Afghanistan
Afghan Traders, Industrialists Concerned By Halted Goods in Bandar Abbas-Tolo News
As Israeli attacks on Iran continue, the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment has expressed concern over the goods belonging to Afghan traders and industrialists stored in Iran’s Bandar Abbas. According to officials from the chamber, Bandar Abbas is one of the key routes for importing goods into Afghanistan. Every day, hundreds of containers carrying commercial goods, including raw materials for Herat's industrial zone, enter the country via this port. Click here to read...
Zalmay Khalilzad faces International Legal Action demand from 76 Afghanistan’s Civil and Human Rights Groups- The Khaama Press
Seventy-six Afghanistan’s civil and human rights organizations have demanded international legal action against Zalmay Khalilzad for his alleged involvement. In an open letter, 76 Afghanistan’s civil, human rights, and protest organizations called for international accountability and legal proceedings against Zalmay Khalilzad. The letter accuses Khalilzad of direct involvement in the collapse of Afghanistan’s previous government, whitewashing the Taliban, and facilitating their return to power. The signatories also accuse him of promoting immunity for those responsible for crimes during the conflict. Click here to read...
Eu allocates €161 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan-The Khaama Press
The EU has pledged €161 million in humanitarian aid to support vulnerable Afghans with food, health, education, and refugee assistance. According to the statement, the funds will be used to meet the urgent needs of Afghanistan people across multiple sectors, including food security, healthcare, access to clean drinking water, education, and other essential services. The aid comes amid worsening poverty and displacement throughout the country. Click here to read...
Bhutan
National Assembly adopts Income Tax Bill-Kuensel
The National Assembly yesterday unanimously adopted the Income Tax Bill of Bhutan 2025, a comprehensive tax reform to replace the existing 2001 Income Tax Act, which now moves to the National Council for further deliberation. The Bill introduces major reforms, including revised personal income tax slabs, lower corporate tax rates, income on fixed deposit interest, and the merger of business income tax under personal income tax, aiming to modernise the country’s tax administration. Click here to read...
Bhutan-Thailand FTA set for implementation by 2026-Kuensel
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Thailand is expected to be implemented by January 2026. The National Assembly is set to adopt the agreement today, following which it will be forwarded to the National Council for deliberation. The agreement, once in effect, will provide Bhutanese exports with duty-free access to the Thai market, boosting their competitiveness. Click here to read...
Maldives
President Muizzu Hails “Enduring Friendship” as Maldives and Vietnam Mark 50 Years of Diplomatic Ties- PSM News
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has described the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Vietnam as a testament to the strong friendship between the two nations, in congratulatory messages sent to the State President of Vietnam, Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to mark the occasion. Click here to read...
Maldives’ First Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Presents Credentials- PSM News
The Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Huda Ali Shareef has presented her Letter of Credence to the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjhabana. During a ceremony held at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand, the new Permanent Representative Huda reaffirmed the Maldives government’s strong commitment to regional cooperation and multilateral engagement. Click here to read...
Myanmar
ADB Announces Record $100m Quake Aid Package for Myanmar- The Irrawaddy
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday approved a US $100-million aid package for humanitarian assistance and long-term community resilience in Myanmar. The funds will be delivered through the United Nations Development Program, UN Children’s Fund, and World Food Program. The bank said the aid follows a $3-million grant in April to support Myanmar victims of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in March. Click here to read...
Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Marks 80th Birthday in Junta Jail- The Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s deposed democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 80th birthday in junta detention on Thursday, serving a raft of sentences set to last the rest of her life. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was the figurehead of Myanmar’s decade-long democratic thaw, becoming de facto leader as it opened up from military rule. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Army chief joins Trump for ‘historic’ White House lunch-Dawn
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he was “honoured” to meet Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for talks at the White House. Field Marshal Munir has now become the first serving chief of army staff to have a face-to-face meeting with a sitting US president. The occasion also marked the first time a serving Pakistani army chief had been formally received at this level, without holding political office or governing under martial law. Click here to read...
Lowest income tax rate is 1pc, not 2.5pc: PM Shehbaz-Dawn
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that the income tax rate for salaried individuals earning between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million annually had been reduced to 1 per cent from the previous 5pc. There has been some confusion over the income tax rate for the first slab. While the Finance Bill indicated that the rate was reduced from 5pc to 1pc, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced during his budget speech that the new rate would be 2.5pc. Click here to read...
Pakistan signs '$1b' loan facility-The Express Tribune
The Ministry of Finance signed a five-year long-term financing facility for $1 billion, the government said in a statement on Wednesday. The financing is led by Dubai Islamic Bank and Standard Chartered, and the Islamic tranche forms 89% of the loan facility, according to the statement. Click here to read...
