VIF Neighborhood News Digest: January 10, 2020

PAKISTAN

Pakistan moves US court to stop over $6bn fine in Reko Diq case: Dawn
January 10, 2020

Pakistan has asked a US federal court to pause an Australian copper company’s bid to enforce a $6 billion arbitral award while it looks to have the award nixed, reports Law360, a New York-based legal publication. The company — Tethyan Copper Co. Pty Ltd — won the award last summer following a dispute over the rejected Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan. Pakistan argued in a federal court in Washington that the enforcement could have “devastating consequences for its political and economic stability”, said the author, Caroline Simson. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

High Casualties Reported in Shindand Strike: Tolo
January 10, 2020

Over 60 civilians were killed and wounded alongside 30 members of the Taliban as a result of a drone strike targeting Mullah Nangyalai, a top commander of the Taliban’s splinter faction, said local government officials and members of the Herat provincial council on Thursday. While officials from the Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) insist that the drone strike was conducted in coordination with the Defense Ministry, local officials in the province called the attack a mistake. Meanwhile, dozens of members of Taliban’s splinter faction on Thursday attended the funeral ceremony of Mullah Nangyalai in Guzargah neighborhood west of Herat city. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

PM pays homage to Bangabandhu on Homecoming Day: Dhaka Tribune
January 10, 2020

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the Homecoming Day of the great leader. The premier paid the homage by placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in Dhaka Friday morning, reports BSS. After laying the wreaths, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence. Flanked by ministers, and central leaders of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the party, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Myanmar intensifies screening of travelers over China pneumonia outbreak: Myanmar Times
January 10, 2020

The government has tightened screening of travelers in the country’s three international airports amid an outbreak of a pneumonia virus in China, a senior health official said on Thursday. The Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Health and Sports is conducting surveillance on all arriving visitors at Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay international airports, according to Daw Khin Khin Gyi, deputy director of (Central) Contagious Disease Prevention and Eradication Sub-Department under the Department of Public Health. Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

Ministry to suspend import of train coaches in future: C.B. Ratnayake: Daily Mirror
January 10, 2020

The Railway Services State Minister C. B. Ratnayake yesterday said that the ministry had decided to suspend importing of railway compartments in the future. Speaking to the media following an inspection visit to the Maradana Railway yard, the minister said only the seats of the compartments would be imported in the first phase, at the initiating of the program. However, the technicians and engineers at the Maradana workshop yard were able to construct the required seats using local materials, he said. A project proposal to build compartments locally had already been passed. Click here to read... [6]

NEPAL

India’s ban on imports of refined palm oil could kill Nepal’s biggest export: The Kathmandu Post
January 10, 2020

India on Wednesday imposed restrictions on imports of refined palm oil, in a move seen as retaliation against Malaysia, but its repercussions are likely to be immediate in Nepal, as Nepal’s largest export is refined palm oil. While government officials are worried about the restriction’s impact on Nepal’s export volume, experts say this situation was a long time coming, as traders had been exploiting a zero tariff facility on essential products. India is the world’s biggest market for edible oil and Malaysia its top supplier. But on Wednesday, the Indian government said that it had amended its imports policy to designate refined palm oil imports “restricted” from “free”, effectively meaning a complete ban. Click here to read... [7]

BHUTAN

Govt. to fast track establishment of industrial parks: Kuenselonline
January 10, 2020

More than 150 applications to set up industries have been kept pending because of incomplete infrastructure at the industrial estates, non-issuance of clearances for various agencies, and bureaucratic hurdles. In an attempt to find out why the establishment of the industrial estates was delay, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering met with officials from the Department of Industry, and Gross National Happiness Commission. Dhamdum Industrial Park in Samtse, Bondeyma Industrial Park in Mongar, Motanga Industrial Park in Samdrupjongkhar, and Jigmeling Industrial Estate in Gelephu were identified since the first government’s term. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

For Taiwan voters, election is about more than Beijing and Washington: South China Morning Post
January 10, 2020

A significant number of Taiwan’s voters remain undecided days before Saturday’s presidential election, which has become a proxy for the intensifying strategic rivalry between Beijing and Washington. Click here to read... [9]

Xi honors two academicians with China's top science award: Xinhuanet
January 10, 2020

President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award to Huang Xuhua and Zeng Qingcun on Friday for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, granted award medals and certificates to them at an annual ceremony held in Beijing to honor distinguished scientists, engineers, and research achievements. Click here to read... [10]