VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 17, 2022

Afghanistan

Estimated Afghan Job Loss 700,000 to 900,000: SIGAR: Tolo News

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said that the total job losses since the Taliban takeover is projected to reach between 700,000 and 900,000 by mid-2022. Click here to read... [2]

Taliban: No Police Has the Right to Stand at a Police Checkpoint Wearing Civilian Attire: The Khaama Press

The Taliban’s chief of police in Kabul, Wali Jan Hamza, said the process of distributing uniforms to the group forces had begun and that once the it was completed, no one in plain, local and civilian clothes would be allowed to check the people. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Govt took profits of Petroleum Corporation, left it in lurch- The Daily Star

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation made huge profits for seven years through import of petroleum at low prices but the government took that money, leaving the BPC ill-equipped to cope with the current international market volatility. Click here to read... [4]

Major challenges ahead: speakers- The Daily Star

As the world order is changing with the global powers being more polarised, Bangladesh will be facing more challenges in maintaining balance and securing its national interests in the coming days. Click here to read... [5]

Country gets its first female finance secy- The Daily Star

The government yesterday appointed Fatima Yasmin as the secretary to the Finance Division under the finance ministry. Click here to read... [6]

Prophet remarks: Police block march to Indian High Commission- The Daily Star

Police blocked the march heading towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka at Shantinagar intersection around 12:20pm today. Click here to read... [7]

“Yunus got highest opportunities from AL govt but betrayed Bangladesh”- The Daily Star

Lambasting Dr Muhammad Yunus, PM Sheikh Hasina once again said the World Bank's funding to the Padma multipurpose bridge project was stopped due to a person who got the highest opportunities from the Awami League government but betrayed the people of Bangladesh. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Bhutan needs big investment in right sector- Business Bhutan

With the economy at a crossroads, big investment in the right economic sector is the only way forward for the government to revive the economy of the country, according to an economist, Dr. Damber S. KharkaClick here to read... [9]

Customers complain about increasing prices of commodities in Phuentsholing- Business Bhutan

The wholesale price of one carton of Koka noodles was Nu 675 in the past and now it costs Nu 775. The retail price for one carton of Koka is Nu 820 in Phuentsholing. Click here to read... [10]

Fiscal year 2021-22 budget revised to Nu 84B- Kuensel

The finance minister has presented a supplementary budget of more than Nu 3.866 billion (B) for fiscal year 2021-22 in Parliament. Click here to read... [11]

His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo awarded the prestigious Blue Planet Prize- Kuensel

The Asahi Glass Foundation has recognised His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo as one of the two recipients of the Blue Planet Prize, the international environmental award for this year. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

President decides to establish Maldives Health Services: Edition Mv

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to establish Maldives Health Services to strengthen primary health care system in the nation. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Deuba avoids House that awaited response on some pressing issues- Kathmandu Post

Amid calls for answers from him on defence budget and SPP, prime minister plays truant. Click here to read... [14]

On SPP, no party looks clean— all lying, playing to the gallery- Kathmandu Post

A Nepal Army letter shows Nepal applied for the State Partnership Program in October 2015. While the national defence force finds itself in the dock, politicians are equally answerable. Click here to read... [15]

Nepali importers using southern route due to fickle Chinese transit policy- Kathmandu Post

Traders say they are tired of the frequently changing Chinese transit rules and promises which have caused them massive losses.

HoR endorses the proposal to consider three bills- Republica

The House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Thursday passed the proposal to consider Finance Bill 2022; Bill Designed to Recover Public Debt 2022 and Bill on Debts and Surety (25th amendment) by a majority of votes. Click here to read... [16]

Fuel prices increase in new list sent by IOC- Republica

The price of fuel has increased in the latest revised price list sent by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of fuel to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). Click here to read... [17]

Seven South African women held with 51 kgs of narcotics worth over Rs 1 billion- Republica

Nepal Police on Thursday made public seven South African women in Kathmandu who were nabbed along with 51 kilograms of heroin worth more than Rs 1 billion. Click here to read... [18]

Ruling, opposition parties disown SPP- Himalayan Post

The United States' State Partnership Programme has become a political hot potato, with the ruling and the opposition parties eager to wash their hands off it. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar

Prison Department spokesperson denies execution rumours- Myanmar Now

The official said that no execution order had been issued for the hanging of veteran activist Ko Jimmy or former MP Phyo Zayar Thaw. Click here to read... [20]

Elderly villagers killed in junta raids in Magway’s Pakokku Township- Myanmar Now

One of the victims was beaten to death, while the other, a paralysed woman in her seventies, died in her home after it was set on fire. Click here to read... [21]

Participants in Civil Disobedience Movement found murdered following junta raid in central Myanmar- Myanmar Now

Two resistance fighters, a nurse, headmaster and a teacher—who was pregnant—are captured together before being killed and burned by the military in Magway’s Yesagyo Township. Click here to read... [22]

Ultranationalist monk calls for pro-resistance villages to be ‘erased’- Myanmar Now

U Warthawa, a monk who has played a leading role in recruiting members to junta-backed militias in Sagaing Region, also accused PDF groups of carrying out arson attacks.

(Editorial) Once Again, Military Rule Sparks a Brain Drain in Myanmar- The Irrawaddy

Since the coup, Myanmar has witnessed a mass exodus. Myanmar citizens are once again fleeing the country, and this time entrepreneurs, businessmen, professionals, IT technicians and media personnel are among those who have left or are planning to do so. Click here to read... [23]

(Books) No Place to Call Home in the Junta’s Myanmar- The Irrawaddy

Reading Jessica Mudditt’s new book Our Home in Myanmar: Four Years in Yangon challenges concentration, with its emotionally mendicant millennial obsessions. The plodding prose turned my thoughts to the meaning of home in Myanmar in the aftermath of the 2021 coup and the military regime’s campaign of destroying individual homes, villages, communities and seemingly an entire country. Click here to read... [24]

Union Construction Minister receives Indian Ambassador- GNLM

U Shwe Lay, Union Minister for Construction, received Mr Vinay Kumar, Ambassador of the Republic of India to Myanmar, at the Ministry of Construction in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Click here to read... [25]

Myanmar’s foreign trade soars to $5.5 bln over past two months- The Global

MYANMAR’s external trade between 1 April and 3 June of the 2022-2023 Financial Year tremendously rose to US$5.5 billion, reflecting a sharp increase of $546 million as against the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

Oil prices add fuel to raging fire of discontent- Dawn

Amid widespread criticism from friends and foes over the government’s decision to increase oil prices for the third time in as many weeks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday defended the move. Click here to read... [27]

SBP forex reserves hit lowest since November 2019- The News

The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves have dropped by $241 million or 2.6 percent to $9.0 billion as of June 10, central bank data showed on Thursday, hitting their lowest level since November 2019 on the back of lack of external financing amid stalled IMF programme, high payments for oil imports, and pressure on foreign debt. Click here to read... [28]

Pakistan seeks US help to revive IMF deal- The Express Tribune

Pakistan has sought the United States support for the revival of the International Monetary Fund programme, as the global lender has yet to agree to a staff level pact despite the government having taken many difficult steps. Click here to read... [29]

Sri Lanka

U.S. to give $6 million in emergency aid to crisis-hit Sri Lanka: CGNT

The United States on Thursday announced that it will provide $6 million in emergency assistance to Sri Lanka to address the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable communities impacted by the country’s economic crisis. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka Left With Fuel Stocks For Around Five Days: NDTV

Chronic fuel shortages have worsened this week with kilometres-long lines at some gas stations countrywide, leading to sporadic protests as vehicle owners wait, sometimes overnight, for petrol and diesel. Click here to read... [31]

WFP ramps up emergency support, beginning with pregnant mothers in need: UN News

The World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday began distributing food vouchers to pregnant women in underserved districts of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, marking the start of the UN agency’s emergency response in the country, which is facing its gravest political and economic crisis since independence. Click here to read... [32]

Protest held in Sri Lankan capital against proposed wind mill project by Adani Group: Indian Express

The protestors in Colombo held placards questioning the lack of transparency in the awarding of the project to the Adani Group while shouting slogans against the Indian business conglomerateClick here to read... [33]