Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan conducted airstrikes targeting the Taliban&rsquo;s military positions in Afghanistan last night, security sources said on Friday. According to the security sources, airstrikes targeted the Brigade Headquarters in the Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul, Afghanistan. The airstrikes also targeted the Kandahar Airport. The airstrikes targeted the Taliban&#39;s military positions in Chamkani District of Paktia Province of Afghanistan, the sources said. They said that Taliban positions in Khost have also been struck.

Security

Pakistan conducted airstrikes targeting the Taliban’s military positions in Afghanistan last night, security sources said on Friday.

Pakistan conducts airstrikes targeting Taliban’s military positions in Afghanistan: Security sources 

Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows updates for Day 61 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 60, go <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-60" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">here</a>.<hr><ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iran urges UNSC action while Amnesty condemns Israel&rsquo;s attacks in Lebanon</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lebanese president denounces deadly strike killing medics, citing violations of international law</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Oil prices rise as Middle East war fuels uncertainty and economic concerns globally</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">US enforces maritime blockade while tensions grow over Iran and Strait of Hormuz</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Regional leaders weigh responses as conflict impacts energy markets, security, and civilians</li></ul><hr> Amnesty slams Israel&rsquo;s destruction of solar panels in southern LebanonPublished: April 29, 2026 | 01:47 GMT | by AFP The international human rights organisation has said that a video showing Israeli forces destroying solar panels in southern Lebanon is just one example of how civilian infrastructure is being targeted. In a post on X, Amnesty International said that its previous calls for similar Israeli attacks to be investigated as war crimes have yet to be heeded. &ldquo;Israel must stop the unlawful destruction of civilian property across southern Lebanon.&rdquo; <hr> Iran calls for UNSC to compel Israel to stop attacks on LebanonPublished: April 29, 2026 | 00:34 GMT | by AFP Iran&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani has called on the Security Council to &ldquo;act decisively to compel Israel to fully uphold the ceasefire in Lebanon,&rdquo; Al Jazeera reported. The council should also ensure that Israel &ldquo;immediately halt all attacks against civilian and civilian infrastructure and withdraws all its occupying forces&rdquo; from Lebanon, Iravani said. He also decried US and Israeli attacks on Iran, as well as Israel&rsquo;s actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. <hr> Lebanese president denounces killing of medics in Majdal ZounPublished: April 29, 2026 | 00:01 GMT | by AFP Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned an Israeli attack that killed three civil defence personnel while they performed a rescue mission for people wounded in an earlier strike, Al Jazeera reported.&nbsp; The Israeli air strike on the town of Majdal Zoun killed at least five people, including the three paramedics reportedly trapped under rubble following an initial bombing. &ldquo;This attack is an addition to a series of assaults targeting relief and first aid workers, which demonstrates that Israel continues to violate international laws and charters that protect civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and Red Cross personnel,&rdquo; Aoun said, according to the state-run National News Agency. <hr> Oil prices climb again amid more uncertainty over US war on IranPublished: April 28, 2026 | 23:41 GMT | by AFP There has been another climb in oil prices as the war on Iran is helping to halt Wall Street&rsquo;s record-setting rally. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil to be delivered in June climbed 2.7% to $111.18. Brent to be delivered in July, which is where traders are focusing more in the oil market, rose 2.6% to $104.33. <hr>

Middle East

Americas

The international human rights organisation has said that a video showing Israeli forces destroying solar panels in southern Lebanon is just one example of how civilian infrastructure is being targeted; Iran’s Ambassador Iravani has called the council to “act decisively to compel Israel to fully uphold the ceasefire in Lebanon.” 




Iran condemns Israel, urges UNSC action as Amnesty decries Lebanon destruction

PARIS: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele scored twice each as Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in an epic first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, an extraordinary encounter becoming the highest-scoring match ever at this stage of the competition. The first half alone was crazy, with Harry Kane giving Bayern the lead from a penalty only for Kvaratskhelia to equalize before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front at an enthralled Parc des Princes. Michael Olise made it 2-2, but a Dembele penalty in first-half stoppage time had the reigning champions back ahead at the interval. Kvaratskhelia, surely the standout player in this season&#39;s Champions League, and Dembele both then scored again to have PSG seemingly out of sight, only for Dayot Upamecano to pull one back before Luis Diaz made it 5-4. An unforgettable game &mdash; perhaps better even than last season&#39;s semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona &mdash; leaves the tie between the continent&#39;s two best teams of the moment wonderfully poised for next Wednesday&#39;s return at the Allianz Arena, with a place in the final in Budapest on May 30 on the line. Luis Enrique&#39;s Parisians will be returning to Munich &mdash; scene of their 5-0 win over Inter in last year&#39;s final &mdash; with the advantage, but Bayern will be confident they can overturn the narrow deficit at home. The French champions are seeking to become just the second side in the modern Champions League era to retain the trophy, while the German champions are hoping to reach the final for the first time since 2020, when they defeated PSG to lift the trophy for the sixth time. Instant classic Vincent Kompany&#39;s team arrived in Paris having scored 167 goals this season, led by the remarkable Kane, who had netted 53 times in 45 appearances. This tie had a lot to live up to, after Bayern&#39;s spectacular win over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, but it was an instant classic as both teams showcased their devastating firepower. Bayern went ahead in the 17th minute as Willian Pacho chopped down Diaz, and Kane made no mistake with the resulting penalty to make it 54 for the campaign. The visitors won 2-1 here in November in the league phase thanks to a Diaz double, and they were the better team early on this time. But their front-foot approach made them vulnerable to the counter-attack, and Dembele should have equalized before the leveler came just after the midway point in the first half. Kvaratskhelia&#39;s genius on the wing has regularly been the difference for PSG recently, and he broke clear of Josip Stanisic down the left before cutting inside and firing into the far corner. A classic Kvaratskhelia goal was followed by Neves heading in Dembele&#39;s corner on 33 minutes. The action was only just getting started, however, as French international Olise drove towards the PSG box before smashing in for 2-2 with his 20th of the season. PSG then won a penalty at the end of the first half, when a Dembele cross struck the arm of Alphonso Davies, the Canadian making his first start in the Champions League this season after injury. It was given by the Swiss referee after a VAR check, and Dembele beat Manuel Neuer to make it 3-2 at the interval &mdash; a lead which PSG added to after the restart, leaving Bayern stunned. Achraf Hakimi&#39;s assist was swept in by Kvaratskhelia for 4-2 on 56 minutes, the Georgian getting his seventh goal in seven games in the knockout phase. Bayern had not been able to reset before Dembele surprised Neuer with a low shot in off the near post to make it 5-2 with his second of the night. But Bayern were not done, as Upamecano headed in Joshua Kimmich&#39;s free-kick for 5-3, taking Kompany&#39;s side to 170 for their season tally. Diaz, who was sent off in the November meeting, was then played in over the top and dribbled past Marquinhos before slotting in for the night&#39;s final goal. Kompany, watching from the stands due to suspension, would have been delighted with his team&#39;s response &mdash; even if they were relieved to see Senny Mayulu&#39;s late strike for PSG come back off Neuer&#39;s crossbar.

Football

The French champions are seeking to become just the second side in the modern Champions League era to retain the trophy, while the German champions are hoping to reach the final for the first time since 2020, when they defeated PSG to lift the trophy for the sixth time.

PSG edge Bayern in nine-goal Champions League semi-final epic

WASHINGTON: Britain&#39;s King Charles III urged the United States on Tuesday to stand firm with its Western allies, as strains over Iran and Ukraine risk undermining transatlantic ties facing their most serious test in years. &quot;The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone,&quot; he said in a speech at the US Congress, calling for partners to defend shared values. &quot;Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy,&quot; the monarch told lawmakers. Addressing Congress during celebrations marking 250 years since American independence from Britain, Charles stressed the historic ties between the two nations, saying their partnership was &quot;born out of dispute, but no less strong for it.&quot; &quot;I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values ... and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking,&quot; he added. He said &quot;unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people &mdash; in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace.&quot; President Donald Trump &mdash; hosting the royal couple for four days &mdash; earlier hailed Britain as America&#39;s closest ally as he welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House on a state visit overshadowed by tensions over the Iran conflict. Speaking after a pomp-filled welcome on the South Lawn featuring a 21-gun salute, Trump&#39;s tone was a world away from his recent jibes at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for failing to join the US war against Tehran. &#39;No closer friends&#39;&nbsp;&quot;In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British,&quot; Trump said during a ceremonial reception. Using a phrase popularized by Winston Churchill, he hailed the &quot;special relationship&quot; and praised Britain&#39;s military, saying the two countries had &quot;fought better together&quot; than any others. Cannons rang out while a military band played the British and US national anthems, before Charles shook hands with top Trump administration officials and inspected troops on the lawn with the president. A band of soldiers dressed in uniforms from the US Revolutionary War then marched past, playing fife and drums. Afterward, four US jets roared over the White House in a noisy flypast as Trump, Charles, Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump watched. The visit comes at a delicate moment in transatlantic relations, with Trump criticizing Starmer over his stance on Iran and other policies. The US president struck a warm tone, joking about his Scottish-born mother having &quot;a crush on Charles&quot; and praising the royal family after talks in the Oval Office, behind closed doors &mdash; an unusual step for the garrulous US president, reflecting the sensitivity of the visit. &quot;It was a really good meeting. He&#39;s a fantastic person. They&#39;re incredible people and it&#39;s a real honor,&quot; Trump told reporters afterward. &#39;Checks and balances&#39;&nbsp;The king&#39;s address to Congress &mdash; the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 &mdash; is the centerpiece of the state visit. In his speech, Charles highlighted shared democratic traditions dating back centuries, describing Congress as a &quot;citadel of democracy&quot; and stressing the common roots of British and American law. Charles said Britain&#39;s foundational legal document, Magna Carta, had been cited in an estimated 160-plus US Supreme Court cases since 1789 &mdash; noting, to applause from the opposition Democrats, the principle that &quot;executive power is subject to checks and balances.&quot; He also pointed to deep defense and economic links, from joint military programs to cooperation in emerging technologies, while warning that security challenges are growing more acute. &quot;Our defense, intelligence and security ties are hardwired together,&quot; he said. The royal couple will attend a state dinner later on Tuesday, capping a visit that has mixed ceremony with sensitive diplomacy. Security has been tight for the trip, which comes just days after an alleged assassination attempt against Trump at a Washington press gala. Counter sniper teams could be seen on the roof of the White House. Melania Trump told reporters she was &quot;very well&quot; when asked how she was doing after the shooting. &quot;Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed,&quot; King Charles told lawmakers.

Europe

Addressing Congress during celebrations marking 250 years since American independence from Britain, Charles stresses the historic ties between the two nations, saying their partnership was "born out of dispute, but no less strong for it."

King Charles urges Western unity in speech to US Congress

JERUSALEM: Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip killed five people on Tuesday, including a Hamas commander and a nine-year-old boy, Palestinian sources said.&nbsp;Despite an October ceasefire, the Palestinian territory remains gripped by daily violence as Israeli strikes continue, with both the military and Hamas accusing one another of breaking the truce.&nbsp;Gaza&#39;s civil defense agency said four people were killed and six others injured when a drone fired two missiles at a car in Gaza City&#39;s western Al-Rimal neighborhood.&nbsp;A Gaza security source identified two of the victims as Hamas commander Iyad al-Shanbari and his son Salah. He did not mention the other two people, and there was no immediate reaction from Hamas.&nbsp;In a separate incident, the civil defense agency said nine-year-old Adel al-Najjar was killed &quot;when an Israeli drone strike took place alongside artillery shelling east of Khan Yunis.&quot;&nbsp;The army said &quot;a suspect in the area of the Yellow Line approached troops, posing an immediate threat,&quot; and entered a building, which was then hit by the air force.&nbsp;But following a review, a spokesman said it became clear that &quot;an uninvolved individual entered the structure and was likely injured as a result.&quot;&nbsp;On Monday, Gaza medics said they received the body of 15-year-old Ayham al-Omari, who was shot dead in the northern town of Beit Lahiya. The ceasefire has largely halted the Gaza war that began after Hamas&#39;s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.&nbsp;But violence has persisted, with at least 818 Palestinians killed since the truce began, according to Gaza&#39;s health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.&nbsp;Over the same period, the Israeli military said five soldiers have been killed in Gaza.

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed five people, including a Hamas commander, his son, and a nine-year-old boy, Palestinian sources said. Despite a ceasefire, violence continues, with 818 Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers killed since the truce began.

Israeli strikes kill Hamas commander, others in Gaza: Palestinian sources

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday termed the use of disinformation and misinformation in situations of foreign occupation and conflict as &ldquo;highly concerning,&rdquo; concealing human rights violations and demonizing lawful struggles for self-determination, said a statement by the permanent mission of Pakistan to the United Nations. The remarks were made by Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Usman Jadoon while delivering a national statement during the 48th session of the Committee of Information (COI). Jadoon stated that false narratives are deployed to obscure human rights violations, demonize lawful struggles for self-determination, and silence affected populations. The statement said that Pakistan remains deeply concerned about the misuse of digital platforms to amplify falsehoods, deepen polarization, and target vulnerable communities.&nbsp; &ldquo;The persistence of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia in the digital space is particularly alarming, often translating into real-world harm,&rdquo; said the statement. Highlighting the profound transformation of the global information ecosystem, Jadoon observed that while technological advancements have expanded access to information, they have also accelerated the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech at an &ldquo;unprecedented scale.&rdquo; Simultaneously, he cautioned that these trends undermine public trust, social cohesion, and the credibility of multilateral institutions, including the UN, as per the statement. Jadoon stressed that &ldquo;timely, accurate, and impartial communication&rdquo; is particularly critical in the current context of geopolitical tensions, polarization, and widening inequalities.&nbsp; He emphasized the &ldquo;constructive role&rdquo; of information, stating that it must serve as a bridge for dialogue and cooperation rather than as a tool for manipulation, division, or repression, the statement added. While addressing emerging technological challenges, the ambassador highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence and generative technologies.&nbsp; He noted their transformative potential and the risks they pose to information integrity if misused, as per the statement. He also underscored that the global response must be both &ldquo;comprehensive and balanced.&rdquo; He called for respect for diverse cultural, legal, and social contexts in developing global frameworks on information integrity, cautioning against selective or uneven application, as per the statement. He emphasized the need for the restructured DGC to further strengthen its coordinating role in UN strategic communications, ensuring coherence, credibility, and accessibility across the system, it added. The representative also underscored the importance of multilingualism in ensuring inclusive communication and supported efforts to expand content across languages and regions, it said. The ambassador also called for &ldquo;structured engagement&rdquo; with major technology companies, noting their significant influence over global information flows and the UN&rsquo;s important role as a platform for dialogue and cooperation in this domain.&nbsp; He added that Pakistan stands &ldquo;ready to work&rdquo; constructively with the DGC and all member states to promote an information environment that is truthful, inclusive, and respectful of human dignity

Foreign Affairs

Terms the use of disinformation and misinformation in situations of foreign occupation and conflict as “highly concerning,” obscuring human rights violations and demonizing lawful struggles for self-determination

Pakistan warns disinformation undermines legitimate struggles for self-determination

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Tuesday that nationals detained in Cambodia will be repatriated after a raid on a scamming compound.&nbsp;According to reports, a number of Pakistanis were jailed in Cambodia following the raid.&nbsp;&ldquo;As a result of the Embassy&rsquo;s efforts, the host authorities in Cambodia have agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistani nationals detained in Siem Reap Province,&rdquo; Andrabi said in a post on his official X 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; text-align: left; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; 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=2049142826991313229&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=5a75b99e4f9c221f8f9b529623be3e749329f7f9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;Our Embassy staff are taking steps to ensure the welfare of the detained Pakistanis. These detainees will leave Cambodia as soon as flight arrangements are finalized,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He added that, as a &ldquo;goodwill gesture&rdquo; by Cambodian authorities, the individuals would be repatriated without facing legal proceedings under a recently enacted law targeting online scams.&nbsp;According to media reports, many of these Pakistanis were lured into the country with lucrative job offers.

Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, says nationals were detained following a raid on a scamming compound.

Cambodia agrees to early repatriation of Pakistani nationals 

AMMAN: A new group of wounded or ill Palestinian children from Gaza have arrived in Jordan to receive medical care, the kingdom&#39;s army said on Tuesday.&nbsp;They are the 26th group of children transported to Jordan since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.&nbsp;The 81 children, accompanied by 108 family members, arrived through the King Hussein, or Allenby, border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, the army said in a statement.&nbsp;It is part of the &quot;Jordanian medical corridor&quot; initiative that King Abdullah II agreed to following a meeting with US President Donald Trump in February 2025.&nbsp;Under the initiative, around 2,000 children will be transported to Jordan to receive medical care.&nbsp;Since March last year, more than 716 children have been transferred in cooperation with the World Health Organization, the majority of them suffering from fractures, major wounds or cancer.&nbsp;&quot;The children will be treated in a number of Jordanian hospitals, as part of the kingdom&#39;s ongoing medical and humanitarian efforts to provide healthcare and medical support to our brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip,&quot; the army said.&nbsp;A ceasefire has largely held in Gaza since last October, but some violence has persisted.&nbsp;

Jordan received 81 wounded or ill Palestinian children from Gaza with 108 family members for treatment. They are the 26th group since October 2023, under a plan to bring around 2,000 children for care.

Dozens of Gaza children arrive in Jordan for medical care

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with the United Nations Secretary General, Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, on Tuesday. They discussed the latest regional developments and Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing diplomatic efforts and engagement with the various parties.&nbsp;According to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO), Ant&oacute;nio Guterres commended Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing efforts and expressed the UN&rsquo;s full support. <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=2049131751398858982&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=09349d0281e411f2e85d3a7e01248fe038ac6918&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;The UNSG conveyed the international community&rsquo;s deep appreciation and support for Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role for regional and international peace and stability,&rdquo; the statement added.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, discussing regional developments and diplomatic efforts. Guterres praises Pakistan’s constructive role and expresses full UN support for its contributions to regional and international peace and stability.

Pakistan discusses regional developments, promotes dialogue and diplomacy

NEW YORK: <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/wall-street-intends-to-stay-open-around-the-clock" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wall Street</a> stocks were mostly lower early Tuesday on worries about the artificial intelligence (AI) profitability outlook and as oil prices ticked higher. Analysts cited a Wall Street Journal report that pointed to doubts within OpenAI about the company&#39;s revenue outlook and its capacity to build costly new data centers after it missed its own targets. OpenAI is not publicly traded, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nvidia-chief-expects-revenue-of-1-trillion-through-2027" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;and Oracle were among the AI-related stocks to fall sharply. About 10 minutes into trading, the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index was down 0.9% at 24,670.37. The broad-based S&amp;P 500 fell 0.4% to 7,143.08, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% at 49,323.38. &quot;This isn&#39;t the first time we&#39;ve had significant questions about the viability of some of the large language model developers,&quot; said B Riley Wealth Management&#39;s Art Hogan, who also pointed to the drag from higher crude prices. Futures of US benchmark West Texas Intermediate and international contract Brent were both up more than 3%, with no visible progress on reopening the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-60" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strait of Hormuz</a>.

A folder of AI applications containing DeepSeek, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Meta AI, and Copilot is displayed on a smartphone screen in Creteil, France, on April 24, 2026 (AFP)

Artificial Intelligence

US stocks mostly fell early Tuesday as AI profitability concerns hit tech shares, with Nvidia and Oracle dropping, while higher oil prices weighed on sentiment; Nasdaq and S&P declined, Dow edged up.

US stocks mostly fall as AI worries weigh on tech shares

LONDON: British lawmakers debated Tuesday whether to launch a parliamentary probe into Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a scandal surrounding sacked US envoy Peter Mandelson that he is struggling to shake off. Members of parliament discussed whether to refer Starmer to a committee to consider if he misled parliament over the appointment of the ex-associate of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the plum diplomatic post. It is the latest development in an unrelenting controversy that has plagued Starmer&#39;s Labour government for months, hampering its work and leading to calls for him to resign. Opposition Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch said it was &quot;very obvious&quot; that what Starmer had told the House of Commons regarding Mandelson&#39;s 2024 appointment was &quot;not correct&quot;. &quot;It&#39;s clear that full due process was not followed,&quot; she told MPs, opening the debate, which was expected to last several hours and conclude with a vote on whether to open an inquiry. Starmer denies allegations that his office applied pressure on the foreign ministry to approve Mandelson&#39;s appointment as Britain&#39;s ambassador in Washington despite having failed security vetting. Earlier this month, Starmer sacked the most senior civil servant in the foreign office, Olly Robbins, for not telling him or other ministers that Mandelson had not passed the checks. Starmer commands a large majority in the lower house of parliament. MPs from his ruling Labour party have been ordered to vote against the motion, meaning it is unlikely to pass. Speaking&nbsp;to Sky News late on Monday, the prime minister branded the move &quot;a political stunt&quot; ahead of local elections in England, Scotland and Wales next week. &quot;We&#39;ve got huge amounts of transparency going on already,&quot; Starmer insisted. &#39;Serious mistake&#39; Starmer sacked Mandelson in September 2025 after a fresh batch of revelations came to light about the extent of the latter&#39;s friendship with Epstein, who reportedly died in prison in 2019. But the row has only escalated since, with Starmer&#39;s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and ex-communications head Tim Allan forced to step down earlier this year. Starmer&#39;s cause has not been helped by the fact that UK police are investigating Mandelson over allegations he committed misconduct in office while serving as a Labour minister more than a decade ago. Mandelson is accused of leaking sensitive information to Epstein. He denies wrongdoing. On Tuesday, McSweeney told parliament&#39;s foreign affairs committee that he made a &quot;serious mistake&quot; in&nbsp;advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson. He denied telling officials that Mandelson&#39;s vetting checks &quot;should be cleared at all costs&quot;. Earlier, Robbins&#39; predecessor at the foreign office, Philip Barton, told the committee that it was unusual for an appointment to be announced before the vetting process was completed. MPs will decide whether the cross-party privileges committee, which investigates potential breaches of parliamentary conduct, should look into Starmer. That committee was responsible for former prime minister Boris Johnson&#39;s exit from frontline politics after it investigated him for misleading parliament over the so-called &quot;partygate&quot; breaches of Covid-19 laws. He quit as an MP in 2023 before the committee published a report recommending his suspension.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks during a visit to the Kenton district of London on April 23, 2026. (AFP)

British lawmakers debated launching a probe into Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the controversial Peter Mandelson appointment, amid claims he misled the British Parliament and bypassed proper vetting.