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ISLAMABAD: United States (US) and Pakistan Army soldiers completed joint training this week at Pakistan&rsquo;s National Counter-Terrorism Center, US Central Command (Centcom) said in a post on X on Friday. The training was part of Exercise Inspired Gambit, which focused on combined infantry skills, tactics, and counterterrorism operations. &lsquo;Training exercises&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Training exercises like this between the US and Pakistan strengthen our long-standing defense ties,&rdquo; Centcom said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2012220229506527437&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cc4702313c36faf2a97d4ebfdadf06a71ae0e6a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2012220229506527437">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>

Security

Centcom says in a post on X, ‘This week, US and Pakistan Army Soldiers completed training at Pakistan's National Counter-Terrorism Center during Exercise Inspired Gambit, which focused on combined infantry skills and tactics, and counterterrorism operations.’

US, Pakistan soldiers complete joint training at counterterrorism center

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-finance-minister-highlight-pakistans-reform-push-at-wef-davos" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Muhammad Aurangzeb</a> held high-level meetings with Saudi and World Bank officials on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference 2026, focusing on investment follow-ups, technology cooperation and long-term development support.&nbsp;According to a finance ministry statement, Aurangzeb met Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim to review progress on Saudi investment commitments in Pakistan and broader bilateral economic cooperation. The AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies will be held on February 8&ndash;9, 2026, at Maraya Hall in AlUla.&nbsp;The annual forum is organized by Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s finance ministry in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund&rsquo;s regional office in Riyadh, and brings together finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers and international institutions from emerging economies.&nbsp;The engagements come as Pakistan seeks to deepen economic partnerships with key regional and multilateral partners, using the AlUla Conference as a platform to advance investment, trade and development priorities.&nbsp;During the meeting, the Saudi minister praised Pakistan&rsquo;s growing technology sector. He &ldquo;highly appreciated the quality of artificial intelligence and technology talent being produced by Pakistan,&rdquo; noting that it ranks &ldquo;among the top one or two globally,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Alibrahim also expressed Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s &ldquo;keen interest in leveraging Pakistani tech professionals&rdquo; to support the Kingdom&rsquo;s ongoing technological transformation.&nbsp;Aurangzeb said Pakistan is working to formalize overseas employment pathways, sharing that the country is creating &ldquo;a structured pipeline of skilled human resources for key international markets, including Saudi Arabia,&rdquo; aimed at generating &ldquo;mutual economic benefits.&rdquo;&nbsp;The two sides also discussed progress on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement, with emphasis on boosting trade and economic exchanges.&nbsp;Aurangzeb assured that &ldquo;dedicated Pakistani teams are actively leading the process to finalize Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s investment commitments in Pakistan,&rdquo; and thanked the Saudi government for hosting what he described as a &ldquo;strategically significant conference.&rdquo;&nbsp;Separately, the finance minister met World Bank Group Managing Director Anna Bjerde to review Pakistan&rsquo;s reform and development agenda.&nbsp;According to the finance ministry, the meeting assessed progress under Pakistan&rsquo;s Country Partnership Framework and followed up on the recent visit of the World Bank president to Pakistan.&nbsp;Discussions covered priority sectors including energy, education, health, climate resilience, infrastructure, fiscal reforms and debt-for-development swaps.&nbsp;Both sides stressed the need for &ldquo;a more focused approach, clear performance trackers, and robust implementation&rdquo; to ensure measurable outcomes.

Foreign Affairs

Economy

Pakistan’s finance minister meets Saudi and World Bank officials at AlUla Conference, advancing investment, technology cooperation and development support, while reaffirming commitments to trade, reforms and long-term economic partnerships.

At AlUla Conference, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia advance investment and tech cooperation

CORTINA D&#39;AMPEZZO, Italy: Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the Winter Olympics downhill on Sunday, brutally ending the American skiing great&#39;s improbable dream of winning a medal despite competing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Vonn was just 13 seconds into her run in bright sunshine in Cortina d&#39;Ampezzo when she lost control, twisted in the air and crumpled in the snow.&nbsp;The 41-year-old&#39;s cries of pain could be heard on the microphones as medical staff attended to the stricken skier on the piste.&nbsp;Thousands of spectators at the bottom of the run fell silent as they watched the images of the crash on giant screens.&nbsp;Vonn was eventually strapped into a stretcher and winched into the air by helicopter to be flown to hospital.&nbsp;Her US teammate Breezy Johnson went on to win the gold medal, but her first thoughts were for Vonn, saying: &quot;My heart goes out to her. I hope it&#39;s not as bad as it looked.&quot;&nbsp;Johnson finished in front of Germany&#39;s Emma Aicher by just 0.04sec with Italy&#39;s Sofia Goggia taking bronze in front of her home fans.&nbsp;Vonn&#39;s sister Karin Kildow, who watched the crash on giant screens at the course, said: &quot;That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see.&quot; Hopes dashedJust two weeks ago, Vonn, one of global sport&#39;s most recognisable faces, looked in contention to cap a remarkable comeback from retirement by winning the second Olympic gold medal of her career -- her last came 16 years ago in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.&nbsp;She had retired in 2019 but returned to the slopes in 2024 after surgery to insert a titanium implant in her right knee to quell persistent pain.&nbsp;But her Olympic plans were thrown into disarray when she crashed in a World Cup race at Crans Montana, Switzerland, on January 30.&nbsp;In a press conference once she arrived in Italy, she admitted she had ruptured her ACL in the crash, but insisted she could still compete for medals.&nbsp;&quot;This is not obviously what I had hoped for.... I know what my chances were before the crash and and I know my chances aren&#39;t the same as it stands today,&quot; she said then.&nbsp;&quot;But I know there&#39;s still a chance, and as long as there&#39;s a chance I will try.&quot;&nbsp;She even batted aside those who doubted her ability to perform with such an injury, taking to social media to fire back at a sports doctor for doubting her ACL tear was as bad as she claimed.&nbsp;In other action on Sunday, the second full day of the Milan-Cortina Games, Czech snowboarder Zuzana Maderova won gold in the women&#39;s parallel giant slalom after the shock exit of defending champion Ester Ledecka.&nbsp;Ledecka crashed out in the quarter-finals as the Czech chased what would have been a historic snowboarding title in three consecutive Olympics.&nbsp;Maderova enjoyed a comfortable victory over Ledecka&#39;s conqueror Sabine Payer, cruising to victory by 0.83sec.&nbsp;In Tesero, Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Klaebo racked up the sixth Olympic gold medal of his career by taking the skiathlon title.&nbsp;Later, attention will switch the ice rink as the USA go into the final day of the figure skating team event seeking to resist a stiff challenge from Japan.&nbsp;Ilia Malinin, the US sensation who was upstaged on his Olympic debut on Saturday by Japan&#39;s Yuma Kagiyama, skates again on Sunday in the free programme.

Athletics

Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the Winter Olympics downhill on Sunday, brutally ending the American skiing great's improbable dream of winning a medal despite competing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Vonn crashes out of Winter Olympics in brutal end to medal dream

DHAKA: Bangladesh has requested assistance from the United Nations human rights office for an investigation into the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/violence-erupts-in-bangladesh-after-wounded-youth-leader-dies" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">killing</a> of Sharif Osman Hadi, a popular leader in the country&#39;s 2024 youth-led uprising, the government said Sunday. The Bangladeshi mission in Geneva had sent a diplomatic note requesting the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to support a &quot;fair, impartial and expeditious&quot; probe into the killing, the interim government&#39;s press wing said. &quot;The note requests technical and institutional assistance from the UN human rights office to support the investigation,&quot; it added. Hadi, 32, was <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/violence-erupts-in-bangladesh-after-wounded-youth-leader-dies" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">shot</a> by masked assailants in Dhaka last December and later died of his injuries at a hospital in Singapore. His death set off a wave of violent protests. Hadi&nbsp;had planned to run as an independent candidate in polls taking place on Thursday to determine the country&#39;s first elected government since the overthrow of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government, which is led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, also reiterated its commitment to ensuring &quot;the highest standards of transparency and accountability&quot; in the case and pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible.Hadi was an outspoken critic of India, where Hasina has taken refuge since fleeing Dhaka in the wake of the July 2024 uprising that overthrew her government. His supporters hailed him as a martyr and a symbol of the anti-establishment youth movement reshaping Bangladesh&#39;s volatile political landscape.

Asia

Bangladesh has requested UN assistance to investigate the killing of uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death triggered protests, as the interim government pledged transparency, accountability, and prosecution of those responsible

Bangladesh seeks UN help to probe killing of uprising leader

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf paid an official visit to Malaysia and held meetings with the leadership of the Royal Malaysian Navy to strengthen bilateral naval cooperation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.&nbsp;Upon arrival at the Royal Malaysian Navy Headquarters, Admiral Naveed Ashraf was received by Admiral Tan Sri (Dr.) Zulhelmy bin Ithnain, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, and was accorded a guard of honour.&nbsp;During the meetings, both sides discussed aligning strategic perspectives and enhancing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-navy-showcases-modern-warfare-capabilities-in-north-arabian-sea" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cooperation in operational matters</a>, capacity building, and coordinated responses to maritime security challenges.&nbsp;Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s role in promoting regional stability, particularly through its Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) and participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).&nbsp;As part of the visit, the naval chief also toured Malaysia&rsquo;s National Hydrographic Centre, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration with Pakistan&rsquo;s National Hydrographic Office in areas such as training, data sharing, and professional engagement.&nbsp;According to ISPR, the visit reaffirmed the longstanding Pakistan-Malaysia naval partnership and underscored the shared commitment to expanding future-oriented maritime cooperation.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf meets Royal Malaysian Navy leadership during his official visit to Malaysia on February 8, 2026. (Photo: ISPR)

Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Admiral Tan Sri (Dr.) Zulhelmy bin Ithnain receives Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

Pakistan Navy chief visits Malaysia, discusses maritime cooperation

PARIS: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday ruled out Tehran ever giving up uranium enrichment in its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-us-talks-with-iran-very-good-more-negotiations-expected" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">negotiations</a>&nbsp;with Washington, insisting it will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States. The minister, Abbas Araghchi told a forum in Tehran attended by AFP, that Tehran had little trust in Washington and even doubted that the US side was taking renewed negotiations seriously. &quot;Why do we insist so much on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-defies-us-threats-to-insist-on-right-to-enrich-uranium" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">enrichment</a>&nbsp;and refuse to give it up, even if a war is imposed on us? Because no one has the right to dictate our behavior,&quot; Araghchi &quot;Their military deployment in the region does not scare us,&quot; he said, referring to the arrival of an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Arabian Sea. The United States and Iran reopened negotiations on Friday, for the first time in years, in Oman. Iran is seeking to have US economic sanctions on the country lifted, in exchange for what Araghchi said at the forum could be &quot;a series of confidence-building measures concerning the nuclear program.&quot; Western countries and Israel, thought to be the Middle East&#39;s only country with nuclear weapons, say Iran is seeking to acquire a nuclear bomb, which the latter&nbsp;denies. &quot;They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not looking for one. Our atomic bomb is the power to say &#39;no&#39; to the great powers,&quot; Araghchi said. &#39;Peace through strength&#39; Araghchi&#39;s comments came after US lead negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the aircraft carrier on Saturday, signalling the persistent threat of US military action against Iran. The US military&#39;s Central Command (<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-launches-onewayattack-drone-force-in-middle-east" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">CENTCOM</a>) said the two top officials visited the nuclear-powered vessel. In a social media post, Witkoff said the aircraft carrier and its strike group was &quot;keeping us safe and upholding President Trump&#39;s message of peace through strength&quot;. The threat of war continues to hover over the negotiations, even as Trump called the talks &quot;very good&quot; and Iran&#39;s President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media that they &quot;constitute a step forward&quot;. Following Friday&#39;s first round in Oman, Trump signed an executive order calling for the &quot;imposition of tariffs&quot; on countries still doing business with Iran despite US sanctions. The United States also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran&#39;s oil exports. At the Tehran forum Sunday, Araghchi called into question the United States&#39; commitment to negotiations. &quot;The continuation of certain sanctions and military actions raise doubts about the seriousness and readiness of the other side to conduct genuine negotiations,&quot; he said. &quot;We are monitoring the situation closely, assessing all the signals and will decide on the continuation of the negotiations.&quot; Protests toll Talks between the two arch enemies came amid a major <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-military-to-prioritize-homeland-and-curbing-china-limit-support-for-allies" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US military</a> buildup in the region in the wake of Iran&#39;s crackdown on protests that began in late December, driven by economic grievances. The authorities in Iran have acknowledged that 3,117 people were killed in the recent protests, publishing on Sunday a list of 2,986 names, most of whom they say were members of the security forces and innocent bystanders. International organizations have put the toll far higher. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which has kept a running toll since the onset of the protests, says it has verified 6,961 deaths, mainly of protesters, and has another 11,630 cases under investigation. It has also counted more than 51,000 arrests.

Men look at Iranian daily newspapers reporting on the first round of talks between Iran and the United States at a kiosk in Tehran. (AFP)

Middle East

Iran’s foreign minister rejects abandoning uranium enrichment as talks with the United States resume, while questioning Washington’s sincerity amid new sanctions, military deployments and threats of war during renewed nuclear negotiations.

Iran defies US threats to insist on right to enrich uranium

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam and International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday as talks continued over Pakistan&rsquo;s refusal to play India in the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2026.&nbsp;The meeting was week after the Pakistan government formally announced that the national team would participate in the tournament but would not take the field against India in the February 15 Group A match in Colombo.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled for February 15, 2026, against India,&rdquo; the government said in a statement posted on its official X account.&nbsp;Pakistan opened their World Cup campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7.&nbsp;According to sources, the ICC delegation led by Khwaja arrived in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore around 4 pm to meet PCB leadership and senior officials in an effort to find a way forward. Aminul Islam&rsquo;s presence in the discussions highlighted broader regional concerns surrounding the tournament.&nbsp;The ICC has urged the Pakistan board to reconsider its position. &ldquo;We hope the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications of this decision and explore a mutually acceptable resolution that protects the interests of all stakeholders,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;The controversy follows an earlier disruption to the tournament after Bangladesh refused to play matches in India over security concerns. The ICC subsequently replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after rejecting Dhaka&rsquo;s request to relocate its fixtures to co-host Sri Lanka.

Cricket

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam and International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday as talks continued over Pakistan’s refusal to play India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan, Bangladesh chiefs meet ICC official over India T20 World Cup match

ISLAMABAD: Electioneering by contesting candidates in Bangladesh&rsquo;s 13th National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) Election and Referendum will conclude at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, exactly 48 hours before polling begins, the country&#39;s state media reported, quoting the Election Commission. The campaign, which began on Jan. 22, will end in line with electoral rules requiring a mandatory two-day silence period ahead of voting, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Election Commission Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said all campaign activities must stop by 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 10 to ensure compliance with election laws. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-elections-test-ties-with-india-as-china-deepens-outreach" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">parliamentary election and referendum</a>&nbsp;will be held on Thursday, with voting scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Balloting will take place through transparent ballot boxes across 299 constituencies nationwide. The Election Commission has cancelled polling in the Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, reducing the number of constituencies going to the polls from 300 to 299. According to EC officials, ballot papers have already been dispatched to returning officers in 49 districts, while the remaining consignments are expected to reach their destinations later today. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/281574fd-7a4e-4eb6-a13f-0b78b1653cd0.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A total of 127.7 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the election and referendum. This includes 64.8 million male voters, 62.9 million female voters, and 1,220 voters from the hijra community. Among the constituencies, Jhalakathi-1 has the fewest voters at 228,431, while Gazipur-2 has the most at 804,333. Overall, 51 political parties are taking part in the election, with 2,034 candidates contesting, including 275 independents. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fielded the largest number of candidates, with 291 contestants running under its paddy sheaf symbol. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-election-commission-says-poll-preparations-complete" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Polling will be held</a>&nbsp;at 42,779 centres, with 247,482 polling booths set up. Dhaka-12 has the most candidates, with 15 in the race, while Pirojpur-1 has the fewest, with just two candidates. Around 800,000 election officials will be deployed to conduct the polls, while nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel will be assigned to maintain security. In addition, 55,454 observers from 81 locally registered organisations will monitor the election, including 7,997 central observers and 47,457 deployed at the constituency level. Around 500 foreign observers will also be present, Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (retd) said.

This photograph, taken on Jan. 30, 2026, shows Ganosamhati Andolon party election candidate Taslima Akhter (centre R) speaking to her supporters during a rally in Dhaka ahead of Bangladesh’s general elections. (Photo: AFP/File)

Bangladesh

Election commission official says ballot papers have already been dispatched to returning officers in 49 districts, while the remaining consignments are expected to reach their destinations later today.

Bangladesh elections: 2,034 candidates in race as electioneering ends Tuesday

ISLAMABAD: China on Sunday strongly condemned the suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad earlier this week, expressing full support for Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to ensure national security and stability.&nbsp;In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was deeply shocked by the deadly attack and the loss of precious lives. China extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs and wished a swift recovery to the injured.&nbsp;&ldquo;China strongly condemns this attack, firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and fully supports the Pakistani government in safeguarding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">national security</a>, social stability and the safety of its people,&rdquo; the statement said. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2020351783026237770&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=468d0e6cfa34031d210f20c53920d0e34cb8bc27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The suicide bombing took place on Friday at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, after Friday prayers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-condemns-mosque-blast-orders-probe" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">More than 30 worshippers were martyred,</a>&nbsp;and over 100 others sustained injuries.&nbsp;Police said the suicide bomber was intercepted at the gate of the imambargah, where he detonated his explosive device. Footage from the site showed extensive damage, with bodies and debris scattered inside the prayer hall and injured people lying outside as rescue teams rushed to assist.&nbsp;The attack sparked nationwide grief and condemnation from political leaders, religious scholars and the public, while several countries also expressed solidarity with Pakistan.&nbsp;Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said security agencies carried out swift and coordinated operations following the attack, resulting in the arrest of four facilitators, including the mastermind, during overnight raids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.&nbsp;He said the mastermind was an Afghan national affiliated with the banned terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) and that the terrorist network involved in the attack had been dismantled.&nbsp;Naqvi added that a police assistant sub-inspector embraced martyrdom during the operations, while several security personnel were injured.&nbsp;Investigations into the attack are continuing.

Security personnel cordon off the mosque’s perimeter in Islamabad on February 7, 2026, a day after a suicide bombing. (AFP/File)

Its foreign office says China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and fully supports the Pakistani government in safeguarding national security.

China condemns Islamabad suicide bombing, backs Pakistan on security

BRUSSELS: The EU said Friday that TikTok needs to change its &quot;addictive design&quot; or risk heavy fines under the bloc&#39;s digital content rules, drawing a sharp pushback from the Chinese-owned platform. In preliminary conclusions of a probe opened two years ago, the European Commission said it found TikTok was not taking effective steps to address the app&#39;s negative impacts, especially on minors and vulnerable adults. &quot;TikTok&#39;s addictive design is in breach of the Digital Services Act,&quot; said commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, citing concerns with features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and a highly personalised recommender system. &quot;These features lead to the compulsive use of the app, especially for our kids, and this poses major risks to their mental health and wellbeing,&quot; Regnier said, adding: &quot;The measures that TikTok has in place are simply not enough.&quot; TikTok rejected the commission&#39;s findings, with a spokesperson saying it presented &quot;a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform&quot;. &quot;We will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us,&quot; they added in a statement. Allies of US President Donald Trump in the US Congress said the European Commission&#39;s &quot;punitive actions&quot; were a pretext to curb political speech and pressure companies. The DSA is part of a bolstered legal armoury adopted by the EU in recent years to curb Big Tech&#39;s excesses, and officials had until now said TikTok was cooperating with the bloc&#39;s digital regulators. TikTok will now have access to the EU&#39;s findings in order to defend itself against the claims. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen told reporters that &quot;TikTok has to take actions, they have to change the design of their service in Europe to protect our minors and their wellbeing&quot;. The commission gave examples of what the platform could alter, such as: -- the platform&#39;s &quot;infinite scroll&quot; offering users an uninterrupted feed-- implementing effective &quot;screen time breaks&quot;, including during the night-- adapting its recommender system, the algorithms used by platforms to feed users more personalised content. &#39;Compulsive use&#39; of TikTokThe February 2024 investigation was the first opened into TikTok under the DSA, the bloc&#39;s powerful content moderation law that has faced the wrath of the US administration under President Donald Trump. In presenting the probe findings, Regnier cited what he called &quot;extremely alarming&quot; statistics on the app&#39;s use in the EU. TikTok was &quot;by far&quot; the most-used platform after midnight among children aged 13 to 18, he said, with seven percent of children aged 12 to 15 spending four to five hours daily on it. Brussels accused TikTok of disregarding &quot;important indicators of compulsive use of the app,&quot; such as the time minors spent on the platform at night. It also said TikTok had not implemented effective measures to mitigate risks, taking particular aim at screen-time management and parental-control tools. Its time management tools were &quot;easy to dismiss,&quot; including for young users, the commission found, while parental controls required &quot;additional time and skills from parents to introduce&quot; them. &#39;Safe by design&#39;The findings come as several European countries move to curb access to social media for younger teenagers, with officials weighing whether it is time to follow suit at the EU level. Briefing reporters on Friday, Virkkunen said her priority was to make platforms safe for all users, including children. &quot;Social media should be so safe by design that we shouldn&#39;t have that kind of very high age restriction,&quot; she said. If the regulator&#39;s views on TikTok are confirmed, the commission can impose a fine of up to six percent of the company&#39;s total worldwide annual turnover. The EU launched a separate probe into TikTok in December 2024 over alleged foreign interference in the Romanian presidential elections. EU spokesman Regnier said earlier this week that TikTok was &quot;extremely cooperative&quot; during that investigation and was taking measures to address the commission&#39;s concerns. He added that while the probe remained open, regulators could monitor how TikTok behaves during other elections.

This photograph shows a screen displaying the Tiktok social media platform's logo and the European flag on April 26, 2023 in Toulouse, southwestern France. The EU said on February 6, 2026, that it had told TikTok it needs to change its "addictive design" 

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The European Commission said it found TikTok was not taking effective steps to address the app's negative impacts, especially on minors and vulnerable adults.

EU tells TikTok to change 'addictive' design

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday rejected Indian media reports claiming it had written to the International Cricket Council to invoke force majeure regarding a boycott of India-Pakistan matches.&nbsp;A PCB spokesperson said the board had neither sent any formal communication to the ICC on invoking force majeure nor received any response from the global governing body outlining the legal implications of such a move.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2020171907228996078&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=468d0e6cfa34031d210f20c53920d0e34cb8bc27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The spokesperson also dismissed reports that the PCB had sought dialogue or a settlement with the ICC on the matter. Reacting to the denial, Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta questioned the consistency of reports surrounding the issue, saying clarity was needed if no formal engagement between the PCB and ICC had taken place.&nbsp;In a post on social media platform X, Gupta said that if the PCB&rsquo;s position was accurate and no correspondence or discussions were underway, then the spokesperson&rsquo;s statement should be taken at face value. However, he argued that reports of subsequent dialogue or settlement talks would contradict that stance.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 866px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2020202192456798243&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=468d0e6cfa34031d210f20c53920d0e34cb8bc27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Gupta also urged readers to consult reporting by non-Indian media outlets, suggesting that international coverage offered additional context to the unfolding situation. Pakistan&#39;s boycott of playing IndiaThe ICC is in shock over Pakistan&#39;s decision to boycott the lucrative T20 World Cup fixture against arch-rival India t<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">o <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted"><a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/icc-hypocrisy-exposed-as-pakistan-skips-india-clash-in-t20-wc-mark-butcher" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">express solidarity with Bangladesh</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">, which was excluded from the tournament after refusing to play their matches in India. Earlier, reports emerged that the ICC had tasked its vice-chairman with engaging the PCB to bring it to the negotiating table amid concerns over a potential boycott of India-Pakistan fixtures and its broader implications for ICC events. Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/sri-lanka-urge-pakistan-to-reconsider-india-game-boycott" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sri Lankan cricket board</a>, the World Cup co-host with India, has also requested that the PCB reconsider its decision, saying the boycott would cause financial losses&nbsp;and harm the island&#39;s tourism industry, which is still recovering from the 2022 economic meltdown. &quot;Any non-participation will have wide-ranging implications, including substantial financial exposure for SLC [Sri Lanka Cricket] and the potential loss of anticipated tourism inflows,&quot; the board said. Speculation over the matter has intensified due to the commercial and sporting significance of India-Pakistan matches, which remain among the ICC&rsquo;s most valuable properties.

This image shows the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) building in Lahore. — (AFP/File)

The spokesperson also dismisses reports suggesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board had sought dialogue or a settlement with the International Cricket Council on the matter.


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