Bangladesh

The nation of 170 million people, with 127 million voters, goes to the polls Thursday for the first time since the uprising, electing 350 lawmakers to parliament; there are more than 51 parties, and more than 2,000 candidates.



DELETE

Web Desk/AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday that talks with Iran <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/president-zardari-says-stakes-far-too-high-for-usiran-confrontation" style="color:#0073e6;">must continue</a>, rebuffing the Israeli prime minister&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/netanyahu-to-push-trump-on-iran-missiles-in-white-house-talks" style="color:#0073e6;">push</a>&nbsp;for a tougher stance against Tehran. &quot;There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated,&quot; Trump said on social media after their three-hour meeting. &quot;If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be,&quot; said Trump, adding a reminder of last year&#39;s US strikes against Iran&#39;s nuclear program. So far, Iran has rejected expanding its talks with the United States beyond the issue of its nuclear program, though Washington also wants Tehran&#39;s ballistic missile program and its support for regional fighter groups on the table. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-president-says-will-not-give-in-to-excessive-demands" style="color:#0073e6;">said</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that Tehran would &quot;not yield to excessive demands&quot; on its nuclear program. But he insisted his country was not &quot;not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.&quot; Seeking to push for the Islamic Republic&#39;s ballistic missile program to be included in any deal, Netanyahu had rushed to Washington for his seventh meeting with Trump since the US leader returned to power. Netanyahu&#39;s office said that during the talks with Trump, the Israeli premier had &quot;insisted on the security needs of the state of Israel in relation to the negotiations&quot; on Iran. The Israeli premier said as he left for Washington his talks would &quot;first and foremost&quot; be about the Iran negotiations, while adding they would also discuss Gaza and other regional issues. Trump has hinted at US military action against Iran following Tehran&#39;s deadly crackdown on protesters, but at the same time Washington and Tehran restarted talks last week with a meeting in Oman. Talks had been suspended after the US strikes on Iran&#39;s atomic sites during Israel&#39;s 12-day war with Iran last July.

Americas

Middle East

So far, Iran has rejected expanding its talks with the United States beyond the issue of its nuclear program, though Washington also wants Tehran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional fighter groups on the table.



Trump tells Netanyahu Iran talks must continue

Ayesha Mir

Muhammad Ibrahim

DHAKA: Polling has begun across Bangladesh in a landmark <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUm9yVUDV1I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" style="font-size: 18px;">general election</a>&nbsp;widely seen as the country&rsquo;s most consequential vote in more than a decade, coming after a deadly 2024 uprising that ended the 15-year rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. 8:36: &#39;Now is the time for something positive&#39; A student at Dhaka City College, who lined up early to vote to avoid the crowds during the poll, told AFP that it was his first vote, hoping for something positive. &quot;This was my first vote and I hope after everything we went through the last few years, now is the time for something positive,&quot; 21-year-old Shithi Goswami said. 50-year-old Nur Alam Shamim &mdash; who was first vote at the New Model Degree College in Dhaka-10 constituency &mdash; said he last voted in 1991 and was casting his vote for the country after a &quot;many years.&quot; 8:31: Pakistan sends election day greetings Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari extended his best wishes to the people of Bangladesh as voting got underway, expressing hope for a peaceful process that strengthens democracy and stability. &ldquo;I extend my best wishes to the people of Bangladesh as they exercise their democratic right,&rdquo; Zardari said.&nbsp; &ldquo;I hope the election will be conducted peacefully and contribute to democratic stability.&rdquo; 7:30: Bangladesh votes amid tight security&nbsp;Voting opened at 7:30 local time on Thursday in 299 of the country&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-elections-2034-candidates-in-race-as-electioneering-ends-tuesday" style="font-size: 18px;">300 constituencies</a>, with one seat postponed following the death of a candidate. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/mired-in-economic-trouble-bangladesh-pins-hopes-on-election-boost" style="font-size: 18px;">Polls</a> will remain open until 16:30, with hand counting to begin shortly after closing. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/aee11e1d-92fc-4ca1-997b-618d5a91a28d-AFP__20260212__976A6UM__v1__HighRes__BangladeshPoliticsVote (2) (1).jpg" alt="AFP__20260212__976A6UM__v1__HighRes__BangladeshPoliticsVote (2) (1).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 1325px;"><figcaption style="line-height: 2;">Security forces stand guard outside a polling station before polls open for Bangladesh&#39;s general election in Dhaka on February 12, 2026. (AFP)</figcaption></figure>The election is being held amid unusually tight security. In the capital, Dhaka, vehicle movement has been sharply restricted, shops and businesses remain closed under a public holiday, and only emergency services are operating. Security personnel from the army, police, and paramilitary forces have been deployed nationwide, maintaining checkpoints and patrols since midnight. Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of around 170 million people and one of the world&rsquo;s fastest-growing economies in recent decades, is voting for the first time since mass protests last year overthrew Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s government. The student-led uprising, triggered initially by opposition to the public sector quota system, quickly grew into a nationwide movement against authoritarian rule, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUoxU4sCJcs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" style="font-size: 18px;">ending</a> Hasina&rsquo;s tenure in August 2024.<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px; line-height: 2;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUo5b8ECP8l/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F4112#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A199190.90000000596%2C%22ls%22%3A13.200000002980232%2C%22le%22%3A74.29999999701977%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1053" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>An <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/16-countries-to-send-57-observers-for-feb-12-election-bangladeshi-state-media" style="font-size: 18px;">interim administration</a> led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has overseen the transition and barred Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League from contesting the polls. Hasina, now in India, was later sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the crackdown on protesters. A verdict that her supporters and rights groups have criticized. More than 51 political parties and over 2,000 candidates are contesting the election, which will decide 300 directly elected parliamentary seats, alongside a referendum on a proposed democratic reform charter aimed at preventing a return to one-party dominance. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is widely seen as a frontrunner and says it expects to form the next government if voting is free and fair. Rahman, who returned from years in exile late last year, has framed the election as a chance to restore stability and revive an economy battered by political unrest. Challenging the BNP is the Jamaat&ndash;e&ndash;Islami&ndash;led 11-party alliance, which was sidelined for years under Hasina&rsquo;s rule and is now seeking its strongest showing in decades. Jamaat leader <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-religious-party-leader-eyes-power-after-decades-in-politics" style="font-size: 18px;">Shafiqur Rahman</a> has cast the vote as an opportunity to rebuild governance on principles of justice and accountability, while allied groups, including the National Citizen Party formed by former student leaders, say young voters could play a decisive role.<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px; line-height: 2;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUoNOPLkzxm/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F4112#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A243344%2C%22ls%22%3A13.200000002980232%2C%22le%22%3A74.29999999701977%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1197" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>Opinion polls have offered mixed projections, with some suggesting a BNP lead and others pointing to a tightly contested race. In addition to parliamentary voting, citizens are also casting ballots in a nationwide referendum on the July National Charter, a reform package proposed by the interim government that includes term limits for prime ministers, changes to parliamentary structure, and stronger judicial oversight. More than 300,000 security personnel have been deployed to oversee the process, with polling centres monitored by CCTV, drones, and body-worn cameras, according to the Election Commission. Authorities have urged all parties and voters to refrain from violence, warning that any attempts to disrupt the process will be dealt with firmly.<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px; line-height: 2;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUmuTPZjR8F/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F4112#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A277400.90000000596%2C%22ls%22%3A13.200000002980232%2C%22le%22%3A74.29999999701977%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1131" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>&ldquo;The significance of this day is far-reaching,&rdquo; Yunus said ahead of the vote. &ldquo;It will determine the future direction of the country, the character of its democracy, and the fate of the next generation.&rdquo; This live blog will track developments throughout the day, from early turnout and security updates to party reactions and any incidents reported on the ground, as Bangladesh navigates a pivotal moment in its political history.<figure class="fr-media" style="line-height: 2;"> </figure>

Voting opens at 7:30 local time in the country’s 299 constituencies, with one seat postponed following a candidate's death, polls remain open until 16:30, with hand counting to begin shortly after; election takes place amid tight security, with vehicle movement sharply restricted, shops and businesses closed for a public holiday, and only emergency services operating.

Bangladesh votes amid tight security as polling begins in landmark election

CARACAS: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday vowed to power a &quot;dramatic increase&quot; in Venezuelan oil output as part of a plan to &quot;make the Americas great again&quot; after talks with acting president Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas. Wright is the highest-ranking US official to travel to Venezuela since US special forces captured and overthrew longtime socialist leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3. In a meeting with Rodriguez and oil industry executives, he assured that President Donald Trump was &quot;passionately committed&quot; to transforming relations between the two former foes. Rodriguez said she supported a &quot;long-term productive partnership&quot; that was &quot;beneficial to both countries.&quot; Trump approved former vice-president Rodriguez to replace her deposed boss, Maduro, on the condition that she comply with his demands on access to oil and on easing state repression. Venezuela, once a major crude supplier to the United States, has the world&#39;s largest proven reserves with more than 303 billion barrels, according to global oil cartel OPEC. This amounts to about a fifth of the world&#39;s oil reserves. In 2024, the South American country produced only about 1% of the world&#39;s total crude; however, its industry was left haggard by years of underinvestment, mismanagement, and US sanctions. &#39;Historical differences&#39; Trump wants US oil majors to rapidly rebuild the sector and boost output by millions of barrels per day, saying the United States and Caracas will share the profits. The United States carried out its first sale of Venezuelan oil last month that made the Caribbean country $500 million. Wright called for a &quot;dramatic increase&quot; in Venezuela&#39;s production of oil, natural gas, and electricity, which would improve &quot;the job opportunities, the wages and the quality of life&quot; of all Venezuelans. He said he and Rodriguez &quot;spoke very candidly about the tremendous opportunities in front of us&quot; as well as the challenges. The president of Venezuela&#39;s state oil firm PDVSA, Venezuela&#39;s diplomatic representative to the United States, and the US Charge d&#39;Affaires in Caracas joined the talks. Rodriguez said she welcomed the opportunity for their two countries &quot;to address their historical differences in a mature manner.&quot; Dramatic thaw Wright&#39;s visit to Caracas comes amidst a dramatic thaw in US-Venezuelan relations, which Caracas broke off in 2019 after Washington refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of tainted elections. In a series of head-spinning reforms since Maduro&#39;s fall, Rodriguez last month opened up the nationalized oil sector to private investment. On Thursday, parliament is expected to adopt a landmark bill granting amnesty to political prisoners. Washington, for its part, has eased sanctions on Venezuela&#39;s oil industry, allowing US companies to work with state oil firm PDVSA and the government. The challenge now is to persuade oil companies to invest in Venezuela despite persisting political instability, security concerns, and the need for heavy investment to restore production capacity. The country produced 1.2 million oil barrels per day in 2025 &mdash; up from a historic low of about 360,000 in 2020 &mdash; but still far from the 3.0 million bpd it was pumping 25 years ago. Rodriguez&#39;s government aims to increase output by a further 18% this year.

Country produced 1.2 million oil barrels per day in 2025, up from a historic low of about 360,000 in 2020, but still far from the 3 million bpd it was pumping 25 years ago; Rodriguez's government aims to increase output by a further 18% this year.

US pushes for 'dramatic increase' in Venezuela oil output

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said that any <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-tells-netanyahu-iran-talks-must-continue" style="color:#0073e6;">instability</a>&nbsp;involving Iran could undermine global peace and harm the global economy, adding that the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-president-says-will-not-give-in-to-excessive-demands" style="color:#0073e6;">stakes</a> were &ldquo;far too high for confrontation.&rdquo; US President Donald Trump has hinted at US military action against Iran following Tehran&#39;s crackdown on <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-offers-clemency-to-over-2000-convicts-excludes-protestrelated-cases" style="color:#0073e6;">protesters</a>, but at the same time, Washington and Tehran restarted talks last week with a meeting in Oman. Talks had been suspended after the US struck Iran&#39;s atomic sites during Israel&#39;s 12-day war with Iran last July. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran would &quot;not yield to excessive demands&quot; on its nuclear program. While speaking at a reception hosted by the Iranian embassy to celebrate the 47th anniversary of Iran&rsquo;s National Day, President Zardari said Pakistan opposed unilateral sanctions and coercive measures, including those against Iran, and believed that peaceful engagement best served regional and global security. &ldquo;Any instability involving Iran, or any attempt to resolve issues through military means, carries grave risks,&rdquo; the president said.&nbsp; &ldquo;Such actions could &hellip; undermine global peace, and cause serious harm to the global economy. The stakes are far too high for confrontation,&rdquo; he added. The president welcomed efforts aimed at &ldquo;easing tensions and encouraging continued dialogue among relevant parties in a constructive spirit, with the objective of promoting peace and stability in the region.&rdquo; While observing a one-minute silence for the recent blast in Islamabad, President Zardari said that the country believed the ongoing conflicts, terrorism, external interference, and unresolved regional flashpoints could not be addressed through force or unilateral actions. He said that Pakistan and Iran shared responsibilities as neighboring countries and remained committed to cooperation on border management, counter-terrorism, and turning the shared frontier into a zone of cooperation, lawful trade, and development.

Foreign Affairs

While speaking at a reception hosted by the Iranian embassy to celebrate the 47th anniversary of Iran’s National Day, President Zardari says Pakistan opposed unilateral sanctions and coercive measures, including those against Iran, and believed that peaceful engagement best served regional and global security.



President Zardari says stakes ‘far too high’ for US-Iran confrontation

LOS ANGELES: Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri on Wednesday rejected the notion that users could be clinically addicted to social media, as he testified in a landmark California trial over whether his company knowingly hooked children on its platform for profit.&nbsp;Meta -- the parent company of Instagram and Facebook -- and Google-owned YouTube are defendants in the blockbuster trial, which could set a legal precedent regarding whether social media giants deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children.&nbsp;&quot;I think it&#39;s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use,&quot; Mosseri said as he was grilled by plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m sure I said that I&#39;ve been addicted to a Netflix show when I binged it really late one night, but I don&#39;t think it&#39;s the same thing as clinical addiction,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Addiction is at the heart of the civil trial, which centers on allegations that a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley G.M., suffered severe mental harm after becoming addicted to social media as a young child.&nbsp;She started using YouTube at six and joined Instagram at 11, before moving on to Snapchat and TikTok two or three years later.&nbsp;Mosseri was the first major Silicon Valley figure to appear before the jury to defend himself against accusations that Instagram functions as little more than a dopamine &quot;slot machine&quot; for vulnerable young people.&nbsp;In front of the jury of six men and women, Mosseri also pushed back against the idea that Meta was motivated by a &quot;move fast and break things&quot; ethos that valued profit over safety.&nbsp;&quot;Protecting minors over the long run is even good for the business and for profit,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Mosseri&#39;s testimony precedes the highly anticipated appearance of his boss, Mark Zuckerberg, currently scheduled for February 18, with YouTube CEO Neil Mohan the following day.&nbsp;In opening remarks this week, plaintiffs&#39; attorney Lanier told the jury that YouTube and Meta both engineer addiction in young people&#39;s brains to gain users and profits.&nbsp;Meta and Google &quot;don&#39;t only build apps; they build traps,&quot; Lanier said.&nbsp;Meta&#39;s attorney said that the suffering encountered by the plaintiff was due to her family context and could not be attributed to her use of Instagram or other social media.&nbsp;The attorney for YouTube insisted that the video platform was neither intentionally addictive nor technically social media.&nbsp;YouTube is selling &quot;the ability to watch something essentially for free on your computer, on your phone, on your iPad,&quot; the attorney insisted, comparing the service to Netflix or traditional TV. &#39;Gateway drug&#39;&nbsp;Stanford University School of Medicine professor Anna Lembke, the first witness called by the plaintiffs, testified Tuesday that she views social media, broadly speaking, as a drug.&nbsp;She also said young people&#39;s brains were underdeveloped, which is why they &quot;often take risks that they shouldn&#39;t,&quot; comparing YouTube to a gateway drug for kids.&nbsp;The trial is currently scheduled to run until March 20.&nbsp;Social media firms face more than a thousand lawsuits accusing them of leading young users to become addicted to content and suffer from depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalization, and even suicide.&nbsp;Kaley G.M.&#39;s case is being treated as a bellwether proceeding whose outcome could set the tone for a wave of similar litigation across the United States.&nbsp;Two further test trials are planned in Los Angeles between now and the summer, while a nationwide lawsuit will be heard by a federal judge in Oakland, California.&nbsp;In New Mexico, a separate lawsuit accusing Meta of prioritizing profit over protecting minors from sexual predators began on Monday.

Business

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri rejected that users could be clinically addicted to social media, he testified in a California trial over whether his company knowingly hooked children on its platform for profit.

Instagram CEO denies addiction claims in landmark US trial

ISLAMABAD: A gunman injured three people in a school shooting in southern Thailand on Wednesday, while a separate attack by a student at a college in southern Russia left one security guard dead and three others wounded, officials said.&nbsp;&quot;Police shot the suspect in the Hat Yai shooting,&quot; Thailand&#39;s Central Investigation Bureau said in a statement, after earlier saying he had been killed.&nbsp;A woman and a 14-year-old girl were hospitalised with gunshot wounds and both underwent surgery, the ministry of public health said in a statement.&nbsp;A second child suffered an ankle injury after they &quot;fell from a height&quot;, it added.&nbsp;The suspect entered the Phatong Prathan Khiriwat School in &quot;an agitated state while carrying a gun&quot;, the Songkhla provincial government said in a statement.&nbsp;Shortly after he entered, &quot;about two to three gunshots were heard&quot;, the provincial government said.&nbsp;The national police said the suspect was arrested.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/9-killed-in-canada-shooting-that-targeted-school-residence-police" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">school</a>&nbsp;administrator told AFP she was at the scene and too scared to speak before hanging up.&nbsp;Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, with around 10 million firearms estimated to be in circulation -- one for every seven inhabitants.&nbsp;Past promises of tightening gun laws have not prevented repeated tragedies.&nbsp;In 2023, a 14-year-old boy, who was undergoing treatment for mental illness according to investigators, shot dead two people at a packed mall in the capital, Bangkok.&nbsp;The previous year, an ex-policeman armed with a gun and knife stormed into a nursery in the country&#39;s north and murdered 24 children and 12 adults, one of Thailand&#39;s deadliest massacres.&nbsp;A former army officer gunned down 29 people in a rampage at a mall in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020.&nbsp;In a separate incident in Russia, Russian police said a student opened fire at a technical college in the city of Anapa, on the Black Sea and near Moscow-annexed Crimea, with investigators saying the attacker had been detained.&nbsp;The local governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, said one person was killed.&nbsp;&quot;A security guard, who was the first to take a blow. He reacted quickly and called law enforcement agencies,&quot; Kondratyev, the governor of the Krasnodar region where Anapa is located, said.&nbsp;&quot;He prevented the attacker from entering the technical college,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Kondratyev said two people suffered &quot;moderate injuries&quot; and that the number of victims was still being clarified.&nbsp;&quot;This is a horrific crime,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Unverified footage on social media showed a youth wearing black and holding his hands up near the entrance of the college, which was decorated in images of the Soviet victory against the Nazis.&nbsp;This month, Russia reported a knife attack in a Urals university, a knife attack in a Siberian school by a schoolgirl and an air-gun attack by a schoolboy in central Russia.&nbsp;The Anapa attack came a day after the head of Russia&#39;s powerful FSB security service, Alexander Bortnikov, called on regional leaders to do more to prevent school violence after the spike in attacks.&nbsp;Russian state media reported Bortnikov told a session of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee that &quot;preventative measures among young people&quot; were not enough, warning that &quot;the enemy&quot; was looking to exploit youths on social media.&nbsp;School and university shootings used to be rare in Russia, but have become more common, with a spike in attacks in recent months.&nbsp;Russian schools have become especially targeted by the Kremlin&#39;s state propaganda on its Ukraine military campaign.&nbsp;

Europe

Asia

A gunman injured three at a school in southern Thailand, while a student attacked a college in Russia’s Anapa, killing one security guard and wounding three others, amid rising school violence in both countries.

Separate school shootings hit Thailand and Russia, several victims reported

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday approved the appointments of 19 ambassadors and consuls general to various countries, representing a major diplomatic reshuffle, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced in a post on his official X account. According to the list shared by the foreign minister, changes have been made at the ambassadorial, consul general, and high commissioner levels. Usman Tipu, who was serving as Chief of Protocol at the Foreign Office, has been appointed Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to the United Kingdom. Salman Sharif, currently posted at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, has been approved as ambassador to Germany. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2021524835139280912&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=5fd92682cbbfaa2c1442dba06b8d199f2169a749&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2021524835139280912"></iframe></div></div> Asim Ali Khan, who is serving as Consul General in Los Angeles, United States, has been appointed Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Norway, replacing the current envoy. Sadia Altaf Qazi has been approved as Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Thailand, according to the statement. Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) at the Foreign Office, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, has been appointed ambassador to Iran. He will replace Mudassar Tipu, who has been posted as ambassador to Nairobi, Kenya. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has been designated as Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, among others. The foreign minister commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomats, stating that professionalism and quiet service remain central to Pakistan&rsquo;s representation abroad.

Pakistan names 20 new envoys to UK, Germany, Iran, among others

DHAKA: On the eve of Bangladesh&rsquo;s 13th parliamentary election, the capital feels unusually still. Streets that are normally choked with rickshaws, buses, and pedestrians are noticeably empty. Shops are shuttered, offices closed, and public transport thinned out, as the country observes a government-declared holiday ahead of polling.&nbsp;Dhaka, one of the world&rsquo;s busiest and most densely populated cities, is taking a pause. Security personnel patrol intersections and outside polling centres, while election officials make last-minute preparations, stacking ballot papers, checking voter lists, and securing transparent ballot boxes. For most residents, life has slowed; for those running the vote, work has intensified.&nbsp;Inside the Election Commission headquarters, however, the atmosphere is a stark contrast. The building is a hive of activity, crowded with domestic and international journalists, election staff, and observers from around the world. Television crews set up live positions, while staff coordinate logistics and field queries from returning officers across the country.&nbsp;Departure from past pollsBangladesh&rsquo;s 13th Jatiya Sangsad election represents a marked departure from recent voting history, with broad participation by opposition parties and heightened voter expectations following years of one-sided polls dominated by the now-banned Awami League.&nbsp;For more than a decade under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, elections were defined by opposition boycotts, arrests of senior leaders, and low-competition races. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stayed away from the 2014 election entirely and formally boycotted the 2024 polls, while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was barred from electoral politics for years. As a result, voter turnout and political competition were widely questioned.&nbsp;&ldquo;This election is fundamentally different from the last three,&rdquo; said Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah. &ldquo;There is real competition in most constituencies, and voters have meaningful choices.&rdquo;&nbsp;In the 2024 election, the Awami League and its allies won an overwhelming majority after the BNP refused to participate, calling the polls &ldquo;illegitimate.&rdquo; According to the Election Commission, turnout was around 41%, though opposition groups disputed the figure and described voter participation as much lower.&nbsp;The 2018 election, in which the BNP did contest, was marred by allegations of vote rigging, intimidation and overnight ballot stuffing. International observers and rights groups raised concerns, and the credibility of the outcome was sharply contested. Analysts noted that opposition supporters often stayed away because the outcome felt predetermined.&nbsp;&ldquo;People stayed home not because they were apathetic, but because the outcome felt predetermined,&rdquo; said Dhaka-based political analyst Ali Riaz. &ldquo;Turnout reflected the absence of trust, not the absence of interest.&rdquo;&nbsp;Opposition returns, ruling party absentThis election reverses that pattern. The Awami League has been barred from contesting after the Election Commission suspended its registration, while 51 political parties, including the BNP and candidates linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, are actively contesting seats. More than 2,000 candidates are in the race, including hundreds of independents.&nbsp;BNP leaders say the party&rsquo;s return to the ballot has reactivated its voter base.&nbsp;&ldquo;For the first time in years, our supporters believe their vote will matter,&rdquo; BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters. &ldquo;That belief is the single biggest driver of turnout.&rdquo;&nbsp;While Jamaat-e-Islami is not contesting under its former banner, candidates linked to the party are running as independents or under allied platforms. Party leaders say their supporters, long excluded from formal politics, are motivated to re-engage.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is the first election in years where Jamaat supporters feel politically visible again,&rdquo; said a senior party figure, speaking on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;Voter expectations and youth engagementVoter expectations have also shifted. Instead of choosing between participation and boycott, citizens are weighing party platforms, candidates&rsquo; credibility, and post-election stability. Interviews with voters in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi suggest high, though cautious, &nbsp;optimism.&nbsp;&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t vote in the last election,&rdquo; Rahima Begum, a 32-year-old garment worker in Gazipur, told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;There was no point. This time, I want to vote because the Awami League is not there, and the result feels open.&rdquo;&nbsp;Younger voters, many of whom reached voting age after 2018, see the election as their first meaningful political exercise. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus acknowledged this sentiment in a televised address on Tuesday, calling the vote &ldquo;the first national election following a mass uprising.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Through your ballots, the demands once voiced on the streets will now be expressed constitutionally,&rdquo; Yunus said.&nbsp;Turnout expectations and stakesElection officials have not issued turnout projections but privately acknowledge that participation is expected to be higher than in 2024, driven by competitive races and opposition participation.&nbsp;Political scientist Meghna Guhathakurta said turnout this time will be driven less by party loyalty and more by uncertainty.&nbsp;&ldquo;When outcomes are uncertain, turnout rises,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This election has uncertainty, not because one party dominates, but because several forces are competing.&rdquo;&nbsp;Analysts caution that participation alone will not guarantee legitimacy.&nbsp;&ldquo;Turnout will matter,&rdquo; said Riaz, &ldquo;but credibility will depend on whether voters believe the process was fair, the count accurate, and power transferred peacefully.&rdquo;

Dhaka pauses ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, marked by broad opposition participation and the absence of the Awami League. Officials expect a higher turnout, as voters weigh uncertainty, credibility, and hopes for a fair process.

Dhaka holds its breath as Bangladesh prepares for historic election

AHMEDABAD: South Africa prevailed in a double super over thriller as Afghanistan came up agonizingly short of a famous victory after their T20 World Cup clash ended in a tie on Wednesday.&nbsp;Afghanistan were 187 all out after South Africa scored 187-6 in the Group D encounter in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;The teams were tied again after a breathless first super over saw them both score 18, before South Africa won off the final ball of a heart-thumping second sudden-death showdown.&nbsp;After South Africa bludgeoned 23 from their second super over and Afghanistan lost a wicket off the second ball of theirs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was left needing four sixes off four balls for an unlikely victory.&nbsp;Gurbaz sensationally launched Keshav Maharaj into the crowd three times with some huge blows.&nbsp;A wide off the fifth ball meant Afghanistan still needed six to win, but now a four would send it, incredibly, to a third super over.&nbsp;With nerves jangling and pulses racing, the left-arm spinner held his nerve to bowl a wide yorker that Gurbaz smacked into the grateful hands of David Miller at point as he looked to hit a boundary.&nbsp;Afghanistan semi-finalists in 2024 also lost to the group&#39;s other heavyweights, New Zealand, leaving their chances of advancing as one of the top two teams all but over.&nbsp;&quot;The boys did an amazing job, especially with the way they started with the bat,&quot; said Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan.&nbsp;&quot;To restrict them under 190 was amazing. &nbsp;So, so unlucky to be part of a losing team.&quot;&nbsp;It was South Africa&#39;s second win. New Zealand have also won both their matches and are top of the group on net run rate.&nbsp;&quot;There&#39;s areas we can improve,&quot; said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.&nbsp;&quot;Small little phases, and it adds up to a lot in this format. You need to win games like this.&quot;&nbsp;A few minutes earlier, after Gurbaz scored a brilliant 42-ball 84 in the chase, Afghanistan had needed 13 off the last over of the match to win with one wicket in hand.&nbsp;After Kagiso Rabada bowled two no-balls and a wide, and Noor Ahmad hit a six, Afghanistan needed two to win off three balls.&nbsp;But after Noor turned for the second run that would have won the match, Fazalhaq Farooqi was run out at the non-striker&#39;s end, and the scores were tied.&nbsp;South Africa pace bowler Lungi Ngidi was named player of the match after his 3-26 in four overs.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;ve lost so much weight today,&quot; said a smiling Ngidi.&nbsp;&quot;Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game. Happy to come out on the winning side.&quot;&nbsp;Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) were the mainstays of South Africa&#39;s innings as they put on 114 for the second wicket.

Cricket

South Africa beat Afghanistan in a dramatic double super over after both scored 187 in Ahmedabad. Afghanistan's right-hand batter Gurbaz’s 84 nearly sealed victory, but Afghanistan fell short. Ngidi starred with 3-26 as South Africa secured their second win

South Africa pip Afghanistan in double super over T20 thriller

Ali Andaz Haider

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Chief Executive Muhammad Yunus, has said the interim government faced an Indian misinformation campaign but remained steadfast in its commitment to ensure free and fair elections, and put in place strict security and administrative measures. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Shafiqul Alam said the interim government has deployed some 900,000 police and other security forces, including over 100,000 military troops. &ldquo;We have never seen such unprecedented level of security before,&rdquo; he said. Alam said several thousand voting centres identified as vulnerable have received reinforced security, with 16 to 19 officers deployed at each location. He said the army will function as a striking force, ready to respond immediately to any disruption, while border guards will secure centres along the borders. The press secretary said the administration has carefully appointed neutral officials at every level, from district commissioners to police chiefs, to ensure no partisan influence over the electoral process. &ldquo;There is no way anyone can attack a voting centre or a voting booth, and then snatch a ballot box,&rdquo; he said, adding that, &ldquo;I think it will be a safe and very peaceful election&rdquo;. He said these arrangements reflect the government&rsquo;s commitment to neutrality and transparency. Central to the vote is the proposed July National Charter, a sweeping reform package developed after nine months of dialogue between the interim government and political parties. According to Alam, the reforms reflect a broad public demand for &ldquo;sanskar&rdquo;, or structural change, a call echoed widely by young people and civil society. He said whoever assumes power will have to implement the changes due to widespread national consensus. Shafiqul Alam also voiced concern over what he described as an unprecedented wave of misinformation and disinformation from sections of the Indian media. He said the government was &ldquo;taken aback&rdquo; by unprecedented level of misinformation and disinformation propagated by the Indian media. He said there was flood of misinformation coming from Indian media about the interim government and the minority Hindu community. &ldquo;These stories are false and fabricated,&rdquo; he said, rejecting allegations of widespread violence. Shafiqul Alam said the interim government had invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh, offering expedited visas and access to locations where alleged incidents were reported. Despite the tensions, he reiterated that Bangladesh seeks constructive regional relationships based on mutual respect and fairness. Alam said the country&rsquo;s focus remains firmly on protecting democracy and ensuring that its future is determined peacefully through the ballot box.

SAT News Desk

Shafiqul Alam said Bangladesh’s interim government will hold free and fair elections despite alleged Indian misinformation. He cited unprecedented security deployment, neutral officials, and electoral reforms, rejected violence claims, and reaffirmed commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and credible democratic process

DELETE

Related Articles

Assam CM declares 'war' on illegal immigrants; 0.24M names removed from voter rolls

India ramps up AI rules for social media platforms

TTP on Afghan soil poses 'extraregional threat,' says UN

India's Adani says cooperating with US over Iran oil imports: Report

Latest News

Trump tells Netanyahu Iran talks must continue

Bangladesh votes amid tight security as polling begins in landmark election

US pushes for 'dramatic increase' in Venezuela oil output

President Zardari says stakes ‘far too high’ for US-Iran confrontation

Instagram CEO denies addiction claims in landmark US trial