VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 27th July, 2018
PAKISTAN
Party heads, bigwigs humbled in strongholds: Dawn

July 27, 2018

Amid allegations of rigging by various political parties, the 11th general election in the country on Wednesday produced some surprising results as a number of political heavyweights and seasoned politicians suffered defeat in their strongholds, albeit with a slim margin. According to the unofficial results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) so far, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan won all five seats where he had contested the elections, whereas the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari lost in their traditional strongholds. The PPP chairperson, who was contesting polls from three constituencies for the first time, lost the contest in Malakand (NA-8) to PTI candidate Junaid Akbar. In a major upset, Mr Bhutto-Zardari also lost to PTI’s Shakoor Shad in Lyari (NA-246) in Karachi. Click here to read...

If India takes one step, we will take two: Imran Khan: The News

July 26, 2018

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan shed light on the foreign policies his government will be implementing in his approaching tenure. In his maiden address after his party claimed a majority in the elections, the PTI chairman highlighted pointers on his foreign policy terming it ‘a huge problem’ and affirming to build improved links with the bordering states. “Foreign policy is a huge problem for us as a country right now. We need better relations with our neighbours so we can focus on nation building,” he stated. Going into discourse about one of the most significant challenges that stand in the way of the country’s foreign plan, Khan stated: “As far as India is concerned; I was disappointed with how Indian media portrayed me in the past few weeks. As a villain. I am that Pakistani who has traveled through India because of my cricket.” Click here to read..

AFGHANISTAN
Imran Khan Calls for Peace in Afghanistan: Tolo News

July 26, 2018

Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, who is poised to become the country’s next prime minister, delivered a speech on Thursday afternoon in which he laid out the future government's policy on domestic and foreign affairs. In his speech, Khan touched on Pakistan’s domestic issues mainly reforms, economic development, poverty and corruption and pledged to introduce wide-ranging reforms once he assumes office as prime minister. Khan also talked about Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors and said that Afghanistan has suffered tremendously due to war and violence over the past few decades and that Pakistan is ready to cooperate in bringing peace in the war-ravaged nation. Click here to read...

MALDIVES
Opposition presidential candidate, running mate submit applications: Haveeru

July 26, 2018

The opposition coalition's presidential candidate Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim "Ibu" Mohamed Solih and his running mate Kaashidhoo MP Faisal Naseem filed their candidacy for the upcoming election on Thursday morning. MP Ibu and MP Faisal were accompanied by a parade of senior officials and supporters from the opposition coalition as they proceeded to the Elections Commission. Opposition Coalition accompanying Ibu and Faisal to the Election Commission. Ibu and Faisal are the first candidates to officially submit their candidacy. The Elections Commission will decide and announce at a later whether the two are eligible to contest in the Presidential Elections. Click here to read..

CHINA
Man injures self in blast outside US embassy: China Daily

July 27, 2018

A man was hospitalized after he detonated a firecracker-like device in an intersection near the United States embassy in Beijing around 1 pm on Thursday. The incident is an isolated one, Chinese authorities said. The 26-year-old man, surnamed Jiang, is from Tongliao, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Beijing police said in a statement. His motive was unknown. He was treated for a hand injury. No one else was hurt, the police said. Police found a lighter, debris of firecrackers and three unexploded firecrackers, each measuring 19.5 centimeters long and 3.5 cm in diameter. Jiang's family told the police he had suffered from visual and auditory hallucinations since 2016 and had received treatment. Police checked his medical records and found he had been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder. Click here to read...

Experts welcome president's position against protectionism: China Daily

July 27, 2018

President Xi Jinping's call for a liberal global trade system and opposition to protectionism at the BRICS Business Forum held in Johannesburg on Wednesday won praise from experts in the United States. "The international community has reached a new crossroads, and we are facing a choice between cooperation and confrontation, between opening-up and a closed-door policy, and between mutual benefit and a beggar-thy-neighbor approach," Xi said at the forum where around 1,000 delegates from BRICS member countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa-participated. Click here to read..

Xi, Putin exchange views on current int'l situation: People’s Daily

July 27, 2018

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, met on Thursday and exchanged in-depth views on current international situation. The two heads of state held a meeting and also had dinner together on the sidelines of the 10th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the meeting, they also touched upon major issues of common concern. The 10th BRICS summit is running from Wednesday to Friday under the theme of "BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution." Click here to read..

Xi charts BRICS cooperation: People’s Daily

July 27, 2018

BRICS member countries should deepen their strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, finance and interconnectivity, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday. In his speech at the opening of the BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg, Xi said that BRICS countries should push forward free trade, facilitate investment and firmly oppose protectionism. The BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — should safeguard the multilateral trading system under the framework of the United Nations, the G20 and the World Trade Organization, Xi said. Click here to read..

China’s envoy smells ‘gunpowder’ as US ambassador opens fire on Beijing’s economic model at WTO: South China Morning Post

July 27, 2018

Chinese and US envoys presented radically differing visions of Beijing’s economic model at the World Trade Organisation on Thursday, a choice between “the world’s most protectionist economy” and a growth story that has benefited all countries. Click here to read..

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