VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 07, 2022

Afghanistan

Defense Min. Mawlawi Yaqoob Mujahid Visits Qatar- Tolo News

The acting Minister of Defense, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, is on an official visit in Qatar, where he will meet the country’s senior officials, the Islamic Emirate’s Qatar-based political office said.Earlier, Qatari officials expressed criticism of the Islamic Emirate’s policies regarding girls' schools beyond grade sixClick here to read... [2]

Islamic Emirate Leader Seeks Good Relations with Intl Community- Tolo News

The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, in an Eid message said that the Islamic Emirate seeks good relations with the international community including the USClick here to read... [3]

'13 Billion Afs' Allocated for Disabled: Ministry of Martyrs- Tolo News

The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled said it has allocated more than 13 billion Afghanis to pay six-months' worth of compensation for the nation's disabled people. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Country may face deep economic crisis: BNP- The Daily Star

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday warned that Bangladesh is likely to face a deep economic crisis like Sri Lanka though the government is now trying to hush up the reality. Click here to read... [4]

EC dialogue starts July 17- The Daily Star

The Election Commission is going to start sitting with political parties on July 17 as part of a series of dialogues with a cross-section of people, seeking recommendations on how to hold free and fair elections. Click here to read... [5]

Barapukuria plant: Shortage of coal may halt power generation- The Daily Star

The Barapukuria 525MW coal-fired power plant may be mothballed once its current stock of coal is depleted later this month due to uncertainty over the resumption of coal supply from the nearby mine for underground development works. Click here to read... [6]

Gas crunch, power cuts: No sign of relief now- The Daily Star

A day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she was thinking of asking authorities concerned to temporarily reduce electricity to save fuel, she categorically said yesterday that it has become a financial burden to run power plants with imported gas, oil and coal. Click here to read... [7]

Govt believes in transparency, freedom of speech: Momen- The Daily Star

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged journalists to uphold the country's interest and dignity while exercising their right to free expression. Click here to read... [7]

Preventing child marriage in Bangladesh: Momen seeks help from UN agencies- The Daily Star

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has requested UN agencies to assist Bangladesh government in curbing early marriages in Bangladesh. Click here to read... [7]

“Buying US lies on Xinjiang may hurt Bangladeshi RMG industry”- The Daily Star

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has claimed that Washington is spreading "lies" about "forced labour" in China's Xinjian, and warned that if Bangladesh is not cautious enough, the "lies" may hurt the Bangladeshi RMG industry. Click here to read... [7]

Digitalisation in govt services saved time, money: Study finds- The Daily Star

The digitalisation of 66 percent of the services offered by six ministries/divisions has saved both time and money of the ordinary people and also ensured service delivery, found a recent study by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division. Click here to read... [7]

Load shedding at specific times likely- The Daily Star

The government is considering reducing electricity production to save the fuel for producing power, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Nu 45B worth of transformation initiatives begin- Kuensel

The government is set to implement “transformation initiatives” worth more than Nu 45 billion (B) in the next 10 years. Click here to read... [8]

Export restriction on potatoes from Bhutan to India lifted- Kuensel

The government of India (GoI) has given a one-year extension of exemption on the export of potatoes from Bhutan to India. Click here to read... [9]

India makes special trade concessions for Bhutan- East Mojo

The Indian government had recently revised the import policy to allow import of fresh wholly produces ginger from Bhutan with effect from May 19, 2022. Click here to read... [10]

NC accuses the NA Speaker of not following due procedure while deciding the fate ACC’s HR independence- BBS

The Joint Committee’s recommendation to give human resource independence to the ACC failed to get a two-thirds majority for endorsement on Monday. The members of the National Council said this happened because of the voting procedure the Speaker initiated for that particular recommendation. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Immigration extends passport service hours: The Sun

Maldives Immigration on Wednesday announced that its passport services have been extended until 00:00 hours on Thursday, July 7. Controller General (CG) of Immigration Maldives said that this extension is because of the high number of people preparing to travel during the upcoming public holidays in July. Click here to read... [12]

GST bump will propel Maldives inflation rate: Edition MV

The Maldives inflation rate is expected to surge in the upcoming year with the government's decision to bump both Goods and Services Tax (GST) components in 2023. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Wang Yi’s Myanmar trip could derail Asean’s peace plan by legitimising junta, analysts say - SCMP

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Myanmar this week has received mixed reactions by analysts, with some welcoming China’s willingness to keep dialogue channels open and others saying it had undermined Asean’s efforts to help resolve the country’s crisis. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar receives first Su-30SME fighters from Russia - Shephard Media

The Myanmar Air Force received its first pair of twin-engine Su-30SME fighters from Russia in March this year, according to local press reports. These Su-30SME fighters had been ordered from Moscow in January 2018 during a visit by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu. These fighters now constitute the air force’s most advanced combat aircraft. Click here to read... [15]

ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy welcomes Myanmar’s Year for Peace in 2022 - Khnertimeskh

The Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar Prak Sokhonn has announced to welcome the State Administration Council (SAC) ‘s declaration of Myanmar’s Year for Peace in 2022. Click here to read... [16]

India shuts Myanmar border as anger over pro-junta militia killings rises - RFA

Authorities in India’s Manipur state have temporarily closed the Indo-Burmese border after pro-military militiamen killed two Indian nationals in Myanmar’s war-torn Sagaing region, prompting Indian protesters to attack a junta border checkpoint on Wednesday. Click here to read... [17]

Protest over Indian youths' death in Myanmar - Telegraph India

The border town of Moreh in Manipur on Wednesday erupted in protest following the killing of two Indian youths in Myanmar’s Tamu town on Tuesday afternoon, when they had gone visiting a friend. Tension had been running high in Moreh since Tuesday afternoon following reports of the killings in coup-hit MyanmarClick here to read... [18]

Barred again: Myanmar Junta FM not allowed to attend upcoming Asean meetings i Khmertimeskh

The Myanmar Junta’s Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin will again be barred from attending an upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings in Cambodia because there has been little progress on a “Five-Point Consensus (5PC)”, agreed on by the bloc leaders last year. Click here to read... [19]

Myanmar’s Exiled Government Calls for Religious Freedom - Persecution.org

A member of Myanmar’s government-in-exile, Maung Taing San, recently gave a speech demanding religious freedom. The military coup that occurred in February 2021 deposed Myanmar’s democratically elected government and replaced it with a violent military regime. Click here to read... [20]

Myanmar conducts naval exercise off Rakhine coast - The Star

The Myanmar navy, the naval warfare branch of the armed forces of Myanmar, has conducted a naval exercise in the Myanmar seas off Rakhine State, according to the military-owned newspaper Myawady Daily on Wednesday (July 6). Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

Finance minister resigns after public outcry and probe panel- Kathmandu Post

Main opposition UML boycotts the House meeting where Janardan Sharma announced his resignation. Parliamentary panel has 10 days to submit its investigation report. Click here to read... [22]

(Op-Ed) Towards an even brighter future- Kathmandu Post

China-Nepal relations have achieved significant progress since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Click here to read... [23]

FinMin Sharma steps down following tax-rate controversy- Kathmandu Post

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has announced that he is stepping down from his post to ease the investigation around his alleged involvement in a recent controversy. Click here to read... [24]

Indian Ambassador pays courtesy call on Energy Minister Bhusal- Himalayan Times

Newly-appointed Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava paid a courtesy call on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal today. Click here to read... [25]

Govt to accept World Bank’s concessional loan- Republica

The government has decided to accept the concessional loan of 59.6 million SDR to be provided by the World Bank for governance of drinking water sector and infrastructure assistance. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

PTI tells masses to take to streets, snatch rights- Dawn

Alleging that the current situation was not even observed during martial laws in the country, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday urged the masses to come out of houses and snatch their rights from the government. Click here to read... [27]

Govt mulling policy to reduce palm oil imports- Dawn

The government is working on a policy that will not only reduce dependence on imported palm oil but also facilitate and support farmers to grow oilseed crops, Minister for National Food Security and Research, Tariq Bashir Cheema, said on Tuesday. Click here to read... [28]

Call to resume business activity at Taftan border- Dawn

The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has called upon the authorities to start business activities at the Bazarcha border terminal at the Taftan border to bring trade and job opportunities to residents. Click here to read... [29]

Bilawal, Blinken discuss economic ties, food crisis- Dawn

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday and the two talked about expanding the partnership on economic stability and Pakistan’s food security. Click here to read... [30]

Govt urged to reduce LPG price as citizens cut down trees for firewood- Dawn

The government must do something about reducing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, especially for people deprived of piped gas supply, as higher prices are leading residents in many areas to cut down trees in their own backyards for firewood, stakeholders said on Tuesday. Click here to read... [31]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka further tightens Monetary Policy Stance: News First

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 06 July 2022, decided to increase the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 100 basis points to 14.50 per cent and 15.50 per cent, respectively. Click here to read... [32]

Sri Lanka is 'bankrupt,' Prime Minister says: CNN News

Sri Lanka is "bankrupt," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Tuesday, as the country suffers its worst financial crisis in decades, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine and fuel. Click here to read... [33]

Sri Lanka to send minister-led team to Russia for deals on oil discounts: Economic Times

Sri Lanka will send a ministerial delegation to Russia next week to negotiate discounted oil deals amid a crippling fuel shortage that has cast a long shadow on a debt-laden economy, ET has learnt from Colombo-based sources. Click here to read... [34]