Afghanistan
Qatar: World Has “No Clear Policy” on Afghanistan: Tolo News
There has yet to be a “clear policy” formed by the international community on how to deal with the current situation in Afghanistan, a senior Qatari official saidClick here to read…
US’s West Welcomes Decree on Women, Says More is Needed: Tolo News
The US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, on Friday said he welcomes the decree of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, on women’s rights. Click here to read…
Pakistan to host OIC’s extraordinary summit on 19 December: Qureshi: The Khaama Press
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that his country will be hosting OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers’ session on Afghanistan on 19th December. Click here to read…
Taliban starts issuance of passports in all but three provinces: The Khaama Press
Taliban’s passport directorate in the ministry of interior affairs on Sunday, December 5 said the issuance of Afghan passports resumed in 14 other provinces that bringing the total number of provinces to 31. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Covid-19 and the wounds in democracy- Dhaka tribune
The pandemic situation of Covid-19 has hit the country hard since last year. While both the rate of infection and death have reduced, it has not reached zero yet. Click here to read…
Month of Victory: The day India, Bhutan recognized Bangladesh- Dhaka tribune
Within the space of just a few hours, India and Bhutan became the first two countries to recognize Bangladesh. Click here to read…
World Peace Conference: Use resources for dev, not arms: PM- Daily Star
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the global community to use resources for universal and sustainable development, not for arms, in this critical juncture of the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read…
Crushed by rising inflation
Low- and middle-income people struggle to cope as commodity prices soar; recent fuel price hike partly to blame. Click here to read…
Bangabandhu would’ve wanted formal apology for 1971 atrocities: former Pakistani diplomat- Daily Star
Had Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman lived, he would have supported the idea of formal apology from Pakistan for the tragedy inflicted upon the people of Bangladesh in 1971, said former Pakistani diplomat Husain Haqqani. Click here to read…
We don’t want to see ‘kawas’ in Awami League: Taposh- Daily Observer
Terming the opportunists as ‘kawas’ (crows), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has said he doesn’t want to see them (kawas) in Awami League, because these ‘kawas’ have brought ‘bad names’ to the party. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Tala shutdown to cost Nu 840M- Kuensel
As the 1,020MW Tala hydropower plant will remain shut from the end of December to the end of March, the country is likely to lose revenue of about Nu 840 million (M). Click here to read…
National Assembly passes Fiscal Incentives Bill- Kuensel
The National Assembly concluded the deliberation on the Fiscal Incentives Bill 2021 yesterday and passed it without any major changes. Click here to read…
Promoting an inclusive society- Bhutan Times
The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and stakeholders working for the People With Disabilities (PWDs) are ushering towards promoting inclusive societiesClick here to read…
RCDC to conduct genome sequencing to monitor incursion of new variants within the country- BBS
With the completion of the installation of genome sequencing technology at the Royal Centre for Disease Control in Thimphu, it will now be easier to confirm COVID-19 new variants with a proper laboratory test. Click here to read…
Maldives
VP Naseem meets with officials from India Foundation, INSS of Sri Lanka – Raajje
On the sidelines of his ongoing visit to the middle-east to take part in the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) 2021, Vice President Faisal Naseem held meetings with officials from the India Foundation and Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) of Sri Lanka. Click here to read…
Maldives confirms first case of ‘Omicron’ Covid-19 variant – Raajje
The new and more transmissible variant of Covid-19, ‘Omicron’ has surfaced in the Maldives. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed this on Sunday night, highlighting that the first case of the new variant was confirmed through genome sequencing of a tourist that arrived in the Maldives. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Kokang Armed Group Reports Escalating Fighting With Myanmar Junta – The Irrawaddy
The ethnic Kokang army said it clashed with Myanmar’s junta 126 times during November in northern Shan State. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is fighting around Kokang, Mongkoe and Hsenwi to gain control to the west of Salween River with violence increasing last month after the arrival of junta reinforcements. Click here to read…
Civilian Resistance Group Warns People Not to Use Myanmar Junta-Backed Airline – The Irrawaddy
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) has warned residents of Kayah State not to travel by air to and from Loikaw, the Kayah capital, as the Myanmar military is using the airport to deploy troops and weapons, making it a potential target for civilian resistance fighters. Click here to read…
Divide and rule: Myanmar junta ‘weaponising’ racial tensions – SMH
Myanmar’s military junta is resorting to old tactics, stoking anti-Muslim tension, as fears rise about more atrocities being committed in the strife-torn south-east Asian nation. Click here to read…
Coup Leader’s Wife Draws Public Ire; Suu Kyi’s New Charge and More – The Irrawaddy
The military regime on Nov. 30 postponed the announcement of a verdict in the incitement trial of deposed civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and instead filed a new corruption charge against her and former President U Win Myint. Click here to read…
Japan plays a diplomatic double game on rights in Myanmar – Myanmar Now
Since the February 1 military coup in Myanmar, the junta’s security forces have killed nearly 1,300 people, arrested more than 10,000, and continue to detain nearly 7,400. The junta-controlled courts have sentenced 65 people to death, including two children. Click here to read…
Nepal
Nepal woefully short on COVID vaccines- Himalaya
In the wake of rapid spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the Nepal government seems to be floundering in the dark. Click here to read…
Upset in pro-Hindu and pro-monarchy party as underdog registers a win- TKP
Rajendra Lingden defeats Kamal Thapa to become the new chair of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which could impact the national political dynamics. Click here to read…
Parliamentary hearing for ambassador nominees set for today- TKP
The parliamentary committee has already deferred the hearing twice in the absence of a quorum. Click here to read…
Laxmi-Narayan is home- Nepali Times
Nearly 40 years later, the stolen god of Patko Tole makes a historic and triumphant return. Click here to read…
87 manufacturing firms proposed to invest Rs 122 billion during mid-July and mid-October- Republica
A total of 87 firms have proposed to invest Rs 122 billion to set up their manufacturing plants in the country in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Click here to read…
Pakistan
PML-N wins back NA-133 seat amid low turnout: Dawn
According to unofficial results, PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik bagged 46,811 votes while PPP’s Chaudhry Aslam Gill could secure 32,313 ballots in a race that remained largely peaceful, except a couple of minor clashes between activists of the two major rivals. Click here to read…
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign deals on workers’ recruitment, skills: Dawn
It said the signing ceremony of the agreements took place during the visit of Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood to Saudi Arabia. Click here to read…
‘Ice-breaker’: Pakistan, India issue diplomatic visas to each other: The Express Tribune
Islamabad issued visas to six Indian envoys and other staffers while New Delhi issued visas to 20 Pakistani diplomats and officers. Click here to read…
No one can dare topple PTI govt, says Khattak: The Express Tribune
“There’s no chance of an in-house change,” the senior PTI minister said while addressing a ceremony in Peshawar on Sunday. “I stand firm in support of Prime Minister Imran Khan.” Click here to read…
PDM gets ready for long march, resignations: The News
The Steering Committee of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), chaired by PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has prepared recommendations regarding the long march and resignations from assemblies to protest against the incumbent government and rising inflation. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Colombo’s failure to honour agreements: India Hurt – Ceylon Today
The Indian Government has expressed its displeasure, to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, over Colombo’s failure in the recent past to honour most of the State level agreements signed with New Delhi, sources said. The Indian Government has stated that Sri Lanka has also reneged on its promise to fulfil many such recent Pacts signed between the two countries. Click here to read…
President rejects BOI Chairman and others’ resignations – The Morning
The Presidential Secretariat has, through letters signed by the Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, informed all Board of Investment (BOI) members who resigned last week. Click here to read…
Sialkot lynching: 13 key suspects remanded to police custody – Adaderana
At least 13 key suspects were remanded Sunday to police custody in a case relating to the lynching of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot, Pakistani media reported. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka central bank foreign debt exceeds reserves by US$1.2bn – EconomyNext
Sri Lanka central bank’s foreign debt has exceeded reserves by 1.2 billion US dollars by October 2021 from around 780 million US dollars in October 2021, official data showed, amid continued low interest rates and liquidity injections. Click here to read…