Afghanistan
World Bank: Afghanistan at Great Risk of Overlapping Food, Debt Crises: Tolo News
Seven countries are at greatest risk of overlapping food and debt crises: Afghanistan, Eritrea, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, and Yemen, the World Bank said in a recent report. “Overlapping debt and food crises can have devastating impacts, with international assistance the only solution,” the report citedClick here to read…
Amnesty International Calls on Taliban to Protect Shia Community after Deadly Explosions: The Khaama Press
Following a string of attacks over the past several days that left almost 120 people dead and injured in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Amnesty International has urged the Taliban to step up measures to protect members of the Hazara Shia minority in Afghanistan. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
China: Bangladesh’s exports will thrive with 98% duty-free market access: Dhaka Tribune
The duty-free treatment of 98% tariff-line goods will help Bangladesh increase its exports to China, the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka said on Tuesday. State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his recent visit to Bangladesh announced that the duty-free treatment of 98% tariff-line goods originating from Bangladesh exported to China will come into effect on September 1. Click here to read…
Bangladesh textile faces major challanges amid global recession: ThePrint
Bangladesh’s textile industry is currently facing major challenges due to the global recession and inflation as retailers in both European and US markets are either deferring the shipments of finished products or delaying orders due to soaring inflation. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Bangladesh grants duty-free access to 16 products of Bhutan – Dhaka Tribune
A total of 16 Bhutanese products now have new duty-free access in Bangladesh. The Finance Ministry’s Internal Resources Division (IRD) published an order in this regard on Monday. Bangladesh granted this facility to Bhutan under the 2020 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). Click here to read…
ADB supports pediatric, booster vaccination against Covid-19 in Bhutan – Kuensel Online
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 10 million (M) loan to help Bhutan to purchase safe and effective vaccines against Covid-19. According to a press release from the bank, the loan will finance the purchase of at least 1.28M doses of Covid-19 vaccines which are expected to support Bhutan achieve its 100 percent vaccine coverage target by 2024. Click here to read…
Reopening Bhutan draws tour operators – Travel Weekly
The Trans Bhutan Trail will reopen on Sept. 28 to travelers after it had been closed for more than 60 years. The 250-mile trail was once a Buddhist pilgrimage route but fell into disrepair as the country began to invest more in building national roadways. Click here to read…
Maldives
FM Shahid committed to further enhance Maldives-Singapore relations – Raajje
Abdulla Shahid, Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed keen interest to enhance relations between Maldives and Singapore, in the future. The Maldivian foreign minister said this in a message sent to Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan on the auspicious occasion of Singapore’s 57th National Day. Click here to read…
Maldives and US launch counter-terrorism exercise in Male – Daiji World
The US and the Maldives have kick-started the ‘Tempest Wind 2022’ joint counter-terrorism exercise from August 7 to 18. These are being held in capital Male and the central Maldives as planned by the Maldives Defence Force (MNDF). Click here to read…
Maldives reopens 40MWh battery storage tender for island solar – Energy Storage News
The South Asian island nation’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology announced the reopening this morning. Eligible bidders have been given until 1pm local time on 27 October 2022 to submit their completed bids but must register with the Maldives Ministry of Finance between 4 August and 20 October first. Click here to read…
Myanmar
China and Russia enable Myanmar military’s brazen behavior – Asia Nikkei
Myanmar’s military regime is accelerating its crackdown on pro-democracy forces, including by executing political prisoners. Last week, the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued a joint communique expressing the bloc’s deep disappointment toward the regime’s lack of commitment to an agreement to immediately halt violence and accept a visit by a special envoy who would meet all parties concerned. Click here to read…
Myanmar: Japan-Trained General Linked to Abusive Forces – HRW
A Myanmar army general who received military training in Japan served as a high-ranking officer in a regional command that has been implicated in serious abuses in ethnic minority areas, Human Rights Watch said todayClick here to read…
Report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar – IIMM UN
The present document is the fourth report submitted by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar to the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution 39/2 of 27 September 2018, and it covers the Mechanism’s activities from 16 June 2021 to 30 June 2022. Click here to read…
Myanmar: Crimes against humanity committed systematically, says UN report – UN News
The evidence gathered to date by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), which is outlined in its Annual Report, indicates that sexual and gender-based crimes, including rape and other forms of sexual violence, and crimes against children have been perpetrated by members of the security forces and armed groups. Click here to read…
Militants attack Indian forces near India-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh – Hindustan Times
A Junior Commissioned Officer of Assam Rifles was injured after militants attacked the paramilitary patrol on India-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh. Officials said that the firing came from across the border during routine patrolling at Pangsau Pass Post near the International Border. Watch the video for more details. Click here to read…
Myanmar central bank weakens official fx rate for kyat currency by 13.5% – Channel News Asia
Myanmar’s central bank weakened its kyat currency from 1,850 to 2,100 per dollar on Monday, according to a statement published in a state newspaper. Myanmar’s economy has collapsed since the military seized power last year, halting a decade of reforms, putting pressure on the kyat’s value against the dollar, and driving up fuel and food prices. Click here to read…
Myanmar’s UN rep calls for resistance aid to fight the junta – BNI Online
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations was speaking on a webinar on Myanmar entitled “Responding to the Brutal, Escalating Crisis in Myanmar” organized by the Asia Society Policy Institute, held on 3 August. Click here to read…
Nepal
Foreign Ministers of Nepal and China holding talks in Qingdao today – Khabar Hub
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Narayan Khadka, who is on a China visit, is holding talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi today. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Dr. Khadka and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi are going to hold bilateral talks. Foreign Minister Khadka, leading a Nepali delegation, left for China on Tuesday night. Click here to read…
US Special Envoy to visit India, Nepal to advance human rights of LGBTQI+ – Business standard
US Special Envoy Envoy Jessica Stern will visit India and Nepal to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in each country, according to the statement released by State Department. Stern will be visiting Nepal from August 10 to 14 and will travel to India from August 23-27. Click here to read…
Foreign employment revival – Nepali Times
The Covid pandemic had a major impact on Nepal’s economic mainstay, overseas employment. Those stuck abroad in 2020 were unable to return to Nepal, even when they lost their jobs. Migrant workers in Nepal could not resume or start overseas employment. Many chose to stay on and hold on to jobs, even when wages and work hours were not ideal. Click here to read…
The 1949 Geneva Conventions and Nepal – Kathmandu Post
The Geneva Conventions are turning 73 on August 12. The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are key instruments of international humanitarian law (IHL) which regulate the conduct of armed conflict and seek to mitigate suffering. IHL protects people not taking part in hostilities and those who are no longer taking part. Click here to read…
Pakistan
The nation at 75: Dawn
Our major freedom anniversaries have all seen us in or near major crises. The 25th one saw us healing the trauma of 1971; the 50th one saw us about to plunge into the nuclear world. On our 75th one, we face a huge crisis with the economy and key institutions under great stressClick here to read…
PM Shehbaz, UAE president resolve to further strengthen bilateral ties: The Express Tribune
During the conversation, the two leaders exchanged views on matters of common interest. Reaffirming the close fraternal ties between the two countries, they agreed to work closely to further enhance bilateral cooperation in different fields. Click here to read…
Sheikh Rasheed warns govt against arresting Imran Khan: The News
Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has once again warned the government that attempts to arrest Imran Khan or break the PTI would trigger bloody politics in the country. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Prez: Military saved Parliament, democracy: The Island
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (09) paid a glowing tribute to the military for saving democracy by thwarting an attempt made by the violent protest movement to capture the country’s Parliament. Click here to read…
Chinese social media platform bars a promotional campaign by SL: Daily Mirror
A Chinese social media platform has suspended a promotional campaign organized by the Sri Lankan embassy apparently in tit for tat for the government’s move to suspend the visit of the Chinese ship, a top source said. The Sri Lankan authorities organized this campaign to be launched on Friday on ‘Douyin’. However, the Sri Lankan mission has been informed that it cannot be implemented. Click here to read…
Indian Oil Corporation to expand operations in Sri Lanka: The Hindu
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will expand its operations in Sri Lanka by opening 50 fuelling stations, a top official of the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) said on August 8, amidst the worst economic- as well as fuel crisis facing the island nation. Click here to read…