JERUSALEM: Israel said on Friday it had blocked Spain from participating in the work of a US-led center established to help stabilize post-war Gaza following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat was set up after the ceasefire took effect on October 10, with the goal of monitoring the truce and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory. As part of the CMCC, military personnel and diplomats from several other countries including France, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are also present and participate in meetings on security and humanitarian issues in Gaza, devastated by more than two years of Israeli siege. Representatives of Spain were also participating in the work of CMCC until now. But on Friday, Israel&#39;s foreign ministry announced it was preventing Spain from attending CMCC meetings. &quot;The Sanchez government&#39;s anti-Israel bias is so egregious that it has lost all capability to serve as a constructive actor in implementing President Trump&#39;s peace plan in the CMCC,&quot; Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement. &quot;Spain will not be permitted to participate in the CMCC in Kiryat Gat.&quot; Relations between Israel and Spain have deteriorated significantly since Madrid recognized a Palestinian state in 2024. Both countries have withdrawn their ambassadors. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel&#39;s war on Gaza. He had also opposed the US-Israeli military strikes on Iran that began on February 28. Sarr has previously accused the Spanish government of &quot;standing with tyrants&quot; by opposing the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. He also accused Spain of being &quot;complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes&quot; after it recognized a Palestinian state. Spain only established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1986 following the death of dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975. Under Franco, Spain avoided recognizing Israel and maintained closer diplomatic ties with Arab states.

Flames rise after a strike on the vehicle of Palestinian journalist Mohammed Washeha in southern Gaza City on April 8, 2026. (AFP)

Middle East

Israel bars Spain from a US-led Gaza coordination center, citing Madrid’s pro-Palestinian stance, as tensions rise after Spain recognized Palestinian statehood and criticized Israel’s war on Gaza.

Israel blocks Spain from US-led center monitoring Gaza truce

RAMALLAH: Israel has approved the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports and the watchdog Peace Now, which said the decision was taken &quot;secretly&quot; in early April. &quot;The security cabinet secretly decided to establish 34 new settlements,&quot; Peace Now said in a statement released late on Thursday.The 34 settlements come on top of 68 others already approved since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing government came to power in 2022. The decision has not been officially published by any government body, and the defence ministry, in charge of settlements in the occupied West Bank, declined to respond to AFP&#39;s questions. &quot;We are not addressing this issue,&quot; a spokesperson for the ministry told AFP. According to news channel i24News, 10 of the 34 settlements are already existing outposts, which are illegal under Israeli law, but will now be retroactively legalised under the decision. The remaining 24 are yet to be built. All settlements are illegal under international law. News website Ynet reported that military chief Eyal Zamir warned during the security cabinet meeting that took place on April 1 that the army could &quot;collapse&quot; because of increasing demands on its manpower. That included the legalisation of dozens of outposts, granting them official settlement status and therefore for protection from Israeli troops. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Excluding east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis now live there in settlements, among some three million Palestinians. Settlement expansion has been a policy under successive Israeli governments since 1967, but has accelerated significantly under the current Netanyahu-led coalition, widely regarded as one of the most right-wing in Israel&#39;s history. Rights groups say approvals of new settlements, land seizures and settler violence have further increased since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Israel has approved the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports and the watchdog Peace Now, which said the decision was taken "secretly" in early April.

Israel approves 34 new West Bank settlements

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the Pakistan Navy for rescuing an 18-member crew during an emergency humanitarian relief operation in the North Arabian Sea, said a statement from the prime minister&rsquo;s office.&nbsp;The crew members included nationals from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Indonesia, said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;The Navy picked a &ldquo;distress call from Merchant Vessel Gold Autumn,&rdquo; which was approximately &ldquo;200 Nautical Miles (370 km) off Pakistan&rsquo;s coast,&rdquo; ISPR confirmed.&nbsp;&ldquo;PNS Hunain provided medical aid, assisted in firefighting, carried out damage assessment, and successfully rescued the crew.&rdquo;&nbsp;The evacuated crew was safely transported to Karachi for medical care and repatriation to their respective countries. The prime minister remarked that the Pakistan Navy will continue to play its role as a first responder in all types of maritime emergencies.

Foreign Affairs

Security

Shehbaz Sharif praises the Pakistan Navy for rescuing 18 crew members from a distressed vessel in the North Arabian Sea during a humanitarian operation, providing medical aid, and ensuring safe evacuation.

Pakistan Navy saves 18 crew members of merchant vessel in Arabian Sea

BEIJING: China and North Korea should &quot;enhance coordination&quot; on international and regional issues, Beijing&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during talks on Friday, according to Chinese state media. Wang is on a two-day trip to North Korea, his first visit since 2019, to step up ties between the East Asian neighbors following their resumption of transport links halted since the Covid-19 pandemic. China is North Korea&#39;s top trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support. &quot;China and North Korea should, while firmly safeguarding their respective sovereignty, security and development interests, further enhance communication and coordination in major international and regional affairs,&quot; Wang said during a meeting with Kim in Pyongyang on Friday, Xinhua reported. &quot;China is willing to work with North Korea to... maintain close communication and interaction, promote practical cooperation, and infuse new contemporary meaning into the traditional friendship between China and North Korea,&quot; Wang said. Wang&#39;s visit comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump mounts a push to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, eyeing a potential summit this year, potentially during Trump&#39;s visit to Beijing in May.

This picture taken on April 9, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 10, 2026 shows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shaking hands with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Geumsusan Guesth

Asia

Wang is on a two-day trip to North Korea, his first visit since 2019, to step up ties between the East Asian neighbors following their resumption of transport links halted since the Covid-19 pandemic.

China FM calls for closer ties with North Korea in Kim meeting

BEIRUT: European and Arab states have pressured Israel to stop targeting Beirut, a Western diplomat told AFP on Friday, two days after deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon that left more than 300 people dead. On Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military issued a warning of incoming strikes for large, densely populated areas of southern Beirut, but had not carried out the threat as of midday on Friday. The Western diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss sensitive matters, said on Friday &quot;There is ongoing diplomatic pressure from European states, Gulf states and Egypt on Israel to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut after &#39;Black Wednesday&#39;&quot;. More than 300 people, mostly civilians according to a Lebanese military source, were killed in the wave of simultaneous Israeli strikes on Wednesday on Beirut and other areas of Lebanon. The strikes were launched despite the announcement hours earlier of a truce between the United States and Iran, with Israel and the US saying it did not apply to Lebanon. Thursday&#39;s Israeli warning included areas home to major hospitals and the road to the country&#39;s only international airport. Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni said, in a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency (NNA) on Thursday, that he had &quot;received assurances&quot; from foreign diplomats that the airport and the road leading to it would be spared. Meanwhile, Mohammad Zaatari, director of the country&#39;s largest public medical facility, Rafic Hariri Hospital, told AFP: &quot;We have received assurances, including from the International Committee of the Red Cross that the hospital would not be targeted.&quot; The World Health Organization on Thursday called on Israel to cancel its evacuation warning for the Jnah district of Beirut because around 450 patients were in the Rafic Hariri and Al-Zahraa hospitals in the district, including 40 in intensive care. In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes hit several villages during the night and on Friday, the NNA reported. An AFP photographer saw firefighters extinguishing a fire in a building blown apart by a nighttime strike in the village of Habbouch, near Nabatiyeh.

Lebanese rescuers clear the rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building the day before in the Lebanese Beirut on April 9, 2026. (AFP)

European and Arab states pressure Israel to halt strikes on Beirut after attacks killed over 300 in Lebanon, as Israeli warnings continue and civilians and key infrastructure remain at risk.

European, Arab pressure on Israel to stop strikes on Lebanese capital: diplomat 

Maham Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hosting negotiations between the United States and Iran, the latest chapter in a decades-long diplomatic record that spans secret back channels, hostage negotiations, arms deals, and multilateral nuclear talks, most of which ended without a lasting agreement. Official records and news archives show that despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations since 1980, the two governments have returned to the negotiating table repeatedly, across administrations and across continents. What follows is a chronological account of every significant diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran on record. November 28 &ndash; December 1, 1943 | The Tehran Conference Venue: Tehran, Iran US President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Allied leaders in Tehran to coordinate military strategy during World War II. According to US State Department archives, the discussions covered military objectives for the remainder of the war, as well as the future of Iranian sovereignty. The conference concluded with a formal declaration committing the Allied powers to the maintenance of Iranian independence and territorial integrity after the war. November 4, 1979 &ndash; January 19, 1981 | The Algiers Accords Venue: Algiers, Algeria (mediated) Formal diplomatic ties dissolved during the Iran hostage crisis on November 4, 1979. According to US National Archives, the two nations conducted 444 days of negotiations through Algerian intermediaries. The discussions covered four matters: the release of 52 American hostages; the unfreezing of Iranian government assets held in US banks; a formal US pledge of non-intervention in Iranian affairs; and the establishment of the Iran-US Claims Tribunal at The Hague to resolve financial disputes. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Algiers Accords were signed on January 19, 1981. The agreement was properly concluded. The Congressional Research Service noted that the two countries have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1980. May 1986 | Secret Tehran Meetings Venue: Tehran, Iran US officials conducted secret meetings in Tehran in May 1986. As reported by the Reagan Library, a delegation led by former National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane traveled to Iran to discuss an exchange of arms for the release of American hostages held in Lebanon. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the broader arrangement also involved redirecting proceeds from arms sales to fund other covert operations. Iranian Ambassador Said Rajaie-Khorassani stated at a New York press conference that the visits were &ldquo;fruitless.&rdquo; The talks did not result in a formal agreement. January 1998 | Cultural Diplomacy and Track-Two Contact Venue: Various Iranian President Mohammad Khatami proposed cultural engagement during a televised broadcast. As per US State Department files, this led to informal track-two diplomatic contact, including sporting exchanges later that year. Official government-level talks did not follow. September 1998 | Six-Plus-Two Talks Venue: United Nations General Assembly, New York US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Iran&#39;s deputy foreign minister met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, within the framework of the Six-Plus-Two multilateral talks on Afghanistan. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the meeting was the highest-level contact between US and Iranian officials since 1979. The discussions addressed regional stability, specifically the situation in Afghanistan. The National Security Archive noted this as part of a broader shift in US approach toward pursuing direct contact with Tehran. The meeting did not produce a bilateral agreement. April 2000 | Bilateral Diplomatic Outreach Venue: Washington, DC Secretary of State Albright delivered a formal statement acknowledging the United States&#39; role in the 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, calling prior US policy toward Iran &quot;regrettably shortsighted,&quot; according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The outreach included the lifting of some US sanctions on Iranian goods. The CRS noted that this period represented a brief improvement in bilateral relations. No comprehensive diplomatic framework resulted. December 5, 2001 | The Bonn Agreement Venue: Bonn, Germany Following the September 11, 2001 attacks and US military operations in Afghanistan, the United States and Iran participated in multilateral negotiations in Bonn on Afghanistan&#39;s political future. The two governments coordinated on two specific issues: post-Taliban governing arrangements in Afghanistan, and the repatriation of Afghan refugees, as per the Council on Foreign Relations. The two sides worked jointly on terms allowing displaced Afghan citizens to return home. The National Security Archive described this as a notable instance of direct US-Iran cooperation on a shared regional objective. The Bonn Agreement was concluded and signed on December 5, 2001. May 2003 | The Grand Bargain Proposal Venue: Washington, DC (delivered through Swiss intermediaries) Iran submitted a comprehensive diplomatic proposal to the United States through Swiss diplomats, who represented US interests in Tehran. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the document (which became known as the Grand Bargain) offered nuclear inspections, cooperation on regional security, and steps toward broader normalization. The CRS noted that bilateral tensions had risen in the early 2000s amid reports of previously undisclosed nuclear facilities. The proposal was not taken up. Talks did not proceed to a formal conclusion. March 2013 &ndash; July 14, 2015 | The Secret Oman Channel and the JCPOA Venue: Muscat, Oman (back channel); Geneva, Switzerland (interim deal); Vienna, Austria (final agreement) The Obama administration opened a secret diplomatic back channel with Iran in Muscat, Oman, beginning in 2011. As reported by the White House, the meetings centered on Iran&#39;s nuclear activities and laid the groundwork for formal multilateral engagement. In September 2013, President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone (the most direct contact between the two countries&#39; leaders since 1979). The call opened a formal negotiating track between Iran and the P5+1 &mdash; the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany. An interim agreement, the Joint Plan of Action, was signed in Geneva on November 24, 2013, providing limited sanctions relief in exchange for a partial freeze of Iran&#39;s nuclear activities. The process moved to full negotiations and concluded in Vienna on July 14, 2015, with the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The JCPOA required Iran to dismantle and redesign its nuclear reactor at Arak, submit to enhanced IAEA verification, and limit uranium enrichment for a minimum of 15 years. In exchange, the US waived secondary sanctions on Iran&#39;s oil exports and financial sector, the EU lifted its ban on Iranian oil purchases, and UN Security Council resolutions imposing related restrictions were revoked, per the CRS. The agreement was concluded and signed by China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. April 2021 &ndash; August 2022 | JCPOA Revival Talks Venue: Vienna, Austria Multilateral negotiations aimed at restoring mutual compliance with the 2015 JCPOA were held in Vienna beginning in April 2021. According to the US State Department, the meetings focused on a mutual return to the terms of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The sessions were structured as proximity meetings, in which US and Iranian delegations held separate sessions in the same building while European intermediaries carried proposals between them. The CRS reported that the talks addressed the same core issues as the original JCPOA: the scope of Iran&#39;s nuclear activities and the corresponding level of sanctions relief. Multiple rounds were held over more than a year. The talks did not reach a new agreement. September 2023 | Prisoner Exchange Venue: Doha, Qatar (transfer point) The United States and Iran concluded a prisoner exchange mediated by Oman, Qatar, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The specific terms covered two matters: the release of five Iranian-American dual citizens detained in Iran; and the transfer of approximately $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in South Korea, released through a US sanctions waiver and routed through Qatar. The CRS reported that the funds were designated exclusively for humanitarian purchases. The exchange was concluded. No broader nuclear or diplomatic agreement was attached to it. April 12 &ndash; May 11, 2025 | Direct Nuclear Talks Venue: Muscat, Oman (April 12, April 26, May 11); Rome, Italy (April 19) Four rounds of direct US-Iran nuclear talks were held between April 12 and May 11, 2025. As reported by Iranian state news, the delegations were led by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. It was the first direct, face-to-face engagement between US and Iranian diplomats since 2017. Omani officials served as intermediaries across multiple sessions. The discussions addressed Iran&#39;s nuclear enrichment program and the removal of US sanctions. The CRS reported that the two sides exchanged written proposals during this period. The discussions were inconclusive. No agreement was finalized. April 11, 2026 | Islamabad Talks Venue: Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan is currently hosting negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. Officially dubbed Islamabad talks will begin on April 11, 2026, following a military conflict between the two sides that began February 28. As per Iranian government statements, the agenda covers a 10-point peace plan addressing regional stability and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. These negotiations are currently active.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) talks on January 14, 2015 with US State Secretary John Kerry before their meeting in Geneva. Zarif said on January 14 that his meeting with his US counterpart was vital for progress on talks on Tehran's co

From a 1943 wartime conference to active talks in Islamabad, the United States and Iran have sat across the table from each other repeatedly — through revolution, hostage crises, and nuclear standoffs.

The secret channels, sealed deals, and unfinished business of US-Iran diplomacy

MOSCOW: Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev is in the United States for talks on the economy, Russia said Friday, stressing that he would not be holding discussions on the Ukraine war. &quot;Kirill Dmitriev is not conducting negotiations on a settlement of the Ukrainian issue. This does not constitute a resumption of negotiations,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP. &quot;Kirill Dmitriev heads the economic affairs group and he continues his work within the framework of this group.&quot; Dmitriev, who heads a Russian state investment fund, has been one of Moscow&#39;s main conduits for talks with Washington since Donald Trump returned to the White House last year and has travelled to the US several times, including last month. He is pushing for the US to relax sanctions and boost business ties with Russia, though has made little progress. Talks on the Ukraine war have been stalled for weeks, with Moscow sticking to hard-line territorial and political demands that Ukraine has ruled out. Trump has flipped between putting pressure on Moscow and Kyiv to end the conflict, which he claimed he would resolve within hours of returning to office.

Americas

Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev is in Washington for economic talks, Russia said, stressing he is not discussing Ukraine, as broader negotiations remain stalled and Moscow continues pressing for sanctions relief.

Russian envoy in US for economy talks: Kremlin

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan prepares to host high-stakes Iran&ndash;US peace talks in Islamabad on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has received a wave of support and congratulatory messages from world leaders, praising Islamabad&rsquo;s role in facilitating a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. According to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a telephone conversation with PM Shehbaz, commending Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts that helped secure the ceasefire and restart dialogue between the two sides. The premier also welcomed a joint statement by key European leaders backing Pakistan&rsquo;s peace initiative.<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" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2042296988616872107&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=28d51c4530a4a3dd943f3b868588ca3cbd04606b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 749px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> In Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation, with PM Shehbaz appreciating Berlin&rsquo;s role in encouraging dialogue. Similarly, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker reiterated strong endorsement of Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts during a &ldquo;warm and cordial&rdquo; exchange, with both leaders agreeing on the need to sustain the ceasefire for long-term stability.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042289610408312945&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=28d51c4530a4a3dd943f3b868588ca3cbd04606b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also backed Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic push, as Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the United Kingdom and other partners to achieve lasting peace.<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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042149851014820169&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=28d51c4530a4a3dd943f3b868588ca3cbd04606b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1086px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Support also came from French President Emmanuel Macron, who lauded what he termed &ldquo;Islamabad Diplomacy.&rdquo;&nbsp; President Macron graciously congratulated Pakistan on its sincere efforts in facilitating the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, and for helping bring both sides to the negotiating table.&nbsp;<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" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2042206163878699242&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=407a45cf1bd55927667ca9b480f2e24457dfda8e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> Outreach extended across the Middle East as well. Qatar&rsquo;s Amir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, congratulated PM Shehbaz on Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation role. The premier praised Qatar&rsquo;s &ldquo;wisdom and restraint&rdquo; during weeks of regional tensions and reaffirmed solidarity, emphasizing joint efforts toward peace.<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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042260725457113224&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=28d51c4530a4a3dd943f3b868588ca3cbd04606b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 749px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> In a separate development, PM Shehbaz spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, strongly condemning ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and expressing condolences over civilian casualties. Both leaders stressed the importance of continued diplomatic engagement to end the violence. Bahrain&rsquo;s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced strong backing for Pakistan&rsquo;s role in de-escalation efforts. The flurry of diplomatic engagement comes at a critical moment, as Pakistan positions itself at the center of international diplomacy, with US and Iranian delegations expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday.

FILE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif receiving the revered award Order of Bahrain (First Class) from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in Manama, on November 26, 2025.

Pakistan gains global support for its mediation efforts as a fragile Iran–US ceasefire holds, with delegations set to arrive in Islamabad for crucial talks aimed at advancing dialogue and securing regional stability.

Global leaders back Pakistan as Islamabad hosts Iran–US peace talks

BEIJING: China&#39;s President Xi Jinping met Taiwan&#39;s opposition party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, telling the visiting delegation he had &quot;full confidence&quot; that Taiwanese and Chinese people would be united. Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng is the party&#39;s first leader to visit China in a decade, but her trip has sparked debate in Taiwan with critics accusing her of being too pro-Beijing. China severed high-level contact with Taiwan in 2016 after Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won the presidency and rejected Beijing&#39;s claims that the self-ruled island is part of its territory. Xi told Cheng as the two met on Friday that &quot;the general trend of compatriots on both sides of the Strait getting closer, edging nearer and becoming united will not change&quot;. &quot;This is an inevitable part of history. We have full confidence in this,&quot; Xi said during the talks carried by Taiwanese media. He also said China was willing to strengthen dialogue with groups in Taiwan, including the KMT, on the &quot;common political foundation of... opposing Taiwan independence&quot;. The KMT supports closer relations with China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it. Cheng echoed Xi&#39;s stance, telling a press conference after their meeting that by &quot;opposing Taiwan independence, we can avoid war&quot;. She also told Xi earlier that the Taiwan Strait would &quot;no longer be a focal point of potential conflict&quot; and &quot;both sides should transcend political confrontation&quot;. Beijing has sworn to take Taiwan and has not ruled out using force, ramping up military pressure around the self-ruled island in recent years. China conducts near-daily deployments of fighter jets and warships near the island and regular large-scale military drills. Taiwanese lawmakers have been at loggerheads over the government&#39;s plan to spend NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) on defence, which has been stalled for months in parliament, controlled by Cheng&#39;s KMT party. - Defence spending - Cheng&#39;s trip comes a month before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing for a summit with Xi. The United States has been piling pressure on Taiwanese opposition lawmakers to back a proposal for defence purchases, including US weapons, to deter a potential Chinese attack. Cheng has railed against the government&#39;s proposal, insisting &quot;Taiwan isn&#39;t an ATM&quot; and instead backed a KMT plan to allocate NT$380 billion ($12 billion) for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions. While KMT party members regularly fly to China for exchanges with officials, its last leader to visit was Hung Hsiu-chu in 2016. Cross-strait relations have worsened in particular since the election of Tsai&#39;s successor, Lai Ching-te, who Beijing considers a separatist. Lai said in a Facebook post on Friday that &quot;China&#39;s... military threats in and around the Taiwan Strait and the island chain have severely undermined regional peace and stability&quot;. Cheng landed in Shanghai on Tuesday evening, saying shortly after her arrival that &quot;the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not doomed to war, as the international community has feared&quot;. The KMT leader also travelled to the eastern city of Nanjing, where she visited the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, one of the few Chinese historical figures revered in both Beijing and Taipei.

China

Xi Jinping met Taiwanese Opposition Leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, voicing confidence in eventual cross-strait unity, while the visit stirred controversy in Taiwan amid rising military tensions and disputes over defence spending.

Chinese, Taiwanese will unite, Xi tells Taiwan opposition leader

ISLAMABAD: A court in London has ordered India&rsquo;s low-cost carrier SpiceJet to pay close to $8 million to an overseas aircraft engine lessor, in a ruling that underscores the airline&rsquo;s deepening financial troubles and raises uncomfortable questions about corporate discipline in India&rsquo;s aviation industry. According to the draft report, London&rsquo;s Commercial Court granted summary judgment in favour of Sunbird France 02 SAS over unpaid lease rentals and maintenance charges linked to three aircraft engines. The court found that SpiceJet &ldquo;had no viable defence&rdquo; in the case. The dispute relates to engine lease payments overdue since January 2022 and maintenance charges dating back to November 2020. Default notices were issued in July 2022, with the engines subsequently repossessed between late 2022 and mid-2023. Industry estimates cited in the draft place the award at $7,959,235, excluding interest and legal costs, meaning the final liability could increase further. The ruling represents another setback for the cash-strapped airline, which has been grappling with mounting financial pressure. It also risks denting India&rsquo;s efforts to position itself as a reliable destination for global investment. While formally a commercial dispute, the optics of a prominent Indian airline being ordered by a foreign court to settle unpaid obligations are difficult to ignore. The episode sharpens concerns about &ldquo;financial discipline and contractual reliability&rdquo; within segments of India&rsquo;s corporate sector, as noted in the draft. The case is further complicated by the airline&rsquo;s conduct during proceedings.&nbsp; According to the report, SpiceJet did not file a defense despite initially appointing legal representatives and did not respond to requests for comment following the judgment. The airline remains under sustained strain from the long-term fallout of the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, the COVID-19 pandemic, and intensifying competition from newer entrants such as Akasa Air. The ruling also revives broader concerns about SpiceJet&rsquo;s solvency. Auditors have previously flagged doubts about the airline&rsquo;s ability to continue as a going concern, citing persistent losses and a widening gap between liabilities and assets. Taken together, the case adds to growing scrutiny of India&rsquo;s private aviation sector&mdash;particularly around financial stability, debt obligations, and the enforcement of international contracts.

India

A UK court has ordered India’s SpiceJet to pay nearly $8 million over unpaid engine rent and maintenance charges, intensifying scrutiny of the financially strained airline and raising broader concerns about accountability in India’s aviation sector.


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