Afghanistan
Afghanistan at Brink of Irreversible Ruin: Amnesty International: The Khaama Press
Islamic Emirate leadership in reaction to a petition by Amnesty International regarding the violation of human rights in Afghanistan said the organization’s report is far from the truth. Earlier, Amnesty International created a petition on what it considers to be human rights violations in Afghanistan and is requesting comments from people all around the world. Click here to read…
USCIRF: ‘Severe’ Deterioration of Freedom of Religion since Taliban’s Takeover in Afghanistan: The Khaama Press
In its most recent report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlighted a “severe decline” in religious freedom since the Taliban’s takeover, which places religious minorities at risk of “extinction.”The Taliban’s enforcement of their strict conception of Sunni Islam adversely affects all Afghans who do not follow and adhere to that interpretation, according to the USCIRF report released on Tuesday, August 23. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Price hike: LDA’s strike underway: Dhaka Tribune
The 12-hour nationwide strike enforced by the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), protesting the recent price hike of daily essentials, is being observed in Dhaka. Click here to read…
Five years of the Rohingya crisis: Dhaka Tribune
Five years have passed since the Myanmar military crackdown in Rakhine has sent nearly a million Rohingyas fleeing across the border to Bangladesh. With sharp decline in international funding and little prospect of repatriation anytime soon, Bangladesh continues to struggle to accommodate the million-strong refugees while fending off natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and food shortages. Click here to read…
Bhutan
WMO strengthens climate services delivery in Bhutan – WMO
WMO, with support from the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) Bhutan and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Asia and Africa (RIMES) has successfully completed the implementation of a project aimed at strengthening the capacity to provide climate services and support climate sensitive sectors in the remote, landlocked mountainous country. Click here to read…
Bhutan likely to save Nu 5.3B in a year from vehicle import moratorium – KuenselOnline
Bhutan could save Nu 5.3 billion (B) in a year from the moratorium on the import of vehicles. Bhutan imported 7,882 vehicles worth Nu 5.3B in 2021. The import includes buses, passenger cars, transport vehicles, special purpose vehicles, and motorcycles. In the first six months, the vehicle import figure was 3,248. In monetary terms, it was worth Nu 2.84B. Click here to read…
Maldives
Pres. urges top achievers to pursue fields essential for national development – Raajje
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has urged top achievement winners to pursue knowledge in fields essential for national development. He said this during the ‘Top Achievers’ Award 2020-2021’ ceremony held on Wednesday evening. Click here to read…
Maldives Minister Ali Solih stabbed in broad daylight, attacker seen reciting Quran verses – OpIndia
In a horrific incident, Maldivian Minister Ali Solih was attacked by a sharp weapon while he was riding on a bike in the Hulhumale region of the capital Male. The Maldivian Police immediately arrested the attacker who tried to slit his throat. Click here to read…
Myanmar
SAC Chairman holds Second Peace Talks with ethnic peace delegation in NPT – Eleven Myanmar
Chairman of State Administration Council (SAC), Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing held Second Peace Talks with the peace delegation led by Chairman of Pa-O National Liberation Organization(PNLO) Khun Thurein, Chairman of Lahu Democratic Union(LDU )Kyar Solomon and Vice-Chairperson of the Arakan Liberation Party(ALP) Saw Mra Razar Lin at Bayintnaung villa in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning. Click here to read…
Myanmar: No Justice, No Freedom for Rohingya 5 Years On – HRW
Rohingya Muslims are still awaiting justice and protection of their rights five years after the Myanmar military began a sweeping campaign of massacres, rape, and arson in northern Rakhine State on August 25, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. Click here to read…
AA releases statement addressing rising military tensions in Arakan State – BNI Online
Military tensions are escalating day by day and the theatre of war is expanding in Arakan State, the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) said in a statement on Tuesday. The Myanmar military has been mobilising its troops and bringing in reinforcements and additional weapons in what appears to be preparations for further military operations, according to the AA statement. Click here to read…
Myanmar brings in $800 mln from April-July gas exports – Reuters
Military-ruled Myanmar earned $800 million from natural gas exports mainly to China and Thailand between April and July, the junta said in the state newspaper on Thursday. Click here to read…
Nepal
Action recommended against 1,690 govt officials – The Himalayan Times
The National Vigilance Centre has written to the ministries and offices concerned, directing them to initiate disciplinary action against 1,690 government employees for absenteeism and violation of dress code in the past three months. Click here to read…
Indian army chief arriving in Kathmandu on a four day visit to Nepal on October 5 – My Republic
Chief of Indian Army Manoj Pande is arriving in Kathmandu on October 5. He is set to come to Nepal for a four-day visit at the invitation of the Nepal Army Chief Prabhu Ram Sharma. Click here to read…
Agnipath scheme may impact ties with Nepal – Tribune India
The Nepal Army is mostly trained and equipped by India. The Indian Army helped it in containing Maoist insurgency. The bilateral group on security cooperation was set up in its aftermath. New Delhi must treat Kathmandu with respect and not repeat the old mistake of taking Nepal for granted. The most worrying consequence of the Agnipath scheme could be the weakening of the ‘diplomatic bridge’ between Nepal and India. Click here to read…
Pakistan
Editorial: Mexican stand-off: Dawn
A STRANGE madness appears to be afflicting our political leaders. Knives out, they are chasing after each other in the hopes of landing a killing blow, not realising the damage they are doing to their own future prospects with the harmful precedents they are setting that ‘others’ can easily exploit. Click here to read…
Imran due in court today: Dawn
Extra security has been deployed at the Federal Judicial Complex where former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan is likely to appear to get pre-arrest bail on Thursday (today) in a terrorism case registered against him for threatening additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry and the Islamabad police chief. Click here to read…
IMF sees inflation peaking at 20%: The Express Tribune
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees Pakistan’s economy slowing to around 3.5% due to weakening economic conditions and average inflation rate peaking to nearly 20% by the end of the current fiscal year on the back of currency depreciation and higher commodity prices. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
President urges China to change tune on debt: Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka is urging China to dramatically change its stance on debt relief, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview, conceding that reaching a deal will be no simple task. The appeal to China, the bankrupt Indian Ocean nation’s largest bilateral lender, has emerged as a formidable challenge to Wickremesinghe, who is leading the country’s financial team as it attempts to rebuild an economy starved of foreign reserves and mired in miseryClick here to read…
Gota to return during first week of September: Daily Mirror
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to return to Sri Lanka during the first week of next month, Daily Mirror learns . An informed source said he is likely to return either on September 2 or 3. Earlier,The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe to make arrangements for the former president to return . Click here to read…
Amid soft-peg crisis, Sri Lanka suspends imports of over 300 items from Wed: Business Standard
Amidst soft-peg crisis, Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended the import of over 300 ‘non-essential’ items with effect from Wednesday. Signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister, the gazette was issued under the Import and Export Control Act. Click here to read…