Asia

PM Modi to visit Jordan next week

PM Modi and the King are expected to address the India-Jordan business event during the visit. The Prime Minister will also interact with the vibrant Indian community in Jordan.

2025-12-12T12:52:22.579691+00:00 IST

US report slams China for persecuting Taiwanese activist

The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) has released its annual report denouncing China's deepening repression, particularly drawing attention to the case of Taiwanese activist Yang Chih-yuan, who has been detained on politically motivated charges.

2025-12-12T11:10:08.229664+00:00 IST

China’s ‘Panchen Lama’ backs CCP control

At an official symposium in Shigatse on Monday, Gyaltsen (Ch. Gyaincain) Norbu, widely recognised by Tibetans as the Chinese-appointed or "fake" Panchen Lama, asserted that all reincarnation processes in Tibetan Buddhism must comply with Chinese laws and obtain China's approval.

2025-12-12T08:20:17.445266+00:00 IST

Pakistan’s population boom persists as state neglects education

Pakistan's long-delayed fertility transition has stagnated, showing little to no progress since 2006, according to a new study launched by the Population Council with the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The report, titled "Unlocking the Stall in Fertility Decline and Socio-Economic Development in Pakistan," reveals that while fertility rates once declined swiftly, they have since plateaued due to the country's sluggish social and economic development, as reported by Dawn.

2025-12-12T06:33:21.135348+00:00 IST

Defence Chiefs of Japan, US discuss concerns over China radar row

During the call, Hegseth and his Japanese counterpart discussed Japan's efforts to increase its defence spending and strengthen its capabilities, China's military activities, and the importance of realistic training and exercises across Japan, including in the Southwest Islands

2025-12-12T06:08:06.970381+00:00 IST

Strong 6.7 quake in northern Japan triggers Tsunami advisory

The Japanese weather agency on Friday issued a tsunami advisory for northern and northeastern Japan.

2025-12-12T05:31:41.472430+00:00 IST

Pakistan’s rights crisis deepens as HRCP slams state repression

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged the government to withdraw the controversial 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, end "enforced disappearances," and release all political prisoners across the country, as reported by Dawn.

2025-12-12T05:10:31.838972+00:00 IST

Pakistan: School blast in North Waziristan destroys building

A devastating explosion late Thursday night destroyed a government primary school in the Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan, leaving over 600 children without a place to study. Unidentified attackers planted explosives at the Government Primary School in the Ayaz Kot area of Khushhali village, reducing much of the structure to ruins and halting educational activities in the locality, as reported by The Express Tribune.

2025-12-12T04:36:27.132289+00:00 IST

BNM slams US loan, calls it boost to Pakistan’s oppression in Bal

The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has strongly denounced the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank's decision to provide $1.25 billion in financing for the Reko Diq mining project, warning that the funding will tighten Pakistan's control over Balochistan and intensify state-led repression in the province, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

2025-12-12T04:09:16.514248+00:00 IST

Taiwan reports surge in Chinese military activity near its waters

Taiwan's Ministry of Defence detected 33 sorties of Chinese Military Aircraft and seven naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6:00 am (local time) on Friday.

2025-12-12T02:18:08.935486+00:00 IST

Khamenei accuses US of territorial expansionism in Latin America

Following Washington's escalating pressure campaign against Venezuela and its government, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday took a sharp swipe at the United States, accusing it of pursuing "territorial expansionism" in parts of Latin America while speaking about global resistance to foreign pressure.

2025-12-12T02:04:28.095815+00:00 IST

India, Denmark reaffirm cooperation in health, agriculture

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava met with a Danish delegation led by Ambassador of Denmark to India, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, to discuss ongoing and emerging areas of bilateral cooperation.

2025-12-12T00:12:15.050821+00:00 IST

Awami League rejects Bangladesh election schedule

The Bangladesh Awami League has outright rejected the election schedule announced by the country's interim government's Election Commission for the February 12, 2026, terming the move by the EC as "illegal" and accusing Bangladesh's Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus-led government of being a "killer-fascist" clique that cannot ensure a free and fair vote.

2025-12-12T00:10:30.138104+00:00 IST

MEA fact-check unit debunks fake letter attributed to Jaishankar

The Ministry of External Affairs' fact-check unit has dismissed as fake a viral letter purportedly written by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the French Embassy regarding the Rafale deal. The unit clarified that the alleged communication alleging that information on Rafale deliveries had been leaked is entirely fabricated.

2025-12-11T21:37:56.556200+00:00 IST

Goyal hosts Italian Deputy PM Tajani for dinner

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal hosted Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, for a dinner in the capital, highlighting the growing momentum in the India-Italy strategic partnership.

2025-12-11T19:51:38.191237+00:00 IST

Pakistan's former spy chief sentenced to 14 years in jail

Pakistan's former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retired), has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a military court, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Thursday, Dawn reported.

2025-12-11T17:39:37.883421+00:00 IST

Our goal is to achieve annual bilateral trade volume of 20 billion euros by 2029: Italy's Deputy PM Tajani

Speaking at the Italy-India Business Forum in Mumbai, Tajani said, "We are working very well from the beginning on our friendship as there is a common goal... Trade is crucial for our economy... As Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Meroni underlined during the meeting, our goal is to achieve an annual bilateral trade volume of 20 billion euros by 2029. This is an achievable goal. My trip to India is a part of this goal... We want to import more from India.

2025-12-11T17:01:05.075545+00:00 IST

Netherlands PM Rutte to lead delegation to AI Impact Summit

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Netherlands to India, said the delegation will include top CEOs, including Philips, and representatives from technical universities, underscoring the country's commitment to strengthening ties with India in the field of technology.

2025-12-11T16:46:10.141863+00:00 IST

Sonia Gandhi visits Russian artist Nikas Safronov’s exhibition

The Russian Embassy in India shared the visit on X, posting, "On December 8, Parliamentary Chairperson of the Indian National Congress @INCIndia Sonia Gandhi visited the 'Dream Vision' exhibition by #Russia'n artist Nikas Safronov at the Lalit Kala Akademi in #NewDelhi."

2025-12-11T15:37:30.005066+00:00 IST

PM Modi to visit Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman next week to strengthen ties with the three countries.

2025-12-11T15:35:36.063036+00:00 IST

Human rights day protest highlights Pakistan’s worsening record o

The protest, chaired by JSFM Chairman Sohail Abro, was marked by fervent speeches condemning what participants described as Pakistan's "state-sponsored genocide" of Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun communities.

2025-12-11T13:10:54.036979+00:00 IST