Asia

Karachi’s Gul Plaza inferno death toll rises to 14

The blaze, which erupted late Saturday night (local time), reduced much of the multi-storey complex to rubble and took firefighters more than 24 hours to control. Flames were still visible deep within the wreckage, forcing crews to proceed with caution while the "cooling process" continued and debris was cleared.

2026-01-19T09:41:37.272610+00:00 IST

"Unfair and unjustified”: Jaishankar during talks with Polish FM

Jaishankar held the meeting at a time when the world was witnessing significant "global churn" and underlined the need for closer engagement between India and Poland.

2026-01-19T09:30:19.371259+00:00 IST

Balochistan: Protest erupts in Panjgur over surge in kidnappings

According to the report, the protest was organised by the All Parties Citizen Action Committee of Makran (APCACM) following the abduction of well-known local figure Gul Jan Rind and several other people from Panjgur. As reported by Dawn, protesters assembled at Bismillah Chowk before marching through the town's main streets, holding placards and banners highlighting their demands and chanting slogans against what they described as government inaction.

2026-01-19T09:08:57.991417+00:00 IST

The Green Development Compact bridges north-south ambitions: ORF

Authored by Amitabh Kant and Samir Saran, a new paper calls for a fundamental shift away from competition-driven green industrial policy toward a more collaborative model. At its core is the proposal for a Green Development Compact, a framework designed to integrate Northern capital, innovation, and corporate capacities with Southern scale, speed, and renewable energy endowments. In the authors' words, this aims to create "co-development and shared prosperity across regions" rather than perpetuating a dynamic where the South remains dependent on Northern technologies and investment.

2026-01-19T08:16:52.167498+00:00 IST

Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help f

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held talks with Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski , saying the meeting came at a time when the world was witnessing significant global churn, and urging that Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood.

2026-01-19T08:14:28.524779+00:00 IST

China records lowest birth rate in 2025 as population falls for f

The CNN report citing data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics on Monday stated the birth rate fell to 5.63 births per 1,000 people in 2025, lower than the previous record low of 6.39 births per 1,000 recorded in 2023.

2026-01-19T07:17:25.477180+00:00 IST

UAE President on India visit today, will meet with PM Modi

According to sources, the UAE President's visit to India will be brief and is expected to last around two hours.

2026-01-19T07:09:27.299341+00:00 IST

India’s shared geometric art with Iran and Ottoman world “The Won

Spanning four centuries (16th to 19th) and three continents, the exhibition brings together approximately 300 exquisite works from the Louvre's collections. It is structured into three major sections, each dedicated to the magnificent artistic traditions of the Indian people and the history of India and West Asia, the statement added.

2026-01-19T04:01:25.458909+00:00 IST

Death toll rises to 10 after Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire

After gaining limited access to the fire-hit shopping mall, fire and rescue crews began preparing to enter deeper sections of the building by cutting windows with cutters and breaking down walls with hammers to widen the search for survivors.

2026-01-19T03:06:40.124171+00:00 IST

Taiwan detects two PLA aircraft sorties near its territory

In a statement, the MND said that both sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

2026-01-19T02:46:13.658241+00:00 IST

WEF sparks backlash by inviting Iranian Foreign Minister

The controversy erupted after United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a US-based watchdog group, sent a letter to WEF President Borge Brende urging the forum to exclude officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The letter called attention to what human rights groups describe as a "mass slaughter" of Iranian civilians carried out by the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during nationwide protests earlier this month.

2026-01-19T02:45:11.270033+00:00 IST

Pakistan Army joins rescue ops after deadly fire in Karachi

Army units, along with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), have been deployed to assist civil authorities, firefighters and rescue teams in clearing debris and accessing areas rendered unreachable due to structural damage. Heavy machinery and specialised teams have been brought in, while an Army engineering unit has been placed on standby to assess the stability of the building and ensure safe entry for rescuers.

2026-01-19T00:35:03.105521+00:00 IST

Poland Dy PM Sikorski to meet EAM Jaishankar today

Radoslaw Sikorski was welcomed by Additional Secretary, Pooja Kapur, in Delhi. The Polish Deputy PM will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss the India-Poland Strategic Partnership.

2026-01-18T22:38:45.710706+00:00 IST

Hope India-EU FTA can be closed soon: Italian Ambassador

Ambassador of Italy to India, Antonio Bartoli, remained optimistic over the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and said that following the conclusion of the trade deal, Italian delicacies such as wine and other products will become more accessible to Indians.

2026-01-18T21:35:37.698466+00:00 IST

USISPF hosts US Senator Steve Daines in New Delhi

US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) hosted US Senator Steve Daines in New Delhi for a closed-door roundtable discussion on advancing Washington-New Delhi economic and strategic cooperation.

2026-01-18T20:41:37.149825+00:00 IST

US Envoy shares Trump's invitation letter to PM Modi to join Gaza "Board of Peace"

Trump sent a letter to Modi, which the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, shared on social media.

2026-01-18T19:06:01.971379+00:00 IST

Chinese envoy Yao Wen meets Bangladesh NSA Khalilur Rahman

China reaffirmed support for Bangladesh's democratic transition and upcoming elections.

2026-01-18T18:11:23.192082+00:00 IST

Pakistan student groups announce nationwide solidarity marches

Student groups in Pakistan announced nationwide Student Solidarity Marches on February 12. They plan a Lahore march from GCU to the Punjab Assembly to highlight student suicides, rising fees, harassment and lack of representation. Leaders also demanded restoration of student unions and better campus protections.

2026-01-18T17:55:48.925086+00:00 IST

“Trade without tariffs”: Veteran Canadian journalist Milewski

Veteran Canadian journalist Terry Milewski told ANI that India and Canada should pursue a comprehensive free trade agreement "without tariffs" and improve people-to-people ties. He said relations remain unsettled despite recent warming, and warned global geopolitics is worsening under a shifting world order.

2026-01-18T17:13:19.742163+00:00 IST

Surge of returning refugees deepens shelter crisis in Afghanistan

Afghan officials stated that land is being distributed to returning refugees, with over 3,000 plots already allotted and aid accelerated. The Urban Development Ministry said over 2,800 families received land in several provinces. Returnees from Pakistan reported severe shelter shortages and appealed for faster support.

2026-01-18T17:01:06.210850+00:00 IST