VIF Neighborhood News Digest: September 17, 2019

PAKISTAN

Imran scotches talk of ‘deal’ with ex-rulers: Dawn
September 17, 2019

Amid media reports about a possible ‘deal’ between the government and the opposition, Prime Minister Imran Khan has again declared he will never compromise on graft cases against the former rulers to strike any deal with them. In a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan at Prime Minister Office on Monday, the premier said there would be “no compromise, no deal”, according to the ruling party’s media office press release. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Security Concerns Remain As Afghans Prepare For Elections: Tolo
September 17, 2019

While the Afghan security agencies have announced their readiness to fully secure the upcoming presidential elections, there are still concerns in various regions of the country that security threats could impact the process. Reports indicate that some of the polling stations that remained opened during last October’s parliamentary elections are now closed due to serious security threats. But the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has expressed hopes that the security threat will not impact the election process. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Election official, 2 others arrested over Rohingya NIDs: Dhaka Tribune
September 17, 2019

A special laptop for inputting NID information reportedly went missing from the Chittagong District Election office in 2015. Police have arrested three people, including a staff of a local election office, for allegedly helping Rohingya refugees in acquiring Bangladesh’s National Identity Card (NID) in Chittagong on Monday night. The arrestees were identified as Md Joynal Abedin, 35, office assistant of Double Mooring Election Office, Bijoy Das, 26, and his sister Sima Das, 24, residents of Patiya upazila. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Government negotiators, Northern Alliance begin talks in Kyaingtong: Myanmar Times
September 17, 2019

Representatives of the government and the Northern Alliance of four ethnic armed groups met in Kyaingtong on Tuesday in a bid to find sustainable peace, especially in Shan State, which seen renewed fighting in recent days. U Lamai Khun Ja of the Myitkyina-based Peace Talk Creation Group said the talks could be extended if today’s meeting goes well. “We’re going to negotiate a bilateral ceasefire first,” he said. “It depends on the results of today discussions whether the negotiations will continue.” Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

No scientific survey on Presidency, my personal views are of no value: Sajith: Daily Mirror
September 17, 2019

Minister Sajith Premadasa said today there has been no scientific survey done on the maintainability or the abolition of the Executive Presidency and his personal views are of no value. Addressing a press conference early morning at the official residence of Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Minister Premadasa said that he is willing to listen to the people of the country and it is their decision. “My personal views are of no value. My views are based on people’s views and opinions. I have no monopoly on articulating and formulating policy,” he said. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

DANTAK to construct Nganglam-Dewathang highway: Kuensel
September 17, 2019

Project DANTAK will construct the 68-kilometer Nganglam-Dewathang highway, which was deferred indefinitely since 2015 by the former government. Work on the detailed project report (DPR) is also already in the process according to the works and human settlement minister Dorji Tshering. Lyonpo said that in doing so, there will be some realignment and the DPR is expected to complete by the end of this fiscal year. Click here to read... [7]

NEPAL

Statements by ruling party’s youth wing against democratic values, analysts say: The Kathmandu Post
September 17, 2019

On Monday, as the debate over the tourism minister’s delaying of a Buddha Air flight continued online, Yogesh Bhattarai’s personal aide issued a statement, which many said was in bad taste for the choice of words. Prem Guragai’s statement reeked of braggadocio. And as though it was not enough, the Kaski chapter of the ruling Nepal Communist Party’s youth wing—Rastriya Yuwa Sangh Nepal—issued another statement late Sunday, declaring that Gyanendra Shahi, the person who led an altercation with Bhattarai in Nepalgunj for delaying the flight, has been banned from entering the district. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Macao's new chief: 'One country' premise of 'two systems': China Daily
September 17, 2019

The Macao Special Administrative Region's chief executive-elect, Ho Iat-seng, vowed to strictly uphold the "one country, two systems" principle, emphasizing "one country" is the premise of "two systems". Click here to read... [9]

Xi underlines security, openness in cyberspace: Xinhuanet
September 17, 2019

President Xi Jinping has highlighted the necessity for a cyberspace environment that is safe and manageable as well as open and innovative. Efforts should be made to raise people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security in cyberspace, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, in an instruction to a week-long national awareness campaign on cybersecurity that opened in the northern Chinese municipality of Tianjin Monday. Click here to read... [10]