Malik Waqar Ahmed

ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy in Islamabad, in collaboration with the Pakistan Football Federation, hosted a special kick‑off event at the embassy to mark the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and to spotlight the cultural and economic ties the global tournament creates.&nbsp;The highlight of the launch ceremony was the unveiling of an oversized football produced by a manufacturing company based in Sialkot, according to a statement from the US embassy in Islamabad.&nbsp;&nbsp;Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker and PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani welcomed chief guest Minister of Railways Hanif Abbasi and Chairman of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Youth Programme Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, according to the statement. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2d947498-c9fb-476a-a5f4-b95acad2b6da-55279548397_f8fe624062_c.jpg" alt="55279548397_f8fe624062_c.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>(L-R) Pakistan Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, US Embassy Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker, PM Youth Programme Chairman</figcaption><figcaption>Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, and Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsen Gilani during the FIFA World Cup 2026</figcaption><figcaption>countdown launch at the US Embassy in Islamabad, May 19, 2026. (Photo: US Embassy in Pakistan)</figcaption></figure> PFF President Gilani said that the Pakistan national team might not have qualified for the World Cup, but there is a wave of excitement in the country for the first-ever 48-team event in North America. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/f34e7af5-064d-4e32-877e-3574b8cc740d-55280693544_1792732c49_c.jpg" alt="55280693544_1792732c49_c.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>(L-R) Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsen Gilani, Pakistan Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, US Embassy</figcaption><figcaption>Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker, and PM Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan unveil the giant football at the</figcaption><figcaption>US Embassy in Islamabad, May 19, 2026. (Photo: US Embassy in Pakistan)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Gilani told Pakistan TV Digital that the event sent a message about the strong partnership between the Pakistan Football Federation and the US Embassy, highlighting the close relationship with the United States.&nbsp;He said that as the US prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico, Pakistan is very excited to be part of the tournament, reflecting the strong collaboration between the two nations.&nbsp;Natalie Baker said that such events will leave a legacy of stronger economies and deeper cultural connections. She added that the embassy looks forward to sharing those experiences with friends and partners in Pakistan. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/f42ae142-259a-47cb-bda1-4704da5248ee-55280866545_5d89bf3c3e_c.jpg" alt="55280866545_5d89bf3c3e_c.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker addressing the FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown launch at the US Embassy in Islamabad,&nbsp;</figcaption><figcaption>May 19, 2026. (Photo: US Embassy in Pakistan)</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;It&#39;s the first World Cup launch event to happen in Pakistan, and it kicks off our 250th anniversary celebrations for the United States. In 23 days, we&#39;re going to celebrate the World Cup across 16 cities,&rdquo; Baker told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp; While speaking with Pakistan TV Digital, she said this will be the biggest World Cup ever. She added that it was very exciting that, right here in Pakistan, at the US Embassy, they&#39;re able to partner with the Pakistan Football Federation to launch the event. Mohsen Gilani expressed his best wishes to the United States in its bid to co-host the 2031 FIFA Women&rsquo;s World Cup in partnership with Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. The program concluded with a ceremonial gift exchange and recognition of two female Pakistan national football players, after which guests were invited to participate in an informal penalty-kick challenge on the field.

(L-R) Pakistan Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, PM Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, and Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsen Gilani during the FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown launch a

Football

The US Embassy and Pakistan Football Federation launched Pakistan’s first FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown event in Islamabad, unveiling a Sialkot-made football and highlighting stronger US-Pakistan cultural ties, economic cooperation, and excitement for football’s biggest-ever tournament.

US Embassy, Pakistan Football Federation kick off countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026

ISLAMABAD: The United States formally repatriated more than 450 cultural artifacts to Pakistan during a ceremony at the Islamabad Museum on Wednesday, reaffirming bilateral cooperation against the illicit trafficking of antiquities and the protection of cultural heritage. The repatriated collection includes historically significant artifacts that were illegally removed from Pakistan and later recovered through cooperation between US law enforcement agencies and Pakistani authorities, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad. The recovered collection features rare archaeological and religious objects linked to the ancient Gandhara civilization, including a 2nd-century C.E.&nbsp; <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/dadee188-e6d9-42da-bd54-6941df647e8c-55257053480_e43061b871_c.jpg" alt="55257053480_e43061b871_c.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Source: (US Embassy in Pakistan)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Buddhapada sculpture valued at $1.1 million that was looted from Pakistan in the 1980s and trafficked into New York. Other returned artifacts include a Gandharan frieze depicting Buddhist figures, ancient terracotta figurines from Mehrgarh dating back to 3500&ndash;2600 B.C.E., a statue of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, and a Gold Strato I coin from 105&ndash;85 B.C.E. recovered in 2023. According to the statement, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney&rsquo;s Office, with support from the US Department of Homeland Security, has recovered and repatriated 514 Pakistani antiquities worth nearly $23 million over the past decade through investigations into international smuggling networks. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/7d9374da-e64d-4e31-9411-63484011ecb4-55267739610_2150888907_o-1536x1024.jpg" alt="55267739610_2150888907_o-1536x1024.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Source: (US Embassy in Pakistan)</figcaption></figure>Speaking at the ceremony, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur said the recovered artifacts represented &ldquo;chapters of Pakistan&rsquo;s history&rdquo; that connect generations to their heritage. &ldquo;Among these artifacts are terracotta figurines that are more than four thousand years old,&rdquo; Kapur said. &ldquo;Each of these objects tells a story. Each belongs to the people of Pakistan. And each now is home.&rdquo; <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/47bac106-f100-4e94-8ae2-a81b3876b236-55258160931_d0d4db8b66_c.jpg" alt="55258160931_d0d4db8b66_c.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Source: (US Embassy in Pakistan)</figcaption></figure>Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, welcomed the repatriation and praised cooperation between Pakistani institutions and US authorities. &ldquo;Our Department of Archaeology and Museums, with the help of the Foreign Office, worked hard to bring these artifacts back from the United States,&rdquo; Khichi told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;We are grateful to the US government for helping us reclaim them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;These artifacts are not merely stones, they are the identity of Pakistan.&rdquo; Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, Kapur said the United States would continue working with Pakistan to combat cultural property trafficking and preserve historical heritage. &ldquo;This work exemplifies the best of international cooperation, honoring the past, upholding joint goals and creating new opportunities for collaboration and mutual prosperity,&rdquo; he said. The artifacts, officials said, will now be preserved and displayed in Pakistan, enabling scholars, researchers, and the public to reconnect with an important part of the nation&rsquo;s civilizational heritage.

Culture

The repatriated collection includes historically significant artifacts that were illegally removed from Pakistan and later recovered through cooperation between US law enforcement agencies and Pakistani authorities, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad.

US returns centuries-old Pakistani artifacts seized from trafficking networks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis have welcomed the &ldquo;Islamabad Talks&rdquo; as a significant diplomatic achievement, expressing pride in the country&rsquo;s role in bringing the United States and Iran to the negotiating table. Citizens from different walks of life described the mediation effort as a moment of national accomplishment and a positive step toward regional stability. &ldquo;I think it is a big achievement for us&hellip; a moment of pride for Pakistan as a nation,&rdquo; said Imran Akram, a corporate employee, referring to Islamabad&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue. Others highlighted the difficulty of engaging two adversaries amid escalating conflict. &ldquo;Convincing Iran and America&hellip; at this time the initiative Pakistan took was very important,&rdquo; said Faiza Ali, a homemaker, calling it &ldquo;a very good initiative.&rdquo; Several respondents framed the development as a validation of Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic strategy. &ldquo;As a Pakistani, it is a big win for us&hellip; it&rsquo;s a win of foreign policy,&rdquo; said IT professional Qazi Nauman. Banker Zartar Fatima said the talks reflected Pakistan&rsquo;s growing relevance on the global stage, while entrepreneur Sufyan Ali described the effort as &ldquo;timely and necessary&rdquo; to prevent further escalation. Students and professionals alike echoed hopes that the talks would lead to lasting peace. &ldquo;I am very happy about this&hellip; it shows Pakistan can play a constructive role,&rdquo; said Eman Ahmed, a student.

Foreign Affairs

Citizens from different walks of life describe mediation effort as a moment of national accomplishment and a positive step toward regional stability; several respondents frame the development as a validation of Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy.





Pakistanis hail Islamabad Talks as major diplomatic breakthrough for peace

ISLAMABAD: More than 30 presidents of women&#39;s chambers of commerce gathered in the capital for a two-day conference aimed at expanding opportunities for women&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-offers-major-investment-opportunities-for-us-entrepreneurs-ambassador-says" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" rel="noopener noreferrer">entrepreneurs</a>&nbsp;across Pakistan. The 4th All Pakistan Women Chambers Presidents International Conference centered on capacity building, financial inclusion, and market access for women-led enterprises. It was organized by the Islamabad Women&#39;s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan inaugurated the event, stating that women are <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistans-powerhouses-the-women-who-owned-2025" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" rel="noopener noreferrer">reshaping Pakistan</a>&#39;s economy by entering new sectors, creating jobs, and strengthening household incomes. &quot;Women-led enterprises are no longer confined to micro or informal activities,&quot; the special assistant said. &ldquo;They are increasingly visible in manufacturing, services, information technology, agribusiness, and exports.&rdquo; Haroon Khan mentioned that this shift is altering market dynamics and how families cope with inflation, rising energy costs, and slow growth. He observed a clear move from survival-based businesses to growth-oriented firms led by educated women utilizing digital platforms and formal banking channels. The special assistant highlighted that official data indicate increased women&#39;s participation in small and medium enterprises over the past decade. However, policy gaps and limited access to finance still restrict scaling and productivity. He emphasized unlocking women&#39;s potential as essential for maintaining economic growth under fiscal pressure. Women entrepreneurs are helping diversify exports through value-added products in textiles, food processing, and digital services, reducing dependency on a few commodities and bolstering foreign exchange earnings. Haroon Khan pointed to recent initiatives aimed at easing business registration, expanding credit guarantees, and connecting women-owned firms to public procurement. He noted that firms led by women tend to be more resilient during economic shocks. He also acknowledged that despite policy announcements, access to affordable credit remains limited. Chamber representatives reported that high interest rates, collateral requirements, and delays in bank approvals continue to exclude many capable businesses. The Vice President of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rabia Farhan, mentioned that the country&rsquo;s central bank&#39;s loan programs are currently paused. Previously, a special women&#39;s grant with only a 5% markup was available. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/565084e1-6c1e-4bfd-86ab-7f2912791d7e-80463ddd-6664-419d-a8c0-8e715ce96a4d.jpg" alt="80463ddd-6664-419d-a8c0-8e715ce96a4d.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A participant speaking at the 4th All Pakistan Women Chambers Presidents International Conference held in Islamabad, January 19, 2026.</figcaption> Meanwhile, Naima Ansari, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Islamabad location offers direct access to government agencies and regulatory bodies, facilitating networking opportunities. Shabista Bakhtiyar, President of the Women&rsquo;s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karachi, discussed the importance of safe workplaces and increased participation in policy-making. &quot;Women need comfortable, safe, and healthy environments,&quot; Bakhtiyar said. &quot;They require spaces where they can work freely and be more deeply involved in policy-making.&quot; Other speakers included Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry Founder President Samina Fazil, Azerbaijan Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Muzaffar Mirza, Deputy Director DGTO Pir Shah Gul, and Secretary General of UBG Zafar Bakhtawri.

Economy

More than 30 women chambers presidents met in Islamabad to discuss capacity building, financial inclusion and market access, highlighting women-led enterprises’ growing role in Pakistan’s economy amid economic challenges nationwide.

Women entrepreneurs target exports and tech at Islamabad summit

ISLAMABAD: The aroma of freshly cooked chicken and rice drifts through a parking lot as a brightly colored van pulls up near PIMS Hospital. Within minutes, a line forms, delivery riders still wearing helmets, security guards on lunch breaks, day laborers with dust clinging to their clothes.&nbsp;They are not waiting for charity. They are customers at Islamabad&rsquo;s most unusual restaurant: The Food ATM.&nbsp;For just Rs100 [$0.36], barely enough to buy a cup of tea elsewhere, they receive steaming plates of home-cooked meals that would cost three times as much at a street vendor. But this mobile kitchen serves something more valuable than food: self-respect.&nbsp;&ldquo;We charge a minimum price so no one&rsquo;s dignity is compromised,&rdquo; Tehreem Zakia, the young woman who founded Food ATM, told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;We want to eradicate the dependency culture in Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;In a country where many families face economic challenges, the model offers a positive alternative, providing affordable meals while encouraging self-reliance and preserving dignity by turning beneficiaries into valued patrons.&nbsp;Saddam Hussain, a delivery rider who stops by regularly, still marvels at the value.&nbsp;&ldquo;You get nothing for Rs100 these days,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;A normal meal costs Rs330 to Rs350 now. But this, excellent food for Rs100.&rdquo;&nbsp;The menu rotates daily, pushing back against the monotony of poverty. Fridays bring chicken rice with dessert, while Mondays feature bread and curry. Each day offers a small surprise, a modest luxury for people accustomed to skipping meals.&nbsp;Behind the counter, young women work swiftly, serving portions with easy smiles. University student Hoorain Mariam joined as a volunteer on her first day, inspired by watching senior students lead the effort.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very passionate about working with them and serving humanity,&rdquo; she said, her eyes bright with purpose.&nbsp;The van follows a daily route through Islamabad, PIMS Hospital, the Blue Area, and neighborhoods where working people gather. Since its launch, Food ATM has served more than 49,000 meals, powered entirely by student volunteers and small donations.&nbsp;Operating in memory of Rakhshanda Memorial, these young women are doing more than feeding the hungry. They are quietly rewriting the rules of charity, proving that dignity matters as much as sustenance.&nbsp;As Hussain finishes his meal and returns to his motorcycle, he waves. Tomorrow, he will be back, not as a beggar, but as a customer.

Young women in Islamabad combat poverty with dignity, serving affordable Rs100 meals that transform charity into empowerment, restoring self-respect for thousands of working people daily.

Meals on wheels: Mobile kitchen feeds thousands for Rs100 a meal   

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s senior policymakers and business leaders underscored macroeconomic stability, reform momentum, and investment-focused governance at the Pakistan Policy Dialogue in Islamabad, positioning the forum as a signal of renewed economic confidence for international investors.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stabilization and now needed growth led by the private sector.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are not talking about any other country,&rdquo; Dar said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re talking about Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Macroeconomic stability in the country,&rdquo; the deputy PM said, citing lower interest rates, improved export financing and rising foreign exchange reserves.&nbsp;He added that while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program are &ldquo;generally anti-growth,&rdquo; the government&rsquo;s focus is now on sustaining stability and unlocking growth potential.&nbsp;The dialogue brought together federal ministers, economic advisers, corporate leaders and development experts to discuss reforms spanning exports, digital infrastructure, climate resilience and institutional strengthening.&nbsp;Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance minister, said the dominant sentiment at the forum was confidence tempered with realism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Everyone is confident, everyone is positive, and of course, at the same time, critical as well,&rdquo; Schehzad said, pointing to recent macroeconomic gains and reforms as key takeaways, talking to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Digital infrastructure and investor accessibility featured prominently in the discussions.&nbsp;Mujeeb Zahoor, managing director at S&amp;P Global, said sustained investment in connectivity and enabling policy frameworks was critical to attract global capital.&nbsp;He emphasized the need for regulations that allow institutional investors and private markets to participate more effectively in Pakistan&rsquo;s economy.&nbsp;Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said inclusive growth required a sharper focus on human capital, particularly youth and women.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have to empower our youth and women, the drivers of economic growth,&rdquo; Iqbal said, noting Pakistan&rsquo;s young demographic profile and low female workforce participation, talking to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Participants said the Dialogue reflected a broader effort to project policy continuity and reform discipline at a time when Pakistan is seeking long-term investment, export-led growth and resilience against economic and climate shocks.

Pakistan’s policymakers and business leaders highlighted macroeconomic stability, ongoing reforms and investment-led growth at the Islamabad Policy Dialogue, projecting renewed confidence, policy continuity and reform discipline to international investors

Pakistan leaders highlight stability, reforms at Islamabad policy dialogue

RAWALPINDI: For months, she told her family she was visiting a friend. Instead, she was slipping into a classroom, learning how to design logos for strangers thousands of miles away. The secret held until the day she earned her first $80.&nbsp;She showed the payment to her father.&nbsp;&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t say anything at first,&rdquo; recalls the academy&rsquo;s founder, who watched the moment unfold. &ldquo;Then his expression changed. He gave permission. After that, he started telling the neighbors himself.&rdquo;&nbsp;That single transaction did what months of arguments could not.&nbsp;She isn&rsquo;t alone.&nbsp;When 28-year-old Haal-e-Noor arrives at the small skills center in densely populated Rawalpindi, after sunset, she is already exhausted. Tucked inside a crowded neighborhood of narrow streets and concrete homes, her day has been split between an eight-hour job and household responsibilities. Her feet ache. Her hands are sore. Still, she sits down in front of a computer, eyes locked onto the screen, carefully adjusting the colors of a logo.&nbsp;&ldquo;This course of mine is almost three months long. I&rsquo;ve completed half of it and there&rsquo;s a little time left,&rdquo; she tells Pakistan TV Digital, barely looking away. &ldquo;I chose graphic designing because I want to earn from home in the future. In my opinion, the international freelancing market is a huge source of income.&rdquo;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/665e4240-bc44-46ae-a013-34a778fbd8fa-1228f304-e2c9-4801-916e-0ca5cfff7f12.jpg" alt="1228f304-e2c9-4801-916e-0ca5cfff7f12.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Haal-e-Noor works on a design project during her evening class in Rawalpindi.</figcaption></figure> For Noor, this is not simply about mastering software. It is about autonomy. About earning her own money, making her own choices, and proving, to herself as much as to others, that her life does not have to be limited by expectation.&nbsp;She is one of hundreds of women enrolled at this tuition-free academy, where quiet transformations take place every evening. Some students arrive straight from college. Others rush in after work.A few are young mothers who study while their children sleep in the next room.&nbsp;In just two years, more than 600 women have passed through these classrooms. 60% are now earning on international freelancing platforms, designing logos for clients in New York, managing social media pages for businesses in London, and building websites for startups in Dubai.&nbsp;Yet the hardest lessons have little to do with design.&nbsp;&ldquo;Encouraging girls toward freelancing is the most difficult part,&rdquo; says Areeba Sajjad, the instructor who founded the academy. &ldquo;Sometimes husbands don&rsquo;t allow it. Sometimes parents say, &lsquo;Why does she need this? She&rsquo;ll get married anyway.&rsquo; We face these barriers every day.&rdquo;&nbsp;She pauses, then adds quietly, &ldquo;But we keep trying. We keep explaining.&rdquo;&nbsp;The story of the girl who studied in secret is one Areeba knows well. Months of hidden classes. One completed logo. Eighty dollars. And a father who suddenly saw possibility where he once saw risk.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our institute&rsquo;s goal is to make women self-reliant,&rdquo; Areeba says. &ldquo;Our entire staff is female. Many girls who learn here are earning well now. Most come from middle-class families. They are educated but have no opportunities. We want them to earn, to stand on their own feet, and to play a role in Pakistan&rsquo;s progress.&rdquo;&nbsp;The impact reaches far beyond individual lives. In the last fiscal year, Pakistani freelancers generated $400 million in foreign exchange earnings. Women are claiming an increasingly visible share of that digital economy, often from bedrooms, kitchens, and borrowed desks.&nbsp;From this modest classroom on the outskirts of Pakistani capital, Noor and women like her are quietly challenging deeply held assumptions about women&rsquo;s roles and worth. They are connecting to a global marketplace that does not ask permission, only skill.&nbsp;As Noor saves her work and shuts down the computer for the night, she is already thinking about the next class. The obstacles remain real, and the journey is far from over. But for the first time, the future feels like something she is building herself, pixel by pixel, decision by decision.

In crowded Rawalpindi, women like Haal-e-Noor gain digital skills, earning global incomes while challenging social barriers, reshaping futures through freelancing, determination, and quiet resilience.

Pakistani women quietly reshape futures through screens, skills, and stubborn hope

ISLAMABAD: Volunteers drive through Islamabad after dark, their cars packed with blankets and quilts, searching for workers who will spend another night sleeping on the streets. At intersections in sectors G-9, G-10, G-11, and G-13, thousands of daily wage workers gather each day. Most travel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab to seek work in the capital. They wait. Sometimes contractors arrive with job offers. Sometimes they don&#39;t. When night falls, and no work has come, the workers have nowhere to go. They spread out across footpaths and open grounds as temperatures drop, settling in for another freezing winter night. That&#39;s when Act of Kindness arrives.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/3602a02f-c215-4e3d-b1a3-dc54c9ecdf20-pic 1.jpg" alt="winter warmth" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure> For a decade, the volunteer organization has worked to bring relief to Islamabad&#39;s most vulnerable workers. Founder Atiq Afridi built the group on a simple premise: crowdfunding through social media to purchase blankets, pillows, and comforters, then sending teams of students and young professionals into the streets to deliver them directly. &quot;We&#39;ve been doing this for 10 years now,&quot; Afridi said. &quot;Our friends on social media contribute, then their friends join in, our teachers support us, their relatives participate &mdash; everyone becomes part of this chain of giving.&quot;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/f37ce50a-26ad-4624-a50c-48d744f677d3-pic 2.jpg" alt="Act of Kindness" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure>The chain has grown. What started as winter relief has expanded into medical camps, blood donation drives, and meal distribution programs. The organization now helps people start small businesses and operates teams in multiple cities across Pakistan. &quot;We have teams in different cities now,&quot; Afridi said. &quot;This isn&#39;t charity &mdash; it&#39;s community. It&#39;s about recognizing that the people who build our cities deserve our support.&quot; Each night, the volunteers finish distributing supplies, and workers across Islamabad settle down with new blankets against the cold. And each morning, they return to the same intersections, waiting again for work.

Volunteers use social media crowdfunding to deliver blankets and supplies nightly to thousands of laborers sleeping rough across Islamabad.

Volunteers bring winter relief to Islamabad's daily wage workers

ISLAMABAD: As dusk settles over the outskirts of Pakistan&rsquo;s capital, the narrow lanes of a low-income settlement come alive with an unusual sight. Children, many still in the clothes they wore while sorting garbage or helping their parents at construction sites, file quietly into a small neighborhood mosque.&nbsp;They leave behind the clatter of donkey carts and the metallic rustle of scrap yards, stepping into a space where the scent of incense mingles with the soft murmur of lessons.&nbsp;Inside, the prayer hall doubles as a classroom. Woven mats become desks. Chalkboards lean against marble pillars. And the mosque, a place of devotion for generations, has become something else entirely: a refuge for children denied a place in Pakistan&rsquo;s formal education system.&nbsp;These students belong to the margins of Pakistani society, overage children, daily wage earners, and garbage collectors whose families cannot navigate the bureaucracy or costs of mainstream schooling. The national picture is stark: 26.2 million out-of-school children, according to government data, giving Pakistan one of the world&rsquo;s highest rates.&nbsp;Against that backdrop, the work of this community-run initiative stands out.&nbsp;&ldquo;We go door to door and tell parents about the importance of education,&rdquo; said Farzana Naveed, a volunteer teacher, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital on Friday. &ldquo;These kids are 8 to 12 years old. I complete their primary education in 2.5 years.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Our organization provides everything. Books, notebooks, pens.&rdquo;&nbsp;Her voice carries across the hall as she guides children through beginner English sentences. Some grip their pencils as if they are tools more unfamiliar than the metal hooks or sorting baskets they use at work.&nbsp;While many mosques across Pakistan host traditional madrasas focused on religious learning, this initiative offers an entirely secular curriculum. Science, mathematics, social studies, and English are taught in an accelerated format designed to prepare students for placement in regular schools.&nbsp;Attendance is remarkably high: 75&ndash;80 children arrive each day, often after finishing morning shifts.&nbsp;The setting may be unconventional for international readers, but its logic is rooted in local realities. Mosques are familiar, trusted, and free, eliminating the barriers that keep impoverished families from sending their children to school buildings they cannot afford to reach.&nbsp;Among the students is Hamza Khan, who spends early mornings picking through waste to supplement his family&rsquo;s income.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/89764863-06e4-4c57-8c7b-e3f771b0d175-WhatsApp Image 2025-12-06 at 20.22.21.jpeg" alt="Hamza-Mosque-School-PTV-Digital" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Hamza, 10, studies inside an improvised classroom in a local mosque in Islamabad on December 5, 2025. (Pakistan TV Digital)</figcaption></figure>&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t afford school before,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now I collect garbage with my father in the morning, then come to school. So I can study and become an officer one day.&rdquo;&nbsp;His aspiration encapsulates a broader struggle in Pakistan, where 3.3 million children between the ages of 5 and 16 are engaged in child labor, including waste picking, brickmaking, and domestic work.&nbsp;For many, education is not simply a dream; it is a distant luxury.The initiative is run by the Junior Jinnah Trust, whose director, Muhammad Al Khyaam, believes this model can chip away at structural poverty.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re breaking the generational poverty cycle by educating children doing child labor,&rdquo; Khyaam said. &ldquo;We open mosque schools within their communities to eliminate access barriers.&rdquo;&nbsp;By reimagining existing community spaces, the model sidesteps the costs and complexities of building formal schools. It also leverages the cultural role of the mosque as a trusted communal anchor, something particularly potent in under-resourced neighborhoods.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s literacy rate stands at about 60.6%, a statistic that reflects decades of inequality and underinvestment. Yet inside this small mosque classroom, the atmosphere feels almost defiant.&nbsp;Children sit cross-legged under ornate calligraphy inscriptions, sounding out multiplication tables and practicing handwriting. Between their morning labor and their evening lessons lies a fragile but profound shift: the realization that they are allowed to dream.&nbsp;They are not only learning to read or count. They are learning to imagine.&nbsp;In this transformed prayer hall, where devotion has expanded into inclusion, education is more than instruction, it is liberation. And for the working children who gather here each day, it is the first step toward futures once written off by circumstance.

Education

A local mosque in Pakistan’s capital has been transformed into a free school, giving working and out-of-school children access to education, breaking cycles of poverty, and fostering hope for their futures.

In Islamabad, mosque school gives working children hope through education

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emphasized the need for sustained &ldquo;confidence-building measures&rdquo; and expedited &ldquo;resumption of negotiations,&rdquo; reiterating Islamabad&rsquo;s deep concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp; Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the ensuing conflict resulting in a tidal wave of destruction that has left entire cities in ruins. Speaking at the UNSC, Acting UN Permanent Representative of Pakistan Ambassador Usman Jadoon, the ambassador said, &ldquo;The conflict has persisted for over four years, resulting in widespread devastation that has severely impacted human lives and livelihoods.&rdquo; He said that Islamabad was concerned about the prolongation of the war, condemning reports of increased attacks. Such actions prolong the conflict, erode trust, and obstruct meaningful progress toward peace, he said, stressing that civilians remained the primary victims.&nbsp; The ambassador reiterated that protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and civilian infrastructure was a fundamental legal obligation under international humanitarian law, which all parties must uphold under all circumstances. Welcoming the recent ceasefire announcements, the ambassador said these measures can help build confidence and should be sustained to create an enabling environment for a complete ceasefire and lasting peace. He also urged both parties to &ldquo;prioritize diplomacy, demonstrate genuine political will, and move forward constructively toward a just and enduring solution.&rdquo;

Acting UN Permanent Representative of Pakistan says Islamabad is concerned about the prolongation of the war, condemns reports of increased attacks.

At UN, Pakistan calls for confidence-building measures, revival of talks on Ukraine

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will attend next month&#39;s G7 summit in France, a White House official told AFP Tuesday, despite tensions between Washington and its allies over a host of issues, from Iran to tariffs. Trump&#39;s attendance had not previously been confirmed at the meeting of the Group of Seven leading economies in the French Alpine lakeside resort of Evian, June 15-17. The White House said in January that France had changed the dates to accommodate Trump&#39;s schedule. Trump is holding a cage fight at the White House on June 14, his 80th birthday. The US president wants to discuss topics including artificial intelligence, trade and crime-fighting at the leaders&#39; summit, Axios reported. But the summit takes place against a backdrop of frictions between the United States and other G7 members, particularly over the war Trump launched on Iran in February. Trump has lashed out at US allies for failing to help open up the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that Iran has effectively shut down, causing global oil prices to spike. Western allies, including the G7, have in return expressed concerns about the impact of the US-Israeli war on their economies, particularly at a time when they are dealing with tariffs imposed by Trump. Trump&#39;s attendance at a NATO summit in Turkey in early July has still not yet been confirmed. The Group of Seven countries are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Each country assumes the group&#39;s rotating leadership, organizing annual summits and ministerial meetings.

Americas

Trump has lashed out at US allies for failing to help open up the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that Iran has effectively shut down, causing global oil prices to spike.

Trump to attend G7 summit in France: White House

Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr style="line-height: 2;">Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;">US resident released from Iranian prison, returns home: rights group</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;">Israeli strike in Lebanon kill at least 10 people, including women, children</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;">Palestinian foreign ministry slams Israel&rsquo;s flotilla interception as war crime</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;">Vance says Iran talks making &#39;good progress&#39;</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;">Qatar says US-Iran negotiations need &#39;more time&#39;&nbsp;</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Israel says 430 Gaza flotilla activists being transferred to IsraelPublished: May 20, 2026 | 03:42 GMT | by AFP Israeli authorities said late Tuesday that 430 activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were en route to Israel, after their vessels were intercepted at sea the day before. &quot;Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives,&quot; a spokesman from Israel&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. <hr> UN expert accuses EU of enabling Israel&rsquo;s kidnapping of flotilla activistsPublished: May 20, 2026 | 03:05 GMT | by Web Desk Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, has expressed alarm amid reports Israeli forces had fired on activists aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, Al Jazeera reported.&nbsp; &ldquo;Maximum alert on the Flotilla! Israel has been given license to threaten, kidnap, and shoot at civilians ALSO in international waters!&quot; Albanese wrote in a post on X. &ldquo;Shame on the EU, [Israel&rsquo;s] main enabler in this part of the world,&rdquo; she added. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Araghchi says returning to war will feature &#39;many more surprises&#39;Published: May 20, 2026 | 00:33 GMT | by Web Desk Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that if the war were to return in the region, it would feature &quot;many more surprises&quot; due to the &quot;lessons learned and knowledge&quot; Iran gained during the conflict.&nbsp; &quot;Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions,&quot; Araghchi said in a post on X. &quot;Our powerful armed forces are confirmed as first to strike down a touted F-35,&quot; he added.<hr style="line-height: 2;"> Iran says US trying to &lsquo;whitewash&rsquo; its crimes at UNPublished: May 20, 2026 | 01:25 GMT | by Web Desk Iran&rsquo;s UN mission has accused Washington of &ldquo;spreading lies, false accusations, and disinformation against Iran and its peaceful nuclear programme&rdquo; at the Security Council. The US &ldquo;continues to violate international law through unlawful maritime blockades, and unwavering support for the Israeli regime&rsquo;s crimes and atrocities across the region,&rdquo; the Iranian mission said in a post on X. &ldquo;In fact, the culprit and the thief are now playing the role of prosecutor and judge, trying to whitewash his own crimes.&rdquo; The criticism from Tehran comes as a resolution drafted by the US and Gulf countries on the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly gained support from about two-thirds of UN member states, ahead of a possible vote. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Pakistan at UN strongly condemns drone attacks on UAE, Saudi ArabiaPublished: May 20, 2026 | 01:25 GMT | by Web Desk Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, strongly condemned the drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. While speaking to the UN, he said that Pakistan stood in &ldquo;complete solidarity&rdquo; with the Middle Eastern country, reiterating its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all friendly countries of the region. He also said that the attack on Saudi Arabia constituted a serious violation of the Kingdom&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Trump says to get done with Iran war &lsquo;in a very nice manner&rsquo;Published: May 20, 2026 | 00:43 GMT | by Web Desk US President Donald Trump has said that Washington had done a good job in its war with Iran, stating that it was going to be finished &quot;very quickly.&rdquo; &ldquo;We are going to get it done in a very nice manner,&quot; he said.&nbsp; The US president also said that the deal would be reached without Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon. Separately, while speaking to reporters in the White House, he said that if an agreement is not reached within the next &quot;two or three ⁠days,&quot; a new US attack would happen.<div style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); 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; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;' id="isPasted"> </div><div style='box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; 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; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-self: end; position: absolute; top: 1px; right: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; align-items: flex-start;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; width: 38px; height: 38px; line-height: 2;"> </div></div></div></div><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Russia ready to &lsquo;extend helping hand&rsquo; to resolve US-Iran conflictPublished: May 20, 2026 | 00:25 GMT | by Web Desk Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabko says his country is ready to extend a helping hand to negotiations between Iran and the US, if necessary, but does not intend to impose its services, Al Jazeera reported. &ldquo;Russia is ready to provide all possible assistance in resolving this conflict, which is well known to its parties. At the same time, we have never imposed and do not intend to impose our services. But in the event of an appropriate request, we will extend a helping hand,&rdquo; he said during an interview with the country&rsquo;s TASS state news agency. Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow has always been and remains &ldquo;committed to finding solutions exclusively through political and diplomatic channels&rdquo;.&nbsp; He said Moscow welcomes attempts by Washington and Tehran to resume the negotiation process and notes the &ldquo;active role of the Pakistani side in stabilizing the situation and creating conditions for moving toward a lasting peace.&rdquo; <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Developing countries bearing brunt of war on Iran, UN warnsPublished: May 20, 2026 | 00:12 GMT | by Web Desk The UN has cut global growth forecasts to 2.5% this year, compared with an estimated 3 percent last year, citing higher energy costs and weaker trade due to the US-Israel war on Iran. In the latest World Economic Situation and Prospects Report, the global body warned that low-income families in developing countries bear the heaviest burden &ldquo;as higher food and energy prices take up a larger share of their spending and rising costs outpace wages&rdquo;. Sharply declining aid flows and increased debt levels in low-income countries mean that those governments have less funding available to respond to the crisis, through &ldquo;spending on health, education, and social protection&rdquo;, it said. The biggest economic shocks are being felt in Western Asia, it added, &ldquo;driven not only by the energy shock but also by direct infrastructure damage and severe disruptions to oil production, trade, and tourism&rdquo;. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> &lsquo;Appalling lie&rsquo;: Iran rejects US claim over missile strike on schoolPublished: May 19, 2026 | 23:18 GMT | by Web Desk Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, has written on X that a US claim about the elementary school in Minab that was hit by a missile is a &ldquo;baseless fabrication and an appalling lie.&rdquo; Baghaei said that US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper&rsquo;s earlier statement that the Shajareh Tayyebeh school was located on an active Iranian cruise missile site was &ldquo;a clear attempt to obscure the severe reality of the 28 February missile attacks, which resulted in the tragic slaughtering of over 170 school children and their teachers.&rdquo; The spokesman added that &ldquo;targeting an active educational institution during school hours constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and is a clear war crime&rdquo;. &ldquo;The civilian nature of the site cannot be obscured by technical misrepresentations,&rdquo; he said, adding that the US authorities &ldquo;responsible for ordering and executing this catastrophic assault must be held fully accountable under international law.&rdquo; <hr>

Middle East

Trump says will resume strikes on Iran if deal not reached within "two or three ⁠days"; Araghchi says Iran will benefit from the lessons learned and the knowledge gained; Moscow notes active role of the Pakistani side in stabilizing the situation, creating conditions for lasting peace.

Iran’s FM Araghchi says return to war will ‘feature many more surprises’

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the World Health Organization, the UN body which President Donald Trump stopped funding, was late in identifying a deadly outbreak of Ebola. Asked by reporters how the United States would respond to the virus outbreak, Rubio said: &quot;The lead is obviously going to be CDC (the Centers for Disease Control) and the World Health Organization, which was a little late to identify this thing, unfortunately.&quot; Trump in one of his first acts on returning to office last year, set in motion a US withdrawal from the WHO, which he attacked bitterly over its response to Covid. The global pandemic heavily affected his first administration in the months before he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. The WHO has been forced to cut back due to the end of funding by the United States, which had been the most generous contributor with more than $1 billion allocated annually under Biden. Asked to explain why Rubio believed that the WHO was late, another senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it took the UN body 10 days to confirm the Ebola outbreak. &quot;We are now four days into our response; we could have been 14,&quot; the official said. The WHO &quot;failed now numerous times. Obviously, everyone is well familiar with what they did, covering up the Covid-19 pandemic for the Chinese Communist Party,&quot; the official said. The WHO contests US charges that it went too easy on China or allowed it to hide the Covid outbreak, saying that it needs to cooperate with all countries. Trump has drastically slashed US foreign assistance, dismantling the US Agency for International Development, which was the world&#39;s largest governmental aid provider, saying that the United States should more narrowly pursue its own interests. The State Department announced Tuesday that it would fund up to 50 Ebola treatment centers in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda through some $13 million in initial US funding. Rubio said that it was difficult to reach affected areas as they were in a &quot;hard-to-get-to place in a war-torn country, unfortunately.&quot; The State Department, in a statement, said that the United States &quot;has an ironclad commitment to ensuring this response is fully resourced, rapid, and cooperative between key global health and humanitarian partners.&quot; The WHO earlier Tuesday said that it was concerned about the &quot;scale and speed&quot; of the Ebola outbreak that DR Congo authorities say has caused 136 suspected deaths.

Africa

Trump in one of his first acts on returning to office last year set in motion a US withdrawal from the WHO, which he attacked bitterly over its response to Covid.

Rubio says WHO was 'a little late' on identifying Ebola outbreak

BOURNEMOUTH: Arsenal ended their 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions on Tuesday after Manchester City were held 1-1 by Bournemouth. City had to win to take the title fight to the final day, but the Cherries extended their unbeaten streak to 17 league games, a run which has secured European football for the first time in the club&#39;s history. After finishing second for the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta&#39;s Gunners have finally made it over the line to end a six-year trophy drought. Arsenal edged to the brink of the title with an unconvincing 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley on Monday, which took them five points clear of City. The Gunners, who have set the pace for most of the season, have bounced back impressively since losing to City last month, winning four straight league matches without conceding a goal. On Monday, just 48 hours after completing a domestic cup double with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, City were rocked by widespread reports that manager Pep Guardiola will depart after a decade in charge at the end of the season. Victory at Wembley on Saturday secured a 20th trophy of Guardiola&#39;s glorious reign. But he cannot add to his six Premier League titles when Aston Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday for what is expected to be his final match in charge. Guardiola had warned that fatigue could cost City against a highly motivated Bournemouth, who still have Champions League qualification in their sights for next season. As it stands, Bournemouth will be in the Europa League after ensuring they will finish no lower than seventh. Sixth could be good enough for a place in the Champions League if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday&#39;s Europa League final. City fans forlornly chanted &quot;One more year, Guardiola&quot; in the early stages at the Vitality Stadium in a bid to convince their decorated coach to see out the final season of his contract. But if the travelling fans hoped City&#39;s players would be inspired to give Guardiola a glorious goodbye, they were left sorely disappointed. Antoine Semenyo had the ball in the net on his return to Bournemouth but was flagged offside in City&#39;s best moment of a flat first half. The home side suddenly sprang to life to open the scoring in the 39th minute. Eli Junior Kroupi curled a brilliant strike into the top corner to set a new record of 13 goals in a debut Premier League season for a teenager. Nico O&#39;Reilly wasted City&#39;s best chance of a lifeline when he was denied by Djordje Petrovic just seconds into the second half. Guardiola watched on pensively as his side&#39;s title challenge fizzled out with a whimper. After winning what was billed as a title decider against Arsenal last month, City put the destiny of the title back in their rivals&#39; hands by drawing 3-3 at Everton. Guardiola looks set to depart, having failed to win the league for two consecutive seasons for the first time in his coaching career. Rayan and David Brooks hit the post as Bournemouth should have secured victory in Andoni Iraola&#39;s final home game in charge. Erling Haaland&#39;s equaliser deep into stoppage time came too little, too late to save City&#39;s title challenge. But it was a big goal for Liverpool, who now have a three-point cushion over Bournemouth and a goal difference advantage of six heading into the final day battle to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football.

After finishing second for the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta's Gunners have finally made it over the line to end a six-year trophy drought.

Arsenal win Premier League after Man City held by Bournemouth

BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing&#39;s Great Hall of the People, Russian media reported. Putin is in Beijing seeking to underscore their unshakeable alliance, days after US President Donald Trump visited the Chinese capital. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing late on Tuesday for talks with his Chinese counterpart and &quot;long-time good friend&quot; Xi Jinping, intending to show their ties are unshakeable days after a visit by Donald Trump. The confirmation of Putin&#39;s trip came just hours after Trump wrapped up his visit on Friday, the first by a US president to China in nearly a decade and one aimed at stabilizing their turbulent relations. Putin arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport around 11:15 p.m. (1515 GMT) on Tuesday, where he was greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a military band. It was a near-mirror image of Trump&#39;s arrival days earlier, with both leaders stepping out of their planes onto a red carpet as Chinese youths chanted &quot;welcome, welcome&quot; - &nbsp;this time, waving Russian flags instead of American. Putin and Xi are set to discuss how to strengthen Russia and China&#39;s strategic partnership and &quot;exchange views on key international and regional issues&quot;, according to a Kremlin statement. Their ties have deepened since Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Putin visiting Beijing every year since as his country is cut off diplomatically on the world stage. However, their relationship is far from equal, with Moscow heavily dependent economically on Beijing, the main buyer of sanctioned Russian oil. Among topics Xi and Putin could discuss is the construction of the major &quot;Power of Siberia 2&quot; natural gas pipeline from Russia to China through Mongolia - a land alternative to crude imported by sea from the Middle East - which Moscow is keen to get underway. Setting a warm tone for the visit, Xi and Putin exchanged &quot;congratulatory letters&quot; on Sunday to mark 30 years of their countries&#39; strategic partnership. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun lauded &quot;the enduring friendship between China and Russia&quot; on Tuesday. And in a video message to the Chinese people released on Tuesday, Putin said relations have reached &quot;a truly unprecedented level&quot;, and that &quot;trade between Russia and China continues to grow&quot;. &quot;The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilizing role globally. Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity,&quot; Putin said, without mentioning any third country. The two leaders are also expected to sign a joint declaration after their talks. &#39;Dear, old friends&#39;Xi welcomed Putin with open arms as an &quot;old friend&quot; when he last visited Beijing in September 2025 - language the Chinese leader did not extend to Trump last week. Putin, who in turn called Xi his &quot;dear friend&quot;, will be keen to show the world that their relations are unaffected by Trump&#39;s visit. While Putin&#39;s visit is not expected to receive the same pomp as Trump&#39;s, &quot;the Xi-Putin relationship does not require that kind of performative reassurance&quot;, said Patricia Kim from the Brookings Institution in Washington. Both sides view ties as &quot;structurally stronger and more stable&quot; than those between China and the United States, she said. Beijing has regularly called for talks to end the war in Ukraine but has never condemned Russia for sending in troops, presenting itself instead as a neutral party. Trump and Xi discussed Ukraine last week, but the US president left China without a breakthrough. &quot;Xi will almost certainly brief Putin on his summit with Trump,&quot; Kim said. The lack of clear outcomes from the Xi-Trump meeting, though, &quot;likely reassures Moscow that Xi did not strike any understanding with Trump that would materially undercut Russian interests&quot;. Appetite for oilPutin will be hoping that China deepens its commitment to Moscow, after Trump told Fox News during his visit that Beijing had agreed to buy US oil to feed its &quot;insatiable&quot; appetite for energy. With Russia reliant on sales to China to sustain its war effort, &quot;Putin does not want to lose that support&quot;, Asia Society&#39;s Lyle Morris told AFP. &quot;Putin will likely be keen to hear from Xi about China&#39;s next step in the Middle East,&quot; Morris said, after &quot;Trump signaled clearly that he hopes Beijing will play a leading role&quot;. When it comes to the US-Israeli war on Iran, though, China and Russia may have different priorities. &quot;(China) relies on the freedom of the world&#39;s major waterways to sustain its economic activities, and would prefer that the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz end sooner rather than later,&quot; James Char of Singapore&#39;s Nanyang Technological University told AFP. On the other hand, Moscow has &quot;been benefitting economically from the fighting in Iran due to the relaxation of sanctions against Russian energy supplies, so may have a different view&quot;, he said. Russia&#39;s top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, said after meeting Xi in April that Russia could &quot;compensate&quot; for China&#39;s energy shortages as the Middle East war hits global supplies. &quot;Expanded energy ties may feature prominently at the meeting (as) Beijing seeks more Russian energy,&quot; said Joseph Webster from the Atlantic Council. &quot;From Moscow&#39;s perspective, shipping more oil east may be more attractive in the wake of Ukraine&#39;s relentless campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure.&quot;

China

Asia

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing late on Tuesday for talks with his Chinese counterpart and "long-time good friend" Xi Jinping, intending to show their ties are unshakeable days after a visit by Donald Trump

Russian media says Putin, Xi begin talks in Beijing

PARIS: Massively popular online shooter &quot;Fortnite&quot; was again available on Apple&#39;s online App Store, developer Epic Games said Tuesday, adding that it was &quot;confident&quot; of prevailing in a court battle with the iPhone maker.&nbsp;Epic has been battling in court against both Apple and Google -- which develops the Android operating system -- over the sizeable fees they charge to allow software makers to sell to users.&nbsp;&quot;Fortnite is back on the App Store around the world,&quot; the company posted on X Tuesday.&nbsp;&quot;We are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand,&quot; it added.&nbsp;&quot;Fortnite&quot; was removed from both the Apple and Google stores in 2020 when Epic Games attempted to circumvent their payment systems.&nbsp;Its return last year to Apple&#39;s US App Store followed a first favourable court ruling.&nbsp;It also returned to the American Google store after Epic struck a deal with the web giant.&nbsp;&quot;We see this as the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide,&quot; Epic chief Tim Sweeney posted on X.&nbsp;&quot;Fortnite&quot; is nevertheless unavailable for Australian users to download -- despite a victory last summer in courts there, where Epic had accused Apple and Google of abusing their market position.&nbsp;Epic said in March that it was laying off more than 1,000 people, blaming a fall in the flagship game&#39;s popularity as well as the financial impact of its various legal cases.

E-Sports

Epic Games said Fortnite has returned to Apple’s App Store worldwide after years of legal battles over app store fees, calling it the “beginning of the end” of Apple’s “junk fees” and restrictive payment policies.

'Fortnite' game returns to Apple App Store

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s security forces killed 23&nbsp;terrorists during a sanitization operation in the Shewa area of North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military&#39;s media wing said in a statement on Monday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation began on May 17, following credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. Security forces killed the terrorists affiliated with what the military described as &quot;Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khwarij&quot; after an intense exchange of fire over 24 hours. Pakistan officially refers to the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as &quot;Fitna al-Khwarij,&quot; a term used by the state to underscore the group&#39;s extremist ideology and delegitimize its actions. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who it said had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the region. The military said the sanitization operation remains underway, with the area cordoned off by security forces. It added that the evidence indicated that the terrorists had coerced and intimidated local residents, forcing them to provide safe passage and using them as human shields. &quot;Such deplorable acts are highly condemnable, and no justification can rationalize the endangerment of civilian lives,&quot; the ISPR said. The military said the operation is continuing to eliminate terrorists hiding in the area as part of Pakistan&#39;s ongoing counterterrorism campaign under &quot;Azm-e-Istehkam,&quot; approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. It said the campaign by security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue at full pace to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country. Pakistan has intensified its counter-terrorism operations against terrorist outfits.&nbsp; &nbsp; Last week, at least seven terrorists were killed during a military operation in Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan province.&nbsp;Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan commenced an area sanitization operation at general area Nosham of Barkhan District to eliminate terrorists of &quot;Indian-backed Fitna al-Hindustan,&quot; according to the ISPR.

Security

The operation, which began on May 17, followed credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area.

 Pakistan forces kill 23 terrorists in sanitization operation in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s petroleum minister and Japan&#39;s ambassador pledged deeper collaboration in geoscience research during a meeting on Tuesday in Islamabad. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik received Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi at the Geoscience Advanced Research Laboratories of the Geological Survey of Pakistan. The two discussed scientific partnerships between their countries in geosciences and mineral research, according to a press release. Malik credited Japan&#39;s government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for supporting the establishment and development of the research facility, calling it a significant scientific initiative, the press release said. Pakistan is modernizing its mineral sector by adopting advanced technologies for exploration and extraction, Malik said. The upgrades are designed to enhance sustainability, productivity, and value creation in the mining industry, according to the statement. A documentary covering the laboratory&#39;s history and current capabilities was shown during the visit. The ambassador toured various laboratory sections and met with Geological Survey scientists, the press release said. The Japanese ambassador noted Pakistan&#39;s work to develop scientific infrastructure and stated Japan&#39;s commitment to technical cooperation and scientific exchange in geosciences, according to the statement. Both countries expressed satisfaction with ongoing technical engagement between the Geological Survey and JICA, the press release said. Officials committed to future cooperation on advanced analytical sciences, laboratory methods, scientific workflows, and technical training in the petroleum sector and geosciences. Senior officials from Pakistan&#39;s Petroleum Division, the Geological Survey, Japan&#39;s embassy, and JICA attended the meeting.

Pakistan is adopting advanced technologies to modernize its mineral exploration and extraction with Japan, reaffirming its commitment to technical cooperation and agreeing to collaborate on analytical sciences, laboratory methods, and scientific training.

Articles by Malik Waqar Ahmed