VIF Neighborhood News Digest: September 25, 2019

PAKISTAN

PM Imran highlights plight of 8 million Kashmiris, expresses disappointment over world's indifference: Dawn
September 25, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday highlighted the plight of eight million Kashmiris who are suffering "in an open jail" under a lockdown in India-occupied Kashmir and warned against the possible massacre of residents once the curfew is lifted. The India-occupied region has been facing a clampdown since August 5, when the Indian government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution, stripping it of it’s special status. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Activists, Relatives in Helmand Seek Justice For Civilian Deaths: Tolo
September 25, 2019

Grieving relatives and activists gathered on Tuesday in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of Helmand, in a public response to a military operation on Sunday night that claimed the lives of family members and fellow residents. 40 civilians killed and 16 wounded were the numbers claimed by a member of the Helmand provincial council. On Sunday night, in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province, an operation was carried out by Afghan and International forces to target a Taliban weapons cache, official military and government forces reported. The number of insurgents killed varies among official accounts but sources say that Al-Qaida fighters were among those killed and captured, and photographs were provided by a US forces spokesperson showing suicide vests and other explosive materials seized during the raid. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

PM to place four-point proposal at UN to solve Rohingya crisis: Dhaka Tribune
September 25, 2019

In the past, she had offered a five-point proposal to the United Nations during the 72nd UN General Assembly. Putting emphasis on a long-term solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she is going to place a four-point proposal at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to this end. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Myanmar and Singapore sign treaty on promoting investments: Myanmar Times
September 25, 2019

Myanmar and Singapore signed a bilateral agreement on the promotion and protection of investments on Tuesday in Yangon. Myanmar representatives led by Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relation U Thaung Tun and Singapore representatives by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing signed the agreement on behalf of their countries. The bilateral agreement is expected to set the foundation for more regular and stable investments by Singapore. Click here to read... [5]

SRI LANKA

UNP to nominate Sajith as candidate on conditions: Daily Mirror
September 25, 2019

There was general agreement among the seniors of the United National Party (UNP) to nominate Minister Sajith Premadasa as the presidential candidate but on certain conditions to be stipulated in writing, Daily Mirror learns. The UNP seniors backing both Party Leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mr. Premadasa met on Tuesday (24) to work out some arrangement to agree on the candidacy. The Prime Minister is reportedly in agreement that candidacy could be offered to Mr. Premadasa but on condition that he (Mr. Wickremesinghe) should remain the UNP Leader and the Prime Minister. Also, there has to be a commitment from Mr. Premadasa to abolish executive presidency. Click here to read... [6]

BHUTAN

Race for Toorsa boulders begin: Kuensel
September 25, 2019

The race to win the lucrative surface collection and dredging works along the Toorsa embankment in Phuentsholing has begun. More than 80 contractors have applied for the “thromde administrative approval,” Kuensel learned. Thromde has given the approval. However, there are only three sites. Click here to read... [7]

NEPAL

A blueprint for consolidating power: China exports Xi Jinping Thought to Nepal: The Kathmandu Post
September 25, 2019

China’s President Xi Jinping may be visiting Nepal next month, but his doctrine, widely known as Xi Jinping Thought, arrived a month earlier in Kathmandu, bundled as a two-day symposium for top leaders of the ruling party. While the Nepal Communist Party has maintained that it wants to learn from China’s ruling party—particularly on functioning and discipline—the participation of around 200 leaders, including the party’s top brass and scores of Chinese officials, shows that there is more to this symposium than meets the eye. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

Xi stresses modernizing China's governance system, capacity: Xinhuanet
September 25, 2019

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday stressed continuously pushing the modernization of China's governance system and capacity. Xi made the remarks while presiding over a study session of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on the establishment and development of New China's state and legal systems. Click here to read... [9]

Xi stresses modernizing China's governance system, capacity: People's Daily
September 25, 2019

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday stressed continuously pushing the modernization of China's governance system and capacity. Click here to read... [10]

Donald Trump attacks China on trade and urges restraint on Hong Kong protests in speech to UN General Assembly: South China Morning Post
September 25, 2019

US President Donald Trump launched a forceful and lengthy attack on China over its trade policies during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, and urged restraint from Beijing in its handling of ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Click here to read... [11]