VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 18, 2019

PAKISTAN

PM set to visit China for four days from 25th: Dawn

April 18, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay a four-day visit to China to attend the Belt and Road Forum and hold bilateral talks with the Chinese leadership on the new phase of the China-Pakistan Econo­mic Corridor (CPEC) and other issues of mutual interest. The Foreign Office, while announcing the prime minister’s visit, said Mr Khan would be “visiting China from April 25 to 28 to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing”. Click here to read.... [2]

14 offloaded from passenger bus, shot dead on Makran Coastal Highway: sources: Dawn

April 18, 2019

At least 14 passengers were offloaded from a bus on the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan's Ormara area on Thursday and shot dead at point blank range by unidentified assailants after their identity cards were checked, Levies sources told DawnNewsTV. The motive behind the killings and the identity of the victims are yet to be ascertained. Click here to read.... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Has No Way Except Talks With Afghan Govt: Ghani: Tolo News

April 17, 2019

President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday met with members of the delegation who will hold a meeting with the Taliban in Qatar on April 20. He said the Afghan delegation which is preparing to hold discussion with the Taliban in Doha are carrying an important mission which is a dignified peace within the framework of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. “Representation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan is important because no one can represent the nation outside the framework of the state. The absolute right is that we all represent entire government and nation,” said Ghani. Click here to read.... [4]

NEPAL

India bans herb import from Nepal: Kathmandu Post

April 18, 2019

For the past month, India has been strictly enforcing its prohibition of the importing of medicinal herbs from Nepalgunj into its borders, and this has severely affected local businesses. The businessmen say the Indian government has stopped the import stating that the Nepal government could not verify the scientific names of the herbs, which is a must according to Indian policy. The prohibition came into place after the Indian government implemented a new quarantine policy recently. Click here to read.... [5]

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh pledges to cut down greenhouse gas emissions to 5%: Dhaka Tribune

April 17, 2019

Environment Minister Md Shahabuddin said: “Bangladesh has decided to reduce CO2 emissions from transport, power, and industrial sectors down to 5%. And with the help of other countries, we can cut it down to 15% by 2030. Compared to other countries, Bangladesh emits relatively little amount of the greenhouse gases due to anthropogenic factors. Although we do not have any international obligation for climate change mitigation as per ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ principle under UNFCCC, we are taking measures to show solidarity with the international community.” Click here to read.... [6]

CHINA

Xi advocates all-out effort to end poverty: China Daily

April 18, 2019

President Xi Jinping urged all-out efforts to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty in China within two years in his three-day inspection tour of Chongqing, which ended on Wednesday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over a meeting on Tuesday on guaranteeing the people's basic needs in food and clothing as well as access to education, medical care and safe housing. Click here to read.... [7]

Economic Watch: China reports lower unemployment rate in March on solid economic growth: Xinhuanet

April 18, 2019

The Chinese economy showed positive signs in the first quarter, reporting lower unemployment rate and faster income growth, official data showed Wednesday. The surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 5.2 percent last month, down 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Click here to read.... [8]