VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: March 25, 2022

Afghanistan

Chinese Foreign Minister, Russian Envoy Visit Kabul: Tolo News

The Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi paid a surprise visit to Kabul on Thursday-- the first time since the Islamic Emirate swept into power in August 2021Click here to read... [2]

US, UK, European countries slam Taliban’s decision over suspending girls’ schools: The Khaama Press

Foreign Ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, and High Representative of the European Union in a joint statement condemned the decision of the Taliban over not reopening secondary and high schools for Afghan girls. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban denies reshuffle in interim cabinet: The Khaama Press

Chief spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid denied reports over rearrangements in the interim cabinet adding no changes have been brought in the government structure. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

DNCC to operate mobile courts in Ramadan- The Daily Star

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will run mobile courts in all its zones during Ramadan to tackle food adulteration. Click here to read... [5]

Personal data protection bill draft: Law enforcers won’t have to comply- The Daily Star

The Information and Communication Technology Division has finalized the draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill and is preparing to place it before the cabinet for approval. Click here to read... [6]

‘Russia, Bangladesh working out modalities to ensure uninterrupted transactions, trade’- The Daily Star

Russia and Bangladesh are working out modalities to keep transactions and trade between the two countries uninterrupted, said Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy today. Click here to read... [7]

Bangladesh's ambassador to Egypt receives 'best diplomat' award- The Daily Star

Bangladesh's ambassador to Egypt Monirul Islam has been selected as one of the best foreign diplomats to the country from Asia. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Construction sector prepares for recovery- Keunsel

Smooth facilitation of construction materials would boost the construction sector, according to the Construction Association of Bhutan (CAB). Click here to read... [9]

About 800 people register for home quarantine in Sarpang- Keunsel

More than 800 people registered to undergo home quarantine as Sarpang dzongkhag Covid-19 task force started approving home quarantine for people wishing to travel from Sarpang, a high-risk area to low-risk areas yesterday.

Winter chilli growers in Mongar worried about price- Keunsel

Three groups of farmers in Mongar started growing chilli on a large scale since 2021 as part of the winter chilli programme to address the acute shortage in the country. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Opposition says rally will be held as planned, despite police warning- The SUN

Opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), states they will hold the mass rally planned for Male’ City in the upcoming weekend, despite warnings by the police. Click here to read... [11]

MPL holds training program for security officers at maritime ports- The SUN

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has conducted a program to train security officers stationed at maritime ports in Maldives. Click here to read... [12]

MRM urges Parliament to expedite repeal of restriction on freedom of assembly- The SUN

Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) has released a statement urging the Parliament to expedite work on repealing the amendment to the Freedom of Assembly Act made in 2016, during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, which restricts freedom of assembly. Click here to read... [13]

Agreement signed on expanding Hulhumale’ Port’s container yard capacity- The SUN

A lease agreement has been executed between Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for the lease of land to be used for the expansion of Hulhumale’ International Terminal’s container yard capacity. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives Islamic Bank announces service hours for Ramadan- The SUN

Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) has announced its service hours for the month of Ramadan. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

Myanmar categorically rejects U.S. Secretary of State’s conclusion that Myanmar Tatmadaw has committed genocide - Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar has categorically rejected the U.S. Secretary of State’s determination to conclude that the Myanmar Tatmadaw has committed genocide and crimes against Bengali Community in northern Rakhine State, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 22. Click here to read... [16]

Junta Sets Places of Worship on Fire in Sagaing Region - persecution.org

During recent raids in Sagaing Region’s Taze Township, the Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) torched a monastery and a Catholic church as they swept through two villages. Three villagers were murdered during the attacks. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar 'special command' authorised lethal attacks on civilians - report - Reuters

Myanmar’s junta chief created a special command a day after last year’s coup that was solely responsible for deployment and operations of troops in urban areas, and authorised lethal attacks on unarmed civilians, human rights investigators said. Click here to read... [18]

Australia’s Embrace of Defectors Sends Shockwaves Through Myanmar Military - The Irrawaddy

The Australian government’s granting of protection to defectors from the Myanmar regime’s armed forces has elicited interest even among senior officers, especially those who oppose military rule in the country. Some have already quit the military, which has become notorious for killing its own people. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar Junta Deploys Militias in Key Strategic State - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta has mobilized militias against resistance groups in Kayah State, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).

Nepal

A slew of deals likely as Chinese foreign minister lands in Kathmandu today- the Kathmandu Post

Wang Yi will meet some political figures as well during his three days in Nepal where he is flying straight from Delhi. Click here to read... [20]

Poll commission plans video tracking of ballot counting- the Kathmandu Post

Election officials says local governments should purchase and install the system. Click here to read... [21]

Water lift projects ease Karnali water crisis- the Kathmandu Post

Drinking water shortage had made life difficult not just for adults but also for children who had to skip classes to manage water. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal wants to be off aviation blacklist. It has not passed key bills yet- the Kathmandu Post

The government has been working on the proposed legislation since 2009 when it made a commitment to ICAO to split the civil aviation body during the safety audit. Click here to read... [23]

Pakistan

No-trust on agenda as ‘fateful’ NA sitting begins: Dawn

The much-anticipated session of the National Assembly with a crucial no-confidence resolution — filed by the opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan — on the agenda, is set to commence at 11am today (Friday). Click here to read... [24]

China says willing to extend CPEC to Afghanistan: Dawn

Wang met acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss political and economic ties, including starting work in the mining sector and Afghanistan’s possible role in China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, according to a statement from an Afghan foreign ministry spokesman. Click here to read... [25]

PM asks nation to attend PTI’s March 27 rally: The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday asked citizens to participate in the PTI’s public gathering in Islamabad on March 27, urging them to join him “against evil".Click here to read... [26]

Yawning gap in estimates: IMF, Pakistan talks hit stalemate: The News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that the Prime Minister’s Relief Package for slashing down petrol, diesel, and electricity prices as well as doling out of Kamyab Pakistan Program (KPP) loans would cost almost doubled amount of Rs 425 billion against official estimates of Rs 220 billion only. Click here to read... [27]

Sri Lanka

SJB says a state bank on verge of default- The Island

SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that a state bank was on the verge of default. Click here to read... [28]

Agriculture Minister admits drop in paddy harvest- The Island

A special mechanism was being set up to make rice available at reasonable prices during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament yesterday (24). Click here to read... [29]

Lanka’s first LNG power plant will generate 200 MWs next year- The Island

The LNG Power Plant, which is being built at Kerawalapitiya, would add 200 MWs to the national grid by next year, Power Minister Pavithra Wanniarachi said inspecting the progress of its construction. Click here to read... [30]

APC gets underway: Prez says won’t seek political advantage; Basil undertakes to present new budget- The Island

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has assured political parties that his government will not seek any political advantage by calling an All-Party Conference (APC) to address the current economic crisis. Click here to read... [31]

Even with emergency power purchase no uninterrupted supply of electricity- The Island

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday (24) announced that uninterrupted electricity couldn’t be supplied even with the emergency power purchase of 200 megawattsClick here to read... [32]