Afghanistan
UN Rapporteur Visiting Afghanistan: Tolo News
The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, is reportedly scheduled to visit Afghanistan from May 15 to May 26, according to a UN statement. Click here to read...
UNSC Struggles to Whether adjust with Taliban Sanctions Regime: Khaama Press
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is struggling to whether adjust with the ongoing sanctions regime against the so-called Islamic Emirate government, according to reports, saying “it’s a consequential decision.” Click here to read...
India hosts SCO-RATS meet; focus on the situation in Afghanistan: Business Standard
Counter-terrorism experts from India, Pakistan and other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday deliberated on boosting cooperation in combating various regional security challenges at a meeting hosted by New Delhi. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
State of economy: Hard times may be in store- The Daily Star
The government may face the next election with the most unstable economic situation in over a decade, which is going to affect the low- and middle-income brackets most, said a citizens' platform yesterday. Click here to read...
UGC approves Tk 10,444cr budget for 50 public univs- The Daily Star
The University Grants Commission yesterday approved a budget of Tk 10,444 crore for 50 public universities of the country for 2022-23 fiscal year. Click here to read...
Homecoming day of Sheikh Hasina today- The Daily Star
Today is the 42nd homecoming day of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Click here to read...
Everyone can speak freely on talk shows: PM- The Daily Star
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said everyone can speak freely and participate in TV talk shows. Click here to read...
Musk’s Starlink internet taking preorders for Bangladesh- The Daily Star
Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, is expected to launch services in Bangladesh by 2023, according to the official website of Starlink, which is currently accepting pre-orders from Bangladesh. Click here to read...
Wanted over scams in Bangladesh, PK Halder and associates face grilling after arrest in India- BD News
Law-enforcing authorities in India have arrested Proshanta Kumar Halder, who is wanted in Bangladesh in connection with scams worth billions of takas, according to information from the Anti-Corruption Commission. Click here to read...
ED raids 10 locations in Bengal in multi-crore Bangladesh bank fraud- The Hindustan Times
ED officials found that the suspects had set up companies in India on the basis of fake documents and also purchased immovable property at various places, including Kolkata. Click here to read...
Bhutan
300 cabbies will go electric by September-Kuensel
With many taxi drivers showing interest in electric vehicles (EV), the EV project office has completed registration of 300 taxis and more. Click here to read...
Controlling cost and improving quality- Kuensel
The economic affairs ministry’s initiative to streamline distribution of hardware and construction materials is a welcome move when the cost of construction materials are skyrocketing and quality of goods are compromised to maximise profit. Click here to read...
Parliament’s joint committee supports HR independence of ACC- Kuensel
The National Assembly’s plenary session will discuss on joint committee’s recommendation to give human resource (HR) independence to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today. The plenary session is a meeting that all members of NA will attend. Click here to read...
Supreme Court sets up unit to assess complaints against judiciary- Kuensel
The judiciary will now assess all allegations against the institution and its employees through its newly established media and communication unit at the Supreme Court (SC). Click here to read...
India bans wheat export- not a concern for now- BBS
India’s decision to temporarily ban wheat export will not have much implication for Bhutan’s economy. This according to the agriculture minister is because the decision came at a time when Bhutan harvests its own wheat. India banned the wheat export on Friday citing food security risks for the country. Click here to read...
Maldives
Pres Solih departs for the UAE on an official visit: Avas Mv
The President is traveling to the UAE to convey his condolences and sympathies to the family of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the late President of the UAE, Emir of Abu Dhabi, and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who passed away on on Friday afternoon. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Junta Troops Clash With Arakan Army in Western Myanmar - The Irrawaddy
Myanmar military troops and the Arakan Army (AA) clashed on Sunday around noon near the village of Than Htaung in Chin State’s Paletwa Township. The clash happened after AA fighters fired at a helicopter bringing in food supplies for junta troops deployed on a hill near Than Htaung, according to a Than Htaung villagerClick here to read...
Malaysian Foreign Minister Meets Counterpart From Myanmar’s Shadow Govt - The Irrawaddy
In another blow to Myanmar’s military regime, the Malaysian foreign minister met with his counterpart from Myanmar’s anti-regime National Unity Government (NUG), which the junta has designated a terrorist organization. Click here to read...
Myanmar’s Civilian Government Holds Talks With Arakan Army - The Irrawaddy
In an attempt to engage with armed groups which can help topple Myanmar’s military regime, the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) said it held an online meeting with Rakhine State’s Arakan Army (AA). Click here to read...
Chin defence forces claim high Myanmar junta death toll in week of fighting - Mizzima
The Chin Defence Forces are claiming success in a number of clashes with Myanmar junta troops over a week or so of fighting. From May 3 to 9, the Chin Defense Forces attacked two military columns on Chin's Hakha-Falam-Kalay road and Matupi-Mindat route, killing 68 military troops, according to a statement released by the Chin National Front (CNF). Eight fighters from the Chin Defense Forces were killed in the attacks. Click here to read...
KNU accuses Myanmar military of abducting civilians for use as as human shields - Myanmar Now
Regime forces used more than 100 civilians as porters and human shields during a march from Hpa-An Township in Kayin (Karen) State to Bilin Township in Mon State earlier this week, according to the Karen National Union (KNU). Click here to read...
Nepal
Narendra Modi’s religious diplomacy, powered by agreement on energy- Kathmandu Post
The Indian prime minister makes an hours-long trip to Lumbini, in his fifth visit to Nepal since 2014, in a move also aimed at improving bilateral ties. Click here to read...
Modi in Lumbini: Nepal, India sign 6 agreements- Online Khabar
Nepal and India have signed six agreements as Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi visited Lumbini of Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti on Monday. Click here to read...
(Nepal Local Elections) NC leading, UML distant second- Himalayan Times
The Nepali Congress leads the May 13 local election by winning 11 posts of mayors of municipalities and 61 chiefs of rural municipalities on the third day of vote counting. Click here to read...
Indian PM Modi, Deuba hold bilateral meeting- Himalayan Times
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi made an official visit to Lumbini today at the invitation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti. Click here to read...
Re-election slated for tomorrow in Rautahat- Himalayan Times
Re-election in the polling centres where voting was deferred due to various reasons is slated for Wednesday in Rautahat. Click here to read...
Bhairahawa goes wow as second international airport opens- Kathmandu Post
For entrepreneurs and traders, the construction of the airport is an historic event, and symbolises the effort to decentralise development. Click here to read...
Budget session of parliament to begin from today- Republica
The new session of the Federal Parliament is set to commence from today. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Key allies encourage PM Shehbaz to take ‘tough’ decisions: Dawn
The PM is also scheduled to head a meeting of the federal cabinet on Tuesday (today) where he will take all the members into confidence on the decisions taken by the PML-N leadership in London recently. Click here to read...
Imran vows to burry, PML-N, PPP, JUI-F with nation’s help: Dawn
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday lashed out at the Sharif family, PPP Co-chairman, and the JUI-F chief, saying that all of them had become united in defeating him, but they would have a collective funeral. Click here to read...
Imran Khan, Establishment weren’t on same page on foreign policy: Pervez Elahi: The News
Talking to the Voice of America Urdu, Pervez Elahi, whose party has sided with the PTI after he was ousted from power, said that there were several issues which had created differences between the former premier and the Establishment. One such issue was the foreign policy, he explained. Click here to read...
Sales slump: Outlets closed in Sindh as CNG soars to Rs300 per kg: The News
The CNG retailers in Sindh and Punjab have put up ‘we are closed’ signs outside their outlets after its price spiked to Rs300 per kg, which they claimed had drastically reduced their sales. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka down to last day of petrol, Prime Minister tells crisis-hit nation: CNN
Sri Lanka's new prime minister said on Monday the crisis-hit nation was down to its last day of petrol, as the country's power minister told citizens not to join the lengthy fuel queues that have galvanized weeks of anti-government protests. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka’s new PM warns ‘most difficult months of our lives’ ahead: The Guardian
Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has warned that the financial crisis engulfing the country will get worse and “the next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives”. Click here to read...
Sri Lankan MP ‘beaten to death by angry mob’ during anti-government protests: Telegraph
A sitting Sri Lankan MP was beaten to death by anti-government protesters in a “horrific murder scene”, an eye-witness told the Telegraph, as the country's new prime minister warned there is just one day's worth of fuel left. Click here to read...
National Carrier to Be Privatized, PM Says: Bloomberg
Debt-ridden Sri Lanka will privatize its state-run national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a televised address Monday. The island nation’s revenues have dropped sharply and its banks are out of dollars, leaving the country short of funds for essential goods, he added. Click here to read...
What’s the 21st Constitutional Amendment aimed to cut power of Sri Lankan presidents: Indian Express
The amendment is likely to reduce the Presidency to a ceremonial position, retaining the powers of the President on all three armed forces while handing over almost all other key powers pertaining to governance, and cabinet ministers to the Prime Minister. Click here to read...
For 5th-time Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, political and economic challenge like no other: Indian Express
This is Wickremesinghe’s fifth time in the office. Each of his earlier terms was truncated, and on two of those occasions he was dismissed by the President — by Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2004, and by Maithripala Sirisena in 2018. Click here to read...
