VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 06, 2020

PAKISTAN

Qureshi asks OIC to stop dragging feet on Kashmir meeting: DAWN

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in an unusually sharp warning asked Saudi Arabia-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday to stop dilly-dallying on the convening of a meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir. Appearing in a talk show on ARY News, the foreign minister said: “I am once again respectfully telling OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation. If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris.” Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Loya Jirga Can Offer Advice on Prisoners, Not Pardons: Officials: TOLO News

The Afghan government will seek suggestions for the fate of 400 Taliban prisoners from the Loya Jirga, officials of the Loya Jirga organizing committee said on Wednesday. The consultative Loya Jirga will not be authorized to pardon prisoners when it comes to the release of 400 Taliban detainees against whom there are claims, said the officials. Masoom Stanekzai, the head of Consultative Loya Jirga organizing committee said that no foreign individual exists among the 400 Taliban prisoners, adding that some of these inmates have been sentenced to death and that the president does not have the authority to decide on their fate. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

57% listed banks saw fall in earnings per share in H1: Dhaka Tribune

Bankers and experts said most of the listed banks’ earnings declined because of the latest government decision to fix interest rate on lending at 9% and 6% for deposits, effective from April 1. As many as 17 out of 30 publicly traded banks registered negative growth in their Earnings Per Share (EPS) in the first half (January-June) of 2020, compared to the same period last year. Click here to read.... [4]

NEPAL

As Covid-19 cases rise, government scrambles to contain the virus flare-up: The Kathmandu Post

On Wednesday too, at 4:15pm, Dr Jagshowor Gautam, the spokesperson for the Health Ministry, appeared on television, gave the latest figures on the number of Covid-19 infections, active and recovered cases, and the number of deaths due to the coronavirus. Before concluding his press briefing, which he conducts every day, he urged all to take precautions, view everyone else as a person who has been infected, suspect everyone regardless of who they are—friends, acquaintances or unknown people—as a coronavirus carrier, wear masks and maintain physical distance. His “not-to-do” list was long. Click here to read.... [5]

SRI LANKA

People show confidence with 71% turnout at polls: President: Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said the voter turnout of 71% at the General Election, reflected the confidence that Sri Lankans have in the government’s efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am glad to know that today’s all-island voter turnout was nearly 71%. As the first South Asian country to hold general elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it reflects the confidence that the people have in our efforts to control this pandemic,” the president tweeted this evening. Click here to read.... [6]

MYANMAR

Reopen domestic tourism, support local employees, Mandalay businesses urge: The Myanmar Times

Reopen domestic tourism, support local employees, Mandalay businesses urge. Myanmar should look to reopening tourist destinations to boost the domestic market in the absence of foreign travellers for the rest of this year, Mandalay’s top business body says. Mandalay, the economic powerhouse of northern Myanmar, undertook lockdown measures earlier this year to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Click here to read.... [7]