VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 04, 2022

Afghanistan

UN Body Says Afghans Must Not Be Forgotten: Tolo News

UN's International Organization for Migration, the IOM, in a statement on the situation in Afghanistan said that millions of Afghans are internally displaced due to the ongoing crisis in the country and that they "must not be forgotten." Click here to read... [2]

IEA bans cultivation, use of poppies in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Supreme leader of the Taliban Mullah Hebtullah Akhundzada in a decree announced a ban on cultivating puppies, using, selling, and making any kind of narcotics. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Momen-Blinken talk today- Daily Star

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet today, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Click here to read... [4]

Ukraine-Russia war will affect food security- Daily Star

Russia and Ukraine play a substantial role in global food production and supply. Together, they provide 19 percent of the world's barley supply, 14 percent of wheat, and 4 percent of maize, making up more than one-third of global cereal exports. Click here to read... [5]

Authorities put finishing touches on Padma bridge for June opening- Dhaka Tribune

Pitch casting on the bridge to be completed this month, lighting, road marking, and railing installation underway.

LPG prices continue rising- Asian Age

Authorities have raised the prices of liquefied petroleum gas or LPG for the third month, citing a soaring cost on the international market. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Giving agriculture a big push- Kuensel

A growing number of urban residents seem to be embracing agriculture initiatives in dzongkhags such as Thimphu, Punakha, Bumthang, and Sarpang. Click here to read... [7]

Covid-19 fear keeps patients away from national referral hospital- Kuensel

With not many people coming to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), the national referral hospital looks almost empty by afternoon these days. Click here to read... [8]

BBPL’s organic manure to fill fertiliser shortage- Kuensel

The Bhutan Board Products Limited (BBPL) will launch today a brand of organic manure called Greenure to meet farmers’ demand for fertilisers. Click here to read... [9]

Opposition urges for new SOP on tourism- Bhutan Times

Following the Prime Minister’s Office announcement reducing the quarantine period for international travelers, including tourists, to five days if vaccinated, the Opposition Party said that a clear, proactive and robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should now be put in place. Click here to read... [10]

BIMSTEC to identify new areas of cooperation- Bhutan Times

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit and the preceding meetings reviewed the progress achieved in the areas of cooperation identified under the BIMSTEC framework. Click here to read... [11]

NRDCAN develops horse feed for the first time in the country- Bumthang- BBS

Currently, there is no commercial horse feed in the country. Farmers either feed their horses maize and chickpeas (Chana) or cattle feed which is inadvisable. Moreover, highlanders have also been facing fodder shortages during winter. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives

‘Connect with Maldives - Your Safe Haven’, roadshow held in Dubai: Rajje Mv

The roadshow named, ‘Connect with Maldives - Your Safe Haven’ was held on March 29. MMPRC held the roadshow in between the Qatar Business and Luxury Travel Congress, which was held on 28th March and the Meetings Arabia and Luxury Travel Congress. Click here to read... [13]

Tourist arrivals to Maldives exceed 427,000 by March end: Edition MV

According to the most recent update from the Ministry of Tourism, the annual total of tourist arrivals to the Maldives has reached 427,677 as of 30th March 2022. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar

An Open Letter From a Striking Myanmar Military Officer - The Irrawaddy

Htet Myat is a pseudonym for a Myanmar army major who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in June last year. He is a graduate of the Defense Services Academy (DSA) Intake 52 and served in the army from December 2009 till he joined the CDM in 2021. He is now taking shelter on the Thai-Myanmar border. Click here to read... [15]

Three weeks of intensified judicial persecution of journalists in Myanmar - RSF

After last weekend’s massive show of force by Myanmar’s armed forces and their chief’s promise to “annihilate” all forms of opposition, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) looks back at the past three weeks of intensified judicial persecution of journalists and reiterates its call for the unconditional release of all media personnel currently held in Myanmar’s prisons. Click here to read... [16]

Ponnagyun court examines another defence witness in Kyaukseik villagers’ terrorism trial - BNI Online

Five men from Kyaukseik village and its vicinity in Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township, who have been accused of illegal ties to the Arakan Army (AA), appeared before the Sittwe District Court on March 31. Click here to read... [17]

Church in Chin State Vandalized and Looted by the Junta - persecution.org

The Christian-majority Chin state in Myanmar continues to see its churches being targeted and attacked by the Tatmadaw (Burmese Army), a year after the junta attempted to depose the democratically elected civilian government. Click here to read... [18]

China says will back Myanmar junta 'no matter how situation changes’ - Free Press Journal

China says it will back neighbor Myanmar “no matter how the situation changes,” in the latest show of unequivocal Chinese support for the ruling military council that seized power last year. Click here to read... [19]

Nepal

Nepal records 23 COVID-19 cases on Sunday- Himalayan

The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached at 899 on Sunday as 23 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read... [20]

Deuba returns home from India trip with pilgrimage to Kashi- Kathmandu Post

Visit may be trust-building bid but many view it differently amid geopolitical flux and evolving Nepal-India relations. Click here to read... [21]

Alliance politics may trim women’s representation in local governments- Kathmandu Post

As coalition partners plan to fight May 13 polls in alliance, observers wonder if the inclusion idea is at stake. Click here to read... [22]

Nepal’s local election gives power back to people- Nepali Times

Polls in May will strengthen and empower local governments to bolster democracy and diversity. Click here to read... [23]

PM's visit fruitful to bolster bilateral cooperation: Foreign Minister Khadka- Republica

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has returned home, wrapping up the three-day official visit to India on Sunday evening. Click here to read... [24]

Pakistan

Editorial: Democracy subverted: Dawn

The nation is stunned. Ahead of the vote of no-confidence, the prime minister had repeatedly hinted that he had a ‘trump card’ up his sleeve. Click here to read... [25]

All eyes on SC as country plunges into constitutional crisis: The News

A constitutional crisis hit the country on Sunday after the National Assembly deputy speaker rejected the no-confidence resolution, filed by the joint opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan, after declaring it unconstitutional. Click here to read... [26]

Imran runs away with wickets: Bilawal: The News

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Imran Khan instead of playing till the last ball had run away with the wickets. He said that the president, prime minister, NA speaker, deputy speaker and anybody involved in this act on Sunday had committed high treasonClick here to read... [27]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Resigns as Street Protests Pressure Government: The NewYork Times

The midnight resignations, amid an escalating economic crisis, leave only the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and his brother, the prime minister, in a cabinet that has been dominated by their family. Click here to read... [28]

Explained | Why is Sri Lanka under a state of Emergency?: The Hindu

On Friday night, a day after angry citizens converged in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Colombo residence, demanding he step down immediately, he declared a state of Emergency in Sri Lanka. Click here to read... [29]