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China has said that it will hold third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next year to give a new boost to development and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the wider world. Chinese President Xi Jinping made such statement while addressing the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Thailand. Xi called for building an Asia-Pacific of peace and stability, highlighting the critical importance of mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation, and consultation among all parties for the greatest denominator when something comes up, according to China Daily. Xi calls for promoting prosperity for all in Asia-Pacific. Xi stressed the need to make sure that development is for the people and by the people, and that its fruits are shared among the people, calling for efforts to promote prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific.

The United States has notified El Salvador that the temporary protected status of its citizens and those of five other countries will be extended through June 30, 2024, Salvadoran Ambassador to the United States Milena Mayorga said Thursday, voanews.com reported. The other countries are Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras and Nepal, according to a document filed Thursday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The action means their temporary protected status (TPS) will no longer expire on December 31, 2022, as previously scheduled. "Thanks be to God," said Mayorga, who tweeted the document, adding work visas for recipients would be valid for another 18 months. According to the American Immigration Council, TPS is provided to nationals of certain countries experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe to deport them back to those countries. The Department of Homeland Security announced the extension, set to be published next week, "to ensure its continued compliance" with two ongoing court cases, the document said. President Joe Biden's administration in October pulled out of settlement talks that could have provided further protections to the TPS enrollees from these countries, according to plaintiffs in the case.

The silence period of the election to the Member of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assembly has come into effect from Thursday midnight. The election is taking place throughout the country in a single phase on November 20. According to the Election Code of Conduct, 2022, the silence period comes into effect from 48 hours before the voting day until the polls are closed. The voting under the election to the HoR and Province Assembly is taking place from 7 am to 5 pm on November 20. The Code of Conduct stipulates the conduct that the political party office-bearers, candidates, the sister organisations of the parties or related individuals have to abide by during the silence period. Election campaigning as well as any type of discussion, interaction, assemblies, workshop seminar and gatherings are not allowed during this period. Likewise, the Code of Conduct states that the election publicity materials of the political parties or candidates kept 300 metres around the polling station should be removed 48 hours before the voting day. Similarly, canvassing by any method, process or means, and posting or sharing any message, information or publicity material in support or against any political party or candidate on social sites, online, print or any medium is prohibited during the silence period.

Former prime minister and chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal  Dahal signed the Anti-Tobacco Pledge, campaigned by NDRI. In the signing  ceremony, he expressed his solidarity with the initiative.  Similarly, general secretary of Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa also signed the pledge.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 98, 000 per tola today. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 98, 400 per tola on Wednesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 97, 500 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,285 per tola today.

Nearly 18m Nepalis will head to the polling stations this Sunday to elect their representatives to the federal parliament and provincial assemblies. These legislatures will then elect new prime ministers, president and chief ministers for the next five years. Political parties and candidates are in the final leg of electioneering before the election silence takes effect, when campaigning in all forms is prohibited. Over the past few weeks, voters received a flood of candidates in their houses. It is up to the voters to decide the fate of the candidates, and, by extension, the fate of the country for the next five years. The election silence is the period afforded to voters to think and decide, so that they can vote according to their own personal conscience, without any fear, influence or pressures. But, if the past elections are anything to go by, our political parties do not seem to be committed to abide by the rule of election silence. They want to influence the voters through money, muscles and other means. During the local elections held in May, some party candidates were caught red-handed distributing cash to voters. Poor and marginalized communities are often targeted by unscrupulous candidates. The phenomenon of vote buying is not just limited to far-flung areas. There have been reports of candidates distributing money to urban voters as well. So, the next three days are a critical period when conscientious voters must remain on guard. Election observation organizations can also play a vital role in this silent period. So far, their primary focus has only been on Election Day. But, they should also be closely monitoring the activities of political parties, particularly when the voting day is just a few days ahead. They should report the malpractices of parties and candidates. But this has not been happening. Mainstream media too has a vital role to play to ensure free and fair elections. They must hold parties and candidates to account if they are found trying to influence the voters during the election silence period. But above all, the onus rests on political parties and candidates themselves. They should uphold the election laws and act responsibly. They get enough time to campaign. It’s only fair that they allow people to vote without any pressure.  

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the activities of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) may pose a threat to the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly. Hence, the Ministry has directed the security agencies to keep a close eye on the activities of the Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal. With the announcement of the elections, the Election Commission has been seeking commitment from the political parties and security agencies to hold the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner. The Ministry of Home Affairs has made a special security plan to curb the activities that may pose a threat to the elections. According to an official at the Home Ministry, the government has decided to keep a tab on the activities of the 12 groups and to make a security strategy to avoid the same. A discussion was held at the Home Ministry on Tuesday regarding the security of the elections. Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand was not present in the meeting. Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya and chiefs of all the security agencies were present in the meeting. A source at the Home Ministry said that the meeting has decided to leave no stone unturned to give proper security to the elections. The Ministry said that the activities of the cadres of Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, Dharmendra Bastola-led Nepal Communist Party Bahumat, Mohan Baidhya-led Nepal Communist Party Krantikari (Maoist), Ahuti-led Baigyanik Samajbadi Communist Party can be a security challenge for the elections. Saying that the activities of the Swadhin Madhesh Janaabhiyan, Shiva Sena Nepal, Shahi Yuva Shakti Nepal and criminal groups among others can be against the elections, the Home Ministry has directed the security agencies to keep an eye on them. The Home Ministry has taken unhealthy competition among the political parties and extorting businesspersons as the security threats for the elections. Nepal Army will provide security to the highly sensitive and sensitive polling stations of the districts in the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly scheduled for November 20. As many as 74, 849 Nepal Army personnel will be deployed in the elections. According to a source at the Home Ministry, 71, 693 Nepal Police, 115, 000 temporary police, 35, 000 Armed Police Force and 20, 000 police personnel of the National Investigation Department will be mobilized in the elections. The Home Ministry has decided to keep a close eye on refugees and immigrants, saying that they can be used by regressive forces to thwart the elections. Around 600 immigrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan among other countries are living illegally in Nepal.          

Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunsuke Takei is visiting Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh from November 19-25. The Japanese minister is arriving in Nepal to observe the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly slated for November 20. He will serve as the leader of the election observation mission dispatched by Japan. In Bhutan, he will exchange views with government officials. In Bangladesh, the minister will attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) ministerial meeting to be held in Bangladesh, and will hold meetings with government officials from other countries.