VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 21, 2019

PAKISTAN

Pakistan thwarts India’s FATF blacklist move but danger still lurks: Dawn

June 21, 2019

Pakistan has managed to garner much-needed support from three member states of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to avoid being placed on its blacklist, but black clouds are still hanging over it. Islamabad has been on the global money laundering watchdog’s radar since June 2018, when it was placed on a grey list for terrorist financing and money laundering risks after an assessment of the country's financial system and security mechanism. Click here to read... [2]v" target="_blank">Click here to read...

AFGHANISTAN

Thousands Of Afghans Waiting For Asylum Applications In India: Tolo

June 21, 2019

Dozens of Afghan nationals staged a peaceful rally in front of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in New Delhi to protest the “unknown fate” of their asylum applications in European countries. Figures by Afghanistan’s Embassy in India show that at least 15,000 Afghans have applied for asylum to Europe, Canada and the USA. One protestor, Wazhma, said thousands of Afghans are living in New Delhi with the hope that their applications will be processed by the UN office as soon as possible. The protestors carried banners which read “India is not our final destination” and “refugees have basic rights”. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

All workers trapped inside Rasuwagadi Hydropower Project tunnel come out alive: Kathmandu Post

June 21, 2019

All 17 workers trapped inside a tunnel of the Rasuwagadi Hydropower Project on Thursday night have come out alive by Friday morning. According to the project, 17 workers, including 11 Nepalis and 6 Chinese labourers, were stuck inside the tunnel following a dry landslide at around 8:30 pm yesterday along the path that leads to the project’s surge tank. The workers were heading to their shift after dinner when the incident occurred. Project Chief Chabi Gaire informed that all trapped workers have come out of the tunnel unharmed adding that the landslip had occurred inside the tunnel and did not block the tunnel entrance. He further said that the workers were urged to remain inside until daybreak in order to avoid any untoward incident at night. Click here to read... [4]

CHINA

China ready to join DPRK for brighter future of ties, regional peace, prosperity: Xi: Xinhuanet

June 21, 2019

Beijing is willing to join Pyongyang in opening up a bright future for bilateral ties, and lasting peace and common prosperity in the region, said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president. Xi made the remarks here Thursday at a welcome banquet held by Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Click here to read... [5]

Chinese premier

Meets executives of famous multinational companies: Xinhuanet

June 21, 2019

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Thursday met with executives of a number of famous multinational companies who are in Beijing to attend the seventh round-table summit of the Global CEO Council. A number of multinational companies, represented by the participants of the summit, have taken part in China's reform and opening-up process at an early stage, Li noted, adding that they have not only brought capital, technology and management expertise to China, but also secured a large market, reaped rewards and realized mutually beneficial and win-win results. Click here to read... [6]