VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: May 03, 2022

Afghanistan

Ghani: National Consensus Solution to Current Afghan Crisis: Tolo news

Former President Ashraf Ghani in an audio message said the forming of a national consensus and regional cooperation is the solution to the current Afghan challenges. He made the remarks in an Eid greeting message. Click here to read... [2]

Kabul Faces Criticism for Not Yet Gaining Intl Recognition: Tolo News

Politicians and political analysts said that the Islamic Emirate has not engaged in effective diplomacy over the past eight months toward gaining international recognition. Click here to read... [3]

Analyst Credits Efforts by Taliban Gov’t in Controlling Drug Trafficking: The Khaama Press

Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation (MTCA) said Saturday its department sees a significant drop on trafficking of gold, cash and drugs at Kabul airport over the past 8 months – a timeframe the Islamic Emirate has been ruling the country since the takeover. Click here to read... [4]

Ex-Army General Sees War Against Taliban Only Way Out: The Khaama Press

A former army general says the Taliban rule since the takeover has convinced him that military action is only way forward, according to sources, vowing war against the group after Eid al-Fitr. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

Good news from Nasrul Hamid: Gas discovered in Sylhet's Kailashtila- The Daily Star

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, today (May 2, 2022) said gas has been discovered in the Kailashtila field in Sylhet. Click here to read... [6]

Closed state-owned jute mills: Laid-off workers still not paid arrears- The Daily Star

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) could not pay arrears and benefits to all the laid-off government jute mill workers even after about two years. Click here to read... [7]

Launch services suspended on Munshiganj routes fearing nor'wester- The Daily Star

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended operations of 85 launches on the Shimulia-Majhikandi, Madaripur-Banglabazar and Sharaitpur-Majhikandi river routes this evening fearing possible nor'wester on the Padma river. Click here to read... [8]

‘Initiate an impartial probe’- The Daily Star

Eminent citizens of the country have expressed concerns over the burning of indigenous-owned Jhum gardens by a rubber company in Bandarban. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Girls head and shoulders above boys - Bhutan Today

In both the categories, Bhutan Certificate of Secondary Examination (BCSE), and Language and Cultural Studies Certificate (LCSC), girls are head and shoulders above the boys. Click here to read... [10]

With encouraging health data Govt brings in more relaxations and softens quarantine for Bhutanese travelers- The Bhutanese

The government announced additional relaxations based on the good health data so far. While for international travelers, the five days mandatory facility quarantine will continue to monitor emerging variants, in-bound Bhutanese travelers can home quarantine for fie days. Click here to read... [11]

Covid-19 testing centres close today- Kuensel

With the announced Covid-19 relaxation coming into effect from today, all Covid-19 testing centres in Thimphu will also be closed. Click here to read... [12]

Civil servant demoted for criticising govt. policies on social media- Kuensel

The economic affairs ministry’s human resource committee demoted a chief in the ministry for criticising the government’s policies and actions on social media. Click here to read... [13]

Delay in loan disbursement hampers farmer’s groups in Sarpang- Bhutan Times

A group of three farmer’s association in Chuzergang gewog, Sarpang is waiting in vain to kick-start their venture as their loan, despite being approved about six months ago, is yet to be realized. Click here to read... [14]

Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa elects party president and vice-president- BBS

Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa, the latest political party to announce its intention to contest the 2023 parliamentary elections, held its first party convention in Paro today. The party president and vice-president were also elected during the convention and the party charter also drawn and approved. Click here to read... [15]

Myanmar

Will South Korea stop bankrolling Myanmar’s military? - Korea Expose

In response, many energy companies across the world have pulled out from Myanmar, unwilling to have their money soaked in Burmese blood. This list includes Malaysia’s Petronas, Australia’s Woodside, France’s Total, America’s Chevron, and Japan’s Mitsubishi. Notoriously missing from this list, however, is South Korea, supposedly a bastion of democracy in Asia. Click here to read... [16]

ACFID published updated sanctions fact sheet showing Australian Government inaction on Myanmar - Mirage News

Myanmar’s military machine is fuelled by its control of conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Corporation, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. These conglomerates export oil, gas and mining resources which have been put under sanction by the EU, UK, US and Canada, with Australia absent from this move to end support for Myanmar military. Click here to read... [17]

Resistance Forces Attack Burma Army In Kalay - BNI Online

Resistance forces have pinned down the Burma Army (BA) after relentless ambushes on its soldiers travelling south from Kalay town in Sagaing Region. During two days of clashes, at least 13 BA soldiers were killed by People’s Defence Forces (PDF), Chin National Defence Force and Ranger Kalay Defend Force. Click here to read... [18]

Myanmar's Suu Kyi charged with bribery as new trial opens - ABC News

Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi went on trial Monday in a new corruption case against her, alleging she took $550,000 in bribes from a construction magnate. Click here to read... [19]

Japan’s ENEOS withdraws from Myanmar gas project - Daily Times

Japanese energy conglomerate ENEOS Holdings said Monday it will withdraw from a gas project in coup-hit Myanmar, days after its Thai and Malaysian partners announced they would pull out. ENEOS is the latest energy giant to retreat from the Southeast Asian country, whose military has waged a widespread crackdown on dissent since it ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last year. Click here to read... [20]

Pro-junta militia calls for killing of Myanmar reporters and their family members - RFA

A pro-junta militia that recently claimed responsibility for the slaying of opposition party members is now openly threatening to kill journalists and their families over content the military regime has dubbed “destructive to the state.” Click here to read... [21]

Cambodia PM urges Myanmar junta boss to let ASEAN envoy meet Aung San Suu Kyi - RFA

Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged Myanmar's military junta to allow the ASEAN special envoy to visit and meet deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal

Import ban 'govt's knee-jerk reaction'- The Himalayan

The government recently decided to ban import of non-essential items listed under 10 categories to narrow the country's trade deficit and shore up foreign exchange reserves. Click here to read... [23]

NC leader Koirala calls for worker-friendly local levels- The Himalayan

Central member of the Nepali Congress Shekhar Koirala has said all local levels should be made friendly for workers. Nepali Congress is committed to ensuring the rights of workers, he said, adding that it respected labour. Click here to read... [24]

Official booked for accumulating illegal assets- The Himalayan

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a chargesheet at the Special Court against a nayab subba (non-gazetted first class officer) of Customs Clearance Office in Tinkune, Kathmandu, for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets worth around Rs 18.7 million. Click here to read... [25]

Tax dispute between govt and private sector should end: FinMin- Republica

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said that the conflict between the Ministry of Finance and the private sector over tax collection should end. Click here to read... [26]

Nepal records nine new cases, 18 recoveries and zero death on Monday- Republica

Nepal recorded nine new cases of COVID-19 along with 18 recoveries and zero death from the virus on Monday, according to the information released by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP). Click here to read... [27]

Pakistan

Extreme heat events expose climate vulnerabilities: Dawn

Extreme heat episodes over the past two months have particularly been devastating for the agriculture sector, forcing farmers and experts to demand urgent government measures to build climate resilience at the grass-root level. Click here to read... [28]

Rashid vows to stand with Imran if there’s ‘war with institutions’: The Express Tribune

Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that if there is a war with institutions, then he will stand by former prime minister Imran Khan like a rock because he considers him to be on the right side. Click here to read... [29]

‘Regime change’: Imran Khan seeks explanation from Biden administration: The News

Former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday posted a series of tweets asking some questions from US President Joe Biden’s administration and calling upon the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to form a judicial commission to probe the US-backed conspiracy to oust his government. Click here to read... [30]

Sri Lanka

Centre allows TN to send relief material to Sri Lanka: Hindustan Times

The central government has accepted Tamil Nadu’s request to send relief material to neighbouring Sri Lanka which is reeling under an acute economic crisis. Chief minister MK Stalin reacted to the development, saying the “humane gesture” will improve relations between the two nations. Click here to read... [31]

Galle Face Protesters Call for Arrest of Gota for Killing Tamils and Remove Military from Tamil Areas: News Wires

Huge protests against Sri Lanka President Gothabaya Rajapakse is continuing in the capital city Colombo's sea front Galle Face. People from different background are actively taking part. Click here to read... [32]

Tanker strike worsens fuel woes in crisis-hit Sri Lanka: The News International

A strike by owners of fuel tankers over the weekend renewed Sri Lanka’s long queues for diesel and petrol on Monday as pumps ran dry, compounding the island nation’s economic and energy crisis. Click here to read... [33]

In Sri Lanka, Protests Against President Rajapaksa Enter Day 24 As Govt Face No-trust Vote: Republic World

Anti-government demonstrations in Sri Lanka are nearing their first month as the island nation remains mired under crippling economic crises. The ongoing unrest sparked on March 16 when thousands of people gathered outside the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face in Colombo, enraged by the surge in prices of fuel and essential items. Click here to read... [34]