VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 24, 2020

PAKISTAN

India initiates diplomatic spat with Pakistan: DAWN

In a sign of escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, Delhi on Tuesday asked Islamabad to cut the size of its diplomatic staff in India by half within seven days after accusing its High Commission (HC) staff of engaging in espionage. India said it too would halve its diplomatic presence in Islamabad, in view of the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic ties. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Bolton’s Tell-All Book: Trump Wanted Russia to Fight Daesh: TOLO News

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton in his new book, "The Room Where It Happened,” highlights US President Donald Trump’s views on the fight against Daesh in Afghanistan. Two chapters of the book are entirely about Afghanistan. Bolton also covers Trump’s policy on Afghanistan, including the peace talks and his insistence on troop withdrawal from the country. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Unplanned lockdown troubles residents in 15 red zoned districts: Dhaka Tribune

Lockdown at 136 red zones under 15 districts due to Covid-19 has been imposed in an unplanned way without proper mapping, despite the government announced public holidays to execute it in strict manner. Though the government suggested to lockdown a specific or small area of a district, but instead, a whole ward, union or a large zone was announced to lockdown with only two to three Covid-19 patients under a larger area in some districts including Jessore, Madaripur, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Chuadanga and Kushtia. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

No timeframe for reopening of Myanmar universities: Myanmar Times

The government has yet to fix a date for the reopening of universities, which have a higher risk of COVID-19 spreading as their students come from all corners of the country, a senior higher education official said. "The universities’ reopening is uncertain,” said U Thein Win, director general of the Department of Higher Education. All universities in the country were closed on March 24, a day after Myanmar reported its first two cases of COVID-19 infectionsClick here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

In anticipation of criticism at Wednesday’s Standing Committee, Oli makes overtures to other party factions: The Kathmandu Post

The long-awaited Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at Baluwatar and it is likely to be tough going for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. A meeting on Tuesday between the two party chairs—Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal—had decided to take the party’s most contentious issues, primarily the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Nepal Compact, to the Standing Committee for a decision, according to Surya Thapa, Oli’s press adviser. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

PM furious over Mahindananda, Karuna statements: Daily Mirror

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has been severely angered at the recent controversial statements made by former ministers Karuna Amman and Mahindananda Aluthgamage and has called on his candidates to be more responsible when issuing statements during the election campaigns.Click here to read.... [7]