VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: May 06, 2022

Afghanistan

24 Million Afghans Need Humanitarian Aid: SIGAR: Tolo News

Since the takeover of the Islamic Emirate in August 2021, “humanitarian conditions have deteriorated with over 24.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan—an increase from 18.4 million in 2021,” said a report of the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Click here to read... [2]

According to the UN, 97 percent of Afghans are now battling food shortages: The Khaama Press

Experts believe that for most Afghans, Eid-Ul-Fitr was just another day of struggle to feed their families as Muslims throughout the world celebrated Eid-Ul-Fitr. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Three more Bangladeshis in Pandora Papers- The Daily Star

Three more names were disclosed in the final batch of Pandora Papers data, taking the tally of Bangladeshi nationals to have been found to hold shell companies in tax havens in the leaked documents by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists to nine. Click here to read... [4]

Gas supply resumes in Dhaka- The Daily Star

Gas supply has resumed in different areas in Dhaka city and adjoining areas from yesterday afternoon, said a Titas Gas announcement. Click here to read... [5]

India-Bangladesh foreign ministers likely to meet in Guwahati- The Hindustan Times

India-Bangladesh foreign ministers are set to participate in the “River Conclave Nadi 3” in Guwahati during May 28-29. There are plans for S Jaishankar and AK Abdul Momen to meet on the margins of the conclave. Click here to read... [6]

Three Chinese nationals among 9 injured in Bangladesh as locals oppose construction by Chinese firm- Times Now

The incident took place at the site of the construction of an embankment at Mathbaria in the Pirojpur district of Bangladesh. The injured Chinese nationals have been identified as Manager Majimao (31), Supervisor Chang Dew (28), and Supervisor Lei Bo (38). Click here to read... [7]

Bangladesh detains 450 Rohingya celebrating Eid on Cox’s Bazar beach- Al Arabiya

Bangladesh police detained at least 450 Rohingya refugees as they celebrated the Muslim festival of Eid on a popular beach, officials said on Thursday. Around 920,000 mostly Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are banned from leaving barbed-wire camps in the southeast where they have been stuck for years. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

Construction of barrage at PI is feasible- Kuensel

A detailed project report (DPR) has found construction of barrage feasible if the project authorities of the 1,200MW Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project (PI) decide to go ahead with barrage instead of the dam. Click here to read... [9]

Online piracy rampant in the country- Kuensel

An over-the-top (OTT) platform, Samuh, filed cases against 11 individuals in Thimphu dzongkhag court for illegally downloading and sharing their content on Telegram. Click here to read... [10]

Covid-19 cases declining- Kuensel

Although many people were worried that Covid-19 cases would surge after schools reopened, the number of positive cases remained low or continued to decline. Click here to read... [11]

Empowering rural communities against corruption- BBS

The Bhutan Transparency Initiative’s (BTI) social accountability exercises are helping empower rural communities to combat corruption at the grassroots level. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

Russia-Ukraine war hits Q1 tourism revenue, bookings: The Sun

The quarterly business survey report for Q1 2022 released by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) shows the revenue and bookings of resorts and hotels in Maldives took a significant hit due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Click here to read... [13]

Maldives backs Johnson Smith for Commonwealth Secretary General: The Gleaner

Johnson Smith is seeking to unseat the incumbent Baroness Patricia Scotland. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih indicated his support for her candidacy during a phone call with Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness today. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar

KIA Spurns Myanmar Junta’s Invitation to Join Peace Talks: The Irrawaddy

One of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic armed groups, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), won’t join the regime’s peace talks, saying they exclude relevant stakeholders and their agenda lacks any discussion of ongoing issues in the country. Click here to read... [15]

Cambodia hosts meeting on humanitarian assistance to Myanmar:The Hindu

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened a meeting on May 6 in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, in a fresh effort to organise humanitarian assistance for strife-torn Myanmar. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal

Rahul Gandhi returns home after 'controversial' trip to Nepal- Himalaya

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has returned home to India after what was made to be a scandalous trip to NepalClick here to read... [17]

Indian climber dies on Mt Kanchenjunga- Himalaya

An Indian climber died while ascending Mt Kanchenjunga on Thursday evening, expedition organisers informed. Click here to read... [18]

NC's victory needed for prosperous Nepal: Gagan Thapa- Himalaya

Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said a victory of Nepali Congress in the upcoming local elections was necessary to realise the dream for a prosperous Nepal. Click here to read... [19]

NEA calls bids inviting Indian companies to sell its surplus 200MW during monsoon- Kathmandu Post

Southern neighbour has allowed Nepal to sell 364MW in the Indian markets. Click here to read... [20]

Budget for next fiscal year to focus on economic revival, growth- Republica

The government is preparing the budget for the Fiscal Year 2022/23, focusing on the revival of the country's economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic through production and productivity growth. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan

Cases of Madina incident should not be lodged in Pakistan: Khursheed: Dawn

Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that cases for Madina incident should not be registered in Pakistan and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah should rethink the issue seriously. Click here to read... [22]

Economy to face further pressure: The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s economy and capital markets are expected to face mounting pressure when the country returns to work from Eid holidays on Friday in the wake of an aggressive hike in the benchmark interest rate by the US Fed and a rebound in international oil prices during the long break.

Govt plans scrutiny of Imran’s assets, income: The News

The federal government has decided to scrutinise the statements of assets and income of former prime minister Imran Khan. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's energy crisis hits country's fishing industry: BBC

Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since it gained independence from Britain in 1948. Food shortages, soaring prices and power cuts have left the government requesting emergency financial help. Click here to read... [24]

Railways, transport workers to join nationwide strike: ANI

The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Union (SLRSMU) announced that they will participate in the nationwide strike on Friday. The All Ceylon Transport Workers Union (ACTWU) also said that they had asked all the employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to join the nationwide strike tomorrow. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lankan PM thanks Tamil Nadu CM Stalin: The Hindu

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for his initiative to provide humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, which is in the grip of a grave economic crisis. Click here to read... [26]

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka re-introduces fuel rationing: Economic Times

For several months, Sri Lankans have endured long lines to buy fuel, cooking gas, food and medicine, most of which come from abroad. Shortages of hard currency have also hindered imports of raw materials for manufacturing and worsened inflation, which surged to 18.7 per cent in March. Click here to read... [27]

Bangladesh sends emergency medical supplies to Sri Lanka amid economic crisis: Devdis Course

bangladesh on Thursday sent emergency medical supplies to Sri Lanka as the island nation faces one of the worst economic crises since gaining independence. At a token handover ceremony held at the State Guest House Padma, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen. Click here to read... [28]