Asia

Tibetans in-exile express hopes for reunification

The Tibetans in-exile extended good wishes for the New Year 2026. While noting that the previous year was critical for Tibetans inside Tibet due to China's repression, they expressed hopes for the reunification of all the Tibetans living inside and outside Tibet.

2026-01-01T15:50:11.493016+00:00 IST

Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 strikes Myanmar

An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck Myanmar on Thursday evening, as reported by the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

2026-01-01T14:24:44.074224+00:00 IST

EAM’s Bangladesh visit shows India’s balanced approach: Expert

Foreign Affairs expert Robinder Sachdev on Thursday stated that the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, reflects India's balanced and mature approach towards its neighbour, noting that it was the "right thing" that New Delhi did amid such a sensitive political environment in the country.

2026-01-01T13:59:07.467932+00:00 IST

Bangladesh Media reports attack on another Hindu man

Another Hindu man in Bangladesh was attacked by a mob of miscreants, seriously injuring him and then setting the man on fire in Shariatpur's Damudya region of the country.

2026-01-01T13:12:09.443348+00:00 IST

Press freedom in freefall in Pakistan

Pakistan's media landscape worsened in 2025, with journalists and media organisations facing escalating pressure, censorship and punitive state actions, according to a new report by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE). The findings, detailed in the Media Freedom Report 2025, highlight what the council described as one of the most restrictive periods for journalism in the country's recent history, as reported by Dawn.

2026-01-01T12:49:59.866648+00:00 IST

Former envoy on Pakistani reports of EAM’s Dhaka handshake

Former diplomat Suresh K Goel on Thursday said that the reports from Pakistan on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's handshake with Pakistani Speaker are laughable and that whenever Pakistani ministers see an Indian leader, they "jump" in hopes of changing things.

2026-01-01T12:42:19.966144+00:00 IST

Chinese military threat grows, according to Pentagon report

On 23 December 2025, the US Pentagon issued the latest edition of its annual report examining the status of the PLA. The document, "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025", was the 25th edition to appear. It covers developments through the start of 2025, so some developments were not listed, such as landing barges that revolutionize the PLA's ability to land at beaches previously thought unviable for amphibious invasions.

2026-01-01T12:22:50.563500+00:00 IST

EAM Jaishankar extends greetings to Sudan, Haiti on I-Day

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday extended greetings to Sudan and Haiti as they celebrate their Independence Day.

2026-01-01T11:25:52.446767+00:00 IST

US Embassy India greets 2026, hails strong US-India partnership

The US Embassy in India on Thursday extended New Year greetings as it welcomed 2026, highlighting the strong and growing partnership between New Delhi and Washington.

2026-01-01T11:18:14.401265+00:00 IST

India, Pakistan exchange list of prisoners, fishermen; 167 Indian

"India has shared lists with details of 391 civil prisoners and 33 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists with details of 58 civil prisoners and 199 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or believed-to-be-Indian," the statement read.

2026-01-01T10:13:16.380608+00:00 IST

China draws criticism over military drills near Taiwan

China's latest round of large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan has drawn sharp international criticism, with governments and lawmakers warning that China's actions risk destabilising the Indo-Pacific and escalating regional tensions. The two-day exercise, which concluded on Dec. 31, involved extensive naval and air deployments and was widely seen as a show of force aimed at pressuring the self-governed island, as reported by The Epoch Times.

2026-01-01T10:06:28.085800+00:00 IST

Agriculture in crisis as policy failures and climate shocks batte

Contributing nearly a quarter of the country's GDP and employing over a third of the population, agriculture's decline has raised fresh alarms about food security and rural livelihoods, as reported by The Express Tribune.

2026-01-01T09:41:31.186813+00:00 IST

"We are talking about really establishing a normal political dialogue": Former diplomat Suresh K Goe

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's Dhaka visit to attend Khaleda Zia's funeral was seen as a step toward restoring India-Bangladesh dialogue, with former diplomat Suresh K Goel stressing the need for normal political engagement and free, fair elections amid strained ties.

2026-01-01T09:12:30.157787+00:00 IST

Implementation delays persist in major government infrastructure

The multibillion-rupee project has seen barely five per cent physical progress despite an allocation of Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 23.845 billion in the federal budget, as reported by The Express Tribune.

2026-01-01T08:55:24.135904+00:00 IST

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays homage to Khaleda Zia

Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah highlighted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the High Commission of Bangladesh in Delhi, where he conveyed India's condolences and paid homage to former Bangladesh prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

2026-01-01T08:54:34.492696+00:00 IST

Defence Minister signs Condolence Book upon passing of Ex PM Khal

Singh expressed sorrow at the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

2026-01-01T07:54:47.311138+00:00 IST

Earthquake of magnitude 4.5 strikes Afghanistan

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 113 km.

2026-01-01T07:46:53.732456+00:00 IST

Pakistan’s enforced disappearance crisis continues in Balochistan

A young man was allegedly forcibly disappeared in Balochistan's Kech district during a late-night operation, raising renewed human rights concerns. Rights groups highlighted ongoing enforced disappearances, continued protests by families of the missing, and demands for urgent state action.

2026-01-01T07:40:02.115394+00:00 IST

Guyana counts on Indian expertise to become a healthcare hub in C

Underscoring the growing healthcare cooperation between the two countries, Seeraj said that the Guyanese government currently facilitates treatment for patients abroad when specialised care is unavailable domestically, with India emerging as a preferred destination due to its high-quality medical services.

2026-01-01T07:30:35.546213+00:00 IST

Op Sindoor set new benchmarks in military tactics: Experts

India struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor on May 7 and effectively repelled Islamabad's subsequent escalation, pounding Pakistan airbases.

2026-01-01T06:46:51.780906+00:00 IST

Karachi street crime stays high in 2025 despite police claims

Karachi recorded over 64,000 street crime cases in 2025 despite a decline from last year, with more than 70 deaths reported. Police cite improved policing and technology, while experts warn underreporting remains high and public safety perceptions have not significantly improved.

2026-01-01T05:41:24.302310+00:00 IST