VIF Neighborhood News Digest: April 30, 2020

PAKISTAN

PM advocates global debt relief initiative for developing countries: DAWN

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called for a global initiative on debt relief for developing countries, including Pakistan, so that they could combat the novel coronavirus in a better way. During a telephonic conversation with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PM Khan apprised him how his government was fighting on two fronts simultaneously — combating Covid-19 and saving people from hunger caused by the countrywide lockdown. Click here to read.... [2]

Sharp reduction in cargo handling as land, air and sea routes closed: DAWN

Export cargo handling at the Karachi ports declined nearly 42 per cent in the last 38 days owing to closure of shipping lines and order deferrals by international buyers. Karachi ports, which handle around 76pc of the country’s export cargo, have seen containers piling up at ports between March 22 to April 28 mainly due to order cancellations and non-availability of ships. Click here to read.... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

'Govt Trying to Monopolize COVID-19 Funds': Watchdog: TOLO News

Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) on Wednesday blamed the Afghan government for trying to monopolize foreign funds it receives from the international community to fight COVID-19. The IWA said that such a move will lead to further expansion of mistrust between the government and the donors. “Monopolization in the spending of the aid by the international community in the fight against the coronavirus creates severe vulnerabilities and it removes the trust,” said Sayed Ekram Afzali, the head of the IWA. Click here to read.... [4]

BANGLADESH

Coronavirus: Bangladesh worst hit country in South Asia: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh has recorded the highest number of deaths and the lowest recovery rate in a span of 53 days after it confirmed the first coronavirus positive case in the country, making it the worst hit among eight nations in South Asia. Compared to the rest of the countries mostly situated in the Asia-Pacific region, Bangladesh recorded 163 deaths, followed by Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and others, over the same period of time. Click here to read.... [5]

MYANMAR

Myanmar rice exports to resume in May: Myanmar Times

Rice exports will resume in May at regular volumes of 150,000 tonnes for the month of May, the Myanmar Rice Federation (MFR) announced on April 28. 100,000 tonnes will shipped overseas while the remaining 50,000 tonnes will be traded at the border. More than 2 million tonnes of rice will be allocated for export in the current fiscal year, according to government estimates, of which 10 percent will be retained as food reserves for Myanmar, the MRF said. Click here to read.... [6]

NEPAL

Covid-19 could even put a halt to this year’s yarsa harvest: The Kathmandu Post

If everything had gone to plan, a month from now, Shiva Bohara of Thuli Bheri Municipality would have been out on the hills of Dolpo, combing the slopes for yarsagumba. But this year, like everything else, the Covid-19 pandemic has even shut down collection of the lucrative caterpillar fungus. Click here to read.... [7]

BHUTAN

Covid-19 triggers increased agricultural activities: Kuensel

As businesses in the service sector plummeted in Covid-19’s wake, Bhutanese are turning to agriculture again. The country is more focused than ever on the security of the food supply chain that many laid-off workers now want to keep farming even if the current situation improves. Click here to read.... [8]

SRI LANKA

Converting schools as quarantine centers for Military baseless: Defence Secretary: Daily Mirror

No directive was issued to establish quarantine centres in schools for Tri-Forces personnel to undergo 14-day quarantine process, Defence Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said. Refuting the claims by some people that military had taken Government schools to set up quarantine centers for military personnel, he said no school had been used to quarantine military personnel but they would be used as additional camps for them. Click here to read.... [9]

CHINA

Victims of CCP Virus in China Begin Lawsuits to Hold Regime Accountable: The Epoch Times

As the Chinese regime comes under increasing international scrutiny over its mishandling of the virus outbreak, anger and grief are also brewing within China’s borders. Click here to read.... [10]

Coronavirus: China manufacturing mood steadied in April but fears of overseas collapse heightened: South China Morning Post

China’s manufacturing economy stabilised further in April, as the country slowly inched closer to full capacity following the coronavirus lockdown, but serious concerns about overseas demand lingered. Click here to read.... [11]