Afghanistan
US Sec. Blinken: Relations ‘Will Depend’ on Taliban Actions: Tolo News
US State Secretary Antony Blinken in an exclusive interview with Lotfullah Najafizada of TOLOnews said the United States has achieved what it went to Afghanistan to accomplish and the main aim was to suppress Al-Qaeda, which has been vastly “degraded.”Click here to read…
Political Party Leaders Protest Cabinet Choices: Tolo News
Several of Afghanistan’s major political parties on Wednesday reacted to the Taliban’s new caretaker government which was announced late Tuesday, saying that the cabinet is not inclusive and that political parties have been excluded. Click here to read…
Women protest against newly announced cabinet of Taliban: The Khaama Press
Tens of women in Kabul took to the streets to protest against the all-men cabinet announced as caretaker government by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Tuesday, September 7. Click here to read…
Taliban monopolize power in Afghanistan, will not last longer: Salahudin Rabbani: The Khaama Press
Head of Afghanistan’s second-largest political part-Jamiat Islami- Salahudin Rabbani reacted to the caretaker government of the Taliban and said that a government which composed of a single ethnic group will not last long. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Dhaka seeks unity against vaccine inequity to accelerate economic recovery efforts- Dhaka Tribune
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said a successful pandemic recovery must involve universal vaccination ending vaccine inequality. Click here to read…
High Court orders to include Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech in textbooks- Dhaka Tribune
The court has also directed authorities to expedite the work of building Bangabandhu’s sculpture at Suhrawardy Udyan. Click here to read…
Faridul: Pre-registered, registered people can perform hajj if Covid situation improves- Dhaka Tribune
Pre-registered and registered will be able to go to hajj on priority basis in Saudi Arabia if the coronavirus situation improves in 2022 and Bangladesh gets permission to send pilgrims for hajj. Click here to read…
Air Astra, newest Bangladeshi airline, set to take the skies in Jan 2022- The Daily Star
Apart from the national flag carrier – Biman Bangladesh Airlines – two other private airlines, namely US-Bangla and Novoair, are currently operating flights. Click here to read…
‘Govt strives to reach land services at people’s hand’- Asian Age
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government has been trying to bring land related services to the hands of people to reduce their sufferings and harassments through digitization of the land management system. Click here to read…
‘BD to get vaccines from India soon’- Asian Age
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami has said that Bangladesh will get vaccines from India soon. Click here to read…
Fresh flood feared in Bangladesh as India opens Gajoldoba again- New Age
This is the sixth time since June that the Gajoldoba barrage floodgates were opened causing inundation in low-lying areas in downstream Bangladesh. Click here to read…
Bhutan
New academic assessment in schools is timely: experts- Kuensel
Despite criticism on the implementation of the new assessment criteria in schools, experts say that its introduction is timely and critical to the success of the National School Curriculum (NSC) implemented beginning this academic session. Click here to read…
Bhutan shares its Covid-19 success story- Kuensel
Bhutan’s Covid-19 journey so far has been one of the most successful compared to most countries in the region and across the world. Click here to read…
Mobile network issue in Bumthang to be solved by this winter- BBS
Although reports show that Bumthang has a hundred percent mobile network accessibility, not every area in the district enjoys full network coverage. Both B-mobile and Tashi-Cell users in Bumthang are upset with the network issues. Click here to read…
Businesses trying to stay afloat in Phuentshogling- BBS
Phuentshogling town, considered the commercial hub of the country, is idle today. Due to several lockdowns and other challenges caused by the frequent COVID outbreaks, business in the region has been severely affected. Click here to read…
PDP calls on govt. to implement new school assessment rule- Business Bhutan
A student now has to score at least 40% in both written exam and continuous assessments, as per the new assessment criteria The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) calls on the government to implement the new school assessment rule from the new academic session. Click here to read…
Maldives
Police: Cocaine smuggling to Maldives on the rise -Edition
Police said on Tuesday that the smuggling of cocaine to Maldives have increased recently. The Parliamentary Petition Committee held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the petition submitted by “Hands Together”, calling to change the management of National Drug Agency (NDA). They were an NGO advocating and promoting the rights and care for addicts in Maldives. Click here to read…
Illegal sand mining in the East for a Maldives island – Srilanka Mirror
Sand is being illegally mined from various places in the Eastern Province to build an island in the Maldives, said Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa District MP Chanakya Rasamanikkam in parliament yesterday (7). He alleged that those behind this illegal activity are a Minister from Sri Lanka Freedom Party, MPs from the SLPP and are supported by the Governor as well. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Pakistan Defense Delegation Made Unannounced Visit to Myanmar Capital – The Irrawaddy
According to well-informed sources in Naypyitaw, the delegation arrived there on Sept. 1 and left on Sept. 5. It is believed that during their stay, the Pakistani delegation and Myanmar military leaders held talks on advanced ordnance technology, aircraft repair and maintenance, and naval munitions. Click here to read…
The Eastern Window: The significance of China’s rail link with Myanmar – Money Control
China has finally connected with the Indian Ocean by establishing a rail-road linkage through Myanmar. This is an important milestone in Beijing’s efforts to create an economic corridor along the lines of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Click here to read…
Hostile Territory: Behind the Indian Government’s Response to the New Refugee Stream from Myanmar – Parichay Blog
The key premise that the Modi government cited while closing India’s borders to the fleeing Myanmar refugees or sending those who had already entered back to Myanmar is that India is not a state party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Optional Protocol. In itself, this isn’t wrong.Click here to read…
Myanmar shadow government calls for revolt against military rule – Reuters
Myanmar’s shadow government, formed by opponents of military rule, called for a nationwide uprising against the junta on Tuesday, amid reports of new protests and a flare-up in fighting between the army and ethnic military groups. Click here to read…
Nepal
UML stalls House proceedings- Himalaya
CPN-UML lawmakers stalled proceedings in both Houses of the Parliament today accusing Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota of being complicit in the ‘conspiracy’ to split their party. Click here to read…
MCC responds to Nepal’s concerns ahead of its top officials’ arrival- Kathmandu Post
A day before the visit of its officials to Nepal, the US-based Millennium Challenge Corporation on Wednesday responded to Nepal’s Finance Ministry, trying to assuage concerns raised in Nepal regarding the MCC Nepal Compact, under which the country would receive $500 million in grants. Click here to read…
Shakya’s minority government in Bagmati appoints new ministers – Kathmandu Post
The 56-member single largest party CPN-UML is now reduced to 43 members in the province, and Shakya needs 12 members to achieve a majority. Click here to read…
Nepal faces shortfall of investment worth Rs 558 billion annually to meet targets of the SDGs- Republica
Nepal has faced a shortfall of investment worth Rs 558 billion annually to achieve its targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Click here to read…
National Census, 2021 to start on November 11- Republica
The National Census, 2021 that was affected due to ongoing COVID-19 has been rescheduled for November 11-25. Click here to read…
KP Sharma Oli wrongly refers to little people of Africa as ‘Lilliput’- Online Khabar
In his almost hour-long speech, Oli attacked the parties in the ruling alliance, particularly the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led splinter group and the Maoists. Click here to read…
Govt Says: Only Health Institutions Can Operate Ambulances- Rising Nepal
The government has issued ‘National Ambulance Directive- 2021’ to regulate ambulance services and make them systematic, transport sick and injured person to hospital safely. Click here to read…
More Local Representatives Join CPN (Unified Socialist) – Rising Nepal
More local level representatives of the CPN-UML have joined the newly formed CPN (Unified Socialist) in many districts across the country. Click here to read…
Pakistan
Pakistan hopes new Taliban govt will work for peace and security in Afghanistan: FO: Dawn
In its first official comment on the government announced by the Taliban, Pakistan on Wednesday expressed the hope that the new political dispensation will work for peace and security in Afghanistan and address its people’s humanitarian needs. Click here to read…
National Command Authority expresses concern over ‘destabilising’ arms build-up in the region: Dawn
The National Command Authority (NCA) on Wednesday noted with concern the “destabilising massive arms build-up” in the region, affirming that Pakistan would take all measures to ensure strategic stability in its neighbourhood without entering into an arms race. Click here to read…
PM Imran launches cadastral map of Islamabad to ‘defeat qabza groups’: Dawn
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday launched the cadastral map of Islamabad to curb land record tampering, ensure monitoring of construction through imagery and provide information about land ownership. Click here to read…
Pakistan values its relations with EU countries: COAS: The Express Tribune
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said Pakistan valued its relations with European Union (EU) countries and was earnestly looking forward to enhancing mutually beneficial multi-domain relations based on common interests. Click here to read…
PIA brings 5.9m Covid doses from China: The Express Tribune
Special cargo flights – PK-6852 and PK-6853 took off from Beijing for Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday and transported 5.9 million doses, Qadir Bux Sangi, PIA Country Manager for China said on Tuesday. Click here to read…
Journalists, lawyers, HR activists announce joint struggle against PMDA: The News
Announcing a joint struggle for the freedom of judiciary and media in Pakistan, lawyers, journalists and civil society activists have made it clear that the government’s efforts to enslave the judiciary and media in the name of the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) will be fought vigorously. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka added to US CDC high risk country list – ECONOMYNEXT
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added Sri Lanka, Jamacia and Brunei to its highest-risk list countries that had reported over 500 COVID-cases per 100,000 people over a 28 day period.Click here to read…
2,917 more persons test positive for COVID-19 – Daily FT
Daily COVID-19 detections dropped below 3,000 yesterday, with 2,964 persons testing positive for COVID-19.Click here to read…
Scale-up routine immunisation along with COVID-19 vaccination: WHO – The Island
The World Health Organization has urged countries in South Asia Region to enhance routine immunization along with the ongoing efforts to rapidly increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Click here to read…
Foreign Ministry sets record straight on PM’s visit to Italy – Daily FT
The Foreign Ministry yesterday set the record straight on the upcoming visit to Italy by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa saying it does not include a call on the Vatican.Click here to read…
Sri Lanka fails to sell 51-pct of Treasuries auction amid price controls – ECONOMYNEXT
Sri Lanka has failed to sell 51 percent of a 64 billion rupee Treasuries auction, despite a ceiling rate being raised 08 basis points to 6.05 percent, data from the debt office showed. Click here to read…