MOSCOW, 25 June 2022, (TON): Officials said “a Russian military cargo plane crashed Friday, killing at least four crewmembers and leaving several others injured.”

The heavylift Il-76 cargo plane went down in the southwestern Ryazan region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said “the plane suffered an engine problem that forced the crew to crash-land it on the ground.”

The regional administration said that four of its crew were killed and a further five were injured when the plane slammed into a field just outside the city of Ryazan.

Officials said “those injured were hospitalized in grave condition.”

CANBERRA, 25 June 2022, (TON): A Chinese ambassador said “Australia had fired the first shot in its deteriorating relations with China four years ago when the then-government banned Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out the country’s 5G network due to security concerns.”

Xiao Qian, China’s ambassador to Australia since January, gave a rare public address at University Technology Sydney that was repeatedly interrupted by human rights protesters holding signs that read “Free Tibet” and “Hong Kong independence.”

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said “he was not aware of the human rights protesters at Xiao’s speech, but we hope the relevant people will observe basic diplomatic protocol.”

The address comes as China shows signs of thawing a diplomatic deepfreeze of Australian ministers following the election of a new government last month.

DHAKA, 25 June 2022, (TON): Indian High Commission in Dhaka said “the Padma Bridge, set to be inaugurated Saturday, will play an important role in fostering greater bilateral and subregional connectivity.”

The high commission in a media release said "the Padma Bridge would not only help improve intra-Bangladesh connectivity, but it will also provide much-needed impetus to logistics and businesses connecting India and our shared subregion.”

Ahead of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government and people of India conveyed greetings and felicitations to the government and people of Bangladesh on the successful completion of this landmark project.

The high commission said “the completion of this long-awaited project is testimony to the courageous decisions and far-sighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”

DHAKA, 25 June 2022, (TON): Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata  paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at the latter's office at the secretariat.

A press release said “during the meeting, they discussed several bilateral issues related to Italy-Bangladesh.”

They expressed their desire to work on exploration, Liquefied natural gas (LNG), bio and traditional refining activities, wind, climate conservation, hydrogen and new technologies to contribute to Bangladesh's sustainable energy system.

At the meeting, Ambassador informed that Italian state-owned integrated energy company Eni SPA has expressed interest in supplying LNG to Bangladesh.

KABUL, 25 June 2022, (TON): Former prime minister of Afghanistan and chief of Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to take sincere and effective steps for overcoming the widening gap.

In an exclusive chat with a group of Pakistani journalists at his residence here, he said steps should be taken to overcome misconceptions and trust deficit between the two neighbouring Muslim countries.

He added “I see the gap between Islamabad and Kabul is widening and on the other hand Kabul and Delhi are coming closer to each other.”

He said “if Pakistan has some concerns over Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the matter should be resolved through joint sincere efforts.”

He added “the TTP was formed and activated during the US aggression here. It was an old issue and it should not be linked with the current government of Afghanistan.”

DHAKA, 25 June 2022, (TON): Bangladesh foreign minister has said “the Rohingya crisis has entered its 6th year threatening human security, peace, and stability of the region.”

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has reiterated that the earliest repatriation of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas back to their ancestral homeland in Rakhine in safety and dignity remains Bangladesh’s compelling priority.

Momen raised the issue during his intervention at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting held in Rwandan Capital Kigali.

He appreciated the Commonwealth nations for incorporating a special text on the Rohingya crisis in the Heads of Governments Communiqué.

DHAKA, 25 June 2022, (TON): President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted all who were involved in the implementation of the Padma Bridge project as the bridge will be inaugurated.

On the eve of the historic day, they also greeted the countrymen issuing separate messages.

In his message, the president said “I am very happy to know that the Padma Bridge, a symbol of Bangladesh’s self-reliance and self-respect, is being inaugurated. I extend my best wishes to all those involved in the implementation of this project.”

He said that one of the prerequisites for the socio-economic development of a country is the development of communication system.

The head of the state added “as a result of adoption and implementation of extensive development activities of the government, unprecedented improvement has been achieved in the communication system of the country.”

DHAKA, 25 June 2022, (TON): Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has laid emphasis on engaging the younger generation in promoting cultural bondage through Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement.

He said “I hope Ikebana will be loved by young people in Bangladesh.”

The ambassador said there is a strong interest among the young students of Bangladesh about Japan, its language and culture.

He urged the BIA to continue playing its role in further promoting friendship through a better understanding of Japanese culture.

Ambassador Naoki said “I hope the activities of BIA will be increased further. We will be very happy to provide further moral support to BIA.”

Dwaipayan Regmi, TON, Nepal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not just come in a chopper landing on Lumbini for the occasion of Buddha Purnima, making his fifth visit there but there had been different other motives that were there in the background too.

Although it all appeared like it was a religious trip, it was then focused on other bilateral ties in fields relating to culture, technology, education, electricity, and development. It was during that visit, that Modi laid the foundation based stone on India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini's Monastic Zone where there had been a total of six memoranda of understanding which were signed by Indian and Nepali counterparts - overseen by prime ministers that would extend and consolidate the cultural aspect, technological along with educational ties. There was agreement among the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Tribhuvan University along with Kathmandu University for the establishment of a research chair on Indian studies.

There was also an agreement between Lumbini Buddhist University and ICCR for establishing Ambedkar Chair for Buddhist studies there. Academically, there was then the next set of agreements between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Kathmandu University for a joint degree program at the Master's Level. There was the next agreement that was signed where India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) signed an agreement for the development and implementation of the Arun IV hydropower project there.

This Modi's visit then welcomed Nepal's Primeminister Deuba on New Delhi's visit for three days. During this visit, there were four major agreements were signed. This included joining the international solar alliance, Indian technical assistance for Nepal's railway sector, cooperation in the field of the petroleum sector, and ultimately an exchange of expertise between Nepal Oil Corporation and the Indian Oil Corporation.

This set of agreements was announced after they had delegation talk levels where both prime ministers flagged off Kurtha Jayanagar cross-border passenger train services. There was a joint launch from Deuba and Modi for India's RuPay digital card for being used in Nepal and then jointly inaugurated Solu Corridor 132 KV Power Transmission Line and Substation in Nepal which was built under the Government of India's Line of credit.

Nepal's prime minister proposed to resolve boundary disputes through bilateral mechanisms and then he mostly appreciated the friendly ties that both the nation held. This has been a practice, every time the bilateral diplomatic talk between two nations come into the existence, there appear certain bases and something that would be seen to be attractive there. They will certainly play some vital role on the surface and something amazing and impressive treaties will be coming out. But, things just don't rely on those factors, there are several hidden and grounded pictures that come around on the surface too. The movement and scenario which plays the role there will certainly play vital importance. These dimensions here will hold several restrictions too. India had been promising various prosperity-based agreements to Nepal and was hit when they came up with the motto of 'Neighbor First' too.

But, things were not as easy as they appeared in reality. Though there had remained huge support from India's side in voices and speeches; even in agreements and signings but the case was different at the time of implementation there. They had promised something really big during the earthquake that Nepal went through - but that all turned out to be some kind of fake hope. No one could utter a word, and it all went in vain. Where India betrayed Nepal badly was at the time of their demonetization too, leaving thousands of Indian currencies in Nepal go wasted. I lost a few thousand rupees, as it went wasted! There was no support from the Reserve Bank of India, and I had no place to exchange those Indian Currencies then too.

Whenever they meet, they discuss something chocolaty, but the hard factors like Sugauli Treaty’s revision or border encroachment issues remain suppressed. As Marx said, a bigger nation will keep dominating smaller nations and this will continue for a long – the perfect scene can be traced out there too. Though these two nations share culture and living patterns to large extent, there is not anything huge too. Nepal has no choice, but to remain suppressed – as everything from salt to bigger trade – Nepal has to be dependent on India, the dark side of the landlocked nation.

The treaties will be signed, will be made big news – but time explains – they are signed just for the sake of being signed.

By Muazzam Khan

Nepal scheduled to sign labor pact to send nurses to Britain. The Royal College of Nursing has estimated that the average annual salary of a registered nurse in the UK is £33,384, or Rs5.07 million as per Friday’s exchange rate. Nepali nurses will be permitted to work in Britain under a bilateral labor agreement the two governments are slated to sign next week.

A cabinet meeting held on June 14 gave the green signal to the government to conclude the deal allowing Nepal to send nurses to the United Kingdom. It is one of the finest proposals that Nepal has received in the labor sector, under-secretary at the Foreign Employment Management Section of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security.

The details, including the qualifications for Nepali nurses to be eligible to work in the UK, is yet to be unveiled. However, that nurses under the age of 45 years with at least two years of professional practice meet the rudimentary requirement.

All candidates will need to score 7 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or B plus in Occupational English Test (OET). Hopeful Nepali nurses will have to appear in the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council examination within three months after being selected to obtain the status of a nurse.

Those who fail to clear the examination three times will not be eligible to become a nurse in the UK. Before acquiring the status of a nurse, they will serve as an assistant nurse. After clearing the council’s examination, Nepali nurses will receive the same salary as their British counterparts.

The Royal College of Nursing has estimated that the average annual salary of a registered nurse in the UK is £33,384, or Rs5.07 million as per Friday’s exchange rate. The National Health Service pay for nurses is around different bandings.

Afresh trained, registered nurses start at Band 5, and the most qualified and experienced nursing consultants and specialists can climb all the way to the uppermost pay band, which is Band 9. The starting salary for a Band 5 Nurse was £25,655 or Rs3.89 million as of February-end. While it is a good opportunity for Nepali nurses to work in the UK, we have to consider its impact on Nepal’s health sector.

Given the opportunities of Nepali nurses finding jobs in more foreign countries in the coming days, Nepal need to raise the possibility of nursing education in Nepal. It is a challenge for Nepal while sending them abroad and also keeping a balance of nurses inside the country.

At the moment, Nepali nurses have been complaining about their pay structure in Nepal, which they say is labor misuse. In Nepal, hospitals hardly pay Rs15, 000 monthly. According to the Nepal Nursing Council, 68,316 nurses, 36,446 supplementary nurse midwives, 845 foreign nurses, 598 specialists and 28 midwives were registered in Nepal as of March 27 but there is no data on the number of unemployed nurses.

Although, working abroad has both challenges and opportunities. There is, of course, a learning opportunity. If these nurses return to Nepal after working in the UK, it will boost the efficiency of the health sector. Numerous nurses in Nepal are jobless, and those with a job too do not earn enough to endure themselves and their families. If they get a chance to work in the UK, they will definitely not only earn foreign exchange but also bring prosperities to their own families.

However, the nurses should be sent in such a way that it will not disturb the health sector in Nepal. The government should consider the long-term impacts. Full information about the necessities for nurses to be qualified to apply to work in the UK will be known when the Foreign Employment Board publishes a notice calling for applications after receiving a demand for nurses from the UK government.

The information concerning the quantity and kinds of nurses the UK will demand is also yet to be identified. The nurses will be sent only after holding deliberations with the related shareholders such as the Health Ministry, Education Ministry and Nursing Council among others.

The government desires the nurses to return to Nepal after completing their tenure in the UK. In order to avert them from permanently settling there, the government of Nepal will only grant labor consent for five years. The labor authorization will be given for five years, and the nurses will have to return to Nepal after completing their tenure.

It is a zero-cost job since the employer will bear all the costs. “Even the cost of the IELTS or OET is refundable. Currently the ministry is developing a web portal for the online application process. The government of Nepal will have no hand in the selection process.

Apart from sending nurses to foreign countries, the government needs to work on refining the condition of the nursing sector in the country. The nurses, particularly in rural areas, are working in deprived circumstances. The government must progress the employed conditions there. And more vacancies need to be opened in diverse sectors where nurses are needed. If the agreement is signed, the UK will be the 11th country with which Nepal has inked labor agreements. The government of the Maldives too has shown interest in hiring Nepali nurses. We are trying to sign a bilateral agreement with the Maldives.

Similarly, Japan opened up its labor market to Nepalese as specified skilled workers in March 2019 after the two countries signed a memorandum of cooperation to send Nepali workers with the status of residence.

Japan will recruit Nepalese in 14 sectors as per the memorandum of cooperation. Key sectors include nursing care, agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing, and the food service industry. Since last month, Nepalese have started to be hired in nursing care jobs. Moreover the nursing sector, the prospects of Nepalese going to work in the UK in other sectors in the coming days depend on Nepal’s diplomatic mediation skill.