Afghanistan
Mujahid: Efforts Underway for Islamic Emirate Diplomatic Presence in India-Tolo News
Following reports about a proposed list of diplomats from the Islamic Emirate to India, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate Zabihullah Mujahid has stated that the presence of diplomats from both countries in New Delhi and Kabul is a necessity, and discussions on the matter are ongoing. Click here to read...
Malaysian Minister: No Strategic Cooperation between Kabul, Kuala Lumpur-Tolo News
The Malaysian Minister of Education said that due to the lack of recognition of the Islamic Emirate by this country, there are no official relations between Kabul and Kuala Lumpur. Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that for this reason, no strategic cooperation exists between the two countries. Click here to read...
Explosion in Kabul: Security Force Member Killed, 3 Civilians Injured-Tolo News
In a suicide attack on Thursday, February 13 at the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, one person was killed, and three others were injured. The ministry’s spokesperson Mohammad Kamal Afghan stated that a suicide bomber attempting to enter the ministry was eliminated by security forces of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read...
Richard Bennett: Child recruitment part of broader Child Rights Crisis in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, stated that the recruitment of children is part of the broader child rights crisis in the country. On Wednesday, February 12, Bennett marked “International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers,” highlighting how the prohibition of education, forced labor, and economic hardships expose children to armed violence. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
BNP, Jamaat on collision course – The Daily Star
The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami now seem to be poles apart over when the local and parliamentary elections should be held and the proportional representation system in the House. The fact that their relationship is strained became clear as day last week when the parties took opposing stances on the timing of the polls and on proportional representation. Click here to read...
Yunus, Musk discuss bringing Starlink in Bangladesh – The Daily Star
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus had an extensive discussion with Elon Musk to explore future collaboration and to make further progress in introducing Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh. The founder of SpaceX and chief adviser talked about the potential transformational impact of Starlink's satellite communications, particularly for Bangladesh's enterprising youth, rural and vulnerable women and remote communities, says a press release of the chief adviser's press wing. Click here to read...
CA: Election possible in December – Dhaka Tribune
Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has said that a charter will be prepared based on unanimous consensus, reform recommendations will be implemented, and then the election process will follow. He indicated that the election could take place in December this year. He made the comments during a plenary session with British journalist Becky Anderson at the World Government Summit on Thursday. Click here to read...
Touhid, Jaishankar likely to hold talks in Muscat – Prothom Alo
Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain is likely to hold a bilateral talk with Indian External Affair Minister Dr S jaishankar on the sideline of Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat be held from 16-17 February. “Honourable foreign adviser is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart in Muscat,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said at the weekly media briefing this afternoon. Click here to read...
Necessary documents sent to India to extradite Hasina: Govt – Prothom Alo
Bangladesh has sent necessary documents to India to bring back former prime minister Sheikh Hasina under the existing extradition treaty. Rafiqul Alam, spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry, made the disclosure in a weekly briefing at the ministry on Thursday. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Bhutan AgriSustain Fund seeks USD 80 million to support agri-food sector - Kuensel
The Bhutan AgriSustain Fund (BAF) is aiming to raise USD 80 million from philanthropists and private investors to provide long-term financial support for Bhutan’s agri-food sector. BAF is a financial approach to fund mobilisation and to drive the fund and attract investors. With technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) has developed a comprehensive prospectus for BAF to attract external funding. The prospectus outlines the fund’s objectives and potential for transforming Bhutan’s agriculture sector. Click here to read...
Maldives
Maldives Calls for Urgent Action on Palestinian Health Services at WHO-PSM News
The Maldives issued an urgent call for the restoration of essential health services and the operationalisation of health facilities in Palestine during the 156th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board in Geneva. The meeting, convened at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 11 February, was attended by a Maldivian delegation led by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim. Click here to read...
Vice President Calls for Urgent Climate Action at Climate Change Forum-PSM News
Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has stressed that mitigating climate impacts and managing crises requires proactive leadership. He made the remark while delivering his keynote address at the Climate Change Forum on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2025. Click here to read...
Myanmar
In Myanmar, junta makes a poll pitch – Deccan Herald
Myanmar has been engulfed in a brutal civil war since 2021 when the military removed Aung San Suu Kyi from power. Since then, the country has witnessed relentless conflict between the military, the ousted civilian government, and various ethnic armed groups. Click here to read...
Centre implements stricter free movement regime, Myanmar citizens cross border after submitting biometric details – The Tribune
Having faced backlash from states like Nagaland, Mizoram and civil societies and tribal bodies in Manipur for its last year announcement of scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border, the Centre has introduced a stricter regime which allowed movement of people from the neighbouring nation into India, but only after collecting their documents and biometric details. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Pakistan, Turkiye pledge to achieve $5bn bilateral trade target-Dawn
Pakistan and Turkiye have pledged to continue efforts towards achieving a bilateral trade volume of $5 billion, Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday. The Turkish president arrived in Islamabad shortly after Thursday midnight and was received by the premier and President Asif Ali Zardari in Rawalpindi. Click here to read...
Foreign currency reserves drop by $252m-The Express Tribune
Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves declined by $252 million, bringing the State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) total holdings to $11.17 billion due to external debt repayments. As of February 7, 2025, Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves stood at $15.86 billion, with the SBP holding $11.17 billion and commercial banks' reserves at $4.70 billion. Click here to read...
Petrol hits Rs1200 per litre in Kurram, diesel unavailable-The Express Tribune
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's tribal district of Kurram, petrol is being sold at an alarming rate of Rs1200 per litre due to the prolonged closure of roads, according to media reports. Since November 2024, the security situation in the area has led to the blockage of land routes, resulting in limited vehicle movement and shortages of essential goods, including food and petroleum products. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Adani Green Energy Withdraws $442 Million Sri Lanka Power Projects - NDTV
Adani Green Energy Withdraws $442 Million Sri Lanka Power Projects - NDTV
Adani Green Energy Ltd withdrew from building from two renewable energy wind farms in Sri Lanka, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. Adani Green Energy had been under protracted discussions with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and government departments for over two years to set up two 484 megawatt (MW) renewable energy wind farms in Sri Lanka's Mannar and Pooneryn. Click here to read...
Government, Adani likely to meet next week to re-discuss pulled out project in Sri Lanka – Daily Mirror
Hours after news broke out that Adani Green Energy, founded by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, had decided to withdraw its wind energy project from Sri Lanka yesterday, the Daily Mirror learns that both the Indian side and Sri Lankan government had decided to go in for another set of discussions next week, signaling that the deal may not be entirely off. Click here to read...
