VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 3, 2020

PAKISTAN

PML-Q refuses to hold talks with new PTI team: Dawn
February 3, 2020

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain declared on Sunday that his party would not hold talks with the new committee constituted by Prime Minister Imran Khan to address reservations of disgruntled government allies till “all points agreed” with the Jahangir Tareen-led panel were implemented in letter and spirit. On the other hand, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar expressed the hope that the PML-Q would remain a coalition partner and said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wanted to go into local bodies polls and next general elections along with it (PML-Q). Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Differing Accounts of Khalilzad’s Meetings with Afghan Officials: Tolo
February 3, 2020

There have been conflicting reports about the US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s meetings with President Ashraf Ghani and former president Hamid Karzai. Khalilzad is in Kabul to hold talks with leaders and politicians here on the peace process. Karzai’s office said in a statement that the US representative “expressed his optimism about the developments and progress” in the peace process, and said he hoped an agreement will be reached with the Taliban. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Minister: Bangladesh to raise foreign missions to 100: Dhaka Tribune
February 3, 2020

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said the number of Bangladesh’s foreign missions will be raised to 100 from 77 within 2021. The minister said this while replying to a tabled starred question from Jatiya Party MP elected from Dhaka-4 Syed Abu Hossain before the parliament on Sunday, reports UNB. “The Foreign Ministry has planned to open foreign missions in diplomatically important countries gradually,” he said. The minister said Bangladesh currently has 77 missions in 58 countries. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Govt. suspends visa privilege for Chinese, mulls border shutdown: Myanmar Times
February 3, 2020

The government has temporarily suspended visa-on-arrival privileges for Chinese travelers to the country and is considering closing the border with China to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the suspension of visas on arrival for Chinese travelers took effect Saturday and will be lifted when the outbreak subsides. The coronavirus has killed 304 people in China and one in the Philippines. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Despite not being on the agenda, MCC dominates NCP’s central committee meet: The Kathmandu Post
February 3, 2020

When the Central Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party started on Wednesday, the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Nepal Compact was conspicuously missing from a host of contemporary issues up for discussion. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

Discontinuing import quota for public officials include MPs: Kuenselonline
February 3, 2020

The National Council’s recommendations to do away with the vehicle import quota include quotas of parliamentarians. The Chairperson of Economic Affairs Committee, Ugyen Tshering clarified this yesterday. He said that public servants included NC’s MPs, Lhengye Zhungtshog (cabinet ministers) and elected representatives. Following the recommendations, netizens questioned if Members of Parliaments (MPs) were ready to give up their vehicle import quota in response to their recommendation in the policy related to vehicle import. Click here to read... [7]

Sri Lanka

President orders probe into Airbus deal allegations: Daily Mirror
February 3, 2020

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered a comprehensive investigation into reports of allegations over financial irregularities said to have committed during the deal between Sri Lankan Airlines and Airbus SE upon procurement of aircraft. The President’s Media Division said that the President had ordered the probe after several media reported alleged misdeeds relating to the transaction between the national carrier and Europe-based Airbus Industry. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Superfast hospital in Wuhan ready: China Daily
February 3, 2020

A 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, will begin receiving highly contagious pneumonia patients on Monday, less than 10 days after construction began. The new facility will ease the shortage of beds in the city resulting from an increasing number of patients infected with the novel coronavirus. Click here to read... [9]

Coronavirus Battle in China: Process and Prospect: People’s Daily
February 3, 2020

Since the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic broke out in Wuhan in late December 2019, the Chinese government has taken robust measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus, most notably a full quarantine on Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and strong control and preventive measures in such metropolitan areas as Beijing and Shanghai as well as other population centers around China. Click here to read... [10]