Afghanistan
'Afghanistan': Two-thirds of population face food insecurity – First Post
Two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population is food insecure, according to Human Rights Watch report. “Afghanistan has largely disappeared from the media, but it remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters,” said the HRW report. As per the reports, after the ban on women working for NGOs, the crisis has become more severe. It said 875,000 children face acute malnutrition. Click here to read...
Afghanistan War Reaches Delhi: Why Is Taliban Fighting Its Own Embassy in India? – The Quint
The power tussle between the Afghanistan embassy in India and the Taliban administration has continued to escalate after a move by the regime to formally take control was rejected from the embassy's diplomats. Two and a half years after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, the regime has directed a change in leadership in the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
Bangladesh rocked by power cuts as Cyclone Mocha hits fuel supply – Al Jazeera
Bangladesh is facing its worst power cuts in more than seven months as a deadly cyclone forces the closure of both its floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals less than a month after a scorching heatwave caused widespread outages in the South Asian country. Cyclone Mocha, one of the strongest storms to hit the region in years, made landfall at the weekend in neighbouring Myanmar in Bangladesh’s south. Click here to read...
India & Bangladesh launch ’50 Start-ups Exchange Programme’ – News On Air
The first group of 10 start-up companies under the 50 start-ups exchange programme between India and Bangladesh returned to Dhaka after completing a successful five-day visit to India from 8-12 May. These Start-ups belong to sectors such as e-commerce, health, transport and logistics, energy, education and skill development. Click here to read...
Bangladesh government should think twice before trading in Chinese currency: Report - The Print
Certain financial institutions in Bangladesh are exploring for Chinese payment channels to settle transactions with Russian banks that were removed from the SWIFT system to overcome the challenges experienced by importers and exporters as a result of Western sanctions following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, The Asian Age reported. Click here to read...
Did you know that there is a ‘Bangladesh’ in India too? – Times of India
Did you know that India has a place called Bangladesh? Well, it’s in Kashmir, and is located at a distance of around 30 km away from the Bandipora district of Kashmir. This small and pretty village is called Bangladesh sits near Wular Lake in Kashmir, and has a total population of 300 people. Dotted with waterfalls and mountains, this place on the Bandipora-Sopora road is easy to access. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Businesses in Gelephu struggle to survive – Kuensel
Due to a shortage of customers, many establishments, particularly small enterprises in Gelephu town, are mostly seen shuttered. As companies struggle to stay afloat, some 80 shops in Gelephu’s main town alone remain closed throughout the day, while others that are open make only modest profit margins. Except for pubs, restaurants, and a few hotels, other businesses such as grocery and clothing close as early as 6pm, with the majority of those remaining leaving by 8:30pm. Click here to read...
Australia commits to remain with Bhutan post-LDC graduation – Kuensel
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts, MP talks with Kuensel’s Choki Wangmo during his visit to Bhutan. Bhutan-Australia celebrates 20 years of bilateral relations this year. Australia congratulates Bhutan on the extraordinary progress it has made towards graduating from the LDC status, particularly in the face of the global economic challenges that we’re seeing recently, the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic disruption caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read...
Nepal
Industrialists lament unfavourable business environment – The Kathmandu Post
Industrialists lamented the absence of an enabling environment that could aid the establishment of industries in the country. Speaking at the Make in Nepal summit, jointly organised by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, they said favourable policies by the government would enable the business sector to grow and expand and create job opportunities which would stop the brain drain. Click here to read...
Flights between Australia and Nepal soon, says Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts – The Kathmandu Post
Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts said on Tuesday that the proposed flight connectivity between Australia and Nepal would bring the two countries closer and boost bilateral trade and tourism. Watts’ statement comes amid Nepal Airlines preparing to operate services to Australia, four years after signing an air service agreement. Click here to read...
Former PM Deuba’s relative involved in arms deal with China: Nepalese politician – The Hindu
A close relative of former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is involved in an arms deal with China that is being conducted in violation of due process, a member of the Nepalese Pratinidhi Sabha has alleged. Speaking to The Hindu from Kathmandu, Amaresh Kumar Singh, an independent MP has alleged that Bhushan Rana, brother-in-law of Mr. Deuba is involved in the arms deal that is prompting Nepal to purchase items like Armoured Personnel Careers (APCs), and tactical vehicles worth at least NR 6 billion. Click here to read...
Why India Should Prioritize Transmission Corridor For Nepal-Bangladesh Power Trade – Eurasia Review
Bangladesh and Nepal, both have reached an edge of a long-standing wait for India’s consent to start power export from Nepal to Bangladesh using India’s corridor. For the exchange of electricity between Bangladesh and Nepal, the Indian land between the two countries has to be crossed. Consequently, India’s consent is required as transmission lines have to be passed through Indian Territory. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Pakistan might seek financial aid from China as IMF deadlock persists: Report – Hindustan Times
Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is also facing political turmoil, has adopted the policy of import restrictions to manage its economy in order to avert default. Pakistan has no other option but to ask its all-weather ally China to bail out its ailing economy to avert full fledged eruption of the Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis if the IMF does not revive the USD 6.5 billion programme, according to a media report on Tuesday. Click here to read...
Pakistan: Civilians must not be tried under military laws – Amnesty
Responding to the press release published yesterday by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) indicating the Pakistan military’s intention to bring ‘arsonists’ during last week’s violent protests to trial under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act, Dinushika Dissanayake, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said: “It is alarming to note that the Pakistani Army has stated its intention to try civilians under military laws, possibly in military courts. Trying civilians in military courts is contrary to international law. Click here to read...
Pakistan court reserves verdict on Imran Khan’s bail plea in cases registered against him in Punjab province since May 9 – The Hindu
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on May 16 reserved the verdict on Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan's petition seeking bail in all cases registered against him in Punjab province following his arrest in a corruption case last week that sparked violent protests by his supporters. Mr. Khan, 70, had filed the plea on Saturday, a day after being released on bail from Islamabad High Court (IHC). Click here to read...
Amid distrust of judiciary, Pakistan looks to revive military courts that tried Kulbhushan Jadhav – Indi Today
The Pakistan government, which is wary of the judiciary after it gave blanket protection to ex-PM Imran Khan, is planning to revive its military courts. Civilians accused of terrorism are tried in military courts. One such court had handed the death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Click here to read...
At least 16 killed as Pakistan tribes clash over coal mine – AlJazeera
At least 16 people have been killed and more than 10 injured in a clash between two tribes over the ownership of a coal mine in northwest Pakistan. Officials said the incident late on Monday was part of a decades-old tribal rivalry over the mine in Darra Adam Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Indian Naval Ship Batti Malv arrives at Sri Lanka’s port of Trincomalee on official visit – Colombo Page
Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions ceremonially welcomed the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Batti Malv arrived at the Port of Trincomalee on Tuesday morning (16th May 2023) on an official visit. During the ship’s stay, the crew will take part in several programs organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, with a view to promoting cooperation and goodwill between two navies. They are also expected to go on a sightseeing excursion in Trincomalee. Click here to read...
Understanding Sri Lanka’s Controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill 2023: Why Calls to Repeal the 1979 PTA Persist - Jurist
For years, Sri Lanka has occupied the international spotlight for one of its contentious laws—the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The PTA was introduced in 1979 during the Sri Lankan Civil War using the emergency law provisions in Part II of the Public Security Ordinance. While similar laws exist in other nations, showing widespread acceptance of such laws for national security even in democratic countries, it is of the utmost importance that they are used in a manner consistent with the principle of the rule of law. Click here to read...
Four SJB members, One SLFPer join UNP – Daily News
Deputy Mayor of the Gampaha Municipal Council Kapila Edirisinghe of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, three members of that party and the former member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Premasiri Kariyawasam, recently joined the United National Party. Chaminda Perera of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the Opposition Leader of the Gampaha PS and Saman Rupasinghe, a former member of the Pradeshiya Sabha are the other two who joined the UNP. Click here to read...
