VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 19th June, 2018

PAKISTAN
Nomination papers of Farooq Sattar, Pervez Musharraf rejected: Dawn
June 19, 2018

The nomination papers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's (MQM-P) Dr Farooq Sattar as well as All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief Pervez Musharraf were rejected on Tuesday by returning officers (ROs). Meanwhile, nomination papers of PTI chief Imran Khan, PPP supremo Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz and Maryam Nawaz following scrutiny have been accepted, DawnNewsTV reported. The detailed orders are awaited as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concludes the scrutiny of nomination papers today. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN
Russia And Iran Welcome Govt’s Ceasefire Extension With Taliban: Tolo News
June 19, 2018

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday welcomed Afghan National Unity Government’s (NUG) decision on the extension of the ceasefire with the Taliban group as did the Iranian government. "We welcome the statement by President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on the extension of the temporary ceasefire announced by the Afghan government on the occasion of the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan," the ministry said in a statement. This comes after Ghani announced a ceasefire from 27th of Ramazan until the end of Eid-ul-Fitr in order to encourage the Taliban to join the peace process. On Sunday he extended the ceasefire by another ten days. Click here to read.... [3]

NEPAL
PM Oli leaves for China: Kathmandu Post
June 19, 2018

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has embarked on a six-day official visit to China upon the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Tuesday.

Oli boarded a special Himlayan Airlines flight leading a 120-member delegation including four ministers, half-a-dozen lawmakers, over two dozens government officials, media persons and other individuals. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR
Myanmar not meeting 'minimal standards': The Daily Star
June 19, 2018

Myanmar has not met the minimum standards in investigating or prosecuting those engaged in the violence against the Rohingyas, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein yesterday. “Although Myanmar has stated that it will investigate allegations and prosecute alleged perpetrators, its actions to date have not met minimal standards of credibility or impartiality,” he said in the opening statement of the 38th session of Human Rights Council yesterday. “No repatriation should occur in the absence of sustained human rights monitoring on the ground, in the areas concerned.” Over 700,000 Rohingyas fled Myanmar and came to Bangladesh since the Myanmar military launched a crackdown on the Rohingyas last August. At least 6,700 Rohingyas have been killed in a month since beginning of the crackdown on August 25, according to Doctors without Borders. Click here to read.... [5]

CHINA
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un ‘planning a third meeting’ with Xi Jinping: South China Morning Post
June 19, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to visit China as early as Tuesday to brief President Xi Jinping on his Singapore summit with US President Donald Trump and discuss a future negotiating strategy, Japanese publication Nikkei Asian Review reported. Click here to read.... [6]

Trump directs new tariffs on 200 bln US dollars' worth of Chinese goods: People’s Daily
June 19, 2018

US President Donald Trump on Monday directed his Trade Representative to identify 200 billion US dollars' worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent, according to a statement released by the White House.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce earlier said China is firmly opposed to the US government's latest release of a revised tariff list that targets Chinese imports, and will impose countermeasures on US products with equal force and scale. Click here to read.... [7]

China expands imports to share development dividends with world: People’s Daily
June 19, 2018

China has reassured the world that its stance on encouraging imports will not change, a major development strategy that will not only help domestic industrial upgrades but also stimulate global economic growth. A slew of incentives will be taken to further boost imports, the State Council, China's cabinet, decided at an executive meeting last week chaired by Premier Li Keqiang. Click here to read.... [8]

Three-year action plan aims for blue skies: China Daily
June 19, 2018

Within three years, air pollution in China's key urban areas will be significantly reduced, resulting in more blue-sky days, by shrinking outdated production capacity and the use of substandard coal, as part of efforts to change energy consumption and the industrial structure. The State Council, China's Cabinet, approved a three-year action plan to achieve the target at an executive meeting, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. Analysts said economic and industrial restructuring will be key to reducing particulate matter density as smog has shrouded Beijing and surrounding areas for years. Click here to read.... [9]