Proposed Gandhara Corridor Bill causes rift between Islamabad and KPK

Pakistan’s aspirations to become a focal point of Buddhist culture in the sub-continent have encountered a significant obstacle with the introduction of the proposed Gandhara Corridor Bill.

How Muizzu’s profligate embrace of China’s debt trap imperils the nation’s sovereignty

The paradisiacal veneer of the Maldives’ sun-drenched atolls belies a storm gathering on the horizon – a tempest unleashed by the reckless policies of President Muizzu’s regime that jeopardize the very sovereignty and economic autonomy of the island nation. In an uneven bargain driven by hubris and shortsightedness, Muizzu has shackled the Maldives to an ever-tightening noose of Chinese debt entanglements.

Israeli missiles hit site in Iran, explosions heard in Isfahan: Report

Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran, according to the US broadcaster ABC News, which cited an unnamed senior US official.

India heads to the polls in world’s biggest election

Polls opened Friday for the first and largest phase of India’s marathon general election, kicking off a vote in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to win a rare third consecutive term.

Momentous Indian elections could strengthen Modi’s partnership with Biden

While President Joe Biden struggles for electoral survival, his friend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can safely expect resounding approval for a third straight term at India’s general elections starting next Friday, April 19.

China’s cycle of dollar hoarding and weakening yuan gets vicious

Chinese businesses are hoarding dollars because they expect their own currency to weaken, and that in turn is exacerbating a slide in the yuan that has been driven by wobbly stock markets and feeble growth in the world’s second largest economy.

Indonesia issues tsunami alert after volcano erupts on remote island

Indonesian authorities on Wednesday ordered hundreds of villagers to evacuate following multiple eruptions of a remote island volcano, raising fears it could collapse into the sea and trigger a tsunami.

India world’s largest democracy, important strategic partner, says US

The US Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller, was put on the spot to address recent publications alleging democratic backsliding in India and the US navigating the relationship with the country.

Chinese authorities arrest 4 Tibetans for protest over land grab

Police have arrested and detained four Tibetans who protested Chinese authorities’ seizure of pasture land owned by Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region, three sources inside Tibet told Radio Free Asia.

Flooding in Dubai turns planes into boats

A fierce storm has lashed Dubai with the “exceptional weather” conditions sparking travel chaos.

Chinese exodus leaves Cambodia boomtown with 500 ’ghost buildings’

An exodus of Chinese real estate companies has left this Cambodian seaside resort littered with hundreds of half-finished projects.

China’s March exports and imports shrink, miss forecasts by big margins

China’s exports contracted sharply in March while imports unexpectedly shrank, undershooting forecasts by big margins, highlighting the stiff task facing policymakers as they try to bolster a shaky economic recovery.

World’s largest renewable energy park now In India - 5 times larger than Paris

A narrow airstrip that doesn’t even have an air traffic controller to guide incoming airplanes and whose only infrastructure is a portable toilet and a make-shift office in a container in the midst of miles of barren land bordering Pakistan is an unlikely gateway to the world’s largest renewable energy park.

US shoots down Iranian drones bound for Israel

The US has shot down Iranian drones headed to Israel after Iran launched its retaliatory attack early on Sunday.

UK adds Pakistan to list Of countries ’’too dangerous to travel’’: Report

Islamabad: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom has recently added Pakistan to its list of countries that it states are ’’too dangerous’’ for UK citizens to travel, reported Geo News.

Maldives to hold road shows in India to woo tourists back

Male: In an apparent bid to woo Indian tourists back to the Maldives, a major tourism body in Male has announced that it will hold road shows across key Indian cities.

Six dead in mass stabbing at Sydney shopping center

Six people have been killed and several others injured, including a child, in a mass stabbing at a busy shopping center in Sydney, Australian police said.

US vows ’ironclad’ defence of Philippines, Japan amid growing China provocations

The United States’ defence commitments to Japan and the Philippines are “ironclad,” US President Joe Biden said on Thursday as he hosted the first-ever trilateral summit between the three countries, welcoming Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to the White House a day after the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, CNN reported.

Taylor Swift’s music back on TikTok after dispute

Taylor Swift’s songs are back on TikTok following a dispute that led her label to stop licensing its content to the app.

Fitch downgrades China outlook to negative on economic growth risks

Fitch cut its outlook on China’s sovereign credit rating to negative on Wednesday, citing risks to public finances as the economy faces increasing uncertainty in its shift to new growth models.

Taiwan detects 10 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval vessels around nation

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has announced that it has detected ten Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am on Tuesday and 6 am on Wednesday.

World Athletics introduces $50,000 prize money for Olympic gold medallists

Sebastian Coe has defended World Athletics’ decision to break with 128 years of Olympic tradition by becoming the first sport to give athletes prize money if they are victorious in Paris this summer.

Tesla electric vehicles entry into India will be ’natural progression’, says Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that India, like every other country, should have electric car and it will be a natural progression for his company to provide Tesla electric vehicles in India.

Canada spies found China interfered in last two elections, probe hears

Canada’s domestic spy agency concluded that China interfered in the last two elections, an official probe heard on Monday, the firmest evidence so far of suspected Chinese meddling in Canadian politics.

Pak policeman held for smuggling arms in school bag

In a recent operation, the Counter Terrorism Department’s intelligence wing thwarted an arms smuggling attempt by a policeman, who concealed the arms in a school bag in Karachi, as reported by ARY News on Sunday.

World Health Day: India’s healthcare sector reflects 12.59 per cent growth in 2024-25

India’s healthcare landscape has undergone a transformation, propelled by substantial investments in infrastructure development. The Union Health Ministry’s allocation of Rs 90,658.63 crore in the interim Budget for 2024-2025 reflects a 12.59 per cent increase, highlighting the government’s prioritisation of healthcare expenditure.

New Zealand tightens visa rules amid near record migration

New Zealand said on Sunday that it was making immediate changes to its employment visa program after a near record migration last year which it said was ’’unsustainable’’.

Taiwan detects eight Chinese naval vessels around nation, deploys appropriate forces to respond

Taipei [Taiwan], April 7 (ANI): The Taiwan Ministry of National Defence (MND) tracked eight Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am on Thursday (April 4) and 6 am on Friday (April 5), Taiwan News reported.

China will use AI to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea and India, Microsoft warns

China will attempt to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea and India this year with artificial intelligence-generated content after making a dry run with the presidential poll in Taiwan, Microsoft has warned.

Updated UK Travel Advisory on Sri Lanka expected to boost tourism industry

Travel Advisory of the United Kingdom on Sri Lanka has been updated on 5th April 2024. The travel Advisory has been updated with additional information on emergency medical numbers, road travel and safety and security on ’Entry requirements’, ’Safety and security’, and ’Health’ pages.