VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 22nd October, 2018

PAKISTAN

Next IMF programme to be Pakistan's last, Asad Umar tells stockbrokers: Dawn

October 22, 2018

National Unity Government’s CEO Abdullah Abdullah on Monday said that the aim of the enemies to stop elections did not work and the Taliban must have the courage to accept that they failed to achieve their goals. Speaking at the Council of Ministers meeting Abdullah said that it has been a very hard struggle, but people have proven that they reject the sound of violence, terror and the return to the dark days of the past. Abdullah said that the Taliban did everything they could, but despite knowing about the threats the people came out to vote. “The Taliban wanted to build a blood stream, but the Taliban were defeated and the Taliban’s thoughts and ideas were rejected,” said Abdullah.Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Failed To Disrupt Elections: Abdullah: Tolo News

October 22, 2018

National Unity Government’s CEO Abdullah Abdullah on Monday said that the aim of the enemies to stop elections did not work and the Taliban must have the courage to accept that they failed to achieve their goals. Speaking at the Council of Ministers meeting Abdullah said that it has been a very hard struggle, but people have proven that they reject the sound of violence, terror and the return to the dark days of the past. Abdullah said that the Taliban did everything they could, but despite knowing about the threats the people came out to vote. “The Taliban wanted to build a blood stream, but the Taliban were defeated and the Taliban’s thoughts and ideas were rejected,” said Abdullah.Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Ruling party rules out re-election chances: Kathmandu Post

A Central Secretariat meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Sunday decided not to accept the resignation tendered by Rambir Manandhar, a lawmaker who won the Kathmandu-7 federal parliament seat. The meeting held at Baluwatar reached the conclusion after NCP leader Bam Dev Gautam, for whose sake Manandhar had decided to vacate the constituency, backtracked on his plan to contest the by-election. “The Central Secretariat meeting came to a conclusion that there is no need for a decision over the resignation tendered by Manandhar,” NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said after the meeting on Sunday evening.

Shrestha added that senior leaders of the ruling party agreed that holding by-election in the Kathmandu constituency less than a year after the polls by making a sitting MP resign was unnecessary.Click here to read... [4]

MALDIVES

Maldives’ Supreme Court refuses to annul presidential vote: The Indian Express

October 22, 2018

The Maldives’ top court on Sunday dismissed the outgoing president’s petition seeking an annulment of last month’s presidential election result. The five-member Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the election was conducted within the law. No other details were immediately known. The Election Commission had declared opposition alliance candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih the winner of the Sept. 23 election against President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Yameen’s party challenged the result, alleging vote rigging, fraud and corruption in the election process. Four of the five members of the Election Commission fled after the election, citing intimidation by Yameen’s supporters.Click here to read... [5]

CHINA

Xi reaffirms support for private firms: China Daily

October 22, 2018

President Xi Jinping reiterated his unwavering commitment to the private sector on Saturday and lauded efforts by entrepreneurs to participate in the fight against poverty. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in a letter to entrepreneurs taking part in the poverty alleviation campaign, in which private businesses are encouraged to extend a helping hand to thousands of economically struggling villages.Click here to read... [6]

Li's trip a big boost for stronger Eurasian partnership, connectivity: People's Daily

October 22, 2018

As economic globalization continues to lose momentum while protectionism and unilateralism rise, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's Eurasian trip has offered China's answer on how to steer the world economy out of difficulties through concerted efforts and cooperation. Li's nine-day visit took him to Tajikistan, the Netherlands and Belgium, where the Chinese premier and leaders of Eurasian countries held in-depth talks, promising to enhance mutual trust and forge stronger partnerships.Click here to read... [7]