Afghanistan
Islamic Emirate Calls on US Congress to Release Funds: Tolo News
The Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in a letter to the United States Congress asked for the release of Afghanistan’s central bank assets frozen by the United States government. Click here to read...
Two Explosions Occurred in West of Kabul: Tolo News
The Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in a letter to the United States Congress asked for the release of Afghanistan’s central bank assets frozen by the United States government. Click here to read...
Taliban’s letter to congress, unfreeze Afghanistan assets to help prevent humanitarian crisis: The Khaama Press
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry in an open letter to Congress said that the two sides are no more military rivals and enemies thus; freezing the assets of the Afghan people has no rationale and has to be released to help avert the looming humanitarian crisis. Click here to read...
World is committing historic mistake by abandoning Afghans: Deborah Lyons: The Khaama Press
Speaking at the open debate of UN Security Council, Secretary General’s special representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said that the world must not abandon the people of Afghanistan after the Taliban take over as the humanitarian crisis is looming there and added that abandoning them will be a historic mistake. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Rules take effect to streamline hiring of insurance agents- Daily Star
Bangladesh's insurance industry has taken a major leap forward after the government enacted a rule to streamline the hiring and licensing of agents. Click here to read...
Think everything is expensive now? Get ready for what’s next- Dhaka Tribune
Consumers around the world are about to get socked with even higher prices on everyday items, companies from food giant Unilever Plc to lubricant maker WD-40 Co. warned this week as they grapple with supply difficulties. Click here to read...
Khaleda given scope of living outside jail, is it not enough, asks PM- Daily Observer
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has indicated that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will not be allowed to go abroad for advanced treatment. Click here to read...
Hasina questions subsidies, defends fuel price hike- Asian Age
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has questioned subsidies to support several sectors while defending her government's decision to raise fuel prices. Click here to read...
Bhutan
General Reserve funds used to meet capital expenditure in Paro- Kuensel
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) transferred Nu 19 million (M) from the general reserve (GR) to meet the normal capital expenditure of gewogs in Paro dzongkhag in the financial year 2020-21. Click here to read...
Govt to borrow heavily and invest big to revive economy and avoid GDP slump during transition- Daily Bhutan
The Prime Minister Dasho (Dr) Lotay Tshering and the Finance Minister Lyonpo Namgay Tshering both said Bhutan would not only have to go beyond the 12th plan. Click here to read...
No adequate funding in One Health to enhance preparedness- Bhutan Times
While the Covid-19 pandemic has alerted the world about zoonotic diseases and health risks at the human-animal-environment interface, One Health does not receive adequate investments to prevent future pandemics and preparedness. Click here to read...
DRC launches CRCMs to make import of goods easier- BBS
Since the closure of borders last year, registration of vehicles importing goods was made mandatory. But the process has been inconvenient and troublesome. This is now expected to become easier with the newly launched Customs Road Cargo Manifest System (CRCMS). Click here to read...
Maldives
Maldives deplores attempts to spread ‘false information’ on ties with India - Hindustan Times
Referring to bilateral ties with India, the Maldives government said, “…such interactions in the international sphere do not, and will not undermine the Maldives' independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Click here to read...
Myanmar
Myanmar: Totalitarian terror shouldn’t fly on our watch - Lowly Institute
Largely absent from our daily news, this is what is happening to the people of Myanmar, whose crime was to vote overwhelmingly in favour of democracy, at a general election on 15 November 2020. Click here to read...
Indonesia to tell Myanmar to take back Rohingyas from Bangladesh - Newagedbd
Indonesia on Wednesday vowed to offer strong message to Myanmar to repatriate its Rohingya nationals. ‘We are going to send a strong message to Myanmar for resolving the Rohingya crisis,’ visiting Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said while paying a call on prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the prime minister’s office in Bangladesh capital Dhaka. Click here to read...
China Warms Up to Myanmar’s Generals - Foreign Policy
In September, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) invited a representative from Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to its virtual summit for political parties in South and Southeast Asia. The overture came shortly after Beijing’s special envoy for Asian affairs, Sun Guoxiang, paid a low-key visit to Myanmar. Click here to read...
Soldiers capture PDF medics during raid on resistance base camp in Kalay - Myanmar Now
Nine People’s Defence Force (PDF) medics and two others were captured on Tuesday morning by junta forces who overran their base camp in a southwestern district of the Sagaing Region town of Kalay. Click here to read...
Arakan Army releases 15 captives arrested during armed conflict with Myanmar military - Myanmar Now
The Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State released a total of 15 policemen and soldiers on Monday night after a visit by Japan's special envoy to Myanmar Yohei Sasakawa to the state capital of Sittwe. Click here to read...
Nepal
CJ accused of corruption in NBA meet- Himalaya
Senior Advocate Shambhu Thapa today accused Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana of being the most corrupt official of the judiciary and said that the Nepal Bar Association would not settle for anything less than his resignation. Click here to read...
As Congress mega meet nears, president hopefuls are waiting for district results- TKP
As Nepali Congress is all set to organise its 14th General Convention on December 10-12 in Kathmandu, all eyes are on the Koirala family that has had a rich political and historical legacy since the party’s establishment in 1950. Click here to read...
Nepal’s precious electricity going waste- Nepali Times
Absence of transmission lines means expensive hydropower is being ‘spilled’, increasing risk for investors. Click here to read...
Kathmandu Valley experiences coldest day of the year today- Republica
The Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday experienced the coldest day of the year so far today. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Pakistan, Taliban violators of religious freedom: US: Dawn
The Trump administration first placed Pakistan on this list in December 2018 and retained it in 2020 as wellClick here to read...
Sikh pilgrims visit gurdwara as Kartarpur corridor reopens: Dawn
More than 2,500 Indian Sikhs arrived here on Wednesday via Wagah border to observe the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Click here to read...
FBR helpless against four million tax dodgers: The Express Tribune
Dr Mohammad Ashfaq, who took reins of the FBR over three months ago, was candid in a public interaction, where he also talked about the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demands to withdraw sales tax exemptions and increase personal income tax rates for individuals. Click here to read...
CPEC Authority hailed over investment prospects meeting: The Express Tribune
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hailed the efforts from the Pakistani side to increase input in the development. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Forex Crisis Hits Real Estate Market - Ceylon Today
Rohan Parikh, Managing Director of Iconic Developments has urged the authorities to find solutions to resolve gaps in the real estate market and the Forex crisis. Referring to the Forex crises, people would ask him, ‘Why are you investing in Sri Lanka, when ROI is not guaranteed? Why don’t you invest in Dubai?’ Parikh’s response was, the issue is short term, hence, he anticipates medium to long term returns. “For someone considering global real estate investments, Sri Lanka is still not on the lines of Dubai and Singapore,” he said. Click here to read...
Imports swell to $ 15 b; trade deficit tops $ 6 b - Daily FT
Imports continue to rise despite restrictions and forex shortage bloating the country’s trade deficit, as per latest data. Imports in the first nine months of the year have risen by 27% to $ 14.93 billion and the trade deficit crossed the $ 6 billion mark, as against $ 4.3 billion in the corresponding period of last year. Click here to read...
