According to a report by the Financial Times, a “global talent task force” led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring ways to attract leading scientists, academics, and digital experts to the UK. The initiative aims to boost economic growth and is being discussed by officials at Number 10 and the Treasury. A key proposal under consideration is to reduce visa costs to zero for individuals who have attended one of the world’s top five universities or have won prestigious awards. This idea was reportedly being discussed even before the US announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas,…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Thousands of Filipinos gathered in Manila on Sunday to protest a major corruption scandal involving “bogus” flood-control projects that are believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars. The scandal has already led to the implication of several lawmakers and the resignation of congressional leaders. However, the peaceful demonstration was overshadowed by violent clashes between a group of protesters and police. Authorities used water cannons and sirens to disperse the crowds, while some individuals set police vehicles on fire and shattered the windows of a police headquarters. Arrests and Injuries At least 216 people were initially taken into…
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries across the globe, Telenor Pakistan is ensuring that the transition to an AI-First future begins with its people. The company recently marked AI Day as part of the Telenor Group’s global celebrations, showcasing how it is embedding AI not just into systems but into skills, culture and daily ways of working. At the heart of this vision is AI Verse, a new learning pathway designed to equip employees with practical and inclusive skills for the future. For Areej Khan, Chief People Officer at Telenor Pakistan, this investment reflects a mindset shift that…
Kashmir and Palestine: The Prime Minister will use his address to urge the international community to resolve the long-standing issues of “prolonged occupation and denial of the right to self-determination” in both India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine. He is expected to draw specific attention to the crisis in Gaza and call for decisive action to end the suffering of the Palestinian people. Regional Security and Global Issues: In his speech, he will also highlight Pakistan’s perspective on regional security, climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development. Bilateral and High-Level Meetings: On the sidelines of the UNGA session, PM Sharif will meet…
The central spokesperson for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Kisan Wing, Khalid Nawaz Sadhraich, has demanded that the government immediately compensate farmers for the damages caused by recent floods. Sadhraich stated that the widespread destruction of standing crops, including rice, sugarcane, and cotton, has severely impacted farmers and poses a significant threat to the country’s food security. He added that the floods have not only destroyed crops over a large area but have also ruined the resources necessary for future cultivation, creating a very serious situation across the country. He assured that the PTI Kisan Wing will not abandon farmers during…
The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (Carec) Tranche-III project has come under intense scrutiny in several parliamentary committees due to allegations of collusive practices, ghost tendering, and other irregularities in its awarding process. The minutes from the latest Senate panel meeting recommended sending a letter to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project’s donor. The letter is to inform the bank that the bids were “technically invalid and were manipulated due to the mala fide intention of the NHA officials and contractors.” The panel also directed the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to write to the ADB within two days, highlighting…
According to a previous statement by the Foreign Office (FO), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will use his address at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to “urge the international community to resolve the situations of prolonged occupation and denial of the right to self-determination,” with a particular focus on India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine. He is also set to “highlight Pakistan’s perspective on the regional security situation, as well as other issues of international concern, including climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development.” The FO statement noted that PM Shehbaz will attend several “high-level events” on the sidelines of the UNGA session,…
In a speech to overseas Pakistanis in London, the prime minister stated that Pakistan wishes to engage in dialogue with India on contentious issues such as Kashmir, terrorism, water, and trade on the basis of equality. He emphasized that without resolving the Kashmir issue, which is key to regional peace, bilateral ties between the two countries cannot be established. The prime minister said, “Anyone who is thinking otherwise is living in a fool’s paradise,” adding that Kashmiris would ultimately gain their right to self-determination and freedom. He also expressed his grief over the 64,000 deaths and the severe humanitarian crisis…
Over the past year, Pakistan has experienced a notable increase in terror attacks. In response, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) is actively engaged in intelligence gathering and operations to prevent and investigate terrorism-related activities. According to a recent statement, over the last three months, the CTD arrested 14 terrorists in Lahore and Rawalpindi each, seven each in Faisalabad and Bahawalpur, six each in Jhang and Sargodha, five in Sahiwal, four in Gujranwala, and three each in Bahawalnagar and Gujrat. Of those arrested, 55 belong to “Fitna al Khawarij,” five are from ISIS (Islamic State), and two each are from Al-Qaeda, Hizb-ut-Tahrir,…
Pakistan is one of only two countries, along with Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Despite global efforts to eradicate the virus, progress has been hampered by significant challenges, including security issues, vaccine hesitancy, and the spread of misinformation. According to a statement from the National Institute of Health (NIH), the latest detection brings the total number of polio cases in Pakistan for 2025 to 27. These include 18 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, seven from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. The NIH also noted that a “Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign was conducted in September 2025 across 88 districts…
