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;

Foreign Affairs

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

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.

Economy

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.

Japan, Pakistan strengthen ties on mineral sector cooperation

ISLAMABAD: The hostage crisis in India&rsquo;s conflict-ridden Manipur state has escalated into an economic shutdown, with tribal blockades and transport disruptions paralyzing key highways and daily life, Indian media reported on Tuesday. The unrest follows the abduction of dozens of members of the minority Kuki and Naga communities during recent ethnic violence in the state. Reports say armed groups kidnapped civilians after a series of attacks and killings in violence-affected areas earlier this month. The hostage crisis has triggered outrage among tribal organizations, which have imposed shutdowns and economic blockades across several districts. National Highway-2, one of Manipur&rsquo;s main supply routes, has been heavily affected as protesters have blocked movement in the region.&nbsp;Hundreds of trucks carrying fuel, food and essential supplies have been left stranded along highways due to the restrictions. Security forces have launched combing operations in Manipur&rsquo;s Kangpokpi district to rescue those believed to still be held captive.&nbsp;Officials have said several abducted civilians have been rescued, though Kuki and Naga groups claim 14 and four people from their communities are still being held hostage, respectively. The United Naga Council and Kuki organizations have accused the state government of failing to protect tribal communities from repeated attacks.&nbsp;Community groups have said the blockades will continue until all captives are released and stronger security measures are implemented. Residents have reported fuel shortages and transport disruptions as commercial movement has slowed across affected regions. The latest crisis has deepened tensions in Manipur, where ethnic violence involving Meitei, Kuki and Naga groups has persisted since 2023. Thousands of people have been displaced during the conflict, while repeated clashes have disrupted normal life across the northeastern state. Security remains heightened in sensitive districts as authorities attempt to restore movement along highways and contain tensions.

Locals clash with Indian security forces in Manipur. (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India

The unrest follows the abduction of dozens of members of the minority Kuki and Naga communities during recent ethnic violence in the state.

Hostage crisis and economic shutdown in India’s Manipur

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the Command and Staff College in Quetta on Monday, addressing military faculty and student officers, according to the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. PM Sharif praised the professionalism, operational readiness, and sacrifices of Pakistan&#39;s Armed Forces in defending the nation&#39;s sovereignty, the statement said. He paid tribute to fallen soldiers and acknowledged the military&#39;s commitment to the country&#39;s defense. The prime minister praised Pakistan&rsquo;s military victory led by Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during Marka-e-Haq. He stated that Pakistan&rsquo;s restraint response to India&#39;s unprovoked aggression was recognized by the international community. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s mature, prudent and just stance was also acknowledged by the international community,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan&rsquo;s will &ldquo;defend [its] sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure at all costs.&rdquo; PM Sharif stated how Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (a major counter-terrorism offensive launched by the Pakistan Armed Forces against the Afghan Taliban and its militant faction) was protecting the &ldquo;lives and property&rdquo; of Pakistani citizens against &ldquo;Afghan Taliban-based terrorist&rdquo; groups and dismantle their support networks. He also talked about Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering support&rdquo; for the people of &ldquo;Jammu and Kashmir&rdquo; and Palestine. The prime minister talked about the importance of military diplomacy and cooperation. He described Pakistan as a regional stabilizer contributing to peace and stability in the region, as the college hosts military students from allied nations, the statement said. Federal Defence, Interior, and Information Ministers and Balochistan&#39;s chief minister accompanied the prime minister. Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had received PM Sharif upon arrival at the college. Terrorism cannot derail Pakistan&#39;s progress: CDF&nbsp; Meanwhile,&nbsp;Pakistan Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir warned that foreign-backed efforts to destabilize the country were doomed to fail, the military&rsquo;s media wing said.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the Field Marshal while on a visit to Quetta, said Pakistan&#39;s trajectory cannot be derailed by &ldquo;propaganda, fake news, or externally-sponsored terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;The CDF told officers and soldiers stationed across Balochistan that those working against Pakistan through proxies will ultimately fall short, given &ldquo;the resilience&rdquo; of the state and the unity of its people.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, the field marshal addressed faculty and student officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, one of the military&#39;s premier training institutions. He praised the college&#39;s academic and professional standards, noting that its graduates have consistently performed at a high level throughout their careers.&nbsp;&ldquo;The nature of war is shifting fast,&rdquo; the field marshal told the gathering. He urged officers to stay ahead of emerging technologies and evolving battlefield demands.&nbsp;The CDF called for tighter coordination across all three military branches and greater readiness for multi-domain operations.&nbsp;Turning to the security situation in Balochistan, the field marshal stated that Pakistani armed forces were committed to wiping out terrorism &ldquo;in all its forms and manifestations.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said that &ldquo;lasting stability in the province hinges on governance, development,&rdquo; and a &ldquo;focus on the needs of ordinary citizens,&rdquo; and not security operations alone.&nbsp;CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also praised the provincial government&#39;s ongoing work toward those goals.

PM Sharif told officers Pakistan's restrained response to India's aggression won international recognition and vowed to defend the nation's sovereignty at all costs while intensifying counter-terrorism operations against Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan's PM honors armed forces' sacrifice at military college

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was called out for not taking questions from the press during his visit to Norway on Monday. Modi was asked several questions after he gave his joint statement to the press with the Norwegian PM, which he did not answer. Subsequently,&nbsp;Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svends called him out on it. Svends asked Modi, &ldquo;Prime Minister, why don&rsquo;t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?&rdquo; The Indian PM did not answer and exited the press briefing room. Svends pursued Modi to ask him a question on the way to the elevator, but was prevented from doing so.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2056438052373872843&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=97969c5abfa140db20a09a664a7b8d0897c64a17&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>It is the norm in Netherlands that whenever a foreign head of state visits the country, both leaders take questions from the press.&nbsp; The Norwegian external affairs ministry was questioned why this was not the case in Modi&rsquo;s visit but it sidestepped the question. Modi has not held a single press conference since he came into power in 2014 and is infamous for not taking questions from the press. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi shared the clip on X and said: &ldquo;When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. What happens to India&rsquo;s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2056388504188502331&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=97969c5abfa140db20a09a664a7b8d0897c64a17&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1026px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Svends was informed that a press briefing would be held by the Indians later on and she attended the briefing in hopes of getting an answer to some of her questions. The official at the Indian briefing, to her dismay, spoke about covid, civilization and several unrelated matters but did not address the issue of human rights abuse despite multiple interventions by Helle Lyng. Indian Government and Modi have gotten a lot of flak from the opposition, journalists and social media users, with a string of posts on severe human rights abuses in India which have been ignored. This is the second time during Modi&rsquo;s five-nation tour that he has refused to answer questions flagged by the foreign media.

Narendra Modi draws criticism after avoiding questions from Norwegian journalists; Rahul Gandhi accuses him of fear; social media users highlight India’s press freedom and human rights record.

Norwegian journalist calls out Indian PM Modi for not answering questions

ISLAMABAD: Worsening hunger in Afghanistan is forcing families into desperate measures as unemployment, poverty and cuts to international aid deepen the country&rsquo;s humanitarian crisis, a BBC World report says. According to the report, hundreds of men, desperate for work and food, gather each morning in the dusty square of Chaghcharan, Ghor province&rsquo;s capital, hoping for a few hours&rsquo; casual labour to keep their families alive. Juma Khan, a local resident told BBC World that he has found only three days of work in the past six weeks, earning 150&ndash;200 afghani ($2.35&ndash;$3.13) . &ldquo;My children went to bed hungry three nights in a row.&rdquo; &ldquo;I live in fear that my children will die of hunger,&rdquo; he was quoted as saying. The United Nations says three in four Afghans cannot meet basic needs and about 4.7 million people are one step away from famine. Severe drought, collapsing livelihoods and steep cuts to international aid since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 have pushed provinces such as Ghor toward catastrophe. At the square, men scramble for stale loaves when a baker hands them out. Reporters witnessed only three hires during a two-hour period. &ldquo;I got a call saying my children hadn&#39;t eaten for two days,&rdquo; said Rabani. &ldquo;I felt like I should kill myself. But then I thought, how will that help my family?&rdquo; Families describe unbearable choices. Abdul Rashid Azimi, holding his seven-year-old twins, said he has considered selling them to feed the rest of his children. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m willing to sell my daughters,&rdquo; he said through tears. His wife, Kayhan, said the household survives on bread soaked in hot water; teenage sons polish shoes while another son collects rubbish for cooking fuel. In another case, a father said he transferred custody of his five-year-old daughter to a relative to pay for surgery for appendicitis and a liver cyst. The arrangement raised 200,000 afghani (about $3,200); the relative agreed custody for up to five years. &ldquo;If I had money, I would never have taken this decision,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But then I thought, what if she dies without the surgery?&rdquo; Chaghcharan&rsquo;s provincial hospital shows the human cost. The neonatal unit is overcrowded; most babies are underweight and many struggle to breathe. A pair of premature twins were placed on oxygen; one died a few hours later. Nurse Fatima Husseini said there are days when as many as three infants die. Doctors say essential medicines and equipment are often unavailable and families must buy drugs privately or take sick children home because they cannot afford care. The Taliban government blames the country&rsquo;s economic collapse on the previous era and foreign withdrawal and calls for depolitizised humanitarian aid. Donors, including the United States and the United Kingdom, say Taliban restrictions on women and girls and other policy concerns have influenced funding cuts. Humanitarian agencies warn that without urgent, scaled-up assistance, more families will be forced into desperate measures and more children will die. Aid groups are calling for predictable funding and unrestricted access to reach hard-hit provinces such as Ghor.

Food rations for vulnerable families in Afghanistan are to be cut by the World Food Programme.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s deepening hunger crisis, fueled by poverty, unemployment and aid cuts, force desperate families to sell their daughters to survive starvation.

Afghan fathers sell children to survive amid deepening crisis: Report

ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers of ten countries across Europe, South America and Asia have strongly condemned renewed Israeli interceptions of the Global Sumud Flotilla and demanded the immediate release of detained activists.&nbsp;More than 50 boats departed last week from the Turkish port of Marmaris on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians, the Global Solidarity Flotilla said. The Israeli military intercepted several vessels off the coast of Cyprus on Monday.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 874px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2056577918520988130&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5985%2F&sessionId=85363305a5447e1d6fe618b5ca1670f77e9231a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, the Maldives and Spain expressed &ldquo;serious concern&rdquo; for the safety and security of civilian participants and called for &ldquo;full respect&rdquo; for their rights and dignity.&nbsp;The ministers recalled previous Israeli interventions against flotillas in international waters and condemned continued &ldquo;hostile acts targeting civilian vessels and humanitarian activists.&rdquo;&nbsp;They said such actions &mdash; including attacks on vessels and the arbitrary detention of activists &mdash; amount to &ldquo;blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement urged the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities to protect civilians and humanitarian missions, and to take concrete steps to end impunity and ensure accountability for these violations.&nbsp;&ldquo;We call for the immediate release of all detained activists and for unfettered respect for humanitarian efforts seeking to alleviate civilian suffering,&rdquo; the ministers said.

Europe

Middle East

Asia

Ten countries of the world, including Pakistan, condemn the Israeli assaults against the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing international attention to the catastrophic humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.

Pakistan, 9 nations condemn Israeli interception of Gaza-bound global flotilla

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Monday with the country&#39;s ambassadors to Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, during which discussions focused on the regional and international situation, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. &nbsp; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also attended,&nbsp;accompanied by other senior officials. During the meeting, the ambassadors briefed the prime minister on the current state of bilateral relations, emerging opportunities, and challenges in their respective countries.&nbsp; &ldquo;Issues relating to the strengthening economic diplomacy, enhancing trade and investment ties, remittances, and the Pakistani diaspora, were discussed, &ldquo;the statement added. PM Sharif emphasized the historic, economic and strategic importance of the GCC countries and Iran in Pakistan&#39;s foreign policy, it added.&nbsp; Bilateral cooperationThe prime minister directed the ambassadors to work proactively on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people contacts. The meeting also included discussions on the regional and international situation, with particular focus on promoting peace, stability, and economic cooperation in the broader region.&nbsp;Regional Envoys&rsquo; ConferenceLast Thursday, Pakistan welcomed ambassadors from across the Gulf and the region to a high-level diplomatic conference in Islamabad as the country steps up its regional engagement amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and efforts to sustain dialogue among regional powers.&nbsp;FM Dar received the Pakistani envoys attending the conference in Islamabad from May 14 to 18, as Islamabad continues to position itself as an active diplomatic player amid a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and ongoing negotiations related to the conflict in the Middle East.&nbsp;&ldquo;At a time of evolving regional and global dynamics, Pakistan remains committed to proactive diplomacy, stronger strategic partnerships, enhanced economic cooperation with our brotherly countries, and continued efforts for regional peace and stability,&rdquo; Dar said in a statement posted on X. PM reaffirms commitment to dialogue, diplomacy Separately, in a conversation with Qatar&#39;s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, PM Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad&#39;s steadfast commitment to &quot;dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to lasting peace and stability.&quot; In a post on his X account, the premier said that, during his call with his Qatari counterpart, the pair &quot;exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation and the evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing Pakistan-led peace efforts.&quot; &quot;I also conveyed my warm regards and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar,&quot; he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting that included discussions on the regional and international situation.

Pakistan PM chairs meeting with envoys to Iran, GCC amid regional situation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with Freedom holding CEO and AIIB President to boost investment, expand financial sector cooperation, and promote digital finance, according to separate statements from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO) Timur Turlov, Founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corporation of Kazakhstan, who also chairs the Kazakhstan-based financial services conglomerate, held talks with PM Sharif in Islamabad. The meeting covered potential entry points, including branch establishment, digital financial services, and correspondent banking partnerships, as per the PMO press release. &nbsp; PM Sharif conveyed warm wishes to Kazakhstan&#39;s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and cited Pakistan&#39;s economic reform agenda and investor-friendly policy direction as the basis for inviting Freedom Holding to enter Pakistan&#39;s financial markets. &nbsp; Both sides discussed collaboration across retail brokerage, Islamic banking solutions, fintech innovation, and capital market development. &nbsp; Turlov expressed confidence in Pakistan&#39;s economic trajectory. He also indicated his company&#39;s interest in long-term strategic investments aligned with Pakistan&#39;s development priorities. &nbsp; Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, among others, accompanied the prime minister. &lsquo;Long-term partnership&rsquo;Later today, PM Sharif also received the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Zou Jiayi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s House.&nbsp;He appreciated AIIB&rsquo;s continued support for Pakistan&rsquo;s socio-economic development agenda. <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; text-align: left; line-height: 2;"><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=2056417175838269721&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4c8f6396625167bf8c2364d0f417c9bde13ae181&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> The Prime Minister highlighted the government&rsquo;s priorities for &ldquo;sustainable and inclusive&rdquo; economic growth, the statement added. He identified key areas for future collaboration with AIIB, including railways, agriculture and agro-based industry, regional connectivity, renewable and indigenous energy resources, as well as youth participation in IT and artificial intelligence. The prime minister underscored ongoing policy reforms aimed at economic stability and long-term development, as well as steps being taken to foster an investment-friendly environment. &ldquo;He noted that partnerships with leading multilateral financial institutions such as AIIB are vital for achieving these objectives,&rdquo; said the statement. He expressed hope that the visit of the high-level delegation would further strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s relations with AIIB. The President of AIIB, while thanking the government and people of Pakistan for their warm hospitality, recalled Islamabad&rsquo;s valuable role during the establishment of the bank. She also praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and acknowledged his strong commitment to the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, according to the statement. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation and working closely to promote sustainable development, regional integration, and economic growth, said the statement.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif  held separate meetings with Freedom holding CEO and AIIB President to boost investment, expand financial sector cooperation, and promote digital finance, according to statements from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

PM Sharif meets Freedom Holding CEO, AIIB President to boost investment and economic cooperation

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>

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.

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

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

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

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.

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Latest News

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

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

Arsenal win Premier League after Man City held by Bournemouth