Top Chinese legislator pays official goodwill visit to Mongolia: Xinhuanet

September 12, 2022

Li Zhanshu, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, paid an official goodwill visit to Mongolia from Saturday to Monday, at the invitation of Chairman of Mongolia’s State Great Hural (Parliament) Gombojav Zandanshatar. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 188 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

September 12, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 188 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 126 were in Sichuan, according to the National Health Commission’s report on Tuesday. A total of 727 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified. Click here to read…

Drought-hit Yangtze River sections being replenished by reservoirs: Xinhuanet

September 12, 2022

Reservoirs will continue to replenish the water supply in the section of the Yangtze River affected by drought to ensure the irrigation of crops and urban water supplies. It is estimated that the Yangtze River basin will still see a lack of rainfall in mid- and late September, so the water inflow to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake will continue to be low, the Ministry of Water Resources said Monday. Click here to read…

Chinese police strengthen international law enforcement cooperation against telecom and online fraud: Global Times

September 12, 2022

The last decade has witnessed the rapid spread of telecom and online fraud globally, which seriously infringes on people’s legitimate rights and interests, becoming a prominent crime and a public hazard. To address this problem, the Chinese police have been committed to intensifying their efforts in the combat against and control of such crimes, and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation, which has enabled them to accumulate successful experience, build up best practices and set examples for their counterparts around the world. Click here to read…

New railway connecting China, Mongolia launched to boost coal trade: Global Times

September 12, 2022

Mongolia launched a 233-kilometer cross border rail line between the Tavan Tolgoi coal field and Gashuun Sukhait on the Chinese border over the weekend, a move that is expected to boost China-Mongolia coal trade, experts said. Click here to read…

US mulls broader curb on Chinese tech sector: Global Times

September 12, 2022

While the US will continue to cope with inflation, Washington’s reported move to further decouple from China on chip and medicine supply chains, the two fields where China plays a major role in the global industry chain in terms of production capacity and cost control, will backfire on the US itself, experts said. Click here to read…

China sends college students to virus quarantine: Taipei Times

September 12, 2022

Almost 500 students at China’s premier college for broadcast journalists have been sent to a quarantine center after a handful of COVID-19 cases were detected in their dormitory. The 488 students at Communication University of China, along with 19 teachers and five assistants, were transferred by bus beginning on Friday night. Click here to read…

Chinese internet users detained over Xinjiang Covid-19 outbreak ‘rumours’: South China Morning Post

September 12, 2022

Police in China’s far western region of Xinjiang have detained four internet users, accusing them of spreading rumours about an outbreak of Covid-19. The four were ordered to serve between five and 10 days of administrative detention in Yining, a city in the Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture, police said in a statement on Sunday. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka’s ‘white elephant’ Lotus Tower financed with Chinese debt set to open this week: South China Morning Post

September 13, 2022

A huge green and purple communications tower in Sri Lanka financed with Chinese debt that has become a symbol of the ousted Rajapaksa clan’s closeness to Beijing will finally open this week, its operator said on Monday. The 350-metre (1,155-feet) Lotus Tower – visible from all over Colombo and built for an estimated US$113 million – has been plagued by corruption claims since construction began in 2012 under former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Click here to read…

Chinese scientists plan boron-powered supersonic missile that can fly and swim: South China Morning Post

September 13, 2022

China is developing a supersonic anti-ship missile that will be able to travel further and faster than any traditional torpedo, according to researchers involved in the project.
The 5 metre (16.4 feet) missile will be able to cruise at 2.5 times the speed of sound at about 10,000 metres (32,800 feet) – the same altitude as a commercial airliner – for 200km (124 miles) before diving and skimming across the waves for up to 20km. Click here to read…

Chinese premier stresses policy implementation to stabilize economy: : Xinhuanet

September 13, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed efforts to ensure the implementation of policy measures to stabilize economic growth, employment and prices. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a special meeting after hearing reports from two working groups on work for stabilizing the economy. Click here to read…

Chinese FM puts forward five-point views on developing China-Japan relations: : Xinhuanet

September 13, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video speech on Monday at the opening ceremony of a seminar commemorating the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Click here to read…

Xi’s upcoming Central Asia trip to bolster SCO cooperation: Qiushi

September 13, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the city of Samarkand, and pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Wednesday to Friday. Click here to read…

Amphibious firefighting aircraft put through paces: China Military

September 13, 2022

China will produce four prototypes of the AG600M aircraft, a firefighting variant belonging to the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family, to carry out test flights, its developer announced on Saturday. Click here to read…

Li highlights central role of consumption: China Daily

September 13, 2022

Premier Li Keqiang has underlined efforts to promote the role of consumption as the major driver of economic growth and to expand effective investment in order to boost the confidence of market players, as they play a critical role in stabilizing the economy. Click here to read…

‘Concealed, adaptable’ weapon of NSA’s cyberattack on leading Chinese aviation university exposed: Global Times

September 13, 2022

A “concealed and adaptable” weapon used by US’ intelligence center National Security Agency (NSA) to launch a cyberattack on the email system of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province – well-known for its aviation, aerospace and navigation studies – was captured by Chinese cybersecurity experts, the Global Times learned from a source on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Provinces take lead in stabilizing growth: People’s Daily

September 13, 2022

China’s major provincial economies are stepping up efforts to stabilize the growth in their regions, with strong focus on expanding effective investment and spurring consumption, as the central government has called on them to take the lead in supporting the country’s economy. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

China to Transport Goods to Afghanistan By Railway: ARA: Tolo News

The Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA) said that the process of transporting commercial goods by train from China to Afghanistan will start this month. The head of the Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA) stated during his visit to Uzbekistan that the ARA and a Chinese company had agreed to transfer commercial goods from China to Afghanistan via Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Click here to read…

OCHA, WFP Express Concerns Over Crisis in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan and the World Food Program (WFP) expressed concerns over the deteriorating economic crises in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Taliban Says People of Afghanistan Do Not Want Their Girls to Go to School: The Khaama Press

During a speech in Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan on Sunday, the 11th of September, Noorullah Munir, the Taliban’s Acting Minister of Education, stated that people do not want to send their 16-year-old daughters to school because of the current circumstances. Click here to read…

SIGAR: Afghanistan’s Border Traffic Declined by up to 50% Since Taliban Took Power: The Khaama Press

In a report to the US Congress, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) noted that since the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan in August 2021, overall border traffic into and out of the country has declined by 40–50% annually. According to the SIGAR report, Afghanistan’s neighbors have limited transit and trade due to political turmoil, border security concerns, and criminal activity including the smuggling of people and drugs, and refugee flows. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Cotton price drop can’t cheer up garment makers: The Daily Star

International cotton prices have significantly fallen but brought little cheer to local spinners and garment manufacturers suffering from a drop in work orders from international retailers and brands. The price of cotton fell to $1.01 to $1.04 per pound in international futures markets yesterday from $1.20 to $1.30 in May and June. Click here to read…

Drought hampers Aman production in Bagerhat: Dhaka Tribune

A debacle in Aman paddy production is raising fears of an upcoming food crisis in Bagerhat. This year, rainfall in Bagerhat was 489 mm less than last year. As a result, although the Aman season is nearing its end, around 40% of agricultural land in the district is lying uncultivated due to a drought-like situation. Click here to read…

India-Bangladesh ties, a model for bilateral cooperation: The Hindu

The state visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, to India (September 5-8) has amply showcased the high stakes of both polities in their bilateral ties, imbued with regional significanceClick here to read…

Bhutan

Royal Friendships connect Bhutan and the UK – Kuensel Online

The incredible life and reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was an inspiration to the world and Her Majesty will be remembered as a truly great Monarch who led her people with exceptional grace and wisdom through the most difficult times in history, His Majesty The King said in a message to His Majesty King Charles III. Click here to read…

Evaluating connectivity between precipitation and water systems critical for reviving drying water sources – Kuensel Online

Water scarcity could become one of the major 21st-century challenges for Bhutan, as more than 60% of the population depends on water-sensitive sectors like agriculture and hydropower. Water scarcity is also associated with a range of other issues like food shortage, poor hygienic practices, and poverty. In the Himalayan region, the common factors attributing to the drying of water sources include climate change, land use, land cover alteration, and changes in water management. Thus, adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect and manage water resources are urgently neededClick here to read…

Maldives

Special efforts are underway in 10 islands to save Maldives from the drug epidemic – Raajje

Speaking to Raajje MV at the Viyavathi Raajje conference, the CP said that one of the biggest social problems facing Maldives is drugs-abuse. The CP said that in five of these islands police are making every effort to curb drug trafficking and abuse, while in the other five islands focuss is mainly on keeping them drug free. Click here to read…

Gov’t aim’s to increase the number of women in leadership roles: President Solih – Raajje

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the goal of the current administration is to increase the number of women in executive roles. The President made this statement at the first session of the third Viavathi Raajje conference on Sunday. The third Viavathi Raajje Conference is being held at Gan Island of Laamu Atoll. The conference would be held from September 11-12, 2022. Click here to read…

Decentralization reforms are the most significant administrative reforms to date: President – Raajje

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that decentralized governance is the most significant administrative change the country has ever seen. President Solih made that statement in his opening address at the third Viavathi Rajje conference on Sunday. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Journalists in Myanmar brave daunting risks to carry out their reporting – International Journalist Network

Today, Reporters without Borders estimates that 70 journalists are currently in prison in the country. Some who were released from prison have recounted stories of severe torture. At least four journalists have died at the hands of the military junta, including two while in custody. Click here to read…

Resistance Groups Seized Nearly 90 Myanmar Junta Outposts Since Coup – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta has lost nearly 90 bases in 17 months since the coup in fighting with resistance forces and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), according to armed groups. They included key outposts in strategic locations or critical bases for the supply of weapons and food to frontline troops. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Cracking Down on Trade Unions and Violating Workers Rights – The Irrawaddy

Labor rights organizations in Myanmar have said that the military regime has repeatedly violated workers’ rights, including freedom of association for trade unions, since last year’s coup. Click here to read…

Qatari Telecom Operator Ooredoo Exits Military-Ruled Myanmar – The Irrawaddy

Telecom giant Ooredoo sold its Myanmar operation on Thursday to the Singapore-based Nine Communications firm for US$576 million, completing the exodus of foreign telecom companies from Myanmar following last year’s coup. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Adviser Calls for Better Civil-Military Relations – The Irrawaddy

While the Myanmar military regime is torching villages, committing extrajudicial killings and launching indiscriminate attacks on civilians, junta adviser Dr. Zaw Oo says there is a need for “good civil-military relations” and urged anyone involved in Myanmar issues to take his call seriously. Click here to read…

NUG: We Control Over Half of Myanmar’s Territory – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has said that its People’s Defense Forces (PDF) and allied ethnic revolutionary organizations (ERO)) have effective control of more than half the country after a year of waging a people’s defensive war against the military regime. Click here to read…

Myanmar Regime, Russia Sign Nuclear Cooperation ‘Roadmap’ – The Irrawaddy

The Myanmar military regime and Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom have signed a roadmap for further atomic energy cooperation including the possible implementation of a modular reactor project in Myanmar. The agreement was signed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2022) in Vladivostok, Russia, where regime chief Min Aung Hlaing has been since Sunday to attend the forum. Click here to read…

Nepal

China and Nepal’s rail line must traverse mountains, geopolitical tensions and enormous costs to get off the ground – SCMP

An ambitious multibillion dollar rail link between China and Nepal must address daunting technical challenges and questions over economic feasibility before construction can finally get under way, experts say. Click here to read…

Nepal, India set for tough negotiations at next JC meet on water resources – Kathmandu Post

Issues related to Pancheshwar multipurpose and Saptakoshi high dam projects will be on the agenda during the upcoming Nepal-India secretary-level Joint Commission on Water Resources (JCWR). Click here to read…

China’s Li Zhanshu to arrive in Nepal today – Indian Express

China’s third-highest leader Li Zhanshu will arrive in Nepal on Monday, officials said, in the third high-level visit to Nepal since foreign minister Wang Yi’s trip in March. Although officials are tight-lipped about the agenda of Li’s visit, it comes amid concerns in Beijing over the US’ rising influence in Nepal where a general election is just weeks away. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Flood response goes digital to ensure transparency: Dawn

In a bid to ensure transparency in the allocation of relief funds for the flood survivors, the federal government has decided to establish a ‘Digital Flood Dashboard’, which will keep the public abreast of relief measures taken by the authorities concerned. Click here to read…

General polls in 2023, Marriyum tells Imran: The Express Tribune

Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday, in response to PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan’s call for early elections, insisted that the general polls would take place in 2023. Click here to read…

China lauds security measures for its citizens: The Express Tribune

Beijing on Sunday appreciated and acknowledged the measures taken by Islamabad to ensure the safety and security of its projects and personnel in Pakistan as well as the efforts made towards unearthing the terrorists and their facilitators targeting Chinese nationals. Click here to read…

SCO summit: Pakistan not seeking bilateral Shehbaz-Modi meeting: The News

Pakistan will not seek a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi when the two along with the 13 regional leaders would be under one-roof later this week in the historic city Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) 22nd summit. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Asia Cup: Sri Lanka stun Pakistan in final to lift title: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka have won the title of the Asia Cup Champions for the sixth time, beating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final of the tournament at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night.Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 170 runs in allotted twenty overs. Click here to read…

SL likely to face uphill task to reach ambitious IMF-set primary surplus target: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is likely to face an uphill task to reach the ambitious primary surplus target set out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which requires a significant increase in State revenue through revenue-based fiscal consolidated measures, according to a top economist. Click here to read…

US announces $40 million agriculture aid to Sri Lanka: Times of India

The United States on Saturday announced $40 million in aid to buy fertilizer and other key agricultural inputs in time for the next cultivation season in crisis-hit Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Changing of China’s diplomatic guard on agenda for this year’s party congress: South China Morning Post

August 21, 2022

With cross-strait tensions skyrocketing following this month’s controversial visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, all eyes are on who will lead China’s diplomatic corps after this autumn’s party congress. The congress is expected to see President Xi Jinping secure a third term as party general secretary and usher in a new line-up of younger Communist Party leaders. Click here to read…

China’s political advisors discuss employment-first policy: Xinhuanet

August 22, 2022

The Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee convened a meeting on Monday to discuss the implementation of the country’s employment-first policy. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening meeting of the 23rd session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. Click here to read…

Chinese Foreign Ministry refutes wrongful remarks by U.S. Ambassador to China concerning Taiwan region: Xinhuanet

August 22, 2022

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday refuted U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns’ wrongful remarks concerning the Taiwan region, noting his remarks confound right with wrong, and once again show the distorted and hegemonic logic of the United States. Click here to read…

Chinese public security authority urges better care for police officers: Xinhuanet

August 22, 2022

China will step up efforts to improve the care and protection provided to police officers, and see that their efforts are properly compensated, a newly released document shows. The document, released by the Communist Party of China committee of the Ministry of Public Security, calls for more efforts to safeguard the officers’ honor, protect their physical and mental health, and effectively implement relevant preferential policies. Click here to read…

China releases results of investigation into math textbook illustrations: Xinhuanet

August 22, 2022

China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) on Monday announced the results of an investigation into problematic illustrations in math textbooks for primary school students published by the People’s Education Press (PEP). According to an MOE statement, the illustrations of public concern failed to conform to the aesthetic preferences of the public in the overall painting style, and some of them did not meet high professional standards for illustration production. Certain illustrations featured errors and some other illustrations had the potential to cause misunderstandings. Click here to read…

Cooperation with China helps promote connectivity, poverty alleviation in Africa: Qiushi

August 22, 2022

When the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was launched on May 31, 2017, Grace Wambui, a middle-aged Kenyan trader, could thus transport her goods seamlessly to earn profit. Constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, the 480-km modern railway line, linking Kenya’s port city of Mombasa to the capital of Nairobi, has been at the heart of the country’s socio-economic transformation. Click here to read…

Employment stressed at CPPCC session: China Daily

August 22, 2022

China has made progress in promoting employment against the backdrop of the COVID-19 epidemic and an economic downturn, as the nation continues to implement its employment-first policy and secure a more stable job market. Click here to read…

Conference urges expediting vaccinations for seniors and vulnerable groups: China Daily

August 22, 2022

During a conference over the weekend, health officials and experts called for expediting COVID-19 vaccinations for the elderly and other vulnerable groups, while boosting research into the effects variants have on vaccines. Official data shows that as of Sunday, China had administered over 3.42 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, and fully vaccinated over 90 percent of the population. Click here to read…

Six former staff of infamous Apple Daily to plead guilty; ‘little time left’ for diehard secessionists like Jimmy Lai: Global Times

August 22, 2022

Six former employees of Hong Kong’s secessionist media Apple Daily are going to plead guilty on the charge of violating the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong, according to the court’s hearing on Monday. They faced charges of colluding with foreign forces to jeopardize national security, as well as printing, publishing, distributing, displaying, or copying inflammatory publications. Click here to read…

27 people punished over problematic math textbook illustrations: Global Times

August 22, 2022

China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) on Monday announced penalties for 27 people, including senior executives of People’s Education Press, after a three-month investigation into problematic illustrations in primary school math textbooks. The people involved either received serious warnings or were removed from their post. The Party chief of the publishing house, Huang Qiang, was given serious intra-Party warning and major demerit, and editor-in-chief Guo Ge was removed from the post. Click here to read…

Indian FM criticized for blaming China over border issue, as it’s India, not China, that has ‘disregarded’ and ‘violated’ bilateral pacts: Global Times

August 22, 2022

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s recent remarks blaming China for the current China-India border issue could undermine the mutual trust and affect the development of bilateral relations, Chinese analysts warned. They said that it’s India, not China, that has disregarded and violated the bilateral pacts and encroached on China’s territory. Click here to read…

Will Toyota’s India strategy serve as reference for Chinese firms?: Global Times

August 22, 2022

Toyota is rebooting its strategy for India. This time, the Japanese carmaker is expected to focus more on lower-cost hybrids, instead of its flagship sedan in India – the Camry Hybrid, which is relatively expensive, Reuters reported on Monday. Central to Toyota’s new strategy is a drive to cut the cost of full hybrid powertrains by carrying out localized production in India, the report said. Click here to read…

China’s aviation regulator sets up goals for drone industry: Reuters

August 22, 2022

China’s civil aviation regulator on Monday proposed a roadmap for development of its civilian drone industry, saying it wanted to boost their use in inner-city logistics and eventually for long-haul goods transport. The proposed plan by the Civil Aviation Administration of China detailed various targets the regulator wanted its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry to reach by the years 2025, 2030 and 2035, including improving regulations and expanding airspace capacity for civilian UAVs. Click here to read…

Chinese military ship leaves Sri Lanka after controversial visit: Reuters

August 22, 2022

A Chinese military survey ship that docked at Sri Lanka’s Chinese-built port of Hambantota despite opposition from neighbouring India left on Monday after a week-long stay, the port company told Reuters. Click here to read…

Further policy support to shore up NEVs: People’s Daily

August 23, 2022

China’s latest package of favorable moves for new energy vehicles, including exempting NEV purchase taxes for another year, is expected to further ensure the sector’s smooth and healthy development, analysts said. Click here to read…

Pinduoduo to launch international e-commerce platform next month: Reuters

August 23, 2022

Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo (PDD.O) plans to launch a cross-border e-commerce platform next month which will target the United States as its first market, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. The company, a rival of Alibaba Group and JD.com in China, has briefed its merchants but details have not yet been finalized, the source said, declining to be named as the information was not public. Click here to read…

China says COVID has exacerbated decline in births, marriages: Reuters

August 23, 2022

China’s National Health Commission said COVID-19 has contributed to the decline in the country’s marriage and birth rates that has accelerated in recent years due to the high costs of education and child-rearing. Many women are continuing to delay their plans to marry or have children, it said, adding that rapid economic and social developments have led to “profound changes”.Click here to read…

Changing of China’s diplomatic guard on agenda for this year’s party congress: South China Morning Post

August 21, 2022

With cross-strait tensions skyrocketing following this month’s controversial visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, all eyes are on who will lead China’s diplomatic corps after this autumn’s party congress. The congress is expected to see President Xi Jinping secure a third term as party general secretary and usher in a new line-up of younger Communist Party leaders. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 308 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

August 23, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 308 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 205 were in Hainan Province, the National Health Commission said Tuesday. Altogether 1,440 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified on Monday, including 520 in Hainan and 518 in Tibet Autonomous Region, said the commission in its report. Click here to read…

Rice-producing areas rev up drought relief: China Daily

August 23, 2022

Despite persistent drought, Cao Liming, a 50-year-old farmer in Jiangxi province, is still looking forward to a bumper harvest this year. Cao contracts about 12.7 hectares of farmland in Zhouxi township, where the irrigation water source relies mainly on Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

EU Official Emphasizes Need for Girls’ Education in Afghanistan: Tolo News

The deputy head of the European Union Delegation in Afghanistan, Arnout Pauwels, in an interview with TOLOnews emphasized the importance of girls’ access to education and observation of human rights in the country. Click here to read…

UNSC Fails to Approve Travel Ban on Islamic Emirate Leaders: Tolo News

The UN Security Council failed to reach agreement on whether to extend travel exemptions for 13 Taliban officials now ruling Afghanistan so they will expire at midnight Friday, the Associated Press reported, citing UN diplomats. Click here to read…

Taliban Supreme Leader Appoints Special Military Commander for Panjshir Province: The Khaama Press

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s supreme leader, has appointed a special military commander for Panjshir province in northern Afghanistan and the Andarab district of Baghlan province. Click here to read…

India Delivers Its 10th Consignment of Medical Aid to Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

As part of its continued humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, India provided 32 tons of essential medical aid in 10 batches; the tenth batch, according to a press statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Dhaka optimistic about upcoming JRC meeting after 12-year hiatus: Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said that Dhaka is optimistic about the outcome of the upcoming Joint River Commission meeting with Delhi after 12 years. He was speaking with the reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. Click here to read…

Qatar to take more workers from Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune

Qatar is going to take more workers from Bangladesh in the field of nursing, hospitality, construction, service, and IT sectors. Qatari Labour Minister Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Al Samikh Al Marri said this during his meetings with Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad on Sunday. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Zero-Covid Bhutan bans vehicle imports to stave off a Sri Lanka-style crisis – SCMP

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

In light of the financial crisis, Bhutan, foreign exchange reserves at the bottom – FGN News

India’s neighbor Bhutan is facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Bhutan, which was once prosperous and prosperous, is now in dire straits. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have bottomed out. As a result, the country is in danger of becoming a situation like Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Sudhakar Dalela presents credentials to Bhutanese King – The Print

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Sudhakar Dalela on Saturday presented his credentials to the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as the Ambassador of India to Bhutan. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives among 2022’s five fastest growing economies – Avas

The Maldives is among the five fastest growing economies in the world, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has said. Speaking at the MDP Congress, Minister Ameer said the Maldives is now among the five fastest growing economies in the world, assisted with the aid received during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

‘Pure chaos’: how whale shark tourism in Maldives is out of control and puts the magnificent creatures’ lives at risk – SCMP

According to field research conducted by the Maldivian-run NGO Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), the number of whale sharks visiting the South Ari Atoll decreased from 48 in 2014 to 32 in 2019, correlating with an increase in injuries. Click here to read…

Maldives appoints Ibrahim Shaheeb, H. Jeheyvai as the new Ambassador to India – News Drum

Maldivian Parliament, appointed Ambassador Ibrahim Shaheeb, H. Jeheyvai as the Ambassador of Maldives to India. He will be joining New Delhi. He was last posted as Ambassador in Singapore. This will be his second tenure in India. Earlier he was Deputy High Commission of the Maldives in India (2007-2008). Click here to read…

Myanmar

SAC chair denies military burning civilian homes – Eleven Myanmar

In meeting with the SAC chairman in Nay Pyi Taw on August 17, Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Myanmar, said she had no mandate to make any decision but to point out and discuss about the development of Myanmar. The purpose of visiting Myanmar was to convey the message of the Secretary-General and make two specific requests: to halt the aerial bombing and to stop burning the villages and houses of the people, she added. Click here to read…

Rohingya issue: Problem of ‘illegal foreigners’ in India – Times of India

The recent debate in the media on the status of Rohingyas have brought their intractable problem to the forefront. A look at the facts is relevant to the issue to understand its legal and security dimensions as also deep-seated hatred between the Burmese and Rohingyas. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s NLD has a chance to redeem itself in exile – Arab News

Before the 2021 coup in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, was a willing part of a genocidal regime. Its leaders supported and defended the generals and the armed forces who terrorized the Rohingya minority and were responsible for a genocidal campaign against them. Click here to read…

Junta Watch: Plans for Facebook Substitute Unveiled; Military Admits Coup, and More – The Irrawaddy

Unable to spread propaganda on the social media platform Facebook, which is synonymous with the internet in Myanmar, the regime is seeking an alternative. At the junta’s most recent press conference on Wednesday, spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun revealed the regime’s plan to ban Facebook and replace it with a homegrown social media platform. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepali Congress leader Giri cremated with state honours – The Himalayan Times

Nepali Congress leader Pradip Giri was cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat today with state honours. His son Santosh Silwal Giri and nephews Pranayan Giri and Sandarbha Giri lit the funeral pyre. A band of Nepal Police offered a gun salute to the departed soul. Click here to read…

Nepal seeks permission to export additional 111 MW electricity to India – Money Control

Nepal Electricity Authority, the State-owned power utility body, has forwarded the proposal to India’s Central Electricity Authority for the sale of the electricity produced through four hydropower plants: Mistrikhola, Likhukhola, Solukhola and Chilime hycropower, NEA Managing Director Pradeep Thike said on Sunday. Click here to read…

Nepal: Foreign Policy Path Ahead – The Telegraph

The global geostrategic shift has changed the narrative from classical realism to idealism to neo-realism, a concept that discounts norms and values governing international relations. Neo-realists are right in the sense that international structure defines foreign policy elites’ cognitive perception of threats and opportunities emerging from the global game-changing geo- strategic moves. Their claim that the state-centric system does not account for the nature of the structure of the international system which has become a source of inter-societal and inter-state conflicts and the war is compelling. Click here to read…

Pakistan

PTI chief alleges ‘neutrals’ behind crackdown on party: Dawn

Former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday levelled a series of allegations against the ‘neutrals’ — a term he uses to allude to the military establishment — saying as per the “information he received from insiders” they were the ones who were allegedly responsible for the ongoing crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Click here to read…

Economic cost of uncertainty: Dawn

ANTICIPATION of the resumption of an IMF bailout package has helped improve market sentiment. But given the turbulent state of politics, there is little reason to be sanguine about the country’s political and economic future. Click here to read…

PTI asks supporters to take to streets amid possibility of Imran’s arrest: The Express Tribune

Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have asked party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against the possible arrest of former prime minister and party chief Imran Khan. Click here to read…

PTI retains NA-245 seat in by-election: The News

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sunday retained its seat in the NA-245 by-election, with its candidate Mahmood Moulvi securing 29,475 votes against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) candidate Moid Anwar, who bagged 16,282 votes, according to unverified results. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka expects 10 lakh tourists in 2022, especially from India: Mint

As the island nation is looking forward to attain economic and political stability, it is aiming to get 10 lakh tourists this year. In his recent visit to Gujarat, Sri Lanka Tourism Minister Harin Fernando,on Sunday, said that the country is expecting maximum tourists from IndiaClick here to read…

Work or go home: Prez tells state officials: Daily Mirror

Claiming that the government is not prepared to pay the state officials for nothing, President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged them to work or go home.
He said this while addressing the Anuradhapura District Development Council held at the Anuradhapura Golden Mango reception Hall today (21). Click here to read…

President contacts Gotabaya about his return: Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have contacted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to discuss arrangements for his return to the country, Daily Mirror learns. This followed a request by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP ) National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa at a recent meeting with the presidentClick here to read…

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Seizes over $7B in U.S. Military Equipment: The Khaama Press

The United States provided more than $7 billion worth of military equipment to the former Afghan government, according to sources, much of it ended up in the hands of the Islamic Emirate after the US troops withdrawal and the sudden collapse of the country. Click here to read…

Afghanistan Has Highest Maternal Mortality Rate in Asia-Pacific: UNFPA: The Khaama Press

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has voiced concern over the rise in maternal mortality during childbirth in Afghanistan, noting that Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Asia-Pacific region. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Editorial: His Majesty and the Nation’s Common Dreams: Bhutan Times

This week, His Majesty the King granted an Audience to the 2019-2022 batch graduating from the Royal Institute of Management in the capital. In His conversation with the graduates, His Majesty spoke about Bhutan’s challenges as a nation, concerns over issues we face today, and our way forward if we are to secure a bright future for our children. Click here to read…

His Majesty The King granted an Audience to the Indian Chief of Army Staff: Bhutan Times

His Majesty The King granted an Audience to the Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, at the Throne Room of the Tashochhodzong today. General Manoj Pande is on a two-day visit to Bhutan, his first since his appointment as the Indian Army Chief in April 2022. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Hasan Mahmud: Strict action if commodity prices are raised unnecessarily: Dhaka Tribune

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday warned that the government will take stern action if the prices of essential goods or transport fares are raised unnecessarily on the plea of hike in fuel prices. Click here to read…

Bangladesh PM tells UN that Myanmar must take Rohingya back: Hindustan Times

Bangladesh’s leader told a visiting UN official on Wednesday that hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority Rohingya refugees living in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh must return home to Myanmar, where they had fled waves of violent persecution. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives foreign minister conferred Gabon’s National Order of Merit: Raajje

Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid has been conferred the National Order of Merit of the Gabonese Republic. Click here to read…

Maldives among countries that best managed Covid-19: Naseem: Raajje

Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem has stated that Maldives is included among the countries that best handles the Covid-19 pandemic. The health minister made this remark at a ceremony to recognize the efforts of the healthcare officials who worked resiliently on the frontlines of the national Covid-19 inoculation driveClick here to read…

Myanmar

Junta Chief Blames Resistance for Myanmar’s Chaos: The Irrawaddy

“Terrorism will be ended by counterterrorism operations,” Myanmar’s junta boss Min Aung Hlaing told his ministers in Naypyitaw on Tuesday. “Terrorism” refers to the operations of the people’s defense forces, the armed wing of the civilian National Unity Government, which the regime has labeled as terrorist organizations. Click here to read…

Multiple resistance leaders killed, arrested by junta in southern Shan State : Myanmar Now

Three members of the anti-junta People’s Defence Force (PDF) were shot dead and others captured by the Myanmar army in southern Shan State in recent days as the junta intensifies its repression of resistance activities in the region. Click here to read…

Nepal

US health agency puts Nepal on its ‘high risk’ list: The Kathmandu Post

The US Centre For Disease Control and Prevention has included Nepal on its “high-risk” list for Covid-19, also called Level 3. The decision of the US CDC comes amidst the fourth wave of the Covid pandemic, from which hundreds of people in Nepal have been getting infected every day. Click here to read…

Task force fails to find seat-sharing formula, will seek top leaders’ help: The Kathmandu Post

When the government announced general and provincial elections on August 5 for November 20 after multiple discussions among the coalition partners, it looked like they had a pretty good plan in hand on seat-sharing among them. Click here to read…

Pakistan

UK inks deal to return ‘criminals’ to Pakistan: Dawn

The UK signed a major deal with Pakistan on Wednesday, under which foreign criminals and immigration offenders from the UK can be returned to Pakistan. Click here to read…

Govt commits more taxes as IMF board meets on 29th: Dawn

The government has given an undertaking to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to raise the petroleum development levy (PDL) to a maximum of Rs50 per litre each on petrol and diesel by January and April, respectively, in 2023. Click here to read…

Gill sent to Capital after Centre-Punjab row: The News

Following an intense standoff between Islamabad and Rawalpindi police over the custody of Shahbaz Gill, the Adiala Jail authorities handed over the custody of the PTI leader to the former on Wednesday night. The high drama ended after the federal government announced sending Rangers to take custody of Gill. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Gotabaya set to return on August 24: Udayanga hints: Daily Mirror

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to return to the country on August 24, Former Sri Lankan ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga hinted today. He told the media after giving a statement to the CID on MIG Deal that the former President would render a service to the country. Click here to read…

Prez reignites domestic debt restructuring fears: Daily Mirror

Reigniting fears over a potential local debt restructuring, President Ranil Wickremesinghe this week warned that Sri Lanka’s International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders may push the government to restructure the domestic debt, as they alone may not be keen to accept a steep haircut under a debt sustainability plan, which is a prerequisite to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailoutClick here to read…

China’s State Council appoints, removes officials: Xinhuanet

August 10, 2022

The State Council, China’s cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of officials on Wednesday. Zhang Xingwang was appointed vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs.
Huang Guo was named deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, replacing Chen Shifei.Click here to read…

Xi let missiles fall in Japan EEZ during Taiwan drills: Kyodo

August 11, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping decided himself to let ballistic missiles launched by the military during recent large-scale drills near Taiwan fall in Japan’s exclusive economic zone to deter Tokyo’s interference in any cross-strait contingency, according to sources close to the matter.Click here to read…

Panchen Rinpoche performs duties at Tibet branch of Buddhist Association of China: Xinhuanet

August 11, 2022

Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po had performed his daily duties as president of the Tibet branch of the Buddhist Association of China in Lhasa since mid-May. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po is a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and vice president of the Buddhist Association of China.Click here to read…

Chinese FM holds talks with Nepalese counterpart: Xinhuanet

August 11, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on Wednesday with visiting Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province.Click here to read…

Xi calls on int’l community to build development partnership: Xinhuanet

August 12, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the international community to gather consensus on promoting development, create an enabling environment and foster new driving forces for global development to jointly work for a global development partnership.Click here to read…

South Korea and China clash over US missile shield: Taipei Times

August 12, 2022

China and South Korea yesterday clashed over a US missile defense shield, threatening to undermine efforts by the new government in Seoul to overcome long-standing security differences.Click here to read…

China outranks US in key science publishing: China Daily

August 13, 2022

For the first time, China has overtaken the United States as the world’s leader in both the quantity and quality of scientific papers published from 2018 to 2020, according to an annual report published by an institution affiliated with Japan’s science and technology ministry.Click here to read…

5 officials in SW China’s Xizang removed for not fully implementing epidemic prevention measures: Global Times

August 13, 2022

Five officials in the city of Xigaze in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region have been removed from office for not fully implementing epidemic prevention measures, the city authorities announced on Friday. The city has extended city-wide management measures amid this flare-up, with 39 confirmed cases detected so far.Click here to read…

Daily COVID-19 cases across 17 provincial-level regions surpass 2,000: Global Times

August 14, 2022

China grappled with fresh COVID-19 flare-ups with daily cases across 17 provincial-level regions surpassing an unprecedented 2,000 on Sunday, with a high level of virus transmission notably coming from three major tourist destinations – Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region and South China’s Hainan Province.Click here to read…

Silk Road int’l expo pushes for deeper Belt and Road cooperation: Xinhuanet

August 14, 2022

The Sixth Silk Road International Exposition opened Sunday in Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, with deeper Belt and Road cooperation high on the agenda. With a theme of strengthening interconnectivity and integration for common progress, shared benefits and win-win results, the expo has attracted participants from over 70 countries and regions, including the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Singapore. Uzbekistan serves as the guest country of honor.Click here to read…

India called on to honor one-China principle, as Chinese ambassador sees ‘positive impetus’ in ties: Global Times

August 14, 2022

The Chinese Ambassador to India reportedly said Saturday that India-China ties are “seeing a positive impetus” and called on India to stick to the one-China principle after Indian External Affairs Ministry made its first public comment over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s provocative visit to the island of Taiwan. Click here to read…

Chinese police vow to prioritise crackdown on sex crimes against underage victims: South China Morning Post

August 14, 2022

Chinese police have vowed to prioritise cases involving underage victims as part of an ongoing crackdown on sexual assaults. On Sunday the Ministry of Public Security announced that it had started the second phase of a 100-day campaign that began in June as the authorities tightened their control over society ahead of a major leadership reshuffle later this year.Click here to read…

Chinese police vow to prioritise crackdown on sex crimes against underage victims: South China Morning Post

August 14, 2022

Chinese police have vowed to prioritise cases involving underage victims as part of an ongoing crackdown on sexual assaults. On Sunday the Ministry of Public Security announced that it had started the second phase of a 100-day campaign that began in June as the authorities tightened their control over society ahead of a major leadership reshuffle later this year.Click here to read…

Rivers in multiple provinces dry up due to high temperatures, less rain: Global Times

August 15, 2022

Rivers in multiple provinces and regions across China have dried up due to persistent high temperatures and far below average amounts of rainfall, resulting in drought in many parts of the nation. Data from China’s Water Resources Ministry shows that the water supply of 830,000 people in six provinces and regions has been affected.Click here to read…

COVID-19-stricken Hainan in South China punishes 6 officials for dereliction of duty in fighting epidemic: Global Times

August 15, 2022

South China’s Hainan Province announced to punish six officials late Sunday for inaction and lack of responsibility when handling the recent local COVID-19 outbreak. As the entire province is devoted to the battle against COVID-19, the provincial disciplinary department said some officials were derelict in their duty and failed to take responsibility, a notice released by the disciplinary department reads.Click here to read…

Kissinger warns Biden administration against changing Taiwan status quo: Global Times

August 15, 2022

Henry Kissinger, the veteran US diplomat, sent out a fresh warning to the Biden administration amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Straits, saying he sees today’s world as verging on a dangerous disequilibrium and calling careful actions. Yet the White House continued shifting the blame to China over the consequences of the provocative trip of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan island, ignoring the growing voices of far-sighted politicians and observers in the US who opposed the trip. Chinese experts believe that today’s US government, which lacks political wisdom and strategic insight, is becoming a great uncertainty to the world. Click here to read…

Chinese foreign minister meets Geneva envoys from Asian, African developing countries: Xinhuanet

August 15, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met via video link with visiting diplomatic envoys of developing countries from Asia and Africa to the UN Office at Geneva.Click here to read…

PLA conducts joint combat-readiness security patrol, combat drills around Taiwan Island: China Military

August 15, 2022

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized joint combat-readiness security patrol and combat training exercise involving troops of multiple services and arms in waters and airspace around Taiwan Island on Monday.Click here to read…

Sichuan cuts industrial power to support residents: China Daily

August 15, 2022

After days of unusually high temperatures, people in different parts of Sichuan province are complaining that they cannot make do without air-conditioners, which triggered a power supply restriction for industry.Click here to read…

More Chinese state-owned companies expected to delist from US stock exchanges as accounting spat continues: South China Morning Post

August 16, 2022

More state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are expected to delist from the US capital markets, deepening an exodus arising from a regulatory impasse between Beijing and Washington.
The voluntary delisting of five SOEs – the oil giants Sinopec, its entity Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical and PetroChina, China Life Insurance and Aluminum Corporation of China – from the New York Stock Exchange could pave the way for further exits, according to analysts.Click here to read…

China sanctions seven Taiwanese ‘independence diehard’ officials: Reuters

August 16, 2022

China imposed sanctions on Tuesday on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers it accused of being “independence diehards”, including banning them from entering, in its latest angry reproach of the democratically governed island.Click here to read…

China issues action plan to boost enterprise innovation: Xinhuanet

August 16, 2022

Chinese authorities on Monday released an action plan to stimulate the technology-innovation capacity of enterprises. Jointly issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance, the 2022-2023 action plan specifies supportive measures in 10 areas, including establishing a mechanism for enterprises to participate in the country’s sci-tech innovation decision-making on a regular basis.Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Mujahid: Kabul Investigating Biden’s Claims on Killing Zawahiri: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate said that it was not aware of the al-Qaeda leader’s presence in Kabul or his trip to the city, responding to US President Joe Biden’s claims of killing Zawahiri. Click here to read…

U.S. Proved Afghanistan Not Safe-Haven for Al-Qaeda: Kirby: The Khaama Press

John Kirby, the NSC coordinator for strategic communications at the White House, said at a press conference Wednesday that Afghanistan is not a safe-haven for Al-Qaeda members, addressing the recent drone strike that killed the group’s leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Kabul. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Trade, Connectivity, Tourism: Bangladesh, Nepal seek greater collaboration: Dhaka Tribune

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has laid emphasis on greater collaboration with Nepal in sectors like hydroelectricity, tourism, connectivity, trade and people to people contacts. Click here to read…

Out-of-box’ solution will bring economy back on course Says new BB governor: Daily Star

In a time of elevated inflation, the interest rate is the handiest tool in the box to restore order. And yet, the new Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, in his maiden press conference yesterday, remained defiant that it would not be used. Click here to read…

Bhutan

“Special concession” on export of wheat and sugar to Bhutan – KuenselOnline

The Government of India (GoI) has given a special concession on the export of wheat and sugar to Bhutan. The Embassy of India in Thimphu has written a letter to the foreign affairs ministry on July 25, stating that “in view of friendly relations with Bhutan, the concerned authorities in India have made a special exception for Bhutan by permitting the export of 5,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat from India to Bhutan on the government to government request basis.” Click here to read…

Arunachal: Governor emphasises strengthening relations with Bhutan – AP Direct

“Both Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan have strong traditional and cultural links. There are great similarities in their social and cultural heritage,” Mishra said while interacting with Jigme Thinyle Namgyal, the Consul General of Bhutan in Guwahati, who called on the governor at Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Maldives

India’s challenges in Maldives – Deccan Herald

Maldives President Ibrahim Solih visited India earlier this week, with a high-level official and business delegation and met India’s top political leadership as well as business leaders in Delhi and Mumbai. Click here to read…

MMPRC promotes Maldives in Germany – Raajje

MMPRC shared that the corporation is collaborating with Dotcom Arabia to promote the Maldives in Germany. As such the promotion campaign will be held in August 2022. Click here to read…

USAID grants USD 300,000 to Maldives – Raajjje

The grant was awarded to Maldives under the USAID Maldives’, Climate Adaptation activity.

USAID works in partnership with the people of Maldives to increase prosperity, promote inclusive economic growth, and enhance the resilience of the country’s resources to shocks and stresses using a variety of approaches, projects, and partners. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Long-awaited Rohingya report provides new evidence of genocide in Myanmar – Jurist

The Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) released its long-awaited report Thursday on the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. CIJA began its investigation in 2018, looking for evidence to clear a path toward international criminal prosecutions. CIJA has previously worked in Syria, gathering evidence on Bashar Al-Assad and ISClick here to read…

Myanmar charges Japanese journalist with dissent against army – Al Jazeera

A Japanese journalist detained in Myanmar has been charged with breaching immigration law and encouraging dissent against the army, the ruling military administration said. Click here to read…

Arakan Army detains ALP executive committee member and Grade 8 student – BNI Online

Lieutenant Colonel Khaing Paw Lin, an executive committee member of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), and a Grade 8 student were taken from their home by members of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) in the Arakan State capital Sittwe on August 2, an ALP official said. Click here to read…

More of the same – The Statesman

UN experts and rights groups are more critical of government repression, which is marked by arbitrary arrests and killings, torture and military “sweeps” that include air attacks and burning down of entire villages. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal to go to polls in Nov as economic alarms ring – The News

The Nepali government on Thursday set a general election date for November, as the landlocked Himalayan country faces growing economic pressure from falling tourism income and lower overseas remittances. Click here to read…

NC leader Nidhi meets Indian Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat – My Republica

Former Vice President of Nepali Congress (NC) Bimalendra Nidhi has held a meeting with Indian Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari in New DelhiClick here to read…

Pakistan

NAB bill passed amid PTI uproar: Dawn

The opposition resorted to protests after Minister of State for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan moved a motion seeking suspension of rules to introduce the NAB amendment bill. Mr Awan’s request was opposed by the opposition on the grounds that the coalition government wanted to save its leadership by clipping NAB’s wings. The government, however, said the bill was being moved in the public interest. Click here to read…

‘Secret powers’ want to rig elections through ECP to control public: Imran: The Express Tribune

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said that the ruling alliance after failing in its all attempts to control the “people of Pakistan” is now trying to steal the public mandate through the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), terming the electoral body a major hurdle in achieving “real freedom” through strong democracy. Click here to read…

Govt agrees to deregulate oil prices: The Express Tribune

The government has agreed to give a free hand to the oil industry to set petroleum product prices by implementing a deregulation mechanism under the new proposed oil policy effective November 1, 2022. Click here to read…

PKR to Dollar: Rupee appreciates further: The News

The Pakistani currency gained further ground Friday against the US dollar in the interbank market as the country slowly recovers from the currency crisis amid hopes of the revival of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) loan programme. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Protesters move court against bid to remove them: The Island

Several anti-government protesters at Gota Go Gama have filed four writ petitions at the Court of Appeal requesting the court to prevent the police from removing them from the Galle Face protest site. Earlier, the OIC at the Colombo Fort Police station issued written and oral orders. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka’s crisis an opportunity for more democratic, inclusive govt: Blinken: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is in a moment of challenge and crisis but has an opportunity to create a more democratic and inclusive government, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday.Blinken made the remarks in Cambodia at the start of a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry, who said his country appreciates the U.S. role in securing support from the International Monetary Fund. Click here to read…

Countries must refrain from provocations – Ranil tells Chinese envoy: Daily Mirror

While claiming that countries must refrain from provocations which further escalate the current global tension, President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo that Sri Lanka is committed to one-China policy. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Over 200 Afghan Media Outlets Shut Down in Past Year: Journalist Federation: Tolo News

The Afghanistan Federation of Journalists and Media expressed concerns over the situation of media in Afghanistan and said that over 200 media outlets have ceased operations and 7,000 media workers have lost their jobs in the past year. Officials of the group noted that they had made suggestions to the international community and the Islamic Emirate about the protection of media workers, but the problem has not been solved. Click here to read…

Hanafi Calls U.S. Drone Strike Violation of Doha Agreement: The Khaama Press

Abdul Salam Hanafi, the second Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, said the United States drone strike in Kabul violates both national sovereignty and the Doha Agreement, according to sources. On Monday night, President Biden administration announced an American drone strike killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri at an urban safe house in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Taliban Settles Multi-Million Dollar Unpaid Debt to Uzbekistan for Electricity: The Khaama Press

The Energy Ministry of Uzbekistan announced on Monday that Afghanistan has paid off its debt to Uzbekistan for the supply of electricity for the year 2021. Afghanistan has fully paid for the supply of energy in 2021 and is now making payments for the supply of electricity in 2022, according to the Uzbek Energy Ministry. Click here to read…

Drowning in Debt; Afghanistan Owes $28 Million to Tajikistan: The Khaama Press

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) of Afghanistan owes Tajikistan $28 million for electricity, said Mohammad Omar Asuzada, the head of the national electricity company of Tajikistan, Barqi Tojik. In a press conference on August 1, the Tajik energy official stated that transferring money from the DABS company to Barqi Tojik became challenging after the banks responsible for purchasing electricity came under sanctions. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Mishra emphasizes on strengthening relationship between Arunachal and Bhutan – Arunachal Times

Governor B D Mishra has emphasized on strengthening the age-old relationships between Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. “Both Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan have strong traditional cultural links and there are great similarities in their social and cultural heritage,” Governor said when Consul General of Bhutan, Royal Bhutanese Consulate General, Guwahati, Jigme Thinyle Namgyal called on him at Raj Bhavan here Wednesday. Click here to read…

Plan to secure tigers of the rivers – Kuensel Online

Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora), also known as Tigers of the Rivers, is an endangered fish species found in rivers of Southern and Eastern Bhutan. The fish is locally called sernya. Today, the fish faces threats from developmental activities, climate change and illegal fishing, among others. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Foreign secretary: No discussion on new loan during Chinese FM’s visit: Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said taking a new loan from China will not be a part of their agenda during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s upcoming Bangladesh visit. “This time, the issue of taking loan afresh isn’t there at least,” he said on Wednesday when a reporter wanted to know whether Bangladesh is going to take a loan from China again. Click here to read…

Businesses for using multiple currencies: The Daily Star

Bangladesh should cut its over-reliance on the US dollar and increase the use of other currencies such as the Chinese renminbi (RMB) in international trade to ease pressure in the foreign currency market, businesses saidClick here to read…

Editorial: Petrobangla’s dangerous dependency on gas imports: The Daily Star

Who gave Petrobangla the permission to spend Tk 2,000 crore from the Gas Development Fund (GDF) to import liquefied natural gas (LNG)? Certainly not the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), even though Petrobangla is legally bound to ask the commission before spending from the fund, which was set up in 2009 for gas exploration. While officials are fully aware that this fund is not for gas import, the money, apparently, was taken as a loan for emergency circumstances with the approval of the Finance Division. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives President Concludes India Visit – Foreign Brief

The President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih concludes a visit to India today. During the four-day official trip, Solih met with an Indian business delegation and held diplomatic talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders discussed a number of issues around security and political cooperation. Click here to read…

President attends the India-Maldives Business Forum in Mumbai – Raajje

The India-Maldives Business Forum hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), brought together prominent business leaders from the Maldives and India to discuss promoting economic links between the two countries. Click here to read…

India to supply Landing Assault Craft, 24 Utility Vehicles to bolster Maldives’ maritime security – News On Air

Taking the time-tested India-Maldives defence & security partnership to a notch higher, India has announced the supply of a second Landing Assault Craft (LCA) and a replacement ship for earlier provided CGS Huravee to bolster the maritime apparatus of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Click here to read…

Myanmar

Scandinavian governments condemn executions in Myanmar – ScandAsia

Scandinavia stands united in its condemnation of the recent executions in Myanmar. On July 26, the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in Myanmar all published strong language opposing the recent executions of four pro-democracy and opposition leaders in that country. This stands in line with the broader opposition to the use of the death penalty by the European Union. Click here to read…

Asean Five-Point Consensus achieves little in Myanmar: Hun Sen – Asia News Network

Prime Minister Hun Sen said the current situation in Myanmar is seemingly worse than it was before the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC) was reached in April last year, with the ongoing crisis exacerbated by the recent execution of four opposition activists. Click here to read…

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov visits Myanmar, backs junta’s efforts to ‘stabilise’ country – NE Now

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday for meetings with the country’s junta leaders. Russia backs the Myanmar junta’s efforts to ‘stabilise’ the crisis-wracked country, foreign minister Lavrov said during talks with Myanmar junta leadersClick here to read…

Friends of Japanese journalist demand his release in Myanmar – ABC News

Friends of Toru Kubota, a Japanese journalist detained in military-ruled Myanmar while covering a protest, called for his immediate release Wednesday and an online petition has collected more than 41,000 signatures. Click here to read…

Two students killed, three others injured as the carrying boat was shot at in Paletwa – Narinjara

A boat carrying a number of students was shot at in Nama Da creek of upper Kaladan river at around 2 pm on Tuesday, killing two students and injuring three others. The wounded, including two students and one school employee, were sent to Paletwa hospital in the evening hours. Click here to read…

Nepal

India set for Agnipath, worry in Nepal over Gorkha recruits – Indian Express

On his first visit to Nepal as Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi told Nepal Parliament that there was no war India had fought in which Nepali blood had not been sacrificed. Praising the contribution and bravery of Gorkha soldiers in Indian Army, Modi said, “I salute the bravehearts who laid their lives for India.” Click here to read…

China using lending scam to destabilise India: Nepal police – Mid Day

A Chinese national, who has emerged as the brain behind the loan app racket and is wanted by the Mumbai and Odisha police, was in Nepal on July 25. Liu Yi escaped from the country after the police busted an illegal call centre in Rupandehi district for extorting money from Indian borrowers. Sources in Nepal police said they are worried about the recent trend of illegal activities targeting Indians being run from their soil. Click here to read…

116 Villages along Nepal border are now ‘Muslim majority’, madrasas and mosques mushrooming everywhere: Report – OpIndia

Intelligence agencies have recommended increasing the range of Border Security Forces (BSF) to 100 KM, owning to the unexpected demographic change in the border areas. As per reports, the Muslim population in border areas has increased by approx 32 per cent, significantly above the national average. Click here to read…

China says it appreciates Nepal’s longstanding commitment to ‘one China’ policy – In.Investing

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi said on Wednesday that his country highly appreciates Nepal’s longstanding commitment to the “one China” principle and resolute opposition to “Taiwan’s Independence”. Click here to read…

Pakistan

NAB won’t be able to probe graft cases below Rs500m: Dawn

The National Assembly passed a bill on Wednesday that aims to further clip the wings of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by proposing that all corruption cases involving an amount below Rs500 million would not come in its purview. Click here to read…

PTI files reference with Supreme Judicial Council, seeks removal of CEC: Dawn

A day after the announcement of the verdict by the Election Commission of Pakistan in the prohibited funding case, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf moved a reference before the Supreme Judicial Council against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Pakistan spends $1b for rebuilding of war-hit Afghanistan: The Express Tribune

Pakistan has contributed $1 billion to support the reconstruction of war-ravaged Afghanistan by building hospitals, schools and roads to manifest its commitment for a prosperous Afghanistan and falsify the impression of using the country as its proxy state. Click here to read…

Rupee gains significant ground against USD, trades at Rs228.50 in interbank: The Express Tribune

The Pakistani rupee made its first major recovery of around Rs10 to reach a one-week high of Rs228.50 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Wednesday. Click here to read…

China rolls over $2bn loan for a year: The News

China has rolled over $2 billion loan in safe deposits for cash-strapped Pakistan’s economy amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves, The News has learnt. Click here to read…

Downpour in July shatters 61-year record in Pakistan: PMD: The News

With 181% above average rainfall, July 2022 happened to be an excessive-rain month with 177.6mm of rain against its normal of 63.1mm making it the wettest July since 1961, said the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

BASL calls IGP to immediately probe recent shooting incidents and dead bodies found on Galle Face beach: Daily Mirror

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has requested Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne to immediately conduct a fully-fledged investigation into the spate of shooting incidents and the dead bodies found on the Galle Face beach, the sources said yesterday. The BASL reportedly drew the attention of the IGP regarding the recent shooting incidents which have been reported from various parts of the country over several days, resulting in the deaths of several individuals. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka president thanks India for timely assistance: Times of India

As he called for an all party government to deal with the economic crisis Sri Lanka is facing, President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday thanked PM Modi for providing the island nation “a breath of life” by lending timely economic assistance. “I wish to specially mention the assistance provided by India, our closest neighbour, in our efforts of economic revitalisation,” he said. Click here to read…

Govt. formed by Ranil-Rajapaksa camp not an all-party arrangement – JVP: The Island

Declaring that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his maiden policy statement delivered in Parliament yesterday, hadn’t said anything new or offered any hope for the country, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that an administration formed by Ranil-Rajapaksa camp couldn’t be considered an All-Party Government under any circumstances. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Biden: Zawahiri ‘Mastermind Behind Attacks Against Americans’: Tolo News

US President Joe Biden in a live address on Tuesday morning, Afghanistan time, announced the death of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. In his speech, Biden said that Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in an American drone strike in Kabul. Click here to read…

Afghan Refugees in Iran, Pakistan Call for UNHCR to Act: Tolo News

Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan have once more voiced their concerns about the lack of progress being made in their applications for asylum. They said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Western nations’ agencies in Pakistan have not paid attention to their requests. Click here to read…

Student Enrollment Plummets at Private Universities in Kunduz: Officials: Tolo News

The Union of Private Universities in Kunduz Province said that the number of students attending private universities has dropped by 65 percent in recent months. Officials at these universities added that in seven private universities of Kunduz the total number of students was around 5,000, whereas under the previous government the number exceeded 11,000. Click here to read…

Amount of Cash Aid to Afghanistan Surpasses $1 Billion 33 Million: The Khaama Press

According to the Taliban-run Central Bank of Afghanistan, a cash package containing $40 million arrived in Kabul on Tuesday, August 2, as part of continuous humanitarian assistance from the international community. The aid shipment, which arrived in Kabul today, was placed at one of the commercial banks, while a shipment totaling $40 million was handed to a commercial bank in Kabul two days ago. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Khalid welcomes US support for inland waterways management: Dhaka Tribune

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, has expressed hope that the US investment and technology will improve the waterways management of Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Minister: Madhukhali-Magura rail project to miss deadline: Dhaka Tribune

The railway project from Madhukhali to Magura via the Kamarkhali Broad Gauge will not be completed within deadline, says Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan. Even though the deadline will be extended, the project cost will remain unchanged, he said on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Wheat prices may cool off in local market: The Daily Star

The price of wheat in Bangladesh may come down as its export from Ukraine has resumed following an agreement with Russia. Prior to the Russia-Ukraine war, 40 per cent of Bangladesh’s wheat import was made from the two countries. Click here to read…

Trade with neighbours to soar come 2029: The Daily Star

Bangladesh’s regional trade can increase by a staggering 93 percent thanks to the $1.4 billion project the World Bank has set in motion to accelerate trade and transport connectivity in Eastern South Asia — a development that can cushion the country from the anticipated export losses from LDC graduation. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Saving the majestic big cats – Bhutan Times

The Bhutan Center for Tigers and Department of Forests and Parks Services (DoFPS) had proposed for community-based tiger conservation fund to mitigate human-wildlife conflict which is the biggest threat in protection and conservation of tigers in Bhutan. Click here to read…

Concerns regarding loan repayment in the agricultural sector – Bhutan Times

Loan recipients from the agriculture sectors are concerned about their loan repayments after the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA) released the terms of the fourth phase of monetary measures. A low-risk area, according to the RMA’s most recent risk assessment, is the agriculture sector. Click here to read…

Maldives

During Visit, Maldives President Reaffirms ‘India-First’ Policy – The Wire

Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Tuesday reaffirmed the island nation’s “India-first” policy during his visit to New Delhi, with both countries reassuring each other that they continued to remain mindful of the other’s security concerns. Click here to read…

President Solih pays courtesy call on the President of India – Raajje

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has paid a courtesy call on the President of India Droupadi Murmu. The call took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India on Tuesday evening. During the meeting President Solih congratulated President Murmu on her inauguration to office. Click here to read…

President assures of conducive environment for foreign investments – Raajje

The President made this remark while addressing the India-Maldives Business Forum in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday. Inviting Indian entrepreneurs to the Maldives to explore business prospects, the President assured them of his commitment to facilitate a conducive environment for foreign investments. Click here to read…

India is highest priority, says Maldives President Solih after signing six agreements – the Hindu

The Maldives on August 2 signed a cyber security agreement with India as both sides affirmed bilateral will to strengthen ties to take on “transnational crimes and terrorism” in the Indian Ocean region. Addressing the media after the signing of six agreements, President Ibrahim ‘Ibu’ Solih expressed gratitude to India for the help extended to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and for providing a landing craft and utility vehicles to the Maldives National Defence Force. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar: Detainees tortured to crush opposition to coup – Amnesty.org

Authorities in Myanmar’s prisons and interrogation centres routinely subject people detained for resisting the 2021 military coup to torture and other cruel or degrading treatment, Amnesty International said today in a new briefing, more than a year and a half after the power grab shattered the country’s halting transition to civilian rule. Click here to read…

Myanmar Military’s Proxy Party Involved in Pro-Execution Rallies – The Irrawaddy

The Myanmar junta’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was involved in organizing pro-execution rallies held last week in Yangon and Mandalay. The rallies came as the executions of four pro-democracy activists in late July sparked condemnation around the world. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s Unfulfilled Irenic Dream – The Irrawaddy

Now, “Peace in our time” as in 1938, is more than unlikely: a slogan rather than a plan. A need for hope sustains a beleaguered population, but a constant call for hope defies reality. Would that it were possible to offer it, but illusions destroy policyClick here to read…

Drugs smuggled from Myanmar seized in Assam, 3 held – Mangalorean

Smuggling of drugs from Myanmar continues unabated in northeast India with drugs, valued at Rs 15 crore, being seized by Assam Police and three persons were arrested in this connection on Tuesday, officials said. Click here to read…

Myanmar-China border town hit by bomb blast and shootings, killing 2 – SCMP

A bomb blast and a spate of shootings in a Myanmar-China border town have killed two people and wounded at least nine, rescuers and locals said.
No group has so far claimed the attacks in Muse – Myanmar’s main gateway to China – which is home to several militia groups jockeying for control over lucrative casinos and the drug trade. Click here to read…

Myanmar’s junta using Chinese face recognition tech to eliminate opponents – Business Standard

In order to expand its public surveillance capabilities, Myanmar’s military regime is using facial recognition technology, raising fresh concerns about the safety of democracy activists and resistance groups in Myanmar. Click here to read…

Russia’s Lavrov to meet military leader on visit to Myanmar -TASS – Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Myanmar on Wednesday, TASS news agency reported, marking one of the most high-profile visits to the Southeast Asian country since the military seized power in a coup last year. Click here to read…

Nepal

India-Nepal Ties Finally Easing Down, But Will the Momentum Last? – The Quint

As a result of the recent political engagements between the prime ministers of Nepal and India, some gains are visible in the relations between the two countries, which, not very long ago, witnessed a strain in the combined aftermath of the map row, COVID-19 related problems and domestic politics in Nepal. Click here to read…

A safer journey for vaccines – Relief Web

Across Nepal, cold chain support provided by the Government of Japan through UNICEF is helping to ensure that vaccines – both for routine immunization of children and COVID-19 protection – reach communities safelyClick here to read…

UN watchdog asks Nepal to split Civil Aviation Authority- Kathmandu Post

United Nations aviation watchdog International Civil Aviation Organisation has formally asked Nepal to split the civil aviation body into two entities—service provider and regulator. The separation is a crucial organisational reform agenda which has been a work in progress for the last one and a half decades. Click here to read…

Nepal Nearly Triples Its Wild Tiger Population in 13 Years – Yahoo

According to a report recently released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are almost three times as many tigers in Nepal today as there were in 2009. This good news follows the upward trend of other tiger populations — 2016 marked the first time in 100 years that the world population of tigers increased. Click here to read…

Nepal doesn’t produce its 2 biggest export items – Nepal Times

How is that possible when the country does not even produce these commodities? The reason is that Nepal’s private traders import soyabean and palm oil in bulk and re-export them to India exploiting tariff differentials. Click here to read…

Pakistan

After 22 months, exports tumble 24pc in July: Dawn

The export proceeds fell 5.17 per cent to $2.21 billion in the first month of the current fiscal year from $2.34bn in the corresponding month last year, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Govt leaders want Imran banned, disqualified over ECP ‘charge sheet’: Dawn

Terming the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) a “charge sheet” against the party, members of the ruling coalition claim it has proved ‘anti-Pakistan forces’ were behind establishment of the party, and labelled party chief Imran Khan everything from a liar, corrupt, foreign agent to a money launderer. Click here to read…

IMF toughens stance on loan tranche release: The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday conditioned the approval of the $1.2 billion loan tranche in late August with Pakistan’s ability to timely secure ‘adequate assurances’ from friendly countries for more loans to bridge financing gap, exposing Islamabad to demands by its bilateral creditors. Click here to read…

Govt weighs knock-out punch: The Express Tribune

The ECP’s ruling that the PTI did receive prohibited funding after an eight-year delay has come as a shot in the arm of the beleaguered ruling coalition that swung into action on Tuesday to find ways to knock out the Imran Khan-led party. Click here to read…

Imran approves Punjab cabinet; no PMLQ member included: The News

According to sources, the cabinet consists of PTI MPAs only, while the party chief also withdrew two ministries given to the PMLQ in former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s cabinet. Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid is likely to get the Ministry of Local Government, Yasmin Rashid the Ministry of Health, Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal the Ministry of Housing and Works and Dr Murad Raas the Ministry of Federal Education. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed makes phone call to Sri Lankan President: Daily Mirror

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has made a phone call to the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, congratulating him on his election as the country’s new president. Sheikh Mohamed also wished him success in leading Sri Lanka towards stability and peace and overcoming the circumstances it is going through. Click here to read…

Immediate government assistance sought to avoid paralysis of tea exports: Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) along with industry stakeholders seeks a well-coordinated and synergised mechanism from the government to resolve the fuel and agrochemical shortages threatening Sri Lanka’s tea production and industry sustainability. Click here to read…

Bankrupt Sri Lanka seeks urgent help to feed children: Deccan Herald

The Ministry for Women and Child Affairs said they were seeking private donations to feed possibly several hundred thousand children wasting due to insufficient food. The bankrupt state, grappling with Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis. Click here to read…

Foreign Minister to attend 29th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Cambodia: News.Ik

Minister of Foreign Affairs, M.U.M. Ali Sabry will travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to take part in the forthcoming 29th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting from 4 to 5 August, 2022. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is composed of 27 members, Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Biden: Al Qaeda Chief Zawahiri Killed in US Drone Strike in Kabul: Tolo News

US President Joe Biden in a live address said: “Justice has been delivered” in US strike killing al-Qaida leader al-Zawahri; “this terrorist leader is no more.” He confirmed reports that began hours earlier about the attack. Click here to read…

Tashkent Mtg Participants Show Readiness to Engage With Kabul: Tolo News

Attending a session held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, the acting foreign minister said the Tashkent International conference was a good opportunity for engagement between the international community and Afghanistan. Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi urged countries to accredit Islamic Emirate diplomats in order to create official engagement. Click here to read…

Joint Committee for Preventing Border Skirmishes to be Formed by Iran & Taliban: The Khaama Press

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan, stated that a meeting was held with Iranian representatives and the Ministry of Defense of the Taliban government, announcing the formation of a joint committee to prevent border clashes. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Rise in remittance, dip in imports: Some breathing space for now: The Daily Star

The country’s economy has got a welcome respite from the ongoing volatility, thanks to a rise in remittance inflow and decrease in imports last month.Imports in July fell by 31 percent to $5.50 billion from $7.96 billion a month ago while remittance went up by 14 percent to $2.09 billion from $1.83 billion, shows Bangladesh Bank data.

Bangabandhu Mobile Railway Museum starts nationwide displaying: Dhaka Tribune

The “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Mobile Rail Museum”’ has started its journey on the tracks on Monday, to convey the ideals and struggles of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the people of Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Bangladesh receives ‘International Peace Award’: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh has received “International Peace Award ” as one of the founding member of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation. The foundation on Monday handed over the award over the award comprising of a crest and a letter to Mosud Mannan, ambassador of Bangladesh to Turkey accredited to Georgia. Click here to read…

PM Modi, Sheikh Hasina to inaugurate Maitree Power Project in Bangladesh: Hindustan Times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to jointly inaugurate the 1320 MegaWatt Maitree Super Thermal Power Station when the latter visits India for a three-day visit in the first week of September. Touted to be Bangladesh’s largest power plant, the coal-fired station is being set up by Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between India’s NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development Board. The project is worth USD 1.5 billion. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Is Bhutan’s economy headed for a similar economic crisis like Sri Lanka? – The Statesman

After the economic crisis of Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s name has been doing the rounds in the list f troubled economies. However, the latest entry in the list of economies facing acute crisis, is that of Bhutan. The import of non-essential goods could be discouraged and even restricted to control the widening trade deficit and protect the depleting foreign currency reserve. Click here to read…

Army Chief meets Bhutan King in Thimphu; focus on further boosting enduring strategic ties – The Hindu

Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande has met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and other top civil and military leaders of Bhutan with a focus on further boosting enduring strategic ties. Click here to read…

ADB approves $10m loan to help Bhutan buy COVID-19 vaccines – Devidiscourse

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $10 million loan to help the Government of Bhutan purchase safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19. The project is part of ADB’s $9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) launched in December 2020 to offer vaccine-related support to ADB developing member countries. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives President Ibrahim Solih meets EAM Jaishankar in Delhi – Times of India

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on August 01 met External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in Delhi. President Solih is on a 4-day official visit to India. Click here to read…

Maldives confirms 183 new Covid-19 cases – Raajje

This was revealed by the Health Protection Agency ((HPA) in its latest figures publicized on Monday. As such, statistics revealed that between July 24 – 30, a total of 183 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed nationwide, including 33 from the Greater Malé Region, 85 from residential islands outside of the capital and 65 reported from others including industrial islands, liveaboard vessels and resorts. Click here to read…

Male Connectivity Project: India-Maldives mega infrastructure push – WIONews

In a major boost to ties between India and Maldives, the ground-breaking ceremony of the Maldives biggest infrastructure project will be held today in New Delhi. Maldives President is in New Delhi on a four-day visit. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar Junta Extends State of Emergency – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military government has extended a state of emergency by six months, state media said Monday, with the junta chief saying elections could only take place when the conflict-wracked country was “stable and peaceful”. Click here to read…

Role Of External Powers In Keeping The Myanmar Military In Power – Analysis – Eurasia Review

The Myanmar junta is losing on the military and economic fronts. And yet, it stays in power because the major regional and global powers either pussyfoot on it or support it in one way or another, experts on the country say. Click here to read…

Myanmar military charges eight Mrauk-U men with incitement – BNI Online

The Myanmar military has filed an incitement lawsuit against eight residents in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code at the Mrauk-U District Court, according to family members of the accused. Click here to read…

Three Brotherhood Alliance Condemns Regime Executions – BNI Online

The Three Brotherhood Alliance has criticised the execution of four political prisoners by the military regime, which threatens to further isolate them. “It is also totally against the ASEAN 5-point proposal…It is also against the path of national reconciliation proposed by the (ruling) State Administration Council (SAC),” said a 27 July joint statement by member groups, Palaung State Liberation Army/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), United League of Arakan/Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal cenbank governor sees no need for IMF loan as tourism earnings rise – Reuters

Nepal sees no need to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a fresh loan as pressure on foreign exchange reserves is easing after a pick up in tourism, its central bank governor said on Monday. Click here to read…

Human trafficking in India and Nepal – NewsUS

With economic opportunities further dwindling after the pandemic, millions more are at risk of Human trafficking across the world. Up to 800,000 people are estimated to be trafficked within Asia each year. In South Asia, India and Nepal are two of the most affected countries. Click here to read…

Nepal’s tea sector sees trouble brewing as India mulls restrictions on imports – The Kathmandu Post

Nepali tea producers and traders have been concerned ever since India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce in June asked the Indian government to apply stringent requirements for the certificate of origin on tea imported from Nepal. Click here to read…

China wary of Indian influence in Nepal – Tribune India

Reports suggest that the Chinese are unhappy that Ambassador Hou Yanqui was unable to prevent Nepal PM Deuba from proposing the Millennium Challenge Corporation, though the Chinese did scuttle America’s State Partnership Programme. They claim the latter is also a military alliance that allows US troops to enter Nepal at will and use its facilities and infringes Nepal’s sovereignty.Click here to read…

Nepal becoming Dialogue Partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – SangriToday

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has given the status of Dialogue Partner to Nepal. It is being considered a sign of Nepal’s growing international identity. But many Nepalese diplomats believe that while strengthening ties with the new group, now Nepal will have to proceed more carefully in the diplomatic realm. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Imran issues fresh call for protest outside ECP office in Islamabad on August 4: Dawn

PTI chairman Imran Khan on Monday issued a call for a fresh protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad on Thursday (August 4) to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation. Click here to read…

Inflation jumps to 14-year high of 24.9pc: The News

Consumer price index (CPI) inflation rose to 24.93 per cent in July, whereas in July 2021, it was recorded at 8.4 per cent, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistic. That compares with a 21.3 per cent jump in June. This level was last seen in August 2008. Click here to read…

IK’s negligence led to foreign funding case: The News

Now that the PTI foreign funding verdict will be announced today (Tuesday), one needs to know what led Akbar S Babar, the founding member of the party, to file the foreign funding case in the Election Commission of Pakistan. Click here to read…

Taliban-brokered TTP talks end in deadlock: The Express Tribune

The talks between Pakistan and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have reached a deadlock as the militant group refused to budge from its demand for the reversal of the merger of erstwhile Fata with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Closely monitoring ‘fast-moving situation’ in SL – UK: Daily Mirror

The UK government said that it is ‘closely monitoring the fast-moving situation, including the recent appointment of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as President’ in Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ‘not accorded any privileges’ in S’pore: MFA: Daily Mirror

Singapore’s foreign minister said yesterday that former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not being accorded any privileges or immunity in Singapore. Rajapaksa landed in Singapore on July 14, a day after fleeing his crisis-ridden country via Maldives and following a popular uprising that forced him to resign as president. Click here to read…

Sampanthan, Wimal, Champika ready to join all-party govt.: The Island

TNA leader R Sampanthan, NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa and Patali Champika Ranawaka have expressed their willingness to join an all-party government. Weerawansa and Ranawaka, in response to a letter by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, have written that they are willing to join an all-party government to save the country. Click here to read…

Agriculture Ministry urges govt. to halt rice imports: The Island

The Agriculture Ministry yesterday informed the Cabinet that there were enough rice stocks in the country, and rice imports had to be suspended. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that he requested the Cabinet to suspend the import of rice until December. Click here to read…