VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - December 29, 2022

Afghanistan

UNSC Seeks ‘Equal, Meaningful’ Participation of Women in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council in a statement on Wednesday called for full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The UNSC said that the suspension of women’s work in Afghanistan would have a significant and immediate impact on humanitarian operations in the country. “These restrictions contradict the commitments made by the Taliban to the Afghan people as well as the expectations of the international community,” the Security Council said. Click here to read... [2]

Resurgence of Terror in Pakistan, Revising Afghan Policy: PTI Leader: The Khaama Press

Amid the deteriorating security situation in the country, Pakistan Teheek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry linked the resurgence of terrorism with the country’s wrong policy towards Afghanistan. While addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Pakistan’s former minister of information said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari lacks a comprehensive understanding of Afghanistan. He further added if the situation deteriorates in Kabul, it will have negative implications for Islamabad as well. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

BNP allies form another alliance – New Age

A new political alliance comprising 11 parties that were earlier partners of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance was formally launched on Wednesday to strengthen the simultaneous anti-government movement. In a separate development, the BNP liaison committee for the simultaneous movement held its first meeting with the liaison committee formed by the seven-party coalition Ganatantra Mancha to finalise the decision to hold a mass procession in Dhaka simultaneously on December 30. Click here to read... [4]

Assam: Police fires on miscreants trying to smuggle cattle heads, on Bangladesh border – The Print

An incident of firing on miscreants along the India-Bangladesh border by the police to prevent them from entering illegally was reported in Assam’s Karimganj district, officials said on Wednesday. Police said they resorted to firing on a group of Bangladeshi nationals planning to cross over into India, in the Nilambazar area of Karimganj district. They were trying to cross over for allegedly lifting cattle heads in the area, the police added. “The team spotted suspicious movement of miscreants in Baliabasti, which is located 1km away from the international border. On being asked to surrender, they fled from the area,” a police officer said. Click here to read... [5]

India-Bangladesh border haats will reopen soon: Dhaka Commerce Minister – Business Standard

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that among three border haats, which are trading posts on Bangladesh-India border and were closed due to the pandemic, one of them is operational and another one will open soon, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

India-assisted Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project handed over to Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corp – The Print

The India-assisted 720 Megawatts Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project has been handed to Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) in Bhutan. The handover was held in Thimphu on December 27 in a ceremony that was witnessed by Bhutan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Lyonpo Loknath Sharma and India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela. Click here to read... [7]

BJP team visits Indo-Bhutan border | Peace prevails, no Chinese intrusion: ITBP – Arunachal Observer

There is neither any intrusion no encroachment from other side of the border and peace prevails, said Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, guarding Gelling, last village along Indo-Tibetan border, while interacting with a visiting state BJP team led by vice president Tarh Tarak, spokesperson Techi Necha, library cell convener Porchu Tamin & media co-convener Nima Sange on Tuesday. The visit to take stock of the ground reality was a befitting reply to neighbouring nation China, which often clams Arunachal Pradesh as its territory.Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Ex-Maldives leader Yameen’s jail sentence could fan flames of his ‘India Out’ campaign - SCMP

Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen, who is campaigning on an anti-India platform for the 2023 election, has vowed to appeal against an 11-year jail term for corruption and money laundering, raising concerns his “India Out” movement may gain momentum at a pivotal time. Click here to read... [9]

BML to donate 33 motorised wheelchairs - Raajje

Bank of Maldives continues to support people with mobility impairments across the Maldives with a donation of additional 33 motorised wheelchairs. With this donation, the program which began in 2017 has now seen the successful delivery of over 200 motorised wheelchairs across the Maldives, enhancing the quality of life for people living with physical disabilities. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Manipur government, Assam Rifles clean rivulets in Moreh along Indo-Myanmar border - North East Now

The denizens of border town Moreh in Manipur – young and old alike – holding water drums and vessels came out in large numbers and undertook a campaign of cleaning up the Khujailok and Lailok rivulets, tributaries of the Chindwin river in Myanmar. Moreh is a border town located along the India-Myanmar border in the Tengnoupal district of Manipur. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar's exports up 15.09% in over 8 months of FY 22-23: Govt data - Business Standard

Myanmar's exports rose by 15.09 per cent year-on-year to $11,755.81 million in more than eight months of the 2022-23 fiscal year beginning in April, official data showed. From April 1 to December 16 this year, the country's manufacturing goods exports, valued at more than $7,999.69 million, accounted for 68.04 per cent of total exports. It was the country's largest exports group during the period, the Ministry of Commerce's data showed on Wednesday. Click here to read... [12]

New ASEAN chair Indonesia can change the game in Myanmar - Jakarta Post

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen symbolically handed over the gavel of the ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Phnom Penh on Nov. 13, the last day of the ASEAN Summit. Jokowi’s term for the ASEAN chairmanship will be effective on Jan. 1, 2023. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

India Grants Permission To Nepal Electricity Authority To Export Additional 40 Megawatts Of Electricity From Two More Hydroelectric Projects – OrissaDiary Online

India has given permission to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to export additional 40 megawatts of electricity from two more hydroelectric projects. According to NEA, the Central Electricity Authority of India has approved the sale of surplus power from two more hydropower projects – 25 MW Kabeli B-1 and 20 MW Lower Modi – at competitive rates in the Indian energy market. With this, 452.6 MW surplus power can be exported to India from 10 hydropower projects. Click here to read... [14]

Cross-border transmission line with China to use MCC-funded substation – The Kathmandu Post

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has shelved its plan to set up a substation at Trishuli Bazaar for the Nepal-China Cross-border Transmission Line as it plans to connect the power line with a Ratmate-based substation to be built with the assistance of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US aid agency. When the controversy over the MCC assistance was at its height before its eventual endorsement by the erstwhile House of Representatives early this year, the power monopoly had planned to set up a separate substation. Click here to read... [15]

Key trade route between Nepal-China reopens after nearly 3 years – Indian Express

Two-way trade from one of the key border transit routes between Nepal and China resumed formally on Wednesday after being closed for almost three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said. The reopening of the border transit route comes days after Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, who is known to be close to China, took the oath of office as the new Prime Minister. A ceremony marking the official resumption of trade from the Kerung-Rasuwagadhi border port was held on Wednesday. Click here to read... [16]

'Government will follow balanced, trustworthy ties with India', says former Nepal PM Oli's party – First Post

The newly appointed Prime Minister vowed to strengthen Nepal's relations with India. "We want good relations with India," he said. "I am not against India, will forget the old disputes and move forward," said Prachanda. "According to the mandate given, the government has been formed in the country. The public wanted everyone to work together, and that's why they formed the government together. Our government will complete its term. Work will be done according to the constitution," said PM Prachanda while talking to senior news anchor Dibang. Click here to read... [17]

Asian Highway section to open on Jan 1 – The Kathmandu Post

The Nepal section of the Asian Highway, which was constructed two years ago but was not operated fully, will come into operation from January 1, 2023. The six-lane highway and a ‘friendship bridge’ constructed over the Mechi river are expected to start operation from the new year. A bilateral meeting of customs officers and security officers of Nepal and India held in Panitanki on December 21 agreed to operate the bridge. Ram Prasad Pathak, chief of Mechi Customs Office, and Lha Tshering Sherpa, deputy commissioner of Naxalbari Customs Division, signed the agreement. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Top military brass vows to fight terror amid TTP resurgence: The Express Tribune

The reiteration of the resolve was made in a huddle of the corps commanders at the GHQ which was presided over by army chief General Syed Asim Munir. It was the second corpse commanders’ conference Gen Munir chaired since taking over the baton of command from Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa who doff his uniform after the completion of his extended tenure last month. However, no statement was issued by the military after the first huddle. “[The] 254th Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at [the] GHQ from 27-28 December 2022. General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), presided [over the conference],” says a statement issued by the military’s media wing.
Click here to read... [19]

Gwadar shut amid continued clashes: The Express Tribune

Police arrested eight people following clashes with the protesters. Those taken into custody belong to the GRM. According to reports, Gwadar is witnessing a complete shutter down. Cellular networks and internet services remained suspended for the third day in Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara. The protesters staged a sit-in in front of Pasni Press Club and blocked the main highway for traffic. A heavy contingent of police was deployed till Zero Point – 6km from Ormara city.On Tuesday, a policeman was shot dead allegedly by the GRM protesters in Gwadar. There was no immediate response from the Movement in this regard. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan to repay around $8.3bn in next three months: The News

Amid the dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan will have to repay approximately $8.3 billion in shape of external debt servicing over the next three months (Jan-March) of the current fiscal year. Out of $8.3 billion outstanding debt servicing, Pakistan will have to get rollover of $2 billion from the UAE during the next three months of the current fiscal year. There is another outstanding commercial loan repayment of $700 million to Chinese banks which Pak authorities are expecting to be refinanced. The principal amount of debt servicing stands at $5.035 billion in the next three months, while the interest repayment is hovering around $426.88 million, so in totality, the outstanding amount has gone up to $5.462 billion. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka

Not the time to spend money on an election - Finance Ministry official – Daily News

A senior Finance Ministry official said that the country is facing the worst economic crisis in its history, and currently the government’s monthly revenue is ample only for government employee salaries, pensions and Samurdhi allowances. The official, pointing out that systematic measures have been taken to solve the current financial crisis, said that successful results are expected by next March. He pointed out that it is not possible to allocate funds for an election in such a backgroundClick here to read... [22]

Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus seek India’s support as Sinhala government targets temples – Frontline

The Sri Lankan establishment is planting Buddhist symbols in Hindu sacred sites; The Kanniya hot springs and the Thiru Koneswaram temple are among their main targets; The Army is not returning occupied lands to its rightful owners. In 2011; India agreed to provide 32.6 crore Lankan rupees to restore the Thiruketheeswaram Siva temple; Representatives of Tamil political parties hope India will intervene to help re-establish places of worship. Click here to read... [23]

Why Sri Lanka’s Suffering May Not End Soon – Washington Post

In May, Sri Lanka defaulted on its overseas debt. Amid political upheaval and human suffering, the Indian Ocean Island is still awaiting a $2.9 billion rescue by the International Monetary Fund. Lacking resources to buy even essentials like fuel, the economy is falling into an ever-deepening abyss. The poverty rate has doubled in one year; output has cratered and inflation soared. A decade of welfare gains has been eroded. All of this raises a question: When did sovereign debt restructuring become so hard? Click here to read... [24]