ISLAMABAD: In a landmark step towards scientific innovation and resource exploration, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki jointly inaugurated the Geo-Science Advanced Research Laboratories in Islamabad on Monday. The high-profile ceremony, attended by federal ministers, senior military officials, and representatives of the scientific community, marked the beginning of what officials described as a new era in Pakistan’s applied scientific research and technological progress. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the establishment of the laboratory a defining…
Author: Imran Ali Khan
TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday dismissed an offer by U.S. President Donald Trump to reopen nuclear negotiations, rejecting Washington’s claims that it had destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities after joint US -Israeli airstrikes earlier this year. Speaking through state media, Khamenei accused Washington of coercion and hypocrisy, saying Trump’s approach is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying. The comments came after Trump told Israeli lawmakers last week that it would be great if the United States could reach a peace deal with Tehran, following the recent Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But Khamenei…
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said that the recently brokered ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan hinged entirely on the Afghan Taliban’s ability to curb terrorist groups operating from their soil against Pakistan. Speaking in his Parliament office, Asif cautioned that anything coming from Afghanistan will be [a] violation of this agreement, emphasizing that everything hinges on this one clause. The two sides reached the truce in Doha over the weekend after several days of deadly border clashes that killed dozens the worst fighting since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. Pakistan’s airstrikes and ground skirmishes along…
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing backbone of much of the internet, suffered a massive outage on Monday that took down thousands of websites and popular apps including Snapchat, Reddit, Venmo, and Roblox, paralyzing parts of the digital economy and exposing the fragility of global online infrastructure. The disruption, lasting over three hours, marked the most extensive internet failure since last year’s CrowdStrike malfunction that crippled hospitals, airports, and financial institutions. According to AWS, affected systems began showing significant signs of recovery by 6:00 a.m. ET (1000 GMT), with most requests now succeeding though engineers continue to clear a…
BRUSSELS: The European Union has signaled that it will keep the threat of sanctions against Israel on the table to maintain leverage and ensure full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the ceasefire “has changed the context, but cautioned that unless we see real and sustained change on the ground, including more aid reaching Gaza, the threat of sanctions remains on the table. Before the truce brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, Brussels had floated measures such as blacklisting Israeli ministers and…
Karachi / Washington:The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has signed a landmark agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) a member of the World Bank Group to enhance local currency financing and foster private sector growth in Pakistan, marking a major stride toward economic stability and resilience. According to an SBP on Monday, the agreement, signed under the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) framework, will allow the IFC to better manage currency risks and increase investments in Pakistani rupees. The central bank said the collaboration aims to unlock financing for key sectors, stimulate job creation, and strengthen the country’s…
Islamabad / Riyadh / Kabul:Saudi Arabia on Monday welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between Pakistan and Afghanistan following several days of intense border hostilities, expressing its support for ongoing efforts to promote lasting peace and stability between the two neighboring nations. According to a statement issued on the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s X account, the Kingdom expresses its welcome of the signing by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan of an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries, during the round of negotiations held in Doha. The ceasefire, mediated…
Washington / New Delhi:U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop purchasing Russian oil, but the Indian government has denied any such discussion, calling it unfamiliar. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing.” When asked about India’s denial, Trump responded sharply, If they want to say that, then they’ll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don’t want to do that. Trump’s remarks come…
WASHINGTON, D.C.:Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a series of high-level meetings with global financial leaders, including World Bank President Ajay Banga, Fitch Ratings officials, and UK Minister for International Development Baroness Jenny Chapman, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms, resilience, and sustainable growth. On the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings, Aurangzeb briefed Banga on Pakistan’s comprehensive flood response strategy and appreciated the Bank’s timely post-flood support. He highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives to leverage technology and cooperatives to empower small farmers and strengthen agricultural resilience. The minister also discussed progress on the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment…
ABBOTTABAD : Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Saturday issued a firm warning to India, declaring that there is “no space for war in a nuclearised environment,” as he lauded Pakistan’s clear victory during the May 2025 conflict with its eastern neighbour. Speaking at the passing-out parade of cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, the army chief cautioned New Delhi against reckless adventurism and vowed that Pakistan would deliver a decisive and disproportionate response to even a minor provocation. The onus of any escalation one that may have catastrophic consequences for the entire region…