VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 18, 2022

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Seizes over $7B in U.S. Military Equipment: The Khaama Press

The United States provided more than $7 billion worth of military equipment to the former Afghan government, according to sources, much of it ended up in the hands of the Islamic Emirate after the US troops withdrawal and the sudden collapse of the country. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan Has Highest Maternal Mortality Rate in Asia-Pacific: UNFPA: The Khaama Press

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has voiced concern over the rise in maternal mortality during childbirth in Afghanistan, noting that Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Asia-Pacific region. Click here to read... [3]

Bhutan

Editorial: His Majesty and the Nation’s Common Dreams: Bhutan Times

This week, His Majesty the King granted an Audience to the 2019-2022 batch graduating from the Royal Institute of Management in the capital. In His conversation with the graduates, His Majesty spoke about Bhutan’s challenges as a nation, concerns over issues we face today, and our way forward if we are to secure a bright future for our children. Click here to read... [4]

His Majesty The King granted an Audience to the Indian Chief of Army Staff: Bhutan Times

His Majesty The King granted an Audience to the Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, at the Throne Room of the Tashochhodzong today. General Manoj Pande is on a two-day visit to Bhutan, his first since his appointment as the Indian Army Chief in April 2022. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Hasan Mahmud: Strict action if commodity prices are raised unnecessarily: Dhaka Tribune

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday warned that the government will take stern action if the prices of essential goods or transport fares are raised unnecessarily on the plea of hike in fuel prices. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh PM tells UN that Myanmar must take Rohingya back: Hindustan Times

Bangladesh's leader told a visiting UN official on Wednesday that hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority Rohingya refugees living in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh must return home to Myanmar, where they had fled waves of violent persecution. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Maldives foreign minister conferred Gabon’s National Order of Merit: Raajje

Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid has been conferred the National Order of Merit of the Gabonese Republic. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives among countries that best managed Covid-19: Naseem: Raajje

Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem has stated that Maldives is included among the countries that best handles the Covid-19 pandemic. The health minister made this remark at a ceremony to recognize the efforts of the healthcare officials who worked resiliently on the frontlines of the national Covid-19 inoculation driveClick here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Junta Chief Blames Resistance for Myanmar’s Chaos: The Irrawaddy

“Terrorism will be ended by counterterrorism operations,” Myanmar’s junta boss Min Aung Hlaing told his ministers in Naypyitaw on Tuesday. “Terrorism” refers to the operations of the people’s defense forces, the armed wing of the civilian National Unity Government, which the regime has labeled as terrorist organizations. Click here to read... [10]

Multiple resistance leaders killed, arrested by junta in southern Shan State : Myanmar Now

Three members of the anti-junta People’s Defence Force (PDF) were shot dead and others captured by the Myanmar army in southern Shan State in recent days as the junta intensifies its repression of resistance activities in the region. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

US health agency puts Nepal on its ‘high risk’ list: The Kathmandu Post

The US Centre For Disease Control and Prevention has included Nepal on its “high-risk” list for Covid-19, also called Level 3. The decision of the US CDC comes amidst the fourth wave of the Covid pandemic, from which hundreds of people in Nepal have been getting infected every day. Click here to read... [12]

Task force fails to find seat-sharing formula, will seek top leaders’ help: The Kathmandu Post

When the government announced general and provincial elections on August 5 for November 20 after multiple discussions among the coalition partners, it looked like they had a pretty good plan in hand on seat-sharing among them. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

UK inks deal to return ‘criminals’ to Pakistan: Dawn

The UK signed a major deal with Pakistan on Wednesday, under which foreign criminals and immigration offenders from the UK can be returned to Pakistan. Click here to read... [14]

Govt commits more taxes as IMF board meets on 29th: Dawn

The government has given an undertaking to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to raise the petroleum development levy (PDL) to a maximum of Rs50 per litre each on petrol and diesel by January and April, respectively, in 2023. Click here to read... [15]

Gill sent to Capital after Centre-Punjab row: The News

Following an intense standoff between Islamabad and Rawalpindi police over the custody of Shahbaz Gill, the Adiala Jail authorities handed over the custody of the PTI leader to the former on Wednesday night. The high drama ended after the federal government announced sending Rangers to take custody of Gill. Click here to read... [16]

Sri Lanka

Gotabaya set to return on August 24: Udayanga hints: Daily Mirror

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to return to the country on August 24, Former Sri Lankan ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga hinted today. He told the media after giving a statement to the CID on MIG Deal that the former President would render a service to the country. Click here to read... [17]

Prez reignites domestic debt restructuring fears: Daily Mirror

Reigniting fears over a potential local debt restructuring, President Ranil Wickremesinghe this week warned that Sri Lanka’s International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders may push the government to restructure the domestic debt, as they alone may not be keen to accept a steep haircut under a debt sustainability plan, which is a prerequisite to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailoutClick here to read... [18]