VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 26, 2020

PAKISTAN

Opposition lambastes PM Imran for saying Osama bin Laden was 'martyred': DAWN

PML-N senior leader Khawaja Asif on Thursday lambasted Prime Minister Imran Khan over his speech in the National Assembly in which the premier referred to slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as "martyred". "Imran Khan called Osama bin Laden shaheed. Bin Laden brought terrorism to our lands, he was a terrorist through and through and he [premier] calls him shaheed?" said Asif during the National Assembly session. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

UN Envoy: Afghan Conflict Deadliest in the World for Children: TOLO News

Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, on Thursday briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan and said that the Afghan conflict remains one of the deadliest conflicts in the world for civilians and the deadliest for children. “Afghanistan also remains the deadliest conflict in the world for children. Last year alone, 874 children lost their lives as a result of the conflict and many, many more were injured,” the UN envoy told the Security Council. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

US report: Bangladesh govt increased its efforts to prevent trafficking: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh earns itself an upgrade to Tier 2 in a ranking of countries fighting trafficking. The government of Bangladesh has demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period towards preventing human trafficking, earning itself an upgrade to Tier 2 in a ranking of countries fighting trafficking, says a US report. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

More children getting 'killed, maimed' in Myanmar conflict: Al Jazeera

The escalation in fighting between Myanmar's military and ethnic Rakhine rebels in recent months has triggered a surge in violence against children and left some villagers facing starvation. The humanitarian group, Save the Children, said in a report on Tuesday that the conflict in the far west of Myanmar has left children increasingly exposed. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

Oli scrambles to prevent censure at Standing Committee meet but Dahal remains adamant: The Kathmandu Post

The ongoing Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party is going to be a political quagmire for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, with rival factions readying to call for his resignation. This Standing Committee meeting, which will continue on Friday after beginning on Wednesday, has already gotten off to a combative start, with both party chairs—Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal—accusing the other of failing the party and the government. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

Pakistani PM commends Sri Lanka‘s success in containing COVID-19: Daily Mirror

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday and discussed bilateral relations, the regional situation and a broad range of other issues, a statement from the Pakistani High Commission said. Prime Minister Imran Khan commended the efforts made by Sri Lanka to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. He briefed the Sri Lankan President about the latest situation in Pakistan and the steps taken by the Government to contain Covid-19 and efforts to save lives, secure livelihoods, and sustain the economy. Click here to read.... [7]