PAKISTAN
Marriage halls, restaurants becoming Covid hubs: minister: DAWN
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Monday said marriage halls and restaurants were becoming main sources for the spread of Covid-19. However, he appreciated the education sector for its adherence to the health guidelines and protocols. Presiding over the daily meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19, the minister said marriage halls and restaurants were turning into hubs of the virus, adding the spike could be avoided if standard operating procedures (SOPs) were complied with. Click here to read...
AFGHANISTAN
Ghani in Doha to Raise Intl Support, Not Intervene: Delegates: TOLO News
President Ashraf Ghani visited Kuwait and Qatar on Monday, meeting with leaders from both countries, discussing bilateral ties as well as seeking support for the Afghan peace process, according to the presidential spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi. Ghani also met with peace negotiators of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Doha. The negotiators said the president’s trip is not directly related to the peace negotiations. but will boost international support for peace. Click here to read...
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh passport 9th least powerful: Dhaka Tribune
Bangladesh’s passport has been ranked the world’s ninth least powerful, while New Zealand tops the list as most powerful, according to the Global Passport Power Rank 2020. The South Asian nation bagged a score of just 43 to share the rank of 67th with South Sudan, as per the rankings released on October 2. Last year, Bangladesh had scored 50 and finished 23 notches higher. The score represents access to any country without a visa or under the provision of on-arrival visas. Click here to read...
NEPAL
Multi-billion-dollar Nijgadh Airport project hangs in the balance: The Kathmandu Post
The future of the $3.45 billion Nijgadh International Airport project in Bara hangs in the balance. Amid reports that Zurich Airport International, which was named concessionaire in September last year to develop the project, has withdrawn, the Investment Board of Nepal, the government’s investment agency for large projects, said “no official” communication has come from the Swiss company. Click here to read...
SRI LANKA
No nationwide lockdown, says Army Chief: Daily Mirror
Army Commander. Lt. General Shavendra Silva yesterday denied reports of a country wide lockdown or Colombo city being placed under a curfew following the detection of the latest COVID-19 cluster in Minuwangoda. Silva told Daily Mirror that 'as of today' there were no plans to implement a lockdown or curfew specially in Colombo but contingency plans were ready to be imposed if the situation worsened. Click here to read...
