VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 07, 2022

Afghanistan

Stronger Afghan

00 Banking Sector Discussed by Lyons, Muttaqi: Tolo News

The UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons met with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Muttaqi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The Deputy Spokesman for MoFA, Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, said in a series of tweets that the meeting focused on important issues including the economic situation, banking and private sector growth and assistance. According to Takal, Lyons also mentioned her visit to AlmatyClick here to read... [2]

OSCE Concerned by Situation in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) expressed concerns over the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. The OSCE issued the statement following a meeting of the Special OSCE Asian Partners for Cooperation Group Meeting, which was also attended by the Afghanistan representative to the OSCE, Manizha Bakhtari. Click here to read... [3]

Christine Fair: The Taliban Are Incompetent in Terms of Governance: The Khaama Press

Christian Fair, who also has a working experience in Afghanistan, was interviewed on Sunday, June 5th, and was assigned by the United Nations to conduct security and geographical research. In the interview, she stated that the Afghan people despise Pakistan and instead praise India, and that the Taliban, realizing this, have expressed interest in restoring diplomatic relations with India. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Taka sees steepest fall in 16 years- The Daily Star

The local currency saw a big dip in its value over the last two days after Bangladesh Bank floated exchange rates of the taka against the US dollar on June 2. Click here to read... [5]

BRTA to get 96 new staffers against demand for 2,284- The Daily Star

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is going to get 96 new staffers, but this is unlikely to solve its perennial workforce crisis, especially in regards to field-level work. Click here to read... [6]

Online healthcare service for rural people- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government will extend online specialised healthcare services to upazilas so that rural people get treatment from home. Click here to read... [7]

Newspaper industry in crisis- The Daily Star

Bangladesh's newspaper industry is going through a crisis because of laws that restrict freedom of speech and the precarious state of the economy, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday. Click here to read... [8]

‘Increase allocation for education’- The Daily Star

The upcoming budget should increase allocation in the education sector to make up for the losses during the Covid-19 pandemic, demanded Campaign For Popular Education (CAMPE), an education advocacy and campaign network, yesterday. Click here to read... [9]

‘Digging deep for healthcare expenses’- The Daily Star

People bear 68 percent of the country's healthcare expenses out of their pocket, while the government bears only 23 percent, said speakers at a pre-budget roundtable yesterday. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

His Majesty on Royal Tour in the East- The Bhutanese

His Majesty The King is in the east on a Royal Tour which began on May 26th. On 30 May in Trashigang, His Majesty granted Audiences to the faculty and students of Sherubtse College in Kanglung, and to Trashigang Dzongkhag Officials. Click here to read... [11]

Budget to accelerate economic recovery: Finance Minister- Kuensel

Amid a widening trade deficit and a burgeoning public debt, the government has unveiled a budget of Nu 81.8 billion (B) for the fiscal year 2022-23. Click here to read... [12]

Monetary measures to continue post-June this year: FM- Kuensel

The government will implement the fourth phase of monetary measures for the private sector next month after Phase III ends this month. Click here to read... [13]

Bangladesh agrees to designate new ports of call for Bhutan- Kuensel

The Bangladesh government agreed to designate new ‘ports of call’ for use by Bhutan from Aricha, Chilmari, Sirajganj, Mongla, Chattogram and Payra Port. Click here to read... [14]

National Budget 2022-2023 to accelerate the economic recovery process- BBS

The pandemic has forced the country’s economic growth to an all-time low of -10.1 per cent. However, the finance minister says it is set to rebound with the country slowly opening up. Presenting the national budget, Finance Minister Namgay Tshering says the economic growth will increase to 4.5 per cent by this year. Click here to read... [15]

Maldives

Maldives welcomes India’s denouncement of derogatory remarks against Islam: The Sun

The Maldivian government has issued a statement welcoming the denouncement of Indian government of derogatory remarks by two top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officials regarding the religion of IslamClick here to read... [16]

Myanmar

Why thousands have left Myanmar’s military—and why most stay - Myanmar Now

Watching as the newly installed regime rounded up Myanmar’s elected leaders and ruthlessly crushed protests, he knew there was no reason to believe it would ever change its ways. And so he eventually decided to abandon a career he loved and join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) against military rule. Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar Junta to Carry out Death Sentences Against Activist, NLD Lawmaker - The Diplomat

Myanmar’s military junta announced on Saturday that it will execute two opposition political activists as part of its crackdown on the anti-coup resistance – in what rights activists say is the first use of the death penalty for years. Click here to read... [18]

US Decries Myanmar Military Junta's Plans To Carry Out Executions Of Pro-democracy Leaders - Republic World

The United States on Sunday strongly denounced the Myanmar military regime's recent draconian decision wherein it ordered the execution of pro-democracy leaders. US State Department's Spokesperson Ned Price took to Twitter and stated that the recent announcement by the military junta represents their disrespect for human rightsClick here to read... [19]

India-Myanmar Kaladan project’s completion hangs in limbo - New Indian Express

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... [20]

Arakanese Political Parties at a Crossroads - BNI Online

There are three major ethnic Arakanese political parties in Arakan State, namely the ANP, the Arakan Front Party (AFP), and the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD). Elections-wise, the ANP has proved to be the most successful of late. But like any organisation, the party has its ups and downs.

Nepal

Deuba rules out Cabinet reshuffle- Himalayan Times

Hopes of four leaders of the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) who were waiting to be inducted into the Cabinet today were dashed as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba refused to reshuffle the Cabinet. Click here to read... [21]

DoTM's mandate for embossed number plate riles lawmaker Thapa- Himalayan Times

Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Gagan Kumar Thapa has objected to the government's edict to the citizens to have embossed number plate on their vehicles. Click here to read... [22]

Will Parliament get more independent lawmakers, after local election results?- Kathmandu Post

Encouraged by local poll verdict, independent candidates are eying federal elections. Click here to read... [23]

Govt withdraws its earlier decision to grant two-day a week public holiday- Republica

The government has withdrawn its earlier decision to enforce two-day a week public holiday beginning June 15. Click here to read... [24]

Pakistan

PM Shehbaz invites economic gurus for pre-budget huddle: Dawn

In order to combat unprecedented economic crisis in the country, the government has arran¬ged a gathering of top economists, industrialists and businessmen to find short-, medium- and long-term solutions to the problem, besides providing relief to inflation-hit people in the forthcoming federal budget 2022-23. Click here to read... [25]

Four million struck off electoral rolls: The Express Tribune

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday revealed that around four million voters were excluded from the voter lists as they were reported as deceased. Click here to read... [26]

Ongoing talks with Pakistan are constructive: IMF: The News

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have yet to reconcile on the fiscal framework as Islamabad is making last-ditch efforts to convince the Fund staff to move ahead with ‘manageable fiscal adjustments’ of 1.5 to 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the coming budgetClick here to read... [27]

PTI divided over resigning from NA, boycotting PM election: The News

In what appears to be a serious blow to Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf, the party has divided over the matters of boycotting the election of the Prime Minister and en masse resignations from the National Assembly. Click here to read... [28]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka President Vows to Finish Term, Won’t Run for Re-Election: Bloomberg

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa vowed to finish the remaining two years in his term despite monthslong street protests calling for his ouster, but won’t stand for re-election as he focuses on fixing a financial mess that tipped Sri Lanka into its worst-ever economic crisis. Click here to read... [29]

Professional Tour Guides Alliance protest in Colombo: Daily Mirror

The Professional Tour Guides Alliance held a protest today in Colombo calling for mending relations with Russia. Bilateral relations soured after the Colombo Commercial High Court issued an enjoining order against Russian airline ‘Aeroflot’. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka’s 21st Amendment to Constitution being submitted for Cabinet nod: News Track

Sri Lanka's Cabinet is set to discuss the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which would give Parliament more control over the executive president. Click here to read... [31]

Sri Lankan court lifts ban on Aeroflot flight from leaving Sri Lanka: News First

A Sri Lankan Court on Monday (6) suspended an order preventing an Aeroflot flight from leaving Sri Lanka. The order was suspended after the Colombo Commercial High Court considered a motion filed by the Attorney General. Click here to read... [32]