VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 07, 2022

Afghanistan

Intl Criticism of Closed Girls' Schools Remains Strong: Tolo News

The closing of schools for girls over grade six continues to face reactions by various countries and international organizations. Click here to read... [2]

Why Should Afghanistan Implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)?: The Khaama Press

It has been almost five years that the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) has entered into force. As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and as a party to the TFA, the previous Afghan government designated only 11.3% of TFA measures as its Category A commitments, which are those commitments that Afghanistan implemented as soon as the Agreement entered into force in 2017. Click here to read... [3]

No Strikes in Afghanistan Since Troops Left: Pentagon: Tolo News

The US troops have not carried out any over-the-horizon operation in Afghanistan since they left the country in August 2021, a senior Pentagon official said as reported by US media. Click here to read... [4]

Bhutan

U.S. Donates 90,090 Doses of Covid-19 Vaccine to Bhutan- USIAD

Thanks to the American people's generosity and in partnership with COVAX, 90,090 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been donated to Bhutan, in coordination with the Bhutan Foundation and UNICEF, to fight the pandemic Click here to read... [5]

WFP Bhutan 2021 Annual Country Report Overview- WFP

In 2021, WFP implemented the Country Strategic Plan 2019-2023 to support the Royal Government of Bhutan in strengthening capacity to address food security challenges and building resilience against natural disasters and climate shocks. Click here to read... [6]

Dzongkhags managing without dzongdags-Kuensel

Even as the third local governments have just begun their term, about 50 percent of the dzongdags’ post will be vacant as part of the leadership assessment process. Click here to read... [7]

Taking care of the elderly-Kuensel

An elderly man in Tsirang is all alone; either walking along the roadside or staying in his shack made of CGI sheets. His relatives claim they take care of his needs, but his conditions tell a different story. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen involved in shady arms deal: ANI

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, who has been running the "India Out" campaign in the archipelago, was involved in a secret deal with a Maltese company during his presidency to set up a private armoury in a northern Island of the country, a media report said. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Arakan Army Threatens War With Myanmar Junta - The Irrawaddy

The Arakan Army (AA) has called on Myanmar’s regime not to interfere in its administration in Rakhine State, saying it will spark an armed conflict. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar Military Never Forgave Suu Kyi for State Counselor’s Role - The Irrawaddy

Tensions between Myanmar’s military and the National League for Democracy (NLD) were already building six years ago. Among the disagreements were military-appointed lawmakers’ rejection of the vice-presidential nominee by the NLD and the State Counselor Bill, which was submitted to the Parliament to allow NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to run the newly elected governmentClick here to read... [11]

India Begins Deporting Rohingya Refugees - The Diplomat

The Indian government, for its part, has called the Rohingya who sought asylum in India “illegal immigrants” and a “threat to national security.” The Indian Supreme Court in 2021 refused to stop the deportation of Rohingya refugees. Click here to read... [12]

Rights Group Files Torture Case Against Myanmar Junta in Turkey - VOA News

A British rights group is taking Myanmar’s junta to court over allegations of widespread torture since a 2021 coup, frustrated by a perceived lack of meaningful action by the United Nations. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Achievements, constitution facing threats: Minister Bhusal- Himalaya

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, has said that achievements made through people's struggle and federal democratic republic constitution have still been facing threats. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal records 13 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached to 765 on Wednesday as 10 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [15]

Bipartisan Congress delegation from US to arrive on April 23- Kathmandu Post

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to lead the team to Kathmandu. The team from Washington is arriving on the heels of MCC Compact’s passage, which Beijing has objected to.Click here to read... [16]

India allows Nepal to export additional 325 MW electricity- Republica

After negotiations for long, India finally has allowed Nepal to export 325 megawatt of power to the Indian market at a competitive rate. Click here to read... [17]

Quality health service prerequisite to development: PM Deuba- Republica

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said quality health service is prerequisite to development. He stressed the need for producing competent human resources in the sector of health science with research and studies of international standard. Click here to read... [18]

Explained: What Nepal PM Deuba’s visit to BJP headquarters means for his party- Indian Express

Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba began his tour of India by visiting the BJP headquarters. Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka said Deuba’s visit to the BJP office was in his capacity as Nepali Congress chief. Click here to read... [19]

India’s ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra appointed new India’s ambassador to Nepal- Times of India

India’s ambassador to Nepal and an IFS officer of 1988 batch, Vinay Mohan Kwatra will take over as the new foreign secretary upon incumbent Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s retirement later this month, the government announced Monday. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

Military’s silence making neutrality claim doubtful, says PDM: Dawn

Speaking at a news conference after presiding over a meeting of the PDM with PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, president of the opposition alliance Maulana Fazlur Rehman said if the Supreme Court gave any verdict against them then they had the right to go people’s court. Click here to read... [21]

Resentment in FO over politicising diplomatic cable: The Express Tribune

Two Foreign Office officials, who spoke to The Express Tribune while requesting not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, revealed that the diplomats were not happy with the controversy. Click here to read... [22]

Rupee sinks to another low at 186.13 against dollar: The News

Treasury bills yields rose on Wednesday as ongoing political uncertainty in the country boosted demand for safe-haven assets, analysts said. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka speaker warns of starvation across the country: Times Of India

Sri Lankan doctors will hold protest in Colombo on Wednesday as hospitals run out of essential drugs. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency he had declared on April 1 with immediate effect in his island nation. Click here to read... [24]

Neighbourhood 1st, Says Jaishankar as India Sends 270,000 MT of Fuel; Students Storm Ministry: News18

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign “under any circumstances”, his government’s chief whip told parliament on Wednesday as he defended the beleaguered leader’s controversial decisions, amidst huge public protests demanding his resignation over the country’s worst economic crisis. Click here to read... [25]

UN welcomes lifting of Emergency in Sri Lanka; President will not resign, says minister: Indian Express

Cabinet Resignation, President's House Clash Updates: Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has appointed a three-member advisory group to assist government officials engaging with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the president said on WednesdayClick here to read... [26]