Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the tragic attack on a school in Kahramanmaraş, a city in southern Turkiye, according to a Thursday post on X. The message specifically conveyed heartfelt condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of Turkiye, emphasizing the close bond between the two nations. The message mourned the loss of young lives, offering prayers for the departed souls and wishing a swift recovery for those injured in the attack. <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=2044564635186077787&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=c3a94c16a11c093f2e7e49a1d8ec2454a12b1be0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> He reiterated that the nation stands firmly with Turkiye during this difficult time. Highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries, the statement underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering solidarity with the Turkish people, particularly the families grappling with the devastating loss.

Members of education unions chant slogans as they hold a banner which reads "We will not surrender our schools to violence" during a protest against school shootings in front of the Ministry of National Education headquarters in Ankara on April 15, 2026.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan expressed deep condolences and solidarity with Turkiye, including Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following the tragic school attack in Kahramanmaraş.

Pakistan PM mourns victims of deadly school attack in Turkiye's Kahramanmaraş

ISLAMABAD: In a resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a Live Weapon Firing of an indigenously developed Ship-Launched Anti-Ship Missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range, said a press release issued by Pakistan military&#39;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday. Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff of Pakistan, along with leading scientists and engineers, witnessed the missile firing.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DRLofda8xlI" title="Pakistan Navy conducted a Live Weapon Firing of an Ship-Launched Anti-Ship Missile | ISPR" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>The missile integrates a cutting-edge guidance system and advanced maneuverability, enabling it to evade threats, adapt to dynamic conditions, and deliver with precision and lethality.&nbsp; The successful launch of this indigenously developed missile underscores the fusion of technological excellence and operational expertise.&nbsp; This missile firing is a manifestation of Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s commitment to maintaining credible sea-based deterrence in conventional domain and ensuring maritime security and stability in the region. The president, prime minister, Chief of Defense Forces, and Services Chiefs have commended the participating units and scientists on achieving this milestone, the press release said.

Security

The missile integrates a cutting-edge guidance system and advanced maneuverability, enabling it to evade threats, adapt to dynamic conditions, and deliver with precision and lethality, says ISPR. 

Pakistan Navy conducts live firing of indigenous ship-launched anti-ship missile

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings and separate engagements in Washington, according to posts the Ministry of Finance shared on X. The minister&rsquo;s meetings covered global economic issues, Pakistan&rsquo;s reform program, debt and development finance, sovereign credit, bilateral cooperation, privatization, capital markets and investor outreach. US Commerce Secretary Howard LutnickIn a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the discussion focused on advancing trade and broader economic interests between Pakistan and the United States.&nbsp; Both sides discussed avenues to deepen bilateral economic partnership, focusing on enhancing trade, promoting investment flows, and facilitating private-sector engagement.<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=2044554714440782273&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=886b2172d64ae80ba4f3b023633c5cb1ffa39203&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The discussions also covered cooperation in key sectors, including mining, energy, and information technology, with an emphasis on unlocking new opportunities for mutually beneficial economic collaboration. United Nations Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio GuterresMinister Aurangzeb also met with United Nations Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, during which the discussion focused on global economic challenges and international cooperation.&nbsp; The two sides discussed the global economic implications of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly its impact on food and energy security in developing countries.<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=2044602031093280899&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=886b2172d64ae80ba4f3b023633c5cb1ffa39203&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The UN Secretary-General lauded Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating peace and stability in the region and beyond and expressed confidence in its continued constructive engagement on the global stage. IMF Managing Director Kristalina GeorgievaAccording to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Finance, the finance minister also met with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, who commended Pakistan&rsquo;s reform progress and economic stability. She credited strong program implementation with helping maintain macroeconomic stability and build investor confidence, and said sound policies and deeper structural reforms would be important for sustaining growth. Borrowers&rsquo; PlatformAurangzeb also participated in the launch of the Borrowers&rsquo; Platform. He said that the platform addresses a long-standing gap as borrowing countries have lacked a dedicated forum to share experiences, identify emerging risks, and bring coherence to their collective perspectives.&nbsp; He said that the platform is not intended as a negotiating bloc but rather as a voluntary, Member State-led initiative focused on peer learning, experience sharing and amplifying the voices of borrowing countries in global financial discourse. Fitch RatingsMinister Aurangzeb later met with Fitch Ratings, during which discussions covered Pakistan&rsquo;s credit profile and market strategy. The meeting came shortly after Fitch affirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at B- with a Stable Outlook, citing progress on fiscal consolidation and macroeconomic stability measures in line with the IMF program. President, Asian Development Bank, Masato KandaThe minister also met with the president of the Asian Development Bank, Masato Kanda, to discuss bilateral cooperation.<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=2044619726949867882&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=886b2172d64ae80ba4f3b023633c5cb1ffa39203&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>According to Radio Pakistan, the finance minister highlighted the recent signing of the Country Partnership Strategy as an important milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank. He thanked President Kanda for ADB&rsquo;s support in providing credit enhancement for the issuance of Pakistan&rsquo;s inaugural Panda Bond. JP Morgan ChaseAurangzeb also met senior management of JP Morgan in Washington and briefed them on Pakistan&rsquo;s planned inaugural Panda Bond issuance as a green bond, acccording to Radio Pakistan. Radio Pakistan said he also discussed privatization, interest in Reko Diq, EXIM Bank participation and Saudi Arabia-Pakistan digital collaboration through the GO AI Hub initiative. Franklin TempletonThe finance minister also met the senior leadership of investment firm Franklin Templeton. The discussion focused on privatization and capital markets.&nbsp; The minister updated the delegation on the government&rsquo;s ongoing privatization program. He also discussed the outsourcing of airports, including Islamabad, Karachi, and Sialkot, as well as the privatization of electricity distribution companies, according to Radio Pakistan. Citi Macro ForumAurangzeb then addressed the Citi Macro Forum, where he briefed investors on Pakistan&rsquo;s economic strategy.&nbsp; He said that Pakistan has reached a Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF for the third review under the EFF and second review under the RSF, with Executive Board approval expected in early May.&nbsp; The finance minister described the Middle East crisis as one of the most significant supply shocks in recent history, outlining a three-stage government response to address its cascading economic effects and expressing gratitude for Saudi Arabia&#39;s financial support. On the capital markets front, the minister said Pakistan has launched its Global Medium-Term Note program, with RFPs issued for Eurobonds, Islamic Sukuk, and a novel dollar-settled, rupee-linked bond. Additionally, the country&#39;s first-ever Panda Bond issuance is targeted for May, following the signing of counter-indemnity agreements with the ADB and AIIB. Looking ahead, the finance minister stressed the need to build strategic petroleum reserves and accelerate the shift toward renewable energy as key lessons from the current crisis. He also pointed to emerging opportunities, including rising transit activity at Karachi Port and renewed potential for Gwadar to emerge as a major strategic trade corridor.

Economy

Pakistan’s finance minister held a string of important meetings on his official trip to the US, including US Commerce Secretary, UN Secretary General, IMF MD and several others.

Pakistan finance minister holds talks on trade, reform and investment

LAS VEGAS: The first images of late American film star Val Kilmer returning to the big screen courtesy of artificial intelligence were unveiled Wednesday in Las Vegas, in what will likely stir debate over the technology&#39;s role in Hollywood. A youthful, digital version of Kilmer appears in the trailer for &quot;As Deep as the Grave&quot;, telling another character: &quot;Don&#39;t fear the dead and don&#39;t fear me.&quot; The footage premiered at CinemaCon, the annual conference where studios present upcoming releases to movie theater owners. Brothers Coerte and John Voorhees, director and producer of the film, said they hope to release the historical drama by the end of the year. Kilmer, best known for his roles in &quot;Top Gun,&quot; &quot;Batman Forever&quot; and &quot;The Doors,&quot; died of pneumonia in April 2025 at the age of 65. The project drew headlines last month when the filmmakers revealed they had recreated the actor using AI with the consent of his family. The use of artificial intelligence remains one of the most sensitive issues in the entertainment industry and was central to the 2023 strikes that shut down Hollywood, as actors and writers warned that unchecked technology threatened their livelihoods. &quot;As Deep as the Grave&quot; follows pioneering archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris, the latter credited by some with helping inspire the fictional Indiana Jones and originally cast Kilmer before the coronavirus pandemic to play a Catholic priest. Health problems forced Kilmer, who was battling cancer, to step away from the role. But after pandemic delays, the Voorheeses revisited the project as AI technology advanced. They recast Kilmer digitally as Father Fintan, an early Catholic missionary suffering from tuberculosis who, like many at the time, traveled to the US southwest for the dry climate and opened missions in the Four Corners region. &quot;It was a very dark time,&quot; Coerte said, adding that the character was central to the story. The filmmakers said they approached Kilmer&#39;s children, Mercedes and Jack, after concluding the role could still be realized. The family gave its approval and granted access to Kilmer&#39;s video archives, which were used to recreate the actor at multiple stages of his life. Val Kilmer had spoken to his children before his death about his legacy and what he wished he could still accomplish as an actor, the brothers said. &quot;We were so glad they were excited and so supportive of the idea,&quot; Coerte added. &#39;Painstaking&#39; The Voorheeses did not detail the technical process behind their film, but said digitally reviving Kilmer was a &quot;painstaking process.&quot; &quot;Just like any artistic endeavor, you spend a lot of time drafting and redrafting,&quot; John Voorhees said, so the performance feels faithful to how he might have done it. They conceded the project could unsettle some people, but stressed that they followed SAG-AFTRA guidelines, which rest on what the union calls the three Cs: consent, compensation and collaboration. &quot;Following this process, working with the family we can actually demonstrate the right way to do it,&quot; Coerte told AFP. &quot;We believe artists will galvanize around that and take control back, because it&#39;s not in the hands of the artists right now. It&#39;s actually a free-for-all,&quot; he added.

US actress Camila Mendes, British actor Nicholas Galitzine and US director Travis Knight promote the upcoming film "Masters of the Universe" during the Amazon MGM Studios presentation at CinemaCon at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 15, 2026 in La

Artificial Intelligence

A new film, “As Deep as the Grave,” uses AI with family consent to digitally recreate Val Kilmer, reigniting debate over artificial intelligence’s role in Hollywood.

Val Kilmer returns via AI as filmmakers test Hollywood's red line

WASHINGTON: FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will &quot;for sure&quot; participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the Middle East war. &quot;Iran is coming for sure. We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,&quot; Infantino told an economic conference organized by broadcaster CNBC. &quot;But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play,&quot; he said of the team&#39;s upcoming matches scheduled in the United States in June. Infantino had made similar comments in March, when he attended an Iran-Costa Rica friendly in Antalya, Turkey, even though US President Donald Trump had previously suggested that Iranian players might not be &quot;safe&quot; in the United States. Iran is scheduled to play its three Group G matches in the United States, two in Los Angeles, one in Seattle with their base for the tournament in Tucson, Arizona. &#39;Outside of politics&#39; Iran&#39;s participation in the global tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico had been thrown into doubt by the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. Iran raised the prospect of a &quot;boycott&quot; of the competition before asking FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico, a request the world governing body rejected. After several weeks of air strikes on Iran and Iranian reprisals against Israel and other countries in the region, a fragile truce came into effect on April 8. But Tehran has sealed off the strategic Strait of Hormuz and since Monday Washington has imposed a blockade on ships coming from or heading to Iranian ports. &quot;Sports should be outside of politics,&quot; Infantino said on Wednesday. &quot;If there&#39;s nobody else that believes in building bridges and keeping them intact and together, we are doing the job,&quot; he said. The World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, starts on June 11.

Football players take part in a training session of the Bicentini Foundation football school in the Fuik neighborhood, east of Willemstad, in the Dutch Caribbean, on April 11, 2026.

Football

Gianni Infantino says Iran will definitely play in the 2026 World Cup despite ongoing regional tensions, emphasizing that football should remain separate from politics.

Iran participating in World Cup, FIFA president confirms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday said that the country has entered the current period of global uncertainty with strengthened policy buffers, having learned important lessons from past external shocks, including the devastating floods in recent years. While speaking at a meeting on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026 in Washington DC, the finance minister characterized the ongoing Middle East crisis as one of the most significant supply shocks in recent history.&nbsp; According to a statement issued by the finance ministry on X, Aurangzeb outlined the immediate measures undertaken by the government &ldquo;to address its first-order effects, including adjustments in procurement strategies, pricing frameworks, and logistics chains.&rdquo; He underscored the government&rsquo;s commitment to transitioning from broad-based subsidies to well-targeted support mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population. The government was conducting a comprehensive assessment of the second and third-order effects of the crisis across key macroeconomic indicators, including inflation, economic growth, exports, remittances, and the current account, the finance minister said.&nbsp; While reaffirming the government&rsquo;s commitment to the &nbsp;structural reform agenda, Minister Aurangzeb emphasized that &quot;any necessary policy recalibration would be undertaken in a responsible manner, without compromising the hard-won gains in macroeconomic stability.&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s emergence as constructive force in global affairsSeparately, while addressing the Atlantic Council on Pakistan&rsquo;s Reform and Resilience Agenda, the finance minister underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s emergence as a constructive force in global affairs, including its role in brokering a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He reaffirmed that the country had achieved meaningful macroeconomic stabilization, underpinned by the ongoing program with the International Monetary Fund, and supported by strong performance across both fiscal and external accounts While talking about Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s commitment of an additional $3 billion in deposits to Pakistan, the minister noted that the meeting with the Saudi government had yielded positive outcomes, including agreement on extended maturities and additional financial support to help offset repayment pressures.

Finance Minister Aurangzeb says ongoing Middle East crisis one of the most significant supply shocks in recent history; outlines offset measures undertaken by the government, including adjustments in procurement strategies, pricing frameworks, and logistics chains.

Pakistan's policy buffers strengthened ahead of global uncertainty: Finance minister

Web Desk/AFP

Middle East

Americas

Iran’s state news agency reports that they will conduct a formal evaluation to determine whether it will participate in the next round of negotiations with US after a scheduled high-level meeting between Iranian officials, Pakistani delegation; Amnesty International’s says Israel continues to "defy international law” through a series of systematic violations across the region; calls for immediate end to military cooperation with Israel.



LIVE: Iran weighs US talks after Pakistan mediation amid rising Hormuz tensions

A 14-year-old armed with five guns opened fire at a Turkish school on Wednesday, killing nine people, wounding 13, and sparking scenes of mayhem as students jumped out of windows to escape. The attack in the southern province of Kahramanmaras was Turkiye&#39;s second such incident in as many days, shocking a country where school shootings are a rare occurrence. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed nine deaths, with 13 wounded &mdash; six in intensive care, three of them in a critical condition. The minister described the attacker as an &quot;eighth-grade student aged 14.&quot; &quot;A student came to school with guns that we believe belonged to his father in his backpack. He entered two classrooms and opened fire randomly, causing injuries and deaths,&quot; Kahramanmaras province governor Mukerrem Unluer told reporters earlier in the day. Dramatic video footage filmed by a resident of a nearby building and verified by AFP shows students jumping from a first-floor window of the school to escape the gunfire, while dozens of others flee through the courtyard. About 15 gunshots can be heard in the one-and-a-half-minute video. Unluer said the attacker was the son of a former police officer, armed with five guns and seven magazines. He died during the incident. &quot;He shot himself. It is not yet clear whether this was suicide or happened amid the chaos,&quot; he said. Police detained the shooter&#39;s father, Ugur Mersinli, and his mother, the official Anadolu news agency reported. Footage released by DHA private news agency showed a victim in a body bag, as well as parents of students rushing to the scene, some in tears, in the southern province&#39;s main city, Kahramanmaras. The interior and education ministers travelled to the city, while Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said prosecutors had launched an immediate investigation into the shooting. &#39;I am worried&#39;&nbsp;&quot;My child witnessed the scene and said, &#39;Dad, my friend got hurt.&#39; He didn&#39;t see the other children. There was a lot of blood inside. Thank God, I managed to get my child out of there,&quot; Omer Erdag, a parent, told AFP. &quot;Of course, I&#39;m worried. How am I going to bring my kids to this school again?&quot; he asked. &quot;My God help us. It&#39;s terrible,&quot; local resident Zuleyha Bosca said. &quot;Do these violent video games cause psychological problems in children? What exactly is the issue? We don&#39;t know.&quot; Dozens of teachers&#39; unions members rallied outside the education ministry in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, carrying banners that read: &quot;We will not surrender our schools to violence&quot;. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: &quot;In this tragic attack, we unfortunately lost our bright young children and a devoted educator&quot;. He said the incident would be &quot;thoroughly clarified in all its aspects,&quot; in a message on X, while warning that the pain from this attack should &quot;not be politicized.&quot; &#39;Vulnerability&#39;&nbsp;The shooting came a day after an ex-student opened fire with a shotgun at his former high school in Siverek district of Sanliurfa province, in the southeast of the country. That gunman wounded 16 people before killing himself in a showdown with police. Ten students were among the casualties. Police detained one suspect after Tuesday&#39;s attack and suspended four officials from duty. The school was ordered closed for four days. Main opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called for broader security measures. &quot;At this point, it is clearly evident that violence in schools can no longer be explained by isolated incidents,&quot; he wrote on X. &quot;This issue has turned into a growing and deepening security vulnerability,&quot; he said. Measures such as ensuring full control at school entrances and exits, increasing the number of security personnel, strengthening camera systems, intensifying police patrols around schools, and keeping emergency crisis plans ready are now essential, he added. &quot;The security of schools is entrusted to our state. No negligence or deficiency in this regard can be excused anymore,&quot; Ozel said. School shootings in Turkiye had been rare until this week. In May 2024, a former student killed a private high school principal in Istanbul with a firearm five months after he was expelled. Turkiye&nbsp;has strict gun laws that require licensing, registration, mental and criminal background checks, and severe penalties for illegal possession.

Europe

The attack in the southern province of Kahramanmaras province was Turkiye's second such incident in as many days, shocking a country where school shootings are a rare occurrence.

Teenager kills nine, wounds 13 in Turkiye school shooting

ISLAMABAD: The United States is considering a second round of negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, with the White House expressing optimism about a potential agreement and praising Islamabad&rsquo;s central role in mediating the process.&nbsp;White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said discussions were ongoing about further engagement, noting that talks &ldquo;would very likely be in the same place as they were last time,&rdquo; referring to Islamabad.&nbsp;&ldquo;Those discussions are being had&hellip; and we feel good about the prospects of a deal,&rdquo; she told reporters.&nbsp;The remarks come after an initial round of more than 20 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts following a fragile two-week ceasefire that paused weeks of conflict. While US Vice President JD Vance said no agreement was reached, both Washington and Tehran signaled that diplomacy would continue, with Iranian officials stressing that progress depends on &ldquo;seriousness and good faith.&rdquo;&nbsp;Leavitt underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s role as the sole channel for mediation, describing Islamabad as &ldquo;the only mediator in this negotiation.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators throughout this process&hellip; and we really appreciate their friendship and their efforts to bring this deal to a close,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;She added that while discussions remain ongoing, no formal request has been made to extend the ceasefire, emphasizing that negotiations are still in progress.

White House says a second round of US-Iran talks is being discussed in Islamabad, expressing optimism about a deal and praising Pakistan’s mediation, as diplomacy continues following initial negotiations held after a fragile ceasefire.

US eyes second Iran talks in Islamabad, praises Pakistan mediation

ISLAMABAD: Pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Lebanon intensified on Tuesday, as Italy suspended defense ties, Spain issued a blunt legal rebuke, and China called for respect for Lebanese sovereignty. In Rome, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the suspension of a long-standing defense cooperation agreement with Israel. The pact, in place since 2006, covers military training, industrial cooperation, &nbsp;and technology sharing. According to AFP, Italian officials said the move followed reports that Israeli forces fired warning shots at a United Nations peacekeeping convoy in southern Lebanon that included Italian personnel, an incident that drew strong backlash in Italy, a key contributor to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). &ldquo;In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,&rdquo; Meloni said on the sidelines of an event in Verona, according to Italian news agencies ANSA and AGI. In Beijing, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S&aacute;nchez delivered a sharp condemnation, accusing Israel of violating international law and describing its conduct as &ldquo;intolerable,&rdquo; AFP reported. Speaking during an official visit, S&aacute;nchez said the war had been a &ldquo;mistake&rdquo; from the outset and called for the European Union to suspend its cooperation framework with Israel. He also urged accountability, warning that there should be &ldquo;no impunity&rdquo; for what he described as criminal acts, and said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire arrangement. Separately, Iran&rsquo;s President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X that &ldquo;the essence of civilizations reveals itself at critical historical junctures,&rdquo; adding that positions taken by countries including Spain, China, Russia, T&uuml;rkiye, Italy, and Egypt against what he described as &ldquo;warmongering and crimes&rdquo; reflect their deep cultural and historical roots.<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=2044063688584507580&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=3362cbd2995e2849f5202d296d2c5f703c1a9990&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> China&rsquo;s response included Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying Lebanon&rsquo;s sovereignty &ldquo;should not be violated&rdquo; and stressed the need to protect civilian lives, urging all parties to de-escalate. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to the remarks.

A photograph taken from the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon shows Israeli soldiers driving along a road running beside destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon on April 15, 2026. (AFP)

Asia

Italy suspends defense ties, Spain condemns Israel, and China urges restraint as global pressure mounts over Lebanon strikes. Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian also criticizes Israel, highlighting the widening international backlash.

Pakistan PM mourns victims of deadly school attack in Turkiye's Kahramanmaraş

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