VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: November 19, 2020

PAKISTAN

Stakeholders up in arms as social media rules notified: DAWN

The Ministry of Information Technology on Wednesday notified social media rules that all other stakeholders, including internet service providers as well as digital rights activists, have rejected, terming them draconian and violation of cyber laws of the country. The rules titled, “Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules 2020,” have been framed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA). Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Australian Special Forces Suspected of Killing 39 Captured: TOLO News

Australia said on Thursday that 19 current and former soldiers will be referred for potential criminal prosecution for allegedly killing 39 Afghan locals, the majority of whom had been captured and unarmed. Detailing the findings of the long-awaited inquiry into the conduct of special forces personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016, Australia’s General Angus John Campbell said there was credible information of 39 unlawful killings by 25 Australian Special Forces personnel in 23 separate incidents. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Covid-19: Bangladesh records 21 deaths, 2,111 fresh cases: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh has recorded 21 deaths and 2,111 fresh cases from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. The latest deaths take the overall death toll from the pandemic in the country to 6,275, according to a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday. Bangladesh’s first Covid-19 death was recorded on March 18. The daily test positivity rate was 12.82%. A total of 16,469 samples were tested at 117 authorized laboratories across the country. Click here to read... [4]

NEPAL

In ruling party game of one-upmanship, the only loser is general public: The Kathmandu Post

The grim reporting continues every day. Covid-19 cases continue to grow every day. The number of lives the disease claims, similarly, continues unabated. It is the same story the world over. But other governments are, at least, making serious efforts to contain the spread, with the war against the virus often headed by the head of the government. On Wednesday, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was fighting a different war—one to save his chair fending off accusations by detractors within his own Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka’s import restrictions impact negative: EU: Daily Mirror

The government’s current import restrictions in place are having a negative impact on Sri Lankan and European businesses, and on Foreign Direct Investment, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) said. Issuing a statement together with the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Romania, the EU said that such measures impair Sri Lanka’s efforts to become a regional hub and negatively impact Sri Lankan exports by constraining the import of raw material and machinery. Click here to read... [6]