Trump freeze on foreign aid felt around the world – World
• Order halts funding to all USAID projects; staff of several US-funded initiatives issued stop-work orders• Diplomat hopes assistance will resume after review WASHINGTON: The Trump White House has ordered a pause of all federal grants and loans, as well as any money intended “for foreign aid” and for “non-governmental organisations”, a move with wide-ranging […]
Steve Smith reaches 10,000 runs in Australia vs Sri Lanka opener, chases Younis Khan
Steve Smith joined an elite group of cricketers by surpassing 10,000 Test runs during the opening day of Australia’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The 35-year-old, leading the side in Pat Cummins’ absence, reached the milestone with a single off his first delivery after coming to the crease. Smith, who started the match […]
26th amendment brought in response to ‘letter’, says judge Mohsin Kayani – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The senior puisne judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, said on Tuesday that the government hurriedly brought the 26th Amendment in response to a “letter” and hoped that the case related to this constitutional change would be heard by a full court of the Supreme Court. Though the judge […]
Ex-diplomat Maleeha Lodhi calls for sweeping review of country’s foreign policy – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Former diplomat Dr Maleeha Lodhi on Tuesday called for a sweeping review of the country’s foreign policy, emphasising the need for economic self-sufficiency, strategic partnerships and a focus on national priorities to break free from outdated approaches and dependency. Dr Lodhi, who has served as ambassador to the United States, the United Kingdom and […]
President Zardari delays PECA Act signing over journalist concerns
Listen to article President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has decided to delay signing the controversial Prevention Electronic Crime Act following concerns raised by journalists. The Parliamentary Reporter Association (PRA) expressed its opposition to the PECA Act through Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who reached out to the President. He urged the President to delay signing the bill until the […]
India-Taliban budding romance – Newspaper
INDIA has recently decided to upgrade its relations with the Taliban government. On Jan 8, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri travelled to Dubai to meet the Afghan interim government’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. Both countries agreed to maintain regular contact at various levels, as stated by the Indian ministry. The Afghan delegation underscored its […]
Commerce Minister Jam vows adherence to treaties for GSP+ – Business
ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan assures the European Union of adhering to 27 international conventions to avail of the trade benefits under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme. On Tuesday, the minister gave the assurance at a meeting with EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olaf Skoog to discuss ways to […]
‘A man for all seasons’
THE controversy surrounding the recent visit of the federal interior minister to the US highlights the prevailing mess in our system of governance, particularly in foreign policy matters. Often described as ‘a man for all seasons’, Mohsin Naqvi landed in Washington in the midst of a transition of power in that country. He was certainly […]
Complain to me about Sindh govt, Bilawal tells traders – Pakistan
KARACHI: Days after a Karachi trader joked about exchanging the Sindh chief minister with the chief executive of Punjab, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told the city’s businessmen that they should come to him with their grievances. On Tuesday, Mr Bhutto-Zardari hosted a lunch for the city’s prominent businesspersons on Tuesday and invited them to form […]
Setback for Congo as anti-govt fighters take Goma airport – Newspaper
A PROTESTER holds a signboard taken from the entrance of Uganda’s embassy as it gets looted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Tuesday.—Reuters GOMA: An armed group backed by Rwandan troops took control of the airport in the besieged DR Congo city of Goma while protesters complaining of international inaction over the crisis attacked […]