KYIV: A Russian strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bogodukhiv killed four people, including three young children, an official said on Wednesday. Two one-year-old boys and a two-year-old girl died as a result of an enemy strike, according to regional military head Oleg Synegubov. A 34-year-old man in the same house as the children also died from his wounds, Synegubov said on Telegram. He added that a 74-year-old woman was wounded and was receiving medical assistance. In an earlier statement, he also said a 35-year-old pregnant woman had been wounded in the strike. Bogodukhiv is located in Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have recently stepped up attacks on transport and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian and Russian officials have <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ukraine-delegation-arrives-in-uae-for-russia-talks" style="color:#0073e6;">held</a> US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending Moscow&#39;s four-year invasion. The two sides conducted a prisoner swap <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ukraine-russia-exchange-pows-for-first-time-in-months" style="color:#0073e6;">last week</a>, though an agreement to draw a line under the conflict still seems a way off. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), around 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia invaded in February 2022. HRMMU said that 2025 was the deadliest year with more than 2,500 civilians killed.

Europe

Ukrainian and Russian officials have held US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending Moscow's four-year invasion; two sides conducted a prisoner swap last week, though an agreement to draw a line under the conflict still seems a way off.



Russian strike on Ukraine kills 4, including 3 young children: report

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will push Donald Trump on Wednesday to take a tougher stance in nuclear talks with Iran, after rushing to Washington to stiffen the US president&#39;s resolve, AFP reported. Trump said on the eve of the hastily arranged White House meeting -- set to begin at 11:00 am local time (1600 GMT) -- that he was weighing sending a second US &ldquo;armada&rdquo; to the Middle East to pressure Tehran to reach a nuclear deal. Seizing tankers &nbsp;A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report published on Tuesday stated that US is weighing seizing tankers carrying Iranian oil to pressure Tehran, but using a strategy the White House directed at Venezuela is seen as likely to spark retaliation by Tehran and a surge in oil prices. Trump administration officials have discussed whether to seize additional tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil but have held off, concerned about Tehran&rsquo;s near-certain retaliation and the impact on global oil markets, US officials said. The US has seized several ships that have carried Iranian oil as part of its two-month-old blockade of sanctioned tankers serving Venezuela, the WSJ report said. &lsquo;Destructive influence&rsquo; &nbsp;But <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/netanyahu-to-discuss-iran-talks-with-trump-in-washington-wednesday" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Netanyahu</a>, making his sixth visit to the United States since Trump took office, will also be urging the US leader to take a harder line on arch-foe Iran&#39;s ballistic missile program, AFP reported. Tehran, which resumed talks with Washington last week in Oman, warned Monday of &ldquo;destructive influences&rdquo; on diplomacy ahead of the Israeli premier&#39;s visit. Netanyahu had been expected to come to Washington for a February 19 meeting of Trump&#39;s &ldquo;Board of Peace&rdquo; for Gaza, but reportedly brought forward his visit as the US-Iran talks proceeded. What does Trump think?&nbsp;While talking up hopes of a nuclear deal, Trump warned in an interview with the Axios news outlet on Tuesday that he was &ldquo;thinking&rdquo; of sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region. &ldquo;Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,&rdquo; Trump told Axios. &ldquo;We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going.&rdquo; Trump, who ordered US strikes on Tehran&#39;s nuclear sites during Israel&#39;s 12-day war with Iran last June, separately told Fox Business that any deal would have to involve &ldquo;no nuclear weapons, no missiles.&rdquo; He added that Iran&#39;s leaders &quot;want to make a deal&quot; but &quot;it&#39;s got to be a good deal&quot;, saying Tehran had been &quot;very dishonest with us over the years.&quot; What are Netanyahu&#39;s goals?&nbsp;Netanyahu said as he left for Washington his talks would &quot;first and foremost&quot; be about the Iran negotiations, while adding that they would also discuss Gaza and other regional issues. &quot;I will present to the president our views regarding the principles for the negotiations,&quot; he said in a video statement before his departure.&nbsp; Netanyahu&#39;s office said he would highlight Iran&#39;s missile arsenal. Israel&rsquo;s concerns came to a head during their unprecedented war last year, during which Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles and other projectiles at Israeli territory, striking both military and civilian areas. So far, Iran has rejected expanding the scope of 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 militant groups on the table. What about the West Bank?&nbsp;The meeting will also come amid growing international outrage over Israeli measures to tighten control of the occupied West Bank by allowing settlers to buy land directly from Palestinian owners.Israel&#39;s security cabinet approved the move ahead of Netanyahu&#39;s Washington visit.&nbsp; It is unclear whether the US president intends to bring them up. A US official said on Monday that Trump &quot;does not support Israel annexing the West Bank&quot; and wants stability, while holding off from directly criticizing the Israeli government&#39;s moves. How many meetings?&nbsp;Wednesday&#39;s meeting will be the sixth encounter between the two leaders on US soil since Trump returned to office in January 2025 -- five times at the White House and once at the Republican&#39;s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A seventh meeting took place in Jerusalem in October when Trump announced a ceasefire in Gaza.

Middle East

Tehran, which resumed talks with Washington last week in Oman, warned Monday of ‘destructive influences’ on diplomacy ahead of the Israeli premier's visit.

Netanyahu to push Trump on Iran missiles in White House talks

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghan territory, could evolve into an extra-regional threat if it deepens cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned groups, the United Nations Security Council&rsquo;s latest monitoring report has warned.&nbsp;In its 37th report, covering July to December 2025, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said some member states expressed concern that the TTP may expand its targeting ambitions beyond Pakistan, particularly if collaboration with transnational jihadist networks intensifies.&nbsp;The report states that Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities continue to provide a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for terrorist groups. While several violent factions remain active, the Monitoring Team noted that the TTP enjoys greater operational latitude and support compared with others &mdash; a dynamic linked to a marked surge in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">attacks against Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;De facto authorities continued to provide a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, notably Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,&rdquo; the report states, endorsing Islamabad&rsquo;s long-standing complaints that terrorists are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-uncovers-afghanistanbased-terror-network-as-attacks-mount" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">using Afghan territory as a safe haven</a>.&nbsp;Surge in cross-border violence and operational reachThe United Nations assessment underscores that TTP has grown into one of the largest terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan, developing deep roots across several eastern and southeastern provinces.&nbsp;The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.&nbsp;The Monitoring Team also documented expanded capabilities, citing access to modern weapons, training infrastructure, and logistical backing that have boosted the group&rsquo;s lethality.&nbsp;These include advanced small arms, night-vision equipment and even drone systems &mdash; often facilitated through systems of movement passes and permits allegedly issued by Afghan authorities.&nbsp;Al Qaeda ties and wider threat concernsBeyond its cross-border campaign, the TTP&rsquo;s relationship with Al Qaeda remains a central concern. Member states cited in the report warned that the group&rsquo;s operational cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned networks could broaden its target set and potentially make it an extra-regional threat beyond South Asia.&nbsp;The report further highlights that Al Qaeda continues to act as a &ldquo;service provider&rdquo; for other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, offering training and strategic support, particularly to the TTP, fueling fears of a widening nexus of extremist collaboration.&nbsp;Taliban denials and international frictionThe findings starkly contradict repeated Taliban assurances that no terrorist groups operate within Afghan borders, with the report noting that no UN member state endorsed this claim. The persistent sanctuary for the TTP and other terrorist groups is now recognized as a credible and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttp-are-our-enenmy-we-will-eliminate-them-information-minister" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">documented threat</a>, complicating Kabul&rsquo;s diplomatic positioning and fueling mistrust with neighboring capitals.&nbsp;Implications for regional securityWhile the Monitoring Team stopped short of declaring that TTP has carried out attacks outside the region, the trendlines suggest a dangerous evolution. Member states expressed particular worry that deeper TTP-Al Qaeda links could enable the group to strike beyond Pakistan, potentially drawing in targets across Central and South Asia or further afield.&nbsp;The report&rsquo;s publication comes amid ongoing violence in Pakistan, including high-profile attacks on civil and security targets, reinforcing the urgent need for coordinated regional counter-terrorism action and renewed international engagement on Afghanistan&rsquo;s terrorist landscape.

Afghanistan

The 37th periodic report from the UNSC's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, covering July-December 2025, paints a stark picture of a terrorist landscape that increasingly threatens regional security.

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

MONTREAL: Nine people were killed Tuesday in a remote part of western Canada, including seven who were shot at a secondary school and two others found dead at a residence, federal police said. An individual believed to be responsible for the killing in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, was found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. Twenty-seven people were injured, including two with serious injuries and 25 with non-life-threatening injuries, the RCMP said in a statement. Police said an alert was issued about an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities searched the school and initially found six people, not including the suspect, who had been shot dead. A seventh person who was shot at the school died while being transported to the hospital. Police &quot;identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the incident, where two additional victims were located deceased in a residence,&quot; the statement said. Canadian media has reported that the shooter was female, but the RCMP statement did not include any details about the suspect. &quot;This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,&quot; the RCMP&#39;s northern district commander, Ken Floyd, said in a statement. &quot;This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community,&quot; he added. Tumbler Ridge is more than 1,100 kilometers north of Vancouver, British Columbia&#39;s largest city.

Americas

Canadian media has reported that the shooter was female, but the RCMP statement does not include any details about the suspect; 27 people are injured, including two with serious injuries and 25 with non-life-threatening injuries.



9 killed in Canada shooting that targeted school, residence: police

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan on Tuesday said that the match against India was on and the team was in a &ldquo;confident mood&rdquo; to &ldquo;give a strong performance,&rdquo; a day after the government <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-agrees-to-play-india-in-icc-t20-world-cup-match-following-requests" style="color:#0073e6;">decided</a> to play against the neighbors to protect the spirit of cricket and support the continuity.&nbsp; Pakistan&#39;s decision to go ahead with the match was hailed on Tuesday as &quot;good for cricket.&quot; The government late on Monday ended a week-long stand-off by rescinding its order for the cricket team to <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-departs-for-t20-world-cup-will-not-play-against-india" style="color:#0073e6;">boycott</a> the February 15 match. After scoring 73 in the country&rsquo;s second win of the tournament in Colombo, Farhan said, &ldquo;The match is on, and we are in a confident mood.&quot; &quot;We will give a strong performance,&quot; Farhan said. Separately, India&rsquo;s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said it was &ldquo;great [&hellip;] the game is back on,&rdquo; adding that they had never changed the preparation. India will face a second Group A match against Namibia on Thursday in New Delhi before flying to Sri Lanka. &quot;It&#39;s going to be a challenge going to Colombo,&quot; Ten Doeschate said. &quot;We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality side in the first phase of the tournament.&rdquo; &quot;We are fully focused on just bringing our best game to that fixture.&quot; Pakistan warmed up for the clash in perfect fashion with a second win in Colombo on Tuesday, by 32 runs against the USA. &nbsp;A frantic weekend of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/icc-delegation-to-meet-pcb-over-indiapakistan-t20-clash" style="color:#0073e6;">negotiations</a> saw International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chiefs fly to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).&nbsp; The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both wrote to the Islamabad government on Monday, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-requests-pakistan-to-play-india-t20-world-cup-match-on-feb-15" style="color:#0073e6;">urging</a>&nbsp;it to change its <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/sri-lanka-urge-pakistan-to-reconsider-india-game-boycott" style="color:#0073e6;">stance</a> and allow the game to go ahead. &#39;Spirit of cricket&#39;&nbsp;After &quot;multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15,&quot; the Islamabad government said on its official X account late Monday night. The decision had been taken with the aim of &quot;protecting the spirit of cricket,&quot; it added. Former India cricketer Madan Lal told AFP on Tuesday that it was &quot;good for cricket.&rdquo; &quot;We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,&quot; he added. Sri Lanka, which will host the match that generates multi-millions of dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also praised the decision. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a social media post, thanked Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for &quot;ensuring the game we all love goes on.&quot; Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine told AFP, &quot;good sense has prevailed on all sides.&quot; &quot;Everyone realized that losing the revenue from an India&ndash;Pakistan match would have been a loss-loss situation for all ICC member nations.&quot; The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up. Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland. As a protest, the Pakistan government ordered the team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A fixture. Pakistan, who won against the Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, would have conceded two points if it had forfeited the match. Pakistan will play all its T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an International Cricket Council deal that ensures the two nations only meet on neutral territory.

Cricket

Pakistan's decision to go ahead with the match hailed as "good for cricket"; after scoring 73 in the country’s second win of the tournament in Colombo, Farhan says, “match is on, and we are in a confident mood."



Pakistan ready for ‘strong performance’ against India after T20 World Cup decision 

NEW DELHI: India tightened rules regulating artificial intelligence on Tuesday, requiring social media platforms to clearly label AI content and comply with takedown requests by authorities within three hours. The updated rules, issued by the Ministry of Information Technology, will come into effect on February 20 and shrink the window for removing content that violates local laws from the previous 36-hour window. India has more than a billion internet users, and AI generated misinformation is becoming widespread in the world&#39;s most populous country. The announcement comes as New Delhi is preparing to host a major global AI summit next week, which will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and a host of other world leaders. The latest rules apply to content &quot;created, generated, modified or altered through any computer resource&quot; unless the information is generated in &quot;routine or good-faith editing.&quot; The rules, first issued in 2021, were amended to require online platforms like X, Instagram and Facebook to clearly label synthetic data or media manipulated by AI with permanent markings that cannot be suppressed or removed. The updated regulations define synthetic data as information &quot;that appears to be real [...] or is likely to be perceived as indistinguishable from a natural person or real-world event.&quot; They also require online platforms to deploy automated tools to prevent the dissemination of illegal content, including false documents and sexually abusive material. Last year, the government launched an online portal called Sahyog &mdash; meaning &quot;cooperate&quot; in Hindi &mdash; aimed at automating the process of sending government notices to social media platforms such as X and Facebook.

India

Updated regulations define synthetic data as information "that appears to be real [...] or is likely to be perceived as indistinguishable from a natural person or real-world event"; also require online platforms to deploy automated tools to prevent the dissemination of illegal content, including false documents and explicit material.

India ramps up AI rules for social media platforms

COLOMBO: Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a solid half-century while spinner Usman Tariq grabbed three wickets as Pakistan downed the United States by 32 runs in a T20 World Cup Group A game in Colombo on Tuesday. The 29-year-old hit five sixes and six fours in his 41-ball 73 and was aided by a brilliant 32-ball 46 by Babar Azam (four fours, one six) to guide Pakistan to 190-9 at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. Their spinners then checked the inexperienced USA batting with Tariq taking 3-27 and Shadab Khan 2-26 to restrict their opponents to 158-8 in 20 overs. The win avenged Pakistan&#39;s shock defeat at the hands of USA in the T20 World Cup two years ago and handed them a second win in as many games following their close three-wicket win over the Netherlands on Saturday. For the USA, Shubham Ranjane top scored with a valiant 30-ball 51 including three sixes and as many fours before he fell to pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was playing his 100th T20 international. Opener Shayan Jahangir muscled his way to an attractive 34-ball 49 studded with two sixes and five fours while Milind Kumar scored 29 before United States were derailed from 123-3. &quot;It was a clinical performance as we batted really well to post 190, and we knew we could defend that,&quot; said Pakistan captain Salman Agha. &quot;There is always room for improvement; we&#39;d like to bowl better in the powerplay before the next game.&quot; Pakistan&#39;s next game is against arch-rivals India in Colombo on Sunday, a game only cleared by Pakistan government on Monday after initially announcing a boycott of it. &quot;We were in the game in the powerplay but again in the middle overs we couldn&#39;t show intent and lost wickets,&quot; said USA captain Monank Patel. Earlier, Farhan and fellow opener Saim Ayub, who scored a 17-ball 19 with two sixes, put on 54 in five overs. Pakistan then lost two wickets in the sixth over of their innings, bowled by Shadley van Schalkwyk. Ayub was caught off a slower one while Agha holed out on the deep square-leg boundary for one. Farhan and Azam took control with an 81-run third-wicket stand as Pakistan cut loose in the middle overs. Farhan passed 1,000 T20 international runs in his 41st match before he was caught in the covers off spinner Harmeet Singh in the 16th over. Shadab Khan launched an assault to score 30 off 12 balls before Pakistan lost five wickets for just 13 runs in the last two overs. Schalkwyk was the best USA bowler with 4-25, following his four-wicket haul against India in the 29-run defeat on Saturday.&nbsp;

Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a solid half-century while spinner Usman Tariq grabbed three wickets as Pakistan downed the United States by 32 runs in a T20 World Cup Group A game in Colombo on Tuesday

Farhan, spinners lead Pakistan to easy USA win in T20 World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday extended condolences to the Syrian government over the loss of lives and property caused by flash floods in the northwestern parts of the country, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office. The statement conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;deepest condolences&rdquo; after severe rainfall and flooding, particularly in the Idlib and Latakia regions. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), rainfall since last week has caused widespread flooding across parts of Idlib and northern Latakia, damaging around 1,800 tents and destroying at least 150 in camps housing displaced families. The flooding comes as displacement continues in other parts of the country due to the civil war between various factions fighting against the incumbent interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Following the US-led brokered truce between the Syrian government and the Syrian Defense Forces, relative calm has been restored across parts of the country, reducing active fighting. However, the governorates of Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh, and Ar-Raqqa, following a Jan. 30 accord, show that nearly 160,000 people remain displaced according to a recent UN report, compounded by recent floods. &ldquo;Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured as a result of this natural disaster. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Syria at this moment of grief,&rdquo; the Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.

Flash floods have caused widespread displacement in Idlib and Latakia. The UN reported widespread damage to camps, while conflict-related displacement continues despite a US-brokered truce

Pakistan expresses condolences to Syria after devastating flash floods

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday the commercial license granted to Raqami Islamic Digital Bank advances Pakistan&#39;s financial sector and strengthens economic ties with Kuwait, according to an official statement. Speaking at the final session of the authorization ceremony, PM Sharif said that political relationships need economic partnerships to remain sustainable. Trade, investment and financial collaboration form the foundation of lasting alliances between nations, he said. Pakistan and Kuwait share decades-long bonds through cultural connections, political cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, the premier said. He said that the time has come to expand commercial and investment relations so that the partnership continues growing. PM Sharif congratulated Raqami Islamic Digital Bank on becoming Pakistan&#39;s third licensed digital retail bank. He said that the institution will contribute to financial inclusion, innovation and Shariah-compliant banking in the country.&nbsp; &quot;Digital Islamic banking will modernize Pakistan&#39;s financial system while maintaining Islamic principles,&quot; he said. Kuwait&#39;s Ambassador Nassar Abdul Rahman Jasser congratulated the Raqami team and called the bank&#39;s licensing a demonstration of the deep-rooted relations between both countries. Kuwaiti leadership has consistently supported Pakistan and wants to expand cooperation in trade, investment and financial services, the ambassador said. The chairman of Raqami Islamic Digital Bank&#39;s board, Abdullah Al-Mutari, thanked the Pakistan government and State Bank for their support. The bank will offer fully Shariah-compliant digital banking services to improve accessibility, efficiency and customer experience while supporting Pakistan&#39;s financial inclusion agenda, said Raqami Islamic Digital Bank CEO Omer Ajaz. The State Bank&#39;s acting governor, senior government officials and banking sector executives also attended the ceremony.

Raqami Islamic Digital Bank became Pakistan's third licensed digital retail bank.

Economy

Raqami Islamic Digital Bank will offer fully Shariah-compliant digital banking services to improve accessibility, efficiency and customer experience while supporting Pakistan's financial inclusion agenda.

Pakistan grants commercial license to Kuwait-backed digital bank

&nbsp;DHAKA: Bangladesh&#39;s leading prime ministerial hopeful Tarique Rahman said on Tuesday he faces &quot;huge&quot; challenges if he wins elections this week, vowing to repair a country he said was looted under the previous ousted government. If victorious on Thursday, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said his first priority would be restoring security to end the political turmoil that has gripped the country since the overthrow of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s autocratic rule by a 2024 youth-led uprising. &quot;We need to ensure a normal situation in the country so that people are safe,&quot; Rahman told AFP. But he warned the task ahead in the South Asian nation of 170 million people would be daunting. &quot;The economy has been destroyed,&quot; he said, accusing the ousted government of neglecting ordinary citizens. &quot;The health system has been destroyed in the last regime, the energy sector has been destroyed.&quot; Rahman&#39;s BNP is a frontrunner in the polls, but faces a stiff challenge from a coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the country&#39;s largest Islamist party. Soft-spoken Rahman, sitting in his office underneath gold-framed portraits of his late parents&mdash;former Bangladesh leaders Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia&mdash;said he was confident of a decisive victory. &quot;We expect that we will have a clear mandate from the people&mdash;a big mandate,&quot; he said, adding he did not foresee the need for a coalition beyond his current party alliance. &quot;We&#39;ll have enough seats to form our own government.&quot; &#39;Try to do better&#39;Rahman, 60, returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile in Britain during Hasina&#39;s rule. He assumed the leadership of the BNP from his mother, three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia, who died in December aged 80, just days after he returned. &quot;They were they, I am me,&quot; he said, referring to his famous parents, but stressing that he, too, had spent a lifetime in politics. &quot;I will try to do better than them.&quot; At the top of the list of tasks he will face if elected will be tackling the economic woes of the world&#39;s second-largest garment producer. &quot;There are serious challenges ahead of us &mdash; we need to tackle the economic situation,&quot; he added. &quot;There are a huge number of unemployed. We need to create businesses for these young people to have jobs,&quot; he said, adding he was particularly worried about the economic situation faced by women. &#39;Neighborly relationship&#39;&nbsp;With relations between Bangladesh and neighboring India strained, Rahman struck a careful note on foreign ties. &quot;The interest of my people, and the interest of my country, comes first,&quot; he said, but added that Bangladesh nevertheless wanted &quot;at least a neighbourly relationship&quot; with the countries surrounding it. Hasina, 78, is currently in hiding in India and was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity in November. She was once praised for overseeing Bangladesh&#39;s rapid economic rise, but she also presided over a government that crushed dissent and is accused of rampant theft, especially from large-scale public infrastructure projects. &quot;What we see is that in the name of mega projects, mega corruption has taken place,&quot; said Rahman. &quot;A few people were made very rich. But the rest of the country, the whole population, they were left with nothing.&quot; But Rahman said he opposed banning political parties by law. Bangladesh&#39;s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has barred Hasina&#39;s Awami League from contesting the vote. &quot;Of course, if someone is involved in some kind of crime, they need to be punished as per the law,&quot; he said.

Asia

Tarique Rahman says he faces 'huge' challenges if he wins elections this week; vows to repair a country he says was looted under the previous ousted government.

Russian strike on Ukraine kills 4, including 3 young children: report

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Pakistan ready for ‘strong performance’ against India after T20 World Cup decision