VIF Neighborhood News Digest: November 8, 2019

PAKISTAN

Nawaz agrees to travel abroad for medical treatment: Dawn
November 8, 2019

Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has reportedly acceded to doctors’ advice and family’s persuasion to go abroad for treatment of his diseases. “Nawaz Sharif has finally agreed to go to London after the doctors told him categorically that they had already exhausted all medical treatment [options] available in Pakistan and going abroad is the only option left,” a Sharif family source told Dawn on Thursday. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Ceasefire Would Show the Taliban’s Will for Peace: Omar: Tolo
November 8, 2019

Wahid Omar, President Ashraf Ghani's senior advisor for public and strategic affairs, on Thursday said that the Afghan government wants to gauge the Taliban’s will for the peace process, and “this could be seen in a ceasefire.” Omar also said that the list of participants for the China meeting on Afghan peace has been finalized, adding that “the list is very short” but will represent the entire government and all Afghans. He did not provide details about the list, but sources at the Presidential Palace confirmed that the number of attendees was between 15 and 20 people. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

16.8% Bangladeshi adults suffer from mental health issues: Dhaka Tribune
November 8, 2019

In rural areas (16.2%) people suffer less mental disorder than urban (18.7%) area. Nearly 17% of adults in Bangladesh are suffering from mental health issues, where 16.8% are man and 17 % are woman, and among them 92.3% do not seek medical attention. National Institute of Mental Health, with the technical guide of the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed the findings of the survey titled "National Mental Health Survey, Bangladesh 2018-19" at a program at Krishibid Institute in Dhaka on Thursday. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Armed clashes, refugee numbers grow in Paletwa: Myanmar Times
November 8, 2019

Thousands of villagers fled their homes in Paletwa Township in Chin State as fighting intensified in the past week between the Tatmadaw (military) and the Arakan Army (AA), a senior state official said. U Soe Set, spokesperson of the Chin State government, said that about 6000 villagers are seeking shelter in Paletwa after the military launched an operation to rescue a Chin legislator who was seized by AA fighters on Sunday. “The MP’s seizure sparked two days of fighting, which increased the number of refugees,” he said. “We have not been able to contact the MP.” Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

Five candidates spent Rs.1,257mn: CMEV: Daily Mirror
November 8, 2019

A total of Rs.1, 257 million has been spent from October 14 till November 4, by five candidates contesting for the Presidential Election for their election campaign, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said. Accordingly, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has spent a total of Rs.750 million for the election campaign for Gotabaya Rajapaksa while New Democratic Front (DNF) has spent a total of Rs.470 million for the election campaign of Sajith Premadasa. Click here to read... [6]

NEPAL

New Delhi responds to uproar in Nepal over new political map, says it is “accurate”: The Kathmandu Post
November 8, 2019

New Delhi on Thursday said the new Indian political map “accurately depicts the sovereign territory of India”. India's new political map—released earlier this week after India formally split up the disputed Jammu and Kashmir state into two federal territories—has created quite an uproar in Nepal, as it has placed the territory of Kalapani within Indian borders. After the Post first reported the story on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement said on Wednesday, that “Nepal is clear about Kalapani being a part of Nepal's territory” and that “any unilateral decision regarding outstanding issues that need to be sorted out through mutual agreement will not be acceptable to the Nepal government.” Click here to read... [1]

BHUTAN

Taking bold initiatives is an achievement: PM: Kuenselonline
November 8, 2019

Exactly a year ago today, the country’s future fell under the radar of a surgeon’s when Dr Lotay Tshering, at the helm of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, took charge of the governance. A year later diagnosis are aplenty and surgeries pending. However, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering indicated that the initiative to prepare a patient for surgery should be construed as success. The analogy, according to the prime minster, insinuates the bold but politically insensible decisions which should be considered an achievement. “Sometimes I wonder if we have bitten more than what we could chew,” he said. Click here to read... [7]

CHINA

Xi Focus: Xi's trip to Greece, Brazil to advance bilateral ties, BRICS cooperation: Xinhuanet
November 8, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Greece and Brazil is expected to intensify China's relations with the two countries and enhance BRICS cooperation, officials said here Thursday. At the invitation of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Xi will pay a state visit to Greece from Nov. 10 to 12, said Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Click here to read... [8]

President Xi calls to use Military World Games experience for national rejuvenation: Xinhuanet
November 8, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on relevant government departments to build on the success of the Military World Games to strive for national rejuvenation. Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), pointed out that the host nation had achieved its goal of "first-class games operation and first-class athletic performances." Click here to read... [9]