Pak imposes Section 144 in protest-afflicted PoGB

On the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Mazin Mukhtar, Co-founder and Associate Director of the Akshar Foundation, highlighted development initiatives in India's northeastern region and urged global recognition of progress made in previously neglected areas.

Bangladesh's 13th Parliament unanimously elected veteran BNP leader Hafizuddin Ahmed as Speaker and Barrister Kayser Kamal as Deputy Speaker. Following the BNP's recent election victory, the two leaders were sworn in by President Shahabuddin in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, marking the new legislative journey.

The WHO has called on all parties to protect civilians and advocated that Peace remains the best medicine.

The Trump administration has launched "unfair trade practice" probes into 16 nations, including India and China, to reinstate tariff pressure. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the "investigations will focus on economies" with "structural excess capacity." Additional probes into forced labour could lead to new tariffs by July.

Announcing the move on a White House press call, Jamieson Greer said the probe would be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, one of Washington's most powerful trade enforcement tools.

In the statement addressed to "fellow compatriots," Pahlavi warned that the situation had reached a highly sensitive point and urged people to prioritise their safety while maintaining unity through peaceful means of resistance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the future of Iran's current political leadership ultimately rests in the hands of the Iranian people, asserting that any change in the regime would depend on their willingness to challenge what he described as oppressive rule.

China has announced a 7 per cent increase in its 2026 defence budget to roughly USD 277 billion. Amidst regional conflicts and military purges, Beijing is prioritising modernisation and "sovereign rights." While feeling vulnerable due to energy dependencies, China is choosing diplomatic engagement over direct military involvement in current global wars.

Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has emphasised the resilience of the country's governance system, stating that Iran continued to function smoothly even under war-like conditions. He said public services and wartime management proceeded without disruption, demonstrating that the Islamic Republic of Iran operates through established laws and institutions rather than relying on any single individual.

With Pakistan facing the impact of the crisis in West Asia, the Chief Minister of the country's Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has announced a series of measures "to protect the public and manage resources responsibly".