VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 11, 2022

Afghanistan

Afghan Coal Sold to Companies Linked to Pakistan Army: Analyst: Tolo News

Owners of coal factories in Afghanistan said the Afghan coal is being sold to three Pakistani companies: Fauji Fertilizer Power Station, Cherat Cement Factory and Lucky Cement and Coal. Economists said these companies are connected with the Pakistan Army. Click here to read... [2]

Islamic Emirate Leader Vows to Enforce Islamic Law Across Country: Tolo News

The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, vowed to enforce the Islamic system in Afghanistan. In audio recorded from Eid prayers in Eid-Gaah Mosque in Kandahar, Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the Islamic Emirate's leader, said that the laws which were not based on Sharia in the previous government will be demolished.Click here to read... [3]

Kabul Sees Hike in Customs Revenue amid Hunger Strikes: The Khaama Press

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) said it has collected more than 24 billion Afs in revenue from customs offices within the first three months of the fiscal year – a promising figure for a country that has been suffering from financial loose since the fall last August. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Commit to country's wellbeing with spirit of sacrifice: PM- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on the eve of the holy Eid-Ul-Azha, has urged all to devote themselves to the welfare of the country while being imbued with the spirit of sacrifice. Click here to read... [5]

Forfeit leaseholders’ deposits if they don’t clean up cattle markets: Mayor Atiqul- The Daily Star

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam today said deposit money of leaseholders will be declared forfeit if they do not clean up cattle markets under DNCC. Click here to read... [6]

Over 12 crore Bangladeshis can’t afford a healthy diet- The Daily Star

It is roughly Tk 286 ($3.064) in Bangladesh whereas the global average is about Tk 331 ($3.54), according to the UN's flagship report styled "The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2022: Repurposing Food and Agricultural Policies to Make Healthy Diets More Affordable.” Click here to read... [7]

Dhaka cattle markets finally booming- The Daily Star

After seeing a scarcity of customers, Dhaka's cattle markets have started gaining momentum after Juma prayers yesterday, as a huge number of buyers rushed to the markets. Click here to read... [8]

“Recall with gratitude Abe’s contributions to elevating Bangladesh-Japan relations”- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (July 8, 2022) expressed deep shock at former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe's assassination, calling his sudden demise a great loss for Japan and the world.Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Bhutan embarks on small hydropower projects for energy security- Kuensel

The Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) will begin construction of three small hydropower projects, one each at Lhuentse, Zhemgang and Haa, with a total generation capacity of 104 megawatts (MW). Click here to read... [10]

Are managed-out civil servants eligible to contest elections?- Kuensel

With the next parliamentary elections approaching, the political ambitions of the executives who have been managed out through the leadership assessment exercise hinges on what the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) decides. Click here to read... [11]

Walups question legality of land, owner refutes- Kuensel

There are about 30 households in Walungna. Villagers said they were never consulted nor knew that a new settler had bought 14 acres of land above the village, once their tsamdro (grazing land). Click here to read... [12]

Their Majesties offer prayers and butter lamps for late former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe- Bhutan Times

His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen offered prayers and butter lamps at Tashichhodzong yesterday for the late former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Cabinet ministers, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community and the Japanese community in Bhutan attended the ceremony. Click here to read... [13]

Sudhakar Dalela appointed as next Ambassador to Bhutan- The Print

Sudhakar Dalela, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1993 batch has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

Maldives seeks loan from Bangladesh - The Daily Star

In another show of the growing strength of Bangladesh's economy, the government might give loans to the Maldives after the Island nation sought funds. If the government agrees to the request, it will mark the second time that Bangladesh has lent money to another country. Click here to read... [15]

Bilateral ties between Maldives and South Sudan will continue to flourish: FM Shahid - Raajje

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has expressed confidence that the bilateral ties of friendship between Maldives and South Sudan will continue to develop and flourish in the years ahead. Minister Shahid stated this in his message of felicitations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, Mayiik Ayii Deng, on the occasion of their Independence Day. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar

UN rights body adopts resolution urging Myanmar to repatriate Rohingyas - TBS News

The resolution on the "Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar" was adopted without a vote at the 50th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Click here to read... [17]

Junta forces overrun resistance base in northwestern Myanmar - Myanmar Now

A base belonging to the anti-junta Yaw Defence Force (YDF) in Magway Region’s Htilin Township was attacked by junta troops last week, forcing resistance fighters to abandon the site and some 20m kyat (US$10,800) worth of supplies. Click here to read... [18]

Blinken hits at ASEAN for lack of pressure on Myanmar - Federal News Network

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is criticizing Southeast Asian nations for not doing enough to press Myanmar’s military government to return the country to the path of democracy following last year’s power seizure. Click here to read... [19]

India running out of options in Myanmar as a civil war rages and China backs the junta - National Herald India

The military junta in Myanmar, which seized power in a coup in February last year, have had luck and China on their side, making them far less vulnerable to external pressure than the Taliban in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [20]

Junta Watch: Coup Leader Says Military Still Needed in Politics; Another ASEAN Snub, and More - The Irrawaddy

Offering a view that is the complete opposite of that held by the Myanmar people, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said during a meeting with military personnel and their families in Pulaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region on Monday that the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s military) must continue to take a leadership role in the country’s politics and maintain its oversight position as the “guardian” of the country. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

NRB seeks suggestions for monetary policy- Himalayan Times

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has sought suggestions for the monetary policy. Click here to read... [22]

New citizenship bill does away with 7 years wait- Himalayan Times

The government registered a new citizenship bill last night proposing to continue the provision that allows foreign women married to Nepali men to obtain matrimonial naturalisation immediately after they take steps to renounce the citizenship of their mother country. Click here to read... [23]

CPC foreign department chief Liu arrives in Kathmandu- Himalayan Times

Foreign Department Chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Liu Jianchao, arrived here this morning, leading an eight-member delegation. Click here to read... [24]

Deuba government taking a leaf out of Oli’s book in obscene fashion, experts say- Kathmandu Post

A bill to amend Constitutional Council Act comes as the latest case to demonstrate current administration is no different from the previous one in disregarding rule of law. Click here to read... [25]

Tax waiver sets off investment rush in automobile assembly plants- Kathmandu Post

Six motor vehicle assembly companies with a combined capital of Rs6.83 billion have been registered with the Industry Department in the current fiscal year. Click here to read... [26]

Govt holds discussion with UML leader Nembang on citizenship bill- Republica

The government has expedited consultation with the main opposition party to endorse the citizenship bill through parliament. Click here to read... [27]

Deuba protested Oli’s intent to change Constitutional Council rules. But, he is proposing the same changes now- OnlineKhabar

KP Sharma Oli issued the same ordinance between 2019 and 2021 introducing changes in the rules of the operation of the Constitutional Council. The ordinance was never endorsed in parliament as the then main opposition Nepali Congress was against it. Click here to read... [28]

No closure after Nepal’s insurgency- Nepali Times

Sixteen years after the conflict ended, families still struggle for transitional justice. Click here to read... [29]

Pakistan

Severe urban flooding in Karachi after record heavy downpour: The Express Tribune

The port city is facing severe urban flooding and continuous torrential rainfall since Sunday night with predictions that heavy downpour will continue for hours to come on Monday. Click here to read... [30]

Deadline extended for energy standards: The Express Tribune

The government has extended the deadline for implementing the minimum energy performance standards for electric fans in an effort to minimise
power outages. Click here to read... [31]

PM Shahbaz Shaarif extends Eid greetings to Erdogan, King Hamad: The News

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held a telephonic call with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, conveyed warm greetings to the government and people of Türkiye on the happy occasion of Eidul Azha. Click here to read... [32]

Editorial: CPEC resumption: Dawn

Work has reportedly resumed on the Main Line 1 (ML-1) upgradation project, the largest component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan and the centrepiece of the second phase of CPEC. Click here to read... [33]

Two PMLN ministers resign to participate in by-poll campaign: The News

Former speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and former provincial health minister Khwaja Salman Raffique resigned from their posts. PMLN Deputy Secretary Information and Punjab Law Minister Atta Tarar said that both the PMLN leaders had resigned from their posts to participate in the by-election campaign. Click here to read... [34]

Sri Lanka

GR confirms to resign on Wednesday; Presidential Polls before March- The Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will end his presidency on Wednesday after handing in his resignation to the Parliament Speaker after which a decision has been taken to hold a presidential and parliamentary election before March next year, senior political sources told Daily Mirror last evening. Click here to read... [35]

Slain Japanese PM’s funeral tomorrow; SL declares day of mourning- The Daily Mirror

Tomorrow, the country will observe a state of mourning as a mark of respect to the longest served late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Click here to read... [36]

More than 1.5mn litrs of fuel distributed so far: LIOC MD- The Daily Mirror

More than 1.5 million litres of petrol and diesel have been released for distribution so far from the oil terminal at Trincomalee, Manoj Gupta, Managing Director, Lanka IOC PLC said. Click here to read... [37]

India denies report of sending Indian troops to SL- The Daily Mirror

The Indian High Commission in Colombo categorically denied speculative reports in sections of media and social media about India sending her troops to Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [38]

Pope Francis appeals for peace for SL- The Daily Mirror

Pope Francis has renewed his appeal for peace in Sri Lanka today. "I unite myself to the sorrow of the Sri Lankan people, who continue to suffer the effects of political and economic instability,” Pope Francis said on Sunday, following the weekly prayers. Click here to read... [39]

India always stands with Sri Lanka, no refugee crisis at the moment: Jaishankar- The Daily Mirror

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that India has been providing assistance to Sri Lanka and is monitoring the developments in the island nation adding that there is no refugee crisis now. Click here to read... [40]

EU calls on all parties to focus on a peaceful, democratic transition in SL- The Daily Mirror

The European Union (EU) today called on all parties to cooperate and focus on a peaceful, democratic and orderly transition in Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [41]

US urges SL leaders to work ‘quickly’ to address ‘discontent’- The Daily Mirror

As President Gotabaya Rajapaksa prepares to step down, the United States calls on "the Sri Lankan Parliament to approach this juncture with a commitment to the betterment of the nation - not any one political party," a State Department spokesperson said as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Thailand. Click here to read... [42]

IMF hopes for resolution of SL crisis to allow bailout talks- The Daily Mirror

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it is hoping for a resolution to Sri Lanka's political turmoil that will allow a resumption of talks for a bailout package after a violent day of protests. Click here to read... [43]