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ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan will defend its right to water, as provided under the Indus Water Treaty. He expressed the resolve in his message on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed annually on 17 June. The day highlights the global urgency to address land degradation and enhance resilience to the escalating impacts of drought. “The 2025 theme, “Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities,” is a timely call to action, reminding us that restoring degraded landscapes is essential not only for climate resilience but also for unlocking social, economic, and environmental benefits,”…

Pakistan and the United States held virtual discussions to address bilateral tariff matters, with both sides agreeing to move forward in a constructive manner, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance. The meeting was held between Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The primary objective of the talks was to finalize a trade agreement at the earliest. Discussions focused on strengthening trade, investment, and broader economic ties between the two countries. Both sides agreed to continue detailed technical-level negotiations under a mutually agreed roadmap. According to the finance ministry’s statement, both ministers…

TEL AVIV/DUBAI : Israel and Iran attacked each other for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, and US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to evacuate Tehran, citing what he said was the country’s rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development. “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s early departure from the…

In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran has launched another major attack on Israel, with missile and drone strikes triggering air raid sirens in key Israeli cities, including Haifa and Tel Aviv. Iranian state media reports this is the ninth such attack on Israeli territory in recent weeks, as Tehran continues its campaign of retaliation following what it describes as “Zionist crimes.” According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the latest wave of attacks is far from over. In a statement, the IRGC said, “The attacks will continue until morning.” The Iranian military claims it has launched both drone…

Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh is facing severe backlash from the Indian film fraternity, particularly the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), over reports that Pakistani actress Hania Aamir features in his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3. The controversy erupted following the tragic attack in Pahalgam in India-held Kashmir in April, which claimed 26 civilian lives and prompted a renewed ban on Pakistani artists working in India. FWICE strongly condemned the alleged inclusion of Hania Aamir, along with other Pakistani artists such as Nasir Chinyoti, Danial Khawar, and Saleem Albela, in the film. FWICE President BN Tiwari warned that…

Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi has stirred controversy following his appearance on a podcast hosted by Mansoor Ali Khan, where he openly criticized Imran Khan’s political approach and PTI’s strategies — particularly condemning the long marches and the events of May 9 as “totally wrong”.  Hamza argued that politics should not be seen as a battle of absolute right versus wrong, and suggested that Imran Khan should have avoided confrontation and protest-driven tactics. His comments sparked a wave of backlash, especially from PTI supporters, and ignited heated debate on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where reactions have…

As regional tensions continue to rise, Pakistan has ramped up efforts to repatriate its citizens from Iraq and Iran. According to the Foreign Office, 268 Pakistani pilgrims have safely returned from Iraq via two special flights arranged from Basra to Karachi and Islamabad. In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that the government is actively facilitating the safe and timely return of all remaining Pakistani pilgrims still stranded in Iraq. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in constant coordination with authorities to ensure the secure return of our citizens,” the spokesperson said. “Pilgrims are advised to stay…

 The federal government is considering delaying the implementation of pension reforms for armed forces personnel by one year, amid rising pressure and technical concerns raised by the Ministry of Defence, official sources told media on Monday. According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, the contributory pension system, which was approved by the federal cabinet for military employees to start from July 1, 2025, may now be postponed until July 2026. The move comes in response to concerns regarding the unique service structure and tenure of armed forces personnel, which differ from those of civilian government employees. The contributory pension…

China’s economy continued to grow steadily in May, demonstrating resilience amid ongoing external and domestic challenges, according to key economic indicators released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. In May, the industrial output of major enterprises rose by 5.8 percent year-on-year, with a 0.61 percent increase from the previous month. This steady growth in industrial production underpinned overall economic stability, driven by the sustained recovery of the manufacturing sector and the momentum of emerging industries. A worker polishes components in a manufacturing workshop in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, June 16, 2025. /VCG The services sector also maintained…

A Chinese envoy on Monday called for efforts to put an end to unilateral coercive measures, saying they undermine the foundation of multilateralism and international rule of law. Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations stressed during a UN General Assembly debate that unilateral coercive measures run counter to the spirit of multilateralism and international cooperation as they place the domestic laws of one country above international law and the laws of other countries and trample on the principle of sovereign equality. He added that unilateral coercive measures also disregard the authority of the Security Council’s collective decision-making mechanism…