VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 25, 2020

PAKISTAN

Glimmer of hope as number of cases goes down slightly: DAWN

With all trends of the novel coronavirus changing downwards for the last five days, health experts hope it can be the start of declining of the graph. They anticipate that the number of cases may further decrease but the number of deaths may increase as a large number of patients are still on ventilators and around 90 per cent of them may not survive. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

'25 Taliban' Killed in Balkh Airstrike: Officials: TOLO News

At least 25 Taliban were killed in an Afghan air force airstrike in northern Balkh province on Wednesday night, local officials said on Thursday. The airstrike took place in Dawlat Abad village of Balkh district as the Taliban were gathered, said Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor. But a number of local sources said that four civilians including a child and a woman were killed in the airstrike. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Momen: Indian media comments about Bangladesh not acceptable: Dhaka Tribune

Terming some recent Indian media reports highlighting the Bangladesh-China trade relations in a demeaning manner "unacceptable," Foreign Minister has said India is the biggest friend of Bangladesh, and he hopes for the India-China border tensions to be solved diplomatically. "India is our biggest friend indeed from our liberation war days... India-China, both are our good friends and close neighbours. Both are our development partners," he told the IANS in an exclusive interview, published by Outlook India on Tuesday. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Budget deficit for fiscal 2020-21 in Myanmar at K6.8 trillion: Myanmar Times

Myanmar is expecting a budget deficit of K6.8 trillion in fiscal 2020-21, or 5.4 percent of the GDP, according to the Finance Commission chaired by President U Win Myint. According to the Finance Commission's estimates revealed at a meeting on June 22 in Nay Pyi Taw, national revenue will total K27.8 trillion in fiscal 2020-21, while total expenditure should add up to K34.6 trillion. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

Ruling party agrees to hold CIAA amendment bill in order to build consensus: The Kathmandu Post

A Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party on Wednesday decided to put the third amendment to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Act on hold for the time being. Nepal Communist Party (NCP) General Secretary Bishnu Poudel told the Post that the party has decided to suspend the bill until consensus is reached within the party and with the opposition. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

COVID-19: President says SL triumphant, but virus not eradicated: Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said while most countries are suffering from COVID-19, Sri Lanka has achieved a remarkable victory through collective efforts, but the virus is yet to be eradicated. In a tweet on Tuesday, he said the people’s negligence could make room for the virus to spread again. “I call upon all citizens to take stringent m e a s u r e s based on health guidelines,” he said. Click here to read.... [7]