Umar Rehman Malik criticises India for blocking Pakistani content

Abdullah Jan Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik this week criticised India for blocking Pakistan’s official content. “(Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi’s India is quick to block Pakistan’s official content in a desperate bid to control the narrative and spread propaganda to defame Pakistan. From Pahalgam to Kashmir, facts expose India’s failures,” […]

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What China-US lunar competition reveals about future of high-tech leadership

Global Times The recent decision by China’s space agency to grant NASA-funded American universities access to lunar samples – retrieved from the moon’s far side – offers more than a scientific opportunity; It is a poignant reflection of two fundamentally divergent approaches to technological advancement. These different approaches shape the trajectory of space exploration and […]

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France to compensate more Harki families for mistreatment after Algerian War

Paris: France this week recognised additional sites at which Harkis – Muslims who fought alongside the French during the Algerian War – faced harsh living conditions following Algeria’s independence. While the move will allow up to 6,000 more Harkis and their descendants to claim compensation, groups representing the victims say it doesn’t go far enough […]

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Greenland, Denmark affirm alliance amid Trump’s interest in US control

Copenhagen: Greenland and Denmark agreed this week to strengthen their ties in response to US President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the strategically located Arctic island, their leaders said after talks in Copenhagen. Greenland’s new Prime Minister, Mr Jens-Frederik Nielsen, landed in the Danish capital on April 26 for a three-day visit, in […]

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Bilawal Bhutto urges dialogue with India amid escalating tensions

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week called for dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve ongoing disputes, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise. In an interview, Bilawal criticised India’s rejection of Pakistan’s offer for talks following the deadly April 22 attack on tourists in Indian […]

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Explainer: What’s the proper English equivalent for the Chinese New Year

China Economic Net Beijing: As the Lantern Festival falls on Wednesday, the traditional celebrations for the Chinese New Year (pronounced “Chunjie”) or Spring Festival, in 2025 draw to a close. This year’s Spring Festival is the first one since its inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. With the Spring […]

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UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott meets DPM Dar to discuss regional developments

Celina Ali Islamabad: In an important diplomatic engagement reflecting the United Kingdom’s continued interest in South Asian stability, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar this week. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the meeting focused on exchanging views on […]

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Germany bets on volunteers to fix a hollowed-out army — but will it work?

Chris Lunday Berlin: Berlin’s incoming government, formed by Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), has released a coalition agreement outlining plans for a new voluntary military service to rebuild the overstretched and steadily shrinking ranks of Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr. The plan involves sending a mandatory questionnaire to all […]

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Bulgaria finalises €600 million funding for nearly 10GWh of energy storage

Newswire Sofia: The Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria has selected 82 winning energy storage projects for a share of BGN 1.15 billion (€588 million/US$670 million) in financial support. The scheme will support the construction and commissioning of 82 standalone energy storage projects with a total of BGN1,149,013,428.49 spread across the projects, which will add up […]

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US envoy Natalie Baker discusses trade with GTEC chairman

Celina Ali Islamabad: Natalie A. Baker, Acting Ambassador and Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Islamabad, this week held a trade meeting with Mazhar Hussain Thathal, Chairman/ CEO Global Trade Expo Centre Pakistan, alongside a delegation of Pakistani SMEs. Liaqat Thathal, Director of International Trade & Relationship at GTEC, emphasized the organization’s vision: “We […]

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Italy: The first monument for Satoshi Nakamoto arrives in the Molise region in Fornelli

Newswire Rome: The first monument dedicated to Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin (BTC), has arrived in Italy. In the small Molise municipality of Fornelli, with 1,800 inhabitants, the inauguration of the statue created by the young local crypto artist, Mattia Pannoni, took place on May 1. Italy will also host its first monument dedicated […]

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Ali Rehman Malik offers heartfelt condolences on passing of Pope Francis, visits Lady Fatima Church

Abdullah Jan Islamabad: Chairman of the Institute of Research and Reforms International (IRR International) Ali Rehman Malik accompanied by Riaz Ali Turi this week visited Lady Fatima Church in Islamabad to offer heartfelt condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. During the visit, a floral wreath was […]

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High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri strengthens Pakistan-Australia ties through active diplomacy

Celina Ali Islamabad: In a reflection of Pakistan’s proactive and people-centered diplomacy, High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri continues to play a leading role in deepening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Australia across multiple sectors, including trade, education, and cultural exchange. Since assuming office in Canberra, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has been at the forefront of advancing […]

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Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad calls for revival of multilateralism

Celina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan’s top diplomat to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged the international community to reaffirm it commitment to multilateralism and collective action during a Security Council meeting convened by China this week. ?An informal session, the meeting provided a platform to the member states to discuss the challenges posed by […]

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Embassy in France hosts Pakistan Day reception

Celina Ali Islamabad: The embassy of Pakistan to France this week hosted the Pakistan Day Reception in Paris, which was attended by a large number of French government officials, elected officials, military personnel, academics, businesspersons and the media. Senior officials of international organizations based in Paris, including UNESCO and OECD and the diplomatic community based […]

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France says ‘non’ to loosening rules for arms exports in Europe

Newswire Paris: Paris this week raised its voice against any revision of the current EU rules on export control for defence gear within the bloc, sources with knowledge of the plans told Euractiv. To reduce administrative burdens and speed up weapons production, the Commission proposed facilitating the movement of defence components across EU countries, regulated […]

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Bilawal Bhutto threatens to quit coalition over canal project

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week strongly criticised the Pakistan government over the controversial canal project and threatened to withdraw support from the ruling coalition if the initiative is not scrapped, The Express Tribune reported. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demanded that the Pakistan government withdraw the proposed canal initiatives […]

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China, Malaysia to strengthen air cargo cooperation between Zhengzhou and Kuala Lumpur

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: On April 17, 2025, China and Malaysia issued a joint statement on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. Article 21 of the statement emphasizes the commitment of both countries to comprehensive aviation cooperation, including enhanced civil aviation technical exchanges and closer air cargo collaboration between Kuala Lumpur International […]

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DPM Dar reaffirms Pakistan’s strong commitment to SCO vision of regional cooperation

Gwadar Pro Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar this week reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to deepening its constructive engagement within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), stressing the importance of mutual cooperation in critical areas such as trade, transportation, and regional connectivity. Senator Dar made these remarks during a meeting […]

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Henan deepens its ties with ASEAN

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: Henan has great potential for further collaboration with ASEAN. Trains bound for ASEAN depart regularly from Zhengzhou International Land Port every day. Over the years, Henan has embraced the Belt and Road Initiative, seized the opportunities presented by RCEP, and leveraged its transportation hub advantages to strengthen ties between China and its […]

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CM assures EU rights standards compliance

Newswire Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif this week invited companies from the European Union states to invest in the education, information technology, green energy and health sectors in the province. Welcoming the EU Parliamentary Delegation for South Asia to discuss matters related to mutual interests, bilateral relations, trade, education and investment, she agreed […]

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A train from the UK to Italy?

Newswire Rome: Between environmental breakdown, economic crisis and Donald Trump, it often feels like there’s precious little reason to feel hopeful these days. So how’s this for a reason to cheer up: Italian state railway company, Trenitalia, is planning to run trains through the Channel tunnel before the decade is out. It’s studying the option […]

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