WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he felt &quot;a little bit disappointed&quot; with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for not engaging with a plan to end the war with Russia. &quot;So we&#39;ve been speaking to President Putin and we&#39;ve been speaking to Ukrainian leaders &mdash; including Zelensky, President Zelensky &mdash; and I have to say that I&#39;m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn&#39;t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago,&quot; Trump told reporters when asked on the red carpet for the Kennedy Center Honors. Days of negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky, ended on Saturday without an apparent breakthrough, though Zelensky committed to conducting further talks toward &quot;real peace.&quot; The talks came after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, with Moscow rejecting parts of the US proposal. The US plan has been through several drafts since it first emerged last month, amid criticism it was too soft on Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the Kennedy Center Honors dinner at the State Department in Washington, DC, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Americas

Europe

Days of negotiations between US, Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky, end without breakthrough, though Zelensky commits to conducting further talks toward "real peace."

Trump says 'a little bit disappointed' Zelensky has not read peace proposal

WASHINGTON: The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to order visa-exempt foreign tourists to disclose their social media histories from the last five years before entering the country, according to an official notice.&nbsp;The proposal laid out in a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register would apply to visitors from 42 countries, including Britain, France, Australia and Japan, who do not need a visa to enter the United States.&nbsp;Currently, those travellers only need apply for a waiver known as the Electonic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which still requires them to provide certain personal details.&nbsp;Under the proposed new rules, the collection of social media data would become a &quot;mandatory&quot; part of ESTA applications.&nbsp;Applicants would need to provide their social media histories from the last five years, according to the notice.&nbsp;They would also have to submit other &quot;high-value data fields&quot; including phone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the past decade, personal details of family members and biometric information.&nbsp;The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal.&nbsp;The Trump administration has tightened curbs on entering the United States, part of a sweeping crackdown on migration.&nbsp;Along with Mexico and Canada, the country will host the 2026 World Cup, which is certain to attract large numbers of soccer fans from across the world.

The Trump administration proposed making social-media history, contact data, family details, and biometrics mandatory for visa-waiver travelers via ESTA, expanding entry restrictions. The rule, open for 60-day public comment, targets visitors from 42 countries ahead of major events.

US plans to order foreign tourists to disclose social media histories

ISLAMABAD: Venezuela&#39;s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is &quot;safe&quot; and will reach Oslo by Thursday at the latest, but will not accept her Nobel Peace Prize in person, Nobel officials said. Machado, who won the Nobel for challenging Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro&#39;s grip on power, is in hiding after threats to her life and has not been seen in public for months. Her presence in the Norwegian capital could put her at risk of arrest if she tries to re-enter Venezuela, which has said it will declare her a fugitive if she leaves the country. She is expected to reach Oslo &quot;sometime between this evening and tomorrow morning,&quot; the Nobel institute&#39;s director Kristian Berg Harpviken told AFP Wednesday, shortly before the ceremony, at which her daughter is set to accept the award in her place. Earlier the Nobel Institute said in a statement that Machado was &quot;safe&quot; and that &quot;she will be with us in Oslo&quot;. Machado &quot;has done everything in her power to come to the ceremony today. A journey in a situation of extreme danger,&quot; it added. Machado&#39;s mother and three daughters, and some Latin American heads of state, including Argentine President Javier Milei, are in Norway for the prize-giving at Oslo&#39;s City Hall. &#39;Fugitive&#39; laureate While organizers said Machado had previously indicated she would attend, doubts had already been raised when a traditional press conference with the award winner on Tuesday was first postponed and then cancelled. Machado has accused Maduro of stealing Venezuela&#39;s July 2024 election which she was banned from. Her claim is backed by much of the international community. Machado has been hailed for her efforts in favor of democracy, but she has also been criticized for aligning herself with US President Donald Trump, to whom she has dedicated her Nobel. The Oslo ceremony coincides with a large US military build-up in the Caribbean in recent weeks and deadly strikes on what Washington says are drug smuggling boats. Maduro insists that the goal of the US operations&mdash;which Machado has said are justified -- is to topple the government and seize Venezuela&#39;s oil reserves. Since going into hiding, Machado&#39;s only public appearance was on January 9 in Caracas where she protested against Maduro&#39;s inauguration for his third term. The opposition claimed its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won the election. He now lives in exile, and was also in Oslo on Wednesday. Multiple other Nobel Peace Prize winners have been unable to collect their prizes in person. Family members usually do so on their behalf, Harpviken explained this week. Doubts had been raised about how Machado would return to Venezuela if she made the trip. Her refusal to leave the country has helped boost her political power there. &quot;She risks being arrested if she returns even if the authorities have shown more restraint with her than with many others, because arresting her would have a very strong symbolic value,&quot; said Benedicte Bull, a professor specialized in Latin America at the University of Oslo. On the other hand, &quot;she is the undisputed leader of the opposition, but if she were to stay away in exile for a long time, I think that would change and she would gradually lose political influence,&quot; she added. Both pro- and anti-Machado protests are expected in Oslo on Wednesday. The Nobel laureates in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics will receive their prizes at a separate ceremony in Stockholm on Wednesday.

Machado, who won the Nobel for challenging Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's grip on power, is in hiding after threats to her life and has not been seen in public for months.

Venezuela's Machado 'safe' but will miss Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

Simran Siraj

MATIARI: Climate change has become a serious threat, especially in a country like Pakistan that is highly vulnerable to its effects. Experts and field reports show a clear connection between rising temperatures and adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns.&nbsp;Research from the Aga Khan University&rsquo;s Institute of Global Health Development examined how heat stress affects pregnant women and children under five in the Matiari district of Sindh. They modeled interventions that incorporate indigenous knowledge to improve climate-resilient infrastructure and raise awareness of heat&rsquo;s harmful effects within the health system.&nbsp;Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Founding Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development, speaking with Pakistan TV Digital, emphasized that urgent action and systemic changes are essential to protect women and children from this growing threat. &lsquo;Surprisingly, we are not even the ones responsible for climate change, and yet it affects our women and children,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Dr Jai Das, the institute&#39;s associate director, highlighted the alarming link between rising temperatures and pregnancy complications. He said that existing research shows every pregnant woman exposed to higher temperatures &mdash; such as a 1-degree increase &mdash; has a 10-15% higher chance of experiencing pre-term birth, low birth weight, or of newborns being small for their gestational age.&nbsp;This finding aligns with broader studies indicating that heat exposure triggers physiological responses that lead to similar complications.&nbsp;Beyond pregnancy, heat stress also disrupts women&#39;s reproductive health, especially for those in rural areas who often engage in strenuous physical labor.&nbsp;Gulshad, a senior research associate at AKU Matiari Research and Training Center, said that many women face severe heat-related problems.&nbsp;&ldquo;Their menstrual periods last longer and occur more frequently. Moreover, many women lack knowledge about sanitary protection,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;She noted that some women&#39;s cycles became &ldquo;very irregular,&rdquo; while others did not have periods at all.&nbsp;&ldquo;The health of pregnant women is also affected, and the likelihood of miscarriages increases significantly because they work in the fields and do household chores,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;These testimonies show how high temperatures, combined with physical labor and limited access to hygiene products and healthcare, cause serious menstrual irregularities.&nbsp;Tackling this complex crisis requires a dual approach focusing on community awareness and healthcare system reforms.&nbsp;Dr Bhutta calls for public protection and system improvements. He suggests raising public awareness, especially in rural areas, to help safeguard women, particularly pregnant women, from the heat. He also stresses the importance of providing care to quickly identify and reduce harmful effects.&nbsp;He said there is a need to improve the healthcare environment, especially during the summer, as current conditions are overcrowded. This highlights the urgent need for heat-resilient infrastructure and better-trained staff to handle heat-related maternal emergencies.&nbsp;The situation in provinces like Sindh is especially dire, with climate threats endangering the lives of every mother and child. Localized research is vital for developing community-informed interventions, such as heat adaptation strategies, enhanced nutritional support, and strengthened rural health systems, that can be scaled nationwide.&nbsp;Addressing this climate-induced heat stress crisis requires coordinated efforts from policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to reduce risks, improve health infrastructure, and ensure that climate change does not condemn future generations to poor health.

Health

There is a need to develop community-informed interventions, such as heat adaptation strategies, enhanced nutritional support, and strengthened rural health systems.

Climate-induced heat stress serious threat to maternal, child health in Pakistan

SEOUL: South Korea and Japan reacted furiously on Wednesday after Chinese and Russian military aircraft conducted joint patrols around the two countries, with both Seoul and Tokyo scrambling jets.&nbsp;South Korea said it had lodged a protest with representatives of China and Russia, while Japan said it had conveyed its &quot;serious concerns&quot; over national security.&nbsp;According to Tokyo, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers on Tuesday flew from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea, then conducted a joint flight around the country.&nbsp;The incident comes as Japan is locked in a dispute with China over comments Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.&nbsp;The bombers&#39; joint flights were &quot;clearly intended as a show of force against our nation&quot;, defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi wrote on X Wednesday.&nbsp;Top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said that Tokyo had &quot;conveyed to both China and Russia our serious concerns over our national security through diplomatic channels&quot;.&nbsp;Seoul said Tuesday the Russian and Chinese warplanes entered its air defence zone and that a complaint had been lodged with the defence attaches of both countries in the South Korean capital.&nbsp;&quot;Our military will continue to respond actively to the activities of neighbouring countries&#39; aircraft within the KADIZ in compliance with international law,&quot; said Lee Kwang-suk, director general of the International Policy Bureau at Seoul&#39;s defence ministry, referring to the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone.&nbsp;South Korea also said it deployed &quot;fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies&quot; in response to the Chinese and Russian incursion into the KADIZ.&nbsp;The planes were spotted before they entered the air defense identification zone, defined as a broader area in which countries police aircraft for security reasons but which does not constitute their airspace.&nbsp;Japan&#39;s defense ministry also scrambled fighter jets to intercept the warplanes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Routine exerciseBeijing later Tuesday confirmed it had organized drills with Russia&#39;s military according to &quot;annual cooperation plans&quot;.&nbsp;Moscow also described it as a routine exercise, saying it lasted eight hours and that some foreign fighter jets followed the Russian and Chinese aircraft.&nbsp;Since 2019 China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea&#39;s air defence zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises.&nbsp;In November last year Seoul scrambled jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defence zone.&nbsp;Similar incidents occurred in June and December 2023, and in May and November 2022.&nbsp;Meanwhile Tokyo said Monday it had scrambled jets in response to repeated takeoff and landing exercises involving fighter jets and military helicopters from China&#39;s Liaoning aircraft carrier as it cruised in international waters near Japan.&nbsp;It also summoned Beijing&#39;s ambassador after military aircraft from the Liaoning locked radar onto Japanese jets, the latest incident in the row ignited by Takaichi&#39;s comments backing Taiwan.&nbsp;Takaichi suggested last month that Japan would intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own and has not ruled out seizing by force.

Asia

China

South Korea and Japan condemned joint Russian and Chinese military aircraft patrols near their borders, with both countries scrambling jets. The incident, amid rising tensions over Taiwan, sparked diplomatic protests over national security concerns.

South Korea, Japan accuse China, Russia over aircraft incursions

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women&rsquo;s football reached a historic milestone after the Pakistan Football Federation said the national women&rsquo;s team has been accepted to participate in the FIFA Series for the first time. &ldquo;This is a landmark moment for women&rsquo;s football in Pakistan,&rdquo; the federation said in its official announcement. &ldquo;The Pakistan Women&rsquo;s National Team has been officially accepted to participate in the FIFA Series for the very first time, marking a major breakthrough on the international stage and a proud milestone for the nation.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSDWYbFDDtj/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=498&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2Fnew#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1471274.4000000358%2C%22ls%22%3A882.1999999880791%2C%22le%22%3A2057.100000023842%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="980" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div> The federation said the inclusion places Pakistan among a select group of national teams invited by FIFA to take part in the global initiative aimed at increasing international exposure and strengthening competitive development. &ldquo;This inclusion places Pakistan among a select group of national teams invited by FIFA,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;It signals growing recognition of Pakistan&rsquo;s progress in women&rsquo;s football and the team&rsquo;s rising stature in the region.&rdquo; Calling it &ldquo;a massive step forward,&rdquo; the federation said the opportunity will allow players to compete internationally at a higher standard. &ldquo;Participation in the FIFA Series provides players international standards of competition, global visibility, and the chance to compete against teams from other continents,&rdquo; it said. &ldquo;This historic acceptance stands as a significant achievement for the Pakistan Football Federation, reflecting its ongoing commitment to elevating the women&rsquo;s game and strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s presence on the global football stage,&rdquo; the statement added.

Pakistan women’s football team as posted on December 10, 2025 (Instagram / Pakistan Football Federation)

Football

The national women’s team celebrates a historic breakthrough after being accepted into the FIFA Series for the first time, elevating Pakistan’s profile and advancing women’s football development nationwide.

Pakistan women’s football earns historic first-ever spot in FIFA series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal announced that a nationwide initiative will introduce barcodes on all medicines to combat the growing issue of counterfeit drugs. Kamal shared this update during the National Assembly&rsquo;s Question Hour, emphasizing that the new system will enable better tracking and identification of medicines. &ldquo;Barcodes will be affixed to all medicines across the country,&rdquo; Kamal said. &ldquo;This will help identify and prevent the sale of spurious drugs, ensuring better safety for consumers.&quot; <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" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; 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=1998022099538169860&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=28484fc3f6e9dee5b06c704b317eb4f07b1819d6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1998022099538169860"></iframe></div></div> The minister also noted that the barcodes will display essential information, including the price and expiry date of each product. Additionally, he revealed that a dedicated helpline will be launched soon, enabling consumers to report complaints regarding counterfeit or substandard medicines. &ldquo;We are committed to taking all necessary measures to eliminate the sale of counterfeit drugs,&rdquo; Kamal added. In response to another query, the health minister outlined the government&#39;s plan to launch the Universal Medical Record project. This initiative aims to create a digital record for every citizen&#39;s medical history, with a special focus on cancer-related data. The initiative will integrate citizens&rsquo; medical records with their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number, making it easier for healthcare providers to access crucial medical information. &ldquo;A command and control center will also be established at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad to oversee this project,&rdquo; Kamal explained. The introduction of barcodes and the establishment of a centralized medical records system are part of broader efforts by the government to improve public health infrastructure and ensure greater accountability in the pharmaceutical sector.

File Photo - Pharmacist using scanner on medicine container (Envato)

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal says Pakistan will introduce barcodes on all medicines, launch a complaint helpline, and develop a Universal Medical Record linked to citizens’ CNIC numbers

Pakistan to add barcodes to all medicines to combat counterfeits

BRUSSELS: European Union countries and lawmakers reached a final deal Wednesday on an ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, allowing carbon credits bought outside the continent to help reach the goal. A number of countries, led by Italy, had expressed concern at the target of reducing the 27-nation bloc&rsquo;s emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040.<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=1998540028562280579&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a56c84d1349c2ce33f4f9df3bd5228288bc9bdcc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 898px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The final deal allows for five percent of cuts to be accounted for through carbon credits acquired for projects outside Europe.&nbsp; &lsquo;Sending campaign offshore&rsquo;Activist groups have accused the EU of simply sending the climate change campaign offshore. Further down the road, the EU could if needed eventually allow member states to make up a further five percent of their targets via credits from international carbon markets. Under pressure from Poland and Hungary, the deal also put back by one year to 2028 an emissions trading system for road transport and heating buildings. Most committed&nbsp;Behind only China, the United States and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels. The deal still has to be given formal approval by the 27 EU states and by the EU parliament.

Behind only China, the US and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels.

EU agrees deal for 90% emissions cut by 2040

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s arm wrestlers delivered a standout performance at the Asian Armwrestling Cup 2025 in Dubai, securing two gold medals and one silver in a landmark achievement for the national team.&nbsp;Usman Butt emerged as the country&rsquo;s top performer, winning the gold medal in the left-hand 85kg category. He added to his success with a silver medal in the right-hand 85kg division after a close contest in the final rounds.<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSDVyIHgGrG/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=494&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2Fnew#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A18975253.800000012%2C%22ls%22%3A659.6999999880791%2C%22le%22%3A1294.6000000238419%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="929" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>In another strong showing, Mateen Asif won silver in the right-hand 75kg category, further strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s overall medal tally at the regional event.&nbsp;The championship, held in Dubai, featured competitors from across Asia.

Athletics

Usman Butt emerges as the country’s top performer, winning the gold medal in the left-hand 85kg category.

Pakistan bags two gold medals at Asian Armwrestling Cup

ISLAMABAD: A Gaza-centered docudrama that has already won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival is now at the center of global attention after scoring a Golden Globe nomination for Best non-English language film, one of the first major Western awards to recognize a film about the 2023-24 war in Gaza.&nbsp; &quot;The Voice of Hind Rajab&rdquo; is supported by some of Hollywood&rsquo;s most influential names and has rapidly become a defining cultural moment of this awards season. The filmmaker: Kaouther Ben HaniaBen Hania, Tunisia&rsquo;s most internationally celebrated filmmaker, is known for hybrid forms that blend documentary and fiction, including the Oscar-nominated &ldquo;Four Daughters&rdquo; and &ldquo;The Man Who Sold His Skin.&rdquo; Her films often explore moral unease and political trauma. At Venice, she said: &ldquo;The Voice of Hind is the voice of Gaza itself &hellip; Her voice will continue to echo until accountability is real.&rdquo; She told AFP that the project arose from &ldquo;a lot of anger, a lot of despair&rdquo; after learning of Hind Rajab&rsquo;s killing. Ben Hania also said she and her team received threatening emails following the premiere, noting the messages were &ldquo;super intimidating,&rdquo; AFP reported. Hollywood heavyweightsThis film is backed by around 39 producers, according to the movie database IMDB.&nbsp; Brad Pitt, through his production company Plan B Entertainment, plays a pivotal role as one of the project&#39;s producers. Plan B&rsquo;s track record includes acclaimed works such as &quot;Moonlight&quot; (2016), &quot;12 Years a Slave&quot; (2013), and &quot;Selma&quot; (2014), each tackling themes of systemic injustice and historical trauma. Odessa Rae, the American producer behind the Academy Award-winning documentary &ldquo;Navalny,&rdquo; also joined, bringing her profile in human rights-focused storytelling. British producer James Wilson, associated with Film4 and known for &ldquo;Under the Skin&rdquo; and &ldquo;You Were Never Really Here,&rdquo; added further weight with his track record in auteur-driven cinema. British-Jewish filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, whose 2024 Oscar-winning &ldquo;The Zone of Interest&rdquo; examined the domestic life of an Auschwitz commandant. Glazer gained global attention when, during his Academy Awards speech, he said he refused to let his &ldquo;Jewishness and the Holocaust be hijacked&rdquo; to justify the loss of innocent lives in Gaza. British producer and philanthropist Jemima Khan also joined, contributing media influence and a longstanding engagement with humanitarian causes. Their participation expanded the film&rsquo;s distribution prospects and visibility, but the attention came with backlash. After the Venice premiere, director Kaouther Ben Hania said mailboxes belonging to producers, including Pitt and Phoenix, received &ldquo;thousands and thousands&rdquo; of intimidating messages in a single night, AFP reported. Story, structure, and reception&ldquo;The Voice of Hind Rajab&rdquo; recounts the final minutes of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli fire while trapped in a car with her family. AFP reported that the film blends real audio from the Red Crescent&rsquo;s attempted rescue with dramatic reenactments, portraying dispatchers struggling as Israeli tanks approached. The film received 23 minutes of applause at Venice and multiple standing ovations at Toronto.&nbsp; In Toronto, Ben Hania appealed for help evacuating Hind Rajab&rsquo;s surviving family members from Gaza, AFP reported. Why this film mattersThe film highlights civilian suffering during the Gaza war and has become a rare convergence of Arab cinema, Hollywood advocacy, and international human rights discourse. Its recognition at major Western festivals signals a shift in how stories from Gaza enter mainstream global cinema. As awards season continues, &ldquo;The Voice of Hind Rajab&rdquo; is no longer only the story of one child but has become a global debate on accountability, backed by influential voices.

(L-R) James Wilson, Nadim Cheikhrouha and Kaouther Ben Hania attend "The Voice Of Hind Rajab" special screening and Q&A presented by Film Independent at Laemmle NoHo 7 on December 07, 2025 in North Hollywood, California. (AFP)

Film & TV

Backed by Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Jonathan Glazer, and Joaquin Phoenix, the Golden Globe-nominated 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' brings the urgent reality of Gaza to the center of Western awards season.

Who is behind 'The Voice of Hind Rajab'?

ISLAMABAD: In India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan received a disproportionately high share of central tax devolution between 2020-21 and 2024-25, even though they contribute far less to the nation&rsquo;s total tax collections, according to an Indian media report. The data shared by the Ministry of Finance with the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) shows that Uttar Pradesh accounted for 4.6% of the total tax collected in the country between 2020-21 and 2024-25, but received 15.8% of the taxes shared by the center during this period. Bihar&rsquo;s share in devolution exceeded its contribution to total taxes by 8 percentage points, Madhya Pradesh&rsquo;s by 5.5 pp, and Rajasthan&#39;s by 3.55 pp. &lsquo;Fiscal discrimination&rsquo;&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party is in government, has in the past blamed the central government for discrimination. In September, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu accused the center, or Union, government of practicing &ldquo;fiscal discrimination against opposition-ruled states,&rdquo; warning that such bias was undermining the spirit of cooperative federalism. According to Indian media, he argued that partisan policies were depriving states such as Tamil Nadu of their legitimate financial allocations and turning cooperative federalism into coercive federalism. Thennarasu alleged that the ruling BJP discriminated against states governed by opposition parties. &ldquo;Just because we belong to the opposition, we are not treated on par with BJP-ruled states. When it comes to the matters of fiscal issues, there must be cooperative federalism, it must be in true spirit.&quot; Six criteria&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Finance has clarified that States&rsquo; contributions to central taxes are not a criterion considered by the 15th Finance Commission when it formulated its devolution formula for the period 2020-21 to 2025-26. &ldquo;Devolution to States during the last five financial years was based on the inter-se percentage worked out by the 15th Finance Commission on the basis of six criteria &mdash; population, area, income distance, demographic performance, forest &amp; ecology and tax &amp; fiscal efforts. Contribution to the Central Exchequer was not adopted by the 15th FC as a criterion,&rdquo; Minister of State for Finance Panka Chaudhary said in his reply.

India

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan received disproportionately high central tax devolution between 2020-21 and 2024-25, while contributing less to national taxes; opposition-ruled Tamil Nadu has in the past alleged ‘fiscal discrimination.’

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