VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 13, 2022

Afghanistan
Concerns Raised Over Drone Activity in Afghan Airspace: Tolo News

Residents in various provinces of Afghanistan, especially Kabul, Khost and Kandahar, have recently expressed concern over the increase in drone patrols in the country’s airspace. Click here to read…

Kabul Sees Hike in Coal Exports Amid Rise in Fuel Prices in Int’l Markets: The Khaama Press

While majority of the European countries continue to struggle with a rise on fuel prices since beginning of the war in Ukraine, Kabul witnesses a “significant” hike on its coal exports to the nearby country. Click here to read…

India, US ask Taliban to ensure Afghanistan does not become breeding ground for terrorism: The Print

India and the US on Monday (local time) called on the Taliban to abide by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution to ensure that the Afghan territory does not become a breeding ground for terrorists to launch attacks against any country. Click here to read…

Bangladesh
Difficult to adjust ties with Russia- The Daily Star

Bangladesh continues to maintain very close relations with Russia and it is “very difficult” for the country to try to “adjust” the relationship, even if anyone would like it to amid the current situation in Ukraine. Click here to read…

An effort to ensure efficiency- The Daily Star

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is bringing more of its vehicles under vehicle tracking system (VTS) to ensure transparency and efficiency in fleet management. Click here to read…

Soybean oil solely off foreign seeds- The Daily Star

Many of you, who know about the cultivation of soybean in Bangladesh, might think that the production of the oilseed contributes to meeting the country’s demand for edible oil to some extent. Click here to read…

Take steps against illegal lenders: HC- The Daily Star

The High Court yesterday ordered for setting up complaint boxes at all districts and upazilas to receive information and allegations from people about the functions of unauthorised financial and microcredit institutions and individual money lenders. Click here to read…

UN chief calls PM to join Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, Finance- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a telephone call from Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, this evening. They held a 12-minute conversation where the UN chief invited her to join the Champions’ Group of Global Crisis Response on Food, Energy, and Finance (GCRG), according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Click here to read…

BGB hands over body of Indian national to BSF- The Daily Star

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) handed over the bullet-hit body of an Indian national recovered at the Lalmonirhat border to the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) this afternoon. Click here to read…

Bhutan
India, Bhutan Discuss Waterways Cooperation for Development- NDTV

India and Bhutan discussed ways to harness the potential of waterways for the progress of both nations. Click here to read…

Japan to support Bhutan tackle Covid-19 and economy recovery- Kuensel

The government of Japan will diversify its area of support to help Bhutan recover from the economic damage caused by the pandemic. Click here to read…

India, Nepal agrees to Bhutan-like power trade model- Economic Times

India’s role in Nepal’s development projects got a fillip on Saturday with the launch of a cross-border railway link and power transmission line, besides inauguration of the ‘Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation’ that has the potential to create a second Bhutan model in cross-border power trade. Click here to read…

Trade deficit to widen to 12.5 percent of GDP this FY- Kuensel

Increased imports against a marginal increase in exports could see the trade deficit widen to 12.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this fiscal year (FY) 2021-22, according to the Royal Monetary Authority’s annual report, 2021. Click here to read…

ECB calls elections for 24 LG vacant posts- Kuensel

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has call for the local government (LG) elections for the remaining 24 vacant demkhongs in next month. Click here to read…

On RCSC’s media gag order- Bhutan Times

Tightening the noose on civil servants’ take on media and freedom of speech, the Ministry of Agriculture this week issued an ultimatum ordering RNR officials under the ministry to strictly abide by the civil service values and code of conduct before sharing any materials and views with the media. Click here to read…

Maldives
Work on food factory in Kulhudhuffushi to commence this year: SUN MV

state Trading Organization (STO) will begin work this year, on the food factory to be developed in Kulhudhuffushi City, which will be packing flour and rice. Click here to read…

Myanmar
Public to boycott Thingyan despite Myanmar junta’s best efforts – Mizzima

The New Year festivities run from 13 to 15 or 16 April depending on the year and everyone has the time off work. Traditionally people sprinkled each other with water over the New Year period but, over the years this has evolved into good-natured, unruly water fights with people attempting to soak each other along roads throughout the country. Click here to read…

21 illegal Myanmar migrants caught in Songkhla – Bangkok Post

Immigration police arrested 21 Myanmar nationals in Rattaphum district of this southern province on Tuesday, Pol Maj Gen Prapansak Prasansuk said. Click here to read…

UWSA-RCSS CONFLICT: Pure proxy war or autocracy versus democracy conflict?’ – BNI Online

On April 5 clashes broke out between the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) near Thai-Shan border between Mong Hsat and Mong Ton, west of Tachilek in Mong Hta area, eastern Shan State at around 11 am, killing one UWSA member and five RCSS members. Click here to read…

India, BIMSTEC to enter agreement for free maritime movement of goods – Economic Times

The BIMSTEC regional grouping comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. “This (agreement) will cover all kinds of ports and cargo related to BIMSTEC countries and it will provide benefits like concessional port dues…at par with domestic vessels for cargo operating between these countries,” said Kumar. Click here to read…

Nepal
Bangladesh Embassy releases video to commemorate 50 years of Nepal-Bangladesh friendship- The Himalayan

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu has released a video to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh. Click here to read…

‘Utility corridor needed for coordinated development’- The Himalayan

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has underscored the need of formulating a bill on urban development along with utility corridor to carry out development and construction works in a coordinated manner. Click here to read…

Central bank paints grim picture of Nepal’s economy- Kathmandu Post

Inflation is rising, BoP is ballooning, remittances are falling and imports surging, Nepal Rastra Bank reports. Click here to read…

After FinMin’s plan to gobble up Rs 400 million failed, NRB Governor was suspended: Chairperson Oli- Republica

CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has said that the government’s move to suspend the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is an irresponsible one. Click here to read…

President Bhandari approves army mobilization in May 13 election- Republica

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has granted approval to mobilize the Nepali Army in the May 13 local election. Click here to read…

Minister Ale directs CAAN officials to make airports efficient, safer- Republica

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has directed the officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) including its newly-appointed board members to further develop Nepal’s airports and keep them in good condition. Click here to read…

Local level election will be held on stipulated date: Chief Election Commissioner- Republica

Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the May 13 local election would be held on the stipulated date. Click here to read…

EXCLUSIVE U.S. to announce $750 million more in weapons for Ukraine, officials say- Republica

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to announce as soon as Wednesday another $750 million in military assistance for Ukraine for its fight against Russian forces, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter told Reuters. Click here to read…

Pakistan
New PM sends positive signals to China, US: Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterated the need for cooperation with the United States and India, while assuring Beijing of further deepening of relations. Click here to read…

Army top brass livid at smear campaign: The Express Tribune

The country’s top military brass has taken notice of the recent propaganda campaign by some quarters to malign Pakistan Army and create a division between the institution and society. Click here to read…

Miftah Ismail warns budget deficit to surge to Rs6.4tr: The News

Highlighting widening twin deficits i.e. budget deficit and current account deficit, the former finance minister Miftah Ismail on Tuesday said that Pakistan required external financing of $9 billion for averting a balance of payment crisis in the current fiscal year. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka stops debt payments as the economic crisis deepens: The NewYork Times

Sri Lanka suspended payments on its international debt Tuesday, effectively putting the small island nation in default as it plunges deeper into an economic crisis. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka defaults on entire external debt of $51bn: Times of India

Ahead of an International Monetary Fund bailout, Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt on Tuesday as protests over the economic crisis threatened to spread to the hinterland. Click here to read…

Govt Defaults on External Debt of $51 Billion; Health System Crumbles, Protests Intensify in Colombo: News 18

Sri Lanka’s central bank said on Tuesday it had become “challenging and impossible” to repay external debt, as it tries to use its dwindling foreign exchange reserves to import essentials like fuel. Click here to read…