Vif Neighbourhood News Digest - October 11, 2022

Afghanistan

US, Islamic Emirate Held 'Detailed' Talks in Doha: Source: Tolo News

After the report by CNN, a source from the Islamic Emirate confirmed that a delegation of the Islamic Emirate met with US officials in Doha and held detailed talks on Saturday. The meeting between officials from the US and Islamic Emirate was the first in three months, following the US announcement that the leader of the al-Qaeda network, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed in a drone strike in Kabul. Click here to read... [2]

Kabul, Ashgabat Agrees on Action Plan: TAPI Pipeline Project: The Khaama Press

A delegation of the Islamic Emirate in a visit to Turkmenistan agreed on action plan for the construction of the TAPI pipeline project, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). Last month, second Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said Afghanistan is ready to initiate project, adding the current conditions have created a right opportunity for the implementation. " target="_blank">Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

British FM expresses gratitude to PM Hasina for joining Queen's funeral: Dhaka Tribune

British foreign minister James Cleverly on Monday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for joining the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. James Cleverly termed it as one of the milestones of Bangladesh-UK friendship. Click here to read... [4]

Brunei sultan to pay homage to Bangabandhu, martyrs during 1st Bangladesh visit: Dhaka Tribune

Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, during his stay in Bangladesh, will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan consulate general hosts event to mark the reopening of the nation’s borders - Telegraph India

Bhutan reopened its international borders after a gap of 915 days on September 23 and the Royal Bhutanese consulate general in Calcutta hosted a reception at Hyatt Regency Kolkata to mark the occasion. Consul general Chencho Tshering welcomed the invitees to Bhutan. He spoke of the new tourism policy adopted by the country. “Tourism will continue to be a key sector but we are focussing on high value and low volume.” A fee of US $200 per night would be payable henceforth for international tourists, which will be used for protection of the environment. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

Pres appoints High Commissioners to India and Malaysia - Avas Maldives

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to the Republic of India, Ibrahim Shaheeb, completed his Masters in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. Earlier, he served as the Chief of Protocol, and Additional Secretary, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives govt seeks feedback on proposed 20-MW solar project tender - Renewables Now

The Maldives government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), acting as transaction advisor, are inviting interested parties to participate in market-sounding sessions in relation to a 20-MW solar project for which a request for proposals (RFP) should be launched in the coming weeks. Click here to read... [8]

Myanmar

ALP vice chair: ‘We are discussing with the military council to bring peace to the country’ - BNI Online

At the same time, the regime has been holding peace talks with 10 ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that appear to have opted out of the fight against the regime. The Arakan Liberation Party/Arakan Liberation Army (ALP/ALA) is one of the EAOs engaged in peace talks with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. ALP vice chairperson Saw Mra Razar Linn recently sat down with DMG to talk about the party’s relationship with the State Administration Council (SAC), as Myanmar’s military regime refers to itself. Click here to read... [9]

Meet Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, the Man in Charge of Myanmar Junta’s Torture Chambers - The Irrawaddy

Following its bloody crackdowns on peaceful protesters against military rule last year, the junta has turned to committing atrocities against detained dissidents, especially during interrogations. The questionings are carried out mainly by the Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs (OCMSA), a successor of Myanmar’s notorious Military Intelligence (MI), which was run by General Khin Nyunt. Click here to read... [10]

EU renews support for Rohingyas, host communities with €6.2m contribution - Dhaka Tribune

The European Union (EU) has renewed its support to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char with a contribution of €6.2 million. The support is coming through DG ECHO, the Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department of the EU. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today welcomed the European Union’s generous contribution which will support UNHCR’s continued protection and assistance of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh. Click here to read... [11]

Major battle rages between Myanmar troops and PDFs in Sagaing’s Banmauk and Indaw townships - Mizzima

Three fighter jets from the military council bombed nearby villages in Banmauk and Indaw Townships on 6 October. “The Military Council troops entered and burned Seemaw village in Banmauk Township on 7 October. The junta army keeps deploying the military offensive in the Banmauk and Indaw area. That’s why the total damage and fatalities are not yet known,” said an official from Indaw Revolution (IR), a PDF group. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Nepali elections are becoming a battle of same old faces - Kathmandu Post

Despite growing voices within Nepali political parties for transferring the leadership to the new generation, most candidates for the November 20 elections are the same old, tried-and-tested faces if Sunday’s nominations for the first-past-the-post category are anything to go by. Click here to read... [13]

UK, US lobby Nepal to vote against Russia at the UN - Kathmandu Post

Hours before crucial voting at the United Nations General Assembly on Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine, Lord Ahmad, Minister of state for the Middle East, South Asia and the United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, spoke to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and requested him to vote against the annexation. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

54 countries, including Pakistan, urgently need debt relief: UN: Dawn

Cascading global crises have left 54 countries — home to more than half of the world’s poorest people — in dire need of debt relief, the Unied Nations said on Tuesday. In a new report, the United Nations Development Programme warned that dozens of developing nations were facing a rapidly deepening debt crisis and that “the risks of inaction are dire.” Click here to read... [15]

Rs410 million approved to deal with PTI march: The Express Tribune

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday approved an initial budget of over Rs410 million to deal with the participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march with an iron hand and also backed the decision to provide cheap electricity to exporters. Click here to read... [16]

Pakistan faces dilemma on anti-Russia resolution: The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s diplomatic skills will be tested this week when the European countries will put to vote a resolution against Russia at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In March, Islamabad abstained from voting against Russia, something that drew a strong reaction from the United States and other western countries. Pakistan joined China, India and many African countries to stay neutral. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

India pledges commitment and support to help revive Sri Lanka tourism: Daily Mirror

The travel and tour operators in India have pledged support to help Sri Lanka tourism move towards the positive growth trajectory and affirmed it would actively promote the island nation across all states. The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) said it would by no means back out from selling destination Sri Lanka in India but would step up efforts in educating travellers in its country on the experience the nation has to offer. Click here to read... [18]

Japan to assist Sri Lanka in achieving low carbon growth: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka and Japan entered into an agreement yesterday on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) for Low Carbon Growth Partnership. The memorandum of cooperation was inked at the Presidential Secretariat. The JCM was introduced by Japan in 2013, with the objective of contributing to the global effort of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This mechanism has been developed to reduce GHG emissions jointly with developing countries and share the GHG emissions reduced as the percentage between Japan and the agreed party country. Click here to read... [19]