VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 10, 2020

PAKISTAN

All options on table for citizens’ return from China: Zafar: Dawn
February 10, 2020

As pressure is continuously mounting to bring Pakistani nationals from novel coronavirus (NCV)-hit China, the government of Pakistan said on Sunday that a decision to this effect would be made soon after considering all the options. In a message to Pakistani students in China, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that the government had been keenly observing the situation in China. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Herat Customs 'Loses 30 % of Revenue' to Embezzlement, Tax Fraud: Tolo
February 10, 2020

A senior official in the customs office in the western province of Herat claimed that almost 30% of customs revenue for imported goods is being lost due to “embezzlement” by "strongmen," among whom are "high-ranking government officials." The revenue of the Herat customs office, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, collected Afs18 billion (over $234 million) in the 1398 solar year – March 2019 to March 2020 – but its target was Afs32 billion (over $416 million), the deputy head of the customs office of Herat, Jawed Samim, said. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

BNP briefs diplomats about Dhaka city vote 'frauds': Dhaka Tribune
February 10, 2020

BNP has briefed foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka about what it said vote "frauds" and various "irregularities" committed by the ruling Awami League in the recently-held Dhaka city elections. Diplomats from the European Union and 13 countries, including Australia, Russia, Germany, Turkey, Denmark, Norway, and India attended the meeting held at a hotel in Dhaka around 4pm on Sunday, reports UNB. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Government re-opens some restricted areas to tourists in Kayah: Myanmar Times
February 10, 2020

The government has re-opened some restricted areas in Kayah State to tourists this month, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism says. Tourists can now enjoy local culture and traditions in Daw Ta Ma Kyi village in Dimawso Township and Htat Kho village in Hpruso Township in Kayah. “These areas have good potential to draw tourists, but visitors were not allowed to go there because of security concerns,” said U Nay Moe Aung, head of 9Generation Force Tours in Kayah State. “Now tourists can visit these communities anytime they wish.’’ Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Congress objection to anti-graft body’s move may be right, but the means is wrong, analysts say: The Kathmandu Post
February 10, 2020

Ever since the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed graft charges against 175 individuals in relation to the Lalita Niwas land grab, the Nepali Congress has been protesting from the streets and Parliament, saying the move to indict its leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar is biased and guided by political vendetta. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

How do we secure the long porous border?: Kuenselonline
February 10, 2020

Bhutan and India share a long and porous border. It has occasionally been a problem, mostly when used for illegal trade and trespassing. Today, as the country gears up its preparedness against the global outbreak of coronavirus, (2019-nCoV), the unprotected border areas could prove to be detrimental. The government has highlighted that the free movement of people through the long porous borders in southern parts of the country posed the biggest challenge against coronavirus preparedness. Click here to read... [7]

Sri Lanka

India calls on SL to fulfil Tamil community’s aspirations: Daily Mirror
February 10, 2020

India on Saturday hoped that the Sri Lankan government will realize the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation as the issue figured prominently in wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa. In their talks, the two prime ministers deliberated on the entire expanse of bilateral ties and resolved to further deepen anti-terror cooperation and boost trade and investment ties. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Xi sends congratulatory message to 33rd AU summit: Xinhuanet
February 10, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday warmly congratulated African countries and their people on the holding of the 33rd African Union (AU) summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. In his congratulatory message to the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU, Xi pointed out that since last year, under the guidance of the AU, African countries have actively explored development paths suited to their own conditions and adhered to dealing with African affairs in African ways. Click here to read... [9]

Premier Li stresses scientific research to win battle against virus: Xinhuanet
February 10, 2019

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Sunday stressed the role of scientific research to win the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the epidemic, made the remarks while inspecting the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Click here to read... [10]