Afghanistan
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most mine-contaminated countries, Says HALO Trust-The Khaama Press
Afghanistan remains heavily contaminated with landmines, putting 6.4 million people at risk, mostly children, warns the HALO Trust. The HALO Trust, a leading demining organization, has warned that Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world. According to its latest report, an estimated 6.4 million Afghans are still at risk from explosive remnants of war. Click here to read...
Free Education App “Darakht-e-Danesh” launches on App Store-The Khaama Press
The new Darakht-e-Danesh app offers free, offline educational resources in multiple languages for learners in Afghanistan and beyond. A newly launched free application, “Darakht-e Danesh”, is now available on the App Store, offering users broad and easy access to educational resources. The app aims to empower students, teachers, and lifelong learners across Afghanistan and beyond. This educational platform provides over 8,000 resources in 127 different subjects, making it one of the most comprehensive multilingual learning apps in the region. The content is available in Persian (Dari), Pashto, English, Uzbeki, Nuristani, Shughni, Pashai, Sawi, Munji, and Balochi—catering to Afghanistan’s diverse linguistic communities. Click here to read...
Afghan SIV holders exempt from US Travel Ban, says State Department- The Khaama Press
The U.S. State Department confirmed Afghan SIV holders are exempt from the travel ban, ensuring continued visa processing and resettlement support. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Afghan nationals holding Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) are exempt from the recent travel ban imposed by former President Donald Trump. This clarification brings relief to thousands of Afghans awaiting resettlement. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, June 10, State Department spokesperson Timmy Bruce stated that the consular processing of Afghan SIV applications continues uninterrupted at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Click here to read...
Over 400 Prisoners Transferred from Iran to Afghanistan- Tolo News
Over the past year, more than 400 Afghan prisoners who had been sentenced to imprisonment in Iran have been transferred to Afghanistan in two separate rounds. The spokesperson for the Prison Affairs Administration stated that the transferred prisoners are receiving all necessary services, including the right to meet with their families. Click here to read...
Bhutan
Bhutan records explosive spike in heroin trafficking – Kuensel
A record-breaking wave of heroin seizures has jolted the country’s law-enforcement agencies, which confiscated nearly 29 kilogrammes (Kg) of brown sugar in the first five months of 2025, more than the combined total of the previous five years. As of May 26, this year, the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) crackdown resulted in 21 cases of drug busts with 32 arrests. This is a sharp rise in narcotics trafficking from 2024, when authorities recorded 10 cases, resulting in 15 arrests and the seizure of just under 50 grams. In 2023, police recorded a single case with 0.36 grams. Customs officials at Paro International Airport intercepted three separate heroin smuggling attempts. The three individuals were traveling on flights from Bangkok to Paro, with the drugs reportedly passing undetected through Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand before reaching Bhutan. Click here to read...
Maldives
World Bank raises GDP forecast amid tourism surge and VIA Expansion – Adhadhu
The World Bank has revised its growth forecast for the Maldivian economy, projecting a stronger-than-expected performance this year, driven by a robust recovery in the tourism sector and an increase in tourist arrivals. In its latest Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank now expects the Maldives' GDP to expand by 5.7 percent in 2025, up from the earlier forecast of 4.6 percent. According to the report, the upward revision reflects renewed activity in tourism, a key pillar of the nation's economy, fueled in part by infrastructure improvements and seasonal demand. World Bank highlighted the role of the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) in strengthening tourism capacity and drawing more visitors. In line with the current trend, the World Bank has also upgraded its economic growth outlook for 2026. Click here to read...
Transport Minister Urges Reforms to Boost State Revenue from Maritime Activities – PSM News
The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, has stressed the importance of ensuring that the state benefits from maritime activities conducted within the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Minister made the remarks in an interview with the state media, PSM News, highlighting the efforts being made to develop and expand the country’s maritime sector. The government is actively working to expand the services provided under the maritime sector, overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. The Minister noted that some maritime activities carried out within the EEZ do not yield sufficient benefit the state, largely due to regulatory changes over the years. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Four people confirmed dead in downing of fighter jet – Myanmar Now
At least four people were killed when a fighter jet was shot down by resistance forces in Sagaing Region’s Pale Township on Tuesday, local sources have confirmed. The aircraft crashed in the village of Sa Par Sayt shortly after noon on Tuesday after being downed during fighting between regime and resistance forces near the border with Magway Region. “Three men and a woman were killed when the fighter jet crashed into the building where they were sheltering,” a member of the National Unity Government’s local administrative team told Myanmar Now. According to the administrator, two more people were also killed by junta airstrikes on the village at around 3pm on the same day. Click here to read...
UN labour agency revives sanctions against Myanmar junta – Myanmar Now
For the first time since sanctioning the previous military dictatorship 25 years ago, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reinstated sanctions this month in response to alleged workers’ rights violations by the current regime. The ILO, a United Nations (UN) agency, took similar action against the junta headed by former commander-in-chief of the military Sen-Gen Than Shwe in the year 2000, citing the regime’s perpetration of and failure to curtail widespread forced labour practices as the grounds for sanctions. Click here to read...
Myanmar on the ‘path to self-destruction’ if violence does not end – UN News
Nearly three months after a catastrophic earthquake struck Myanmar, the country continues to grapple with its aftermath alongside the brutal civil war which has devastated the country since the February 2021 military coup. Since then, “there has been no end to the violence, even though thousands have been killed and thousands more injured,” said UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Julie Bishop, on June 10, briefing the General Assembly. “I have stressed consistently that without a ceasefire, a de-escalation of violence and a focus on the needs of the people, there can be no inclusive lasting peace,” she said. Click here to read...
Pakistan
PM leaves for UAE today on official visit-Dawn
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is undertaking an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday (June 12) to express gratitude to their rulers for supporting Pakistan’s stance during the recent conflict with India. The visit reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE, which are marked by mutual trust, shared values, and close cooperation across multiple sectors, said an official press rel¬ease issued here on Wednesday. Click here to read...
Budget 2025-26: Threat of Rs500bn tax hike if enforcement measures blocked-Dawn
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday repeatedly warned that the government would be compelled to impose a further Rs400 to 500 billion in taxes if parliamentarians failed to approve the sweeping enforcement measures proposed in the 2025-26 budget — as they were already cleared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Click here to read...
Remittances cross $34.9b for FY2025-The Express Tribune
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a robust increase in workers' remittances for May 2025, providing crucial support to the external sector amid a widening trade imbalance caused by rising imports and declining exports. According to the latest data, total remittance inflows reached $3.7 billion in May, up around 14% year-on-year. This upward trajectory has been a consistent feature throughout the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25, offering some relief to Pakistan's external account pressures. Click here to read...
