VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 20, 2022

Afghanistan

UK Not Supporting Violent Actors Against Kabul: Shorter: Tolo News

The UK does not support anyone, including Afghan nationals, seeking to achieve political change through violence, or any activity inciting violence for political purposes in Afghanistan, the Chargé d’Affaires at the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha, Hugo Shorter said. Click here to read... [2]

Kabul Wants Good Relations with Neighbors, World: Stanekzai: Tolo News

Abbas Stanekzai, the political deputy of the Foreign Minisitry, stated that Kabul wants good relations with its neighbors as well as the world, at a gathering titled "The Future of Afghanistan's Relations with Neighboring Countries" which was organized by the Afghanistan International Strategic Studies Center (AISSC). Click here to read... [3]

“Afghan Invest” Company Inaugurates with a $250M Capital in Kabul: The Khaama Press

According to the state-run Bakhtar News Agency’s report, the newly inaugurated company is established with an investment of $250 million.The company presently has 13 investors from various regions of Afghanistan, but the number of the investors, according to the sources, is expected to grow to 50. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Rohingya return: Talks get nowhere- The Daily Star

Nearly five years into the largest Rohingya influx, the process of repatriation remains confined only to talks with the international funding declining for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh, India for strengthening cooperation in water management, cyber, food security- The Daily Star

Bangladesh and India yesterday (June 19, 2022) agreed to work closely together to further strengthen cooperation in the areas of common rivers and water resources management and pledged to expand collaboration in cyber security, IT and food security. Click here to read... [6]

‘Let’s go home; let’s go to Myanmar’- The Daily Star

Thousands of Rohingyas yesterday held a rally in Ukhia of Cox's Bazar -- to tell the world that they want to go back to their homeland Myanmar, marking World Refugee Day. Click here to read... [7]

Dhaka may get flooded too- The Daily Star

In the context of Sylhet and Sunamganj's flood situation, Local Government and Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) Minister Md Tazul Islam yesterday said even the capital, especially its low-lying areas, could inundate rapidly due to heavy rainfall and water from upstream. Click here to read... [8]

All set for grand opening- The Daily Star

No truck or covered van would be allowed to operate on highways connected to the Padma Bridge -- from the morning of June 24 to that of June 26 -- to facilitate the inauguration of the Bridge on June 25. Click here to read... [9]

Flood damaged Aush paddy of 22,000 hectares cropland so far- The Daily Star

About 22,000 hectares cropland of Aush paddy have been damaged so far due to recent flood situation in the country, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said yesterday. Click here to read... [10]

Jatiya Party opposes use of EVMs in national election- The Daily Star

Main opposition in the parliament Jatiya Party today said that they do not want national election using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Click here to read... [11]

Bhutan

Walk the Talk: Reduce salt, beat NCDs- BBS

The Bhutan Youth Development Fund in collaboration with the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization observed the Walk the Talk event for the first time today. It is to create awareness on the importance of physical activity and dietary habits with a focus on reducing salt consumption. Click here to read... [12]

Sweeping cuts of Parliament budget impacts committee duties- Kuensel

With reduced budget allocation, the National Assembly (NA) secretariat had to seek financial support from external donors to facilitate committee meetings, public consultation and review. Click here to read... [13]

ACC detains three immigration officials in P’ling for alleged embezzlement- Kuensel

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating an alleged case of embezzlement at the Phuentsholing immigration office. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

SOEs are instrumental in implementing govt. policies: The Sun

Vice President Faisal Naseem said on Sunday that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were instrumental in implementing the government’s policies and alleviating the difficulties facing atolls. Click here to read... [15]

Covid fatalities reach 300 in Maldives: Edition Mv

Health Protection Agency (HPA) said a 66 year old Maldivian man being treated for Covid in Orange Facility in Hulhumale’ passed away today. The most recent Covid death prior to this was on May 26. A 71 year old Maldivian man had passed away in Addu. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar

Insurgents from India add fuel to fire in Myanmar's restive north - Asia Nikkei

Violence is spiraling in northern Myanmar, as ethnic Chin rebels fight not only the country's military regime but also armed insurgent groups from India. Click here to read... [17]

Situation critical in Myanmar with mounting resistance to military junta - TBS News

Situation has gone critical behind the Bamboo Curtain in Myanmar with anti-military junta forces intensifying their operations across the country and sentiments against China running high for exploiting mineral reserves and supporting the military dictatorship. Click here to read... [18]

Myanmar’s Military Targeting Children - Persecution.org

In the intervening year and a half, the Buddhist nationalist junta has disproportionately targeted religious minorities, including Christians, in order to suppress the opposing people’s defense forces. According to a recently released UN report, the military junta has also brutally attacked and killed hundreds of childrenClick here to read... [19]

Myanmar junta arrests 10 civilians following AA arrest of soldier in Rakhine - Mizzima

In what appears to be a tit-for-tat action, the Myanmar junta military arrested 10 civilians in Ponnagyun Township in Rakhine State on 16 June. The action happened after the Arakan Army (AA) arrested a Military Council soldier at a construction materials store near Sanpya Ward in Ponnagyun Township at around 3 p.m. Click here to read... [20]

Post junta soldier’s arrest civilians detained by the military - Narinjara

Dozens of civilians were reportedly detained by the military personnel after the Arakan Army (AA) arrested one junta soldier on 16 June in Ponna Kyun, a few miles north of Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State. Till Saturday morning, more than 30 local people were picked up near Aye Zedi pagoda and the sports school, said an eyewitness. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

Govt to evaluate economic development of local levels- Himalayan Times

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has issued the 'Local Economic Development Evaluation Procedure, 2022' to assist the local governments in promoting local economic development through evaluation of overall aspects in their respective areas. Click here to read... [22]

Deuba skips House committee meeting. Lawmakers decide to summon him again- Kathmandu Post

Nepal’s prime ministers often ignore such calls, just as questions remain about parliamentary panels also. Click here to read... [23]

Visiting US general urges Nepal to join State Partnership Program, promises aid- Kathmandu Post

Prime Minister Deuba and Nepal Army chief Sharma want political consensus before Nepal joins the program, a component of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, officials say. Click here to read... [24]

Holidays at whim: That’s the way for local governments- Kathmandu Post

Local units often come up with own ways of declaring holidays, at times with reasons that defy logic. Click here to read... [25]

Potential foreign investors put off by Nepal's lax law enforcement- Kathmandu Post

FDI pledges in IT sector plunged 409 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year ended mid-June. Click here to read... [26]

New provision makes it mandatory for 34 aircrafts to night-stop park outside Kathmandu- Republica

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has unveiled a mandatory provision for the night-stop parking to 34 aircrafts including 14 helicopters outside Kathmandu Valley citing lack of sufficient space at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Click here to read... [27]

National Assembly members for common stand on SPP- Republica
National Assembly members have stressed that both the ruling and opposition parties must have a common stand on the US' State Partnership Program (SPP). Click here to read... [28]

What goes on in Nepal’s elections- Nepali Times

A poll observer in Kaski in both 2017 and 2022 compares the May local polls to previous one. Click here to read... [29]

Pakistan

No-deal-yet-with-imf-for-revival-of-loan-programme: Dawn

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have not yet been able to reach close to a staff-level agreement for revival of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), leaving authorities in a tight spot to bridge the gap and get the updated federal budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 passed by the National Assembly. Click here to read... [30]

PTI stages nationwide protests against inflation: The Express Tribune

Large screens were installed at major protest venues for Imran Khan’s virtual address with local party leaders galvanising rallies with speeches and slogans against the "imported government".Click here to read... [31]

PAKISTAN PAYS A RUSSIAN PRICE: The Express Tribune

Banning Russian energy is directly proportional to increasing LNG demand in the EU and US. Meaning no cheaper LNG for Pakistan; an idea which Pakistan worked on to get cheap energy. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan spends roughly $100 million for a single LNG cargo from the spot market, a record for the cash-strapped country. But, what’s a spot market? Let’s discuss about spot market later in the piece. Click here to read... [32]

Hold polls or face anarchy, Imran addresses from home: The News

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan warned that any bid to rig elections would push the country towards anarchy as PTI activists and supporters took to the streets on Sunday night in almost all the major cities of the country against the runaway inflation, on the call of the party chairman. Click here to read... [33]

Sri Lanka

Envoys of US & UN urge Sri Lanka's security forces to understand people's frustration: Times Now News

The appeal from the two envoys came a day after a clash between people and army personnel in a queue for fuel in Vishvamadu, Mullaitivu. Click here to read... [34]

Sri Lanka troops open fire as protest over fuel turns to riot: Aljazeera

Sri Lanka’s military opened fire to contain rioting at a fuel station as unprecedented queues for petrol and diesel were seen across the bankrupt country, officials said. Click here to read... [35]

Where does China, US aid-talk leave India?: First Post

Colombo-based envoys of China and the US, Qi Zhenhong and Julie Chung, met recently. At their meeting, the two ambassadors discussed common approaches to an economic recovery plan for the host nation. Click here to read... [36]

Is Sri Lanka Seeking Russia's Help Amid Oil Shortage?: NDTV

Sri Lanka has reached out to several companies suggested by Russia's embassy in Colombo to buy crude oil, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said on Sunday. Click here to read... [37]