VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: May 4, 2020

PAKISTAN

Centre fighting Sindh instead of Covid-19: Bilawal: DAWN

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned on Sunday that the coronavirus pandemic had turned the country’s situation into a worrisome one, accusing the PTI-led federal government of fighting the Sindh government instead of Covid-19. Sharing his thoughts during a meeting with a delegation led by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the PPP chairman cautioned against any miscalculation at this crucial hour. Health Minister Dr Azra Pehchuho, CEO of Indus Hospital Dr Abdul Bari Khan and Aga Khan University Hospital’s Dr Faisal Mahmood accompanied the chief minister. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan probes reports Iranian guards forced migrants into river: Reuters

Afghan officials were hunting on Sunday for Afghan migrants in a river bordering Iran after reports that Iranian border guards tortured dozens and threw them into the water to keep them out of Iran. Authorities in western Herat province said they retrieved 12 bodies from the Harirud River and at least eight other people were missing. The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen an exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran, with many testing positive. Up to 2,000 Afghans cross the border from Iran, a coronavirus hotspot, into Herat each day. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

2 airlines likely to get permission to operate international flights: Dhaka Tribune

At least two airlines in the country are likely to get green light to operate flights in international routes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that halted the aviation businesses. A top official at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Sunday. He, however, declined to mention the names of the airlines at the moment. The government has sought proposals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) that has been pursuing for the permission, the official said. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Myanmar economy unlikely to recover this year: MIFER: Myanmar Times

At US$500 million, the inflow of investment in the first quarter of the year fell short of last year’s US$800 million, said U Aung Naing Oo, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER). “My concern is that although more investment was approved, the actual inflow of FDI will be a challenge for us,” he said during an AustCham Myanmar webinar last Wednesday. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

Over 70 percent of industrial workers denied pay, survey finds: The Kathmandu Post

While tens of thousands of workers in the informal sector face the challenge of making their ends meet during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, a large number of industries workers were denied their salary for the month of Chaitra (March/April), according to a survey. The study conducted by Whole Industry Trade Unions Nepal (WHIN) among workers from 219 companies spread across five provinces, found that over 70 percent of the employees had not received their salary for the month. Click here to read.... [6]

BHUTAN

Covid-19 forces 11,235 people out of jobs: Kuensel

The new coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has forced about 11,235 people out of jobs in the domestic market, according to the labour ministry. This (11,235) is about 25 percent of all regular and contract employees in the private sector. Most of the businesses that laid off their employees are in the tourism and allied sectors. The labour ministry also estimates that about 3,424 of those employed abroad have returned home. This takes the number of people rendered jobless by the pandemic in the domestic market and abroad to 14,659. Click here to read.... [7]

SRI LANKA

Opposition is trying to sabotage anti-coronavirus campaign by reconvening Parliament: Daily Mirror

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the opposition’s present efforts are aimed at getting the old Parliament reconvened and using their majority in Parliament to block government finances, thereby sabotaging the anti-Coronavirus campaign in order to bring the government into disrepute before the election. Click here to read.... [8]

CHINA

China on ‘high alert’ as ‘troublemaker’ US patrols South China Sea: South China Moring Post

May 4, 2020

The Chinese military called the United States a “troublemaker” in the disputed South China Sea on Thursday, stressing that China was on “high alert” to safeguard its interests in the contested waters. Click here to read.... [9]

China Goes on Labor Day Holiday, With Tight Travel Restrictions for Fear of Virus Spreading: The Epoch Times

As China entered its five-day Labor Day weekend, many regions placed travel restrictions in an attempt to prevent the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, from spreading. Click here to read.... [10]