VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 22, 2022

Afghanistan

EU Official Emphasizes Need for Girls’ Education in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The deputy head of the European Union Delegation in Afghanistan, Arnout Pauwels, in an interview with TOLOnews emphasized the importance of girls’ access to education and observation of human rights in the country. Click here to read... [2]

UNSC Fails to Approve Travel Ban on Islamic Emirate Leaders: Tolo News

The UN Security Council failed to reach agreement on whether to extend travel exemptions for 13 Taliban officials now ruling Afghanistan so they will expire at midnight Friday, the Associated Press reported, citing UN diplomats. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban Supreme Leader Appoints Special Military Commander for Panjshir Province: The Khaama Press

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s supreme leader, has appointed a special military commander for Panjshir province in northern Afghanistan and the Andarab district of Baghlan province. Click here to read... [4]

India Delivers Its 10th Consignment of Medical Aid to Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

As part of its continued humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, India provided 32 tons of essential medical aid in 10 batches; the tenth batch, according to a press statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Dhaka optimistic about upcoming JRC meeting after 12-year hiatus: Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said that Dhaka is optimistic about the outcome of the upcoming Joint River Commission meeting with Delhi after 12 years. He was speaking with the reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. Click here to read... [6]

Qatar to take more workers from Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune

Qatar is going to take more workers from Bangladesh in the field of nursing, hospitality, construction, service, and IT sectors. Qatari Labour Minister Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Al Samikh Al Marri said this during his meetings with Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad on Sunday. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Zero-Covid Bhutan bans vehicle imports to stave off a Sri Lanka-style crisis - SCMP

Bhutan will ban the import of all vehicles except utility vehicles, heavy earth-moving machines and agriculture machinery to save dwindling foreign exchange reserves, the government said in a notice seen by reporters. Click here to read... [8]

In light of the financial crisis, Bhutan, foreign exchange reserves at the bottom - FGN News

India’s neighbor Bhutan is facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Bhutan, which was once prosperous and prosperous, is now in dire straits. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have bottomed out. As a result, the country is in danger of becoming a situation like Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [9]

Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Sudhakar Dalela presents credentials to Bhutanese King - The Print

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Sudhakar Dalela on Saturday presented his credentials to the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as the Ambassador of India to Bhutan. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Maldives among 2022's five fastest growing economies - Avas

The Maldives is among the five fastest growing economies in the world, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has said. Speaking at the MDP Congress, Minister Ameer said the Maldives is now among the five fastest growing economies in the world, assisted with the aid received during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read... [11]

‘Pure chaos’: how whale shark tourism in Maldives is out of control and puts the magnificent creatures’ lives at risk - SCMP

According to field research conducted by the Maldivian-run NGO Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), the number of whale sharks visiting the South Ari Atoll decreased from 48 in 2014 to 32 in 2019, correlating with an increase in injuries. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives appoints Ibrahim Shaheeb, H. Jeheyvai as the new Ambassador to India - News Drum

Maldivian Parliament, appointed Ambassador Ibrahim Shaheeb, H. Jeheyvai as the Ambassador of Maldives to India. He will be joining New Delhi. He was last posted as Ambassador in Singapore. This will be his second tenure in India. Earlier he was Deputy High Commission of the Maldives in India (2007-2008). Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

SAC chair denies military burning civilian homes - Eleven Myanmar

In meeting with the SAC chairman in Nay Pyi Taw on August 17, Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Myanmar, said she had no mandate to make any decision but to point out and discuss about the development of Myanmar. The purpose of visiting Myanmar was to convey the message of the Secretary-General and make two specific requests: to halt the aerial bombing and to stop burning the villages and houses of the people, she added. Click here to read... [14]

Rohingya issue: Problem of ‘illegal foreigners’ in India - Times of India

The recent debate in the media on the status of Rohingyas have brought their intractable problem to the forefront. A look at the facts is relevant to the issue to understand its legal and security dimensions as also deep-seated hatred between the Burmese and Rohingyas. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar’s NLD has a chance to redeem itself in exile - Arab News

Before the 2021 coup in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, was a willing part of a genocidal regime. Its leaders supported and defended the generals and the armed forces who terrorized the Rohingya minority and were responsible for a genocidal campaign against them. Click here to read... [16]

Junta Watch: Plans for Facebook Substitute Unveiled; Military Admits Coup, and More - The Irrawaddy

Unable to spread propaganda on the social media platform Facebook, which is synonymous with the internet in Myanmar, the regime is seeking an alternative. At the junta’s most recent press conference on Wednesday, spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun revealed the regime’s plan to ban Facebook and replace it with a homegrown social media platform. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal

Nepali Congress leader Giri cremated with state honours - The Himalayan Times

Nepali Congress leader Pradip Giri was cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat today with state honours. His son Santosh Silwal Giri and nephews Pranayan Giri and Sandarbha Giri lit the funeral pyre. A band of Nepal Police offered a gun salute to the departed soul. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal seeks permission to export additional 111 MW electricity to India - Money Control

Nepal Electricity Authority, the State-owned power utility body, has forwarded the proposal to India's Central Electricity Authority for the sale of the electricity produced through four hydropower plants: Mistrikhola, Likhukhola, Solukhola and Chilime hycropower, NEA Managing Director Pradeep Thike said on Sunday. Click here to read... [19]

Nepal: Foreign Policy Path Ahead - The Telegraph

The global geostrategic shift has changed the narrative from classical realism to idealism to neo-realism, a concept that discounts norms and values governing international relations. Neo-realists are right in the sense that international structure defines foreign policy elites’ cognitive perception of threats and opportunities emerging from the global game-changing geo- strategic moves. Their claim that the state-centric system does not account for the nature of the structure of the international system which has become a source of inter-societal and inter-state conflicts and the war is compelling. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

PTI chief alleges ‘neutrals’ behind crackdown on party: Dawn

Former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday levelled a series of allegations against the ‘neutrals’ — a term he uses to allude to the military establishment — saying as per the “information he received from insiders” they were the ones who were allegedly responsible for the ongoing crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Click here to read... [21]

Economic cost of uncertainty: Dawn

ANTICIPATION of the resumption of an IMF bailout package has helped improve market sentiment. But given the turbulent state of politics, there is little reason to be sanguine about the country’s political and economic future. Click here to read... [22]

PTI asks supporters to take to streets amid possibility of Imran’s arrest: The Express Tribune

Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have asked party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against the possible arrest of former prime minister and party chief Imran Khan. Click here to read... [23]

PTI retains NA-245 seat in by-election: The News

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sunday retained its seat in the NA-245 by-election, with its candidate Mahmood Moulvi securing 29,475 votes against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) candidate Moid Anwar, who bagged 16,282 votes, according to unverified results. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka expects 10 lakh tourists in 2022, especially from India: Mint

As the island nation is looking forward to attain economic and political stability, it is aiming to get 10 lakh tourists this year. In his recent visit to Gujarat, Sri Lanka Tourism Minister Harin Fernando,on Sunday, said that the country is expecting maximum tourists from IndiaClick here to read... [25]

Work or go home: Prez tells state officials: Daily Mirror

Claiming that the government is not prepared to pay the state officials for nothing, President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged them to work or go home.
He said this while addressing the Anuradhapura District Development Council held at the Anuradhapura Golden Mango reception Hall today (21). Click here to read... [26]

President contacts Gotabaya about his return: Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have contacted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to discuss arrangements for his return to the country, Daily Mirror learns. This followed a request by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP ) National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa at a recent meeting with the presidentClick here to read... [27]