Author: News Desk

News Desk BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow and Beijing are not building alliances directed against any other country, ahead of his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. In a statement issued before departing for China on a two-day official visit, Putin described growing Russia–China relations as a “source of stability” in global affairs. He is expected to meet Xi Jinping during the visit, with the two leaders holding their second meeting in less than a year, underscoring the pace of high-level engagement between the two powers. Putin stressed that cooperation between Russia and…

By ISPR NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Security forces have killed 22 terrorists in an ongoing operation in North Waziristan, according to the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as part of a continuing clearance and sanitization drive in the volatile Shewa area. The operation, which began on 17 May, remains underway and is aimed at dismantling terrorist hideouts and restoring what officials describe as long-term stability in the region. In a statement, the ISPR said troops engaged suspected terrorist positions over the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals referred to as “India-sponsored terrorists”, a term the…

News Desk WASHINGTON: A senior US military commander has said that a girls’ school in the Iranian city of Minab was located on or near an active cruise missile facility, though he cautioned that an ongoing investigation into a reported explosion at the site remained complex and inconclusive. Speaking before the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said the incident was being examined as part of wider assessments of regional military activity. He noted that while initial indicators suggested the presence of an operational missile-related site in the area, firm conclusions had…

News Desk MOSCOW: The organizing committee of the third Russia–Africa summit, scheduled for 28–29 October 2026, has met in Moscow to review preparations and outline the agenda for the high-level gathering, alongside the accompanying Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum. Officials discussed the development of what they described as a broader framework for cooperation between Russia and African states, with a strong emphasis on economic engagement, institutional coordination and long-term strategic planning. Yury Ushakov, aide to the president of the Russian Federation and chairman of the organizing committee, said Russia and African countries continued to maintain “positive momentum” in their cooperation…

The question went unanswered as both leaders moved away from the briefing area, without providing a direct response on the issue of press engagement News Desk OSLO: Questions over media freedom and democratic accountability surfaced during a public appearance by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo, as journalists attempted to press him on issues relating to press access and civil liberties, adding to ongoing international scrutiny of how the Indian leader engages with the independent press. The exchange took place following a joint briefing with Norway’s Prime Minister, where reporters raised questions on press freedom and the treatment of…

News Desk BAKU: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, said the province’s housing initiatives had attracted considerable international attention during her visit to Azerbaijan, where Punjab’s pavilion at a global urban development forum became a central point of engagement for visiting delegates, policymakers and urban planning experts. She inaugurated the Punjab Pavilion at the World Urban Forum in Baku, where officials said the exhibition drew sustained interest from international media representatives and development practitioners. The display was positioned as an overview of Punjab’s recent urban policy interventions, with a particular focus on low-cost housing delivery and large-scale construction…

News Desk BAKU: Maryam Nawaz Sharif attended the World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan, joining global policymakers, urban planners and development experts at a gathering focused on the future of sustainable cities, housing, and urban governance. The forum, organized under the auspices of the United Nations Human Settlements Program, brought together delegates from across the world to discuss rapidly evolving challenges facing urban centers, including population growth, climate resilience, infrastructure pressures and equitable access to housing. The event has long been regarded as one of the most significant international platforms for shaping urban development policy and exchanging best practices between governments…

Govt said several militant hideouts and temporary camps were destroyed during the operation, claiming it inflicted significant damage on their terrorist structure News Desk QUETTA: The Balochistan government said security forces killed more than 35 militants during an intelligence-based operation in the Mangla Zarghoon Ghar area, in an ongoing campaign that authorities said had been under way since 13 May. In a statement, Shahid Rind, adviser to the chief minister of Balochistan on political and media affairs, said the operation targeted elements described by officials as “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term used by the provincial administration to refer to armed groups…

News Desk LONDON: Malala Yousafzai expressed cautious optimism about Pakistan’s future, praising what she described as the growing energy and ambition of young people engaged in education and knowledge-based development. Speaking at the World Education Forum, she said Pakistan’s youth were increasingly positioning themselves as active participants in shaping the country’s social and economic trajectory, rather than passive observers of change. Her remarks came during a wide-ranging address in which she linked Pakistan’s domestic educational challenges with broader global struggles over access to learning, particularly for girls. She highlighted the situations in Palestine, Lebanon and Afghanistan, saying girls and young…

News Desk WASHINGTON: A new trend among young conservative Christians in the United States suggests declining support for Israel, raising questions about the future of Christian Zionism in American politics, according to a report published by Al Jazeera. The report said that developments including the Gaza war and tensions involving Iran have contributed to a shift in attitudes among younger evangelical Christians, distancing them from traditional pro-Israel positions. Christian Zionism, which rose to major political influence in the United States during the late 20th century, has historically played a key role in shaping Republican policy, support for Israel and backing…