VIF Neighborhood News Digest: March 16, 2020

PAKISTAN

Nawaz barred FO from speaking against India, says diplomat: Dawn
March 16, 2020

Former spokesperson for the Foreign Office Tasneem Aslam claimed on Sunday that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had barred the FO from commenting against India and its spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The spy is presently in Pakistan’s custody. “Nawaz Sharif did not want to say anything against India and Jadhav through the Foreign Office,” she claimed during an interview with a YouTube channel being run by an Islamabad-based journalist, Isa Naqvi. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Ghani Proposes SAARC Task Force to Fight Coronavirus: Tolo
March 16, 2020

Leaders from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held a video conference on Sunday to coordinate their efforts on fighting the new coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in the South Asian countries. “Our vulnerability comes from our openness. We have open borders with Iran, one of the major centers-- and the flow cannot be stopped,” President Ashraf Ghani said during the video conference. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

‘Shutting down educational institutions under government consideration’: Dhaka Tribune
March 16, 2020

As public demands for shutting down of all educational institutions in the country following the health authorities' suggestions to stay away from mass gatherings grows louder, the Road Transport and Bridges minister said that the government will take into consideration a possible shut down of educational institutions. Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, in a press conference at the party president’s political office in the city on Sunday, said the government is contemplating closing all educational institutions amid growing concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Fighting kills 23 civilians in Myanmar’s Rakhine, Chin: Myanmar Times
March 16, 2020

Three days of fighting between the Tatmadaw (military) and Arakan Army (AA) on the border of Rakhine and Chin states killed at least 21 civilians and injured 27 others, civic groups and legislators said. Salai Myo Htike, an Amyotha Hluttaw MP from Chin, said 12 civilians were killed and 15 were injured in a military air strike on suspected AA hideouts between Paletwa and Sami towns in Chin on Saturday. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Parliament functioning more like extension of government, rather than sovereign entity, experts say: The Kathmandu Post
March 16, 2020

In a parliamentary democracy, the role of the two houses of Parliament is paramount. As the legislative arm of the state, the House of Representatives, or the Lower House, deliberates on bills, holds discussions on issues of public interest, and formulates policy. But Nepal’s House of Representatives has increasingly been overshadowed by the executive, functioning more like an extension of the government rather than a principal actor in the separation of powers, say parliamentary experts. Click here to read... [6]

Sri Lanka

Govt. dispels rumors that Colombo to come under lockdown: Daily Mirror
March 16, 2020

The Health Ministry dispelled rumors that Colombo city or any other province will come under a lock down following a rise in the number of COVID-19 patients, but added that preventive measures were being updated on a daily basis. Click here to read... [7]

BHUTAN

COVID-19: Bhutanese returning home from abroad poses bigger threat: PM: Kuenselonline
March 16, 2020

With the lone positive COVID-19 patient evacuated to the USA yesterday, Bhutanese travelers returning home pose the biggest threat of bringing in the virus. Lyonchhen said all incoming travelers must declare their travel history entirely and honestly to the officials at the entry points. Two Bhutanese who lied about their travel history were detained by the police at the entry point yesterday. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Xi's messages show nation's support, goodwill: China Daily
March 16, 2020

President Xi Jinping's messages of sympathy sent to the European Union, South Korea, Iran and Italy over the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak have demonstrated China's firm support for the hard-hit regions and countries in fighting the pandemic, experts said. Click here to read... [9]

Coronavirus: China’s economy suffered dramatic collapse in warning to rest of world: South China Morning Post
March 16, 2020

The coronavirus’ impact on China’s economy was made plain in new numbers released on Monday, which showed a dramatic collapse across the board. Amid a widespread shutdown of manufacturing operations, industrial production – a measure of manufacturing, mining and utilities activity – declined by 13.5 per cent over the first two months of the year, combined data for January and February showed. Click here to read... [10]