TEHRAN: An explosion reported on Saturday at a residential building in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf coast was the result of a gas leak, according to the local fire chief. &quot;The initial cause of the building accident in Bandar Abbas was a gas leak and buildup, leading to an explosion. This is the initial theory,&quot; Mohammad Amin Lyaghat said, in comments broadcast on state television. Separate incidents were reported elsewhere in Iran on Saturday, but media outlets quickly dismissed any connection to an attack or potential sabotage, with tensions high as US President Donald Trump intensifies threats of military strikes against the Islamic republic.

Middle East

A gas leak caused a residential building explosion in Iran’s Gulf port city Bandar Abbas, officials confirmed, dismissing sabotage amid heightened regional tensions.

Iran blast in Gulf port city caused by gas leak: local fire chief

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Argentine Football Association (AFA) formally included Pakistan on Wednesday in its global football community, announcing the launch of an official fan club as part of its international outreach strategy.&nbsp;The announcement was made via AFA&rsquo;s verified social media platforms, where the association welcomed the country with the post &ldquo;Salam Pakistan.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><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=2023308581391811047&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=35ca5539404e61da6b5e94d8b7fe8ca669029dde&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 249px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2023308581391811047"></iframe></div></div>Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial &amp; Marketing Officer at AFA, announced the company&#39;s entry into the Pakistani market.&nbsp;&ldquo;As part of AFA&#39;s global expansion plan, following recent recognition from Harvard Business School and Brand Finance, we are pleased to announce the start of development in a new market: AFA Pakistan,&rdquo; he wrote on his Instagram account.<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;"> </div></div>&ldquo;From now on, AFA will establish a direct and personalized relationship with this market, offering specific digital content, a commercial strategy to connect with the country&#39;s leading companies, sporting projects, and a comprehensive brand presence.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU3vfFKjpKB/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A509564.40000003576%2C%22ls%22%3A65.10000002384186%2C%22le%22%3A65.10000002384186%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div>The AFA tweeted, &ldquo;Welcoming Pakistan into the AFA football community.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The passion has always been here, now the connection is official and &amp; the journey begins,&rdquo; the AFA added.&nbsp;On their official Instagram, the association posted, &ldquo;From the world of champions to a nation that has always lived and breathed the game.&rdquo;&nbsp;AFA is among the most decorated governing bodies worldwideEstablished in 1893, the Argentine Football Association is among the oldest and most decorated football governing bodies worldwide.&nbsp;It administers football at all levels in Argentina and oversees the national team, which is currently regarded as one of the strongest in international football.

Football

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has formally included Pakistan in its global football community, announcing the launch of an official fan club as part of its international outreach strategy.

Argentine Football Association (AFA) officially welcomes Pakistan

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan&rsquo;s IT sector is quietly scripting one of the country&rsquo;s most compelling economic turnarounds. In an environment often overshadowed by macroeconomic pressures, the digital economy is expanding steadily, reshaping export dynamics and signaling a deeper structural transformation.&nbsp;According to data released by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, ICT export remittances increased to $2.61 billion during July&ndash;January FY2025-26, marking a 19.78% rise from $2.18 billion in the same period last year. Although the growth has been steady rather than sporadic, it remains consistent.&nbsp;In January alone, ICT services exports reached $374 million, up 19.5% from January 2025, a clear sign of sustained global demand for Pakistani IT and IT-enabled services.&nbsp;Within the services sector, ICT has emerged as the undisputed frontrunner. While &ldquo;other business services&rdquo; generated $1.21 billion over the same seven-month period, the digital segment outpaced every other category, reinforcing its position as Pakistan&rsquo;s most dynamic export performer.&nbsp;The surge reflects more than favorable numbers: it reveals a maturing ecosystem. Improved internet connectivity, competitive pricing, a rapidly expanding talent pool, and targeted government incentives have collectively strengthened the industry&rsquo;s export capacity.&nbsp;Pakistani firms are increasingly delivering sophisticated solutions in software development, fintech integration, cloud services, cybersecurity, and enterprise resource management sectors once dominated by established global tech hubs.&nbsp;Rise of freelancersYet the corporate success story is only one side of the transformation. The other, perhaps more striking, development lies in the rise of freelancers, an army of digitally skilled individuals exporting services directly to global clients.&nbsp;Figures from the State Bank of Pakistan show that freelancers earned $557 million in foreign exchange during the first half of FY26, up 58% year on year from $352 million in the same period last year.&nbsp;The extent of this growth shows how deeply the gig economy has become part of Pakistan&rsquo;s external accounts.&nbsp;From software engineers and digital marketers to graphic designers, content creators, and e-commerce specialists, Pakistani freelancers are tapping into global platforms at unprecedented levels.&nbsp;An Asian Development Bank assessment estimates the country&rsquo;s freelance community at around 2.37 million full-time and part-time workers, placing Pakistan among the world&rsquo;s largest freelancing markets.&nbsp;Policy reforms have helped formalize and incentivize this segment. Freelancers can now maintain foreign currency accounts and retain up to 50% of their income in dollars. Those registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board benefit from a reduced tax rate of just 0.25%, a move aimed at encouraging documentation while keeping the sector competitive.&nbsp;Industry leaders argue that Pakistan&rsquo;s edge lies not merely in cost competitiveness, but in capability.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Sajjad Mustafa, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), credits the sector&rsquo;s revival to export-driven companies that have steadily expanded their global footprint.&nbsp;He points to Pakistan&rsquo;s demographic advantage, a substantial youth bulge, alongside improving product quality, efficient software engineering practices, and strong algorithmic development skills.&nbsp;He notes that the ability to build reliable, scalable solutions with relatively modest compute resources has made Pakistani firms attractive outsourcing partners for international companies.&nbsp;What stands out is the sector&rsquo;s resilience. Even amid domestic economic volatility and infrastructural bottlenecks, ICT exports continue to rise. The industry&rsquo;s growth indicates protection from traditional challenges faced by manufacturing and commodity-based exports.&nbsp;Target for 2026Looking ahead, ambition is high. The government has set a target of $5 billion in IT exports for FY26, though analysts project exports may reach around $4.5 billion, reflecting annual growth of 18-20% from the $3.8 billion recorded in FY25.&nbsp;Under the broader economic transformation framework, Uraan Pakistan&#39;s policymakers aim for $10 billion in IT exports by FY29, a goal that would require a compound annual growth rate of roughly 27% over the next several years.&nbsp;Reaching that milestone will require sustained policy stability, investment in advanced skills such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, streamlined payment systems, and ongoing improvements in digital infrastructure. However, if current trends continue, the goal may be within reach.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy is no longer just an emerging story; it is steadily becoming a key part of the country&rsquo;s export narrative.&nbsp;In an age driven by data, connectivity, and innovation, the nation&rsquo;s strongest growth driver may very well be the code written in homes, offices, and tech hubs, quietly fueling a new era of economic resilience.

Artificial Intelligence

Pakistan’s IT exports rose nearly 20% to $2.61 billion in FY26’s first seven months, driven by strong global demand and booming freelancing earnings. With supportive policies and a growing talent pool, the sector targets $5 billion in exports.

Pakistan’s tech exports hit $2.61B; freelancer earnings soar 58%

ISLAMABAD: Iran and Russia are set to launch joint naval drills in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, deepening a military partnership between two nations facing sweeping&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-warns-iran-of-consequences-of-not-making-a-deal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Western pressure</a>.&nbsp; Russia&#39;s helicopter carrier Stoikiy docked at Iran&#39;s First Naval Region in Bandar Abbas on Wednesday ahead of the exercise, Iran&#39;s Mehr News Agency reported. The drill will deploy surface and air units from both navies across the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean. Iranian Captain Hassan Maghsoodloo said the exercise is aimed at countering threats to commercial shipping and maritime terrorism, and at strengthening the role of regional states in establishing maritime security. Russian Navy Force Commander Captain Alexey Sergeev, speaking from Bandar Abbas, said the level of cooperation between Moscow and Tehran demonstrates that the two nations can resolve maritime challenges &quot;with unity and amity.&quot; Iran&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/explosion-reported-at-building-in-iran-gulf-city-cause-unknown-state-media" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bandar Abbas</a>&nbsp;base, situated at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, serves as Tehran&#39;s primary naval hub and one of the most strategically sensitive waterways in the world, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass. The drills come as both countries have sought to expand bilateral military and economic ties amid sustained pressure from Washington and its allies. Russia has faced cascading sanctions since its 2022 war with Ukraine, while Iran has operated under broad US and international restrictions for decades. Iran is simultaneously grappling with a domestic economic crisis marked by roughly 45% inflation and a record-low rial, as well as the aftermath of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-arrests-four-political-figures-over-disruption-of-political-social-order" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">nationwide protests</a>. The country also faces heightened external pressure following the 2025 strikes on its nuclear facilities attributed to US and Israeli forces. Those pressures have brought Tehran to the negotiating table in Geneva, where Iranian officials are seeking sanctions relief. The US and Iran recently concluded a second round of indirect talks, with both sides reporting &quot;good progress&quot; and agreeing on a set of guiding principles for a potential framework addressing nuclear concerns and regional stability. Significant obstacles remain, however. Iran is demanding sanctions relief and the right to continue civilian uranium enrichment, while Washington is pushing for broader restrictions on Iran&#39;s ballistic missile program.

The Russian helicopter carrier Stoikiy made a port call at Iran’s First Naval Region in Bandar Abbas on Wednesday, joining Iranian forces for a collaborative naval drill. (Mehr News)

Asia

The drills come as both countries seek to expand bilateral military and economic ties amid sustained pressure from Washington and its allies. 

Iran, Russia to launch joint naval drills in Persian Gulf amid Western pressure

COLOMBO: Sahibzada Farhan hit a magnificent unbeaten century to help Pakistan seal the final Super Eight berth at the T20 World Cup with a thumping 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday. Farhan scored 100 not out off 58 balls with four sixes and 10 fours as Pakistan posted 199-3 before they routed Namibia for 97 in 17.3 overs. Pakistan&#39;s victory took them to six points from four games in Group A and eliminated the United States, who finished with four points. India also has six points and plays the Netherlands in the group&#39;s final game later Wednesday. The defending champions India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies will play each other in the Super Eight Group 1, hosted in India. Pakistan joins New Zealand, England and co-hosts Sri Lanka in Group 2, hosted in Sri Lanka. After a morale-shattering 61-run defeat against India, Pakistan needed a victory to avoid an early exit, which was achieved with ease as spinners Usman Tariq (4-16) and Shadab Khan (3-19) tore through the Namibia batting. Louren Steenkamp scored 23, while Alexander Busing-Volschenk was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 20. &#39;Complete performance&#39;&nbsp;Skipper Salman Agha praised a clinical show. &quot;It is a complete performance,&quot; said a relieved Agha. &quot;We batted well and Farhan anchored the innings. He has been batting well for a while and I am happy that he got his hundred. &quot;With the ball we were lethal.&quot; Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus admitted Pakistan&#39;s spin bowlers were too hot to handle. &quot;It (spin) is a special skill to have, to turn the ball both ways like they do,&quot; said Erasmus. &quot;I think that&#39;s one of the things we&#39;ll definitely take home and look to improve on.&quot; Earlier, Farhan blasted a six and a four off pace bowler Jack Brassell to enter the 90s before taking a single off Gerhard Erasmus to complete his hundred in the final over. It was Farhan&#39;s maiden T20 ton, and he became only the second Pakistani to score a T20 World Cup century after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014 against Bangladesh. Shadab Khan, promoted to number five with Babar Azam left out, hit three sixes and a four in his 36 not out off 22 balls as Pakistan smashed 42 from the last three overs. Farhan put on 40 for the opening wicket with Saim Ayub (14) before consolidating the innings during a 67-run second wicket stand with captain Salman Agha (38). Pakistan also left out pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi after a poor show in the first three matches, including conceding 31 in two overs in the defeat against India on Sunday. Farhan&#39;s ton means this is the first T20 World Cup in which three centuries have been scored. He followed Sri Lanka&#39;s Pathum Nissanka, who scored a hundred against Australia on Monday, and Canada&#39;s Yuvraj Sama who reached three figures against New Zealand on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Cricket

Sahibzada Farhan’s unbeaten century powered Pakistan to a 102-run victory over Namibia, securing Super Eight qualification, eliminating USA, and showcasing dominant spin bowling performance overall

Ton-up Farhan helps Pakistan seal Super Eight spot with Namibia rout

WASHINGTON: A US immigration judge has blocked the deportation of a Palestinian graduate student who helped organize protests at Columbia University against Israel&#39;s war in Gaza, according to US media reports. Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested by immigration agents last year as he was attending an interview to become a US citizen. Mahdawi had been involved in a wave of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/uk-police-to-get-new-powers-after-latest-propalestinian-protest" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">demonstrations</a>&nbsp;that gripped several major US university campuses since Israel launched a massive military siege of the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian born in the occupied-West Bank, Mahdawi has been a legal US permanent resident since 2015 and graduated from the prestigious New York university in May. He has been free from federal custody since April. In an order made public on Tuesday, Judge Nina Froes said that President Donald Trump&#39;s administration did not provide sufficient evidence that Mahdawi could be legally removed from the United States, multiple media outlets reported. Froes reportedly questioned the authenticity of a copy of a document purportedly signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that said Mahdawi&#39;s activism &quot;could undermine the Middle East peace process by reinforcing antisemitic sentiment,&quot; according to the New York Times. Rubio has argued that federal law grants him the authority to summarily revoke visas and deport migrants who pose threats to US foreign policy. The Trump administration can still appeal the decision, which marked a setback in the Republican president&#39;s efforts to crack down on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/greta-thunberg-arrested-at-propalestinian-protest-in-london" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">pro-Palestinian</a>&nbsp;campus activists. The administration has also attempted to deport Mahmoud Khalil, another student activist who co-founded a Palestinian student group at Columbia, alongside Mahdawi. &quot;I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the government&#39;s attempts to trample on due process,&quot; Mahdawi said in a statement released by his attorneys and published Tuesday by several media outlets. &quot;This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice.&quot;

Columbia University campus (Columbia University) 

Americas

Mahdawi had been involved in a wave of demonstrations that gripped several major US university campuses since Israel launched a massive military siege of the Gaza Strip.

US judge blocks deportation of Columbia University Palestinian activist

ISLAMABAD: Indian security forces say they arrested two men linked to a separatist group and seized weapons Tuesday in Manipur, a state bordering Myanmar, locked in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/curfew-imposed-internet-suspended-in-indias-manipur-after-fresh-violence" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">ethnic civil conflict</a> for nearly three years, drawing repeated warnings from the United Nations of humanitarian collapse. Indian authorities claim that both men are members of the People&#39;s Liberation Army of Manipur, a group advocating for Manipur&#39;s independence from India that New Delhi has designated a terrorist organization, according to The Hindu. Police say they recovered a double-barrel gun, a country-made pistol, 181 rounds of ammunition, two hand grenades, and a detonator in Imphal West district, Manipur Police said in a statement reported by local Indian media. The arrests come as Manipur&#39;s hill-dwelling Kuki-Zo people &mdash; predominantly <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/antichristian-hate-speech-in-india-surges-41-in-2025-report" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christian</a> tribal communities &mdash; continue to bear the highest cost of a conflict India has struggled to contain or explain to the outside world. Violence erupted in May 2023 after a court directed authorities to consider granting the majority Meitei &mdash; a valley-dwelling Hindu community with outsized political influence &mdash; expanded indigenous land protections. Kuki-Zo groups feared this would expose their constitutionally protected ancestral hill territories to encroachment, according to UN Special Rapporteurs. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs has noted that many indigenous groups already view Manipur&#39;s 1949 merger into the Indian Union as forced, a grievance that has fueled <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/civil-unrest-under-bjp-manipurs-ethnic-conflict-becomes-indias-warning-sign" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">secessionist movements</a> for decades. What followed the 2023 violence was a virtual partition of the state, with peace-building researchers describing the physical separation of communities as the most complete in the region&#39;s modern history. The humanitarian toll has been severe. Tens of thousands remain in displacement camps with no clear path home, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. By late 2024, approximately 80% of schools across the state were severely affected by curfews and ethnic segregation, impacting over 300,000 students, according to UNICEF. Research published in 2025 found that roughly 1,200 teaching staff had been displaced and that academic records had been destroyed, making educational continuity nearly impossible in conflict zones. Internet shutdowns, among the longest in India&#39;s history, blocked digital learning entirely, disproportionately affecting tribal children, the same research noted. Healthcare has collapsed along ethnic lines. The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition and researchers from The Lancet documented at least eight major attacks on health facilities in 2024 alone, including grenades delivered to hospitals and arson at medical centers. Because major specialist hospitals are concentrated in the Meitei-dominated valley, Kuki-Zo residents in the hills have been completely cut off from critical care. Preventable deaths have risen among patients unable to cross hostile territory for emergency surgery or dialysis, the Coalition documented. Blockades have caused critical shortages of life-saving medicines, routine immunizations, and maternal health supplies across hill districts, the same findings showed. The UN has warned that rhetoric around identifying &quot;outsiders&quot; &mdash; pushed by local groups seeking a National Register of Citizens &mdash; risks fueling further ethnic cleansing. Amnesty International has accused Manipur&#39;s authorities of partisan policing that allowed militias on both sides to arm themselves with weapons looted from state armories. Human Rights Watch and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly cited <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bjp-funds-linked-to-government-contractors-in-northeast-india-report" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">India</a>&#39;s Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which grants security forces broad immunity, as a structural driver of impunity that has deepened mistrust in state institutions over decades. Separately, Manipur&#39;s newly appointed chief minister wrote to India&#39;s civil aviation minister this week requesting subsidized flights on the Imphal-Guwahati route. He said that air connectivity for Manipur&#39;s people was &quot;not just a convenience but an essential requirement,&quot; according to Press Trust of India, India&#39;s national wire service. It is a telling measure of how isolated the state remains from the rest of the country.

An ambulance rides past a security vehicle positioned in the middle of a road, during a curfew in Imphal on June 9, 2025. Riven by ethnic tensions, Manipur in India's northeast imposed an internet shutdown and curfew after protesters clashed with security

India

The arrests come as Manipur's hill-dwelling Kuki-Zo people — predominantly Christian tribal communities — continue to bear the heaviest cost of a conflict India has struggled to contain or explain to the outside world.

In India's smoldering ethnic war, fresh arrests deepen Manipur's wounds

PARIS: UEFA said on Wednesday it would &quot;investigate allegations of discriminatory behavior&quot; after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior accused Benfica&#39;s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during a Champions League match in Lisbon.&nbsp;Tuesday&#39;s first leg of the knockout phase play-off tie was stopped for more than 10 minutes after Vinicius complained to French referee Francois Letexier about the alleged abuse following a confrontation between him and Prestianni.&nbsp;That came just moments after Brazil international Vinicius scored a sublime goal before picking up a yellow card after celebrating in front of the home crowd at the Estadio da Luz.&nbsp;After arguing with Prestianni, Vinicius ran over to the referee and told him that he had been called &quot;mono,&quot; the Spanish word for monkey, by the Argentine midfielder.&nbsp;The 20-year-old Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt as he appeared to say something to Vinicius, denies racially abusing the Real Madrid star.&nbsp;Real&#39;s England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold said the incident had left a sour taste in the mouth.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s disgusting. What&#39;s happened tonight is a disgrace for football. It&#39;s ruined the night for the team,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Real forward Kylian Mbappe called on Prestianni to be banned.&nbsp;&quot;We cannot accept there&#39;s a player playing in Europe&#39;s best competition and behaving like this,&quot; the France captain told reporters.&nbsp;&quot;This guy doesn&#39;t deserve to play in the Champions League again.&quot;&nbsp;Benfica coach Jose Mourinho hit out at Vinicius for inciting Benfica&#39;s players and fans with his celebration.&nbsp;&quot;When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way,&quot; said the Portuguese.

UEFA will investigate alleged racist abuse after Vinicius Junior accused Gianluca Prestianni of calling him 'mono' during a UEFA Champions League match. Kylian Mbappe urged a ban; Jose Mourinho criticized Vinicius’s celebration.

UEFA opens probe into 'discriminatory behavior' toward Vinicius

Climate & Environment

The crescent for Ramadan 1447 Hijri was sighted today, Feb. 18, making Feb. 19 the first day of fasting, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced.

Moon sighted, Pakistan to observe Ramadan from Feb. 19

JERUSALEM:&nbsp;A senior Israeli far-right minister vowed to encourage &quot;emigration&quot; from the Palestinian territories, despite mounting criticism of recent measures tightening Israel&#39;s control over the occupied West Bank. Since last week, Israel has approved a series of initiatives backed by far-right ministers to consolidate control over the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/palestinian-child-dies-after-stepping-on-mine-in-west-bank" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Bank</a>, including in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords, in place since the 1990s. &ldquo;We will eliminate the idea of an Arab terror state,&rdquo; far-right <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/dozens-of-un-member-states-condemn-israeli-west-bank-measures" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich</a> said at an event organized by his Religious Zionism Party late on Tuesday. &quot;We will finally, formally, and in practical terms nullify the cursed Oslo Accords and embark on a path toward sovereignty, while encouraging emigration from both Gaza and Judea and Samaria,&quot; he said, using the Biblical term for the West Bank. &quot;There is no other long-term solution,&quot; added <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-accused-of-move-expanding-jerusalem-borders-for-first-time-since-1967" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smotrich</a>, who himself lives in a settlement in the West Bank. &lsquo;Colonization 2030&rsquo;Smotrich was speaking at a vineyard near Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, where he presented what he called &quot;Colonization 2030&quot;, a campaign initiative ahead of national elections scheduled for later this year. In addition to the finance portfolio, Smotrich serves on Israel&#39;s security cabinet, which takes key decisions regarding the West Bank, making him a central figure in efforts to expand settlements there. The recently approved measures include launching a process to register land in the West Bank as &quot;state property&quot; and allowing Jewish Israelis to purchase land directly. Until now, land acquisitions for settlers were typically carried out through intermediary companies. The new measures repeal a decades-old law that barred Jews from directly purchasing land&nbsp;in the West Bank. &quot;This will allow Jews to purchase land in Judea and Samaria exactly as they do in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem,&quot; Smotrich said last week. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Global outrage&nbsp;</h2>The steps are also set to increase Israel&#39;s control in parts of the West Bank where the Palestinian Authority currently exercises power. Under the Oslo Accords, the West Bank was divided into areas A, B and C -- under Palestinian, mixed and Israeli governance respectively. The West Bank would form the largest part of any future Palestinian state, but many on Israel&#39;s religious right view it as Israeli land. The Oslo Accords were signed with the stated aim of paving the way for an independent Palestinian state. Israeli NGOs have also raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem&#39;s borders into the occupied West Bank since 1967. The planned development, announced by Israel&#39;s Ministry of Construction and Housing, is formally a westward expansion of the Geva Binyamin, or Adam, settlement situated northeast of Jerusalem in the West Bank. The new measures have triggered widespread international outrage. De facto annexationOn Tuesday, the UN missions of 85 countries condemned the measures, which critics say amount to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory. &quot;We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel&#39;s unlawful presence in the West Bank,&quot; they said in a statement. &quot;Such decisions are contrary to Israel&#39;s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed. &quot;We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation.&quot; US President Donald Trump has previously voiced opposition to annexation of the West Bank, but has stopped short of directly criticizing the latest Israeli measures. &lsquo;Stable West Bank&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;As the president has clearly stated, he does not support Israel annexing the West Bank,&quot; a Trump administration official said earlier this month. &quot;A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration&#39;s goal to achieve peace,&quot; the official said. Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law. Around three million Palestinians live in the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967. The current Israeli government, considered one of the most right wing in the country&#39;s history, has fast-tracked settlement expansion. It has approved a record 54 settlements in 2025, according to Israeli NGO Peace Now.

In addition to the finance portfolio, Israeli minister Smotrich serves on Israel's security cabinet, which takes key decisions regarding the West Bank, making him a central figure in efforts to expand settlements there.

Top Israeli minister pushes for 'emigration' of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians

ISLAMABAD: YouTube on Wednesday said it had fixed a technical problem that briefly disrupted access to the video-sharing platform worldwide, after outage-tracking website Downdetector reported widespread complaints.&nbsp;According to the company, a glitch in its recommendation system prevented videos from appearing across different <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/youtube-to-match-openai-with-ai-likeness-feature" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube services</a>.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/6d8b2039-0748-4b29-893f-81b051461168.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&ldquo;The issue with our recommendations system has been resolved, and all of our platforms &mdash; YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, Kids and TV &mdash; are back to normal,&rdquo; YouTube said in a statement.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/16a0173b-84a0-4163-b7c2-9af5a9d2c47a-Screenshot 2026-02-18 135053.png" alt="Screenshot 2026-02-18 135053.png" class="fr-fil fr-dib" style="width: 1000px;"></figure>At the height of the disruption, more than 320,000 users in the United States reported problems, Downdetector data showed. The tracking website noted that its figures are based on user submissions, and the actual number of affected users may differ.&nbsp;Service interruptions were also reported in several countries, including India, Britain, Australia and Mexico.&nbsp;YouTube remains one of the world&rsquo;s largest digital platforms. By early 2025, it had more than 2.5 billion global viewers, while subscribers to its music and premium services reached 100 million, according to data from market research firm Statista.&nbsp;Google has said users watch over one billion hours of YouTube content daily on television screens alone, while more than 500 hours of video are uploaded to the platform every minute.&nbsp;Industry analysts often describe Google&rsquo;s 2006 acquisition of YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock as a landmark deal that merged Google&rsquo;s search and advertising strength with a rapidly growing video community.

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YouTube remains one of the world’s largest digital platforms. By early 2025, it had more than 2.5 billion global viewers, while subscribers to its music and premium services reached 100 million, according to Statista.