VIF Neighborhood News Digest: March 5, 2020

PAKISTAN

Pakistan ranked least internet inclusive country in S. Asia: report: Dawn
March 5, 2020

Pakistan has been ranked 76th out of 100 countries on the inclusive internet index 2020 released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), falling into the last quartile of the global index overall. The ‘Inclusive Internet Index’ benchmarks countries on the internet’s availability, affordability, relevance and the readiness of people to use it. The annual report is commissioned by Facebook. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Intra-Afghan Delegation Discussed: Tolo
March 5, 2020

The intra-Afghan delegation was one topic discussed by Zalmay Khalilzad, US special envoy to Afghanistan, when he met with CE Abdullah Abdullah after arriving in Kabul, said Abdullah's office on Wednesday. Khalilzad arrived in Kabul for the first time after the peace deal was signed between the US and Taliban in Doha, Qatar. Abdullah's office discussed the [peace] agreement, the intra-Afghan talks, trust-building between the parties and achieving lasting peace, the CE's office said, adding that the Afghan presidential election was also discussed. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Air quality: Dhaka ranks second worst: Dhaka Tribune
March 5, 2020

Dhaka has been ranked second in the list of cities across the world with the worst air quality. According to Air Visuals at 9am on Thursday, Dhaka showed an average AQI (air quality index) score of 174, marked as unhealthy. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Tatmadaw arrest 14 suspects in Rakhine attack: Myanmar Times
March 5, 2020

The Tatmadaw (military) arrested 14 people suspected of attacking a government troop convoy in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State, the military said in a statement on Wednesday. The suspects informed the Arakan Army (AA) about the military convoy as it passed through Myaung Bway village in Mrauk-U on Saturday, and participated in the attack and subsequent clashes, the Tatmadaw said in a statement. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Zurich International asks for extension following court order to stop felling trees at Nijgadh: The Kathmandu Post
March 5, 2020

Following the Supreme Court’s orders to halt the felling of trees at the proposed site of the Nijgadh International Airport, Zurich Airport International AG, which was asked to submit a business proposal for the development of the airport by March 1, has officially requested an extension. Zurich had been selected as the concessionaire to develop the troubled $3.45 billion Nijgadh International Airport, billed to be the largest airport in terms of area in South Asia upon completion, after the Swiss company outbid competitors, including the GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure giant. Click here to read... [6]

Sri Lanka

Hendala Leprosy Hospital declared island’s first quarantine centre: Daily Mirror
March 5, 2020

Health Ministry had declared the Hendala Leprosy Hospital as the first quarantine centre in the country, Director General of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said today. “This centre would be used to quarantine all passengers arriving in Sri Lanka from Italy, South Korea and Iran for 14 days as a precautionary measure to prevent coronavirus spread. “This decision was reached during a meeting held with National Action Committee to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and Ministry officials on Tuesday (3),” Dr. Jasingha said. Click here to read... [7]

BHUTAN

Officials held accountable for irregularities at large: Kuenselonline
March 5, 2020

The government’s inability to trace the whereabouts of officials held accountable for unsettled irregularities has been the biggest challenge in resolving cases. Officials accountable for about 20 cases of irregularities reflected in the annual audit reports from 2010 to 2017 were at large, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Under such circumstances, the committee reported that the government could not enforce court judgments. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Coronavirus: ‘Recovered’ patient dies as China reports discharged cases falling ill again: South China Morning Post
March 5, 2020

A 36-year-old man has died of respiratory failure in Wuhan, five days after being discharged from one of the makeshift hospitals built to contain the outbreak, according to Shanghai-based news portal The Paper. Click here to read... [9]

Huawei pleads not guilty to racketeering in beefed-up US case: South China Morning Post
March 5, 2020

Huawei Technologies pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to racketeering charges filed last month by US prosecutors who accused the Chinese telecommunications giant of a 20-year pattern of corporate espionage. Click here to read... [10]