VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: August 07, 2020

PAKISTAN

FO defends Qureshi’s remarks on Saudi-led OIC over Kashmir: DAWN

The Foreign Office on Thursday defended the ‘controversial’ remarks of the foreign minister about Saudi Arabia-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), saying his statement was a reflection of people’s aspirations and expectations from the OIC to raise the Kashmir issue internationally. Speaking at a weekly press briefing, the outgoing Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the people of Pakistan had more expectations from the OIC and would like it to play a leading role in raising the Kashmir issue internationally. “In this regard, our efforts will continue and we hope there will be further forward movement,” she added. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Loya Jirga to Consolidate National Support for Peace: US: TOLO News

The US State Department in a statement welcomed the Loya Jirga in Kabul, saying the Jirga will consolidate national support for peace in Afghanistan and determine the fate of the remaining Taliban prisoners which are a major obstacle to starting the intra-Afghan talks. “The United States commends the participants of the Loya Jirga to be convened on August 7 to consolidate national support for peace.  We understand that they will decide on the expeditious release of the remaining Taliban prisoners from their list, the last obstacle to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations,” said the statement.Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Bangladeshi apparel exports to US drop 20% in H1'20: Dhaka Tribune

Competitors witness fewer falls in exports and gain more from China’s lost market shares. Apparel goods export to the United States of America, the single largest export destination for Bangladeshi clothing products, declined sharply by nearly 20% to $2.47 billion in the first six months of 2020. However, the overall exports to the US declined by 19.94% to $2.56 billion in the January-June period of this year. Click here to read.... [4]

NEPAL

On the horns of a dilemma: Nepal wants to say it is open to the world, but Covid-19 cases are rising: The Kathmandu Post

The government said on July 20 that international and domestic flights will resume starting August 17, and asked the travel and tourism industry to take bookings for the autumn season accordingly. However, the rising number of coronavirus cases has sent officials into a tizzy. Ministers and secretaries from the Home, Foreign Affairs, and Tourism and Health ministries have been holding marathon discussions since Wednesday, in order to decide on new emergency steps, a senior government official told the Post on Thursday. Click here to read.... [5]

SRI LANKA

All Island Final results; General Election 2020: Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa registered a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections on Wednesday as it secured of 6,853,690 votes (59.09%). The SLPP has secured 128 out of the total 225 seats in Sri Lankan Parliament. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has obtained the second highest number of votes in the poll with 2,771,980 votes (23.90%) and won 47 parliamentary seats. Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured two seats with 445,954 votes (3.84%).Click here to read.... [6]

MYANMAR

Myanmar economy to recover fast from pandemic, PMI rising: business reports: The Myanmar Times

The Myanmar economy could recover at a faster pace than its neighbours as it has so far been able to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Meanwhile, the nations’ Purchase Manager Index has also recovered and nearly doubled since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, according to business reports. A July 28 report by the Oxford Business Group (OBG) has stated that Myanmar’s economy will recover faster than regional countries as it is able to benefit directly from China’s quick recovery. Click here to read.... [7]