Afghanistan
First Batch of Afghani Banknotes Arrived in Kabul: Source: Tolo News
The first batch of Afghani banknotes arrived in Kabul, a source within Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank) said, adding that another batch will arrive on Thursday. However, the source did not provide details about the number of banknotes. The Union of Sarai Shahzada Money Exchanger said that the arrival of new banknotes in Kabul will not affect the value of the Afghani currency against foreign currencies. Click here to read...
Control of US Congress Still Unsettled: Tolo News
U.S. Senate control hung in the balance while Republicans edged closer to securing a majority in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, a day after Democrats outperformed expectations and avoided a Republican "red wave" in midterm elections. The Senate contests in Nevada and Arizona, where Democratic incumbents were seeking to hold off Republican challengers, were as yet undecided, with thousands of uncounted ballots that could take days to tally. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Minister: Bangladesh tops realization of green climate fund as its agenda at COP27: Dhaka Tribune
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin has said that Bangladesh will urge the developed countries for $100 billion that they had promised to provide to the countries affected by climate change at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of The Parties, popularly called COP27. Click here to read...
Bangladesh explores alternative sources for wheat import: Dhaka Tribune
Bangladesh has opted to explore alternative overseas sources to meet demands for wheat, even with higher cost, as the war between Russia and Ukraine blocked ways for import of the country's second major staple from these two wheat-producing nations. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Nepal, Bhutan Can ‘Use India’: With Centre’s Nod, We’re Now Uplinking Hub - Bharat Times
The Central government on Wednesday approved new guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of TV channels in India. Under the new guidelines, no prior permission will be needed by permission holders for live telecasts of events. Specific timelines have been proposed for granting permission to broadcasters. Click here to read...
Civil Service Reform Bill proposes major changes - Kuensel Online
To make ministries influential and integrated entities, the Civil Service Reform Bill 2022 proposes to reduce the number of ministries from 10 to nine. Member in-charge of the Bill, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, presented the Bill in the National Assembly yesterday as an urgent Bill. Presenting the Bill, Lyonchhen said that the civil service is being revamped for a right-sized, future-ready, efficient and effective civil service that would deliver the status of “Developed Bhutan” aligning to the Royal Kasho to reform the civil service. Click here to read...
Maldives
Former gov'ts did not attempt to resolve Chagos issue: gov’t - Avas
Chagos is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometers south of the Maldives archipelago. For decades, Mauritius and the United Kingdom have been in a dispute over ownership of the Chagos Islands, after Mauritius claimed the Chagos Archipelago as Mauritian territory when Mauritius gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968. Maldives became embroiled in the dispute as the country's EEZ overlaps with that of Chagos. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka and Maldives continue collaboration in construction services sector - Daily Mirror
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Maldives and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) jointly organized a virtual meeting for Sri Lankan construction services companies to interact with the SME & Entrepreneur Federation of Maldives (SEFM), Maldives Contractors’ Association and to learn about the market entry possibilities, procedures and regulations applicable to foreign investments, including joint ventures in civil construction, MEP and Engineering services. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Humanitarian visas for Myanmar nationals prioritised - National Tribune
In recognition of the grave humanitarian and security situation in Myanmar, the Albanese Government has designated Myanmar nationals in Australia as a priority caseload in our onshore humanitarian visa program. Click here to read...
KIA Poses Formidable Threat to Junta Military in Northern Myanmar - The Irrawaddy
In Kachin State in northern Myanmar, the military regime is facing an increasing threat from its old enemy, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The KIA strenuously objected when the Myanmar military seized power in a coup last year. When the military carried out brutal crackdowns on peaceful anti-coup protests, the armed group warned that it would respond if unarmed protesters were shot in Kachin. Click here to read...
Manipur: Myanmar national held for illegally entering India, procuring Aadhaar card - NE Now
Security agencies in Manipur have apprehended a Myanmar national for allegedly entering India illegally and procuring an Aadhaar card. The person, a Myanmar national, was held by a joint team of Assam Rifles troopers and Manipur police personnel. The arrested Myanmar national had procured the Aadhaar card in Manipur through fraudulent means. Another person, an Indian, who assisted the Myanmar national in entering India illegally has also been nabbed, Manipur police informed. Click here to read...
Myanmar's military commutes jail terms of election officials - ABC News
Myanmar’s military-installed government announced Wednesday that it has released the former chairman and another member of the country's election commission who were jailed for alleged fraud in the 2020 general election. The military's information office said in a statement that former Union Election Commission Chairman Hla Thein and his colleague, Myint Naing, were freed on Oct. 25 to demonstrate leniency and to teach them how the state shows kindness and goodwill. Click here to read...
Myanmar NUG Foreign Minister’s Unaired Global Town Hall Speech - The Irrawaddy
Daw Zin Mar Aung, the foreign minister of Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), was invited to join the Global Town Hall 2022 meeting on Saturday. Eager to participate, she sent pre-recorded opening remarks in which she explained that the meeting’s theme, “Sustaining Peace and Development in a Divided World”, could not be more relevant in the context of Myanmar because, she said, “It is important for this forum to recognize, that in response to the military coup we have found common purpose across many of the different ethnicities and religions of Myanmar.” Click here to read...
Nepal
Nepal rattled by 3 earthquakes in 5 hours. Visuals of destruction emerge - Live Mint
A severe jolt that woke residents in Western Nepal in the dead of the night killed six people, which includes four children A severe jolt that woke residents in Western Nepal in the dead of the night killed six people, which includes four children, in the village at the foothill of the Himalayas. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake was also the third since in the country within a span of five hours. Click here to read...
As Powerful Earthquake Hits Nepal, Scientists Warn of High Magnitude Tremor in Himalayan Region - News18
Scientists on Wednesday said there is a strong possibility of a major earthquake in the Himalayan region and underlined the need for better preparation to minimise the damage to life and property. Tremors were felt in Uttarkhand after a strong 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted the remote mountainous region of western Nepal early Wednesday, killing six people. Senior geophysicist of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Ajay Paul said the Himalayas have come into existence as a result of a collision between Indian and Eurasian plates. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Exclusive: Imran’s candid take on ‘bad romance’ with military: Dawn
There are at least three dozen personnel from the provincial police force stationed on the narrow lane leading to Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence these days. But inside, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman cuts a lonely figure. Click here to read...
PTI supporters continue protest in Islamabad: The Express Tribune
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja tweeted a video from the Inter-Junction Principal Road (IJP) road in Islamabad, where party supporters were seen watching Pakistan's T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on a big screen on Wednesday. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
More than 9,000 public complaints against Police misconduct: Daily Mirror
A total of Nine thousand two hundred ninety five public complaints have been lodged against Sri Lanka Police with the National Police Commission (NPC) during the last five years, documents show. These complaints include cases of unlawful arrest, false charges, assault, torture, partiality, abuse of power, as well as Police inaction. Click here to read...
Maiden export of 12,500kg sour bananas to Dubai on Nov. 26: Daily Mirror
For the first time from Sri Lanka, arrangements have been made to export the first consignment of sour banana to the Dubai Market on November 26, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He said 12,500kg of sour bananas in a 40' container will be exported to Dubai market later this month. Sri Lanka's economy is currently suffering from foreign exchange crunch. Click here to read...
