VIF Neighborhood News Digest: March 26, 2020

PAKISTAN

Tally of virus cases crosses 1,000 mark with eighth death: Dawn
March 26, 2020

While tally for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases entered four digits with eight fatalities on Wednesday, the country witnessed a lockdown which hampered public movement, businesses and daily life activities. In the federal capital, the Bhara Kahu area, from where six cases were reported in members of Tablighi Jamaat, has been sealed to avoid further spread of the deadly virus. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Kabul Attack Victims Speak Out: Tolo
March 26, 2020

Many of the injured from today's Kabul attack have been taken to Emergency and Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan hospitals for treatment. A number of families of the victims of the attack have described it as a clear crime "against humanity." One man, who lost seven members of his family in the attack but himself survived, says a suicide bomber fired at a man, woman, child and "showed no mercy to anyone."
Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

PM announces Tk5,000cr bailout for export-oriented industries: Dhaka Tribune
March 26, 2020

Sheikh Hasina says the money can only be disbursed as wages and allowances for the workers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a bailout of Tk5,000 crore for export-oriented industries, in order to tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country's economy. She said the money from this incentive package could only be disbursed as salaries and allowances for the employees and workers of the industries, reports UNB. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Pandemic delays Myanmar peace talks: Myanmar Times
March 26, 2020

The government and ethnic armed groups agreed to delay peace talks to the end of next month because of the increasing threat of a COVID-19 outbreak. Government negotiators have been trying to revive the peace process, which almost ground to a halt last year due to disagreements over the establishment of a democratic federal union. U Khun Myint Tun, vice chair of the Pa-O National Liberation Army, said on Tuesday all peace talks, including the fourth session of the Union Peace Conference - 21st Century Panglong, have been postponed until the end of April. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Public health laboratory confirms third Covid-19 case: The Kathmandu Post
March 26, 2020

Nepal’s third Covid-19 case has just been confirmed in a 32-year-old man who returned from Sharjah of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, according to Rajesh Kumar Gupta, spokesperson for the National Public Health Laboratory. Click here to read... [6]

Sri Lanka

SL may have 550 Covid-19 infected persons: GMOA: Daily Mirror
March 26, 2020

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) today said that based on the experience from Hubei, China, “It can be technically assumed that at present, 550 infected individuals are circulating within the population.” Issuing a situational report, they said 101 cases were confirmed by today (25) while 32 of them were among those who arrived from abroad and sent to quarantine directly and 69 from the community. Click here to read... [7]

BHUTAN

We’re prepared for the lockdown: PM: Kuenselonline
March 26, 2020

Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering yesterday night said that Bhutanese need not panic with neighbouring going for a complete lockdown. “This was bound to happen and Bhutan wishes India all the luck as this is the only way to come out of it sooner and cleaner,” he said, adding that it was a clever move. For Bhutanese in India, he said that if they maintain physical distance and other etiquettes then the safety is the same anywhere. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Hopes for G20 coronavirus summit truce in China-US war of words: South China Morning Post
March 26, 2020

China and the United States are expected to call a timeout on their coronavirus blame game and focus on the challenges of the pandemic, when leaders of the Group of 20 hold talks via video conference on Thursday. Click here to read... [9]

Outbreak a crisis, not a blame game: China Daily
March 26, 2020

No doubt there is political motive behind US President Donald Trump labeling the novel coronavirus as the "Chinese virus". Especially, since he insists on using it despite the advice of the World Health Organization not to do so. Eventually, he softened his tone on Monday under domestic pressure. Click here to read... [10]