VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - 04 Jan 2018

JANUARY 4, 2018

PAKISTAN

Parliamentary committee meeting to discuss Trump's allegations against Pakistan underway: Dawn

The meeting on Thursday, presided by the speaker has been called after US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of basing its relationship with the US on “nothing but lies and deceit. “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools," Trump had written in his tweet. Addressing today's committee at the start of the session, the NA speaker said that the meeting will also focus on matters concerning national security.Click here to read... [2]

CPEC’s Centre of Excellence fails to fulfill core responsibility: Express Tribune

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) policy think tank, set up at a cost of Rs1.2 billion to fill policy gaps, is struggling to perform its core tasks even two years after its establishment due to misplaced priorities of the government. Due to absence of a home-grown policy, the $60 billion CPEC is guided by a voluminous study that was carried out by the China Development Bank which became the basis for the Long-term Plan 2017-2030. At the time of approving the Centre of Excellence project, there was hope that the country will soon have research-based studies in important areas of CPEC, according to government officials who were involved in setting up the centre.Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

BNP to take part in polls no matter what: Daily Star

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday categorically said her party would contest the national elections, but the polls must be held under an interim non-partisan administration. “BNP is a pro-election political party. We will contest the election even if you [government] want to keep us out of it. We will contest the polls and you must make arrangements to that end,” Khaleda told a programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).Click here to read... [4]

NEPAL

NC, Tarai parties persuade Dahal to lead new govt: Kathmandu Post

Amid political deadlock over formation of new government, leaders of the left alliance, the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties are busy exploring possibilities of forming a non-UML government. Though leaders from the left alliance maintain that CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli will lead new government, informal cross-party meetings taking place quietly in Kathmandu suggest something else.Click here to read... [5]

MALDIVES

‘UN will rule in Nasheed’s favour, paving way for his candidacy’: Haveeru News

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Religion or Belief, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, declared that the UN Human Rights Committee would rule in favour of former president Mohamed Nasheed, ensuring his candidacy in this year’s presidential elections. He stated that, with this decision by the UN, President Abdulla Yameen would be forced to stop the election. Nasheed’s legal team of international lawyers had filed a case at the UN Human Rights Committee, claiming that the former president’s civil and human rights were being violated. They also urged the committee to ensure his candidacy for the upcoming elections.Click here to read... [6]

AFGHANISTAN

Noor Orders Arrest of Newly-Appointed Balkh Governor: Tolo News

Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted governor of Balkh, has ordered the removal of Engineer Mohammad Dawood, the newly-appointed governor of Balkh by President Ashraf Ghani. A letter obtained by TOLO news shows that the order has been issued based on complaints by residents of Zaare district in Balkh. The residents claimed that Engineer Dawood had been involved in the murder of their family members some years ago.Click here to read... [7]

MYANMAR

Myanmar-China bilateral trade hits US$6.3 bn in first 7 months of FY: Mizzima News

The value of Myanmar’s trade with its main trade partner China, as of October this fiscal year, reached US$6.3 billion, consisting of $2.83 billion in exports and $3.5 billion in imports, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on January 3.Click here to read... [8]