World

Israeli strikes kill 23 in Gaza, health officials report

GAZA — Israeli tank fire and airstrikes killed 23 Palestinians, including six children, in Gaza on Wednesday, according to local health officials. The attacks…

India raises defence spending by 15% in new budget amid regional security tensions

New Delhi: India has announced a sharp increase in defence and infrastructure spending in its latest national budget, raising defence outlays by about 15…

Iran’s Pezeshkian authorizes nuclear talks with US as Trump signals deal hopes

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has authorized negotiations with the United States over the country’s nuclear program, local media reported Monday, as US President…

Pakistan, seven Muslim-majority states warn Israel’s ceasefire breaches could derail Gaza stability efforts

Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority countries on Sunday condemned what they described as repeated violations of the Gaza ceasefire by Israel, warning that the…

Chinese astronomers trace origin of fast radio burst to young supernova remnant

Chinese astronomers have identified the birth environment of a mysterious cosmic signal after years of observation, concluding that a repeating fast radio burst originates…

China’s urban renewal turns former industrial sites into new hubs of consumption

China’s urban renewal drive is reshaping disused factories and aging districts into cultural and leisure destinations, helping cities create new consumption spaces while preserving…

Big data alerts help Guizhou prevent households from slipping back into poverty

In southwest China’s Guizhou Province, local authorities are using data-driven alerts to identify households at risk of falling back into poverty and intervene before…

China’s provinces set 2026 growth targets, focus on consumption, AI and industrial upgrading

China’s provincial governments have unveiled their economic growth targets for 2026 during their annual “two sessions,” outlining plans to support consumption, accelerate innovation, and…

Gold powerhouses in 2026: five countries dominate global bullion reserves

As of 2026, official gold reserves remain heavily concentrated among a small group of countries, with the United States, Germany, Italy, France, and Russia…

China, Pakistan mark 75 years of diplomatic ties with commemorative badge ceremony

Islamabad — China and Pakistan on Wednesday highlighted people-to-people ties as senior officials from both countries jointly attended an award ceremony for the China-Pakistan 75th…

Latvia faces widening gender gap as women outnumber men across age groups

Riga — Latvia is grappling with a pronounced gender imbalance, with women significantly outnumbering men across multiple age groups, a demographic shift driven by…

Afghan Girl’s Tearful Plea Underscores Longevity and Human Impact of Taliban Education Bans

Kabul — A now-viral video of an Afghan girl crying over her inability to continue schooling has reignited international attention on the Taliban’s longstanding ban…

US deploys additional missile defenses amid rising Iran tensions

Washington: The United States has begun deploying additional Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems to the Middle East to protect American forces amid concerns…

Iran rejects talks with US amid threats as regional tensions rise

Iran has ruled out negotiations with the United States, saying talks cannot take place in an atmosphere of military threats, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi…

Trump warns Iran time is running out on nuclear talks, signals possible escalation

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran that “time is running out” to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme, raising the possibility…

Pakistanis can travel to these European countries in 2026 without a Schengen visa

For Pakistani passport holders, travel to Europe has traditionally been constrained by strict Schengen visa requirements. In 2026, however, electronic visas and simplified entry…