VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: May 27, 2020

PAKISTAN

Pakistani bid to form group of OIC envoys at UN foiled: DAWN

The United Arab Emirates and the Maldives together thwarted a Pakistani attempt to set up an informal group of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) envoys at the United Nations on Islamophobia. A senior diplomatic source told Dawn that Pakistan’s permanent representative at the United Nations Munir Akram highlighted the issue of Islamophobia at a recent virtual meeting of the envoys of OIC member countries at the UN. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Govt Releases Around 900 Taliban Prisoners: TOLO News

The Afghan government on Tuesday released around 900 Taliban prisoners, according to the National Security Council. The 900 prisoners were released from different prisons across the country, mainly from Pul-e-Charkhi Prison in Kabul and Bagram Prison in Parwan province. The order for the release of these prisoners was issued by President Ashraf Ghani on the first day of Eid as he pledged to release up to 2,000 Taliban inmates. His announcement came as a response to the Taliban's calling a three-day ceasefire during Eid. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

EU announces €1.1m to minimize Bangladesh’s Amphan damages: Dhaka Tribune

The European Union (EU) has decided to provide €1.1 million to Bangladesh to help recover from the damages done by Cyclone Amphan last week. “The EU is determined to start helping people in need with no further delay and provides an initial funding of €500,000 for India and €1,100,000 to support the immediate response in Bangladesh,” EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said in a statement, reports BSS. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

NLD, Tatmadaw in budget tit-for-tat: Myanmar Times

Legislators of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Tatmadaw (military) argued over the allocation of additional money for defence during a discussion in parliament on May 25. NLD legislator Daw May Win Myint sought the reduction of K22.7 billion (US$16.15 million) from the additional budget requested by the Ministry of Defence Services for fiscal 2019-2020. She said the requests for additional money for petrol was too much because of the falling prices of fuel, and the additional budget request for transportation workers was also too much. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

A 200 percent increase in maternal mortality since the lockdown began: The Kathmandu Post

Thirty-two-year-old Ganga Karki died on Friday due to postpartum complications. She had delivered a stillborn baby about two weeks ago and her health had steadily deteriorated since, leading her to be airlifted to Kathmandu from Sankhuwasabha. She died at the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali after failing to be admitted to a hospital with a functioning ventilator. Click here to read.... [6]

SRI LANKA

New mechanism to repatriate Sri Lankans: PMD: Daily Mirror

A new mechanism is to be formulated to repatriate Sri Lankans who are stranded or faced with various difficulties in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the President’s Media Division said. In a statement, it said the nature of the new system will be decided at a meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow. Flights in June to bring back Sri Lankans home will be planned accordingly. Click here to read.... [7]

CHINA

Here’s How Wuhan Tested 6.5 Million for Coronavirus in Days: New York Times

In Wuhan, medical workers armed with coronavirus test swabs scoured construction sites and markets to look for itinerant workers while others made house calls to reach older residents and people with disabilities. Officials aired announcements over loudspeakers urging people to sign up for their own good. Click here to read.... [8]

Businesses change course amid COVID-19: China Daily

In early March, when most businesses in China had yet to fully resume operations, Zhou Yiyan received inquiries from leading property developer Vanke. The company wanted suggestions for improving the design of its showrooms to provide more space for disinfection products. Click here to read.... [9]