VIF Neighborhood News Digest: March 19, 2020

PAKISTAN

4 military personnel martyred during operation on militant hideout in North Waziristan: ISPR: Dawn
March 19, 2020

A lieutenant, two sepoys and a lance havaldar were martyred while seven terrorists were killed in an operation on a militant hideout near Datta Khel, North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. Those martyred include 26-year-old Lt Agha Muqadas Ali Khan, 36-year-old Lance Havaldar Qamar Nadeem, 24-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Qasim and 23-year-old Sepoy Touseef. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

US Pushes for Sooner Release of Taliban Prisoners: Tolo
March 19, 2020

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, on Wednesday said the United States would like to see the prisoner releases begin as soon as possible in line with the US-Taliban peace agreement. “No prisoners have been released to date despite the commitment to do so expressed by both sides,” Khalilzad added in a series of tweets on Wednesday as the Taliban are trying to press Washington to facilitate the prisoners release to happen in the near future. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

China to provide coronavirus testing kits: Dhaka Tribune
March 19, 2020

China has decided to provide Bangladesh with a large number of kits to test Covid-19, declared as pandemic by the World Health Organization. Beijing is also going to provide emergency anti-epidemic medical supplies, according to a Facebook post on the verified page of the Chinese embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday. The Chinese embassy informed the foreign ministry of Bangladesh of the decision of Beijing. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Myanmar military drops charges against Reuters, local online news portal: Myanmar Times
March 19, 2020

The Tatmadaw has dropped defamation charges against an editor of local news website The Irrawaddy and the Reuters news agency, a senior official of the Myanmar Press Council said Thursday. U Ohn Kyaing, chair of the country’s media adjudication body, told a news briefing that Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Min Tun dropped the charges filed under section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law against Irrawaddy editor U Ye Ni. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Government bans entry of all passengers, including Nepalis, from midnight March 20: The Kathmandu Post
March 19, 2020

The government has banned all passengers, including Nepalis, from entering Nepal from European Union territories, including the United Kingdom, West Asia, Gulf countries and countries like Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. The ban will come into effect from March 20 midnight and will remain in place until April 15. Click here to read... [6]

Sri Lanka

50 COVID-19 infections in sri lanka: Daily Mirror
March 19, 2020

The total number of COVID-19 infections in Sri Lanka increased to 50 with nine more being diagnosed with the viral infection by late afternoon yesterday. Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi said the government had received proposals from many parts and individuals of the country to lockdown Sri Lanka but the government had no such intentions. Click here to read... [7]

BHUTAN

School closure purely preventive measure: Govt : Kuenselonline
March 19, 2020

All schools and educational institutes including ECCDs, VTIs, across the country will remain closed from today until further order from the government, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said. However, Kuensel received numerous phone calls, and enquiries online asking if there are any positive COVID-19 cases. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Chinese military scientists ordered to win global race to develop coronavirus vaccine: South China Morning Post
March 19, 2020

The Chinese military has been ordered to join the race to develop the world’s first vaccine for Covid-19, according to military and scientific sources. The state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday that a research team led by Major General Chen Wei, a top epidemiologist and virologist with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS), had been authorised to start a clinical trial. Click here to read... [9]

Xi calls for cooperation in virus fight: China Daily
March 19, 2020

China will strengthen international cooperation on novel coronavirus epidemic control and continue to provide assistance within its ability to countries affected by the epidemic, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Wednesday. Click here to read... [10]