Pakistan TV Satellite

DUSHANBE: Tajikistan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan under their strategic partnership, Tajikistan&#39;s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin highlighted expanding collaboration in trade, connectivity and energy as both countries push for deeper regional integration. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV&rsquo;s senior correspondent, Saima Shabbir, following the 4th High-Level International Conference on Water in Dushanbe, Tajikistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Muhriddin said bilateral relations had significantly deepened since 2021, when the two countries officially elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership. <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: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2060694264984850547&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F6236%2F&sessionId=d6f9943ed648d0f9093720a7a45c9f1cd998eb67&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;In 2021, the two nations officially elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan and Tajikistan were actively working on integrated logistics corridors to establish resilient trade routes connecting Central and South Asia, describing connectivity as a key pillar of their cooperation. &ldquo;Tajikistan and Pakistan are continually pursuing integrated logistics corridors aiming to establish resilient trade routes connecting Central and South Asia,&rdquo; the foreign minister said. Pakistan and Tajikistan established diplomatic relations in 1992 after Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Tajikistan&rsquo;s independence in 1991. Tajikistan opened its Consulate General in Islamabad in 1997, followed by the establishment of its Embassy in Pakistan in 2005, further strengthening formal diplomatic presence. Over the decades, the two countries have steadily expanded cooperation through regular high-level exchanges and institutional engagement, building a foundation that has now evolved into a Strategic Partnership focused on connectivity, trade, and energy cooperation. Highlighting the importance of the energy sector, Muhriddin said it presented major opportunities for both countries and could contribute to broader regional cooperation and integration. &ldquo;Tajikistan and Pakistan cooperation in this area does not only meet the interests of both countries but will also give a positive impetus to the regional integration process,&rdquo; he added. He further underscored cooperation on regional energy initiatives, including the CASA-1000 project, noting that both countries, in collaboration with regional and international partners, would continue efforts to advance its implementation. &ldquo;Tajikistan and Pakistan, in cooperation with regional and international institutions, will further vitalize their efforts in implementation of the CASA-1000 regional energy project,&rdquo; he added. The remarks reflect the growing momentum in Pakistan-Tajikistan relations, with a focus on connectivity, energy cooperation and regional economic integration across Central and South Asia. Speaking about the 4th High-Level International Water Conference in Dushanbe, the Tajikistan FM underlined the urgency of global cooperation to address worsening water scarcity, which continues to affect countries across Asia, Africa and beyond. He said the Dushanbe Water Process has become a key international platform for collective action on water security and sustainable development goals. &ldquo;Addressing global water challenges requires stronger international cooperation, inclusive dialogue and collective action,&rdquo; he stated, emphasizing that water issues now demand sustained multilateral engagement.

SAT News Desk

Tajikistan and Pakistan are expanding cooperation in trade, connectivity and energy under their strategic partnership, with both countries backing regional integration efforts and advancing the CASA-1000 electricity project.

Tajikistan, Pakistan seek deeper trade and energy cooperation under strategic partnership

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has warned that attempts to undermine the Indus&nbsp;Waters Treaty could set a dangerous global precedent threatening the water rights of downstream countries across the world. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV&rsquo;s senior correspondent Saima Shabbir, on the sidelines of the fourth High-Level International Water Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Musadik Malik said Pakistan had raised the issue before the international community not only as a national concern but as a matter affecting all downstream countries.<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=2059320793033576785&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=45837a80478787485a76343f8ec275364ec40306&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 647px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>He said India&rsquo;s unilateral actions regarding transboundary rivers posed a serious challenge to established international water-sharing principles.&nbsp; Referring to recent legal developments, the minister said international arbitration forums had supported Pakistan&rsquo;s position by rejecting attempts to justify excessive water storage under the guise of run-of-the-river hydropower projects.He said if the precedent of suspending or undermining a water treaty was accepted, many downstream countries would face uncertainty over their water access and food security. He said it is not just Pakistan&rsquo;s issue, every downstream country in the world would be vulnerable if upstream states begin choking water flows, adding that such actions could endanger the survival, agriculture and economic stability of downstream nations. The minister said Pakistan had informed participants at the conference that water was fundamentally linked to the right to existence and should be treated as a universal right rather than merely a technical issue. Highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s dependence on water resources, Malik said the country&rsquo;s agriculture, food security and employment were deeply connected to the Indus River system.&nbsp; He further said a significant share of Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP and workforce relied on agriculture, making water security a national priority. The federal minister said Pakistan was now taking a leadership role in advocating for equitable water rights at the global level, adding that delegates, ministers and journalists attending the conference had expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on protecting downstream countries from unilateral upstream actions.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has warned that attempts to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty could set a dangerous global precedent threatening the water rights of downstream countries across the world.



Pakistan terms Indus Waters Treaty issue a global concern at Dushanbe conference

Pakistan TV

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said Pakistan will respond to any violation from the Afghan side during the temporary pause for Eidul Fitr. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, the information minister said Pakistan took this initiative of announcing a temporary pause in Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq in view of the upcoming Eidul Fitr and also after receiving requests from brotherly countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye.&nbsp; He said the pause in the operation will remain in effect till the night of March 23/24, and the operation will resume after the Eid festival.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034327474491027652&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=82058e6f0821aaa9f6daafb48e0bcc54f7e5aeed&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2034327474491027652"></iframe></div></div>He reaffirmed that the country remains fully alert in defending its sovereignty.&nbsp; He emphasized that the pause was temporary and did not signal any weakening of Pakistan&rsquo;s stance against terrorism. The minister criticised the Afghan Taliban for failing to meet their commitments, stating, &ldquo;all promises of Taliban have not been converted into reality&rdquo;. Rejecting allegations levelled by the Afghan Taliban of civilian harm during the operation, Tarar said: &ldquo;All our strikes in Afghanistan are on military installations&rdquo;, and that &ldquo;Taliban&rsquo;s claims of targeting civilians are false and baseless&rdquo;.&nbsp; He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s position toward Afghan citizens, stating, &ldquo;we have nothing against Afghan citizens&rdquo;. On the issue of false propaganda peddled by the Afghan Taliban, the minister said: &ldquo;Afghan Taliban have resorted to false propaganda.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We are countering their lies with truth and facts,&rdquo; he said, stressing that &ldquo;Pakistan will continue to expose Afghan Taliban lies through mainstream media and social media&rdquo;. Highlighting the India-Taliban nexus, Tarar said: &ldquo;Afghan Taliban have embraced the Indian policy of spreading fake news.&rdquo; Concluding, he reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s readiness, stating, &ldquo;we are fully alert and vigilant in defending our country.&rdquo;

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said Pakistan will respond to any violation from the Afghan side during the temporary pause for Eidul Fitr.

Any Afghan Taliban violation of pause to get befitting response: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik says Pakistan is going after terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan and will continue operations until all threats to national security are neutralized, emphasizing that civilians remain completely safe.&nbsp;Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, Dr. Malik dismissed claims of attacks on hospitals or civilian areas, calling them &ldquo;nonsense.&rdquo;&nbsp;He stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s strikes are guided entirely by intelligence and focused solely on neutralizing threats to national security. &ldquo;Our target is completely intelligence-based. We are only going after terrorist centers and nothing else,&rdquo; he said, reaffirming that civilians are never a target.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 698px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034257766651433173&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4795%2F&sessionId=d369d6eb44e90908a198e58168d327a35917a503&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Dr. Malik highlighted the strong cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. &ldquo;Our hearts go out to the people of Afghanistan. They are our neighbors, our brothers and sisters,&rdquo; he said, emphasizing Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing hospitality and shared traditions.&nbsp;He added that our operations are purely defensive, aimed at protecting Pakistan from suicide bombings and terrorist attacks originating from across the border.&nbsp;On the legitimacy of terrorist groups, he remarked, &ldquo;Afghan terrorists are losing legitimacy&mdash;not just militarily, but also morally and politically.&nbsp;No peace-loving citizen anywhere in the world supports acts of terror or suicide bombings.&rdquo; He explained that terrorists are now increasingly exposed and forced to resort to propaganda to maintain influence.&nbsp;Dr. Malik also clarified that the operations do not target any technical or civilian infrastructure. &ldquo;We are going after the infrastructure of terrorism&mdash;the hideouts, the training centers, and the sponsors of violent attacks,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He emphasized that these measures protect not only Pakistan but also ordinary people living in neighboring areas affected by militant activity.&nbsp;Concluding, he reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to intelligence-led operations: &ldquo;Our focus is clear&mdash;we are going after terrorist infrastructure now and will continue going after it until the threats to our people are fully neutralized.&rdquo;

Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, Dr. Malik dismisses claims of attacks on hospitals or civilian areas, calling them “nonsense.”

Pakistan targets only terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan: Musadik Malik

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar has said that the Afghan Taliban carried out an unprovoked act of aggression, which Pakistan responded to with utmost readiness and strength. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, the minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and expertise in defending the motherland under challenging circumstances. He stated that the response by Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces overwhelmed the Afghan Taliban, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. According to the minister, the coordinated and forceful retaliation compelled the Afghan Taliban to resort to spreading fake news on social media.<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: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2027162195524534431&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d2db63fee3b7c2a37f07e9faf1d7f0e5cf55f319&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Tarar added that an international news channel also disseminated what he described as fake news from the Afghan Taliban, but later had to delete its tweet. Providing details of the counter-operation, the minister said 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed, more than 200 were injured, 27 posts were destroyed, and nine posts were taken over by Pakistani forces. The Pakistan Air Force targeted Afghan Taliban defensive installations in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia, the minister said. He further stated that two Corps Headquarters, three Brigade Headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters and 80+ tanks, artillery, APCs were destroyed. Tarar said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces have once again demonstrated that any aggression or malicious intent against the country will be dealt with firmly. He said the Pakistani nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces and that the forces have made the nation proud. The minister also said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif praised the timely and courageous response of the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s position, Tarar said it is unacceptable for Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. He added that terrorists trained on Afghan soil carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has once again made it clear that any such actions or unprovoked aggression will be met with a strong response, the minister said.

Ataullah Tarar says 133 khwarij killed, key installations destroyed as armed forces respond with “coordinated and robust” action.


Pakistan retaliates befittingly after unprovoked Afghan aggression: information minister

ISLAMABAD: Turning strategies into real impact on the ground &ndash; that&rsquo;s the message from UK at the Pakistan Governance Forum. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, stressed that while roadmaps and policies are important, true success is measured by what citizens actually experience. &ldquo;I am delighted that the UK has been able to join in and support this Pakistan Governance Forum and conference happening today and tomorrow,&rdquo; High Commissioner Marriott said. &ldquo;As we just heard from the Prime Minister, it&rsquo;s a whole-of-government effort by countries like the UK to bring together resources and expertise to deliver for the people of Pakistan.&rdquo; Marriott highlighted the UK&rsquo;s long-standing partnership with Pakistan, recalling work in 2013 when the current Prime Minister, then Chief Minister of Punjab, collaborated with the UK to implement key development roadmaps. &ldquo;Now he is the Prime Minister delivering across Pakistan. What matters is delivering for citizens on the ground,&rdquo; she said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2026629165865382301&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=37927809d4a612c8185ab0376b196ac60d8a9571&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2026629165865382301"></iframe></div></div> The High Commissioner praised Pakistan&rsquo;s talent and dedication: &ldquo;Pakistan has amazing people, brilliant civil servants, doctors, and teachers delivering every day. This is about ensuring systems are in place so they can do their jobs to the best of their ability.&rdquo; The Pakistan Governance Forum brings together government officials, international partners, and civil society to discuss strategies and actionable solutions for improved governance and citizen services across the country. The UK&rsquo;s participation underscores its ongoing commitment to support Pakistan in achieving tangible outcomes for its citizens.

At the Pakistan Governance Forum in Islamabad, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott told Pakistan TV that the UK supports Pakistan in turning policies into real results, stressing whole-of-government cooperation, strong systems, and tangible improvements for citizens nationwide.

UK Backs Pakistan Governance Forum: Focus on Delivering Results for Citizens

VIENNA: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi has said that newly signed agreements with Pakistan reflect continued and expanding cooperation across nuclear medicine, agriculture, and environmental recovery, calling the partnership productive and forward-looking. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Vienna, he said the latest engagements build on years of joint technical work between the agency and Pakistani institutions. Grossi said cooperation is being strengthened particularly in radiotherapy and oncology through collaboration with a leading institute in Lahore, alongside ongoing joint programs in food, nutrition, water management, and nuclear energy. He noted that IAEA-supported initiatives in Pakistan have achieved extraordinary progress in crop development, especially in cotton production, helping improve both quality and yield, and contributing directly to the country&rsquo;s economy. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2023754401845047514&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3cf33467196594088ea070effbcfeb5a82e85041&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2023754401845047514"></iframe></div></div> He added that further efforts are underway to expand cooperation in water management and soil recovery following the devastating floods in 2022 and again in 2025, with international and Pakistani technical teams working closely together. Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Vienna, Grossi said the premier&rsquo;s personal engagement with international organizations reflects a strong belief in multilateral solutions to pressing global challenges and demonstrates active leadership in advancing Pakistan&rsquo;s international partnerships

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said newly signed agreements with Pakistan expand cooperation in nuclear medicine, agriculture, water management and environmental recovery. He highlighted progress in crop development and praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s engagement in strengthening international partnerships.

DG IAEA Says New Agreements Show Expanding Cooperation With Pakistan Across Multiple Fields 

VIENNA: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stole the show in Vienna with his fluent German, winning the hearts of Austrians and setting an upbeat tone for Pakistan&rsquo;s renewed diplomatic outreach in Europe. His confident address in the local language drew applause from delegates and business leaders alike, marking a memorable moment during his official visit to Austria.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; 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=2023437360915255454&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=81b890e00241fcbf3593adc6ac9e9b9da3d1a0ba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2023437360915255454"></iframe></div></div> Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV host Sana Maqboul in Vienna, Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar said the Prime Minister&rsquo;s gesture of speaking German resonated deeply with the Austrian audience. &ldquo;I think the Prime Minister is very fluent with his German, and he surprised all the delegates by speaking very fluent German,&rdquo; the minister said. &ldquo;The delegates from the Austrian side felt very good about this gesture that the Prime Minister was speaking in their native language.&rdquo; Tarar noted that such gestures carry weight in diplomacy. &ldquo;These gestures go a long way in promoting relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he said, adding that the Prime Minister also shared his admiration for Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a cultural touch that further endeared him to his hosts. The Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to Vienna included high-level meetings and participation in the Pakistan-Austria CEOs Forum and Business Forum. According to Tarar, the engagements were held after more than three and a half decades of limited top-level exchanges, making the trip a potential landmark in bilateral relations. &ldquo;The Pakistan-Austria CEOs Forum and the Business Forum went exceedingly well,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;There were business CEOs from both sides. They discussed issues of mutual interest and how to promote and enhance trade and investment between Austria and Pakistan.&rdquo; He highlighted significant potential in information technology, mining, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and textiles. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a long way to go, but this is a good start,&rdquo; he remarked. Tarar added that the Austrian Chancellor was delighted to welcome Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing the visit as &ldquo;the first of many&rdquo; expected in the coming years. An Austrian business delegation is anticipated to visit Pakistan in April, a development the minister said would be beneficial for boosting trade and investment.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2023519447953326418&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=81b890e00241fcbf3593adc6ac9e9b9da3d1a0ba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2023519447953326418"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;The sentiment here is very welcoming,&rdquo; Tarar said, referring to both Austrian leadership and the business community. &ldquo;Even his German was a hit at the forum.&rdquo; Looking ahead, the Prime Minister and his delegation are set to travel to the United States to attend a Board of Peace meeting in Washington. Addressing the significance of Pakistan&rsquo;s participation, Tarar said the country has emerged as an important player in global geopolitics. &ldquo;I think Pakistan is now a very important player as far as global politics and geopolitics are concerned,&rdquo; he stated. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign policy has never been like this. We&rsquo;ve made great advances, and Pakistan is now relevant to all international issues.&rdquo; As the delegation heads to Washington for the high-profile engagement, the minister expressed optimism about Pakistan&rsquo;s expanding diplomatic footprint, saying, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s see how things turn out in the United States.&rdquo;

Prime Minister’s visit to Vienna includes high-level meetings, participation in the Pakistan-Austria CEOs Forum and Business Forum; Information Minister Tarar says engagements held after more than three and a half decades, making the trip a potential landmark in bilateral relations.



PM Shehbaz Sharif Wins Austrian Hearts in German, MoIB Atta Tarar Calls Vienna Visit a Diplomatic Breakthrough

Ali Andaz Haider

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Ali Riaz said the broad political participation demonstrates that Bangladesh is entering a new political phase following years without a credible electoral process. He said many Bangladeshis had not previously had the opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote. &ldquo;So far the voters have been very much enthusiastic because they did not have an opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote,&rdquo; he said, adding that nearly one-fourth of the electorate is under the age of 37, meaning they have never voted in what is widely regarded as a genuinely competitive election. Ali Riaz went on to say that around four million voters are casting ballots for the first time, making this their &ldquo;first test of democracy&rdquo;. With nearly 130 million registered voters, Riaz described the polls as one of the largest electoral exercises globally in 2026, saying that the elections follow a popular uprising that ended a 16-year autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina. The special assistant said the elections offer an opportunity to establish an accountable democratic government, adding that proposed constitutional reforms placed before the electorate could usher in a more accountable governance structure. He said the interim government had inherited a &ldquo;hollowed-out&rdquo; economy and focused on stabilizing it, leaving longer-term reforms to the next elected administration. Ali Riaz was critical of Sheikh Hasina regime&rsquo;s approach toward India, saying it was overly aligned with Indian interests. He said the Indian establishment has not been able to recognize the change and accept the change in Bangladesh. &ldquo;But this cannot continue. India will have to rethink its policies,&rdquo; he added. He said any incoming government would have to prioritize Bangladesh&rsquo;s national interest in its foreign policy, stressing that relations should be based on mutual respect and benefit. While acknowledging potential post-election challenges, including economic pressures and destabilizing forces, Riaz said he remains optimistic that a government emerging from strong voter participation would pursue accountable governance at home and a balanced, sovereign foreign policy abroad. He further said the parliamentary elections represented both a democratic reset within Bangladesh and a signal to regional actors that the country is charting a new direction.

Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh.

BD chief adviser’s aide says political parties show enthusiasm for polls

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Chief Executive Muhammad Yunus, has said the interim government faced an Indian misinformation campaign but remained steadfast in its commitment to ensure free and fair elections, and put in place strict security and administrative measures. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Shafiqul Alam said the interim government has deployed some 900,000 police and other security forces, including over 100,000 military troops. &ldquo;We have never seen such unprecedented level of security before,&rdquo; he said. Alam said several thousand voting centres identified as vulnerable have received reinforced security, with 16 to 19 officers deployed at each location. He said the army will function as a striking force, ready to respond immediately to any disruption, while border guards will secure centres along the borders. The press secretary said the administration has carefully appointed neutral officials at every level, from district commissioners to police chiefs, to ensure no partisan influence over the electoral process. &ldquo;There is no way anyone can attack a voting centre or a voting booth, and then snatch a ballot box,&rdquo; he said, adding that, &ldquo;I think it will be a safe and very peaceful election&rdquo;. He said these arrangements reflect the government&rsquo;s commitment to neutrality and transparency. Central to the vote is the proposed July National Charter, a sweeping reform package developed after nine months of dialogue between the interim government and political parties. According to Alam, the reforms reflect a broad public demand for &ldquo;sanskar&rdquo;, or structural change, a call echoed widely by young people and civil society. He said whoever assumes power will have to implement the changes due to widespread national consensus. Shafiqul Alam also voiced concern over what he described as an unprecedented wave of misinformation and disinformation from sections of the Indian media. He said the government was &ldquo;taken aback&rdquo; by unprecedented level of misinformation and disinformation propagated by the Indian media. He said there was flood of misinformation coming from Indian media about the interim government and the minority Hindu community. &ldquo;These stories are false and fabricated,&rdquo; he said, rejecting allegations of widespread violence. Shafiqul Alam said the interim government had invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh, offering expedited visas and access to locations where alleged incidents were reported. Despite the tensions, he reiterated that Bangladesh seeks constructive regional relationships based on mutual respect and fairness. Alam said the country&rsquo;s focus remains firmly on protecting democracy and ensuring that its future is determined peacefully through the ballot box.

Shafiqul Alam said Bangladesh’s interim government will hold free and fair elections despite alleged Indian misinformation. He cited unprecedented security deployment, neutral officials, and electoral reforms, rejected violence claims, and reaffirmed commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and credible democratic process

Despite India-led misinformation campaign, interim govt stands firm on holding credible polls - Shafiqul Alam

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday creating a voluntary framework under which AI developers will share advanced models with the government before public release.&nbsp;The central provision allows companies such as OpenAI, Google or Anthropic to give the government access to their most powerful models for up to 30 days before planned release.&nbsp;The order was triggered by concerns over Anthropic&#39;s Mythos model, which the AI startup has refused to release publicly due to its ability to expose vulnerabilities in computer systems -- including those of banks, governments and hospitals.&nbsp;The 30-day window represents a compromise: the original draft that leaked to US media called for up to 90 days of pre-release government access, while tech companies had pushed to cut that figure to just 14 days.&nbsp;The signing comes after a turbulent few weeks in which the White House appeared close to unveiling the measure, only to pull back abruptly.&nbsp;According to Politico and other media, David Sacks, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist who served as Trump&#39;s AI and crypto czar, called the president to warn that the measure would slow innovation and hurt the United States in its AI race with China -- blindsiding White House staff who believed Sacks supported the order.&nbsp;Sacks wrote on X last week that &quot;unnecessary regulation is the biggest threat to innovation in America,&quot; adding that winning the AI race required clearing &quot;bureaucratic hurdles&quot; from state legislatures and Washington politicians.&nbsp;The order also instructs Treasury, the National Security Agency and the CISA agency to form an &quot;AI cybersecurity clearinghouse&quot; in voluntary collaboration with industry and critical infrastructure operators to coordinate scanning for software vulnerabilities and prioritize patches.&nbsp;Trump scrapped a Biden-era AI oversight order on his first day back in the White House.&nbsp;Biden&#39;s 2023 order required AI companies to share safety test results with the government and leaned heavily on voluntary commitments -- already a light-touch approach that fell short of what many experts had called for.&nbsp;By contrast, the European Union&#39;s AI Act -- which entered into force in 2024 -- sets binding rules for high-risk AI systems, including mandatory transparency requirements and, for the most powerful models, obligations around safety testing and incident reporting.

Americas

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a voluntary framework for AI firms to share advanced models with the government up to 30 days before release, while establishing an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse to address emerging security risks.

Trump signs AI order giving government access to powerful models

SOUTHAMPTON: Body camera footage of a dying student who was handcuffed by British police after being stabbed by a Sikh man and falsely accused of racially abusing his murderer sparked outrage Tuesday. 18 year-old Henry Nowak is heard repeatedly telling police &quot;I can&#39;t breathe&quot; in the footage captured as he lay mortally wounded in December after a night out with his football team members. A judge on Monday jailed his killer, 23-year-old Sikh Vickrum Digwa, for at least 21 years for stabbing Nowak to death with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade. When police arrived at the scene in the south coast city of Southampton, Digwa lied to officers, telling them Nowak had racially insulted him and that he was the victim. The footage, which was played during Digwa&#39;s trial, shows police accepting the aggressor&#39;s accusation, and rather than helping Nowak initially placing him in handcuffs despite his pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. One officer can be heard asking Nowak: &quot;You&#39;ve been stabbed, whereabouts?&quot; before adding: &quot;Don&#39;t think you have, mate.&quot; Moments later the young student collapsed and became unconscious. Speaking after Digwa was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court, Nowak&#39;s father Mark described the police treatment of his son as &quot;shocking&quot;. He called Nowak&#39;s treatment &quot;inhumane and degrading... his murderer, however, was afforded decency. He was believed&quot;. The family gave permission for police to release the bodycam footage. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the &quot;awful, shocking case&quot; on X on Monday, saying it was right the independent police complaints watchdog was investigating officers&#39; &quot;response to (Nowak&#39;s) senseless murder&quot;. Main opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and far-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for changes to police diversity policies. Farage said there needed to be an end to &quot;anti-white prejudice&quot; and recognition that &quot;white lives matter&quot;. &lsquo;Two-tier culture&rsquo; He said Nowak&#39;s words echoed the 2020 case of George Floyd, a black killed by police in the United States. &quot;I can&#39;t breathe. Familiar words. Remember career criminal George Floyd, who died in appalling circumstances in Midwest America,&quot; Farage said. At the time &quot;Keir Starmer was taking the knee. Black Lives Matter exploded all over the country. Churchill&#39;s statue was defaced,&quot; Farage said. But after Nowak&#39;s death there has been &quot;absolute silence, proof ... we&#39;re living in a two-tier culture in this country where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities.&quot; Change was needed, Farage said, &quot;if our society is not to be ripped apart&quot; amid distrust between communities, and concern over policing and institutions. Badenoch accused Farage of &quot;deepening divisions&quot; with his comments. But she also took at aim at so-called &quot;two-tier policing&quot; in which police allegedly deal with ethnic minorities more leniently. Badenoch, whose party has lost support on the right to Reform UK, called for citizens to be treated equally by police regardless of ethnicity. &quot;No two-tier policing, no believing that racism only happens to ethnic minorities. It happens to everyone,&quot; she told Good Morning Britain television. &quot;And the police need to be trained like that, not with the terrible anti-racism training, which is just reverse racism and reverse discrimination,&quot; she said. American tech tycooon Elon Musk has posted on X an offer to fund a private prosecution against the police over its handling of the murder. Digwa was due in court again Tuesday with his brother, Gurpreet Digwa, 27, and his father, Moga Singh, 52, on weapons offences. All three face charges of possession of offensive weapons including a flick knife, an extendable baton, knuckledusters, a machete, swords and kusaris. Digwa&#39;s family apologized to Nowak&#39;s family for the killing.&nbsp; The convicted killer&#39;s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, will be sentenced on July 17 for assisting an offender by taking the knife back to the family home.

Demonstrators gather around Kingsway to march during 'Unite the Kingdom' organized at the call of far-right activist Tommy Robinson in London, United Kingdom on May 16, 2026. (AFP)

Europe

18 year-old Henry Nowak is heard repeatedly telling police "I can't breathe" in the footage captured as he lay mortally wounded in December after a night out with his football team members.

'I can't breathe': Outrage after UK police handcuff dying student

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The International Rescue Committee warned Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is likely much larger and more advanced than official figures indicate, as response efforts struggle with delayed detection and dangerously low levels of contact tracing. According to World Health Organization data, Ebola is a rare but severe and often fatal illness in humans, with an average case fatality rate of around 50%, ranging from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no approved vaccine or specific therapeutics currently exist, according to available epidemiological data. The virus spreads through direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes and bodily fluids of infected or deceased persons, and through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or materials, according to WHO tracking. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days, with individuals not contagious until symptoms appear, per WHO guidelines. With only 20% of contacts currently being traced, health authorities are struggling to identify and isolate new chains of transmission, according to the IRC. The virus may have been spreading undetected since before March, potentially as long as three months before the first official case was identified, allowing multiple chains of transmission to establish across communities and provinces, the IRC warned. &quot;The true scale of this Ebola outbreak is likely far worse than official figures suggest,&quot; said Rachel Howard, Senior Technical Emergency Health Adviser at the IRC. &quot;When four out of five contacts are not being traced, it becomes incredibly difficult to contain the outbreak or even understand its true scale. We&#39;re especially concerned about the virus spreading to other countries like Burundi or South Sudan.&quot; According to integrated epidemiological data, the total confirmed case numbers are 282 in the DRC and 9 in Uganda, with over 220 suspected cases under investigation. At least 42 confirmed deaths have been reported in the DRC and 1 in Uganda. IRC teams report that shortages of diagnostic cartridges and testing backlogs are slowing case confirmation, further obscuring the true spread of the outbreak. Seven confirmed Ebola patients have reportedly left treatment centers in the DRC. More than six healthcare workers have died, including two doctors, in recent days. People are avoiding health facilities, raising concerns that those affected are staying in their communities rather than seeking treatment. Without urgent funding, the situation could deteriorate rapidly. The outbreak is increasingly resembling the 2018-20 North Kivu Ebola crisis, which infected thousands of people and was complicated by insecurity, population movement, and community resistance. However, unlike in previous outbreaks, when the Ervebo vaccine was deployed, there is currently no approved vaccine for this Ebola strain. The IRC called for urgent international support to scale up contact tracing, surveillance, laboratory testing, treatment capacity, and community engagement efforts. In Uganda, the organization teamed up with the local health ministry on the border to support infection prevention and control activities, including screening people coming across the border.

Africa

The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no approved vaccine or specific therapeutics currently exist.

Congo Ebola outbreak likely far larger than official figures suggest: IRC

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that promoting industry and trade and increasing foreign investment are indispensable for the sustainable development of the country&rsquo;s economy, according to a statement on Tuesday. The prime minister was chairing a review meeting on sectoral reforms and policy measures to increase investment and overall development of the economy. He said that, in addition to increasing domestic production of industrial products, effective policy measures to boost exports are among the government&rsquo;s policy priorities, according to the statement.&nbsp; It further quoted the prime minister as saying that reforms in industry, trade, and various sectors of the economy should focus on long-term economic efficiency and public welfare. PM Sharif assured that a comprehensive strategy is being implemented vigorously to meet future energy needs through alternative sources. &ldquo;A comprehensive and effective electric vehicles policy is the need of the hour to meet the country&rsquo;s needs for energy efficiency and affordable transport.&rdquo;&nbsp; The statement further said that the prime minister stressed the need to ensure meaningful consultation among all ministries and experts and to leverage modern technology across all sectors.&nbsp; Administrative transparency and excellent performance across all reforms and initiatives, as quoted by the prime minister in the statement, are the top priority of his government.&nbsp;

Economy

Emphasizes industrial expansion, export growth, and foreign investment, highlighting economic reforms, energy diversification, electric vehicle adoption, technological innovation, and transparent governance to ensure sustainable development.

Pakistan PM stresses industrial growth, investment and comprehensive EV policy for development

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a landmark trial that could see the traditional red ball replaced with a pink ball during Test matches when poor light threatens to halt play, according to the digital sports media website ESPN. The website said that the decision was taken during the ICC Board meeting over the weekend and is aimed at reducing interruptions caused by fading light conditions. The red balls usually used in Tests are not easily visible in fading light, while the white balls used in limited-overs matches are not durable enough for the longer format, said an ESPN report. Pink balls are already used in day-night Tests played under lights. According to AFP, the ICC said in a statement that its executive board had approved of &quot;trialing the use of a pink ball in Test matches, with prior agreement from both teams, to maximize play in case of anticipated bad light&quot;. The global cricketing body said it had also approved new &quot;research on lighting technology for match officials and venues to reduce lost play due to poor light&quot;. &quot;Our discussions... have reinforced the ICC&#39;s commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally,&quot; said council chief Jay Shah, following a meeting in India&#39;s Ahmedabad.

Cricket

Allows the replacement of red balls with pink balls in test matches during poor light, aiming to reduce stoppages and maximize playing time without compromising visibility.

ICC approves pink ball trial in test cricket to reduce bad-light interruptions

GENEVA: There is an 80% chance of the warming El Nino phenomenon developing between June and August, increasing the risk of extreme weather events, the World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday. &quot;Fuelled by unusually warm ocean waters in the tropical Pacific, El Nino conditions are developing and are set to influence global temperature and rainfall patterns,&quot; the United Nations&#39; weather and climate agency said. Forecasts from the WMO global network &quot;indicate a pronounced shift toward El Nino conditions, with probabilities reaching 80% for June-August&quot;, the Geneva-based organization said. El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns. It typically takes place every two to seven years and lasts around nine to 12 months. Conditions oscillate between El Nino and its opposite La Nina, with neutral conditions in between. The likelihood of El Nino developing by November is &quot;near or above 90%&quot;, and most forecast models suggest it will be &quot;at least moderate and possibly strong&quot;, the WMO said in its quarterly El Nino/La Nina update. WMO chief Celeste Saulo said the world therefore needed to get ready for an El Nino which could &quot;exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean&quot;. The WMO says that even a moderate El Nino makes some weather and climate extremes more likely. The last El Nino contributed to making 2023 the second-hottest year on record and 2024 the all-time high at around 1.55C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. &#39;Urgent climate warning&#39;: Guterres&nbsp;In late April to mid-May, the sea-surface temperature in the central-eastern Equatorial Pacific, the area used as a monitoring reference, was approaching El Nino thresholds, the WMO said, with sub-surface temperatures more than 6C above average. Meanwhile, the Southern Oscillation Index, the atmospheric component of El Nino, is also consistent with El Nino conditions developing. The WMO said there was no evidence that climate change increases the frequency or intensity of El Nino events. However, it can amplify the associated impacts, it says, because a warmer ocean and atmosphere increase the availability of energy and moisture for extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall. &quot;El Nino is arriving on our doorstep,&quot; UN chief Antonio Guterres said in a video message. &quot;The world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is. El Nino conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed. &quot;The only effective response is climate action equal to the crisis, ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all.&quot; Temperatures above normal&nbsp;The WMO said that for June to August, forecasts project &quot;a nearly universal dominance of above normal temperatures in nearly all parts of the globe&quot;. This increases the risk of compounding hazards in some regions and accelerates the onset of drought conditions where rainfall is reduced, it said. Regional climate centers are predicting &quot;below-normal&quot; rainfall during the critical June-September rainy season in the northern Greater Horn of Africa; below-average monsoon rainfall in South Asia; and drier and warmer summer conditions in Central America. During the northern hemisphere summer, warm waters associated with El Nino can fuel hurricanes in the central and eastern Pacific, while hindering their development in the Atlantic Ocean. The WMO hopes advance warning will guide preparedness, especially in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, water management, energy and health. Each El Nino is unique, says WMO&#39;s climate prediction chiefAFP spoke with Wilfran Moufouma Okia, head of climate prediction at the United Nations&#39; weather and climate agency, who said Tuesday that warming El Nino conditions were expected to develop before the end of August. The natural climate phenomenon is expected to drive more extreme weather and rainfall, according to the WMO, although its intensity is hard to predict at this stage. What can we expect?&nbsp;Moufouma Okia said El Nino has a temporary warming effect, and while it originates in the tropics, it affects a large part of the planet. &quot;When El Nino occurs, droughts are expected in West Africa, the Sahel, South Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia,&quot; he said. &quot;Conversely, other regions experience abundant rainfall, such as the southeastern United States and especially the equatorial Pacific region. Therefore, different regions will react differently to the phenomenon.&quot; Moufouma Okia stressed that El Nino does not act in isolation, but interacts with other weather phenomena, which can amplify or weaken its intensity. &quot;According to our projections, we will broadly see an El Nino event ranging from moderate to strong,&quot; he said. &quot;But it&#39;s important to stress that each El Nino event is unique. One might think that a weak El Nino will have no consequences, but that&#39;s wrong. Depending on the country and the context, the consequences can be just as damaging as with strong events.&quot; Are countries ready?&nbsp;Moufouma Okia said the WMO would provide countries and national weather services with its findings, but it was down to them to refine the information at a local level. He hoped countries would take the data into account in preparing for El Nino. &quot;WMO models are capable of making forecasts six months in advance. So we hope that countries will have had time to anticipate,&quot; he said. However, sometimes the consequences go beyond a country&#39;s capacity to respond, as happened during the last El Nino, between 2023 and 2024. &quot;Back then, there was a decrease in rainfall in Panama that affected the canal, and therefore the global economy,&quot; he said. Are countries cooperating on weather?&nbsp;Moufouma Okia said there was progress, with countries exchanging more information regarding El Nino. &quot;There were fewer casualties in 2023-2024 than in 1997. So we can assume that countries are better prepared, or have learned from previous events,&quot; he said. Countries understand the need to share data, and &quot;even countries in conflict&quot; are cooperating, the climate prediction chief said. &quot;To predict a phenomenon on the other side of the world, you need data from the other side.&quot;

Head of climate prediction services at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Wilfran Moufouma-Okia points on graphs displayed on a computer screen at the WMO headquarters in Geneva, on June 1, 2026. (AFP)

Climate

The World Meteorological Organization warns there is an 80% chance of El Nino developing between June and August, likely bringing increased global risks of extreme heat, droughts, and heavy rainfall as part of a warming Pacific climate pattern.

80% chance of El Nino developing June-August: UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, said Tuesday he held talks with a senior Chinese diplomat in Islamabad on regional security challenges, including concerns over terrorist groups operating from neighboring Afghanistan. Sadiq, in a post on X, said&nbsp;he welcomed Chinese Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong and his delegation for discussions focused on strengthening coordination and synchronized counterterrorism efforts. He said the two sides exchanged views on &quot;threats posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) operating from Afghan soil&quot;.<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=2061509383318851946&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=4a0186208528240165a547fa581bdc21a9f15b22&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Both sides agreed to &quot;strengthen coordination &amp; synchronize counter-terrorism efforts to protect regional peace &amp; stability,&quot; Sadiq said.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

Both sides discussed regional security challenges, particularly threats posed by the TTP and ETIM from Afghan soil, and agreed to strengthen coordination and synchronize counterterrorism efforts to promote lasting peace and stability across the region.

Pakistan, China discuss Afghan-based terror threats, strengthen counterterrorism cooperation

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone call on Monday, expressing frustration over Israel&rsquo;s escalating military operations in Lebanon, according to US officials cited by American news agency Axios. According to Axios,&nbsp; Trump called the Israeli premier &ldquo;crazy&rdquo; on the call&nbsp;and accused him of ingratitude. The reported exchange came amid growing concerns that the conflict could undermine ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.&nbsp; Sources familiar with the conversation said Trump warned Netanyahu that expanding military action, particularly threats to strike Beirut, would further isolate Israel internationally and jeopardize diplomatic efforts. US officials told Axios that Trump claimed he had helped keep Netanyahu out of jail. This referred to Trump&rsquo;s support during the corruption trial against the Israeli premier. A second source briefed on the call told Axios that Trump was &ldquo;pissed&rdquo; and at one point yelled at Netanyahu, saying, &ldquo;What the f*** are you doing?&rdquo; According to officials, Trump acknowledged Israel&rsquo;s right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah but argued that recent Israeli actions had become disproportionate.&nbsp; He was reportedly concerned about civilian casualties in Lebanon and objected to strikes that resulted in extensive damage while targeting individual Hezbollah commanders. The call followed warnings from Iran that it could abandon negotiations with Washington if Israel intensified its operations in Lebanon.&nbsp; US officials said Trump viewed the escalation as a direct threat to diplomatic progress. Following the conversation, an Israeli official told Axios that Israel no longer planned to carry out strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut.&nbsp; However, Netanyahu later stated that Israel would continue operations in southern Lebanon and maintain its position unless Hezbollah halted attacks.

Middle East

American news agency Axios reports that Trump criticized Netanyahu over Israel’s operations in Lebanon, warning they could derail US-Iran talks, while Israel has reportedly shelved plans to strike Beirut but will continue operations in southern Lebanon

Trump rebukes Netanyahu over Lebanon escalation, urges restraint

JERUSALEM: Israeli lawmakers voted Tuesday to back a bill, in its first reading, to dissolve parliament and pave the way for likely early elections. A total of 106 of the Knesset&#39;s 120 members backed the legislation, submitted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s ruling coalition, according to a parliamentary statement. The remaining lawmakers did not attend the vote, which followed a debate in the assembly. The bill, which must pass two further readings before becoming law, stipulates that elections be held between September 8 and October 20. Israel is currently due to hold elections by October 27, when the current legislative term ends. &quot;We completed four full years, which is an exceptional achievement in Israeli politics, and we worked hard to reach this point,&quot; said Ofir Katz, chairman of the ruling coalition in a statement. &quot;This Knesset passed more than 520 laws and nine budgets. In practice, we held on until the very end.&quot; The coalition&#39;s move to propose the bill comes as Netanyahu faces growing pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties and his fractious right-wing coalition appears increasingly vulnerable to collapse. Ultra-Orthodox parties accuse Netanyahu of failing to fulfil a pledge to pass legislation granting a permanent exemption from compulsory military service to young men studying in yeshivas, or religious seminaries. Netanyahu, 76, a political survivor often described as the phoenix of Israeli politics, has confirmed he intends to seek another term in office. He recently disclosed that he had undergone surgery for prostate cancer. Israel&#39;s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu has spent more than 18 years in power since first taking office in 1996. He is seeking re-election despite facing a long-running corruption trial. Many Israelis hold Netanyahu responsible for the security failures that allowed Hamas to carry out its unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Last month, a poll published by public broadcaster KAN placed Netanyahu&#39;s Likud party narrowly ahead of Beyahad (Together), the joint list led by opposition leader Yair Lapid and former prime minister Naftali Bennett. However, neither camp appears capable of securing a governing majority in Israel&#39;s fragmented political landscape.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waits for the start of an Israeli war cabinet meeting also attended by U.S. President Joe Biden on Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

The coalition's move to propose the bill comes as Netanyahu faces growing pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, and his fractious right-wing coalition appears increasingly vulnerable to collapse.

Israeli MPs back parliament dissolution bill in first reading

ISLAMABAD: US federal authorities have arrested 30 Indian nationals who were found to be living and working illegally in the United States as commercial truck drivers, according to a press release issued by the US Customs and Border Protection on Monday.&nbsp; The arrests were made during &quot;Operation Checkmate,&quot; a federal initiative carried out by US Border Patrol agents in Arizona&rsquo;s Yuma Sector between May 11 and May 15, aimed at enhancing public safety and enforcing immigration and transportation laws. According to the report, a total of 52 people unlawfully present in the United States were arrested during the operation. Of those, 36 were operating semi-trucks at the time of their arrest. Thirty of the truck drivers were Indian nationals, while the remaining six were citizens of Mexico, El Salvador, and Russia. The drivers held commercial driver&#39;s licenses issued by several states, including California, New York, Washington, and Virginia, said the statement. Some individuals did not possess a driver&#39;s license. Most carried employment authorization documents that had been issued during the administration of former President Joe Biden but were no longer valid. US customs said all those arrested were processed under federal immigration laws and will face deportation proceedings. &ldquo;Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety,&rdquo; Acting Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle of the US Border Patrol&rsquo;s Yuma Sector said in the statement. Caudle said federal agents continue daily enforcement efforts to identify and remove individuals who are unlawfully operating commercial vehicles across the country. The operation comes amid a broader crackdown on immigration violations under President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration. The US Department of Transportation recently issued an order to stop unqualified foreign drivers from obtaining licenses to operate commercial trucks and buses.&nbsp; Federal officials have argued that stricter enforcement is necessary to improve highway safety. In recent months, several Indian-origin commercial truck drivers have been arrested and charged in connection with fatal crashes in different parts of the United States, The Hindu reported.

Trucks on American highway - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India

During a federal immigration and highway safety enforcement operation, US authorities arrested 30 Indian nationals. They were working as commercial truck drivers while living illegally in the country. They now face deportation proceedings.