VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 26, 2022

Afghanistan

Kabul, Islamabad Sign New Economic, Transit Agreements: Tolo News

Afghanistan's Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that free truck traffic between Afghanistan and Pakistan will start in August, and Islamabad will not impose any restrictions on the export and transit of goods from Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

The Taliban Imports Tons of Cylinder Gas from Turkmenistan: The Khaama Press

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Taliban’s caretaker government, the ministry’s leadership and Turkmen authorities have inked an agreement on the import of thousands of tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from TurkmenistanClick here to read... [3]

Taliban Optimistic ahead of Int’l Conference on Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

The Tashkent conference on Afghanistan is delayed by one day, according to the Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, saying acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi will be heading a delegation to participate in the event Tuesday. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Think twice before taking up projects- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday issued a host of directives that include stopping non-essential procurement and exercising caution in taking up new development projects. Click here to read... [5]

Hasina invited to visit Japan- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Japan this year as the two countries want to further strengthen relations. Click here to read... [6]

‘Make the visa process flexible’- The Daily Star

Bangladesh yesterday urged India to show flexibility in the visa regime and wanted New Delhi to address the difference in overstay fine structures applied by the country. Click here to read... [7]

‘Bridge collapsed due to low quality materials’- The Daily Star

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has found irregularities in the construction works of a bridge in Tangail town that collapsed last month after completion of only 55 percent of the works. Click here to read... [8]

Dhaka Airport Third Terminal: Committee formed to look into ‘irregularities’- The Daily Star

A parliamentary body yesterday formed a three-member sub-committee to investigate alleged corruption and irregularities centring construction of the third terminal at Dhaka airport. Click here to read... [9]

It will create another crisis- The Daily Star

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has said bringing the public administration, home and defence ministries under the Election Commission during polls may create another crisis. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

Bhutan doesn’t want poor Indian visitors? Himalayan nation opens border with hefty sustainable development fee - New Indian Express

Is Bhutan politely saying ‘Indians aren’t welcome’? The Himalayan nation recently announced the opening of its borders for tourists from September 23 after two years, but with a hefty levy. Called sustainable development fee (SDF), it is $15 (Rs 1,200) per day per Indian and $200 (Rs 16,000) per person per day for other nationalities. This is in addition to the expenses of travelling, hotel bookings etc. Click here to read... [11]

India, Bhutan decide to close Kholongchhu Joint-Venture - Kuensel Online

The main agenda was to attend the 16th Authority meeting of Puna-II HEP. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, face-to-face authority meetings couldn’t be held for more than two and half years. As such, there were several pending project-related issues to be discussed and decisions to be made, so as to enable the project management to push the project forward. Further project authority meetings are to happen twice a year at alternate venues between Thimphu and Delhi. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

Monkeypox likely to reach the Maldives: HPA - Avas

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said that monkeypox is likely to reach the Maldives. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Click here to read... [13]

Maldives Independence Day - State.gov

The relationship between the United States and Maldives grows stronger with every passing day as we create a more just, prosperous, and secure region and world for our peoples. We cooperate on today’s most pressing challenges, including combating climate change, bringing an end to the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and promoting the international rules-based order that safeguards sovereignty and territorial integrityClick here to read... [14]

Myanmar

Myanmar: Who are the rulers who have executed democracy campaigners? - BBC

The military leaders in charge of Myanmar have executed four democracy activists whom it had accused of committing "terror acts”. The UN has condemned the executions as “depraved". They are the latest measures the regime has taken to suppress opposition since it seized power in February 2021. Click here to read... [15]

Gunfighting between the military council and AA broke out in Paletwa - Narinjara

A brief gun fighting between the Burmese army personnel and Arakan Army members took place in Paletwa township of Chin State on 24 July, said the residents. The clash broke out on the road towards Abound Thar village from the west of Paletwa and lasted for a few minutes. Click here to read... [16]

KNU opposes formation of Kawthoolei Army - Mizzima

The Karen National Union (KNU) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) announced that they were opposed to the newly formed Kawthoolei Army and expelled its leader Saw Nerdah Mya from the KNU. The decision was taken at a KNU Central Executive Committee meeting on 20 July. Click here to read... [17]

ASEAN chair calls timing of Myanmar executions 'highly reprehensible’ - Reuters

ASEAN chair Cambodia has called the timing of the Myanmar junta's execution of four activists "highly reprehensible" and said it has presented a gross lack of will to support the bloc's peace efforts in the country. Click here to read... [18]

Myanmar executions: US presses China to rein in junta, saying it cannot be ‘business as usual’ - The Guardian

A senior US official has urged China to do more to rein in Myanmar’s military after its execution of four people, saying that “it cannot be business as usual with the junta”, as the killings drew widespread international condemnation. Click here to read... [19]

Nepal

Upper House debates citizenship bill: The Himalayan

National Assembly members today debated the citizenship bill, with most of the lawmakers defending the bill. However, there were some who found fault with some of the provisions of the bill. Click here to read... [20]

Nepal imports goods from 164 countries: The Himalayan

Nepal imported goods from 164 countries during the fiscal year 2078-79 BS (2021-22).According to statistics unveiled by the Department of Customs today, Nepal imported goods worth over Rs 1,920 billion from those countries last fiscal year. The statistics show that Nepal purchased goods worth over Rs 1,200 billion from India alone while the export was of worth Rs 155 billion. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan

Editorial: Collision course: Dawn

IT is, of course, the chief justice of Pakistan’s prerogative to appoint a bench at his discretion to hear any case brought before the Supreme Court, yet many will view the decision yesterday to dismiss all demands for the formation of a full court bench to hear Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the chief minister’s election held on July 22 in a different light. Click here to read... [22]

Ruling alliance to boycott court proceedings: Dawn

In a late-night press conference following the Supreme Court’s refusal to constitute a full court to hear the plea against the Punjab chief minister’s election, the ruling coalition announced a boycott of the proceedings. Click here to read... [23]

Top court rejects govt’s full court request: The Express Tribune

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the petition filed by Elahi, who is also a candidate for the CM's office, against the ruling of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari over the fate of PML-Q votes in the Punjab CM's election. Click here to read... [24]

Pak Ulema team in Afghanistan for talks with TTP: The News

The series of talks between Pakistan security officials and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continue as a delegation of Pakistani Ulema reached Afghanistan on Monday. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan obtains foreign loans of $22.5bn in FY22: The News

Pakistan has secured total foreign loans of $22.5 billion in the last financial year 2021-22 out of which it obtained highly expensive $2.24 billion commercial loans just last month (June 2022) to avoid depletion of foreign currency reserves at an accelerated pace. Click here to read... [26]

Sri Lanka

Rights Groups urge Lanka not to use force on protesters- The Island

International human rights groups have urged Sri Lanka’s new president to immediately order security forces to cease use of force against protesters after troops and police cleared their main camp following months of demonstrations over the country’s economic meltdown. Click here to read... [27]

US Lawmaker Deborah Ross wants USG to acknowledge Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka- The Island

Tamil United Political Action Committee of the United States on May 18, 2022, apart from meeting US State Department officials in Washington, D.C. to promote and canvass support for a referendum in the Tamil-majority districts in the North and East of Sri Lanka, had a zoom discussion-meeting with U.S. Democratic Congresswoman Deborah Ross to reiterate that Tamil genocide occurred in Sri Lanka, and mark the end of the Eelam War 13 years ago, US based sources said. Click here to read... [28]

Minister warns that forex shortage will continue to restrict fuel imports- The Island

Forex issues would lead to restricting of fuel imports in the next 12 months, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday warned. Click here to read... [29]

Norochcholai running out of coal: 14-hour power cuts feared- The Island

A 14-hour power cut would be inevitable if the Power and Energy Ministry failed to raise Rs. 330 billion for the purchase of annual coal stocks, a top official said. Click here to read... [30]

IMF staff level agreement delayed due to unrest by protesters- The Daily Mirror

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff level agreement which was to come in August this year has been delayed because of the unrest caused by some protesters whose agitation later turned violent, a cabinet Minister said today. Click here to read... [31]