Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, along with seven other Muslim-majority countries, welcomed United States President Donald Trump&rsquo;s invitation to join the Board of Peace, a joint press release issued by the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. The board &mdash; originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza &mdash; does not appear to limit its role to the Palestinian territory according to the charter. Chaired by Trump, the Board of Peace would operate as an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. According to the joint statement issued by the foreign ministries of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, the ministers announced their countries&#39; shared decision to join the peace board.&nbsp; &ldquo;Each country will sign the joining documents according to its respective relevant legal and other necessary procedures, including Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE, that have already announced to join,&rdquo; the press release said. The joint statement reiterated their countries&#39; support for the peace efforts led by President Trump, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the implementation of the mission as a transitional administration. &nbsp; The statement stressed the implementation of the plan aimed at consolidating a permanent ceasefire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law.&nbsp; The statement also called for paving the way for the security and stability of all countries in the region. In a post on X, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan &ldquo;has been and will continue to work&rdquo; with other Muslim countries for lasting peace in Gaza and for ensuring the right to self-determination of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Dar says Pakistan “has been and will continue to work” with other Muslim countries for lasting peace in Gaza and for ensuring the right to self-determination of Palestinians; joint statement reiterates countries' support for peace efforts led by President Trump.  

Pakistan, 7 Muslim countries join Trump’s Board of Peace

KYIV: Russia launched the &quot;most powerful&quot; attack this year on Ukraine&#39;s battered energy facilities overnight, Kyiv said on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in frigid temperatures ahead of talks to end the four-year <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russian-strikes-in-ukraine-kill-12-target-passenger-train" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">war</a>. Russia&#39;s strikes hit as temperatures dropped to their lowest since the start of the war in February 2022, killing two teenagers in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and damaging a&nbsp;Soviet-era&nbsp;World War II monument. The attack came a day before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were due to meet for a second round of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi. &quot;Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than turning to diplomacy,&quot; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, denouncing the attack. He said Russia had &quot;once again disregarded the efforts of the American side.&quot; US President Donald Trump urged Vladimir Putin to &quot;end the war,&quot; adding that he &quot;would like&quot; his Russian counterpart to extend a brief halt in attacks due to the frigid temperatures. NATO chief Mark Rutte, who visited Kyiv on Tuesday, said &quot;Russian attacks like those last night do not signal seriousness about peace.&quot; An air alert blared out across Kyiv during Rutte&#39;s visit. AFP journalists heard explosions across the capital overnight, and residents in hundreds of buildings woke to find their heating cut off as temperatures dipped toward minus 20 Celsius. More than 1,100 residential buildings remained without heat as of late Tuesday, Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said. Some residents gathered around a damaged building, stepping over creaking debris and a thick layer of ice coating the ground. &quot;Our windows are broken, and we have no heating,&quot; Anastasia Grytsenko told AFP. &quot;We don&#39;t know what to do.&quot; Russia&#39;s defense ministry confirmed it had launched &quot;a massive strike&quot; against &quot;Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises and energy facilities.&quot; The Kremlin had last week said it agreed to a US request not to strike Kyiv for seven days, ending Sunday. Ukraine had not reported large-scale Russian attacks on the capital last week, while denouncing continued attacks in other parts of the country. &quot;Several types of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, were used to strike high-rise buildings and thermal power plants,&quot; Energy Minister Denys Shmygal said. &quot;Hundreds of thousands of families, including children, were deliberately left without heat in the harshest winter frosts,&quot; he added. Tuesday&#39;s strike on energy facilities was &quot;the most powerful&quot; since the start of 2026, Ukraine&#39;s largest private energy provider confirmed. Ukraine&#39;s air force said Russia had attacked with 71 missiles and 450 attack drones. Six people were wounded in the capital, officials said. A drone strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia also killed two teenagers and wounded at least 11 people, officials said. &#39;Symbolic and cynical&#39;&nbsp;The base of Kyiv&#39;s towering Soviet-era Motherland statue was damaged. &quot;It is both symbolic and cynical: the aggressor state strikes at a place of remembrance of the struggle against aggression in the 20th century, repeating its crimes in the 21st century,&quot; Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna wrote on social media. Recent Russian strikes have repeatedly cut power and heating to tens of thousands of homes. Strikes also hit Ukraine&#39;s second-largest city, Kharkiv, temporarily cutting heating to around 100,000 subscribers. Authorities had to cut heating to more than 800 homes to prevent the wider network from freezing, the regional governor said. Overnight temperatures had plunged to minus 19 Celsius in Kyiv and minus 23 Celsius in Kharkiv. US pushes for deal&nbsp;Russian occupation authorities in southern Ukraine said Ukrainian shelling had killed three people in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Kremlin-installed authorities said the shelling hit a municipal building and a fruit shop. &quot;There are dead: three people, including an employee of the administration,&quot; said Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-backed head of the Russian-controlled part of the Kherson region. Nova Kakhovka fell to Russian forces in the first days of their 2022 invasion. The United States has sought to craft a settlement between the two sides, but a first round of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/first-round-of-usrussiaukraine-talks-ends-in-abu-dhabi" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">trilateral</a> talks held in Abu Dhabi last month failed to yield a breakthrough. A second round is due to <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/kremlin-confirms-ukraine-war-talks-this-week-in-abu-dhabi" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">begin</a> on Wednesday in the Emirati capital, and is expected to focus on the crucial issue of territory. Russia has demanded Kyiv withdraw from the Donetsk region and has repeatedly said it is ready to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine by force if diplomacy fails.

Europe

The US has sought to craft a settlement between the two sides, but a first round of trilateral talks failed to yield a breakthrough. A second round is due to begin on Wednesday in the Emirati capital.

Russia resumes large-scale Ukraine strikes in freezing weather

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday condemned the &ldquo;heinous and cowardly&rdquo; coordinated <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/balochistan-cm-vows-wont-surrender-even-an-inch-after-coordinated-attacks" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">terrorist attacks</a>&nbsp;in Pakistan&rsquo;s Balochistan province.&nbsp; Pakistan has faced a renewed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-reaffirms-resolve-after-security-forces-kill-108-indianbacked-terrorists" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">surge</a> in militant violence in recent years, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, following the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan&rsquo;s (TTP) decision to end its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.&nbsp; Last week&rsquo;s coordinated assaults, claimed by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), left 17 security personnel martyred and 31 civilians dead.&nbsp; Consequently, Pakistani security forces, in counter terrorism operations, eliminated 177 terrorists, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told the National Assembly. In a press statement issued today by Council President James Kariuki, the members of the UNSC expressed their &ldquo;deepest sympathy and condolences,&rdquo; wishing a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. &ldquo;The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,&rdquo; the statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s permanent mission to the UN said. The members underline the need &ldquo;to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable,&rdquo; bringing them to justice. They also urged all states to cooperate actively with the Pakistani government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever committed,&rdquo; the statement said, reaffirming the need for all to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, etc., have separately <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/condemnations-pour-in-for-pakistan-as-security-forces-kill-another-22-indianbacked-militants" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">condemned</a> the attacks, expressing solidarity with Pakistan. BLA is listed as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, China, Iran, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

Security

Security Council members underline need “to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable,” and to bring them to justice. 

Balochistan attacks: UNSC condemns ‘heinous, cowardly’ terrorists

TRIPOLI: Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, the son of Libya&#39;s late longtime ruler, was killed Tuesday by gunmen who stormed his home in western Libya&#39;s Zintan, his French lawyer Marcel Ceccaldi told AFP. &quot;He was killed today at 2 pm (1200 GMT)... in Zintan in his home by a four-man commando,&quot; Ceccaldi said. Seif al-Islam, 53, had been seen by some as his father&#39;s successor, despite being targeted by a warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. In 2021 he announced he would run for president, but those elections were indefinitely postponed. His adviser, Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, told Libya&#39;s Al-Ahrar television channel that the four unidentified men had stormed the home before &quot;disabling surveillance cameras, then executed him.&quot; It remained unclear who was behind the killing. Ceccaldi said that a close associate of Seif al-Islam had told him days ago &quot;that there were problems with his security.&quot; &quot;So much so that the head of the (Kadhafi&#39;s) tribe had called Seif and told him, &#39;I will send you people to ensure your security&#39;. But Seif refused,&quot; he said. While Seif al-Islam held no official position in the North African country under his father&#39;s rule, he had been described as Libya&#39;s de facto prime minister, cultivating the image of a moderate and reformer prior to the 2011 Arab Spring revolt. But that reputation soon collapsed when he promised &quot;rivers of blood&quot; in the face of the uprisings. A divided country Seif al-Islam was arrested in November 2011 in southern Libya following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. A Tripoli court later sentenced him to death in 2015 after a speedy trial, but he was granted amnesty. His whereabouts had long been unknown. Ceccaldi said he &quot;often moved around.&quot; Libya expert Emadeddin Badi said Seif al-Islam&#39;s death was &quot;likely to cast him as a martyr for a significant segment of the population, while also shifting electoral dynamics by removing a major obstacle to presidential elections.&quot; &quot;His candidacy and potential success had been a central point of contention,&quot; Badi wrote on X. Moamer Kadhafi&#39;s last spokesperson, Moussa Ibrahim, also posted on the social network: &quot;They killed him treacherously. He wanted a united, sovereign Libya, safe for all its people. &quot;I spoke with him two days ago. He spoke of nothing but a peaceful Libya and the safety of its people.&quot; Libya has struggled to recover from chaos that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi. Libya remains divided between an UN-backed government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by Haftar.

Africa

Libya has struggled to recover from chaos that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi; country remains divided between an UN-backed government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by Haftar.

Son of Libya's late ruler Kadhafi killed by armed gang

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD/RIYADH: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, where the two reviewed prospects for improving relations between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.&nbsp;An official reception ceremony was held in honor of the Turkish president.&nbsp;During an official talks session, the crown prince welcomed the president to the country. President Erdoğan also expressed his pleasure at the visit.&nbsp;The two sides reviewed prospects for &ldquo;relations between the two countries, avenues of cooperation, and promising opportunities to further develop ties across various fields,&rdquo; SPA reported.&nbsp;The talks, attended by several officials from both sides, also discussed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-saudi-arabia-agree-to-enhance-cooperation-in-energy-and-minerals" style="color:#0073e6;">regional</a>&nbsp;and international developments and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-joins-saudi-arabia-turkey-in-backing-un-gaza-peace-plan" style="color:#0073e6;">efforts</a>&nbsp;made in this regard.&nbsp;In the first visit in more than two years, Ankara hopes to &quot;finalize negotiations towards a free trade agreement between Turkey and the member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)&quot;, the Turkish presidency said.&nbsp;&quot;The two sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the fields of oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals,&quot; as well as in &quot;electricity and renewable energy... building on Saudi Arabia&#39;s massive energy investments,&quot; the statement added.&nbsp;Ties between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have steadily recovered in recent years, with the countries cooperating on a range of diplomatic issues.&nbsp;This includes support for Gaza and backing Syria&#39;s new government in the wake of the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.&nbsp;Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu reported that Erdogan would then travel to Cairo on Wednesday.

Middle East

Ankara hopes to "finalize negotiations towards a free trade agreement between Turkey and the member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)."


Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince review prospects for improving bilateral ties

JERICHO/JERUSALEM: Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces shot dead a man and wounded three others in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinian Authority would play no role in post-war governance of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/gaza-civil-defence-says-22-killed-in-israeli-strikes" style="color:#0073e6;">Gaza</a>. The Ramallah-based health ministry said that young man Saeed Nael Saeed al-Sheikh was martyred by &ldquo;occupation gunfire in Jericho, and three others were injured.&rdquo; The Israeli military said the soldiers opened fire after &quot;rocks&quot; were thrown at them. The death of the 24-year-old Saeed was confirmed to AFP by Riad Eid, director of the Jericho Governmental Hospital. The Israeli military alleged that soldiers carrying out an operation in the Jericho area &quot;identified a number of terrorists who hurled rocks at the forces.&quot; &quot;The soldiers responded with live fire, one terrorist was eliminated, and hits were identified on the additional terrorists,&quot; a military statement claimed. Violence has <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-muslim-nations-denounce-israeli-ceasefire-breaches-killing-palestinians-in-gaza" style="color:#0073e6;">surged</a>&nbsp;across the West Bank since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel. At least 1,033 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry. During the same period, 45 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory, according to official Israeli figures. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. PA won&#39;t be part of post-war Gaza governance: Netanyahu tells USSeparately, while meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that the PA would not be part of post-war Gaza&#39;s governance &quot;in any way.&quot; &quot;The Prime Minister clarified that the Palestinian Authority will not be involved in administering the Strip in any way,&quot; Netanyahu&#39;s office said in a statement after the meeting ended. Under US President Donald Trump&#39;s Gaza ceasefire plan that ended a two-year war in the Palestinian territory, the PA&#39;s post-war role in Gaza was left unclear. The technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) was formed to handle day-to-day affairs until the PA completes a reform program. Witkoff held talks with Netanyahu on Tuesday, during a visit that followed the reopening of Gaza&#39;s Rafah crossing with Egypt. This was the second meeting between the two in less than a fortnight. At the meeting, Netanyahu also &quot;reiterated the uncompromising demand for the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, and the fulfilment of the war objectives prior to the reconstruction of the Strip,&quot; according to his office. Israel has demanded that neither Hamas nor the PA should be involved in the governance of post-war Gaza. On Monday, Netanyahu&#39;s office lamented that the logo of the NCAG contains a symbol of the PA, suggesting a link between the two. &quot;Israel will not accept the use of a Palestinian Authority symbol; the Palestinian Authority will have no part in the administration of Gaza,&quot; his office said in a statement. The NCAG replied in a post on X on Tuesday, saying it &quot;has been testing a range of visual concepts&quot; and that logo designs may evolve, and added that its focus &quot;is humanitarian relief, civilian administration, recovery, and a livable future for Gaza.&quot; &quot;That&#39;s the conversation that matters,&quot; it said.

Israeli military says soldiers opened fire after "rocks" were thrown at them; at least 1,033 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the Gaza bombardment started.

Israeli army kills Palestinian man in West Bank as Netanyahu rejects PA role in Gaza

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;A US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier in the Middle East on Tuesday, Washington said, as renewed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-joins-iranus-talks-as-tensions-rise-foreign-office" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">tensions</a>&nbsp;on the high seas overshadowed plans for nuclear talks, AFP reported. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that US envoy Steve Witkoff is still expected &quot;to have conversations with the Iranians late this week,&quot; despite the incident. The downing of the drone was the second clash between the foes in Middle Eastern waters on the same day, after Iranian forces attempted to detain a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington and Tehran have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-hopeful-of-iran-deal-after-tehran-warns-of-regional-war" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">agreed</a> to talks after US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened Iran with military action &mdash; and Iran warned that it would respond with strikes on US vessels and bases. The United States bombed Iran&#39;s nuclear sites last summer and has sent a naval battlegroup back to the region since Tehran&#39;s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. Negotiations are now set for Friday, but Trump has refused to rule out military action, and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, insists talks will only go ahead if they are free of threats. &quot;An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defense,&quot; Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement. The aircraft carrier was dispatched to the Arabian Sea last month amid a buildup of US forces. &#39;Bad things&#39;&nbsp;Trump had told Iranians that &quot;help is on its way&quot; during anti-government protests in Iran that were met with a deadly crackdown last month. Pezeshkian <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usiran-meetings-likely-to-take-place-in-turkey-on-feb-6-report" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">confirmed</a> on Tuesday that he had ordered the start of talks with the United States, provided they were free of threats, after Trump suggested &quot;bad things&quot; would happen without a deal. While speaking about Iran, Trump stated in an Oval Office bill signing event on Tuesday, &ldquo;They had a chance to do something a while ago and it didn&#39;t work out, and we did Midnight Hammer.&rdquo;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gk6dQV40kfg" title="President Trump Participates in a Bill Signing, Feb. 3, 2026" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>Trump also issued an explicit warning that Iran does not want a repeat, stating, &ldquo;I don&#39;t think they want that happening again, but they would like to negotiate.&rdquo;&nbsp; He further emphasized Iran&rsquo;s interest in talks: &ldquo;They&#39;d like to do something and we&#39;ll see if something is going to be done,&rdquo; and, &ldquo;They would like to negotiate.&rdquo;&nbsp; Trump confirmed that negotiations are happening immediately: &ldquo;We are negotiating with them right now.&rdquo;&nbsp; On the question of meeting locations, he declined to disclose details: &ldquo;I can&#39;t tell you that,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;There really is more than one meeting.&rdquo; Iran has not confirmed where the talks will take place but said Turkey, Oman, and &quot;some other countries in the region&quot; had expressed willingness to host them, adding that the venue and timing were &quot;not a complicated issue.&quot; The Iranian Foreign Ministry says preparations have been completed for holding talks with the United States in the coming days, with consultations continuing on the location of the negotiations, Press TV reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;Remarking on Tuesday, spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said planning had already been carried out and that details on the venue would be announced once finalized. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Witkoff in Jerusalem on Tuesday that Iran &quot;cannot be trusted,&quot; according to a statement from Netanyahu&#39;s office. The US opposes Iran&#39;s nuclear program, which it maintains is a precursor to acquiring nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists it is for civilian research purposes. Washington also wants to curtail Iran&#39;s support for proxy forces in the region and cut its vast arsenal of ballistic missiles. &quot;I have instructed my minister of foreign affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists &mdash; one free from threats and unreasonable expectations &mdash; to pursue fair and equitable negotiations,&quot; Pezeshkian wrote in a post on X.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 435px; 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=2018551561522135352&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=53e3d991498758b2d1e48e66f2cb1e47e084317d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2018551561522135352"></iframe></div></div>Iran has repeatedly stressed that any talks should focus solely on the nuclear issue and not its missile program or defense capabilities. While Trump and Pezeshkian insisted they were dedicated to talks, US and Iranian forces were in action at sea. A US-flagged tanker was challenged on Tuesday by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said. Spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said two Iranian boats and a drone approached the M/V Stena Imperative, &quot;and threatened to board and seize the tanker.&quot; A US destroyer responded with air support and escorted the tanker onwards. British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech reported that the Stena Imperative was approached by three pairs of small armed boats belonging to the Revolutionary Guards while transiting the strait 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) north of Oman. The ship increased speed and maintained course, the firm added, stressing it did not enter Iranian waters. But the Iranian news agency Fars said a vessel, whose nationality it did not specify, had entered the country&#39;s territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;It was therefore warned and immediately left Iranian waters,&quot; Fars said.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln transits through the Arabian Sea on April 5, 2012.

Americas

Downing of the drone is the second clash between the foes after Iranian forces attempted to detain a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz; talks are set for Friday, but Trump has refused to rule out military action; his Iranian counterpart Pezeshkian insists talks will only go ahead if they are free of threats.



US jet downs Iran drone but talks still on course

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan has expressed strong readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in science, research, and higher education, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote knowledge-driven economic growth. Kazakhstan&rsquo;s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, said Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional knowledge and research hub for Central Asia, with higher education at the core of its economic transformation.&nbsp; He noted that rapid global technological change, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence, has made investment in education, research, and human capital more critical than ever. He said Kazakhstan is building a knowledge-based economy by training its youth and attracting global expertise. Mr. Nurbek said Kazakhstan is establishing specialized research centers in key areas including mining, agriculture, nuclear research, and social sciences, aimed at supporting industrial growth and informed policymaking.&nbsp; He said Pakistan has strong universities and a large pool of talented youth, and emphasized that collaboration between the two countries could help expand access to quality education. He added that President of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s visit to Pakistan reflects strengthening bilateral relations, including in science and higher education. Highlighting people-to-people connections, the minister said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share historical roots, cultural links, and similarities in language that should bring the two nations closer. He said Kazakhstan is exploring scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students and identifying artificial intelligence and agriculture as priority areas for cooperation. Mr. Nurbek further said Kazakhstan is streamlining its visa system to provide faster processing for Pakistani students.&nbsp; He said hundreds and thousands of Pakistani students could study in Kazakhstan and also explore employment opportunities after completing their education, calling academic mobility a key pillar of future bilateral cooperation.

Education

Kazakhstan has expressed strong readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in science, research, and higher education, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote knowledge-driven economic growth

Kazakhstan ready to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in science and higher education

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan and calling for an immediate, aggressive, and coordinated national response. The resolution was tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and passed in response to coordinated terrorist attacks across the south-western province. The country&rsquo;s lower house condemned the attacks&nbsp;&ldquo;in the strongest terms&rdquo; in which innocent civilians were targeted, and women were used as weapons through &ldquo;heinous and inhumane&rdquo; tactics. Lawmakers expressed deep sorrow that terrorist networks were exploiting women through coercion, mental pressure, and blackmail, adding that such actions were contrary to Islamic, Pakistani, and Baloch values. The resolution praised timely and effective measures by security forces, law enforcement agencies, the provincial government of Balochistan, and the civil administration. expressing full solidarity with the families of martyrs and the injured. It clarified that attacks on civilians, women, and children are unforgivable crimes, and the state will act with zero tolerance. The resolution stated that available evidence points to external sponsorship, raising serious concerns about India&rsquo;s role. It noted that some neighboring countries provide logistical and operational facilitation, financial assistance, training, treatment, transport, and propaganda support to terrorist networks. It stated that an effective national response be ensured on an immediate, aggressive, coordinated, and emergency basis against foreign sponsors and internal facilitators. This includes funding networks, smuggling routes, and propaganda hubs, with political, diplomatic, military, intelligence, legal, and rhetorical fronts united. The lower house declared that the fight against terrorism is the fight of the entire nation. Lawmakers called for national unity across political lines and said that the state will ensure the protection and security of its people in every way.

Lower house declares fight against terrorism is the fight of the entire nation; Lawmakers call for national unity across political lines, say state will ensure the protection and security of its people in every way.

Balochistan attacks: Pakistan calls for immediate, aggressive, coordinated national response

BRUSSELS: NATO said Tuesday that military planning has started for a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, after US President Donald Trump made protecting the region central to his demands for Greenland. &quot;Planning is underway for a NATO enhanced vigilance activity, named Arctic Sentry,&quot; said Martin O&#39;Donnell, a spokesman for NATO&#39;s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. &quot;The activity will even further strengthen NATO&#39;s posture in the Arctic and High North,&quot; he added, without providing further details. Trump&#39;s threats against Greenland last month plunged the transatlantic alliance into its deepest crisis in years. The unpredictable US leader backed off his desire to take control of Denmark&#39;s autonomous Arctic territory after saying he had struck a &quot;framework&quot; deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater American influence. NATO said it would take steps to boost its presence in the Arctic after Trump used the alleged threat of Russia and China to justify his designs on Greenland. Meanwhile, Denmark and Greenland have kicked off talks with the United States over the territory and are expected to renegotiate a 1951 treaty governing American troop deployments on the island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that NATO countries back having a &quot;permanent presence&quot; in the Arctic, including around Greenland, as part of efforts to step up security.

NATO said Tuesday that military planning has started for a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, after US President Donald Trump made protecting the region central to his demands for Greenland

NATO says 'planning underway' for new Arctic mission

Islamabad: The award ceremony is one of the most emotional moments of my life,&rdquo; said Pakistan-origin Ali Akbar, his voice heavy with emotion, as he reflected on a remarkable half-century journey of selling newspapers on the streets of Paris, a humble livelihood that ultimately earned him the respect and admiration of an entire nation. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, in its morning show, World This Morning, Akbar said he felt &ldquo;truly honored and deeply grateful,&rdquo; and calling the moment unforgettable. Akbar is Known as Paris&rsquo; last newspaper hawker, has now been awarded the National Order of Merit, one of France&rsquo;s highest civilian honours, personally conferred by President Emmanuel Macron. His story is not just about migration or survival, but about dignity, service, and unwavering faith. Surrounded by his children, grandchildren, wife, and extended family, he said being recognized by the French President felt like a lifetime of honest labor finally being acknowledged. Akbar traced his journey back to Rawalpindi, where poverty forced him to work from a very young age. As a child, he polished shoes, sold popcorn, and worked in wealthy households to support his family. Living without clean drinking water, he made a promise to himself to one day build a better home for his mother, a dream that became the driving force behind his decision to leave Pakistan before the age of eighteen. His path to France was long and uncertain, taking him through several countries before he eventually settled in Paris. There, life remained challenging. Selling newspapers in extreme weather, Ali&nbsp;Akbar became a familiar and respected face in the Latin Quarter, interacting daily with intellectuals, writers, politicians, and students including a young Emmanuel Macron. Despite never attending formal school in France, he learned the language through daily interactions and observation. Ali Akbar said that faith, honesty, and service to people kept him going. His message to Pakistan&rsquo;s youth is clear: stay consistent, work hard, remain honest, and serve others &mdash; because true recognition comes to those who never stop striving.

World This Morning

Ali Akbar said that faith, honesty, and service to people kept him going. 

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