VIF Neighborhood News Digest: March 20, 2020

PAKISTAN

Asian Development Bank, World Bank to give $588m for fight against virus: Dawn
March 20, 2020

The Asian Develo­pment Bank (ADB) and the World Bank on Wednesday committed to providing $588 million to Pakistan for its emergency response to fight coronavirus and cater to the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic. This was announced by the Planning Commission after a meeting with country representatives of the two lending agencies on Pakistan’s preparedness and response to fight COVID-19. Clcik here to read.. [2]

AFGHANISTAN

No Decline in Enemy Attacks: MoD: Tolo
March 20, 2020

The Afghan acting Minister of Defense Assadullah Khalid on Thursday said that there has been no decline in offensives by the enemy (Taliban), adding that the Afghan forces have been ordered to return to "active defense" position. “There has been no reduction in the attacks of the enemy, today we ordered our forces to return to active defense position from defensive position,” said Khalid. Clcik here to read.. [3]

BANGLADESH

Coronavirus: Govt allocates Tk200cr more to Health Ministry: Dhaka Tribune
March 20, 2020

The government has allocated Tk200 crore more to the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of coronavirus and ensuring necessary treatment facilities for the infected patients. The Finance Ministry in a letter on Thursday informed the Health Ministry about this allocation, reports BSS. On Wednesday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that the government had financial capability to tackle this pandemic and necessary allocations would be made according to the Health Ministry’s demand. Clcik here to read.. [4]

MYANMAR

COVID-19 will lead to slower Myanmar economy: MIC: Myanmar Times
March 20, 2020

The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), which oversees investments in the country, said the economic slowdown caused by the virus outbreak is already being felt in other countries and will likely have an impact on Myanmar. “It is certain that economic growth all over the world will decline. We cannot escape from such a situation and should prepare for how we deal with the situation. As the virus is now a global issue, there will be impacts that Myanmar will feel,” said MIC Secretary U Thant Sin Lwin. Clcik here to read.. [5]

NEPAL

House panel endorses bill allowing intelligence agency to listen in on conversations: The Kathmandu Post
March 20, 2020

The federal parliament is readying to pass an amendment to the Special Service Act but privacy activists and legal experts are concerned that the bill allows the government to trade the privacy of citizens away for security concerns. The bill to amend the Special Service Act was registered in the National Assembly late last year, despite opposition from the Nepali Congress. Clcik here to read.. [6]

Sri Lanka

General Elections postponed: Daily Mirror
March 20, 2020

The Elections Commission (EC) yesterday postponed the Parliamentary polls scheduled to be held on April 25th indefinitely considering the uncertain situation prevalent in the country with the spread of COVID 19, viral infection. Clcik here to read.. [7]

BHUTAN

Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen gives birth to second royal child: Kuenselonline
March 20, 2020

The second Royal Child of Their Majesties the King and Queen, a Prince, was born today, March 19, 2020, corresponding with the 25th day of the 1st month of the Male Iron Rat year, in Lingkana Palace, Thimphu. Her Majesty and the royal baby are in good health, and His Royal Highness the Gyalsey was delighted to meet his younger brother, a press release from the Royal Office for Media stated. Clcik here to read.. [8]

CHINA

China demands apology after Brazil President Bolsonaro’s son blames pandemic on Beijing: South China Morning Post
March 20, 2020

China, Brazil’s top trading partner, has demanded an official apology after the son of President Jair Bolsonaro blamed the “Chinese dictatorship” for the coronavirus global pandemic. Eduardo Bolsonaro accused China of misleading the world about the scale of the virus outbreak, comparing its management of the crisis with the soviet regime’s handling of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Clcik here to read.. [9]

China moves help avert financial crisis: China Daily
March 20, 2020

Policy commitments and timely intervention by monetary authorities in China have helped douse the fires of another global financial crisis and calmed the jittery financial markets, amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, experts said on Thursday. Global equity and commercial markets were in turmoil this week despite the market stabilization measures announced by several governments as the outbreak spread to more regions and geographies. Clcik here to read.. [10]