VIF Neighborhood News Digest: April 20, 2020

PAKISTAN

PM likens Modi government to Nazis in Germany: DAWN

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said Narendra Modi’s government by intentionally and violently targeting the Muslims in India was diverting backlash of people over its [faulty] policy on Covid-19. PM Khan in a tweet said the Modi government’s policy on coronavirus had left thousands stranded and hungry. “The deliberate & violent targeting of Muslims in India by Modi Govt to divert the backlash over its COVID19 policy, which has left thousands stranded & hungry, is akin to what Nazis did to Jews in Germany,” he tweeted. Click here to read.... [2]

Sustenance in the midst of lockdown: DAWN

The future depends on the Covid-19 trajectory, but the good news is that Pakistan will not run out of food anytime soon. Thanks to the nature and the farming community, Pakistan is food secure for now. Experts believe that if the health crisis exacerbates, the risk to food security can only be mitigated by radical plans to divert the requisite resources to support the rural economy. Currently, the country has sufficient stocks of wheat, rice, sugar, pulses, edible oil, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and greens besides cattle stocks. Click here to read.... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

US 'Violates' Deal, Claims Taliban, Sharing List of Attacks: TOLO News

The Taliban has shared a list of 50 attacks conducted by the US and Afghan forces following the US-Taliban peace deal in late February, accusing the US of violating terms of the deal and thus adding another layer of complication to the already hindered peace process. Sharing a three-page document exclusively with TOLO news, the Taliban political office in Doha claims 33 drone attacks and airstrikes were carried out against Taliban targets in 19 provinces from March 9 to April 10. Click here to read.... [4]

Man Commits Suicide for Lack of Food, Government blamed: TOLO News

The weeks-long lockdown in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul has caused enormous challenges for the people of the city, particularly to those grappling with economic hardships and poverty. Only four days back, Wahid, a driver working with the Central Statistics Organization, committed suicide because of economic hardship. Family members of the victim accused the Afghan government of failing to address the basic necessities of the poor during the lockdown. Click here to read.... [5]

BANGLADESH

PM: Coronavirus situation better in Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the coronavirus situation in Bangladesh has been comparatively better as the government had been taking adequate measures to battle the outbreak. The premier made the statement while addressing a videoconference with the public representatives and officials of eight districts in Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions on the coronavirus situation in the country. The videoconference began around 10:10am on Monday at the prime minister's official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka. Click here to read.... [6]

Covid-19 halts real estate sector's turnaround: Dhaka Tribune

The pandemic has put a brake on the country's real estate sector turnaround, which sector insiders say may lead to joblessness for at least 35 lakh people. It is not always easy to overcome a long-standing recession in business. But if and when it is, the entire credit goes to those working with patience and dedication, to revive the dying field of business they are engaged with. Such has happened to the country's real estate and housing sector. It overcame an inordinately long period of losses from 2007-08 until 2018, only to encounter another potential loss-making period arising out of the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read.... [7]

MYANMAR

Factories in Myanmar to undergo mandatory inspections for COVID-19: Myanmar Times

Myanmar factories will be allowed to open for operations after being inspected for COVID-19 purposes by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, Ministry of Health and Sports and other relevant groups. The factories, some of which had closed for the Thingyan holiday on April 10-19, will undergo inspections between April 20 and 30, according to statement issued by the labour ministry on April 19. Factories manufacturing pharmaceuticals and food as well as those with a workforce of more than 1,000 will be prioritised. Factories, workshops and workplaces that meet the ministries requirements will be allowed to continue operations. Click here to read.... [8]

Companies to shut down if workers, management disagree on COVID-19 measures in Yangon: Myanmar Times

Companies that could not reach an agreement with their workers on the terms of the working conditions, amid the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, will have to shut down, a senior regional official said on April 18. Daw Moe Moe Su Kyi, regional minister for immigration and human resources, issued the statement in anticipation of the resumption of operations of companies in Yangon after a 10-day break for the Thingyan festival on April 20. She noted that a number of factories have already shutdown before the holiday because of lack of raw materials or cancellation of orders and the crisis is expected to continue amid the rising number of COVID-19 patients in the country. Click here to read.... [9]

NEPAL

Oli and Dahal attempt to make amends to avoid looking like each side is taking advantage of a crisis: The Kathmandu Post

The Covid-19 crisis could have been an opportunity for the ruling Nepal Communist Party to present a united front, but the pandemic has become a catalyst instead for allegations and counter-allegations between rival factions. The party appears sharply divided between the two camps led by chairs KP Sharma Oli, who is also the prime minister, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. But each side is making slight overtures in order to avoid looking like it is taking advantage of a crisis. Click here to read.... [10]

With disruptions to supply chains and public movement, inflation was only to be expected: The Kathmandu Post

Nepal's stay-at-home order became stricter on Friday but an unemployed Ishwor Marasini faces a new problem—inflation. The 37-year-old from Raniban runs a stationery shop, which has been closed for four weeks since the lockdown, and without a steady source of income, he is worried about how long he’ll be able to pay the rising prices for food and other essentials. A few weeks ago, sugar cost Rs70 per kg but it has now climbed to Rs 85, he said. The prices of lentils have increased by Rs25-30 per kg and rice by Rs200 per sack. Edible oil prices increased Rs20 on Friday. Click here to read.... [11]

BHUTAN

Govt. to look for opportunities for those working abroad: Kuensel

His Majesty the King has commanded the government to look into creating job opportunities for Bhutanese working overseas and has returned home in the wake of the COVID- 19 pandemic, according to Prime Minster Dr Lotay Tshering. About 2,604 Bhutanese from 25 countries has returned since March. However, a majority of them are students. Another 2,000 Bhutanese will be returning between April 18 and 28, which will include both students and working overseas. Click here to read.... [12]

Next two years critical for Bhutan’s economy: Kuensel

The government is planning on clubbing major activities from the entire 12th Plan to be executed in the next two years as it mulls on the way forward post-Covid-19. That is considering the Covid-19 pandemic ends this year. Next year, activities planned for 2020 will also have to be implemented. Similarly, those activities in 2023 will be brought forward. The flagship programmes are expected to be pursued at the earliest to augment the economy. The rest of the activities of the Plan are to be implemented within 2022. Click here to read.... [13]

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka Plans Gradual Easing of Virus Curfew to Revive Economy: Bloomberg

Sri Lanka plans to start relaxing a nationwide curfew that has been in place since last month to prevent the spread of Covid-19, as it looks to revive an economy thwarted by the pandemic. The movement curbs will on Monday be lifted from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm in some districts deemed less at risk, and parts of the capital Colombo will reopen during those hours from April 22, the president’s media office said in a statement late Saturday. Click here to read.... [14]

Sri Lankan flight suspension extended till April 30: Daily Mirror

The suspension of scheduled flights of Sri Lankan Airlines due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been extended till April 30, the Airlines said. "As the travel restrictions imposed by the countries in our global network continue to be in place due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Sri Lankan Airlines is compelled to extend the temporary suspension of its scheduled passenger flights till April 30, 2020. The Airlines’ cargo services will continue to operate from its worldwide network and special flights as and when required. Click here to read.... [15]

CHINA

Foreign investors pile into Chinese onshore debt markets in search of yields as coronavirus: South China Morning Post

Fixed-income investors are piling into Yuan-denominated government debt at a record rate this year as they seek a safe haven amid the coronavirus pandemic, which threatens to send the global economy into a downturn not seen since the Great Depression, according to analysts and investment managers. Click here to read.... [16]

High-tech gives a boost to the popularity of "non-contact" economy: People’s Daily

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic, high technologies have helped satisfy the growing demand for "non-contact" scenarios, including food delivery and remote office work, digitally upgrading the related industries. Click here to read.... [17]