PAKISTAN

Nawaz declared ‘absconder’ for violating bail terms: Dawn
February 26, 2020

The government on Tuesday decided not to extend the bail of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and declared him an “absconder” for violating the bail requirements by not presenting his medical report before a board formed on the order of the Islamabad High Court. The government also decided to freeze gas and electricity tariffs for the next four months [till announcement of the next budget]. Click here to read...

AFGHANISTAN

US Calls for Focus on Afghan Peace Not on Electoral Politics: Tolo
February 26, 2020

Almost two hours after the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefed reporters about--among other things--Afghanistan’s situation, the State Department issued a release reacting to the Afghan Independent Election Commission's announcement of the final election results of the Afghan poll and called for a focus on peace rather than an engagement with electoral politics. The statement reads that the United States notes the announcement of the presidential elections in Afghanistan “in favor of President Ashraf Ghani” and that it expects the concerns about the election process to be “handled in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures.” Click here to read...

BANGLADESH

War crimes probe: Report against 5 Gopalganj men finalized: Dhaka Tribune
February 26, 2020

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has finalized its report on the probe into the alleged crimes against humanity committed by five Gopalganj war crimes accused. The five accused include Motaher Uddin Shikder, 65, Md Enayet Hossain Miah, 65, Nizamul Haque Miah, 68. The agency refrained from revealing the identities of the remaining two for investigation purpose. However, another accused, ABM Rafiqul Alam, 71, died due to old age complications in jail on January 1, 2010. Click here to read...

MYANMAR

New Thanlyin-Bago-Kyaikhto highways proposed: Myanmar Times
February 26, 2020

The government is set to build new expressways connecting Yangon Region, Bago Region, and Mon State with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), a senior official of the Ministry of Construction has announced. Deputy Minister of Construction U Kyaw Lin said that work is expected to start soon on a new road link connecting Thanlyin in the Yangon Region to Bago in the Bago Region. The project, expected to cost US$160 million (K228.5 billion), will be built with help from JICA. Click here to read...

NEPAL

Attempting to deflect blame, Nepal Trust points to past governments as also complicit: The Kathmandu Post
February 26, 2020

In an attempt to put the ongoing controversy surrounding the Nepal Trust to rest, the Nepal Trust on Tuesday issued a white paper, alluding to the alleged culpability of past administrations. The white paper, issued by Nepal Trust Chair Ishwar Pokhrel, who is also a deputy prime minister and defence minister, details the Trust’s properties and the lengthy process by which some of those properties were leased out at extremely favourable rates to Yeti Holdings, formally known as Yeti World. Click here to read...

BHUTAN

Birth Anniversary celebrations begin with prayers: Kuenselonline
February 26, 2020

To mark the 40th birth anniversary of His Majesty The King, members of the Cabinet, Parliament, clergy, senior civil servants, and the public offered a thousand butter lamp at the Kuenrey of Trashichhodzong early yesterday morning. They also offered Zhabten to His Majesty (prayer for long life). Buelwa of grains, textiles, and other offerings were also offered in front of His Majesty The King’s portrait at the Kuenrey. Click here to read...

Sri Lanka

Fully functional SAARC needed-RW in India: Daily Mirror
February 26, 2020

Former Prime Minister and Leader of UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe has stressed the need for a fully functional South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the concept of one vast global productivity and connectivity network - from East Africa to the shores of the Pacific Region of the Americas. Mr Wickremesinghe expressed these ideas during the forum Huddle organized by the Hindu Newspaper in Bangalore on Sunday. Click here to read...

CHINA

Update: Xi stresses agricultural development for epidemic control, economic and social growth: Xinhuanet
February 26, 2020

President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to prioritize issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers and improve weak links in order to provide strong support for winning the war to prevent and control the epidemic, as well as attaining objectives and targets set for economic and social development of the whole year. Click here to read...

Xi's diplomacy bolsters epidemic fight: China Daily
February 26, 2020

China's active, open and transparent cooperation with the World Health Organization and relevant countries in responding to the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak has demonstrated that it shoulders its responsibility as a major international player in helping the world curb the contagion, experts said. Click here to read...