Afghanistan
Historical Heritage Neglected in Badakhshan: Tolo News
Cultural activists are concerned about the lack of attention to the historic heritage in Badakhshan province. Pul-e-Khishte is one of the historical heritage sites in Badakhshan province and it is 25 meters long and 5 meters wide. The history of this historical heritage site reportedly reaches back more than 100 years. Click here to read…
Islamic Emirate’s Leader Calls for Implementation of Sharia: Tolo News
Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, held a gathering with the provincial governors in Kandahar. Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada stressed the need to preserve Islamic values, according to the statement. Click here to read…
U.S. Senators Urge UN to Take ‘Meaningful Actions’ in Defense of Afghans Rights: The Khaama Press
At least four American senators voiced their concerns over human rights violations in Afghanistan in a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, saying “we must not stand by as the Taliban seeks to erase the human rights of Afghan women and girls.” Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Concerted effort is the key- The Daily Star
Planning Minister MA Mannan yesterday said many areas regarding child development require concerted efforts. Click here to read…
Chinese foreign minister likely to visit Dhaka next month- The Daily Star
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit Dhaka early next month as the country wants to strengthen the strategic partnership with Bangladesh. Click here to read…
Bhutan
TCB to assess readiness of hoteliers and operators- Kuensel
The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) is validating and assessing tourism service providers – tour operators and hoteliers – on their readiness to welcome tourists under the new tariff regime beginning September 23 this year. Click here to read…
Youths draw attention to tiger conservation- Kuensel
Addressing the youth ambassadors, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, said: “Where tigers have vanished, the lands are barren and devoid of life forms. Put simply, the tiger is a barometer of life in our forests and, by extension, the health of our living planet.” Click here to read…
Bhutan needs to gear towards improving tourism infrastructure- Bhutan Times
3,500 licensed tour operators in the country will have to compete through the quality of services, programmes and facilities while providing itineraries to the tourists. This would mean the tour operators should start working to improve the facilities. Click here to read…
Maldives
President of Maldives on 4-day visit to India from August 1 – Indian Express
MALDIVES PRESIDENT Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be coming on a four-day visit to India from August 1, which will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in the wide-ranging partnership. Click here to read…
Maldives CDF Maj Gen Abdulla Shamaal receives Guard of Honour in Delhi – ANI News
The Chief of Defence Force (CDF) of the Maldives, Major General Abdulla Shamaal, received a Guard of Honour at the South Block in Delhi on July 28. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey accorded him a warm welcome to India. Click here to read…
Maldives industry fights higher tourism tax – TTG Asia
Raising the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (T-GST) to 16 per cent from 12 per cent effective next year would significantly impact Maldives’ tourism performance, particularly at a time when destination competition is intensifying post-lockdown, said industry stakeholders. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Engagement with Tatmadaw is key to peace in Assam and Northeast – NENow
Myanmar’s domestic political situation is extremely critical for India’s national interest. India shares a border of 1643 kilometers with Myanmar. Thus, a stable and friendly Myanmar is key to India’s security, especially in India’s Northeast. Click here to read…
India raises ‘deep concern’ over execution of 4 pro-democracy activists in Myanmar – The Print
India on Thursday expressed deep concern over the execution of four pro-democracy activists by Myanmar’s military government and asserted that the rule of law and democratic process must be upheld in the country. Click here to read…
Shan Armed Group Poised for Myanmar Junta Attack – The Irrawaddy
Military tensions are escalating between the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and Myanmar’s regime in Mong Hsu Township, southern Shan Township, as junta reinforcements arrive in the town, according to residents. Click here to read…
Nepal
Upper House passes Citizenship Bill- Himalayan Times
The National Assembly today passed the Citizenship Bill, which will become a law when President Bidhya Devi Bhandari certifies it. The bill was sent to the Upper House after the House of Representatives passed it on July 23 through a fast-track process. Click here to read…
How probe turns into a farce: House panel says it found nothing against Sharma- Kathmandu Post
Committee is divided with ruling party members pressing for absolving ex-finance minister, as the four representatives from the CPN-UML write their dissent. Click here to read…
House endorses bill to amend Citizenship Act- Kathmandu Post
Once the bill gets through upper house, children of parents who got citizenship by birth will get citizenship by descent. Click here to read…
Pakistan
Import-ban-on-luxury-items-lifted: Dawn
The government has increased dealers’ commission on the sale of petroleum products by up to an unprecedented 70 per cent and lifted a ban imposed in May on the import of “non-essential and luxury items”, excluding automobiles, cell phones and electronics. Click here to read…
Editorial: false-equivalence: Dawn
CELEBRATING his party’s triumph in dislodging the PML-N government in Punjab, former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday made what sounded unmistakably like a speech delivered on the hustings, by a man confident of the ultimate prize. Click here to read…
Elections to be held on time, govt to complete its tenure: PDM: The Express Tribune
Amid calls by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for snap polls in the country, the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) has reiterated its stance that the general elections will be held on time and the coalition government will complete its tenure. Click here to read…
Rupee’s downward spiral continues, inter-bank rate at Rs242: The Express Tribune
The Pakistani rupee hit a new all-time low of over Rs242 against the US dollar in the inter-bank market around midday on Thursday. The domestic currency slumped a fresh 2.64% (or Rs6.24) to Rs242.26 at around 12:08 pm compared to Wednesday’s close of Rs236.02. Click here to read…
Govt may increase petrol, diesel prices by Rs10-17per litre: The News
From August 01, 2022, there may be an increase in petrol and diesel prices by Rs10-17 per litre despite the fact that prices of petroleum products and crude oil remained just a little lower. However, the increase has been estimated upwards just because of the fact that the exchange rate has gone crazy. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Govt. initiates talks for all-party govt- The Daily Mirror
The government initiated negotiations with the parties in the opposition yesterday in a bid to form what is called ‘an all-party’ government. Click here to read…
CB issues guidelines to non-bank borrowers on loan concessions- The Daily Mirror
The Central Bank has issued fresh guidelines to the non-bank lenders stipulating how they must go about providing concessions to borrowers affected by the current economic crisis which is sending shockwaves across almost every sectorClick here to read…
Popular South Indian Actor Kamal Haasan discusses Sri Lanka- The Daily Mirror
On the invitation extended by Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Chennai, famous South Indian Cinema actor Kamal Haasan and director, visited the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission of Chennai for the first time in the Mission’s History on July 24. Click here to read…
Rs. 17.85 Million cash recovered inside President’s House: Police yet to keep recovered money in judicial custody- The Daily Mirror
It was transpired before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that even after the lapse of three weeks, the Fort Police is yet to keep Rs. 17.85 Million in cash recovered from the President’s House, under judicial custody. Click here to read…
Extension of state of emergency to hit tourism industry hard- The Daily Mirror
The decision to extend the state of emergency for a month by Parliament yesterday will further hit the tourism industry that is expected to bring in the necessary foreign exchange to Sri Lanka, as more countries could slap travel bans on Sri LankaClick here to read…