Asia

Nepal: Buddha Air flight skids off runway; all aboard safe

A Buddha Air flight number 901 from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur skidded off the runway while landing at Bhadrapur Airport in Nepal's Jhapa district late Friday night.

2026-01-03T03:13:26.889201+00:00 IST

Pakistan: Islamabad local govt polls likely to be postponed again

Islamabad's local government elections are likely to be postponed again after the federal cabinet approved amendments to the Local Government Act. Repeated legal changes since 2021 have delayed polls, leaving millions of residents without elected local representation.

2026-01-03T03:12:18.857898+00:00 IST

Taiwan detects 4 sorties of Chinese aircraft, 6 naval vessels aro

In a post on X, the MND said, "(U) 4 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's central ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded."

2026-01-03T02:26:36.039764+00:00 IST

Russia’s Defence Ministry denies reports of strike on Kharkiv

Russia's Defence Ministry has denied reports of a strike on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, calling the claims false, Sputnik reported.

2026-01-02T22:25:05.676328+00:00 IST

Bangladesh: Inqilab Moncho to hold ‘March for Justice’

Sharif Osman Hadi, an Inqilab Moncho convenor and one of the prominent figures behind the July uprising last year, which led to the ousting of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime, was pronounced dead on December 18, after he was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area.

2026-01-02T19:57:10.042342+00:00 IST

Pakistan: 214 FIA officers punished over graft, human trafficking

According to the Dawn, the punitive measures included the dismissal of 76 officers from service, the demotion of nine officials to lower ranks, the termination of two others, and various penalties imposed on an additional 127 personnel.

2026-01-02T17:46:55.673008+00:00 IST

Pakistan: Polio drive in merged districts falls short

The polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan's merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fell short of its target, leaving over 935,000 children under five unvaccinated, officials said, citing security challenges and population displacement as key hurdles, The Express Tribune reported.

2026-01-02T17:40:15.787156+00:00 IST

"Rahul Gandhi's visits abroad must be probed": Vallabh

Vallabh, while talking to ANI, referred to Mamdani's letter on Umar Khalid, an accused in the North East Delhi riots larger Conspiracy case.

2026-01-02T17:28:28.961126+00:00 IST

Zelenskyy claims Russian strikes on Kharkiv

A day after the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ukrainian drones struck in the Kherson region, which killed 24 people, including a child, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday claimed that two missiles from Moscow struck the city of Kharkiv.

2026-01-02T14:49:26.826850+00:00 IST

World leaders condole death of Khaleda Zia

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday expressed condolences and said that the nation's sympathies were with Bangladesh in this period of grief.

2026-01-02T14:00:20.001765+00:00 IST

Bangladesh being pushed toward destruction by radical forces: for

In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Arafat expressed grave concern over the escalating violence against minorities, the "rigged" nature of upcoming polls, and the alleged influence of the ISI in dismantling the democratic fabric of Bangladesh.

2026-01-02T13:56:08.720527+00:00 IST

Bangladesh: Inqilab Moncho protests at Shahbagh

Fresh protests erupted in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, on Friday as Inqilab Moncho, a mass cultural movement formed during the 2024 July Uprising, held a blockade in the Shahbagh region, demanding justice in the murder of Osman Hadi, one of the prominent leaders of the movement, who died on December 18

2026-01-02T13:46:53.637525+00:00 IST

Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore leaders condole demise of Khaleda Zia

The President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Ministers of Nepal and Singapore have expressed their deep condolences over the passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, remembering her as a distinguished stateswoman and a key figure in Bangladesh's democratic journey.

2026-01-02T12:53:41.313066+00:00 IST

Heavy rain, snowfall kill 17, injure 11 in Afghanistan

The dead included five members of a family whose roof collapsed on Thursday in Kabkan, a district in Herat province, Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor, said. Two of the victims were children.

2026-01-02T12:39:23.426608+00:00 IST

IIT Madras inks global MoUs

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) on Friday announced a series of international partnerships with academic institutions, industry players and government bodies across Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK and the US, marking a major push in its global expansion efforts.

2026-01-02T11:12:03.769288+00:00 IST

India’s leadership crucial for Indian ocean and South Asia

Speaking in an exclusive interview from Colombo, Premadasa said that India's national interests and Sri Lanka's national interests clearly converge, creating the foundation for mutual respect, understanding and constructive cooperation between the two neighbours. Acknowledging India as a global superpower, Premadasa said this reality must be recognised both regionally and internationally. He reiterated his support for India's permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council, saying it would reflect current global power dynamics.

2026-01-02T11:06:10.939115+00:00 IST

Pakistani control, political marginalisation grip PoJK, says Sard

In an exclusive interview with ANI, he stated that despite being projected as a self-governing territory, PoJK remains under the firm control of Pakistan's security establishment, leaving its elected institutions largely powerless. He stated that real authority rests not with local representatives but with unelected actors who dictate political outcomes and restrict civic freedoms.

2026-01-02T11:03:46.199002+00:00 IST

Family of Hindu man attacked in Bangladesh in shock, say they are unable to understand attack motive

His wife, Seema Das, was inconsolable as she spoke to ANI. Carrying her infant in her arms, she lamented how Das caught hold of Das as he was about to enter the house and was attacked.

2026-01-02T09:52:44.471426+00:00 IST

India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy has delivered for Sri Lanka

Speaking to ANI from Colombo, Premadasa said India-Sri Lanka relations should not be viewed purely through the prism of diplomacy, but as a partnership shaped by shared geography, history, culture and economic destiny. "Our destinies are inextricably linked," he said, stressing that cooperation between the two neighbours is essential for achieving mutual national interests.

2026-01-02T09:03:09.185656+00:00 IST

World closely watching India as largest democracy, says former di

"The world is looking at India very closely because India is an important country. We are the largest democracy, so we cannot ask the world to stop looking at India. And when they look at India, they have seen that many of the accused have been released because of lack of evidence," Fabian said.

2026-01-02T08:43:29.609698+00:00 IST

Chinese President Xi invites South Korean President Lee for 2nd s

South Korea's national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said that Lee will meet Xi in Beijing on Monday before travelling to Shanghai to visit the historic site of South Korea's provisional government during Japan's 35-year colonial rule.

2026-01-02T08:42:09.096717+00:00 IST