VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 27th September, 2018

PAKISTAN

PPP will resist 18th Amendment reversal: Bilawal: Dawn

September 27, 2018

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has declared that his party will fight to stop the “selected government” from rolling back the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment was passed during the PPP government to give due rights to the provinces, but “voices are coming from the government quarters that the 18th Amendment will be scrapped,” Mr Bilawal said during a reference held in memory of the late Nawabzada Nasrullah at a hotel on Wednesday. Announcing the launch of a full-fledged opposition against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, the PPP chairman said any attempt to sell the federation by “non-democratic forces” would be foiled.Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Abdullah Addresses UN General Assembly: Tolo News

September 27, 2018

Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday night addressed the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York where he briefed members present on the situation in Afghanistan, on its achievements, opportunities and challenges. On the issue of counter-terrorism, Abdullah said there isn’t any acceptable definition of terrorism and termed it an “ominous phenomenon”. He said the phenomenon is used by governments and non-government players and criminals in the name of religion, ideology, economic or psychological support. He also pointed out that support is being given to terrorists to disrupt the world order and achieve radical goals. “We are strictly fighting against new and more violent prescriptions of terrorism under the name of Daesh in parts of Afghanistan,” he said. “We have not been able so far to eliminate the sources such as economic crime and drug smuggling and the issue of safe havens (to terrorists) that play a serious role in the extension of terrorism.”Click here to read.... [3]

NEPAL

Nepal, India petroleum meet deferred: Kathmandu Post

September 27, 2018

The first meeting of Nepal-India Joint Working Group on Petroleum and Gas has been postponed at the last hour. However, the scheduled visit of Indian federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan is on and he will arrive on Friday, said officials. The two-day meeting that was to begin on Wednesday in Kathmandu was cancelled at the last moment after the India informed that the head of the Indian delegation could not take part in the meeting because of some administrative reason. The next meeting will take place as per mutually agreed dates. Though JWC meeting is cancelled, officials of Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation will meet on Thursday. They will discuss setting up petroleum and LPG facilities in Dhanusha, Chitwan and Sarlahi.Click here to read.... [4]

MALDIVES

PM Narendra Modi may visit Maldives in November: Hindustan Times

September 27, 2018

The government is considering a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maldives in November after the new government headed by Ibrahim Solih assumes office, a person familiar with the planning said. He said there are already feelers from Maldivian Democratic party for a Prime Ministerial visit to the Indian ocean island nation. “We are mulling about it. A call will be taken sooner than later,” an official said. The Maldives is the only SAARC country PM Modi is yet to visit.Click here to read.... [5]

CHINA

Xi calls for building world-class new mainstream media: Xinhuanet

September 26, 2018

President Xi Jinping has called on the China Media Group (CMG) and people working in the television circle nationwide to strive for building world-class new mainstream media with strong guidance, coverage and influence.Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked the CMG to be bold in its reform and innovation, and strengthen mainstream public opinion, in a congratulatory letter on the 60th anniversary of China Central Television (CCTV).Click here to read.... [6]

Chinese FM refutes U.S. allegations, stresses adherence to non-interference policy: People's Daily

September 27, 2018

China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference, and expects other countries to do the same, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday in response to U.S. allegations of China "attempting to interfere in" the 2018 midterm elections.Click here to read.... [7]