BEIJING: The death toll from a coal mine blast in northern China has jumped sharply from eight to 82, state media reported on Saturday. Earlier, state broadcaste CCTV had reported over 50 miners had died in the incident.&nbsp; &quot;Reporters at the scene of the gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine... have learnt that the accident has claimed the lives of over 50 people,&quot; CCTV had said.&nbsp; Rescue operations are still underway. *More to follow.*

China

The death toll from a coal mine blast in northern China has jumped sharply from eight to "over 50", state media reported on Saturday.

Toll in China mine blast jumps again to 82: State media

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted an annual report to the UN General Assembly drafted and introduced by Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, highlighting the Council&rsquo;s work on global crises and key thematic issues during 2025. According to a press release issued by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the annual report serves as a &ldquo;vital instrument of institutional dialogue&rdquo; between the Security Council and the General Assembly. Speaking during the adoption of the report, the Pakistani envoy said the annual reporting process, mandated under Article 24(3) of the UN Charter, plays an important role in strengthening transparency and accountability between the Security Council and the wider UN membership.<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" 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-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2058014671848841481&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=70d3c96316bdd926be723d5601691c5841168a08&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>He said Pakistan prepared the introductory section of the report in its capacity as President of the Security Council for July 2025, aiming to produce a substantive and analytical account reflecting the Council&rsquo;s deliberations, challenges and outcomes during the reporting period. The ambassador said the report provides a comprehensive overview of the Security Council&rsquo;s engagement during 2025, including its work on complex and interconnected crises across different regions, as well as emerging threats to international peace and security. He added that the report reflects the Council&rsquo;s responses in areas such as protection of civilians, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, along with cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. Referring to the current geopolitical environment, Ambassador Asim said that despite persistent conflicts and heightened tensions, the Security Council continued to play a central role in promoting stability, supporting peace processes and reinforcing multilateral cooperation. He further said Pakistan adopted an open and inclusive approach in preparing the report by engaging with the broader UN membership in line with guidance from the Security Council and the General Assembly. The envoy noted that an informal meeting with member states was convened on Jan. 16, 2026, in coordination with the President of the General Assembly, and said views shared during the exchange helped improve the quality of the report. Ambassador Asim expressed hope that discussions on the report in the General Assembly would further strengthen relations between the Security Council and the wider UN membership in the spirit of transparency, accountability and multilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, speaking at the Security Council on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 26, 2026. (File photo: X/@PakistanUN_NY)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistani envoy says the annual reporting process, mandated under Article 24(3) of the UN Charter, plays an important role in strengthening transparency and accountability between the Security Council and the wider UN membership.

UN Security Council unanimously adopts Pakistan-drafted annual report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated its steadfast support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya, emphasizing that a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process remains the only viable path toward lasting peace, stability, and reconciliation in the country. Delivering Pakistan&rsquo;s statement during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, thanked ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan for presenting the Prosecutor&rsquo;s 31st report pursuant to Security Council resolution 1970 (2011), said a statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s mission to the UN on X on Saturday.<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" 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=2057918030944846108&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=67e6182b53c08c969d763e97ce417781c3f778d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 656px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2057918030944846108"></iframe></div></div>He took note of the developments outlined in the report, including progress in investigative activities, cooperation with Libyan authorities, and engagement with international and regional partners. Ambassador Ahmad also noted the commencement of pre-trial proceedings following the surrender of El Hishri to the Court &mdash; the first surrender of a suspect to the ICC in the Libya situation. He underscored that accountability efforts should reinforce the broader objective of peace and reconciliation in Libya. Ambassador Ahmad stressed that consistency, objectivity, fairness, and non-selectivity are essential for maintaining the legitimacy and credibility of international accountability mechanisms.&nbsp;Credible, impartial accountabilityWhile stating that Pakistan is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to credible and impartial accountability for serious international crimes through the uniform application of international law. He further emphasized the importance of constructive cooperation between the ICC and Libyan authorities in implementing Security Council resolution 1970, while fully respecting Libya&rsquo;s judicial sovereignty, national institutions, and legitimate concerns. The ambassador underlined that national ownership and capacity-building should remain central to all accountability efforts. Pakistan also expressed support for all Libyan-led initiatives aimed at preserving judicial unity, strengthening constitutional oversight, upholding the rule of law, and advancing institution-building in the country. In conclusion, Ambassador Ahmad reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s support for all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, reconciliation, and durable institution-building in Libya.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad highlights importance of fairness and consistency in international accountability mechanisms at the United Nations.

At UNSC, Pakistan reaffirms support for Libya’s sovereignty, Libyan-led political process

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday departed for Hangzhou in the first phase of his four-day official visit to China aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing projects under CPEC Phase II.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are accompanying him during the visit.<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: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2058021749199925648&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=70d3c96316bdd926be723d5601691c5841168a08&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>During his stay in Hangzhou, PM Sharif will meet the Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province and participate in a business forum aimed at promoting cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese companies under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.&nbsp;The prime minister will also attend a ceremony for the exchange of agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries and hold meetings with the chief executives of leading Chinese companies.&nbsp;As part of the visit, PM Sharif will tour the headquarters of Alibaba, where he is expected to witness the signing of memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various sectors.&nbsp;Following the Hangzhou engagements, the prime minister will travel to Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.&nbsp;He will also attend an event marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and meet heads of prominent Chinese companies.&nbsp;The prime minister is also scheduled to visit the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences during the trip.&nbsp;Officials said the visit is expected to further strengthen Pakistan-China strategic ties and open new avenues of economic, technological and agricultural cooperation, particularly under CPEC Phase 2.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are accompanying him during the visit.

Pakistan PM leaves for four-day China visit to boost CPEC Phase-II cooperation

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND: SpaceX&#39;s Starship spacecraft splashed down into the Indian ocean Friday after the company performed a test flight of the latest version of the enormous rocket. The voyage was not without a few glitches, but SpaceX employees shown on a livestream roared in delight following the trial flight that comes as the firm prepares a potentially record initial public offering. The mammoth rocket blasted off into space at just after 5:30 pm local time (2230 GMT). The company did not intend to recover either the booster or the upper stage, and the final splashdown was fiery but controlled, as planned. &quot;Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the twelfth flight test of Starship!&quot; the company wrote on X. The third-generation Starship spacecraft carried out a maneuver that saw it flip upright and reignite its engines for control, despite one being out of commission. It also deployed its 22 mock satellites, including two that attempted to photograph the spacecraft&#39;s heat shield for analysis. The vehicle had coasted through space but was not in exactly the correct orbit after one of its engines malfunctioned during an initial burn. &quot;I wouldn&#39;t call it nominal orbital insertion,&quot; company spokesperson Dan Huot said, adding however that it was &quot;within bounds&quot; of a previously analyzed trajectory. After the Super Heavy booster separated from the upper stage as expected, Huot said on the livestream that the booster failed to complete its so-called boost-back burn. The booster fell swiftly back to Earth, uncontrolled, into the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX wasn&#39;t planning to recapture the booster anyway, but was still hoping for a precision return. NASA administrator onsite Friday&#39;s flight followed an aborted trial one day prior. The countdown clock stopped and started until it was determined that the last-minute red flags could not be addressed in time. Musk quickly posted on X that &quot;the hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract.&quot; SpaceX said that issue was corrected overnight. The company is facing extra scrutiny after SpaceX filed earlier this week with US financial regulators to go public, likely in June, in what is expected to become a record IPO. Friday marks Starship&#39;s 12th flight overall, but the first in seven months. The latest design is bigger than its predecessor, standing at just over 124 meters when fully stacked. There&#39;s a lot riding on SpaceX&#39;s progress: the company is under contract with NASA to produce a modified version of Starship to serve as a lunar landing system. The US space agency&#39;s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon, as China forges ahead with a rival effort that&#39;s targeting 2030 for its first crewed mission. Ahead of launch, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman appeared during the pre-launch SpaceX program and said &quot;we&#39;re looking forward to seeing this fly, because hopefully at some point in the not-too-distant future we&#39;re going to join up in Earth orbit.&quot; Both SpaceX and rival Blue Origin, the Jeff Bezos-owned firm also vying to develop a lunar lander, have realigned their strategies to prioritize projects related to Moon missions. NASA is aiming to test an in-orbit rendezvous between its spacecraft and one or two lunar landers in 2027 and carry out a crewed lunar landing before the end of 2028. But a lot needs to happen before then &ndash; and industry experts have voiced repeated skepticism that SpaceX and Blue Origin can achieve benchmarks in time.

Americas

SpaceX’s Starship completes its 12th test flight with a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after minor malfunctions, as the company advances its lunar and commercial space ambitions.

SpaceX's enormous Starship splashes down after test flight

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="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pakistan&rsquo;s CDF arrives in Tehran for mediation talks; Iran calls visit a &#39;turning point&#39;</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Trump skips son&rsquo;s wedding as prospects for talks continue</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">US State Secretary calls Pakistan the &ldquo;primary mediator&rdquo; in the conflict</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Israel carries out five strikes in eastern Lebanon, killing 10</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Stocks rise, oil gains as investors weigh Middle East peace prospects</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> US excessive demands push NPT into free fall: IranPublished: May 23, 2026 | 03:53 GMT | by Web Desk The Iranian Mission to the UN, in a post on X on Saturday, stated: &quot;The NPT Review Conference failed for the third consecutive time due to obstructionism by the United States and its allies.&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=2057996905590784315&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=67e6182b53c08c969d763e97ce417781c3f778d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&quot;Iran&rsquo;s warning: Without nuclear disarmament, no future can be envisaged for the NPT,&quot; the post added. <hr> Qatar discusses Pakistan-led Iran-US mediation with regional partners Published: May 23, 2026 |&nbsp;1:44 GMT | by Web Desk Qatar&rsquo;s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held discussions with the foreign ministers of T&uuml;rkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan regarding Pakistan-led mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, Al Jazeera reported. A statement from Qatar&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry said Sheikh Mohammed&rsquo;s call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan focused on the importance of resolving regional crises through dialogue. It added that the discussions included coordination on diplomatic steps aimed at reducing regional tensions. A Qatari delegation is currently in Tehran in connection with the mediation efforts, as per Al Jazeera. <hr> Iran condemns US-Israeli attack as violation of sovereignty Published: May 23, 2026 | 1:23 GMT | by Web Desk Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the recent US-Israeli attack on Iran should not be treated as simply an avoidable conflict, describing it instead as direct aggression against a sovereign country, according to Iran&rsquo;s state news agency IRNA. Baqaei said the attack amounted to a clear breach of international law and rejected attempts to soften its characterization. The spokesperson also linked the current tensions to the United States&rsquo; withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement. <hr> Pakistan&rsquo;s CDF arrives at Tehran to advance regional mediation efforts Published: May 22, 2026 | 17:04 GMT | by Web Desk Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday for an official visit, the military&rsquo;s media wing reported. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the field marshal was received by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni upon arrival. Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the reception.

Pakistan's Chief of Defense Forces arrives in Tehran on Friday, May 22, 2026. (ISPR)

Middle East

Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to discuss Iran-US talks and regional issues during the visit and meet senior Iranian officials, according to security sources.

Pakistan army chief arrives in Tehran for Iran-US talks facilitation

LOS ANGELES: Tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave their homes in California Friday after a huge chemical tank began leaking, with warnings it might blow up, sending toxic fumes over a heavily populated area. The tank contains 26,000 liters of methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable liquid used to make plastics, with firefighters warning things were looking bad. &quot;There are literally two options left,&quot; Incident Commander Craig Covey said. &quot;The tank fails and spills a total of about 6-7,000 gallons [22,700&ndash;26,500 liters] of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area or, two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks around them that have fuel or chemicals in them as well. &quot;We are setting up these evacuations in preparation for these two options: it fails, or it blows up. &quot;Please follow our requests and orders for evacuations.&quot; The incident was unfolding in the Garden Grove area of Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles. Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said about 40,000 people were affected by the evacuation order, with several thousand refusing to leave their homes. Aerial footage filmed by local TV stations showed jets of water being sprayed at the tank, which has a capacity of 128,704 liters. Smaller sprays were coming from a frame around the tank, in an effort to cool its contents and reduce the risk of an explosion. No injuries had been reported by Friday afternoon, and there was no immediate indication as to what caused the leak, which was initially reported on Thursday. Covey said crews were preparing for a chemical spill, which he described as a &quot;best-case scenario&quot; and far preferable to an explosion and a toxic plume. Responders were working to put containment barriers in place to prevent any spilled material from reaching storm drains or river channels that lead into the ocean. The US Environmental Protection Agency says methyl methacrylate is irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans. &quot;Respiratory effects have been reported in humans following acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposures,&quot; a fact sheet on the agency&#39;s website says. &quot;Neurological symptoms have also been reported in humans following acute exposure.&quot;

Evacuation orders affect about 40,000 people in Orange County after a leaking chemical tank prompts fears of explosion or spill, with officials preparing for two possible outcomes.

Thousands ordered to evacuate around leaking California chemical tank

NEW YORK: Talks at the United Nations (UN) to reaffirm nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament goals failed on Friday, according to the leader of the talks, after four weeks of negotiations held amid low expectations. Vietnam&#39;s Do Hung Viet, the president of the conference, said that &quot;despite our best efforts... it is my understanding that the conference is not in a position to achieve agreement on its substantive work.&quot; &quot;I do not intend to put the document forward for adoption,&quot; he added. Negotiators were reviewing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the cornerstone of nuclear weapons control, amid fears of a renewed arms race. Previous reviews in 2015 and 2022 were also unsuccessful. With expectations low, participants negotiated over a repeatedly reviewed and watered-down text, which they ultimately failed to adopt. Experts pointed out that even in the absence of a review agreement for the third time in a row, the treaty continues to exist, but with diminished legitimacy. &quot;The text keeps on becoming less and less anchored in the realities of current conflicts and proliferation risks,&quot; including North Korea and Iran, analyst Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group said before the outcome was announced. The latest version of the text seen by AFP on Friday merely stated that Tehran must &quot;never&quot; develop nuclear weapons. The paragraph was in brackets, signaling persistent disagreement, despite the removal of the reference to Iran&#39;s &quot;non-compliance&quot; with its obligations that appeared in the first draft. Also gone were expressions of concern about North Korea&#39;s nuclear program, or even any mention of the &quot;denuclearization&quot; of the Korean Peninsula. Gone as well was the direct call on the United States and Russia to begin negotiations on a successor to the New START treaty limiting Russian and American arsenals, which expired in February. The diluted text still covered &quot;the risk of a resumption of nuclear testing by Russia, China and the United States, the growth of arsenals, and attacks on nuclear infrastructure,&quot; Heloise Fayet of the French Institute of International Relations said earlier on Friday. Exactly why the review failed isn&#39;t yet known. &quot;The majority of countries are indeed working in good faith for disarmament,&quot; said Seth Shelden of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), commenting on the failure of the talks. &quot;But the small handful of nuclear-armed states, and certain of their allies, are undermining the NPT, frustrating disarmament efforts, expanding arsenals and provoking proliferation, and pointing the world toward catastrophe,&quot; he added. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the nine nuclear-armed states possessed 12,241 nuclear warheads in January 2025, 90% of which were in American and Russian hands. Some countries are modernizing their arsenals or even increasing their stockpiles. The NPT, which entered into force in 1970 and has been signed by almost all states, aims to prevent proliferation, promote complete disarmament and encourage cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

UN talks to reinforce nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament fail after four weeks, with negotiators unable to reach agreement on a revised treaty text amid divisions over nuclear weapons policy.

UN nuclear nonproliferation talks fail after month-long negotiations

PARIS: Several French pro-Palestinian activists on Friday described a &ldquo;violent&rdquo; and &ldquo;dehumanizing&rdquo; ordeal after they were detained by Israeli forces on a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/first-gaza-flotilla-activists-arrive-in-turkey-after-israel-deportation" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gaza-bound flotilla</a>. Eight French nationals arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris from Turkey on Friday afternoon, to supporters shouting &quot;Long live the struggle of the Palestinian people&quot;. Two of the 36 French people who were on board the flotilla were still in hospital in Turkey, the returnees told awaiting reporters. Holding a yellow rose and wearing a keffiyeh, Meriem Hadjal, 38, said she was detained on board one of the boats on Monday then transferred to Israel. &quot;They made us go one by one into a pitch-black container. I was groped,&quot; said Hadjal, an activist from the Waves of Freedom - France group. &quot;There were three soldiers in the container and a comrade on the ground with his trousers pulled down. &quot;One of them started touching my breasts. I then got huge deafening slaps to the head and the groping continued. &quot;I was terrified. I thought I was going to be raped at that moment,&quot; she added, claiming that a colleague was tortured with a stun weapon. At Ashdod, in southern Israel, &quot;we had to deal with <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/italy-france-uk-germany-urge-israel-to-end-settlement-expansion" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ben Gvir</a>&#39;s police who were extremely violent with us, humiliating, dehumanizing&quot;, said Hadjal, referring to Israel&#39;s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir. On Wednesday, Ben Gvir sparked an outcry internationally but also within his own government by publishing a video of dozens of activists kneeling with their foreheads on the ground and their hands tied. &#39;Terror&#39;&nbsp;Another activist, Adrien Bertel, described &quot;a gratuitous escalation of humiliation, rights violations and terror&quot;. Bertel, who took part in a previous attempt to break Israel&#39;s maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory, said that among the 430 people of different nationalities who were &quot;kidnapped&quot;, &quot;at least 37&quot; had broken bones. &quot;At least 16&quot; have reported sexual violence, he added. During his two days of detention on the boat, Bertel, who is in his thirties, also spoke of &quot;three soldiers in a container&quot;. &quot;Each of us stayed in there two or three minutes and they beat us up in the dark,&quot; he said. &quot;I had nail polish on. They immediately said &#39;gay&#39;, open homophobia. So that meant an extra layer of violence,&quot; he added. Yasmine Scola said they slept with their hands tied behind their backs for 36 hours and had to go to the bathroom with the handcuffs on. &quot;It&#39;s actually quite a significant form of torture,&quot; she said, adding that she saw injured people left untreated. She described women being subjected to humiliating &quot;parades&quot; where soldiers insulted or laughed at them. At the port, she said she and the others were put in a &quot;stress position&quot;, on their knees with their forehead on the ground for several hours, while the Israeli national anthem played on repeat. Asked by AFP to respond to the reports of physical and psychological violence, sexual harassment, assault, and rape, the Israeli prison service said the accusations were &quot;false and entirely without factual basis&quot;. &quot;All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with respect for their fundamental rights under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff,&quot; a spokesperson said. Before leaving the airport, the activists said they had experienced &quot;a tiny part of what Palestinians endure, in silence&quot; and called for protests to demand that the French government &quot;take action&quot;.

Europe

French activists returning from a Gaza-bound flotilla said Israeli forces subjected them to violent and humiliating treatment during detention, including sexual abuse.

French activists describe ‘dehumanizing’ abuse by Israel after Gaza flotilla arrest

WASHINGTON: US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation on Friday, ending the tenure of a controversial pick who appeared to be at odds with President Donald Trump over the Middle East War.&nbsp; Gabbard, 45, said she was quitting as Director of National Intelligence to care for her husband, Abraham Williams, after he was recently diagnosed with an &quot;extremely rare form of bone cancer.&quot; &quot;He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months,&quot; Gabbard said in a letter to Trump that she posted on X. &quot;At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.&quot; Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, married her Hawaii-based cinematographer husband in a Hindu ceremony. They met while shooting campaign advertisements, and he proposed to her while surfing at sunset. Trump hailed Gabbard, whose job involved coordinating information from the sprawling network of 18 US intelligence agencies for the president&#39;s daily briefing. &quot;Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her,&quot; Trump said on his Truth Social network, adding that she &quot;rightfully&quot; wanted to help her husband with his cancer battle. Her deputy, Aaron Lukas, would serve as the acting Director of National Intelligence, the president added. Gabbard is the fourth in a series of high-profile women to have left Trump&#39;s cabinet in recent months. Trump fired Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem in March and Attorney General Pam Bondi in April. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down in April amid a series of scandals.But the White House pushed back at a report that Gabbard had been forced out. &quot;This is false. Her husband, who is an absolutely incredible human being, has been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer,&quot; her chief of staff, Alexa Henning, said on X. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said that &quot;any suggestion that the White House forced her to resign over her husband&rsquo;s health is slanderous.&quot; Syria trip&nbsp; The former Democrat was a surprising choice as intel chief for Republican Trump, given her previous history of endorsing conspiracy theories and opposition to America&#39;s foreign military interventions. As a congresswoman, Gabbard had in particular expressed opposition to going to war against Iran. She faced questions over her 2017 meeting with now-deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and her peddling of Russian propaganda &ndash; particularly false conspiracy theories about the Ukraine war. She was also regarded with suspicion by some over her views on US government surveillance and her backing for National Security Agency (NSA) leaker Edward Snowden. Trump pressed on with the appointment, but she appeared to be increasingly frozen out of decision-making in recent months as he headed toward the war with Iran. Gabbard was reportedly not in the room when Trump huddled with his top advisors in the immediate run-up to the launch of the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. After the war began, she repeatedly contradicted or failed to fully back the justifications that the Trump administration gave for launching the war. Gabbard declined to endorse Trump&#39;s claim that Iran posed an imminent threat &ndash; an assessment that the administration used to justify the strikes. She also said US intelligence had concluded that Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment capacities that were destroyed last year by the United States and Israel &ndash; a claim also used as a major justification for the war. The Hawaii native served in Iraq with the Army National Guard. The experience informed her opposition to America&#39;s long foreign wars, as it did for Vice President JD Vance and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. Gabbard&#39;s mother, born on the US mainland, embraced Hinduism and raised her children in the tradition. Her first name, Tulsi, is a sacred plant in Hinduism, and she is a lifelong vegetarian.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard prepares to leave at the conclusion of a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats in the Hart Senate Office Building on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (AFP)

US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard resigns to care for her husband after his cancer diagnosis, ending a controversial tenure marked by disagreements over Middle East policy and scrutiny of her past views.

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