Afghanistan

Statement Released from Afghan Politicians at Turkey Meeting: Tolo News

The Afghan politicians who recently met in Turkey released a statement saying that the establishment of a council will help change the current Afghan situation.
The meeting among the Afghan politicians was hosted by Marshal Abdul Rasheed Dostum and it was held under the title of “National Resistance of Rescuing Afghanistan”. Click here to read…

US-Taliban Deal Biggest Factor in Collapse of ANDSF: Watchdog: Tolo News

The biggest factor that led to the collapse of the Afghan military in August last year was the U.S. decision to withdraw forces and contractors from Afghanistan through an agreement with the Islamic Emirate signed by the Trump administration and executed by the Biden administration, a U.S. watchdog report concluded. Click here to read…

The Taliban Orders Female TV Presenters to Cover Their Faces with Masks During Performances: The Khaama Press

The Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prohibition of Vice has issued a new directive requiring female presenters on television to wear masks. The order was officially announced on Wednesday, May 19 by Taliban Ministry of Interior agents to MOBY Group television channels, including TOLONews. Click here to read…

The Afghanistan Freedom Movement Group Claims Responsibility for Today’s Explosion of Mazar-e-Sharif: The Khaama Press

Tahreek-e-Azadi Afghanistan (Afghanistan Freedom Movement) claimed responsibility for an attack on the 209th AlFath Taliban Corps convoy in Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province. An explosion occurred this morning, Thursday, May 19, in Mazar-e-Sharif Sharif’s 5th district, and it is believed that the target of the explosion was a Taliban army convoy, leaving three people wounded. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Govt imposes 65-day fishing ban- The Daily Star

A 65-day ban has been imposed on all kinds of fishing in Bangladesh maritime from today. Click here to read…

Form separate land commission for them- The Daily Star

The government needs to strengthen its efforts to improve livelihood of the country’s indigenous community people living in the plainland, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday. Click here to read…

Navy rescues 33 Rohingyas- The Daily Star

Members of Bangladesh Navy yesterday rescued 33 Rohingya refugees from the Teknaf coast in Cox’s Bazar while they were being trafficked to Malaysia through the Bay of Bengal. Click here to read…

Gas supply to remain suspended in parts of Dhaka on Saturday- The Daily Star

Gas supply will remain suspended in different parts of Dhaka on Saturday (May 21, 2022) from 9:00am to 9:00pm, for replacement of supply lines. Click here to read…

Submit report on present situation of commodity prices in 3 days: Cabinet- The Daily Star

The cabinet today (May 19, 2022) directed the finance and commerce ministries along with Bangladesh Bank to prepare a report within three days on the present situation of the prices of essentials for the next course of action to tackle the challenges to emerge as the outcome of Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

JS body seeks US lawmakers’ support for lifting sanctions on Rab- The Daily Star

A delegation of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs has sought US lawmakers’ support for lifting US sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and seven of its current and former officials imposed on December 10 last year. Click here to read…

Bhutan

PGI set to emulate Bhutan’s ‘Happiness Index’, patients to fill feedback forms: Times of India

For the first time, the premier medical institute PGI will be focusing on a “happiness index,” which involves a sense of resvponsibility towards patient care, mental and physical well-being and good governance. Click here to read…

Bhutan looks to taxis to jump-start stalled electric vehicle push: CAN

As night sets in, Dorji Wangchuk plugs his electric car into a charging station, then starts thumbing his rosary and mumbling prayers while he waits for the half-hour before he can continue driving his taxi around Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. Click here to read…

Maldives

Ranil Wickremesinghe ropes in ex-Maldives President to ‘coordinate’ foreign aid for crisis-hit Sri Lanka: The Hindu

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed Maldivian Parliamentary Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed as the “coordinator” for securing foreign aid to Sri Lanka that is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Striking Myanmar Civil Servants Denied Passports – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military regime has stopped issuing passports to striking civil servants to prevent them leaving the country. A striking doctor said: “Instead of arresting strikers at the airports, the regime has barred them from applying for or extending passports. I made enquiries about an extension and found a list of striking civil servants has been sent to the passport office.” Click here to read…

KNLA Captures Strategic Camp From Myanmar Military Near Thai Border – The Irrawaddy

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied resistance forces seized a strategic camp from the Myanmar military in Karen State near the Thai border on Wednesday despite facing heavy air strikes called in by the regime. Click here to read…

Myanmar Fuel Importers Blame Shortages on Junta Dollar Controls – The Irrawaddy

Myanmar is facing fuel shortages partly because of the regime’s controls over US dollars. In early April, the regime-controlled Central Bank of Myanmar ordered that foreign earnings must be deposited with licensed banks and exchanged for kyats within one working day at the official rate. The regime also ordered that fuel be sold at fixed rates. Click here to read…

Burmese civilians are caught between the junta and the resistance – The Economist

When moe moe and hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers just like her went on strike after the Burmese army launched a coup in February 2021, they were promised that the resistance would take care of them. As the movement opposing the putsch became more organised, forming a shadow administration called the National Unity Government (nug), it raised $120,000 to support some 360,000 public-sector workers who were shunning their desks. Click here to read…

Conflict between Myanmar’s proxy forces may outlast a political resolution – RFA

Pro-military Pyu Saw Htee militiamen and anti-junta People’s Defense Force (PDF) paramilitaries are engaged in what will likely become a protracted conflict in Myanmar with no formal process in place to mediate between the two civilian proxy armies, an analyst said Wednesday. Click here to read…

Home of Myanmar opposition government’s defence secretary targeted in bomb attack – Myanmar Now

The Mandalay home of Naing Htoo Aung, the secretary of defence for the National Unity Government (NUG), was bombed in a targeted attack by a group of unidentified armed men on Tuesday night, according to local sources. Click here to read…

Nepal

RJP gets mayor, NC deputy mayor in Jaimini Municipality- The Himalayan Times

Nara Bahadur Pun from Rastriya Janamorcha Party, the common candidate of the five-party alliance, has won the mayoral post in the local level election in Jaimini Municipality of Baglung district. Pun garnered 8,755 votes whereas his closest rival Leela Rana from the CPN-UML got 2,873 votes.Click here to read…

Government amends law to ensure security of health personnel- The Himalayan Times

The government has amended the Security of Health Workers and Health Organisations Act, 2010, to ensure safety and security of health personnel and health institutions via remedial actions against incidents of frequent attacks on them over the death of patients in the course of medical treatment. Click here to read…

Maoist Centre bags seven local levels, NC two, UML one, in Rolpa- The Himalayan Times

As per the count, the CPN-Maoist Centre secured victory in seven local levels, whereas NC and CPN- UML secured victory in two and one local level, respectively. Click here to read…

Pakistan

In US, Bilawal defends Imran’s Moscow visit: Dawn

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday strongly defended Imran Khan’s Moscow visit, saying there was no way for the former prime minister to know that Russia would invade Ukraine on the day he landed in the Russian capital. Click here to read…

Fazlur Rehman seeks state institutions’ support for nascent government: Dawn

Questioning the Supreme Court suo moto notice on apprehensions that criminal justice might be undermined by people in positions of authority, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on Thursday demanded “solid and full support” of the state institutions for the newly placed coalition government to bring the country out of crises “created under the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rule”. Click here to read…

Current account deficit narrows to $623m in April: The News

Pakistan’s current account deficit fell by 39 percent to $623 million in April from $1.0 billion the previous month, boosted by a jump in remittances and decline in imports, the central bank said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Rupee surpasses 200 against dollar during intra-day trade: The Express Tribune

The rupee lost Rs2.41 to Rs200.80 at around 1:45 pm compared to Wednesday’s close at Rs198.39. According to reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed surprise over the free-fall in the rupee and convened a meeting to take measures to end uncertainty in capital markets. Click here to read…

Imran hints at turning Islamabad long march into prolonged sit-in: The Express Tribune

“We only want one thing and that is elections and do not want the imported government. We want independence via free and transparent elections. The ocean of people will not leave Islamabad until we get a date for the elections,” he said while addressing party workers in K-P House in Islamabad. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka defaults on debt for first time in its history: BBC

It comes after a 30-day grace period to come up with $78m (£63m) of unpaid debt interest payments expired on Wednesday. The governor of the South Asian nation’s central bank said the country was now in a “pre-emptive default”. Later on Thursday, two of the world’s biggest credit rating agencies also said Sri Lanka had defaulted. Click here to read…

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka runs out of fuel: Arab News

Most Colombo residents stayed home on Thursday, unable to reach work or drive their children to school, as crisis-hit Sri Lanka ran out of fuel. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka slips into default, central bank head agrees to stay on: Aljazeera

Sri Lanka’s central bank governor says he will stay in his position given an improvement in political stability in the midst of an economic crisis, and he would not step down as he had earlier warned. Click here to read…

Sri Lankan forces ended LTTE civil war through ‘humanitarian operation’: Gotabaya: The Hindu

Marking the national War Heroes Day, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the armed forces ended the LTTE civil war in 2009 through a “humanitarian operation”, but the government still faces a UN-led probe into the alleged human rights violations. Click here to read…

Former Chinese leader He Luli cremated: Xinhuanet

March 23, 2022

He Luli, former leader of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, was cremated in Beijing on Wednesday. She died in Beijing on March 19 at the age of 88. She once served two terms as vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and one term as vice chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Click here to read…

China’s anti-graft chief stresses full-coverage inspections: Xinhuanet

March 23, 2022

China’s top anti-graft official on Wednesday stressed gaining a deeper understanding of the inspection work in the new era and working for high-quality completion of the inspection tasks covering Party committees at all levels. Click here to read…

Top political advisor stresses concerted efforts to create bright future for Xinjiang: Xinhuanet

March 23, 2022

China’s top political advisor Wang Yang has stressed the importance of maintaining a clear mind when it comes to the overall targets set for Xinjiang, and the need to view them as long-term, arduous, complex tasks with a focus on deep-seated problems concerning the region’s long-term stability. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 2,010 new local COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

March 24, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 2,010 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, down from 2,591 on Tuesday, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Of the new local infections, 1,810 were reported in the province of Jilin, 69 in Fujian, 29 in Tianjin, 16 in Shandong, 12 in Jiangxi, 10 each in Heilongjiang and Henan. Click here to read…

Xi sends congratulatory letter to fourth CPC-PCC theory seminar: People’s Daily

March 24, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, sent a congratulatory letter to the fourth theory seminar between the CPC and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), which opened on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Chinese legislators inspect enforcement of environmental protection law: People’s Daily

March 24, 2022

A meeting of lawmakers from an inspection team under the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee was held Wednesday to hear a report on the enforcement of the environmental protection law. Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting. Click here to read…

Beijing to strictly enforce emergency response mechanism for cross-province transportation: Global Times

March 23, 2022

Beijing will strictly enforce an emergency response mechanism for cross-province transportation, according to Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport on Wednesday. As of Monday, a total of 211 inter-provincial public transportation routes were suspended between Beijing and cities in North China’s Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, East China’s Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui and other provinces, with 548 vehicles taken off the roads. The city will timely suspend cross-province passenger transport services to and from areas reporting COVID-19 cases, according to the transport commissionClick here to read…

ZTE’s 5-year US probation ends, offers Chinese firms a lesson to use legal means to fight against US crackdown: Global Times

March 23, 2022

After a lengthy wrangle with Washington over alleged illegal exports to Iran and North Korea, Chinese telecom giant ZTE on Wednesday said it received a verdict from a US court to end its five-year probation, during which time the US launched a series of premeditated actions against China including a trade war and similar trade bans on other Chinese tech firms. Click here to read…

Vice-premier urges clean use of coal: China Daily

March 24, 2022

Vice-Premier Han Zheng has called for intensified efforts to promote the clean and efficient utilization of coal, which dominates China’s energy reserves and consumption mix, stressing they are vital to realizing the country’s climate targets. Click here to read…

Shanghai’s daily COVID caseload at nearly 1,000, but containment in sight: Reuters

March 24, 2022

New daily COVID-19 cases in the Chinese commercial hub of Shanghai remained close to 1,000 on Thursday as authorities scrambled to identify and isolate asymptomatic infections, though a leading expert said the outbreak was being contained. Click here to read…

Dozens of Chinese officials punished over latest wave of Covid-19 cases: South China Morning Post

March 22, 2022

More than 70 Chinese officials have been sacked or disciplined over the past month as Covid-19 spreads across the country. The latest wave of Covid-19, driven by the more contagious Omicron virus, has resulted in more than 20,000 infections all over the country.
While health officials have acknowledged that most of the infections showed little or no symptoms making their detection difficult, top leaders have warned officials they face harsh punishment if they are caught slacking or fail to act swiftly. Click here to read…

China mulls giving more seats to people from grassroots, women in top legislature: Xinhuanet

March 6, 2022

Chinese lawmakers are considering a draft decision to give more seats in its national legislature to people from the grassroots level and women. The draft decision on the quota and election of deputies to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) was submitted on Saturday to the ongoing fifth session of the 13th NPC for deliberation. Click here to read…

Xi visits CPPCC members in sectors of agriculture, welfare and social security: Xinhuanet

March 7, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), president of the People’s Republic of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Sunday visited national political advisors from the sectors of agriculture, welfare and social security, who are attending the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Xi participated in their joint group meeting, and listened to their comments and suggestions. Click here to read…

Chinese premier stresses promoting sustained, sound economic and social development: Xinhuanet

March 6, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday stressed making oncerted and concrete efforts to ensure sustained and sound economic and social development. Click here to read…

Xi stresses ethnic unity, strengthening sense of community for Chinese nation: Xinhuanet

March 6, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday stressed ethnic unity and efforts to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation when he joined a deliberation during the annual session of the National People’s Congress, the top legislature. Click here to read…

China to continue promoting green, low-carbon development: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

China will continue to improve the environment and promote green and low-carbon development, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. Click here to read…

China to provide priority support for key projects in 14th Five-Year Plan: draft budget report: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

In optimizing the structure of government spending, China will provide priority support for key projects that have been included in the 14th Five-Year Plan and specific plans in key areas, according to a draft budget report submitted to China’s top legislature on Saturday. Click here to read…

China mulls amending law on local legislatures, governments: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

The National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, on Saturday deliberated a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People’s Congresses and Local People’s Governments. Click here to read…

Decipher China’s development philosophy in Xi’s “two sessions” remarks: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

China’s national lawmakers and political advisors have gathered in Beijing for the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also known as the “two sessions.” Click here to read…

China improves supporting measures for three-child policy: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

China will improve measures for the three-child policy, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. Care expenses for children under three will be included in the special additional deductions for individual income tax. The country will develop public-interest childcare services to ease the burden of raising a family, the report said. Click here to read…

China to implement 10-year plan on basic research to boost scientific, technological innovation: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

China will implement a 10-year action plan on basic research to ensure stable support for scientific and technological innovation over the long term, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. Click here to read…

China promotes signing of high-standard FTA: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

China will work to negotiate and conclude high-standard free trade agreements (FTA) with more countries and regions, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberationClick here to read…

Chinese FM holds phone talks with U.S. secretary of state over bilateral ties, Ukraine: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over China-U.S. relations and the Ukraine issue at the latter’s request. Click here to read…

China vows to keep foreign trade stable: Xinhuanet

March 5, 2022

China will adopt a package of steps to stabilize foreign trade, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. The country will help foreign trade enterprises receive orders and maintain production. It will move faster to develop new forms and models of foreign trade, give full play to the role of cross-border e-commerce, and support the establishment of a number of overseas warehouses, said the report. Click here to read…

Building Up the Strength, Quality, and Size of China’s Digital Economy: Quishi

March 3, 2022

In recent years, technologies associated with the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain have seen accelerated innovation and gradual integration into all aspects of economic and social development. Countries around the world have rushed to produce development strategies for the digital economy and unveiled related incentive policies. The speed of the digital economy’s development, the extent of its reach, and the level of its impact are unprecedented; and it is fast becoming a critical force that is reordering global production factors, reshaping global economic structures, and transforming global competition. Click here to read…

Fostering a New Development Dynamic Through High-Level Opening Up: Quishi

March 3, 2022

The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century deliberated and adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee includes the following profound statement. Click here to read…

Defense budget proposed to grow by 7.1%, military urged to upgrade, remain resolute: China Military

March 5, 2022

The central government has proposed a defense budget of 1.45 trillion yuan ($230 billion) for the 2022 fiscal year, a 7.1 percent year-on-year increase, according to a draft budget report submitted to the national legislature on Saturday morning. The figures were included in the report prepared by the Ministry of Finance and distributed at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Click here to read…

Saudi Arabia inaugurates 1st World Defense Show with cutting-edge Chinese equipment: China Military

March 7, 2022

Saudi Arabia inaugurated on Sunday the first edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh. The four-day show, which includes 15 national pavilions with a total exhibition area of 900,000 square meters, attracts more than 600 exhibitors from 45 countries and regions. Click here to read…

China to enhance military training to safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests: China Military

March 5, 2022

China will enhance military training and combat readiness, stay firm and flexible in carrying out military struggle, and safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, according to a government work report made public Saturday. The report was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation. Click here to read…

China to accelerate innovation-driven development: China Daily

March 5, 2022

A child takes part in an art exhibition using virtual reality devices at an art museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Long Wei/For China Daily]
China will step up efforts to promote innovation-driven development this year, with a key focus on promoting scientific and technological innovation as well as industrial upgrading, the government wrote in its 2022 Government Work Report. Click here to read…

Domestically transmitted COVID-19 infections surpass 500 Sunday in Chinese mainland, affecting 13 provinces: Global Times

March 7, 2022

The domestically transmitted COVID-19 infections tally in Chinese mainland on Sunday soared to more than 500 with 214 confirmed cases and 312 asymptomatic cases respectively, the highest since 2022Click here to read…

Advisors suggest promotion of nationwide DNA database to end child trafficking: Global Times

March 6, 2022

In the wake of the tragic trafficking of a woman in Jiangsu Province, human trafficking – especially that of women and children – has became one of the most glaring domestic issues discussed during the ongoing two sessions, with several deputies and advisors calling for the establishment of a nationwide DNA database to resolve the thorny problem. Click here to read…

China’s defense budget growth justified as restrained amid foreign media hype: Global Times

March 6, 2022

China’s 7.1 percent increase to its defense budget in 2022 is a restrained move that aims to safeguard the country’s national sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development interests, as well as to provide public security goods to the world, experts said on Sunday, in response to Western media’s one-sided interpretation that hypes the military spending plan being the fastest increase since 2019 and outpaces the country’s GDP growth target. Click here to read…

China resolute to share market opportunities with rest of world: People’s Daily

March 6, 2022

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 11.6 percent year on year to 102.28 billion yuan ($16.12 billion) in January, according to statistics recently released by the country’s Ministry of Commerce. Click here to read…

Technology commercialization agents in China help translate sci-tech achievements into products: People’s Daily

March 6, 2022

To translate scientific and technological achievements into products, the last crucial hurdle in aspects such as policies, capital, patent filing, and market has to be addressed. In an effort to strengthen communication between industries and research institutes, Hubei province in central China has nurtured technology commercialization agents and built an education and management platform for these talents. Click here to read…

China’s ZTE faces hearing over possible violation of U.S. probation: Reuters

March 5, 2022

ZTE Corp., the Chinese telecom equipment maker, will go back to U.S. federal court March 14 to face a new accusation it may have violated its probation from its 2017 guilty plea for illegally shipping U.S. technology to Iran. Click here to read…

China’s President Xi reiterates grain security, urges for domestic dominance: Reuters

March 6, 2022

China’s President Xi Jinping said on Sunday that the country must ensure grain security and reliance on the domestic market to maintain production, state broadcaster CCTV reported. China should guarantee capacity at home and import grains “appropriately”, Xi said at a meeting with delegates from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), an advisory body to parliament. Click here to read…

China says friendship with Russia is ‘rock solid’: Reuters

March 7, 2022

China’s friendship with Russia is “rock solid” and the prospects for cooperation are very broad, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday. Cooperation between the two countries brings benefits and well-being to the two peoples, he told his annual news conference on the sidelines of China’s annual meeting of parliament. Click here to read…