Afghanistan
Afghanistan Reaches Preliminary Agreement to Send Workers to Qatar-Tolo News
Amid growing complaints from daily wage workers about the lack of employment, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has announced that a preliminary agreement has been reached to send Afghan workers to Qatar. Samiullah Ebrahimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said that efforts are ongoing to finalize the draft agreement, after which a formal deal between the two countries will be signed. Click here to read...
'We Have No Homes': Afghan Migrants Face Harsh Reality after Deportation-Tolo News
With the increasing wave of returning Afghan migrants from neighboring countries—particularly Pakistan—many repatriated families are facing a serious challenge: the lack of shelter. Several migrants deported through the Torkham crossing say they not only have no homes to live in, but they also do not own any land on which to build one. They are urgently calling on the caretaker government to address their plight. Click here to read...
Two citizens of Afghanistan executed in Iran for Drug Trafficking-The Khaama Press
Two citizens of Afghanistan were executed in Iran for drug trafficking, increasing concerns over executions. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, the human rights organization Hengaw reported that two Afghanistan citizens, Rabia Shah Morad and Wasim, were executed in Qazvin prison, Iran, on charges of drug trafficking. Both individuals were from Kunduz province in Afghanistan and had been arrested three years ago for drug-related offenses. Click here to read...
Saudi Arabia executes Afghan citizen for ‘Heroin Smuggling’-The Khaama Press
Saudi Arabia executed an Afghan citizen for allegedly smuggling heroin, highlighting the country’s strict anti-narcotics laws and enforcement. Saudi Arabia on Sunday, April 13, executed an Afghan man in the Mecca region for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country. Click here to read...
Bhutan
US tariff on Bhutan’s exports likely to have minimal impact: ADB – Kuensel
Despite the United States (US) imposing a 10 percent export tariff on Bhutanese goods and commodities, its impact is expected to be minimal. According to an economics officer with the Bhutan Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank, Sonam Lhendup, the impact would be minimal, directly or indirectly. Going through the four years’ export figures of Bhutan with the US, he said that the export to the US accounts for mere 0.1 percent of Bhutan’s gross domestic product. However, uncertainty remains regarding the exact tariff rate Bhutanese exports will attract. While the baseline is 10 percent, Sonam Lhendup said that the US has previously imposed a 25 percent tariff on all imports of aluminum, steel, and cars. Bhutan’s primary export to the US is ferrosilicon, constituting 80 percent of its shipments. Click here to read...
Maldives
Economic Minister Saeed in Türkiye amid rumours of planned missile purchase – Adhadhu
Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed departed for Türkiye on April 14, 2025 amid rumours of plans to purchase missiles for the Maldivian army. The Economic Ministry said Saeed will meet international and Turkish businessmen during his visit. He is expected to work to expand trade relations between the two countries and facilitate further trade opportunities. On April 12, 2025 the media reported Türkiye's decision to donate the TCG Volkan (P-343), a Dogan-class fast attack craft, to the Maldives. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed the decision and said this donation would help increase its capabilities. According to rumours, donating an attack craft was to get the Maldivian government to purchase missiles that cost millions of dollars. The government is facing criticism due to the rumours, especially because of the country's fiscal situation and high spending. Click here to read...
Saudi Fund Fuels Velana Airport Expansion with USD 18.61 Million Loan – PSM News
The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has strengthened its enduring partnership with the Maldives by providing a USD 18.61 million loan to accelerate the expansion of Velana International Airport (VIA). The agreement was formalised at a signing ceremony at the President's Office by Minister of Finance and Planning Moosa Zameer, while Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Murshad, Chief Executive Officer of the SFD, signed on behalf of the Saudi institution. With the additional funding in place, the finance ministry has expressed optimism regarding the project's accelerated timeline, highlighting its potential to generate profound economic benefits for the Maldives. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Myanmar junta faces accusations of obstructing earthquake aid to opposition-held zones – Myanmar Now
Myanmar’s military junta has been accused of blocking the delivery of international humanitarian aid to regions devastated by a recent powerful earthquake that are under the control of the opposition National Unity Government (NUG). The NUG alleges that the military regime is exploiting aid distribution for political and military advantage. The magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28 inflicted severe damage across regions administered by both the military junta and the NUG, as well as contested areas. According to figures released by the regime, the current death toll stands at more than 3,600. Numerous international donors, including the United Nations, China, India, the United States, the European Union, and Australia, have pledged substantial aid amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. However, NUG officials claim that the junta is intentionally blocking this crucial assistance from reaching opposition-controlled and conflict-stricken areas. Click here to read...
Myanmar delegates attend ASEAN-China Media and Think Tank Forum – The Global New Light of Myanmar
The ASEAN-China Media and Think Tank Forum was held at the InterContinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, April 11, 2025. At the forum, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Minister of Communications of Malaysia, the Editor-in-Chief of Xinhua News Agency and the Deputy General Manager of China Communications Construction Company Limited delivered speeches. The forum was organized with the theme ‘Strengthening ASEAN-China Cooperation’. The forum was divided into three sessions with the titles: Promoting Civilizational Exchange, Setting an Example for the Global South, Boosting Maritime Silk Road Cooperation, Charting a New Course for Peaceful Development and Harnessing the AI Revolution, Seizing Unprecedented Opportunities. Click here to read...
Pakistan
IMF concludes Pak visit, set to propose transparency reforms-The Express Tribune
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified key shortcomings in Pakistan's governance, including the politicisation of the civil service, weak organisational accountability, and excessive focus on short-term goals. These issues, the IMF noted, contribute to broader governance weaknesses and increase vulnerability to corruption. Click here to read...
US weapons left in Afghanistan used in Jaffar Express attack, confirms US media-The Express Tribune
Sophisticated American military equipment left behind during the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan is increasingly being used by militants in Pakistan, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to a Washington Post investigation. Weapons such as M16 rifles, PVS-14 night-vision devices and thermal optics—originally intended for Afghan forces—have appeared in recent cross-border attacks. The March 11 bombing of the Jaffar Express train involved US-origin rifles, Pakistani authorities confirmed. Click here to read...
Remittances hit record $4.1b-The Express Tribune
Driven by the economic migration of approximately 2.4 million Pakistanis amid the worsening state of the domestic economy, workers' remittances to Pakistan surged past the $4 billion mark for the first time in March 2025. Workers' remittances have reached an unprecedented $4.1 billion, said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a press release. This reflects a strong year-on-year growth of 37.3% and a month-on-month increase of 29.8%. Click here to read...
