Afghanistan
Taliban: New Govt to Be Announced Soon: Tolo News
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday said that talks on the formation of a new government with Afghan political leaders are underway and that a new government will be announced in the near future. “Our political officials met with leaders here in Kabul, their views are important, discussions are moving, InshaAllah, there is hope for an announcement on the government soon,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban. Click here to read...
Abdullah, Karzai, Taliban discuss inclusive political process: The Khaama Press
Key members of Taliban’s leadership and members of Taliban’s political office based in Doha met with former president Hamid Karzai and head of high council for national reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah. Shahabuddin Delawar, Abdulsalam Hanafi, Khairullah Khairkhaw, and Abdurahman Feda recently arrived in Kabul along with the head of the Taliban’s political office and co-founder of the Taliban Mullah Abdullah Ghani Baradar.They firstly landed in Kandahar province from the Qatari capital two days after the Taliban grabbed control of Kabul. Click here to read...
UNHCR Urges Afghan Neighbor States to Keep Borders Open: Tolo News
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned about the prevailing humanitarian needs within Afghanistan, and urges support to ensure that all those requiring assistance "are not forgotten." The situation on the ground across the country remains extremely fluid. While widespread fighting has decreased since the takeover of the country by the Taliban on Sunday, the full impact of the evolving situation is not yet clear. Many Afghans are extremely anxious about what the future holds, the report notes. Click here to read...
EU Has Not Recognized Taliban: Reuters: Tolo News
The European Union has not recognized the Taliban, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, according to a Reuters report. The EU also said that is it not holding political talks with the Taliban, a week after they seized control of Afghanistan. The Taliban completed a lightning takeover of Afghanistan on Sunday, walking into the capital Kabul without firing a shot.
The head of the EU executive spoke after visiting a reception centre in Madrid for Afghan employees of EU institutions evacuated from Kabul. Click here to read...
US troops’ presence is cause behind chaos in Kabul airport: Taliban: The Khaama Press
The Taliban has accused the US to be the main cause behind the ongoing misery in Hamid Karzai International Airport in which ten people died on Saturday and Sunday. Head of the Taliban’s commission for guidance and encouragement, Mullah Amir Khan Motaqi in a voice clip said that entire Afghanistan is secure and no casualty is recorded but the US cannot secure an airport.He called the ongoing evacuation by the US illegitimate and asked for an order in Hamid Karzai International Airport. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
BSF on alert as Bangladesh warns of some radicals trying to reach Afghanistan via India to join Taliban- India Today
“Troops of the BSF are on alert along the Indo-Bangladesh border after the police commissioner of Dhaka claimed that some radical youths were trying to sneak into India to make their way to join the Taliban in Afghanistan.” Click here to read...
Talks fail, no Bangladesh flights now to India- Times of India
“The Biman Bangladesh flights that were to resume on Sunday have been called off as an agreement on the resumption of flights could not be reached between the aviation authorities. The announcement led to a gloom across the city’s hospitality sector and private hospitals that were getting ready to welcome back patients from Bangladesh, who accounted for around 8%-10% of footfalls till the pandemic.” Click here to read...
Dhaka calls for lasting peace as OIC stands by commitment to Afghanistan- The Independent
“Bangladesh has sought effective steps to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan, ensure safety of Afghan people and evacuate all foreign nationals including Bangladeshis safely. Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary made the call at an emergency meeting of permanent representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Riyadh on Sunday.” Click here to read...
5 Bangladeshis fly out of Afghanistan- The Daily Star
“Five Bangladeshis were evacuated from Afghanistan yesterday -- three of them under UN and two under US arrangements -- in a development giving much relief since the Afghanistan fell to the Taliban on August 15.” Click here to read...
Bangladesh to get first maritime runway in 2024- Dhaka Tribune
“The government has taken up an ambitious project to extend the runway at Cox’s Bazar airport by reclaiming land from the sea. Once completed, the new 10,700-foot runway will allow much larger aircraft to take off and land at the airport, paving the way for it to operate international flights.” Click here to read...
Three HC judges out of court for two years- New Age
“The inquiries into the alleged misconduct of three High Court judges — Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury, Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque — have been awaiting disposal for two years. Chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain is not giving them courts pending a conclusion of the proceedings.” Click here to read...
Bangladeshis stranded in Kabul likely to be evacuated this week- Financial Express
“The Bangladeshis, stranded in Afghanistan, are likely to be evacuated by this week, said State Minister M Shahriar Alam on Sunday. “We are trying to evacuate the Bangladeshi citizens and we are in discussion with ‘third party’ in this regard” he added. However, he did not give details of the arrangements. Bangladesh Mission in Uzbekistan is monitoring the evacuation situation and they are in regular touch, said Mr Alam.” Click here to read...
South Sudanese President invites investment from Bangladesh- Bangladesh Today
“South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has invited more investment and engagement from Bangladesh government and entrepreneurs in view of the advantage of open foreign policy of the new African nation. The South Sudanese president assured his support regarding receiving more Bangladesh investment and engaging in his country where a large contingent of Bangladeshi UN peace keepers have been deployed.” Click here to read...
BSF nabs 15 Bangladeshis while illegally crossing India-Bangladesh Border- Times of India
“The Border Security Force (BSF) has apprehended 15 Bangladeshi nationals while illegally crossing the India-Bangladesh border from different places in North 24 Parganas district on Thursday.” Click here to read...
Bhutan
Children in Bhutan at ‘risk’ of climate impacts, says UNICEF- Kuensel
“Bhutanese children are world’s 111th most vulnerable in UNICEF first ranking of countries based on their exposure and vulnerability to climate and environmental shocks” Click here to read...
Subsidizing utility vehicles to cooperatives will help farmers: Opposition Leader- Business Bhutan
“To rescue the farmers struggling to sell their produce, if the government comes up with production mapping and subsidizing utility vehicles to cooperatives, it will help the farmers at these times, according to Opposition Leader Dorji Wangdi. He said that it was the government that encouraged the farmers to increase production to meet local demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now, farmers are struggling to sell their produce and the government should look into the issue immediately.” Click here to read...
Bhutan Responds to a Double Crisis- Kuensel
“The world observes World Humanitarian Day today amidst the double crisis of COVID-19 and the impact of climate change As someone who has always felt vulnerable to climate change, Jana Pelzom, 23, spends a lot of time thinking about a global crisis, which could accelerate the impact of climate change.” Click here to read...
Bhutan Sends 150,000 Vaccine Doses to Thailand amid COVID-19 Surge- Global Buddhist Door
“The Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan has delivered 150,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Buddhist-majority Thailand, which has been struggling with a vaccine shortage amid a rapidly escalating third wave of infections. The vaccine delivery, which arrived today, was approved under a swap agreement after the Thai government requested vaccines from Bhutan to help cover its domestic shortfall.” Click here to read...
The politics of forest cover and forest conservation in Bhutan- Kuensel
“In 2005, the Department of Forests reported in Kuensel that the true forest cover in the country was 64.35 %, not 72.5 %. The Department had taken out the 8.15% of shrub sub-class from the forest definition. That same year, the revision of the 1995 Land Cover report was being finalized, and it showed, the forest cover had increased from 72.5 to 81.5%. For some reason, the good news was not good news for the Department.” Click here to read...
Maldives
Japan donates vaccines to the Maldives - Avas
Japan has donated 112,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to the Maldives through the WHO Covax Facility, as part of Japan’s “Last One Mile Support” initiative. Minister of Health, Ahmed Naseem received the vaccines on behalf of the Government of Maldives at a ceremony held Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here to read...
Maldives reports first Covid-19 death in 18 days - Raajje
Maldives on Sunday reported its first Covid-19 related death after 18 consecutive days of no such fatalities. The Health Protection Agency said that a 75-year-old local woman receiving treatment for Covid-19 at the Hulhumale' Medical Facility (HMF) had passed away on Sunday morning. While this is the second death reported in August, it pushes the country's Covid-19 death toll to 223. Click here to read...
No longer any reason for Maldives to be on UK’s red list: HC Farah - Raajje
Maldives’ High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Farahanaz Faizal has stated that there is no longer a valid reason for the Maldives to be included in the UK's red list. While Maldives is among the 60 nations that are currently on UK's red list, the country has three lists -green, amber and red- and each country has its own rules for arriving holidaymakers. Health Protection Agency (HPA) had previously revealed that the reason Maldives is on UK's red list is because the country had not completed the Genomic Sequencing Test required to move up the list. Click here to read...
Maldives inches closer to tourist arrival target as figure exceeds 700,000-mark - Raajje
Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrivals target for 2021, as the figures cross the 700,000-mark. By Wednesday, a total of 700,594 tourists were welcomed in the Maldives since the start of the promising year, according to the latest weekly statistics by the Ministry of Tourism. Statistics indicate that tourist arrivals recorded so far this year is an increase of 80 percent in comparison to the same period last year. It is however, a 35.4 percent plunge in comparison to the over one million arrivals of 2019, a groundbreaking year for Maldives tourism. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Singapore FM Admits ASEAN ‘Not as Effective as Hoped’ on Myanmar - The Irrawaddy
Five months after its announcement in April of a five-point consensus on resolving the crisis in Myanmar, regional grouping ASEAN finally appointed Brunei’s second minister for foreign affairs Erywan Yusof as special envoy to the country early this month. But with Yusof yet to make his first visit to Naypyitaw as envoy, some ASEAN members are expressing frustration. Click here to read...
Japan refuses to issue visas for military-backed Myanmar diplomats - Japan Today
Japan has effectively refused to issue visas for two Myanmar military-appointed diplomats the junta seeks to send to Tokyo in place of two it fired in March, according to Japanese government sources. Japan allowing the two replacements to be posted to the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo would be tantamount to recognizing the Feb. 1 military coup that ousted the country's elected government under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar's military has requested that Japan issue diplomatic visas for the two replacements. Japan has said it "is considering" the request but has yet to start issuance procedures, the sources said. Click here to read...
Australian Mining Company Sells Stake in Myanmar Project - The Irrawaddy
Australian mining company Myanmar Metals Limited (MYL) has divested its entire stake in a historic mining project in Myanmar’s northeast, saying the “political situation in Myanmar has undermined confidence of markets.” MYL said on Tuesday it had entered into binding agreements to dispose of its 51-percent stake in the Bawdwin project to its local partner Win Myint Mo Industries Co. Ltd. for a total of US$30 million. Click here to read...
COVID-19 Hits Myanmar Refugees in Thai IDP Camps - The Irrawaddy
Eight COVID-19 cases have been reported in two internally displaced persons (IDP) camps sheltering 20,000 refugees in Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand, according to the chairman of the Karen Refugee Committee, Saw Robert Htwe. Mae La Oon IDP camp has reported six cases, while Mae Ra Moe IDP camp reported two. “The victims are family members. The two camps are in close proximity,” said Saw Robert Htwe. Click here to read...
UNHCR report: Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, facing deadlier journeys in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea - UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, revealed today that 2020 was the deadliest year on record for refugee journeys in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many States in Southeast Asia to tighten their borders, leading to the highest numbers of refugees stranded at sea since the region’s “boat crisis” in 2015. UNHCR’s new report, titled “Left Adrift at Sea: Dangerous Journeys of Refugees Across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea”, also highlights that some two-thirds of those attempting these perilous voyages are women and children. Click here to read...
Religious freedom in Myanmar and international law - Financial Express
The Office of International Religious Freedom has recently issued its 2020 report on observance of religious freedom in Myanmar. This has drawn the world's attention given recent media coverage observing that friction between the Buddhist majority population and other ethnic and religious minorities is again on the rise in Myanmar. Click here to read...
Chinese FM suggests dealing with all parties in Myanmar in rational and pragmatic manner, building trust gradually - Eleven Myanmar
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has suggested dealing with all parties in Myanmar in a rational and pragmatic manner and building trust gradually, Xinhua news agency reported. He made the suggestion during a phone conversation with Haji Erywan, special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Myanmar and Brunei's second minister of foreign affairs, over ties and the situation in Myanmar on August 18. Click here to read...
How Myanmar coup fuelled rise in illegal drugs trade - Financial Times
In a predawn operation on August 13, Thai police seized 1,000kg of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”, alongside a highway in Hat Yai province in the south of the country. The seizure — with a street value of 300m Thai baht ($9m) — was one of several in recent weeks in Thailand and across south-east Asia that officials and analysts who track drug trafficking and addiction in the region are watching with growing alarm. Click here to read...
The Kachin Insurgency Could Deal a Heavy Blow to Myanmar’s Military Junta - The Diplomat
With the February 1 coup, the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, sought to turn back the clock on the country’s nascent democratization. They opened Pandora’s box instead. Between the nationwide protest movement paralyzing the economy and the entrenched insurgencies, challenges mount against the military. Click here to read...
Myanmar Junta Tells Troops to Be Combat Ready at All Times- The Irrawaddy
The regime’s crackdown on its opponents is expected to intensify in the coming days as the military junta has issued an order to its unit commanders and other senior officers to be combat ready. The instruction comes amid an increase in daily unrest, including killings and bombings by anti-regime civilian fighters against regime troops and their associates throughout the country. Click here to read...
Two more journalists arrested by Myanmar’s military junta - RSF
A columnist and a BBC Burmese presenter who were in hiding in Yangon were tracked down and arrested on 15 August and have been held incommunicado ever since. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns these latest arbitrary arrests, carried out at the behest of Myanmar’s military, and calls for their immediate release. Click here to read...
Nepal
Gaijatra festival being observed today- Khabarhub
“The traditional festival of Gaijatra or the ‘cow festival’ is being observed starting today in three cities of Kathmandu Valley and some other places in the country. The festival, beginning on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra (Bhadra Pratiprada) as per the lunar calendar, lasts for a week.” Click here to read...
1702 new Covid-19 cases, 2248 recoveries, 24 more deaths reported on Sunday- Himalayan
“Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 747,733 on Sunday with 1,702 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours.” Click here to read...
Second batch of Japanese vaccine arrives- Himalaya
“More than 208,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by the Government of Japan arrived in Kathmandu today.” Click here to read...
CPN-UML leaders for party unity told to take the call- Himalaya
“Some second generation CPN- UML leaders close to Madhav Kumar Nepal, who did not support him when he filed a petition at the Election Commission seeking to split the party, are now trying to keep party unity intact. However, leaders close to UML Chair KP Sharma Oli say there is slim chance of unity between the two sides.” Click here to read...
Remittance hits Rs961 billion, an all-time high in the time of Covid-19 – Kathmandu Post
“From 2020 to early 2021, the global economic crisis worsened with millions of workers losing jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Like in other countries, a reverse migration started in Nepal too, with official figures suggesting that nearly half a million Nepalis who were stranded abroad were rescued, and outbound numbers plunged.” Click here to read...
UK aid for Nepali mothers and children- Nepali Times
“As the Covid crisis pushes millions of Nepalis back below the poverty line affecting their nutritional status, the UK government is funding supplemental food for mothers and children affected by the monsoon and Covid-19 pandemic in Nepal.” Click here to read...
Two Nepali nationals evacuated in an IAF aircraft from Kabul- Republica
“August 22: Two Nepali nationals have been evacuated in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft from Afghanistan on Sunday. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, India, via his tweet informed that an AI 1956 aircraft carrying 87 Indians departed from Tajikistan for New Delhi. Earlier, the passengers were evacuated by an IAF aircraft.” Click here to read...
CPN (Maoist Center) names chiefs of its provincial committees- Rising Nepal
“The meeting of the standing committee of the CPN (Maoist Center) has named chiefs of the party's provincial committees and different departments. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, spokesperson of the party, said that chiefs of the provincial committees and in-charge of the districts have been fixed by the meeting.” Click here to read...
CPN UML Chair Oli announces to provide Rs 1m to 'Ward Chairperson Educational Development Fund'- Nepal News
“Chairperson of the CPN UML, KP Sharma Oli, has announced to provide one million rupees to the 'Ward Chairperson Educational Development Fund' established at Chandragiri Municipality-19. Ward Chairperson Uttam Bahadur Raut established the fund depositing his salary to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to the financial crisis.” Click here to read...
Pakistan
Chinese ambassador takes up security issue with Rashid: Dawn
Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong on Sunday met Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid to take up the issue of safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, demanding stronger security protocol for them. The one-on-one meeting took place in the federal capital a couple of days after a suicide attack on a motorcade carrying Chinese nationals in Gwadar East-Bay Expressway claimed the lives of three Pakistani children and hurt one Chinese worker. Click here to read...
PML-N to back no-trust move if PPP presents workable idea: Dawn
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) says it is ready to support a no-confidence motion to topple the government provided the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) comes up with a workable proposal. “We’re ready to support the PPP’s idea for dislodging the PTI government through a no-confidence motion but it should put forward a workable proposal for this purpose,” PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal told a press conference on Sunday. Click here to read...
Pakistan working with ‘all groups to ensure Taliban live up to promises’: The Express Tribune
Pakistan is working with Afghans and extended “Troika” – which includes the United States, Russia, and China – to ensure that the Taliban live up to the promises and declarations about upholding human rights that they have made to the international community, said Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan.In an interview with a Fox 5 News programme on Sunday, the Pakistan envoy to the US said that Pakistan is fully focused on helping in every possible way in the evacuation and repatriation of those who wish to leave Afghanistan. Click here to read...
OIC urges Afghan leaders to not let Afghanistan become 'terrorist haven': The Express Tribune
The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) pledged on Sunday to help achieve peace in Afghanistan and said its future leaders must guard against allowing the country to be used as a backyard for international militancy.The organisation urged "the future Afghan leadership" and the international community to work together to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used as a platform or safe haven for "terrorists".Click here to read...
Corona claims 75 more lives, infects 3,842 in 24 hours: The News
The national tally of total active COVID-19 cases was recorded at 89,334, one of the highest during the fourth wave of pandemic on Sunday with 3,842 more people testing positive for the deadly virus and 3,477 people recovering from the disease during the last 24 hours. Click here to read...
Will continue supporting Afghanistan to avoid 90s situation, Qureshi tells EU: The Express Tribune
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said that Afghanistan should not be left alone in order to avoid a "90s like situation", and that the crisis in the neighbouring country required a sustained international support. “At this critical juncture, it was vitally important to remain in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and extend support to them, both in the humanitarian arena and for economic sustenance,” the foreign minister said in a telephonic conversation with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
4,000 COVID cases detected SL records highest daily total in a single day - Ceylon Today
A total of 4,282 COVID-19 cases were detected today (22), making this the highest daily total recorded in a single day. Moreover, 183 COVID related deaths were reported yesterday (21), surging Sri Lanka's COVID-19 death toll to a count of 7,366. Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, confirmed that two of the deceased were aged below 30, while 45 were aged between 30-59 years and the rest were above 60 years. Click here to read...
Govt. to finalise National Tourism Policy by year-end - Daily FT
Sri Lanka is pressing ahead with plans to complete the first draft of the National Tourism Policy blueprint, as part of its ongoing efforts to develop a more resilient sector. “Before the end of this year, we hope to complete the first draft of the National Tourism Policy, with the support and inputs of all stakeholders,” Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi said during a webinar recently.
The national roadmap is being developed collaboratively by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and other UN agencies, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Tourism Organization (WTO), development partners such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Union (EU), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Australia and other key stakeholders. Click here to read...
Central Bank losing the battle on the ground - Business Times
Economic realities are decided on the street and not in the confines of policymakers’ rooms. This was amply displayed when local banks with fast depleting dollar reserves decided to ‘ignore’ the agreement with the Central Bank (CB) and publish freshly increased US dollar exchange rates on their websites.
“This shows the reality of the economy is not within the Central Bank’s walls,” an economist told the Business Times. A banker confirmed this noting that for far too long they had prolonged or denied importers Letters of Credit (LCs) and they cannot hold on anymore. This is despite the regulator saying that licensed banks have not been asked to devalue Sri Lanka Rupee. “To hold the policy rates was a gentlemen’s agreement between us and the Central Bank but with the current situation all that went out of the window,” the banker said. Click here to read...
Indian Navy vessel delivers a shipment of urgently needed oxygen - The Island
Indian Navy ship, INS Shakti, arrived at the Colombo Port yesterday with liquid oxygen purchased by the Sri Lankan government. Accordingly, 100 tonnes of liquid oxygen needed for COVID-19 treatment in Sri Lanka have been brought from Visakhapatnam, India. In addition, Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi, which left the Trincomalee harbour on 17 August 2021 to bring an urgent shipment of oxygen, is expected to return from Chennai on Monday (23).
In response to a request by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne from the Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Karambir Singh, to assist in expediting the transporting process of oxygen from India through Sri Lanka Navy, the Indian Navy dispatched its naval ship, ‘Shakti’, with a load of oxygen, signifying the longstanding cooperation between the navies of both countries. Click here to read...
“Pressure must be applied on the Chinese” – PB on Port City - The Sunday Times
The idea that the China-built Port City will channel billions of dollars into the economy from the outset is a “misunderstood concept by many” but the project is expected to catalyze construction, employment and the capital’s property in its first phase, said P B Jayasundera, Secretary to the President.
“If anybody thinks a US$ 20b investment will come front-loaded, that won’t happen,” he told the Sunday Times. “You have to phase it out.”
“Land investment was only what Chinese were supposed to do,” he elaborated. “For that, they were paid in kind. That is seven blocks. From our point of view, that they have now recovered and now, the whole area, including their seven blocks, comes under the purview of the Colombo Port City Commission. It’s an economic zone now.”
Within that zone, the Chinese must achieve two things, the President’s Secretary, and former Treasury Secretary, said. “One, they have to recover their US$ 1.4bn investment on the land and related infrastructure,” he explained. “For that, they have to earn by selling their land. At the same time, the purchaser won’t hold the land for an unknown period, he will build.” Click here to read...
