Afghanistan
Islamic Emirate Leader Reiterates Commitment to Qisas Implementation-Tolo News
The leader of the Islamic Emirate once again emphasized the importance of enforcing the punishment of Qisas (retributive justice) in Afghanistan. Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, speaking at a seminar held in Kandahar for Hajj instructors, stated that Qisas, like other Islamic rulings, is obligatory and must be implemented. On Friday, the Islamic Emirate carried out Qisas sentences against four individuals in the provinces of Farah, Nimroz, and Badghis—a move that drew criticism from several international organizations, including the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Click here to read...
Border Wall with Afghanistan equipped with Advanced Weapons: Iranian Official-The Khaama Press
An Iranian official announced that the border wall with Afghanistan has been equipped with advanced weapons to enhance security. Iran’s Army Ground Force Commander, Amir Kiomars Heydari, recently discussed the country’s plan to secure its eastern borders with Afghanistan. The project aims to utilize advanced global technologies to prevent illegal crossings, security threats, and drug trafficking. The plan, which spans four years, is expected to be completed within three years, strengthening the nation’s border defenses. Click here to read...
Kabul’s Urban Crisis: 80% living in Unplanned Settlements, Says UN-Habitat-The Khaama Press
UN-Habitat reports 80% of Kabul’s population lives in unplanned settlements, highlighting severe urban planning challenges and urgent housing needs. According to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), four out of every five residents in Kabul currently live in unplanned or informal housing areas. This highlights a critical challenge for urban development in Afghanistan’s capital city, where rapid population growth has outpaced the provision of adequate infrastructure and regulated urban planning. Click here to read...
US issues 7-Day Deadline for thousands of Afghan Refugees to leave-The Khaama Press
The U.S. has issued a 7-day deadline for thousands of Afghan refugees to leave, sparking concerns over their safety. Reports indicate that the U.S. government has given Afghan refugees with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and others who entered the country through various programs a seven-day ultimatum to leave the United States. Click here to read...
Bhutan
BCCI to discuss with FIs on loan deferment post-June – Kuensel
The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) will collaborate with financial institutions (FIs) to explore options such as loan rescheduling, interest rate concessions, or partial write-offs for heavily indebted sectors like tourism and agriculture sector. These sectors may face repayment difficulties with the loan deferment options ending on June 30 this year, the BCCI president, Tandy Wangchuk announced during a press conference. Tandy Wangchuk said, adding that it is unlikely that the FIs would grant loan deferment to high-risk sectors. With the fourth phase of the monetary measures ending on June 30, many businesses, especially the hotel and tourism sectors, are worried as the sector has yet to fully recover from pandemic, increasing the risk of worsening financial instability. Click here to read...
Maldives
Maldives hold talks with Hungary to strengthen relations – Adhadhu
Foreign Minister Abdullah Khaleel held talks with Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Friday to strengthen relations with the country. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. Hungary provided protection to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in defiance of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC ordered Hungary to arrest Netanyahu and hand him over to the court to face charges of genocide against the Palestinian people when he began a four-day trip to the country on April 3. But Hungary refused to comply with the order and has since proposed to withdraw from the ICC. Click here to read...
Türkiye to donate a Dogan-class fast attack craft to Maldives – Adhadhu
Türkiye has decided to donate the TCG Volkan (P-343), a Dogan-class fast attack craft, to the Maldives. It will be donated as part of a bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening the country's maritime defense infrastructure. According to Turkish Ministry of Defense sources speaking to Anadolu Agency, the donation is part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The vessel has undergone maintenance and repairs at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command and is scheduled to be transported via a dock landing ship before July. Click here to read...
Maldives’ official reserve declines by nearly 5% – Sun International
Maldives’ official reserve declined by nearly five percent by the end of March compared to the previous month, according to the central bank. Data released by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) shows the balance of the official reserve at USD 791 million at the end of March – down from USD 832.1 million at the end of February. It marks a 4.9 percent decline. The decline in the official reserve follows a consistent rise in the balance of the reserve from September 2024 onwards. In a statement noting the increase in official reserve in January, the MMA attributed the spike to an increase in income compared to expenditure. It said that taxes and fees collected by the state in US dollars increased by 12 percent in January compared to the previous month. The central bank also cited an increase US dollars injected to the MMA under the foreign currency regulation. Click here to read...
Myanmar
5.5-Magnitude Quake Jolts Central Myanmar Amid Ongoing Aftershocks – All India Radio
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on April 13, 2025. According to the country’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the epicentre, with a depth of 20 km, was located about 14.5 km northeast of the Wundwin town in the Mandalay region. Earlier on April 11, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar at about 10:59 a.m. local time. According to a report from the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division, a total of 468 aftershocks were recorded in Myanmar and surrounding areas as of yesterday, following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit the nation on 28 of last month. Click here to read...
IAF Planes Hit by GPS Spoofing Over Myanmar During Quake Relief – Deccan Chronicle
Indian Air Force's transport aircraft carrying relief materials to earthquake-hit Myanmar late last month faced "GPS spoofing", triggering security concerns as pilots were forced to rely on the backup systems, sources in the military establishment said on Sunday.India sent the first consignment of relief materials to Myanmar on March 29 in a C-130 J aircraft and its pilots reported that the plane's GPS signal was tampered with when it was in Myanmar's airspace. New Delhi sent a total of six military transport aircraft to Myanmar transporting relief materials, field hospitals and rescue teams and a majority of them experienced GPS spoofing, they said. GPS spoofing is considered to be a form of cyber attack that includes generating false GPS signals. The false signals result in misleading the navigation equipment which creates a significant risk to aircraft. Click here to read...
UN denounces army attacks in Myanmar despite post-quake truce – Myanmar
The United Nations rights office decried Friday attacks by Myanmar’s military despite a ceasefire declared following last month’s devastating earthquake, which killed more than 3,600 people. “At a moment when the sole focus should be on ensuring humanitarian aid gets to disaster zones, the military is instead launching attacks,” spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. UN rights chief Volker Türk, she said, “calls on the military to remove any and all obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to cease military operations.” A multi-sided conflict has engulfed Myanmar since 2021, when the country’s military wrested power from the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Click here to read...
Pakistan
US delegation praises army’s terror fight-The Express Tribune
A US congressional delegation on Sunday praised the Pakistan Armed Forces for their critical role in combating terrorism and acknowledged the country’s resilience and strategic potential during high-level meetings with both civil and military leadership. The delegation, led by Congressman Jack Bergman and including Thomas Souzzi and Jonathan Jackson, held separate meetings with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Click here to read...
Trump tariffs could pose ‘$1.4bn risk to Pakistan exports’-Dawn
The increase in trade tariffs on Pakistani products announced by US President Donald Trump — later suspended temporarily — could have a devastating impact on Pakistan’s important exports and serves as a wake-up call for diversification, according to a state-owned think tank. Click here to read...
Nawaz arrives in London-Dawn
Former Pri¬me Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in London on Saturday afternoon following a visit to Belarus for what is expected to be a two-week stay. His arrival drew a sizable crowd of Pakistan Mu¬¬s¬lim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters outside the Avenfield apartments, where a group of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protesters had also gathered to protest against him. Click here to read...
