VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 6, 2020

PAKISTAN

Saudi Arabia unwilling to back OIC ministers’ meeting on Kashmir: Dawn
February 6, 2020

As the Senior Officials Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation starts in Jeddah on Feb 9 (Sunday) to make preparations for the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers, a diplomatic source said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has shown reluctance to accept Pakistan’s request for an immediate meeting of the CFM on Kashmir. Islamabad’s feeling of unease with the OIC on its failure to get the CFM’s meeting appears to be growing. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

IWA: Govt. Fails to Comply With Access to Information Law: Tolo
February 6, 2020

A day after media outlets protested over very limited access to information about government agencies, Integrity Watch Afghanistan also criticized a restriction on access to information in government institutions, at a press conference in the capital, Kabul, on Wednesday. Integrity Watch Afghanistan officials, who support the Afghan media’s protests, said the Afghan government has been negligent in enforcing the law on access to information. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

Bangladeshis in Lebanon going through tough time: Deccan Herald
February 6, 2020

Bangladeshi workers in Lebanon are going through a tough time due to the political and economic turbulence the Middle Eastern country has been facing for quite a while. “The Lebanese economy is now in crisis. Many businesses are closing, while many are not doing well, resulting in a loss of jobs for Bangladeshi workers,” Abdul Motaleb Sarker, Bangladesh ambassador to Lebanon, told Dhaka Tribune from Beirut on Wednesday. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

UN takes no action on ICJ order against Myanmar: Myanmar Times
February 6, 2020

The UN Security Council on Tuesday discussed the International Court of Justice's order that Myanmar must do all it can to prevent genocide against the Muslims in northern Rakhine, but failed to agree on a statement. Myanmar’s ally China as well as Vietnam, which is part of the regional Association of Southeast Nations along with Myanmar, objected, diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed. Click here to read.... [5]

NEPAL

Crucial meetings and projects with China pushed back after coronavirus outbreak: The Kathmandu Post
February 6, 2020

As coronavirus spreads across the world, crucial governmental meetings with China scheduled for February and March, along with a number of Chinese-led infrastructure projects, hang in the balance in Nepal. So far, four meetings with the Chinese, including one led by the Finance Ministry, have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, said Sushil Lamsal, deputy chief of mission at the Nepali Embassy in Beijing. Click here to read.... [6]

BHUTAN

Govt. mulls levying green tax on tourist vehicles: Kuenselonline
February 6, 2020

In what would be a major policy change, the government is planning to impose green tax on foreign vehicles carrying regional tourists in Bhutan. According to the plan, each foreign vehicle will have to pay Nu 2,000 as entry free and as much amount as exit fee. But such vehicles should be parked at the hotel while in the country. Regional tourists coming in such vehicles should hire local vehicles for sightseeing purposes. But they will be allowed to use their vehicle from one hotel to another within Bhutan, say from Thimphu to Paro for changing the place of lodging. Click here to read.... [7]

Sri Lanka

Sajith decides changing name of present alliance? : Daily Mirror
February 6, 2020

The UNP faction led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has decided to legally establish the proposed political alliance with the like-minded parties by changing the name of a political party which is functional at the moment, Daily Mirror learns. This is the strategy adopted by many political forces in getting legal recognition because the registration of a party is a time-consuming exercise. Click here to read.... [8]

CHINA

Xi stresses law-based infection prevention, control: Xinhuanet
February 6, 2020

President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for greater legislative, law enforcement, judicial and law observance efforts to strengthen the capacity to carry out law-based infection prevention and control. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement when presiding over the third meeting of the Commission for Overall Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee. Xi is the head of the commission. " target="_blank">Click here to read.... [9]

Chinese scholar blames Xi Jinping, Communist Party for not controlling coronavirus outbreak: South China Morning Post
February 6, 2020

A prominent Chinese scholar has published an article criticizing the country’s leadership for failing to control the coronavirus outbreak that has infected almost 25,000 people around the world. Click here to read.... [10]