VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - 5 Feb 2018

PAKISTAN

India may target CPEC installations, interior ministry tells Gilgit Baltistan: Dawn

5 Feb, 2018

The Ministry of Interior has informed the Gilgit-Baltistan’s home department that India has made a plan to attack the installations of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in a bid to sabotage the multi-billion mega project. The ministry has issued directives for making foolproof security arrange­­ments to avoid any untoward incident. An official of the home department on condition of anonymity told Dawn on Saturday that the department had received a letter from the federal interior ministry recently in which it had warned of possible terrorist attacks on the CPEC route. He said the letter No 221/Is2018 January 28 claimed that India had sent 400 Muslim youngsters to Afghanistan for receiving training to be able to carry out attacks on the CEPC installations, including bridges at Karakoram Highway (KKH) and other important points on the CPEC route. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

New Security Plan For Kabul Finalized: Tolo News

4 Feb, 2018

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Sunday said the new security plan for Kabul city has been finalized and a copy of it has been sent to President Ashraf Ghani. The interior ministry’s deputy spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said the new plan is a major shift that encompasses all security dimensions in the capital. “A comprehensive plan has been prepared for improving Kabul security and the outline has been shared with the president,” said Rahimi. Meanwhile, sources told TOLOnews that among the issues, the plan deals with vulnerabilities in Kabul city that security departments have found following the string ofrecent attacks. “Security forces have used their experience (in outlining this plan) to find ways to prevent incidents that they think might take place in the future,” the head of parliament’s internal security commission Mirdad Nijrabi said. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Election Commission: Presidential election in 3rd week of March: Kathmandu Post

5 Feb, 2018

The presidential election could be held in the third week of March with the Election Commission (EC) targeting to submit the President the results of the House of Representatives elections by February 17. As per Clause 4 (2) of the Act on the Elections for President and Vice President-2017, the EC has to hold the presidential elections within a month of the formation of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies. The law allows the EC to fix the election date and inform the government about it. Click here to read... [4]

MALDIVES

Maldives Army surrounds Parliament: Daily Mirror

4 Feb, 2018

The Maldives Army on Sunday surrounded the island’s Parliament as opposition lawmakers tried to make their way into the premises following the resignation of the Parliamentary Secretary General. The media reported that some opposition lawmakers had been allowed to enter the premises, despite the heavy military presence, Xinhua reported. Parliamentary Secretary General Ahmed Mohamed announced his resignation on Sunday morning without citing any specific reason. The move came after the first parliamentary session for 2018, which was due to be held on Monday, was cancelled indefinitely due to security concerns. The Maldives has been plunged into a fresh round of political turmoil after the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the immediate release of jailed political leaders, including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed. Click here to read... [5]

A chilling warning to all journalists: Raajje TV: Haveeru

5 Feb, 2018

Local television station Raajje TV has fired back at the call issued by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to shut down the channel, stating that the chilling warning was directed at all journalists to destroy the freedom of press in the country.At a press conference that only state-media PSM and Channel 13, were invited to along with ministers and certain lawmakers, PPM’s Vice President Abdul Raheem Abdulla had stated that Raajje TV must not be given the opportunity to disrupt the harmony in the country. He also said that the station is creating discord and it must be shut down immediately. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

Bhutan opens consulate office in Guwahati: Kuensel

3 Feb, 2018

Bhutanese Consulate General Office in Guwahati, India officially opened on February 2. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay attended the ceremony. The office, which was jointly inaugurated by foreign minister Damcho Dorji and the Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, is located at Jilika Path, Kalashetra, Panjabari. Consul Sherub Phuntsho said that the consulate would not only cover Assam but also India’s northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya. The office would be useful for patient referrals to Assam, he said. Speaking at the inauguration, Lyonpo Damcho Dorji said Bhutan is committed to strengthening political and socioeconomic cooperation with the government and people of Assam. Click here to read... [7]

MYANMAR

India should be more proactive in Myanmar to stop China: Japan envoy: Times of India

5 Feb, 2018

The Rohingya issue is the biggest challenge for Myanmar, jeopardising both its internal situation and external relations. If the US decides to impose sanctions on Myanmar's military, the country would be pushed towards China, said Yohei Sasakawa, Japan's special envoy in Myanmar. "India, with her old relationship, should play a more proactive role in Myanmar," he told journalists this week in Delhi, here to meet senior government functionaries to champion Myanmar's cause. "The Japanese government is supporting the Myanmar government. We would like India to do more. Because of the US attitude, India must step up," Sasakawa said. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

China to work with Sri Lanka for better development of strategic cooperative partnership –Xi: Xinhuanet

4 Feb, 2018

China is willing to work with Sri Lanka for better development of strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a message addressed to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday. In the message to congratulate Sri Lanka on the 70th anniversary of its independence from the British colonial rule in 1948, Xi recalled the traditional friendship and mutual assistance between China and Sri Lanka, and said that the two countries have conducted pragmatic cooperation within the framework of joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, achieving fruitful results. Click here to read... [9]

China firmly opposes U.S. Nuclear Posture Review: spokesman: Peoples’ Daily

5 Feb, 2018

China firmly opposes the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) published by the United States Department of Defense, a spokesman from China's National Defense Ministry said Sunday. The U.S. document presumptuously speculated about the intentions behind China's development and played up the threat of China's nuclear strength, spokesman Ren Guoqiang said. Click here to read... [10]

China calls on US to ditch its ‘cold war mentality’ and reduce nuclear arsenal: South China Morning Post

5 Feb, 2018

The US should drop its “cold war mentality” and take action to reduce its nuclear arsenal, China’s defence ministry said on Sunday after the Pentagon described China and Russia as potential threats. Defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said in a statement that the US should “correctly understand China’s strategic intent and see China’s national defence and military build-up in an objective way”. Click here to read... [11]

China’s plan to use artificial intelligence to boost the thinking skills of nuclear submarine commanders: South China Morning Post
5 Feb, 2018
China is working to update the rugged old computer systems on nuclear submarines with artificial intelligence to enhance the potential thinking skills of commanding officers, a senior scientist involved with the programme told the South China Morning Post. A submarine with AI-augmented brainpower not only would give China’s large navy an upper hand in battle under the world’s oceans but would push applications of AI technology to a new level, according to the researcher, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the project’s sensitivity. Click here to read... [12]

China to stamp out cryptocurrency trading completely with ban on foreign platforms: South China Morning Post

5 Feb, 2018

China is to block all websites related to cryptocurrency trading and initial coin offerings (ICOs) – including foreign platforms – in a bid to finally quash the market completely. “To prevent financial risks, China will step up measures to remove any onshore or offshore platforms related to virtual currency trading or ICOs,” said an article published by Financial News, a publication affiliated to the People’s Bank of China. Click here to read... [13]

Policies released on China's rural vitalization: China Daily

5 Feb, 2018

China on Sunday released a package of policies under the "No 1 central document" of the year, charting the roadmap for rural vitalization. There is quite a lot to be accomplished in the rural area where opportunities for development have arisen as the country enters a new era, said the document jointly released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and State Council. The "No 1 central document" is the name traditionally given to the first policy statement of the year released by the central authorities, and is seen as an indicator of policy priorities. Click here to read... [14]