VANISHING RIVERS STIR CONCERN IN BANGLADESH
Although flooding has become a routine annual affair in Bangladesh, more than half of its rivers have become unnavigable and many more have vanished, affecting the livelihood of millions in the South Asian nation. As the world is marking Environment Week this week, experts say that engineering and the dredging of river beds and reclamation of land have become necessary. Out of 405 rivers dotting the geography of Bangladesh located at the delta, only 172 are currently navigable, according to officials. There are 57 trans-boundary rivers, including 54 common with India, and the remaining three with Myanmar. There were a total of 1,274 rivers in Bangladesh in 1971, when the country gained independence. Since then, a total of 507 rivers have vanished. River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) Chairman Mohammad Azaz has called for the use of modern technology and transparency in the process of reclaiming rivers.
TUNISIA REJECTS IMF CONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC REFORM
Tunisia’s powerful labour union on June 11 reiterated its rejection of conditions proposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for reforming the country’s economic sectors. “We will not accept the painful and harmful conditions imposed by IMF on our country,” Noureddine Taboubi, secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), said in a speech in the capital Tunis. Tunisia faces its worst financial crisis and is seeking a $4 billion loan from IMF. The IMF has asked the Tunisian government to cut subsidies on basic food commodities and services and to regulate the payroll of public employees. The UGTT, which has more than a million members, calls for wage increases for state workers as inflation reached a record level of 7.5% in April, from 7.2 per cent in March and 7 per cent in February.
AL-SADR ASKS HIS BLOC TO RESIGN FROM IRAQI PARLIAMENT
Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on June 9 called on his parliamentary bloc members to resign from the parliament over the failure to form a new government in Iraq. The al-Sadr bloc has 73 legislators in the 329-seat parliament, following parliamentary elections held in October last year. “A national majority government is the only way to reform the country,” al-Sadr said. He seeks to form a national majority government without former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Iran-aligned coalition. Most Shia parliamentary groups have rejected the move, citing their Coordination Framework, which calls for a coalition government involving all parliamentary blocs.
JORDAN LAYS OUT 10-YEAR PLAN TO REVIVE ECONOMY
Jordan on June 6 unveiled a major development strategy covering the next ten years and seeking to double its growth to help rejuvenate its economy which has been hit by regional turmoil. The plan includes reforms pushed by King Abdullah since last year to help the oil importing country reverse a decade of sluggish growth hovering at around two per cent that was worsened by the pandemic and conflicts in neighbouring Iraq and Syria. The vision aims at attracting $41 billion in funds that will help raise the country’s GDP to 58.1 billion dinars ($82 billion) by 2033 from a current 30.2 billion dinars ($42.6 billion). Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh said he was committed to implementing essential free market reforms that businessmen say previous conservative administrations have long frustrated.
RUSSIA CONDEMNS ISRAEL AIRSTRIKE ON DAMASCUS AIRPORT
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has stated that Russia strongly condemns the Israeli airstrike on Damascus International Airport and calls on the Israeli side to “stop this vicious practice.” The ministry stated that on 10 June, the Israeli Air Force struck the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, and the target of the attack was Damascus International Airport. A statement on the ministry’s website expressed: “We are compelled to reiterate that the ongoing Israeli shelling of the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, in violation of the basic norms of international law, is absolutely unacceptable. We strongly condemn Israel’s provocative attack on the most important object of the Syrian civilian infrastructure.” The Foreign Ministry stressed: “Such irresponsible actions create serious risks for international air traffic and put the lives of innocent people in real danger.”
ISRAEL DEMOLISHES PALESTINE VILLAGE OF AL-ARAQEEB FOR 202ND TIME
Israeli occupation forces have demolished the Arab Bedouin village of Al-Araqeeb in the southern Negev region for the 202nd time. According to residents, Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian women and children out of their homes and proceeded to destroy their belongings and shelters they had rebuilt from previous demolitions. The village was demolished 14 times last year. Each time, its residents refuse to leave the area and persistently rebuild their homes, stressing that they will not leave their land. Occupation forces continue their daily provocation of the residents of the Arab village, placing restrictions on their daily lives, executing daily raids and razing their lands and homes. Zochrot, a Tel Aviv-based NGO, recounted in a recent report that Al-Araqeeb was first built during the Ottoman period, and its land was purchased by residents.
TURKIYE BEAT LUXEMBOURG 2-0 TO STAY ATOP OF GROUP IN NATIONS LEAGUE
Turkiye sealed a 2-0 win against Luxembourg in a UEFA Nations League C, Group 1 match on June 11. HakanCalhanoglu converted a penalty successfully in the 37th minute at the Stade de Luxembourg. Serdar Dursun doubled the lead in the 76th minute. Turkiye consolidated their lead in the group with nine points ahead of Luxembourg, which collected six points. The Faroe Islands have three points while Lithuania is at the bottom of the group without any points. In another Nations League clash England and Italy ended in a goalless draw at Molineux Stadium. England stayed at the bottom of Group A, 3 with two points. Italy is atop the group with five points.