VIF Neighborhood News Digest: September 6, 2019

PAKISTAN

Pakistan observes Defence and Martyrs Day as Kashmir Solidarity Day: Dawn
September 6, 2019

As the country observes Defence and Martyrs Day as Kashmir Solidarity Day today on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that all of Pakistan was united against India's "illegal, unilateral, reckless and coercive attempt" to alter the status of occupied Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported. Today marks the 54th anniversary of the 1965 Pakistan-India war when the nation's forces defended the country from an Indian attack on Pakistani soil. This year, the day is being observed to pay tribute to the country’s martyrs and to reaffirm commitment to defending Pakistan against all threats. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Negotiating Team Will Not Have Decision-Making Authority: Saleh: Tolo
September 6, 2019

President Ashraf Ghani’s running mate as his first vice president in the upcoming presidential election, Amrullah Saleh, said on Thursday that the peace negotiating team will not have decision-making authority and that a 15-member team cannot make a decision on a national issue. The negotiating team, according to government officials, will attend intra-Afghan negotiations which will begin after the US and the Taliban sign an agreement which still needs US President Donald Trump’s approval. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Power crisis deepens in JaPa: Dhaka Tribune
September 6, 2019

The confrontation which was prevailing inside Jatiya Party (JaPa) for the last one and a half months has escalated further yesterday with the announcement of making HM Ershad’s widow Raushon Ershad its chairperson. While Ershad was alive, the party was divided into two: one was pro-Ershad, and the other pro-Raushon. After Ershad’s death, his followers became known as pro-GM Quader. But they repeatedly said that there was no fraction inside the party. The confrontation took a serious turn when GM Quader sent a letter to the Speaker of the parliament to take steps for announcing him the opposition party leader in the house on September 3. Click here to read... [4]

Myanmar

Govt seeks UN envoy’s help with Hindu repatriation: The Myanmar Times
September 6, 2019

The government has asked Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN special envoy to Myanmar, to help in the repatriation of Hindu families who fled to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine State during the violence in 2017. U Chan Aye, director general of the International Organisation and Economic Department, said the government has verified the citizenship of over 400 of the more than 800 Hindu families living in cramped refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. He said the families have sought voluntary repatriation. U Chan Aye said on Thursday that Minister of International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin had sought the help of Burgener during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday. Click here to read... [5]

Sri Lanka

Will come to presidential poll with blessings of Ranil, Karu: Sajith: Daily Mirror
September 6, 2019

I believe that I would be fielded as the United National Party (UNP) presidential candidate with the blessings of Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and with the consent of other party members, UNP Deputy Leader Minister Sajith Premadasa said yesterday. He expressed these views while addressing a rally at Kurunegala, which was organized by UNP members including Ashoka Abeysinghe, Nalin Bandara and Thushara Idunil. He said the party leader and other members would also consider the fact that he is the son of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa when deciding on the UNP presidential candidate. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Four farmers convicted for smuggling 20kg gold: Kuensel
September 6, 2019

Paro dzongkhag court on September 2 sentenced four farmers from Tsento to two and a half years to five-year non-compoundable prison term for smuggling, solicitation, aiding and abetting in connection with the import of 20kg gold biscuits from the northern border. As per the provisions of Penal Code, Gem Dorji, 39, and Rinchen Khandu, 33, received five-year term each for smuggling in 20kg gold worth Nu 58.713 million. Gold smuggling is graded third-degree felony with a prison term ranging from five to nine years. Click here to read... [7]

Nepal

Chinese Foreign Minister to arrive on Sunday for a three-day visit: The Kathmandu Post
September 6, 2019

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be arriving on Sunday for a three-day official visit that many believe will set the stage for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival, possibly in mid-October. Though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu remain tight-lipped on the visit, three different sources confirmed to the Post that Wang will be in Kathmandu for three days and will return to Beijing on Tuesday after gauging the possibility of the Chinese president’s stopover. Click here to read... [8]

China

Hong Kong protests: Carrie Lam has ruled out commission of inquiry into police actions, so what can replace it and will it work ? : South China Morning Post
September 6, 2019

On Wednesday, when word leaked that Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was about to make an important announcement, political watchers were betting she would tick off two of the five demands of protesters who have been taking to the streets for nearly three months. Click here to read... [9]

Sino-Arab cooperation, ties to flourish driven by Xi's vision: People's Daily
September 6, 2019

Following the trend of the times and respective development needs, China and the Arab states have in recent years made joint efforts in advancing the Belt and Road and achieved fruitful results, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a congratulatory letter to the fourth China-Arab States Expo that opened Thursday. Click here to read... [10]