Pezeshkians visit marks the second time an Iranian president has visited Pakistan in less than two years Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day official visit, marking his first trip to Islamabad since taking office, as per Dawn. Upon arrival in Lahore, Pezeshkian was warmly received by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. During his visit, Pezeshkian is expected to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari

Experts say the dam project could alter the rivers natural flow and place downstream nations at risk of floods and droughts. The construction of a mega hydropower dam by China on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet has triggered serious concerns among Tibetan experts in exile, who warn of its potential impact on the environment, regional geopolitics, and the livelihoods of downstream countries like India and Bangladesh. The proposed dam, expected to be larger than the Three Gorges Dam, is coming up i

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi meets Japanese Defence Minister; visits advanced JMSDF units and shipbuilding facilities. The interaction and visits carried out by Admiral Tripathi set the ground for greater mutual understanding and closer cooperation in areas of major common maritime interest, indicating a great leap forward in the naval relationship between the two countries, a report by Manan Bhatt (Retd) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), held extensive bilateral d

Regular power outages are a fact of life in Pakistan, but recent developments suggest that the situation is escalating to new extremes.writes Nasir Khattak In early January 2025, a nerve-breaking power outage in northern Pakistan sparked a week-long protest that shut down a key highway linking Pakistan with China. In Pakistan Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, over 80,000 residents shivered through winter nights with barely 30-60 minutes of electricity in 24 hours, prompting hundreds to blockade the Kar

The call reaffirmed their keenness to strengthen relations in line with their shared vision to leverage opportunities and deepen strategic cooperation.reports Asian Lite News In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a detailed phone conversation to reinforce the ever-deepening ties between India and the United Arab Emirates. Both leaders expressed firm commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partner

Rubios remarks follows President Trumps tariff announcementreports Asian Lite News US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged that Indias ongoing imports of Russian oil remain a point of irritation in its ties with Washington, despite the broader strategic partnership between the two nations. His remarks come a day after US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff and an additional penalty on Indian imports, citing Indias trade ties with Russia and high trade barriers. Look,

Trump issues executive order formalising Indias tariff at 25 pcreports Asian Lite News New York, Aug 1 (IANS) As the deadline for tariffs neared, US President Donald Trump imposed the threatened tariff of 25 per cent on India starting Friday as the prolonged negotiations appeared to have stalled. His executive order, issued late Thursday, did not include penalty tariffs on buying Russian energy or for BRICS membership, which he had also threatened. When Trump initially threatened the 25 per cent

Mir Yar Baloch asserted that Trumps recognition of the oil and mineral reserves in the region is indeed accurate.reports Asian Lite News Just after US President Donald Trump announced to help Pakistan develop its massive oil reserve, leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch wrote to the American President, stating that military leadership in Islamabad have gravely misled the US administration regarding the true geography and ownership of Pakistans resources. He stated that the oil res

The union government is led by U Nyo Saw as Prime Minister, and the State Security and Peace Commission is chaired by Senior General Min Aung Hlaingreports Asian Lite news Myanmars National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) on Thursday formed a new union government and State Security and Peace Commission, the state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) reported. The union government is led by U Nyo Saw as Prime Minister, and the State Security and Peace Commission is chaired by Senior Gene

Perfect for playlists centred around love, friendship, travel, or self-discovery, Kuch Kadam stands out as more than just another track. In a time where music often races to go viral, Sugam Sargam takes a slower, more meaningful path with his latest release, Kuch Kadam. A poetic follow-up to his debut track Phool Rahon Mein, this new single is a tender ode to the quiet power of walking through life together. Available now on YouTube, Kuch Kadam isnt just a song. Its a feeling. Its that first sh

As the fifth and final Test starts at The Oval on Thursday, both teams must shake off the fatigue and give their best shot in a gruelling series decider.reports Asian Lite News Both England and India find themselves nursing mental and physical fatigue as they approach the end of a long Test series. But now, as the fifth and final Test starts at The Oval on Thursday, both teams must shake off the fatigue and give their best shot in a gruelling series decider. The series has tested endurance, part

Warnings issued in Rasuwa, Dhading and Nuwakot; fears mount after glacial breach, rising rivers, and twin tremors rock Himalayas A deluge of rainfall in southern Tibet early Wednesday has sent alarm bells ringing across Nepal, where rising river levels and previous flood damage have put multiple districts on high alert. Authorities in Rasuwa, Dhading, and Nuwakot districts are urging caution following sudden surges in the Trishuli Rivera major waterway fed by glacial tributaries flowing in from

China rolls out a nationwide childcare subsidy scheme, easing burdens on young families with digital access, inclusive coverage, and strong financial backing from the central government. In a sweeping move to encourage childbirth and ease the financial burden on young families, China has earmarked 90 billion yuan (approximately USD 12.6 billion) from its central budget this year to support a nationwide childcare subsidy programme, according to the Ministry of Finance. The funding, which constitu

India to host 2026 AI Summit, boosting global dialogue on safe, inclusive tech, while Gujarat launches state-wide AI plan for governance, growth, and public welfare. India is set to host the AI Impact Summit 2026 in February next year, positioning itself as a global thought leader in advancing the responsible, inclusive, and people-centric development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The announcement, made in Parliament by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishna

India strengthens its Pacific diplomacy with Fiji, sending seeds, promising tech ties, and deepening cooperation in defence, health, and development under the Act East Policy vision. The 6th India-Fiji Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Suva marked a renewed commitment to strengthening the multifaceted partnership between New Delhi and Suva, with fresh momentum added to ongoing cooperation in agriculture, education, healthcare, climate change and people-to-people ties. The high-level tal

Church leaders, priests, and nuns in Kerala march in silence to the Governors house, protesting BJP-led Chhattisgarh governments arrest of two nuns on dubious charges. Outrage over the arrest of two Kerala-based Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh escalated as hundreds of protesters, led by senior Church leaders, marched silently to the official residence of Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar. Donning black cloths across their mouths, bishops, priests, nuns, and laypersons from various Christian deno

Organised by the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), a high-level closed-door conversation on India-EU Defence Cooperation: Partnering Europes Security Push brought together senior European diplomats, Indian industry leaders, and strategic experts Top diplomats and industry experts have underscored that the defence industrial cooperation between India and the European Union (EU) is no longer a peripheral element but is fast becoming central to strategic outlooks of both regions. Organised by the

A joint mission of NASA and ISRO, the Earth satellite was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard an ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched NISAR satellite a sophisticated earth observation satellite developed in collaboration with the American space agency NASA launched from Sriharikota on Wednesday evening on its scheduled time. A joint mission of NASA and ISRO, the Earth satellite launched from Satish Dhawan Space Cen

Stokes said he would begin his rehabilitation process with an eye on Englands winter schedule.reports Asian Lite News England captain Ben Stokes has ruled himself out of the series-deciding fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India at The Oval, citing a shoulder injury that he said was too big a risk to aggravate. The 34-year-old all-rounder, who has been Englands talisman throughout the gripping four-match series, announced on the eve of the final Test, confirming that vice-capt

Earlier in May, Khaleda Zia returned to Dhaka after four months of medical treatment in Londonreports Asian Lite News Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo on Wednesday announced that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will contest upcoming elections. He also expressed confidence about BNPs win if fair election are held. There is no concern regarding elections in the district. Our leader [Khaleda Zia] is well now. She will contest the election. There is no worry about Feni,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Marcos are scheduled to hold bilateral talks on August 5.reports Asian Lite News Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will pay a State Visit to India from August 4 to 8, marking his first trip to the country since taking office. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors, with a key focus on defence and maritime security. The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that President Marcos will be accompanied by First

Trump says he will impose 25 pc tariff on our friend India as negotiations appear to stallreports Asian Lite News Even as he called India our friend, US President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Indias exports starting Friday after the negotiations have apparently stalled. India will be paying a tariff of 25 per cent starting on August 1, Trump posted on Truth Social. He said that India would also face an additional tariff penalty for buying Russian energy.

On July 18, the US had banned TRF, designating as global terror outfitreports Asian Lite News In a major development, the UN Security Council has named The Resistance Front (TRF) a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot for its role in the Pahalgam terror attack, according to its latest global terrorism report. The UNSC monitoring committee in its report published on July 24, has linked Lashkars proxy to April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which led to killing of 26 innocent tourists. The move is seen as an

The carnage at Gopalganj shows Bangladeshs post-Hasina descent into fear writes Monir Islam Exactly one year ago, on July 16, 2024, six young lives were lost in Bangladesh during a police crackdown on anti-quota protestors. On the first anniversary of that fateful day, Bangladesh found itself under the shadow of a far graver dangerthis time from the very protestors who had once demanded justice. In a chilling twist of irony, those who once cried foul over state repression have now embraced the t

Historic buildings crumble amid builder mafias relentless pursuit writes Dr Sakariya Kareem Pakistans architectural and cultural legacy is facing an unprecedented crisis. Across major cities and small towns alike, historic buildingsmany of which are centuries oldare being reduced to rubble in the name of progress, commercial expansion, and unchecked real estate greed. The relentless assault on the countrys heritage is not merely an issue of urban development; it is a systematic erasure of ident

With a young and dynamic demographic, a rapidly digitising economy, and a strong push for foundational and future skills, India is laying the groundwork for an educational revolution that embraces artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and data sciences, writes Dr Arun Kumar Sharma As India celebrates a decade of the transformative Skill India Mission, the country now stands at the threshold of a groundbreaking milestone: becoming the global leader in AI-ready school talent. Indias

In addition to the meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister, the Indian delegation also held discussions with Syrian Health Minister Musab Al-Ali on Monday.reports Asian Lite News An Indian delegation, currently on a visit to Damascus, met with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani to explore avenues for bolstering bilateral relations aimed at serving the mutual interests of both countries. According to a statement shared on the Syrian Foreign Ministrys Tele

The UN Human Rights Office and Bangladeshs interim government signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 18 to establish a mission in the country aimed at supporting the promotion and protection of human rights. Several political parties in Bangladesh have strongly criticised the interim governments decision to permit the establishment of a UN Human Rights office in the country. The move, announced during an event organised by the radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, has sp

On Saturday, dozens of civil society members and rights activists staged a protest in Quetta, demanding justice and an end to parallel justice systems. At least 405 honour killings were reported across Pakistan in 2024, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), with most victims being women murdered by relatives under the pretext of protecting family honour, local media reported on Monday. Last month, a couple was shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council in Balochista

The classical games played over the weekend had ended in tense draws, with both players showcasing resilience and elite-level play The 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stunned the chess world by winning the FIDE Womens World Cup 2025, becoming the first Indian woman to claim the prestigious title. In the all-Indian final, Divya defeated legendary compatriot Koneru Humpy 1.50.5 in the rapid tie-breaks on Monday to script a fairytale ending in Baku. The classical games played over the weekend had ended

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that Washington needs additional talks to finalise a trade agreement with New Delhi.reports Asian Lite News The US administration has said that more negotiations are needed with India to sign a bilateral trade deal, as the deadline of August 1 for reciprocal tariffs inches closer. In an interview with CNBC, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that Washington needs additional talks to finalise a trade agreement with New Delhi. We continue to spe