VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 18, 2022

Afghanistan

UN Official Calls for Afghan Girls’ Access to Secondary Education: Tolo News

Markus Potzel, the UN deputy special envoy for Afghanistan, in a visit to the eastern province of Nangarhar, stressed the need for Afghan girls’ access to secondary education and said girls and boys should be provided with the same rights to educationClick here to read... [2]

Interior Minister Asks World to Recognize Islamic Emirate: Tolo News

“Based on international principles and our Islamic and national traditions they should recognize the Islamic Emirate, but if they don’t recognize it, I assure our people that Afghans are not without resolve. They (Afghans) have fought for 20 years without foreign resources, and with their faith and zeal, they will fight against the economic situation with the strength of their arms,” he said. Click here to read... [3]

Gunmen Shoot a Newly Returned Man from Iran Dead in Northern Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

According to local sources in Faryab province in northern Afghanistan, unidentified assailants shot and killed a man in the district of Almar, which is located about 35 kilometers from the provincial capital. The incident, according to sources occurred in Halwa Khor village of the said district on Saturday night, July 16. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Fuel stocks dwindling- The Daily Star

Uncertainty looms over the country's fuel stock as the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is finding it difficult to import fuel amid a dollar shortage at local banks. Click here to read... [5]

Stop illegal entry of Rohingyas in Bangladesh- The Daily Star

Dhaka has requested Delhi to stop the illegal entry of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh from India. Click here to read... [6]

Dhaka Metro Rail now set to cost 50% more- The Daily Star

With the partial launch of the country's first ever metro rail only five months away, the project cost is set to rise by more than half, and the deadline is also going to be extended by a year and half. Click here to read... [7]

Rice import resumes at Benapole land port after 10 months- The Daily Star

Import of rice from India resumed at Benapole land port today (July 17) after 10 months with a consignment of 512 tonnes rice entering Bangladesh side in the afternoon. Click here to read... [8]

Indian Army chief on 3-day visit to Bangladesh- The Daily Star

Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande today embarked on a three-day visit to Bangladesh beginning tomorrow (July 18), his first foreign trip since assuming office.

Disaster preparedness: WB approves $500m credit- The Daily Star

The World Bank has approved a $500 million credit to help Bangladesh improve disaster preparedness against inland flooding in 14 flood-prone districts benefiting over 1.25 million people. Click here to read... [9]

Labour rights violations, red-tapism might hamper Bangladesh-EU trade: Envoy- The Daily Star

Violation of labour rights and "red-tapism" in business are the two big factors that might hamper trade between Bangladesh and Europe, said EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whitely today (July 15), stressing the need to improve on these fronts. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

New tourist entry points in southern dzongkhags from September- Kuensel

When tourism formally reopens on September 23, new entry and exit points for tourists in southern dzongkhags will also open, according to the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB). Click here to read... [11]

Will the new tourism policy impact tour guides?- Kuensel

With the new Tourism Levy Act coming into effect on June 20, tour guides are unsure about their engagementClick here to read... [12]

Bhutan records the highest temperature at 38.5C amid global heat warning- BBS

Many around the globe are feeling extreme heat this time around. It is no different for Bhutan. The country recorded historically the highest temperature of 38.5C in Punakha yesterday. This is 0.5C higher than the historical temperature which was also recorded in Punakha in 2019. Click here to read... [13]

(Interview) Bhutan-China ties won’t harm India’s interests: Bhutan Foreign Minister the Hindu

India’s interests on the Doklam tri-junction will not be harmed or “compromised” by the agreement between Bhutan and China for a three-step “road map” to resolve their outstanding border disputes, Bhutan’s Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji said in an interview to The Hindu. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

Bill to increase GST, TGST to be submitted to parliament before new session begins- The SUN

Finance Ministry, on Sunday, has stated that the bill pertaining to increase of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and Tourism Goods and Service Tax (TGST) will be submitted to the parliament before they convene for new session. Click here to read... [15]

Madduvari MP: Gov needs to explain hesitancy to investigate Maduvvari rape case- The SUN

Parliament representative for Maduvvari constituency and Parliamentary group leader of the opposition, MP Adam Shareef said that the government needs to explain its hesitancy towards re-kindling the investigation of the gang rape of a 14-year-old student girl in R. Maduvvari. Click here to read... [16]

President Solih to visit India on official trip- The SUN

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is scheduled to visit India on an official trip. Click here to read... [17]

Foreign Minister Shahid conferred Grand Cross of Order of Antonio Jose de Irisarri- The SUN

President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has been conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Antonio Jose de Irisarri by the Guatemalan government. Click here to read... [18]

President ratifies amendment to Fisheries Act- The SUN

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Sunday, ratified the first amendment to the Fisheries Act. Click here to read... [19]

President: Reopening of border led to economic revival- The SUN

The decision to reopen Maldives’ borders after the lockdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic was a good decision which led to economic revival, elevating the country to where it currently stands, states President Ibrahim Mohamed Soli. Click here to read... [20]

Soldiers drain flooded streets as rain continues to batter Male’- The SUN

Officers from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Service have been dispatched to drain the flooded streets as rain continues to batter Male’ City. Click here to read... [21]

Myanmar

Myanmar companies with 35% ownership of foreigners must convert foreign currency to Myanmar kyat- The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) made an announcement on 15 July, stating that Myanmar companies with 35 per cent ownership of foreigners must convert foreign currencies from their foreign exchange accounts to Myanmar Kyat, according to the decision of the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee (FESC)’s meeting No 32/2022. Click here to read... [22]

Myawady Trade Zone handled US$ 42.262 million worth of trade volume- The Global New Light of Myanmar

According to the Ministry of Commerce, a trade volume worth US$ 42.262 million was handled at the Myawady Trade Zone in June. Click here to read... [23]

Maximum amount of CMP garments, industrial raw materials, agricultural products exported abroad in Q1- The Global New Light of Myanmar

During the three months of the 2022-2023 Financial Year-FY, industrial raw materials, including CMP garments, were exported the most, and agricultural products were the second largest, according to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Click here to read... [24]

SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing holds talks with Head of Novosibirsk, arrives back from Russian Federation- The Global New Light of Myanmar

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing currently in Novosibirsk of the Russian Federation held discussions with Head of Novosibirsk Mr Andrey Alexandrovich Travnikov at the latter’s office meeting hall yesterday. Click here to read... [25]

Govt allocates US$16 mln for ART medicines, medical supplies in current FY - The Global New Light of Myanmar

The government allocated $16 million to buy ART medicines and medical supplies in the 2022-23 Financial Year (FY), according to the Ministry of HealthClick here to read... [26]

Myanmar attends 32nd South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) Council Meeting in Cambodia- The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan attended the 32nd South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) Council Meeting held in Cambodia between 11 and 13 July together with the director-general and other four members of the Department of Sports and Physical Education. Click here to read... [27]

Dagon University signs MoU with Gifu University of Japan- The Global New Light of Myanmar

A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Science Departments of Dagon University and those under the Engineering Faculty of Gifu University, Japan, was held at the meeting hall of the Rector’s Office in Dagon University yesterday. Click here to read... [28]

China-Backed Illegal Rare Earth Mining Surging in Northern Myanmar- The Irrawaddy

Illegal rare earth mining has surged in northern Kachin State since last year’s coup in areas along the border with China controlled by a militia sponsored by the Myanmar military. Click here to read... [29]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi testifies in election fraud trial- Caledonian Record

Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is testifying for the first time in an election fraud charge against her and two co-defendantsClick here to read... [30]

Nepal

Ensure security personnel, staff on poll day get to vote: SC- Himalayan Times

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to ensure that security personnel, including Nepali Army soldiers in military barracks, government employees deployed on poll duty, prisoners, and detainees have the right to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections likely to be held in November. Click here to read... [31]

Drought hits paddy in Tarai- Himalayan Times

At this time of the year, farmers should have been busy planting paddy. But, drought has left farmers in misery. They are just looking at the sky expecting rain. Click here to read... [32]

Indian envoy Srivastava calls on HoR speaker- Himalayan Times

Newly appointed Ambassador of India to Nepal Naveen Srivastava today paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal Agni Prasad Sapkota at the latter's office in Singha Durbar.Click here to read... [33]

‘Visit fruitful, I had candid talks with Indian leaders in Delhi’- Kathmandu Post

The Maoist Centre chair on his three-day India trip, its purpose and the outcome.
Click here to read... [34]

India visit fruitful: Maoist Center Chairman Dahal- Republica

Talking to media persons at the Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival from India after concluding a three-day visit on Sunday evening, Chairman Dahal said that the conversation with the Indian side was held in a cordial atmosphere. Click here to read... [35]

What message did Liu Jianchao bring to Kathmandu on Nepal-China relations?- Online Khabar

It was only in 2003 that the Chinese government gave its first official view on the armed conflict that started in Nepal in 1996. “A group in Nepal are defaming our respected leader Mao Zedong,” their statement read. Click here to read... [36]

Pakistan

PTI stuns PML-N with thumping win: Dawn

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Sunday routed the PML-N by winning at least 15 seats in the crucial by-elections on 20 seats that got vacated after the disqualification of PTI members who had voted for Hamza Shehbaz for Punjab chief minister’s office. Click here to read... [37]

US terms Imran’s claim disturbing, looks ahead to strong ties: Dawn

Addressing a convention of Pakistani physicians in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Director Pakistan Desk Neil W. Hop described US-Pakis¬tan relations as “a partnership we cannot do without”. Click here to read... [38]

Imran renews call for fair polls after PTI's landslide victory over PML-N in Punjab: The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) saw its victory in Sunday’s by-elections in Punjab as an endorsement of its demand for fresh elections in the country, with the party Chairman Imran Khan reiterating that “fair polls” were only way forward. Click here to read... [39]

Latest party position in Punjab Assembly after by-elections: The News

The landslide victory of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Punjab by-polls has completely changed the numbers game in the Punjab Assembly and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi is most likely to replace Hamza Shehbaz Sharif as the new chief minister of the province in coming days. Click here to read... [40]

What now for PDM?: The News

They have for sure put an end to Hamza Shehbaz’s dreams of retaining chief ministership of Punjab. The PMLN needed to win at least 11 seats so that Hamza Shehbaz could be re-elected as Punjab chief minister while the PTI needed at least 14 for its CM candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to win the elections. The results that came in showed a triumphant PTI hitting the proverbial home run. The PMLN has conceded defeat and it is now merely a formality of a vote before the PMLQ’s Pervaiz Elahi becomes the next CM of Punjab. Click here to read... [41]

Sri Lanka

State of Emergency declared from today- The Daily Mirror

An Extraordinary Gazette has been issued declaring a State of Emergency across the island with effect from today. Click here to read... [42]

India eclipses China to become top lender to debt-laden Sri Lanka - The Daily Mirror

India has surpassed China to become the top lender to Sri Lanka, as the former came to the rescue when Sri Lanka started experiencing some acute shortage of foreign currency from the beginning of the year which reached a breaking point in March causing a complete collapse of the country’s economy. Click here to read... [43]

CPC to low fuel prices from tonight- The Daily Mirror

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to reduce the retail price of their fuel from 10.00 pm today. Click here to read... [44]

Much needs to be done to prevent falling down; Ranil- The Daily Mirror- The Daily Mirror

Whilst revealing that the G7 alliance on the global food crisis has offered Sri Lanka US$ 14 million to spend on food, Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe said there is much to be done to avoid third-world countries such as Sri Lanka falling down on their knees in the face of the global situation

SL is warning sign for countries with high debt levels, limited policy: IMF Chief- The Daily Mirror

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said yesterday that Sri Lanka is a warning sign to countries with high debt levels and limited policy space. Click here to read... [45]

US organization donates medical supplies worth USD 908,547 to SL- The Daily Mirror

Heart to Heart International, a renowned global humanitarian organization in the United States made urgent medicinal supplies worth USD 908,547 (LKR 326,077,518.30) to the people of Sri Lanka following a request by Sri Lankan Ambassador for US Mahinda Samarasinghe. Click here to read... [46]

Possible recession in eurozone likely to worsen SL’s forex woes- The Daily Mirror

Fitch Ratings this week warned that Sri Lanka’s export and tourism sectors are likely to take a hit from the possible recession in the eurozone and it could further exacerbate the country’s actuate foreign exchange shortage. Click here to read... [47]

IMF hopes to soon resume Sri Lanka high-level discussions- The Daily Mirror

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is still in contact with the officials at technical levels within the Sri Lankan government and hopes to be able to resume discussions with higher-level officials, an IMF spokesman said on Thursday, after Sri Lanka’s president announced his resignation. Click here to read... [48]

China to play positive role in supporting SL: Wang Wenbin- The Daily Mirror

China is ready to work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to continue to play a positive role in supporting Sri Lanka in overcoming difficulties, easing its debt burden and realizing sustainable development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday. Click here to read... [49]

China will agree to US$4 billion aid for Sri Lanka ’at some point’: Kohona- The Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is continuing negotiations with China for as much as US$4 billion in aid and is confident Beijing will agree "at some point," Bloomberg News reported on Friday (Jul 15), citing Sri Lanka's ambassador to China. Click here to read... [50]

India to support early solution in SL through democratic means: Indian HC- The Daily Mirror

India will continue to stand with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values as well as established institutions and a constitutional framework, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said. Click here to read... [51]