In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, Dorji said, Bhutan’s economy, though “tiny” compared to other countries, was not spared the impact of Covid-19. Hence, since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Thimphu implemented strict border containment measures and safety protocols that resulted in key economic sectors such as tourism, construction, and manufacturing being “severely affected”. Click here to read... [2]
India and Bhutan had signed a Treaty of Friendship on 9 August 1949 whereby the two nations agreed on non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. However, Bhutan consented to allow India to “guide” its foreign policy and that both countries would consult each other on foreign and defence matters. Click here to read... [3]
The Internal Resource Division (IRD) of the finance ministry issued an order in this regard on 4 August and it was published on Monday. In December 2020, Bangladesh granted duty-free access to 34 products of Bhutan under a preferential trade agreement (PTA). Click here to read... [4]
In a statement that was unusually long and effusive, the President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked India repeatedly for the various initiatives taken by New Delhi to assist his country shortly after the two sides had concluded delegation level talks. Click here to read... [5]
The Maldives Public Expenditure Review (MPER) aims to help the government identify reforms to reduce fiscal and debt vulnerabilities and thus ensure a more secure, sustainable, and inclusive future. Although Maldives has bounced back strongly from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the shock has illuminated longstanding vulnerabilities in the tourism-dependent economy. Click here to read... [6]
About 34,000 Bangladeshi undocumented migrant workers in the Maldives are in the pipeline for regularisation under an amnesty programme there, according to an estimate of Bangladesh High Commission in Malé. Click here to read... [7]
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s four-day visit to India has come at a time when India’s neighbourhood is in flux. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal is creating greater instability in a region that is already experiencing perpetual strategic hostilities by Pakistan and China against India. Click here to read... [8]
The AP investigation drew on dozens of interviews, customs data, corporate records and Chinese academic papers, along with satellite imagery and geological analysis gathered by the environmental non-profit Global Witness, to tie rare earths from Myanmar to the supply chains of 78 companies. Click here to read... [9]
The Spring Revolution Interfaith Network has offered a clarion call saying the revolution should be completed within one year from the date of the 34th anniversary of the 8888 People's Uprising. The call came on Monday, the anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar and the one-year anniversary of the founding of the Network. Click here to read... [10]
As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marks its 55th anniversary today, Amnesty International urges the regional bloc to acknowledge the failure of its five-point plan published in April 2021 to end the violence and increasing human rights violations in Myanmar.Click here to read... [11]
Honeys Holdings, a Japanese clothing retailer that produces much of its product line in Myanmar, has decided that cheap labour costs outweigh the risks of doing business in a country in turmoil. Click here to read... [12]
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin was the highest-ranking foreign dignitary at the event in Naypyitaw. Two days later, Russia called Myanmar a “reliable ally and strategic partner.” When Russia invaded Ukraine, the regime backed the Kremlin, its spokesman saying that Russia was still a powerful nation that plays a role in keeping the balance of power for world peace. Click here to read... [13]
Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG) is offering cash rewards to junta soldiers who defect with anti-aircraft weapons, as the regime increasingly uses airstrikes on both resistance fighters and civilian targets. Click here to read... [14]
The Investment Board Nepal on Monday gave its nod to India’s state-owned NHPC Limited to study and develop two hydropower projects totalling 1,200MW in western Nepal. Click here to read... [15]
The election dates have finally been announced, giving much less preparation time than usual. Political parties are scrambling to find candidates, and potential candidates are already figuring out the price of an election ticket. In South Asian democracies, paying the party and its leaders to get an election ticket is an acceptable social practice, and no one will be ostracised for doing so. Click here to read... [16]
Minister for Forest and Environment Pradeep Yadav has expressed his commitment to liberate Nepal from plastic pollution.
“Plastic-induced pollution is one of the major problems in recent days. We should not make any delay in exploring its solution,” the minister added. Click here to read... [17]
Nepalese Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka will arrive in China today for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. This marks the first high-level Nepalese visit to China since the formation of the current government under Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba last July. Click here to read... [18]
Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/2022/august/09/vif-neighbourhood-news-digest
[2] https://theprint.in/diplomacy/jolted-by-lanka-pakistan-bangladesh-bhutan-taking-steps-to-strengthen-economy-says-fm-dorji/1073000/
[3] https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/why-india-should-support-china-bhutan-boundary-agreement-11028541.html
[4] https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bangladesh-gives-duty-free-access-16-more-bhutanese-products-473942
[5] https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/solihs-visit-delhis-push-to-counter-anti-india-sentiment-in-the-maldives-1134173.html
[6] https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099205108062235369/p174394036aa910c309ecf0fbecff0d7654?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news
[7] https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/migration/news/undocumented-the-maldives-34k-bangladeshis-get-papers-3090176
[8] https://www.wionews.com/continuity-and-challenges-in-the-india-maldives-relations-504965
[9] https://wnyt.com/business-news/the-sacrifice-zone-myanmar-bears-cost-of-green-energy-2/
[10] https://www.mizzima.com/article/spring-revolution-interfaith-network-calls-victory-within-year
[11] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/08/myanmar-asean-approach-requires-a-reboot-to-end-horrific-crimes-by-the-myanmar-military/
[12] https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/japanese-company-in-the-spotlight-for-myanmar-expansion-poor-labour-practices
[13] https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/commentary/dragging-russia-into-the-myanmar-conflict.html
[14] https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/nug-offers-rewards-for-myanmar-regime-defectors-with-anti-aircraft-weapons.html
[15] https://kathmandupost.com/money/2022/08/09/nepal-gives-nod-to-india-s-nhpc-to-build-two-projects-totalling-1-200mw
[16] https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2022/08/08/will-nepal-vote-for-change
[17] https://english.khabarhub.com/2022/09/266848/
[18] https://foreignbrief.com/daily-news/nepalese-foreign-minister-narayan-khadka-to-visit-china/
[19] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 09, 2022&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/2022/august/09/vif-neighbourhood-news-digest
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