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During the meeting, consultations took place regarding the latest developments in the regional situation, mediation efforts, and endeavors aimed at ending conflicts; Iranian Ambassador expresses ‘sincere, wholehearted gratitude and appreciation’ to Pakistan for talks.

Day 58: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (C-R) and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir (2nd L) walk alongside Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C) upon his arrival at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, near Islamaba

IRNA reports that part of his delegation has returned to Tehran to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war, and is scheduled to rejoin Araghchi in Islamabad on Sunday night.


Day 57: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that he had received successful treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, without specifying when the treatment took place.&nbsp;In a statement on social media, as his annual medical report was released, Netanyahu, 76, said an early-stage malignant tumor had been discovered during a routine checkup. He said &quot;targeted treatment&quot; had removed &quot;the problem&quot; and left no trace of it.&nbsp;According to the medical report, which otherwise said the prime minister was in good health, Netanyahu was treated with radiation therapy for early-stage prostate cancer. Neither the medical report nor Netanyahu said when the treatment occurred.&nbsp;In March, during the fighting with Iran, rumors that circulated on social media and aired on Iranian state media claimed that Netanyahu had died. The Israeli leader recorded a video of himself visiting a Jerusalem cafe in March to refute the claims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he successfully underwent radiation therapy for early-stage prostate cancer detected during a routine checkup. He reported no remaining trace, delayed disclosure.

Netanyahu says he was successfully treated for prostate cancer

ISLAMABAD: Demand for rooftop solar systems in Europe has surged since the start of the Iran war, as households seek ways to cut electricity bills and shield themselves from another energy shock, Reuters reported on Thursday.&nbsp; The conflict has driven up oil, gas and power prices, renewing interest in home solar across several countries. The report said companies in Germany, Britain and the Netherlands have seen demand from homeowners more than double since the war began in late February.&nbsp; The rebound is striking because Europe&rsquo;s solar market weakened last year, with residential rooftop systems accounting for just 14% of new installations in 2025, about half their share in 2021. In Germany, solar wholesaler Solarhandel24 said its net sales more than tripled in March from a year earlier to nearly 70 million euros.&nbsp; The company expects another strong month in April and plans to hire about 85 more workers as orders continue to grow. To keep up, it has built stockpiles of around 500,000 solar panels. Company executives said the move was expensive, but justified by expectations of much higher demand this year. German energy firm Enpal also reported strong growth.&nbsp; Its orders rose 30% year-on-year in March to 130 million euros, while April was tracking for a 33% increase to about 120 million euros, driven mainly by rooftop systems. Batteries includedThe boom is spreading beyond solar panels alone.&nbsp; More households are now buying full systems that include batteries and electric-vehicle wallboxes, allowing them to store excess electricity and use it later, which is lifting demand for storage technology as well.&nbsp; Dutch industry group Holland Solar said demand for storage has climbed by 40% to 50%. There is also a major contradiction in Europe&rsquo;s energy transition.&nbsp; While homeowners are turning to solar to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, almost 90% of the solar panels used in these systems still come from China. Even so, some executives told Reuters this looks like more than a temporary spike.&nbsp; They said repeated geopolitical crises are making rooftop solar increasingly attractive not only as a way to lower bills, but also as a tool for energy security.

Europe

The conflict has driven up oil, gas and power prices, renewing interest in home solar across several countries.

Europe rooftop solar demand surges amid Iran war fallout

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a rare earths and critical minerals agreement on Monday aimed at ensuring a steady supply of the materials. As they met at the White House for their first summit, Trump said the deal had been negotiated over four or five months. Albanese described it as an $8.5 billion pipeline &quot;that we have ready to go.&quot;&nbsp;The full terms of the agreement were not immediately available. The two leaders said part of the agreement had to do with processing of the minerals. Albanese said both countries will contribute $1 billion over the next six months for joint projects.&nbsp;The United States has been looking for access to rare earths and critical minerals around the world as China tightens control over global supply.&nbsp;China has the world&#39;s largest rare earths reserves, according to US Geological Survey data, but Australia also has significant reserves.&nbsp;The two leaders also planned to discuss the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, reached in 2023 under then-President Joe Biden, in which Australia is to buy US nuclear-powered submarines in 2032 before building a new submarine class with Britain.&nbsp;Navy Secretary John Phelan told the meeting the United States and Australia were working very closely to improve the original AUKUS framework for all three parties &quot;and clarify some of the ambiguity that was in the prior agreement.&quot;&nbsp;&#39;COOPERATIVE, PROFESSIONAL, HOPEFULLY WARM&#39; RELATIONSHIP&nbsp;Ahead of Monday&#39;s meeting between the two leaders, Australian officials have emphasized Canberra is paying its way under AUKUS, contributing $2 billion this year to boost production rates at US submarine shipyards, and preparing to maintain US Virginia-class submarines at its Indian Ocean naval base from 2027.&nbsp;The delay of 10 months in an official meeting since Trump took office has caused some anxiety in Australia as the Pentagon urged Canberra to lift defense spending. The two leaders met briefly on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.&nbsp;Australia is willing to sell shares in its planned strategic reserve of critical minerals to allies including Britain, Reuters reported last month, as Western governments scramble to end their reliance on China for rare earths and minor metals.&nbsp;Top US officials last week condemned Beijing&#39;s expansion of rare earth export controls as a threat to global supply chains. China is the world&#39;s biggest producer of the materials that are vital materials for products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars.&nbsp;Resource-rich Australia, wanting to extract and process rare earths, put preferential access to its strategic reserve on the table in US trade negotiations in April.

Trump and Australian PM Albanese signed a rare earth and critical minerals deal to secure supply, contributing $1 billion each, while discussing AUKUS submarine projects and strengthening US-Australia strategic ties.


Trump, Australia sign critical minerals agreement, discuss submarine deal

BEIJING: China&#39;s economic growth slowed to the weakest pace in a year in the third quarter, as a property crisis and trade tensions hurt demand, leaving policymakers with the daunting challenge of rebalancing GDP drivers towards greater consumption over time.&nbsp;Authorities have unveiled modest stimulus measures this year, supported by resilient exports and strong stock markets, but renewed US-China trade tensions pose risks. While there is room for additional support, analysts are divided over whether policymakers will act this year.&nbsp;Data on Monday showed gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.8% in July-September, slowing from 5.2% in the second quarter and in line with analysts&#39; expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 4.8%.&nbsp;China is aiming for full-year growth of around 5%.&nbsp;&quot;The market understanding was that China is going to miss the target, no matter what. Even with stimulus, it was going to be below 5%,&quot; said Dan Wang, China director at Eurasia Group.&nbsp;&quot;But judging by the figure for the first three quarters, it&#39;s going to hit the target, suggesting China can withstand any pressure from the US, even with such levels of tariff threats and export restrictions. Beijing is sending the signal that it is capable of reaching its development goals and is strongly committed to its policies.&quot;&nbsp;Quarterly, GDP grew 1.1% in the third quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics data showed, compared with a forecast 0.8% increase and a revised 1.0% gain in the previous quarter.

Business

GDP grew 4.8% in July-September, slowing from 5.2% in the second quarter and in line with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 4.8%.

China's Q3 GDP growth slows to one-year low

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JERUSALEM: The Israeli military launched an attack on Gaza on Sunday, Israeli media reported, dimming hopes that a week-old US-mediated ceasefire would lead to lasting peace in the enclave as Israel traded blame with Palestinian militant group Hamas.An Israeli military official said on Sunday that Hamas had carried out multiple attacks against Israeli forces inside Gaza, including a rocket-propelled grenade attack and a sniper attack against Israeli soldiers. &quot;Both of the incidents happened in an Israeli-controlled area...This is a bold violation of the ceasefire,&quot; the official said. Senior Hamas official Izzat Al Risheq said on Sunday that the Palestinian militant group remained committed to the ceasefire, which he accused Israel of repeatedly violating. Neither Al Risheq nor the Israeli military official made any mention of the reported Israeli strikes in Gaza. The government media office in Gaza said on Saturday that Israel had committed 47 violations after the ceasefire deal, leaving 38 dead and 143 wounded. The impact of the Israeli strikes on Sunday, the most serious test since an already fragile ceasefire took effect on October 11, was not immediately clear. Formidable obstacles to Trump&#39;s plan to end the war still remain. Key questions of Hamas disarming, the governance of Gaza, the make-up of an international &quot;stabilization force&quot;, and moves towards the creation of a Palestinian state have yet to be resolved. The US embassy in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza AFP reported on Sunday that&nbsp;Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Sunday, bringing the total number handed over to 150, the health ministry&nbsp;said.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Under a ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, Israel was to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli returned.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Hamas returned the remains of two hostages late on Saturday -- Ronen Engel, an Israeli national, and Thai farmworker Sonthaya Oakkharasri.

File Photo - A still frame from video shows the moment before Nasser Hospital's eastern staircase was struck for a second time by Israeli military, killing several people, on August 25, 2025, in Khan Younis, in Gaza. (Alghad TV/Handout via Reuters)

The Israeli military launched an attack on Gaza on Sunday, Israeli media reported, dimming hopes that a week-old US-mediated ceasefire would lead to lasting peace in the enclave as Israel traded blame with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli air strikes hit south Gaza: witnesses, Israeli media

REUTERS: Nvidia unveiled on Friday the first US-made Blackwell wafer, produced at TSMC&#39;s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Phoenix, as demand for AI chips accelerates. Companies have been racing to meet the broader AI industry&#39;s voracious appetite for computing power as they develop AI technology that meets or exceeds human intelligence. The move &quot;bolsters the U.S. supply chain and onshores the AI technology stack that will turn data into intelligence and secure America&#39;s leadership for the AI era,&quot; Nvidia said in a blog post. It also aligns with President Donald Trump&#39;s efforts to strengthen U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership. TSMC&#39;s Arizona facility will produce advanced technologies, including two-, three-, and four-nanometer chips, as well as A16 chips, that are essential for applications like AI, telecommunications, and high-performance computing, Nvidia said. There has recently been a flurry of mega deals between AI firms and chipmakers such as Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom to build data center capacity. TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), the world&#39;s biggest producer of advanced chips, raised its full-year revenue forecast on Thursday on a bullish outlook for AI spending after posting a record profit that blew past market estimates.

An NVIDIA logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Artificial Intelligence

The company unveiled on Friday the first US-made Blackwell wafer, produced at TSMC's semiconductor manufacturing facility in Phoenix, as demand for AI chips accelerates.

Nvidia unveils first Blackwell chip wafer made with TSMC in US

WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday he expects to meet next week with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Malaysia to try to forestall an escalation of US tariffs on Chinese goods that President Donald Trump said was unsustainable.&nbsp;Bessent announced this during a White House cabinet meeting and later confirmed plans for a meeting after a call with He on Friday evening. Bessent said on X that the two officials &quot;engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions,&quot; Bessent wrote.<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" allowfullscreen="true" 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=1979362198461006087&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=15568bb486c9b1c028da1e7de612ec7d28743b2f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>China state news agency Xinhua reported that He and Bessent had &quot;candid, in-depth, and constructive discussions on major issues in bilateral economic and trade relations&quot; in a video call and agreed to a new round of trade talks as soon as possible.&nbsp;The two officials previously met in four European cities over six months to hammer out a tariff truce that brought duties down from triple-digit levels for each country. That agreement expires on November 10.&nbsp;A meeting in Malaysia would shift the venue to a Southeast Asian exporter that trades heavily with both China and the US and whose goods are now subject to a 19% duty imposed by Trump. Malaysia also faces a threatened 100% US tariff on its semiconductors and derivative electronics devices under a national security trade review.&nbsp;Trump earlier on Friday blamed Beijing for the latest impasse, a dispute over China&#39;s sweeping new export restrictions on rare-earth minerals and magnets. He has threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting on November 1 unless Beijing scraps the restrictions.&nbsp;Asked whether such a high tariff was sustainable and what that might do to the US economy, Trump replied: &quot;It&#39;s not sustainable, but that&#39;s what the number is.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;They forced me to do that,&quot; he said in an interview with Fox Business Network that was broadcast on Friday.&nbsp;Trump also has threatened to impose new US export controls that would halt supplies of &quot;any and all critical software.&quot;&nbsp;The new trade actions were Trump&#39;s reaction to China dramatically expanding its export controls on rare-earth elements. China dominates the market for such elements, which are essential to tech manufacturing.&nbsp;Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday blasted the restrictions as a threat to global supply chains.&nbsp;Trump also confirmed he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks in South Korea and expressed admiration for the Chinese leader.&nbsp;&quot;I think we&#39;re going to be fine with China, but we have to have a fair deal. It&#39;s got to be fair,&quot; Trump said on FBN&#39;s &quot;Mornings with Maria,&quot; which was taped on Thursday.&nbsp;Later, as he was preparing to have lunch at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss efforts to end its war with Russia, Trump said: &quot;China wants to talk, and we like talking to China.&quot;&nbsp;The softening in tone and affirmation of his intent to meet with Xi helped stem Wall Street&#39;s early losses on Friday. Major US stock indexes, which have been rattled over the last week by Trump&#39;s abrupt re-imposition of steep levies on Chinese imports and by credit worries among regional banks, were up in afternoon trading.&nbsp;WTO urges de-escalation of trade spatsThe head of the World Trade Organization urged the US and China to de-escalate trade tensions, warning that a decoupling by the world&#39;s two largest economies could reduce global economic output by 7% over the longer term.&nbsp;WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters in an interview the global trade body was extremely concerned about the latest spike in US-China trade tensions and had spoken with officials from both countries to encourage more dialogue.&nbsp;But tensions continued to run high, even as Trump and Xi prepared to meet.&nbsp;Bessent took aim at China&#39;s state-driven economic practices in a statement to the IMF&#39;s steering committee on Friday, urging the IMF and World Bank to take a tougher stance on China&#39;s external and internal imbalances and industrial policies that US officials say have helped China build up excess manufacturing capacity that is flooding the world with cheap goods.&nbsp;And China&#39;s Commerce Ministry on Friday accused the US of undermining the rules-based multilateral trading system since the Trump administration took office in 2025, vowing to intensify its use of dispute settlement actions at the WTO.&nbsp;It also urged the US to roll back measures that breach non-discrimination rules and align its industrial and security policies with WTO obligations.&nbsp;Bessent earlier in the week had accused one of He&#39;s top aides of being &quot;unhinged&quot; in recent interactions with US trade negotiators. China said on Friday that Bessent&#39;s remarks &quot;seriously distort the facts.&quot;

Bessent says on X that the two officials "engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China."

Bessent, Chinese vice premier to meet to try to defuse US tariff hike

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CAIRO/JERUSALEM: The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding its reopening will depend on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages as the two sides continued to trade blame over ceasefire violations. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Netanyahu&#39;s statement came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt announced that the Rafah crossing, the main gateway for Gazans to leave and enter the enclave, would reopen on Monday for entry into Gaza. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Netanyahu&#39;s government and Hamas have been trading blame over violations of the US-mediated ceasefire for days. Late Saturday in Washington, the State Department said it had received &quot;credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.&quot; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The State Department said the planned attack against Palestinian civilians would be a &quot;direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.&quot; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&quot;Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,&quot; the department said in a statement, without providing further details. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump had said he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal that he brokered. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hamas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The militant group has launched a security crackdown in urban areas vacated by Israeli forces, demonstrating its power through public executions and clashes with local armed clans. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dispute over aid, return of bodies&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hamas, in a statement late on Saturday, said Netanyahu&#39;s decision &quot;constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and a repudiation of the commitments he made to the mediators and guarantor parties.&quot; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It also said the continued closure of the Rafah crossing would prevent the entry of equipment needed to search for and locate more hostage bodies under the rubble, and would thus delay the recovery and handover of the remains. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Israel said it received two more bodies late on Saturday, meaning 12 out of 28 bodies have been handed over under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal agreed between Israel and Hamas last week. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The war has caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with nearly all inhabitants driven from their homes, a global hunger monitor confirming famine and health authorities overwhelmed. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dispute over the return of bodies, and shipments of life-saving humanitarian aid, underlines the fragility of the ceasefire and still has the potential to upset the deal along with other major issues that are included in U.S. President Donald Trump&#39;s 20-point plan to end the war. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of the deal, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages it had been holding for two years, in return for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners jailed in Israel. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Formidable obstacles to peace <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Israel says that Hamas has been too slow to hand over the bodies of deceased hostages it still holds. The militant group says that locating some of the bodies amid the vast destruction in Gaza will take time. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The deal requires Israel to return 360 bodies of Palestinian militants for the deceased Israeli hostages and so far it has handed over 15 bodies in return for each Israeli body it has received. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rafah has largely been shut since May 2024. The ceasefire deal also includes the ramping up of aid into the enclave, where hundreds of thousands of people were determined in August to be affected by famine, according to the IPC global hunger monitor. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After cutting off all supplies for 11 weeks in March, Israel increased aid into Gaza in July, scaling it up further since the ceasefire. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 560 metric tons of food had entered Gaza per day on average since the US-brokered truce, but this was still well below the scale of need, according to the UN World Food Programme. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Formidable obstacles to Trump&#39;s plan to end the war still remain. Key questions of Hamas disarming and how Gaza will be governed, the make-up of an international &quot;stabilization force&quot; and moves towards the creation of a Palestinian state have yet to be resolved.

File Photo - Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, following an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohamed Arafat)

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding its reopening will depend on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages as the two sides continued to trade blame over ceasefire violations.

Israel says Rafah crossing will stay closed until further notice

JERUSALEM: Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted to advance a bill submitted by the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/israel-pm-confirms-gaza-flotilla-interception-says-thwarting-malicious-scheme" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Netanyahu</a> which would dissolve parliament and pave the way for early elections. In a preliminary reading, 110 out of 120 lawmakers voted in favor and none against the bill, which will now pass to a committee before three more parliamentary readings. If the bill is ultimately approved it would automatically trigger elections to be held after 90 days. Polls are currently scheduled to take place by the end of the legislative term on October 27. Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, while his fractious right-wing coalition appears to be facing possible collapse. Ultra-Orthodox parties accuse Netanyahu of failing to deliver on his promise to pass legislation that would permanently <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/thousands-of-orthodox-jews-protest-israeli-draft-changes-in-new-york" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">exempt young men</a> of their community from compulsory military service if they are studying in yeshivas, or religious seminaries. Sensing an opportunity amid the turmoil, several opposition parties announced earlier this month that they intended to introduce their own bills to dissolve the Knesset. On Wednesday coalition chairman Ofir Katz said: &quot;This coalition has completed its days. &quot;This is the only opposition that caused the coalition to grow. In this term we passed nine budgets and 520 laws,&quot; he added. The bill does not set a date for elections, which would be fixed during the committee stage.

Dozens of protesters gather in front of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) to demonstrate against a controversial bill that proposes the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in West Jerusalem on March 31, 2026. (AFP)

Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, while his fractious right-wing coalition appears to be facing possible collapse.

Israeli lawmakers advance bill to dissolve parliament

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Senate on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The resolution, titled &ldquo;Re-affirming China-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood,&rdquo; was presented in the Senate by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in his capacity as Leader of the House, according to the Foreign Office. Speaking on the occasion, Dar extended heartfelt congratulations to the leadership and people of both Pakistan and China on the historic milestone, describing bilateral relations as a cornerstone of regional peace, stability and development.&nbsp; He said the ties between the two countries, anchored in mutual trust, mutual respect and shared aspirations, have continued to grow stronger over the past 75 years. The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to further deepening cooperation with China across political, economic, strategic and people-to-people domains. He also highlighted the shared resolve of both countries to carry forward their &ldquo;iron-clad friendship&rdquo; for future generations.

Resolution presented before the Senate of Pakistan titled “Re-affirming China-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood ”commemorating the 75th anniversary. (Photo: MOFA)

Foreign Affairs

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar presented the resolution, 'Re-affirming China-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood,' in his capacity as Leader of the House.

Pakistan Senate adopts resolution reaffirming China ties on 75th anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally reopened offshore oil and gas exploration after nearly 20 years, with the signing of 23 production-sharing agreements and exploration licenses for blocks awarded under the Offshore Bid Round 2025, marking a renewed push to attract investment in the country&rsquo;s offshore energy sector, according to an official statement on Wednesday.&nbsp; The awarded blocks are located in the Indus and Makran offshore basins, adjoining the territorial waters of Sindh and Balochistan. The agreements cover approximately 54,600 square kilometers of Pakistan&rsquo;s offshore area. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik witnessed the signing ceremony. Two offshore blocks awarded under the same bid round, Offshore Deep-C and Offshore Deep-F, had earlier been executed on December 2, 2025, with Mari Energies Limited, Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company, and Fatima Petroleum Company Limited during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp; The statement said that with the signing of the remaining 21 agreements, the contractual framework for the entire 2025 portfolio is now complete. Mari Energies Limited emerged as the most active participant in the 23 offshore blocks, serving as operator on 18 blocks and as a joint venture partner on five blocks with other exploration and production companies. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited and Pakistan Petroleum Limited have each been awarded eight exploration blocks, including two blocks as operators. Prime Global Energies Limited has been awarded one block as operator. United Energy Pakistan Limited and Orient Petroleum Incorporation, alongside other joint venture partners, also participated in the signing ceremony. Collectively, the awarded blocks represent an investment of approximately $82 million during Phase I of the initial three-year license period. Total investment is projected to increase to approximately $1 billion if exploration activities progress to Phase II drilling operations. Phase I activities will involve extensive geological and geophysical studies, including seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation, aimed at better defining the hydrocarbon potential of Pakistan&rsquo;s offshore basins. Subject to encouraging results, Phase II will involve the drilling of exploratory wells in prospective offshore areas. The Petroleum Division intends to engage leading international oil companies in the next phase of offshore exploration, with several global energy firms already evaluating available offshore data, the statement said.&nbsp;

Economy

Agreements signed for 23 blocks in the Indus and Makran basins to attract foreign investment and boost offshore oil and gas exploration.

Pakistan reopens offshore exploration after 20 years, 23 agreements signed 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan declared a three-day public holiday from May 26 to 28 to observe Eid-ul-Adha, according to a government notification. Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the conclusion of the annual <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-hajj-operation-accelerates-as-thousands-of-pilgrims-arrive-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hajj pilgrimage</a> to the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The festival takes place on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim&#39;s (Abraham) submission to God. On the festival&#39;s opening day, Muslims gather for special congregational prayers. Families engage in &quot;qurbani,&quot; the ritual slaughter of permissible (halal) livestock, including goats, sheep, cattle, and camels. The sacrificial meat is divided equally among the household, extended family and friends, and the poor. Throughout the celebration, adherents dress in new clothes, visit relatives, and greet one another with &quot;Eid Mubarak.&quot;

Culture

Pakistan's government declares a three-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Adha, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signing off on the decision

Pakistan announces three-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Adha

ISLAMABAD: The US Senate on Tuesday advanced a resolution to limit President Donald Trump&rsquo;s authority to conduct military action against Iran without congressional approval, marking the first time Democrats have cleared such a procedural vote after seven failed attempts. The joint resolution, introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and several other senators, directs the president to remove US armed forces from &quot;hostilities within or against Iran&quot; unless Congress formally authorizes military action through a declaration of war or a specific use-of-force authorization. According to the text of the resolution, lawmakers argued that Congress alone has the constitutional authority to declare war under Article I of the US Constitution and that Congress has neither declared war on Iran nor approved military force against the country. The Senate voted 50-47 to discharge the resolution from the Committee, with four Republican senators, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Bill Cassidy, joining most Democrats in backing the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it, CBS News reported. The resolution further states that military action against Iran, including the enforcement of a naval blockade, would constitute hostilities under the War Powers Resolution. However, the measure includes provisions allowing the United States to defend itself against attacks, continue intelligence-sharing with allies, and assist partner countries targeted by Iran or its proxies through defensive support, according to the resolution. Speaking before the vote, Kaine said Americans were increasingly opposed to another conflict in the Middle East. &quot;They are deeply opposed to this war,&quot; he told reporters, according to CBS News. Kaine also linked the conflict to rising economic pressure on Americans, particularly fuel prices ahead of the Memorial Day holiday travel period. &quot;We&rsquo;re coming up on Memorial Day. A lot of people do a lot of driving, they&rsquo;re going to be paying a lot for gas,&quot; Kaine said, according to CBS News. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote showed growing Republican unease over the administration&rsquo;s Iran policy. &ldquo;Momentum is building to check him,&rdquo; Schumer said. The resolution still has to pass a final vote and, even then, would face major obstacles in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which has already rejected similar efforts, and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump if it reached his desk, AFP reported.

US Senator Tim Kaine speaks following the Senate's vote on the War Powers resolution, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on February 13, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP)

The Senate has approved a procedural step to limit unauthorized US hostilities against Iran. However, the resolution still has to pass a final vote in both chambers of Congress and likely presidential opposition. 

US Senate moves to restrict unauthorized hostilities against Iran

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has warned of a growing and potentially grave threat of nuclear terrorism emerging from Afghanistan under the Taliban.&nbsp;According to a UN report, the Taliban regime has sheltered international terrorist groups to sustain its rule, allowing militant networks operating from Afghan territory to pose a serious danger to global security.&nbsp;The report raises particular alarm over 133 tablets of stolen uranium dioxide taken from Tajikistan, which could potentially be acquired by the banned al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan. &ldquo;I think the threat has never been so high as it is today,&rdquo; according to Mauro Miedico, Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT). &ldquo;Terrorist groups and individuals engage much more strongly with new technologies. Terrorist groups have recruited experts, including AI specialists, and we have seen the use of drones in terrorist acts. This potentially makes it more possible that they will launch a dirty bomb via drone.&rdquo;&nbsp;The report notes that al‑Qaeda has repeatedly signaled intent to conduct nuclear attacks, and that incidents of smuggling and theft of radioactive material have been recorded in several countries.&nbsp;Experts cited in the report say the combination of foreign fighters, modern technology available to militant groups in Afghanistan, and the sanctuary provided by the Taliban creates a real risk of nuclear terrorism.&nbsp;The findings echo warnings previously issued by the United States, Pakistan, European states and Central Asian countries, which have repeatedly described terrorism emanating from Afghanistan as a major security threat.&nbsp;The UN has called for strengthened international cooperation, improved controls on nuclear and radiological materials across the region, and enhanced monitoring and interdiction efforts to prevent dangerous materials from reaching extremist hands.

Artillery shells have hit areas near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine since the full-scare Russian invasion of the country in 2022. (File photo: United Nations/IAEA)

Afghanistan

The report notes that al‑Qaeda has repeatedly signaled intent to conduct nuclear attacks, and that incidents of smuggling and theft of radioactive material have been recorded in several countries.

UN warns of rising nuclear terrorism risk from Afghanistan under Taliban

STRASBOURG (FRANCE): EU lawmakers and member states reached a deal in the early hours of Wednesday to implement the bloc&#39;s nearly year-old trade pact with the United States, as President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs unless the pact is implemented by July 4. The 27-nation bloc struck an accord with Washington last July, setting levies on most European goods at 15%, but to Trump&#39;s frustration, it had yet to make good on its pledge to scrap levies on most US imports in return. Negotiators from the EU&#39;s parliament and capitals wrangled late into the night, finally emerging several hours after midnight with news of an agreement to move forward. &quot;This means we will soon deliver on our part,&quot; EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said as she welcomed the agreement and called for the implementation process to be finalized quickly. &quot;Together, we can ensure stable, predictable, balanced, and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade,&quot; von der Leyen said in a social media post. The EU agreement puts the bloc on track to meet Trump&#39;s deadline for ratification of the deal sealed in Turnberry, Scotland, between Trump and von der Leyen, and hopefully turn the page on more than a year of transatlantic trade battles. Short of that, Trump had warned the European Union should expect &quot;much higher&quot; tariffs -- and had already vowed to raise duties on European cars and trucks from 15% to 25%. The tariff blitz unleashed by Trump before the Turnberry accord, including hefty levies on steel, aluminum and car parts, jolted the bloc into cultivating trade ties around the world. But the EU cannot afford to neglect the &euro;1.6-trillion ($1.9-trillion) relationship with the US, its largest trade partner. No more &#39;sunrise&#39;&nbsp;The EU parliament gave the deal a conditional green light in March, after months of delay caused by Trump&#39;s designs on Greenland and a US Supreme Court ruling striking down many of the president&#39;s tariffs. Lawmakers were under pressure to renege on several amendments that the Americans considered unacceptable -- including a suspension clause that would scrap favorable tariff conditions for US exporters should the US breach the deal. The final text empowers the European Commission to trigger the suspension mechanism if the US fails to meet its commitments or disrupts trade and investment with the EU, including by &quot;discriminating against or targeting EU economic operators.&quot; It also gives the EU means to address spikes in US imports &quot;that cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic producers,&quot; with suspension again a possible outcome. But parliament also agreed to scale back some demands -- and the final text notably gave the US until the end of the year to drop surtaxes above 15% on steel components, rather than insisting on it as a precondition. Another fight was over so-called &quot;sunrise&quot; and &quot;sunset&quot; clauses under which the EU side of the accord would kick in once the US makes good on its pledges, and would expire unless renewed in 2028. The sunrise clause was removed altogether, while the sunset was pushed back to the end of 2029, according to a parliament statement. The head of parliament&#39;s trade committee, Bernd Lange, faced the challenge of hammering out a common stance between different factions that haggled until the last moment. Lange played down the concessions extracted from lawmakers, declaring after the deal was announced that &quot;parliament has prevailed with its demands for a comprehensive safety net.&quot; But Anna Cavazzini of the EU&#39;s Greens was less effusive, saying the &quot;deal puts the EU at a disadvantage&quot; while conceding &quot;it can secure a certain degree of economic stability.&quot; &quot;One can only hope that the agreement on the tariff deal will now calm the situation, so that other major issues in the EU-US relationship can be addressed,&quot; she said.

EU lawmakers and member states approve progress on a major US trade pact to avoid fresh Trump tariffs and stabilize the $1.9 trillion transatlantic economic relationship after months of tensions.

EU agrees to implement US trade pact after Trump threats

SYLHET:&nbsp;Spinner Taijul Islam took six wickets to lead Bangladesh to a 78-run win over Pakistan in the second Test and clinch a famous 2-0 series win on Wednesday. Pakistan, who started the fifth day on 316-7 chasing a record 437, were bowled out for 328 in the first session in Sylhet after Mohammad Rizwan hit a valiant 94. It was Bangladesh&#39;s first Test series win at home against Pakistan and a second successive sweep after their 2-0 triumph on Pakistani soil in 2024. The win marked another major milestone for Bangladesh, who secured four successive Test series victories for the first time in their history. &quot;It&#39;s difficult to explain the emotions of that final hour because Pakistan were batting really well and we were under pressure,&quot; Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said. &quot;But compared to previous matches, we controlled our emotions better and avoided panic. &quot;Every player and member of the support staff contributed, and as captain I feel very proud of the team&#39;s work ethic.&quot; Wicketkeeper Rizwan kept Pakistan in the hunt for an unlikely win with a 166-ball stay after the visitors had slumped to 162-5 on day four. Rizwan put on an eighth-wicket partnership of 54 with overnight partner Sajid Khan, who made 28. Taijul broke through to dismiss Sajid for his 18th Test five-wicket haul, and pace bowler Shoriful Islam had Rizwan caught in the next over to end Pakistan&#39;s resistance. &quot;It&#39;s never good to lose games,&quot; said Pakistan skipper Shan Masood. &quot;In both matches we had significant chances, but we need to reflect on where we lost the game in batting, bowling and fielding if we want to move forward as a side.&quot; Taijul took the final wicket of Khurram Shahzad to return second-innings figures of 6-120 and trigger the Bangladesh celebrations. Taijul&#39;s four wickets on Tuesday had left Pakistan in deep trouble. Former captain Babar Azam counter-attacked with 47 before wicketkeeper Litton Das produced a stunning catch off Taijul. Captain Masood made 71, while Salman Ali Agha added 71 in a crucial 134-run sixth-wicket stand with Rizwan before Taijul broke through. Taijul, a left-arm spinner, also took 3-67 during Pakistan&#39;s first innings of 232. Litton, who was named player of the match, scored 126 in Bangladesh&#39;s first innings of 278. Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 137 in the second to guide Bangladesh to 390, with contributions from Mahmudul Hasan Joy (52) and Litton (69). The 39-year-old Mushfiqur was named player of the series for his 253 runs in two matches. Bangladesh won the opening Test by 104 runs.

Bangladesh's players celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan’s Babar Azam during the fourth day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on May 19, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Cricket

With this win, Bangladesh completes a 2-0 whitewash, marking their second consecutive series win against Pakistan in red ball cricket.

Taijul takes six to lead Bangladesh to Pakistan Test series win

ISLAMABAD: Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan&rsquo;s Kandahar province have imposed new restrictions on YouTubers and video content creators, warning them against producing and publishing videos on social media platforms, according to Afghanistan International on Wednesday. According to the report, officials from the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice recently summoned several YouTubers and social media activists in Kandahar and ordered them to stop creating video content.&nbsp; The move has alarmed young Afghan creators who say social media platforms such as YouTube have become one of the few remaining outlets for cultural expression and employment in the country. Youtubers spoke to Afghanistan International that they made videos about the city, historical sites, markets, traditions and people&rsquo;s lives.&nbsp; They said some of the videos also focused on social issues, including harmful customs, drug addiction and illiteracy. Other creators said their content had attracted thousands, and in some cases millions, of online views, helping showcase Afghan culture and daily life to international audiences. &ldquo;YouTube was one of our main sources of income, but now that making videos has been banned, we are effectively unemployed,&rdquo; another creator said. The restrictions currently appear to apply only in Kandahar province, though creators expressed concern that the policy could expand to other parts of Afghanistan. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have steadily tightened restrictions on media and public expression. Under the Taliban&#39;s morality law, the publication of images of &ldquo;living beings&rdquo; is prohibited. As part of enforcing the policy, Taliban authorities have suspended state television broadcasts and shut down or restricted several local media outlets in different provinces. International rights organizations and media advocacy groups have repeatedly condemned the Taliban&rsquo;s restrictions on images and media content, calling on the authorities to respect freedom of expression and reverse policies limiting independent journalism and digital media activity in Afghanistan.

Freedom of expression - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The Taliban in Kandahar have banned YouTubers and content creators from making videos, further tightening media restrictions and threatening livelihoods and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban tighten restrictions on youtubers and video creators in Kandahar

BEIJING: Beijing has agreed to work with Washington on reducing levies affecting tens of billions of dollars in goods, a commerce ministry statement said Wednesday, days after US President Donald Trump visited China. Under the auspices of a newly established trade council, &quot;both sides agreed in principle to discuss a framework arrangement for reciprocal tariff reductions on products of equivalent scale&quot;, covering &quot;$30 billion or more on each side&quot;, the online statement said. US President Donald Trump was in Beijing last week, where he held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, over a variety of issues, especially the trade tariffs.

Asia

A statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that Beijing and Washington agreed in principle to discuss a framework arrangement for reciprocal tariff reductions on products of equivalent scale.

Articles by Reuters