Tehran: Iran announced on Saturday that it is no longer bound by any restrictions under the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, marking the official expiration of the decade-long deal with world powers even as Tehran reiterated its commitment to diplomacy. The 2015 accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in Vienna by Iran, China, Russia, the United States, Britain, France, and Germany. It lifted crippling international sanctions on Iran in exchange for strict limits on its nuclear program and comprehensive inspections by the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, the deal…
Author: Imran Ali Khan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, has reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation with the United States, underscoring the two nations’ shared interest in regional stability and collaborative defense engagements. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Admiral Ashraf’s recent visit to the United States part of ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral naval and defense ties concluded last Friday. During the trip, the naval chief held a series of high-level meetings with senior US military officials, including Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and Vice Admiral Thomas G.…
ISLAMABAD: A serene and spiritually uplifting evening graced the capital on Friday, as Pakistan’s leading religious scholars hosted a grand banquet in honour of Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and President of the Association of Muslim Scholars. The gathering was more than a formal reception it emerged as a symbol of Islamic unity, intellectual leadership, and spiritual solidarity across the Muslim world. The event was attended by a distinguished array of religious, political, parliamentary, and diplomatic figures, including federal ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of the Council of Islamic Ideology, leading clerics from various…
ISLAMABAD: As tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified this week, a parallel battle unfolded online a coordinated misinformation campaign driven by Indian and Afghan social media networks, attempting to inflame public sentiment and distort facts. Multiple fake news stories and doctored visuals surfaced on X (formerly twitter) and other platforms, many originating from Indian handles amplifying anti-Pakistan narratives.Surprisingly, even official Afghan accounts, including that of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, became part of this digital disinformation drive. In one viral post, Afghan social media users claimed that Afghan forces had captured a Pakistani tank, accompanied by images supposedly showing the spoils…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday accused Afghanistan’s interim government of launching recent attacks on Pakistan at India’s behest, revealing that the assault took place while the Afghan foreign minister was in New Delhi. Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said that despite Pakistan’s consistent goodwill and deep cultural and religious ties with Afghanistan, recent aggression from Kabul had tested Islamabad’s patience. “Pakistan and Afghanistan share a long border and a long history of brotherhood. Despite limited resources, Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades keeping the spirit of fraternity alive, he said. The…
Vicenza, Italy: In an extraordinary case of long-running deception, Italian authorities have accused a 70-year-old man from Vicenza of pretending to be blind for more than five decades, defrauding the state of over €1 million in disability payments. According to investigators, the man began receiving government disability benefits 53 years ago after claiming to have lost his vision in a workplace accident. For decades, his condition went unquestioned until a recent audit by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (financial police) raised suspicions about inconsistencies in his records. Surveillance operations soon confirmed the officers’ doubts. Investigators captured video evidence showing the pensioner…
The Gulf region is entering a transformative phase of openness and economic inclusivity, as every member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from Saudi Arabia to Oman has introduced long-term residency and investor visa programs designed to attract global talent, capital, and innovation. Once characterized by short-term contracts and restrictive sponsorship systems, GCC nations are now competing to become magnets for global investors, professionals, and innovators. Through renewable visas lasting five to ten years many without the need for a local sponsor the Gulf is repositioning itself as a long-term home for global excellence. Leading the charge is the United…
Lahore: Over 120 women farmers and agricultural workers from across Punjab gathered at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday to mark Rural Women’s Day, demanding ‘gender-just food systems’ and formal recognition of women’s indispensable contribution to Pakistan’s agriculture. The event, organized by the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC) in collaboration with the Tameer-e-Nau Women Workers Organization (TWWO), was part of a series of coordinated women-led mobilizations across Asia, initiated by the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD). Participants called on the government to ensure equal access to land, water, seeds, and agricultural resources for women, alongside protection from…
LAHORE: The Punjab government on Thursday announced it will recommend to the federal government that a ban be imposed on the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), as part of a sweeping crackdown on what officials described as an extremist outfit. The decision was taken during an extraordinary meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, which reviewed the province’s law and order situation following violent clashes earlier this week. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, historic decisions were made to establish the state’s writ and supremacy of law. While the official handout refrained from naming the group, Punjab…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s passport has once again been ranked among the world’s weakest, placing fourth from the bottom in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of its dismal standing. According to the index released on October 7, Pakistan was ranked 103rd out of 106 countries, tied with Yemen, and placed higher only than Iraq (104), Syria (105) and Afghanistan (106). Holders of Pakistani and Yemeni passports can travel visa-free to just 31 destinations out of a total of 227 listed by Henley & Partners the London-based global citizenship consultancy that compiles the rankings. In comparison, Iraq’s…