Pakistan's failure to tackle trafficking lets criminal networks thrive: Report

IANS | March 7, 2026 9:02 PM

Islamabad, March 7 (IANS) Pakistan will continue to see disappearances buried in administrative records rather than investigated as crimes unless trafficking is recognised not only as a humanitarian crisis but also as an institutional vulnerability. Such neglect enables organised criminal networks to flourish and undermines the credibility of the authorities, a report said on Saturday.

Trump warns of wider Iran strikes

IANS | March 7, 2026 7:08 PM

Washington, March 7 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that the United States could expand its military targets in Iran, hours after Iran’s President apologised to neighbouring countries caught in the widening Middle East conflict but rejected calls for surrender.

Nepal: PM-in-waiting Balen Shah creates history by beating Oli in Jhapa

IANS | March 7, 2026 6:50 PM

Kathmandu, March 7 (IANS) Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah has secured victory from Jhapa-5 in eastern Nepal in the elections for the House of Representatives, defeating former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli by a wide margin in what was described as a battle for the next prime ministership.

India committed to working closely with new Nepal government: PM Modi

IANS | March 7, 2026 5:42 PM

New Delhi/Kathmandu, March 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the people and government of Nepal on the successful and peaceful conduct of elections in the country, stating that, as a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people and the new government in the country.

Fire safety crisis plagues Bangladesh's Rohingya refugee camps

IANS | March 7, 2026 4:50 PM

Dhaka, March 7 (IANS) Bangladesh's fire safety management in Rohingya refugee camps exposes a central paradox as humanitarian actors focus on emergency responses while the underlying causes of fire remain unaddressed. Plans for 50,000 semi-permanent, fire-resistant shelters, unveiled with fanfare, have gone unfunded after the early 2025 international aid cuts, a report has cited.