Audio Overview of South Asia Issues, Tuesday, 19 February 2019

APAC Assistance Operations Assistant Bhargav Reddy discusses Main Issues in South Asia.

 

Main Issues in South Asia

Firstly in PAKISTAN

  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has signed investment deals worth more than USD 20 billion with Pakistan yesterday during his state visit. Seven agreements and Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the two countries.
  • Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to set up an oil refinery in the southwest of Pakistan and to supply oil and petroleum products to meet the growing demands of Pakistan.

Also in Pakistan

  • Yesterday a leader of Pak Sarzameen Party was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in the Sakhi Hasan Chowrangi area of the southern city of Karachi.
  • The politician had recently contested for the Sindh Assembly seat of PS-122. Political assassinations are frequently reported in the country.
  • Clients are advised to avoid all political events in Pakistan. Employ extreme caution while visiting crowded and impoverished areas of Karachi.

BANGLADESH

  • More than 40 people, including three journalists, were injured during a turf war between two groups of the Bangladesh Chhatra League party in the Jagannath University in Dhaka yesterday.
  • Some of the party workers were armed with lethal weapons including crude bombs and swords. Police had to fire teargas to control the situation.
  • Clients are advised to avoid the southern part of Dhaka city as more clashes are expected in the area.

SRI LANKA

  • Vehicular movement will be temporarily suspended in various parts of Colombo until the conclusion of the Gangarama Perahera festival which will commence at 7:00 pm today.
  • Traffic movement on the following roads will be limited from 5.00 pm: Sir James Peiris Mawatha, Navam Mawatha, Perahera Mawatha, W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha, Muttiah Road, Sri Jinarathana Mawatha, Hunupitiya Lake Road, Braybrooke Place, Park Street and Staple Street.
  • Clients are advised to avoid traveling to areas expected to host the festival celebrations and avoid the roads scheduled for closures. Expect heavy traffic in Colombo during the festival.

NEPAL

  • A couple was arrested by police yesterday from Pokhara-5 area of Parsyang district in central Nepal on charges of printing and circulating fake currency. Police found 19 counterfeit banknotes of Rs 1000 denomination.
  • Police recovered a color printer, laptop, mobile top-up cards of Nepal Telecom and Ncell worth Rs 90,000 and two fake Indian banknotes of INR 500. The couple came under police scanners after local grocery store reported the couple who paid in counterfeit notes in exchange of top-up cards.
  • Clients are advised to be aware of counterfeit currency widely circulated in Nepal and smuggled across to India. Report to local authorities if there are any suspicions.

 

Main Issues in East Asia Pacific

Firstly in INDONESIA

  • Authorities will temporarily close Jl. Pancoran in West Jakarta on February 19 and 20 for the Chinatown Festival in the Chinatown area. West Jakarta Transportation Agency said, “To avoid traffic jams because of the closure, we will divert the traffic to other streets”.
  • Traffic from Jl. Toko Tiga to Jl. Pancoran will be diverted to Jl. Pintu Kecil and Jl. Asemka. However, traffic from Jl. Pancoran to Jl. Toko Tiga Seberang and Jl. Pintu Kecil will remain open. The road closures are likely to increase the traffic and cause delays in supply chain operations of the businesses in the area.
  • Clients are advised to avoid the roads around the Chinatown area in Jakarta until Wednesday. Consider alternate routes to avoid closed roads.

The PHILIPPINES

  • Two people were killed and one person was injured in a drive-by shooting in Mandaluyong City yesterday.
  • They were shot by unidentified assailants on motorbikes near Reliance Street in Mandaluyong City, east of Manila. The shooting comes despite the gun ban is in place before the mid-term elections and police have intensified security measures in Metro Manila for the midterm elections.
  • Gun violence and illegal weapons trafficking in the Philippines are major concerns for law enforcement agencies. Clients are advised to avoid any political events before the elections and employ extreme caution while going out at night in Manila or other major cities in the Philippines.

THAILAND

  • Office of the Election Commission of Thailand has warned that posting text, sharing or commenting on messages that defame political candidates violates the Computer Crime Act. Major social media platforms have agreed to remove illegal and fake contents from their platforms in two days by using artificial intelligence.
  • Candidates and supporters can use the online platforms and pay for online advertising, but if the payment exceeds 10,000 baht (USD 320) they need to declare the expense after the election. Those who post rude or violent remarks will be jailed up to six months and with a fine of 10,000 baht (USD 320) as it breaks sections 70 and 159 of the ECT law.
  • Clients are advised to avoid all political events and posts online. Refrain from engaging with any political content on social media platforms.
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