Bangladesh lawmaker slams BNP govt for appointing party-linked figures to key posts

IANS | April 11, 2026 7:49 PM

Dhaka, April 11 (IANS) Rumeen Farhana, a Bangladeshi independent lawmaker, has slammed the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government over the appointment of party-linked figures to key positions, including the Governor of Bangladesh Bank and Vice Chancellors of several public universities, local media reported this week.

Caught in delicate balancing act, Pakistan seeks profits from US-China rivalry

IANS | April 11, 2026 7:26 PM

London, April 11 (IANS) With the US image declining in Pakistan, Chinese infrastructure investment, diplomatic influence, and strategic presence are gaining from the contrast. Recent developments have placed Pakistani leadership into a delicate balancing act, seeking to safeguard ties with the US without fully endorsing them to avoid domestic backlash.

We demand safety for our daughters: Head of Catholic Church in Pakistan

IANS | April 11, 2026 6:52 PM

Washington, April 11 (IANS) Pakistan's head of the Catholic Church, Bishop Samson Shukardin, has expressed concern over a government committee formed to review a recent ruling by the country’s top constitutional court that validated the marriage and forced conversion of a Christian minor girl.

US-Iran negotiations begin in Islamabad: Iranian media

IANS | April 11, 2026 6:22 PM

Islamabad, April 11 (IANS) Iranian media confirmed Saturday evening, Pakistan time, that the negotiations between Iran and the US side have begun in Islamabad. Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon, release of the Iranian assets by the American side - and the "need for more detailed expert and technical discussions" in this regard - are key parts of the negotiations besides discussions on the Strait of Hormuz.

West Asia conflict drags Bangladesh's economic growth to 4 pc: ADB

IANS | April 11, 2026 5:14 PM

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered Bangladesh’s economic growth forecast to 4 per cent for the current fiscal year ending in June, down from its earlier projection of 4.7 per cent, citing higher fuel prices and disruptions in global supply chains, according to a new report.

Fuel price shocks ripple Pakistan's economy, hit households

IANS | April 11, 2026 4:43 PM

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) As geopolitical tensions rise following Israel’s attack on Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Pakistan’s already fragile economy is facing added pressure, with rising fuel prices rippling across the broader economy, driving up the cost of essential goods and straining households, a report has said.