VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 12th February, 2019

PAKISTAN

Saudi prince likely to sign $10bn MoUs during upcoming visit: Dawn
February 12, 2019

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are expected to ink three major memorandum of understanding (MoUs) amounting to over $10 billion during the upcoming visit of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to the country. “Three mega government-to-government MoUs will be signed and their total volume will be in double digit billion dollars,” Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Haroon Sharif told Dawn on Monday. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Khalilzad Says Focus On Peace Accord, Not Withdrawal Agreement: Tolo News
February 12, 2019

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, who is on a six-nation trip to discuss the Afghan peace process said Tuesday while meeting with EU and NATO partners in Brussels that their shared purpose is to reach a peace agreement and not a withdrawal agreement. “Our shared purpose is to reach a peace agreement (not a withdrawal agreement) that is worthy of the sacrifices made over decades of war," Khalilzad tweeted. Khalilzad said in a tweet he met with EU and NATO partners in Brussels and was encouraged by their strong endorsement on the progress they have made regarding the peace process so far. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Nepali immigrants are suing the Trump administration over the end of their temporary protected status: Kathmandu Post

A group of Temporary Protected Status holders from Nepal and Honduras is suing the Trump administration for its decision to terminate TPS designation for the two countries, arguing the decision was unconstitutional and motivated by the administration’s anti-immigrant sentiments. The American Civil Liberties Union, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the law firm Sidney LLP filed the lawsuit on Monday morning local time at the Northern District of California on behalf of the nine plaintiffs which include three Nepalis, three Hondurans and three children—one Nepali and two Honduran—who were born in the United States. As per the US citizenship laws, children born in the country automatically qualifies for US citizenship. Click here to read... [4]

CHINA

Xi signs order to release regulation on military training supervision: People's Daily
February 12, 2019

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to release a trial regulation on the supervision of military training, the first of its kind in the country. The regulation, which will take effect on March 1, 2019, focuses on improving the combat readiness of the People's Liberation Army. Click here to read... [5]

China’s ‘easy’ money days over as value of venture capital deals plunges 67.5 per cent in January: South China Morning Post
February 12, 2019

The Chinese venture capital market collapsed in January, with both the value and number of deals down more than 60 per cent year on year according to new data, though some see the slump as a necessary “correction” amid tighter regulation and slowing economic growth. " target="_blank">Click here to read... [6]