VIF Neighborhood News Digest: September 27, 2019

PAKISTAN

Illicit financial flows devastating developing countries, PM Imran tells UN event: Dawn
September 27, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that while it is true that illicit financial flows adversely affect wealthy countries, such movement of ill-gotten money is "devastating the developing countries" across the world. The premier was addressing an event called 'High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development' at the United Nations in New York, on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. Click here to read.. [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Governors Directed To Gather Votes for Candidates: TEFA Claims: Tolo
September 27, 2019

As the election draws near, independent monitors and the public are alarmed over a lack of transparency and credibility in the process. On Thursday, officials from the Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA) released their report on campaign violations from the past two months. TEFA said that the report covers several types of violations including the failure by candidates to disclose the details of their election expenditures, and the interference of government officials in the election process. Click here to read.. [3]

BANGLADESH

PM to US entrepreneurs: Be Bangladesh's development partners: Dhaka Tribune
September 27, 2019

"As the fourth industrial revolution is also knocking at our door, it is all the more important that you stay with us in our journey for shared benefits and prosperity," she said while speaking at a luncheon roundtable, organized by the US Chamber of Commerce, at Lotte Palace Hotel in New York on Thursday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged US entrepreneurs to stay with Bangladesh in its journey for shared benefits and prosperity as the fourth industrial revolution is knocking at the door. Click here to read.. [4]

MYANMAR

Five-year plan for BRI projects in Myanmar: Myanmar Times
September 27, 2019

The governments of China and Myanmar are negotiating to draw up a five-year plan on economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. Negotiations to draw up the plan were held in Nay Pyi Taw on Monday, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations announced. Click here to read.. [5]

SRI LANKA

Conduct UNP campaign in a disciplined manner: Ranil: Daily Mirror
September 27, 2019

In the wake of MP Hesha Vithnage’s statement that the SLPP's presidential candidate will have to wear a jumper if UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa is elected president of this country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today instructed UNP seniors to make sure that the UNP campaign was carried out in a decent and disciplined manner. While meeting some senior ministers, he advised that all party members should work with the commitment to make the UNP candidate victorious at the presidential election. Click here to read.. [6]

BHUTAN

Lyonchhen calls on all countries to submit enhanced climate pledge: Kuensel
September 27, 2019

Patients, who don’t listen to doctors’ advice are certain to come back with an incurable diseases. Speaking at the Climate Action Summit in New York on September 23, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering used this analogy to convey global leaders that if concrete actions are not taken now, the world will be inflicted with incurable diseases. Speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDC), Lyonchhen Dr Lotay TShering said LDCs are ready to come forward with enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and long-term low carbon climate resilient strategies by 2020. But this, he said cannot be achieved without the support of international community. Click here to read.. [7]

NEPAL

Dahal owns up to insurgency-era mistakes and pledges to deliver transitional justice: The Kathmandu Post
September 27, 2019

Nepal Communist Party Co-chair and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who led the decade-long ‘people’s war’, said on Thursday that he takes the responsibility for “all the positive and negative implications of the insurgency” and that he is ready to face action for his mistakes. Dahal was speaking at a programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission, where it invited cross-party leadership to discuss ways to take Nepal’s long-drawn transitional justice process forward. Click here to read.. [8]

CHINA

China publishes white paper on China and world in new era: Xinhuanet
September 27, 2019

China's State Council Information Office on Friday issued a white paper, titled "China and the World in the New Era." Besides a preface and a conclusion, the white paper consists of four sections: "China Has Found a Development Path Suited to Its Actual Conditions," "China's Development Is an Opportunity for the World," "A Prosperous and Beautiful World Is the Common Aspiration of All Peoples," and "China Contributes to a Better World." Click here to read.. [9]

There is no shortage of ideas to boost land for affordable homes in Hong Kong. But do Carrie Lam and Beijing have the political will to overhaul the system? : South China Morning Post

September 27, 2019

The Hong Kong government caused a stir this week when it withdrew a sizeable plot of waterfront land from sale after rejecting five apparently low bids. But the canary in the property coal mine had been Goldin Financial Holdings, which walked away from the same project three months earlier. Click here to read.. [10]