VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 11th June, 2018

PAKISTAN
CJP sets 30-day deadline for verdict in Nawaz cases: Dawn
June 11, 2018

The Supreme Court has extended the deadline given to the accountability court of Islamabad for the completion of trial in corruption references against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law. A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, on Sunday also allowed Mr Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to visit his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz in London. Taking up an application moved by judge Mohammad Bashir of the accountability court, the court granted one-month extension to the trial court. The previous deadline given to the court for concluding the trial expired on June 9. Appearing on behalf of the former premier before the SC at its Lahore registry, Advocate Khwaja Harris said that at least six more weeks were required to complete the proceedings. +Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN
Pakistan, Afghanistan To Set Up Coordination Centers: Tolo News
June 11, 2018

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to deploy liaison officers in each other's capital and establish coordination centers along the border to share intelligence on militant suspects, sources at a meeting of military officials said Sunday, according to Xinhua. The director generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries met in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi to explore ways for further cooperation in security areas. Officials said both sides agreed to deploy liaison officers and establish Ground Coordination Centers (GCCs) for intelligence sharing and to monitor cross-border movement of the militants. According to Xinhua, liaison officers will share information they receive about the presence and activities of militant suspects and will accompany the security officials during raids against the suspects. GCCs will be established at Torkham and Chaman, two main crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan to monitor the cross-border movement of the militant suspects. Click here to read.... [3]

NEPAL
RJP-N won’t join govt now: Mahato: Kathmandu Post
June 11, 2018

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) presidium member Rajendra Mahato has said his party will not join the government unless the constitution is amended to ensure the rights for Madhes and Madhesi people. “The government should come up with a clear view on constitution amendment and cases filed against the protesters of Madhes agitation,” said Mahato, while talking to reporters at Biratnagar Airport on Sunday. “We gave our support to the government. We should not join the government now as it has yet to work on addressing our demands,” he said. Mahato also warned that the country could plunged into a severe crisis if the problems of Madhes were not addressed soon. Click here to read.... [4]

BANGLADESH
India's Keen Interest In Bangladesh Nuclear Plant Near Its Border: NDTV
June 10, 2018

Less than two hours' from the eastern edge of West Bengal, across the international border, frenzied activity is underway to build a hi-tech nuclear power plant in Bangladesh's Rooppur. Though India won't get a share of the power that will be produced here, New Delhi does have an interest in seeing the facility come to life. For years, India has been pushing the frontier to try and make a mark in the global nuclear commerce that is worth multi-billion dollars but it has not had a lot of success since it is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG. But now, a new three party agreement between Russia, Bangladesh and India has opened the gates for India to make in-roads in this lucrative sector. The Rooppur power plant, which will be Bangladesh's first step to harness nuclear energy, will have 1,200 MW atomic reactors that Dhaka is buying from Russia. The technology is quite similar to the atomic reactors India has made at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu and so India and Bangladesh are working together on the project including the training of engineers. Click here to read.... [5]

SRI LANKA
China holds back Hambantota Port deal's final tranche of $585 million to Sri Lanka: Economic Times
June 10, 2018

China has withheld the Hambantota Port deal's final tranche of USD 585 million to Sri Lanka due to Colombo's objection over its plan to use a man-made island for entertainment purposes, a media report said here today. In December last year, Sri Lanka handed over the control of the southern sea port of Hambantota to China on a 99-year lease for USD 1.12 billion, amid concern over Beijing's efforts to expand influence in the region. Opposition leaders have dubbed the deal as a sell out to China. The SundayTimes reported that the last tranche of USD 585 million has been held back by China's state-owned China Merchants Port Holdings which wants the land to be used for entertainment purpose. Click here to read.... [6]

CHINA
Xi chairs SCO summit to draw up blueprint for shared future: People's Daily
June 11, 2018

Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) annual summit Sunday, aiming to bring the group to a shared future of common prosperity amid global instability and uncertainty. The 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the SCO in east China's port city of Qingdao marked the first gathering of leaders of all its eight member states -- since India and Pakistan were admitted as full members last year. Click here to read.... [7]

Russia and China sign nuclear deal: People's Daily
June 11, 2018

Russia's third-generation VVER-1200 nuclear technology will soon make its way into the Chinese market, after a deal was signed between Chinese and Russian companies. The Russian advance could be at the expense of US nuclear firm Westinghouse Electric Co, depriving the latter of a contract worth an estimated 80 billion yuan ($12.5 billion). Click here to read.... [8]

China may take bigger role as ‘guarantor and mediator’ after Trump-Kim nuclear talks: South China Morning Post
June 11, 2018

Beijing is expected to take a bigger role in Korean peninsula negotiations after US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meet on Tuesday – helping the two sides to push forward any deals they make. Click here to read.... [9]