VIF Neighborhood News Digest: September 19, 2019

PAKISTAN

No talks till India restore Kashmir special status: PM: Dawn
September 19, 2019

Pledging to present the “Kashmir case” at the United Nations General Assembly “like no one ever did before”, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said there was no use talking to India unless it lifted curfew and restored the special status of held Kashmir. “To India’s misfortune, it has been taken over by extremist and racist Hindus. Only a person with an extremist mindset would do what they have done in Kashmir by keeping it under curfew for 45 days,” he said at a presser after inaugurating the Integrated Transit Trade Management System at the Pak-Afghan border. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

At Least 7 Killed, 85 Wounded in Zabul Vehicle Blast: Tolo
September 19, 2019

At least 7 people were killed and 85 wounded by a truck bomb near a government hospital early Thursday morning, local officials confirmed. The incident occurred approximately at 6 a.m. and a number of office buildings and houses were severely damaged. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) office is also located close to the hospital but officials say no NDS employees have been hurt in the incident. “Ambulances have also been called from Kandahar city to transfer the wounded to hospitals in Kandahar province. Most of the victims have been taken to private hospitals,” officials added. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

Dhaka ranks 2nd worst in Air Quality Index: Dhaka Tribune
September 19, 2019

Malaysia's Kuching and Kuala Lumpur occupied the first and third spots respectively. Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital city has been ranked second worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI). Dhaka had a score of 190 at 8:21am, indicating that the quality was unhealthy on Thursday morning. Malaysia's Kuching and Kuala Lumpur occupied the first and third spots respectively. When the AQI value is between 101 and 200, there is an increased likelihood of adverse effects and aggravation to the heart and lungs among general public, particularly for sensitive groups. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Govt to focus on supporting growth of digital economy, telecoms infrastructure: Myanmar Times
September 19, 2019

A senior government official says that the government is set to focus on supporting the digital economy next year. Deputy Director General of Posts and Telecommunications U Than Thun Aung said this in his speech during the Myanmar Connect 2019 Conference on Tuesday. U Than Thun Aung said regulatory areas that will be the focus next year to support digital economy include regulation balancing, customer stratification, consumer protection, cyber security, support for the digital economy, regional integration, and social media and spam. Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

MR hits back at AG’s report on Lotus Tower allegation: Daily Mirror
September 19, 2019

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement said yesterday that the Auditor General on April 2019, published a 670-page special report on the Lotus Tower project, but it did not specify about a Chinese contractor who disappeared with Rs.2 billion. “What it indicates is the remarkable ability that the yahapalana leaders have to concoct complete falsehoods in a manner that suits the occasion. If this statement was made due to the wrong information being conveyed, I expect the relevant individuals to move quickly to issue a correction. Since all documents pertaining to the Lotus Tower project are available with the TRC and the Auditor General, ascertaining the truth with regard to this matter is not a difficult task at all,” he said. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

NPAGE to promote gender equality: Kuensel
September 19, 2019

Although not too blatantly obvious as it is in other societies, traditional Bhutanese aphorisms such as Pho Zhenru Bjinme, Mo Draru Lemi and Zeko Karu Woley, Zamchu Naru Taley are indicative of the existence of fine-drawn gender stereotypes in the Bhutanese society. Click here to read... [7]

NEPAL

Minister Yadav rules out health emergency: The Kathmandu Post
September 19, 2019

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Upendra Yadav today told the House of Representatives that there was no need to declare health emergency, as the number of dengue infected people had been decreasing of late. Yadav said dengue was a global problem as there was no medicine or vaccine to treat or control the disease. “The most effective method to contain the outbreak is to search and destroy larvae that breed dengue causing mosquitoes,” he said. Containing dengue outbreak has become a major challenge even for the developed countries, Yadav said. He added that dengue was listed by WHO as one of the most serious diseases. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Xi urges manufacturing upgrades: China Daily
September 19, 2019

President Xi Jinping has underlined the importance of developing the real economy through bolstering manufacturing to enhance high-quality economic growth. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark during a three-day inspection tour in Henan province that ended on Wednesday. Click here to read... [9]

Hong Kong follows US Fed’s 25 basis point rate cut, just in time for city’s stalling economy and kickoff of Budweiser’s mega IPO: South China Morning Post
September 19, 2019

Hong Kong’s monetary authority cut its base lending rate for the second time this year in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve’s widely expected move overnight, reducing the cost of money just as a slowing local economy teeters on the brink of a technical recession. Click here to read... [10]