17 MARCH 2026, TUESDAY
Aishal Yousuf, Akshath K, Kirsten Wilfred Coelho, Sreemaya Nair, Tanvi Thara Harendra Jha, and Vishal Manish M

Nepal: ILO report shows risks after graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status
On 17 March, The Himalayan reported that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) assessment predicts that Nepal's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status could reduce exports in key sectors and pose employment risks, particularly for women and informal workers. The loss of trade preferences after graduation may expose export-oriented sectors, particularly apparel and textiles, to higher tariffs, stricter compliance requirements and increased global competition. Post graduation, the study projects that Nepal's export losses could range from 2.5 to 4.3 per cent of total exports. Measures in trade facilitation, tourism and information and communication technology (ICT) could help mitigate adverse impacts, strengthen competitiveness and generate new jobs.
https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/nepals-ldc-graduation-may-affect-exports-jobs-ilo-report

Nepal: The US-Iran War’s effect on fuel prices; Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) increases fuel prices
On 17 March, The Kathmandu Post reported that the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) increased fuel prices following a surge in global oil rates triggered by tensions in West Asia. Petrol prices rose by NPR 15 per litre and now sell at NPR 172, while diesel and kerosene increased by NPR 10 each, with diesel now costing NPR 152 per litre. The adjustment follows revised rates from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Nepal’s primary supplier, which reviews prices every 15 days. Earlier, NOC had delayed adjustments due to the election period despite rising costs. Officials stated that the latest hike was unavoidable due to sharp increases in IOC prices and international market volatility.
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2026/03/17/evolving-tensions-in-west-asia-affect-nepali-households

Nepal: China protests the burning of President Xi's books at a local college
On 17 March, The Kathmandu Post reported that the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu sent a note verbale to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging prompt action against those responsible for burning 100 copies of a book authored by Xi Jinping at Manamohan Technical College in Budhiganga, Morang, on Saturday night. Videos showed multiple copies of The Governance of China being set on fire inside the college premises. The incident drew attention after footage went viral, with individuals seen burning and displaying the book. Local authorities, including the Morang district administration and police, have launched an investigation. College officials claimed the books were old, unused, and damaged, and were burned to clear storage space. However, witnesses reported that many copies appeared new. The incident has been treated as sensitive due to its potential impact on Nepal–China relations.
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2026/03/17/china-protests-burning-of-xi-jinping-s-book-in-morang-college

Opinion: Gauri Shankar Gautam and Ojaswi Pandey, "New Party trap," The Kathmandu Post, 17 March 2026
The CPN-UML offers a cautionary tale, where years of ‘Oli-fication’ entrenched one-man dominance while steadily eroding the party’s leadership depth. Developing a credible second tier of leaders beyond high-profile figures, such as Rabi Lamichhane and Balen Shah, will therefore be essential if the RSP hopes to remain a long-term political force.
https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2026/03/17/new-party-trap

Bangladesh: Middle East airspace closures disrupt over 550 flights from Dhaka
On 17 March, Dhaka Tribune reported that 26 more flights were cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to the ongoing security situation in the Middle East, bringing the total number of cancellations to 557 since 28 February. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan, closed their airspace on 28 February over security concerns, leading to repeated flight disruptions from Dhaka.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/405667/26-more-flights-cancelled-at-dhaka-airport-557-in

Bangladesh: Seven-Day Eid holiday triggers nationwide travel rush in Bangladesh
On 17 March, The Daily Star reported that a seven-day public holiday began as people across Bangladesh prepared to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. Government offices, courts, and many private institutions closed, prompting a surge of travel from Dhaka to hometowns. Passenger pressure increased sharply at major transport hubs, with buses departing for destinations including Sylhet, Chattogram, Barishal, and Khulna. The government declared 18 March an additional holiday, ensuring a continuous break from 18 March to 23 March to facilitate uninterrupted Eid travel.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/seven-day-eid-holiday-begins-triggering-nationwide-travel-rush-4130786

Opinion: Maisha Quadery, “Typhoid in Bangladesh: A persistent public health challenge,” The Daily Star, 17 March 2026
“Typhoid fever has long been a silent but serious threat in Bangladesh. It affects tens of thousands of children and adults every year. Despite progress in public health, Bangladesh remains endemic for this bacterial infection driven by deep-rooted challenges in water safety, sanitation, hygiene and emerging antimicrobial resistance. In the crowded quarters of cities like Dhaka, the disease stays endemic as it circulates year-round with pronounced peaks during and after the monsoon rains. This seasonal surge reflects how waterborne pathogens like Salmonella Typhi exploit soggy conditions by turning streets, drains and shallow water sources into highways for disease transmission. One of the most alarming challenges in Bangladesh is the rise of antibiotic-resistant typhoid strains. These resistant strains complicate treatment, increase costs and raise the risk of complications and mortality. In a landmark public health initiative, Bangladesh launched a nationwide Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) campaign in October 2025. Combined with improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene, the country can dramatically reduce the burden of typhoid and protect future generations.”
https://www.thedailystar.net/slow-reads/big-picture/news/typhoid-bangladesh-persistent-public-health-challenge-4130066

Myanmar
Opinion: Joe Kumbun, “Ethnic ‘Brotherhood’ Being Torn Apart in Northern Shan State,” Irrawaddy, 17 March 2026
“After nearly a month of rising tensions, the MNDAA and TNLA finally engaged in tit-for-tat fighting on March 14, escalating from a tense standoff into full-scale clashes. The outbreak came immediately after key political events and diplomatic engagements involving China and Myanmar, despite prior Chinese urging for stability along the border. Tensions had remained high through late February and early March, with both sides avoiding major offensives but engaging in minor incidents. A failed attempt at dialogue, followed by an MNDAA ultimatum demanding TNLA withdrawal from contested areas, led to a large-scale offensive when the demand was refused. At the core of the conflict are clashing political ambitions. Both groups seek autonomous territories in northern Shan State, but their visions overlap—particularly in Kutkai—leading to confrontation. These competing goals, along with differing political ideologies, have fractured the unity of the Brotherhood Alliance formed for coordinated military operations. Recent actions, including territorial advances and symbolic moves like removing TNLA flags from jointly controlled areas, reflect the deepening rift. While mediation efforts by allied groups and regional actors have failed, Chinese pressure has brought both sides to the negotiating table, with the outcome likely to shape the future of the conflict.”
https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/ethnic-brotherhood-being-torn-apart-in-northern-shan-state.html

Sri Lanka: Government establishes four committees to manage the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis
On 17 March, the Daily Mirror reported that the Sri Lankan Cabinet had approved the establishment of four special committees to address the economic and social impacts of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The committees are tasked with recommending measures to minimise disruptions to the economy and public life, focusing on energy security, the continuity of public services, the distribution of essential goods, and welfare support for affected groups. The move reflects a coordinated state response to mitigate external shocks, particularly given Sri Lanka’s dependence on imported energy.
https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Four-committees-established-to-tackle-impact-of-Middle-East-conflict/108-335600

Sri Lanka: Energy Minister provides update on national fuel reserves
On 17 March, the Daily News reported that Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody provided an update on the country’s fuel reserves, stating that Sri Lanka currently maintains adequate stocks to meet short-term demand despite ongoing global uncertainties. The Minister noted that ongoing efforts to secure additional fuel shipments and diversify supply channels amid disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. The update reflects the government’s attempts to reassure the public, while emphasising the need for careful management of reserves given Sri Lanka’s dependence on imported energy.
https://dailynews.lk/2026/03/17/local/968218/energy-minister-provides-latest-update-on-countrys-fuel-reserves/

Sri Lanka: Public transport services to be restricted on Wednesdays, to conserve fuel
On 17 March, the Daily Mirror reported that public transport services across Sri Lanka will be limited on Wednesdays following the government’s decision to designate the day as a public holiday. According to the Essential Services Commissioner General, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the restriction is intended to align with reduced public movement resulting from the closure of government offices and schools. Authorities also urged the private sector to adopt work-from-home arrangements to minimise commuting on a day-to-day basis. The measure aims to ensure that the limited transport services are reserved for essential travel, particularly as part of broader efforts to conserve fuel to manage energy demands.
https://www.dailymirror.lk/latest-news/Public-transport-to-be-restricted-on-Wednesdays/342-335591

Iran: Security chief killed in airstrike, Israel says
On 17 March, The Guardian reported that Israel claimed that Ali Larijani, the national security chief, was killed because of overnight strikes. If confirmed, that would make him the most senior figure to die in war since the death of Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader. Iran has yet to confirm on either claim. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said a separate strike killed the Basij paramilitary force commander, Gholamreza Soleimani, along with other senior Basij figures. Katz stated: “Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation programme, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell.” The office of the Israeli prime minister said in a statement that Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered “the elimination of senior officials of the Iranian regime.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/17/irans-security-chief-ali-larijani-killed-in-airstrike-israel-says

Pakistan: Islamabad strikes Kabul and Nangarhar as clashes near the third week
On 17 March, Dawn and The Express Tribune reported that the Pakistani military conducted air strikes on the Afghan Taliban’s military installations in Kabul and Nangarhar on Monday night. According to security sources, Pakistani forces destroyed technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage at two locations in Kabul. In Nangarhar province, forces targeted the Taliban’s military installations in four spots, while logistics, ammunition and technical infrastructure adjacent to these installations were also destroyed. The Pakistani Air Force also struck Taliban and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram sector, according to security sources. Separately, the Information Ministry dismissed a claim by the Afghan Taliban spokesperson that a drug rehabilitation hospital had been struck in Kabul. According to the spokesperson, over 400 people were killed in the strike denied by Pakistan.

Pakistan: LNG shortage looms large in April
On 17 March, Dawn reported that the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been affected by the West Asia conflict. According to government records, LNG will not be available in the country after 14 April. LNG supply from Qatar had been completely stopped since 2 March. Government records also showed that the Sui Southern Gas Company had cut gas supply to a fertiliser plant by 50 per cent and reduced gas supply to the power sector from 300 million cubic feet per day to 130 million cubic feet per day.

Opinion: Kamran Yousaf, “War next door, dilemma in Islamabad,” The Express Tribune, 17 March 2026
"The war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance has now entered its third week. There is still no sign of de-escalation, despite US President Donald Trump declaring victory on several occasions. The US and Israel may have bombed Iran extensively and eliminated some of its top leadership, but Iran appears to be winning the battle of narratives."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2597952/war-next-door-dilemma-in-islamabad

Opinion: Nadeem Javaid, “Pakistan's economic paradox,” The Express Tribune, 17 March 2026
"Public debate in Pakistan often becomes trapped in ideological binaries: pro-market versus pro-state; capitalist versus socialist; conventional versus Islamic. But prosperity does not emerge from labels. It emerges from aligned institutions. A country cannot function as capitalist at its central bank, patronage-driven in its ministries and selectively moral in its markets - and expect sustained progress. Pakistan's economic paradox is not that it blends systems. Many successful nations do. The paradox is that its systems operate in parallel rather than in harmony."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2597957/pakistans-economic-paradox