VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - November 21, 2022

Afghanistan

Norway Donates $22 Million to Afghanistan: Tolo News

Norway announced its package of NOK 220 million (approximately $22 million) for the UN and World Bank to enhance food security and provide basic services, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt announced. Click here to read... [2]

U.S employers urge Congress to pass Afghan Adjustment Act before December: The Khaama Press

According to an International Rescue Committee (IRC) press release, in a letter sent to Congress, employers and business associations across the U.S. emphasized the contributions that Afghans are already making to the social and economic fabric of the country after being in the U.S. for little over a year, and that supporting the Afghan Adjustment Act is not only morally right but also makes economic sense. New IRC data has revealed that Afghans are projected to contribute $1.4 billion in earnings and nearly $200 million in taxes in their first year of employment aloneClick here to read... [3]

Border clashes along Durand line between Afghanistan and Pakistan leave casualties: The Khaama Press

According to the reports, military forces in both sides of the border in the South-Eastern Paktya province have opened fire to each other which has caused casualties. The number of death and injuries were not immediately reported, however, Pakistan media outlets have reported that a number of civilians including women and children have been wounded inside Pakistan border. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Lavrov calls off Dhaka visit – The Daily Star

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has cancelled his planned visit to Dhaka and said he will talk to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen over the phone today or tomorrow. Lavrov was supposed to be in Bangladesh from November 23 to 24 to attend a minister-level meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). He was scheduled to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen. "I can understand it. They are very busy. Their activities due to the war have increased to a large extent. Maybe for that reason, he is unable to come," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told a few reporters after an event of the IORA at the InterContinental Hotel. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh, Gulf Cooperation Council sign MoU on priority areas – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Bahrain on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue. Under this MoU, both sides will hold regular consultations for political, economic, cultural, people-to-people contact, climate change, agriculture, food security, and environmental protection cooperation. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and GCC Secretary General Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf signed the MoU on Friday. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh, India discuss border management, security issues – Dhaka Tribune

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and his Indian counterpart Amit Shah Friday discussed various aspects relating to border management and common security-related issues. The two home ministers held the meeting on the sidelines of 'No Money for Terror' (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing, which began in New Delhi on Friday. "Both sides had productive exchanges on border management and common security-related issues," the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs tweeted in the evening after the meeting. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s performance-based pay for civil servants revives debate over similar policy in India – The Print

In November 2015, the 7th pay commission recommended introducing Performance Related Pay — an almost corporate-like pay structure that would be determined on the basis of one’s performance and efficiency — for government employees. It met resistance from some IAS officers and never saw the light of day. With neighbouring Bhutan considering the Pay Structure Bill of 2022, that links performance to incentives for its own civil servants, the spotlight is yet again on the policy. The Bhutanese Bill was brought before the National Assembly by Finance Minister Namgay Tshering on 14 November. Click here to read... [8]

New political party gearing to register with ECB – Kuensel Online

With one more political party being formed, Bhutan could have five parties contesting the elections in 2023. The party doesn’t have a name yet. National Land Commission’s Secretary, Dasho Pema Chewang is going to be its president. He is resigning from the commission on Monday. Dasho Pema Chewang said that the regionally-balanced development, equal opportunity and participation of all social groups in governance, economic transformation by leveraging on technology and strong leadership are some of the party’s initial focus. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

From Maldives, with hope - UNICEF

The low-lying island nation has sped up land reclamation projects around the country for shoreline protection and tourism development. What is land reclamation, one may ask? Picture this: tons of sand being pumped from the ocean to create new land. UNICEF has been consistently partnering with the government to support climate education in schools, reduce plastic pollution through behaviour change campaigns, engage young people in conversations around climate, and provide them with the tools, support systems and confidence to grow, thrive, and survive in a climate-changed world. Click here to read... [10]

COP27 | U.N. climate talks poised for deal creating ‘loss and damage’ fund - The Hindu

Delegates at the U. N. climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh continue to negotiate a final agreement, with the latest draft suggesting the creation of a fund to compensate a section of developing countries for the damage already done by disasters linked to climate change. Country representatives at the 27 th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the U. N. Framework Convention on Climate Change are expected to convene again at a closing plenary session in the Egyptian resort town that is to commence late Saturday night by Indian time. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Thirty-five Rohingya sentenced in Myanmar to 5 years in jail - Mizzma

Military Council troops apprehended 62 Rohingya people near Kadonelay island, Kadonkani village-tract, Bogale Township, Ayeyarwaddy Region, at 10 pm on 30 October. ”Thirteen Rohingya under the age of 18 have been sent to the Hnget Aw San training school, and 35 adults have been sentenced to prison. The remaining individuals have been sued for lack of valid travel documents. They were from Gwa Town, Rakhine State,” a representative of a lawyers firm said. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar Resistance Medics on Front Line of Fight Against Military Rule - The Irrawaddy

Nearly 5,000 of the CDM health workers are now working among resistance groups under the shadow civilian National Unity Government (NUG), according to the CDM Medical Network, which compiles lists of health workers. They include 320 specialist doctors, 560 nurses, 1,554 basic health workers, and volunteers, according to the NUG. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar Junta Ramps Up Landmine Use - Human Rights Watch

In 2022, 25 years since the international Mine Ban Treaty was adopted, only two countries actively use antipersonnel landmines: Russia and Myanmar. Myanmar’s forces have used landmines since 1999, but new use by the junta has surged since the February 2021 coup, according to the Landmine Monitor Report 2022, released last week. The report analyzed photographs of hundreds of landmines manufactured by the junta and planted across the country. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan-Myanmar military axis becoming deeper under Chinese guidance - The Economic Times

Pakistan-Myanmar military industrial link has received a major boost following reciprocal visits by delegation of both the countries. Last month, a senior-level Pakistani military delegation visited Myanmar to inspect a defence industry complex near Yangon and participate in a workshop on JF-17 block II aircraft that Myanmar had purchased from Islamabad, ET has learnt. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

Vote counting of FPTP, PR being conducted simultaneously - Khabarhub

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the offices of the chief returning officers to ensure vote counting of the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Provincial Assembly, and proportional representation (PR) of the HoR and Provincial Assembly in four different places simultaneously. The EC made such directive as some ballot papers of the HoR and Provincial Assembly were mixed up in some polling stations while voting due to carelessness of the officials and voters. The EC has planned to release the results within eight days. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal Elections Record 61% Voter Turnout, 1 Death Reported In Election Violence - Outlook

The voter turnout is significantly lower as compared to the past two elections, which was 77% in 2013 and 78% in 2017. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's Nepali Congress-led coalition is likely to win the polls. Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said, "The nationwide voter turnout has stood at around 61 per cent. This is likely to increase slightly as we continue receiving details from districts across the country. This is certainly less than what we had expected." Click here to read... [17]

What sets this election apart – The Kathmandu Post

Observers say that this time, political parties are primarily focused on power politics rather than specific agendas and ideologies. Yet this election is vital, according to them, as the country passes seven years of promulgation of the new constitution. “Now, there are no such big national or regional campaign agendas,” Adhikari said. “Unlike the 2017 polls, contested between communist and non-communist forces, ad hoc alliances this time have left no room for ideological polarisation.” Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Imran claims PDM offered talks, vows to surprise all: Dawn

Days after a meeting between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar and President Arif Alvi, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan claimed that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government had approached the former ruling party for talks. Click here to read... [19]

For US, Pakistan remains key regional ally, India global partner: Dawn

“India is an invaluable partner, not just in the region but as it relates to a lot of the United States’ shared priorities across the world,” said the department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel while commenting on Washington’s ties with New Delhi. Click here to read... [20]

Wazirabad attack, Kenya killing plot ‘hatched in London’: The Express Tribune

According to private TV channel on Sunday, Tasneem Haider Shah, who said he was associated with the PML-N for the past 20 years, told a press conference that he had three meetings with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in the office of his son Hassan Nawaz, alleging that he was called to kill Arshad Sharif and Imran Khan. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan sees 'hope' for vulnerable communities after UN climate summit adopts 'loss and damage' fund:The News

Pakistan Sunday saw "hope" for vulnerable communities all over the world, who are fighting for their survival from climate stress after the UN's climate summit adopted the "loss and damage" fund. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka targets one million Chinese tourists – Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing, consistent with its efforts to continuously promote Sri Lankan tourism in the Chinese market, is targeting one million Chinese tourists to visit Sri Lanka after the China travel restrictions are relaxed, a statement from the mission said. Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona met with the General Manager of Beijing Spring Travel Service Co., Ltd, Mr.Yang Yang, on November 16, 2022, in order to further bilateral cooperation in the tourism industry. The Ambassador Dr. Kohona said that the Embassy is also exploring all possible ways to position Sri Lanka as a preferred destination in the Chinese Market including a formal request to the authorities. General Manager Mr. Yang said that Beijing Spring Travel Service Co., Ltd is among the top 10 Travel companies in Beijing and Shanghai and has been accorded award certificates many times by the Chinese Government and the travel trade. The annual business turnover of Spring Travel in 2019 was 24.5 billion RMB (3.5 billion USD). Spring Airlines is valued at 50 billion RMB. Click here to read... [23]

Budget 2023 at risk: Dayasiri – Daily Mirror

General Secretary of the SLFP and former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said if the budget 2023 gets defeated on December 8th after the third reading as speculated by certain quarters, the country will have to face a snap Parliamentary election in accordance to the Constitution. In the event of failure of passage of the Appropriation Bill in Parliament, the Executive President will have no say as Parliament gets dissolved automatically, he stressed.
Under the normal circumstances, the President is required to dissolve Parliament when 113 members or more make a request or the President is empowered to dissolve parliament at any time on completion of two and half years since the inaugural session of Parliament which falls on February 19th, 2023, he told Daily Mirror. Click here to read... [24]

Govt holds talks with Cyril Ramaphosa on truth seeking mechanism – Daily Mirror

The government held talks with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to explore the possibility of getting his country’s support for the establishment of the domestic truth seeking mechanism as part of reconciliation process, a Minister said. The South African leader was in Sri Lanka for a short time on November 16 on his way home from Bali after attending the G20 summit. In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up to investigate political crimes during the apartheid era. Mr. Ramaphosa was also the chief negotiator of iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela in holding talks with the apartheid regime for transition to democracy. Click here to read... [25]

Basil Returns – Daily Mirror

Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa returned to the country last morning to a grand welcome at the BIA. Rajapaksa left for the US in September to receive medical treatment, after the Supreme Court allowed him to travel overseas. A number of SLPP members including Parliamentarians were at the BIA to welcome the former minister on his arrival. It was reported that Basil Rajapaksa will work towards securing a two thirds majority for the budget in Parliament, however Minister Prasanna Ranatunga denied this report and wanted the opposition MPs not to refer to Rajapaksa as ‘Kaputa’. Click here to read... [26]

PTA, ‘Aragalaya’ and need for long-term goals – Editorial- Daily Mirror

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) (of 1978 first enacted as a temporary measure in 1979 under J. R. Jayewardene was later made permanent in 1982) is a broad law to search, arrest and detain suspects for periods of up to 18 months. This law has been subject to international condemnation. Originally intended to crush the demand for a separate state in the North and East (under a claim of fighting terrorism), today the self-same PTA is being used in all parts of the country. The use of the PTA more recently began in the aftermath of the ‘Aragalaya’, which followed the fleeing of the past president, acts of violence and arson and the burning down of the incumbent president’s residence. The present protests against the PTA are organized by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) who are presently the main targets of the application of the PTA. Two members of the IUSF have been taken into custody, the IUSF is protesting their arrest and demanding their immediate release. Click here to read... [27]