SOUTH ASIA

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Global condemnation after gunmen open fire at shrine in Afghanistan

Kabul, April 12 (IANS) Condemnations poured in after a gun attack occurred at a shrine in Afghanistan's Injil district, where gunmen opened fire on civilians, killing and injuring several people.The European Union has condemned attack on civilians in Afghanistan's Herat and expressed solidarity with those affected."The EU condemns all acts of terror against civilians, in any form and by any actor. Such violence is never justified. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the heinous attack in Herat. We stand in full solidarity with all those affected," the Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan posted on X.UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, called for a probe into the attack targeting Shia community members in...

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

China may exploit Middle East conflict to expand influence in Asia: Report

INDIA, SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could create strategic openings for China to expand its influence across Asia, particularly at a time when the United States is heavily "engaged in another theatre,’ according to a report."The war in the Middle East… is also reshaping the strategic environment in ways that extend far beyond the region," the report by Japan Forward said, adding that by tying down American attention and resources, the conflict is leaving other regions "more vulnerable than they appear", creating conditions that China has historically been adept at exploiting. The analysis underscores that Beijing does not necessarily need to trigger crises to gain an advantage. "China’s strategic approach does not rely on precipitating crises in Asia… it oft...

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

EAM Jaishankar calls on UAE President, expresses gratitude for ensuring well-being of Indian community

SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES, WORLD

Abu Dhabi, April 12 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar called on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE during the conflict in West Asia.Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was also present during the meeting."Deeply honoured to call on President of UAE HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi today. Conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our gratitude for ensuring well-being of the Indian community during the West Asia conflict. Thank him for his guidance on furt...

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Pakistan: Markets stay shut in Rawalpindi, people’s woes mount

SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES, WORLD

Islamabad, April 12 (IANS) People are facing series of problems, from buying edibles to daily essentials in Pakistan's Rawalpindi as the markets have remained shut at the behest of district administration, local media reported on Sunday.Markets in Rawalpindi remained shut due to the security reasons as US-Iran talks were held in Islamabad. The worst-impacted regions of Rawalpindi were Peshawar Road, Murree Road and areas which shared border with Islamabad, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. All shops, including milk shops, tandoors, and grocery shops, remained shut. The main grain market in Raja Bazaar of Rawalpindi also remained shut.Rawalpindi Traders Association leader Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said that shopkeepers were told to keep their shops shut on Saturday and Sunday as per t...

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Pakistan hikes electricity tariff in double whammy after fuel price rise

SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES, WORLD

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has delivered a major shock to the country’s consumers with an increase in electricity tariffs by Rs 1.42 per unit under the monthly fuel cost adjustment, citing a variation in fuel charges for February 2026.The Rs 1.42 per unit rise for February’s fuel adjustment will now be collected from consumers in April bills and, according to some reports, the overall additional burden consumers now have to shoulder comes to around Rs10.57 billion, according to an editorial piece in Pakistan’s The News International.Aside from conserving fuel, the austerity measures the government has taken in the wake of the Middle East conflict can also be seen as a way to help people save money. However, in this country, be...

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

South Korea: Two firefighters killed in cold storage warehouse fire

SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES, WORLD

Seoul, April 12 (IANS) A fire broke out at a cold storage warehouse in a southwestern county on Sunday, leaving two firefighters dead as the blaze intensified during rescue operations, South Korean authorities said.The fire started at around 8:25 am at a fisheries processing company's warehouse in the county of Wando, South Jeolla Province, prompting authorities to mobilise more than 100 firefighters. It was extinguished after about three hours, according to the Wando Fire Station, Yonhap News Agency reported.Two firefighters became trapped inside the warehouse and were later found dead, it noted.According to fire authorities, the blaze is believed to have started while workers were using a torch to remove paint from the building as part of floor-levelling and repaving work.A fishery com...

Apr122026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Iranian Embassy in Delhi showcases exhibition of drawings retrieved from Minab school rubble

SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES, WORLD

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) An exhibition titled 'Angels of Minab', showcasing drawings made by children, has been organised at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, featuring artwork retrieved from the debris of a girls' elementary school in Minab that was destroyed on February 28 following a series of joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.The strike on the school took place during the early phase of the US-Israeli military offensive, resulting in the deaths of more than 165 children and staff members. Reports suggest that a US Tomahawk missile struck the site near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base. Subsequent US assessments acknowledged American responsibility, attributing the incident to a targeting error rather than a deliberate attack.Through the exhibition,...

Mar92026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

New video contradicts US claims on Iran school strike

SOUTH ASIA, TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, March 9 (IANS) A newly surfaced video appears to show a US Tomahawk cruise missile striking an Iranian military facility next to an elementary school in the southern town of Minab, adding new questions to competing claims over a deadly attack that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including children.The footage, first released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency and later analysed by investigative researchers and reported by international media outlets including The New York Times and CNN, shows a missile striking a building at a naval facility operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) near the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school.The strike occurred on February 28 during a wave of attacks in southern Iran as fighting expanded across the region.Accord...

Mar92026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

India processing Russian oil is pragmatic decision: US

SOUTH ASIA, SPECIAL, TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, March 9 (IANS) Indian refineries processing Russian crude was a "pragmatic decision" taken to stabilise global energy markets and speed up supplies in Asia, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. Speaking on Fox News on Sunday (local time), Wright said the policy does not represent any shift in Washington's sanctions stance toward Moscow but reflects the realities of oil supply chains in Asia amid geopolitical disruption."Russia's oil remains sanctioned. There's no change in policy towards Russia," Wright asserted.He explained that large volumes of Russian crude were currently stranded in Asian waters as supply routes adjusted to sanctions and market shifts."But there's just a lot of tankers stacked up," Wright said. "China doesn't treat its discount gas station suppliers very ...

Mar92026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Trump’s war strategy criticised by former NSA, says goals remain unclear

SOUTH ASIA, SPECIAL, TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, March 9 (IANS) Former US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the Trump administration’s war with Iran risks drifting without a clear strategic objective, even as American military operations demonstrate significant tactical success.Speaking on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, Sullivan said the US military’s operational performance had been “remarkable” but questioned the clarity of the war’s ultimate goals.“On the encouraging side, the US military is just simply remarkable,” Sullivan said. “It's remarkable at being able to achieve tactical objectives, to execute operations with skill, professionalism, and courage.”But he cautioned that the strategic purpose of the war remains unclear.“The discouraging part is we are asking the US military to put itself in harm's way, and...