Afghanistan
Sources: Loya Jirga of 3,000 to Be Held on Wednesday: Tolo News
Around 3,000 people from across Afghanistan have been invited to a gathering of Islamic clerics, expected to be held at the Loya Jirga Hall on Wednesday in Kabul, sources told TOLOnewsClick here to read...
Central Bank of Afghanistan: Money-Trading Through Forex Is Illegal: The Khaama Press
Da Afghanistan Bank, in a statement issued on Sunday, June 26th, announced that it has not licensed or permitted the operation of the Forex online in Afghanistan, therefore, any financial transaction through the online platform is against the law. Click here to read...
Human Rights Watch: Taliban’s Jirga Lacks Legitimacy If It Excludes Women: The Khaama Press
In reaction to the Jirga of the Taliban that will take place in the Loya Jirga tent, Human Rights Watch said that a decision-making body, such as a Jirga that excludes women and other groups is not legitimate. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Pressure on forex reserves: Govt exploring loan of up to $4.5b from IMF- The Daily Star
As a precautionary move, Bangladesh has started talks with the International Monetary Fund about taking a loan of $4-4.5 billion to shore up the precarious foreign currency reserves. Click here to read...
Fully profitable, but with govt subsidies- The Daily Star
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) operates with the government's "alms", said its managing director Taqsem A Khan while talking about the price hike of water. Click here to read...
Momen urges Britain to resettle 1 lakh Rohingya refugees- The Daily Star
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has requested the British Secretary of State Elizabeth Truss to resettle one lakh Rohingya refugees who are now sheltered in Bangladesh. Click here to read...
Bhutan
NC asks govt to expedite decision on delayed hydropower projects- Kuensel
The government is waiting response from the Government of India (GoI) on the issues of two hydropower projects under construction, Punatsangchu-I Hydroelectric Project and Kholongchu Hydropower Project which have been delayed. Click here to read...
Student sustains second degree burns from electrical accident- Kuensel
A 14-year-old student of Chumigthang MSS student, Pasakha is recovering at Phuentsholing General Hospital (PGH) from second degree burns he sustained from an electrical accident at Baunijhora, Pasakha on June 25. Click here to read...
Incessant rain affects work progress at Namling- Kuensel
Construction officials are advising road users to avoid travelling at night as the stretch from Yongkola to Namling area gets continuous rainfall. Click here to read...
Government outs Sung-jeon App from 12th FYP- Bhutan Today
“Sung-jeon App is for country’s security,” Lyonpo said. Adding to it, Lyonpo said internet outage outside would also impact the internet services in the country, and Sung-jeon App was planned to offset such issues. Click here to read...
Govt waiting for India’s answer to replace dam with barrage at PHPA-I- BBS
The National Assembly today redeliberated the National Council’s recommendation, to expedite the decision to avoid further delay of PHPA-I. The construction of PHPA-I began in 2008 and was scheduled for completion in 2016 with the then estimated budget of more than Nu 35bnClick here to read...
Maldives
Maldives reports over 1,000 new Covid-19 cases, five fatalities: Raajje MV
Statistics revealed that between June 19 – 25, an alarming total of 1,202 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed nationwide, including 528 from the congested capital, Greater Malé Area, 452 from residential islands outside of the capitalClick here to read...
The President concludes his official visit to Rwanda: African business
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih returned to Malé on Monday morning after concluding his official visit to the Republic of Rwanda. The President, accompanied by First Lady Fazna Ahmed and a high-level delegation, was in Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Click here to read...
Myanmar
Myanmar Army Abandons Taga, Headquarters of Northeast Insurgent Groups, after Three Years - News18
The Tatmadaw or Myanmar Army has left the Taga areas of Sagaing, Myanmar, which were captured in January 29, 2019 from the Northeast-based insurgent groups, according to sources. A top insurgent leader from Sagaing confirmed: “The Myanmar Army left the Taga areas on June 15.” Click here to read...
NUG: Burma Army Using Rape As Weapon Of War - BNI Online
Burma Army (BA) soldiers have raped at least 72 people, but sexual violence against civilians is likely to be higher since the military coup took over the country 17 months ago, according to Duwa Lashi La, acting president of the interim National Unity Government (NUG). Click here to read...
Military’s arbitrary civilian arrests are violation of human rights: Arakan activist group - BNI Online
The Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association (AHRDPA) said in a statement on Friday that the Myanmar military’s arbitrary arrests of civilians in Arakan State are a clear violation of human rights. U Mrat Tun, an executive director of AHRDPA, told DMG that the military has arrested and tortured some civilians in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Ponnagyun and Sittwe townships in recent days. Click here to read...
2022/65 “The International Community Needs to Prepare for a Post-Tatmadaw Myanmar” by Anders Kirstein Moeller - ISEAS
The Tatmadaw’s combat forces of around 100,000 are stretched thin, facing a vast array of armed resistance groups and engaging in unfamiliar cellularized warfare. Although the Tatmadaw maintains control of key urban centres, it has been unable to consolidate power in smaller towns and rural areas. Click here to read...
UK announces second round of sanctions against arms dealers - Mizzima
Campaigning group justice for Myanmar has welcomed the UKs second round of sanctions targeting arms dealers obtaining arms for Myanmar. The organisation also called for urgent and coordinated international action against the Myanmar military’s economic interests and business relationships, including from regional democracies Australia, India, Japan and South Korea. Click here to read...
Court in army-ruled Myanmar gives Suu Kyi colleague 21 years - AP News
Zaw Myint Maung is a second vice president and spokesperson of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, which won a landslide victory in the 2020 general election but was prevented from returning to the office for a second five-year term when the army seized power in February last year. Click here to read...
Nepal
They worked as domestics and dishwashers. Now they are successful entrepreneurs- Kathmandu Post
Nepalis in the industrial city of Ludhiana in Punjab, India share their rags-to-riches stories. Click here to read...
Testing of third phase of Mahakali irrigation canal begins- Kathmandu Post
The Stage III of the project, which would irrigate around 33,520 hectares of land in farwestern Nepal, has been completed after 26 years. Click here to read...
Nearly 70 percent water samples in Valley contaminated- Kathmandu Post
Officials say failure to ensure safe drinking water poses a challenge to controlling outbreaks of waterborne diseases, including cholera. At least 12 people tested positive for cholera in 8 days. Click here to read...
Amid SPP confusion, home minister makes a gaffe saying pullout letter sent to the US- Kathmandu Post
Foreign Ministry is yet to write to the US. American embassy says it acknowledges Nepali Cabinet’s public statements regarding its desire not to move forward on the SPP. Click here to read...
Citizenship bill to be passed with political consensus: Minister Khand- Kathmandu Post
Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has said the government has been taking initiative to forward the citizenship bill with consensus among the political parties. Click here to read...
Ensure voting rights for prisoners: SC- Himalayan Times
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to allow prisoners to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections likely to be held in November. Click here to read...
Germany to continue bilateral development cooperation with Nepal- Himalayan Times
The Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany has decided to continue with the bilateral development cooperation with Nepal beyond 2023. Click here to read...
Pakistan
UAE offers quid pro quo bailout deal: The Express Tribune
In response to Pakistan’s request for multibillion dollars in fresh loans, the United Arab Emirates has offered to buy minority shares in publicly-listed government-owned companies at a negotiated price and a seat on each of the firm’s boards. Click here to read...
Will rifts among allies brew distrust in the centre?: The Express Tribune
The anticipated unease and friction in the ruling coalition showed its tentacles on Monday over the local government elections in Sindh as MQM-P and JUI-F, among others, rejected results of Sindh LG poll results and accused PPP of rigging. Click here to read...
Import expensive fuel or brave long outages: Nepra chief: Dawn
At a public hearing on a petition for a Rs7.96 per unit increase in FCA for electricity consumed in May, Chairman Nepra Tauseef H Farooqui, who presided over the event, said though a formal notification would be issued later after verification of evidence, the minimum increase in FCA would be about Rs7.90 per unit for ex-Wapda Discos with a financial impact of Rs113bn during the upcoming billing month (July). Click here to read...
Imran unveils July 2 Islamabad protest plan: Dawn
Exactly a month after abruptly ending the Azadi March with a six-day ‘ultimatum’ to the PML-N government for announcement of early elections, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday announced he would lead the July 2 protest at Islamabad’s Parade Ground against the “imported government imposed on Pakistan through a US regime change conspiracy”. Click here to read...
Ex-spymaster denies meeting Imran, joining PTI: News
Former ISI DG Lt-Gen (retd) Zaheerul Islam has said that he has neither joined the PTI nor met Imran Khan. Talking to The News, he said that he had recently held a gathering of the local elders at his house in his native village in Kahuta where the community decided to support the PTI candidate for PP-7 Rawalpindi in the upcoming by-elections. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Just days from running out of fuel, Sri Lanka halts sales for 2 weeks: Times of india
Sri Lanka will shut schools and only allow fuel supplies to services deemed essential like health, trains and buses for two weeks starting Tuesday in a desperate attempt to deal with a severe shortage. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka sends SOS message to India for fuel, suspends retail sale for 2 weeks: Hindustan Times
Sri Lanka’s high commissioner Milinda Moragoda discussed with Hardeep Singh Puri the “possibility of securing petrol and diesel supplies that are required by Sri Lanka at present on an urgent basis”. Click here to read...
US delegation meets Sri Lankan President PM discusses economic crisis: The Week
A high-level US delegation on Monday met Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed measures to help the island nation cope with an unprecedented economic crisis and severe shortages of essential supplies. Click here to read...
