Afghanistan
Kabul Has Fulfilled Recognition Requirements: Muttaqi: Tolo News
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi said that the Islamic Emirate is inclusive and has fulfilled all the requirements and it should be recognized by the international community. Click here to read…
Civil activists in Kabul ask for release of Afghanistan’s reserves: The Khaama Press
A group of civil activists in Kabul asked US president Joe Biden to unfreeze Afghanistan’s assets and prevent the country’s economic collapse. Click here to read…
Do not condone Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs: UN to Intl-Community: The Khaama Press
High commissioner of UNHCR Filippo Grandi who has recently visited Afghanistan insisted that more assistance should be provided for people in Afghanistan and added that Afghan refugees should not be forgotten either. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
US wants Bangladesh vocal against Ukraine war-The Daily Star
The US wants Bangladesh on its side as it endeavours to end the war in Ukraine, said a top American diplomat yesterday. Click here to read…
India-Bangladesh train services may resume next month-The Daily Star
An inter-ministerial meeting ended yesterday without fixing any date for resuming the operation of trains between Bangladesh and India amid expectations that the service would resume soon. Click here to read…
Strengthen healthcare at community level: experts-The Daily Star
If there was effective health service delivery in district and upazila level hospitals, some 60-70 percent of people could be served with quality health services, according to a report titled “Bangladesh Health Sector: Present Challenges and Future Guidelines”Click here to read…
Family cards confuse many-The Daily Star
Amid high prices of daily essentials, many in need returned empty-handed from the TCB sales points outside the capital yesterday as they did not have “family cards” Click here to read…
AUW to introduce scholarship-The Daily Star
The Asian University for Women is going to introduce a merit scholarship for Bangladeshi students from this fall, said VC Rubana Huq yesterday. Click here to read…
Foreign Secretary to join OIC Council in place of Momen in Pakistan-The Daily Star
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will not be joining the forty-eighth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to be held on March 22-23 in Islamabad. Click here to read…
Intensify global efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination: PM-The Daily Star
The prime minister came up with the call in a message on the occasion International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, said a handout today. Click here to read…
US doesn’t expect Dhaka to join QUAD-The Daily Star
Michael Kugelman is the deputy director and a senior associate for South Asia at the Washington-based think tank Wilson Centre. He shared his views on what may be discussed in the US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue in Dhaka today in an email interview with The Daily Star. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Government lifts facility quarantine protocol for travellers from high-risk to low-risk areas- BBS
In what might come as relieving news for hundreds of stranded individuals in the high-risk areas, the government is doing away with the facility quarantine protocol for travellers from high-risk to low-risk areas. Click here to read…
Sharing unverified leadership assessment result more painful than the result- Kuensel
The last few weeks had been terrible for Sonam’s (name changed) family. Her father, in his mid 50s, is a senior executive and was among the executives the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) assessed. Click here to read…
Multi-year rolling budget system to be introduced in 13th Plan- Kuensel
The 13th Plan, the concept paper of which has been drafted by the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC), will have major changes in the planning and budgeting system. Click here to read…
Foreign workers recruitment agents to be corporatized as SOEs- Bhutan Times
The government’s decision to establish the foreign workers’ recruitment agents as a state-owned enterprise (SOE) will aim at bringing a holistic reform in administration and management systems through efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. Click here to read…
Axe falls on senior executives- Bhutan Times
The decision of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) to weed-out incompetent civil servants at the leadership and executive rung has sent alarm bells ringing among government employees and observers alike. Click here to read…
Maldives
Russian market shares drop, total tourist arrivals increases- The SUN
Despite a drop in the number of tourists from Russia owing to the war in Ukraine, the total arrivals to Maldives recorded in February increased. Click here to read…
Yameen: Everyone in government slaves of India- The SUN
Speaking at a gathering held as part of the opposition’s ‘India Out’ campaign protesting against the presence of the Indian military in Maldives, the former President said that only a few were aware of all the agreements made with India. Click here to read…
Islamic Ministry increases ‘Nisab’ for Zakat Al-Mal- The SUN
Ministry of Islamic Affairs revealed that the nisab amount for Zakat Al-Mal has been reviewed and increased to MVR 7241.15 from March 17, 2022, onwards. Click here to read…
Elections Commission requests Finance Ministry to issue funds to PPM, JP- The SUN
Following the submission of audit report and annual report, Elections Commission (EC) has requested Finance Ministry to issue funds to Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Jumhoory Party (JP). Click here to read…
Gender Minister: Will establish Disability Management Training Center in Hulhumale’ this year- The SUN
Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Aishath Mohamed Didi on Wednesday stated that they are working to establish a Disability Management Training Centre in Hulhumale’ this year. Click here to read…
US launches USD 10.5 million Climate Change Adaptation project in Maldives- The SUN
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday launched its Climate Change Adaptation project for Maldives, worth USD 10.5 million. Click here to read…
Chinese Embassy donates Chinese historical and cultural books to CMCA, MCTCO- The SUN
Chinese Embassy in the Maldives has donated Chinese historical and cultural books to China-Maldives Cultural Association (CMCA) and Maldives China Trade and Cultural Organization (MCTCO). Click here to read…
Parliament session concludes less than an hour later due to lack of work- The SUN
The Parliament session for Wednesday, March 16 concludes less than an hour after it began, due to a lack of work scheduled for the day. Click here to read…
US commits additional USD 3.2 million to Maldives- The SUN
The Unites States committed an additional USD 3.2 million to Maldives on Wednesday, with the signing of the seventh amendment to the Development Objective Grant Agreement (DOAG) between Maldives and the US. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Humanitarian needs in Myanmar grow as fighting continues – Business Standard
UN chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric on Friday (local time) said that there are 889,900 displaced people, including 370,000 already displaced before the military takeover a little more than one year ago, reported Xinhua. Click here to read…
ASEAN mediator urged to exert more pressure on Myanmar army ahead of meet – LaPrensaLatina
The ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, faces calls for greater firmness ahead of his visit Sunday to meet the military junta that seized power in February 2021 in a coup and has since brutally repressed dissent. Click here to read…
Chin armed group vows to reclaim base overtaken by Myanmar military – Myanmar Now
The anti-junta Chinland Defence Force (CDF) chapter in Kanpetlet, southern Chin State, will attempt to reclaim a command post occupied by the junta’s armed forces who used their stronger firepower to drive the resistance group out of the location on Wednesday. Click here to read…
More villages burn in northern Myanmar as guerrillas try to halt latest military rampage – Myanmar Now
A unit of almost 300 junta soldiers has burned down houses in three villages near Sagaing Region’s border with Chin State this week, while resistance fighters have sought to halt their offensive by laying explosives in their path. Click here to read…
Myanmar Army Has Committed Possible Crimes Against Humanity Since Coup, UN Says – The Diplomat
On Tuesday, the United Nations published a report claiming that Myanmar’s military has engaged in “systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses” since its coup in February 2021, many of them amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Click here to read…
Myanmar military attends 19th ASEAN Military Intelligence Meeting – Mizzima
A Myanmar delegation led by the junta’s Chief of Military Security Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo attended the 19th ASEAN Military Intelligence Meeting-AMIM-19 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 15 March, according to the junta aligned Myanmar International television (MITV). Click here to read…
Nepal
No voting rights for Nepalis abroad- Himalaya
Even four years after the Supreme Court issued a directive order to the government to ensure voting rights for Nepalis living abroad, the government has not done anything. Click here to read…
As coalition’s poll alliance conundrum continues, Congress to decide on Friday- Nepali Times
CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist), with their options limited, ratchet up the rhetoric. Click here to read…
Local government by the people, for the people, of the people- Nepali Times
Local elections in May give Nepalis a chance to vote in capable leaders based on performance. Click here to read…
Curfew imposed in Letang after cop killed in clash with locals- Republica
The Morang administration has issued a curfew order in some places of Letang Municipality since Monday morning after the situation became tense following a controversy over a teacher abusing a student during Holi. Click here to read…
Local elections: Commission publishes calendar, candidacy filing on April 24-25- Online Khabar
The Election Commission on Friday finalised and published the calendar of the events related to the local elections scheduled for May 13. Click here to read…
Pakistan
Na-speaker-summons-no-trust-session-on-25th: Dawn
In an apparent move to prolong the voting on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Sunday summoned the session of the lower house of parliament on March 25, violating the Constitution under which he is bound to convene a session within 14 days after the submission of a requisition. Click here to read…
IMF-seeks-details-of-petrol-power-subsidy-funding
The talks with the IMF were earlier scheduled to conclude on Friday last but then “they [Fund staff] wanted to see agreements with the provinces to basically reassure we are not involved in aerial firing” on financing of PM’s relief package for petroleum prices, the minister said. Click here to read…
PM ready to forgive dissidents like a ‘compassionate father’: The Express Tribune
Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again urged the dissident lawmakers to return to the ruling PTI’s fold, saying that he was ready to forgive them like a ‘compassionate father’ amid looming vote on no-trust motion against him. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Russia’s war in Ukraine is crushing Sri Lanka’s $81 billion economy- The Print
Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has caused a humanitarian crisis and convulsed global financial markets, is now threatening to crush an $81 billion economy more than 4,000 miles away in the Indian Ocean. Click here to read…
IMF to begin talks with Lanka- The Island
The International Monetary Fund intends to begin discussions with Sri Lanka on a program to support the country, spokesman Gerry Rice said as the island is facing steep currency depreciation and inflation after an unusual bout of money printing to keep interest rates low.Click here to read…
Lankan rupee quoted at 270/290 to the US dollar- The Island
Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted around 270/290 to the US dollar on Friday, market participants said, while bond markets were inactive ahead of the weekend. Click here to read…
Long queues for gas and fuel at filling stations- The Island
Long queues can be seen in front of gas outlets and filling stations in Sri Lanka as the country faces hours of daily power cuts. Click here to read…
Korea’s Saemaul New Village Movement inspires Sri Lankan Women- The Island
State Minister of Women and Child Development Piyal Nishantha de Silva and Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin JEONG last week together vsited the stall for Saemaul Co-operative Members at the Exhibition and Fair for Women Entrepreneurs in BMICH on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Korean Embassy said in a news release. Click here to read…
Successive governments’ budgetary operations caused financial instability- The Island
Former Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy says the failure on the part of successive governments to manage expenditure since the country gained Independence has caused the current economic instability. Click here to read…
Parliament lacks wherewithal to ensure fiscal discipline – Head of Public Finance Committee- The Island
Lawmaker Anura Priyadarshanaya Yapa has said that the Parliament lacks the wherewithal to ensure fiscal discipline though the House is entrusted with that task. MP Yapa, who heads the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), emphasised the urgent need for a system overhaul with proper mechanisms put in place in and out of the Parliament for that purpose. Click here to read…
Indian loan has no strings – Basil- The Island
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who returned to Sri Lanka following a visit to India, said the one-billion USD credit facility given by India, did not come with hidden conditions. Click here to read…
Basil meets Indian Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy- The Island
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa who was recently on official visit to India, met the Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy of India Shri Raj Kumar Singh in New Delhi, yesterday (17). Click here to read…
China-aided hospital in Sri Lanka completes first organ transplant- The Island
The China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital, built with the assistance of the Chinese government, has successfully performed a kidney transplant surgery from a living donor recently, the first of its kind since the operation of the hospital, the Xinhua news agency reported yesterday. Click here to read…
Health officials fear increasing public protests will lead to surge in coronavirus- The Island
Health officials on Friday (18) warned of a possible surge in COVID-19 cases ahead of the festive season in April due to increasing public protests that violate health guidelines. Click here to read…
Indian credit line lifesaver; 40,000 tonnes of diesel ready for distribution by Monday- The Island
Ministry of Energy Gamini Lokuge said that a tanker with 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel would reach Colombo on Sunday (20), following the finalisation of a USD 1 billion credit line with India. Click here to read…
India largest target market for Port City project: Sri Lankan official- The Island
The Colombo Port City Economic Commission wants the “Port City to be an international city” and looking at more detailed, bespoke and customised solutions to “create value propositions for key anchor investors”, director general Saliya Wickramasuriya has said in an interview in an interview with The Hindustan Times ((HT). Click here to read…