Afghanistan
33 people have been killed in separate traffic crashes in eastern Afghanistan (AP)
Kim Jong Un’s ‘Infidel’ Hairstyle A Fashion Sin Under New Taliban Rules (Radio Free Europe)
Pakistan
Iran’s top diplomat seeks to deescalate tensions on visit to Pakistan after tit-for-tat airstrikes (AP)
Pakistan, Iran agree to expand security cooperation after missile strikes (Reuters)
Gunmen in Iran kill nine Pakistanis days after tit-for-tat strikes (Reuters)
Pakistan Urges Iran to Investigate ‘Horrifying’ Slayings of 9 Citizens (VOA)
Pakistani police use tear gas to disperse pre-election rally by supporters of former leader Khan (AP)
Dozens Detained As Pakistan Police Break Up Rally For Jailed Ex-PM Khan (Agence France-Presse)
Pakistan battles rising terror threat in Afghan border regions (Financial Times)
India
India, France agree on joint defence production (Reuters)
India pivots away from Russian arms, but will retain strong ties (Reuters)
Modi Rival Becomes Ally in Setback to India Opposition Unity (Bloomberg)
India’s Modi to bet on popularity over populism in budget ahead of polls (Reuters)
Hindu Group Toughens Stance on India’s Mosque-Temple Disputes (Reuters)
India: End Lifelong Warehousing of People with Disabilities (Human Rights Watch)
India is still an officially secular nation, but maybe not for long (Nikkei Asia – opinion)
NSB
Bangladesh appeals court grants bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in labor case (AP)
Bangladesh’s Yunus Vows to Help Poor Despite Legal Woes (Agence France-Presse)
Bhutan’s liberal Tobgay becomes prime minister after fourth free vote (Reuters)
U.S. to Establish Embassy in the Maldives: A Diplomatic Game-Changer (BNN)
Maldives parliament debate over cabinet appointees descends into mass brawl between MPs (The Independent)
Nepal wants its men back from Russia’s war in Ukraine after deaths on the front (NPR)
Somali pirates suspected of hijacking a Sri Lankan fishing boat and abducting its 6 crew (AP)
Central Asia
Kazakh Lawmakers Propose Bill Legalizing Refusal Of Accreditation Of Foreign Media (Radio Free Europe)
Kazakhstan faces new wave of provocative statements from Russia (EurasiaNet)
Kyrgyzstan: Once all-powerful Matraimov wanted for arrest (EurasiaNet)
Uzbek Rights Defender Given Rare Access To Imprisoned Bloggers (Radio Free Europe)
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SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS