VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 09, 2020

PAKISTAN

SC tells govt to take Covid-19 seriously: DAWN

With at least two judges contracting the novel coronavirus, the Supreme Court on Monday reminded the federal government to take the health emergency seriously and come up with a uniform national legislation. “This becomes important more so when the passing of the executive orders to deal with the pandemic has trampled and affected the fundamental rights of people,” said an order dictated by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

NATO: Intra-Afghan Talks Are Way to Peace: TOLO News

The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said that NATO is supporting the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. “We welcome the agreement between the United States and Taliban, because that is the first very important step towards lasting peace in Afghanistan. And lasting peace in Afghanistan, we can only have if there’s intra-Afghan negotiations, an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process,” Stoltenberg said. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Burimari land port to resume activities from Wednesday: Dhaka Tribune

Import and export activities through the Burimari land port in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat will resume from June 10 ensuring compliance with all government directives and health rules. The decision was taken on Monday at meeting held between Bangladeshi and Indian businessmen in the presence of BGB, BSF, customs, police and port officials concerned of both countries at the zero line in the port check post area. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Nine years on, peace still far off in Kachin: Myanmar Times

The armed conflict between the Tatmadaw (military) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the country’s second largest ethnic armed group, is far from being resolved nine years after hostilities broke out. Tens of thousands of villagers displaced by the fighting that broke out in Kachin State on June 9, 2011, still languish in refugee camps and have largely been forgotten. Nhkum La Sun Awng, a board member of the Naushawg Development Institute, said violence continues between the Tatmadaw and KIA despite ceasefires. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

In sharp contrast to government’s ambitious 7 percent growth, World Bank forecasts a dismal 2.1 percent for next fiscal year: The Kathmandu Post

Nearly two weeks after the government set an ambitious target of achieving a 7 percent growth rate for the upcoming fiscal year, the World Bank on Monday forecast Nepal to grow at a markedly lower rate of 2.1 percent, a more realistic projection, say economists. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

President gets tough on State officials engaging in election propaganda: Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday public sector officials including board members of State corporations and statutory bodies as well as members of director boards appointed by his government should refrain from engaging in propaganda of any political party and not use public assets during the upcoming election. Click here to read.... [7]