South Asia: Humanitarian

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Dhaka and surrounding areas, with strong tremors felt in the city. The earthquake's epicenter was in Myanmar, and tremors were also felt in Kolkata, India. Separately, Dhaka ranked as the world's most polluted city, with its air quality index reaching 275, a level considered 'very unhealthy'.

Several Southeast Asian countries are dealing with distinct health and social issues. In Singapore, doctors are reporting a surge in respiratory cases due to persistent haze, and the government has imposed mandatory isolation and contact tracing for measles as infections rise. Malaysia is managing a tuberculosis outbreak with over 500 new cases, while a separate article argues the region should follow Africa's lead in challenging justifications for female genital mutilation. Other headlines cover a range of topics, including Vietnam's problem with youth who are not in education or employment, efforts to promote gender equality in science and technology fields across ASEAN, and a major reduction of sugar in beverages by Thai restaurant chains.

Two people died in a motorcycle accident on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway. The crash occurred on the major highway connecting the capital to the southwestern region of the country.

News from Sri Lanka covers several distinct domestic issues. Authorities are working on a reform agenda to rebuild farming after Cyclone Ditwah and are facing challenges in managing urban waste to keep Colombo's waterways clean. Separately, the country's foreign employment industry is reported to be in crisis. Other developments include plans to establish a monkey detention centre in Matale, the discovery of a ring-tailed civet carcass in Siripura, and new media guidelines being introduced for LGBTIQ+ content. In a community initiative, the SL-Maldives Business Council is working to strengthen healthcare.