VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - October 28, 2022

Afghanistan

Women Have No Seat on Media Violations Commission: Tolo News

The Deputy Minister of Information and Culture acknowledged that women are not on the commission and said that the Ministry of Women and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission no longer exist and the presence of women is not needed. Click here to read... [2]

Russia’s Putin Warns of Terrorist Cells in Afghan Borders: The Khaama Press

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, warned of the concentration of militant groups on Afghanistan’s borders as well as their attempts to infiltrate Central Asia and set up clandestine terrorist cells. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Cyclone Sitrang: Indian Coast Guard hands over 23 Bangladeshi fishermen: Dhaka Tribune

The Indian Coast Guard has handed over 23 Bangladeshi fishermen to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, who were floating in the sea on drums during cyclone Sitrang.Click here to read... [4]

Bhutan

BRO Lays 8 Km Road With Shredded Plastic In Arunachal Pradesh And Bhutan - Swarajyamarg

As part of Special campaign 2.0 on cleanliness, Border Road Organisation (BRO) has carried out trials to extensively use shredded plastic in bituminous road construction in India and Bhutan. BRO has used the technology in resurfacing of 4.5 km on Phuentsholing-Thimphu Road under Project Dantak in Bhutan, 2.5 km resurfacing on Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang road under Project Vartak and one km resurfacing on Roing-Koronu-Paya road under Project Udayak in Arunachal Pradesh. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan's sustainability strategy finds reflection in the new NFT stamps issue - The News Market

Following the long-time country’s philatelic tradition, this year, to commemorate the 67th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, to observe Gross National Happiness Day, Constitution Day and Children's Day, Bhutan Post, the national postal operator of the Kingdom of Bhutan, will release on November 11th, 2022 the new NFT stamps issue on stampsdaq.com dedicated to the game which brings joy, excitement and happiness to billions around the world – football! The new stamps come also in an unusual format following the general country’s sustainability strategy and at the same time introducing a new collectability vision for its stamps. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

Tourist arrival number crosses 1.3 mln - Avas

According to the statistics released by the Tourism Ministry, 1,312,993 tourists visited the Maldives as of the 25th of this month. The figure is 33.5 percent higher than in the same period last year. However, the arrival numbers have still not matched the pre-COVID-19 numbers from 2019. India is currently the number one source market for Maldivian tourism, accounting for 14.1 percent of the total tourist arrivals this year. The next largest markets are Russia and the UK. Click here to read... [7]

Myanmar

Asean reaffirms commitment to Five-Point Consensus peace plan for Myanmar - Nation Multimedia

Foreign ministers of nine Southeast Asian countries met in Jakarta on Thursday and reaffirmed their commitment to a peace deal for the crisis in Myanmar. The ministers met to discuss the strife-torn neighbour ahead of next month’s Asean leaders’ summit, which Myanmar’s junta is barred from attending. The Asean ministers reaffirmed their backing for time-bound implementation of the Five-Point Consensus agreed with the Myanmar military regime in April last year. The meeting took place against the backdrop of Sunday’s deadly airstrike by junta warplanes on civilians at a concert celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), reportedly killing 80. Click here to read... [8]

The violent chaos in Myanmar, a rapidly escalating crisis on India’s doorstep -Indian Express

For India, the main concern is the influx of refugees into Mizoram. India’s 1,643-km border with Myanmar stretches from the India-Myanmar-China trijunction in Arunachal Pradesh to the India-Myanmar-Bangladesh trijunction in Mizoram. Border regulations have been formulated keeping in view ethnic and family ties across the international boundary. Under a Free Movement Regime (FMR), citizens of the two countries living within 16 km on their sides of the border, can cross over with a permit and stay up to two weeks at a time. The coup and resultant unrest have upended Indian projects in Myanmar such as the trilateral highway to Thailand, and the Kaladan waterway project. These projects were already well behind their deadlines, and their completion looks farther away now. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar Army delegation pays courtesy call on Bangladesh Army chief - The Daily Star

A three-member delegation of Myanmar army met Bangladesh Army in Dhaka, in a new turn of development, when the two sides discussed working on regional peace and security and quick repatriation of the Rohingyas. Bangladesh Army reminded the Myanmar Army of maintaining caution while conducting any campaign in the bordering areas. The meeting takes place weeks after border tension caused by Myanmar's violation of border during clashes between Myanmar military and armed rebel group Arakan Army in the Rakhine State. Click here to read... [10]

Nepal

International Buddhist Society of Nepal donates medicines to SL - Daily News

A consignment of medicines worth over Rs. 100 million donated by Ven. Nepalaye Maitri Thera, the founding President of the International Buddhist Society of Nepal in Lumbini was handed over to Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday (27). The stock of medicines was donated at the request of the International Association of Lions Clubs – District 306C2-Balangoda Lions Club. The consignment of medicines was subsequently handed over to the Balangoda Base Hospital. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal on the brink of having severe hunger troubles - The Daily Star

According to the World Health Organisation, a 9 year-old girl should weigh at least 28.12 kg. Her weight shows the girl is not getting a sufficient diet or has other serious health issues, doctors say. Issues of malnutrition are not new in the Chepang community of Dhading and Chitwan, and some districts of the Karnali Province. And the problem has been escalating throughout the country of late. A recent report on hunger also paints a bleak picture of Nepal's hunger level. The country ranks 81st out of 121 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, with a score of 19.1, which indicates that the country is at the borderline between moderate and serious levels of hunger. Click here to read... [12]

Pakistan

Editorial: Burnt bridges: Dawn

THE establishment on Thursday reached for the nuclear option as it attempted to reassert itself ahead of the PTI’s announced long march on Islamabad. Smarting from recent allegations and insinuations of its involvement in the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif, the military brought out its big guns to respond. Click here to read... [13]

US announces additional $30m assistance for flood victims: The Express Tribune: The Express Tribune

The new funding brings the US total assistance to Pakistan for flood response, food security and disaster preparedness and capacity-building efforts to $97 million this year, a statement issued by the public affairs department said. Click here to read... [14]

Sri Lanka

SL to draft new law in compliance with Singapore Convention on Mediation: Daily Mirror

The Cabinet nod has been granted to draft a bill in compliance with the Singapore Convention on Mediation, formally the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation. The Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe this week sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to prepare an appropriate bill taking into account the provisions of the Convention. Click here to read... [15]

Netherlands to provide newly developed variety of potato seeds to SL: Daily Mirror

The Netherlands has offered Sri Lanka a newly developed variety of potato seeds that can grow in salty lands, to start potato cultivations in areas close to sea, especially in the north and east in the country, the prime Minister office said. Click here to read... [16]