Background China’s rise as a large and emerging power needs peace and sustenance in its neighbourhood. The ongoing instability and uncertainty in Afghanistan will have
India’s Prime Minister Modi addressed his people to inform them about his government’s domestic and international accomplishments. This month’s message coincided with Modi’s seventh challenging
Debt-for-Nature Swap agreements with four countries provide debt relief in exchange for Pakistan’s commitment to environmental initiatives.
![Foreign Policy claims China created a village in recognized territory of Bhutan via "Gray Zone Invasion," revealing CCP's global ambition [ Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2022-10-13T035121Z_2066721960_RC220X9GSXS5_RTRMADP_3_BHUTAN-CLIMATE-RACE.webp "Bhutan")
Foreign Policy claims China created a village in recognized territory of Bhutan via “Gray Zone Invasion,” revealing CCP’s global ambition.
![According to Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, fourteen development projects are functional in Laghman, Afghanistan [Image via Al Jazeera].](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/e340a8bf75ea4d96b392db4f72e6b3c1_18.webp "e340a8bf75ea4d96b392db4f72e6b3c1_18")
According to Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, fourteen development projects are functional in Laghman, Afghanistan.
![Pakistan detected the Indian variant of the coronavirus which is a dual mutant. This is a result of the recent surge of COVID-19 in India [Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-06-03T233722Z_652666164_RC21TN971TWM_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-INDIA-WITNESS-1.webp "Indian variant of COVID-19 detected in Pakistan")
Pakistan detected the Indian variant of the coronavirus which is a dual mutant. This is a result of the recent surge of COVID-19 in India
![A perspective captured from Agathi Island, among the ten inhabited islands within the Lakshadweep archipelago [Biju Ibrahim/Al Jazeera]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_8354.webp "Lakshadweep")
Lakshadweep faces threats: anti-people laws endanger lives, property, and culture; COVID mismanagement worsens indigenous people’s situation.
![Smoke rises from a fire onboard the MV X-Press Pearl vessel as it sinks [Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-06-02T142536Z_233522938_RC2ASN9XSLLL_RTRMADP_3_SRI-LANKA-SHIP-1600x900.webp "Sri Lanka Maritime Ecological Disaster")
Sri Lanka’s environmental body fires Singapore-flagged cargo ship near Colombo shore, citing worst maritime ecological disaster, sparking concerns.
Bangladesh removes e-passport clause barring travel to Israel, sparking speculation of potential normalization of relations.
US Special Rep. Zalmay Khalilzad told House Foreign Affairs Committee: Predicting Taliban takeover post troop withdrawal overly pessimistic.