Afghanistan
MoFA Denies UN Report Alleging Foreign Groups in Country: Tolo News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a statement rejecting a report by the UN Security Council alleging that Al-Qaida and the Islamic Emirate have a "close" relationship and that foreign groups are in Afghanistan. Click here to read...
Al-Qaida and Islamic Emirate Relationship 'Remains Close’: UN: Tolo News
"The relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaida remains close, with the latter celebrating the former’s success and renewing its pledge of allegiance to [Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada]," a UN report said. Click here to read...
SIGAR: 3.2 Million Afghan Children Are At Risk of Malnutrition: The Khaama Press
On Sunday, May29, the organization warned that if these children are not provided for, one million Afghan children could become extremely malnourished and perish. In another tweet, the organization stated that 8.7 million Afghans are at risk of famine-like conditions out of the 22.8 million who would face food insecurity in 2022. Click here to read...
Qatar Warns Western Countries: Taliban Sanctions Increase Extremism: The Khaama Press
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Qatar’s foreign minister, has said that keeping the status quo “where the west boycotts Afghanistan and just focuses on part of the humanitarian activities through international agencies” would not keep “Afghanistan intact.” Click here to read...
Bangladesh
How PM Ranil Can Overcome crisis by following Bangladesh’s ‘PM Hasina’s Model: Daily News
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the people of Sri Lanka few weeks back, that he will fulfil the promises he had made to them when he assumed office after the fall of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government. Click here to read...
Bangladesh FM asks India about how to import Russian oil by dodging sanctions: BDNEWS24
The European Union is finalising a further round of sanctions, including a ban on Russian oil purchases. Many European refiners have already stopped buying from Russia for fear of running afoul of sanctions or drawing negative publicity. Click here to read...
India to supply additional 1,500MW of electricity to Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said an additional 1,500MW of electricity is in pipeline from India to Bangladesh. India currently supplies 1,160MW of electricity to Bangladesh. Click here to read...
Bhutan
MoEA shares advice with MFA to reduce fuel price- Bhutan Times
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) has submitted its advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) where it has said that the way to reduce fuel prices for Bhutan is to get India to remove bulk pricing being charged to Bhutan. Click here to read...
Inclusive toilets for children and women with disabilities- Kuensel
In what will be a first of its kind, adolescent girls with disabilities in Changangkha and Khuruthang Middle Secondary School will have separate toilets to help them manage proper menstrual hygiene (MHM). Click here to read...
Summer session of NC to deliberate eight Bills- Kuensel
The summer session of the National Council (NC), which will begin on June 2, will deliberate eight Bills, including four money Bills. Click here to read...
Domestic borrowings push debt-to-GDP ratio to 130.9%- Kuensel
The government’s domestic borrowings pushed the public debt to Nu 247.68 billion (B) in the first three months of this year, according to the finance ministry’s quarterly debt report. Click here to read...
Bhutanese economy should move from resource-driven to productivity-driven- Kuensel
With only hydropower dictating the economy of the country, Bhutanese economy is facing the risk of becoming a mono-line economy, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ chief of Global Economic Monitoring, Hamid Rashid. Click here to read...
Govt. secures loan of 3.3-billion Japanese yen to boost economy- Bhutan Times
To boost economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and fully return to a path of high and inclusive growth, the government secured a 3.3-billion (US 30-million) loan from Japan. Click here to read...
Maldives
Japan grants Maldives USD 5.1m as aid: The Sun
During a special ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Takeuchi Midori signed the Exchange of Notes relating to the grant aid. Click here to read...
Maldives no longer has a tourism "off-season": Avas MV
Responding to questions posed by MPs at Monday's Parliament Sitting, the Minister said top tourism-sector officials agree that the Maldives no longer has a tourism off-season. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Myanmar’s military seizes control of dam in Gangaw Township- Myanmar Now
Resistance forces in northern Magway’s Ye region had fought for nearly a year to capture the dam on the Myittha River. Click here to read...
Six civilians used as human shields found dead near Myaing village- Myanmar Now
The victims were among at least 40 villagers captured by junta soldiers advancing through the area in recent weeks. Click here to read...
It is necessary to focus on the interests of the Union as regions and states are inhabited not only by a single ethnicity but by all ethnicities as a Union: Senior General- GNLM
Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received a peace delegation led by Chairman Saw Htaw Lay of the Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) KNU/KNLA (PC) at the parlour of Bayintnaung Villa in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning to talk about peace issues. Click here to read...
Myanmar Junta Torches 10 Villages in Two Days in Sagaing- Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s regime launched airstrikes on and torched 10 villages in five townships in Sagaing Region over the weekend, displacing thousands of civilians. Click here to read...
UNHCR chief fears for Rohingya support as Ukraine grabs attention- Mizzima
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi callS for continued support for some one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as the crises in Ukraine and Afghanistan grab much of the world's attention. Click here to read...
Nepal
Twenty victims found after Nepal air crash, hopes fade for two missing- Himalayan Times
Hopes were fading in Nepal on Monday of finding any survivors among the 22 people aboard a small plane that crashed into a Himalayan mountainside a day earlier, officials said, with just two people still to be accounted for. Click here to read...
KMC Mayor, Deputy Mayor elects take oath of office- Himalayan Times
Newly elected Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Balendra Shah has taken oath of office and secrecy, today. Click here to read...
Sisdole locals say they won’t allow garbage at Banchare Danda until their demands are met- Kathmandu Post
Over 200 households with around 1,200 family members who reside near the Sisdole and Banchare Danda landfills have been categorised as highly affected households. Click here to read...
Upset at local election results, two Madhes parties look for options- Kathmandu Post
Will Janata Samajbadi and Loktantrik Samajbadi explore merger for upcoming polls? Click here to read...
Nepal’s interface with information- Nepali Times
Anew survey of media trends in Nepal conducted nationwide earlier this year shows that the use of social media networks has left radio, tv and the print press trailing further behind. But even though they interact with and share social media content, most citizens have little trust in it. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Islamabad-ttp-agree-on-indefinite-ceasefire: Dawn
The extension in ceasefire, which was to come to an end last night, indicates significant progress in talks between the two sides in the Afghan capital Kabul, sources familiar with the development said. Click here to read...
Editorial: Talking-to-ttp: Dawn
After years of battling the banned TTP, the state had reopened channels of communication with the TTP, facilitated by the Afghan Taliban. However, if we review the reported demands of the militants, it is easy to understand why a UNSC report has termed prospects of peace between the TTP and the state of Pakistan “bleak”. Click here to read...
Govt pitches Rs3.77tr deficit target to IMF: The Express Tribune
The government has pitched the budget deficit target of 4.8% of the total size of economy, or Rs3.77 trillion, to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the next fiscal year, which the global lender wants to be adjusted further through a combination of expenditure cuts and additional revenue mobilisation. Click here to read...
Opinion: The state of the economy: The News
The good news is that, as per the national accounts committee’s numbers, the provisional GDP growth rate for the current fiscal year (2021-22) is 5.97 per cent. The bad news is that, despite this healthy growth, Pakistan is once again facing the menace of twin deficits – dollars deficit (current account deficit, CAD) and rupee deficit (fiscal deficit). Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Lanka central bank governor thanks India for financial aid: The Hindu
Shortage in supply of essential commodities like oil, wheat, iron, etc, in the global market and insufficient liquid resources in Central Bank of Sri Lanka, is leading to Sri Lanka struggling to import essential commodities causing socio-political unrest in the island nation, said P Nandalal Weerasinghe, governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). Click here to read...
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka urges airlines to fly full tank or fill elsewhere: Business Standard
Sri Lanka is recommending airlines carry enough jet fuel to last return trips or fill up elsewhere, as the island grapples with a shortage of everything from oil to food due to a foreign-exchange crisis. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka protesters blast PM’s proposed political reforms amid economic crisis: Arab News
Political reforms proposed by the Sri Lankan prime minister have failed to appease protesters in the country, as they urged on Monday for the interim government to focus on resolving the ongoing economic crisis. Click here to read...
A great fire sale of Sri Lankan assets could be about to begin: Live Mint
Sri Lanka has a habit of selling off its assets when times are tough. And it doesn’t get much tougher than this. The island nation is in default and in desperate need of $4 billion to pay for food, fuel and fertilizer to stave off a deeper crisis. Click here to read...
