Afghanistan

UN Aid Chief Pushes for Restart of Afghanistan Development Aid: Tolo News

Countries should restart some development aid for impoverished Afghanistan that was halted a year ago when the Islamic Emirate seized power, the UN aid chief said on Monday, as the US told Russia and China to “put your money where your mouth is.” Click here to read…

Taliban’s Door-to-Door Searches in Northern Afghanistan Extends to Faryab, Takhar, and Jawzjan: The Khaama Press

Local sources in Taloqan, Sheberghan, and Maimana, the provincial capitals of the northern Afghan provinces of Takhar, Jawzjan, and Faryab respectively, said that Taliban forces have started conducting extensive house-to-house searches. The sources say that since early on Monday, the 29th of August, about a thousand Taliban forces have dispersed across Maimana city, the central district of Faryab province, and have begun searching homes. Click here to read…

Important Documents at Bamyan Education Directorate Destroyed by Floods in Province: The Khaama Press

Local sources in the central Afghan province of Bamyan say that important documents, including results and records from the Bamyan Education Directorate’s 1398–1400 years, were destroyed by floods in the province. A source said yesterday, on Sunday, August 28, the Bamyan Education Directorate’s Results and Certificate division, together with at least seven computer workstations and 30 volumes of record booklets, were all destroyed. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

UN human rights expert on climate change to visit Bangladesh in September: Dhaka Tribune

UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, Ian Fry, will visit Bangladesh from September 4 to 15. This is the first official visit by the UN official, an international environmental law and policy expert, since he took office on May 1 this year. Click here to read…

Padma Bridge: Upto 30 launch services from Sadarghat forced to fold: Dhaka Tribune

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday told the Parliament that Bangladesh’s southern region-bound passengers on almost all waterways declined significantly due to the advent of the Padma Bridge. Click here to read…

Khulna-Mongla rail line: Not opening this year: The Daily Star

When Bangladesh Railway in December 2010 took up the project for constructing Khulna-Mongla new rail line without any feasibility study, its deadline was December 2013. But its physical work began around six years after approval, driving the project cost up to Tk 4,260.88 crore from Tk 1,721.39 crore. The deadline was extended up to December this year after several revisions. Click here to read…

Bhutan

BCCI to launch micro-finance loan scheme for SMEs – Kuensel Online

To help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) self-sustain, the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is working on a micro-finance loan scheme to be launched early next year. BCCI’s President, Tandy Wangchuk said that the private sector members had strongly raised their voices on the need for micro-finance loans since the SMEs were badly affected by the pandemic for the past two years. Click here to read…

Bhutan Bans Import Of Most Vehicles As Foreign Exchange Reserves Plummet – Kuensel Online

Bhutan will ban the import of all vehicles except utility vehicles, heavy earthmoving machines and agriculture machinery to save dwindling foreign exchange reserves, the government said in a notice seen by Reuters on Friday. Click here to read…

Export prices rise by 16 percent in first quarter – Kuensel Online

Export prices of goods rose by 16.1 percent in the first quarter (January to March) of the year compared to the figure in the same quarter of last year, according to a report National Statistics Bureau released recently. The export price index was recorded at -0.98 percent in the first quarter of last year. Click here to read…

Maldives

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar meets Maldives Speaker, minister –

Indian Express

President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid from Maldives Monday stressed the role played by India at the UN and acknowledged the pivotal role the country played during the Covid-19 recovery phase. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, after meeting him, said India’s “Neighbourhood First” and the Maldives’ “India First” policies complement each other. Click here to read…

Discussions held on agreements being negotiated between Maldives, Indonesia – Raajje

Discussions have been held on the agreements being negotiated between the governments of Maldives and Indonesia. This was done during a courtesy call paid by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Maldives, Dewi Gustina Tobing on Vice President Faisal Naseem on Monday morning. Click here to read…

Maldives confirms 68 new Covid-19 cases, additional death – Raajje

Maldives has confirmed 68 new Covid-19 cases and an additional death from the virus. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) in its latest figures publicized on Monday, revealed that 68 new infections were detected between August 21 – 27. Within this period, eight new hospital admissions were also recorded. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Over 28,000 Homes Torched by Myanmar Junta Forces Since Coup – The Irrawaddy Myanmar junta forces have burned down 28,434 houses in 645 locations since last year’s coup, with Sagaing Region suffering the heaviest damage, according to the independent research group Data For Myanmar. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s Military Regime Cannot Withstand the Revolution – The Irrawaddy

Our resistance forces were established overnight out of the necessity of the revolution. They are made up of civilians who joined the PDFs after a few months of military training. The chain of command is not systematic and there is still room for improvement. There must be a systematic and swift chain of command from the most basic unit of a squad to platoon, company and battalion level right up to the NUG’s defense ministry. Click here to read…

From The Field: Restoring Myanmar’s Mangroves – UN News

Myanmar is believed to be experiencing one of the highest rates of mangrove loss in the world. When a company bought land containing a mangrove forest in the country’s Tanintharyi region, with plans to convert it into prawn farms, the local community fought back. Click here to read…

Myanmar Military Invited to Weapons Expo in Bangkok – The Irrawaddy

The Myanmar military has been invited to an arms fair, defense and security related seminars and technical presentations officially supported by neighboring Thailand’s Ministry of Defense. Click here to read…

India running out of options in Myanmar as a civil war rages and China backs the junta – National Herald

India was caught unawares by events in Myanmar within a month of its election for the seventh time as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. India shares with Myanmar a land border of over 1600 km and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. But New Delhi was also grappling to regain a toehold in Kabul, leaving it too preoccupied to take events in Myanmar seriously, until refugees from Myanmar came streaming into North-eastern states. Click here to read…

Nepal

President consults parties as Parliament ignores her concerns on Citizenship bill – Kathmandu Post

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed concern over the lower house’s endorsement of the amendment bill on Citizenship Act without discussions on her suggestions. On Monday, Bhandari invited office bearers of the ruling Nepali Congress and the main opposition CPN-UML separately and expressed her concerns about the bill which she had returned to the House of Representatives for a review. Click here to read…

India to grant Nepal access to two key ports in Gujarat & Odisha under trade, transit treaties – The Print

Despite several challenges plaguing the bilateral relationship of late, India and Nepal are all set to upgrade their bilateral trade and transit ties under which Kathmandu will be given access to some of the key Indian ports along with enhanced reach for its agriculture produce, ThePrint has learnt. Click here to read…

31 member Indian Army team arrives in Nepal on five-day visit – The Print

A 31-member delegation of the Indian Army’s “Defence Course” arrived in Nepal on Sunday. The visiting team includes students participating in the ‘National Defence Course-62’ that was held at the National Defence College in New Delhi, according to a press release issued by Nepali Army. Click here to read…

3 Arrested With Heroin Worth Rs 60 Lakh From Uttar Pradesh Town On India-Nepal Border – Outlook India

Three people were arrested with heroin on Sunday in two separate incidents from Sonauli town on the Indo-Nepal border here, by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Police, a senior officer said. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Govt to form response centre to manage flood crisis: Dawn

The ruling alliance on Monday held threadbare discussions to devise comprehensive plans for the relief and rehabilitation of millions of flood victims, as well as chalking out a strategy to meet natural catastrophes of this magnitude in future as the flooding caused by unprecedented monsoon rains swept nearly a third of the country. Click here to read…

IMF approves much-needed $1.1bn payout: Dawn

The Exe¬cu¬tive Board of the Interna¬tional Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday completed the combined 7th and 8th revi¬ews of a loan facility for Pak¬is¬tan, allowing immediate disbursement of $1.1 billion to the country, said an official IMF announcement. Click here to read…

‘Betrayal of country’: Bilawal slams Imran for trying to ‘sabotage’ IMF deal: The Express Tribune

PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accused former prime minister Imran Khan of exploiting PTI-led governments in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to “sabotage” the IMF bailout programme amid devastation caused by floods. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Govt. agrees to submit documents in Parliament over Ranjan’s release: Daily Mirror

The government today agreed to submit in Parliament the documents pertaining to the presidential pardon to former MP Ranjan Ramanayake. Responding to a request made by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament that he would submit in Parliament the relevant documents. Click here to read…

Jet fuel shortage worsens SLA’s woes: Daily Mirror

SLA posted a loss of US $ 1.5 million in July, as the airline was forced to make fuel stops outside the country, due to the jet fuel shortage in the country. After 16 years, SLA reported a US $ 10.66 million profit in December 2021 and a profit of US $ 1.7 million in the March 2022 quarter. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka president to present first budget with hopes for IMF loan: The Indian Express

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will on Tuesday slash defence and other expenditures in a bid to win International Monetary Fund (IMF) support as he presents his first budget since taking over as leader of his crisis-hit country. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

MoD Says US Drones Entering Afghan Airspace From Pakistan: Tolo News

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that American drones are entering Afghanistan’s airspace from Pakistan. At a press conference, acting Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid asked Pakistan to not allow its airspace to be used against Afghanistan. Click here to read…

China Supports Travel Ban Exemptions for Islamic Emirate Leaders: Tolo News

China hopes that the UN Security Council will extend travel ban exemption for the leaders of the Islamic Emirate in a bid for the international community to remain engaged in Afghanistan. Talking to reporters at the Security Council Media Stakeout, the Chinese Ambassador at the UNSC, Zhang Jun, said that the humanitarian situation is critical in AfghanistanClick here to read…

Court ‘Terminates’ Executive Order to Split Afghans Frozen Asset: The Khaama Press

A New York court has denied the request to compensate 9/11 victim families from Afghanistan’s frozen foreign reserves, terminating President Joe Biden’s executive order to split the $7 billion in Afghan asset between poverty-stricken Afghanistan and families of 9/11 victim. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

‘By far, Bangladesh has become one of the countries with most cooperation and fruitful results under the BRI framework’: Dhaka Tribune

Ambassador of China to Bangladesh HE Li Jiming has been gracious enough to grant this extraordinarily open and forthright interview to Probir Kumar Sarker, exclusively for Dhaka Tribune, which we shall be running in five parts this week. This is the second part. In Monday’s section, Ambassador Li discusses the alignment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Bangladesh’s Vision 2041 and the role China plays in Bangladesh’s developmentClick here to read…

Rice production growth slows despite rising demand: The Daily Star

The rice production growth in Bangladesh is slowing as the room for a further expansion of modern high-yielding varieties (HYVs) has squeezed amid reducing cropped area and growing use of agricultural land for non-farm purposes. Click here to read…

Project to buy carriages: After 6 years, it now needs a fresh start: The Daily Star

Another railway project involving a Chinese contractor has plunged into deep uncertainty after a government committee directed the authorities not to take the hard loan arranged by the company. Click here to read…

Bhutan

We must rejuvenate SAARC, says former Bhutan PM Tsering Tobgay Business Standard – Business Standard

Speaking at the fifth “India and the World” lecture, former Prime Minister of Bhutan Tsering Tobgay expressed concerns about the current status of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and, citing the recent political and economic crises in Sri Lanka, called for greater efforts to rejuvenate the regional intergovernmental organisation. Click here to read…

For Bhutan, India remains a major source market – Economic Times

With Bhutan set to open up, ET HospitalityWorld spoke with Arun Kumar – market vice-president – North India, Nepal, Bhutan, Marriott International about his company’s new properties in Thimphu and Paro, which were set to welcome visitors from September 23, 2022. Click here to read…

Rising imports from China draining Bhutan’s forex reserves – Economic Times

According the data provided by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in July 2022, foreign exchange reserves in the country shrunk to $970 million at the end of December 2021 from $1.46 billion in April 2021, while external debt increased to $3.2 billion. Click here to read…

Maldives

‘MVR 1.9 bln lost to corruption must be recovered’: Finance Minister – Avas

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has said MVR 1.9 billion owed to the state between 2009 and 2020 has still not been recovered. The minister made the statement on Sunday while speaking at a ceremony held to kick off a workshop conducted by the Anti-Corruption on establishing an asset recovery system. Click here to read…

Bill on increasing GST submitted to the Parliament – Avas

The Attorney General’s Office said three bills were sent to the Parliament Office on Sunday. They are bills seeking to amend the Tourism Act, the Goods and Service Tax Act, and the Judiciary Act. The government had earlier announced that it would propose amendments to the GST Act to increase the percentage charged as GST. Click here to read…

Foreign Minister Shahid travels to India – Avas

Foreign Minister and 76th UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid has arrived in India on an official visit. Shahid’s visit to India coincides with Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed’s unofficial visit to the neighboring country. Click here to read…

Myanmar

In Myanmar, Vietnamese firms learn the political risks of backing the junta – RFA

Vietnamese firms are confronting political risk from overseas investments as the price of doing business with Myanmar’s brutal military regime, a less predictable partner than the authoritarians they are accustomed to. Vietnam’s largest venture in Myanmar is by VietTel, Vietnam’s largest cellular provider. The military-owned company has a major stake in Myanmar’s MyTel, which is also military-owned and has been hemorrhaging customers since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup d’etat that ousted Myanmar’s elected government. Click here to read…

Dhaka to lodge protest against Myanmar shelling into Bangladesh: FS – New AgeBD

Bangladesh will lodge its strong protest with Myanmar so that nothing such happens inside Bangladesh as the country witnessed two mortar shells from Myanmar inside Bangladesh territory on Sunday afternoon. Click here to read…

Myanmar Kyat exchange rate reaches record low – Thai World

On August 27th, the value of the Myanmar Kyat (MMK) to the US Dollar (USD) hit a record low at 3,400 MMK/US$1. Similarly, the price of the Baht strengthened against the MMK to a never before seen rate of 100 MMK/฿1. The price of gold bullion has also spiked, reaching a record high of over 29 Lakhs MMK (around 2,900 Baht) per Kyattha(16.3293g). Click here to read…

Myanmar strongly condemns and rejects statements issued on the anniversary of August 2017 incidents of Rakhine State: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Eleven Myanmar

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar issued a statement rejecting the statements issued on the anniversary of August 2017 incidents of Rakhine State on August 25, 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar has learnt the issuance of statements by certain countries and organizations including the spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary General on the anniversary of the incident that took place in Rakhine State on 25 August 2017. Click here to read…

Nepal

31 member Indian Army team arrives in Nepal on five-day visit – AwazHind Times

A 31-member delegation of the Indian Army’s “Defence Course” arrived in Nepal on Sunday. The visiting team includes students participating in the ‘National Defence Course-62’ that was held at the National Defence College in New Delhi, according to a press release issued by Nepali Army. Click here to read…

What does it mean for China that Nepal has now awarded two joint storage projects totaling 1200MW to India? – Inventive

The West-Seti Hydropower Project and Seti River Project (SR6), combined storage projects totalling 1200MW that China had twice abandoned, were officially granted by Nepal on August 18 to India’s National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC). The undertaking will be a year-round energy storage system. India will receive power through its national grid, either for internal consumption or export. Click here to read…

Standoff between Nepal’s President & govt over citizenship to ‘foreign women’ – WioNews

Nepal is in the grip of another political crisis as the country’s rulers are clashing. There is an apparent tussle between the executive and the president over citizenship Bill and it appears that the lawmakers are stuck between the government and president. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Death toll breaches 1,030 mark as floods wreak havoc: The Express Tribune

Floods continued to devastate the country on Sunday, particularly the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan leaving at least 119 people dead and more than 70 injured in the past 24 hours. Click here to read…

Several airlifted, many still stranded in KP: Dawn

With many still marooned in flood-affected regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a significant number of people airlifted to safety on Sunday, the prime minister and the army chief made an attempt to bring a healing touch for a nation in grief. Click here to read…

Crucial IMF meeting for renewal of loan plan today: Dawn

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meets on Monday (today) to consider a bailout package for Pakistan as Islamabad claims tying up at least $37 billion in loans and investments. If the board approves the deal, the IMF will immediately disburse about $1.2 billion to Pakistan and may provide up to $4 billion over the remainder of the current fiscal year, which began on July 1. Click here to read…

Flood inflicts $10bn loss on Pakistan economy: Miftah Ismail: The News

The flash floods have inflicted a loss of at least $10 billion on different sectors of the country’s struggling economy, says Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sharp exchange between Delhi, Beijing over ship in Sri Lanka: The Indian Express

The docking of the Chinese military vessel in Sri Lanka has touched off a fresh war of words between New Delhi and Beijing — this time over Colombo. A day after the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, in a thinly veiled reference to India, alleged “thorough interference” into Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and invoked what he called the history of aggression by “the northern neighbour”, New Delhi hit back sharply Saturday. Click here to read…

Chinese company refuses to budge: Daily Mirror

A Chinese fertilizer company involved in a dispute with Sri Lanka, has refused to budge and had demanded that Sri Lanka respect the spirit of the agreement reached between both parties. Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group reminded the Sri Lankan authorities of a supplementary agreement reached between both parties in February 2022. Click here to read…

SL envoy woos Chinese investment in solar, wind energy: Daily Mirror

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Dr. Palitha Kohona said Sri Lanka is an ideal spot for solar energy development and also wind energy development and China can be a big help as we transition to clean energy. “We would be able to address a huge part of our energy crisis by relying on renewable energy,” he said, according to the Chinese media. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Kabul Facilitating Return of Political Opponents: Spokesman: Tolo News

Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that they are using all paths to facilitate the return of “political opponents.” Mujahid made the remarks in reaction to the Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, who told the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tashkent on Wednesday that member states should encourage Afghanistan’s authorities to achieve national reconciliation through dialogue and negotiation and establish an inclusive political structure. Click here to read…

Afghan Soil Should Not Be Used to Attack Other Country: Indian Defense Minister at SCO: The Khaama Press

Rajnath Singh, the Defense Minister of India, said in Tashkent on Wednesday at the gathering of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s defense ministers that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used to “intimidate or attack” any other country. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

BRT project: Lack of safety measures poses risk of accidents: Dhaka Tribune

Even after several mishaps and recent deaths surrounding the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Dhaka, the Gazipur portion of the project continues to operate with no safety measures in place for the public. Click here to read…

Kushiyara River: Dhaka, Delhi finalize text of MoU to share water: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh and India on Thursday finalized the text of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on interim water sharing of Kushiyara river.

Both sides welcomed finalization of the design and location of water intake point on the Feni river to meet the drinking water needs of Sabroom town in Tripura as per the October 2019 Bangladesh-India MoU on this subject. Click here to read…

Pakistan declares emergency in the face of calamitous floods: Dawn

Calling the incessant monsoon rains a “climate-inducted humanitarian crisis of epic proportions”, the Pakistan government on Thursday officially declared a ‘national emergency’ in light of the rain-induced floods which have so far killed 937 people, including 343 children, and left at least 30 million without shelter. Click here to read…

Bhutan

ADB-Backed Bhutanese Solar Project Seeks Bidders For Solar PV Plant – SaurEnergy.com

Through its Department of Renewable Energy, Bhutan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a 17.38 MW solar power plant that will be financed by an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan and is open to bidders from all eligible source countries of the bank. Click here to read…

Foreign Secretary Kwatra meets Bhutan counterpart, discusses bilateral issues – Devidiscource

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Tuesday met his counterpart from Bhutan Ambassador Pema Choden and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. “Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra held a meeting today with his counterpart from Bhutan Ambassador Pema Choden. Click here to read…

Maldives

MPS warns public of legal action, if attacks on those suspected of criminal offences, continue – Raajje

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has warned the public of legal action, if they continue to take matters into their own hands in connection with criminal cases. Stressing that the issue of members of the general public taking matters into their own hands and attacking persons suspected of carrying out criminal offences, in the name of “seeking justice”, against the legal mandate is concerning, the police institution revealed that henceforth, legal action will be taken against individuals who obstruct law enforcement and carry out such acts. Click here to read…

Oxford University to support deep-sea expedition to Maldives – Mirage News

Oxford University researchers are playing a key role in the first systematic survey of ocean life in the Maldives, from the surface to 1000 metres deep. This will enable the Maldivian Government to develop conservation and sustainable development policies, so that the oceans continue to protect and provide for the Maldivian people. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Mizoram: 2 held for smuggling exotic animals from Myanmar – Times Now News

The Mizoram Police have detained two persons and rescued nine exotic wildlife animals which are suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar. The accused were nabbed in the state’s Kolasib district. A vehicle was intercepted at the check gate in the Kolasib district late on Wednesday night and two capybaras and seven grey monkeys were seized. Click here to read…

Myanmar arrests former UK ambassador – Telegraph India

Myanmar has detained the UK’s former ambassador to the country, where a military junta seized power last year, according to reports on Thursday. Sources said that both Vicky Bowman, who currently runs the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), and her artist husband Htein Lin — a former political prisoner — were both detained. Click here to read…

Myanmar inflation crushing consumers since military takeover – Asia Nikkei

Inflation is rising in military-controlled Myanmar, pushing up prices for rice and other daily necessities by more than two digits as the kyat, the country’s currency, has been devalued due to a shortage of foreign exchange. The country finds itself in a vicious cycle, with people spending less amid runaway inflation and a worsening economy. Click here to read…

‘Comprehensive’ solution needed to end mass displacement of Rohingya – UN News

Some one million refugees remain in the vast camps of Cox’s Bazar, without any immediate prospect of being able to return home, which more than 150,000 mostly-Muslim Rohingya are still “confined in camps” in their native Rakhine state, said a statement issued on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Click here to read…

Myanmar Regime Violently Detains Activist, Photographer Involved in Umbrella Protest – The Irrawaddy

The Myanmar junta violently arrested a young anti-regime protester and a freelance photographer who were involved in a widely emulated umbrella strike in Yangon earlier this month marking the 34th anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal is not ready for Agnipath, delays recruitment for Indian Army – Asia News Network

The recruitment process for the Indian Army under Agnipath was scheduled to start in Nepal on August 25. Two days ago, Nepalese Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava held a meeting to discuss the issues. In the meeting, the Nepalese side informed him to wait on the plan to recruit Nepali youths under the scheme, which provides for a four-year term with no post-retirement benefits. Click here to read…

Nepal sees a dramatic face-off between executive and the President over citizenship bill – Kathmandu Post

A day after President Bidya Devi Bhandari hosted dinner for former Army generals, including the incumbent Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand on Thursday attempted to make it clear the government has taken every step in line with the constitution, in insinuation of activism by Sheetal Niwas. Click here to read…

Nepal eager to expand trade relations with Pakistan: Ambassador Adhikari – Big News Network

On Monday, Ambassadors of Nepal Tapas Adhikari, Azerbaijan’s Khazar Farhadov, and Turkmenistan’s Atadjan Movlamov paid a visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI). They thoroughly discussed Pakistan’s trade and economic ties with their respective countries. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Army top brass hints at tougher approach against TTP: Dawn

Speaking at the 250th Corps Comm¬anders’ Conference, a monthly feature at General Headquarters, Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, according to ISPR, “directed formations to maintain operational readiness and efforts to counter terrorism particularly in KP & Balochistan must continue (sic)” Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Japan seeks to organise Sri Lanka creditors’ meeting on debt crisis: Daily Mirror

Japan is seeking to organise a Sri Lanka creditors’ conference, hoping it could help solve the South Asia nation’s debt crisis, but uncertainties cloud the outlook for any talks, three people with knowledge of the planning said. Click here to read…

Rooftop solar sector demands substantial tariff hike: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s Solar Industries Association (SIA) yesterday urged the government to immediately grant a substantial hike in feed-in tariffs (FIT) for rooftop solar producers in line with the recent increase in input costs in order to revitalise rooftop solar production and to ensure the country’s energy security without burdening electricity consumers further by increasing electricity tariffs. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Afghanistan at Brink of Irreversible Ruin: Amnesty International: The Khaama Press

Islamic Emirate leadership in reaction to a petition by Amnesty International regarding the violation of human rights in Afghanistan said the organization’s report is far from the truth. Earlier, Amnesty International created a petition on what it considers to be human rights violations in Afghanistan and is requesting comments from people all around the world. Click here to read…

USCIRF: ‘Severe’ Deterioration of Freedom of Religion since Taliban’s Takeover in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

In its most recent report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlighted a “severe decline” in religious freedom since the Taliban’s takeover, which places religious minorities at risk of “extinction.”The Taliban’s enforcement of their strict conception of Sunni Islam adversely affects all Afghans who do not follow and adhere to that interpretation, according to the USCIRF report released on Tuesday, August 23. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Price hike: LDA’s strike underway: Dhaka Tribune

The 12-hour nationwide strike enforced by the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), protesting the recent price hike of daily essentials, is being observed in Dhaka. Click here to read…

Five years of the Rohingya crisis: Dhaka Tribune

Five years have passed since the Myanmar military crackdown in Rakhine has sent nearly a million Rohingyas fleeing across the border to Bangladesh. With sharp decline in international funding and little prospect of repatriation anytime soon, Bangladesh continues to struggle to accommodate the million-strong refugees while fending off natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and food shortages. Click here to read…

Bhutan

WMO strengthens climate services delivery in Bhutan – WMO

WMO, with support from the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) Bhutan and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Asia and Africa (RIMES) has successfully completed the implementation of a project aimed at strengthening the capacity to provide climate services and support climate sensitive sectors in the remote, landlocked mountainous country. Click here to read…

Bhutan likely to save Nu 5.3B in a year from vehicle import moratorium – KuenselOnline

Bhutan could save Nu 5.3 billion (B) in a year from the moratorium on the import of vehicles. Bhutan imported 7,882 vehicles worth Nu 5.3B in 2021. The import includes buses, passenger cars, transport vehicles, special purpose vehicles, and motorcycles. In the first six months, the vehicle import figure was 3,248. In monetary terms, it was worth Nu 2.84B. Click here to read…

Maldives

Pres. urges top achievers to pursue fields essential for national development – Raajje

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has urged top achievement winners to pursue knowledge in fields essential for national development. He said this during the ‘Top Achievers’ Award 2020-2021’ ceremony held on Wednesday evening. Click here to read…

Maldives Minister Ali Solih stabbed in broad daylight, attacker seen reciting Quran verses – OpIndia

In a horrific incident, Maldivian Minister Ali Solih was attacked by a sharp weapon while he was riding on a bike in the Hulhumale region of the capital Male. The Maldivian Police immediately arrested the attacker who tried to slit his throat. Click here to read…

Myanmar

SAC Chairman holds Second Peace Talks with ethnic peace delegation in NPT – Eleven Myanmar

Chairman of State Administration Council (SAC), Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing held Second Peace Talks with the peace delegation led by Chairman of Pa-O National Liberation Organization(PNLO) Khun Thurein, Chairman of Lahu Democratic Union(LDU )Kyar Solomon and Vice-Chairperson of the Arakan Liberation Party(ALP) Saw Mra Razar Lin at Bayintnaung villa in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning. Click here to read…

Myanmar: No Justice, No Freedom for Rohingya 5 Years On – HRW

Rohingya Muslims are still awaiting justice and protection of their rights five years after the Myanmar military began a sweeping campaign of massacres, rape, and arson in northern Rakhine State on August 25, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. Click here to read…

AA releases statement addressing rising military tensions in Arakan State – BNI Online

Military tensions are escalating day by day and the theatre of war is expanding in Arakan State, the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) said in a statement on Tuesday. The Myanmar military has been mobilising its troops and bringing in reinforcements and additional weapons in what appears to be preparations for further military operations, according to the AA statement. Click here to read…

Myanmar brings in $800 mln from April-July gas exports – Reuters

Military-ruled Myanmar earned $800 million from natural gas exports mainly to China and Thailand between April and July, the junta said in the state newspaper on Thursday. Click here to read…

Nepal

Action recommended against 1,690 govt officials – The Himalayan Times

The National Vigilance Centre has written to the ministries and offices concerned, directing them to initiate disciplinary action against 1,690 government employees for absenteeism and violation of dress code in the past three months. Click here to read…

Indian army chief arriving in Kathmandu on a four day visit to Nepal on October 5 – My Republic

Chief of Indian Army Manoj Pande is arriving in Kathmandu on October 5. He is set to come to Nepal for a four-day visit at the invitation of the Nepal Army Chief Prabhu Ram Sharma. Click here to read…

Agnipath scheme may impact ties with Nepal – Tribune India

The Nepal Army is mostly trained and equipped by India. The Indian Army helped it in containing Maoist insurgency. The bilateral group on security cooperation was set up in its aftermath. New Delhi must treat Kathmandu with respect and not repeat the old mistake of taking Nepal for granted. The most worrying consequence of the Agnipath scheme could be the weakening of the ‘diplomatic bridge’ between Nepal and India. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Editorial: Mexican stand-off: Dawn

A STRANGE madness appears to be afflicting our political leaders. Knives out, they are chasing after each other in the hopes of landing a killing blow, not realising the damage they are doing to their own future prospects with the harmful precedents they are setting that ‘others’ can easily exploit. Click here to read…

Imran due in court today: Dawn

Extra security has been deployed at the Federal Judicial Complex where former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan is likely to appear to get pre-arrest bail on Thursday (today) in a terrorism case registered against him for threatening additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry and the Islamabad police chief. Click here to read…

IMF sees inflation peaking at 20%: The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees Pakistan’s economy slowing to around 3.5% due to weakening economic conditions and average inflation rate peaking to nearly 20% by the end of the current fiscal year on the back of currency depreciation and higher commodity prices. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

President urges China to change tune on debt: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is urging China to dramatically change its stance on debt relief, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview, conceding that reaching a deal will be no simple task. The appeal to China, the bankrupt Indian Ocean nation’s largest bilateral lender, has emerged as a formidable challenge to Wickremesinghe, who is leading the country’s financial team as it attempts to rebuild an economy starved of foreign reserves and mired in miseryClick here to read…

Gota to return during first week of September: Daily Mirror

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to return to Sri Lanka during the first week of next month, Daily Mirror learns . An informed source said he is likely to return either on September 2 or 3. Earlier,The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe to make arrangements for the former president to return . Click here to read…

Amid soft-peg crisis, Sri Lanka suspends imports of over 300 items from Wed: Business Standard

Amidst soft-peg crisis, Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended the import of over 300 ‘non-essential’ items with effect from Wednesday. Signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister, the gazette was issued under the Import and Export Control Act. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

UN’s Griffiths: Women, Girls Face ‘Alarming Rollback On Their Rights’: Tolo News

Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, while talking to CGTN TV said that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is regressing. “Women and girls are facing alarming rollback on their rights,” said Martin Griffiths. Click here to read…

Japan to Grant Refugee Status to 98 Afghan Nationals: The Khaama Press

Japan has reportedly granted refugee status to 98 Afghan nationals, including staff who worked at the Japanese embassy in Kabul and their families, who left Afghanistan last year, according to Japanese media citing government sources. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Dhaka, Delhi eye positive results during PM Hasina’s visit: Dhaka Tribune

Former Indian foreign secretary and G20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said Bangladesh is a remarkable story in terms of growth and development. He highlighted the achievements and accomplishments made by the two countries over the last decade and shed light on future cooperation between the two countries as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to visit New Delhi September at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Click here to read…

President Hamid alerts against plastic usage to protect environment: Dhaka Tribune

President M Abdul Hamid on Tuesday urged everyone, including political leaders, district administration and civil society to remain alert in using plastic waste and polythene to protect the balance of the environment. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Foreign Secretary Kwatra meets Bhutan counterpart, discusses bilateral issues – The Print

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Tuesday met his counterpart from Bhutan Ambassador Pema Choden and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. Click here to read…

WMO strengthens climate services delivery in Bhutan – Mirage News

WMO, with support from the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) Bhutan and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Asia and Africa (RIMES) has successfully completed the implementation of a project aimed at strengthening the capacity to provide climate services and support climate sensitive sectors in the remote, landlocked mountainous country. Click here to read…

Maldives

Ambassador Shaan presents credentials to President of Germany – Raajje

The Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Federal Republic of Germany, has presented her credentials. Ambassador Aishath Shaan Shakir presented her Letter of Credence to the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier during an official ceremony held on Monday. Click here to read…

Team of Maldivian journalists head to India for training – Raajje

The Maldives Media Council revealed that the skill-building and training programme comes under an opportunity paved by the Indian government’s ITEC Programme. The initiative comes under the council’s efforts to advance the skills and pave progress for media houses of the island nation. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar: No Justice, No Freedom for Rohingya 5 Years On – HRW

Rohingya Muslims are still awaiting justice and protection of their rights five years after the Myanmar military began a sweeping campaign of massacres, rape, and arson in northern Rakhine State on August 25, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled to precarious, flood-prone camps in Bangladesh, while about 600,000 remain under oppressive rule in Myanmar. Click here to read…

UN faces heat over envoy’s trip to Myanmar – RFA

Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and more than 850 civil society groups called on the United Nations to remove its appointed envoy to the country after her visit last week and demonstrate a “serious commitment” to resolving the nation’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Click here to read…

Devalued Kyat currency stops trade at Myanmar-China border – RFA

Myanmar merchants who trade goods across the border with China say their country’s kyat has depreciated so much relative to the Chinese yuan that they are no longer able to stay in business. The traders typically export agricultural and fisheries products to China and import Chinese consumer and industrial goods and food products to Myanmar. Click here to read…

As Myanmar Coup Intensifies Regional Human Trafficking, How Will China Respond – The Diplomat

Since the 2021 Myanmar coup, over 2,200 people have been killed by the military. The military doubled down on political repression by executing well-known political activists and burning villages with members participating in armed resistance. Click here to read…

Myanmar national among two held in major drug bust: Mizoram Police – The Print

The Special Narcotics Cell of the Mizoram Police seized 2.7 kilograms of heroin in the Kolasib district on Monday night and arrested two persons including a Myanmar national, police said on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Nepal

Country’s trade deficit narrows by 10.38pc – The Himalayan Times

The government’s decision to give continuity to the ban on import of non-essential items listed under 10 categories limited the country’s trade deficit to Rs 116.476 billion in the first month (mid-July to mid-August) of the current fiscal year 2022-23. Click here to read…

Nepal Government forms High-level Salary and Facilities Commission – Nepal 24 Hours

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on August 22 has constituted the commission under the convenorship of former Chief Secretary Leelamani Paudyal for carrying out necessary study for revising the salary, allowance, remuneration and facilities of government employees and workers, and recommend to the government. The commission has been asked to make the study and recommendation on the basis of the country’s economic condition and its spending capacity. Click here to read…

China’s zero-Covid policy turns Nepal border towns into ‘dead’ zones as trade routes dry up – SCMP

China’s zero-Covid policy is proving a major obstacle to the resumption of two-way trade with Nepal, with border closures causing a sharp decline in Nepalese exports to the world’s No 2 economy and losses for merchants. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan’s political turmoil echoes in US, UN corridors: Dawn

The political turmoil in Pakistan echoed far away in the United States as well, where the UN chief urged Islamabad to keep the legal process impartial while the State Depart¬ment underlined the need to follow “democratic, constitutional and legal” principles. Click here to read…

Pakistan seeks world aid to cope with flood emergency: Dawn

As massive floods across Pakistan have so far claimed at least 830 lives since July, the government on Tuesday decided to launch an international appeal seeking funds for relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit people and restoration of damaged infrastructure. Click here to read…

Pakistan explores debt rescheduling option: The Express Tribune

The government has explored an option to seek rescheduling of its external debt, as Pakistan faces a mammoth challenge to service over two-third or $66 billion of the total external public and publicly-guaranteed repayments in five years. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s ousted president Rajapaksa may return home by early September:Sources: Economic Times

Sri Lanka’s former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa may return home in about two weeks after fleeing a popular uprising in July, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, depending in part on arrangements to secure his safety.
Click here to read…

PTA, a must to tackle terrorism: Cabinet Spokesman: Daily Mirror

The government today said that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) sleuths are questioning several suspects including the convener of the IUSF Wasantha Mudalige detained under the provisions of Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to determine whether there was a conspiracy to topple the government.Click here to read…

Govt. slaps import ban on wide range of goods: Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Minister, yesterday issued new regulations via an extraordinary gazette suspending the import of a plethora of items, with effect from August 23, 2022, until further notice. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Reuters Sources: US to Discuss Frozen Funds With Kabul: Tolo News

(Reuters) US President Joe Biden’s administration will press ahead with talks on releasing billions of dollars in Afghanistan’s foreign-held assets despite the late al Qaeda leader’s presence in Kabul and foot-dragging by the Islamic Emirate and Afghan central bank, according to three sources with knowledge of the situation. Click here to read…

Revocation or Extension: Taliban Official’s Travel Ban Waiver to Be Reviewed by UNSC Today: The Khaama Press

The UN Security Council (UNSC) will vote today on whether to extend the 13 Taliban officials’ travel exemptions or to rescind their waivers in light of the disagreements among UNSC member statesClick here to read…

US to Push Forward Afghan Asset Talks with Taliban: The Khaama Press

Despite tensions between the US and the Taliban over the presence and assassination of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul, US President Joe Biden’s administration will move forward with negotiations to release billions of dollars of Afghan frozen foreign assets, Reuters reported citing sources. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

BPC plans to import diesel, jet fuel from Russia: The Daily Star

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is considering buying discounted diesel and jet fuel from Russia as it seeks relief from the elevated prices in the global market. Click here to read…

Envoy: UK ready to send independent observers to Bangladesh national polls: Dhaka Tribune

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson on Monday said the United Kingdom is ready to send independent observers to the national election of Bangladesh if the country’s Election Commission allows for it. Click here to read…

UN special envoy for Myanmar in Dhaka: Dhaka Tribune

UN special envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer arrived in Dhaka Monday on a four-day visit.She is expected to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman, and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Bhutan forex reserves plummet : Another economic crisis waiting to happen in India’s neighbourhood – Times Now News

As Bhutan’s foreign exchange reserves plummet, the nation said it would ban the import of all vehicles except utility vehicles, heavy earthmoving machines and agriculture machinery, according to a Reuters report. Click here to read…

Bhutan: The First Carbon Negative Country In The World – Earth.Org

Bhutan is both the happiest and also the greenest country in the world. In the past 50 years, the Bhutanese government chose to measure progress beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP), by focussing instead on the Gross National Happiness (GNH) and placing emphasis on environmental protection. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives Environment Minister Ali Solih stabbed near Male – Indian Narrative

According to The Times of Addu, Solih was attacked while he was riding his motorcycle on a road in Hulhumale. Maldivian media reported that the perpetrator recited some verses of the Quran before launching the attack on Solih’s neck from behind. The knife missed the neck but slit part of his left arm. Click here to read…

Maldives tourist arrivals exceed 1.02 mil by mid-August – Edition

According to the government body’s latest statistical update, tourist arrivals so far in 2022 observe an annual increment of 47.9 percent in comparison with the same period last year. In 2021, tourist arrivals by the same review period reached 695,406. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar junta naval fleet attacked by PDFs in Katha, Sagaing – Mizzima

A video released on 19 August purports to show a Myanmar army fleet sailing upstream from Katha, Sagaing Region to Bhamo in Kachin state being attacked by missiles, according to Katha PDF. The fleet contained supply ships and six warships was attacked by free-flight missiles and electric-shocked grenades launchers on 18 August at 11:00 am along the Ayeyarwaddy River near Nakuu Village, six miles north of Katha town. Click here to read…

Can Bangladesh-Myanmar military ties stabilise the region – The Daily Star

Myanmar always gets priority in Bangladesh’s economic and security strategy. Although democratic Bangladesh has a moral dilemma in supporting the military government, it has yet to formally condemn the military coup or demand Aung San Su Kyi’s release. It underscores Dhaka’s careful support for the junta’s “one-Myanmar government policy.” Click here to read…

It’s Time to Help Myanmar’s Resistance Prevail – USIP

The international community can be divided into three camps in dealing with Myanmar’s brutal coup regime. One consists of a shameless group that includes Russia, China and India that supports the junta and, in the case of Russia and China, supplies weapons to further their own narrow national interests. A second is a divided ASEAN that cobbled together and continues to promote the so-called “five-point consensus,” an incoherent initiative that was dead on arrival more than a year ago. The third is the West, which has imposed sanctions, offered humanitarian aid and taken a strong rhetorical position opposing the coup, yet criticizes armed resistance and avoids bold action, favoring instead the cautious, ineffectual path of supporting ASEAN’s failed plan. Click here to read…

Even as the West tries to wean itself off Russian oil, Moscow has found itself yet another buyer: Myanmar – Business Insider

Despite sanctions and boycotts over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has managed to acquire new customers for its energy products. This time, Myanmar is joining the line to buy Russian gas and fuel oil, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. Click here to read…

Nepal

Explained | The controversy around Nepal’s new citizenship law – The Hindu

On August 16, Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari sent back the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2006 to the Pratinidhi Sabha (House of Representatives), the lower house of the Nepal Parliament, urging the members to reconsider the ActClick here to read…

China shuts down borders with Nepal citing Covid, containers worth billions of rupees remain stranded – Op India

China has, once again, shut the Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points between Nepal and China, citing an increase in the number of Covid cases in the cities near the transfer points. Nepali customs officials say that the Tatopani border is closed since Wednesday whereas the Rasuwagadhi point is shut since last weekend. This decision comes as a big setback for Nepalese traders who will be incurring losses worth millions of Nepalese rupees ahead of the famous Nepalese Dashain festival. Click here to read…

Nepal gives India two power projects quit by China – Economic Times

India has expanded power sector partnership with Nepal with Kathmandu awarding the much-delayed West Seti Hydropower Project and Seti River Hydropower Project in the western part of the Himalayan nation to a leading Indian firm nearly four years after China withdrew from these projects. Click here to read…

China’s Belt and Road Initiative faces protests in Nepal amid fears of Beijing’s expansionist designs – Zee News

The Youth Department of Nepal`s Rashtriya Ekta Abhiyan held a protest rally demanding the revocation of the agreement on China`s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the cancellation of the Muslim Commission, local media reported.The rally from Maitighar Mandal in Kathmandu to Naya Baneshwar witnessed the participation of hundreds of people. Click here to read…

Pakistan

No-province-safe-from-rain-related-devastation: Dawn

As heavy monsoon rains and flooding continued to cause widespread damage to areas across the country, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday declared a state of emergency in four districts, relief goods were airdropped in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts of Punjab, dozens of families were shifted to tents in Gilgit-Baltistan after their villages were destroyed and efforts still under way to restore the National Highway link between Punjab and Balochistan. Click here to read…

IHC grants Imran protective bail till August 25 in terrorism case: The Express Tribune

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan protective bail till August 25 a day after he was booked under terrorism charges. Click here to read…

Pakistan to get $2bn from Qatar: SBP: The News

Pakistan will receive $2 billion from Qatar in bilateral support to help ease the South Asian nation’s funding crunch and the consequent risk of a default, the central bank said on Monday.The country will also get $1 billion in oil financing from Saudi Arabia and a similar amount in investments from the UAE. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

SL ranks 5th among 10 countries with highest food price inflation: World Bank: The Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka ranked 5th among the 10 countries with the highest food price inflation in the latest World Bank assessment.According, Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Venezuela and Turkey ranked first four countries in the assessment while Iran, Argentina, Suriname, Ethiopia and Moldova ranked behind Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

‘Bad bank’ mooted to deal with tourism industry debt: The Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka tourism authorities, led by Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, are actively contemplating on setting up what is called a ‘bad bank’ to restructure the debt of the crisis-hit tourism sector, Mirror Business learnsClick here to read…

India hands over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer to Sri Lanka: The Economic Times

India on Monday handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the crisis-ridden neighbour Sri Lanka. “Adding to the fragrance of friendship and cooperation. High Commissioner formally handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer supplied under India’s special support to the people of Sri Lanka,” tweeted the High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Intl Calls to Support Afghan Women Remain High: Tolo News

The EU, US and UN Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have once again reiterated their support for Afghan women and girls. “One year after the Taliban took over control of Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation has worsened, and wide-spread human rights violations are rising, in particular against women, girls and minorities,” said Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Click here to read…

Muttaqi Calls for Int’l Cooperation with Taliban Leadership: The Khaama Press

The Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at a ceremony in Kabul on Monday urged the world leaders – including international community – to cooperate with the Taliban leadership for the betterment of the region. Muttaqi made the remarks at a ceremony that was held to honor the first anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power since August 15, 2021. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Bhutan imports tobacco worth Nu 565.63M in first half of 2022: Kuensel Online

The country imported tobacco and tobacco products worth Nu 565.63 million (M), including 96.85M sticks of cigarettes worth Nu 509.9M, in the first six months of this year, according to statistics published by the Department of Revenue and Customs. The ban on sale of tobacco was lifted in July last year as the smuggling of tobacco products became rampant amid the pandemic. Click here to read…

Tourists visiting monuments must pay in advance to TCB until September 23: Kuensel Online

The counters for the collection of entry fee at monument sites that the tourists visit are still not open. The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) notified on July 15 that the National Monument Committee revised the entry fee at monument sites with immediate effect. The notification states that based on the itinerary, applicable entry fees will be collected by the TCB until September 23. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Hasina tears into AL leaders for not speaking out after Bangabandhu’s assassination: Bdnews24.com

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has lashed out at the Awami League leaders who remained silent after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the massacre of his family in 1975. Click here to read…

Awami League leader stabbed to death in Dhaka: Dhaka Tribune

A local leader of the ruling Awami League was stabbed to death in the Jatrabari area of Dhaka on Tuesday night. According to the police, Abu Bakkar Siddque Habu, 35, was president of unit No 14 within ward No 50 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League. He was the son of the late Ali Ahmad Hawlader of Nanda village in Shariatpur. Click here to read…

Maldives

Pres. reaffirms commitment to provide more opportunities for athletes: Raajje

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to developing sports and providing more opportunities for athletes. He made this statement at a meeting with the national table tennis team upon their return after representing the country at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games 2021, on Monday. Click here to read…

Ambassador of Russia pays a farewell call on Foreign Secretary: Raajje

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Maldives, Yuri Materiy, paid a farewell call on Foreign Secretary, Ahmed Latheef. The Ambassador of Russia made the farewell call on Foreign Secretary on Monday. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar military sentences Suu Kyi to six more years in prison: Myanmar Now

A junta court in Naypyitaw sentenced ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to six more years in prison on Monday after convicting her of four corruption charges, sources close to the case said. Months after the military overthrew her National League for Democracy (NLD) administration, the coup regime charged Suu Kyi with abusing her position as party leader to benefit a private foundation named after her mother, Daw Khin Kyi, as well as an affiliated project. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s Supply Chains Break Down Amid Fuel Shortages: The Irrawaddy

Amid serious fuel shortages and price hikes across Myanmar, businesses say they will soon halt operations unless availability improves. Thanks to the regime’s foreign currency controls and the restricted supply of fuel, it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy gasoline and diesel with prices exceeding 2,000 kyats per liter. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal’s remittance earning crosses Rs1 trillion mark: Kathmandu Post

Nepali migrant workers sent home Rs1 trillion in the last fiscal year ended mid-July, a record-high money transfer to Nepal since Nepalis started to look for overseas employment more than two decades ago. Click here to read…

Israel seeks 1,000 Nepali workers to fill its farming job slots: Kathmandu Post

Israel has asked for 1,000 Nepali workers to be absorbed in its farm sector. The West Asian country has been facing a severe shortage of farm hands which has hampered production. Click here to read…

Pakistan

A dangerous dead end: Dawn

IT was yet another massive show of political strength by the ousted prime minister in Lahore last week. The triumph in the recent by-elections and regaining control of Punjab seem to have given the PTI a huge political boost. Evidently, the charge of receiving ‘unauthorised funding’ does not seem to have had any effect on the party’s support base. Click here to read…

Imran’s close aide put on no-fly list: The Express Tribune

The federal cabinet amended the Exit Control List (ECL) on Tuesday on the recommendation of the Interior Ministry, removing 22 names from the no-fly list and adding 10 people to it, while giving a one-time permission to three people to leave the country. Click here to read…

Remittances dip to 5-month low: The Express Tribune

The flow of remittances sent home by overseas Pakistanis slowed down to a five-month low at $2.52 billion in the first month (July) of current fiscal year mainly due to lesser number of working days in the month. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

As its spy ship docks in Sri Lanka port, Beijing says: ‘This is life’: The Indian Express

As the Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 arrived Tuesday morning at Hambantota port, a strategically important deep sea port in southern Sri Lanka, Tuesday, China said the activities of its vessel will not affect the security of any country and should not be “obstructed” by any “third party” – a reference to India and its security concerns. Click here to read…

Chinese vessel ’Yuan Wang 5’ arrives: Daily Mirror

The chinese scientific research vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ arrived at the Hambantota port this morning amid concerns raied by India. Sri Lanka on Saturday had granted permission to the Chinese “research/survey” ship Yuan Wang 5 to dock at Hambantota Port from August 16 to 22. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Review of Security Developments in Afghanistan Over Past Year: Tolo News

Although ensuring security in Afghanistan is considered one of the Islamic Emirate’s accomplishments over the past year, following August 15th, 2021, various provinces in the country had security incidents. Click here to read…

Iranian Customs Officers Seize Afghan Tanker Truck Containing 100KG of Drugs: The Khaama Press

Iranian media citing the country’s security officials reported that Iranian forces in Dogharun customs in Iran discovered and seized a tanker truck from Afghanistan containing 100 kilograms of drugs. Click here to read…

Taliban Delegation to Visit Turkey to Assess Situation of Afghan Refugees and Migrants: The Khaama Press

According to Taliban authorities, a delegation from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of the Taliban government would visit Turkey to assess the situation of Afghan migrants and refugees as Turkey deported as many as 40,000 Afghan migrants to Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Curbing money laundering through AI: The Daily Star

East India Company colonised Bengal in 1757 when India’s contribution to the world’s GDP was about 27 per cent and Bengal (Suba-E-Bengal) was one of the wealthiest places on Earth. Click here to read…

Petroleum remains NBR’s major source of revenue: The Daily Star

Petroleum imports continue to be the major source of revenue for Custom House, Chattogram thanks to higher tariffs.
Revenue collection from the import of diesel, furnace oil and other fuels surged 56 per cent to Tk 12,440 crore in the fiscal year of 2021-22 from that a year ago, the highest in a decade. Click here to read…

India, Bangladesh should ignore minor irritants, continue joint war on terror: Security expert: Economic Times

India and Bangladesh should ignore minor irritants and continue strengthening their close relations as the two nations engage in a joint war against terrorism, said Shantanu Mukharji, IPS (Retd), a security analyst specializing on South Asia and terrorism. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Too much money, too less credit: Kuensel Online

Financial institutions in the country have recorded significant growth in their liquidity positions amid a sluggish growth in credit, according to data published by the Royal Monetary Authority. Liquidity (cash) in bank and non-bank financial institutions increased to Nu 29.52 billion (B) in March 2022 from Nu 20.87B in March 2021. In other words, the liquidity position increased by Nu 8.65B or 41 percent. Click here to read…

Tsirang villages struggle with waste management challenges : Kuensel Online

With increasing modern infrastructure and development in rural communities, plastic waste has penetrated deep into the villages where waste problems had been an alien concept until recently. Click here to read…

For energy-secure Bhutan: Kuensel Online

Bhutan’s energy demand could grow by over 400 percent by 2030. This is a logical estimation, going by the consumption pattern in the country. To put it in numbers, coming from experts, energy demand could hit as high as 25,270.42 Gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2030 from 5,000 GWh currently. In other words, energy demand grew by 6 percent annually between 2010 and 2021. Click here to read…

Government halts 2,560MW Sunkosh project :Kuensel Online

The government will for now not pursue the 2,560-megawatt Sunkosh hydropower project, the country’s biggest, according to the economic affairs minister, Loknath Sharma.
This means that developmental activities like the construction of roads, bridges and plantation of cash crops, which were halted before, will be allowed. Click here to read…

Maldives

“Solih administration shepherd the island’s notable social and economic development”: Raajje

The council members of Feevah Island in the Shaviyani Atoll has expressed gratitude to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his administration for the island’s notable social and economic development. Click here to read…

54 percent of Lhaimagu Harbor completed: Raajje

Work on design and build of Sh. Lhaimagu Harbor Development Project is well underway. 54 percent of the overall work of the project is now completed. Click here to read…

Maldives confirms 98 new Covid-19 cases within a week: Raajje

Maldives has confirmed 98 new Covid-19 cases within a week. Between August 7 to August 13, a total of 98 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed nationwide. Click here to read…

Transitional phase of parliamentary system will begin in February: Speaker: Avas

Parliament Speaker and President of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed has said the transition to a parliamentary system of governance is possible in the Maldives and that the transitional phase of the parliamentary system would begin in February next year. Click here to read…

Indian High Commission office building relocated to Hulhumale’: Avas

The office building of the Indian High Commission in the Maldives has been relocated to Hulhumale’ while the Maldives government has allocated land for the construction of the Indian High Commission office in Hulhumale’ Phase II. However, no building has been constructed on the land thus far. Click here to read…

What does the 5th Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee mean for China and China-Maldives relations?: Avas

The recent conclusion of the 5th Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee is a crucial meeting at the decisive historical moment for China, In days to come, China is willing to share opportunities of development and welfare of cooperation with all countries including Maldives. China will draw impetus of development from the world and let China’sdevelopment benefit the world. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Kayah-resistance-groups-claim-19-myanmar-junta-deaths: The Irrawaddy

Fighting between resistance forces in Kayah State and Myanmar’s regime forces has left an estimated 19 junta troops dead in Hpruso, Demoso, Bawlakhe and Shadaw townships, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF). Click here to read…

Myanmar Regime Sentences Suu Kyi to a Further Six Years in Prison on Corruption Charges: The Irrawaddy

The ousted State Counselor, who is being held in solitary confinement in Naypyitaw Prison, has now been sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison. Click here to read…

Coalition-of-chin-resistance-forces-launch-lethal-attack-on-junta-base-near-state-capital: Myanmar Now

An alliance of ethnic Chin guerrilla groups ambushed a Myanmar army base between Hakha and Thantlang townships last week, claiming to have killed 10 junta soldiers. Members of the Chinland Joint Defence Committee (CJDC) launched the attack on the site near the Themis stream on August 11 2022Click here to read…

Myanmar military launches airstrike on yinmabin township village trapping civilians: Myanmar Now

At least 50 civilians, including injured elderly people and children, have been trapped in a village in Sagaing Region’s Yinmabin Township since the military launched an airstrike on the location last week despite there being no clashes there. The 800-household village of Yin Paung Taing, located 10 miles outside of Yinmabin’s administrative centre, was reportedly targeted by 45 minutes of gunfire from three fighter jets on the afternoon of August 11, wounding several people. Click here to read…

Nepal

Climate-smarter Himalayan infrastructure: Nepali Times

Nepal is increasingly reliant on selling its surplus electricity to India. Power generation in the monsoon exceeds 2,100MW even as average domestic demand stands at just 1,550 MW. Another 2,500MW of electricity will be added to the grid in the next two years, while 3,000MW of new projects are in the pipeline. But these projections are at the mercy of future climate-induced riskClick here to read…

The geopolitics of Nepal’s water and electricity: Nepali Times

A rapidly warming atmosphere is melting Himalayan glaciers, changing the seasonal flow of water in Nepal’s rivers, and increasing the interest of downstream India to regulate water and generate electricity. For Nepal, this is an opportunity to finally tap the potential of the country’s ‘white gold’ to meet growing demand for electricity domestically, as well as redress its trade deficit with India by selling surplus power. Click here to read…

Resetting Nepal-China ties: The Kathmandu Post

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka’s three-day sojourn in northern neighbour China that concluded last Thursday somewhat blatantly failed to exude that level of warmth, mutuality and good neighbourliness. What is unbecomingly striking is that Khadka and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi even failed to come out with a joint communiqué. This signals an array of discords ? Click here to read…

Coalition task force near compromise on four criteria for seat-sharing: The Kathmandu Post

A meeting of the task force of the ruling five-party alliance to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming federal and provincial polls is near agreement on a four-point criteria. Click here to read…

Pakistan

US, Pakistan discuss options for Gen Bajwa’s visit to DC: Dawn

United States and Pakistani officials are considering various options for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Bajwa to visit the United States in late August or early September, diplomatic sources told Dawn. Click here to read…

Govt’s petrol-hike move catches people off guard: The Express Tribune

The government on Monday increased the price of petrol by Rs6.72 per litre and reduced that of high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs0.51 and kerosene oil by Rs1.67 per litre effective from August 16 (today). Click here to read…

Pakistan’s total debt jumps to Rs60 trillion: The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities skyrocketed to Rs59.7 trillion as the nation added Rs12 trillion, or one-fourth of its total debt incurred in the past 74 years, in the diamond jubilee year, thanks to the imprudent fiscal policies and devastating impact of currency devaluation. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India gifts Dornier to Sri Lanka a day ahead of Chinese vessel arrival: Hindustan Times

India on Monday gifted a Dornier reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka to bolster the island nation’s capability to tackle drug trafficking and maritime security challenges, with the move coming a day ahead of a controversial visit by a Chinese research vessel. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka imposes ban on three new entities and 55 individuals: Daily Mirror

While de-listing six Tamil international organizations including the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and 317 individuals, the government has added 55 new individuals and three more organizations to the banned list as part of this year’s review, informed sources said. According to the gazette notification issued on July 28 this year signed by Defence Ministry Secretary GeneralClick here to read…

Afghanistan

MoHE Forms Directorate of Academic Curriculum: Tolo News

The Ministry of Higher Education said that the leader of the Islamic Emirate has created the “directorate of academic curriculum” in the ministry. According to Ahmad Taqi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education, the establishment of this directorate is aimed at reviewing and developing the academic curriculum of the nation’s universities in light of Islamic laws and will have six directors and fifty-two employees. Click here to read…

Ghani Should Have Apologized to Afghan People: Afghan Envoy to UN: The Khaama Press

In reaction to the interview of the exiled president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, stated that Ashraf Ghani should have apologized to all people of Afghanistan, but he did not. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Dhaka, Delhi agree to strengthen defence cooperation: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh and India on Thursday expressed commitment to elevating engagements between their armed forces and reviewed the progress of bilateral defence cooperation initiatives. Click here to read…

Bangladesh receives $813 million in remittances in 10 days of August: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladeshi expatriates sent out $813 million in the first 10 days of August, Bangladesh Bank said on Thursday. Converted to taka, the remittances add up to around Tk7,804 crore (Tk96 per dollar). Click here to read…

India and Bangladesh in talks for major river agreement ahead of PM Hasina’s visit:The Hindu

India and Bangladesh are likely to ink at least one major river agreement later this month, The Hindu has learned. The planning for the agreement is being tightly guarded by officials on both sides as water sharing between the two countries is considered to be a sensitive subject given the fact that it often takes political meaning. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Government of Japan and UNDP launch new project to address unprecedented rise in health care waste management in Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives – UNDP

The Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today launched a new project that will support the national health agencies and other key stakeholders in Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives to address the unprecedented rise in infectious health care waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that is overwhelming waste treatment facilities. Click here to read…

The World’s ‘Happiest Country’ Needs a Peace and Reconciliation Process

In 2021, approximately 6,300 Bhutanese refugees still languished in two refugee camps in Nepal. Many of the over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled in eight western countries, even if they have not been able to return ‘home’, feel an intense love for their country of birth. That is what catalysed the movement Peace Initiative Bhutan, started in 2020 by diasporic Bhutanese whose families are divided between Bhutan and the countries they settled in. Peace Initiative Bhutan currently functions under the auspices of Global Citizens Circle, founded in 1974 in the US. Click here to read…

Maldives

HRW calls for repeal of Maldives laws criminalizing homosexuality – La Prensalatina

Nonprofit Human Rights Watch on Thursday urged Maldives authorities to revoke the laws that criminalize sexual relations between people of the same sex, in the backdrop of four people, including the brother of former president Mohamed Nasheed, being arrested under the legislation. Click here to read…

Maldives to welcome one-millionth tourist on Friday – Avas

This is the first time the Maldives will host over a million tourists since the tourism industry recovered from the challenging period that followed the COVID-19 pandemic and the first time in its history that a million tourists traveled to the country so early in the year. Click here to read…

Maldives Can Seize Opportunities to Boost Public Revenue, Make Public Spending More Efficient – Modern Diplomacy

Maldives’ economy is on the road to recovery following the unprecedented shocks of COVID-19. Key reforms can enhance the quality of public spending, strengthen debt management and debt transparency and collect more revenues to finance the country’s development needs, according to the World Bank’s Maldives Public Expenditure Review (PER) launched today. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar Battalion Commanders, Other Officers Killed in Clashes With Resistance Forces – The Irrawaddy

At least 80 Myanmar regime forces including three battalion commanders and some army captains were killed in recent firefights with People’s Defense Force groups and ethnic armed organizations in Chin, Kachin and Karen states and Sagaing and Magwe regions. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s Sanctions-Hit Junta Still Netting Vast Oil, Gas Profits – VOA News

Vast oil and gas profits continue flowing to, and propping up, Myanmar’s military junta a year and a half into its bloody crackdown on nationwide resistance to the February 2021 coup, opposition and rights groups say. Click here to read…

Singapore Told to Clampdown on Companies Supplying Myanmar Military – The Irrawaddy

Justice for Myanmar (JFM), a group of activists monitoring the business interests of the Myanmar military, has called on Singapore to take immediate action against companies that broker the supply of arms and equipment to the junta. Click here to read…

What’s Behind the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor ‘Plus’ Initiative – The Diplomat

Just over a month after China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar and announced that a China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) Plus initiative would be explored at a proper time, there have unsurprisingly been no further details released by Chinese officials or Myanmar’s military-led State Administration Council (SAC) on just what the “plus” would entail. More surprisingly, there has been little media or expert commentary on this either. Click here to read…

Ward and village administrators prepared to resign amid military tensions in Maungdaw Twsp – BNI Online

unta-appointed ward and village administrators in Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, where junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA) have exchanged fire in recent weeks, say they are prepared to resign amid rising military-AA tensions. U Kyaw Nyunt, the administrator of Minkhamoung village, and U Maung Thein Nyunt, the administrator of Tamanthar village, reportedly already tendered resignation letters to the township administrator for safety reasons on August 2 and 5 respectively. Click here to read…

Nepal

China, Nepal vow to step up cooperation – China Daily

China will use its aid funds for Nepal to support the feasibility study of a China-Nepal cross-border railway and will send experts to Nepal to conduct surveying work within this year, according to the Foreign Ministry. Click here to read…

No critical examination of flawed environmental assessments in Nepal, experts say – MongaBay

When Nepal’s Supreme Court recently canceled government plans to build an international airport in Nijhgad in the country’s south, the project’s environmental impact assessment report, or EIA, was one of the reasons cited in the decision. Click here to read…

Digital Currency Lands in The Country of Nepal – The Coin Republic

The monetary authority would be able to produce a digital version of the nation’s fiat currency, the Nepalese rupee, if the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) were to amend the statute defining its powers and responsibilities. The report comes after a research that found a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to be a workable initiative. The head of the bank’s currency management division, Revati Nepal, claims that a task team has already created an amendment bill. Click here to read…

Nepal’s Ambassador to Pakistan meets Pak NA member Alam – Khabar Hub

Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan Tapas Adhikari held talks with Romina Khursid Alam, Member of National Assembly and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister/Minister of State Convener Parliamentary Task Force on SDG at the Embassy. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Islamabad court rejects police request to extend Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand: Dawn

Gill was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at Banigala Chowk in the capital after a video clip of his remarks made about the army, aired on ARY News, went viral on social media. He was subsequently booked under charges of sedition and inciting the public against the state institutions. Click here to read…

SBP’s forex reserves fall to near 3-year low of $7.4bn: The News

The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign currency reserves fell to their lowest level in almost three years at $7.83 billion as of August 5 from $8.385 billion a week earlier on debt payments, data from the central bank showed on Thursday. Click here to read…

Govt cobbles up plan to tackle TTP resurgence: The Express Tribune

Although the government has been holding talks with the TTP for months to broker some kind of a deal, prospects of such an agreement are grim, sources familiar with the development told The Express Tribune on Thursday. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Govt. directly handles matter with Chinese Embassy: Daily Mirror

The government has reportedly taken over the handling of the diplomatic issue regarding the Yuan Wang 5 ship directly through the Chinese Embassy in Colombo instead of going through the Sri Lankan mission in Beijing, Daily Mirror learns. Sri Lanka asked China to postpone the port call of this ship following security threats cited by India. Click here to read…

India plans investments across sectors to strengthen link with Sri Lankan economy: Economic Times

New Delhi plans to invest in Sri Lanka across sectors through both private and public firms and interconnect the Lankan economy with the Indian economy to boost the sagging fortunes of the island nation. Click here to read…

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…