Afghanistan

20th Anniversary of US Attack on Afghanistan: Tolo News

The US-led NATO forces attacked Afghanistan twenty years ago on October 7, 2021, following the announcement by then US President George W. Bush. Click here to read…

Afghans Complain of Inability to Withdraw Salaries From Banks: Tolo News

On Wednesday, dozens of government employees who have been queuing in front of the capital’s banks to withdraw salaries complained of difficulty withdrawing funds. Click here to read…

World should not hurry in recognizing Taliban: Qatar: The Khaama Press

Deputy foreign minister and spokesperson of the ministry Lolwah Rashid al-Khater in her interview with Foreign Policy said that they have asked the international community not to hurry in recognizing the Taliban in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

We will issue 6,000 passports daily: Taliban officials: The Khaama Press

Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan resumed the issuance of passports on Tuesday, October 5, and promised that the previous government was issuing three thousand passports but they intend to issue six thousand passports per day. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Fearing for life, Mohib Ullah’s family wants to move to a third country- Dhaka Tribune

UNHCR working in close cooperation with the authorities and taking measures to ensure safety for those most at risk. Click here to read…

Daily Covid deaths drop to 12 in Bangladesh, lowest in nearly 7 months- Dhaka Tribune

Over 22,300 samples tested in a day for a positivity rate of 2.97%.Click here to read…

World Bank increases Bangladesh’s GDP growth forecast- Dhaka Tribune

WB says GDP is expected to grow by 6.4% instead of its previous forecast of 5.1%.Click here to read…

Pre-Pandemic Level: Poverty set to drop further- Daily Star

The World Bank in a report noted a gradual recovery in employment and earnings in Bangladesh, forecasting that the country’s poverty rate will come down to pre-pandemic levels in the current fiscal year. Click here to read…

Two ends of Bangabandhu Tunnel meet under Karnaphuli river- Daily Star

Two ends of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel were brought together under the Karnaphuli river yesterday afternoon. Click here to read…

5.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Myanmar, tremors felt in Bangladesh- Daily Star

An earthquake of 5.6 magnitude jolted Myanmar early today, with tremors being felt in parts of Bangladesh. Click here to read…

ACC to seize fraudster Shahedul Haque’s assets- Asian Age

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has taken up steps to seize the assets of Shahedul Haque over his involvement in casino scams. Click here to read…

India allows Serum to send 10 lac doses- Asian Age

The Serum Institute of India has been allowed by the country’s government to send 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Bangladesh, according to the local media. Click here to read…

‘BD-Nepal ties to grow further’- Asian Age

Nepalese Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka has said that the existing friendly ties with Bangladesh are set to grow further in the days ahead. Click here to read…

AL picks candidates for a constituency, 2 upazilas, 10 municipalities- Observer

Ruling Awami League on Thursday finalized candidates for a constituency, two upazila parishads, 10 municipalities and two union parishads. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Pressure mounts on the Bhutan border with Jaigaon as enquiries start- The Bhutanese

Following reports by The Bhutanese on an extortion network in Jaigaon comprising of five local journalists, some SSB, some customs and others that preyed on Bhutanese exports and even imports, it has been learnt that senior officials in New Delhi are instituting their own enquiries. Click here to read…

The mystery of Nu 1 bn+ cash still circulating in Jaigaon despite a closed border- The Bhutanese

The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) had planned to set up exchange counters in Phuentsholing to exchange more than Nu 1 bn in cash in Jaigaon by releasing INR of an equivalent amount, however, that plan has hit a snag for now. Click here to read…

SSB officer under enquiry for links with Jaigaon tobacco smugglers and Jaigaon Customs officials accused of taking money from Bhutanese vehicles and exports- The Bhutanese

A Deputy Commandant (DC) of the SSB based in Jalpaiguri, Rajneesh Moral, has been transferred out and is undergoing an enquiry over allegations of his links with tobacco smugglers in Jaigaon who smuggled tobacco into Bhutan. Click here to read…

BPC forwards alleged sexual harassment case to the Royal Bhutan Police- The Bhutanese

The Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) has forwarded the alleged sexual harassment case to the police on 1 October. Click here to read…

His Majesty grants lag thrams to people of Lunana- Kuensel

His Majesty The King visited Lunana yesterday morning, and granted Lagthram to the 191 households who are receiving Land Kidu in Goenshari, Punakha. Click here to read…

Ngultrum trading thrives in Jaigaon- Kuensel

The illegal trade of Ngultrum (Nu) and Indian Rupee (INR) still thrives in Jaigaon, with Nu plunging in value by as much as eight percent. Click here to read…

Businesses propose fiscal incentives to Ministry of Finance- Kuensel

Business houses have proposed fiscal incentives (FIs) to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to be included in the new FIs that have been extended until the middle of next year by the National Assembly. Click here to read…

Maldives

IMF Concludes 2021 Article IV Consultation with Maldives – Mirage News

The economy is recovering after an unprecedented pandemic-induced fall in tourism. Click here to read…

‘Maldives economy expected to recover by 2023’: World Bank – Avas

The Economy Outlook published by the World Bank said the real GDP of the Maldives is projected to grow by 22.3 percent this year. Click here to read…

Maldives’ Recovery Prospects Improve Amidst Uncertainties – World Bank

he Maldives’ recovery continues as tourism rebounded and targeted containment measures helped minimize the economic impacts of the recent waves of COVID-19. Click here to read…

Domestic tourism focus as sector leaders meet in the Maldives – Torno News

The annual UNWTO Executive Training Programme returned to focus on harnessing the power of domestic tourism to drive recovery and growth in destinations across Asia and the Pacific. Click here to read…

Maldives urges global action on a variety of fronts – Daily News

This UNGA session was particularly special as in the Chair when he addressed the UNGA was Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, who was elected President of the 76th session with a thumping majority. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Malaysia Threatens to Open Talks With Myanmar Opposition Forces – The Diplomat

Malaysia’s foreign minister has suggested his government may be willing to hold talks with Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government (NUG), the latest sign that the nations of ASEAN are beginning to tire of the junta’s stonewalling on a Five-Point Consensus agreed in April. Click here to read…

Myanmar Military Detains North Western Commander for Planning to Defect: Ethnic Insurgent Sources – The Irrawaddy

The head of one of the Myanmar military’s regional commands has been detained and interrogated by the military regime after his plan to defect and take refuge in an area controlled by an ethnic armed group was exposed, according to sources close to the matter. Click here to read…

Engineer accused of acting as military informant shot dead in Mandalay – Myanmar Now

A train engineer who was accused of informing the military council of other railway staff members taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was shot and killed in Mandalay’s Amarapura Township on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Fresh clashes in northern Shan open old wounds and displace thousands – Frontier Myanmar

An escalation in fighting between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Tatmadaw near the town of Mong Ko on the China border has emptied villages, while inflaming longstanding tensions over who controls the area. Click here to read…

Tatmadaw Seizes Control of Fuel And Rice In Matupi – BNI Online

Life for Matupi residents has become even harder after the Tatmadaw took control of the sale of gasoline and rice, which were already in short supply in the town in southern Chin State. Click here to read…

Myanmar firstly establishes Coast Guard – Eleven Myanmar

A ceremony to form Myanmar’s firstly Coast Guard was held in conjunction with commission the coast guard vessels into service at No.3 Naval Jetty in Yangon yesterday. Click here to read…

A Rohingya leader’s murder highlights rising insecurity in refugee camps -The Economist

Death threats did not appear to faze Mohib Ullah. “If I die, I’m fine. I will give my life,” he told reporters in 2019. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepali Congress delegation to arrive in India- The Hindu

A high-level delegation representing the ruling Nepali Congress will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday. Click here to read…

India, Nepal to conduct joint patrols for controlling trans-border crime- The Hindu

Meeting held between heads of Sashastra Seema Bal and the neighbouring country’s Armed Police Force. Click here to read…

Oli’s nationalism, Prachanda’s insecurity and the Hindu politics of India, Nepal- Hindustan Times

In his just released book, Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal ties, Rae brings his lived experience as well as a deep grasp of structural realities that shape the relationship. Click here to read…

India, Nepal sign agreements to boost cross-border train services- Hindustan Times

The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a final location survey (FLS) for a proposed broad gauge railway line between Raxaul and Kathmandu. Click here to read…

Diplomatic License | Indian ignorance on Nepal- Annapurna Express

They follow developments here only in relation to China: the hungry dragon, apparently, is gobbling up India’s traditional backyard. Click here to read…

Nepal’s Covid-19 tally hits 800000-mark with 667 new cases- Himalaya

Nepal’s coronavirus caseload reached 800,282 on Thursday with 667 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours. Click here to read…

Foreign policy is country’s image: Minister Khadka- Himalaya

“Domestic politics with unity can create a solid base for effective foreign policy,” Minister Khadka observed. Click here to read…

Coalition partners strike power-sharing deal after hard bargains- TKP

Maoists to lead five ministries, CPN (Unified Socialist) and Janata Samajbadi four each. Unified Socialist will get two chief ministers, deputy Speaker is for Janata Samajbadi. Click here to read…

A long and arduous walk for justice- TKP

The 20-day journey by 14 people, including 11 women, to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj on foot reflects the labyrinthine red tape inhibiting the Nepali justice system and exposes how the state is failing its citizens. Click here to read…

As mobility increases, PCR test numbers are declining- TKP

In the last one week 59,976 polymerase chain reaction tests were performed throughout the country, which showed 5,452 positive results. Click here to read…

UK removes Nepal from red list- Republica

The Government of UK has removed 47 countries and territories including Nepal from its red list, which was in place earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

CPN (Unified Socialist) to finalize ministers today- Republica

The CPN (Unified Socialist) is to finalize the name of ministers to participate in the government on Friday. Click here to read…

Cooperatives Need Regulating Body: FM Sharma- The Rising Nepal

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that Nepal needed a regulating body for the cooperatives sector. Click here to read…

Province 2 CM Lalbabu Raut wins vote of confidence- OnlineKhabar

Province 2 Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut has obtained the vote of confidence in the Provincial Assembly on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Pakistan

‘Wait-and-see approach’ on Afghanistan tantamount to world abandoning it: Moeed: Dawn

National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf has said that a “wait-and-see approach” on Afghanistan is tantamount to abandoning the war-torn country. Click here to read…

Cash airlifts planned to bypass Taliban, help Afghans: Dawn

Planning for the cash airlifts is going ahead against the background of a rapidly collapsing economy where money is short. Click here to read…

At least 20 killed, 300 injured as earthquake rattles Balochistan: The Express Tribune

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck parts of Balochistan early on Thursday morning, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 300. Click here to read…

US diplomat in Pakistan for crucial talks on Afghanistan, bilateral ties: The Express Tribune

This is the first visit by a senior American diplomat under the Biden administration though the CIA chief earlier undertook back-to-back trips, those were primarily focused on certain developments inside Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Extended Fund facility review: IMF demands raise in Income tax, sales tax, RD: The News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to take additional taxation measures in the shape of Income Tax, Sales Tax, and Regulatory Duty (RD) for jacking up the annual tax collection target from Rs5.8 trillion to Rs 6.3 trillion. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Appropriation Bill for 2022: Defence gets highest allocation; Health reduced – The Morning

The Appropriation Bill for the 2022 financial year was presented in Parliament yesterday (7) by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, with the budgetary allocations for the defence, education, and finance sectors being increased whilst Click here to read…

Sri Lanka Women to not tour Pakistan in October as SLC-PCB talks fall through – espncricinfo

Talks about a potential tour of Pakistan by the Sri Lankan women’s team later this month have hit a stumbling block following a change in management at the PCB. Click here to read…

HSBC Research predicts SL GDP to grow 3.5% – The Morning

As per a report published on Sri Lanka by HSBC Global Research, the expected GDP growth of Sri Lanka in 2021 will be 3.5% due to the effect of recurring waves of Covid-19. Click here to read…