Afghanistan
Leaders, Citizens Say Khalilzad Involved in Afghan Collapse: Tolo News
Former US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s resignation on Monday drew sharp reactions from both Afghan politicians and citizens. Click here to read…
IMF predicting 30% shrink in Afghanistan’s economy after Taliban takeover: The Khaama Press
International Monetary Fund in its latest regional economic report said that the gross domestic products of Afghanistan could see a 30% contraction after the Taliban took over the country and foreign aids halted. Click here to read…
Russia to end its diplomatic presence in NATO: The Khaama Press
Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that his country will terminate its diplomatic mission in NATO and will end its diplomatic status in the organization in November. Click here to read…
Islamic Emirate Delegates Prepare for Moscow Meeting: Tolo News
The Islamic Emirate’s delegation led by Andul Salam Hanafi, second deputy PM, left Kabul on Tuesday to attend the Moscow meeting on Afghanistan scheduled for Wednesday. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
Near 16 million people waiting for Covid-19 vaccine- Dhaka Tribune
Nearly 16 million people have completed registration on the Surokkha website and are still waiting for their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Click here to read…
NHRC to investigate Pirganj incident- Dhaka Tribune
The probe body will investigate human rights violations or negligence in duty. Click here to read…
Pakistan ISPR claims blocking Indian submarine from entering- Daily Star
The Pakistan Navy detected and blocked an Indian submarine from entering Pakistani waters on October 16, the military’s media wing revealed on Tuesday. Click here to read…
OP-ED: Are we a secular society?- Dhaka Tribune
Human rights treaties propagate three core obligations — respect, protect, and fulfill — to ensure human rights in different national jurisdictions. Click here to read…
PM for stern action over attack on Hindu community- Asian Age
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to take immediate action against the perpetrators involved in the recent vandalism at puja mandaps and arson attack on the houses of the Hindu community. Click here to read…
10,000 families marooned as Teesta flows above danger level- The Observer
Over 10,000 families in char areas at three upazilas–Patgram, Hatibandha, and Kaliganj– became marooned after the water level started rising from 8:00pm on Tuesday. Click here to read…
Bhutan
China hails MoU with Bhutan, blames India for souring ties with Thimphu- Hindustan Times
China on Friday said the signing of a Sino-Bhutan memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the bilateral boundary dispute will make “significant contributions”. Click here to read…
Incessant rain affects paddy growers- BBS
Paddy growers are facing a tough time as continuous rain lashed in most parts of the country’s western and central regions causing damage to the matured crop ready for harvest. The continuous rain in the last two days has dashed the hopes of farmers. Click here to read…
Will India’s looming power crisis affect the country’s power import during the lean season?- BBS
With the possibility of the 1020 MW Tala Hydropower Plant having to undergo major maintenance this winter, the limited power generation during the lean season will hit hard the country. Click here to read…
Tala Plant could be temporarily shut down in winter- BBS
The Tala Hydropower Plant (THP) in Chhukha could be shut down for three months in winter. A group of international experts is currently analysing an inspection report of the plant’s headrace tunnel. Click here to read…
Maldives
Maldives achieves 90 pct of tourism target for 2021 – Xinhuanet
The Maldives has achieved 90 percent of the projected tourism arrivals for 2021, state-owned PSM News citing data from the Ministry of Tourism reported here. Click here to read…
ITB China announces the Maldives as Official Island Travel Partner 2021 – Travel Daily
In 2021 they will be the Official Island Travel Partner for the upcoming ITB China, set to take place from 24 – 26 November as a physical event in Shanghai, with a virtual extension from early November until the end of December. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Myanmar military prepares an onslaught for the ages – Asia Times
Sooner or later Myanmar’s military was bound to wheel out the big guns. Since March, when peaceful protest against the February 1 coup turned to armed resistance, the generals in Naypyidaw have watched too much go too wrong in too many places for too long. Click here to read…
Myanmar leader says ASEAN blind to opposition’s violence – Daily Herald
The leader of Myanmar’s military-installed government said Monday that other Southeast Asian countries should share responsibility for failing to help quell the violence that has engulfed his nation since the army seized power in February. Click here to read…
Myanmar to send ‘non-political, high-level’ envoy to ASEAN Summit – Benar News
Myanmar will send a “non-political, high-level” envoy to next week’s summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an official said Tuesday, after the bloc barred junta chief Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing from attending, citing a lack of cooperation by the military regime. Click here to read…
ASEAN Downgrades Myanmar Presence in Summit in Major Rebuke – The OWP
In their most pointed dismissal of Myanmar’s military junta yet, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to exclude Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, from an upcoming summit. Click here to read…
Myanmar blames economic turmoil partly on foreign-backed sabotage – Business Live
Myanmar’s military-appointed authorities are doing their best to stabilise the kyat currency and support an economy in turmoil since a February coup, a minister said on Tuesday, blaming the crisis partly on foreign backers of its opponents. Click here to read…
Nepal
Three killed, 23 missing in Sudurpaschim- Himalaya
Three persons were killed and 23 went missing in landslides and floods triggered by incessant rainfall for the past three days in Sudurpaschim Province. Click here to read…
https://thehimalayantimes.com/environment/three-killed-23-missing-in-sudurpaschim
China to provide two million more doses of COVID vaccines- Himlaya
Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Khadka and Wang Yi, state councillor and minister of foreign affairs of the People’s Republic of China, held an hour-long telephone conversation this morning. Click here to read…
PM Deuba directs bodies concerned to gear up rescue, relief efforts- Himalaya
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has directed the authorities concerned to make arrangements for immediate rescue and relief of those affected by flood, landslide, and inundation following heavy rainfall in various regions of the country. Click here to read…
CPN-UML prepares new party statute- Himalaya
The new statute of the CPN-UML prepared after incorporating all the inputs received from the participants of the recently held first statute convention. Click here to read…
Himalayan floods a sign of worse to come- Nepali Times
Nepal’s trans-Himalayan district of Manang is located in the rain-shadow, and is a high altitude desert. Its average annual rainfall is barely 300mm, but it got nearly double that rain in just one week in June. Click here to read…
Early elections are in talks, but there are complications galore- The Kathmandu Post
A sizeable section of Nepali Congress leaders has been batting for “early” elections in April-May, proposing local and provincial elections in October-November 2022. Click here to read…
Govt Committed To Protect Democracy, Rule Of Law, Good Governance : Minister Karki- Rising Nepal
For three and a half years, Nepali Congress fulfilled the role of a responsible opposition and did not intend to form or join the government. But the situation necessitated it. Click here to read…
Three-Tier Elections Govt’s Top Priority: PM Deuba- Rising Nepal
Formed after prolonged political crisis, the government has the priority to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, provide relief to the victims of floods and landslides and hold elections of federal, provincial and local governments in time. Click here to read…
Flood sweeps away a vehicle in Dang- Republica
Chief District Officer of Dang Ram Bahadur Kurungwang said the swollen Khaura Khola in Gadhawa Rural Municipality-2 in the district swept away the vehicle. Click here to read…
Pakistan
Shaukat Tarin returns to Washington as IMF talks move forward: Dawn
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin returned to Washington to join the ongoing discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), his office announced on Tuesday. Click here to read…
PM, President say Riyasat-e-Madina protected poor, minorities: The Express Tribune
The remarks were made in separate messages issued to mark the birth of the Prophet (PBUH) – a day being celebrated across Pakistan with religious zeal and fervour. Click here to read…
PM Imran to attend Green Initiative Summit in Riyadh: Dawn
Prime Minister Imran would attend the ‘Middle East Green Initiative Summit’ in Riyadh being held on Oct 25. Click here to read…
Military commanders promoted on basis of performance in state of Madina: PM: The Express Tribune
Addressing the Rahmatul lil Aalameen Conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, the premier vowed to turn the country into Madina-like welfare state to ensure merit and supremacy of law in the society. Click here to read…
Govt decides to reduce taxes on food items: The News
The government has decided to reduce taxes on the prices of food items amid rising inflation, sources told Geo News on Monday. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
First batch of Nano Nitrogen liquid fertilizer arrives from India – Adaderana
Sri Lanka has received the first shipment of 100,000 litres of Nano Nitrogen liquid fertilizer, imported from India for cultivation in Maha Season. A special cargo flight chartered by Sri Lankan Airlines carrying the consignment left Hyderabad International Airport in India yesterday. Click here to read…
Flight from Sri Lanka to flag-off Kushinagar airport in India – Economynext
A flight from Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo carrying politicians and monks will be the first to land at Kushinagar International Airport in India, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narenda Modi. Kushinagar is the city where Buddhist believe Lord Buddha passed away known as Mahaparinirvana. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka imports top three year high by Sept 2021 amid money printing – Economynext
Sri Lanka’s imports hit 1.68 billion US dollars in September 2021, amid record money printing the highest since 2018 when money was also printed losing forex reserves, data show. The surge in imports came despite import controls. Up to August imports were 13.4 billion rupees, up from 10.25 billion rupees in 2020 and also up from 12.88 billion rupees in the pre-pandemic 2019. Click here to read…
‘SL faces substantial credit risk, default a real possibility’ – Ceylon Today
Sri Lanka’s economy faces substantial credit risk, with default ‘a real possibility’, Fitch Ratings said today (19). The Singapore-based ratings agency also revised Sri Lanka’s growth forecast for 2021 to 3.3 per cent from 3.8 pc, due to the surge in coronavirus cases in July-August. Click here to read…