VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 5, 2020

PAKISTAN

Panel proposed to probe Pakistanis’ issues in virus-hit China: Dawn

February 5, 2020

Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, on Tuesday suggested that a parliamentary committee be constituted to look into the issues of Pakistanis who have been stuck in China due to novel coronavirus (NCV). “So far 21,653 persons have been infected with the virus and 23,000 are under observation. Our children and people are not orphans, so we should decide whether we want to keep them in China or want to bring them to Pakistan,” he said while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN
2019 Was Deadly Year for Civilians: AIHRC: Tolo

February 5, 2020

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) in a new report said that 2019, like previous years, once again was a deadly year for Afghan civilians despite ongoing peace efforts to end the 18-year-old war. The report indicates that 86,823 civilians, including women and children, were harmed by conflict between 2009-2019 (28,979 killed, and 57,844 injured). "The high number of civilian causalities indicate all sides’ failure to comply with international humanitarian law," the report said. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH
BNP announces 2-day program for Khaleda’s release: Deccan Herald

February 5, 2020

BNP has announced two-day program for their Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release. The two-day program includes a rally in Dhaka on Saturday, demanding Khaleda Zia’s release, marking the second anniversary of her imprisonment, reports UNB. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the program at a press conference after their party’s joint meeting at its chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday. As part of the programs, the party will arrange doa mahfils in mosques after Jummah prayers on Friday seeking early recovery of Khaleda as she has been suffering from various critical ailments, he said. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR
Ethnic groups seek to hold national meetings before Panglong conference: Myanmar Times

February 5, 2020

Ethnic armed groups have asked the government for permission to hold national meetings of their people ahead of the fourth session of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong, which is likely to be held in April. Naing Aung Ma Ngay, spokesperson of the New Mon State Party, said the 10 ethnic armed groups that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) made the proposal during a meeting with government negotiators on Sunday and Monday. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL
Ruling party debates directly elected executive head once again. This time, it has the numbers: The Kathmandu Post

February 5, 2020
The ruling Nepal Communist Party is once again considering the merits of transitioning to an electoral system with a directly elected executive head, after laying the debate to rest during the drafting of the 2015 constitution. At the concluding session of the party’s Central Committee meeting on Sunday, co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the next meeting of the Central Committee, scheduled to take place within the next six months, will thoroughly discuss electoral and governance systems after consulting with experts. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN
NA finalizes SDF at Nu 1,200 per person per day: Kuenselonline

February 5, 2020
Tourists from the region visiting Bhutan would have to pay Nu 1,200 per night per person as sustainable development fee (SDF), according to the Tourism Levy and Exemption Bill of Bhutan 2020. The National Assembly (NA) decided this yesterday following the recommendations of the environment and climate change committee, as a new proposal in the Bill. However, amid concerns on whether the SDF may be a bit high, the Bill seeks to exempt regional tourists visiting 11 dzongkhags from paying the SDF. a href="https://kuenselonline.com/na-finalises-sdf-at-nu-1200-per-person-per-day/" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Sri Lanka
'I don’t expect interference from legislators, judiciary when fulfilling duties to people': Daily Mirror

February 5, 2020
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his first Independence Day address today, said he was committed to fulfilling the needs of the people and that he did not envisage public officials, lawmakers or the Judiciary to impede him in implementing this commitment. Clad in his simple attire but adorned with badges awarded during his military career, President Rajapaksa took part in his first Independence Day celebrations as the President at today’s 72nd Independence Day celebrations held at the Independence Square in Colombo. Click here to read... [7]

CHINA
Xi chairs leadership meeting on epidemic control: Xinhuanet

February 5, 2020
The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday held a meeting on the prevention and control of pneumonia epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting and made an important speech. Click here to read... [8]

Key meeting emphasizes treating all patients: China Daily

February 5, 2020
A meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Tuesday adopted measures to enable more patients infected with the novel coronavirus in Hubei province and especially Wuhan to obtain treatment, improve recovery rates and reduce fatalities. Click here to read... [9]