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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over what it described as the persecution of religious minorities in India, citing recent incidents of vandalism during Christmas and continued violence against Muslims. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said incidents targeting minorities had intensified &quot;fear and alienation&quot; among affected communities, according to a press release issued on Monday.&nbsp; &quot;Recent condemnable incidents of vandalism during Christmas, as well as state-sponsored campaigns targeting Muslims &mdash; including the demolition of their homes and repeated lynchings &mdash; have alarmed the international community,&quot; Andrabi stated, specifically referencing the case of Muhammad Akhlaq, a Muslim man killed in a lynching.<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: 1068px; 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=2005539819641004519&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3d24efb1b6300fa7849c6a215596c2a99bee9f50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2005539819641004519"></iframe></div></div>Andrabi&#39;s statement comes after a volatile week in India that saw coordinated attacks on Christian celebrations. On Wednesday, a coalition of right-wing Hindu groups enforced a statewide shutdown in Chhattisgarh, disrupting Christmas festivities amid protests over alleged religious conversions. A mob of 40 to 50 men armed with sticks stormed Raipur&#39;s Magneto Mall, tearing down Christmas decorations and questioning shoppers about their religious identity before damaging property. Earlier, the Catholic Bishops&#39; Conference of India condemned an &quot;alarming&quot; rise in attacks on Christians, pointing to a viral video allegedly showing a local BJP official physically harassing a visually impaired woman attending a Christmas program in Madhya Pradesh. Civil society groups have documented the scale of the issue. The United Christian Forum, in a letter to India&rsquo;s home minister dated Dec 23, said it had documented 834 incidents of violence against Christians in India through November 2024, averaging 69.5 incidents monthly over the past decade. &quot;The list of such victims is sadly long,&quot; the spokesperson added, suggesting the recent incidents are part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance. Andrabi called on the international community to &quot;take appropriate steps to help protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable communities in India.&quot;&nbsp;

A priest blesses children dressed as Santa Claus on the occasion of Christmas at a church in Amritsar on December 25, 2025. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)

Foreign Affairs

Politics

 Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over what it described as the persecution of religious minorities in India, citing recent incidents of vandalism during Christmas and continued violence against Muslims.

Pakistan warns of growing violence against minorities in India

ANKARA: Three Turkish police personnel were killed, and nine other people were wounded in an operation on Monday against the Islamic State group in the northwest of the country, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. The fighting took place at Yalova on the Sea of Marmara during one of scores of raids against the militant group, the minister said, adding that six Islamic State members were killed. &quot;Three of our courageous police unfortunately, lost their lives. Eight police and a security agent were also wounded,&quot; he added. &lsquo;Simultaneous operations&rsquo;Yerlikaya said that &quot;simultaneous operations&quot; were staged on 108 addresses in 15 provinces, including at Yalova at 2:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday). &quot;During this operation, IS terrorists opened fire on our courageous police,&quot; he said. According to the minister, the six IS operatives killed were all Turkish, and five women and six children who were with them were all evacuated safely. An Istanbul prosecutor last week ordered the detention of 137 suspected IS members following information that the group planned attacks during the end-of-year holidays. Turkey has a 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria and is wary of cross-frontier infiltrations by militants. IS was recently accused of attacking Americans in Palmyra, killing two soldiers and an interpreter.&nbsp;

Europe

According to the Turkish minister, the six IS operatives killed were all Turkish, and five women and six children who were with them were all evacuated safely.

Three Turkish police, six Islamic State militants killed in clash: minister

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s opposition party Congress has strongly condemned the police handling of an attack on Muslim youths at a birthday party in Bareilly, calling it evidence of &ldquo;discriminatory practices&rdquo; that embolden fringe right-wing groups in the country&rsquo;s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, Indian media reported. Senior Congress leader Anil Yadav said, &ldquo;Such incidents are a blot on civilized society and raise question marks on rule of law. Instead of taking strict action against anti-social elements who disrupted the celebration and attempted to communalise the environment, the police booked the victims.&rdquo; &lsquo;Discriminatory attitude&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;FIR against the accused is registered only after public outcry.&rdquo; Yadav said, &ldquo;It highlights the discriminatory attitude of the police, which is emboldening the fringe right-wing organizations in Uttar Pradesh. Such occurrences are happening on a daily basis.&rdquo; The attack occurred on December 27 at a restaurant in Prem Nagar, where a first-year BSc Nursing student was celebrating her birthday with friends. Of the nine attendees, two male guests were Muslim. Accusation of &lsquo;love jihad&rsquo;Videos that went viral showed a group of right-wing activists storming the caf&eacute;, raising slogans, and allegedly assaulting the youths, accusing them of &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo;, Indian media reported. A journalist, Mohammed Zubair, shared footage of the reported attack on his 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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2005158144734101928&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0be6aaa2fee7f4e690364f483cdfecd12b20b76c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2005158144734101928"></iframe></div></div>According to Indian media, the student said in a video, &ldquo;They barged into my birthday party and assaulted my friend. There were only two Muslims present, and most of the guests were Hindus. The attackers tried to harass and snatch my phone. We were helpless for some time.&rdquo; Punishing the victims&nbsp;Initially, the local police issued challans against the victims and caf&eacute; staff for disturbing the peace, prompting widespread social media outrage. Following the backlash, the police registered FIR 532/25 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Rishabh Thakur, Deepak Pathak, and 20&ndash;25 others for assault, trespass with intent to cause hurt, grievous hurt, and severe criminal intimidation. Ashutosh Shivam, Circle Officer City 1, Bareilly, said, &ldquo;We are identifying the people involved in the assault.&rdquo; Law enforcement failure&nbsp;The Congress criticized the ruling BJP government, saying the incident reflects growing insecurity for minority communities in Uttar Pradesh and a failure of law enforcement to act impartially.

India

Congress condemns police action after a birthday party attack in Bareilly, accusing them of ‘discriminatory practices’; UP Police initially issued challans to victims, but after backlash, an FIR was filed against attackers, highlighting law enforcement bias.

Indian opposition slams police for ‘discriminatory practices’ after Bareilly birthday party attack

ISLAMABAD: Major Indian cities, including Jaipur, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, face mounting challenges in urban infrastructure, pollution, and civic management, which highlight worsening liveability and environmental crises, according to multiple media reports. Across these cities, everyday civic and environmental challenges are visible on the streets, affecting residents&rsquo; safety, health, and overall quality of life. Here&rsquo;s a closer look at the challenges facing each city. JaipurJaipur continues to grapple with everyday urban problems that directly affect liveability.&nbsp; The Times of India reported on 27 December 2025 that several pedestrian foot overbridges at major junctions such as Collectorate Circle, Narayan Singh Circle, and Tonk Road are severely neglected, with non-functional escalators, foul smells, and closures that force pedestrians to risk crossing busy roads, raising serious safety concerns.&nbsp; In a separate article on 26 December 2025, The Times of India highlighted how an illegal Thursday market in Mahesh Nagar swells streets with unregulated vendors, choking narrow roads and hindering emergency access near Maya Devi Hospital, with residents complaining that repeated pleas to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation have gone unaddressed.&nbsp; A recent BBC report, &ldquo;Toxic air, broken roads and unpicked rubbish - why India&#39;s big cities are becoming unliveable&rdquo;, highlights issues such as choked traffic, foul air, and heaps of uncleared rubbish facing many Indian cities, including Jaipur.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In Jaipur, you will find the most sublime examples of centuries-old architecture defaced by tobacco stains and jostling for space with a car mechanic&#39;s workshop, the report states. BengaluruBengaluru&#39;s infrastructure and environmental quality remain key points of criticism in the Indian media.&nbsp; According to Bangalore Mirror on 29 December 2025, air quality in the city deteriorated throughout 2025, with average AQI figures climbing sharply compared with previous years and the city seeing its worst pollution in five years, frequently entering unhealthy categories late in the year.&nbsp; Local media also report daily civic challenges beyond pollution: The Times of India on December 25&nbsp;noted that Bengaluru&#39;s streets remain deadly for pedestrians, with nearly 28% of road fatalities involving pedestrians due to poor infrastructure such as broken footpaths, illegal pavement parking, and inadequate crossings, even as authorities plan repairs.&nbsp; In Bengaluru - often called India&#39;s Silicon Valley for its many IT companies and start-up headquarters - there were public outbursts from citizens and billionaire entrepreneurs alike, fed up with its traffic snarls and garbage piles, the BBC report highlights. MumbaiIn Mumbai, the civic administration&#39;s response to environmental degradation is under scrutiny.&nbsp; The Times of India on 25 December 2025 described a strong rebuke by the Bombay High Court of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for failing to enforce dust mitigation guidelines at construction and concrete sites, ordering daily surprise inspections and broader publicization of air quality measures to curb ongoing pollution problems.&nbsp; Although tall buildings and rapid development often feature in discussion, media criticism focuses on governance failings, particularly how rapid growth has outpaced effective implementation of environmental controls and infrastructure maintenance, forcing court intervention and highlighting systemic weaknesses.&nbsp; In Mumbai, the financial capital, citizens staged a rare protest against the worsening pothole problem, as clogged sewage lines dumped garbage onto flooded roads during the extended monsoon, the BBC report mentions. DelhiDelhi&#39;s air pollution continues to dominate headlines.&nbsp; Independent reporting by NDTV and associated data on 29 December 2025 shows the city&#39;s AQI frequently in &ldquo;severe&rdquo; bands.&nbsp; Moreover, a New Indian Express analysis published on 29 November 2025 noted that Delhi had become the most polluted major city in India over the past decade based on longitudinal air quality&nbsp;data, with persistent unhealthy air quality exacerbated by seasonal smog, vehicle emissions, and crop-burning effects across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.&nbsp; According to the BBC report, in Delhi&#39;s annual winter of discontent, toxic smog left children and the elderly gasping, with doctors advising some to leave the city. Even footballer Lionel Messi&#39;s visit this month was overshadowed by fans chanting against the capital&#39;s poor air quality, the BBC report said.&nbsp;

Urban centers, including Jaipur, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, face mounting challenges in urban infrastructure, pollution, and civic management, which highlight worsening liveability and environmental crises, according to multiple media reports.

India’s major cities grapple with pollution and failing infrastructure: Reports

ISLAMABAD: India has approved the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a move that violates the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which governs water sharing between Pakistan and India.&nbsp;The construction on the project, estimated to cost about 327.7 billion Indian rupees (about $3.65 billion), is expected to begin early next year and will be developed by India&rsquo;s state-run &nbsp;National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited. It is designed to generate 260 megawatts of electricity, according to Indian media reports. &#39;Flagrant violation&#39; Pakistani lawmaker Sherry Rehman raised strong objections, saying the project breaches treaty provisions covering the western rivers &mdash; the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab &mdash; allocated largely to Pakistan under the World Bank-brokered agreement.&nbsp;Rehman, Pakistan&rsquo;s former climate change minister, said India&rsquo;s decision amounted to a &ldquo;flagrant violation&rdquo; of the treaty.&nbsp;&ldquo;The IWT&nbsp;cannot be unilaterally revoked, as recent UN rapporteurs have also confirmed,&rdquo; she said in remarks posted on X. &ldquo;Pakistan has control over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, while the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej fall under India&rsquo;s control.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 635px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2005509781063373054&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F3111%2F&sessionId=6aea73df3a5fbbfbca8118eceaa43cf257cf59db&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Rehman said India was fast-tracking several disputed hydroelectric projects in the Indus Basin following what Pakistan describes as an illegal suspension of treaty mechanisms. She listed Sawalkot, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru and Kirthai-1 and 2 among the projects, adding that Dulhasti Stage-II was part of the same strategy. &#39;Weaponization of water&#39;She warned the &ldquo;weaponization of water&rdquo; would deepen tensions in an already strained bilateral relationship. &ldquo;This is neither sane nor acceptable in a region on the frontlines of climate change and environmental stress,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The approval comes amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors over disputed Kashmir. Pakistan has said it remains committed to the Indus Waters Treaty and will continue to participate in dispute-resolution mechanisms, including proceedings before neutral experts. In August, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that India must allow the waters of the western rivers to flow for Pakistan&rsquo;s use, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office.&nbsp;Dulhasti Stage-II will use existing infrastructure from the 390-MW Dulhasti Stage-I plant, commissioned in 2007. Under the plan, water from the Marusudar River will be diverted through the Pakal Dul project to boost power generation, a move Indian authority have acknowledged could alter natural river flows downstream.&nbsp;India maintains that its hydropower projects comply with treaty provisions and has sought changes to streamline approval procedures. The treaty does not allow either country to unilaterally suspend or terminate the agreement.

Indian media says the construction on the project is expected to begin early next year and will be developed by India’s state-run NHPC Limited.

India approves hydropower project on Chenab in violation of Indus Waters Treaty

ISLAMABAD: The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People&rsquo;s Liberation Army has conducted military training in the waters and airspace to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait, China Global Television Network (CGTN) said on Monday.&nbsp;CGTN reported that the exercises involved coordinated operations by destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles, supported by long-range rocket fire. The drills focused on searching for and neutralizing sea and air targets, simulated strikes on ground objectives, and live-fire exercises against maritime targets.&nbsp;According to CGTN, the training aims to test the PLA troops&rsquo; integrated joint operations capability and their ability to seize battlefield dominance.&nbsp;Earlier, a military spokesman said that Beijing would send army, navy, air force and rocket force troops for &quot;major military drills&quot; code-named &quot;Justice Mission 2025.&quot;&nbsp;The activities will focus on &quot;sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain&quot;, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the People&#39;s Liberation Army&#39;s Eastern Theater Command.&nbsp;Chinese authorities also published a map of five large zones around Taiwan where further live-fire activities would take place from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (0000 to 1000 GMT) on Tuesday.&nbsp;&quot;For the sake of safety, any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter the afore-mentioned waters and airspace,&quot; the statement said.&nbsp;&#39;Stern warning&#39;The drills are &quot;a stern warning against &#39;Taiwan Independence&#39; separatist forces, and... a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China&#39;s sovereignty and national unity,&quot; Shi said.&nbsp;Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that a core theme of the exercises was a &quot;blockade&quot; on key Taiwanese ports including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south.&nbsp;China&#39;s military last held large-scale drills involving live firing around Taiwan in April.&nbsp;China said this month it would take &quot;resolute and forceful measures&quot; to safeguard its territory after Taiwan said the United States had approved a major $11 billion arms sale.&nbsp;Last month, Japan&#39;s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi triggered a backlash from Beijing when she said the use of force against Taiwan could warrant a military response from Tokyo.&nbsp;China demanded that she retract her statement, summoned Tokyo&#39;s ambassador, and warned its citizens against travelling to Japan. With input from AFP.

Asia

Its military spokesperson says the activities will focus on "sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain."

China starts live-fire drills around Taiwan

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that Kyiv&#39;s allies would meet in Paris next month to discuss security guarantees as part of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. &quot;We will bring together the countries of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris in early January to finalize each one&#39;s concrete contributions,&quot; Macron said on X after speaking with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. Macron said discussions were advancing on security guarantees that he described as essential for achieving a just and lasting peace.<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: 368px; 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=2005430041782759531&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F3111%2F&sessionId=6aea73df3a5fbbfbca8118eceaa43cf257cf59db&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2005430041782759531"></iframe></div></div>He added that countries forming the &ldquo;Coalition of the Willing&rdquo; would meet in Paris in early January to finalize their specific commitments. The statement comes hours after&nbsp;Trump said a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-ukraine-deal-closer-but-no-talks-breakthrough" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">deal was closer than ever</a> to end the Ukraine war, but reported no apparent breakthrough on the flashpoint issue of territory after new talks with the warring countries&#39; leaders. Trump, who had promised a peace deal on day one of his nearly year-old presidency, said it would become clear within weeks whether it was possible to end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people since February 2022. In a pre-New Year&#39;s diplomatic sprint, Trump brought Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Florida, where the two met with top aides over lunch, a day after Russia unleashed major new attacks on residential areas of the capital Kyiv. Much like when Zelensky last met Trump in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke shortly beforehand by telephone with the US leader, who immediately insisted that Moscow was &quot;serious&quot; about peace despite the assault. &quot;I really believe we&#39;re, Mr. President, probably closer than &mdash; far closer than &mdash; ever before with both parties,&quot; Trump said with Zelensky at his side in the tea room of his Mar-a-Lago estate. &quot;Everybody wants it ended,&quot; Trump said.

Says discussions are advancing on security guarantees that he describes as essential for achieving a just and lasting peace.

Macron says Kyiv allies to meet in Paris early January

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Bangladesh met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, highlighting a 20% rise in trade and growing collaboration in investment, aviation, education, and healthcare. High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, on Sunday paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House in Dhaka, said a post shared on the X account of the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh.<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: 696px; 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=2005281898424381710&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=e1ea1f51aa166d45133933e0a7dccb088586c9ab&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation, as well as scaling up cultural, educational, and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations, the post said. The Pakistani High Commissioner noted that bilateral trade has recorded a 20% growth compared to last year, with business communities from both countries actively exploring new investment opportunities. Cultural exchanges&nbsp;He also highlighted a significant increase in cultural exchanges, adding that Bangladeshi students have shown strong interest in higher education opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Haider further said that Pakistan has witnessed a rise in patients traveling to its leading hospitals for liver and kidney transplants, and noted that Pakistan is ready to offer training and academic opportunities in transplantation-related medical fields. Chief Adviser Professor Yunus welcomed the growing interactions between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increased visits, as well as cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC member states. Professor Yunus also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh&ndash;Pakistan trade and expressed hope that during Haider&rsquo;s tenure, both countries would explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses. &ldquo;Pakistan High Commissioner said that Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January,&rdquo; the post on X said.

Bangladesh

Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh says Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January; Professor Yunus underscores the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade.

Pakistan-Bangladesh highlight growing ties in trade, investment and aviation 

MEXICO CITY: A train carrying 250 people derailed partially on Sunday in Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 98, officials said. The train&#39;s locomotive left the tracks during a trip in southern Oaxaca state, said the Mexican navy, which operates this particular rail line. The navy had initially reported 20 people injured, but hours later announced in a statement that &quot;98 were injured... and unfortunately, 13 people lost their lives.&quot; Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had directed the secretary of the navy and other senior personnel to travel to the area and assist the families of those affected. The country&#39;s Attorney General&#39;s office said it was opening an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The train runs between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean and carries both passengers and freight. The line was inaugurated in 2023 as a major infrastructure project under then-president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to develop southeast Mexico. On December 20, a train on the same route collided with a cargo truck attempting to cross the tracks, although that incident did not result in any deaths.

Americas

Mexican President Sheinbaum says she had directed secretary of navy, other senior personnel to travel to the area, assist the families of those affected.

More than a dozen dead in Mexico train derailment

PALM BEACH: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a deal was closer than ever to end Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine, but reported no apparent breakthrough on the flashpoint issue of territory after new talks with the warring countries&#39; leaders. Trump, who had promised a peace deal on day one of his nearly year-old presidency, said it would become clear within weeks whether it was possible to end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people since February 2022. In a pre-New Year&#39;s diplomatic sprint, Trump brought Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Florida, where the two met with top aides over lunch, a day after Russia unleashed major new attacks on residential areas of the capital Kyiv. Much like when Zelensky last met Trump in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke shortly beforehand by telephone with the US leader, who immediately insisted that Moscow was &quot;serious&quot; about peace despite the assault. &quot;I really believe we&#39;re, Mr. President, probably closer than &mdash; far closer than &mdash; ever before with both parties,&quot; Trump said with Zelensky at his side in the tea room of his Mar-a-Lago estate. &quot;Everybody wants it ended,&quot; Trump said. After their talks, Zelensky and Trump spoke jointly by telephone with key European leaders, who have been particularly alarmed about any decisions that would embolden Russia. Zelensky said that he and European leaders could return jointly for talks with Trump in Washington in January. The Ukrainian president stayed studiously polite throughout his visit, mindful of his disastrous White House meeting on February 28, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated him for not being sufficiently grateful. Territory impasse Trump, for all his stated optimism, gave few details on the progress he cited, instead digressing into familiar grievances about his predecessor Joe Biden, who committed billions of dollars for Ukraine&#39;s defense, and speaking of his own friendly rapport with Putin. Trump acknowledged continued disagreement between Kyiv and Moscow on territory. The current plan, revised after weeks of intense US-Ukrainian negotiations, would stop the war at the current frontlines in the eastern Donbas region and set up a demilitarized area, while Russia has long demanded territorial concessions. &quot;It&#39;s unresolved, but it&#39;s getting a lot closer. That&#39;s a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved,&quot; Trump said. Trump offered to address the Ukrainian parliament to promote the plan &mdash; an idea, however unlikely, that Zelensky was quick to welcome. Zelensky has voiced an openness to the revised US plan, marking Kyiv&#39;s most explicit acknowledgement yet of possible territorial concessions, although Ukrainian voters would need to approve it in a referendum. By contrast, Russia has shown no signs of compromise, as it sees hope in the grinding gains it has made over four years against tough Ukrainian defenses. The Kremlin, in its readout of talks between Putin and Trump, called on Kyiv to make a &quot;brave decision&quot; and immediately withdraw troops from Donbas, casting European leaders as the impediment to peace. &quot;Russia and the United States share the same position, which is that the Ukrainian and European proposal for a temporary ceasefire (...) would only prolong the conflict and lead to a resumption of hostilities,&quot; the Kremlin&#39;s diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov told reporters. &#39;90%&#39; agreed by Ukraine Trump&#39;s advisors have previously floated the idea of offering NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine, meaning in theory that the alliance&#39;s members would respond militarily if Russia attacks again. Zelensky said that the peace framework laid out by Trump was &quot;90% agreed&quot; and that &quot;US-Ukraine security guarantees: 100% agreed.&quot; Zelensky said the two sides were still finalizing a &quot;prosperity plan&quot; for Ukraine as well as the sequencing of the various actions. Russia had adamantly rejected any entrance of the former Soviet republic into NATO. In its latest assault with drones and missiles, Russia knocked out power and heating to hundreds of thousands of residents during freezing temperatures. &quot;If the authorities in Kyiv don&#39;t want to settle this business peacefully, we&#39;ll resolve all the problems before us by military means,&quot; Putin said on Saturday.

US president says it will become clear within weeks whether it was possible to end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people since February 2022; Zelensky says he and European leaders could return jointly for talks with Trump in Washington in January.

Pakistan warns of growing violence against minorities in India

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