VIF Neighborhood News Digest: November 6, 2019

PAKISTAN

Cabinet approves electric vehicles policy to cut oil import bill: Dawn
November 6, 2019

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved an ambitious national Electric Vehicles (EV) policy under which a target has been set to convert 30 per cent of four- and tri-wheelers in the country into electric vehicles. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, also endorsed his decision on visa- and passport-free entry of Sikh pilgrims into Pakistan from India through Kartarpur corridor on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, on Nov 9. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

China Agrees to Host Meeting on Afghan Peace: Sediqqi: Tolo
November 6, 2019

President Ashraf Ghani in a phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday agreed to a meeting which will be held in Beijing and will include a Taliban delegation to discuss Afghanistan’s peace agreement, presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. The meeting, to be held in the “near future,” will be the first time that China hosts delegations from both the Kabul government and the Taliban to exchange views on the peace process. “The date of the meeting will be announced by China. The Afghan government will soon share a list of its participants with the Chinese government,” Sediqqi added. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

EC begins registration of expatriate voters: Dhaka Tribune
November 6, 2019

The Election Commission on Tuesday started the first-ever registration process of expatriate Bangladeshis as voters in Malaysia. Expatriates’ Welfare and Oversees Employment Minister Imran Ahmad and Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda jointly inaugurated the registration process through videoconferencing, reports UNB. Imran was at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, while Huda at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka. The expatriate Bangladeshis will have to apply online through www.services.nidw.gov.bd [4] for getting registered as voters. Click here to read... [5]

MYANMAR

Arakan Army frees 25 people seized from passenger ferry: Myanmar Times
November 6, 2019

The Arakan Army (AA) released 25 people on Tuesday it had seized from a ferry in Rathedaung Township in strife-torn Rakhine State on October 26, a local legislator and ethnic armed group spokesperson said. Khaing Thukha, AA spokesperson, said the hostages were released at 6am at a monastery. “We gave the civilians K15,000 (US$10) each for travel expenses. We also returned their phones and other equipment. We took good care of them during the time they were with us.’’ The spokesman did not say how many more hostages were still in their custody. Click here to read... [6]

SRI LANKA

ITAK’s support implies Sajith’s decision to accept pre-conditions: SLPP: Daily Mirror
November 6, 2019

The SLPP today said the ITAK's decision to support New Democratic Front presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, indicated that the latter has accepted the conditions put forward by the TNA. Addressing a news briefing, SLPP Chairman Professor G.L. Peiris said the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) was the main constituent of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which made public 13 conditions to candidates of the presidential election. Click here to read... [7]

NEPAL

Even as pressure mounts, Oli administration remains silent over Kalapani: The Kathmandu Post
November 6, 2019

The KP Sharma Oli administration has remained silent over a new political map released by India that places Kalapani, a disputed tract of land between Nepal and India, within Indian borders. The Post first reported on Monday about the Indian government’s new map, released by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, which has since ignited a social media storm. But the ruling Nepali Communist Party, which had contested the 2017 elections as a nationalist force in the wake of the 2015 Indian blockade, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to take a public position, although discussions were ongoing late into Tuesday. Click here to read... [8]

BHUTAN

Gelephu Thromde terminates land lease agreements: Kuenselonline
November 6, 2019

Gelephu Thromde terminated the lease agreements of 10 plot owners at the industrial service centre (ISC) in Tashiling constituency, Gelephu in October. With no signs of work progress at the new site, the thromde administration on October 14 wrote to the 10 plot owners asking them to surrender their lease agreement and land lease certificate. Click here to read... [9]

CHINA

Full text: Keynote speech by President Xi Jinping at opening ceremony of 2nd China International Import Expo: Xinhuanet
November 6, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Tuesday. Click here to read... [10]

China Focus: CPC decision on system, governance released: Xinhuanet
November 6, 2019

A decision of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on some major issues concerning how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance was made public Tuesday. Click here to read... [11]