VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 27, 2022
Afghanistan
70% of Nuristan Schools Lack Buildings: Tolo News

Nuristan's department of education said that 70 percent of schools in this province do not have buildings, and they must temporarily use tents at these schools to solve this problem. Click here to read...

UNSC Session Discusses Afghan Human Rights, Earthquake: Tolo News

On Thursday, the UN Security Council held a session to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. In the session, many of the participants called attention to the devastating earthquake, the human rights situation, restrictions on Afghan women and girls and the overall crisis ongoing since the collapse of republic government in August 2021. Click here to read...

Earthquake Survivors in Afghanistan at Risk of a Disease Outbreak: The Khaama Press

Following a UN agency’s warning of a cholera outbreak in the quake-hit area, the spokesperson of the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health said on Sunday that thousands of people affected by the fatal earthquake in southeast Afghanistan need access to clean water, food, and are highly susceptible to diseases. Click here to read...

Kabul Optimistic about Formal Recognition amid Heightened Situation: The Khaama Press

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi said he is optimistic about Islamic Emirate relations with the international community, hopping for world recognition amid ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Click here to read...

Bangladesh
‘Polls will be transparent’- The Daily Star

Australian High Commis-sioner to Bangladesh Jeremy Bruer yesterday said Australia hopes that Bangladesh's next general election will go well and be transparent. Click here to read...

Acquire scientific knowledge - The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged students to acquire scientific knowledge and take the country towards development and prosperity. Click here to read...

Explore alternative power sources - The Daily Star

Capacity charges for idle power plants, theft in the name of system loss, wastage and dependency on imported gas and fuel without exploring alternatives are the main causes behind high energy costs, said speakers at a dialogue yesterday. Click here to read...

New law will be enacted for police: Home Minister - The Daily Star

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told the parliament today that a new law for the Bangladesh Police will be enacted keeping in view of the current situation and turning police into a more people-friendly and service-oriented organisation. Click here to read...

Saudi Arabia detains Bangladeshi hajj pilgrim for “begging” - The Daily Star

Saudi Arabian police detained a Bangladeshi hajj pilgrim on charges of begging in Madinah. Click here to read...

Minority leaders demand Momen’s resignation over remarks made in India - The Daily Star

Minority community leaders in Bangladesh today demanded resignation of Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen over statements they claimed he made while visiting India, regarding atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh. Click here to read...

“India, Pakistan, US lauded govt on Padma Bridge opening, but BNP couldn’t” - The Daily Star

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today (June 26, 2022) said India, the US and even Pakistan extended greetings to the government as Bangladesh opened the biggest self-financed Padma Bridge, yet BNP could not. Click here to read...

PM urges Kuwait to invest in Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zones - The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the Kuwait government to invest in Special Economic Zones of Bangladesh. Click here to read...

Bhutan
Is Bhutan’s economy at risk?- Kuensel

Bhutanese economy has been recovering well from the pandemic after the economy contracted to 10.1 percent in 2020. Click here to read...

Understanding Tourism Industry- Kuensel

Current national discourse on the tourism industry, with all the passion and diversion of views, is educative. It is a welcome trend that there is a vigorous exchange on an issue of national concern and importance and impact. Click here to read...

Fourth phase of monetary measures provides loan restructuring options- Kuensel

Phase IV of the monetary measures will allow eight different forms of loan restructuring options to support depending on the severity of impact of the pandemic and the affordability of the borrowers. Click here to read...

Finance Minister introduces Tourism Levy Bill of Bhutan in NC- Bhutan Times

The minister for finance, the Member In-Charge of the Bill, Namgay Tshering introduced the Tourism Levy Bill of Bhutan 2022 in National Council on 24 June. Click here to read...

Indian Embassy celebrates 8th International Day of Yoga in the capital- Bhutan Times

In collaboration with Bhutanese friends and fellow Indians, the Embassy of India organized the main event of the celebrations of the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY) at the Clock Tower Square, Thimphu on 21 June. Click here to read...

Increase bandwidth for Druk Research and Education network- Bhutan Times

In keeping with the request made by the government, Bhutan’s Druk Research and Education Network, which is connected to India’s National Knowledge Network, will be provided increased internet bandwidth from 1 GBPS to 5 GBPS. Click here to read...

NC recommends Govt. to stop extending deadlines for hydropower projects- BBS

With the ongoing hydropower projects in the country repeatedly missing deadlines, the National Council (NC) has recommended the government avoid this. Click here to read...

Maldives
The Maldives, Not entirely idyllic: The SUN

The Maldives presents unique governance problems as it is not a contiguous territorial nation state. There are 1,192 islands, of which 187 are reportedly populatedClick here to read...

Was not instructed against holding yoga event by any authority: The SUN
Youth Ministry, on Sunday, has stated that they were not instructed by the Islamic Ministry nor any other government authorities against holding the event at national football stadiumClick here to read...

Myanmar
The U.S. Can Put Sanctions on Russian Gas to Punish Putin. I’m Asking It to Do the Same in Myanmar - NY Times

Myanmar’s modern history has been marked by colonial exploitation, military repression, violence and democracy denied. Grass-roots activists like me and thousands before me have dedicated our lives and sacrificed our safety to change this. Click here to read...

Myanmar Resistance Claims 25 Junta Soldiers Killed - The Irrawaddy

A total of 25 Myanmar junta troops and allied militia members were killed by the people’s defense forces (PDFs) at a village in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region, on Wednesday. Click here to read...

Dhaka seeks Commonwealth support for Rohingya repatriation - TBS News

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has reiterated that earliest repatriation of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas back to their ancestral homeland in Rakhine in safety and dignity remains Bangladesh's compelling priority. Click here to read...

Military is Weaker Since Coup and Momentum is With the Armed Resistance - The Irrawaddy

Ye Myo Hein, the executive director of the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies and a public policy fellow with the Woodrow Wilson International Center’s Asia Program, recently published a research report: “One Year On: The Momentum of Myanmar’s Armed Rebellion.”Click here to read...

Arakan Army Detains Myanmar Naval Officer - The Irrawaddy

The Arakan Army (AA) seized a captain from the Myanmar military’s Danyawaddy naval base in Rakhine State’s capital, Sittwe, on Thursday, according to town residents. The captain was detained near the naval base and was reportedly in uniform and armed when abducted by the AA. Click here to read...

DFA signs framework allowing Rohingya refugees to study in PH - Manilla Bulletin

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. signed last Wednesday, June 22, the Legal Framework for the Complementary Pathways (CPath) Program for Rohingyas, which aims to provide an educational pathway to eligible beneficiaries and engage relevant government agencies and private institutions to promote durable solutions to help beneficiaries achieve self-relianceClick here to read...

Nepal
CPN (US) demand met, Cabinet reshuffled- Himalayan Times

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, appointed new ministers from CPN (Unified Socialist). Click here to read...

Parliament to endorse citizenship bill: Speaker- Himalayan Times

Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota said the Parliament was preparing to pass the citizenship bill in the current budget session. Click here to read...

'Identify competencies to enhance students' performance'- Himalayan Times

India's renowned behavioural scientist Prof of Eminence Sanjeev P Sahni has emphasised 'maximising potential through behavioural competencies and performance enhancement of students'. Click here to read...

Forex reserves down to fund imports for just a little over six months raises alarm- Kathmandu Post

Questions arise if import control measures have worked and government is doing much to address economic woes. Click here to read...

Sri Lanka
Putin to the rescue? Sri Lanka seeks discounted oil from Russia & Qatar: Indian Express

Sri Lanka announced sending ministers to Russia & Qatar to try and secure cheap oil. 2 ministers will visit Russia & discuss getting more oil, after the purchase of 90,000 tonnes of Siberian crude in May. Click here to read...

Sri Lanka to use foreign companies to distribute fuel: Prensa Latina

The Sri Lankan government will allow foreign companies to distribute fuel in a measure aimed at alleviating the shortage of gasoline and diesel due to the country's economic crisis, media reported on Sunday. Click here to read...

Top US officials in Sri Lanka to help resolve the economic crisis: Tribune India

A high-level US delegation arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday to hold talks with the country’s top leadership and explore the “most effective ways” to help the island nation resolve its unprecedented economic crisisClick here to read...

Pakistan
Terrorism increased as provinces’ role in NAP ignored: PM: Dawn

Chairing a meeting on law and order here, the prime minister lamented that the role of the provinces in the implementation of NAP had been ignored during the last four years [when PTI was in power] which led to an increase in acts of terrorism in the country. Click here to read...

Turkiye keen to expand trade with Pakistan: Dawn

As Pakis¬tan and Turkiye prepare to conclude the Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA) next month, Ankara is keen on increasing the number of flights from the three existing cities and adding two more destinations in Pakistan while a power distribution company wants to invest in Lahore. Click here to read...

Pakistan to approach G20 against India’s plan: The Express Tribune

Pakistan will reach out to the G20 countries particularly with which it has close ties in an attempt to stop India from holding any event or meeting of the grouping in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Click here to read...

ANP cries foul as PTI snatches PK-7 seat in Swat by-poll: The Express Tribune

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate, Fazal Maula on Sunday won the Swat by-election in PK-7 constituency of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly by defeating the Awami National Party (ANP) rival. Click here to read...

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