VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 20, 2022

Afghanistan

Poor training of security forces, corrupt officials reasons for failure of Afghan National Security Forces: ANI

The failure of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Afghanistan reflected the structural shortcomings of Security Sector Reform (SSR) here in the country including the overall international approach in Kabul, said a Canada-based think tank. Click here to read... [2]

World Bank to push ahead with some Afghan projects, maintain pause on education support: US News

The World Bank has resumed work on three projects in Afghanistan focused on health, agriculture and livelihoods, but will maintain a hold on some $150 million for education projects, two sources familiar with the decision said Tuesday. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Halimah, Momen talk about mutual interests

President of Singapore Halimah Yacob and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had a meeting at the Istana yesterday where they discussed issues of mutual interest. Click here to read... [4]

IMF cuts GDP growth forecasts to 6.4pc

The International Monetary Fund has revised down its economic growth projection for Bangladesh to 6.4 percent for the current fiscal year largely because of Russia-Ukraine war and supply chain disruptions. Click here to read... [5]

Journalists become targets of clashing traders, students at Dhaka New Market area

At least seven newsmen, including The Daily Star's photojournalist, were attacked and injured while performing their duties during the clash between shop employees and Dhaka College students in New Market area. Click here to read... [6]

Students-traders clash at New Market to cool down shortly: Home Minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said the clash between students and traders in Dhaka's New Market area will be under control shortly. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

MoEA hands over Dolomite and Gypsum mines to SMCL for 15 years- The Bhutanese

The government has decided to hand over these mines to SMCL on lease for 15 years. While there are question marks in the operation of the Gypsum mines and the pricing the SMCL has got the around double the price of Dolomite than Jigme Mining. Click here to read... [8]

36% of people who come for testing in Thimphu are testing positive while it is 42% in Phuentsholing- The Bhutanese

Thimphu has been detecting the highest COVID-19 cases in the country. As of 18 April, Thimphu has 3,501 positive cases followed by 654 cases in Phuentsholing, 428 cases in Mongar and 294 cases in Samtse. Click here to read... [9]

Government following up export issues- Kuensel

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) is following up with the Government of India (GoI) about Bhutanese farmers not being able to export areca nuts and vegetables to India. Click here to read... [10]

Businesses to seek more relief measures- Kuensel

Most of the businesses would not be able to repay loans or operate if the relief or monetary measures are discontinued after June 2022, according to Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) President Tandy Wangchuk. Click here to read... [11]

(Editorial) Truth versus the social media hypocrisy- Bhutan Times

While social media entities like Facebook, Twitter and WeChat has come as an alternative for people to express their freedom of speech and expression, the amount of hatred and fragmentary rhetoric it has generated is indeed cause for distaste and alarm. Click here to read... [12]

African swine fever kills 40 pigs in Chhukha- BBS

The outbreak was reported in the Phurbaling village of Samphelling Gewog in Chhukha. 14 pigs are reported sick as of today with more than 600 pigs at risk of the disease in the gewog. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives

India, Maldives sign seven MoUs for projects under India grant assistance: Indian Express

India and Maldives have signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for projects to be built under the Indian grant assistance scheme for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) through local bodies. Click here to read... [14]

Navy chief on three-day visit to Maldives to boost defence ties: India Today

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar is on a three-day visit to Maldives from April 18 to 20 to boosts India’s defence ties with the island nation. Click here to read... [15]

Indian naval vessel berths in Maldives for hydrographic survey : Edition MV

The survey aimed at identifying the seabed of the Maldivian ocean inclusive of reefs and deeper oceanic areas will commence on 21st April and last until 15th May 2022. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar

Myanmar Regime Soldiers Tempted to Defect by NUG’s Cash Offer - The Irrawaddy

Over two dozen enquiries about defecting from the Myanmar military were made within a week of Myanmar’s shadow government offering huge cash incentives to the regime’s troops to defect with a military plane, navy vessel, tank or armored personnel carrier. Click here to read... [17]

Thingyan skirmish between military and Arakan Army leaves locals worried in Myebon Twsp - BNI Online

A small clash broke out between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) at a location between Wet Khaung and Dagon villages in Arakan State’s Myebon Township at around noon on Wednesday, according to locals. About 30 members of the Myanmar military have reportedly been temporarily stationed at a clinic near Wet Khaung village on the Myebon-Minbya road for about three days. Click here to read... [18]

AA Uses Villagers As Forced Labour In Chin State - BNI Online

The Arakan Army (AA) has summoned four people from each village in Paletwa Township for forced labour under the armed group ‘civil administration policy’ in southern Chin State. Click here to read... [19]

No political prisoners released in Myanmar holiday amnesty - Aljazeera

Myanmar’s military has started releasing more than 1,600 prisoners to mark the Southeast Asian nation’s traditional New Year festivities, but no political detainees were freed despite the country’s ruling general promising to restore peace this year. Click here to read... [20]

Rebel soldiers push back Myanmar forces from strategic town in Kayin state - RFA

Karen rebels used heavy artillery to beat back a push by Myanmar junta forces to take Kayin state’s “peace town” of Lay Kay Kaw late Thursday and early Friday, with reports of heavy casualties among regime soldiers. Click here to read... [21]

Nepal

SC stays NRB governor's suspension- Himalayan Times

The Supreme Court today issued a short-term stay order against the suspension of Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari. Click here to read... [22]

Conspiracy afoot to break coalition: PM- Himalayan Times

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that a conspiracy was being hatched to break the current ruling coalition. Click here to read... [23]

Melamchi water for valley residents from Sunday- Himalayan Times

The Melamchi River water reached Sundarijal, Kathmandu-based storage system, at around10:00pm on Monday. Click here to read... [24]

Power shortage in India hits supply to Nepal. Firms in east face outages- Kathmandu Post

Nepal still relies on power imported from the south, where generation is running low now. Click here to read... [25]

Nepal finance minister faces moral question after top court rules against move to suspend central bank governor- Kathmandu Post

With an interlocutory order to the government not to enforce its April 7 decision, Adhikari is set to resume office. Click here to read... [26]

(Opinion) A wave of reactionary politics: CK Lal- Kantipur Daily

Democracy as a whole is governed by such a complex device, mechanism and mantra, in which the whole system collapses if any subtle component, formula or word becomes dysfunctional. Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan

With Hina Rabbani Khar's Return as Pak Junior FM, What Can India Expect?: The Wire

For the second time, Hina Rabbani Khar, who got a celebrity treatment during her first official visit to India, will take the helm as Pakistan’s junior foreign minister in the new 37-member cabinet unveiled by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday. Click here to read... [28]

The lynching of Sri Lankan manager by Pakistani mob was anti-Islam Court said: Indian Express

A Pakistani mob lynching of a Sri Lankan manager of a garment factory who was accused of blasphemy was an act against the Islamic religion, a court said in a detailed ruling on Tuesday. Click here to read... [29]

Pakistan braces for worst diesel shortage: ANI

Amid the uncertainty surrounding the country's debt-ridden economy, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been warned by experts that the country would face the worst shortage of diesel next month. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka

India backs Sri Lanka for much-needed IMF bailout package: Business Standard

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has affirmed her Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry that India will fully support the deliberations of the island nation with the IMFClick here to read... [31]

One dead after police fire on protesters in Sri Lanka amid bailout talks with IMF: Reuters

Sri Lankan police fired live ammunition to scatter protesters on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring a dozen more, as the country sought rapid financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ease a worsening economic crisis. Click here to read... [32]

What’s behind the economic implosion in Sri Lanka?: The Guardian

As Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, the blame has fallen at the feet of one man: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, known to many as Gota. Click here to read... [33]