VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: May 25, 2022

Afghanistan

UAE Wins Contract for Ground Operations at 3 Afghan Airports: Tolo News

The contract was signed by the deputy minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ghulam Jailani Wafa, and a representative of the GAAC company in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, first deputy prime ministerClick here to read... [2]

The Taliban Sets Up a Commission to Convene a Loya Jirga: The Khaama Press

The Taliban official did not provide a specific date for the jirga, but stated that all Afghans, particularly influential peace figures, would be invited. “There will be a Loya Jirga in which all Afghans will participate,” Delawar stated. “The influential Afghans who will be effective for the peace and development of Afghanistan,” he added. Click here to read... [3]

British Parliament: UK’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan was a “disaster”: The Khaama Press

Members of the British House of Representatives recently stated that the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from Afghanistan last year was a “disaster” and “betrayal” that will harm the country’s interests for years. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Inflation, forex pressure: Govt moves to rein them in- The Daily Star

The government has ramped up its measures to contain the pressure on foreign currency reserves and inflation, drafting an action plan to discourage non-essential imports and bring relief to the poor and the vulnerable from the spiralling cost of living. Click here to read... [5]

Push for early repatriation- The Daily Star

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged the UN to take practical actions to ensure early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. Click here to read... [6]

Time to focus on rehabilitation- The Daily Star

With the fast receding of waters of the Surma and the Kushiyara rivers, the livelihood of flood-affected areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj is slowly getting back to normalClick here to read... [7]

"Journalism in Bangladesh is like swimming in a pond full of crocodiles"- The Daily Star

Expressing concern over the two proposed acts relating to media freedom, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas feared that some of the provisions in the draft acts could be used to intimidate journalists. Click here to read... [8]

Japan's Yanmar wants to produce combined harvester in Bangladesh- The Daily Star

Japanese agricultural machinery manufacturer Yanmar has expressed interest to set up a factory in Bangladesh to manufacture combine harvesters for reaping paddy. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Living in fear of elephants in Mecheytar, Samtse- Kuensel

An elephant has been causing havoc in Mecheytar village of Norbugang gewog in Samtse. Click here to read... [10]

Japan gives 3,300 million Yen ODA loan- Kuensel

The finance ministry and Japan signed an official development assistance (ODA) loan agreement of 3,300 million Yen at the Tashichhodzong in Thimphu yesterday. Click here to read... [11]

Nepal

US Embassy honours Pasang Phurba for scaling Everest with US-Nepal friendship flag- Himalayan Times

The Embassy of United States in Nepal has felicitated a Sherpa climber for reaching the summit point of Mt Everest with a flag of US-Nepal Relations (1947-2022). Click here to read... [12]

Local election update: NC leads nationwide, Balen in strong position in Kathmandu- Himalayan Times

Nepali Congress, which had forged alliance with other four parties in the recently concluded local election, is leading vote count after securing 322 mayoral positions and 279 deputy positions nation wide. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal records 16 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday- Himalayan Times

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached to 133 on Tuesday as 11 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [14]

Government policies and programmes presented in Federal Parliament- Himalayan Times

The government's policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2079/80 BS (2022-23) have been presented in the Federal Parliament. Click here to read... [15]

Deuba set to visit US in July, in first official high-level trip from Nepal in 20 years- Kathmandu Post

Visit to Washington has quite some context, which will help fortify ties, amid rapid geopolitical shifts, observers say. Click here to read... [16]

Petition filed at the top court seeking removal of statute of limitations on rape- Kathmandu Post

Six female lawyers who registered the petition claim the time limit is in violation of constitution. Click here to read... [17]

Fertiliser shortage haunts farmers ahead of looming paddy season- Kathmandu Post

Fertiliser shortage is major problem repeating every crop season in the past several years. Click here to read... [18]" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Maldives

STELCO, Will provide permanent solution to power outages in two days: The Sun

State Electric Company (STELCO)’s Managing Director Ahmed Shareef states the company will provide a permanent solution to the electricity outages affecting Male’ City within two days. Click here to read... [19]

Democracy, ecology and now Sri Lankan economy, Maldives’ Nasheed has his hands full: First Post

Mohamed Nasheed is the mascot for Maldivian democracy and free speech, and an acknowledged global ambassador on climate change and environmental concerns. And now he is helping in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. Click here to read... [20]

Myanmar

NUG demands justice for those killed by the junta - Mizzima

The NUG Ministry of Health issued a statement saying that there must be justice for students, healthcare workers and all the innocent people who have died as a result of the coup. It said that those who are responsible for military acts of terrorism will be severely punished in accordance with the law. Click here to read... [21]

Japanese trained officer part of Myanmar forces abusing civilians - Mizzima

A Myanmar air force lieutenant colonel who received military training in Japan is deployed with forces that have been implicated in serious abuses in Myanmar’s central Magway Region, Human Rights Watch and Justice For Myanmar said today. Click here to read... [22]

Mobile phone service cut amid heavy fighting in Myanmar’s Sagaing - RFA

Myanmar junta troops on Tuesday briefly cut mobile phone service to eight townships in Sagaing region, leaving more than a million residents without cell access in an effort to mask the movements and operations of Military Council forces in the war-torn area, Myanmar sources say. Click here to read... [23]

Myanmar Junta Weakening: Karen Rebels - The Irrawaddy

The Karen National Union (KNU) says Myanmar’s military has been seriously depleted, saying the regime has not tried to retake a strategic camp seized on the Thai border last week. Click here to read... [24]

’We Need Guns,’ Myanmar Resistance Forces Tell Shadow Govt - The Irrawaddy

With popular armed resistance against Myanmar’s military regime having raged for more than one year now, the need for weapons and other support is becoming a pressing issue for some resistance groups on the groundClick here to read... [25]

Violence Against or Obstruction of Health Care in Myanmar (May 2022 update) - Insecurity Insight

Doctors and nurses were arrested for providing medical care to protesters, health workers were injured while providing care to protesters, ambulances were destroyed, and health facilities were raided. In the first few months of 2022 health care in Myanmar continued to be under attack. Click here to read... [26]

Pakistan

State flexes its muscles to curb PTI power show: Dawn

After deciding not to allow Imran Khan’s ‘Azadi March’ on the capital, the government on Tuesday rounded up over 1,000 PTI leaders and workers in a crackdown designed to derail the party’s plans for a massive power show in Islamabad. Click here to read... [27]

Editorial: Back to bedlam: Dawn

After initially signalling it would allow the march to proceed, its policy significantly hardened after a Monday meeting attended by the prime minister and his elder brother from London. The PML-N reportedly decided that an early election would not be ‘dictated’ by Imran Khan and gave Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah carte blanche to ‘deal’ with the PTI marchers. Click here to read... [28]

Saudi Arabia finalising extension of $3 billion deposit to Pakistan: The Express Tribune

Saudi Arabia is finalising the extension of the kingdom's $3 billion deposit to Pakistan, Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan told Reuters. Click here to read... [29]

No-trust motion against Balochistan CM to be tabled today: The News

According to the Assembly Secretariat, the caretaker Governor Balochistan Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali has convened the Balochistan Assembly session today at 3pm for tabling the no-confidence motion moved by 14 members of the Balochistan Assembly. Click here to read... [30]

Water shortage in Indus rises to 40pc: The News

In an alarming development, the total water inflows into the country’s system here on Tuesday further plummeted to 145,000 cusecs from 157,000 cusecs just in one day, owing to which water deficit has swelled up to 40 percent from the earlier 27 percent. However, at canal heads, the provinces Punjab and Sindh are getting water supplies with shortage of 50 percent on account of conveyance losses of 10-12 percent. Click here to read... [31]

Sri Lanka

World Bank does not plan to offer new financing to Sri Lanka until policies in place: News First

The World Bank said that it is concerned for the people of Sri Lanka and are working in coordination with the IMF and other development partners in advising on appropriate policies to restore economic stability and broad-based growth. Click here to read... [32]

Sri Lanka needs to print one trillion rupees to keep economy afloat, inflation could hit 40 per cent, PM says: South China Morning Post

Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday he will present an interim budget within six weeks, slashing infrastructure projects to divert funds into a two-year relief programme for the crisis-hit island nation. Click here to read... [33]

‘They could not save their baby’: the human cost of Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis: The Guardian

it was, said the doctor, an avoidable delay that would haunt these parents for ever. When their two-year-old daughter first refused to eat, then began to go yellow with the signs of jaundice and then fell into a seizure, Kanchana and her husband, living in the Sri Lankan region of Haldummulla, knew she needed urgent medical care. Click here to read... [34]

Sri Lanka inflation could top 40%, warns PM Ranil Wickremesinghe: Business Standard

Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday he will present an interim budget within six weeks, slashing infrastructure projects to re-route funds into a two-year relief programme for the crisis-hit island nation. Click here to read... [35]

Prez Rajapaksa Inducts 8 Ministers Into Cabinet, No Finance Min Yet: The Quint

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday, 23 May, appointed eight more ministers, expanding the cabinet further, amid a severe ongoing economic crisis in the country, as per news agency PTI. Click here to read... [36]