VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - October 31, 2022
Afghanistan
15 Months After Takeover, Islamic Emirate Not Recognized by World: Tolo News

Since the Islamic Emirate come to power in Afghanistan, nearly fifteen months ago, no country has recognized its government. However, the Islamic Emirate's deputy spokesperson, Bilal Karimi, said that Kabul has completed all the requirements for recognition and that the international community should recognize it.

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Study Indicates 30% Increase in Child Laborers in Baghlan: Tolo News

The Department of Labor and Social Affairs in Baghlan said that the latest survey by a foreign institution, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), with the ministry's cooperation, revealed that more than 14,000 children are engaged in hard labor, which is a thirty percent increase from last year.

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Bangladesh
Can Dhaka become a top livable Asian city by 2035?: Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is currently the seventh least livable city in the world and initiatives are underway to turn it into a top livable city in Asia by 2035.

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50 years of Germany-Bangladesh development cooperation celebrated in Dhaka: Dhaka Tribune

High ranking officials of Bangladesh and Germany and representatives of other development partners and the Bangladeshi Society on Sunday celebrated 50 years of Development Cooperation between both countries. After a welcome by German Ambassador Achim Tröster, the parliamentary state secretary for Development Cooperation, Dr. Bärbel Kofler, delivered a speech highlighting achievements and challenges and describing pathways for the future development cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany, says a press release.

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Bhutan
Indian Railways goes International; Delivers 75 utility vehicles to Bhutan from Chennai for the first time - Zee News

Indian Railways had delivered its first shipment of commodities to Bhutan via a multi-modal route. A freight train brought 75 utility vehicles that Bhutan had purchased from Chennai to Hasimara Railway Station in West Bengal. According to them, the vehicles were transported by road to the neighbouring Himalayan country on Saturday morning after the freight train arrived at the Alipurduar railway station in northern West Bengal's Alipurduar district late on Friday night.
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Army Chief visits India - Kuensel Online

On the invitation of the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Manoj Pande the Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering is in India for a six-day visit. According to a press release from the Royal Bhutan Army, Lt General Batoo Tshering will meet the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Vice Chief of Army Staff and Director General of Military Operations.
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Maldives
Maldives’ tourist arrivals exceeded total visitors of 2021 - Edition

Maldives’ tourist arrivals for 2022 has so far exceeded the total amount of tourists it welcomed in 2021, and are nearing the projected amount of tourist arrivals for this year. Last year, Maldives welcomed 1.3 million tourists. As per statistics released to the public by the Tourism Ministry, this amount was exceeded on Wednesday, October 26.
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Cigarette imports decline due to tax increase - Avas

Customs statistics have shown that cigarette imports into the Maldives have declined. Cigarettes are the highest-taxed item in the Maldives. While import duties on cigarettes have increased in recent years, a tax of MVR 3 is currently levied on each cigarette. According to customs statistics, the number of cigarettes imported into Maldives declined with the increase in import duties.
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Myanmar
Will Asean norms, absence of Malaysia’s top diplomat doom Myanmar peace plan - SCMP

As frustration builds within Asean on the lack of progress in solving Myanmar’s political crisis, concerns of an “internal rupture” and the coming Malaysian election could affect the bloc’s ability to pressure the junta at the regional leaders’ summit next month, analysts say.
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Border tensions: Myanmar’s BGP expresses regret - The Daily Star

Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) at a flag meeting with Border Guard Bangladesh has expressed sincere regret for all the recent incidents that took place in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border areas. Called to discuss the recent border incidents, the meeting was held at the BGB-2 Battalion office in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila yesterday. Both the BGB and BGP expressed their firm resolve to perform respective duties to maintain peace and order, and ensure the security of the people living in the border areas, Lt Col Iftekhar said at a press briefing.
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Tripura, Manipur to get international flights to Bangladesh, Myanmar under UDAN scheme - Deccan Herald

In what could be a major push to India's Act East Policy, Tripura and Manipur capitals may soon be connected by air with neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar under the Centre's UDAN scheme. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday announced that flights would soon begin between Tripura capital Agartala and Chittagong in Bangladesh, and between Manipur capital Imphal and Mandalay in Myanmar.
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Nepal
Will Nepal be a front for China-US rivalry - The Hans India

It is very likely that China will pursue the BRI with more vigour whereas the US and its allies may try to block the BRI projects. This may also cause unease in the South Asia region. China made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the passage of the US-initiated Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact from the Nepali Parliament in February this year Powered By PlayUnmute Loaded: 0.50% Fullscreen As Chinese President Xi Jinping began his third five-year term as the General Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday, the fresh political development in the northern neighbour was also deeply observed in next-door Nepal. In Nepal, Xi's re-election to the party's top job is being viewed from two perspectives.
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NC manifesto: Museums to be established in all seven provinces - The Himalayan Times

The Nepali Congress has prioritized the establishment of cultural museums in all the seven provinces to reflect the art, culture, costumes and ethnic identity of all castes and communities.In the manifesto released by the party for the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assemblies, the Congress has pledged to establish at least one province-level museum that reflects the language, literature, art, culture, music and history of different castes, communities and geography.
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Diplomatic note sent to India on Darchula incident - The Himalayan Times

The government has sent a diplomatic note to India over the death of a 10-year-old boy from Darchula district after he was hit by a stone on his head in course of road construction in the opposite side- Dharchula area of Uttarakhand, India.Spokesperson at the Foreign Ministry, Sewa Lamsal, informed that the government sent the diplomatic note to India via the Indian Embassy based in Kathmandu on Sunday.
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Pakistan
Imran claims dialogue on with ‘establishment’: Dawn

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chair¬man Imran Khan confirmed on Sunday that dialogue was underway with the powers-that-be to find a solution to the political crisis prevailing in the country, following the ouster of the PTI government in April through a no-confidence vote.

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Editorial: At a crossroads, again: Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected these gratuitous remarks, calling them “factually incorrect and misleading”. The American ambassador in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Office for an explanation. In another rebuke to Washington, a statement issued after a meeting of the country’s top army generals, declared that as a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan has taken all necessary measures to strengthen its nuclear security regime.

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PTI trounces PDM in Kurram by-poll: The Express Tribune

PTI chairman and premier Imran Khan on Sunday won the National Assembly constituency NA-45 Kurram, with a significant margin against his rival, JUI-F’s Jamil Khan, who was backed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

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Sri Lanka
Sri Lankans fail to secure highly paid employment opportunities overseas: Daily Mirror

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has directed the Foreign Employment Ministry and the Bureau of Foreign Employment (BOFE) to prepare an efficient programme within two weeks to send skilled and trained workers for overseas jobs in collaboration with vocational training institute.

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