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.
Indian ‘warriors’ face police to back protesting farmers
Indian Sikh warriors, some on horseback, gathered yesterday to protect protesting farmers stalled by fearsome police barricades from advancing on the capital New Delhi to demand higher crop prices.
Sharif-Bhutto Alliance: Dynastic parties set to rule Pakistan again
After a split-verdict in Pakistan’s general election this month, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) announced the coalition late Tuesday, naming former premier Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister and Asif Ali Zardari as president.
Pak SC disposes plea seeking annulment of polls
Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday disposed of a plea seeking the February 8 general elections to be declared void and null after the petitioner failed to attend two consecutive hearings.
Pakistan parties reach power-sharing agreement, Khan loyalists left out
Two Pakistan parties have reached a power-sharing agreement that will return Shehbaz Sharif to the premiership, leaving out politicians loyal to jailed former leader Imran Khan despite winning the most seats in this month's vote
Pak senators decry alleged rigging in Feb 8 polls
A number of Pakistan senators in the upper house of Parliament yesterday decried alleged rigging in the February 8 elections and berated Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for his “failure” to ensure transparency in the polls.
Post-Polls Pakistan: Imran-backed candidates to join Sunni party
Independent candidates backed by Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister that won seats in inconclusive elections over 10 days ago will join the minority Sunni Ittehad Council Political Party to form a government, the party’s interim chief said yesterday.
25 killed in Afghanistan landslide caused by snow: disaster ministry
A landslide caused by heavy snowfall has killed 25 people and injured eight others in the eastern Afghan province of Nuristan, a disaster management ministry spokesman said Monday, raising an earlier toll
Pakistan Polls: PTI wants judicial body to probe rigging allegations
A key aide of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s party yesterday commented on Saturday’s press conference by the Rawalpindi commissioner — wherein he made rigging allegations in the country’s February 8 elections.
Pakistan Polls: Rawalpindi commissioner says helped in rigging
A senior bureaucrat said yesterday he helped rig Pakistan’s elections, a week after polls marred by allegations of manipulation returned no clear winner.
Pakistan Election: Imran Khan’s PTI to sit in opposition
As the political uncertainty about who will form the government in light of the February 8 general election continues, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) yesterday announced that it would form the opposition in the Centre and Punjab as per party founder Imran Khan’s directives.
