AfghanistannNews.Net, 24 July 2008

Al-Qaeda's foreign fighters who have for years bedevilled Iraq are increasingly going to Afghanistan to fight instead, the Iraqi ambassador to the United States, Samir Sumaida'ie, said yesterday.Afghanistan is now seeming to be more suitable for al-Qaeda fighters, Mr. Sumaida'ie said.He said al-Qaeda is finding it now increasingly difficult to operate in Iraq, beginning with the rebellion of the largely Sunni tribes in Anbar Province in 2006 and 2007. ...

VOA News.com, 24 July 2008

Bangladesh Rifles and India's Border Security Force exchanged several rounds of gunfire at Indo-Bangla border in Chapainawabganj on Wednesday morning resulting in a shutdown of Sona Masjid Land Port.It happened at Shibganj border in Chapainawabganj and halted cross-border trade and immigration activities. ...

Kuensel Online, 16 July 2008

Schools, government and public institutions will remain closed on Friday to observe the historic signing of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan.His Majesty the King and other designated representatives of the people will sign the Constitution at the Kuenrey of the Trashichhodzong at 9:30 am on Friday, July 18, according to a press release from the cabinet secretariat. The signing ceremony at the Trashichodzong will also be telecast live by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation.The signed Constitution will be displayed for public and the government invites the public to witness the historic event. ...

The Minivan News, 24 July 2008

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will ratify the country's new constitution, four years in development, on 30 July, the Minister of Information and Legal Reform has said.The announcement, made on Minister Mohamed Nasheed's personal blog, follows Monday's opposition protests at the presidential palace over ratification delays.Nasheed lashed out at the National Unity Alliance-led gathering, calling it a 'political spectacle' to create 'drama' so that it would appear as if it [ratification] was done through their hard work and direct action.'' ...

Nepalnews.com, 24 July 2008

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has put forward three conditions to lead the government.Talking to reporters after his party held discussions with all 24 parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA), Thursday, Prachanda said that first the alliance of Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), should be broken. Reports say, the parties that took part in the discussion held at the CPN-M's parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar decided to reply to Maoists' conditions soon.At the discussion, leaders of most of the parties are known to have suggested the Maoists to rethink their earlier decision to stay out of the government, and be prepared to take the leadership of a 'unity government'. ...

The Daily News, 24 July 2008

Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said yesterday that the political bankruptcy of the UNP was obvious through the suggestion to accept the unilateral ceasefire of the LTTE.The Minister said the UNP was not encouraging the Government to combat terrorism continuously when the three Armed Forces were victorious in the North.The Minister made this observation at a special press conference in Parliament.Minister Sirisena stated it was clear that the UNP was fully aware of the LTTE's declaration of the unilateral ceasefire beforehand as the UNP requested the Government to listen to the LTTE no sooner they proposed the ceasefire. ...