Afghanistan
Muttaqi Downplays Pakistan PM Khan's Remarks: Tolo News
“It was a summit, everyone has an opinion,” Muttaqi told reporters in Kabul when asked about his stance toward Prime Minister Khan’s remarks. "Imran Khan criticized the former (Afghan) governments. I think officials of the former governments felt obligated to react, I don’t see (Khan's remarks) as insulting.” Click here to read...
MoF Sends "Non-Foreign Aid' Budget Proposal to Cabinet: Tolo News
The Ministry of Finance says that the draft budget for solar year 1401 has been prepared and will be sent to the cabinet for approval. Click here to read...
Taliban destroys Pakistan’s barbed-wire erected on Durand Line: The Khaama Press
Special Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the Gushta district of eastern Nangarhar province destroyed the barbed wire erected by Pakistani forces on Durand Line. Click here to read...
US may ease financial restrictions on Afghanistan: The Khaama Press
A US official has been cited as the Biden administration is considering easing financial restrictions on Afghanistan and the country will issue a license to allow financial aids to Afghanistan, reported BBC. Click here to read...
Bangladesh
50 years of Bangladesh: The making of a polycratic state- Dhaka Tribune
In contemporary Bangladesh, the use of physical force is not restricted to a central authority, but exercised throughout the land by individual political bosses at different levels. Click here to read...
Rapes in madrasas: Breaking the silence- Dhaka Tribune
Dhaka Tribune's Kohinur Khyum Tithila won the top prize at the Unicef Meena Media Awards for this ground-breaking work of journalism. Click here to read...
Talks over Election Commission: JP names 1 for EC, 4 for search panel- Daily Star
President hopes new commission to be formed on political consensus. Click here to read...
'Bangladesh keeps friendly relations with all countries'- Asian Age
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Bangladesh keeps friendly relations with all countries including the neighbors as the country has been following the foreign policy adopted by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 'Friendship to all, malice to none'. Click here to read...
No Rohingya learning center faces closure: Govt- Observer
Bangladesh government has said the report on the closure of learning centers in Rohingya camps as reported in a few international media is ‘fabricated’ and ‘false’ as no such kind of step has been taken. Click here to read...
Bhutan
More questions over dredging site allotment to DMPL- Kuensel
ACC is not issuing authority, says those in dredging business. Click here to read...
His Majesty awards Druk Thuksey to former Dasho Zimpon- Bhutanese
His Majesty The King granted the Druk Thuksey Medal to Dasho Dorji Gyeltshen, Zimpon to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. Click here to read...
Bhutan to roll out booster shots next week for priority groups- Daily Bhutan
Kingdom of Bhutan has thus far organized two vaccination campaigns in March and July 2021. Click here to read...
Maldives
Maldives active Covid-19 cases drop to 1,972 - Raajje
According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 4,540 samples were tested for the virus between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday. Click here to read...
Japanese ambassador showered with praise for commitment to boost Maldives-Japan ties - Raajje
Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Keiko Yanai has been showered with praise from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, for her “tremendous” commitment to enhance the long-standing ties between Maldives and Japan. The Japanese ambassador paid her farewell call on the Maldivian president at the President’s Office on Wednesday. Click here to read...
Bangladeshi PM to be invited to address People's Majlis - Raajje
The People’s Majlis has passed to extend an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina to address the parliament. Click here to read...
Myanmar
NUG says about 50 Tatmadaw killed in clashes in Karen State - Mizzima
Fighting broke out between the military council and Karen Revolutionary joint forces at around 1PM today between Metta Lin Myaing and Mae Htaw Talay villages, Lay Kay Kaw area, south of Myawaddy town, Kayin State and about 50 people, including two battalion commanders, were killed. Click here to read...
Japan: Cut Defense Ties with Myanmar Military - HRW
The Japanese government should cut ties with the Myanmar military and immediately suspend a military study-abroad program involving Myanmar cadets, Human Rights Watch said today. On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, staged a coup and installed a junta that overturned democratic elections. Click here to read...
BBC probe: Myanmar army carried out series of mass killings of civilians - Dhaka Tribune
The Myanmar military killed at least 40 civilians in a series of mass killings in July this year, a BBC investigation has revealed. Survivors and eyewitnesses said soldiers, some of them as young as 17-year-old, separated men from their families and killed them, according to the report. Click here to read...
Junta Meets FPNCC In Mongla - BNI Online
The regime met with most of the armed groups of the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee (FPNCC) on 15 December in Mongla, the headquarters of the National Democratic Alliance Army in eastern Shan State. Click here to read...
Nepal
Ruling alliance to forge one stance on MCC deal- Himalaya
The ruling coalition led by Sher Bahadur Deuba will move the Millennium Challenge Corporation deal in the Parliament only on the basis of consensus. Click here to read...
'Political alliance relevant till elections'- Himalaya
Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai has said the existing political alliance in the government should be given continuity till the upcoming election. Click here to read...
ADB blacklists top Chinese construction firms
China CMC Engineering, Northwest Civil Aviation Airport Construction Group and China Harbour Engineering have been blacklisted for violating integrity rules, barring them from participating in Nepal’s key airport infrastructure development project, officials said. Click here to read...
Tri-Chandra’s run-down state is a microcosm of Nepal- Nepali Times
The country's oldest college is falling apart, an apt symbol of neglect and apathy. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Current account deficit hits $7bn in five months: Dawn
At $1.91bn, November saw the highest monthly current account deficit since July 2018 when it reached $2.1bn. This was the year when the country faced a record $20bn current account deficit. Click here to read...
Zardari makes cryptic remarks about appeal for his ‘help’: Dawn
Without naming anyone, the former president said that he was asked to offer assistance and share some formula but he told them that first this government should be sent packing and then talks could be held. Click here to read...
Fawad says Imran, PTI’s popularity in K-P still intact: The Express Tribune
The poll results are significant as they represent the will of the people at the grassroots level and are seen as a prelude to the next national election. Yet, it seems, the LG poll results haven’t fully jolted the PTI as the government spokesperson still feels that the prime minister and PTI’s popularity in K-P still intact. Click here to read...
Sialkot tragedy: CII vows to stop violent environment: The Express Tribune
On December 3, a Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara, who worked as a factory manager in Sialkot, was brutally lynched and his body was set on fire by a mob on the allegations of blasphemy. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka
Fuel prices increased: Daily Mirror
Accordingly,the price of a litre of Petrol (92 Octane) has been increased by Rs 20 (from Rs 157 to 177), Petrol (95 Octane) increased by Rs. 23 (from Rs 184 to 207), Click here to read...
The Government Strongly Disputes the Hurried Rating Action by Fitch Ratings: NewsIK
Fitch Ratings (Fitch), in a rather hasty move, downgraded Sri Lanka’s international sovereign rating on 17 December 2021, demonstrating its failure to recognise the positive developments taking place in Sri Lanka, in an environment in which the entire world is grappling with multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read...
