VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 12, 2019

PAKISTAN

16 people killed in attack targeting Hazara community in Quetta: Dawn
April 12, 2019

At least 16 people were killed and over two dozen others injured in a blast that targeted members of the Hazara community in Quetta's Hazarganji market on Friday morning. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema confirmed the death toll to DawnNewsTV and that the blast was targeted at the ethnic community. "The attack took place in a [green grocer's] shop. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was planted in a gunny sack filled with potatoes. Whether it was timed or remote-controlled, our experts will tell. Right now they are investigating," DIG Cheema said. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Women’s Rights Our Red Line In Peace Process: Ghani
April 12, 2019

President Ashraf Ghani, who met a group of women in Faryab province on Thursday, said that women’s rights remain the Afghan government’s red line in the peace process – which has seen some developments in recent months following efforts by the Afghan government and its international allies. The inclusion of women in the peace process and defending from their rights in future talks with the Taliban has been a much-debated topic in recent days. The Afghan government will send a delegation to Qatar meeting scheduled for April 19 where Afghan politicians will exchange views with the Taliban about the peace process. Critics say major issues in the peace talks is how to preserve the achievements of the past 18 years, including women’s rights. Click here to read.... [3]

MYANMAR

Reuters Journalists Jailed in Myanmar to Receive U.N. Press Freedom Prize: Time
April 12, 2019

Two Reuters journalists who are currently serving seven-year prison sentences in Myanmar are to be awarded a prize for press freedom by the U.N.’s cultural organization. The 2019 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize, which honors the defense and promotion of press freedom, is being awarded to Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo as a tribute to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression, according to a press release from UNESCO. The two journalists had been working on stories about a military crackdown and alleged human rights violations in Rakhine state in Myanmar when they were arrested. They were also named as TIME’s Person of the Year, along with three other journalists and a news organization, last December. Click here to read.... [4]

CHINA

Xi applauds ethnic group's poverty fight: China Daily
April 12, 2019

President Xi Jinping has called on an ethnic minority group living in the remote mountains of Southwest China to continue to work for a better life, and he congratulated them on their progress so far. Click here to read.... [5]

Bridge called model for cooperation: China Daily
April 12, 2019

Premier Li Keqiang and his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic visited the construction site of the Peljesac Bridge on Thursday. The bridge will connect two parts of the European Union member's territory and is being built by Chinese companies. Click here to read.... [6]