Author: News Desk

News Desk BEIJING: China has warned the United States that a proposed arms sale to Taiwan could jeopardize President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, according to international media reports. Trump’s trip to China is scheduled for April, following a recent telephone call between the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In the call, Trump described the discussion as “excellent,” covering trade, military issues, Taiwan, the conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, and developments in Iran. A statement from the White House said the leaders also discussed China’s purchase of oil, gas, and additional agricultural products from the US, as…

News Desk DHAKA: The World Health Organization said on Friday that a woman in northern Bangladesh had died in January after contracting the deadly Nipah virus. Nipah cases are reported in Bangladesh almost every year. The new case follows two recent infections in neighboring India, which have led to stepped-up airport screenings across Asia. The patient, aged between 40 and 50, developed symptoms on January 21, including fever and headache, followed by hypersalivation, disorientation, and convulsions, the WHO said. She died a week later and was confirmed to have the virus the next day. She had not travelled recently but…

By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a mosque in Islamabad, expressing deep sympathy for the families of those killed. In a message addressing the incident, Yousafzai described it as “shocking” that people are no longer safe in places of worship. She called the attack on worshippers and civilians a “cowardly and horrific crime,” saying it struck at humanity, faith, and national values, and had deeply affected the entire nation. “I pray for peace in our country,” she added. The attack took place at the Khadija-tul-Kubra mosque and imambargah in the…

News Desk NAROWAL: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for an end to religious radicalism and stressed the need for collective efforts to counter external agendas aimed at destabilizing the country. Speaking at a ceremony in Narowal, he said that acts of terrorism targeting innocent people had no basis in Islam and reflected a distortion of the religion’s core teachings. Iqbal emphasized that Islam was a faith rooted in love, peace, and brotherhood, and warned that those seeking to sow division and hatred among communities were, in reality, advancing the objectives of Pakistan’s enemies. He urged citizens, religious scholars, and civil…

News Desk DUSHANBE: President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon sent a telegram of condolence to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the tragic consequences of a deadly terrorist attack in Islamabad. Praying for the departed souls, the Tajik president strongly condemned what he described as a cruel terrorist act and all manifestations of terrorism. He stressed the need for a relentless struggle against what he called a shared evil. President Asif Ali Zardari later thanked Emomali Rahmon for the message of condolence and solidarity. In a post on X, Zardari said Pakistan valued Tajikistan’s…

News Desk MUSCAT: Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that nuclear talks with the United States, mediated by Oman, were off to a “good start” and set to continue. The remarks could ease fears that a breakdown in negotiations might push the Middle East closer to war. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said after the talks in Muscat that “any dialogue requires refraining from threats and pressure. Tehran only discusses its nuclear issue. We do not discuss any other issue with the US.” “It was a good start to the negotiations. And there is an understanding on continuing the talks. Coordination…

News Desk CHAMAN: A security officer was killed and another injured after gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in the Roghani area of Chaman, officials confirmed. Police said the health workers themselves were unharmed, though the attack sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by those involved in public health campaigns in the region. The assailants managed to flee the scene immediately after the shooting, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the surrounding areas to apprehend them. Local authorities described the attack as a stark reminder of the risks that accompany…

News Desk WASHINGTON: The US Virtual Embassy issued an urgent advisory urging American citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing mounting security concerns. According to international media reports, the embassy warned that flight cancellations and disruptions could occur at any moment, and strongly advised that citizens make their own departure arrangements rather than relying on assistance from the US government. For those unable to leave at once, the advisory recommended staying indoors or in other secure locations, while maintaining adequate supplies of food, water, medicine, and other essentials. It also suggested that, where possible, travelers consider overland routes…

News Desk LONDON: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the International Cricket Council to apply the same standards to all teams, including India, as Pakistan maintains it will not take the field for its scheduled World Cup match against India on 15 February. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain said the real test for the ICC lay in consistency, particularly in how it dealt with countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. He questioned whether the governing body would respond in the same way if India were to withdraw from a World Cup match on government instructions…

News Desk RAJOURI: Indian troops were killed and others injured in a heavy overnight attack on a military sub-camp in the Rajouri sector of Indian-administered Kashmir, local sources reported. The assault, which took place late on 4 February at the Kakora sub-camp, operated by the army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit, marked the latest in a series of violent incidents in the region. According to sources familiar with the matter, eight soldiers lost their lives during the attack, while several others sustained injuries. The Indian army had not issued an official statement immediately, and details regarding the exact sequence of events remained…