Afghanistan
US officially ends its longest every military engagement, Taliban celebrated with aerial fires: The Khaama Press
US CENTCOM commander General Frank McKenzie in a press conference confirmed the end of their military presence in Afghanistan and said that the last flight carrying the last US servicemen and women left Kabul on Monday night, August 30.
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Afghans With Evacuation Documents Still in Kabul: Tolo News
Although the United States has started evacuating its soldiers from Kabul airport, hundreds of Afghans with legal documents for evacuation have been unable to board and leave the country. All the US soldiers are expected to leave Kabul airport by August 31.
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Taliban launches attacks on resistance forces in Panjshir: The Khaama Press
Sources in Pansjhir province claimed that the Taliban breached the agreement and had launched attacks on the resistance forces of this province.They claimed that the attacks which were conducted in different locations were repelled and the Taliban fighters retreated but the latter has not commented on the issue yet.
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France, Britain to Propose ‘Safe Zone’ in Kabul at UNSC Meeting: Tolo News
French President Emmanuel Macron has said the proposal for the creation of a safe zone is aimed to allow humanitarian assistance and safe passage for people trying to leave Afghanistan. According to Macron, the safe zone will operate under the oversight of the United Nations.
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Taliban to complete cabinet in two weeks: The Khaama Press
Acting minister of information and culture and spokesperson of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid said that police chiefs for all the 34 provinces have been appointed and the entire cabinet is to take shape sooner. Prior to that, a member of the Taliban’s negotiating team in Doha Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai had said that all the posts have been occupied temporarily and are given to acting ministers, heads, chiefs, and provincials governors.
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Bangladesh
Janmastami celebrated in Netrakona- The Independent
Janmastami, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community marking the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna, was celebrated here Monday with due religious fervour on a limited scale amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Abducted Abroad: Desperations of father trying to free son in Iraq- The Daily Star
As soon as he opened the message, he saw his son 22-year-old Abdullah Haque Rabbi, an expatriate in Iraq, lying on a floor with his hands and legs in shackles. Rabbi looked extremely weak, he was begging for water. Badal told the abductors that he did not have the money but he could manage around Tk 5 lakh, to which the abductors agreed.
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233 dengue patients admitted to hospitals in 24 hours: DGHS- The Independent
The cases of Dengue have taken over Bangladesh. In the month of August alone, the cases have increased drastically. A total of 233 fresh dengue cases were reported across the country in the last 24 hours.
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Unskilled masters, illegal vessels blamed for accidents in Bangladesh- New Age
Fatal waterway accidents have been frequent since the beginning of the current year while some of the probe reports on major incidents mostly blamed the unskilled and untrained masters and unregistered vessels as major reasons behind these accidents.
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20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine to arrive in Dhaka tonight- Daily Sun
Twenty lakh doses of Sinophamrm vaccine from China are expected to reach Dhaka tonight, reports our correspondent. A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying vaccine doses will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
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BNP continues ill-efforts to destabilise country: Quader- Daily Sun
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said that the BNP depending on parasitic movement has continued its various ill-efforts to disrupt the existing stable condition of the country.
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Sri Lanka set to get another $100m from Bangladesh under swap arrangement- Financial Express
Bangladesh is set to send US$100 million more to Sri Lanka today (Monday) to help the island nation in minimising foreign-exchange crunch on their economy, officials said.
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Bhutan
Fighting Covid-19 strong and tight- Kuensel
Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering has said that with no new cases from the communities for the last two weeks and a successful vaccination campaign, which is underway, the government could expect some relaxation of Covid-19 protocols.
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Newly elected office bearers to pursue BCCI’s legal status- Kuensel
The newly elected president and vice presidents of Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have pledged to strengthen the organisation and pursue its legal status, which has impeded its growth.
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Bhutan exploring third dose by next year- The Bhutanese
As Israel started giving booster or third doses for COVID-19 to those above 40 and school teachers and the USA announced it would start giving third doses from 20th September 2021, the government is exploring the possibility of giving third doses to Bhutanese by next year.
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The Significance of Jaldhaka Hydro Power Project in Bhutan- India Partnership- Kuensel
The cooperation in the hydropower sector is full of opportunities and has been recognized by both Bhutan and India as being mutually beneficial.
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Maldives
Hopes of expanding tourism in the south and the north: MITDC - Avas
Speaking on AVAS Online's Face To Face program, Managing Director of MITDC Mohamed Raaid said 79 percent of the Maldives' bed capacity is within two-hour distance from capital Male'. This shows a lot of effort needs to be undertaken to develop tourism in the north and the south, said Raaid. Therefore, MITDC aims to offer assistance to expand tourism to these areas, he said.
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17 islands currently under Covid-19 monitoring - Raajje
Health protection Agency (HPA) declared that a total of 17 islands are currently under monitoring due to Covid-19. According to the information publicized by HPA, the 17 islands under quarantine are R. Dhuvaafaru, K. Kaashidhoo, Dh. Kudahuvadhoo, Aa. Himandhoo, ADh. Hanyaameedhoo, Ha. Ihavandhoo, Ga. Kanduhulhudhoo, M. Madduvvari, K. Gaafaru, Gn. Fuvahmulah, GDh. Gadhdhoo, GDh. Madaveli, Th. Veymandoo, L. Mundoo, Sh. Milandhoo and ADh. Mahibadhoo.
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Saudi ministry official meets Muslim scholars in Maldives - Arab News
Undersecretary at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Awad Alanzi, met with preachers and scholars in the Maldives in the presence of the religious attache at the Kingdom’s embassy in India, Sheikh Badr bin Nasser Alanzi, who supervises the work of the ministry’s preachers in the Maldives and Nepal.
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Maldives Refloats Grounded Bulker, Demands Deposit of $6.5M for Damage - Maritime Executive
Salvage teams working in the Maldives were able to refloat a Navios Maritime Holdings’ bulker that went aground 10 days ago. The vessel, however, remains at anchor while it is being inspected and the Maldives is detaining the Panama-flagged vessel demanding compensation from the owners for damages caused to the reef. The authorities in the Maldives are also making accusations against the captain. In addition to holding the ship responsible for damages caused to the reef, they contend that the captain acted improperly and failed to notify the coast guard of possible danger
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Panama-flagged cargo ship refloated earlier than expected - Raajje
The Panamanian cargo boat that ran aground on to the reefs on the west side of K. Rasfari, has been refloated. The Panamanian boat ‘Navios Amaryllis’ crashed into the reefs of Rasfari on August 19 and the work of dredging the boat commenced that very day. MNDF affirmed that the dredging work had been completed by Sunday afternoon, with the support of Maldives Coast Guard and other relevant bodies.
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Myanmar
The Fall of Afghanistan Echoes in Myanmar - The Diplomat
The spectacular fall of the U.S.-supported Afghan state to the Taliban has sent shockwaves across the globe. On the surface, there is little to link Afghanistan to Myanmar beyond opium production, their similar-sized land mass, and the two nations’ immense suffering due to unending conflict. Yet there has been a flurry of online activity as Myanmar commentators and netizens have conjured up parallels between recent developments in Afghanistan and Myanmar’s own political crisis.
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Atrocious Myanmar Military at Risk of Splitting: Army Defectors - The Irrawaddy
With a record-breaking number of defections unmatched in nearly six decades and brewing discontent among the ranks against their superiors, Myanmar’s more than 300,000-strong military is now at risk of splitting, according to some ex-army officers who have deserted their units recently.
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Authorities arrest people supporting financial assistance to CDMs and PDFs in Ygn Region - Eleven Myanmar
On August 21, security forces raided a house on Court Road in Mingalar Ward, Taikkyi Township and arrested Khin Myat Thu (former NLD Pyithu Hluttaw member), Htein Win, Aye Min Soe, Aye Thuzar and Zaw Lin. After interrogating Htein, the security forces went to an apartment in Min Ye Kyaw Swar Street, Kyipwaryay Ward, Thingangyun Township on August 22 and 35 hand-made stun grenades, 28 hand-made smoke mines, a small package of hand-made explosive, other accessories used to make hand-made grenades and a vignette printed Letpadan GTI students' protest were found and confiscated, it said.
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Protest drove a generation to Myanmar’s streets - Reuters
Nearly seven months after the army seized power on Feb. 1, Myanmar’s security forces have killed more than 1,000 people in a bid to crush resistance, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an activist group that has tracked arrests and deaths. Almost daily, the association’s death tally rises.
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ULA/AA Justice Department receives many complaints after declaring parallel legal system - BNI Online
The Justice Department of the United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), has received many complaints regarding legal disputes and is working to bring justice to the people, according to ULA/AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha. “There are many cases filed to the ULA/AA. The ULA’s Justice Department scrutinises them to bring justice to the people,” said U Khaing Thukha.
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100,000 Rakhine Conflict Refugees Remain Displaced Nine Months After Truce with Myanmar Army - RFA
Nine months after a ceasefire brought relative calm to Myanmar’s western Rakhine state following a bitter two-year military conflict, Oo Thein Lwin and Ma Saw Yin are still trapped in a refugee camp, recalling when they grew their own food and found regular work in their village.
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KNLA Captures Tatmadaw Camp In Karen State - BNI Online
Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) seized a Tatmadaw position after soldiers fled when KNLA Brigade 6 troops attacked the camp in Karen State. "The Border Guard Force (BGF) retreated, allowing the KNLA to easily captured Hkok Kwa camp," a man who did not want to be named informed NMG.
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Rohingya receive Covid jabs as Myanmar junta extends rollout - UCA News
The Myanmar junta has backtracked on its plans to withhold Covid-19 vaccinations from the Rohingya minority in Rakhine state following an outcry from rights groups. More than 120,000 Rohingya have been confined in camps for the internally displaced in the western state since 2012. Coronavirus cases have been reported in the camps, where they are restricted from freedom of movement and have limited access to health care, education and employment opportunities.
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Burma's monks divided over military's coup - Arkansasonline
Day after day, despite a raging pandemic and the threat of sniper bullets, a small band of Buddhist monks in burgundy robes gathers in the city of Mandalay in Burma. Their acts of dissent last only a few minutes, hasty candlelight vigils or flash-mob protests in the shadow of a monastery with gilded eaves. The clerics' demand is lofty: Men in uniform, men who protest a bit too loudly that they are pious Buddhists, must exit politics. The military has dominated Burma for the better part of 60 years, most recently by staging a coup against an elected government and killing more than 1,000 people for daring to oppose its power grab.
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Nepal
Nepal's Covid-19 tally hits 761,124 with 1902 new cases on Monday- Himalayan Times
Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 761,124 on Monday with 1,902 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours.
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Gagan Thapa says he will contest for Congress general secretary- Kathmandu Post
Gagan Thapa has announced his candidacy for the post of party general secretary, as the Nepali Congress gears up for its 14th general convention.
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International rights bodies call on Nepal to stop stalling enforced disappearance inquiries- Kathmandu Post
International rights organisations on Monday said that Nepal should promptly enforce Supreme Court rulings and permit the regular courts to try cases of enforced disappearance and other grave international crimes.
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CPN-UML directs people’s representatives not to stand in favour of party split- Republica
The CPN-UML on Sunday issued a circular to people’s representatives against standing in favor of the party split. With the issuance of ‘party-split’ ordinance by President Bidya Devi Bhandari, the CPN-UML and Janata Samajbadi Party saw fresh split, The two new parties-- CPN (Unified Socialist) and Democratic Socialist Party-- were formed after the promulgation of the ordinance.
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Biased officials continue ruining the image of state institutions in Nepal- Online Khabar
Deuba and his Council of Ministers had recommended that the president pass the ordinance swiftly. But, that did not happen as Bhandari’s office took over a day to do so. Her office only passed the ordinance after Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki continued to quiz the president’s office about the ordinance.
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COVID Vaccine to All New Mothers: State Minister Shrestha- Rising Nepal
State Minister for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha has said that all the women who receive maternity services at the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital (PMWH) will get the vaccines against COVID-19.
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Pakistan
US troops’ stay here is temporary: minister: Dawn
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has ruled out a long-term presence in Pakistan of those US troops who are coming from Afghanistan, saying that the foreigners who will stay in the country had been issued transit visas ranging from 21 to 30 days.
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Shehbaz floats idea of national govt: Dawn
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday came up with the idea of a national government to take the country out of uncharted waters while claiming that no single party including itself can take up the insurmountable challenges Pakistan is facing.
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Pakistan urges world to support Afghanistan to avoid past mistakes: The Express Tribune
National Security Adviser Moeed Yousaf warned the world against abandoning Afghanistan again on Monday, and urged the global community to engage with the new setup for the sake of ordinary Afghans. According to Moeed, it was time for the global community to learn from the “collective mistakes” for the sake of Afghanistan’s future and regional stability.
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Not a single person came to Pakistan as refugee amid Afghan crisis: Rashid: The Express Tribune
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said that Pakistan was expecting a huge refugee influx from Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul but "not a single person came to the country as a refugee". The interior minister made it clear that all Pakistanis have been evacuated from Afghanistan.
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Fawad fears repeating mistakes from past would make Afghanistan 'hub of extremist organisations': The News
Talking to TRT World, Federal Minister for Information and Technology said if Afghanistan was left alone, as it was in the past, the situation would get worse, as he stressed an inclusive government in Afghanistan was imperative. He urged the world, regional powers to support the process.
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Sri Lanka
DG National Security Studies warns: Hasty recognition of Taliban likely to send the wrong signal to Tamil and Muslim communities here - The Island
India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) will commence construction of the West Container Terminal (WCT) at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port in December, according to a report in Ship Technology. APSEZ will invest more than $ 675.68 million, what is said to be its second international project after Myanmar. In March, the company obtained a letter of intent from the Sri Lankan Government for the construction of the 3.5 million 20-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) capacity terminal. Officials told Business Line that the concession agreement for the 35-year build, operate and transfer (BOT) contract is scheduled to be signed in November.
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MacAskill calls for Police Scotland to end Sri Lankan training - Scottish Legal News
Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has called on Police Scotland to cease all involvement in training police in Sri Lanka following concerns about human rights abuses. Mr MacAskill’s intervention comes after Human Rights Watch, Freedom from Torture, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice and Pax Christi Scotland wrote to justice secretary Keith Brown earlier this month. The human rights groups called on Mr Brown to provide details of a review of Police Scotland training for Sri Lankan police given allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings by Sri Lankan police in recent months.
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US Foreign Affairs Committee member Dina Titus advocates stronger US-Sri Lanka bonds - The Island
United States Congresswoman Dina Titus, also a member of America’s vital House Foreign Affairs Committee, advocates strong bonds between the U.S. and Sri Lanka through a vigorous democratic process. An active member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Sub-Committee on Asia-Pacific – under whose purview Sri Lanka falls – encourages critical reforms to rule of law and democracy in this South Asian nation.
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Sri Lanka fails to sell 92-pct of bond auction - ECONOMYNEXT
Sri Lanka has failed to sell 92 per cent of a 50 billion rupee bond auction, with slightly more bonds being sold in 2025 bonds, than 2023 bonds, official data shows. 800 million rupees of 01 September 2023 bonds were sold at 6.75 per cent, after offering 30 billion rupees. 3.2 billion rupees of 15 October 2025 bonds were sold at 8.55 per cent after offering 20 billion rupees.
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9,208 persons test positive for COVID-19 over the weekend - Daily FT
Health officials stated that 4,612 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the weekend detections to 9,208. The patients detected yesterday are from the New Year cluster. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 13,446 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. On Saturday, 16,073 PCR tests and 4,621 rapid antigen tests were carried out. The patients detected on Saturday include 4,576 persons from the New Year cluster, 14 Sri Lankan overseas returnees, and six persons from the Prisons cluster. A total of 318,482 patients have been detected from the New Year cluster, with the total detections including 8,154 persons from the Prisons cluster, 6,835 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and 328 foreigners.
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