Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Indian Air Force said Thursday it has lost contact with a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet that took off from the northeastern Indian state of Assam. In a post on X, the air force said the aircraft departed at 7:42 pm local time (1412 GMT) but had not returned or established contact at the expected time. &ldquo;An Su-30 MKI fighter jet has not returned or made contact at its expected time after taking off from Assam at 7:42 pm,&rdquo; the Indian Air Force said in the statement on X. Officials did not immediately provide details about the number of personnel on board or the circumstances surrounding the loss of contact. The Su-30MKI is a twin-engine multirole fighter that forms a key part of India&rsquo;s air combat fleet. Further information about the aircraft&rsquo;s status or possible search efforts was not immediately available. This is a developing story&hellip;

India

The Indian Air Force said it lost contact with a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet after it departed from Assam at 7:42 pm Thursday, with officials yet to disclose crew details or the aircraft’s last known position.

Indian Air Force loses contact with Su-30MKI fighter jet over Assam

BAKU: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of &quot;terrorism&quot; and threatened retaliation after drone attacks Thursday targeted an airport and a school in an Azerbaijani border region, an incident that could drag yet another country into the Mideast war.&nbsp;Tehran denied the allegation and blamed Israel, Azerbaijan&#39;s ally, of trying to stage a provocation.&nbsp;The midday attacks involved at least four drones that crossed from Iran into Azerbaijan&#39;s exclave of Nakhchivan bordering Iran, with one hitting the airport and another exploding near a school, Baku said.&nbsp;Video footage published by Azerbaijani media showed what appeared to be a drone crashing into the ground and exploding near the school, followed by loud screams from children in the building.&nbsp;AFP could not verify the footage.&nbsp;&quot;Today a terrorist act was carried out from the Iranian side against the territory of Azerbaijan,&quot; Aliyev told a hastily convened security council meeting.&nbsp;Azerbaijan&#39;s military &quot;have been instructed to prepare and carry out retaliatory measures ... placed on mobilisation level number one, and must be ready to conduct any operation,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;Those dishonourable people who committed this terrorist act against us will regret it. Let them not test our strength... This stain will never be erased from their dirty and ugly face,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The Azerbaijani defence ministry said it had detected four drones launched by Iran&#39;s army.&nbsp;&quot;One of them was disabled by the Azerbaijani army, while the others were directed at civilian infrastructure, including a secondary school building during class hours. Fortunately, the drone targeting the school did not reach its objective and instead fell and exploded near the school,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The Nakhichevan Airport terminal was damaged, with video showing grey smoke rising above the building after the strike.&nbsp;Four people were hospitalised with &quot;traumatic brain injuries,&quot; Sahib Abuzarov, head of emergency services at a hospital in Nakhichevan said later.&nbsp;The general staff of Iran&#39;s armed forces said it did not carry out the attack and pointed the finger at Israel.&nbsp;&quot;Such actions by the Zionist regime, aimed at disrupting relations between Muslim countries in various ways, are not unprecedented,&quot; it said in a statement.&nbsp;Azerbaijan-Israel partnershipFrance&#39;s foreign ministry said the &quot;unjustifiable&quot; attack &quot;constitutes a blatant violation of Azerbaijan&#39;s sovereignty and of international law.&quot;&nbsp;Turkey&#39;s foreign ministry condemned strikes &quot;which target third countries in the region and increase the risk of the war spreading.&quot;&nbsp;Azerbaijan summoned the Iranian envoy in Baku over the incident.&nbsp;&quot;We demanded from the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide, within the shortest possible timeframe, a clear explanation regarding the case and conduct investigation,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizada, told AFP.&nbsp;Analysts have said Azerbaijan&#39;s Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline -- which runs through neighboring Georgia and Turkey and carries around a third of Israel&#39;s oil imports -- could become a potential target for the Iranian military.&nbsp;In 2024, Azerbaijan exported 2.37 million tonnes of oil to Israel via the pipeline, director of the Baku-based Centre for Oil Research, Ilham Shaban, told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;The pipeline is buried underground along most of its route, making it difficult to disable,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;above-ground facilities -- such as terminals and pumping stations -- could still be vulnerable to Iranian drone strikes.&quot;&nbsp;Iran has long expressed concern that Israel -- a close ally of Azerbaijan and a key arms supplier -- could use Azerbaijani territory to stage attacks.&nbsp;Last June, Azerbaijan reassured Tehran that it would not allow such use of its territory after Israel launched a large-scale strike on Iranian targets.&nbsp;Tehran has historically been wary of separatist sentiment among its ethnic Azerbaijani minority, which makes up around 10 million of Iran&#39;s 83 million citizens.

Asia

Azerbaijan accused Iran of launching drones into Nakhchivan, damaging an airport and near a school, injuring four. President Ilham Aliyev ordered retaliatory readiness, escalating regional tensions. Iran denied involvement, blaming Israel.

Azerbaijan vows retaliation after Iran's 'terrorist' drone strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved seven development projects worth Rs15.174 billion ($54.3 million) and referred four larger schemes costing Rs108.16 billion ($387.1 million) to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval, according to an official statement. The meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, reviewed projects spanning education, health, information technology and energy under the government&rsquo;s URAAN Pakistan reform agenda. &ldquo;The initiatives cover key sectors including education, health, IT and energy,&rdquo; the planning ministry said in a statement after the meeting. Education and youth initiatives The CDWP approved Rs4.687 billion ($16.77 million) for establishing a Daanish School in Haveli-Kahuta in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, Iqbal instructed the Ministry of Education to review financial planning for the project. &ldquo;Iqbal directed the Ministry of Education to rationalize costs and provide a multi-year financial plan to ensure operational stability,&rdquo; the statement said. In the higher education sector, the forum approved a Rs1.846 billion ($6.6 million) initiative to support students with physical disabilities. The scheme will provide electric wheelchairs, laptops for visually impaired students and other audio-visual learning aids. The facility will be limited to full-time students enrolled in public sector universities. Two healthcare initiatives were reviewed during the session. The committee approved the Rs1.335 billion ($4.78 million) National Health Support Programme for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while recommending a Rs7.931 billion ($28 million) project to upgrade the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Hafizabad to ECNEC for final consideration. During the review, Iqbal raised concerns about jurisdictional responsibility for the Hafizabad project. &ldquo;Iqbal noted the Hafizabad project falls under provincial jurisdiction,&rdquo; the statement said. The forum decided that the Government of Punjab would bear any additional financial liability and reimburse federal funds released beyond the mandated federal share. The CDWP also recommended several energy efficiency initiatives funded by the World Bank. These include Rs19.016 billion ($68 million) for the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Rs30.255 billion ($108.3 million) for the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), both of which were forwarded to ECNEC for approval. Separately, the committee approved a Rs3.781 billion ($13.5 million) hydropower and renewable energy project in Gilgit-Baltistan. In the agriculture sector, a Rs50.956 billion ($182.4 million) irrigated agriculture development project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also recommended to ECNEC. According to the planning ministry, the project will rehabilitate 14,260 watercourses and introduce high-efficiency irrigation systems across 11,650 acres, with significant funding from the World Bank. The forum approved a Rs185.691 million ($664,562) initiative to digitize rural land records in Islamabad to improve transparency in land administration. Other approvals included the construction of a new administrative block for the Supreme Court Branch Registry in Quetta and a revised Rs3.106 billion ($11 million) cost for the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Academy in Islamabad.

An aerial view shows the USAID-funded Pakistani non-profit HANDS water supply plant in Jacobabad in southern Sindh province on February 18, 2025. (AFP)

Economy

Pakistan’s planning ministry cleared projects in education, healthcare, renewable energy and digital governance, including disability support in universities and irrigation upgrades, while sending major power efficiency and agriculture initiatives to the national economic council for final approval.

Pakistan approves $54M development projects, refers $387M schemes

MOSCOW:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russian-says-no-deadlines-to-end-ukraine-war" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Moscow</a>&nbsp;and Kyiv will each release a total of 500 prisoners of war over Thursday and Friday, Russia&#39;s top negotiator said, with the Russian defense ministry saying the first 200 on each side had already been swapped. &quot;There will be an exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine. 500 for 500,&quot; Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky wrote on Telegram. He added that the swap was part of agreements reached at trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Geneva searching for an end to the conflict. The Russian defense ministry said the UAE and the United States helped mediate Thursday&#39;s exchange of 200 captured Russian soldiers for 200 captured Ukrainians. It added that the Russian servicemen were in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ski-body-blocks-russian-belarusian-athletes-from-2026-winter-olympics" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Belarus</a>, a close ally of Russia that neighbors Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv have held several rounds of prisoner exchanges throughout the war, one of the rare areas of cooperation between the warring countries. The swaps are among the very few tangible results of the talks, being pushed and mediated by Washington, trying to broker a deal to end the war. Negotiations appeared to have stalled amid a lack of progress and since the eruption of war in the Middle East. Kyiv had said there had been a tentative plan to hold talks in Abu Dhabi this week - one of the places being hit by Iranian missiles and drones. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-zelensky-speak-before-ukraineus-talks-in-geneva" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky</a> on Monday suggested holding the next meeting in Switzerland or Turkey, which both have hosted previous rounds talks, instead.

This handout photograph taken and released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on March 5, 2026 shows buildings on fire following a Russian attack in the coast of Bilgorod-Dnistrovskyi district in Odesa region. (AFP)

Europe

The swap was part of agreements reached at trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Geneva searching for an end to the conflict.

Russia, Ukraine to exchange 500 POWs on March 5-6: negotiator

KATHMANDU: Nepal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nepal-votes-in-key-postuprising-polls" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">voted</a>&nbsp;on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nepals-gen-z-pins-hopes-on-postuprising-elections" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">toppled the government</a>. Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party. Election commission officials began collecting ballot boxes after voting closed, with papers to be taken under guard to a center in each constituency, before counting starts. Some winners are expected to be published as early as Friday, but full results may take several days. &quot;Nepalis have been waiting for change for so long, from one system to another,&quot; said Nilanta Shakya, 60, a retired engineer, who was among the first to vote at a college in the capital, Kathmandu. &quot;I hope there is a meaningful change this time,&quot; she added. Voters have chosen who replaces the interim government in place since the September 2025 uprising, in which at least 77 people were killed, and parliament and scores of government buildings were torched. Youth-led protests under a loose Gen Z banner began as a demonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider grievances at corruption and a woeful economy. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nepals-exchief-justice-sushila-karki-becomes-interim-premier-after-protests" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sushila Karki</a>, the interim prime minister, said the vote was critical in &quot;determining our future&quot;. The polls are one of the most hotly contested elections in the Himalayan republic of 30 million people since the end of a civil war in 2006. Thousands of soldiers and police have been deployed. The election saw a wave of younger candidates promising to tackle Nepal&#39;s dismal economy, challenging veteran politicians who have dominated for decades and argue that their experience guarantees stability and security. &quot;Today feels like a day of celebration,&quot; said Nirmala Bhandari, 50, a housewife, who danced in the street with friends for a video for social media, after casting her vote in Bhaktapur district outside the capital. &quot;I am hopeful that the country will get new leaders and that we will build a better nation.&quot; &#39;Blood will bring change&#39; Helicopters will be used to collect ballot boxes from snowbound mountain regions across Nepal, home to eight of the world&#39;s 10 highest peaks, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/hundreds-of-hikers-rescued-from-everest-after-severe-snowstorm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mount Everest.</a> But all eyes will be focused on the hot farming plains south of Kathmandu, where all three prime ministerial hopefuls contested seats &ndash; a departure from past elections that focused on the capital. KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old Marxist leader ousted as prime minister last year and seeking a return to power, is being challenged in the usually sleepy eastern district of Jhapa by former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician. &quot;This election must reestablish democracy and contribute to end non-political, anarchic and violent tendencies,&quot; Oli said after voting, insisting his party would win the largest number of seats. The Jhapa-5 constituency, with around 163,000 voters, will determine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters parliament. Shah, from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who queued to vote in Kathmandu dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, has cast himself as a symbol of youth-driven political change. Also in the race as aspiring prime minister is Gagan Thapa, 49, the new head of the country&#39;s oldest party, Nepali Congress, who has said he wants to end the &quot;old age&quot; club of revolving veteran leaders. After casting his ballot, Thapa told AFP that it is &quot;the duty of the leaders&quot; not to let the events of last September occur again. On social media, voters shared images of their ink-marked thumbs &ndash; alongside photographs of the September protests. &quot;At the Gen Z protest, people died &ndash; and their blood will bring change, we hope,&quot; said Tek Bahadur Aale, 66, who voted in Jhapa. &quot;We hope a government with good governance, no corruption, comes this time.&quot; More than 3,400 candidates are running for 165 seats in direct elections to the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 110 more chosen via party lists. Analysts say the vote is unlikely to deliver an outright majority for any party.

Security personnel and electoral officials carry ballot boxes to the counting centre after voting ends at a polling station during Nepal's general election in Lalitpur on March 5, 2026. (AFP)

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party.

Nepal awaits results in key post-uprising polls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on evacuating Pakistanis from Iran and those residing in Gulf countries. According to an official statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, officials briefed PM Sharif on the ongoing process to evacuate Pakistani nationals from Iran. Pakistani nationals are/have been returning safely, officials reported. The meeting reviewed steps by Pakistani embassies to assist citizens in Gulf countries. PM Sharif directed that all embassies must remain available around the clock to provide facilities. He directed the country&rsquo;s Foreign Office to monitor the situation continuously. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials. Foreign Office statement Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday stated that the government has initiated proactive measures to evacuate its citizens from Iran and support stranded nationals across the region. According to an official statement released by the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs&#39; Crisis Management Unit (CMU) now operates 24 hours a day. Staff members monitor regional developments and provide direct assistance to Pakistani nationals. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 922px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029518714681561551&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=5d6cf356a38ac6626b66c098452c18dee51dc81a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2029518714681561551"></iframe></div></div> Andrabi stated that under directives from PM Sahrif, Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic missions have opened Special Facilitation Desks. These centers manage visa facilitation, logistics, and travel arrangements for stranded citizens. Missions also launched dedicated mobile applications, registration portals, and helplines to improve outreach. The spokesperson said that Pakistani diplomats are working with host governments to secure consular support for the diaspora. Commercial flights have partially resumed, allowing some stranded individuals to begin returning to their destinations. He stated that the government continues to prioritize the safety and return of overseas Pakistanis. Emergency contact details for the ministry and its missions are available on official websites.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on evacuating Pakistanis from Iran and those residing in Gulf countries.(PMO)

Foreign Affairs

PM Sharif directed that all embassies must remain available around the clock to provide facilities.

PM Sharif chairs meeting on evacuating Pakistanis from Iran, Gulf

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Thursday that Pakistan holds sufficient reserves and supply arrangements to manage potential economic fallout from regional developments, the Finance Ministry reported.&nbsp; During a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Aurangzeb detailed the government&rsquo;s strategy for stabilizing the economy. He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently formed a high-level committee to monitor global commodity markets and energy supplies daily. This group includes members from federal ministries and the State Bank of Pakistan. The committee tracks price movements and potential disruptions in crude oil, coal, gas, and petroleum products. Officials are also assessing how these factors impact inflation and financial stability. Aurangzeb stated the government is performing sensitivity analysis and scenario planning to address a prolonged regional crisis. The finance minister said energy conservation measures are currently under review. The Finance Ministry is coordinating with provincial authorities to manage resources and prevent market panic. Aurangzeb provided an update on Pakistan&rsquo;s engagement with the International Monetary Fund.&nbsp; He stated the government remains committed to meeting program benchmarks. Current efforts focus on tax policy, revenue mobilization, and institutional transparency. The government aims to broaden the tax base through data-driven enforcement. Economic indicators show signs of recovery. Growth reached 3.7% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Large-scale manufacturing and the agriculture sector contributed to this improvement. Aurangzeb said the focus is now transitioning from stabilization to sustainable growth. The British High Commissioner acknowledged the government&rsquo;s reform efforts and detailed the United Kingdom&rsquo;s support for Pakistan&rsquo;s macroeconomic stability. The discussion also covered investor confidence in the mining and minerals sectors. Both sides agreed on the importance of good governance to attract international investment. The meeting concluded with both officials pledging to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.

Highlighting the government’s proactive measures to manage potential economic impacts amid evolving regional developments, Pakistan's Finance Minister said that the country has adequate reserves and supply arrangements.

Pakistan maintains strong reserves to counter regional market disruptions: Finance minister

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan on Thursday formally voiced concerns about a new uranium supply and nuclear technology agreement between Canada and India, warning that the deal could upset the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/how-indias-23-billion-weapons-spree-aims-to-fight-pakistan-without-triggering-nuclear-response" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">strategic balance in South Asia.</a> Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued the statement following the conclusion of the bilateral arrangement, which includes the supply of uranium, cooperation on small modular reactors, and advanced nuclear technologies. Andrabi stated that the arrangement as a &quot;country-specific exception&quot; undermines global non-proliferation efforts. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 924px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029455114680082681&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4569%2F&sessionId=311811c39e22d2da76fa8e87d32270d96f402d3d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><div class="fr-embed"><div><div style="line-height: 2;"> He noted the irony of the deal by citing India&rsquo;s 1974 nuclear test, which used plutonium from a Canadian-supplied reactor and led directly to the creation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The spokesperson said a nation whose past actions necessitated global export controls is now receiving &quot;preferential access&quot; through selective agreements. He said that India has not placed all its civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-nuclear-watchdog-approves-safety-for-pakistans-new-chashma-reactor" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">IAEA</a>) safeguards, and the current agreement includes no binding commitment to do so. With several facilities remaining shielded from international inspection, Andrabi said the deal lacks clear, concrete non-proliferation assurances. The ministry warned of significant strategic consequences, stating that assured uranium supplies from external sources effectively free up India&rsquo;s domestic reserves for&nbsp;military applications. This shift allows India to expand its fissile material stockpiles and accelerate the growth of its nuclear arsenal, deepening existing asymmetries in the region. The spokesperson said that these developments contradict <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/canada-launches-huge-defense-plan-to-curb-reliance-on-us" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canada&rsquo;s own</a> international non-proliferation obligations. Islamabad maintains a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach that must govern civil nuclear cooperation, he said. Such standards should apply equally to all states that are not parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Andrabi said that selective exceptions erode the credibility of the global framework and pose a risk to both regional and global security. </div></div></div>

Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited)

Foreign Office Spokesperson stated that the deal undermines global non-proliferation efforts.

Canada-India uranium deal threatens regional stability warns Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Taliban intelligence officers have seized and shut down the privately owned Rah-e-Farda television station in Kabul, the latest in a series of raids targeting independent media, international media watchdogs reported. According to the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-committed-twothirds-of-record-press-killings-in-2025-cpj" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Committee to Protect Journalists</a>, intelligence officers entered the broadcaster&#39;s headquarters on Feb. 28, forcing it off the air and ordering staff to leave the premises. The New York-based organization said the station&rsquo;s assets were confiscated following an order by the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s supreme leader, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/leaked-audio-exposes-taliban-fractures-as-akhundzada-tightens-grip-on-power" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hibatullah Akhundzada</a>. The broadcaster was closed because of televised comments made by its owner, Mohammad Mohaqiq, regarding recent border skirmishes between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan, according to a spokesperson for the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Culture, Khubaib Ghufran. Fighting erupted last week after Islamabad conducted <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/operation-ghazab-lilhaq-481-taliban-fighters-terrorists-killed-as-pakistan-continues-strikes" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">airstrikes</a> in Afghanistan to target terrorists harbored by the interim Afghan government. The seizure follows a broader collapse of the Afghan media landscape since the Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in August 2021. More than half of the country&rsquo;s media outlets have ceased operations in the last three years, according to figures released by UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists. At the time of the takeover, Afghanistan had 543 active outlets; only 312 remained by late 2021, according to a survey conducted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association. Taliban authorities have intensified a crackdown on media professionals through arbitrary detentions and physical abuse. Between August 2021 and September 2024, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 336 rights violations against media staff, including 256 instances of arbitrary detention and 130 cases of torture. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported on March 4 that such violations increased by 56% in early 2025 compared to the previous year. Stringent censorship laws now govern the remaining press. Under the 2024 Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Afghan Taliban has banned the broadcasting of images of living beings in several provinces, according to the AFJC. Media organizations must also seek prior approval for political content, while direct criticism of Taliban officials is strictly prohibited, as per directives from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue. The environment is particularly <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">restrictive for women</a>, with 80-90% of female journalists having lost their jobs since the takeover, according to RSF. In several regions, the Taliban have banned female voices from being broadcast on radio programs entirely. Afghanistan&rsquo;s global standing has plummeted as a result of these policies. The country ranked 178th out of 180 nations in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, with RSF noting that it fell 44 places in a single year.

A member of Taliban security force keeps a vigil during an event organised to mark the 'World Press Freedom Day' at the office of the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) in Kabul on May 3, 2023. (AFP)

Afghanistan

Taliban officers have confiscated all station assets and expelled employees following reports on regional border hostilities. These actions coincide with a 56% increase in documented rights violations against Afghan media staff.

Afghan Taliban shut down TV station under supreme leader’s orders

BEIJING: China has unveiled its main policy priorities for the year during its annual &quot;Two Sessions&quot; political conclave, emphasizing economic recovery, technological self-reliance, carbon reduction, social support measures and anti-corruption efforts. Presenting the government work report, Premier Li Qiang told delegates, including President Xi Jinping, that Beijing would prioritize boosting domestic demand and strengthening economic stability amid ongoing challenges. Boost economy&nbsp;China set its economic growth target for the year at 4.5&ndash;5 percent, the lowest target since 1991 and slightly below last year&rsquo;s goal of around five percent, according to AFP research. Li acknowledged that the country needs to prioritize strengthening domestic demand and to implement more proactive fiscal policies. &quot;We will focus on vigorously boosting consumption, expanding effective investment, and fully leverage the benefits of China&#39;s super-large market,&quot; Li told ruling party cadres, including President Xi Jinping. He acknowledged that China was facing &quot;quite a few problems and challenges&quot; in economic development. Beijing has not managed to stage a full recovery from the pandemic, with a property sector crisis, flagging consumption and high youth unemployment weighing on growth. &quot;The imbalance between strong supply and weak demand is acute, market expectations are weak, and there are many risks and hidden dangers in key areas,&quot; the report said. China will also aim to create over 12 million new jobs in cities and push for around two percent inflation this year. Tech advancesChina must accelerate efforts to strengthen its independence and capabilities in science and technology, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said, underscoring Beijing&rsquo;s determination to lead in emerging high-tech sectors. Technology development has become a central pillar of China&rsquo;s new Five-Year Plan, which is expected to be approved during the Two Sessions. In remarks outlining the government&rsquo;s priorities, Li pledged increased funding and policy support to drive &ldquo;original advances&rdquo; in cutting-edge industries. These include Quantum Technology, embodied artificial intelligence, Brain&ndash;Computer Interface systems, and next-generation 6G Technology.&nbsp; Beijing has spent billions of dollars to position itself as a global leader in high-technology sectors, particularly in robotics and artificial intelligence. The government&rsquo;s investment push has helped fuel rapid growth in new AI companies across the country. Much of the momentum has been attributed to the success of startup DeepSeek, which surprised the global technology industry last year by releasing a powerful AI model developed at a significantly lower cost than many competitors. Li said China will continue expanding the use of AI agents and promote the large-scale commercial deployment of artificial intelligence in key industries and sectors, signaling a broader push to integrate AI into the country&rsquo;s economy and technological infrastructure. Cutting carbon emissionsChina, the world&rsquo;s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, announced plans to intensify efforts to cut carbon emissions and accelerate its transition toward a greener economy. In a policy report delivered Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang outlined new environmental targets aimed at reducing the country&rsquo;s carbon footprint while maintaining economic growth.&nbsp; Such a drop will enable us to move step by step toward the goal of peaking carbon emissions before 2030,&quot; the report said. China will aim for a 17% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP over the next five-year period. China will foster new growth drivers such as hydrogen power and green fuels, it added, with Li pledging tighter regulation over energy-intensive projects.&nbsp; Support for elderly, parents&nbsp;China will increase the minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents by 20 yuan ($2.90) per person per month, Li said. The country&#39;s rapidly ageing population and sputtering birth rates have presented fresh challenges for authorities, which have relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth. A proactive national strategy responding to population ageing will be advanced and measures will be introduced to promote the development of the silver economy, Li said. The country will increase the supply and quality of elderly care services, especially in rural areas. Beijing will foster &quot;positive attitudes&quot; towards marriage and childbearing, the report said, adding that China will boost housing support for first-time married couples and those with their first child. China&#39;s birth rate plunged last year to its lowest level on record, according to official data released in January. &quot;We will refine the maternity insurance and parental leave systems, expand demonstrations and trials for subsidised childcare services, and provide support for public-interest childcare services and integrated nursery and childcare services,&quot; it added. Rooting out corruptionCombating corruption is a key goal for the country, which has launched a drive to root out graft at all levels of the Chinese Communist Party and state since Xi came to power. Li told cadres on Thursday that there was a need to intensify efforts to address Party misconduct, acknowledging that &quot;corruption still occurs frequently in some sectors and localities&quot;. &quot;We will tighten regulation and oversight over the allocation and exercise of power... build integrity, and combat corruption in the government,&quot; the report said. &quot;Some officials have a misguided understanding of what it means to perform well; they lack drive, act arbitrarily, work for show, or just go through the motions in their work,&quot; it added.

TOPSHOT - A woman takes a photo of the Lujiazui financial district across the Huangpu River on the Bund promenade in Shanghai on March 5, 2026. 

Business

Presenting the government work report, Premier Li Qiang told delegates, including President Xi Jinping, that Beijing would prioritize boosting domestic demand and strengthening economic stability amid ongoing challenges.

Indian Air Force loses contact with Su-30MKI fighter jet over Assam

Latest News

Azerbaijan vows retaliation after Iran's 'terrorist' drone strikes

Indian Air Force loses contact with Su-30MKI fighter jet over Assam

Pakistan approves $54M development projects, refers $387M schemes

Russia, Ukraine to exchange 500 POWs on March 5-6: negotiator

Nepal awaits results in key post-uprising polls