Shizza Jasmin

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan prepares to host high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, the spotlight has turned to Islamabad, a city now central to efforts aimed at preventing a wider regional conflict. The upcoming negotiations follow a fragile two-week ceasefire, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement, positioning the country as a neutral facilitator between two long-standing adversaries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized Islamabad&rsquo;s role in advancing dialogue, urging all sides to sustain the truce and give diplomacy a chance. &ldquo;I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint&hellip; so that diplomacy can take a lead role,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan&rsquo;s position, maintaining ties with both Washington and Tehran, has allowed it to emerge as a credible intermediary at a time when tensions have disrupted global energy flows, shaken markets, and raised fears of a broader Middle East war. With delegations from both sides expected in Islamabad, officials say the talks represent a critical window to transform a temporary ceasefire into a more durable peace framework.

Shorts

Upcoming negotiations follow a fragile two-week ceasefire, brokered through Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement, positioning the country as a neutral facilitator between two long-standing adversaries.



Why Islamabad matters as US-Iran talks shift global focus

ISLAMABAD: Germany and Pakistan are expanding cooperation in climate action, education and development partnerships, even as both countries seek to reinvigorate trade and investment ties, German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital. Lepel, currently serving her third posting in Pakistan, described bilateral relations as broadly positive with active political engagement and growing people-to-people connections. &ldquo;Overall the trajectory is going in a good direction,&rdquo; she said, noting that the two countries maintain regular high-level contact. She added that Pakistan and Germany share a commitment to international cooperation and rule-based global governance. &ldquo;We depend on a reliable international world order that is governed by rules and not by the law of the strongest,&rdquo; Lepel said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we are both big friends of multilateralism.&rdquo; Climate cooperation expandingGermany&rsquo;s development partnership with Pakistan is increasingly focused on climate and energy transition, the ambassador said, highlighting a &euro;114 million commitment announced late last year for climate-related cooperation and other development initiatives. According to Lepel, climate action offers both countries an opportunity to strengthen long-term economic competitiveness while addressing a global challenge. &ldquo;Climate change does not stop at borders and we don&rsquo;t get to negotiate with the planet,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The planet follows the law of physics, so this is a global challenge we have to tackle together.&rdquo; Germany is supporting several climate-related initiatives across Pakistan, including rebuilding flood-affected homes in Balochistan using climate-resilient methods and improving freshwater access in Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Berlin is also contributing to forest restoration efforts linked to a provincial tree-planting initiative. Lepel said community participation is key to ensuring such environmental projects succeed. &ldquo;Planting the forest is the easy part,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Without taking the local communities along it&rsquo;s very difficult to keep it.&rdquo; Education links growingEducational exchange remains one of the fastest-growing areas of bilateral engagement, with nearly 10,000 Pakistani students currently studying in Germany, according to Lepel. She said Germany has digitalized its student visa application system to improve transparency and processing times, while the growing availability of English-language programs is making German universities more accessible to international students. &ldquo;The attractiveness of studying in Germany just is growing so much,&rdquo; she said. Lepel also encouraged prospective Pakistani students to rely on official information portals rather than private education agents. &ldquo;It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on agencies,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If you just Google &lsquo;study in Germany&rsquo; you come to a very accessible and intuitive portal where people are guided through all the universities.&rdquo; Trade potential yet to be realizedWhile political dialogue and development cooperation remain strong, the ambassador acknowledged that trade and investment between the two countries have not grown as quickly as other areas of partnership. &ldquo;The numbers in terms of trade are pretty much the same when I left eight years ago,&rdquo; Lepel said, adding that improving the ease of doing business could help attract greater foreign investment. Pakistan&rsquo;s large market, young population and strategic geographic location remain significant advantages for potential investors, she noted. &ldquo;There are quite a few German companies that have a presence in Pakistan,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Hopefully as ease of business improves we can build on that.&rdquo; Opportunities in innovation and diversificationLepel said changing global economic dynamics are prompting German companies to diversify supply chains and explore new markets &mdash; a trend that could create opportunities for Pakistan. &ldquo;We have learned the hard way that it&rsquo;s not a good idea to be unilaterally dependent on any one partner,&rdquo; she said. She also pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s innovative talent pool as a potential area for collaboration in research and development. &ldquo;I have really met amazing people who are very innovative, creative, resourceful and agile,&rdquo; she said. Energy efficiency and sustainable building technologies are additional areas where German expertise could support Pakistan&rsquo;s transition toward a low-carbon economy, Lepel added. &ldquo;The best energy is the energy we have never used,&rdquo; she said, highlighting opportunities in building insulation and energy-saving infrastructure. Despite global economic uncertainty, the ambassador expressed optimism about the future direction of bilateral relations. &ldquo;There is a positive mood,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;People are taking more of an interest in how things go in Pakistan.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

In a wide-ranging interview to Pakistan TV Digital, German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel says Pakistan-Germany relations are progressing through climate cooperation, education links and political engagement, while noting untapped potential in trade, investment and innovation partnerships.

Germany-Pakistan ties deepen through climate, education partnerships, ambassador says

Faraz Saeed

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: An Indian Muslim lawmaker has condemned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during an official ceremony, describing the act as &ldquo;foolish&rdquo; and &ldquo;condemnable,&rdquo; amid growing concern over India&rsquo;s treatment of religious minorities.&nbsp;Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Tariq Anwar said the incident was unacceptable but suggested it may have been linked to what he described as the chief minister&rsquo;s ongoing neurological or mental health issues.&nbsp;He added that Kumar had previously been criticized for similar conduct and was reportedly undergoing medical treatment, while maintaining there was no history of him intentionally targeting Muslims.&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been said for the last several months that he has some neurological and mental problems,&rdquo; Anwar said. &ldquo;However, if anyone commits such an act, it is certainly wrong.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We do not appreciate it; rather, we condemn the incident.&rdquo;&nbsp;The controversy erupted earlier this week during an appointment ceremony at the Bihar Chief Minister&rsquo;s Secretariat, Samvad, where newly recruited doctors were receiving appointment letters. Indian media reported that 1,283 doctors were appointed, including practitioners of Ayurveda, homeopathy, and Unani medicine.&nbsp;As Nusrat Parveen, a newly appointed Unani doctor, stepped forward to receive her letter, Kumar appeared startled by her hijab, which partially covered her face, and reached out to pull it down. A video of the moment quickly went viral, triggering widespread outrage and renewed debate over minority rights and intolerance in public life.&nbsp;Anwar said the chief minister&rsquo;s conduct appeared to be the result of illness or medical treatment and reiterated that there had never been any complaint of Kumar intentionally committing such an act. Nevertheless, he stressed that the incident was &ldquo;not right&rdquo; and remained condemnable.&nbsp;Opposition parties were far less charitable. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Kumar&rsquo;s former ally, publicly questioned his fitness to govern. &ldquo;What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental state reached a completely pitiable condition, or has Nitish Babu become 100% Sanghi now?&rdquo; the party said in a post on X.&nbsp;RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed framed the episode as part of a broader pattern. &ldquo;The removal of the hijab from a Muslim woman&rsquo;s face clearly reflects the National Democratic Alliance government&rsquo;s mindset toward the Muslim community,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The incident also drew criticism from politicians and academics, who described it as further evidence of a shrinking space for minorities in India. Ashok Swain, a professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, linked the episode to the political climate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;&ldquo;Modi&rsquo;s key ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forcibly pulls down the veil of a Muslim woman doctor while handing her an appointment letter,&rdquo; Swain wrote on X. &ldquo;In Modi&rsquo;s India, misogyny and Islamophobia have official sanction.&rdquo;&nbsp;Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra said the act disqualified Kumar from holding office. &ldquo;This incident clearly shows that the Chief Minister of Bihar is not mentally stable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After this, he has no moral right to remain in office even for a single day.&rdquo;&nbsp;Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi described the conduct as &ldquo;indefensible and deeply disturbing,&rdquo; calling for accountability.&nbsp;&ldquo;He owes the woman and the public an unconditional apology,&rdquo; Mehdi said. &ldquo;This erratic conduct is alarming and raises serious concerns about his capacity to hold constitutional office.&rdquo;&nbsp;India&rsquo;s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, also demanded Kumar&rsquo;s resignation, raising questions about women&rsquo;s safety and Muslim dignity in Bihar.&nbsp;&ldquo;Look at his shamelessness, a female doctor had come to collect her appointment letter, and Nitish Kumar pulled off her hijab,&rdquo; the party said. &ldquo;This vileness is unforgivable.&rdquo;&nbsp;For critics, the episode is not an isolated lapse but a stark illustration of how Muslim identity is increasingly treated as a provocation in India&rsquo;s public sphere, where even state ceremonies are no longer free from humiliation and coercion.

India

Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Tariq Anwar condemns Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulling down a Muslim woman doctor’s hijab, calling the act foolish and unacceptable

Pulling veil by Bihar CM condemnable, ‘foolish’ act: Indian Muslim lawmaker

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye share an enduring bond founded on brotherhood, shared struggle, and resistance to imperial domination, a leading Turkish civil society figure said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;He urged global powers to &ldquo;abandon their colonial ambitions&rdquo; and allow smaller nations to thrive in peace.&nbsp;In a wide-ranging interview, İsmail Hakkı Turun&ccedil;, president of T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s July 15 Association, condemned the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, describing them as &ldquo;a direct consequence of imperial greed&rdquo; and a reflection of the exploitative mindset that continues to shape global politics.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is absolutely wrong for any country, especially those backed by powers like the US, the UK, France, or Germany, to invade others and take away their rights,&rdquo; Turun&ccedil; said. &ldquo;Such actions bring neither peace to Gaza nor security to those who support these aggressions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Turun&ccedil;, who has personally visited Gaza six times, said he was &ldquo;tortured&rdquo; during his last visit, adding that the suffering of Gazans mirrors the world&rsquo;s moral collapse in the face of oppression.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over 80,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza, thousands more have been wounded, and millions are confined to a tiny strip of land,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is not only a humanitarian tragedy but a reflection of an imperial, exploitative mentality that must end.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;T&uuml;rkiye stands with Pakistan&rsquo;&nbsp;Reaffirming T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s solidarity with Pakistan, Turun&ccedil; said his country has &ldquo;always stood by its brotherly nation,&rdquo; particularly in times of crisis or tension with India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whenever we face hardship, the first country to rush to our side has always been Pakistan, both its government and its people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are brothers, and if a brother does not share in his brother&rsquo;s sorrow or joy, that cannot be called brotherhood.&rdquo;&nbsp;He recalled his first visit to Pakistan following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, when he came as part of a Turkish humanitarian delegation.&nbsp;&ldquo;We built schools, established soup kitchens, and distributed food,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That bond of brotherhood was not symbolic.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It was lived and felt on the ground.&rdquo;&nbsp;Turun&ccedil; emphasized that both countries must continue to expand cooperation in areas such as economic development, energy, and humanitarian work.&nbsp;&ldquo;Each country should make use of its own resources to improve the lives of its citizens,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;No state should covet the wealth of another, that is what separates sovereignty from imperialism.&rdquo;&nbsp;The July 15 Association is a leading non-governmental organization in T&uuml;rkiye, established after the failed 2016 coup attempt, which left more than 250 people dead and thousands injured. The association works to commemorate the martyrs and veterans of that night, support their families, and preserve the memory of the public&rsquo;s resistance as a defining moment in T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s democratic history.&nbsp;On the night of July 15, 2016, a faction within the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the elected government. The attempt was thwarted after millions of civilians took to the streets in response to a call from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish government blames the coup on the G&uuml;len movement (FET&Ouml;), which has since been designated a terrorist organization by T&uuml;rkiye.&nbsp;Reflecting on those events, Turun&ccedil; said the coup attempt was &ldquo;an initiative backed by several imperial powers and carried out by traitors within the system.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Thanks to the trust our people have in President Erdoğan, millions took to the streets,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The people won, the coup plotters lost. Praise be to God, there was joy and peace in our victory.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s experience serves as a lesson for nations like Pakistan that continue to resist foreign interference.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will never recognize any system other than democracy,&rdquo; he quoted President Erdoğan as saying. &ldquo;Those who want to abolish democracy will never be given the chance.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;World has enough for all, if shared fairly&rsquo;Calling for global cooperation and ethical resource distribution, Turun&ccedil; said the world must learn to share its wealth rather than exploit others.&nbsp;&ldquo;The world has enough resources to sustain far more than eight billion people if used wisely,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the egoism of some and the exploitative mentality of others prevent fair sharing. This greed drives conflicts, occupations, and suffering, from Gaza to beyond.&rdquo;&nbsp;Concluding the interview, Turun&ccedil; expressed affection for the Pakistani people and optimism about the future of bilateral relations.&nbsp;&ldquo;The people of T&uuml;rkiye love Pakistan deeply,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;God willing, this brotherhood will last forever, and our friendship will continue for many generations to come.&rdquo;

In a wide-ranging interview, İsmail Hakkı Turunç, president of Türkiye’s July 15 Association, praises Pakistan-Türkiye brotherhood, condemns Gaza atrocities, recalls resisting the 2016 coup, and urges world powers to end imperial exploitation and share resources equitably.

Pakistan, Türkiye stand united against imperial aggression: Turkish leader

If you&#39;re a regular online shopper, you&#39;re familiar with the frustration of hearing &quot;card not accepted&quot; just as you&#39;re about to pay. Even worse is being told, &quot;You can transfer online.&quot; Navigating banking apps and entering merchant details can be a clumsy and frustrating experience. After recently returning to Pakistan, I decided to tackle this issue. To get more insight, I interviewed Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kiyani, on my podcast, &quot;Chatroom with Shizza.&quot; Our goal was to explore Pakistan&#39;s digital transformation plans. The vision of a cashless Pakistan A cashless future isn&#39;t just a dream; it&#39;s becoming a reality. Kiyani said the &quot;Cashless Pakistan&quot; initiative is more than just government talk. It is a top priority for the prime minister, who meets biweekly with the Cashless Economy Steering Committee. The stakes are high: increased transparency, improved efficiency, and an alarming Rs18 billion ($63.8 million) lost each year in payment processing. A unified effort: Government, telecom, and banks One of the most promising aspects of this transformation is the cooperation among key players. Major telecom companies like Jazz and Easypaisa, along with the Pakistan Banks Association, are now working together. Kiyani described the effort as a comprehensive movement, merging both government and private sector goals. The strategy is built on three main pillars, each led by a government organization. The State Bank of Pakistan aims to increase the number of merchants accepting digital payments from 500,000 to 2 million. They also want to grow digital banking users from 95 million to 120 million and double annual digital transactions from 7.5 billion to 15 billion by June 2026. Economic transparency and tax reform This transformation isn&#39;t just about technology. For instance, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is the largest social safety net in the country. Previously, it relied on cash payments, which led to issues like middlemen and mistakes. Now, 10 million beneficiaries are receiving e-wallets, making digital banking more accessible. &quot;This isn&#39;t just about technology,&quot; Kiyani said, &quot;It&#39;s about education.&quot; The new Pakistan Digital Authority will oversee digital payments and promote financial literacy across the country. Tax reform is also critical. Pakistan&#39;s tax-to-GDP ratio improved from 8.2% to 10.6% last fiscal year. Digital transactions can help with better economic documentation and fairer tax distribution. &quot;Digital payments increase transparency,&quot; Kiyani said. &quot;They reduce wrongdoing and lessen our reliance on human resources.&quot; Expected timeline The government has set an ambitious timeline. By the end of 2026, all payments involving federal, provincial, and state-owned enterprises will be digitized. They plan to subsidize QR-based payment systems for small merchants, encouraging digital payment adoption through lower processing fees. When I asked Kiyani if this effort might be too late, he remained positive. &quot;The pace has been organic,&quot; he said. &quot;But the ecosystem is maturing. The prime minister has set clear targets.&quot; The road ahead After the interview, I felt hopeful. The combination of improved infrastructure, political will, and private-sector cooperation appears stronger this time. Success will depend on effective implementation, education, and convincing everyday vendors that digital payments are not just feasible but preferable. As someone who prefers scanning to fumbling with cash, I&rsquo;ll be watching this digital revolution closely. Until then, I&rsquo;ll continue with manual transfers &mdash; and some grumbling. Catch the full episode of &quot;Chatroom with Shizza&quot; on our YouTube channel.

Banking

Taxation

Business

Pakistan’s digital payment push aims to boost digital transactions by 2026 through government-private cooperation, improving transparency, tax reform, and financial education.

Cashless Pakistan: A nation's ambitious leap toward transparency

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, outlined his vision on youth, agriculture and economic prosperity. The prime minister made these remarks during the launch of Pakistan TV Digital, an English-language platform designed to present Islamabad&rsquo;s voice to global audiences through credible, video-first journalism.&nbsp; &ldquo;These devastating floods have damaged our economy in a way which we did not foresee,&rdquo; PM Sharif said on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s podcast The Chatroom with Shizza. &ldquo;We are meeting this challenge with joint efforts,&rdquo; referring to the coordinated flood response and rescue operations by the federal government, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), provincial governments, and the military.<div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kuOoFRxCQsI" title="Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Launches Pakistan TV Digital" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;"></iframe></div></div>He outlined a future where Pakistan leverages its &ldquo;youth bulge,&rdquo; expands its agricultural sector, and implements vocational training programs to convert demographic challenges into economic opportunities. Once on the brink of economic collapse, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s economy is now stable&rdquo;, the prime minister said. He credited the change to what he called &ldquo;extraordinary teamwork, untiring efforts, and a sense of purpose to achieve results.&rdquo;

Economy

Launches Pakistan TV Digital, affirms resilience after floods, Islamabad’s shift toward stability and growth, hails synergy among stakeholders.

Economic collapse averted, focusing on youth: PM Shehbaz

MUMBAI: Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood music through the 1970s and 80s, died Sunday in Mumbai aged 92, her family said. Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of &quot;extreme exhaustion&quot; and chest infection. &quot;My mother passed away today (Sunday). Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,&quot; her son Anand Bhosle told reporters. Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages over a seven‑decade career. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; by her death. &quot;Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,&quot; he said in a post on X. &quot;She will continue to inspire generations, and her songs will forever echo in people&#39;s lives.&quot; Born on September 8, 1933, to a musical family, Bhosle began singing as a child alongside her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, after their father&#39;s death. Often compared to Mangeshkar &mdash; revered as &quot;India&#39;s nightingale&quot; who died in 2022 &mdash; Bhosle forged her own path, embracing genres from pop to folk. Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at 16. She went on to become one of Indian cinema&#39;s most versatile and celebrated voices, receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and earning two Grammy nominations. Bhosle continued collaborating with global artists well into her later years, including a recent feature on British virtual band Gorillaz&#39;s album The Mountain (&quot;Parvat&quot;). Beyond music, she nurtured her passion for food, launching her &quot;Asha&#39;s&quot; restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.

Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of "extreme exhaustion" and chest infection.



Legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle dies aged 92

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed regional counterparts on the outcome of high-stakes Iran&ndash;US negotiations in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said late Sunday, urging all parties to uphold a fragile ceasefire following 21 hours of intensive talks between Washington and Tehran. The negotiations, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement, come after weeks of conflict that disrupted global energy flows, pushed oil prices higher and unsettled financial markets, before a two-week truce created space for dialogue. While the United States said it had presented a &ldquo;final and best offer,&rdquo; Iran maintained that progress depends on &ldquo;seriousness and good faith&rdquo; and respect for its rights and interests. Speaking with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Dar shared updates on the Islamabad Talks and stressed that &ldquo;it is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&rdquo; He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue and supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving lasting regional stability. In separate calls with Egypt and T&uuml;rkiye, Dar reiterated the importance of sustained engagement, with the Foreign Office noting that he emphasised continued diplomacy as essential for peace. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan commended Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts, according to statement, with both sides reaffirming support for dialogue and de-escalation. The outreach comes as both Washington and Tehran signal continued engagement following the initial round of talks. US Vice President JD Vance said no agreement had been reached after extended discussions, while Iran&rsquo;s foreign ministry said the two sides had reached &ldquo;an understanding on a number of issues&rdquo; despite &ldquo;differences of opinion on 2-3 important&rdquo; matters. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said &ldquo;no one&rdquo; had expected an agreement in a single round, emphasising that &ldquo;diplomacy never ends&rdquo; and that contacts with Pakistan and regional partners would continue, underscoring a shared willingness to keep the process moving forward.

Security

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefs counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt following high-stakes US-Iran talks in Islamabad, urging ceasefire adherence, continued diplomacy, and sustained engagement to build on a fragile truce and support regional peace efforts

Pakistan briefs allies on Islamabad Talks, urges ceasefire adherence

LONDON: The Irish government was on Sunday due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests that have endangered the functioning of the country&#39;s emergency services. Hauliers and agricultural contractors began a series of &nbsp;protests on Tuesday over spiralling petrol and diesel prices amid the Middle East war. Since then the protests have grown from slow-moving convoys on motorways and restricted access to Dublin&#39;s busiest streets, to a part blockade of Ireland&#39;s only oil refinery and restricted access to at least two other fuel depots. Finance Minister Simon Harris said later on Saturday ministers had held meetings with transport and agriculture sector representatives ahead of Sunday&#39;s meeting. The government was in the process of &quot;finalising a significant support package to address the ongoing crisis&quot;, a government statement added. Some protests rolled into a sixth day on Sunday. The government has urged the public not to panic buy as pumps at many fuel stations have run dry. Police on Saturday with the support of the armed forces deployed public order units to clear the blockade at Whitegate Refinery in southern Ireland. Irish police chief Justin Kelly said the action was taken as a last resort. The blockading of &quot;critical national infrastructure&quot; had &quot;resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service&quot;, he said. Elsewhere, police dismantled a makeshift barrier erected by protesters blockading western Galway docks. A late-night operation also targeted the blockade of the capital Dublin&#39;s main thoroughfare O&#39;Connell Street after multiple vehicles including tractors and lorries were removed. Justice Minister Jim O&#39;Callaghan said earlier the continuation of the protests despite the increasingly difficult situation had been &quot;unacceptable&quot;. &quot;While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner,&quot; he said. In March, Dublin announced a 250 million-euro package to reduce fuel costs, notably including a diesel rebate for road haulier There were now the &quot;bones of an agreement&quot; with the government, the president Ger Hyland of the Irish Road Haulage Association said on Saturday. &quot;It is a substantial package and we hope to have this over the line either late tonight or tomorrow,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

Europe

The Irish government was on Sunday due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests that have endangered the functioning of the country's emergency services

Irish ministers to hold emergency meet over fuel cost protests

PORT-AU-PRINCE: A stampede at historical fortress in Haiti has killed at least 30 people, a government minister told AFP on Sunday, with the crush reportedly involving several young visitors. &quot;The Minister of Culture and Communication has confirmed the deaths of 30 people at the Citadelle Henri on Saturday, April 11, 2026,&quot; culture minister Emmanuel Menard told AFP in a written message. &quot;The injured are currently receiving the necessary medical care, and a rescue team is searching for any missing persons,&quot; Menard said, without giving an exact figure of those injured. Citadelle Henri, also known as Citadelle Laferriere, is a 19th-century fortress and popular tourist spot. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was closed to visitors &quot;until further notice,&quot; Menard said. Haiti&#39;s prime minister&#39;s office expressed &quot;deep sadness&quot; in a government statement posted on Facebook, adding that the crush occurred during &quot;a tourist activity bringing together many young people.&quot; Jean Henry Petit, head of the civil protection office in Northern Haiti, told local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that the toll could rise due to the large number of people reported missing. Several dozen people were also injured and taken to hospital, the outlet reported. Initial reports said visitors, mostly young people, were crammed against a single entrance and a scuffle broke out between those trying to leave and enter the site. Other local media reports said the gathering took place after being advertised on TikTok. AFP was not able to immediately confirm the reports. The government urged citizens to &quot;be calm and cautious&quot; while it investigates. &quot;All competent authorities are fully mobilized and placed on maximum alert to provide, without delay, the necessary assistance, care and support,&quot; it added in its statement.

A view of Citadelle Laferrière, a 200-year-old fortress built by King Henri-Christophe of Haiti, near Cap-Haïtien. (UN Media)

Americas

Haitian authorities say dozens died in a stampede at the historic Citadelle Henri, with many young visitors involved, as rescue teams search for missing and treat injured.

Haiti fort stampede kills at least 30: authorities

INDIO: With a minimalist set and a trip through his musical past, pop superstar Justin Bieber returned to the stage on Saturday night to headline the second day of Coachella. The Canadian singer has not performed at a venue of Coachella&#39;s size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues. Last year Bieber released the album &quot;Swag,&quot; quickly followed by his eighth studio album &quot;Swag II.&quot; While Bieber has recently played smaller shows, Coachella was billed as the start of his full-scale comeback. Bieber earlier said in an Instagram post that &quot;We WILL be singing at the top of our lungs on Saturday.&quot; Dressed in a red sweater, shorts and black boots, the 32-year-old artist made good on his promise, playing the role of DJ and taking requests from online viewers. After opening with several tracks from &quot;Swag II,&quot; Bieber sat at a computer and began a journey into the past, searching for his videos on YouTube and singing snippets from &quot;That Should Be Me,&quot; &quot;Beauty and a Beat,&quot; &quot;Never Say Never,&quot; the teen pop anthem &quot;Baby&quot; and others hits. &quot;This is special,&quot; he told the crowd. &quot;This is a night I dreamed about for a long time, so to be here is amazing.&quot; Bieber also showed his old clips on YouTube, as well as moments captured by the ever-present cameras following him and his wife, Hailey Bieber. Eclectic offerings Earlier in the day, New York City rockers The Strokes took the stage and announced a new album for June, following a six-year hiatus for the band. They played anthems including &quot;Hard to Explain,&quot; &quot;Reptilia,&quot; &quot;Last Nite&quot; and &quot;Someday.&quot; Other acts in the spotlight Saturday included Nine Inch Noize &ndash; the collaboration between legendary industrial band Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize &ndash; who also have an album on the way. With dramatic lighting and intense sound, the band had fans jumping with versions of songs like &quot;Closer,&quot; &quot;Heresy,&quot; &quot;The Warning&quot; and &quot;Copy of A.&quot; The set by rising indie star Sombr featured Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, and together they performed the rock band&#39;s 1990s hit &quot;1979.&quot; With nine stages, the festival hosted a wide range of genres, including Brazil&#39;s Luisa Sonza, influencer-turned-singer Addison Rae, Britain&#39;s PinkPantheress, K-pop star Taemin and David Byrne, the legendary co-founder of the band Talking Heads. Coachella kicked off Friday with performances from headliner Sabrina Carpenter, Moby, Devo and surprise appearances from Lizzo, David Lee Roth and HUNTR/X, who performed their Oscar-winning &quot;Golden&quot; alongside KATSEYE. Carpenter&#39;s performance of hits like &quot;Manchild,&quot; &quot;Espresso&quot; and &quot;Please, Please, Please&quot; was helped by big-screen stars Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell, who rounded out her 90-minute set. The festival runs this weekend and next weekend, with a nearly identical lineup. It can be viewed on YouTube.

An employee shows a Justin Bieber shirt to a fan during during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 11, 2026. (AFP)

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The Canadian singer has not performed at a venue of Coachella's size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues.

Justin Bieber reconnects with fans on Coachella's second day

Moscow/Kyiv: Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine had committed nearly 2,000 truce violations, as the warring neighbors traded accusations of breaching an agreement to temporarily halt hostilities for Orthodox Easter. &quot;A total of 1,971 ceasefire violations by units of the Ukrainian armed forces were recorded between 4:00 pm Moscow time on April 12 and 8:00 am on April 12,&quot; the Russian <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ukraine-reports-469-easter-truce-violations" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">defense ministry</a> said, as reported by the TASS news agency. Ukraine reports 2,299 Easter truce violationsMeanwhile, Russia has violated a truce in place for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/easter-truce-between-russia-and-ukraine-begins" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Orthodox Easter</a> nearly 2,300 times since it came into effect, the Ukrainian army said on Sunday. &quot;As of 7:00 a.m. on 12 April, 2,299 ceasefire violations were recorded. Specifically: 28 enemy assault actions, 479 enemy shellings, 747 strikes by attack drones... and 1,045 strikes by FPV drones,&quot; the Ukrainian military&#39;s general staff said in a post on Facebook. &quot;There were no missile strikes, guided aerial bomb strikes, or Shahed-type UAV strikes,&quot; it added.

Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine had committed nearly 2,000 truce violations, as the warring neighbors traded accusations of breaching an agreement to temporarily halt hostilities for Orthodox Easter.

Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of nearly 2,000 Easter truce violations

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;Domestic migrants in India, who often travel thousands of kilometers for work are weighing up whether to leave New Delhi for good as energy resources choked by the US-Israel war on Iran war dwindle. Black market prices of cooking <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/fuel-panic-deepens-indias-economic-strain" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">gas cylinders</a> have soared beyond what laborers living hand-to-mouth can earn and, even if energy flows resume soon, they worry it could take weeks for the impact to filter down to them. Crouched over smoky fires at dawn, using wood shavings to cook a breakfast of flat bread chapatis, dozens of construction workers say they are ready to return home. &quot;We will just leave when (the) money finishes,&quot; said Milan Kumar Mondal, who will make the 1,100-kilometer (685-mile) journey home to Katihar in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/panic-and-chaos-in-india-as-lpg-supply-dwindles-and-prices-surge" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bihar state</a>, when the last of his savings runs out.&nbsp;Millions of internal migrants&nbsp;India has more than 450 million internal migrants, according to the last census in 2011 and government estimates, forming the backbone of its informal economy. Many move seasonally from poorer states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to cities in search of construction, factory and daily wage work. The South Asian nation, heavily dependent on imported energy, including roughly 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs, has seen supply chains strained by the war. And while the government says there is no overall LPG shortage, and is ensuring the most vulnerable receive cooking gas, migrants in informal settlements say they are left out. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Savings uncertain&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Government rules mean a household can have only one registered LPG connection.&nbsp; For domestic migrants, that is back in their home village. Incomes are volatile and savings minimal, making them particularly vulnerable to sudden price spikes or supply disruptions. Mondal earns around 600&ndash;700 rupees ($6.50-7.50) a day for construction work but, with LPG prohibitively expensive, he is barely breaking even.&nbsp;Surge in prices&nbsp;Prices of cooking gas have surged by as much as five times on the black market, the only source he can access without formal paperwork. &quot;Earlier cooking gas was 80&ndash;90 rupees ($0.86-0.97) per kilogram... Now it is 300&ndash;400 rupees, even 500 ($5.40),&quot; Mondal said. Workers&#39; union leader Rajiv Kumar Pandit said swaths of migrant workers had left the city already. &quot;The situation is very bad,&quot; he said. &quot;Wages are irregular, gas is not available, and prices are extremely high.&quot; Ramesh Kumar Mahto, also from Bihar, is ready to return home once he is paid. &quot;I don&#39;t think I will return to Delhi,&quot; he said. &quot;The crisis has made savings uncertain,&quot; he said.<h2 style="line-height: 2;">&nbsp;</h2><h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;What is left?&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Many initially turned to firewood gathered from city forests or wood shavings from construction sites, but even the cost of that has now nearly doubled. &quot;We were cooking on firewood for the first 15 days of the crisis,&quot; said Suresh Kumar from Bhagalpur district, noting that they cannot cook when it rains.&nbsp; &quot;Now, even wood has become expensive.&quot; Electric stoves are not an option, since their power connection in tight-packed rooms is often only strong enough for a single charging point. &quot;If we use a heater or induction stove, the fuse goes off, the wiring burns,&quot; Kumar said. Food stalls are unaffordable -- or mean the worker spends all that they earn. &quot;A laborer needs three meals a day because the work is heavy -- lifting stones, working on multi-story buildings,&quot; construction worker Lalu Singh said. &quot;If we spend almost everything on food, what is left? It is better to go home and be with your family&quot;. Work is uncertain back in their villages -- farming on leased land or daily wage labor -- but living costs are lower and families share expenses. Five-month pregnant Naseema, in Delhi&#39;s Noor Nagar district, gathers wood from scrubland to cook for her six children and husband. &quot;If we can manage with the wood, we will,&quot; she said. &quot;After that, what option do we have -- than to return back to our village?&quot;

The South Asian nation, heavily dependent on imported energy, including roughly 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs, has seen supply chains strained by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Domestic Indian migrants weigh return home in energy crunch

JAKARTA: Indonesia&#39;s President Prabowo Subianto will depart for Russia on Sunday for talks with counterpart Vladimir Putin on oil, Prabowo&#39;s office said.&nbsp;The presidency in Jakarta confirmed to AFP that Prabowo would leave Sunday evening.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Sugiono said Saturday that oil, which is &quot;of strategic importance for the Indonesian nation&quot;, would be on the agenda.&nbsp;&quot;He will meet with President Putin and will also discuss global geopolitics and, certainly, the energy situation,&quot; said Sugiono, who like many Indonesians has only one name.&nbsp;Prabowo, who recently travelled to South Korea and Japan, has defended his foreign travels.&nbsp;&quot;Brothers and sisters, it&#39;s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,&quot; he said in an address to his cabinet last week.&nbsp;Like many nations, Indonesia has come under pressure from soaring global oil prices over the war in the Middle East.&nbsp;Southeast Asia&#39;s largest economy, where fuel is heavily subsidised, is an oil producer but nevertheless a net importer.&nbsp;Last month, Prabowo&#39;s government announced fuel rationing and mandated a day-per-week work-from-home policy for civil servants to conserve energy stocks.&nbsp;It has vowed not to increase the price of fuel in the near future.&nbsp;Russia&#39;s ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov told reporters in March that his country was open to selling oil to Indonesia.&nbsp;&quot;If Indonesia needs it, so please tell us and you will have it,&quot; Tolchenov said as the countries prepared for joint military exercises at a Jakarta port.&nbsp;Last year, Jakarta joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and China.&nbsp;But Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called &quot;Board of Peace&quot;.&nbsp;

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will visit Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, focusing on oil supply, energy security, and geopolitics, as Jakarta faces rising prices, fuel subsidies pressure, and seeks stable imports amid Middle East tensions.

Indonesian president to meet Putin in Russia for oil talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that it is imperative that the US and Iran continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&nbsp; Dar said this while briefing media on Islamabad Talks on Sunday. The Pakistani foreign minister, expressed his deep gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America for responding to the call made by Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for an immediate ceasefire in the region as well as for accepting prime minister&#39;s invitation for holding peace talks in Islamabad.<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" 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=2043183031121330312&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76100c9e5ba0cf395b19894855d58680eb56c856&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 777px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043183031121330312"></iframe></div></div>The foreign minister said that &quot;I along with the Chief of Defense Forces and Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations between the two sides that continued through the last 24 hours and ended this morning.&quot;&nbsp; Dar said, &quot;On behalf of Pakistan, I would like to express gratitude to the two sides for appreciating Pakistan&#39;s efforts to help achieve the ceasefire and its mediatory role.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We hope that the two sides continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond.&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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2043175378488041726&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76100c9e5ba0cf395b19894855d58680eb56c856&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 877px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043175378488041726"></iframe></div></div>The foreign minister said, &quot;It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come.&quot;&nbsp;

Ishaq Dar Says, 'Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come.' 

Pakistan foreign minister says 'imperative' for US, Iran to uphold ceasefire

KYIV: Ukraine&#39;s military command on Saturday reported nearly 470 Russian violations of a truce agreed to mark the Orthodox Easter.&nbsp;&quot;After 4:00 pm, 469 ceasefire violations were recorded, namely: 22 enemy assault actions, 153 shelling attacks, 19 strikes by attack drones... &nbsp;and 275 strikes by FPV drones,&quot; it said on Facebook.&nbsp;&quot;Today in total, the enemy carried out 57 air strikes and dropped 182 guided aerial bombs. In addition, it deployed 3,928 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,454 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops&quot;.

Ukraine’s military reported 469 Russian violations of an Easter truce, including assaults, shelling, and drone strikes. It said Russia also launched dozens of air strikes, dropped bombs, and carried out thousands of attacks on troops and populated areas, showing the ceasefire was largely ignored.

Articles by Shizza Jasmin