VIF Neighbourhood News Digest- October 10, 2022

Afghanistan

Intelligence Head Wasiq Meets Deputy CIA Head in Doha: Source: Tolo News

A source from the Islamic Emirate confirmed that a delegation of the Islamic Emirate met with US officials in Doha on Saturday. The source said they discussed the issue of US drones in Afghan airspace and drone strikes in the country, violations of the Doha agreement and its fulfillment, restrictions on Afghan banks and the recent transfer of Afghan assets to the Swiss bank. Click here to read... [2]

Islamic Emirate Urges US to Engage in 'Positive' Way with Kabul: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid called on the US to engage in good relations with the current Afghan government. Speaking at a gathering held to mark the US attack on Afghanistan, Mujahid said that the way of force has not been successful. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban Meets Members of Afghan Sikh and Hindu Community: The Khaama Press

The Taliban administration’s Kabul mayor, Mawlawi Abdul Rashid, met with some Afghan Hindu and Sikh community members. The Hindu and Sikh participants at this meeting demanded that usurpers be driven off their land. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s first 6-lane bridge over Madhumati River set to be inaugurated Monday morning: Dhaka Tribune

In a fillip to residents of the country's north-western districts, the long-awaited Kalna Bridge, the first six-lane bridge in Bangladesh is set to be inaugurated on Monday morning, bridging the Madhumati River in Narail. Click here to read... [5]

Brunei envoy puts direct air connectivity on table ahead of Sultan's visit: Dhaka Tribune

Ahead of the Sultan of Brunei's much-anticipated maiden visit to Bangladesh, the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Haji Haris Bin Othman has called for direct air connectivity between the two friendly Muslim countries to boost tourism and trade.

"Bangladesh tourists are most welcome to Brunei," he said while speaking to reporters on Sunday at the High Commission, ahead of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah's state visit scheduled for October 14-16. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Traditional pilgrims extended SDF waiver - Kuensel Online

The government has approved the exemption of USD 200 daily sustainable development fee (SDF) for foreigners visiting Bhutan under 22 categories other than tourists. SDF will be waived for pilgrims to Gomkora, Hindu pilgrims to Jayanti Mahakal temple, near Phuntsholing, only if the pilgrims stay within Trashi Yangtse and the pilgrimage site for the duration of the festival. According to the list of waivers, nationals of Thailand and Switzerland with diplomatic and official passports will be exempted from the SDF only if the purpose of the visit is for official business. If the purpose of the visit is tourism, then SDF would be imposed and collected at the port of entry. SDF is to be waived only if the purpose of the visit is for nationals of member states of SAARC entitled to SAARC visa exemption scheme. If the purpose of the visit is tourism, then SDF would be imposed and collected at the port of entry. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan all geared up to host the first-ever Snowman Race - Times of India

Bhutan is all set to host the Snowman Race, which is touted to be one of the most ultra-challenging ultra-marathons. This event will be hosted on October 13 and 17, 2022 in Bhutan.

As per the reports, the competition will witness 29 endurance athletes, nine Bhutanese runners, who will compete with each other for more than 203 km across five days at an oxygen-sparse average of 14,800 ft with the highest point of 17,946 ft. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Tourist arrivals from India and Russia see increase - Avas

Statistics shared by the Tourism Ministry show that 166,030 tourists from India and 83,369 tourists from Russia visited the Maldives in 2019. However, these numbers increased this year, with the tourism-dependent archipelago seeing 172,911 tourists from India and 146,806 tourists from Russia by October 5 this year. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Myanmar army brutally arrest civilians in Mandalay - Mizzima

A civilian in Yanbetlon village (Yepyit), Kyuakse Township of Mandalay was shot and arrested by the Military Council at around 11 am on 5 October. According to local people, Kyaw Min Lwin, a male in his 40s, was shot and arrested by junta troops after 30 soldiers arriving in five vehicles raided his residence. Click here to read... [10]

PDFs attack Myanmar junta vessels on the Chindwin River - Mizzima

On the morning of 4 October, six Military Council vessels traveling to Kalewa from Alon Sit Pin port were ambushed by the Daung Lu Lin-LPDF and other local PDFs near Pann Sai village in Kanni Township, Sagaing region. Daung Lu Lin-LPDF claimed that heavy artillery and light weapons were used in the battle by the local people's defense forces before gunfire was exchanged. Military Council troops were reportedly injured but the exact details of the damage were not clear at the time of reporting. Click here to read... [11]

Why Are Myanmar Resistance Offensives Yielding Limited Success - The Irrawaddy

While resistance raids on Myanmar junta outposts and police stations continue, their limited firepower means they struggle to occupy targets. The increasing availability of proper firearms among resistance groups has increased their ability to attack junta targets, forcing regime troops in some areas, especially Sagaing and Magwe regions, to retreat into defensive positions. Click here to read... [12]

UN Mission in Myanmar is Lending Legitimacy to Genocidal Military Regime - The Irrawaddy

The traditional approach to humanitarian aid embraces principles like impartiality, neutrality, independence, and humanity. United Nations agencies and international non-profits cherish these ideals, and yet they also empower the legitimacy of a genocidal military regime. The failure to criticize military atrocities and name the junta as perpetrator tells us they fear the regime more than bereaved mothers, fathers and loved ones across the country who courageously speak out. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Nepal loses Rs200 million in Dashain power spillage - Kathmandu Post

Even though the country’s sole distributor had long been seeking India’s approval to sell the power generated by the 456MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, India refused to give its nod citing the involvement of Chinese contractors in the project, which is currently Nepal’s largest. Amid reduced domestic demand and India not buying more electricity, the Nepal Electricity Authority saw massive spillage of power during the Dashain festival. The authority said spillage reached as high as 800MW at times with domestic demand falling as low as 700MW against the peak demand of around 1700MW. Click here to read... [14]

As Nepal puts Agniveer recruitment on the back burner, India must tread cautiously - Indian Express

The 200-year-old British Gorkha connection with Nepal, Indianised after Independence, is the unspoken lynchpin of bilateral relations, resulting in a big ex-servicemen community which, properly nurtured, acts as a pro-India constituency in times of political choices, especially when China’s competitive zeal is growing. General Pandey’s visit to Nepal in September to be made Honorary General of the Nepal Army (the Nepali Army Chief is similarly recognised by India) is part of a unique post-Independence tradition. He made the avoidable remarks after a successful visit. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

Govt will not seek Paris Club debt restructuring: Dar: Dawn

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday said Pakistan will not seek debt restructuring from Paris Club creditor nations, as he seeks to restore market confidence after a credit rating downgrade. The new rating from Moody’s raised concerns that Pakistan could default on its foreign debt as the country contends with economic turmoil and a balance of payments crisis. Click here to read... [16]

UNDP vows to build disaster-resilient Pakistan: Dawn

The United Nations Development Programme on Saturday said Pakistan was ranked eighth among nations most vulnerable to extreme weather, it was working to build a disaster-resilient nation through the glacial lakes outburst flood (Glof-II) project. Click here to read... [17]

Why were five precious years of our lives wasted? asks Nawaz Sharif: The News

Terming the cases lodged against him “fabricated”, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif Sunday asked why "five precious years" of his life were wasted. Nawaz made the remarks while addressing a 'heart-to-heart' press conference, flanked by her daughter PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in London. Click here to read... [18]

Bilawal thanks UN for reiterating support for flood-hit Pakistan: The News

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Sunday expressed his gratitude to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Secretary General Antonio Guterres as the international body adopted a resolution that expressed solidarity with the flood-hit Pakistani people. Click here to read... [19]

Sri Lanka

CMTA raises concerns on importing used electric vehicles into Sri Lanka: Daily Mirror

The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA), the most senior automotive association in South Asia, has raised serious concerns about the importation of used electric vehicles to Sri Lanka. In order to minimise the negative impact on the consumer, environment, society, and economy, it is imperative that the country imports EVs which are directly shipped by the manufacturer with the recommendation for this tropical climate, the Association said in a statement to the media. Click here to read... [20]

Central Bank pushes back against widespread calls for lower rates : Daily Mirror

Pushing back on growing calls by many to cut rates to ease the pain on households and businesses and thereby kick start growth in the economy, the Central Bank last week defended its tight monetary policy as necessary until it sees a meaningful deceleration in the inflation which has spiraled out of control this year. Click here to read... [21]