VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 16, 2022

Afghanistan

Review of Security Developments in Afghanistan Over Past Year: Tolo News

Although ensuring security in Afghanistan is considered one of the Islamic Emirate's accomplishments over the past year, following August 15th, 2021, various provinces in the country had security incidents. Click here to read... [2]

Iranian Customs Officers Seize Afghan Tanker Truck Containing 100KG of Drugs: The Khaama Press

Iranian media citing the country’s security officials reported that Iranian forces in Dogharun customs in Iran discovered and seized a tanker truck from Afghanistan containing 100 kilograms of drugs. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban Delegation to Visit Turkey to Assess Situation of Afghan Refugees and Migrants: The Khaama Press

According to Taliban authorities, a delegation from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of the Taliban government would visit Turkey to assess the situation of Afghan migrants and refugees as Turkey deported as many as 40,000 Afghan migrants to Afghanistan. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Curbing money laundering through AI: The Daily Star

East India Company colonised Bengal in 1757 when India's contribution to the world's GDP was about 27 per cent and Bengal (Suba-E-Bengal) was one of the wealthiest places on Earth. Click here to read... [5]

Petroleum remains NBR’s major source of revenue: The Daily Star

Petroleum imports continue to be the major source of revenue for Custom House, Chattogram thanks to higher tariffs.
Revenue collection from the import of diesel, furnace oil and other fuels surged 56 per cent to Tk 12,440 crore in the fiscal year of 2021-22 from that a year ago, the highest in a decade. Click here to read... [6]

India, Bangladesh should ignore minor irritants, continue joint war on terror: Security expert: Economic Times

India and Bangladesh should ignore minor irritants and continue strengthening their close relations as the two nations engage in a joint war against terrorism, said Shantanu Mukharji, IPS (Retd), a security analyst specializing on South Asia and terrorism. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Too much money, too less credit: Kuensel Online

Financial institutions in the country have recorded significant growth in their liquidity positions amid a sluggish growth in credit, according to data published by the Royal Monetary Authority. Liquidity (cash) in bank and non-bank financial institutions increased to Nu 29.52 billion (B) in March 2022 from Nu 20.87B in March 2021. In other words, the liquidity position increased by Nu 8.65B or 41 percent. Click here to read... [8]

Tsirang villages struggle with waste management challenges : Kuensel Online

With increasing modern infrastructure and development in rural communities, plastic waste has penetrated deep into the villages where waste problems had been an alien concept until recently. Click here to read... [9]

For energy-secure Bhutan: Kuensel Online

Bhutan’s energy demand could grow by over 400 percent by 2030. This is a logical estimation, going by the consumption pattern in the country. To put it in numbers, coming from experts, energy demand could hit as high as 25,270.42 Gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2030 from 5,000 GWh currently. In other words, energy demand grew by 6 percent annually between 2010 and 2021. Click here to read... [10]

Government halts 2,560MW Sunkosh project :Kuensel Online

The government will for now not pursue the 2,560-megawatt Sunkosh hydropower project, the country’s biggest, according to the economic affairs minister, Loknath Sharma.
This means that developmental activities like the construction of roads, bridges and plantation of cash crops, which were halted before, will be allowed. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

"Solih administration shepherd the island's notable social and economic development": Raajje

The council members of Feevah Island in the Shaviyani Atoll has expressed gratitude to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his administration for the island's notable social and economic development. Click here to read... [12]

54 percent of Lhaimagu Harbor completed: Raajje

Work on design and build of Sh. Lhaimagu Harbor Development Project is well underway. 54 percent of the overall work of the project is now completed. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives confirms 98 new Covid-19 cases within a week: Raajje

Maldives has confirmed 98 new Covid-19 cases within a week. Between August 7 to August 13, a total of 98 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed nationwide. Click here to read... [14]

Transitional phase of parliamentary system will begin in February: Speaker: Avas

Parliament Speaker and President of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed has said the transition to a parliamentary system of governance is possible in the Maldives and that the transitional phase of the parliamentary system would begin in February next year. Click here to read... [15]

Indian High Commission office building relocated to Hulhumale': Avas

The office building of the Indian High Commission in the Maldives has been relocated to Hulhumale' while the Maldives government has allocated land for the construction of the Indian High Commission office in Hulhumale' Phase II. However, no building has been constructed on the land thus far. Click here to read... [16]

What does the 5th Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee mean for China and China-Maldives relations?: Avas

The recent conclusion of the 5th Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee is a crucial meeting at the decisive historical moment for China, In days to come, China is willing to share opportunities of development and welfare of cooperation with all countries including Maldives. China will draw impetus of development from the world and let China’sdevelopment benefit the world. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar

Kayah-resistance-groups-claim-19-myanmar-junta-deaths: The Irrawaddy

Fighting between resistance forces in Kayah State and Myanmar’s regime forces has left an estimated 19 junta troops dead in Hpruso, Demoso, Bawlakhe and Shadaw townships, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF). Click here to read... [18]

Myanmar Regime Sentences Suu Kyi to a Further Six Years in Prison on Corruption Charges: The Irrawaddy

The ousted State Counselor, who is being held in solitary confinement in Naypyitaw Prison, has now been sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison. Click here to read... [19]

Coalition-of-chin-resistance-forces-launch-lethal-attack-on-junta-base-near-state-capital: Myanmar Now

An alliance of ethnic Chin guerrilla groups ambushed a Myanmar army base between Hakha and Thantlang townships last week, claiming to have killed 10 junta soldiers. Members of the Chinland Joint Defence Committee (CJDC) launched the attack on the site near the Themis stream on August 11 2022Click here to read... [20]

Myanmar military launches airstrike on yinmabin township village trapping civilians: Myanmar Now

At least 50 civilians, including injured elderly people and children, have been trapped in a village in Sagaing Region’s Yinmabin Township since the military launched an airstrike on the location last week despite there being no clashes there. The 800-household village of Yin Paung Taing, located 10 miles outside of Yinmabin’s administrative centre, was reportedly targeted by 45 minutes of gunfire from three fighter jets on the afternoon of August 11, wounding several people. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

Climate-smarter Himalayan infrastructure: Nepali Times

Nepal is increasingly reliant on selling its surplus electricity to India. Power generation in the monsoon exceeds 2,100MW even as average domestic demand stands at just 1,550 MW. Another 2,500MW of electricity will be added to the grid in the next two years, while 3,000MW of new projects are in the pipeline. But these projections are at the mercy of future climate-induced riskClick here to read... [22]

The geopolitics of Nepal’s water and electricity: Nepali Times

A rapidly warming atmosphere is melting Himalayan glaciers, changing the seasonal flow of water in Nepal’s rivers, and increasing the interest of downstream India to regulate water and generate electricity. For Nepal, this is an opportunity to finally tap the potential of the country’s ‘white gold’ to meet growing demand for electricity domestically, as well as redress its trade deficit with India by selling surplus power. Click here to read... [23]

Resetting Nepal-China ties: The Kathmandu Post

Nepal's Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka's three-day sojourn in northern neighbour China that concluded last Thursday somewhat blatantly failed to exude that level of warmth, mutuality and good neighbourliness. What is unbecomingly striking is that Khadka and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi even failed to come out with a joint communiqué. This signals an array of discords ? Click here to read... [24]

Coalition task force near compromise on four criteria for seat-sharing: The Kathmandu Post

A meeting of the task force of the ruling five-party alliance to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming federal and provincial polls is near agreement on a four-point criteria. Click here to read... [25]

Pakistan

US, Pakistan discuss options for Gen Bajwa’s visit to DC: Dawn

United States and Pakistani officials are considering various options for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Bajwa to visit the United States in late August or early September, diplomatic sources told Dawn. Click here to read... [26]

Govt’s petrol-hike move catches people off guard: The Express Tribune

The government on Monday increased the price of petrol by Rs6.72 per litre and reduced that of high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs0.51 and kerosene oil by Rs1.67 per litre effective from August 16 (today). Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan’s total debt jumps to Rs60 trillion: The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities skyrocketed to Rs59.7 trillion as the nation added Rs12 trillion, or one-fourth of its total debt incurred in the past 74 years, in the diamond jubilee year, thanks to the imprudent fiscal policies and devastating impact of currency devaluation. Click here to read... [28]

Sri Lanka

India gifts Dornier to Sri Lanka a day ahead of Chinese vessel arrival: Hindustan Times

India on Monday gifted a Dornier reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka to bolster the island nation’s capability to tackle drug trafficking and maritime security challenges, with the move coming a day ahead of a controversial visit by a Chinese research vessel. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka imposes ban on three new entities and 55 individuals: Daily Mirror

While de-listing six Tamil international organizations including the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and 317 individuals, the government has added 55 new individuals and three more organizations to the banned list as part of this year’s review, informed sources said. According to the gazette notification issued on July 28 this year signed by Defence Ministry Secretary GeneralClick here to read... [30]