WASHINGTON: The United States has stopped and boarded an oil tanker off Venezuela, the latest salvo in a pressure campaign against Caracas, US media reported Saturday. The New York Times reported that the vessel was a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying Venezuelan oil that had recently left Venezuela and was in Caribbean waters.

Americas

United States stopped and boarded an oil tanker off Venezuela, the latest salvo in a pressure campaign against Caracas

US intercepts oil tanker off coast of Venezuela: US media

MIAMI:&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called on the United States to put more pressure on Russia to end the war, as diplomats converged on Miami for fresh talks. Zelensky also said that Washington had proposed the first face-to-face negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in half a year, but later expressed skepticism that would help. Zelensky said that only the United States was capable of persuading Russia to end the war, and he called on Washington to increase pressure on Moscow to make that happen. &quot;America must clearly say: if not diplomacy, then there will be full pressure...Putin does not yet feel the kind of pressure that should exist,&quot; he said, stressing the need for more arms supplies to Ukraine and sanctions on the entire Russian economy. The Ukrainian leader&#39;s comments in Kyiv came as Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Miami where Ukrainian and European teams have also gathered for the negotiations, mediated by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump&#39;s son-in-law Jared Kushner. &quot;Discussions are being held constructively,&quot; Dmitriev told reporters, according to Russian state media, adding that &quot;they started and continue today, and will also continue tomorrow.&quot; Trump&#39;s envoys have pushed a peace plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv would likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday promised not to force Ukraine into any agreement, saying &quot;there&#39;s no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it.&quot; He added that he may join Saturday&#39;s talks in Miami, his hometown. Earlier Saturday, Zelensky had revealed Washington had proposed negotiations that would include Ukraine, the United States and Russia. He added that Europeans could be present and it would be &quot;logical to hold such a joint meeting.&quot; But he subsequently told journalists, &quot;I am not sure that anything new could come of it.&quot; The last time Ukrainian and Russian envoys held official direct talks was in July in Istanbul, which led to prisoner swaps but little else. Russian and European involvement in Miami marks a step forward from before, when the Americans held separate negotiations with each side in different locations. However, it is unlikely Dmitriev would hold direct talks with European negotiators as relations between the two sides remain strained. Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, argues that Europe&#39;s involvement in the talks only hinders any peace process. - Russia presses on -The Florida talks come after President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his military offensive in Ukraine, hailing Moscow&#39;s battlefield gains in an annual news conference on Friday. Russia announced on Saturday it had captured two villages in Ukraine&#39;s Sumy and Donetsk regions, further grinding through the country&#39;s east in costly battles. Putin however suggested that Russia could pause its devastating strikes on the country to allow Ukraine to hold a presidential ballot -- a prospect which Zelensky rejected. Meanwhile, the death toll in Ukraine&#39;s Black Sea Odesa region from an overnight Russian ballistic missile strike on port infrastructure rose to eight, with almost three dozen people wounded.A civilian bus was struck in the attack, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. Intensified Russian strikes have wrought havoc on the coastline region in recent weeks, hitting bridges and cutting electricity and heating for hundreds of thousands in freezing temperatures. Moscow earlier said it would expand strikes on Ukrainian ports as retaliation for targeting its sanctions-busting oil tankers. On Saturday, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed two Russian fighter jets at an airfield in occupied Crimea, according to the security service SBU. Kyiv&#39;s army said it struck a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea as well as a patrol ship nearby. Putin described Russia&#39;s initial invasion as a &quot;special military operation&quot; to demilitarize the country and prevent the expansion of NATO. Kyiv and its European allies say the war, the largest and deadliest on European soil since World War II, is an unprovoked and illegal land grab that has resulted in a tidal wave of violence and destruction.

Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the United States to increase pressure on Russia to end the war, as diplomats met in Miami for talks amid intensified fighting and skepticism over negotiations

Zelensky says US must pile pressure on Russia to end war

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;Washington announced Saturday that it has signed a deal to strengthen Nigeria&#39;s health system, a sign of improving ties with Africa&#39;s most populous nation after President Donald Trump denounced attacks against Christians there. Under a five-year bilateral deal, Washington will contribute nearly $2.1 billion to help prevent HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio, and to protect maternal and child health, a US State Department spokeman said. Nigeria has committed to increasing its national health spending by nearly $3 billion over the five-year period, the spokesman said, adding that the bilateral deal contains &quot;a strong emphasis on promoting Christian faith-based health care providers.&quot; Trump last month stunned many by posting on social media that the United States was ready to take military action in Nigeria to counter the killing of Christians. The US leader has said Christianity faces an &quot;existential threat&quot; in Nigeria and &quot;numerous other countries,&quot; spotlighting what his administration says is global persecution of Christians. Washington has placed Nigeria back on the list of countries of &quot;particular concern&quot; regarding religious freedom, and has restricted the issuance of visas to Nigerians. The deal signed Saturday &quot;was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence,&quot; the State Department spokeman said. Nigeria is divided roughly equally between the predominantly Christian south and the predominantly Muslim north. Abuja maintains that it does not tolerate any religious persecution. It has been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2009 and the conflict has killed at least 40,000 -- both Christians and Muslims -- and displaced around two million, according to the UN. The United States in early December signed a $2.5 billion health aid deal with Kenya, the first such bilateral agreement since Trump tore down USAID and sidelined NGOs. Since returning to power, Donald Trump has closed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the world&#39;s largest aid agency, and ordered an overhaul of American foreign aid under the banner of &quot;America First.&quot;

The United States signed a five-year $2.1 billion health aid deal with Nigeria, boosting disease prevention and maternal care, emphasising Christian faith-based providers amid concerns over religious freedom and ties

US signs health aid deal with Nigeria focusing on Christ

MADRID:&nbsp;Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo&#39;s club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga. French superstar Mbappe levelled Ronaldo&#39;s tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home a late penalty, after Bellingham sent Madrid ahead with a first half header. The victory allowed Los Blancos, second, to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the Catalans visit Villarreal on Sunday. Gaining a third consecutive win across all competitions, after managing just two in the previous eight games, marginally eases the pressure on coach Xabi Alonso. Sevilla, who thrashed champions Barcelona 4-1 in October, started strongly with veteran Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez heavily involved. Odysseas Vlachodimos made a fine save to thwart Fran Garcia at the other end, and as the minutes ticked by Madrid began to find more of a foothold. Bellingham headed the hosts in front at the Santiago Bernabeu after Rodrygo Goes whipped in a dangerous free-kick. The Brazilian forward was booked for diving before the break as he tumbled in the box under little pressure. Sanchez landed the ball on the roof of Thibaut Courtois&#39;s net before the break with an acrobatic effort. Sevilla coach Matias Almeyda was sent off at half-time for dissent, but his team plugged away in search of an equaliser regardless. Courtois twice denied Isaac Romero early in the second half, while Mbappe intensified his search to emulate Ronaldo&#39;s record. Mbappe headed against the crossbar and whipped a shot narrowly wide, while Vlachodimos fended off another effort from the 27-year-old on his birthday. Sevilla defender Marcao clumsily slid in to foul Bellingham after 67 minutes and was sent off for a second yellow card, hampering his side&#39;s chances of adding to Alonso&#39;s struggles. Madrid almost scored a second when Mbappe teed up Rodrygo, who lifted the ball into the air and then lashed it towards goal, but Vlachodimos superbly tipped it onto the crossbar. Eventually Mbappe got the goal he craved from the penalty spot, after Juanlu clumsily brought down Rodrygo. The forward sent Vlachodimos the wrong way as he stroked in his 59th of the year, to match Ronaldo&#39;s record. Madrid were awarded another penalty when Bellingham went down in the box but it was ruled out after a VAR review showed Sevilla defender Oso got the ball. The referee then gave Madrid another penalty as Sow fouled Rodrygo on the edge of the box, but the offence was just outside the area and it was again scrapped. Mbappe whipped the free-kick narrowly over the top corner as he tried in vain to go beyond Ronaldo&#39;s mark, but he will have to try again in 2026.&nbsp;

Football

Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s 59-goal record as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0, with Jude Bellingham scoring first, helping Madrid close the gap on Barcelona and ease pressure on coach Alonso

Mbappe matches Ronaldo record as Real Madrid beat Sevilla

MIAMI: The United States was joined Saturday by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in urging parties in the Gaza ceasefire to uphold their obligations and exercise restraint, the chief US envoy said after talks in Miami. Top officials from each nation met with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump&#39;s special envoy, to review the first stage of the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10. &quot;We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President&rsquo;s 20-point peace plan and call on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements,&quot; said a statement posted by Witkoff on X. Their meeting came amid continuing strains on the agreement. Gaza&#39;s civil defense said six people were killed Friday in Israeli shelling of a shelter. That brought to 400 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the deal took effect. Israel has also repeatedly accused Hamas of violating the truce, with the military reporting of its three soldiers killed in the territory since October. Saturday&#39;s statement cited progress yielded in the first stage of the peace agreement, including expanded humanitarian assistance, return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals and a reduction in hostilities. It called for &quot;the near-term establishment and operationalization&quot; of a transitional administration which is due to happen in the second phase of the agreement, and said consultations would continue in the coming weeks over its implementation. Under the deal&#39;s terms, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to govern the Palestinian territory instead of Hamas, and an international stabilization force is to be deployed. On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that countries would contribute troops for the stabilization force, but also urged the disarmament of Hamas, warning the process would unravel unless that happened.&nbsp;

Middle East

The US, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey urged restraint in Gaza after Miami talks, reaffirming commitment to the ceasefire, citing progress but warning of ongoing violations and rising casualties

US, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey urge restraint in Gaza after Miami talks

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed its first credit financing agreement in Pakistan&rsquo;s water sector since 2015, marking renewed development engagement between Pakistan and the European Union, according to an official joint statement issued by Pakistani foreign office.&nbsp;The agreement and broader cooperation were discussed during the 15th EU&ndash;Pakistan Joint Commission meeting held in Brussels, co-chaired by Muhammad Humair Karim, secretary at Pakistan&rsquo;s economics affairs ministry, and Paola Pampaloni, acting managing director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service.&nbsp;According to the statement, Pakistan briefed the EU on key regional matters, including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty, underscoring the importance of resolving disputes &ldquo;peacefully and in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides also exchanged views on global developments, including Gaza, where they affirmed support for a comprehensive plan to end the conflict, &ldquo;stressing the need to uphold the ceasefire and move toward a two-state solution,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;The security situation in Afghanistan, threats emanating from its territory, and the need for sustained humanitarian assistance were also discussed.&nbsp;Human rights and governanceThe EU welcomed Pakistan&rsquo;s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council and acknowledged progress made in aligning the application of the death penalty with international standards, while encouraging &ldquo;further steps in this direction,&rdquo; according to the foreign office.&nbsp;Discussions covered freedom of expression and media, judicial independence, freedom of religion or belief, anti-Muslim hatred, and the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups.&nbsp;The EU reiterated its commitment to supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to safeguard fundamental freedoms, including the rights of women, children, laborers, and migrants.&nbsp;Trade and GSP+EU&ndash;Pakistan trade relations featured prominently, with both sides reviewing market access challenges and cooperation under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).&nbsp;The statement said the two sides reviewed follow-up actions from the GSP+ Monitoring Mission held from November 24 to December 3, including preparations for the upcoming GSP report and Pakistan&rsquo;s re-application under the new GSP regulation.&nbsp;Both emphasized the importance of &ldquo;a strong multilateral trading system.&rdquo;&nbsp;They also agreed to improve the overall business environment and confirmed plans to advance this work at the High-Level EU&ndash;Pakistan Business Forum scheduled for April 28&ndash;29, 2026, in Islamabad.&nbsp;Development, climate and education cooperationPakistan welcomed continued EU support for climate resilience under a Team Europe approach. The EU outlined planned projects for 2025&ndash;2027 and updated Pakistan on its Global Gateway strategy.&nbsp;Both sides agreed that priority areas under the Multiannual Indicative Program, green inclusive growth, human capital development, and governance, remain aligned with Pakistan&rsquo;s national development agenda.&nbsp;The meeting also reviewed cooperation in education, science and technology, digitalization, and connectivity.&nbsp;The growing participation of Pakistani students in the Erasmus Mundus program was noted, alongside plans to explore research collaboration under Horizon Europe.&nbsp;Progress under the EU&ndash;Pakistan dialogue on migration and mobility was also reviewed. The EU welcomed Pakistan&rsquo;s steps to counter irregular migration and migrant smuggling, while both sides stressed that returns must be &ldquo;safe and dignified,&rdquo; the MoFA statement said.

Foreign Affairs

Economy

Climate & Environment

Pakistan and the EU renewed development, trade and climate cooperation at Brussels talks, marking new EIB financing, GSP+ engagement, and discussions on regional, human rights and migration issues

EU, Pakistan renew development, trade and climate cooperation at Brussels talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered stronger, technology-driven measures to combat human trafficking and illegal migration, stressing that legal overseas travel for Pakistani citizens must be safeguarded through improved systems and coordination.&nbsp;Chairing a high-level meeting, the prime minister reviewed actions taken against illegal migration, including the misuse of work, visit and tourist visas, as well as offloading and deportation cases that contribute to irregular movement to European countries, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO).&nbsp;The meeting was informed that steps are underway to activate the e-gates system at airports, while artificial intelligence is being introduced to detect and prevent illegal travel.&nbsp;&ldquo;Full use of technology to improve the immigration system is the need of the hour,&rdquo; PM Sharif said, underscoring the importance of modern tools in curbing trafficking networks and irregular migration.&nbsp;He also directed authorities to further improve the performance of the Protectorate of Emigrants and emphasized closer coordination between the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant institutions.&nbsp;The objective, he said, is to ensure that Pakistani citizens traveling abroad legally for employment do not face unnecessary hurdles.&nbsp;According to the PMO, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and senior government officials.

Security

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered technology-driven measures, including AI and e-gates, to curb human trafficking, prevent illegal migration, and ensure smooth legal overseas travel.

Pakistan PM orders tech-driven crackdown on human trafficking, illegal migration

MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League by beating West Ham 3-0, while Chelsea fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Saturday.&nbsp;Arsenal can retake top spot for Christmas when they visit Everton later, but City ramped up the pressure on the Gunners with a seventh consecutive win in all competitions.&nbsp;The Hammers feared a rout when Haaland smashed home after just five minutes.&nbsp;Alphonse Areola saved the Norwegian&#39;s first effort before the ball broke kindly for Haaland to fire into the top corner.&nbsp;Haaland turned provider for City&#39;s second just before half-time as Tijjani Reijnders scored his first goal at the Etihad.&nbsp;West Ham missed a number of chances to halve the deficit early in the second period as they remain in the relegation zone.&nbsp;Haaland, by contrast, was ruthless as he netted his 38th goal of the season already for club and country when the ball broke his way 21 minutes from time to move City one point ahead of Arsenal.&nbsp;Chelsea remain in fourth as a second-half fightback rescued manager Enzo Maresca from more speculation over his future.&nbsp;The Italian claimed after last weekend&#39;s win over Everton that he and his players had not received enough support during a difficult run of results.&nbsp;Maresca was then linked with being Pep Guardiola&#39;s successor at City in recent days.&nbsp;Newcastle aggrievedChelsea have won just once in their last five league games to see ambitions of a title challenge wilt.&nbsp;But it could have been even worse for Maresca as Nick Woltemade&#39;s double put Newcastle 2-0 up in a dominant first half from the Magpies.&nbsp;A brilliant Reece James free-kick brought the Blues back into the game before Joao Pedro pounced on an error from Malick Thiaw to equalise.&nbsp;Newcastle felt aggrieved as two late appeals for penalties and for James to be sent off were dismissed to leave Eddie Howe&#39;s men languishing in 11th.&nbsp;&quot;My last week has not been complicated, it has been good. We beat Everton, we beat Cardiff (in the League Cup) and we drew with Newcastle away, so in terms of results, I&#39;m happy,&quot; said Maresca.&nbsp;&quot;Again, there are things that for sure we can do better, but I think we&#39;re going in the right direction.&quot;&nbsp;

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City beat West Ham 3-0, moving top of the Premier League. Chelsea salvaged a 2-2 draw at Newcastle with a second-half comeback, easing pressure on manager Enzo Maresca.

Haaland sends Man City top, Chelsea fightback frustrates Newcastle

FOZ Do IGUA&Ccedil;U: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Saturday that US military action in Venezuela would spark a &quot;humanitarian catastrophe,&quot; as he opened a summit of the South American Mercosur bloc.&nbsp;&quot;The South American continent is once again haunted by the military presence&quot; of a foreign power, Lula said in the southern city of Foz do Iguacu.&nbsp;In an interview with NBC News conducted Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he could not rule out the possibility of war with Venezuela.

Brazil’s President Lula warned a Mercosur summit that any US military action against Venezuela would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe, criticizing military presence in South America after Donald Trump said war could not be ruled out.

Brazil warns military action in Venezuela would be 'humanitarian catastrophe'

AFGHANISTAN: Three Afghans died from exposure in freezing temperatures in the western province of Herat while trying to illegally enter Iran, a local army official said on Saturday.&nbsp;&quot;Three people who wanted to illegally cross the Iran-Afghanistan border have died because of the cold weather,&quot; the Afghan army official told AFP on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;He added that a shepherd was also found dead in the mountainous area of Kohsan from the cold.&nbsp;The migrants were part of a group that attempted to cross into Iran on Wednesday and was stopped by Afghan border forces.&nbsp;&quot;Searches took place on Wednesday night, but the bodies were only found on Thursday,&quot; the army official said.&nbsp;More than 1.8 million Afghans were forced to return to Afghanistan by the Iranian authorities between January and the end of November 2025, according to the latest figures from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), which said that the majority were &quot;forced and coerced returns&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;These mass returns in adverse circumstances have strained Afghanistan&#39;s already overstretched resources and services&quot; which leads to &quot;risks of onward and new displacement, including return movements back into Pakistan and Iran and onward&quot;, UNHCR posted on its site dedicated to Afghanistan&#39;s situation.&nbsp;This week, Amnesty International called on countries to stop forcibly returning people to Afghanistan, citing a &quot;real risk of serious harm for returnees&quot;.&nbsp;Hit by two major earthquakes in recent months and highly vulnerable to climate change, Afghanistan faces multiple challenges.&nbsp;It is subject to international sanctions particularly due to the exclusion of women from many jobs and public places, described by the UN as &quot;gender apartheid&quot;.&nbsp;More than 17 million people in the country are facing acute food insecurity, the UN World Food Programme said Tuesday.

Asia

Three Afghans died from cold exposure while attempting to cross illegally into Iran from Herat, highlighting migrant risks as mass forced returns strain Afghanistan, already reeling from disasters, sanctions, and widespread food insecurity, nationwide crisis.

US intercepts oil tanker off coast of Venezuela: US media

Latest News

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US intercepts oil tanker off coast of Venezuela: US media