PAKISTAN
FATF to review steps taken by Pakistan in June: Dawn
April 7, 2020
Pakistan’s performance to meet international commitments and standards in the fight against money laundering and terror financing will be reviewed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) at its meeting slated to be held in Beijing on June 21-26. In February, the Paris-based global watchdog against financial crimes gave Pakistan a four-month grace period to complete its 27-point action plan against money laundering and terror financing committed with the international community when it noted that Pakistan had delivered on 14 points and missed 13 other targets. Click here to read...
AFGHANISTAN
Taliban Seeks Release of 15 Key Commanders: Official: TOLO
April 7, 2020
The head of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), Matin Bek, who is also a member of the negotiation team, said the reason for the delay in the release of Taliban prisoners is that the Taliban are demanding the release of their 15 senior commanders who are involved in “big attacks.” The release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners is part of deal signed by the US and the Taliban in Doha on Feb. 29. Bek said demands reveal the Taliban’s "stubbornness" and it is "not acceptable" as it will lead to the fall of provinces and the continuation of violence in the country. Click here to read...
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh needs at least 2.5m PPEs to tackle coronavirus: Dhaka Tribune
April 7, 2020
The coronavirus outbreak left top health officials in Bangladesh scrambling to ensure all-out support for healthcare professionals. Within a week of the first Covid-19 cases were reported in Bangladesh, the government scrambled to ensure personal protective equipment (PPEs), leaving doctors and healthcare workers across the country worried. However, nearly after a month, the government’s Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) estimates that at least 2.5 million set of PPEs will be needed to tackle the coronavirus. Click here to read...
MYANMAR
IDP camps face food, water shortages amid COVID-19 fears: Myanmar Times
April 7, 2020
Camps for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) face food and water shortages as people are afraid to leave the compound for fear of getting the COVID-19 virus, camp officials said. Dd Htang Nan of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) camp in Kutkai Township, Shan State, said people living in the camp are in dire need of rice, oil, salt and other basics because no one can go outside the camp. “We cannot work outside as all the businesses are closed,” she said. “We don’t have enough food for the 300 people in the camp, so this is a big concern for us.” Click here to read...
NEPAL
Contentious provision of foreign employment law to be amended citing Covid-19 pandemic: The Kathmandu Post
April 7, 2020
The government is preparing to amend a provision in the Foreign Employment Act that requires recruiting agencies to send at least 100 workers abroad every year for two consecutive years to have their license renewed. The contentious provision had become part of the law after Parliament passed the fifth amendment to the Foreign Employment Act (2007) in March last year. Recruiting agencies have long been lobbying against the provision saying it puts undue pressure on them to send workers abroad. Click here to read...
Bhutan
His Majesty tours country to inspect Covid-19 preparedness: Kuenselonline
April 7, 2020
His Majesty the King visited the southern, central and eastern parts of the country to inspect the national level preparedness against Covid-19. His Majesty visited Tsirang and Gelephu on March 31 and has visited Zhemgang, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Trashiyangtse, Trashigang, Pemagatshel and Samdrupjongkhar since then. During the visit, His Majesty met with the Covid-19 task-force members of each dzongkhag, who have the responsibility of, among other things, collecting data of the at-risk population and demographics of their respective dzongkhag. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
President tells SJB: Will grant relief without discrimination: Daily Mirror
April 7, 2020
The government has made arrangements to provide relief to people amid difficulties brought about by novel coronavirus, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told leaders of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) whom he met yesterday. A statement from the President’s office said Mr. Rajapaksa briefed SJB leaders on measures taken by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19 as well as its future plans. Click here to read...
CHINA
Coronavirus: One virus caused Covid-19. Scientists say thousands more are in waiting: South China Morning Post
April 7, 2020
Since the start of this century, two disease outbreaks have been caused by new coronaviruses that made the leap from animal hosts to people, mutating in the process to latch onto human cells. Covid-19 is the third. Click here to read...
China publishes timeline on COVID-19 information sharing, int'l cooperation: Xinhuanet
April 7, 2020
China on Monday published a timeline on how it has shared information and advanced international cooperation in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. Please see the attachment for the document, titled "Timeline of China releasing information on COVID-19 and advancing international cooperation on epidemic response". Click here to read...
