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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed developments in Syria and Gaza with US counterpart Donald Trump in a telephone call on Tuesday as Syria’s Turkey-backed government announced a ceasefire with US-allied Kurdish forces after days of clashes. Turkey separately weighed if Erdogan should join the US leader’s “Board of Peace” initiative. “President Erdogan stated that Turkey was closely following developments in Syria, that Syria’s unity, harmony and territorial integrity were important for Turkey,” the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Earlier Trump said he had a “very good call” with Erdogan, without elaborating. Syria’s government seized swathes of territory in the…

The United States plans to reduce the number of personnel it has stationed within several key NATO command centers, a move that could intensify concerns in Europe about Washington’s commitment to the alliance, three sources familiar with the matter said this week. As part of the move, which the Trump administration has communicated to some European capitals, the US will eliminate roughly 200 positions from the NATO entities that oversee and plan the alliance’s military and intelligence operations, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private diplomatic conversations. Among the bodies that will be affected, said the sources, are…

The T20 World Cup is entering a tense phase as Bangladesh’s participation hangs in the balance. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) remain at odds over the venue, with a final decision expected today. The ICC has reportedly set a deadline for today for Bangladesh to confirm their participation in the World Cup. However, negotiations have hit a stalemate. The ICC has refused to move matches from India to an alternative venue in Sri Lanka, citing logistical challenges. Meanwhile, the BCB has reiterated its firm stance against playing matches on Indian soil due to security…

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, has approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan to strengthen cooperation in the electricity sector, marking another step in deepening bilateral economic relations. The cabinet approved the MoU on cooperation in the power sector, including electrical interconnection, as part of the broader Economic Cooperation Framework signed on October 27 last year. Under this framework, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding trade and investment ties based on shared economic interests. The MoU aligns with ongoing efforts by Riyadh and Islamabad to build long-term collaboration in key infrastructure and energy sectors. Officials view electricity…

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his controversial interest in Greenland, calling the territory “imperative” and saying there is “no going back.” Ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump’s remarks have sparked criticism from European leaders and Greenland officials alike. During a White House press conference, Trump doubled down on his earlier statements about Greenland, hinting that he is willing to pursue all options. “You’ll find out,” he said when asked how far he would go to acquire the Arctic territory. The president also told reporters that Greenland would be “pretty well” handled, and emphasized that his focus…

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has pressed Iran to report on missing highly enriched uranium and allow inspections at nuclear sites bombed in June. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he warned that the standoff cannot continue indefinitely. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has inspected all 13 declared Iranian nuclear facilities that were not damaged in recent attacks. However, it has been unable to verify three key sites—Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—that were bombed by the United States and Israel last June. Grossi stressed that Iran must submit a special report detailing what happened to the affected…

Pakistan and China have agreed to establish a formal, institutionalized working relationship to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said after meetings with senior Chinese leaders in Beijing. The proposed written agreements will focus on sharing parliamentary best practices, training, exchange visits, committee-level engagement, and coordination in international forums. Both sides also discussed expanding cooperation in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, exports, and CPEC 2.0, with regular virtual committee meetings to support broader bilateral collaboration.

China’s development is an opportunity, not a threat, and China is willing to leverage its market advantages and share its opportunities with other countries, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. China adheres to the principles of equality, mutual benefit and resolving issues through consultation to create win-win and multi-win outcomes, he added during his special address at the forum. Since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), China has not sought special treatment in WTO negotiations, He noted, adding that the country firmly upholds the WTO’s long-standing trade organization principles and…

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for solid efforts to secure a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when opening a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) for principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels. Xi noted that the formulation and implementation of five-year plans constitutes important experience for the Party in governing the country and managing state affairs, as well as…

Pakistan plans to return to the global bond market after a gap of four years, reflecting the country’s progress towards economic stabilisation after averting a last-minute default just a few years ago, reported Bloomberg on Tuesday. Pakistan will issue a proposal for advisers in the coming weeks, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told the international media outlet. The minister, who is in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026, shared that the government is still assessing whether to issue a dollar, euro or sukuk bond, and also preparing to launch the country’s first-ever panda bond within weeks. “We have…