🇧🇩 Bangladesh

Lockdown lifted for Eid

The government lifts the strict lockdown for a week to allow millions to head back to their villages for the second-largest religious festival in the Muslim-majority country.

🇨🇳 China

Rain  and floods cause widespread damage

Two hundred thousand are evacuated, with 12 dead, after record-breaking rainfall flooded underground railway tunnels in China, leaving passengers trapped.

China and India relationship still at a low point

Wednesday’s meeting between the nations did not break a year-long stalemate during which 200,000 troops have built up on both sides of the Himalayan frontier.

🇮🇳 India

Photojournalist killed in Afghanistan

Forty one year old Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who was chief photographer for Reuters news agency in India and on assignment in Afghanistan, was killed when a convoy of Afghan forces was ambushed by Taliban militants.

COVID-19 antibodies detected in 67% of population

Fourth national sero-survey, examining the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies through infection or vaccination, found 67.6% of the population of more than 1.3 billion has coronavirus antibodies.

Indonesia overtakes India as Asia's COVID-19 hotspot

Indonesia reported 54,517 new cases, overtaking India and setting a single-day national record; a dire warning sign for the world's fourth-most populous country.

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Highest daily fatalities as new cases dip

COVID-19 cases fell slightly on 21 July to 11,985 while the highest daily fatalities were recorded with 199 deaths.

🇳🇵 Nepal

New PM wins confidence vote 

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba wins vote of confidence in parliament on Sunday, after the Supreme Court reinstated the legislature that was dissolved in May.

🇵🇰 Pakistan

Russia-Pakistan ties warms after three decades

Russia is increasing diplomatic efforts to revive ties through a USD2.5 billion natural gas pipeline while also offering to bolster anti-terrorism support.

🇸🇬 Singapore

Killing of 13 year old shocks nation

A 16 year old schoolboy has been charged with murdering a fellow student. Police officers found the body of a 13 year old boy in a bathroom. An axe was seized as evidence.

Restrictions tightened as COVID cases rise

COVID-19 restrictions tightened as new cases continue to rise, complicating the country’s reopening plans. Measures include reintroducing a ban on dining-in, and limiting the maximum number of people allowed to gather from five to two.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

Moody's ‘Caa1’ sovereign rating in review

Sri Lanka’s ‘Caa1’ sovereign rating has been place in review for downgrade by Moody’s citing weak external position and decreasing institutional strength.