ISTANBUL: Turkiye announced Friday that it had issued arrest warrants for genocide against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials within his government.&nbsp;Among 37 suspects listed are Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said a statement from the Istanbul prosecutor&#39;s office, which did not publish the complete list.&nbsp;Turkiye has accused the officials of &quot;genocide and crimes against humanity&quot; that Israel has &quot;perpetrated systematically&quot; in Gaza.&nbsp;The statement also refers to the &quot;Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital,&quot; built by Turkiye in the Gaza Strip and bombed by Israel in March.&nbsp;Turkiye last year joined South Africa&#39;s case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).&nbsp;A fragile ceasefire has been in force in the devastated Palestinian territory since October 10 as part of US President Donald Trump&#39;s regional peace plan. Israel calls the move &#39;PR stunt&#39; Israel on Friday denounced as a &quot;PR stunt&quot; arrest warrants for genocide issued by Turkiye against its leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X: &quot;Israel firmly rejects, with contempt, the latest PR stunt by the tyrant (President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan.&quot;

Middle East

Among 37 suspects listed are Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir

Turkiye issues genocide arrest warrant against Netanyahu

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have agreed to expand cooperation across trade, energy, connectivity and defence sectors, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Friday, the PM Office said. Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting, reflecting the strategic nature of the discussions. During the talks at the Presidential Palace, the prime minister thanked President Aliyev for inviting him to attend Azerbaijan&rsquo;s Victory Day celebrations. He congratulated the government and people of Azerbaijan on the commemoration, marking the country&rsquo;s military success in the 44-day Karabakh conflict. The prime minister said Azerbaijan&rsquo;s victory &ldquo;serves as a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples seeking their right to self-determination, including the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.&rdquo; The two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and agreed to reinforce what both sides described as a &ldquo;multi-layered partnership,&rdquo; the statement added. Areas identified for strengthened cooperation included political engagement, trade and investments, energy collaboration, regional connectivity, and defense exchanges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited President Aliyev to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, an invitation the Azri president accepted, according to the statement. PM Sharif also commended the peace agreement signed earlier this year between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting its significance for regional stability. President Aliyev thanked Pakistan for its &ldquo;consistent and principled support&rdquo; during Azerbaijan&rsquo;s struggle over the Karabakh region and acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s role in promoting regional peace. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Abdulla Oglu Eyyubev.

Foreign Affairs

Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attends the meeting, reflecting the strategic nature of the discussions.

Pakistan, Azerbaijan agree to deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan received $12.9 billion in workers&rsquo; remittances during the first four months of the current fiscal year (4MFY26), marking a 9.3% increase from $11.9 billion in the same period last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). In October alone, remittances amounted to $3.4 billion, up 12% year-on-year. On a month-on-month basis, inflows rose 7% from $3.2 billion in September, representing one of the strongest monthly inflows in recent months. The SBP said the rise reflected the government&rsquo;s ongoing push to encourage formal channels and expand digital transfer systems, while reducing reliance on informal money transfer networks. Saudi Arabia remained the single largest source of inflows, contributing $821 million in October, an increase of 9% from September and 7% higher than the same month last year. Remittances from the United Arab Emirates totaled $698 million, up 12% year-on-year. Inflows from the United Kingdom reached $488 million, rising 13% annually and 7% from the previous month. The United States sent $290 million, showing an 8% month-on-month increase, though 4% lower than a year earlier. Meanwhile, receipts from European Union countries surged 27% year-on-year to $457 million. Pakistan recorded $38.3 billion in total remittances during FY25, the highest annual inflow on record. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the increase, calling overseas Pakistanis &ldquo;a backbone of the economy.&rdquo; &ldquo;Overseas Pakistanis are our invaluable assets, serving the nation by sending their hard-earned money,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The consistent rise in remittances reflects the trust expatriates have in our economic direction.&rdquo; Analysts said higher remittances are providing much-needed support to Pakistan&rsquo;s external account, especially as export growth remains subdued. Waqas Ghani, Head of Research at JS Global, said remittances had &ldquo;clocked in at one of the strongest levels in recent months,&rdquo; adding that cumulative inflows of $12.96 billion in 4MFY26 indicated &ldquo;a decent 9 percent year-on-year growth.&rdquo; However, he cautioned that sustaining the trend will depend on &ldquo;consistent policy support, expansion of digital channels, and diversification of overseas labor markets.&rdquo; The Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI), launched in 2009 to encourage the use of formal banking channels, continues to play a central role. The number of participating financial institutions has grown from around 25 in 2009 to more than 50 by 2024, improving speed and security for overseas senders. Economists say remittances, now Pakistan&rsquo;s largest source of foreign exchange, will remain critical for economic stability as the country continues to face external financing pressures and persistent inflation.

Economy

With Saudi Arabia among largest contributors, Pakistan received $12.9bn in remittances during 4MFY26, rising 9.3%, bolstering external finances as authorities promote formal transfer channels.

Pakistan remittances rise to $12.9 billion in early FY26: central bank

MEXICO CITY: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that any effort to combat drug trafficking must respect the sovereignty of the nations involved, as the United States ramps up its anti-narcotics campaign in the Caribbean and the Pacific.&nbsp;&quot;The fight against drug traffickers is one that unites us all,&quot; Macron said during a joint press conference with his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum.&nbsp;&quot;It is governed by the cooperation between sovereign nations and the respect for the sovereignty of each one.&quot; This is a developing story...

Americas

Says the fight against drug traffickers is one that unites us all.

Macron says drug trafficking fight must respect 'sovereignty'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected remarks from the Indian foreign office attempting to link US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s recent comments on nuclear testing with allegations against Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear record, calling New Delhi&rsquo;s claims &ldquo;distorted, baseless and misleading.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding to media queries, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said India had &ldquo;misrepresented&rdquo; the US president&rsquo;s remarks, noting that Washington had already clarified the context of the statements.&nbsp;&ldquo;India is clearly distorting facts and misrepresenting the remarks of US President Donald Trump,&rdquo; the spokesperson said. &ldquo;The US side has already clarified its position to the media.&rdquo; <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CQsxg68XV7k?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> &nbsp;The Foreign Office underlined that Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear history is transparent and internationally documented.&nbsp;&ldquo;For the record, Pakistan&rsquo;s last nuclear tests were conducted in May 1998. Pakistan has consistently supported United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing,&rdquo; the statement noted.&nbsp;&ldquo;In contrast, India&rsquo;s repeated abstentions on these resolutions reflect its ambiguous intentions regarding future nuclear testing.&rdquo;&nbsp;The spokesperson added that Pakistan maintains a &ldquo;robust command and control structure, comprehensive export controls, and an impeccable non-proliferation record.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Allegations of clandestine or illegal nuclear activities are baseless, malicious and part of India&rsquo;s disinformation campaign aimed at diverting attention from its own irresponsible conduct,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;The Foreign Office expressed &ldquo;deep concern&rdquo; over what it described as India&rsquo;s &ldquo;poor track record&rdquo; on nuclear safety and material security.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over several decades, multiple incidents of theft and illicit trafficking of radioactive substances inside India have exposed serious deficiencies in its nuclear security framework,&rdquo; the spokesperson said.&nbsp;&ldquo;As recently as last year, radioactive equipment from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, along with the highly radioactive substance Californium worth over $100 million, was found being sold inside India.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;These recurring incidents point to the existence of a nuclear black market in India, posing grave risks to regional and global security,&rdquo; the spokesperson warned, urging the international community to take &ldquo;serious note.&rdquo;&nbsp;Earlier this week, Indian foreign office spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had claimed that &ldquo;clandestine and illegal nuclear activities&rdquo; were &ldquo;in keeping with Pakistan&rsquo;s history.&rdquo; Pakistan has dismissed those remarks as &ldquo;politically motivated rhetoric with no factual basis.&rdquo;

Islamabad says New Delhi distorted US remarks and made baseless allegations; Pakistan reiterates strong nuclear safety record, criticizes repeated radioactive material theft incidents in India recently.

Pakistan rejects India’s remarks, affirms strong nuclear safety record

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Climate Change Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan has said Pakistan is facing a critical moment as climate vulnerability intensifies alongside rapid population growth, and urgent coordinated action is needed to secure the country&rsquo;s future.&nbsp; In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan stressed that population management and climate resilience must be addressed together, not as separate issues. She warned that Pakistan&rsquo;s population is expected to double by 2050, placing immense strain on natural resources, infrastructure, and sustainability.&nbsp; &ldquo;Religious leaders must play a role in awareness, and the government is actively promoting responsible population management,&rdquo; she said, adding that &ldquo;this is directly tied to our country&rsquo;s resilience and long-term stability.&rdquo; The minister of state said the private sector is ready to contribute to national climate efforts, but the right frameworks must be created.&nbsp; &ldquo;We need integrated policies where the private sector and international partners can meaningfully participate. Pakistan cannot manage this alone,&rdquo; she noted. Dr. Shezra Mansab also highlighted serious disparities in global climate finance access.&nbsp; Referring to the Loss and Damage Fund announced after the 2022 floods, she stated that despite commitments, no funds have yet been released to any affected country.&nbsp; &ldquo;We worked hard to establish that fund. Now, it must be operational. Countries like Pakistan, which have contributed the least to emissions, are suffering the most. This is a question of climate justice.&rdquo; Responding to claims of insufficient preparation at home, Dr. Shezra Mansab said Pakistan has a strong pipeline of climate adaptation and resilience projects ready to be funded. &ldquo;The delay lies with international bureaucratic processes, not with Pakistan&rsquo;s homework. Many Global South countries are facing the same challenges. We are raising our voice collectively.&rdquo; She added that while the Paris Agreement has increased awareness and progress, the global community must now shift from policy commitments to practical implementation. On provincial coordination, she acknowledged improvements but noted more work is needed, citing recent flood impacts in several regions.&nbsp; She praised Punjab&rsquo;s climate initiatives under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, saying that other provinces are beginning to adopt similar practices. &ldquo;Our geography is extremely diverse&mdash;from glaciers to deserts&mdash;so solutions must be tailored at the provincial level,&rdquo; she explained.&nbsp; &ldquo;The federal government will continue to provide policy direction, guidance, and support.&rdquo; Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan concluded that Pakistan&rsquo;s path forward must focus on responsible population planning, climate-smart development, stronger governance coordination, equitable access to global climate funds, and ensuring climate justice for vulnerable communities.

Climate & Environment

Minister of State for Climate Change Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan said Pakistan is facing a critical moment as climate vulnerability intensifies alongside rapid population growth, and urgent coordinated action is needed to secure the country’s future

Pakistan must tackle climate, population challenges together: Dr Shezra Mansab

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly refuted the baseless and fake news being propagated by certain Afghan and Indian media outlets about the ongoing talks between representatives of Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime. These media outlets have alleged that during the talks, the Pakistani delegation had asked Afghanistan to relocate the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group from Pakistan into Afghanistan.<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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1986770418557157426&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cadf0a4ae175191b4df89e9b391876c5274e5fd6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Senior security officials told Pakistan TV that no such demands have been put forward that have any connection to Afghanistan. They rebutted the false news that Pakistan had asked the Afghan Taliban to relocate TTP from Pakistan to Afghanistan.&nbsp; &ldquo;This is fake news and an attempt to create a misplaced narrative,&rdquo; they said. Responding to a question, a senior security official said that from day one, Pakistan has demanded publicly from the Afghan Taliban to stop harboring and supporting the TTP, and a mutually verifiable mechanism should be in place for putting an end to cross-border terrorism. In a post on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan is thankful to the brotherly countries of T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar for the mediation of talks.<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1986822053366997216&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cadf0a4ae175191b4df89e9b391876c5274e5fd6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-5" 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-5&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1986822053366997216&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cadf0a4ae175191b4df89e9b391876c5274e5fd6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div></blockquote> He said the onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfill its long-standing international, regional, and bilateral pledges regarding controlling terrorism, which so far they have failed to do.&nbsp; He said Pakistan does not harbour any ill will against the Afghan people; however, it shall never support any Afghan Taliban regime&#39;s measures that are detrimental to the interests of the Afghan people as well as the neighbouring countries.&nbsp; The information minister said Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and sovereignty.

Security

Pakistan has strongly refuted the baseless and fake news being propagated by certain Afghan and Indian media outlets about the ongoing talks between representatives of Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime

Pakistan refutes baseless news spread by Afghan, Indian media outlets

Mariam Ellahi

ISTANBUL: Pakistan&rsquo;s high-level security delegation began departing for Istanbul Airport on Friday after discussions with the Afghan Taliban government remained deadlocked, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s National Security Adviser Lieutenant General Asim Malik, who led the delegation, has also left as the round concluded without agreement, the sources confirmed.&nbsp;Earlier in the day in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had submitted &ldquo;evidence-based, justified and logical&rdquo; demands to the mediators &ldquo;with the singular aim to put an end to cross-border terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The mediators fully endorse Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on the basis of the evidence provided by our side as well as the tenets of international law and principles,&rdquo; Andrabi said, adding that the mediators are presenting Pakistan&rsquo;s demands to the Afghan Taliban delegation &ldquo;point by point.&rdquo;&nbsp;Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan appreciates the mediation efforts of T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, but responsibility lies with Kabul to fulfill its counterterrorism commitments.&nbsp;&ldquo;Onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfill its long standing international, regional and bilateral pledges regarding control of terrorism, in which so far they have failed,&rdquo; Tarar said.&nbsp;He stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s core concern is the presence of armed groups operating from Afghan territory and attacking Pakistani security forces and civilians.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan does not harbor any ill-will against the Afghan people,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;However, [Pakistan] shall never support the Afghan Taliban regime&rsquo;s measures that are detrimental to the interest of the Afghan people as well as neighboring countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking in an interview with GEO News, confirmed the stalemate and said the negotiation process is now uncertain.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is complete deadlock and the agreement has entered an indefinite phase. There is no hope of a third or fourth round,&rdquo; Asif said. He thanked Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye &ldquo;for sincerely making efforts.&rdquo;&nbsp;Asif cautioned that Pakistan would respond if attacks continue.&nbsp;&ldquo;If the situation flares up from the Afghanistan side, we will respond accordingly,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Until there is no ceasefire broken from their side, the ceasefire persists, but if they break it, we will respond.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said Pakistan&rsquo;s principal demand is the prevention of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, including on schools and civilian targets.&nbsp;&ldquo;They have indicated they know the terrorists come from their side but they say they cannot do anything. So they should not stand between us and the terrorists, let us handle it. We have all the resources and information to control them,&rdquo; Asif said.&nbsp;With negotiations stalled, Tarar reiterated that Pakistan will continue diplomatic engagement, but not at the expense of national security.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty,&rdquo; he said.

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says Afghanistan must fulfill anti-terror pledges, Islamabad holds no ill-will but will take necessary security measures.

Pakistan NSA leaves as Afghan Taliban talks stall

ISLAMABAD: The Indian Supreme Court told the father of the pilot-in-command of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in June, killing 260, that it was not the pilot&rsquo;s fault, reported Indian media. Earlier in June, Air India Flight 171, which was a scheduled passenger flight from Ahmedabad Airport in India to London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, crashed 32 seconds after takeoff, killing all crew members and 229 out of 230 passengers aboard. Following the crash, the India&#39;s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in July issued its preliminary report stating that fuel supply to the engines was cut off just seconds after takeoff. Later in September, an Indian court said it was &quot;irresponsible&quot; for the aviation authority to suggest, through leaks to the media, that pilot error had caused the disaster, reported Indian media. It called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the government&#39;s response before it rules on a case filed by activists demanding an independent investigation, BBC reported. The court said the way the aviation body released its preliminary report into the Boeing Dreamliner&#39;s crash was &quot;selective and piecemeal.&quot; That same month, the DGCA uncovered 51 safety violations at Air India in the preceding year as part of its annual audit of the country&#39;s airlines. The families of four passengers who died on the plane filed a lawsuit in the US against planemaker Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence. The lawsuit accused the companies of doing &quot;nothing&quot; despite being aware of the risks of the aircraft&#39;s design. In the recent statement by the Indian Apex Court, it told the 91-year-old father that his son, Sumeet Sabharwal, is not to be blamed and will not take the burden, reported the Times of India.&nbsp; &ldquo;You should not carry burden on yourself. The pilot is not to be blamed for the plane crash. It was an accident. There is no insinuation against him even in the preliminary report&rdquo;, said the bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi to pilot father.&nbsp; Indians reacting to the decisionIndians questioned the probe process, asking if the investigation will be able to withstand Boeing and American pressures.<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: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; 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=1986687510513393889&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cadf0a4ae175191b4df89e9b391876c5274e5fd6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> </blockquote><div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; 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India

India’s Supreme Court ruled that the pilot of the Air India Boeing 787 crash in June was not at fault, criticizing the aviation authority’s handling of the probe and urging transparency

Top Indian court clears Air India pilot as families demand crash accountability

Damascus: President Ahmed al-Sharaa will become Syria&#39;s first leader to pay an official visit to the White House on Monday, a crowning achievement for the ex-jihadist who, since taking power, has ended his country&#39;s isolation. Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, will meet President Donald Trump during the unprecedented visit. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said earlier this month that Sharaa will &quot;hopefully&quot; sign an agreement to join the international US-led alliance against the Islamic State (IS). The United States plans to establish a military base near Damascus &quot;to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel,&quot; a diplomatic source in Syria told AFP. Just days before the visit, the United Nations Security Council voted on Thursday to lift sanctions on Sharaa, who until now had needed a UN exemption for every trip abroad. The resolution was drafted by the US, whose ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, said Sharaa&#39;s government was &quot;working hard to fulfill its commitments on countering terrorism and narcotics.&quot; In May, the interim leader met Trump for the first time in Riyadh during the US president&#39;s regional tour. Formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, Sharaa&#39;s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was delisted as a terrorist group by Washington as recently as July. Since taking power, Syria&#39;s new leaders have sought to break from their violent past and present a moderate image more tolerable to ordinary Syrians and foreign powers. &#39;Big statement&#39;&nbsp;Sharaa&#39;s trip to Washington will be &quot;the first in modern Syrian history for a Syrian president to the White House&quot;, historian Sami Moubayed told AFP. It will also be Sharaa&#39;s second visit to the United States after a landmark trip in September, where he became the first Syrian president in decades to address the UN General Assembly. &quot;Sharaa&#39;s visit to the White House is a declaration of a new chapter in US policy on the Middle East,&quot; said Nick Heras, an analyst at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. &quot;Trump is bringing Sharaa to the White House to make a big statement that Sharaa is not a terrorist anymore,&quot; he said. &quot;The Trump team sees Sharaa as a pragmatic and, importantly, pliable leader who, under American and Saudi guidance, will secure Syria as a strategic bulwark in the region for decades to come.&quot; Sharaa, for his part, is expected to seek funds for Syria. &quot;Sharaa wants Trump&#39;s blessing to unlock billions of dollars... both to kickstart the rehabilitation of Syria and to cement his control over the country indefinitely,&quot; Heras said. Reconstruction is one of the most significant challenges facing Syria&#39;s new Islamist authorities after 13 long years of brutal civil war. In October, the World Bank put a &quot;conservative best estimate&quot; of the cost of rebuilding Syria at $216 billion. &#39;Israeli influence&#39;&nbsp;A diplomatic source in Syria told AFP that the United States &quot;intends to establish a military base at the Mazzeh military airport near Damascus to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel.&quot; Another Syrian diplomatic source said, &quot;The question of Syria joining the anti-jihadist coalition will be at the top of the agenda&quot; for the White House meeting. The majority of US troops deployed in Syria are based in areas controlled by Kurdish forces in the northeast. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) played a vital role in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, which ultimately led to the jihadist organization&#39;s territorial defeat in the country in 2019. The SDF are currently negotiating their integration into Syria&#39;s military. Trump and Sharaa will also discuss the direct negotiations that Syria and Israel, which remain technically at war, opened after Assad&#39;s overthrow. Trump has expressed hope that Syria will join other Arab countries that have normalized ties with Israel under the so-called Abraham Accords. In September, Sharaa said he hoped for a security deal to ease tensions with Israel but played down the prospect of recognition. Since December, Israel has deployed troops in a UN-patrolled buffer zone that separates the countries&#39; forces and has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria. Damascus has not retaliated. For Heras, &quot;Trump&#39;s vision for Syria includes significant Israeli influence over a strategic swath of the country for years to come.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;

President Ahmed al-Sharaa will become Syria's first leader to pay an official visit to the White House, a crowning achievement for the ex-jihadist who since taking power has ended his country's isolation

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