Afghanistan
Islamic Emirate Reacts to CSTO’s Statement: Tolo News
In reaction to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) leaders’ statement in which they expressed concerns over the situation in Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate said there will be no threat to anyone from Afghan soil.
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Haqqani: The Taliban Wants to Have Good Relations with the US & the Rest of International Community: The Khaama Press
“Currently, we do not see them [Americans] as enemies, and we have time and again spoken on diplomacy,” he said in an interview with CNN about Monday, May 16th.In the future, the acting Taliban interior minister stated, the group would have good relations with the US and other countries. Click here to read…
The Taliban Orders the UN Female Staff in Afghanistan to Wear Hijab: The Khaama Press
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has ordered female staff members of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to wear the hijab. On Monday, the 16th of May, the organization shared the Taliban’s directive to wear the hijab with its employees. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Hints at all-EVM polls: BNP’s distrust of the govt to deepen- The Daily Star
The Awami League’s hints at an all-EVM national polls will only raise the BNP’s distrust of the ruling party, political analysts have said. Click here to read…
PM urges people to practise austerity- The Daily Star
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the people to practise austerity and be careful about spending in the face of a global economic slowdown. Click here to read…
Forex market volatile- The Daily Star
Volatility in the country’s foreign exchange market yesterday intensified further amid scarcity of the greenbacks, forcing travellers to buy a US dollar at up to Tk 102, the highest in Bangladesh, in open markets. Click here to read…
Dhaka to seek GSP Plus from Brussels- The Daily Star
Bangladesh will seek to avail the GSP Plus facility, which will provide trade privileges after the country graduates from LDC status, during the 10th EU-Bangladesh Joint Commission meeting beginning in Brussels today. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Parliament to deliberate Fiscal Incentives and Concession of Property Tax Bills- Kuensel
Unlike in the past sessions, the summer session of Parliament did not receive any issues from local governments, according to National Assembly members. Click here to read…
Welcoming the judiciary reform- Kuensel
The judiciary has established a media and communication unit at the Supreme Court and an enforcement unit at the dzongkhag court. Click here to read…
ACC is performing well according to latest assessment- Bhutan Times
The 2021 assessment of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) reveals that the commission continues to perform well with 66 percent of the 50 measured indicators rated as high, 30 percent as moderate, and a mere four percent as low. Click here to read…
(Opinion) Challenges facing sustainable irrigation system in Bhutan- Kuensel
Enhancing agriculture productivity through expansion of the irrigated area should also address the shortages of farm labour, enhance access and opportunities to market agricultural produce, and focus on developing relevant farming skills. Click here to read…
Maldives
Pres Solih meets with UAE’s new president: Avas Mv
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the new President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Click here to read…
Myanmar
New civilian death toll since coup ‘unprecedented’ in Myanmar’s history –
More than 5,600 civilians have been killed in Myanmar since the military seized power last year, according to a new estimate by an independent research institute, which called the death toll “unprecedented” in the country’s history. Click here to read…
Bucking the trend? Asean Chair Cambodia invites Myanmar junta reps for ADSOM – Khmertimeshkh
In contrast to previous meetings held under the regional bloc’s umbrella, Asean Chair Cambodia yesterday began a three-day meeting of senior defence officials, including Myanmar junta representatives. Click here to read…
ASEAN’s Failed Consensus on Myanmar: A Year of Broken Promises – The Irrawaddy
A year on, the Myanmar junta has shown no willingness to implement or cooperate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s peace plan for Myanmar, known as the Five-Point Consensus, despite agreeing to it at a meeting with the leaders of the regional grouping’s member states. Click here to read…
Myanmar seizes crystal meth headed for Malaysia, arrests suspects – The Star
Myanmar authorities have seized 251kg of crystal methamphetamine in the former capital Yangon, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control has said. Click here to read…
Australia Downgrades Diplomatic Ties With Myanmar Junta – The Irrawaddy
The Australian government will replace its ambassador to Myanmar with a lower-ranked representative as it downgrades its diplomatic ties so as not to legitimize the military regime. Click here to read…
Myanmar Military’s Attempts to Smear Suu Kyi as Corrupt Have Failed – The Irrawaddy
Six years ago, army chiefs and senior members of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) initiated a mission to smear National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD figures. Their mission began after the NLD won a landslide victory in the 2015 general election. Now, following last year’s coup, the mission continues. Click here to read…
Myanmar resistance urges West to provide arms for fight against junta – Reuters
The defence chief of Myanmar’s shadow government has called for international help to arm its resistance forces fighting the ruling military, requesting support similar to that being given to Ukrainians battling invading Russian troops. Click here to read…
NUG, AA hold talks on Myanmar affairs – BNI Online
Myanmar’s opposition civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) had a virtual meeting on Monday, wrote NUG Vice President Duwa Lashi La on his Facebook page. Click here to read…
Nepal
UML ends eight-month obstruction of House- Himalayan Times
The main opposition, CPN- UML, which had been obstructing the Parliament since September 8 over Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota’s refusal to confirm the expulsion of 14 UML lawmakers, including Madhav Kumar Nepal, ended the obstruction today. Click here to read…
Naveen Srivastava appointed as the new Indian ambassador to Nepal- Himalayan Times
Naveen Srivastava, the current Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs of India, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Nepal. Click here to read…
After holding House hostage for 8 months, UML lifts obstructions- Kathmandu Post
Main opposition says it will remodel its protest and will allow proceedings in view of economic crisis and inflation. Click here to read…
India’s NHPC Limited applies to develop West Seti hydel project- Kathmandu Post
Officials at Investment Board Nepal say they received the proposal last week, a day before local polls. Click here to read…
Alternative source sought to address chronic water shortage in Beni- Kathmandu Post
Beni Bazar Drinking Water Project initiated a project to lift water from the Myagdikhola at a cost of Rs5 million. Click here to read…
(Local Elections) Kathmandu: Balen Shah ahead of Keshav Sthapit by over 5,800 votes (Updated)- Republica
Independent candidate Balen Shah is leading the mayoral race of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) by a margin of over 5,800 votes against his closest rival Keshav Sthapit of the CPN-UML. Click here to read…
Pakistan
US offers strong support to rebuild Pakistan’s economy: Dawn
Hou¬rs after Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrived in New York on Tuesday for a series of meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a State Department spokesperson assured Pakistan of strong US support for their efforts to rebuild the Pakistani economy. Click here to read…
Allies want govt to stay in power till Aug next year: Dawn
The government’s coalition partners on Tuesday decided that the current setup would complete its term that ends in August 2023 and supported ‘tough’ decisions to revive the crippling economy. Click here to read…
Opinion: Pakistan under shadows of hybrid warfare: The Express Tribune
If consequences of a hybrid warfare had any real life manifestation, it is the present-day Pakistan with acute political discord, crippling economic crisis and simmering but debilitating (in)security challenges. Click here to read…
Ahead of IMF talks: Rupee breaches 199 level vs dollar in open market: The News
The rupee slumped to a new record low on Tuesday, breaching the level of 199 to the dollar in the open market on prevailing uncertainty on the resumption of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka faces ‘man-made’ food crisis as farmers stop planting: Aljazeera
After a government ban on chemical fertilisers cut his yield in half during the March harvest, the farmer, who owns eight hectares (20 acres) of paddy and banana, said he no longer has the income to maintain a farm – especially as his banana crop also looks set to fail. Click here to read…
Your Wednesday Briefing: Sri Lanka, Out of Fuel: The New York Times
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis may be worse than during its three-decade-long civil war: Gas pumps are all but dry, and the new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, revealed that the mounting disaster is even worse than imagined. Click here to read…
Sri Lankan parliament blocks move to condemn president: Dawn
Sri Lanka’s parliament on Tuesday voted against fast-tracking an opposition move to condemn President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as the prime minister warned that the country was in a precarious economic situation and down to its last day of petrol supplies. Click here to read…
Embattled Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa defeats no-confidence motion: India Today
Amid economic crisis, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has managed to defeat a no-confidence motion tabled against him by Opposition. The island nation recently witnessed violent protests calling for the resignation of the embattled President. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka runs out of petrol: How the island nation lost the political & economic battle: WION News
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared on Monday that the country had run out of petrol amid the economic crisis sweeping the island nation. The country has been hit by fuel and food shortages including high inflation as it struggles with a political crisis. Click here to read…