VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 1, 2020

PAKISTAN

Rumpus in NA as minister attacks PPP leadership: DAWN

A day after the passage of the federal budget, the National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed rumpus due to a verbal clash and sloganeering from both sides of the aisle after Speaker Asad Qaiser provided full opportunity to Ports and Shipping Minister Ali Zaidi to complete his speech in which he made personal attacks on the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership, but didn’t allow PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel to give a response. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Despite Reform Claims, Taliban ‘Severely’ Restricts Rights: HRW: TOLO News

The Taliban in Afghanistan have imposed severe restrictions on rights in areas under their control despite claims of reform, the Human Rights Watch said in a report on Tuesday. The report says residents reported "an inability to criticize or question Taliban actions, violations of the rights of women and girls, and also "severe limits on freedom of expression and the media." Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Parliament passes Tk568,000 crore budget for 2020-21 fiscal year: Dhaka Tribune

On Monday, parliament had passed the Finance Bill 2020 with some changes. Parliament on Tuesday passed the Tk568,000 crore national budget for the fiscal year 2020-21, with the slogan 'Economic Transition and Pathway to Progress'. Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal moved the Appropriations Bill, 2020 seeking a budgetary allocation of Tk7,59,642.44 crore which was passed by voice vote, reports UNB. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Construction sector in Myanmar expected to receive share of COVID-19 loans: Myanmar Times

The government will deploy its seventh tranche of COVID-19 loans, this time to about 300 business affected by the pandemic, in the first week of July. Construction businesses are likely to be considered for next loan tranche from the K200 billion to K500 billion pool under the government's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan released on April 27, according to the Union of Myanmar Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

US may wait for some time to see MCC compact ratified by Parliament, experts say: The Kathmandu Post

The United States has reminded Nepal that funding under the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Nepal Compact is not open-ended and has urged the government and the political parties to take “tangible, near-term steps” to ensure its viability. The statement sends a clear message that the US is looking for an early decision from Nepal regarding whether it will accept the $500 million US grant, say analysts. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

Economy is in shambles: Champika: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s economy is slated to suffer a major breakdown soon as a result of wrong economic policies, former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka alleged yesterday. Mr. Ranawaka told a press conference that Sri Lanka will suffer economically if the country uses its foreign reserves to settle external debt. Click here to read.... [7]