VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: February 04, 2022

Afghanistan
EU Must Not Recognize Govt While Afghan Women Restricted: VP: Tolo News

The vice-president of the European Parliament, Heidi Hautala, said that European countries do not want to be in the situation of recognizing the current Afghan government before changes have been made in the lives of Afghan women. Click here to read…

US to Banks: OK to Transfer Aid Money to Afghanistan: Tolo News

International banks can transfer money to Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, and aid groups are allowed to pay teachers and healthcare workers at state-run institutions without fear of breaching sanctions on the Islamic Emirate, the United States said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Click here to read…

UN can’t use its $135 million in Afghanistan bank: Al Dardari: The Khaama Press

The United Nations has said that they have up to $135 million in Afghanistan International Bank (AIB) but cannot convert it into local currency (Afghani) to use inside Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Bangladesh
Not a lost cause- Dhaka Tribune

We must reflect on why the students at SUST protested, and what these protests revealed. Click here to read…

Govt needs to review its practice of appointing VCs- Daily Star

For academic excellence, we are on the wrong track. Click here to read…

Air quality in districts: Cleanest in Madaripur, worst in Gazipur- Daily Star

Finds first-of-its-kind study. Click here to read…

Bhutan
Officials still unable ascertain cause of Yangnyer forest fires- Bhutan Times

Trashigang dzongkhag and Yangnyer Gewog officials are still not able to ascertain the cause of two massive forest fires that blazed the dzongkhag last week. Click here to read…

Performers to be rewarded, the incapable penalised: RCSC- Kuensel

Demoting and offering the option of resigning or retiring executives who do not perform well are difficult steps, but they need to be taken in the interest of national objectives, according to the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC). Click here to read…

Maldives
New draft law in the Maldives aimed at muzzling criticism of India- TRT WORLD.

A new draft bill criminalising Maldivian political movements or slogans that affect foreign relations is the latest escalation amid increasing tensions between the pro-India ruling coalition and the pro-China opposition in the small island nation. Click here to read…

Gov’t to launch ‘National Moderation Campaign’ to curb religious extremism- Raajje.

President Solih delivered his fourth Presidential Address at the inaugural sitting of the People’s Majlis on Thursday morning. Efforts are currently underway to draft and send a legislation governing Hajj, Umrah, Waqf and Zakat to the People’s Majlis for consideration. Click here to read…

Gov’t to raise import duty on easily grown local produce within 2022- Raajje.

The government wants to see more small businesses flourishing across the nation. Agriculture is one of the sectors that tops the list accorded highest priority under the government’s initiative to expand the economy. Click here to read…

Myanmar
A year after the coup, Myanmar army faces chaos and resistance – The Federal

The nationwide peace process initiated by elected governments in the last decade – which some see as a democracy dividend – has all but collapsed and most of the country’s powerful ethnic rebel armies are back on warpath. They say the junta, the State Administrative Council (SAC), cannot be trusted to offer any meaningful concession that would take the nation towards federalism, offering more autonomy to minority regions. Click here to read…

Myanmar villagers say army troops burned 400 houses – ABC News

Residents of two villages in northwestern Myanmar said government soldiers burned down hundreds of houses this week, apparently while searching for members of an armed militia opposed to military rule.
Click here to read…

Myanmar’s UN envoy under fire for proposing ‘power share’ with military – The Guardian

Pro-democracy groups condemn Noeleen Heyzer’s comments in a TV interview, and maintain the junta is losing its grip.
Click here to read…

Thailand hasn’t done enough about Myanmar crisis on diplomatic front, analysts say – RFA

Thailand, which shares a long history and border with Myanmar, should do more to address the crisis there, experts and activists said, one year after the Burmese military seized power in a coup.
Click here to read…

Nepal
A volunteer’s act earns praise but exposes health inequities in Nepal- Kathmandu Post

An image of a woman carrying an elderly woman on her back for vaccination has gone viral. But it tells a bigger and darker story of the country’s health system, experts say.Click here to read…

Active caseload drops to 63296 with 2742 new Covid infections, 2742 discharges on Thursday- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal reached 63,296 on Thursday as compared to 69,291 on Wednesday as 2,742 people tested positive for the infection while 8,723 discharges were made in past 24 hours.Click here to read…

Government gives seven-day ultimatum to casino companies to clear arrears- Himalaya

The government has given a seven-day ultimatum to seven casino companies that have yet to clear arrears of their royalty and renewal fees. Click here to read…

Pakistan
Pakistan still a strategic partner, reaffirms US: Dawn

The US-Pakistan relationship came up for discussion at a State Department briefing on Wednesday afternoon when a journalist referred to a recent statement by Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi who blamed the BJP government in India for pushing Pakistan into the Chinese camp. Click here to read…

Minister asks K-P to complete its tasks about Dasu project: The Express Tribune

Chairing the 17th meeting of the Project Steering Committee of the Dasu Hydro Power project, the minister reviewed the implementation status of the decisions taken during the last meeting of the committee held on December 16, 2021. Click here to read…

Islamabad, Riyadh agree to step up oil facility: The Express Tribune

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki called on Federal Economic Affairs Minister Omar Ayub at his office and they both discussed the ongoing development projects and new initiatives. Omar appreciated the Saudi support in the priority development areas. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka
True independence or merely a term?: The Island

Independence. Yes, it was first celebrated as throwing off the yoke of British colonial rule over the island and the granting or achieving of self rule, with no violence. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris scheduled to visit India from Feb. 6 to 8: Hindu

Visit comes even as India extends emergency assistance to the island nation in the grip of an economic crisis. Click here to read…

Efforts to revive LTTE: The Island

The Island of 31 Jan. 2022 carries a report which states: “The Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case and launched a probe in connection with fake passports who are allegedly involved in raising money to revive the LTTE ….”Click here to read…