Afghanistan
Poppy Ban Will Have 'Wide-Ranging' Economic Effect: AAN: Tolo News
The Afghanistan Analysts Network released a report predicting that the ban on the cultivation of opium will have “wide-ranging consequences." Click here to read...
Meth 'Fastest Growing Drug Industry' in Afghanistan: Report: Tolo News
The Washington Post reported that Afghanistan’s "fastest-growing drug industry operates from desert outposts in plain view.” The Islamic Emirate has yet to comment in reaction to the reportClick here to read...
Taliban Frees 35 Prisoners to Honor Eid: The Khaama Press
Local officials of the southeastern Helmand province have exempted dozens of prisoners and released them as the Muslims’ biggest festival-Eid-ul-Fitr arrives, Bakhtar News Agency reported. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Law not the same for two politicians from different parties?- The Daily Star
Awami League lawmaker Haji Mohammad Salim, who was convicted with a 10-year sentence in a corruption case, has left the country for Bangkok. Click here to read...
Eid joy eludes flood-ravaged haor areas- The Daily Star
"Most paddy fields in our village are under water. We are not only facing food shortage but also lacking fodder for our cattle. Had the flood happened after two weeks, we could have harvested at least enough to feed ourselves”. Click here to read...
4 killed, 15 injured as AL factions clash in Kushtia- The Daily Star
At least four people were killed and 15 others injured this evening (May 2, 2022) in a clash between two Awami League factions in the Jhaudia union of Kushtia's Sadar upazila, over establishing dominance. Click here to read...
Bhutan
India and Nepal decline to share copy of agreement whereby Nepal gets cheaper fuel than Bhutan- The Bhutanese
As of April 2022 Bhutan is paying Nu 12.23 more per liter for petrol and Nu 11.48 more per liter for diesel than Nepal from the same Indian PSU Oil companies and even from the same geographical locations. Click here to read...
Civil servant demoted for criticising govt. policies on social media- Kuensel
The economic affairs ministry’s human resource committee demoted a chief in the ministry for criticising the government’s policies and actions on social media. Click here to read...
Covid-19 testing centres close today- Kuensel
With the announced Covid-19 relaxation coming into effect from today, all Covid-19 testing centres in Thimphu will also be closed. Click here to read...
First batch of monks receive PhD in Buddhist studies- BBS
The first batch of monks who underwent PhD in Buddhist studies from Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University in Thimphu graduated today. It is the first time the Central Monastic Body offered the three-year PhD program to the monks in the country. Click here to read...
Maldives
Protests near Yameen's residence calls for his arrest: Raajje
group under the name 'Maldivian Youth Force' held protests on Wednesday in front of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's personal residence 'Dhoovehi', calling for his arrest. Click here to read...
Maldives drops 15 spots in latest Press Freedom Index: Avas Mv
The Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders. The index is based upon the organization's own assessment of the countries' press freedom records. Click here to read...
Myanmar
The Advance and Retreat of a Shan Army - TNI
As conflict and crisis continue in the aftermath of the SAC coup, political instability and uncertainty have swept many parts of the country. In this commentary, Khun Say Lone examines a dramatic succession of events in Shan State that have seen the RCSS, an NCA-signatory, forced to retreat by other ethnic armed organisations in the territory. Amidst allegations of “divide and rule”, he argues that unity is needed if the people are to end the cycles of conflict and build a better future. Click here to read...
Australia continuing to avoid direct sanctions on Myanmar military - Australian Council for International Development
A factsheet on sanctions against Myanmarese generals shows the extent to which Australia is lagging behind. Australia could, and should, deploy targeted sanctions against the military generals, many of whom control conglomerates such as Myanmar Economic Corporation, Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. Click here to read...
Tripura Police arrest 24 suspected Rohingyas - Indian Express
Tripura Police arrested 24 suspected Rohingya migrants from Kailashahar in Unakoti district Monday. Speaking to reporters in Agartala this morning, Kailashahar sub-divisional police officer Chandan Das said they were nabbed while trying to enter Kailashahar town. Click here to read...
Can the Arakan Army achieve its confederacy dream? - Frontier Myanmar
More than a year since the military seized power in Myanmar, anti-coup resistance groups and their ethnic armed organisation allies continue to fight the junta with no victory in sight for either side. The military regime has been unable to crush the opposition or to take full control of administrative mechanisms in many parts of the country. But resistance groups have also been unable to overthrow the junta or fully expel it from their territory. Click here to read...
Burma Army Searches For PDF In Irrawaddy Region - BNI Online
After receiving information that the Arakan Army (AA) is conducting training for People's Defence Forces (PDF) in western Ngaputaw Township in the Irrawaddy Region, the regime's forces launched a search for their camp. Since late last month, more than 100 soldiers from the Burma Army (BA) and the regime-backed Pyu Saw Htee have been combing the Rakhine Yoma forest, which borders Rakhine State, in search of PDF fighters resisting the dictatorship. Click here to read...
Nepal
Nepal records 32 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday- Himalayan Times
The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached to 217 on Tuesday as 29 people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read...
(Opinion) Media industry in South Asia: Fostering digital safety of journalists- Himalayan Times
Although the state, political parties and government entities make a commitment to press freedom and the rule of law, there have been many instances when journalists have faced serious safety problems, which continue today in the form of digital control. Click here to read...
Nepal progresses in Freedom of Press Index- Himalayan Times
Nepal has made a notable progress in the Press Freedom Index. According to the World Press Freedom Index launched by the Reporters without Borders today, Nepal is placed in the 76th position among a list of 180 countries. Last year, Nepal was ranked 106th. Click here to read...
Import ban 'govt's knee-jerk reaction'- Himalayan Times
The government recently decided to ban import of non-essential items listed under 10 categories to narrow the country's trade deficit and shore up foreign exchange reserves. Click here to read...
Modi to visit Nepal amid need to review relations in the wake of geopolitical shifts- Kathmandu Post
Delhi sending Navin Srivastava, a strong China hand, as its new Nepal envoy ahead of the Indian prime minister’s trip. Click here to read...
Five candidates for Kathmandu mayor position to watch- Kathmandu Post
An overview of prominent candidates eying Nepal’s most coveted local government post. Click here to read...
Local elections are proving challenging for the media to save the dignity of press freedom- Online Khabar
With more responsibilities, there come more challenges for the journalists and press, to protect and practise press freedom in a balanced way. Click here to read...
Pakistan
'We will decide best time for elections', Sanaullah tells Sheikh Rashid: Dawn
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah reacted on Tuesday to his predecessor Sheikh Rashid's statement about Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan being ready to sit with Prime Minister Shehbaz on the issue of early elections, questioning why he was "begging the government and institutions now" as he declared that "we will decide what is the best time for the elections." Click here to read...
Imran urges SC to take action against ‘horse-trading’: The Express Tribune
Former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan has accused the chief election commissioner of being biased, saying that the Supreme Court should take action against ‘horse-trading’. Click here to read...
Will not accept any negligence in serving nation: PM Shahbaz Sharif: The news
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that serving the nation is the mission of his government, therefore, he will not allow any kind of negligence in this regard. The premier's statement came during a meeting with the retired and in-service civil administration officers in Lahore. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's Opposition hands no-trust motions against President, govt: Business Standard
Sri Lanka's main Opposition party SJB on Tuesday handed over to the parliamentary Speaker motions of no-confidence against the SLPP coalition government and embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, even as the government announced the appointment of a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the proposal for a new Constitution. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka’s environmentalists brace for economic meltdown’s toll on nature: Mongabay
Stuck in the long lines of vehicles queuing up for what little, and expensive, fuel is available at Sri Lanka’s beleaguered gas stations are the SUVs bearing the sign of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). Click here to read...
Sri Lanka’s Once-Lauded Health Care System Is Now Collapsing: Bloomberg
As Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in decades took root, prompting medical shortages and halting surgeries, Kavindya Thennakoon knew she had to do something. Before boarding a flight from San Francisco to Colombo, the Stanford graduate and co-founder of a digital education app posted on social media and asked those running low on supplies to get in touch. Click here to read...
CM appeals to the public to contribute towards aid for Sri Lanka: The Hindu
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to contribute funds towards the State government’s efforts to send humanitarian aid to the citizens of Sri Lanka, who have been affected by a crippling economic crisis. Click here to read...
China to provide 300mn yuan loan to Sri Lanka amid economic crisis: ANI
China has decided to provide a loan of 300 million yuan to Sri Lanka amidst the unprecedented economic crisis in the island nation. The total amount of emergency grants provided by China has increased to 500 million Chinese Yuan, which is USD 76 million. Click here to read...
