South Asia
Taliban join climate change talks for first time: organisers
The Taliban government has entered its first talks with the United Nations, donors and non-governmental organisations over the impact of climate change in Afghanistan, organisers said Wednesday
Pro-China party wins the Maldives vote in landslide
The party of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu yesterday won control of parliament in an election landslide, results showed, with voters backing his tilt towards China and away from regional powerhouse and traditional benefactor India.
Maldives votes in election key to its India, China ties
The Maldives voted enthusiastically yesterday in a parliamentary election set to test President Mohamed Muizzu’s tilt towards China and away from regional powerhouse and traditional benefactor India.
Maldives court frees former president Yameen
Jailed former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen was freed yesterday after the High Court overturned his conviction and 11-year prison sentence on graft and money-laundering charges.
X blocked in Pakistan over nat’l security
Pakistan’s interior ministry said yesterday it blocked access to social media platform X in February on national security concerns, confirming a long-suspected shutdown.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maguire nominates Burmese activist Zarni for 2024 prize
Peace activist and 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire has nominated the UK-exiled Burmese human rights activist and genocide scholar Maung Zarni for the prestigious prize
Gunmen kill Pakistani once linked to murder of ‘Indian spy’
Gunmen shot dead a man once charged with the 2013 killing of an Indian national jailed in Pakistan for alleged spying, according to officials and a police report, against a backdrop of fraught relations between the rival South Asian powers.
Shehbaz Sharif voted in as Pakistan's PM for second time
Newly sworn-in lawmakers in Pakistan's National Assembly elected Sharif by 201 votes to 92, three weeks after national elections marred by widespread allegations of rigging
PTI fields Mahmood Khan to face Zardari in Pakistan’s presidential election
Backed by PTI, firebrand Pashtun nationalist leader from Balochistan Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Saturday submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming presidential election of Pakistan on March 9 against PPP's Asif Ali Zardari
Sri Lanka awards energy deal to India after rejecting China
Sri Lanka yesterday awarded the construction of three solar and wind hybrid power generation facilities to an Indian company after scrapping a tender won by a Chinese firm.
Pakistan parliament elects speaker amid pro-Imran protests
Pakistan’s new parliament elected a speaker yesterday, despite protests from lawmakers loyal to jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan three weeks after an election they claim was brazenly rigged.
Pakistan lawmakers sworn in after polls marred by rigging claims
Lawmakers were sworn in during the first sitting of Pakistan's new parliament Thursday, three weeks after an election marred by widespread allegations of rigging
Bailout Talks: PTI urges IMF to consider Pakistan’s instability
The party of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan, has asked the International Monetary Fund to factor in the country’s political stability in any further bailout talks, two people familiar with the matter said yesterday.
Pakistan: After refusal by president, speaker calls NA session on Feb 29
Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Monday had to summon the maiden sitting of the lower house of parliament at 10am on Feb 29, after President Arif Alvi refused to summon the session on account of an 'incomplete house'
Nawaz’s daughter becomes Punjab CM
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of Pakistan’s three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was elected yesterday as the head of the country’s most populous province, Punjab, in a move underlining the expanding grip of the family in the South Asian nation.
India allows export of 50,000 tonnes of onions
India yesterday permitted the export of 50,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh ahead of Ramadan, relaxing the vegetable’s export ban.
Post-Polls Pakistan: Imran to ask IMF to halt aid over ‘rigged’ election
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will write to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), demanding it to stop their support for Pakistan due to “rigged elections,” party leader Ali Zafar announced yesterday.
