Afghanistan
Islamic Emirate’s Suhail Shaheen Clarifies Hijab Rules: Tolo News
The head of the Islamic Emirate’s Qatar-based political office, Suhail Shaheen, said Afghan women have been using hijab for centuries and the statement which was recently made by the Islamic Emirate “doesn’t say Burqa imposed” as the only type of hijab and that other types of hijab could also be usedClick here to read...
The UN Security Council Convenes to Discuss the Taliban’s Edict for Women to Cover Their Faces: The Khaama Press
The United Nations Security Council is convening to consider the Taliban’s recent decision to impose additional restrictions on women, including the mandate that they cover their faces in public and travel restrictions. Click here to read...
The Taliban Denies the Allegations of Civilian Casualties in Panjshir: The Khaama Press
Clashes between the Taliban and the Resistance Front in Panjshir province’s Dara and Abshar districts are alleged to have resulted in numerous losses for the Taliban, and Ghulam Farooq Halim, a resident of Dara district, posted a photo on his Facebook page writing that Innocent people have been transported to an unknown location by the Taliban. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Nothing wrong with the GDP calculation methodology Finance minister dispels economists’ doubts- The Daily Star
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday dismissed all doubts raised by economists about this fiscal year's GDP growth estimate amid the pandemic and the Ukraine war that has upset the global economy afresh. Click here to read...
HC to get new judges soon- The Daily Star
Several new judges are likely to be appointed to the High Court within a few weeks to resolve the shortage of judges and increase case disposal rate. Click here to read...
Bangladesh not in any Chinese debt trap- The Daily Star
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming yesterday told reporters that Bangladesh was not in any Chinese debt trap. Click here to read...
Dedicated company to operate, maintain Padma Bridge- The Daily Star
The government is going to form a dedicated company for operation and maintenance of Padma Bridge, which is expected to be opened next month. Click here to read...
Protecting forests: USAID launches $20m project- The Daily Star
USAID has launched a $20 million project to protect critical forests and wetland areas of the Sundarbans and Sylhet from degradation. Click here to read...
Int’l dev finance corp: Bangladesh ineligible for US funding- The Daily Star
Bangladesh is not eligible to receive funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation because of concerns regarding labour rights violations. Click here to read...
At least one playground for every area- The Daily Star
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday underscored the need for creating opportunities for sports, exercise and cultural activities for everyone saying these are a must for building a nation. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Labour ministry reconsiders lifting of foreign workers redeployment plan- Kuensel
The labour ministry will accept the deployment of foreign workers from one employer to another until the border gates are open and the quarantine for foreign workers is lifted, according to regional labour officials in Gelephu. Click here to read...
Bhutan and Thailand to have bilateral trade- Kuensel
The decision was made during the fourth Joint Trade Committee Meeting (JTCM) on April 27 and 28 in Phuket, Thailand. Click here to read...
SRO launches customized training program for Bhutanese satellite data analysts- Bhutan Times
The training program will also equip participants to process the data received from the India-Bhutan joint satellite which is slated for launch this year. Click here to read...
High employee attrition rate at the ACC a concern- BBS
According to the report, the psychological, emotional, and social toll of the work and limited training or career development are some of the reasons for the employees leaving the job. From 2016 to 2020, 47 staff left the job. Click here to read...
Maldives
Decree Banning ‘India Out’ Campaign in Maldives Fuels Protests: The Diplomat
On April 21, Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih issued a decree banning the opposition’s “India Out” campaign. The presidential order came after the country’s National Security Council decided that the campaign “to incite hatred against India” is a “threat to national security.” Click here to read...
Myanmar
Myanmar junta charges central bank governor with corruption - The News
Myanmar’s junta has charged a former central bank deputy governor with corruption, state media reported on Wednesday, the latest figure close to Aung San Suu Kyi’s ousted government to be prosecuted by the military. Trained in the US and Britain, Bo Bo Nge was appointed in 2017 as liberalisation swept the Southeast Asian nation after the former junta relaxed its grip on power. Click here to read...
Conflict seen escalating in Myanmar on anniversary of PDF - RFA
One year after Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG) established the prodemocracy People’s Defense Force (PDF), hundreds of anti-junta groups are active throughout the country and violent conflict is escalating with no end in sight, an analyst said Wednesday. Click here to read...
Malaysian FM: ASEAN’s Myanmar envoy welcomes informal talks with NUG, NUCC - RFA
ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar has welcomed the idea of engaging informally with Myanmar’s Myanmar’s National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), a body of opposition stakeholders, and its parallel civilian government, as the junta has reneged on a promise to put the country back on a democratic path, Malaysia’s foreign minister said in an interview Wednesday. Click here to read...
US wants ASEAN leaders to play bigger role in Myanmar diplomacy: Official - ChannelNewsAsia
The United States wants Southeast Asian leaders to play a "more deeply engaged role" in efforts to put Myanmar back on a democratic track after a coup last year, the top US official for Asia said on Wednesday (May 11) ahead of President Joe Biden's meeting with leaders from the region this week. Click here to read...
Myanmar Military Calls In Air Strikes to Keep Village From Falling to Resistance - The Irrawaddy
The Myanmar regime launched air strikes in Sagaing Region’s Kani Township as local resistance forces attacked an army camp in a pro-regime village in the township on Tuesday. Click here to read...
Military Council Responds to Loss of its Army Base with Multiple Airstrikes - BNI Online
The military-appointed State Administration Council responded to the capture of one of its strategically important camps to Karen and its allies with multiple airstrikes. The camp is strategically located in the Karen National Union’s Brigade 5, Mutraw (Hpa-pun) District. The military council sent jet fighters to run at least 10 bombing missions over Day Bu Noh and Thay Ka Hta villages, Lu Thaw Township, Mutraw District. Click here to read...
Myanmar Junta’s Awards for Ethnic Leaders Seen as Bid to Sell Peace Talks - The Irrawaddy
Of the 10 ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that have agreed to attend talks with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw, seven have current or former leaders who received the Wunna Kyawhtin title from the coup leader last month. Click here to read...
Nepal
Nepali woman scales Everest for record 10th time- Himalayan Times
A 48-year-old Nepali woman climber today successfully scaled the world's highest peak for the record tenth time from the Nepal side this season. Click here to read...
Vote for democratic candidates, says Deuba- Himalayan Times
Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President has appealed to one and all to actively participate in the May 13 local level elections and vote for Nepali Congress candidates to make them victorious. Click here to read...
Remove poll campaign content from social media, CEC tells contestants- Himalayan Times
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has urged parties and candidates to remove all poll related promotional and sponsored content from the social media - Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, or any such platform, as the silence period starts at midnight today. Click here to read...
The more teeth to poll commission, the stronger democracy will be, observers say- Kathmandu Post
There are laws but the election body lacks resources—human and financial—to crack down on wrongdoers. Click here to read...
Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves improves by nominal amount but import capacity declines as of mid-April- Republica
Despite massive efforts made by the government to check financial outflows, the country’s foreign currency reserves increased by nominal amounts in the past one month from mid-March to mid-April. Click here to read...
(Opinion) Implications of low women representation in local polls- Republica
chieving gender equality is merely a dream with a limited share of women in decision making positions. Nepal has committed to equal opportunity in a sustainable manner. Limiting the opportunity of women in governing bodies is a sign of backlash and is deepening the gender equality gap. Click here to read...
Pakistan
TTP extends truce to hold peace talks with Pakistan: Dawn
The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has extended a ceasefire with the government of Pakistan in order to hold peace talks, AFP quoted two sources in the militant group as saying on Wednesday. Click here to read...
Pakistan, US hold security talks ahead of FM Bilawal's visit: Dawn
Inter-Services Intellig¬e¬n¬¬ce Director-General (DG ISI) Lt-Gen Nadeem Anjum spent three days in Washington this week, meeting senior security officials, including US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and CIA Director William J. Burns. Click here to read...
PML-N huddle mulls decisive action against 'transgressors of Constitution': The Express Tribune
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb in a statement issued late on Wednesday said various options were discussed at a crucial PML-N huddle, chaired by three-time ex-PM Nawaz Sharif in London, for taking a decisive action against the ‘transgressors of the Constitution’. Click here to read...
Commerce ministry says no change in policy on trade with India: The News
The Ministry of Commerce manages 57 trade missions in 46 countries, which includes the post of Minister (Trade and Investment) in New Delhi, India. The post of Minister (Trade and Investment) in New Delhi has existed for more than two decades and has no connection with the operationalisation of trade with India or otherwise in the current context. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
President Rajapaksa says will appoint new PM, cabinet this week; Mahinda under protection at naval base: Indian express
Two days after Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Wednesday said he will appoint a new PM and a cabinet this week. Click here to read...
Economy on brink of collapse, warns central bank governor: Times of India
Sri Lanka's economy will "collapse" unless a new government is urgently appointed, the central bank chief warned Wednesday, as security forces fanned out on the streets to restore order after spasms of mob violence. Click here to read...
Gotabaya Rajapaksa speech fails to reassure as crisis grows: BBC
In his first national address since protests began last month, he offered to cede some of the presidency's power to parliament, but set no timetable. Sri Lankans who have been calling for him to resign over an unprecedented economic crisis were unimpressed. Click here to read...
Ex-PM flees to naval base as arson attacks spread: BBC
Security forces are deployed across Sri Lanka with orders to shoot looters on sight amid continuing protests at the government's handling of a devastating economic crisis. Click here to read...
