MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Monday rejected as &quot;baseless&quot; an assessment by five European countries that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from poisoning while in an Arctic prison two years ago.&nbsp;&quot;We naturally do not accept such accusations. We disagree with them. We consider them biased and baseless,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP, during a daily briefing call. More to follow.

A woman lays flowers at the grave of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the Borisovo cemetery in Moscow on February 16, 2026, marking the second anniversary of his death in an Arctic colony. (Photo: AFP)

Europe

We naturally do not accept such accusations. We disagree with them. We consider them biased and baseless," says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Kremlin rejects European assessment Navalny died of poisoning

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday told the United Nations Security Council that &ldquo;water must never be weaponized,&rdquo; while referring to India&rsquo;s unilateral move to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Addressing an open debate of the UN Security Council, Dar said international treaties must be respected and disputes resolved through dialogue, justice and adherence to international law. &ldquo;Treaties must be honored and disputes must be resolved through adherence to international law, dialogue and justice, and implementation of relevant resolutions of the Council,&rdquo; he said. The remarks come amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and India following New Delhi&rsquo;s unilateral suspension of cooperation measures under the Indus Waters Treaty framework after the 2025 Pahalgam incident.&nbsp; Pakistan maintains that the treaty is a binding international agreement that cannot be suspended unilaterally. Dar described China&rsquo;s call for a strong United Nations-centered international system as &ldquo;most timely and vital.&rdquo; &ldquo;We collectively pledged in the Charter to govern international relations in a manner that saves future generations from the scourge of war,&rdquo; he told the Council. He said the UN Charter was &ldquo;not merely a legal instrument.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is the moral foundation of the international order,&rdquo; Dar said. Referring to ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts involving Iran, the foreign minister said Pakistan consistently supported restraint, de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. &ldquo;Another prolonged conflict would serve no one,&rdquo; he said, warning that instability could &ldquo;endanger regional peace, disrupt global energy flows, deepen humanitarian suffering and strain an already fragile international order.&rdquo; Dar said Pakistan was making sincere efforts to facilitate a durable solution that ensured lasting peace and stability in the region while keeping maritime routes open. &ldquo;We are continuing this noble endeavour with resolve and dedication,&rdquo; he said. The foreign minister also thanked partner countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar for supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at regional stability. &ldquo;The entire world is watching&hellip; we must succeed in the interest of regional and global peace and security,&rdquo; Dar said.

Foreign Affairs

Foreign minister says international treaties must be respected and disputes resolved through dialogue, justice, and adherence to international law.

‘Water must never be weaponized,’ Pakistan raises India treaty issue at UNSC

Pakistan TV Satellite

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.

SAT News Desk

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

RAMALLAH: Israel has issued an expropriation order for land in the occupied West Bank near the site of a Biblical prophet&#39;s grave north of Jerusalem, an Israeli NGO reported Tuesday. The site, known as Nabi Samuel, is believed in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim tradition to include the grave of the Biblical figure of prophet Samuel, and includes a mosque owned by Palestinian religious authorities, the Waqf. &quot;This marks the first time that the (Israeli) Civil Administration has expropriated a holy site owned by the Muslim Waqf in the occupied West Bank&quot;, Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement. According to the Israeli order, dated May 9 but published this week, the area for expropriation will include 109.79 dunams (roughly 11 hectares), including access roads, agricultural land, and a mosque. The order says the decision was made &quot;for the development and preservation of the archaeological site of the Tomb of the Prophet Samuel&quot;. A source in COGAT, the Israel defence ministry body in charge of civilian matters in the Palestinian territories, said the decision was made &quot;following the refusal of Waqf officials to cooperate with the procedures required for the renovation of the tomb compound&quot;. The Palestinian Authority&#39;s Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs issued a &quot;strong condemnation&quot; of the expropriation order for Nabi Samuel. &quot;This confiscation is part of a policy aimed at suffocating the mosque and completely isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings, turning it into a Jewish archaeological site by force of arms,&quot; the ministry said in a statement. Peace Now&#39;s Yonatan Mizrahi pointed out that Israeli authorities had already taken over administration of much of the land by converting it into an Israeli national park in the 1990s, decades after demolishing a Palestinian village on the site. &quot;There was no need to decide about the expropriation of the land&quot;, Mizrahi told AFP, while Peace Now denounced &quot;the messianic agenda of the Israeli government&quot;. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. In 2025, Israel expropriated an area in the centre of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, arguing the order concerned an open area intended for roofing works and not a religious structure.

Middle East

Israel has issued an expropriation order for land in the occupied West Bank near the site of a Biblical prophet's grave north of Jerusalem, an Israeli NGO reported Tuesday

Israel issues expropriation order for West Bank religious site

ISLAMABAD: Bilal bin Saqib, chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), has said Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global digital economy, with the country&rsquo;s youth driving growth in blockchain, crypto adoption and financial technology. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV head Adil Shahzeb in Beijing, Bilal bin Saqib said Pakistan has become the world&rsquo;s third-largest consumer market for digital assets, reflecting the talent, innovation and technological awareness of its young population. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s crypto growth took place without formal institutional support, proving that the country&rsquo;s youth are capable of competing at a global level, adding that technology has eliminated geographical barriers. Bilal bin Saqib highlighted the establishment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, an independent body created to regulate, incubate and accelerate crypto-related activities in the country. He said the authority was established within a few months, a pace faster than several leading global jurisdictions. He said international crypto exchanges including Binance and HTX are expected to enter Pakistan after receiving approvals, helping shift crypto activities from the gray market into a regulated framework focused on consumer protection, licensing and oversight. Discussing economic opportunities, Bilal bin Saqib said blockchain technology could transform sectors such as freelancing, remittances and investment. He said blockchain-based systems and stablecoins could significantly reduce transfer fees for overseas Pakistanis sending money home. He also stressed the importance of tokenization, explaining that assets such as land, stocks and bonds could be digitally divided into smaller investment units, allowing ordinary Pakistanis to invest with limited capital. Bilal bin Saqib said Pakistan&rsquo;s large youth population and growing freelancer market provide a strong foundation for future growth in blockchain and artificial intelligence. He said many countries are now approaching Pakistan to understand how it regulated the digital assets space, adding that some of the world&rsquo;s biggest technology brands are also showing interest in exploring opportunities in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for a &ldquo;Pakistan-first&rdquo; approach where young people can build billion-dollar companies within the country instead of moving abroad. He said emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence could become major drivers of economic growth and innovation in Pakistan. Bilal bin Saqib credited Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership for improving the country&rsquo;s global image and said the focus now should be on attracting investment, encouraging innovation and ensuring Pakistan secures a leading role in the future digital economy.

Economy

Bilal bin Saqib, chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), has said Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global digital economy, with the country’s youth driving growth in blockchain, crypto adoption and financial technology

Pakistan emerging as key player in global digital economy: Bilal bin Saqib

Faraz Saeed

DUSHANBE: Pakistan on Tuesday called for a binding international legal framework to protect transboundary water rights, warning that existing global mechanisms had failed lower riparian states after the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.&nbsp;Addressing the plenary session of the 4th High-Level International Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Masood Malik said the current global water governance structure lacked effective enforcement mechanisms against unilateral actions by upper riparian countries.&nbsp;Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty between Pakistan and India, Malik described it as &ldquo;until recently, considered the most successful transboundary water treaty in the world,&rdquo; noting that it had survived wars and decades of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.&nbsp;&ldquo;Last year, it was unilaterally suspended,&rdquo; Malik told delegates. &ldquo;The treaty did not collapse. It was revealed. It was revealed that a lower riparian country&rsquo;s water rights are only as secure as the goodwill of the upper riparian state.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister said Pakistan approached the institution that brokered the treaty after its suspension, but found there was no effective mechanism to compel compliance by a sovereign state.&nbsp;The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following the 2025 Pahalgam incident, after which India announced suspension of cooperation measures related to the Indus Waters Treaty framework.&nbsp;Pakistan has maintained that the treaty is an internationally binding agreement that cannot be unilaterally suspended or held in abeyance.&nbsp;Malik said vulnerabilities faced by lower riparian states extended beyond South Asia and affected river basins worldwide where power asymmetries shaped water-sharing arrangements.&nbsp;Calling for reforms ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, he urged the international community to establish &ldquo;a binding international covenant on transboundary water rights&rdquo; with compulsory dispute resolution mechanisms and enforceable consequences for violations.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have had enough of committing. It is time to start complying,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Highlighting the broader global water crisis, Malik said nearly two billion people still lacked access to safe drinking water, while three billion faced water scarcity for at least one month annually.&nbsp;He said Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;Referring to melting glaciers feeding the Indus River system, recurring floods and droughts, groundwater depletion and soil degradation, the minister warned that water insecurity was intensifying across the region.&nbsp;Throughout his address, Malik cited the human impact of water scarcity, including women travelling long distances to fetch water, children dying from waterborne diseases and farmers losing ancestral lands to climate-related disasters.&nbsp;Concluding his remarks, the minister said water must be treated as a fundamental right protected under international law.&nbsp;&ldquo;Water is a right. And rights require protection,&rdquo; Malik said, adding that Pakistan stood ready to support stronger international cooperation on global water governance.

Pakistan on Tuesday called for a binding international legal framework to protect transboundary water rights, warning that existing global mechanisms had failed lower riparian states after the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

At Dushanbe summit, Pakistan warns India over weaponization of water

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that disagreements over the wording of a proposed agreement were slowing progress in negotiations with Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire. Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, Rubio said talks remained active but cautioned that finalizing an agreement could still take several days as negotiators worked through differences in the draft text. &ldquo;I think like anything with something like this, it&rsquo;s going to take a couple of days, to settle on even down to the disagreements over a word, sentence,&rdquo; Rubio said. &ldquo;So we&rsquo;ll have to work through that.&rdquo; The remarks came a day after US forces carried out what Washington described as defensive strikes in southern Iran, even as negotiators met in Doha for another round of discussions focused on ending months of conflict that disrupted regional stability, energy markets and maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio said the strategically vital waterway &ldquo;has to be open,&rdquo; adding: &ldquo;They&rsquo;re going to be open one way or the other.&rdquo;&nbsp; He described the continued disruption to maritime navigation as &ldquo;unlawful,&rdquo; &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; and &ldquo;unsustainable for the world.&rdquo; Despite the renewed military tensions, Rubio said diplomatic engagement was continuing.&nbsp; &ldquo;There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we&rsquo;ll see if we can make progress,&rdquo; he said, adding that discussions were centered on &ldquo;specific language in the initial document.&rdquo; The negotiations are part of broader mediation efforts involving regional actors, including Pakistan, following a ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after months of confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.

US official says disagreements over wording in a draft agreement are slowing progress in ongoing Iran negotiations, despite continued diplomatic talks aimed at preserving the fragile ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz

‘Disagreements over a word’ delaying US-Iran deal progress: Rubio

GAZA CITY: Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people and wounded several others on Tuesday, in the latest violence to hit the territory despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. &quot;Five martyrs and several wounded were transferred (to hospital) after an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of citizens in eastern Al-Maghazi,&quot; the civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas said. Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital and a Palestinian security source confirmed the incident and the casualties.

Graphic content / TOPSHOT - Injured children wait for medical care at the trauma ward at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

At least five people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on eastern Al-Maghazi in Gaza despite a ceasefire, according to health officials.

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

SEOUL: North Korea launched several projectiles, including a ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea&#39;s military said. Pyongyang has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks, and analysts have said the diplomatically isolated state may be trying to take advantage of eroding international norms to cement its nuclear status. The North has also repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, repeatedly calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary. South Korea&#39;s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Tuesday they had detected the launches of &quot;several projectiles&quot;, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea from the North Korean city of Chongju at around 1:00 pm (0400 GMT). The Yellow Sea is the body of water separating the Korean peninsula from China. The missiles flew about 80 kilometres (50 miles), Seoul&#39;s military said, adding that it was analysing their specifications and flight range, and had &quot;strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for possible additional launches&quot;. South Korea, its main security partner the United States, and Japan were &quot;maintaining a state of full readiness&quot; and closely sharing intelligence, Seoul&#39;s military said. The launch was North Korea&#39;s first for 37 days and its eighth this year. In April, Pyongyang conducted another such test to &quot;verify the characteristics and power of a cluster bomb warhead&quot;, its state media said at the time. South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency reported last week, citing unnamed government sources, that Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely visit North Korea sometime this week. China is North Korea&#39;s main economic and political backer, though Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia in recent years. Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang have yet confirmed Xi&#39;s visit.

A woman watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on May 26, 2026. North Korea launched an "unidentified projectile" into the Yellow Sea off its west coast on May 26,

Asia

North Korea fired several projectiles, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea as tensions rise amid its continued weapons tests and reported regional diplomatic activity.

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Yellow Sea: Seoul

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in New York on Tuesday for an official visit focused on multilateral diplomacy, global governance and international peace and security discussions at the United Nations. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Dar will participate in a high-level United Nations Security Council open debate titled &ldquo;Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centered International System,&rdquo; convened under China&rsquo;s rotating presidency of the Security Council for May 2026. The session will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.&nbsp; Pakistan welcomed the initiative, with the Foreign Office describing it as a &ldquo;timely initiative&rdquo; that highlights &ldquo;the importance of strengthening multilateralism and upholding the central role of the United Nations in addressing today&rsquo;s complex global challenges.&rdquo; Dar is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the Group of Friends on Global Governance under the theme &ldquo;Reforming and Improving Global Governance, Working Together to Address Global Challenges,&rdquo; while holding separate bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials on the sidelines of the visit. The visit comes amid heightened international diplomatic activity linked to conflicts in the Middle East, maritime security concerns and broader debates over the role of multilateral institutions in addressing global crises.&nbsp; Pakistan has recently intensified diplomatic engagement at regional and international levels, including mediation efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire process and wider regional stability initiatives. <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: 672px; 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=2059142712172093811&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=bb02a3f6b35f2bac096cdc7ad81b06fa00722b0d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>On arrival in New York, Dar was received by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and Pakistan&rsquo;s Consul General in New York Aamer Ahmad Atozai, according to the Foreign Office.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York for an official visit from 26-28 May. (Photo: MOFA)

Ishaq Dar will attend high-level United Nations meetings on international peace, security and global governance, while also holding bilateral engagements with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials.

Pakistan foreign minister in New York for key United Nations meetings

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have intensified restrictions on public life and independent media, banning music in a major tourist province and shutting down several local radio stations in moves critics say reflect a widening crackdown on freedoms across Afghanistan. Authorities in Nuristan province announced new Eid al-Adha measures prohibiting music for both residents and tourists, according to statements carried by London-based Afghanistan International. Under the restrictions, bringing musical instruments into the province has been banned, with officials warning that any instruments discovered at entry points would be confiscated and destroyed. The Taliban police command in Nuristan said the measures were aimed at maintaining &ldquo;order and public security&rdquo; during the holiday period. The group has long opposed music and, since returning to power in 2021, has steadily removed it from public life, banning broadcasts on television and radio and restricting performances in markets, public gatherings and celebrations. Many Afghan musicians have since abandoned their profession or fled the country. The latest directives also ban celebratory gunfire and unauthorized weapons, while tourists have been instructed to hold recreational gatherings only in designated areas. Taliban members travelling through the province were additionally told to keep personal weapons inside vehicles. The restrictions come despite Nuristan emerging in recent years as one of Afghanistan&rsquo;s most visited domestic tourist destinations during Eid holidays, drawing thousands seeking cooler weather and mountain scenery. In a separate development, Afghan media watchdogs accused the Taliban of using bureaucratic measures to silence independent media outlets after authorities shut down three local radio stations in Kandahar province. Local sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban intelligence personnel and officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture closed the stations &ldquo;Tahsin-al-Quran,&rdquo; &ldquo;Sanga,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Zama Zeewar.&rdquo; Taliban officials claimed the outlets lacked proper licences, had unpaid taxes and aired what they described as &ldquo;non-standard&rdquo; programming. However, the Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) rejected those claims, saying the renewal of licences and administrative procedures had been delayed by Taliban authorities themselves. &ldquo;Silencing media outlets because of administrative delays is unreasonable and unjust,&rdquo; the organisation said. One station manager also disputed the allegations, telling the Afghanistan Journalists Center that claims regarding tax violations and broadcasting standards were &ldquo;false&rdquo; and merely a pretext to suppress independent media. AMSO warned that the closures further weaken Afghanistan&rsquo;s already shrinking media landscape and threaten the livelihoods of journalists amid worsening economic conditions. &ldquo;Closing media outlets amid the country&rsquo;s severe economic difficulties not only deprives citizens of access to information but also exposes many journalists and media workers to unemployment,&rdquo; the organisation said. According to media advocates, at least four local media outlets have been suspended by Taliban authorities within the past week alone, including a radio station previously shut down in Bamiyan province over licensing issues. The latest actions add to growing international concern over freedom of expression and civil liberties in Afghanistan, where rights groups say the Taliban have increasingly relied on morality regulations, censorship and administrative pressure to tighten control over public and cultural life.

Daily life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule - (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Afghanistan

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have banned music in Nuristan during Eid holidays and shut down three radio stations in Kandahar, moves media watchdogs and rights advocates say reflect widening restrictions on cultural expression, independent journalism and public freedoms.

Kremlin rejects European assessment Navalny died of poisoning

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At Dushanbe summit, Pakistan warns India over weaponization of water