Asia

Pakistan’s war on truth: Journalists targeted and silenced

A local journalist, Muhammad Manaf, has condemned the continuing pattern of attacks and harassment against journalists in Pakistan, saying that such incidents are "nothing new" and that press freedom in the country remains largely an illusion.

2025-10-09T08:07:22.487530+00:00 IST

"India's growth story is remarkable,"  UK PM Starmer says 'vision

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that India's "growth story is remarkable" and said that he is convinced to see that India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a "track" to achieve the vision of a Visit Bharat by 2047.

2025-10-09T08:03:28.976824+00:00 IST

Sindh farmers rebel against corrupt rice cartels

Farmers in Sindh's Badin and Sujawal districts staged massive protests and road blockades, accusing rice millers and traders of manipulating paddy prices to exploit growers, as reported by The Express Tribune.

2025-10-09T07:00:29.779909+00:00 IST

Pakistan: Another youth abducted in enforced disappearances

The ongoing sit-in organised by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) reached its 5,962nd day outside the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, coinciding with a new report of enforced disappearance involving a young man, Saqib Ahmed Buzdar, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

2025-10-09T06:43:08.483477+00:00 IST

Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi arrives in India

The Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday welcomed Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi upon his arrival in India.

2025-10-09T05:14:55.004870+00:00 IST

Mumbai: PM Modi meets UK PM Keir Starmer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in the country's financial capital as the UK PM is in India on his first official visit.

2025-10-09T04:58:35.881984+00:00 IST

Welcome first phase of President Trump's peace plan: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the agreement on the first phase of President Donald Trump's peace plan.

2025-10-09T04:39:16.513364+00:00 IST

Bangladesh: New crackdown under anti-terrorism law

The United Nations human rights team in Bangladesh should immediately seek the release of those arbitrarily detained and encourage the authorities to uphold rights and prosecute all those who use unlawful political violence.

2025-10-09T02:20:44.195563+00:00 IST

Taiwan detects 9 Chinese aircraft, 7 naval vessels around nation

As per the MND, of the nine sorties, six crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ.

2025-10-09T01:22:05.244352+00:00 IST

Earthquake of magnitude 3.1 strikes Bhutan

The earthquake took place at a shallow depth of 5km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.

2025-10-09T01:08:48.422460+00:00 IST

MEA Secy (West) attends Uzbekistan’s National Day celebrations

In a post on X, the MEA said, "Secretary(West) Sibi George attended Uzbekistan's National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in New Delhi hosted by Embassy of Uzbekistan. Extended warm greetings to the people and the government of Uzbekistan. In his remarks on the occasion, Secretary (West) highlighted our deep-rooted ancient civilizational ties and also reaffirmed our commitment to the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan."

2025-10-08T20:05:52.243904+00:00 IST

UK PM Keir Starmer lights diyas in Mumbai ahead of Diwali

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer lit diyas in Mumbai on Wednesday, symbolising the deep cultural ties between India and the United Kingdom as the Diwali festival approaches.

2025-10-08T17:44:42.510158+00:00 IST

UN envoy hails new rights probe for Afghanistan

UN rights envoy Richard Bennett welcomed the creation of an independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan, calling it vital for justice and accountability. He urged swift implementation, support from member states, and action on gender apartheid, stressing that Afghan women and youth must be central to the country's future.

2025-10-08T16:56:02.952227+00:00 IST

Pakistan: KP CM Gandapur resigns on Imran Khan’s directive

PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur resigned as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on Imran Khan's directive to replace him with Sohail Afridi. PTI's Salman Akram Raja confirmed the move, citing Khan's concerns over rising terrorism in the province and growing internal rifts within the party, Dawn reported.

2025-10-08T14:46:46.808548+00:00 IST

Tobacco use drops fastest in South-East Asia: WHO

The WHO South-East Asia Region has made the fastest progress globally in reducing tobacco use, according to the latest WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2024 and Projections 2025-2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an official statement on Wednesday.

2025-10-08T14:45:48.305552+00:00 IST

Taiwan tightens security to block China’s grip on supply chains

Taiwan is tightening national security to prevent Chinese infiltration into its medical logistics sector after reports linked a major firm to China's military and political networks. Officials plan stricter vetting of critical industries, while experts warn Chinese involvement could expose Taiwan's health data and supply chains, Taipei Times reported.

2025-10-08T13:48:21.695086+00:00 IST

Tamil Nadu signs MoU with Nissan to employ 100 youths

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said the state signed an MoU with Japan's Nissan to employ 100 youths and aims to lead in EV manufacturing. He added that talks with global firms are underway and Tamil Nadu is working to become India's top state in healthcare.

2025-10-08T13:22:53.331251+00:00 IST

Mumbai greets UK PM Keir Starmer with billboards, warmth

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai for his first official visit to India. A video shared by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal showed billboards along Marine Drive featuring Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcoming the British leader to the city.

2025-10-08T13:17:17.107845+00:00 IST

ECP to hold Punjab local government elections in December 2025

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided to hold Punjab's long-delayed local government elections in the last week of December 2025. According to Dawn, the delimitation process will begin immediately and conclude within two months after the Punjab government failed to respond to earlier election timelines.

2025-10-08T11:57:20.675108+00:00 IST

Kubota Corporation to invest ₹2,000 crore in Haryana

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated he held detailed discussions with senior officials of Kubota Corporation at their tractor plant in Osaka regarding potential investments and opportunities for technical collaboration in the agricultural equipment manufacturing sector in Haryana.

2025-10-08T11:51:46.023532+00:00 IST

Oxford Bookstore launches Abhay K.’s Hanuman Chalisa

Oxford Bookstore hosted the launch of Abhay K.'s English translation of Hanuman Chalisa, published by Bloomsbury. Despite the rain, a large audience attended the event, which featured a discussion with journalist Murtaza Ali Khan on Abhay K.'s translation process, poetic journey, and the timeless relevance of devotional literature.

2025-10-08T10:27:27.930206+00:00 IST