Afghanistan
4,000 Afghan Families Deported from Pakistan in Past Week-Tolo News
In the past week, approximately four thousand families have been forcibly deported by Pakistan through the Torkham crossing into Afghanistan. Local officials stated that the deportation of Afghan migrants by Pakistan has intensified. Click here to read…
Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Ties Expanding in Politics and Trade-Tolo News
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, praised Uzbekistan's positive stance toward Afghanistan and said that political, economic, and trade interactions with Tashkent have expanded. Fitrat reiterated that the caretaker government seeks to broaden relations with all countries in the region and the world. Click here to read…
UNAMA criticizes Taliban virtue Ministry for Rights Violations-The Khaama Press
UNAMA’s new report criticizes the Taliban’s Virtue Ministry for policies that violate human rights and restrict citizens’ freedoms. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released a new report criticizing the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice under the Taliban. The report highlights that the ministry’s policies violate human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens of Afghanistan. Click here to read…
Taliban to execute one publicly in Nimroz tomorrow-The Khaama Press
Taliban will execute one individual publicly in Nimroz tomorrow, marking another instance of their return to public executions. Local sources in Nimroz province have reported that the Taliban are set to publicly execute an individual accused of murder. The execution is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 11, in Zaranj, the provincial capital of Nimroz. The identity of the individual to be executed has not yet been revealed, and the Taliban have not made any official comment on the matter. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Bitdeer launches its second-largest Bitcoin mining data centre in Jigmeling, Sarpang – Bhutan Broadcasting Service
Bitdeer launched its second-largest Bitcoin mining data centre at Jigmeling in Sarpang on Tuesday, adding to Bhutan’s growing digital asset mining sector. The 500-megawatt facility, which began phased operations on Tuesday, is set to reach full-scale operations by next year. The project, Bitdeer Jigmeling Private Limited, is a collaboration between Bitdeer and Druk Holding and Investments (DHI). GMC Governor Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, Sarpang Lam Neten, and officials from DHI and Bitdeer attended the inauguration. The facility covers more than 90 acres. Bitdeer, a Nasdaq-listed, Singapore-based blockchain and high-performance computing company, has mining data centres across the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. Since August last year, Bitdeer has been operating a 100-megawatt facility in Gedu. Click here to read…
Economy projected to grow at 8.5 percent in 2025: ADB – Kuensel
Bhutan’s economy is expected to grow at a robust pace of 8.5 percent this year, before moderating to 6 percent in 2026, according to the latest Asian Development Outlook (April) released yesterday. The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) economics officer of Bhutan Resident Mission, Sonam Lhendup, said that the growth will be driven by broad-based expansion across all sectors, with the industry sector projected to lead with a striking 18.6 percent growth. This growth is primarily attributed to the ramp-up in hydroelectric power generation and related infrastructure projects. The service sector is also expected to see substantial growth, with a forecasted expansion of 4.9 percent in 2024. This uptick will be driven by double-digit growth in transport, storage, and hospitality sectors, particularly as international tourism begins to rebound. Click here to read…
Maldives
Foreign Minister in Türkiye to Attend Antalya Diplomacy Forum – PSM News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has arrived in Antalya, Türkiye, at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to participate in the fourth edition of the Antalya Diplomay Forum. The Forum is scheduled to be held at the NEST Convention Centre in Antalya, Türkiye from 11 to 13 April 2025, under the theme, “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World”. At the Forum, Minister Khaleel will participate in a panel discussion titled “Geostrategic Dynamics in the Asia-Pacific”. In addition, the Minister is scheduled to meet with his counterparts from friendly countries across the globe, at the sidelines of the Forum. Click here to read…
More than 500 days for government: no asset disclosure – Adhadhu
The financial statements of senior government officials have not been made public more than 500 days after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office. The government previously said Muizzu intends to disclose the financial statements publicly. President's Office Undersecretary Mohamed Firuzul said this on November 19, 2023, on the second day of the government. However, as the government marks 509 days in office today, the asset declarations have yet to be published on the President's Office website. President's Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed has not officially responded to the issue or commented on the status of the task. Click here to read…
Private party funded President Muizzu's recent trip to the UK – Adhadhu
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has revealed that his recent trip to the UK was funded by a private company. Speaking in his weekly podcast, Muizzu said the trip from April 1 to 5 was funded by a private company, but did not provide details. "The government didn't spend much on this trip. Almost everything related to the trip was done through private sector sponsorship. President's Office has now disclosed the details. We spent around MVR 150,000 on this trip. That is the cost of my ticket. Tickets for everyone else, accommodation and over all everything else were arranged through private sector funding and sponsorship,” he said. Muizzu travelled to the UK to launch a tourism promotion campaign with Liverpool Football Club. According to information from the President's Office, the government spent MVR 153,689 on the trip. Click here to read…
Myanmar
Myanmar junta sends more workers to Russia amid growing domestic instability – Myanmar Now
The Myanmar junta is actively strengthening its ties with Russia through increased labour exports and economic concessions, even as the country grapples with ongoing armed conflict, political instability and a devastating earthquake. On April 8, the regime sent its second group of workers to Russia as part of a pilot labour migration program, according to junta-controlled state media. This followed a previous deployment of 24 workers who were sent to the Russian Joint-Stock Company ‘Inturd’ on March 5 and an interpreter sent on March 22. The selection and processing of these workers were managed by Vista International Co., Ltd. in collaboration with the junta’s Ministry of Labour. Myanmar officials have stated that the program aims to create job opportunities abroad and enhance cooperation with Russia. Click here to read…
KIA-Led Force Seizes Indaw from Myanmar Junta After 8-Month Battle – The Irrawaddy
Resistance groups led by the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have seized full control of Indaw, a northern Sagaing town near the Kachin State border, after eight months of fighting. The KIA, People’s Defense Force (PDF) of the civilian National Unity Government, and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) had been attempting to capture the town since August last year. The combined resistance force defeated Indaw’s last remaining junta base – a hill and underground World War II-era Japanese military hospital – in an assault on Monday. The base overlooked the town and controlled the nearby Shwebo-Myitkyina highway leading to Katha and Maw Luu towns, according to a member of Katha PDF involved in its capture. Click here to read…
Myanmar Junta Kicks Off Poll Countdown Amid Quake Devastation – The Irrawaddy
Less than two weeks after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake claimed over 3,600 lives and devastated central Myanmar, the junta has switched focus from recovery efforts to preparations for a general election in December. On April 8, the junta’s Union Election Commission (UEC) reaffirmed its plan to hold the poll in December and January, calling on those wishing to set up political parties to submit their applications by May 9 to leave time for registration and campaigning. The election body also appointed commissioner Than Soe as its vice-chair, in an unprecedented move it said was aimed at “assisting the commission chairman and facilitating the commission’s functions.” Click here to read…
Pakistan
Pakistan, World Bank discuss energy collaboration-The Express Tribune
A high-level World Bank delegation led by Regional Director for South Asia Pankaj Gupta on Thursday held separate meetings with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari. The two sides discussed strategic partnerships and technical support to advance energy sector in the country. Click here to read…
Lahore to be ECO tourism capital-The Express Tribune
The capital of Punjab has been nominated as the Economic Cooperation Organisation's (ECO) tourism capital for the year 2027. A 25-member delegation of the 10-nation ECO will begin a visit to Lahore on April 13 to formally announce the nomination. The delegation from the ECO countries will visit historical sites, including the Walled City, and the Punjab Safe Cities Authority headquarters. Click here to read…
PM blocks tax relief for exporters-The Express Tribune
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday blocked a proposal to waive the 18% sales tax on local supplies of commodities, raw materials, and machinery to registered exporters due to a possible reaction from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Click here to read…
