Afghanistan
Karzai Calls on Biden to Revers Decision on Afghan Funds: Tolo News
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Sunday at a press conference in Kabul called on the US President Joe Biden to reverse his decision on Afghan bank’s funds and return all the fund to Afghanistan. Click here to read...
Frozen Assets Earmarked for 9/11 Victims Sparks Intl Response: Tolo News
US President Joe Biden’s decision to allocate $3.5 billion of Afghan assets--roughly half--to the victims of 9/11, faced widespread reactions inside and outside of AfghanistanClick here to read...
IEA delegation to leave Kabul for maiden London visit: The Khaama Press
Sources in the interim government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that a delegation headed by Qalandar Ebad-acting Health Minister- to leave Kabul to the UK. Click here to read...
People of Australia donate over $1 M to Red Cross for Afghan aid: The Khaama Press
To strengthen the operations and support the Red Cross in Afghanistan where millions of people are subject to starvation, Aussies have donated one million dollars to be used in the war-ravaged country. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Gas shortage: More interest in imports than exploration- Daily Star
The gas shortage is a result of negligence towards gas exploration and the reliance on imported LNG something to be wary of, experts told a discussion yesterday. Click here to read...
Mongla port turns around- Daily Star
Awaits a further fillip from Padma bridge. Click here to read...
50 years on, Biman still a hot mess- Dhaka Tribune
Plagued by corruption and a litany of other issues, Biman finds it hard to keep up with the competition. Click here to read...
Search Committee to reveal all proposed names for EC- Observer
The Search Committee for the formation of Election Commission (EC) will reveal all the names proposed by different political parties and individuals for the posts of chief election commissioner and other commissioners on Monday. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Nu 28.48B transacted digitally during the lockdown- Kuensel
In what is one of the few positive impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital payments increased at an unprecedented rate during the lockdown since January 16. Click here to read...
Poultry farmers worry about market as production regains- Kuensel
Poultry farmers in Sarpang have revived almost by 50 percent of egg production and say that market is already becoming an issue. Click here to read...
Lockdown blues: Prolonged stay-home orders causes anxiety- Bhutan Times
The anxiety caused by the long bouts of lockdown has made life difficult for many as the virus transmission and subsequent blackouts continue to persist. Click here to read...
Opposition gives three recommendations to the government on managing the pandemic efficiently- BBS
The opposition party has asked the government to keep future lockdowns short and effective. This is one of three recommendations made to the government for better management of the covid pandemic. Click here to read...
Myanmar
A Disingenuous Call for ‘Peace’, Regime Boss Seeks Divine Help, and More- Irrawaddy
On Sunday, the military regime invited ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to join preliminary peace talks to be held on Saturday, Myanmar’s 75th annual Union Day. Click here to read...
Myanmar Junta Announces Union Day Prisoner Amnesty- Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s junta on Saturday announced an amnesty for more than 800 prisoners to mark the country’s Union Day, as it held a parade and show of force in the capital. Click here to read...
13-year-old boy killed by artillery fire in Mindat- Myanmar Now
The boy was hit as he and his family were fleeing an approaching military convoy travelling along the Mindat-Matupi road. Click here to read...
Rights groups release report on war crimes perpetuated by Myanmar junta in Karenni State- Mizzima
Karenni and other rights groups are calling out the Myanmar junta for crimes against humanity in Karenni (Kayah) State. Click here to read...
Maldives
Indian Defense Secretary visits Maldives- Sun
Indian Defense Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar has arrived in Maldives on an official visit. Click here to read...
MP Aslam announces candidacy for MDP PG leader- Sun
North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam has announced candidacy for the position of parliamentary group leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Click here to read...
MTCC provides update on three projects in progress AVAS
According to MTCC, work on the design and build of Hdh. Hanimaadhoo Harbor Development Project is also well underway, with overall 55% project progress. Quay wall concrete works are ongoing in addition to sand-filled breakwater construction works. Click here to read...
Nepal
Impeachment motion registered against CJ Rana- Himalayan Times
A motion of impeachment has been filed against Supreme Court Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. Click here to read...
Speaker Sapkota calls all-party meeting to discuss CJ's impeachment- Himalayan Times
Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota has called an all-party meet to discuss the impeachment motion registered against Supreme Court Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. Click here to read...
Rana suspended as ruling parties move a proposal to impeach him- TKP
As many as 98 lawmakers of Nepali Congress, Maoist Centre and CPN (Unified Socialist) register a motion to impeach Cholendra Shumsher Rana amid a fluid political situation. Click here to read...
Political parties weigh their electoral prospects as US presses for early decision on MCC grant deal- Republica
As the deadline given by the US to take a final decision on whether to accept or reject the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant is just two weeks away, major political parties in the country are busy weighing the prospect of their electoral success in the upcoming local level election. Click here to read...
Pakistan
IMF wants govt to pass new law on state firms’ management: Dawn
“Contingent liabilities from loss-making SOEs — to the extent not covered by government guarantees — continue to represent additional risks to debt sustainability,” the IMF has noted in a special chapter in a recent report on Pakistan’s economy. Click here to read...
World has no option but to engage with Taliban: PM: The Express Tribune
“Is there a chance that if the Taliban government is squeezed there could be a change for the better? No. So the only alternative we have right now is to work with them [Taliban] and incentivise them for what the world wants – inclusive government, human rights and women rights in particular,” said the premier in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Prominent Sri Lankan legislators call for orderly renegotiation of foreign debt to combat crisis: The Hindu
A group of senior parliamentarians in Sri Lanka, including some aligned to the government, have called for an “orderly negotiated postponement” of outstanding foreign debt, and corrective policy measures including a “strong social welfare scheme”, to combat the island nation’s economic crisis. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka-India ties at high point, concerns about the Chinese presence in country ‘consigned to past’, G L Peiris said: The Indian Express
Peiris said the fishermen's issue – Indian fishermen trespassing in Sri Lankan waters and getting arrested – was now a “serious” flashpoint in ties with India. Click here to read...
Sri Lankan navy arrests 12 Indian fishermen for alleged poaching: The Times Of India
The Sri Lankan navy has arrested 12 Indian fishermen and seized two fishing trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters, an official statement said on Sunday. Click here to read...
