VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 19, 2020

PAKISTAN

PM calls for steps to restore educational activities: DAWN

In a move aimed at saving the education system from further disruption amid the coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the authorities concerned on Thursday to thrash out a strategy to restore academic activities in the country in consultation with provincial governments. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Rabbani: Popular Parties Being 'Weakened': TOLO News

Chairman of the Jamiat-e-Islami party Salahuddin Rabbani has warned that if the main parties involved in the Afghan peace process initiate the talks without seeking domestic and international consensus, the process will be subjected to a setback. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Martyr Burhanuddin Rabbani Foundation and the opening of the central office of the Jamiat-e-Islami party, Rabbani said the Jamiat-e-Islami has so far not formally introduced any representative for peace talks. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Highest weekly infection accelerates to crossing of 100,000 cases: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh recorded over 25,000 coronavirus positive cases in a week that took the tally of the total number of people infected to six digits from 75,000. On June 11, the country crossed the 75,000 mark in the total number of positive cases. The 50,000 mark was crossed on June 2. Bangladesh crossed the 25,000 mark on May 19, 10,000 on May 4, 1,000 on April 14 and 100 on April 6, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Construction of Korea-Myanmar Industrial Complex to begin this year: Myanmar Times

Construction of the Korea-Myanmar Industrial Complex (KMIC) in Yangon is expected to commence before the end of the year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim Gun-Woo, general manager of Korea Land and Housing Corporation representative office in Myanmar, told The Myanmar Times. "According to our plan, we will be done with the detailed design in September, after which a tender to develop the project will be called in October. The winning bidder will be announced in November. We expect to begin construction in December," Mr Kim said. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

With the new map endorsed, Oli braces once again for challenges from within the party: The Kathmandu Post

The release of a new political and administrative map that includes territories contested by India had bought Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli some time. But now that the map has been endorsed by both Houses of Parliament and by President Bidya Devi Bhandari, in-fighting within the ruling Nepal Communist Party is likely to resurface, especially since Oli, who is also a party chair, has yet to mend his ways, say party leaders. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

Major Gen. Sallay complains to UN, EU against Sooka and ITJP: Daily Mirror

State Intelligence Services of Sri Lanka (SIS) Director Major General Suresh Sallay complained to the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) yesterday against the Executive Director of the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) Ms. Yasmin Sooka for alleged defamation. According to Major General’s lawyer Pasan Weerasinghe, Sallay through his lawyers had informed in writing to the UN and EU of the recent conduct of Ms. Sooka and the ITJP. Click here to read.... [7]