VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - 29 Jan 2018

PAKISTAN

Trump urges ‘all nations’ to fight Taliban: Dawn
29 Jan, 2017

US President Donald Trump has urged all nations to crack down on the Taliban group that orchestrated Saturday’s terrorist attack in Kabul, killing 95 people. In a similar message, also released on Saturday afternoon, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that those who support terrorists or offer sanctuaries to them will no longer be tolerated. As he often does, President Trump used a social media outlet, Twitter, to give his initial reaction, declaring: “We will not allow the Taliban to win!”

Later, the White House issued another statement from him, condemning Saturday’s deadly car bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan and calling for all nations to crack down on the Taliban terrorist group behind the attack. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Kabul military academy under attack: Dawn
29 Jan, 2017

Gunmen launched a pre-dawn attack on a military academy in Kabul on Monday, security officials and sources told AFP, in an ongoing assault that marks the latest violence to strike the Afghan capital. Some of the attackers at the Marshal Fahim Military Academy have been killed, an Afghan security source said, in the third major attack in the city in just over a week. At least four attackers were still involved in an intense gun battle with security forces, the source said, adding the gunmen had not managed to enter the heavily fortified academy. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Left reaches power-sharing deal for 6 provincies: My Republica
29 Jan, 2017

Seven weeks after the conclusion of the federal and parliamentary polls, a meeting of the UML and Maoist leaders at Singha Durbar on Sunday successfully ironed out the differences over portfolio distribution and power-sharing at the provincial government with 70:30 split in power. The agreement has paved the way for the formation of left government in six provinces where the two parties had registered resounding victories. As per the deal, UML will form government in Province 1, 3, 4 and 5, while Maoist Center will form government in Province 6 and 7. The meeting also finalized other key portfolios including speakers and deputy speakers for the six provinces. The speaker in Province 1, 3, 6 and 7 will be from the UML, while Maoist Center will have speaker in Province 4 and 5. Meanwhile, Maoist Center will have deputy speaker in Province 1, 3, 6 and 7, while the deputy speakers in other two provinces will come from the UML. Click here to read... [4]

SRILANKA

President: Ready to form SLFP Govt. if all UPFA MPs join: Daily Mirror
28 Jan, 2017

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he was willing to establish a government led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party, if all 96 United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarians joined hands with him. “I am ready to create an SLFP-led Government if the 96 UPFA members were ready to stand with me,” the President said speaking at an election rally in Ratnapura yesterday. Meanwhile, the President said the Gazette notification would be issued next week to appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate frauds that had taken place in the SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka airlines. Click here to read... [4]

MALDIVES

Opposition to top court to impeach Maldives pres: Haveeru
28 Jan, 2017

The opposition on Sunday filed a motion at the Supreme Court to impeach President Abdulla Yameen, who is under fire over multiple graft allegations. Former president Mohamed Nasheed announced in a tweet that he had filed the corruption case jointly with former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Jumhoory Party leader Qasim Ibrahim, and Adhaalath Party’s deputy leader Ali Zahir. “We requested [the Supreme Court] to impeach [President Yameen],” he said. The opposition has not disclosed further details on the case yet. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Consul General of India speaks on India-Myanmar relations: Myanmar Times
29 Jan, 2017

Last week, India celebrated their 69th Republic Day on 26 January and hosted government representatives from the ASEAN nations in New Delhi. In Mandalay, Myanmar, H.E. Nandan Singh Bhaisora, the Indian Consul General spoke to a gathering of dignitaries about the relations and ties between India and Myanmar. Click here to read... [4]