VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 06, 2022

Afghanistan

UNDP: Millions Face Economic Challenges in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Afghanistan has expressed concern over the poor economic situation of the Afghan people, saying that millions of people in the country are facing economic challenges. Click here to read... [2]

Taliban sacks ex Afghan ambassador to Moscow, appointed their envoy: The Khaama Press

Sources have told Tass News Agency that the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has laid off the Afghan ambassador to Moscow appointed by the former Afghan government, Sayed Taib Jawad replacing him with Jamal Gharwal. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Climate Refugees Find Hope in Bangladesh Town: VOA

In Bangladesh, the southwest seaport town of Mongla is home to thousands of refugees. They are not fleeing war or another conflict. They are refugees from climate change. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh foreign minister said, China comes ‘with baskets of money’: Benar News

Despite deep ties to India, Bangladesh is growing closer to China because of “baskets of money” that Beijing offers to help the smaller South Asian nation develop its economy, Foreign Minister A.K. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

High Bhutanese oil fuel prices linke

d to large and hidden profit margins by Indian Oil companies- The Bhutanese

A large and recent surge of petrol and diesel prices in Bhutan has not only increased transportation rates, but is having a knock on effect on all other commodities from food to construction materials. Click here to read... [6]

Dzongkhags managing without dzongdags- Kuensel

Even as the third local governments have just begun their term, about 50 percent of the dzongdags’ post will be vacant as part of the leadership assessment process. Click here to read... [7]

(Editorial) Creativity is opportunity- Kuensel

Even as those in the creative industry complain about government agencies wasting resources on studies or developing roadmaps without any direction, two Bhutanese films have made some sort of noise in the international arena. Click here to read... [8]

Budget constraint hampers water supply construction in Pema Gatshel- BBS

People of Chhimoong village in Pema Gatshel were anticipating having a continuous water supply with the new water reservoir tank and pump. Click here to read... [9]

ACC claims appellants in Trongsa land case guilty of charges- BBS

The Commission requested the Supreme Court to uphold the High Court’s judgment. The high court sentenced the appellants to concurrent prison terms ranging from 18 months to six years last year. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

What growing resentment in Maldives means for the Indo-Pacific: Policy Forum

Commotion has erupted in Maldives over growing Indian influence on the country’s domestic affairs, creating space for other Indo-Pacific partners to step in, Athaulla Rasheed writes. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

PH donating ‘excess’ COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar, PNG - inquirer.net

The Philippines will go ahead with its plan to donate “excess” COVID-19 vaccines that are due to expire, Malacañang said on Tuesday. Click here to read... [12]

Applicants to Myanmar military academy dwindling, defecting officers say - Myanmar Now

The Myanmar military’s Defence Services Academy (DSA) in Pyin Oo Lwin, which typically recruits at least 500 cadets annually, received only 22 applications from the major recruiting ground of Mandalay last year, an officer who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) said. Click here to read... [13]

Ten Alleged Yangon Activists Jailed Over Bomb Attacks on Myanmar Junta - The Irrawaddy

Ten alleged Yangon activists, who were detained in April last year and charged with involvement in bombings, were sentenced to seven years in prison with labor, according to their lawyers. Click here to read... [14]

Burma’s opportunity lost - Mizzima

When the country of Burma gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948, following the valiant efforts of a small band of military men including General Aung San, there was so much hope locally that this country rich in natural resources – dubbed the “Asian rice bowl” - could make a name for itself on the world stage. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar military's beer sales tumble after junta boycott - Mizzima

When Japanese brewing giant Kirin called time on its Myanmar operations last month, the news made little difference to Kyaw Gyi -- like many drinkers, he had long boycotted the beer it produced with a military conglomerate. Click here to read... [16]

United Nations Must Intervene, India Deporting Rohingya Back To Myanmar - Therakyat

We are deeply concerned about the report that over 200 Rohingya refugees in Jammu in Jammu’s Bathindi area are being deported by the Indian authority back to Myanmar. The Rohingyas are a Bengali-dialect speaking Muslim minority in Myanmar. Many from the community fled to India after violence in their country. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal

Major political parties same in terms of thoughts: RPP Chair Lingden- Himalaya

Chairperson of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rajendra Lingden, has blamed that the major political parties--Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre)--are the same in terms of their thinking despite being different political parties. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal records 24 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday- Himalaya

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached to 812 on Tuesday as 21 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [19]

Election security: Concerns arise from parties fighting polls- Kathmandu Post

Not much threat from so called armed outfits and those boycotting the vote. Observers and experts say it would be better if parties fix their rifts and conflict. Click here to read... [20]

Election code of conduct in question after the UML refuses to sign it- Kathmandu Post

Experts fault Election Commission for failing to win the confidence of all parties registered to contest the polls. Click here to read... [21]

President Bhandari issues five ordinances- Republica

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has issued five ordinances on Tuesday. Click here to read... [22]

Pakistan

Elahi promised help for upcoming Punjab CM election: Dawn

Interim Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a meeting with his party’s nominee for Punjab chief minister, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, discussed a strategy for the upcoming provincial assembly session, and also talked about options of suspending opposition members and dissolving the assembly. Click here to read... [23]

SC concerned with constitutionality, not policy matters: CJP: The Express Tribune

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said on Tuesday that the Supreme Court (SC) did not want to get into the investigation of policy matters as it only wanted to ascertain the constitutionality of the steps taken by the deputy speaker for the dismissal of the no-confidence of motion and subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly. Click here to read... [24]

Russia slams US attempt at‘interference’ in Pakistan affairs: The News

Russia slammed the United States for “another attempt of shameless interference” in the internal affairs of Pakistan for its “own selfish purposes”. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Sri Lankan President revokes state of emergency: Times Of India

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ruling coalition lost its majority in parliament on Tuesday after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance. The President had said he won't resign and is ready to hand over the government to whoever proves 113 seat majority. Click here to read... [26]

Sri Lanka president revokes emergency order, govt in disarray as economic crisis deepens: The Reuters

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked a state of emergency late on Tuesday after dozens of lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition, leaving his government in a minority in parliament as it struggled to quell protests amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades. Click here to read... [27]

Sri Lanka faces medical emergency as economic crisis hits drug supplies: The Guardian

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has deteriorated into a medical crisis, with the top medical union declaring a national health emergency over a life-threatening shortage of drugs. Click here to read... [28]

The Rajapaksa clan in Sri Lanka politics: Indian Express

In South Asia, no other political dynasty has been as confidently nepotistic. During Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term as President from 2010-15, there were said to be more than 40 Rajapaksa family members in government posts, apart from the cabinet. Click here to read... [29]