VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - 7 Feb 2018

PAKISTAN

Bill to end US aid to Pakistan moved in House of Representatives too: Dawn
07 Feb, 2018

The US House of Representatives joined the Senate on Tuesday in seeking to end US economic aid to Pakistan while the Trump administration has already suspended military aid.

A bill introduced in the House said that non-defence aid to Pakistan should also end and the money set aside for this purpose should be invested in infrastructure projects in the United States.

The movers say they are seeking the ban because Pakistan “provides military aid and intelligence” to terrorists, a charge Islamabad strongly denies. Pakistani officials say that the US administration blames their country to hide their failure in Afghanistan where they have failed to subdue an ever-increasing insurgency.Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Government Unveils New Security Plan For Kabul To Curb Threats: Tolo News
06 Feb, 2018

The Afghan government has unveiled a new security strategy for Kabul in a bid to make the city safe from insurgent attacks – following a series of deadly terrorist incidents that claimed at least 200 lives. The Ministry of Interior on Monday announced a package of measures which includes seven priorities composed of 92 classified items and will be implemented in three phases. Based on the new plan, side roads connecting suburbs of Kabul to the center of the city will be closed off and security forces will increase their reconnaissance and intelligence activities. President Ashraf Ghani has already approved the plan which will be implemented in a week’s time. “Inform the faithful people of Kabul that your security plan was finalized yesterday, and it will be implemented within two weeks,” Ghani told a gathering on Tuesday.Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Voting for National Assembly begins: Kathmandu Post
07 Feb, 2018

The election for the National Assembly has begun in six province with 52 candidates vying for 32 seats. Voting will take place between 10am and 3pm on Wednesday. Voting will be conducted in Province 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Voting was not required in Province 2 where all eight candidates have been elected unopposed. In the 59-member NA, elections are held for 56 seats while the remaining three are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the government. Eight each are elected from one province—three from women’s quota, one from Dalits, one from disabled or monitory communities and three others from the open category. Election Commission has said counting of votes will begin right after the polls conclude. EC has also said the vote will clear the way for it to announce the results of the House of Representatives under the Proportional Representation (PR) category.Click here to read... [4]

MALDIVES

Maldives crisis: Indian military kept on standby: Times of India
07 Feb, 2018

The Armed forces are on standby for any contingency in the Maldives+ , from evacuation of Indian tourists to military intervention in the archipelago, but there is no political directive to swing into action as yet. Sources on Tuesday said the armed forces, which keep a close watch on "developments" in the entire neighbourhood , were "prepared for any eventuality" and "deployment at short notice". The Indian Navy always has a couple of warships on patrol on the western seaboard, which can be diverted to Maldives if required. "India also has some defence personnel in Maldives due to defence cooperation; our warships, aircraft and copters often patrol its exclusive economic zone," a source said.Click here to read... [5]

BANGLADESH

Huge pressure on Bangladesh: Daily Star
07 Feb, 2018

Visiting the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Swiss President Alain Berset yesterday said a refugee crisis of this scale put Bangladesh and the international community under enormous pressure to provide shelter and the most urgent services to more than 650'000 people. Berset was talking to reporters during his visit to Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukiah of Cox's Bazar. Putting emphasis on the voluntary, safe and dignified return of the people to their places of origin, he expressed concern about the outlook for the younger generation and the situation of the women and children who need increased protection. He said his country was working closely with Bangladesh, UN agencies and other development partners.Click here to read... [6]

CHINA

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits Taiwan: China Daily
07 Feb, 2018

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the coast of Hualien county, Taiwan province, at 11:50 pm Tuesday, according to China Earthquake Networks Center. The earthquake occurred with a focal depth of 11 kilometers, and could be felt across the island.Click here to read... [7]

Xi: Multiparty ties need new impetus: People’s Daily
07 Feb, 2018

Non-Communist parties should step up work on the nation's poverty relief efforts, says general secretary. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for multiparty cooperation to better meet the needs of the new era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.Click here to read... [8]

China, US top diplomats to meet, North Korea likely high on agenda: South China Morning Post
06 Feb, 2018

China and the United States’ top diplomats will meet later this week amid intensifying rivalry between the two nations and continuing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.Click here to read... [9]