India can play an important role in bridging Palestine and Israel: Palestinian Foreign Minister

IANS | January 29, 2026 5:49 PM

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) Noting that India is a friend of both Palestine and Israel, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian on Thursday said that New Delhi can play an important role in bridging both sides. The visiting Foreign Minister, who arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day to attend the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers meeting (FMM) and the 4th India-Arab Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) 2026, asserted that Palestine expects India to actively participate in the ongoing peace efforts.

Australia announces humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, condemns Taliban's oppression of women

IANS | January 29, 2026 3:24 PM

Canberra, Jan 29 (IANS) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced 50 million Australian dollars in support for Afghanistan to address the deteriorating situation. She condemned Taliban's oppression of women and girls and stated that Australia is continuing legal action against Afghanistan for violations of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Low risk, high impact: How Khalistanis are soft-launching operations in Punjab

Vicky Nanjappa | January 29, 2026 1:37 PM

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) The waters in Punjab are being tested by the Khalistani elements once again, and this could be a sign of what is coming next. After provoking and planning attacks in India from abroad, these terror groups want to intensify operations after they realised that their movement is hardly gaining any traction in Punjab.

Pakistan: Traders hold shutter-down strike in Balochistan over kidnapping incidents

IANS | January 29, 2026 1:31 PM

Quetta, Jan 29 (IANS) Traders held a shutter-down strike in Gwadar, Panjgur and Turbat areas of Pakistan's Balochistan to hold protest against worsening law and order in the region and kidnapping incidents. An alliance of major political parties and all the segments of society, including businesses, were part of the protest, local media reported on Thursday.

Bangladesh: BNP accuses Jamaat of spreading ‘fascist propaganda’ ahead of elections

IANS | January 29, 2026 12:12 PM

Dhaka, Jan 29 (IANS) As political disputes continue to mount ahead of February 12 elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday accused the radical Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, of promoting “fascist propaganda,” political hypocrisy, and deceptive narratives aimed at influencing voters in the upcoming polls, local media reported.