Kazakhstan reports 1,289 new Covid cases

The vote counting for the March 5 election in Nepal's House of Representatives has concluded late Wednesday, with Nepal's Election Commission (EC) making final preparations for the official announcement of results.

With counting completed in 164 out of the total 165 constituencies, RSP has won 125 seats with Nepali Congress has secured 18 seats while the CPN-UML has won nine constituencies. The Nepali Communist Party has secured seven seats under the FPTP category.

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta has declared 12 Baloch activists, including Sabiha Baloch, as proclaimed offenders. Charged under strict anti-terror laws, activists argue these legal actions are a systemic attempt by Pakistan to intimidate and silence voices protesting human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

The findings have raised questions about the effectiveness of legal mechanisms meant to protect women and vulnerable communities in the province.

Balen Shah's RSP is heading for a landslide victory in Nepal's parliamentary polls, leading in 98 seats and winning 19. Shah holds a massive lead over veteran KP Sharma Oli, as the RSP nears a simple majority, with party leaders eyeing a two-third majority of 186 seats.

Tokayev strongly condemned all military actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty and security of states that are friendly and brotherly to Kazakhstan.

Bangladesh Editors' Council gave a call on Wednesday to withdraw false and harassment cases filed against journalists across the country, as per a statement on behalf of the Editors' Council, its President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud.

Campaign for Uyghurs and rights groups urged UN High Commissioner Volker Turk to address alleged crimes against humanity by China in his upcoming UNHRC speech. They cited ongoing abuses, lack of updates since the OHCHR report, and recent Hong Kong cases, calling for accountability and transparency.

The sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on Wednesday strongly criticised the party's leadership for what they described as "complete silence" and lack of action regarding Khan's ongoing legal cases.

UN experts expressed serious concern over the 17-year prison sentences handed to Pakistani human rights lawyers Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha under cyber-terrorism laws. The rapporteurs warned that broad legislation is being misused to criminalise legal advocacy, restrict expression, and target defenders through alleged procedural irregularities.