According to China’s state-run Global Times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Afghanistan’s future should be determined by its own people. He said, “China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and that the country’s future should be decided by the Afghan people.” Lin Jian added that “hyping up tensions and creating confrontation in the region runs counter to people’s aspirations,” and expressed hope that all parties will play a constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability. New Title: Trump’s Bid to Reacquire Bagram Air Base and Taliban’s Rejection On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
The Israeli military announced it has expanded operations in Gaza City, bombarding what it termed “Hamas infrastructure.” Meanwhile, displaced Palestinians, traumatized by the advance, say they have no means to flee. Palestinian Toufic Abu Mouawad, who left a camp for displaced people, described the situation as “really bad,” with tanks firing shells all night. He added, “I want to flee with the boys, the girls, the children. This is a very tragic situation. We call on all the Arab countries and the people who have a good conscience to stand with us.” Israeli forces now control the eastern suburbs of…
The UK government has decided to repeal the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, 2023. This law, enacted last year under the previous Conservative government, had halted inquests, civil cases, and criminal prosecutions linked to the period of violence known as “The Troubles”. The act was intended to promote reconciliation, almost 30 years after the violence, which claimed over 3,600 lives, ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. However, it was fiercely criticized by victims and bereaved families, who argued that it denied them justice by offering conditional immunity to some suspects, including British soldiers and paramilitaries, if…
According to Chinese state media, Chinese leader Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid “unilateral trade decisions” during a phone call on Friday that also included discussions on TikTok. Xi reportedly told Trump that “The U.S. side should avoid taking unilateral trade-restrictive measures that could undermine the outcomes achieved through multiple rounds of consultations,” describing the call as “positive and constructive.” Meanwhile, the U.S. president hailed what he called progress with the Chinese president, including on the sale of the blockbuster app TikTok, and said he would visit the Asian power. New Title: Leaders Discuss Key Issues, Including…
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution that will allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the body via video link. This decision followed Washington’s move to deny or revoke visas for President Abbas and nearly 80 other senior officials, preventing them from attending the UNGA in New York. However, Palestine will still be represented in the chamber by its UN ambassador. The resolution was adopted with 145 votes in favor, five against—including the United States and Israel—and six abstentions. Four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council—Britain, China, France, and Russia—supported the resolution. Several close…
In the wake of a deadly Israeli strike on Doha earlier this month, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have pledged significant steps to bolster their collective defense capabilities. These measures include plans to increase intelligence sharing, develop new missile warning systems, and hold joint defense drills. Following an emergency Arab-Islamic summit where leaders expressed alarm over Israel’s attacks, GCC officials met in Doha to discuss military intelligence unification. The six-member political and economic alliance—comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—has agreed to expand intelligence sharing through a Unified Military Command. New Title: New Military Strategy…
A drone strike in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher struck a mosque, killing multiple worshippers. The attack occurred in the city’s Al Daraja neighborhood, where residents fleeing the famine-stricken Abu Shouk displaced persons’ camp had sought refuge from the advancing Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A post from a rescue agency confirmed that “the bodies were retrieved from the rubble of the mosque.” El-Fasher is the last major city in the vast western region still under the control of the regular army, and the RSF has laid siege to it since May of last year. The RSF has been engaged in…
President Donald Trump has announced a new measure that will impose a $100,000 fee on foreign workers applying for an H-1B visa. This measure is likely to face legal challenges. The announcement was made alongside the introduction of a $1 million “gold card” residency program, which Trump had mentioned months earlier. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump stated, “The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying.” H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills—such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers—to work in the United States.…
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister of Punjab announced that 60 electric buses will become operational within Sargodha city, with an additional 105 to be deployed across the Sargodha division. A dedicated charging station has been established in Sargodha to support these buses. She also stated that the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha will soon be fully functional. To ensure round-the-clock patient care, top cardiologists and surgeons are being posted at the institute, and housing is being provided for the medical staff. New Title: Comments on National Development and Political Rivalry The Chief Minister praised former…
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs has directed the ministry to create a comprehensive framework to facilitate millions of Pakistani pilgrims who visit holy sites in Iraq and Saudi Arabia each year. In a meeting chaired by Committee Chairperson Shagufta Jumani, it was revealed that Iraq has recently imposed visa restrictions on men under 50 traveling alone. The committee held a detailed discussion on the pilgrim policy and instructed the ministry to continue the traditional “Salaar” mechanism for managing pilgrim groups. New Title: Improving Facilities for Pilgrims and Official Delegations The chairperson urged the ministry to launch awareness…
