VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 27, 2022

Afghanistan

US Sanctions Hindering Govt Services: Muttaqi: Tolo News

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi said that the US-imposed sanctions on Afghanistan have hindered the activity of the current Afghan government. Speaking at the Tashkent conference held on the Afghan situation, Muttaqi called the decades-long war and US sanctions as the main reasons for the poverty in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

Islamic Emirate Leader Bans 'Unproven Allegations' Against Members: Tolo News

A statement of the Islamic Emirate leader, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, said allegations against officials of the Islamic Emirate that lack proof are forbidden. The statement, issued by Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, said several Islamic Hadiths suggest that unproven allegations are considered lies and are worthy of punishment.

Decades of Progress Erased in Months; Deteriorating Afghan Women’s Rights an “Alarm Bell” to the World: The Khaama Press

The representative of the United Nations Women’s Agency in Afghanistan said on Monday that the deterioration of women’s rights in Afghanistan is an “alarm bell” to the world, displaying how decades of progress can be erased in just months. Click here to read... [3]

With ‘Third Generation of Afghan Children Born in Exile’; Afghanistan Becomes the Third-Largest Displaced Population: The Khaama Press

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report, Afghanistan has the third-largest refugee population and the region’s largest displaced population after the Taliban took control, with 2.7 million refugees scattered across 98 countries. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

External debt servicing: Payment to peak at $5.15b in 2030- The Daily Star

Bangladesh's foreign loan servicing burden will peak in fiscal 2029-30 with repayment of $5.15 billion, which experts deem to be very much within the safe territory -- quelling fears that the country might become the next emerging economy after Sri Lanka and Pakistan to run into external debt distress. Click here to read... [5]

No fertiliser crisis despite 2 plants’ closure- The Daily Star

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday said there would be no fertiliser crisis in the country before the next boro season despite the closure of two plants amid gas shortage. Click here to read... [6]

Govt formally seeks $4.5b from IMF- The Daily Star

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has sent in a formal request to the IMF for a $4.5 billion loan, putting to bed the speculations on whether the country would be seeking the support from the Washington-based multilateral lender at all. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

First Couple observes military parade held to commemorate Independence Day - Raajje

The First Couple of Maldives have observed the special parade and procession showcased by the Maldives National Defence Force to commemorate the Maldives’ 57th Anniversary of Independence. Click here to read... [8]

RSF seeks revision of Maldives law forcing journalists to reveal sources - RSF

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has joined nine other human rights organisations in calling on the government of the Maldives to repeal or amend a provision forcing journalists to reveal their sources. Included in a reform of the Evidence Act, this measure was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 18 July. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Ethnic Armed Organisations Condemn Myanmar junta executions - Mizzima

On Monday 25 July Ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) condemned the Myanmar junta's execution of four men, including prominent democracy activists Phyo Zeya Thaw and Kyaw Min Yu (Ko Jimmy) over the weekend. Click here to read... [10]

‘Deserved Many Death Sentences’: Myanmar’s Military on Execution of 4 Activists’ The Quint

A day after Myanmar's military junta revealed that it had executed four pro-democracy activists accused of allegedly assisting in carrying out "terror acts," a military spokesperson on Tuesday, 26 July, said that the four activists "deserved many death sentences," AFP reported. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar Military’s Long History of Executing its Enemies - The Irrawaddy

The hangings of National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw, pro-democracy veteran Kyaw Min Yu, widely known as ‘Ko Jimmy’, Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw have caused outrage around the world, and clearly show that it is a folly to believe that any kind of dialogue with the thugs in power in Naypyitaw is possible or would be the way forward.

China says ‘no interference’ in Myanmar - AA

China on Tuesday pushed back efforts to intervene in Myanmar, saying Beijing adheres to a "policy of non-interference.” “China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs (of other nations),” said Zhao Lijian, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, referring to Myanmar. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Nepal-Bangladesh meeting on power cooperation likely next month- The Kathmandu Post

Two sides to discuss power trade and attracting Bangladeshi investment in energy sector. Click here to read... [13]

International rights groups call for amendment to Nepal’s transitional justice bill- The Kathmandu Post

New draft falls short of promised reforms to protect victims’ rights, the rights organisations say. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal Police submits report on Finance Ministry hard drive to probe panel- The Kathmandu Post

UML members in the panel want to study Janardan Sharma’s phone call details, but ruling party members say that would violate privacy rights. Click here to read... [15]

Everything you need to know about new amendment to the Citizenship Act- The Kathmandu Post

Amendment opens the door for thousands of children of parents who got citizenship by birth to acquire citizenship by descent; non-resident Nepalis are also eligible for citizenship.

Pakistan

SC voids Hamza election, Elahi is new CM: Dawn

In a decision that was awaited with bated breath by political observers, the media and all the parties involved, the Supreme Court late on Tuesday declared Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as the duly elected chief minister of Punjab for securing 186 votes against the 179 of his opponent, PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz, in the July 22 run-off poll for the coveted office of the province. Click here to read... [16]

Editorial: An expected change in Punjab: Dawn

In its widely anticipated judgement on a petition filed by Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Bandial ordered the immediate notification of the success of the petitioner in the election for chief minister, paving the way for a change in the country’s most populous province and political heartland. Click here to read... [17]

Nawaz Sharif wants early elections: The News

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants early general elections and has discussed with the senior party leadership the option of quitting the government in the Centre, credible sources have confirmed. Click here to read... [18]

Flood alert issued for Punjab: The Express Tribune

As the spell of “abnormal” monsoon rains continues to lash the country, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Tuesday issued a low-medium flood alert for the Chenab river, asking all concerned districts to stay on high alert and take precautionary measures to protect the populations in the adjacent districts. Click here to read... [19]

President Alvi swears in Pervaiz Elahi as new Punjab CM: The Express Tribune

Hours after the Supreme Court struck down Punjab Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling, President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath of Punjab chief minister to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at the President House in wee hours of Wednesday. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

Susil Premajayantha appointed Leader of the House- The Daily Mirror

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has been appointed as the Leader of the House in Parliament. Click here to read... [21]

SriLankan says paid interest on US$ 175mn bond after sovereign debt default- The Daily Mirror

National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday said it paid the interest in full on its US$ 175 million bond due in 2024 using company funds. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka asks China for help with trade, investment and tourism- The Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka has asked China to help with trade, investment and tourism to help it grow sustainably, Colombo’s envoy to Beijing said on Monday as it negotiates for an emergency US$ 4 billion package to help it emerge from an economic meltdown. Click here to read... [23]

Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return- The Daily Mirror

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to the country from Singapore, Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunewardena said today. Click here to read... [24]