recalls receives of evacuation for villages in the country south as it baffles at 2nd major wildfire in 2 days. almost a $155.00 of dean being deployed to battle ablaze in the area region. nearby hospitals have been put on the la to admit injured people. expense a global warming is western in greece as wildfire, seasons ah . without there are these are top stories not gone? sounds 3rd largest city is coming under intense pressure from a taliban fighting is ongoing on the outskirts of merit group and also targeting the provincial cities of kandahar and laska god changes to hong kong immigration law. take effect on sunday for 6. say they will give authority the unlimited power to store people leaving the chinese controlled territory as far as last year's imposition of a wide ranging national security law. adrian brown has the latest from hong kong.

when you speak to people here, who are parents, they say they're real concern. all the changes to the school curriculum with a new focus on patriotism and the fact that lessons in national security annella being given to children of kindergarten age. the hong kong government for its part says that it would rather these people stay, but they're free to go. but they're going to countries where the economic prospects are not as good as those here in hong kong. through the new left as president petro castillo, is facing anti government protest, just days after taking office, both of his rival and last month, next, and rallied in the capital, lima. critics say he's failed to on his sledge to build a broad base government. new zealand prime minister was making a formal government, a policy for re phase crackdown on people who overstate that fees is nearly 50 years ago and often degraded,

degrading police res talked to pacific islands of the deportation, but didn't include over stairs from other parts of the world when ends of americans are at risk of being thrown out of their homes as a temporary ban on evictions is set to expire as imposed last year to help slay the spread of coven 19 by using crowded in crowding and homes, and shelter by the ministration is being criticized for failing to challenge the supreme court ruling, preventing an extension of the moratorium. the white house is pushing unity as president to make a swift returned to a democratic half and a phone call national security advisor jake sullivan. as i said to, for when you come in quickly stabilize the economy and contain the current of ours pandemic. it comes almost a week off the president sacks the government and for parliament. and opponents accuse him of carrying out a qu. yup. state. now, with all the headlines, we're back with more news home now to 0. that's after counting the cost from talk to al jazeera, we wrong, did you want the un to take and who stopped you?

we listen. you see the whole infrastructure and being totally destroyed. we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter on our sierra. ah, hello, i'm sam is a than this is counting the cost on al jazeera. you're look at the world, the business and economics this week. sure, lanka, void the debt defaults, but it's fast running out of money to pay for import. will china and india continue to bailout colombo lebanon has a new prime minister designate the 3rd. since the government resigned a year ago, can form a cabinet and thought the economic rock. what's driving up food prices in bangladesh, and it's not only the poorest been hit hard. the middle classes are suffering in

silence. ah. despite avoiding a debt default for now, sure lank has finances are in a precarious state. the shoreline can president, has appointed his brother as a new finance minister. the sign of how serious the situation is shanaiah because economy was in trouble before the pandemic between 20052015. colombo borrowed billions from china, accumulating a mountain of debt for expensive infrastructure projects. you may remember sure, lanka was forced to hand over its strategic humble toto port on a 99 year lease to a chinese company in 2017. that was because it failed to service the $1400000000.00 debt from beijing used to build it. the government's debt rose to 101 percent of g. d p. last year,

up from 86.8 percent in 2019 credit rating agencies are concerned. it may not be able to service its debt according to bloomberg. the probability of a one year default was that 27.9 percent. the steepest in asia to make sure it can make free payments. the government's put limits on the amount of money that can leave the country. the central bank says it has currency reserves of $4000000000.00 enough to buy imports for the next 3 months to boost its reserves. it strong currency swamps with some of its biggest trading partners, which basically sense the exchange rate, reducing volatility. the biggest deal was with china worth $1500000000.00. and that's important because china and india have been trying to pull shred anchor into the geopolitical orbit. it's part of a struggle to control key maritime routes in the indian ocean. now, one of its key sources of foreign currency tourism is dried up due to the pandemic

of the industry. that accounts for 5 percent of g d. p and employs about 3000000 people hasn't recovered from the suicide attacks on easter day in 2019 to conserve calling see if the government is also banned. the import fertilizes the ramifications could be profound as al jazeera, as michelle fernandez explains john cuz my son plays worried the petite of mine too long because we're putting a gun. the region says he used less than half the usual amount of chemical fertilizer on his crop. i'm off of the, i have the buying and i phone a lot of the plans was effected. usually by this time, the harvesting in the about 2 months or $75.00 days after planting the area is covered by the plants. but this time growth is far less. farmers across the country have been protesting the shortage of chemical fertilizer. since the government been import in me in because these are not good successful greenhouse farmer has had to

cut down his crop as well. he says farmers should have been consulted about the ban . every last cannot, would have been asked when things are being changed. they must consult us, make us aware of how things will change the scar. this is going to be done. the band and fertilizers come during an economic crisis that has like a badly. it's 4 in reserves have fallen below $4000000000.00. people incomes has suffered since easter bombings 2019. and the corona virus pandemic, as were in the situation, the government is under pressure to find the money to pay back billions of dollars in debt. that's one of the reasons present good or bad. roger says he's government ban the import of dozens of items including agro chemicals, and also 18000000000 re piece. 80000000000 pieces bought this country spends just 2 in port fertilizer. who does it's money? go to. the money goes to companies abroad. there are only 4 to 5 local companies

making money from this. but the decision we talk will make this industry into a local industry. the president says he will not back down on the 30 lays a band which he says is also aimed at improving the heads of citizen, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet a government blitz of money printing has driven up inflation, which is the central bank at 6 point one percent cut a daily journey, roster income because of the pandemic. if you are a pensioner, the interest rates are low and your income has come down. you're lucky if you have a permanent job. but without 11th is to get an income. income is limited, expenditures are rising. the can make situation is creating a challenge for millions of she, lanton thought i might be able to find out. it's very difficult to survive because we have to spend more than what we own back informing country communities. a bracing system harvest and a major impact on income. one from

a leader as an even more di, warning america, farmable manage the season with whatever fertilizer and chemicals they bought, a higher prices. but i say with responsibility that we clearly going toward food shortages. that's a certainty. even god can't prevent that. most farmers agreed the plan to cut down on chemicals use is a good thing. but say the sudden decision is not practical. lead tom pack, what's happening now with russia decides the fund manager of asia frontier capitol joined us now from hong kong. good. have you with us so other fears of a debt default overblown. well, i mean the seals about defaulting on the sovereign bones has been a story for the last one years. stony auto an issue which has come to the last couple of weeks. the last couple of months. in fact, just a few days ago to see sheila paid a $1000000000.00 to its bond holders, bobby sovereign born. and also last year in the 4th quarter of 2022 was not

a 1000000000 dollars last year, but so he's what he does have been around for quite a while. so i will keep him in for you this week. do you know default on that was kind of order? i mean they should one of the, the payments of 21 issues or concerns about the deep in 1022. so you have 2 bonds which are you in 2022 will 51 minute. although the payment due in january 2022 and up and a $1000000000.00 due in july plus, we need to and that's a concern, especially now that you know, those are all foreigners of the law and also the important dog foreign exchange you want to be good by the mom. glad you mentioned that. so how is it going to deal? cuz it's still obviously has financial problems even if some of the default worries are overblown. how is it going to finance it's huge debt burden. right, so i think she done some funds on the next couple of months. in fact, they've got some,

especially some funding from important partners in the region like in gang china and also some forms coming from the m f. s. d. possibly in the next to the next one months or so they haven't lined up, you know, funding for almost $3000000000.00. and if that comes through, in fact, they should be okay for the payment to show you when it was for the song and it kind of can down the road because you take more money to pay off more money the. the mounting grows. exactly. that's the issue or concern that i will still have because it's not about, you know, she didn't before now or after 61. but i think what in this is one look at is somewhat stuck to be false. the most structured long term financing. otherwise you already have this pencil and coming off every 6 months of months, but the she liked the structure was so i think it may meet the locations or next month. i think the issues with the trip in as long as the such a reforms won't happen. but more importantly, i think that the room sector was

a pretty large owner for the country, but support for when it almost dependent make and also before your tax. but hopefully, you know, once back vision levers improve nobody and also in the region and they can with some of the saucers and change your position as well. position has been pushing for the government to turn to the i m f. something that government has been opposed to . why do you think any program, especially in countries, the highest deficit and a lot extra g p issue would always be a measure of such as including taxes and expenditure in our balance to do some of the specials and the economy and also on the deficit. but i think especially at this point in time, the quantity is one patch given the enemy can get to go to the law. so i don't think the going to be wants to take any positions or at least want to get the

unpopular positions, especially at this point in time. so i think that would probably be from some of the government going on. so, but or that will, that meet them, told me if they can do that, some of the reasons revenues or if they get the vaccination right. and the vaccination, 3 of them can, i would want to keep it as well. and that should have some somewhat, using all the shows and then probably for the probably a better bargaining position will help also, with relieving the ban on the imports of some goods like fertilizer. all they also just storing up problems for the future and pushing that can further down the road . but i think the board ban on data is not just for the motor vehicles. and some of the border goods has been there for almost more than the, especially since of and again, well, if you look at you look for the context was about $4000000000.00 of influence for the pending. and that because you went to 0, the last last to especially a image is dependent on the last 2 months. and also initially the initial few

months of the band to be exposed to the lot of dom and export warnings as opposed to the 4 months of the band. and so i think given the given situation of the country, wasn't that food is stuck measures and i think they will, these in or bands will continue. probably i want to stick with my canoe fall into the end of the, you know, especially now that you don't have any payments coming up for the 122. and do they have some long term funding lined up? they were told me to start using this issue for the next 6 months. all right, then let's talk about maybe the plus side. the competition between china and india for influencing the indian ocean does not offer a shrill anchor, some strategic advantage, and how best and how far can use that? absolutely. i think you guys to lawfully leverage this position in the nation. so if you've seen that a last couple of years with china making investments and also in debt coming in now . and especially now with, you know,

for funding require 40 payments going do not have been quite handful influence on funding. of course, given that you are important that she both india and china to go home and can do more, i mean the, but you can do much more with the graphic position. i mean, they can pretty much more long term for to miss lindsey transportation at logistics sectors of which has not yet happened and largely, and also some important points if you can be long term very much for the foreign response, given the location of the, of the country so yes, i think that is something that will continue going forward as well or should the sorry, thanks so much for talking to us. thank you. thank you. thank you. the migrant workers from me and mar living in thailand, florida, areas of facing increased hardship lockdown van means there's less work leaving many to rely on donations. yet people still flee to thailand. to escape from military rule. back home florence louis reports says,

usually no shortage of work or laborers for farms in pop products. strict in western thailand. many farmers here employ migrants from across the border in myanmar to work for fields. but the surgeon corona virus cases in the 2 countries has made life more difficult for migrant workers. thailand has imposed a nighttime curve. you and travel restriction. this lady who doesn't want to be identified had gone back to me on my last year to renew her passport. but she couldn't return to thailand, eagerly after the borders were closed and ended up paying brokers to sneak her back in illegally got all the loading away. i mean, in many migrant for me and my in trouble. now, many of us have to hide and escape to thailand to find a job. some of us got caught and was sent to prison. more watson, johnny id carey, is also a migrant from me and mom who has settled in thailand for many years. he helps run

a local charity. there are a lot of children also come along with the parents and there's some parents, they don't have a document. so they had a lot of you know, issues to going around. and if the parents get arrested, the children will be left behind in a hot or in houses and who's going to take care of their children. he says, live here. it's also getting increasingly difficult for migrant workers because of corona virus restrictions. when a new infection is reported in a village, no one is allowed to leave unless they can show that tested negative for cove at 19 . many are unable to find work and have been relying on donation. but supplies are slowly dwindling, as continued restrictions cause economic hardship for every one else. the struggle for survival is also made was by a sense of frustration at what's happening back home. me my views, he said,

you know, i want the manmohan touch released on some sushi and focus on helping the people from the crisis. i want democracy in men more than the culture can move forward to develop. but there's no indication the generals in myanmar are ready to give up power. now, global development institutions like the international monetary fund, usually cautious and circumspect in their assessments of member countries. but the world banks, recent assessments of lebanon, have given up on the niceties it seems, it's gone as far as calling out the deliberate depression that has seen the economy contract, 40 percent, and the poverty rate increased by 50 percent in the world banks. assessments such a brutal and rapid contraction is usually associated with conflicts, or was, it goes on to say the bankrupt economic system that benefits the few has the backing of the political elite. now all of this has been public knowledge with even

the europe in union preparing to sanction some of the key characters. levitan has a new prime minister designate. now the 3rd, since the government resigned a year ago and g mccarthy has to form a government to reverse the economic crisis. until that happens, the growing concerns that 4000000 people are more immediate risk of losing access to safe water. among them, a 1000000 refugees already facing hardship, with shortages of funding, fuel, and supplies. unicef estimates most water pumping will gradually cease across the country and the next 4 to 6 weeks. at the years since a huge explosion in beirut pulled killed 200 people injured thousands and devastated the capital. let's get some analysis now with diana minim she's managing director of advocacy group co luna. it although which promotes solutions to the crisis. good to have you with us so that the world bank has been very critical

lately of the lebanese political elite. not a huge surprise to the lebanese, or frankly, to anyone is being familiar with lebanese affairs for a while. everyone knows there's been a problem with the elite for decades, right? why the change in the world banks tow? now? i mean the changing the world banks to now is because this is honestly now bordering the criminal. you have a poverty rate that are increasing in a way that has been unprecedented in the country over 50 percent of the lebanese are in the world back, anticipates that over 75 percent of the lebanese will be poor by end of year. this is really devastating. the incapacity of this political class to govern is manifested day by day. it's really appalling that this is a political class, but the still trying to cling to power. despite all the misery and the destruction that it has cost. i mean, since the resignation of the 4th of august of last government,

they have been several times at the government formation. today, a 3rd prime minister has been designated and then as me at the end, the tempting to form a government for the 3rd time. i mean, this clearly indicates that the problem goes beyond prime minister nomination. the system is blocked. the people that are today in power are incapable of reinventing themselves. they have lost their legitimacy. people will no longer tolerate recycled formula of the same components of the political club. and everybody realizes today that any government formed using the same modem, randy, that has been adopted for the past years will no longer be acceptable. this is a government, it will be required to conduct radical and sometimes very painful reforms to the financial and economic system and to pursue the investigation in the be who the

court laughed. and there is no way this political class is going to do this. let me jump in, if i could then ask the question, would sanctions on the political elites? would that fix the situation and fix the economy? sanctions would definitely be one to one to, to increase pressure on this political class. and to legitimize them, i mean, and they would also hit the political indeed where it hurts the mall, which is their pockets. but it's not definitely not the only talk. there is another track that is all the more crucial. and it is to continue with opposition of the lebanese to this political class. it is about the la beneath trying to strip this political class out of power tripping them out of their positions intended in municipal council, and particularly in the upcoming elections in 2022 functions known will not suffice . and here i need to say something very important. we should not even think that

increasing sanction to force the political need to form a government is a way out. the same people forming a government over and over again would only lead to further destruction and further public. the only option that is available is truly independent. government formed outside of the political class and with eggs, with exception, and just little power that will allow it to sideline the today. d ledger to mind parliament and conduct the forms that i have just mentioned. so i let me just ask the question though, would it be enough to change the faces in the position, or are we all to me talking about the necessity to change the entire confessional based political system? right. definitely, as i said earlier, there is a deadlock in the system, is there is the need to really ask ourselves, what is the new model? what does the new state that we want to go much all the lebanese,

ready to answer that question. do they truly want the system of government that reflects no confessional interests or balance between the different confessional sections of society? the lebanese, are definitely ready to answer this. the post october, 17 uprising has shown that there is today a new group of lebanese that i really and sincerely pushing towards the formation of the real estate. that 3, that some of the shockers of political confessional isn't the needs and the court for, for this faith to be, to be really free from any condition related to political confessionals. and has been very clear. it has been a main slogan that has been repeated over and over again in the street. i believe that they have been is already yet ready, but we realize that this will be a long and i've heard about that. all right, it's a time to do this because if you look at the situation now, can all mcclain that nice pound, pretty much worthless poverty, rising electricity,

patchy. now we'll talk about possibility of both the supplies being held up. if the country about to collapse before the kind of reform you're talking about can take place, the countryside is collapsing as we speak. yes, it is true. the lebanese power has lost nearly 92 percent of its of its value to the dollar. people have lost all of their savings and purchasing power. there is an urgent need for very urgent economic and social reforms and put urgent. i am a talk them, but inject liquidity in the system. we are mr. austin versus out of foreign currency. we urgently need foreign currency. there is no way this for grantee is going to come in without and i and the program, there is no way and i am a program is going to come in without necessarily the form. and there is no way this political class going to conduct these forms. i think good talking to you.

thanks so much. diana manenda, thank you. bangladesh is battling not just the pandemic, but soaring food prices too. and that's putting basic foods out of the reach of many times the chandry has more from the capital dot com. carne buzzer is one of the busiest open air kitchen markets in dhaka. but there are hardly any shoppers on this day because of a nationwide lockdown to prevent koby. 1900 begum is among the few who came out for groceries, but finds food items are more expensive than usual. so yes, kicking the initial, i came out to buy some green vegetables, the prices of everything has gone up and the market, maybe it's due to the lockdown or because they're not enough buyers, but logistics and supplies are open. not sure why. market export se soaring inflation, along with rising foot prices in bangladesh and recent month have put an additional

burden on low and middle income households. many here have lost their jobs. other sources of income during the current virus pandemic. why that does all the essential food items, price get in height, but in comparison, people's income has not risen. so it's becoming hard for middle class families like ours to cope with. it would be good if the government intervenes to stabilize the market. according to data from government agency, nearly all types of daily commodities are now been sold at a higher prices compared to the same period last year. right. and until 2 of the most basic food stable for most bangladesh and recent prices on many food essentially have gone up, making it increasingly hard for people to make ends meet. the government has announced a number of stimulus packages for different sectors and beneficiaries. during this health crisis, but not everyone is getting the help that need. so we've got a lot of them. it's very hard on the daily rate. they're not able to own enough

money or get a full square mean. but in the middle class with suffering the most, many are not able to go to work and they are also embarrassed to seek help. they're not getting any kind of help. many are suffering likely at home. some here believe holding of goods and manipulation of the market might be creating an artificial crisis. we think one of the main reasons for the price like at the desire to make an unreasonable profit by vested business interest groups, and lack of proper regulation and monitoring by the government and the business it's open access to manipulate the market. despite the pandemic bank, this is economy continues to grow by more than 5 percent, but annually swung the rising inflation and growing food prices could hamper economic recovery and possibly lead to food shortages in a country already heat by severe weather and pandemic related disruption. and that's all i show for this week is more for you online though it down just 0. don't . com slash ccc. that'll take you straight to the page which has hire you to catch

up on. i'm sam is a dan from be counting the call team here. thanks for joining us. the user now just era is next. the coveted beyond well, the taken without hesitation, so forth and died for our they find out a lot of new babies were dying. i did not think it's neglected babies to death. people and power invent again, exposes and questions they use them to be of our around the globe on al jazeera cut, one of the fastest growing nations in the world. i want a contract needed to open and develop it into national shipping company to become

a team, middle east, and trade and money skill filling that out. 3 key areas of filling up from the connecting the world connecting the future the cut? cut to gateway to whoa trade. ah, the thought about intensifies the offensive and afghanistan, the group lays. these are 3 major cities. ah. hello, there are a kyle, this is anxious or alive for me. also coming up, millions of americans face the risk of being thrown out of their homes as a temporary bond on evictions put in place. the pandemic runs out.