GAZA CITY: Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people and wounded several others on Tuesday, in the latest violence to hit the territory despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. &quot;Five martyrs and several wounded were transferred (to hospital) after an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of citizens in eastern Al-Maghazi,&quot; the civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas said. Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital and a Palestinian security source confirmed the incident and the casualties.

Graphic content / TOPSHOT - Injured children wait for medical care at the trauma ward at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Middle East

At least five people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on eastern Al-Maghazi in Gaza despite a ceasefire, according to health officials.

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

SEOUL: North Korea launched several projectiles, including a ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea&#39;s military said. Pyongyang has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks, and analysts have said the diplomatically isolated state may be trying to take advantage of eroding international norms to cement its nuclear status. The North has also repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, repeatedly calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary. South Korea&#39;s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Tuesday they had detected the launches of &quot;several projectiles&quot;, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea from the North Korean city of Chongju at around 1:00 pm (0400 GMT). The Yellow Sea is the body of water separating the Korean peninsula from China. The missiles flew about 80 kilometres (50 miles), Seoul&#39;s military said, adding that it was analysing their specifications and flight range, and had &quot;strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for possible additional launches&quot;. South Korea, its main security partner the United States, and Japan were &quot;maintaining a state of full readiness&quot; and closely sharing intelligence, Seoul&#39;s military said. The launch was North Korea&#39;s first for 37 days and its eighth this year. In April, Pyongyang conducted another such test to &quot;verify the characteristics and power of a cluster bomb warhead&quot;, its state media said at the time. South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency reported last week, citing unnamed government sources, that Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely visit North Korea sometime this week. China is North Korea&#39;s main economic and political backer, though Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia in recent years. Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang have yet confirmed Xi&#39;s visit.

A woman watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on May 26, 2026. North Korea launched an "unidentified projectile" into the Yellow Sea off its west coast on May 26,

Asia

North Korea fired several projectiles, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea as tensions rise amid its continued weapons tests and reported regional diplomatic activity.

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Yellow Sea: Seoul

HONG KONG: Asian stocks and oil futures were mixed on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran threatened fragile negotiations to reopen the Hormuz strait. The United States and Iran have been trying to broker a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the crucial waterway since a fragile ceasefire came into force on April 8. Stocks had rallied on Monday and crude futures contracts dropped below $100 after reports suggesting a deal was on the cusp of being reached. But these hopes were dampened on Monday when US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines. &quot;US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,&quot; Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement. Both sides have played down chances of a quick deal to end the war that has driven up energy prices and fuelled global inflation. US President Donald Trump offered little certainty, saying on Monday that a deal with Tehran would either be &quot;great and meaningful&quot; or there would be &quot;no deal&quot; at all. Iran&#39;s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed progress had been made, but added a deal was not yet within reach. Top US diplomat Marco Rubio insisted on Tuesday that the blockaded strait would reopen &quot;one way or the other&quot;. Asian stocks showed a mixed picture in early trade, with Tokyo and Shanghai down around 0.5%. Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Sydney and Manila were also down. Seoul, however, was up more than 3%, opening at a new record high over 8,000, as chipmakers, carmakers and shipbuilders continued their strong gains. Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, Wellington and Taipei also climbed. Oil prices fluctuated on the geopolitical uncertainty, with US benchmark West Texas Intermediate down over 5%, and international benchmark North Sea Brent slightly up. &quot;The market&#39;s reaction remains almost mechanical at this point,&quot; said Stephen Innes, an analyst at SPI Asset Management. &quot;Every incremental diplomatic headline involving Iran gets treated like another liquidity injection directly into risk appetite. &quot;Yet beneath the surface, the actual negotiations still resemble two traders standing on opposite sides of the pit pretending the spread has narrowed while the hardest legs of the trade remain unresolved.&quot; Investors will be keeping an eye this week on how the US Federal Reserve reacts to key consumer inflation data and its potential effect on interest rates. Higher prices triggered by the US-Israeli war against Iran will limit the likelihood of interest rate cuts by the Fed to boost US growth, many economists have warned. &quot;Traders have already fully priced in another Federal Reserve rate hike by year&#39;s end, despite the arrival of Kevin Warsh as the new Fed chairman,&quot; Innes said. Russia&#39;s war against Ukraine has also injected more uncertainty, with Moscow saying on Monday it planned to launch more strikes on Kyiv following a major recent assault. Key figures at around 0230 GMT Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.0% at $98.11 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 5.1% at $91.71 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4% at 64,915.67 points Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4% at 4136.32 Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.3% at 25,679.68 Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1634 from 1.1646 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3487 from $1.3502 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.94 from 158.90 yen Euro/pound: UP at 86.26 from 86.25 pence London - FTSE 100: Closed for a holiday Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.8% at 8,258.26 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 2.0% at 25,389.10 (close) New York - DOW: Closed for a holiday

An electronic quotation board (L) displays the Nikkei Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on May 25, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Business

Asian stocks and oil prices traded mixed as renewed US strikes on Iran disrupted hopes for a Hormuz Strait deal, keeping markets volatile amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty

Football

FIFA announced training sites for 48 teams at the 2026 World Cup, with Argentina and England based in Kansas City. Most teams will train in the United States, while seven will base in Mexico and two in Canada.

FIFA reveals 48 World Cup team base training sites

MEAUX: A 17-year-old in France admitted to fatally stabbing a fellow teenager in a row said to have been provoked by girl refusing to accept him on TikTok, a prosecutor said Monday. The adolescent appeared in court on Monday in Meaux, near Paris, where he was arraigned on a charge of premeditated murder and placed in custody pending another hearing on Thursday, local prosecutor Jean-Michel Bladier said in a statement. The killing occurred Saturday in a camping site in the town of Villevaude, on the outskirts of Paris. The prosecutor said the mortal chain of events apparently started with the suspect repeatedly being rejected as a TikTok contact by a girl. A heated telephone call between the suspect and the girl allegedly took place on Saturday, during which another 17-year-old &ndash; the boyfriend of a close friend of the girl &ndash; grabbed the phone and challenged the suspect to a fight at the camping site. Bladier said that teenaged boy was set upon by two individuals at the camping site, where he suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest. The 17-year-old suspect, identified by eyewitnesses, was arrested Saturday night after he turned up at the emergency ward of a Paris suburban hospital with a knife wound on his hand he said he had caused by accident. The prosecutor said the adolescent told investigators he had gone to the camping site, with a knife, &quot;to show he wasn&#39;t afraid&quot;. The suspect said he &quot;lost his head&quot; and did not intend to kill, Bladier said. The suspect had a juvenile criminal record, for violence against an older relative and for weapons possession. The prosecutor said a friend of the suspect, considered an accomplice at the camping site, had yet to be identified.

Two pupils stand in a classroom at Goethe-Gymnasium and look at their smartphones; the logo of the social media platform TikTok can be seen on one of the displays. (AFP)

Europe

The adolescent appeared in court on Monday in Meaux, near Paris, where he was arraigned on a charge of premeditated murder and placed in custody pending another hearing on Thursday, local prosecutor Jean-Michel Bladier said in a statement.

Teen mortally stabbed in France after row sparked by TikTok rejection

GOMA: Fighting between government troops and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia has been raging for days in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola epidemic is spreading, security sources and locals said Monday. The mineral-rich region has been scarred by violence from various armed groups for more than three decades. Since 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of territory and fighting has stepped up since the start of 2025. It is also ground zero for an Ebola outbreak which has sparked an international health alert by the World Health Organization. The illness has caused 204 deaths and 867 suspected cases, according to a toll given over the weekend by the DRC&#39;s health ministry. The security and local sources said the recent combat has been taking place in Masisi, an area in North Kivu province, which lies south of the Ituri province, the epicentre of the Ebola epidemic. On Monday, North Kivu&#39;s &nbsp;deputy governor, Didier Lomoyo, said mortar fire had been aimed at the strategic airport at Kisangani, used by Congolese troops, while a police source on the ground told AFP that two drones had been intercepted &quot;without causing any damage.&quot; In recent months, M23 has repeatedly targeted the airport, from which military aircraft belonging to Kinshasa&rsquo;s forces take off. Local sources have reported several air strikes in localities in North Kivu and South Kivu in recent days, but AFP has not been able to confirm the casualty figures from these strikes with independent sources.

Response team members are helped to wear protective suits before burying a person suspected of having died from Ebola in Bunia, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 25, 2026. (AFP)

Africa

Fighting between government troops and Rwanda-backed M23 militia intensifies in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as a deadly Ebola epidemic spreads across the region.

Fighting flares in east DR Congo as Ebola epidemic spreads

MANCHESTER: Basketball legend Michael Jordan joined thousands of Manchester City fans paying tribute to Pep Guardiola at the manager&#39;s farewell party on Monday. Guardiola is about to step down after a glorious decade in charge of City and the Premier League club gave him a fitting send-off during a trophy parade in Manchester. Jordan, one of the NBA&#39;s all-time greats, was a surprise participant in the event, delivering a recorded video message saluting Guardiola. &quot;Hey Pep. This is Michael Jordan. I just wanted to congratulate you on an unbelievable career,&quot; the former Chicago Bulls star said as Guardiola watched the video on a screen inside the Co-op Live &#39;after-party&#39; following the parade. Referencing Guardiola&#39;s fondness for golf, Jordan quipped &quot;Enjoy your retirement. Good luck on the links and keep them straight. Congratulations.&quot; Earlier, fans lined the streets to salute Guardiola as the Spaniard joined City&#39;s players and staff on an open-top bus ride to the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola led City to the FA Cup and League Cup in his final season in charge, taking his trophy haul to 20 since arriving in 2016. He masterminded six Premier League title victories, as well as City&#39;s first Champions League crown in 2023. City finished second in the Premier League behind champions Arsenal this term and were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa in Guardiola&#39;s last game on Sunday, with the boss reduced to tears after the final whistle. The 55-year-old&#39;s decision to leave City was officially announced on Friday after several days of speculation that he was set to quit. A host of current and former City players brought every trophy won during Guardiola&#39;s reign onto the Co-op Live stage to cheers from the sell-out 19,000 crowd. Guardiola said goodbye for the final time in an interview with Oasis rock star Noel Gallagher at the after-party. &quot;I think, first of all, thank you so much for coming tonight to say bye,&quot; Guardiola said. &quot;To say bye to John (Stones) and Bernie (Bernardo Silva) and all these incredible legends like Vinny (Vincent Kompany), Fernandinho, Eddy (Ederson), Jack (Grealish), all of them and many, many more. &quot;I feel tonight that really shows the connection this club has. (City chairman) Khaldoon Al Mubarak and all the people and all the City fans that were connected from the first minute. &quot;Thank you so much, I don&#39;t have enough gratitude. Always, for the rest of my life, I will have you in my heart. Thank you so much.&quot;

Manchester City's English defender #05 John Stones (centre right) and Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder #20 Bernardo Silva (centre left) say goodbye at an after-party event with the players after their victories in the two domestic cup competitions 

Guardiola is about to step down after a glorious decade in charge of City and the Premier League club gave him a fitting send-off during a trophy parade in Manchester.

Guardiola saluted by Michael Jordan at Manchester City farewell party

PARIS: Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek and second seed Elena Rybakina both eased into the second round with comfortable wins at a sweltering Roland Garros on Monday, as Stan Wawrinka bade an emotional farewell to the tournament. Swiatek, playing at a Grand Slam event for the first time since linking up with Rafael Nadal&#39;s former coach Francisco Roig, made short work of seeing off Australian teenager Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2 in just 60 minutes. The Pole is looking to regain the trophy she won at Roland Garros in three successive years from 2022-24 before losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals 12 months ago. Swiatek will take on Czech Sara Bejlek for a place in the last 32 on Wednesday. The third seed is among the favorites for the title after finding some form by reaching the Italian Open semi-finals earlier this month. &quot;I&#39;m really happy with the way I played. It was a solid match from the beginning to the end. I technically knew how to play,&quot; said Swiatek. Rybakina also wasted little time in swatting aside Slovenian Veronika Erjavec 6-2, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier. Like Swiatek, the Kazakh was pleased to not spend too much time on court in the 32C heat. &quot;It&#39;s tough conditions but I&#39;m happy things worked, and I&#39;m looking forward to the next match,&quot; she said. Rybakina, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, plays Ukraine&#39;s Yuliia Starodubtseva next. Elina Svitolina survived a scare against Hungary&#39;s Anna Bondar on Court Suzanne Lenglen, fighting back from 3-1 down in a deciding set to win 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/3). The Ukrainian, who ended an eight-year wait for a fifth WTA 1000 title in Rome earlier this month, has still never lost in the French Open first round in 13 appearances. Former runner-up Jasmine Paolini was a 7-5, 6-3 winner over Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine. China&#39;s Zheng Qinwen, who won Olympic gold at Roland Garros two years ago, crashed out in the first round for the first time with a 6-4, 6-0 loss to Poland&#39;s Maja Chwalinska. Sixth seed Amanda Anisimova, last year&#39;s Wimbledon and US Open runner-up, beat French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-3, 6-1. Wawrinka waves goodbye to Roland Garros Former champion Wawrinka&#39;s final Roland Garros ended in disappointment as the 41-year-old was beaten 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong. Wawrinka, who beat Novak Djokovic in the 2015 final, is retiring at the end of the season. He enjoyed a fairytale run to the third round of his last Australian Open but could not repeat the feat in the Paris heat, despite being backed by a packed crowd on Court Simonne Mathieu. After the match, Wawrinka was presented with a glass case containing a section of a clay court and two video tributes to his career were displayed on big screens around the stadium &mdash;&nbsp;the latter featuring messages from former champions Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic. &quot;Thanks to all your support, I wanted to go on as long as possible, to 41 years of age, to continue living moments like this,&quot; Wawrinka said. The high temperatures took their toll on two-time runner-up Casper Ruud and Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, as the Norwegian narrowly avoided a first opening-round defeat at Roland Garros, winning 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2. Both players had medical time-outs in the fourth set and they took over 16 minutes to return to court ahead of the fifth, as the rallies slowed to walking pace. Ruud found just enough energy as the decider went on, though, with Safiullin continuing to wilt in the evening sunshine. Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar enjoyed a winning French Open debut with a 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 dismantling of American Aleksandar Kovacevic. Jodar has quickly climbed the rankings this year, winning a clay-court title in Marrakesh, reaching the Barcelona Open semi-finals and then the quarter-finals in both Madrid and Rome. Fifth seed Ben Shelton, who has made at least the quarter-finals at each of the other three Slams, saw off Daniel Merida in straight sets. Thanasi Kokkinakis, playing only his fourth tour-level tournament of the last two seasons after injuries, won an epic five-set battle over four hours and 18 minutes with Frenchman Terence Atmane, who crumbled from 5-2 up in the decider.

Tennis

Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek defeated Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2, while second seed Elena Rybakina swept past Veronika Erjavec 6-2, 6-2 in sweltering conditions at Roland Garros.

Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina cruise through Roland Garros openers

MADRID: A Spaniard placed under quarantine after partaking in a cruise hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested positive, the Spanish ministry of health said on Monday.&nbsp;&quot;The patient was transferred to a high-level isolation unit in the Gomez Ulla hospital, where he will remain hospitalised,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;This does not change the level of the risk for the general population and does not change the measures of the current epidemiological response,&quot; it said.&nbsp;It is the second confirmed case of the hantavirus in Spain.&nbsp;The hantavirus outbreak occurred on a Dutch-flagged ship MV Hondius that set off April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina, taking in remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean before heading north to Cape Verde, then Tenerife in Spain&#39;s Canary Islands, where remaining passengers were evacuated.&nbsp;The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that 12 suspected and confirmed cases have been reported to the UN agency, including three deaths, and that no deaths have been reported since May 2.&nbsp;Spread by rodents, hantavirus is a rare virus for which no vaccines or specific treatments exist.

Spain confirms a second hantavirus case in a quarantined cruise passenger from the MV Hondius outbreak. The rodent-borne virus has no vaccine or specific treatment, while public risk remains low.

Quarantined Spaniard tests positive for hantavirus: health ministry

MOSCOW: Russia said Monday it plans to launch more strikes on Kyiv, including on its &quot;decision-making centres&quot;, and repeated a call for foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the city.&nbsp;Russia launched scores of drones and missiles at Ukraine over the weekend, killing four people, wounding dozens and causing damage across the Ukrainian capital.&nbsp;Among the weapons Russia used was its Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which can travel 10 times the speed of sound and is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, according to Moscow.&nbsp;The barrage came days after Russia accused Kyiv of striking a vocational school in the Russian-occupied Lugansk region, killing 21 people. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to retaliate.&nbsp;&quot;Under the current circumstances, the Russian Armed Forces are starting to launch systematic strikes against Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in Kyiv,&quot; Russia&#39;s foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;The strikes will target both decision-making centres and command posts... We are warning foreign citizens, including personnel of diplomatic missions and international organisations, to leave the city as soon as possible,&quot; it added.&nbsp;Ukraine described Russia&#39;s threats as &quot;rhetoric&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;We are now telling our partners that they should not give in to all this Russian blackmail,&quot; Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said.&nbsp;Russia had already called on foreign citizens and diplomats to evacuate Kyiv earlier this month, when it threatened massive strikes on central Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted a military parade on Red Square.

Russia says it plans more strikes on Kyiv, including “decision-making centres,” after weekend attacks kill four people. Moscow urges foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the city, while Ukraine dismisses the threats as Russian blackmail.

Russia threatens more strikes on Kyiv, urges foreigners to leave city

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in New York on Tuesday for an official visit focused on multilateral diplomacy, global governance and international peace and security discussions at the United Nations. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Dar will participate in a high-level United Nations Security Council open debate titled &ldquo;Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centered International System,&rdquo; convened under China&rsquo;s rotating presidency of the Security Council for May 2026. The session will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.&nbsp; Pakistan welcomed the initiative, with the Foreign Office describing it as a &ldquo;timely initiative&rdquo; that highlights &ldquo;the importance of strengthening multilateralism and upholding the central role of the United Nations in addressing today&rsquo;s complex global challenges.&rdquo; Dar is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the Group of Friends on Global Governance under the theme &ldquo;Reforming and Improving Global Governance, Working Together to Address Global Challenges,&rdquo; while holding separate bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials on the sidelines of the visit. The visit comes amid heightened international diplomatic activity linked to conflicts in the Middle East, maritime security concerns and broader debates over the role of multilateral institutions in addressing global crises.&nbsp; Pakistan has recently intensified diplomatic engagement at regional and international levels, including mediation efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire process and wider regional stability initiatives. <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: 672px; 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=2059142712172093811&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=bb02a3f6b35f2bac096cdc7ad81b06fa00722b0d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>On arrival in New York, Dar was received by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and Pakistan&rsquo;s Consul General in New York Aamer Ahmad Atozai, according to the Foreign Office.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York for an official visit from 26-28 May. (Photo: MOFA)

Foreign Affairs

Ishaq Dar will attend high-level United Nations meetings on international peace, security and global governance, while also holding bilateral engagements with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials.

Pakistan foreign minister in New York for key United Nations meetings

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China agreed to accelerate work on major infrastructure, industrial and connectivity projects under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a four-day visit to China focused on expanding strategic, economic and security cooperation.&nbsp; In a joint statement issued Tuesday after meetings between PM Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the two sides pledged to &ldquo;promote the high-quality development of the upgraded version of CPEC 2.0&rdquo; and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.&nbsp; The agreement reflects Islamabad&rsquo;s broader push to reposition CPEC beyond traditional infrastructure financing toward industrial cooperation, manufacturing, agriculture, technology and regional trade connectivity as Pakistan seeks long-term economic modernization and export-led growth. Both countries agreed to &ldquo;move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era,&rdquo; describing the relationship as carrying &ldquo;even more strategic importance and relevance&rdquo; amid shifting regional and global dynamics.&nbsp; The statement said the two sides would advance the Karakoram Highway realignment project &ldquo;in a phased and orderly manner,&rdquo; expand the role of Gwadar Port as a regional connectivity hub and strengthen land connectivity through the Khunjerab Pass.&nbsp; China and Pakistan also welcomed third-party participation in CPEC projects &ldquo;under the model agreed upon by China and Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp; The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in industrial parks, mining, oil and gas exploration, digital economy, artificial intelligence, finance, information technology and energy.&nbsp; Both sides also committed to strengthening industrial supply chains and expanding cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.&nbsp; China agreed to support Pakistan&rsquo;s agricultural modernization efforts and facilitate market access for &ldquo;more high-quality Pakistani agricultural products&rdquo; following the completion of a Chinese training program for 1,000 Pakistani agricultural technicians.&nbsp; The joint statement highlighted expanding educational, cultural and scientific exchanges, including plans for two Pakistani astronauts to train in China. &ldquo;China welcomes two Pakistani astronauts to come to China for training and looks forward to a Pakistani astronaut becoming the first foreign astronaut for the early entrance into the China Space Station,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp; On security cooperation, the two sides agreed to establish a &ldquo;China-Pakistan Security Partnership,&rdquo; expand military and counter-terrorism cooperation and strengthen security measures for Chinese personnel and projects operating in Pakistan.&nbsp; The statement said both countries opposed &ldquo;double standards on counter-terrorism&rdquo; and agreed that militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), should not be allowed to use any territory to threaten regional security.&nbsp; Pakistan reaffirmed support for China&rsquo;s positions on Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, while Beijing reiterated support for Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development priorities.&nbsp; The two countries also reiterated support for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully in accordance with United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements.&nbsp; During the visit, the two sides signed multiple cooperation agreements across various sectors, according to the statement.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during delegation-level talks in Beijing on May 25, 2026, as the two sides discuss CPEC expansion, regional connectivity and broader strategic cooperation. (Handout/PMO)

As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concludes a high-level China visit, Islamabad and Beijing pledge to accelerate CPEC 2.0 projects, deepen security and economic cooperation, and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.

China, Pakistan agree to ‘move faster’ on CPEC 2.0 projects

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held high-level meetings with leading Chinese companies in Beijing on Tuesday, as Islamabad intensified efforts to expand industrial cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, and technology investment under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The engagements come as Pakistan increasingly seeks to reposition CPEC beyond large-scale infrastructure financing toward manufacturing, industrial relocation, energy transition and export-oriented business partnerships with Chinese firms. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif and Chinese executives reaffirmed their commitment to &ldquo;further expand cooperation in the economic, industrial and infrastructure sectors under CPEC Phase-II.&rdquo; During a meeting with FAMSUN Chief Executive Officer Zhengjun Chen, the prime minister praised the company&rsquo;s longstanding role in Pakistan&rsquo;s agriculture sector, particularly in grain storage, feed production and food security. The statement said PM Sharif identified the reduction of post-harvest crop losses as a government priority and invited the company to establish manufacturing and technology-transfer facilities in Pakistan by utilizing incentives available under Special Economic Zones and the Green Pakistan Initiative. PM Sharif also met Chairman Hou Jianxin and representatives of Shandong Xinxu Group Corporation, welcoming the group&rsquo;s expanding investments in maritime development, battery manufacturing, mineral processing and industrial cooperation. The prime minister appreciated the company&rsquo;s role in the Xinxu Special Economic Zone, the C2 Steel project at Port Qasim, and investments in Gwadar and Pakistan&rsquo;s northern mineral sectors. Reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s backing for the projects, Sharif stressed the need for their &ldquo;fast-track implementation under CPEC Phase-II,&rdquo; according to the statement. The prime minister separately met Chairman Zhang Bingnan of China Communications Construction Company and senior representatives of China Road and Bridge Corporation. Sharif praised the companies&rsquo; contribution to Pakistan&rsquo;s infrastructure development over the past six decades, particularly in projects including the Karakoram Highway and Rashakai Special Economic Zone. He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to accelerated progress on the ML-1 railway project, the realignment of the Karakoram Highway and other regional connectivity initiatives. The prime minister emphasized that Pakistan viewed CCCC and CRBC as &ldquo;long-term strategic partners&rdquo; in infrastructure modernization and regional connectivity. The meetings follow Sharif&rsquo;s investment-focused engagements in Hangzhou earlier this week, where he urged Chinese companies to relocate industries to Pakistan through joint ventures with Pakistani firms. &ldquo;This model will be a win-win model for Chinese and Pakistani entrepreneurs,&rdquo; Sharif said during the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference. Chinese companies participating in Tuesday&rsquo;s meetings expressed &ldquo;strong confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s economic potential&rdquo; and signaled &ldquo;keen interest&rdquo; in expanding investments across agriculture, industrial production, logistics, infrastructure and technology sectors, according to the statement. Federal ministers and senior Pakistani officials attended the meetings and were directed to ensure &ldquo;effective and timely implementation&rdquo; of decisions reached during the business engagements.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during a meeting with Chen Zhengjun, president and CEO of FAMSUN, in Beijing on May 26, 2026. (Handout/PMO)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets senior executives of leading Chinese companies in Beijing, seeking expanded cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and technology under CPEC Phase-II while urging faster implementation of strategic investment projects in Pakistan.

Pakistan pushes Chinese industrial investment during high-level Beijing business meetings

ISLAMABAD: Tens of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims joined more than 1.5 million Muslims in the holy city of Makkah this week as Hajj rituals entered a crucial phase against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Pilgrims on Tuesday continued arriving in Mina after performing the &ldquo;tawaf,&rdquo; or seven circumambulations around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, as temperatures climbed to around 45 degrees Celsius across the holy sites. Pakistan has sent around 179,000 pilgrims for this year&rsquo;s Hajj, including more than 119,000 under the government scheme and 60,000 through private operators, making it one of the world&rsquo;s largest Hajj contingents. Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Pakistan, said extensive arrangements had been finalized in coordination with Saudi authorities to ensure smooth transport, accommodation and logistical support for Pakistani pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage. &ldquo;All operations, including flights, accommodation, and transport, are being organized in a smooth and exemplary manner to ensure the comfort and safety of all pilgrims,&rdquo; Radio Pakistan quoted Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf as saying during his visit to Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage this year is unfolding amid uncertainty surrounding efforts to maintain stability in the region following conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, though Saudi authorities have emphasized strong security and operational preparedness for the annual gathering. Saudi officials have also deployed enhanced heat management and emergency response measures after last year&rsquo;s extreme temperatures during Hajj. Pakistan&rsquo;s Hajj mission said trained teams of Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj, or pilgrim facilitators, remained deployed across the holy sites to assist pilgrims with transport, accommodation, crowd management and emergency support. Officials said the facilitators had undergone specialized training in digital navigation systems, emergency response, and crowd handling ahead of the pilgrimage season. This year, Pakistan also introduced a pilot project allowing thousands of Pakistani pilgrims to travel between Makkah and Madinah through the Haramain High-Speed Railway, significantly reducing travel time between the two holy cities. The main Hajj rituals will continue with the gathering at Mount Arafat, regarded as the spiritual climax of the pilgrimage, where pilgrims spend the day in prayer and reflection before proceeding to Muzdalifah and Mina for the symbolic stoning ritual. Despite regional uncertainty and intense heat, many pilgrims described the experience as spiritually uplifting and the culmination of a lifelong dream.

Pilgrims take part in Hajj rituals in Makkah as thousands move through Mina and the Grand Mosque during one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings in Saudi Arabia.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets 100-year-old Pakistani Pilgrim at Mina Camp

Maryam Shah

Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the two major Islamic festivals, marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s devotion and obedience to Allah. According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son after receiving a command from Allah in a dream, before Allah replaced the sacrifice with a ram after testing his faith and submission. The event is referenced in the Holy Quran in Surah As-Saffat: &ldquo;And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.&rdquo;(Surah As-Saffat 37:107) Also known as the &ldquo;Festival of Sacrifice,&rdquo; Eid al-Adha is observed annually on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, following the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslims gather in mosques and open prayer grounds for special Eid prayers before carrying out Qurbani, or ritual animal sacrifice, a practice rooted in faith, charity and social responsibility. The sacrificeEach year, millions of animals are sacrificed globally during Eid al-Adha. In Pakistan alone, around 6.8 million animals were sacrificed during Eid al-Adha in 2024, according to data cited by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). The figure represented an increase from approximately 6.18 million animals sacrificed during Eid al-Adha in 2023. The total included about 2.86 million cows and bulls, 165,000 buffaloes, 3.3 million goats, 385,000 sheep and nearly 99,000 camels. Under Islamic tradition, the meat from the sacrifice is commonly divided into three portions: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy, reflecting Islam&rsquo;s emphasis on compassion, charity and care for the less fortunate. Beyond its religious significance, Eid al-Adha also generates major economic activity in Pakistan, particularly for livestock farmers, traders, transporters, tanners and small businesses linked to the seasonal cattle market economy. The rules of QurbaniThe practice of sacrifice is rooted in the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Narrated Anas bin Malik: &ldquo;The Prophet sacrificed two horned rams, black and white in colour. He slaughtered them with his own hands, mentioned Allah&rsquo;s name over them, said Takbir and placed his foot on their sides.&rdquo;(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Sacrifice, Hadith 5558) Islamic scholars cite this Hadith as evidence for the method and significance of Qurbani, as well as the importance of offering the sacrifice after the Eid prayer. Islamic jurisprudence also prescribes detailed conditions for a valid sacrifice. The animal must belong to permitted categories, goat, sheep, cow, buffalo or camel, and meet minimum age requirements generally accepted by scholars: at least one year for goats and sheep, two years for cows and buffaloes, and five years for camels. The animal must also be free from major defects such as blindness, severe illness or lameness. A goat or sheep is considered sufficient for one household, while a cow, buffalo or camel may be shared by up to seven people. Managing Eid in PakistanAuthorities across Pakistan typically launch extensive cleanliness, waste disposal and security operations during Eid days to manage animal waste, traffic congestion and crowds in major urban centres. Municipal workers, volunteers and local administrations remain on high alert throughout the holiday period, particularly in large cities where temporary cattle markets and large-scale animal slaughter create additional logistical challenges. For Muslims, however, Eid al-Adha remains above all a spiritual occasion centred on sacrifice, obedience, gratitude and generosity, values deeply rooted in Islamic faith and tradition.

Children play with a bull ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Rawalpindi on May 23, 2026. (AFP)

Blogs

Muslims gather for Eid al-Adha prayers and animal sacrifice celebrations, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion and emphasizing charity, compassion and community welfare during one of Islam’s most significant religious festivals.

How Eid al-Adha celebrations are rooted in faith and sacrifice

Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr style="line-height: 2;">Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">US military strikes southern Iran targeting missile sites and boats &ldquo;laying mines&rdquo; in &ldquo;self-defense&rdquo;</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Explosions reported in Bandar Abbas with Iranian state media saying situation under control</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trump proposes transferring Iran&#39;s uranium to the US or destroying it domestically under international monitoring.</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trump conditions Iran peace deal on Saudi Arabia and Qatar normalizing relations with Israel</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iran restores internet access suspended since February attacks began.</li><li style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hezbollah claims drone attacks on Israel while Netanyahu escalates strikes in Lebanon</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Khamenei says US regional influence decliningPublished: May 26, 2026 | 8:19 GMT | by Web Desk Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Tuesday that countries in the region would &ldquo;no longer serve as shields for American bases,&rdquo; according to a written statement carried by Iranian state television. In a message marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, Khamenei said &ldquo;the hands of time will not turn backwards,&rdquo; adding that the United States was steadily losing influence in the region and moving &ldquo;further and further away from its former status with each passing day.&rdquo; The remarks come amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire and broader negotiations over maritime security and regional stability.<hr> Iran says over 1,500 schools damaged during recent conflictPublished: May 26, 2026 | 4:45 GMT | by Web Desk Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iran&rsquo;s School Renovation Organization has identified damage to 1,507 schools and 219 non-educational facilities during the recent war. According to IRNA, the head of the organization said 15 schools were completely destroyed and would be rebuilt with support from charities and assistance organizations. Officials also said another 254 schools are expected to resume operations within two months.<hr> Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertaintyPublished: May 26, 2026 | 3:20 GMT | by AFP Asian stock markets and oil prices traded unevenly Tuesday as uncertainty over negotiations between the United States and Iran continued to weigh on investor sentiment following fresh US strikes in southern Iran. Markets had rallied earlier this week after reports suggested progress toward an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but optimism faded after US Central Command said American forces carried out &ldquo;self-defense strikes&rdquo; targeting missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to lay naval mines. Oil prices fluctuated amid the uncertainty, with Brent crude edging higher while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell more than 5%.&nbsp; Analysts said markets were reacting sharply to every diplomatic or military development linked to the Middle East crisis and the future of maritime trade through Hormuz.<hr> Strait of Hormuz &ldquo;has to be open&rdquo;: RubioPublished: May 26, 2026 | 2:46 GMT | by Web Desk US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz &ldquo;has to be open&rdquo; and would reopen &ldquo;one way or the other,&rdquo; after renewed US strikes on Iran raised uncertainty over efforts to sustain a broader ceasefire agreement. Speaking during a visit to Jaipur, India, Rubio described the disruption in maritime navigation as &ldquo;unlawful,&rdquo; &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; and &ldquo;unsustainable for the world.&rdquo;<hr> Rubio says Iran deal still possible within days despite US strikes Published: May 26, 2026 | 2:21 GMT | by AFP US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal with Iran was still possible despite new American strikes that cast doubt on their fragile ceasefire. &quot;There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we&#39;ll see if we can make progress. I think it&#39;s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it&#39;ll take a few days,&quot; Rubio told reporters in Jaipur during an official visit to India. &quot;The president&#39;s expressed his desire to make it. He&#39;s either going to make a good deal or no deal,&quot; he said.<hr> WTI crude price falls over 5% despite new US strikes on Iran Published: May 26, 2026 | 00:52 GMT | by AFP The price of the main US benchmark for oil fell more than 5% on Tuesday, despite US forces launching new strikes on Iran. Around 00:30 GMT, the price of West Texas Intermediate was down 5.46% at $91.33 a barrel. However, North Sea Brent crude was up 1.6% at $97.68 a barrel. Oil prices plunged below $100 on Monday as investors raised expectations of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, following signs that Washington and Tehran were edging closer to a deal. <hr> US CENTCOM strikes Iran as Trump urges Qatar and Saudi Arabia join Abraham Accords Published: May 26, 2026 | 00:48 GMT | by Web Desk The United States military struck southern Iran while President Donald Trump set new conditions on the ongoing peace negotiations, urging Qatar and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as a prerequisite for ending the conflict. The US Central Command said it targeted &ldquo;missile launch sites&rdquo; and Iranian &ldquo;boats laying mines,&rdquo; characterizing the action as &ldquo;self-defense&rdquo; during an ongoing ceasefire, according to The Guardian. Explosions were also reported in the port city of Bandar Abbas, with the Iranian state news agency Mehr stating the situation remained under control. The US President also laid out a nuclear disposal framework in a Truth Social post, proposing Iran&#39;s enriched uranium be transferred to the United States for destruction or destroyed domestically under international oversight. <hr> Canada&#39;s Carney calls treatment of Gaza flotilla activists &#39;unacceptable&#39; Published: May 26, 2026 | 00:44 GMT | by AFP Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday denounced the &quot;appalling treatment&quot; of activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla as &quot;unacceptable,&quot; in a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to a statement. Last week, Israel&#39;s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked widespread condemnation and a diplomatic backlash by posting a video mocking the activists after they were seized in international waters by Israeli soldiers. In the video dozens of activists, including 12 Canadian citizens, were forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and their hands tied. In the call, Carney called for an independent investigation and &quot;strongly condemned&quot; remarks by Ben Gvir, according to the statement. Last week, Canada said it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over the incident.

Americas

US military strikes southern Iran targeting missile sites and mining boats as Trump sets new conditions on peace negotiations, urging Qatar and Saudi Arabia to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.

Articles by AFP

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Yellow Sea: Seoul

Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty

FIFA reveals 48 World Cup team base training sites

Teen mortally stabbed in France after row sparked by TikTok rejection

Fighting flares in east DR Congo as Ebola epidemic spreads

Guardiola saluted by Michael Jordan at Manchester City farewell party

Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina cruise through Roland Garros openers

Quarantined Spaniard tests positive for hantavirus: health ministry

Russia threatens more strikes on Kyiv, urges foreigners to leave city

Latest News

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Yellow Sea: Seoul

Pakistan foreign minister in New York for key United Nations meetings

China, Pakistan agree to ‘move faster’ on CPEC 2.0 projects

Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty