Author: News Desk

Washington accuses Colombia’s President Petro of fueling a cocaine surge, straining decades of cooperation and threatening a once-stable anti-narcotics alliance. News Desk WASHINGTON: In an unusually blunt reprimand that has strained one of Washington’s most enduring alliances in Latin America, the United States has accused the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro of presiding over a sharp rise in cocaine production and trafficking. The charge has cast a shadow over decades of close security cooperation between the two countries, threatening to upend a partnership once held up as a model in the global fight against drugs. The allegation came from…

News Desk ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has launched the “Public Facilitation Portal,” an online platform designed to make the judicial system more accessible and efficient. Introduced under Chief Justice Yahya Afridi’s instructions, the portal allows citizens to access case information, monitor applications, and submit complaints without visiting court premises, benefiting especially Pakistanis living abroad. The portal’s Case Information section lets users search cases by name, number, or petition type, providing instant updates. A dedicated helpline, 1818, offers direct assistance, while FAQs explain legal terms and procedures in simple language. The Application Status section enables tracking of early hearing…

After Israeli airstrikes killed 42 Palestinians in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire was hastily restored through US, Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediation to avert renewed war. News Desk GAZA: Calm returned to Gaza on Tuesday after a brief but devastating flare-up that left at least 42 Palestinians dead, in what was described as one of the bloodiest days since the truce took effect earlier this month. The ceasefire was restored following an intense round of diplomacy involving the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, whose envoys worked through the night to salvage the agreement and prevent the fighting from spiralling into…

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim their missile arsenal remained entirely intact after the 12-day war with Israel, dismissing Israeli damage reports. News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed that the country’s missile stockpile emerged unscathed from its recent 12-day conflict with Israel, with a senior commander insisting that not a single launcher had been significantly damaged. Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a prominent figure within the elite force, told Iranian media that the missile arsenal remained “completely safe,” dismissing Israeli reports that suggested Tehran’s capabilities had been seriously degraded. He said Israel’s bombardment had only destroyed about 3% of Iran’s launch…

Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad, the latest in a string of espionage-related executions amid rising tensions. News Desk TEHRAN: Iran executed a man accused of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, in what officials described as another blow against foreign espionage networks operating inside the country. The execution, reported by state media on Tuesday, marked the latest in a growing number of death sentences carried out against individuals accused of working with Israel. According to judicial authorities, the convicted man was found guilty of gathering and transmitting sensitive information to Mossad operatives. Prosecutor Kazem…

Donald Trump’s praise for Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir marks a sharp US policy shift, cooling ties with India and boosting Islamabad’s strategic standing. News Desk WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump appeared to have redrawn the contours of America’s South Asia policy, pivoting away from his once-celebrated camaraderie with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi toward a strikingly cordial relationship with Pakistan’s military leadership. According to political analyst Fareed Zakaria, Trump’s renewed focus on Pakistan – particularly on Field Marshal Asim Munir – marked a “sudden and dramatic” reversal of his earlier stance. Speaking on CNN, Zakaria said Trump seemed “enamoured”…

News Desk BERLIN: Germany is set to strengthen its air force with plans to acquire 15 additional US-made F-35 fighter jets, a move that would expand its fleet to 50 and further integrate its capabilities within Nato’s European defence framework, according to a report by Der Spiegel. The German news magazine, citing classified documents prepared for the Bundestag’s budget committee, said the government had earmarked approximately $2.92 billion for the new aircraft. The funding proposal is expected to be presented for formal parliamentary approval in the coming weeks, marking another step in Berlin’s accelerated military modernization drive. The decision to…

Gaza officials accuse Israel of breaching the ceasefire 80 times since 10 October, with 97 Palestinians killed and 230 wounded, highlighting fragile truce. News Desk GAZA: The Gaza media office has accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement at least 80 times since it was signed on 10 October, claiming that military operations have killed 97 Palestinians and wounded 230 others. In a statement released today, officials described the actions as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” asserting that they reflect Israel’s “aggressive behavior and desire for bloodshed.” The allegations underscore the fragile nature of the…

Trump reportedly urged Zelenskiy to accept Putin’s ceasefire terms, including ceding eastern Donbas, warning that Russia could destroy Ukraine otherwise. News Desk WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to accept Russian terms for a ceasefire, advising him to cede the eastern Donbas region to Moscow to end the ongoing conflict. The guidance, detailed in an exclusive report, suggested that Trump viewed a swift settlement along current front lines as the most viable route to halting the war. According to the report, Trump conveyed a direct warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who allegedly threatened to…

News Desk BRUSSELS: Twenty European nations urge EU to broker Taliban deal for forced return of Afghan migrants, citing security risks and illegal residency concerns. A coalition of twenty European nations has urged the European Commission to take “immediate action” to return Afghan nationals living illegally in Europe, even if this requires forced removals and direct negotiations with the Taliban, according to an exclusive report. In a joint letter obtained by The Guardian, the countries argued that the current inability to deport Afghans, including those convicted of crimes, poses a threat to public security. The initiative is being led by…