Bangladesh

Govt to invest $80b to be climate resilient by 2030- The Daily Star

The government is planning to invest $80 billion to shift the country from climate-vulnerable to a sustainable climate-resilient country under Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) by 2030, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said yesterday while unveiling the national budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023. Click here to read...

Bangladesh- India bus service resumes today- The Daily Star

After remaining suspended for over two years due to the pandemic, the bus service between Bangladesh and India will resume today. Click here to read...

Quader lauds budget as “pro-people, business friendly”- The Daily Star

Ruling Awami League today lauded the proposed budget for FY 2022-23, terming it "pro-people and business friendly”. Click here to read...

Afghanistan

Protest of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Enters 57th Day: Tolo News

They called on the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the international community generally to respond positively to their asylum applications. “Due to the war in Ukraine, the world has forgotten Afghanistan; not only the issue of Afghans in Pakistan but the focus on Afghans in all third countries has stopped,” said Safiullah Sultani, a protesting refugee. Click here to read...

Saudi Arabia Pledges a $30 Million Grant to the Afghan Humanitarian Trust Fund: The Khaama Press

The grant is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian and relief efforts, as well as its effective and leading role in providing all forms of assistance to “brotherly and friendly” countries. It has the goal of ameliorating Afghan people’s suffering and reducing the risks of deteriorating critical humanitarian situations and potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan, which could jeopardize regional and international peace and stability. Click here to read...

Human Rights Watch: The International Community Needs to Exert More Pressure on the Taliban: The Khaama Press

Heather Barr, associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement today, on Thursday, that firmer measures against the Afghan Taliban were needed, and that “deep concern” was insufficient and will not help Afghanistan. Click here to read...

Bhutan

GST likely to be deferred by two years- Kuensel

Finance Minister Namgay Tshering proposed to defer the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to July 1, 2024 in the National Assembly on June 8. Click here to read...

NA approves reservation of three articles of UNTOC and TIP protocol- Kuensel

The National Assembly passed the recommendation proposed by the Human Rights and Foreign Relations committee to reserve three articles from the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children (TIP Protocol).https://kuenselonline.com/na-approves-reservation-of-three-articles-of-untoc-and-tip-protocol/" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Maldives

Tourism Ministry to partner with UNWTO for summit to celebrate tourism golden jubilee- The Sun

Tourism Ministry has announced plans to collaborate with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to hold a special summit to celebrate Maldives’ tourism golden jubilee. Click here to read...

President: Although not at desirable speed, Asset Recovery Commission did competent work- The Sun

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Wendesday, has stated that the Asset Recovery Commission carried out competent work although it might not have been at a desirable speed. Click here to read...

Nasheed: Now’s not the time to prioritize personal aspirations, get foot in for presidency- The Sun

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed said Wednesday evening that now was not the time to put forward personal aspirations and get one’s foot in for presidency. Click here to read...

Nepal

Call for bill on out-of-country voting- Himalayan Times

Member of the National Assembly Kamala Panta urged the government to introduce a bill in the Parliament to ensure voting rights for millions of Nepalis working abroad. Click here to read...

Norwegian State Secretary reaffirms commitment to support UNFPA's efforts in Nepal- Himalayan Times

The visiting Norwegian State Secretary (International Development) Bjørg Sandkjær reaffirmed the committment of the Government of Norway to support UNFPA's efforts in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, and ending gender-based violence (GBV) in Nepal. Click here to read...

HoR approves two bills- Himalayan Times

The House of Representatives has endorsed two bills. Click here to read...

Amid delays in budget presentation, government plans to train local representatives- Kathmandu Post

Most local governments in the past five years failed to bring their annual budgets within the set deadline. Click here to read...

Confusion engulfs budget plan to set up Rs500 billion fund for farm financing- Kathmandu Post

Central bank says it was unaware of such plan. Bankers, who have already lent hundreds of billions to the sector, are concerned about who will regulate the microfinance fund. Click here to read...

Pakistan

Lahore ATC grants interim bail to PTI leaders over long march vandalism: Dawn

On Thursday, investigating officer Muhammad Saleem had requested the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Mian Akram Usman, Muhammad Zubair Khan Niazi, Imtiaz Mehmood Sheikh, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Mian Shafqat Mehmood, Malik Nadeem Abbas, Murad Raas, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Yasir Gilani, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hammad Azhar, Andleeb Abbas, and Ijaz Chaudhry. Click here to read...

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2021-22: Laying ground for a ‘tough budget’: Dawn

Painting a bleak picture of “exploding current account and fiscal deficits”, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Thursday expressed the government’s inability to provide any relief to the middle class in next year’s budget rolling out on Friday (today) that would instead lay the foundations of economic stability through “growth with responsibility and sustainability”. Click here to read...

Lurking trade deficit eclipses 6% growth: The Express Tribune

It was an irony to see the coalition government’s team, headed by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, launching the economic performance report card for the fiscal year 2021-22 – which was a mix of positive and negative indicators – of their bitter rival Imran Khan and at the same time trying to highlight ill-conceived policies of the previous regime. Click here to read...

Imran Khan directed protesters to enter Red Zone: Islamabad Police: The News

The Islamabad Police, chief commissioner Islamabad and the interior secretary have submitted their reports to the Supreme Court today regarding the violence during the PTI’s Azadi March, holding PTI Chairman Imran Khan responsible for the disorder in the capital on May 25. Click here to read...

Sri Lanka