Category: INTERNATIONAL

Trump Dividend: President Offers $5,000 Payment to Every American If Republicans Win Midterm Elections

Kainat R
Donald Trump speaking at a podium during the Republican Party midterm convention in Dallas

A New Election Promise From the President President Donald Trump told supporters on Wednesday that he would send a $5,000 “Trump dividend” to every adult American citizen, but only on one condition. Republicans would need to keep control of both the House and the Senate after November’s midterm elections. It is one of the boldest financial pledges of his second term, and it landed right in the middle of a heated campaign season. Background: A Convention Speech in Dallas Trump made the announcement at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention,…

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Pakistan Greets North Korea on 78th Founding Anniversary, Reviving Rare Diplomatic Contact

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Pakistan and North Korea flags together representing Pakistan North Korea relations and Islamabad Pyongyang diplomatic ties

Pakistan Greets North Korea on 78th Founding Anniversary Pakistan made a rare public diplomatic move this week when President Asif Ali Zardari and the Foreign Office sent greetings to Pyongyang. The message marked the 78th anniversary of North Korea’s founding, an occasion most countries with formal ties to Pyongyang mark quietly through diplomatic channels rather than public statements. Islamabad’s decision to do so openly has drawn attention precisely because Pakistan North Korea relations have stayed muted for years. Background: A Relationship That Rarely Makes Headlines Pakistan and North Korea have…

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Ijaz-ul-Haq Calls for Local Governments to Fight Corruption

Amir Muhammad Khan

 Member of the National Assembly from Bhalpur and an ally of the current government, Jeddah (Amir Muhammad Khan) Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq, has said that the solution to Pakistan’s problems is not in the establishment of new provinces but in the elimination of corruption. To eliminate corruption and solve public problems at the grassroots level, local governments should be formed in every province. Its system should be “plus Pervez Musharraf” which should be taken care of. Regarding corruption, he said that the solution to economic policies is the tax net on the…

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US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Dairy and Other Goods as Trade War Escalates

Nadeem Ali
US ban on Canadian goods expands to alcohol dairy and other imports

WASHINGTON: The US ban on Canadian goods has expanded sharply, with the United States blocking imports of a wide range of Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy-related products as the trade dispute between the two longtime allies intensifies. The new import restrictions, which take effect on September 29, were published on the White House website after Canada introduced retaliatory tariffs on US products earlier Tuesday. The latest measures follow 50% US tariffs imposed on around $20 billion of Canadian goods last month after several rounds of trade negotiations between Washington…

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Iran-US Conflict Explained: Why Jordan and the Strait of Hormuz Are Now Front and Center

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Map showing the Strait of Hormuz and Al Azraq air base in Jordan amid Iran-US tensions

The war between Iran and the United States has entered its seventh month, and this week it reached two places that had mostly stayed on the sidelines until now: a US-linked air base in Jordan and a stretch of the Strait of Hormuz packed with oil tankers. Here’s a breakdown of what happened, why it happened, and what comes next. Summary Iran’s Revolutionary Guard hit the Al Azraq air base in Jordan with ballistic missiles on Wednesday and separately struck ten ships near the Strait of Hormuz. Both moves were…

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Board of Peace Official Warns Gaza and West Bank Escalation Could Kill the Two-State Solution

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Board of Peace official Nickolay Mladenov speaking on the two-state solution amid Gaza and West Bank escalation

Summary A senior official at the US-backed Board of Peace said on Monday that the two-state solution is close to becoming unworkable. He pointed to two things happening at once: the stalled follow-through in Gaza and worsening West Bank escalation. Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza, made the remarks while speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, and his warning lands at a moment when the ceasefire process in Gaza is still only partly implemented. Background The Board of Peace was set up to oversee a US-backed ceasefire…

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UN Rights Chief Warns AI Could Pose Existential Risk to Humanity

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UN rights chief Volker Turk speaking at the Human Rights Council about AI existential risk to humanity

Summary The United Nations rights chief warned on Monday that artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity. He demanded urgent action from governments and tech companies to reduce the dangers. His remarks came during a major address before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Background Concerns about artificial intelligence risks have been building for years among scientists, regulators, and industry insiders alike. Global bodies, including the United Nations, have repeatedly flagged the pace of AI development as outstripping the world’s ability to govern it safely. This latest…

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Nepal Holds Day of Mourning for Devastating Flood Victims

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Nepal day of mourning ceremony for devastating Nepal floods victims near Trishuli river

Summary Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday for the victims of the devastating floods that struck the country on August 26. Flags flew at half-mast across government buildings and Nepali missions abroad. Families of missing hydropower workers continued to pray that rescuers might still find their loved ones alive, even as hope faded with each passing day. Background The tragedy began on August 26, when glacial floods tore through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins in Nepal. The Bhotekoshi flood first struck Rasuwa district, sweeping away homes,…

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Pakistan Defence Day in Washington: Ambassador Calls Defence Impregnable

Asim Siddiqui

Pakistan’s Defence Is Impregnable, Diplomacy Indispensable: Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh No Notable Pentagon Military Official Attends Pakistan’s Defence Day Ceremony — Why? The Picture May Become Clearer in the Coming Days Washington, D.C. — Asim Siddiqui The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., hosted a ceremony to mark Pakistan’s Defence and Martyrs’ Day, paying tribute to the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces and law enforcement personnel who have served in defense of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Addressing the gathering, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed…

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New Sexual Abuse Complaint Filed Against Julio Iglesias by Former Employees

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Spanish singer Julio Iglesias facing new sexual abuse allegations from former employees in Spain

Summary Two women who once worked for Spanish singer Julio Iglesias have filed a fresh legal complaint against him in Spain. The women accuse the 82-year-old star of sexual abuse and forced labour dating back to 2021. The advocacy group representing them says Spanish courts do have the authority to investigate the case, despite an earlier setback. Background This is not the first time Julio Iglesias has faced these claims. A first complaint was lodged with Spanish prosecutors in January this year. It accused the singer of subjecting the two…

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