Afghanistan
MoJ to Enforce Zahir Shah-Era Constitution: Tolo News
For an interim period, the constitution from the time of the Afghan king will be enforced, except for some articles against Sharia Law and Emirate principles. Click here to read
Afghan Businessmen Face Export Problems in Trade with Pakistan: Tolo News
Officials from Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that once again Afghan exports face problems in crossing points with Pakistan as the neighboring country allows only 20 Afghan trucks a day while hundreds of trucks are stuck near crossing points between the two countries. Click here to read
Former Afghan officials announce government in exile: The Khaama Press
A number of former Afghan officials who have fled the country along with President Ashraf Ghani announced the continuation of the Afghan government in exile. Click here to read
Taliban to implement a constitution from nearly 60 years ago: The Khaama Press
Taliban’s acting minister of Justice Abdul Hakim Sharaee said that they will implement the constitution from the era of Muhammad Zahir Shah which was ratified 57 years ago. Click here to read
Will not engage in Afghanistan until establishment of inclusive government: Erdogan: The Khaama Pres
President of Turkey Recep Tayyib Erdogan has said that they will not engage in Afghanistan until and unless the Taliban forge an all-inclusive government in the country. Click here to read
Bangladesh
Turkey-Bangladesh ties get stronger as misconceptions clarified- Daily Sabah
Relations between Turkey and Bangladesh scaled up after disinformation about Bangladesh spoiling Muslim unity was proven wrong, Bangladeshi officials said. Click here to read
Crystal meth creeps up on city- Daily Star
There is a growing market for highly addictive drug crystal meth in the capital, operated mostly through encrypted messaging apps, officials have found out. Click here to read
Over 66 lakh shots given: Special Covid vaccination drive marks Hasina’s 75th birthday- Daily Star
The country more than doubled its previous record of single-day vaccinations as the government inoculated more than 66 lakh people against Covid-19 yesterday. Click here to read
No more brokers- Daily Star
The Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) has taken a plan to introduce licenced “agents” to help people get passports and renew them. Click here to read
AL focusing on polls, BNP on election-time government- Dhaka Tribune
The ruling Awami League has already begun preparations for the next general election, to be held at the end of 2023. Click here to read
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 31 more deaths, 1,310 new cases- Dhaka Tribune
As many as 29,186 samples tested in 24 hours, yielding an infection rate of 4.49%.Click here to read
High Court extends Khaleda Zia’s bail by a year in 5 cases- Dhaka Tribune
File photo of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Collected the BNP chief is out of prison since March last year as the govt has suspended her sentence. Click here to read
Windows of democracy and Sheikh Hasina’s birthday – Asian Age
Sheikh Hasina regards the people of Bangladesh as her closest and dearest ones. Click here to read
Bangamata Parishad observes PM’s birthday- Asian Age
Bangamata Parishad observed the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday. The organization also held a discussion program in the capital’s National Museum on the same day. Click here to read
No alternative to Sheikh Hasina to reach desired destination: Hasan- The Observer
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said that there is no alternative to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to reach the country in its desired destination. Click here to read
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina likely to visit India next year- Times of India
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit New Delhi early next year. The dates for the visit expected to be in January or February 2022, will be finalised only after a formal invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi is extended to her. Click here to read
Consultancy contract signed between India & Bangladesh for a new railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj- All India Radio
A new direct rail line from Bogura to Sirajganj in Bangladesh will be developed under a government of India Line of Credit (LoC). Click here to read
Fifty years ago, remote Dimapur airstrip gave wings to fledgling Bangladesh Air Force- Economic time
By November 5, we could proudly say Bangladeshi and Indian Air forces had freed the skies over Bangladesh. The victory over land forces took 11 more days. Click here to read
Bhutan
No local Covid-19 cases for 45 straight days- Kuensel
Bhutan has not reported any positive Covid-19 cases from the community for 45 straight days. The last positive case from the community was reported on August 14: an individual from Gomtu, Samtse. Click here to read
RUB colleges establish happiness and wellbeing centres- Kuensel
Colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) are establishing happiness and wellbeing centres to address mental health problems. Click here to read
Pandemic impacts nettle fabric business- Kuensel
Like many businesses, the pandemic impacted women who make a living weaving fabric from nettle yarn in Trongsa. Click here to read
Bhutan is home to one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world- Daily Bhutan
Email There is even a festival for it, known as the Matsutake Mushroom Festival. There, you’ll get to sample various dishes prepared with this mushroom. Click here to read
PM hosts reception to mark 50th anniversary Bhutan’s membership to the UN- Bhutan Times
A limited edition collectible commemorative stamp developed in partnership with Bhutan Post to mark the 50th anniversary of Bhutan’s membership to the UN was also launched by Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering and UN Resident Representative Gerald Daly on 21 September. Click here to read
Construction of new bridge along Damchhu-Haa bypass to begin from November- BBS
A new bridge over Wangchhu along the Damchhu-Haa bypass will be constructed from November. The project DANTAK will construct the bridge. The previous bridge which was almost complete collapsed in February this year killing nine Indian workers. Click here to read
Flagship programmes make slow progress amid the pandemic- BBS
With the 12th Five Year Plan already midway, the government was able to utilise only more than Nu 2bn on the flagship programmes so far. A total budget of Nu 10bn was identified for these programmes. Click here to read
How digital cash can lift gross national happiness in Bhutan- Mint
Cash is a relatively new construct in Bhutan. Click here to read
COVID-19 and rabies: Bhutan highlights the importance of cross-border dog vaccination- WHO
Despite the sad loss of its young citizen recently, Bhutan is on the right track to achieve this goal. Click here to read
India inks pact for joint development of small satellite for Bhutan- New Indian Express
India on Friday signed the implementing arrangement on the joint development of a small satellite for Bhutan. Click here to read
Maldives
‘Against Freedom of Expression’: Maldives Journalist Bodies Oppose Provisions in New Bill – The Wire
Journalist organisations and NGOs in Maldives have, in a joint statement issued on Tuesday, September 28, called for the country’s authorities to drop certain provisions from the Evidence Bill which is currently being debated in the country’s parliament. Click here to read
Over 100,000 arrivals recorded for the fourth month this ongoing year! – Raajje
The Ministry of Tourism, through its latest daily statistics revealed that Maldives observed a total of 102,745 arrivals between September 1 – 26. Click here to read
Maldives committed to One-China Policy, bilateral cooperation in int’l arena: FM – ECNS
Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the One-China Policy and willingness to work with China in areas of mutual interest. Click here to read
India’s 228 million social housing project in Maldives and its significance- Inventiva
Maldives’ state-owned Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation signed a loan agreement with India’s state-owned National Buildings Construction Company which is also known as NBCC, along with JMC Projects India Ltd. on Thursday. Click here to read
Myanmar
Afghanistan, Myanmar left in UN meet – Manila Times
The United Nations General Assembly drew to a close on Monday without speeches by Afghanistan or Myanmar after world powers intervened in disputes over who would represent the two countries. Click here to read
Junta mouthpiece criticises NLD-led decision to disband Union Democratic Party last year – Myanmar Now
A military-run newspaper has published an op-ed criticising the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government for overseeing the decision to dissolve the Union Democratic Party (UDP) shortly before last year’s general election. Click here to read
Growing numbers of young people seek to flee Myanmar – BNI Online
Young people disheartened by life in Myanmar following the coup are trying in growing numbers to leave the country and find work to help support their families, RFA reported. Click here to read
Myanmar Junta Troops Ambushed in Shan State – The Irrawaddy
At least 20 Myanmar military soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded on Monday, after Karenni resistance fighters ambushed a convoy of junta reinforcements in Pinlaung, Shan State in southeastern Myanmar. Click here to read
Int’l Rights Experts Urge UN to Declare Myanmar Junta ‘Terrorist’ Organization – The Irrawaddy
An independent group of prominent former UN human rights experts has urged the United Nations Security Council to declare the Myanmar military junta a “terrorist organization” for its atrocities against its own civilians including public torture, executions and taking hostages, including children as young as 2. Click here to read
Nepal
Minister Sharma stresses fully proportional election- Himalaya
Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said the fully proportional electoral system is necessary to eliminate unhealthy competition and malpractices in the election. Click here to read
Government to support tourism sector, says PM Deuba- Himalaya
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government is committed to support country’s tourism sector which has been hit hard by the COVID -19 pandemic. Click here to read
Poorly handled Covid-19 garbage could give rise to hazardous waste crisis- TKP
Amount of coronavirus-related refuse is increasing. There are protocols to manage such items, but implementation has been weak, leaving public health in peril. Click here to read
Panel on Nepal-China border issues calls for bilateral intervention- TKP
Government committee suggests joint inspection team of experts from both sides to deal with the dispute, if any. Click here to read
MCC ball in Nepal’s court- Nepali Times
‘Take it or leave it’ is the message to Kathmandu after visit by US officials. Click here to read
Maoist leader Barshaman Pun leaves for Thailand for treatment- Republica
CPN (Maoist Center) standing committee member Barshaman Pun left for Thailand today. Click here to read
Writ filed seeking annulment of oath taken by Foreign Minister Khadka- Republica
A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking an order to annul the oath taken by Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka. Click here to read
Diplomats gather in Pokhara to revive Covid-19-hit Nepal tourism- Online Khabar
Just as the clouds were covering the Annapurna range, Park Chong-Suk, South Korean ambassador to Nepal, quickly took a selfie with his wife. This was at Naudanda, a few kilometres away from Pokhara, the tourism capital of Nepal. Click here to read
Border Roads Bring India and Nepal Closer- The Diplomat
The 35-km-long Uttarey-Chiwanbhangjyang road will link western Sikkim in India not just to areas on the Nepali side of the border but to western Nepal. Click here to read
Nepali Youth Protest in Capital Kathmandu Against Chinese Land Encroachment- NDTV
A youth association affiliated with Nepal’s Democratic Socialist Party led by Mahantha Thakur staged a protest against China on Tuesday for allegedly encroaching Nepal’s land. Click here to read
India MEA official reaches Nepal, to hold series of discussions- Wion
India MEA official reaches Nepal, to hold series of discussions Read more At: Click here to read
Pakistan
Qureshi again urges world to engage with ‘new reality’ in Afghanistan: Dawn
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has once again urged the international community to engage with the “new reality” in Afghanistan and unfreeze the country’s assets so that things do not fall apart. Click here to read
Mazari rebukes US for introducing bill targeting Pakistan for Afghan failure: The Express Tribune
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari has warned that Pakistan will be made to “pay heavy price” for being an ally of the United States in its ‘war on terror’Click here to read
Shehbaz can be sent to prison for 25 years over corruption: Fawad: The Express Tribune
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif would be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison “if hearing of his corruption case is conducted on merit” Click here to read
US senators want Pak role probed in Taliban win: The News
A bill was Monday introduced in the US Senate requiring assessments and imposition of sanctions on the Taliban and persons assisting them in Afghanistan. Click here to read
NCOC for vaccination of children aged 12-years, above: The News
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to vaccinate children aged 12 years and above. “In today’s meeting of NCOC, it has been decided to vaccinate all above 12 years and above,” Click here to read
Sri Lanka
932 persons test positive for COVID-19 – Daily FT
Daily COVID-19 detections remained below 1,000 for the second consecutive day with 932 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. Click here to read
Ensure workers’ rights before extending GSP+: EPZ workers write to EU Ambassador – The Morning
The Stand Up Movement Lanka organisation has written to the European Union (EU), requesting that it intervene to ensure that the rights of workers in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) are addressed prior to deciding on whether or not to extend the grant of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade concessions to Sri Lanka. Click here to read
Sri Lanka Govt. suspends order placed to procure Oxygen from India – Daily Mirror
The Government has decided to suspend the order placed to purchase 1,080 tonnes of liquid oxygen from India, required for the next three weeks. Click here to read
National Issues Haunt GoSL at UNGA 2021 – Ceylon Today
Sri Lanka’s long-standing problem of seeking justice for the Tamils, and Catholics after the Easter Sunday attacks, has reached the United Nations Headquarters. Click here to read