'Debt-ridden Pakistan faces higher risk due to Middle East crisis'

IANS | April 1, 2026 7:05 PM

New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) Pakistan’s economy bears significantly greater risks associated with the ongoing Middle East crisis, as the impact on the general public is considerably higher than on those nations which do not have to meet strict IMF conditions due to loans taken from the multilateral institution, according to an article in the local media.

Nepal sees sharp fall in tourist arrivals from Western countries

IANS | April 1, 2026 6:10 PM

Kathmandu, April 1 (IANS) Nepal has witnessed the impact of the ongoing West Asia crisis as the number of foreign tourist arrivals from Europe, the Americas, West Asia, and Africa has dropped sharply in March, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said on Wednesday.

India and Tajikistan review cooperation across various sectors

IANS | April 1, 2026 5:36 PM

Dushanbe, April 1 (IANS) Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sibi George, called on Tajikistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin on Wednesday, discussing bilateral ties, regional and global matters of common interest.

Pakistan: Four men allegedly gang rape woman in moving van

IANS | April 1, 2026 5:16 PM

Islamabad, April 1 (IANS) In yet another shocking crime details emerging from Pakistan, four men allegedly gang raped a woman in a van that moved around the Baga Sheikhan area which comes under the jurisdiction of Rawat police in Pakistan's Punjab province, local media reported.

UN expert slams ban preventing Afghan women from entering its offices

IANS | April 1, 2026 4:55 PM

Kabul, April 1 (IANS) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has criticised the continued ban preventing Afghan women from accessing United Nations offices, terming the policy discriminatory and unjustifiable, local media reported on Wednesday.