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ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appreciated Pakistan for the constructive role and sincere mediation efforts between the parties, said a post shared on X on Monday by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pakistan&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar&nbsp;held a telephonic conversation late last night with the foreign minister of Iran, the post said. &quot;Discussion focused on regional situation and Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the region,&quot; it added.<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" 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=2051164280935104829&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=74e9f1122b82f56e274fc6cf1ec014f512067bbe&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2051164280935104829"></iframe></div></div>Araghchi appreciated Islamabad&#39;s constructive role and sincere mediation efforts between the parties, it added. Pakistan&#39;s foreign minister reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement and underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's foreign minister reaffirms Islamabad’s continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement and underscores that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues.

Pakistan, Iran FMs discuss ongoing efforts for regional peace: FO

YEREVAN: Europeans have &quot;heard&quot; US President Donald Trump&#39;s message of frustration over the Iran war and are &quot;stepping up&quot;, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday after Washington announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. &quot;European leaders have gotten the message. They heard the message loud and clear,&quot; Rutte said before talks with European leaders in Armenia, acknowledging &quot;disappointment on the US side&quot; faced with European allies&#39; resistance to joining the war. &quot;Europeans are stepping up, a bigger role for Europe and a stronger NATO,&quot; Rutte insisted ahead of a European Political Community meeting dominated by the twin security threats posed by the Ukraine and Middle East wars. &quot;We have seen all these countries now participating with their bilateral agreements making sure that when it comes to basing requests and all the logistical support,&quot; Rutte said. The Pentagon troop move comes with transatlantic ties badly strained over the Middle East war although German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Sunday there was &quot;no connection&quot; with his recent spat with Trump over the conflict. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas called the announcement&#39;s &quot;timing&quot; a &quot;surprise&quot;. &quot;There has been a talk about withdrawal US troops for a long time from Europe,&quot; she told reporters in Yerevan. &quot;But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise.&quot; &quot;I think it shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO, and we have to really do more,&quot; Kallas said, while stressing that &quot;American troops are not in Europe only for protecting European interests, but also American interests.&quot; Europe has been ramping up its defense spending in the face of fears over Trump&#39;s commitment to NATO and Russia&#39;s assault on Ukraine a push underscored by several leaders in the Armenian capital. &quot;Europeans are taking their destiny into their own hands, increasing their defense and security spending, and building their own common solutions,&quot; French President Emmanuel Macron said. &quot;We have to step up our military capabilities to be able to defend and protect ourselves,&quot; EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrives to attend the 8th European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Americas

European and NATO leaders said they are “stepping up” defence efforts and strengthening NATO’s European pillar after the US announced troop withdrawals from Germany amid tensions over the Iran conflict.

NATO chief says Europeans have 'gotten message' from Trump on defense

ISLAMABAD: The Grand Mufti of Palestine, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, on Monday said the people of Palestine would never forget Pakistan&rsquo;s steadfast support, describing the bond between the two nations as strong and enduring.&nbsp;He made the remarks upon arrival in Islamabad, where he is visiting to attend a major international religious conference. He was accompanied by Dr Mahmoud Al-Habash, the Qazi-ul-Quza (Chief Justice of Sharia Courts), Radio Pakistan reported.&nbsp;The visiting delegation was received at Islamabad International Airport by Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan.&nbsp;According to officials, the delegation will participate in the 6th International Paigham-e-Islam Conference, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Wednesday.&nbsp;Speaking to the media, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein termed the relationship between Pakistan and Palestine &ldquo;everlasting,&rdquo; reaffirming the deep-rooted ties shared by the two peoples.&nbsp;Officials said the visit reflects ongoing religious and diplomatic engagement between the two countries and underscores their shared positions on key issues concerning the Muslim world.

Grand Mufti of Palestine Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein and Qazi ul Quza Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habash have arrived in Pakistan to participate in the 6th International Paigham-e-Islam Conference. (File Photo: Radio Pakistan)

Palestinian religious leaders visiting Pakistan praised the strong, lasting bond between the two countries and are attending an international Islamic conference in Islamabad.

Our people will never forget Pakistan's support, says Palestinian Grand Mufti

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has facilitated the transfer of 22 Iranian crew members from a seized container vessel as part of a confidence-building measure by the United States, the Foreign Office said on Monday.&nbsp;According to FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, the crew members, who were aboard the Iranian container ship &ldquo;MV Touska,&rdquo; were flown to Pakistan overnight and will be handed over to Iranian authorities later today.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 441px; 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=2051190284474839056&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=12d4a92b77cf199e9bb19a00242a62b6f6ccbdf2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The statement added that the vessel will also be brought back into Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial waters for necessary repairs before being returned to its original owners.&nbsp;The transfer and return process is being coordinated with the support of both the United States and Iran. &quot;Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security,&quot; the spokesperson said. He reiterated Pakistan&#39;s commitment to facilitating dialogue and diplomacy, emphasizing its ongoing efforts to promote regional peace and security.

Distant view of Iranian-flagged cargo vessel MV Touska in the Arabian Sea. (Photo: CENTCOM/File)

FO spokesperson says the ship is to be backloaded to Pakistan for necessary repairs before being returned to its original owners.

Islamabad says 22 crew members of Iranian ship seized by US evacuated to Pakistan

PARIS: Methane emissions from the energy sector remained at near record levels in 2025, the International Energy Agency said in a report on Monday. Tackling the emissions could make billions of cubic meters of gas available to international markets, a top priority as the war in the Middle East squeezes energy supplies, the report said. &quot;With methane emissions from energy sector near record highs, tried-and-tested abatement measures could make 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas available annually,&quot; said The Global Methane Tracker 2026 report. &quot;If select countries with spare existing gas export capacity and importing countries were to implement readily accessible methane abatement measures across their gas systems, nearly 15 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas could very quickly be made available to markets,&quot; it said. Over the longer term such measures &quot;could deliver nearly 100 bcm of gas to markets each year, while eliminating non-emergency gas flaring could unlock a further 100 bcm,&quot; it said. The report, based on data from satellites and measurement campaigns, presents emissions findings for 2025 and explores various abatement measures and associated costs.

Gas prices above $6 per gallon are displayed at s Chevron station in Monterey Park, California, on April 30, 2026.

Climate

International Energy Agency says near-record Methane emissions in 2025 could be reduced to unlock significant natural gas supplies for global markets.

Energy sector methane emissions linger near record highs: IEA

KOLKATA: Vote counting in key Indian state elections was underway Monday under tight security, with the focus on West Bengal, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s party is hoping for crucial gains. Elections in five states and territories took place in April and May, and Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling party in the national parliament, is hoping to make inroads into opposition-held states. In West Bengal, the Hindu-nationalist BJP waged an aggressive bid to dislodge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), in power in the state of 100 million people since 2011. Exit polls last week predicted the BJP has a slight edge over TMC, although exit polls have a patchy record in India. &quot;The entire country has its eyes on this state&#39;s election results,&quot; political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty told AFP, in the main city Kolkata. &quot;The contest can tilt the balance of power.&quot; The campaign this time was marked by protests over the removal of millions of names from voter rolls, billed as removing ineligible voters, but which critics said was skewed against marginalised and minority communities. Banerjee, speaking ahead of the count, insisted her TMC would win. &quot;The BJP is not coming, take my word for it,&quot; she said. &quot;Be patient till the last.&quot; But West Bengal&#39;s BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya told AFP he was confident of a win. &quot;It was an election of rejection,&quot; he said. &quot;People of the state want change. The ruling Trinamool Congress will be defeated.&quot; Past elections have resulted in violence in the state. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a key industrial hub with more than 80 million people, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) under Chief Minister MK Stalin is widely expected to be re-elected. Votes are also being counted in Assam, an eastern state of more than 31 million which the BJP is widely expected to maintain control of, and the small coastal territory of Puducherry, where the BJP is part of a ruling coalition. In Kerala, the tightly contested race in the southern state of approximately 36 million, exit polls suggest the Congress party-led alliance is tipped to oust the Communist party. Wins in the state elections would put Modi on a stronger footing while battling a series of economic and foreign policy challenges, including high unemployment rate and a pending US trade deal.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stands guard as election officials count votes after the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on May 4, 2026.

India

Narendra Modi’s BJP seeks key gains in major Indian state elections especially in West Bengal as vote counting unfolds amid tight security and high political stakes.

India's Modi faces key test as vote count underway

ISLAMABAD: Former chief minister of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and President of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, has accused the BJP-led Indian government and the National Conference administration of attempting to erode the identity of the region by targeting Islamic institutions and cultural markers.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters after a workers&rsquo; convention in Ganderbal, she said the authorities were systematically shutting down religious seminaries.&nbsp;According to her, institutions such as Madinatul Uloom, where Arabic and Islamic studies were taught, had already been closed, while similar action was now being taken against Sirajul Uloom, which provided both religious and modern education.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is an attack on our identity,&rdquo; Mufti said, alleging that both New Delhi and the Srinagar-based government were pursuing a specific agenda aimed at weakening the region&rsquo;s distinct character.&nbsp;She also criticized recent changes in recruitment rules, claiming that the removal of Urdu as a mandatory requirement for jobs in the revenue department was part of a broader attempt to dilute the region&rsquo;s cultural identity.&nbsp;Responding to remarks by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who denied any such change, Mufti insisted that earlier regulations required Urdu proficiency, while a 2026 order only mandates a graduate degree without mentioning the language.&nbsp;&ldquo;The head of the government is lying,&rdquo; she said, adding that documentary evidence exists to support her claim.&nbsp;Mufti further expressed concern over employment opportunities, stating that locals were being sidelined in key sectors. She alleged that mining contracts, once a source of livelihood for residents, were now being awarded to outsiders.&nbsp;&ldquo;With limited job opportunities, people are struggling. Many are forced to sell valuables to secure employment,&rdquo; she said, accusing the National Conference government of enabling such practices.

India’s Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti. (File Photo: X via @MehboobaMufti)

Also criticizes recent changes in recruitment rules, claiming that the removal of Urdu as a mandatory requirement for jobs in the revenue department was part of a broader attempt to dilute the region’s cultural identity.

BJP targeting Islamic institutions to erase IIOJK identity, says former CM

ISLAMABAD: At least four journalists and media workers are currently being held in Taliban prisons in Afghanistan, a United Nations expert said Sunday, calling for their immediate release. According to Hasht e Subh Daily, Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council&rsquo;s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, said the detentions highlight ongoing concerns about press freedom under Taliban rule. &ldquo;I call for their release as well as the release of all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained in Afghanistan,&rdquo; Bennett said in a statement. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Bennett said there is no better time to free detained journalists, stressing the importance of an independent media in the country. His remarks come amid growing concerns about the conditions facing Afghan journalists. Earlier, Richard Lindsay the United Kingdom Special Representative for Afghanistan, said reporters in Afghanistan continue to work under increasingly difficult circumstances. Bennett also noted that Afghan media outlets are struggling with financial challenges and declining international support, in addition to operating under strict political and security restrictions. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping limitations on the media, drawing widespread criticism from rights groups and international observers.

Richard Bennett, speaks at a special event on human rights at the United Nations.

Afghanistan

Richard Bennett urges Taliban to free at least four detained journalists, citing worsening press freedom conditions in Afghanistan. 

Richard Bennett says 4 journalists held by Taliban

CANBERRA, Australia: A global oil supply squeeze is inflicting an &quot;enormous impact&quot; on the Asia-Pacific region, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday. Speaking in Canberra after talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, she said the two countries would respond urgently to secure stable energy supplies. Roughly one-fifth of the world&#39;s oil normally flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been throttled. Eighty percent of that oil is destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency. &quot;The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has been inflicting enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific,&quot; the Japanese leader told journalists. &quot;We affirmed that Japan and Australia will closely communicate with each other in responding with a sense of urgency.&quot; The two countries aim to strengthen autonomy and resilience to secure stable supplies of energy, Takaichi said. Australia is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas to Japan, which in turn is a source for about seven percent of Australia&#39;s diesel.&nbsp;&#39;Global shocks&#39;&nbsp;The two countries issued a string of statements vowing to work together on energy, the economy, defense, and critical minerals. &quot;These agreements are to the benefit of both of our people,&quot; Albanese said. &quot;For Australians, it will mean we are less vulnerable to global shocks like we are seeing right now because of conflict in the Middle East.&quot; Japan&#39;s government has said it is also keen to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals, essential for semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and weapons systems. Australia has touted its abundant critical minerals as a way to loosen China&#39;s grip over global supplies of rare earths. Australia and Japan have strengthened their defense ties, too, striking a Aus$10 billion (US$6 billion) deal last year for Japan to provide Mogami-class stealth warships to the Australian navy.

Business

Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been throttled; 80% of that oil is destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency.

Japan PM says oil crisis has 'enormous impact' in Asia-Pacific

YEREVAN: European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gather in Armenia on Monday as they seek to navigate a fraught geopolitical environment under an unpredictable White House. US President Donald Trump will loom large over the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC). It takes place in Yerevan, a crossroads between Russia and the Middle East &mdash; the two main issues on the agenda. &quot;Leaders from across the continent, with Canada as a guest, will discuss how to cooperate to strengthen security and collective resilience,&quot; European Council President Antonio Costa wrote on social media as he arrived in the Armenian capital Sunday. The Iran war, which has rattled the global economy by sending energy prices soaring, has deepened a rift in transatlantic ties. Following a spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had criticized Washington&#39;s handling of the conflict, the United States announced it would withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany. That has added to the doubts surrounding the US commitment to defend its European allies as Russian President Vladimir Putin&#39;s war in Ukraine grinds into a fifth year. Ukraine&#39;s President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO chief Mark Rutte will be present in Yerevan, while Merz will be represented by France&#39;s Emmanuel Macron. They will be joined by Canada&#39;s Carney &mdash; the first-ever non-European leader to join the EPC talks, in a sign of the ever-closer ties between Ottawa and Europe, ushered in by Trump. The summit, &quot;in a nutshell, will be an opportunity to emphasize that Europe&#39;s security is a 360-degree challenge,&quot; said a senior EU official. Like Europe, Canada&#39;s economy has been hurt by Trump&#39;s tariffs &mdash; but Carney has remained defiant, emerging as something of a figurehead for countries looking to stand up to the Republican president. In a stirring speech earlier this year, he urged middle powers to join forces in the face of a new global reality defined by great power competition and a &quot;fading&quot; rules‑based order. &quot;The EPC was initially perceived as an anti-Putin club,&quot; said Sebastien Maillard, a special adviser at the Jacques Delors Institute, a think tank. &quot;With the invitation to Canada, this initiative &mdash; which was initially driven by geography &mdash; is now taking on an anti-Trump slant.&quot; Moving to diversify away from its southern neighbor, Ottawa has joined the EU&#39;s defense financing scheme &mdash; the first non-European country to do so &mdash; and sought to increase cooperation on trade. &quot;Canada has a way of looking at the world and looking at ways to solve the challenges we have currently that Europe shares to a great extent,&quot; said the EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity. &#39;Reorientation&#39;&nbsp;A biannual political forum, the EPC was established on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine. It brings together the members of the European Union and, this time, 21 other countries, from Albania to Britain. EPC summits do not normally produce concrete decisions but offer the opportunity for leaders to exchange in groups and bilaterally. Most leaders arrived in the Armenian capital for an informal dinner on Sunday. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was expected to join the meeting on Monday, Madrid said, after a technical problem with his plane forced him to make an emergency landing in Turkey and spend the night in Ankara. The Yerevan gathering is the first of its kind in the Caucasus and comes as Armenia fosters closer ties with Europe while seeking to cautiously loosen itself from Russia&#39;s grasp. It will be followed on Tuesday by an EU-Armenia summit with the bloc&#39;s chief officials, Costa and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who described it as a &quot;major milestone&quot; in the country&#39;s rapprochement with Europe. Relations between Yerevan and its traditional ally Moscow have become strained in recent years, in part because Russian peacekeepers failed to intervene during military conflicts with neighboring Azerbaijan. Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has formally pursued a strategy of what he calls &quot;diversification,&quot; in which the landlocked country pursues ties with both Russia and the West. Costa says the bloc looks forward to &quot;deepening this relationship&quot; with the country of three million, which signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the EU in 2017 and last year declared its intention to apply for membership. In April, the EU established a mission to help the former Soviet nation tackle foreign interference, with Russia suspected of a disinformation push ahead of the June elections. Putin has declared himself &quot;completely calm&quot; about Armenia&#39;s overtures to Europe &mdash; while also warning that belonging to both the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union was &quot;simply impossible.&quot;

Europe

US President Donald Trump will loom large over the meeting of the European Political Community; The Iran war, which has rattled the global economy by sending energy prices soaring, has deepened a rift in transatlantic ties.

Pakistan, Iran FMs discuss ongoing efforts for regional peace: FO

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