VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 18, 2020

PAKISTAN

CM orders evacuation as death toll from toxic gas in Karachi's Keamari area rises to 7: Dawn
February 18, 2020

As the death toll from the toxic gas that spread in Karachi's Keamari area went up to seven, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered the evacuation of residents from the affected areas. The death toll increased from five to seven late Monday after two more people inhaled the gas, the nature of which has yet to be ascertained by the authorities. Over 150 others complaining of breathing difficulties have been rushed to the hospital over the last 24 hours. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Deputy Says Deal to be signed by 'End of This Month': Tolo
February 18, 2020

The US-Taliban agreement – which has been finalized in principle – will be "signed by both sides at the end of February," the deputy leader of the group, Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, said in a recorded 3-minute interview published on a pro-Taliban website, nunn.asia, on Monday. Hanafi said that the US-Taliban talks – which started late in 2018 and continued for 10 rounds, mostly in the Gulf state of Qatar – have ended and both sides are preparing to sign the agreement. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Nepal expects smooth delivery of electricity to Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune
February 18, 2020

Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has expected that India will be positive as regards to Bangladesh's endeavor to bring electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh. “We will pay necessary charges to Indian side and that should not be a problem,” he said while interacting with a select group of journalists at the Nepalese embassy in Dhaka. The Nepalese foreign minister arrived on Monday on a three day official visit to Bangladesh. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Three foreign companies withdraw investments from Thilawa SEZ: Myanmar Times
February 18, 2020

Three foreign companies have withdrawn their investment plans from the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), according to U Aung Htoo, deputy commerce minister. The minister was responding to questions on developments at the SEZ from U Khin Cho, a representative of Pyithu Hluttaw, at a parliament session on February 14. As at December 2019, the government has permitted 115 companies from 19 countries to operate in Thilawa SEZ. However, three have withdrawn their investment plans, resulting in 112 companies having invested a total of US$1.9 billion in Thilawa so far, U Aung Htoo said. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Mahara’s acquittal and Tumbahangphe’s elevation to minister will have lasting effects, analysts say: The Kathmandu Post
February 18, 2020

Monday saw two dramatic political developments. Hours before former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara was acquitted of attempted rape charges, Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe, who served as Deputy Speaker during Mahara’s tenure, was appointed minister for law and justice. Both Mahara and Tumbahangphe have recently made headlines for reasons that were interlinked—not just because they were Speaker and Deputy Speaker but also because Mahara had resigned after allegations of attempted rape while Tumbahangphe had been denied the Speaker’s position due to what she had alleged to be patriarchy in the ruling party. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

Residents near mine blame Coal Company for cracks: Kuenselonline
February 18, 2020

Kuchi, 72, of Dewathang, Samdrupjongkhar moved in a semi-permanent house. She cannot live in her two-storey traditional house now because it has developed dangerous cracks. She said the cracked started appearing three years ago because of the coal mining activities in Khorpam. She reported the issues to the company immediately. Click here to read... [7]

Sri Lanka

When producing Weeratunga CID acted unusually: Fort Magistrate reprimands: Daily Mirror
February 18, 2020

Reprimanding several CID officials, Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today repeatedly emphasized that the CID’s behavior in arresting and producing suspect Udayanga Weeratunga over the alleged MIG 27 deal was unusual and questionable, as they failed to follow the procedure correctly when acting under the Public Property Act. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Postponement of two sessions proposed: China Daily
February 18, 2020

Two sessions, the country's biggest annual political event, may be postponed this year, as more focused efforts are needed at the moment to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. The term two sessions refers to the annual plenary sessions of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. Click here to read... [9]

U.S. largest state actor of spying in cyberspace: FM spokesperson: People’s Daily
February 18, 2020

Facts have proven once again that the United States is the largest state actor of spying in cyberspace, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday, urging the United States to clarify to the international community on relevant affairs. Reports have emerged that from the Cold War into the 2000s, the U.S. intelligence used the Swiss company Crypto AG's encoding devices to spy on other countries while pocketing millions of dollars. Click here to read... [10]