VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 10th January, 2019

PAKISTAN

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia may ink $10bn MoUs this month: Dawn

January 10, 2019

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are likely to sign memoranda of understanding for more than $10 billion Saudi investment in Pakistan this month. Pakistan will also sign similar MoUs with China, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia over the next two months. This was said in the second meeting on ease of doing business (EoDB) presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday. The meeting was told that the MoU on investment framework with the UAE was expected next month. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Key Taliban Commander Killed In Balkh: Tolo News

January 10, 2019

At least 25 Taliban fighters, including a senior commander of the group, Mawlawi Badr, were killed in clashes with security forces in Chahar Bolak district in Balkh province, provincial police said on Thursday. The clashes are ongoing for the past few days in Chahar Bolak in which Taliban has suffered heavy casualties, a police official, Gen. Abdul Razaq Qaderi said, adding that “clashes still ongoing in the district.“Four security force members were also killed and four others were wounded,” he said. Before this, Taliban claimed that the security forces have suffered heavy casualties in their attack in the district and said that “three Humvees belonged to security forces were destroyed". Click here to read... [3]

MYANMAR

Rohingya Hindu Refugees In Bangladesh Want To Return To Myanmar: Report: NDTV

January 10, 2019

Rohingya Hindus, who sought refuge in Bangladesh, want to return to Myanmar but are not being allowed by Bangladesh officials, American daily Los Angeles Times reported. In a report from the Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, the newspaper said on Wednesday that 105 Hindu families were ready to leave when a deal was made by the UN last May, for refugees to return home to Rakhine state in Myanmar. Instead, they are stranded in Bangladesh because UN decided it was not safe for them to go back to Myanmar, Hindu refugees were quoted as telling the newspaper. The 400 Hindu refugees in Bangladesh are segregated and housed in a separate facility called Hindu Camp, which is under round-the-clock security. Click here to read... [4]

CHINA

China, US agree to keep close contact after trade talks: China Daily

January 10, 2019

The latest round of vice-ministerial level trade talks between China and the United States has concluded in Beijing, the Ministry of Commerce released a statement on Thursday. The statement said both countries had "extensive, in-depth and detailed communication" on trade and structural issues, adding that they agreed to maintain close contact after this meeting. China and the US held vice-ministerial level consultations on economic and trade issues from Monday to Wednesday in Beijing. Click here to read... [5]

Xi Jinping accepts offer to visit Pyongyang, North Korea state media says: South China Morning Post

January 10, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping accepted an offer to visit Pyongyang after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s state media reported on Thursday. Click here to read... [6]