VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 06, 2022

Afghanistan

Former Defence Ministry spokesman returns to Kabul- Pajhwork

Dawlat Waziri, a former spokesman for the Ministry of Defence on Sunday returned to the country in response to calls from the Reconciliation. Click here to read... [2]

Kabul scorns US report on religious freedom- Pajhwork

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Sunday rejected the US State Department’s report on the treatment of religious minorities and human rights. Click here to read... [3]

Baradar Assures Potential Investors of Security- Tolo

The first deputy of the Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, reiterated the pledge of the Islamic Emirate to provide safety for business people and called for investment in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [4]

World Bank, ARTF Approve Three Emergency Projects for Afghanistan- Afghanistan Times

The World Bank and Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) Management Committee have recently approved three projects worth of $793 million that will provide urgent and essential food, livelihood, and health services to the people of Afghanistan. Click here to read... [5]

Germany Intends to Restrict the Number of Afghan Refugees Admitted Into the Country- Khaama Press

The German Ministry of Interior intends to impose quotas on the number of Afghan refugees admitted to the country. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

Demand for pay hike rings louder- The Daily Star

RMG workers blocked Mirpur and its surrounding areas for the second consecutive day yesterday, demanding a hike in wages. Click here to read... [7]

Inflation creating ‘new poor’ again- The Daily Star

The number of 'new poor' in Bangladesh has not dropped off despite the economy reopening due to the runaway inflation between January and May, found a recent study. Click here to read... [8]

Padma bridge opening: No legal bar to inviting Khaleda- The Daily Star

There is no legal bar to inviting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to Padma Bridge's inaugural ceremony, Law Minister Anisul Huq said yesterday. Click here to read... [9]

410 pilgrims leave for Hajj without Saudi-end immigration- The Daily Star

The first Biman flight carrying 410 pilgrims for this year's Hajj left Dhaka yesterday morning without the devotees completing their immigration procedures for the Saudi end, despite the government saying they would be able to do so. Click here to read... [10]

Nature-based solutions for sustainable dev- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the authorities concerned to go for nature-based solutions to achieve sustainable development keeping the environment protected. Click here to read... [11]

WB to grant Rohingyas in Bangladesh Tk 255cr as food aid: State Minister- The Daily Star

The World Bank will provide a grant of Tk 255 crore for food aid to the forcibly displaced Rohingya community from Myanmar staying at Teknaf and Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman on Sunday. Click here to read... [12]

Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation Bill placed in parliament- The Daily Star

The Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation Bill, 2022 was placed in the parliament today (June 5, 2022) to expedite the exploration of oil, gas, and mineral resources in the country. Click here to read... [13]

Bhutan

Local electricity tariff likely to drop next month- Kuensel

Consumers in the country could expect lower electricity tariff rates, when the new rates are implemented on July 1 for the next three-year cycle after the current rates expire on June 30. Click here to read... [14]

NC members unhappy with lack of implementation of their resolutions- Kuensel

The National Council (NC) members yesterday expressed concern over lack of implementation of their resolution. Click here to read... [15]

PM concerned over the quality of exports and imports- Kuensel

Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering expressed concerns about the quality of exports and imports. Click here to read... [16]

Freedom of speech and media in Bhutan: Hope still lingers- Bhutan Times

Bhutan is often referred as the ‘Last Shangril-la’ or the ‘Land of Happy People’ or the ‘Land of GNH.’ This goes to show that despite our short-comings of not having abundant resources and capitals that advanced nations are endowed with, we are indeed a happy bunch of people, content with whatever little we are blessed with. Click here to read... [17]

His Majesty graces inaugural session of the parliament- Bhutan Times

His Majesty The King, graced the opening ceremony of the Seventh Session of the Third Parliament on 2nd June.The ceremony was also graced by Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck and His Royal Highness Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck. Click here to read... [18]

After Nepal, India plans rail link to Bhutan- Times of India

After resuming train operations to Nepal, the government now is expediting the plan to provide rail connectivity to Bhutan, which at present doesn’t have a railway network. Click here to read... [19]

Government is not discouraging Bhutanese from going abroad for studies and works: PM- BBS

The Prime Minister said the government is not collecting details of the people travelling abroad in response to the Monggar’s Member of Parliament’s question during the Q&A session today. Click here to read... [20]

Maldives

Saudi, and Maldivian foreign ministers meet in Riyadh: Avas MV

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal Bin Farhan received on Sunday in Riyadh, his Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. During the reception, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries. Click here to read... [21]

Maldives debt close to MVR 100 billion: The Sun

Statistics published by the Finance Ministry show that the state debt increased by MVR 4.3 billion compared with the end of last year. This includes loans and sovereign guarantees taken by the government during the first three months of 2022. Click here to read... [22]

Myanmar

59 Rohingyas found abandoned on Thai island en route to Malaysia - Daily Sabah

As many as 59 Rohingyas were found stranded on a Thai island, claiming they were abandoned by smugglers during their journey to Malaysia, a senior police officer said Sunday. Click here to read... [23]

Myanmar junta troops 'raided and destroyed' hundreds of houses - TRT World

Myanmar junta troops have allegedly torched hundreds of buildings during a three-day raid in the country's north, as the military struggles to crush resistance to its rule. Click here to read... [24]

India-Myanmar Kaladan project’s completion hangs in limbo - AwamkaSach

One of India’s most ambitious project – Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport (KMMTT) project that would link India and Myanmar via the Bay of Bengal– is subject to completion of a 109 km road that has been hanging in limbo for a few years now. Click here to read... [25]

Myanmar military accused of torching hundreds of homes in three-day blitz - The Guardian

Myanmar junta troops have torched hundreds of buildings during a three-day raid in the country’s north, local media and residents said, as the military struggles to crush resistance to its rule. Click here to read... [26]

Myanmar Junta Detains Villagers Following Clash With Arakan Army in Chin State - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar junta troops have detained a number of villagers from Abaung Thar Village in Chin State’s Paletwa Township for interrogation, according to residents. The villagers were detained on Monday following fighting near the village between junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA) on May 26, said a villager. Click here to read... [27]

Nepal

Nepal records 13 COVID-19 cases on Sunday- Himalayan Times

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached to 110 on Sunday as nine people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [28]

CPN-US to reshuffle its incumbent ministers in coalition government- Himalaya

Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (United Socialist) party has decided to reshuffle incumbent ministers from their party in the ruling coalition government. Click here to read... [29]

Government targets too ambitious and unrealistic, experts say- Kathmandu Post

Budget contains a list of populist schemes—most of them plain impractical, insiders say. Click here to read... [30]

Nepali Army collects around 34 tons of waste from four mountains- Republica

The Nepali Army (NA) has collected as much as 34 tons of waste from four mountains under the 'Clean Mountain Campaign' this year. Click here to read... [31]

Pakistan

(Opinion) Cost of confrontation- The Dawn

There is in fact no sign of that. If anything, rhetoric by both sides suggests that tensions might intensify beyond the war of words that has followed Khan’s unsuccessful and ill-advised ‘long march’. Click here to read... [32]

Ogra seeks uniform gas rates for all users- The Dawn

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has asked the government to apply equal gas rates to all consumers irrespective of categories and sectors to ensure recovery of true cost of gas without any discrimination and end gas sector circular debt. Click here to read... [33]

Govt wants NA speaker to accept Imran, Qureshi’s resignations- The Dawn

The coalition government is considering asking National Assem­bly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to accept the resignations of those PTI MNAs, including party chairman Imran Khan and vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who have publicly announced resigning from their seats, Dawn has learnt through sources. Click here to read... [34]

Malik Riaz rubbishes fake audio attributed to him- Tribune

PML-N had shared audio clip on social media, claiming Imran, Bushra and Farah made billions during PTI’s tenure. Click here to read... [35]

Shehbaz calls for grand dialogue; PTI rejects idea- The News

Shehbaz Sharif says the purpose of the grand dialogue is to make no compromise over education, health and industries. Click here to read... [36]

PTI turns down PM Shehbaz Sharif’s 'grand dialogue' offer- Daily Pakistan

Amid the crippling inflation in the country and the growing anger among the masses, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is trying to bring ousted prime minister Imran Khan's party back to the dialogue table. Click here to read... [37]

Sana says government will arrest Imran once his bail expires- Pakistan Today

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman — who has been residing in Peshawar ostensibly to avoid arrest in as many as 14 cases, all linked to his little over day-long march on Islamabad — is expected to return to Islamabad later today. Click here to read... [38]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka detains Aeroflot A330 pending legal decision: Ch-Aviation

Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) had one of its aircraft seized in Sri Lanka on June 2, shortly before it was due to return to Moscow Sheremetyevo from Colombo Int'l with 191 people on board, Sri Lankan and Russian media reported. Click here to read... [39]

World Bank agrees to provide financial assistance to obtain urea fertilizer: Colombo Page
The World Bank has agreed to provide the necessary financial assistance to obtain the required amount of urea fertilizer for paddy cultivation in the 2022 Maha season. Click here to read... [40]

India extends full support to Sri Lanka to resolve agricultural issues: Colombo Page

The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay says the Government of India will extend its full support to Sri Lanka to address the problems in the country’s agricultural sector. Click here to read... [41]

India delivers consignments of medical supplies to Sri Lanka: Official: Business Standard

India on Sunday delivered consignments of essential medicines to a hospital in Sri Lanka to bridge the shortage of medical supplies in the island nation amidst the country's ongoing economic crisis, according to the Indian High Commission here. Click here to read... [42]