Afghanistan
Blast Near Mosque in Kabul Caused Fatalities: Intl Hospital: Tolo News
The department of Kabul security put the number of casualties at two wounded, but Emergency Hospital tweeted they have received 22 victims from the mosque blast, 5 of whom were dead on arrival. Click here to read...
aliban Gov’t Persuades India to Reopen Embassy in Kabul: The Khaama Press
Head of the Islamic Emirate political office in Qatar Suhail Shaheen encourages India to reopen its embassy in Kabul, according to reports, saying the caretaker Afghan government will provide “full security” to all its diplomats in the country. Click here to read...
NSA Ajit Doval to bat for inclusive Afghanistan govt at Dushanbe meet: Times of India
NSA Ajit Doval will travel to Dushanbe later this week for a security conference on Afghanistan that will review the situation in the country 9 months after the Taliban took over the country, ToI has learnt. The meeting on May 26-27 is expected to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and also security challenges including the threat from cross-border terrorism. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway: Time, cost gallop even before work starts: Daily Star
Work for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project is yet to formally start but the deadline for the mega project is to expire in just over a month.
The government had approved the project in October 2017 and the deadline for completion of the 24km expressway was set for the end of June, 2022. Click here to read...
Budget 2022-23: Better targeted social safety net: Daily Star
The government is committed to using the long-overdue National Household Database (NHD) from the next fiscal year to better target the social safety net programmes, in a development that can infuse dynamism in the flat scheme. Click here to read...
Bhutan
ACC and OAG: eye to eye finally- Kuensel
The government’s legal arm, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reviews cases pertaining to corruption referred by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The OAG prosecutes or dismisses the case depending on several factors, including evidence provided. Click here to read...
India lifts import restriction on Bhutanese ginger- Kuensel
The ministry of commerce and industry, department of commerce, notified on May 19 that the import of wholly produced ginger from Bhutan is free subject to Article–I of the agreement on trade, commerce and transit between India and Bhutan. Click here to read...
Healthy refreshment towards reducing NCDs- Kuensel
With the health ministry sensitising healthy refreshments, the Department of Public Health (DoPH) yesterday conducted a meeting on healthy refreshments with representatives from various organisations. Click here to read...
MoLHR launches new system for employers, job seekers, and training providers- Bhutan Times
To improve the operational efficiency of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) by bringing together all allied information systems, the MoLHR launched a new MoLHR- Management Information System (MoLHR MIS) on 20 May this week. Click here to read...
Border closure diverts regional tourists to other hill destinations- Bhutan Times
Bhutan has been an internationally renowned tourist destination, however, the Covid-19 induced border closure has diverted most Bhutan-bound tourists to other destinations like Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling. Click here to read...
National CSI Development Bank stops disbursing loans- Paro- BBS
National CSI Development Bank’s NPL has been increasing which raises concern about the bank’s financial stability. As of December last year, the bank had an NPL of 5.23 %. And by March this year, it reached 11.04 %.Click here to read...
Maldives
"Maldives urgently needs a legislation to protect rights of victims of terrorism": Raajje Mv
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin has stated that Maldives urgently needs a legislation to protect rights of victims of terrorism. Click here to read...
India donates two field ambulances to MNDF: The Sun
The Indian army has donated two field ambulances to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF). The ambulances were handed over in a virtual ceremony at the Bandaara Koshi on Wednesday by the Indian Defense Advisor to Maldives Captain Mahesh Chandra to MNDF’s Surgeon General Colonel Dr. Ali Shahid Mohamed. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Time For India To Start Rupee-Kyat Border Trade With Myanmar - Swarajyamag
India stayed invested in Myanmar after the 1 February 2021 coup. It was not an easy choice in the times of military raids, counter-attacks by the pro-democracy resistance groups, Covid, US sanctions and a crippling economic crisis. However, the primary goals were achieved. Click here to read...
Ukraine concerns do not mean Rohingyas be abandoned: UN refugee chief - LaPrensaLatina
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, Wednesday urged the international community not to forget the Rohingyas amid a new refugee crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read...
Thousands Displaced by Myanmar Junta Arson Attacks - The Irrawaddy
More than 5,000 people were displaced by junta raids and arson attacks between May 18 and 22 in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region, according to the Civilian Defense and Security Organization in the township. Click here to read...
Homes of military supporters destroyed in junta arson attack - Myanmar Now
Many of the homes torched by regime forces in a village in Sagaing Region’s Depayin Township on Sunday belonged to military supporters, according to residents. Of the 53 houses destroyed in the village of Na Gar Twin in the day-long attack, six were owned by known backers of Myanmar’s junta, residents said. Click here to read...
Please Don't Call Myanmar Military Tatmadaw - The Irrawaddy
For me, there are two especially troubling terms used to describe the military. The first is ‘Tatmadaw’, which in the Burmese language means ‘Royal Armed Forces’ and was the name used for Burma’s army in the pre-colonial era when Burma was ruled by a monarchy. Click here to read...
Japan-Trained Myanmar Air Force Officer Took Part in Bombing Raids: Activists - The Diplomat
The advocacy groups Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Justice for Myanmar said in statements on Monday that Lt. Col. Hlwan Moe of the Myanmar Air Force has taken part in aerial raids in Magwe Region, a center of anti-junta resistance. Click here to read...
Nepal
Migrant workers returning in droves- Himalayan Times
Migrant workers, who had returned home to take part in the local elections, are now heading back to India for work. Click here to read...
Nepal records five COVID-19 cases on Wednesday- Himalayan Times
The national active Covid-19 caseload of Nepal active caseload has reached to 128 on Wednesday as five people tested positive for the infection in past 24 hours. Click here to read...
Rabindra Mishra steps down as president of Bibeksheel Sajha Party- Himalayan Times
Rabindra Mishra resigned as the President of Bibeksheel Sajha Party, on Wednesday. Mishra claimed he is stepping down from the post on moral grounds owing to the party's dismal results in recently held local elections. Click here to read...
China nudges Nepal on One-China policy- Kathmandu Policy
Beijing seems to be wary amid a series of visits from the United States and a senior official’s recent meetings with Tibetan refugees in Kathmandu. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Imran gives 6-days ultimatum to govt for announcing elections: The Express Tribune
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday gave the incumbent government an ultimatum; to announce elections within six days or have the “entire nation” return to the capital. Click here to read...
Pakistan, IMF again fail to reach staff level agreement: The Express Tribune
Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund have failed to reach a staff level agreement for revival of the $6 billion programme amid huge gaps between their assessments of the economy and the required measures that are immediately needed to stop economic meltdown. Click here to read...
Ties with neighbouring countries and West the way forward: Bilawal: The News
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told a British wire service that Khan’s ouster last month was in fact a milestone for Pakistani democracy. “Pakistan has a history of prime ministers who have been removed undemocratically, unconstitutionally through various means,” Bhutto Zardari said in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos.
No conspiracy against Imran govt: UK minister: The News
British Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey has brushed aside impression that the visit of former prime minister Imran Khan to Russia resulted in a conspiracy against his government by any country in the West. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
PM Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Finance Minister in Sri Lanka: The Hindu
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday assumed additional charge as Finance Minister, possibly the toughest job when the island nation’s economy experiences a rapid decline amid an unprecedented crisis. Click here to read...
Fuel distribution in Sri Lanka gets more difficult amid public unrest: Business Standard
Fuel distribution in crisis-hit Sri Lanka has become more challenging due to public anger and a record hike in fuel prices with people many a times spending more than a day to get fuel with the rationed quantity. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka’s Premier Wants IMF Program in Place By Mid-June: Bloomberg
Sri Lanka is looking to fast-track talks with the International Monetary Fund and agree a loan by mid-June so that it can then approach other lenders for urgently needed funds. Click here to read...
Sri Lankans lose hope amid economic crisis: DW News
Sri Lankans are experiencing critical shortages of fuel, power and food, often forcing them to queue for basic necessities. For Dilan Simpson, an engineering student working as a rickshaw driver in Colombo, looking for fuel has become a full-time jobClick here to read...
