12:49 pm - Monday February 16, 2026

Asia

Latest News on Asia
13 new polio cases found in Pakistan

13 new polio cases found in Pakistan

At least 13 new cases of crippling poliovirus have been detected in Pakistan, taking this year’s total of the new victims to 158, reports said on Wednesday. The new cases were confirmed on Tuesday by the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, Dawn reported. A health official said seven of... read more »

Pakistan suspends execution of Shoaib Sa...

Pakistan suspends execution of Shoaib Sarwar

Pakistan called off the scheduled hanging of Shoaib Sarwar convicted on murder charges in what would have been the first execution of a civilian in six years, officials said on Wednesday. Shoaib, convicted in 1998, was ordered to be hanged at Adiyala Prison in Rawalpindi city on Thursday, drawing... read more »

Sri Lanka, China settle defence cooperat...

Sri Lanka, China settle defence cooperation and maritime security deal

Sri Lanka and China on Tuesday clinched defence and maritime security cooperation deal with Colombo pledging to sup port silk trade route, a pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping. These were contained in a strategic cooperative partnership agreement released after the bilateral talks between... read more »

Iran rejects US-led coalition against IS

Iran rejects US-led coalition against IS

Seen from Tehran, which has helped both Damascus and Baghdad to confront IS advances, the coalition lacks credibility because some of its members had financed and armed the group as part of their campaign to bring down Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “Right from the start, the United States... read more »

Subscribe to Middle East

Middle East

No confirmation on invitees for Syria conference: UN

Syrian refugees in Lebanon exceed 800,000: UN

Beirut – The number of Syrians who have fled their war-torn country to neighbouring Lebanon has exceeded 800,000, the latest UN refugee agency report said Sunday. While more than 713,000... read more »

Wave of bomb attacks kill 56 in Iraq

Wave of bomb attacks kill 56 in Iraq

Baghdad – A fresh wave of car bombs struck the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad and the country’s northern region Sunday, killing 56 people... read more »

Iran hangs 16 rebels ‘in reprisal for border deat...

Iran lodges strong protest with Pakistan over killing of 14 border guards

Sixteen rebels have been hanged in Iran in retaliation for the deaths of at least 14 border guards in an ambush, say Iranian news agencies. The rebels were... read more »

Syria chemical disarmament on track as rebels cause bla...

Over 62,000 migrants arrived in Yemen this year: UN

Damascus – Syria is set to hand over a detailed plan for destroying its chemical arsenal Thursday, the international watchdog says, as a rebel attack... read more »

Assad declares willingness to run for re-election

Assad declares willingness to run for re-election

Johannesburg – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has declared he is willing to run for re-election. In a television interview broadcast, Assad said he did... read more »

More from Asia

Pakistan summons Indian envoy over cross border firing

Pakistan on Monday summoned a top Indian diplomat over recent cross-border firing which left one person dead, officials said. Paramilitary force Pakistan Rangers said the Indian forces... read more »

9 killed in heavy rains in southwest China

At least nine people were killed and 11 others went missing after heavy rains lashed southwest China for the last two days. Nine deaths were reported in Xishui County of Guizhou Province,... read more »

Pakistan claims 2 citizens killed in firing from across the LoC

Pakistan on Monday claimed that at least two of its citizens were killed and three others injured in alleged firing by Indian soldiers from across the Line of Control (LoC). The incident... read more »

Ninth polio case detected in Pakistan

A five-year-old child has been detected with polio in Pakistan’s Sindh province, making him the ninth confirmed case this year in the area, officials said on Friday. Umair was among the... read more »

Gaza truce ends with Israel claim of Hamas rocket fire

The Israeli military claimed renewed rocket fire by Gaza militants after a three-day truce expired on Friday and negotiations in Cairo on a new border deal for the coastal strip hit a deadlock. The... read more »