Asia

Timor-Leste to join as member at 47th ASEAN Summit

Malaysia, as the Chair of ASEAN, will be hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and related Summits under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability" at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 26 to 28 October 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia shared on Saturday.

2025-10-25T07:47:37.702308+00:00 IST

Pakistan: Blast destroys under-construction girls’ school

A fresh wave of violence has once again targeted Pakistan's fragile education system. Unidentified assailants on Friday blew up an under-construction girls' primary school in Gara Budha village of Tank district, near Dera Ismail Khan, sparking fear and outrage among residents, as reported by Dawn.

2025-10-25T06:42:07.025380+00:00 IST

US, China hold talks in Kuala Lumpur to avert trade war

US and China officials met in Kuala Lumpur to prevent trade war escalation ahead of Trump-Xi talks. Discussions focus on tariffs, technology controls, and US soybean purchases. Recent US export blacklists and China's rare earth controls have strained a truce, with outcomes uncertain for both economies.

2025-10-25T06:34:58.249146+00:00 IST

Ex-CIA agent on US not 'killing' Pak nuclear scientist AQ Khan

In an interview with ANI, John Kiriakou, who spent 15 years in the CIA as an analyst and later in counterterrorism operations, said that the US had precise operational details of Khan, including his daily routine and residence. However, the agency was instructed not to act, following diplomatic pressure from Riyadh.

2025-10-25T06:08:01.867043+00:00 IST

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit passes away at age of 93

Former Queen of Thailand, Sirikit, has passed away at the age of 93 after illness, the government's Public Relations Department of the Office of the Prime Minister announced on Saturday.

2025-10-25T04:27:05.445493+00:00 IST

Pakistan seeks verifiable mechanism at Istanbul talks

Pakistan and Afghanistan began a new round of talks in Istanbul to create a verifiable mechanism preventing cross-border terrorist attacks. The discussions follow the Doha ceasefire agreement, with Turkiye and Qatar mediating efforts to build lasting peace, strengthen monitoring, and ensure security cooperation between both nations.

2025-10-25T03:59:14.465804+00:00 IST

WFP warns of rising food prices in Kabul amid border, fuel woes

The World Food Programme reports rising food prices in Afghan markets as border closures with Pakistan, high fuel costs, and the Salang Highway shutdown drive up transportation expenses. Residents struggle with soaring costs of flour, rice, and cooking oil, while drivers call for government action to control fuel and gas prices.

2025-10-25T03:42:03.476055+00:00 IST

Exiled leader Tarique Rahman will return Bangladesh soon

Exiled leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman will soon return to Bangladesh from London after 17 years to participate in the next general election to be held in February 2026, said Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, one of the party's senior leaders.

2025-10-25T03:20:20.362171+00:00 IST

Taiwan records 9 PLA sorties, 4 PLAN vessels around its territory

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence recorded the presence of 4 PLAN vessels and 9 sorties of PLA aircraft around its territory on Saturday.

2025-10-25T03:10:46.914941+00:00 IST

Transit trade with Afghanistan to remain suspended: Pakistan

"Afghan transit trade is closed, and is not taking place. It is not taking place because of the factors that you were aware of. There was considerable discussion on this question during last week's briefing as well. Till the evaluation of the security situation, this transit trade will remain closed," said Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi at a weekly press briefing.

2025-10-24T20:45:04.894040+00:00 IST

Pakistan’s sugar mess deepens: Government bows to mill owners

After a wave of vegetable price shocks, Pakistan is now staring at a fresh sugar crisis, with prices in the open market surging once again to Pakistani Rs 200 per kilogram.

2025-10-24T17:06:31.805255+00:00 IST

Earthquake of magnitude 3.7 strikes Pakistan

An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 struck Pakistan on Friday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

2025-10-24T16:57:55.392599+00:00 IST

“Osama bin Laden escaped disguised as a woman": John Kiriakou

In a key revelation, former CIA Officer John Kiriakou has said that Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, who was the most wanted terrorist for the United States after terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had escaped from Tora Bora hills in the guise of a woman.

2025-10-24T16:03:22.906508+00:00 IST

China expands missile base in Tibet, fuelling regional tensions

Analysts suggest that the site is part of the expanding network of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), intended to enhance Beijing's long-range missile reach, as reported by Phayul.

2025-10-24T15:40:58.041562+00:00 IST

Pakistan intensifies repression: Enforced disappearances surge ac

According to The Balochistan Post, security forces carried out a series of raids in Zehri, located in Khuzdar district, where several civilians were detained during violent operations. Witnesses said the campaign, which began in late September, involved indiscriminate firing and the assault of women and children.

2025-10-24T14:43:38.980241+00:00 IST

Taliban plans to build dam over Kunar River that flows into Pak

Days after recent border clashes with Pakistan, Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration on Friday announced plans to begin construction of dams over the Kunar River, a key waterway that flows into Pakistan's northwestern region.

2025-10-24T14:33:52.810275+00:00 IST

Jaishankar releases postage stamp to mark 80 years of United Nati

Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and India Post jointly unveiled a special commemorative postage stamp in New Delhi on Friday, reflecting India's enduring commitment to peace, development, and multilateral cooperation.

2025-10-24T13:55:47.330183+00:00 IST

"Saudis told US to leave AQ Khan alone": Ex-CIA agent

In an interview with ANI, the former agent, who spent 15 years in the CIA as an analyst and later as part of its counterterrorism operations, said the US had full operational details of Khan, including his whereabouts and daily routine, but was told to stand down following Saudi pressure.

2025-10-24T13:11:26.595475+00:00 IST

“Musharraf handed over control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal"

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Kiriakou said that Pakistan was deep buried under corruption that Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto led a lavish life in the Gulf while the common people starved.

2025-10-24T13:07:27.896166+00:00 IST

"We believed India and Pakistan would go to war in 2002," says former CIA officer John Kiriakou

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou recounted his counterterrorism work in Pakistan, highlighting India-Pakistan tensions, Pakistan-backed terror groups, U.S. reliance on Islamabad, and Saudi-Pakistan ties. He warned of nuclear risks, praised India's restraint, and noted shifting global power dynamics as nations hedge away from U.S. dependence.

2025-10-24T12:55:53.853631+00:00 IST

Manish Gupta appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Ireland

Manish Gupta, who is presently serving as the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, has been appointed as the next ambassador to Ireland, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

2025-10-24T09:33:27.560244+00:00 IST