VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - October 18, 2022

Afghanistan

Plan Launched to Collect Major Debts: DABS: Tolo News

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) said it has made a scheme through which it will collect the debts of consumers. "We have been able to identify 329 major debts. Out of them, 33 debt owners expressed readiness to pay their debts," said Hekmatullah Maiwandu, a spokesman for DABS. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan, the new blank space for a triangle super-powers: The Khaama Press

The mountainous land in the heart of Asia known as Afghanistan has always remained a major geo-political dispute among the superpowers. The great game (Tsar Russia vs Britain), Cold-War (USSR/Russia vs America) and war on global terrorism gained attention of these giant-fish to fight for supremacy, domination and securing their strategic depth in this piece of land. But on the other hand, the host nation (Afghanistan) escaped from above-mentioned disputes with one self-salvage neck-name “the graveyard of empires”. Click here to read... [3]

ICRC: Humanitarian Needs of Afghans Growing Every Day: The Khaama Press

As more Afghans are compelled to live on the streets and struggle to find food, the International Committee of the Red Cross stated that there is an increasing need for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. Millions of people in Afghanistan, including widows and orphans, have reportedly been forced to scavenge for food on the streets, according to the committee’s findings. Click here to read... [4]

Continued Global Protests against Hazara Genocide; Protests in Austria, South Korea and Turkey: The Khaama Press

Since October 8, there have been widespread protests against the “genocide” of the Hazaras. Large crowds have most recently protested against the Hazara genocide in Austria, America, South Korea, and Turkey.

Protesters gathered in Vienna, Austria’s capital, on October 16th to call for an end to the Hazara genocide in Afghanistan. The demonstrators also kept screaming anti-Taliban chants. A member of the Austrian parliament, Harald Troch, also joined the protesters and offered his support. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Hasan: BNP aims to create chaos in country: Dhaka Tribune

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said BNP wants to create a chaotic situation in the country in the name of movement. "With a view to creating anarchy, BNP is trying to wage their so called movement but they cannot execute it successfully," he said. Click here to read... [6]

Momen seeks Kuwaiti, Iranian support on Rohingya issue: Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen sought support from Iran and Kuwait on the Rohingya issue as Bangladesh eyes early repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Enhancing the country’s digital future - Kuensel Online

Around 70 participants are training on Linux administration and network or information security as part of the Bhutan Network Operators Group’s (btNOG) conference in Thimphu which began on October 14. Speaking at the opening session, Information and Communications Minister Karma Donnen Wangdi said, “As we continue our journey towards transforming Bhutan’s digital society, we need to continue building the capabilities of our ICT professionals.” Click here to read... [8]

Chinese Ambassador to India's visit to Bhutan 'helps advance friendly ties’ - Global Times

Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong recently paid a three-day visit to Bhutan, during which Sun met with Bhutanese leaders and the two sides vowed to promote the development of relations, the Chinese Embassy in India said in a statement on Saturday night. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Xi Jinping Exchanges Congratulatory Messages with Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Maldives Diplomatic Relations - FMPRC

On October 14, 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Hailing the time-honored friendship between China and the Maldives, Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always respected and supported each other, setting a good example of equal treatment and mutual benefit between countries of different sizes. Click here to read... [10]

Government of Maldives, UNICEF and young people urge climate action now - UNICEF

Leading up to COP27, the “Multi-Stakeholder Consultation with Young People on Climate Action” was hosted by the Government of Maldives in partnership with UNICEF Maldives. The pre-COP27 event provided the opportunity for young people to engage with key government stakeholders, civil society organizations, and private sector partners working around climate action in the Maldives. Through the three key themes ‘Plastic-Free Maldives’, ‘Protection and Conservation’ and ‘Energy and Innovations’, the sessions highlighted the critical role children and young people can play in leading the change to create a safer and a more resilient future for all. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Journalists go into hiding after threats by Myanmar’s military junta - RFA

Local reporters from two media outlets in Myanmar went into hiding after the country’s ruling military junta threatened to sue the news agencies for reporting that regime troops killed three civilians and wounded 19 others near a Buddhist pagoda in Mon state last week. BBC Burmese and The Irrawaddy online news journal reported that military soldiers allegedly fired random shots into crowds at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Mon state, one of the most famous Buddhist sites in Myanmar, on Oct. 12. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar Junta and Ethnic Armed Group Trade Accusations Over Fatal Pagoda Shooting - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military regime and an armed ethnic Karen group have blamed each other for the fatal shooting of female pilgrims at the base of Kyaik Htee Yoe Golden Rock pagoda in Mon State last week. Three Buddhist pilgrims were killed during a firefight between regime troops and a resistance force at a junta outpost near the temple on Wednesday. Click here to read... [13]

The arrest of former Army Captain by the AA triggers civilian arrests in the Arakan township - BNI Online

After the Arakan Army (AA) arrested a former Army Captain in Ramree Township, the Military Council retaliated by detaining seven local residents in an act of revenge. “A former Army Captain U Tun Kyi was arrested by ULA/AA at U Maung Kyaw's pharmacy in Inndaung. That's why the army is retaliating and arresting local people who have nothing to do with that matter”, a local resident explained. Narinjara is still trying to reach AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha to confirm whether the former army officer was arrested by AA. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

Ruling alliance to protect constitution and achieve prosperity: Nepali Congress - My Republicca

Nepali Congress Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that the main goal of the ruling alliance is to protect the constitution and achieve prosperity. At a press conference organised by the Nepali Congress Central Office on Monday, Dr Mahat said that the current government was formed to implement the constitution and protect democracy. He also claimed that in a short period of time the government has succeeded in moving the country towards the rule of and has also succeeded in doing important tasks related to the people's livelihood. Click here to read... [15]

Multidimensional poverty slumped in Nepal before Covid-19, global report says - Kathmandu Post

Nepal and India made rapid progress towards reducing multidimensional poverty in the years before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, a new global report on multidimensional poverty says. In 2011, 39 percent of Nepalis were multidimensionally poor and the percentage dipped to 25.7 in 2016 and 17.5 in 2019, according to the report. “It means 5.13 million Nepalis are multidimensionally poor based on Nepal’s total population of 29,192,480 as per the census 2021,” said Dharma Swarnakar, policy advisor at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Nepal at a press briefing on Monday. The report, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022, was prepared by the UNDP in coordination with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and was released on Monday. Click here to read... [16]

Fuel still expensive despite fall in international prices - Kathmandu Post

Nepal Oil Corporation continues to charge high prices even when the cost of oil on the international market has tumbled, analysts say. Inflation-stricken consumers complain they are hit with a price hike every time rates on the international market go up, but the state-owned oil monopoly does not respond with the same quickness when it is the other way around. Nepal Oil Corporation says it cannot slash prices because of massive losses, but insiders point out that it is making a profit for the first time in 20 months. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan

US ‘confident’ Pakistan’s nuclear assets are secure: Dawn

“The United States is confident of Pakistan’s commitment and its ability to secure nuclear assets,” a US State Department spokesperson told journalists in Washington shortly after a meeting between Ambassador Masood Khan and Counselor Derek Chollet. Click here to read... [18]

Imran gives govt few more days to announce polls: The Express Tribune

Former premier and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Monday admitted that the next general elections were linked with ex-premier Nawaz Sharif’s consent, saying elections won’t take place until the PML-N supremo took a decision. Click here to read... [19]

WB steps in to mediate Indo-Pak water dispute: The Express Tribune

The World Bank announced on Monday the beginning of two parallel legal processes to address Pakistan’s concerns over two hydropower projects on the western rivers by India in violation of the Indus Basin Treaty, breaking a six-year-old gridlock. Click here to read... [20]

Ready to buy fuel from Russia on ‘India rate’: Dar: The News

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who is on an official visit to the United States (US), said on Monday Pakistan was ready to buy fuel from Russia on the rate it was providing to neighbouring country India. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka

Rajapaksas responsible for economic crisis in England, France? – Aluthgamage: Daily Mirror

Government MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage recently asked whether the Rajapaksas were involved with the current fuel shortage in France and for the children who suffer from hunger. Addressing an event, he said the schoolchildren used to bring lunch boxes without food. "The children used to go to the playground during lunch time. The English cannot provide food for their schoolchildren. Click here to read... [22]

Japan to organize SL creditors’ meeting by end of this year: Daily Mirror

Japan is working to organize a meeting of Sri Lanka’s creditors by the end of this year in hopes of solving that country’s debt crisis, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. The meeting, which will discuss such issues as finding ways to reduce debt payments, aims to curb China’s influence by helping Sri Lanka cope with its so-called debt traps, which arose after China provided huge loans to the country to fund infrastructure developments and other projects. Click here to read... [23]