VIF Neighborhood News Digest: March 18, 2020

PAKISTAN

Foreign Office announces social distancing steps amid virus threat: Dawn
March 18, 2020

The Foreign Office on Tuesday set up a special cell for coordination on coronavirus and introduced a number of social distancing measures. The newly-established cell, headed by Special Secretary (Admin) Moazzam Ahmed Khan, would liaise with diplomatic corps in the country as well as with Pakistani missions abroad, the FO said. The social distancing measures introduced by the FO included partial suspension of walk-in consular services and a change in the format of the weekly media briefing. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

High Food Prices Cause Public Outcry: Tolo
March 18, 2020

A number of citizens in the country accused businessmen of using the coronavirus threat to sell goods at unreasonably high prices, and they called on the government to prosecute them. Many people have been out shopping over the past two days in the food market in Kabul to prepare for the coronavirus and possible shortages. But the fear of the coronavirus and the people's need to stockpile food have caused prices to rise. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Covid-19: New integrated control room, 2 fresh cases: Dhaka Tribune
March 18, 2020

In view of the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases in the country, the Health Ministry has opened a new integrated control room for managing and supervising the coronavirus situation. The Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, on Tuesday said two more Covid-19 cases had been detected, taking the number of confirmed cases to 10. Three have recovered while seven infected persons are undergoing treatment. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Fighting COVID-19 together will strengthen Mekong-Korea partnership: Myanmar Times
March 18, 2020

At the Mekong-Republic of Korea special summit in Busan last November, leaders in attendance agreed to foster cooperation to address non-traditional security challenges and reinforce disaster resilience. Like climate change, fighting against infectious diseases has emerged as an agenda requiring our concerted and common response, now more than ever. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a glaring example. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

Winter session of Parliament likely to end without endorsing crucial bills: The Kathmandu Post
March 18, 2020

The ongoing session of federal parliament, also dubbed the bill session, looks like it might be the most unproductive one. With just about two weeks remaining for the prorogation of the current session, dozens of bills, including some crucial ones, are likely to remain pending. “I don’t think the ongoing session can go beyond mid-Chaitra [end of March],” Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, told the Post. Click here to read.... [6]

Sri Lanka

No need for total lock-down: President: Daily Mirror
March 18, 2020

As a country which did not go through a lock-down even during the 30-year war, there is no need to go for a lock-down in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday adding that the country needs to function. He said while the other countries had recorded a large number of deaths in the wake of the COVID-19 infection, Sri Lanka had managed to mitigate such a situation. Click here to read.... [7]

BHUTAN

All travelers entering Bhutan will be quarantined: Kuenselonline
March 18, 2020

All travelers, including Bhutanese, coming to Bhutan will be quarantined in a designated quarantine facility for two weeks with effect from yesterday. However, minors below 18 years would be sent for home quarantine. Health minister Dechen Wangmo, announced this during the press briefing on COVID-19 yesterday. Click here to read.... [8]

CHINA

Coronavirus: Unconfirmed cases may be behind rapid spread in China, researchers say: South China Morning Post
March 18, 2020

A joint study by experts in China, the US, Britain and Hong Kong found that undocumented infections of the new coronavirus, likely those without severe symptoms, were largely responsible for its spread across China in January. Click here to read.... [9]

Beijing left with no choice but to fire back: China Daily editorial: China Daily
March 18, 2020

Having stated that it reserved the right to respond to Washington capping the employee numbers of five Chinese media outlets in the United States, after it had already ordered the organizations to register as "foreign agents", Beijing's announcement on Wednesday of reciprocal measures in kind should come as no surprise. Click here to read.... [10]

Xi holds talks with Pakistani president to deepen ties amid fight against COVID-19: Xinhuanet
March 18, 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks here on Tuesday with visiting Pakistani President Arif Alvi."At present, the Chinese government and Chinese people are working hard to score an all-around victory against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)," said Xi. Xi praised Pakistan's support for China, noting that at the beginning of the epidemic, President Alvi wrote him a letter to convey consolation, and Alvi's latest trip marks his firm support. The Pakistani side also offered everything within their capabilities to provide China with anti-epidemic materials. Click here to read.... [11]