Can Pakistan Break the Connectivity Barrier to Central Asia?

In early February, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym Jomart Tokayev conducted the first state visit to Islamabad in 23 years, followed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Both leaders were awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, highlighting the symbolic importance of these engagements. Pakistan’s access to the Indian Ocean has further enhanced its position in Eurasian geoeconomics, […]

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Global AI summit in India still without final statement

NEW DELHI: A summit statement on how the world should approach the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence was still not published Saturday afternoon, a day after it had been expected at global talks in New Delhi. Dozens of national delegations, including leaders from France, Brazil and other countries, had gathered in the Indian capital […]

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Afghanistan quake causes no ‘serious’ damage, injuries: official

KABUL: A 5.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked eastern Afghanistan including the capital Kabul has resulted in only minor damage and one reported injury, a disaster official told AFP on Saturday. The quake hit on Friday just as people in the Muslim-majority country were sitting down to break their Ramadan fast. The epicenter was near several remote […]

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India, Brazil sign mining pact as Modi targets $20b trade in 5yrs

India moved to deepen trade ties with Brazil on Saturday, signing a pact to expand cooperation in mining and minerals as it seeks to meet rising domestic steel demand and support capacity expansion amid a global race for raw materials. The agreement was signed in the presence of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian […]

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India likely to resume full visa services for Bangladeshis after April

India is expected to resume all types of visa services for Bangladeshis, including tourist visas, following the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for April. A senior official at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard that the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections are likely to be […]

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India-Europe trade corridor gathers pace as Modi, Macron pledge port partnership

By Biman Mukherji India and France have agreed to strengthen links between two of their largest ports and others, giving fresh momentum for a proposed commercial corridor stretching from South Asia to Europe that analysts say could rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The agreement between India’s Adani Ports and France’s Port of Marseille Fos […]

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Bangladesh referendum: The big post-election flashpoint?

By Sarah Shamim Alongside last week’s parliamentary election in Bangladesh, voters also cast their ballots in a national referendum on important constitutional reforms proposed for the country following the July 2024 uprising and ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The July National Charter, which most political parties signed last year, was approved by 60.26 […]

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Trump congratulates Tarique, urges progress on trade and defence deals

US President Donald Trump has congratulated Tarique Rahman on his assumption of office as the prime minister of Bangladesh and pushed for progress on trade and defence deals between the two countries. In a congratulatory message, Trump conveyed his best wishes to Tarique and expressed his desire to work together in the spirit of mutual […]

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Pakistan PM Sharif to seek clarity on troops for Gaza in US visit, sources say

ISLAMABAD: Before Pakistan commits to sending troops to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force it wants assurances from the United States that it will be a peacekeeping mission rather than tasked with disarming Hamas, three sources told Reuters. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to attend the first formal meeting of President […]

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‘I admire Vision 2030’: Bangladesh’s new PM aims for stronger Saudi, GCC ties

DHAKA: After 17 years in exile, Tarique Rahman has taken office as prime minister of Bangladesh, inheriting his parents’ political legacy and facing immediate economic and political challenges. Rahman led his Bangladesh Nationalist Party to a landslide victory in the Feb. 12 general election, winning an absolute majority with 209 of 300 parliamentary seats and […]

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