Afghanistan
Islamic Emirate Urges Turkey to Recognize Govt: Tolo News
The Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid called on Turkey to engage in “deep” relations with Islamic Emirate and recognize its government. Mujahid made the remarks in an interview with a Turkish TV channel. Click here to read…
Germany New Admission Programme to Admit 1,000 Afghan Refugees Per Month: The Khaama Press
Under a new admission programme for Afghan refugees, Germany will admit people deemed most at risk following the Taliban takeover last August, the foreign ministry said in a statement Monday. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
PM Hasina inaugurates installation of second reactor of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Dhaka Tribune
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated the installation of the second and final reactor of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The reactor pressure vessel was installed at the second unit of the 2,400MW power plant. Click here to read…
MoU on e-visa inked between Bangladesh-UAE: Dhaka Tribune
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a bid to implement ‘e-Visa/e/-TA’ in the capital on Tuesday. Security Services Division under Home Ministry Md Abdullah Al Masud Chowdhury and UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali Abdullah Khaseif Al Hamoudi signed the MoU on behalf of the respective countries with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in the chair at a program at the conference room of the ministry. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Bhutan becomes a voice of vulnerable mountain countries on the frontlines of climate change – Kuensel Online
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report 2021 paints an alarming picture of melting Himalayan glaciers in the face of the climate crisis and the strains this is placing on the hundreds of millions of people globally who rely on glaciers for water, agriculture and power. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, ICIMOD, says the Third Pole or High Mountain Asia, which spans Asian 12 countries will continue to warm by at least 1.8 to 2.2 degree Celsius even if the global average temperatures stable at 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial levels and is projected to lose a third of the glacier volume by the end of the century. Click here to read…
Documenting Bhutan’s vanishing cultures – Kuensel Online
The initiative led by Loden Foundation was supported by the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO in South Korea. The documentaries under the initiative captured Lhop Festivals, Local Teeth Healing, Subba and Mongar’s Marriage System, Sang: A Women Festival, Yak Lha, Namkha Namsey Festival, Bjawa Kam Nyaru, Jomja: A Local Cuisine, Story of Pawos, and Mani: The Hymn. Click here to read…
Maldives
No difficulty in paying Maldives’ debt: Finance Minister Ameer – Edition MV
Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer said on Monday that there is no difficulty in repaying the debt the government is under. In response to questions asked by parliament members regarding the economic status of Maldives, Ameer said the nation’s economy is going better than expected. He said that the National Bureau of Statistics had estimated that Maldives’ economy would see a 37 percent improvement by the end of 2021. However, the latest data from the bureau indicate that the economy had improved by 41.6 percent. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Myanmar signs Middle Paunglaung Hydropower project with Russia – The Star
Myanmar has signed the Notice to Proceed (NTP) with PTG Energy Company for the development of the Middle Paunglaung Hydropower project, said the Ministry of Electric Power. Union Minister for Electric Power U Thaung Han and Union Minister for Energy Myo Myint Oo who attended the Russian Energy Week International Forum held in Moscow, Russia met with General Director Alexey Yakovlev from Inter RAO-Export Company, which is a major, power Generation Company in Russia. Click here to read…
Lieutenant Colonel Among Over 50 Regime Forces Killed by Myanmar Resistance in Two Days – The Irrawaddy
A military lieutenant colonel was among over 50 regime forces killed by People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) during their attacks and ambushes on regime targets in the last two days. Incidents were reported in Chin, Shan and Kayah states and Sagaing, Magwe and Yangon regions. Click here to read…
Myanmar’s Democrats Must Strive to Win Over China: Analyst – The Irrawaddy
President Xi Jinping is due to be confirmed as president and CCP general secretary for a third term and head of the powerful Central Military Commission. The 20th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing runs until October 22. China is a major investor in Myanmar and has important projects as part of the Belt and Road Initiative that will give it access to the Indian Ocean. Xi visited Myanmar in 2020 and signed 33 memorandums of understanding, agreements, exchange letters and protocols with the then National League for Democracy government. Click here to read…
Smuggled drugs from Myanmar worth Rs 31 cr seized in Mizoram, 1 held – Hub Network
With the continuation of seizure of drugs smuggled from Myanmar, the Assam Rifles troopers on Tuesday seized 92,550 highly addictive Methamphetamine tablets worth around Rs 31 crores and arrested one person in this connection in Mizoram, officials said. Click here to read…
UN agencies’ Myanmar PR campaign raises more questions than it answers – Myanmar Now
Faced with growing criticism over their push to normalise relations with Myanmar’s illegal military junta, United Nations agencies have embarked on an effort to justify their actions. Using social media, they have deployed infographics and other tools to demonstrate just how indispensable international aid organisations are in a country wracked with conflict. Click here to read…
Final corruption cases filed against Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi – RFA
Detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s last five remaining cases of corruption were filed at Naypyidaw Prison Court Tuesday, sources close to the court, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, told RFA. The trial is set for next Tuesday and its believed that four witnesses will attend including the plaintiff, Aung Khant, who is an officer of the State Administration Council’s (SAC) Anti-Corruption Commission. Suu Kyi’s lawyers made submissions to the court to examine the recalled witnesses. Click here to read…
Nepal
UML Chair Oli challenges PM Deuba for live debate – The Himalayan Times
Considering the upcoming Provincial Assembly and House of Representatives elections, many have suggested on social media that PM Deuba and Chairman Oli participate in a live debate and Chair Oli has agreed. Posting a status on Facebook this afternoon, former PM Oli said such debates were held in Western countries during elections and said he was ready for it. In the upcoming elections, KP Sharma Oli is contesting from Jhapa Constituency-5. Oli stated that “Many friends on social media have requested to come to the ‘live debate’. Most of them have suggested an agenda-based debate between me and NC Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba. Click here to read…
Election fever grips Madhes Province – The Himalayan Times
With the November 20 polls for the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly just a month away, election fever has gripped Madhes Province. A few candidates, including independents and the incumbent chief minister, have projected themselves as possible future chief minister of the province. Incumbent Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut had won the last polls from Parsa Constituency-1 B with a margin of 2,975 votes. Click here to read…
Pakistan
President Alvi seeks SC’s opinion on new Reko Diq deal: Dawn
In a voluminous reference submitted to the court on Tuesday, the president also asked the apex court whether the proposed Foreign Investment (Protection and Promotion) Bill 2022, whenever enacted, would be a valid law under the Constitution. Click here to read…
Pakistan sides with Saudi Arabia over its tension with US: The Express Tribune
Saudi Arabia and Russia, which lead the OPEC + cartel, recently decided to cut crude oil supply by 2 million barrels a day in order to avoid a plunge in the oil prices in the international markets because of fear of global economic recession. Click here to read…
US wants ‘sustained action’ from Pakistan against terrorist groups: The News
Talks between the authorities in Islamabad and Washington are routine and part of standard bilateral protocol, said the US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel amid the recent stir in light of President Joe Biden’s statement on Pakistan’s nukes. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Most of the migrants at British Indian Ocean Territory are Sri Lankans – UK: Daily Mirror
Most of the migrants at the British Indian Ocean Territory located in the south Indian Ocean, are Sri Lankans, the British Government said. “There are 127 migrants, most of whom are Sri Lankan nationals, on the British Indian Ocean Territory. 25 are children,” Minister of State – Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Jesse Norman informed UK Parliament. Click here to read…
Supreme Court rules Chinese law firm is not entitled to engage in legal professional work in Sri Lanka: Daily Mirror
The Supreme Court today held that Baqian Law Group Lanka Pvt. Ltd, a Chinese law firm is not entitled in law to engage in any legal professional work within Sri Lanka. Click here to read…
