VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - 12 Feb 2018

Pakistan

Leading human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir passes away in Lahore: Dawn

11 Feb, 2018

Renowned senior lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir passed away in Lahore on Sunday, DawnNews reported. The family told DawnNews that Jahangir had suffered from a cardiac arrest and was subsequently shifted to a hospital, where she breathed her last. She was 66. Known for her outspoken nature and unrelenting pursuit for human rights — as well as for remaining undaunted in the face of extreme pressure and opposition — Jahangir will be remembered as a champion of the disenfranchised and for her services towards building a democratic and more inclusive Pakistan.Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan

First Yoga Center Opens In Balkh: Tolo News

11 Feb, 2018

The first ever yoga center opened in northern Balkh province on Sunday with the support of Balkh Physical Education Department in cooperation with the Indian consulate. Rokai Sarkhosh, head of the physical education department, said they are trying to develop yoga in the province. “The participants will receive training for one month and then the ones who excel will be selected for further training,” said Sarkhosh. Around 30 youths took part in the first class at the center. Of these, 15 were girls. Yoga originated in India and caught on a few years ago in Afghanistan. The first yoga center was opened last year in Kabul by a group of women. Click here to read... [3]

Nepal

Seven chief ministers set to take oath: Kathmandu Post

12 Feb, 2018

Chief Ministers elected to seven provinces are set to take oath and run provincial governments for the first time in Nepal’s history, following the selection of Prithvi Subba Gurung as parliamentary party leader of Province 4 on Sunday. These new chief ministers—four from the CPN-UML, two from the CPN (Maoist Centre) and one from the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal—will run the provincial governments for the next five years. Gurung was elected unopposed as the Parliamentary Party leader on Sunday after contender Kiran Gurung withdrew his candidacy. “I will go to State Chief [Governor] to claim for government formation after two days,” said PS Gurung after his election as PP leader. Dormani Poudel has already been appointed the chief minister of Province 3 and will take oath of office and secrecy on Monday. State chief Anuradha Koriala will administer the oath to Poudel. Rest of the chief ministers will take their oaths by this week. Formation of provincial government begins along with oath taking ceremony. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

20-Party Alliance to launch joint programmes for Khaleda’s release: Daily Observer

11 Feb, 2018

The BNP-backed 20-Party Alliance expressed solidarity with all the programmes announced by BNP and decided to actively take part in those demanding Khaleda Zia's release from jail. The alliance leaders also decided to take different programmes seeking the BNP chairperson's release, reports UNB. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the disclosure after a meeting of the alliance on Sunday. "The 20-Party alliance has expressed solidarity with all the programmes taken by BNP for our leader's (Khaleda) release. They will also actively participate in the programmes," he said. At the meeting, Fakhrul said, the alliance leaders strongly protested and condemned Khaleda Zia's conviction. He said they also demanded the government immediately withdraw the 'false' case and release Khaleda unconditionally.Click here to read... [5]

Srilanka

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna wins 222 LG bodies, United National Party 41: Daily Mirror

11 Feb, 2018

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has secured 222 Local Government (LG) bodies including Municipals Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas. The United National Party (UNP) won 41 LG bodies and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) won 34 LG bodies. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) secured 7 LG bodies.Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

“Judge Ali Hameed took MVR 3.4 mln in bribes”: Mihaaru

12 Feb, 2018

Maldives Police Service, in an abrupt press conference held Sunday night, claimed that MVR 3.4 million was found in a bag that belonged to the jailed Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed. Superintendent Ahmed Shifaan revealed that the police had uncovered MVR 150,000 and USD 215,000 in the bag that allegedly belongs to the judge. Shifaan also said that there was evidence that indicated former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom – who has been charged with exerting undue influence on the judiciary and bribing judges in an attempt to stage a coup – had “helped” Judge Hameed and his family in various ways. “We have evidence to prove that Judge Hameed bought a flat using this bribe money,” Shifaan claimed. “Our investigation also found out that a big local business firm had given USD 2.4 million to the judge as a helpful loan.”Click here to read... [7]

China

China’s top diplomat seeks consensus on trade, N.Korea on US visit: People’s Daily

12 Feb 2018

The visit of China's top diplomat to the US reflects China's concerns over the escalation of Sino-US friction on trade and the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and shows China is actively safeguarding bilateral ties under the circumstances, experts said. Click here to read... [8]

China updates "sensitive sectors" for outbound investment: People’s Daily

12 Feb 2018

China on Sunday updated its list of "sensitive sectors" for outbound investment subject to additional regulation, deleting telecoms and electricity and adding the arms industry and several high-profile sectors. Effective from March 1, investment in overseas projects of telecoms operation, massive land development, and electric mains and power grids need only complete record filings with authorities like other common sectors, with official approval no longer necessary, according to a statement of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).Click here to read... [9]

Poverty battle at heart of CPC mission, says Xi: China Daily

12 Feb 2018

Communist Party of China Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping paid a visit to poor families in a mountainous area in Sichuan province on Sunday, where he talked with villagers about poverty reduction, ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival. Xi spent two hours on a bus traveling from Xichang to Sanhe and Huopu villages, both in Zhaojue county in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in southwestern China, on Sunday morning.Click here to read... [10]

How AI, social media is fuelling the boom in Chinese tourism: South China Morning Post

12 Feb, 2018

One of the strongest drivers of global economic growth is not factories or financial services or internet start-ups, it is what we do when we are not working. We are becoming a planet of tourists. Consider this: for the past seven years, the travel and tourism sector has outperformed the overall economy every year, contributing as much as US$7.6 trillion in 2016, including the wider impact on the economy, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. During the next decade, the council predicts, almost one in four jobs created worldwide will be related to tourism.Click here to read... [11]

Central bank researcher calls for ‘matrix structure’ to give super financial regulator teeth: South China Morning Post

12 Feb 2018

The top researcher at China’s central bank has called for a new financial supervisory body to be given a “matrix structure” to steer reforms, amid market buzz around alternatives that include merging some regulators. Click here to read... [12]