VIF Neighborhood News Digest: September 18, 2019

PAKISTAN

Trump to meet Imran, Modi for talks focusing on Kashmir: Dawn
September 18, 2019

US President Donald Trump has said that he will meet both Indian and Pakistani leaders in the next few days while claiming that “a lot of progress is being made” in defusing tensions between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed neighbours. “I’ll see Prime Minister Modi and I will — we’ll — be meeting with (prime ministers of) India and Pakistan,” said Mr Trump, adding: “And I think a lot of progress is being made there, a lot of progress.” Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

22 Killed, 38 Wounded In Kabul Suicide Bombing: MoI: Tolo
September 18, 2019

Officials at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed that the explosion near Massoud Square on Tuesday was caused by a suicide attacker, and that it detonated close to one of the Ministry of Defense’s buildings in Police District 9 (PD9) in the city of Kabul. According to a Ministry of Interior statement, at least 22 civilians were killed and 38 others were wounded in the blast, including women and children. Click here to read.... [3]

BANGLADESH

PM asks officials to be transparent in public purchases: Dhaka Tribune
September 18, 2019

The directives from Hasina came after a number of money embezzlement incidents surfaced in recent times in the process of public spending under different development projects. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed all concerned to be careful while dealing with public purchases in development projects to ensure transparency in spending. “She (prime minister) asked all the officials concerned to become cautious in project-related purchase,” Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters. Click here to read.... [4]

MYANMAR

Tatmadaw chief, entourage visit non-Buddhist shrines: Myanmar Times
September 18, 2019

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw (military), paid visits and made donations to Muslim and Hindu shrines in Yangon on Tuesday in an apparent bid to foster unity among the country’s different cultures and religions. The general led a group of military officers and their families to donate cash and necessities to a Muslim charitable hospital on Maha Bandoola street in Kyauktada township. At noon, the general and his group visited the Hindu temple, Sri Sri Durga Bari, on Bo Aung Kyaw Street and donated K7.7 million (US$5000), according to U Aung Thwin, vice chairman of the Hindu Central Council. Click here to read.... [5]

SRI LANKA

I’m ready to introduce new constitution: PM tells TNA: Daily Mirror
September 18, 2019

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday that he was ready to introduce a new constitution within a year based on the consensus reached at the Constitutional Assembly (CA). Flanked by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, the Prime Minister called for a special meeting with the TNA MPs in the parliamentary complex in view of the presidential election. Click here to read.... [6]

BHUTAN

To step down or not: Kuensel
September 18, 2019

Zhemgang’s Goshing gup, Sangay Lethro, remains suspended for more than a year now for alleged corruption even as the case is ongoing in the Panbang drungkhag court. The Department of Local Governance (DLG) suspended the gup in July last year on the recommendation of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for the case that took place between 2011 and 2015. Click here to read.... [7]

NEPAL

French firm and embassy express displeasure over Nepal government's call for passport tender: The Kathmandu Post
September 18, 2019

The French Embassy in Kathmandu recently dispatched two letters to the government expressing displeasure over the decision to call for global tenders to supply five million biometric passports. The embassy’s letters to the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, sent about 10 days ago, expressed “diplomatic displeasure,” according to officials at the Communication Ministry who have seen the letters. The French embassy declined to comment on whether it had dispatched any such letters and if the French government was displeased with the Nepal government’s decisions. Click here to read.... [8]

CHINA

SAR party calls for US Congress not to interfere: China Daily
September 18, 2019

Hong Kong's largest political party in legislature said that the attempt by the US Congress to interfere in China's internal affairs with the proposed Human Rights and Democracy Act is not only "inappropriate" but also against accepted international practices. " target="_blank">Click here to read.... [9]

China, Russia aim to double trade volume, intensify cooperation: People’s Daily
September 18, 2019

China and Russia Tuesday agreed to further enhance cooperation in trade, energy and other areas, setting a goal to double bilateral trade volume.
The agreement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Russia and co-chaired the 24th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Click here to read.... [10]