. Click here to read... [16]

Rohingya refugees abusing host's generosity - The Financial Express

Bangladesh has sheltered the Rohingya people out of humanitarian consideration but many of them are abusing the generosity extended to them. Producing false documents, they have already received birth registration, national identity cards (NID) and even passports. Click here to read... [17]

Revolutionary roads: how the army tried to crush Yangon’s most anti-coup district - The Guardian

Over the past decade, Myanmar’s manufacturing and garment industry saw huge growth, much of it centred in Hlaing Tharyar. Hundreds of thousands of women and men from farming backgrounds flocked to the township to work in its factories, many of which supplied clothes to international brands. Click here to read... [18]

NUG says Min Aung Hlaing’s conscription plan shows regime’s weakness - Myanmar Now

A renewed push by Myanmar’s coup regime to introduce a system of compulsory military service is a sign of its diminishing strength, according to the country’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG). Click here to read... [19]

On democracy in Myanmar, cardinal says there’s ‘no reason for optimism’ - CruxNow

One year after a military coup overthrew Myanmar’s democratic leadership, the nation’s outspoken top Catholic prelate has called for dialogue and an end to violence but cast doubt on the future of democracy in the Southeast Asian country. Click here to read... [20]

At least 6 charred bodies found after Myanmar army operation – LaprensaLatina

Locals have found six charred bodies days after soldiers cracked down on suspected insurgents in the central Myanmar region of Sagaing, a bastion of anti-junta resistance, local media reported Saturday. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

Local level elections on May 13- Himalaya

The government has decided to hold the local level elections on May 13 in a single phase. Click here to read... [22]

US sets Feb 28 deadline for MCC ratification- Himalaya

The United States of America has given Nepal a deadline of February 28 to secure parliamentary ratification of the Millennium Challenge Corporation deal. Click here to read... [23]

Coalition’s future hangs in balance as elections declared amid MCC confusion- Kathmandu Post

Leaders say too early to talk about electoral alliance but those opposing the US grant say any move to push it for ratification would lead to a breakdown of the coalition. Click here to read... [24]

Maoists backpedal on MCC letter- Nepali Times

Pushpa Kamal Dahal on defensive over accusations of political duplicity over American project in Nepal. Click here to read... [25]

CPN (Maoist Center) calls central committee meeting- My Republica

The CPN (Maoist Center) has called its central committee meeting to discuss contemporary political issues. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

PM Imran to kick off ‘pre-poll’ roadshow: Dawn

As the two major opposition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — moved to bury the hatchet for achieving their common goal of sending the government packing, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday decided to kick off a mass-contact campaign in which he will hold public meetings across the country. Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan values historical, brotherly ties with Saudi Arabia: COAS: The Express Tribune

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan values its historical and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia and acknowledges its unique place in the Islamic world, the military said. Click here to read... [28]

Sri Lanka

China says 'firmly' backing Sri Lanka in defending its sovereignty, offers to upgrade BRI projects: The Economics Times

"Today marks the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic ties of China and Sri Lanka. Over the past 65 years, the two sides have lent mutual understanding and support to each other, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used against India, says Sri Lankan foreign minister GL Peiris: The Times Of India

Sri Lankan foreign minister GL Peiris, who is on a visit to India, has said that Sri Lanka will never allow any part of its territory to be used in any way against the well-being of India. Click here to read... [30]

The perils of ‘maritime blindness’: Daily Mirror

"The Sri Lankan navy’s importance has increased now, partly due to the lessons learned in the war, and partly due to increasing Indian and US concern over Chinese inroads into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)" Click here to read... [31]