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The United Arab Emirates has told the U.S. and other Western allies it would participate in a multinational maritime taskforce to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The UAE is trying to push dozens of countries to create a “Hormuz Security Force” to defend the strait from Iranian attacks and escort shipping, the report added. The UAE has faced more Iranian attacks than any other country in the region, including Israel. Several U.S. allies have ⁠said they have no immediate plans to send ships to unblock the Strait of…

China launched a new test satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Friday. A Long March-2C rocket, attached with the Yuanzheng-1S (Expedition-1S) upper stage, blasted off at 12:11 p.m. It has sent the Shiyan-33 satellite into the preset orbit. The satellite will be mainly used for scientific experiments on space environment detection. It marked the 635th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with Sardor Umurzakov, advisor to the president of Uzbekistan on strategic development, in Beijing on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to jointly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and firmly support each other in the modernization drive. China stands ready to cooperate with Uzbekistan to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, enhance inter-party exchanges,…

China’s science fiction industry generated 126.1 billion yuan ($17.4 billion) in revenue in 2025, up 15.7% year on year, according to data released at the opening of the 2026 China Science Fiction Convention in Beijing on Friday. Held at Shougang Park – a former steel complex turned cultural venue – the three-day event brings together scientists, entrepreneurs and writers, highlighting how sci-fi is increasingly intersecting with real-world technological development. At the opening ceremony, a robot host named “Huanhuan” and satellite-linked display system were used to stage a synchronized “ground-to-space” launch. The convention also featured a dialogue between geologist Liu Jiaqi,…

China released its first industry standard for embodied artificial intelligence on Thursday, marking a key step toward standardizing how next-generation AI systems are evaluated and deployed. The standard, jointly drafted by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and more than 40 institutions, establishes a unified benchmarking and testing framework for embodied AI systems. It signals that the field is moving into a new phase where performance can be assessed against clear, consistent criteria. The standard focuses on core AI technologies and evaluation methodologies, while defining system architectures and capability requirements. It is set to take effect on June…

China and the US should strengthen mutually beneficial ‌cooperation and avoid vicious competition, China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said during a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday. Wang met with Greer on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on China-US economic and trade relations, and multilateral and regional economic cooperation, according to a statement from the ministry. Wang noted that economic and trade ties should continue to serve as the ballast stone and propeller of China-US relations, rather…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday highlighted Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting de-escalation and regional stability amid reported efforts to open a window for diplomacy to end the nearly month-long war between the US, Israel, and Iran, which affected the broader Middle East. He made these remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who, along with a delegation, called on him at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office. The development comes days after reports suggested that Pakistan is positioning itself as a key mediator to help broker…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the stock of petroleum products in the country, wherein it was told that the country currently had adequate stocks to meet demand for April and beyond. Besides reviewing the stock of petroleum products, the meeting also assessed the preparedness in light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The deputy prime minister expressed satisfaction over the existing supply position and directed the relevant ministries and all concerned authorities to maintain close coordination, ensure uninterrupted availability, and take all necessary measures to safeguard adequate…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the latest regional developments. The deputy PM underscored the importance of sustained diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and regional stability, Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday. Both sides agreed to remain in close contact. Separately, DPM Dar spoke with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The two counterparts discussed the prevailing regional situation and underscored the urgent need for de-escalation. Deputy Prime Minister Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting all efforts in the…

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday that there was ‘growing anxiety’ in India over Pakistan’s role in working towards a resolution amid tensions in the Middle East. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar highlighted Pakistan’s pivotal role amid the ongoing Middle East situation, noting that the international community has recognized the country’s diplomatic efforts. He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for strengthening Pakistan’s position on the diplomatic front, while observing that neighboring India appeared unsettled by Pakistan’s achievements. “Pakistan has emerged as a strong and effective voice on the global stage,…