VIF Neighborhood News Digest: October 10, 2019

PAKISTAN

Compliance report ready as FATF meeting approaches: Dawn
October 10, 2019

The next meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is scheduled to be held in Paris from Oct 12 to 15 and Pakistan has already prepared its compliance report, which will be presented by Minister for Economic Affairs Division Hammad Azhar. The Pakistani delegation is scheduled to leave for France on Oct 13 as Pakistan’s case will be taken up on Oct 14 and 15. Meanwhile, a report finalized by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Wednesday has said that the comprehensive guideline developed by the Commission has helped financial institutions to generate 219 Suspicious Transactions Reports (STRs) in one year, as compared to 13 STRs in eight years. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Nabil: Dead Al Qaeda Leader and Taliban Had “Close Relations”: Tolo
October 10, 2019

Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security issued a statement on Tuesday confirming the death of Asim Omar, a “member of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent.” The NDS said that Omar was killed in an operation by Afghan forces in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province in the south of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi rejected the claim that Omar had been killed in the attack. “We categorically reject this claim by Kabul officials and consider it a part of enemy-fabricated propaganda,” the Taliban statement reads. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Dhaka’s air quality improves after rain: Dhaka Tribune
October 10, 2019

The city was ranked 40th in Air Quality Index on Thursday morning. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, has seen a significant improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI) after it was showered by rain. The city was ranked 40th in AQI with a score of 65 at 8:21am on Thursday with moderate air quality, reports UNB. Delhi topped the list of cities with the worst air quality with a score of 195. It was followed by Vietnam’s Hanoi, and Indonesia’s Jakarta with scores of 186 and 173 respectively. 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

UN urged to spend more on repatriation, less on probes: Myanmar Times
October 10, 2019

The Myanmar government urged the United Nations to spend more money on the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of northern Rakhine refugees from Bangladesh instead of on investigating alleged human rights abuses by the Tatmadaw (military). Daw Hmway Hmway Khyne, Myanmar’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, chided the world body on Wednesday for spending $35 million on seven bodies investigating Myanmar, including the International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM). “Without the consent and cooperation of the country concerned, none of these investigations will produce any tangible results,” she said. Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

TNA to hold talks with Gota: Sumanthiran: Daily Mirror
October 10, 2019

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will hold talks with the presidential candidate of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Gotabaya Rajapaksa shortly, a party official said today. Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told Daily Mirror yesterday that Mr. Rajapaksa had sought a meeting with him. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will be accompanied by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa. Mr. Sumanthiran said the TNA had held talks with UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa and briefed him about the party’s position. Click here to read... [6]

NEPAL

Chinese President Xi Jinping is arriving in Kathmandu on Saturday on a two-day state visit, foreign ministry confirms: The Kathmandu Post
October 10, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday on a two-day state visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. At the invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari, the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, is paying a state visit to Nepal on October 12 and 13, said the ministry in a statement on Wednesday. During the visit, Xi will meet with President Bhandari, who will host a banquet in honor of the Chinese president and his delegation. Click here to read... [7]

CHINA

US and China make no progress on key trade issues in two days of deputy-level talks, sources say: South China Morning Post
October 10, 2019

Deputy-level trade talks between the US and China aimed at laying the groundwork for high-level negotiations later this week failed to yield any progress on critical issues, according to two sources with knowledge of the meetings. Click here to read... [8]

Xi's South Asia trip set to boost regional links: China Daily
October 10, 2019

President Xi Jinping's South Asia trip, which begins on Friday, will boost regional interconnectivity and strengthen China's ties with India and Nepal, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday. Click here to read... [9]