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Democracy

Civil society

South Asia Democracy Conference Opens in Colombo Amid Regional Democratic Challenges

As the three-day programme continues, participants will explore practical questions of democratic renewal.

OWSA Contributor - 5 November 2026

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Garment Workers Win December Pay Scale Timeline Amid Wage Protests

For Bangladesh’s RMG sector, the stakes are high. The RMG sector remains central to employment, poverty reduction and foreign-exchange earnings at a moment when the country is navigating LDC graduation timelines and broader economic pressures.

OWSA Contributor - 5 November 2026

Democracy

Nepal Approves 94 FDI Projects Worth Rs 5.11 Billion Amid Shift to Smaller Ventures

Beyond new project approvals, the department cleared 10 share purchase or subscription agreements worth Rs 1.69 billion and 20 technology transfer agreements during the month.

OWSA Contributor - 3 November 2026

Aid

Race for Next UN Chief Intensifies Amid Gender, Geography and Great-Power Rivalry

The process remains fluid. Further straw polls are anticipated, and withdrawals or new nominations could reshape the field.

OWSA Contributor - 27 October 2026

Aid

Pakistan and Maldives Sign 20 MoUs, Target $200 Million Trade in Landmark Visit

The visit underscores enduring people-to-people and institutional bonds while setting measurable economic targets.

OWSA Contributor - 21 October 2026

Civil society

Nepal PM Prepares for Landmark India Visit Amid Projects and Persistent Disputes

The outcome of the November meetings will shape not only the next phase of bilateral infrastructure cooperation but also the tone of Nepal-India relations.

OWSA Contributor - 21 October 2026

Civil society

Sri Lanka’s New Counterterrorism Bill Retains Abusive Powers, Rights Group Warns

The bill’s first reading in Parliament marks only the start of a legislative process that will face intense domestic and international scrutiny. Civil-society organisations, legal professionals and minority communities are expected to press for substantial revisions.

OWSA Contributor - 12 October 2026

Accountability

UN Experts Warn Sri Lanka’s NGO Bill Clashes with FATF Standards Ahead of High-Stakes Review

Balancing genuine efforts to combat illicit finance with the protection of civic space remains a test that international standards – and international observers – will closely watch.

OWSA Contributor - 9 October 2026

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Latest News

Climate change9 November 2026

Climate Off the Charts: UN Warns ‘Supersized’ El Niño Will Propel Record Global Heating and Disasters Into 2027

The complete and peer-reviewed State of the Global Climate 2026 report will be officially presented in March 2027, incorporating verified input from dozens of national meteorological and hydrological agencies worldwide.

Artificial Intelligence9 November 2026

Sri Lanka Moves to Speed Up Police Clearances for ICT Talent Seeking Global Contracts

Sri Lanka’s technology professionals operate in a global marketplace where speed and reliability of supporting documentation can decide outcomes.

Climate change9 November 2026

Global South Communities Demand Fossil Fuel Giants Pay for Climate Damage Ahead of COP31

The statement crystallises a simple principle: climate justice is not charity. It is accountability. Communities in Sri Lanka still recovering from Ditwah, Pacific Island nations facing existential sea-level rise, African farmers confronting prolonged droughts and South Asian workers enduring extreme heat are not asking for handouts.