Category: English

Pakistan and Sudan have signed an agreement allowing holders of official and diplomatic passports to travel between the two countries without visas, while agreeing to expand cooperation in security, cybercrime and police training. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Sudanese Interior Minister Lieutenant General Babaker Samra Mustafa Ali signed the agreement in Islamabad on Saturday, according to a statement. Under the agreement, holders of official and diplomatic passports from both countries will be allowed visa-free entry, facilitating high-level contacts and the exchange of official delegations. Naqvi described the agreement as…

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has added four players to the national Test squad ahead of the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka. Pace-bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal, fast bowler Ali Shabbir, batter Tayyab Arif and pacer Saqib Khan have all been included in the squad. The latest additions see Ali Shabbir, Tayyab Arif and Saqib Khan earn their maiden call-ups to the Pakistan Test squad, following impressive performances in domestic cricket and the recent practice match against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal have been released from the…

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Pakistan and Sudan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in security, internal affairs, cybercrime, police training and institutional development, following talks between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Sudanese counterpart, Lieutenant General Babaker Samra Mustafa Ali, in Islamabad. The two ministers held a meeting followed by delegation-level talks, during which they discussed cooperation in several areas, including the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, the two sides also decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in cybercrime.…

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Hundreds of workers rallied in support of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday amid allegations that police illegally wiretapped him, while ​hundreds of women marched against the president’s policies. The pro-Prabowo demonstration ‌marked a contrast to recent protests against his administration, part of growing public discontent over his costly populist policies, handling of raging wildfires and weakening investor confidence ​in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Labour Party Chairperson Said Iqbal, leading the ​workers’ rally, called for unity to support Prabowo and ⁠said he would mobilise union members against those who threaten…

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US President Donald Trump has suggested that Washington could assume the role of an occupying power in Iran, while renewing his claims that American forces have taken control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Florida on Friday, following an address at a NASA facility, where he also sought to downplay the scale of the ongoing military confrontation with Tehran. Drawing a comparison with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump described the fighting between Moscow and Kyiv as a full-fledged war, claiming that…

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Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has decided to declare Tharparkar a disaster-hit district following severe drought conditions, with reports indicating that between 85 and 90 per cent of crops across the district have been destroyed. The decision was taken after a briefing on Saturday revealed that drought-like conditions had affected all seven talukas of Tharparkar, causing extensive damage to agriculture and natural vegetation. According to the Agriculture Extension Department, approximately 90 per cent of crops have suffered damage due to inadequate and irregular rainfall. The briefing was told that…

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A Pakistani astronaut will join China’s space station on ​this year’s Shenzhou-24 mission, as part of ‌bilateral cooperation under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese state media reported on Saturday. The ​first foreign visitor to the ​space station will participate as a payload ⁠specialist in the mission, broadcaster ​CCTV reported, citing the China Manned Space ​Agency. China has not identified the astronaut, but pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have spent months ​training at the China Astronaut Research ​and Training Centre in Beijing for a mission, ‌a ⁠Pakistani space agency…

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Malaysia’s king warned on Saturday that any attempt to challenge his order letting former Prime Minister Najib Razak go from jail to house arrest could ​amount to defying his decree, a day after authorities delayed Najib’s transfer. Najib has ‌been in jail since 2022 after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering in a case linked to a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. He was ​due to be transferred home on Friday, after his party paid a 50-million-ringgit ($12-million) ​fine to…

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Senior diplomat and former Pakistan ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has revealed that Iran has sent a new nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar, raising hopes of diplomatic progress between the two countries. According to Khan, under the proposed formula, Iran could agree to reduce its uranium enrichment level to 3.6 per cent, which is considered suitable for civilian purposes. However, the issue of Iran’s existing stockpile of enriched uranium remains a major obstacle between the two sides. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Washington was…

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US President Donald Trump has indicated plans to make changes to his cabinet following Republicans’ losses in both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections. In an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Trump confirmed that some members of his administration could be replaced when asked whether he intended to fire anyone. “I do, yeah. Little bit,” Trump said, adding that he was generally satisfied with his cabinet but might make a few changes. “I love my cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes,”…

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