Reuters/AP

JERUSALEM/GAZA:&nbsp;The Hamas-run Prisoners Office said&nbsp;on Monday that&nbsp;buses carrying the freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in the Gaza Strip. Israel freed more than 1,900 prisoners and detainees after Hamas freed all remaining living hostages held in Gaza under the two sides&rsquo; ceasefire deal. The buses arrived in Ramallah after leaving Ofer prison, in the Israel-occupied West Bank, said the Prisoners Office. At least one bus also crossed into the Gaza Strip, it said. Earlier, Hamas handed over 20 surviving Israeli hostages to the Red Cross as part of US President Donald Trump&#39;s ceasefire deal. News agencies quoting Israel&rsquo;s public broadcaster reported Hamas had handed over all 20 surviving Israeli hostages to Red Cross representatives. Earlier, President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to celebrate the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, an agreement that he declares has effectively ended the war and opened the door to building a durable peace in the Middle East. The moment, however, remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing the first phase of the plan, which includes the release of Israeli hostages that have been held since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants. With families overjoyed at the impending reunions and Palestinians eager for a surge of humanitarian assistance, Trump thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors. &ldquo;The war is over, OK?&rdquo; Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One while on his way from Washington DC to Israel. &ldquo;I think people are tired of it,&rdquo; he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that. While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a key step toward ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and Hamas. As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and increasing isolation for Israel, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire. With the hostages&rsquo; release, the sense of urgency around the war for many Israelis will be effectively over. While Israel considers the prisoners to be terrorists, Palestinians view them as freedom fighters against Israeli occupation. Israel has warned Palestinians in the West Bank against celebrating after people are released, according to a prisoner&rsquo;s family and a Palestinian official familiar with the plans. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retribution. Trump in Israel, Egypt&nbsp;Trump is first visiting Israel, where a White House schedule said he would meet with families of the hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel&rsquo;s parliament. Vice President JD Vance said Trump was likely to meet with newly freed hostages. &ldquo;The war is over,&rdquo; Trump asserted to reporters as he departed, adding he thought the ceasefire would hold. Trump will continue to Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi&#39;s office said he will co-chair a &ldquo;peace summit&rdquo; on Monday with regional and international leaders. Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, will attend, a judge and adviser to Abbas, Mahmoud al-Habbash, told The Associated Press. Netanyahu has rejected any role in postwar Gaza for Abbas, though the US plan leaves the possibility open if the Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007. Other key questions in the ceasefire deal remain unresolved, including the future governance of Gaza and the funding for a billion-dollar reconstruction process. Israel wants to ensure that the weakened Hamas disarms, and Netanyahu has warned that Israel could do it &ldquo;the hard way.&rdquo; Hamas refuses to disarm and wants to ensure Israel pulls its troops completely out of Gaza. The Israeli military has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis, and other areas. Troops remain in most of the southern city of Rafah, towns of Gaza&rsquo;s far north, and the wide strip along Gaza&rsquo;s border with Israel. Under the US plan, an international body will govern Gaza, overseeing Palestinian technocrats running day-to-day affairs. Hamas has said that Gaza&rsquo;s government should be worked out among Palestinians. The plan calls for an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, along with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It said Israeli forces would leave areas as those forces deploy. About 200 US troops are now in Israel to monitor the ceasefire. The plan also mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state, another nonstarter for Netanyahu.

Middle East

Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners arrive in Ramallah and Gaza; Hamas hands over hostages to the Red Cross; Trump to address Israeli parliament; later, attend the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt, which aims to strengthen peace in Gaza after two years of devastation by Israel.

All surviving Israeli hostages, 1,900 Palestinian prisoners released

MELBOURNE: Australia has signed a new defence agreement with Papua New Guinea, its first in more than 70 years, as Canberra seeks to block China from expanding its security presence in the Pacific. Under the Pukpuk defence treaty, which is the first signed by Papua New Guinea, Australia, and its northern neighbour, they are obliged to come to each other&rsquo;s aid if attacked. &quot;This is a historic agreement,&quot; Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the press in Canberra. &ldquo;By continuing to build our security relationships in the region, we safeguard our own security.&rdquo; The treaty allows as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force, under dual arrangements. Australia was Papua New Guinea&#39;s colonial master until the developing island nation became independent in 1975. Australia, with its population of 28 million, and Papua New Guinea, with an estimated population of roughly 10 million, are the most populous nations in the South Pacific. The United States and Australia have both strengthened their military ties with Papua New Guinea in recent years, which is viewed as a strategically important partner in countering China&rsquo;s growing influence in the Pacific. Albanese said both nations have agreed &quot;not to undertake any activities or enter into any agreements that would compromise the implementation of this Treaty.&quot; &quot;This Treaty was not conceived out of geopolitics or any other reason. But out of geography, history, and the enduring reality of our shared neighbourhood,&quot; Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told the press. The Papua New Guinea cabinet approved the Pukpuk treaty, which translates to &quot;crocodile,&quot; last week. &quot;We still retain our relationship with China and other nations,&quot; Marape added.

 Anthony Albanese, left, and James Marape

Australasia

Australia and Papua New Guinea signed the historic Pukpuk defence treaty, pledging mutual defence support and closer military cooperation, allowing 10,000 PNG troops to serve with Australia, while reaffirming Papua New Guinea’s ties with China.

Australia, Papua New Guinea sign historic defence treaty

COPENHAGEN: European leaders meeting in Copenhagen warned that Russia is escalating a hybrid war across the continent and moved to bolster air defenses, including a proposed &ldquo;drone wall,&rdquo; while weighing a loan for Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets. Europe &ldquo;is in the middle of a hybrid war waged by Russia,&rdquo; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said as she hosted the summit. &ldquo;I hope that everybody recognizes now that there is a hybrid war and one day it&rsquo;s Poland, the other day it&rsquo;s Denmark, and next week it will probably be somewhere else that we see sabotage or we see drones flying,&rdquo; AP reported. &nbsp; Drone incursions prompt defense pushThe meeting followed a string of drone incidents at Danish airports and military sites. A special radar system was set up at Copenhagen airport after unidentified drones forced a closure last week. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom sent aircraft, ships, and air defenses to Denmark. At the same time, Ukraine dispatched a mission to share expertise on combating drones, according to the AP.&nbsp; Reuters reported Frederiksen calling for a European network of anti-drone measures to &ldquo;protect and, of course, also neutralize intrusion from outside.&rdquo; He went on to add, &ldquo;Europe must be able to defend itself.&rdquo; EU considers frozen assets planLeaders discussed preparing Europe to deter Russian aggression by 2030 amid concerns about the United States&rsquo; focus elsewhere. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering by video as leaders considered ways to sustain military and financial support.&nbsp; A European Commission proposal for a &ldquo;reparation loan&rdquo; to Ukraine, backed by frozen Russian assets, was a central topic. &ldquo;We are not confiscating the assets, but we are taking the cash balances for a loan to Ukraine,&rdquo; Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.&nbsp; Rising security concernsRecent airspace incidents sharpened urgency. Several Russian drones breached Poland&rsquo;s airspace on Sept. 10, prompting North Atlantic Treaty Organization aircraft to intercept some devices in what officials described as the first direct encounter with Moscow&rsquo;s hardware since 2022. Days later, NATO jets escorted three Russian warplanes out of Estonia&rsquo;s airspace.&nbsp; Call to rearmAP reported Frederiksen urged Europe to &ldquo;rearm,&rdquo; buy capabilities, and innovate on drones. &ldquo;When I look at Europe today, I think we are in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the end of the Second World War,&rdquo; she said.

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's President Emmanuel Macron prior to an informal summit in the Danish parliament at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.

Europe

European leaders meeting in Copenhagen warned that Russia is escalating a hybrid war across the continent and moved to bolster air defenses, including a proposed “drone wall,” while weighing a loan for Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets.

EU leaders in Denmark call for drone defense, Ukraine funding

MADRID/ROME: Spain&#39;s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced on Wednesday that he will send a military warship to protect the Sumud flotilla to Gaza after it was attacked by drones off Greece.His announcement follows Italy&rsquo;s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto&#39;s statement, who told parliament that Rome would send its second navy ship to escort the aid flotilla, according to Reuters.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S&aacute;nchez said in New York, where he has been attending the UN General Assembly, that Spain would dispatch a naval vessel from Cartagena &ldquo;with all necessary resources in case it was necessary to assist the flotilla and carry out a rescue operation,&rdquo; Reuters reported.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; 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font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">S&aacute;nchez stressed that &ldquo;international law must be respected&rdquo; and that Spanish citizens had the right to sail safely through the Mediterranean.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Italy&rsquo;s sending rescue reinforcements&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Italy&rsquo;s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Rome had activated the navy frigate&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fasan<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which was heading to the area from north of Crete &ldquo;for possible rescue operations.&rdquo;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He added: &ldquo;In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must also be protected when they are carried out in accordance with international law and without resorting to violence,&rdquo; AP reported.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Italy&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry meanwhile reported its computer systems were hit by a &ldquo;mail bombing&rdquo; campaign after the flotilla urged supporters to pressure Rome into condemning the attack, saying the flood of emails hindered its crisis unit&rsquo;s work. Italian officials said 58 citizens, including lawmakers, were aboard the flotilla, AP reported.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The European Commission said freedom of navigation under international law &ldquo;must be upheld,&rdquo; while the UN Human Rights Office called for an investigation.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thunberg on the move&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Global Sumud Flotilla, involving about 50 civilian boats carrying lawyers, activists, and aid &mdash; including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg &mdash; is seeking to break Israel&rsquo;s naval blockade of Gaza.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A spokesperson for March to Gaza Greece told Reuters the vessels were attacked by 12 drones in international waters 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the Greek island of Gavdos.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thunberg told Reuters earlier that drones had flown over them nightly: &ldquo;This mission is about Gaza, it isn&rsquo;t about us. And no risks that we could take could even come close to the risks the Palestinians are facing every day.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attacks on Flotilla&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The flotilla has reported several attacks since it set sail from Spain on Sept. 1, including two while some of its boats were in Tunisian waters.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Activists have launched several flotillas aimed at breaking the blockade over the years, nearly all of them intercepted by Israel. Another vessel said it was attacked by drones in May in international waters off Malta. An overland convoy traveling across North Africa also attempted to reach the border but was blocked by security forces aligned with Egypt in eastern Libya.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara, a boat participating in an aid flotilla attempting to breach the maritime blockade of Gaza, killing 10 Turkish activists in clashes on board.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Israel has criticized the flotilla as tacitly supportive of Hamas but did not comment on the drone attack on Tuesday as reported by Reuters.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the war in Gaza began, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities, with famine, mass displacement, and destruction continuing.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrives for a press conference in New York

Spain and Italy will each deploy naval vessels to assist an international flotilla delivering aid to Gaza after it was attacked by drones off Greece.

Spain to send warship to protect Gaza aid flotilla

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 25% tariff on any country trading with Iran, ramping up pressure on Tehran over its violent crackdown on a wave of protests. &quot;Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive,&quot; Trump said on Truth Social. Iran&#39;s main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, according to the economic database Trading Economics. The tariffs announcement comes as Trump mulls possible military action against Iran over the protests. Rights groups have reported a growing death toll. &quot;Air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table,&quot; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier Monday. But she said Iran also had a diplomatic channel open to Trump&#39;s special envoy Steve Witkoff, adding that Iran was taking a &quot;far different tone&quot; in private than it was in its public statements.

Americas

Iran's main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq; tariffs announcement comes as Trump mulls possible military action against Iran over the protests.

Trump announces tariffs on countries doing business with Iran

BEIRUT: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said an Israeli tank fired near its peacekeepers on Monday, and warned that such attacks were becoming &quot;disturbingly common.&quot; UNIFIL has repeatedly reported Israeli fire near or towards its personnel in recent months, and less than two weeks ago, said gunfire from an Israeli position hit close to peacekeepers twice. &quot;UNIFIL peacekeepers observed two Merkava tanks move&quot; from an Israeli army position inside Lebanese territory &quot;further into Lebanon&quot; on Monday, the force said in a statement. UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades, and recently has been working with Lebanon&#39;s army to support a year-old ceasefire between Israel and fighter group Hezbollah. Under the November 2024 truce, Israel was to withdraw its forces from south Lebanon, but it has kept them in five areas it deems strategic and carries out regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. &quot;The peacekeepers requested through liaison channels that the tanks stop their activity,&quot; the statement said. Later, &quot;one of the tanks fired three shells from its main gun, with two impacts approximately 150 meters away from the peacekeepers,&quot; UNIFIL said, adding that &quot;as the peacekeepers moved away for safety, they were continuously tracked with a laser from the tanks&quot;. The statement reported no casualties but noted UNIFIL had informed the Israeli army of its activities in the area in advance. &quot;Attacks like these on identifiable peacekeepers ... are becoming disturbingly common,&quot; the statement said, urging a stop to such incidents. It called them &quot;a serious violation&quot; of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and forms the basis of the current truce. Under heavy US pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Beirut has committed to disarming Hezbollah, and last week, Lebanon&#39;s army said it had finished doing so in the area near the border. UNIFIL&#39;s final mandate ends this year, and the force is to leave Lebanon in 2027.

UNIFIL says "attacks like these on identifiable peacekeepers ... are becoming disturbingly common"; UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades, and recently has been working with Lebanon's army to support a year-old ceasefire between Israel and the fighter group Hezbollah.

UN force says Israeli tank fired near peacekeepers in Lebanon 

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: China has confirmed that its exported J-10CE fighter jet has achieved its first combat victory, successfully shooting down multiple enemy aircraft during an aerial engagement without suffering any losses, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese-made combat aircraft. In a statement issued on Monday, China&rsquo;s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) said the J-10CE&rsquo;s battlefield performance demonstrated the aircraft&rsquo;s operational effectiveness in real combat conditions outside China. &ldquo;The J-10CE fighter jet, exported by China, achieved its first combat success abroad by downing multiple aircraft without incurring any losses,&rdquo; the Chinese defense authority said. The confirmation comes in the wake of the brief but intense Pakistan-India military confrontation in May, during which air power played a central role. Pakistan has previously stated that its air force downed several Indian aircraft during the escalation, while China&rsquo;s acknowledgement underscores the growing operational credibility of its defense exports and Pakistan&rsquo;s reliance on advanced Chinese military technology. According to the US Department of War, Pakistan is currently the only country operating the Chinese-built J-10C fighter jet. The report noted that as of May 2025, 20 additional aircraft were delivered to Pakistan, raising the Pakistan Air Force&rsquo;s J-10CE fleet to 36 jets since 2020. China&rsquo;s state news agency Xinhua described the J-10CE as an &ldquo;all-weather, single-engine, single-seat, multi-role fighter jet&rdquo; independently developed by China to meet modern aerial warfare requirements. Commenting on the aircraft&rsquo;s performance, the Chinese side said the combat outcome reflected both reliability and competitiveness. The J-10CE&rsquo;s &ldquo;combat success abroad fully demonstrates its practicality and usability, highlights its strong competitiveness compared to similar foreign equipment, and promotes Chinese aviation products in the international market,&rdquo; Xinhua quoted Chinese defense officials as saying. Pakistan has stated that during the May confrontation, it shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafale aircraft. The conflict followed an attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir, an incident India blamed on Pakistan. A charge Islamabad categorically rejected and has offered &ldquo;independent investigation.&rdquo; The four-day conflict marked the deadliest cross-border fighting since 2019, involving missile, drone, and artillery strikes, before both sides agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistani forces had reduced Indian aircraft to &ldquo;scrap and dust.&rdquo; India, meanwhile, claimed it had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets. A claim Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed as &ldquo;comical.&rdquo; Islamabad and Beijing are long-term strategic allies, bound by strong bilateral ties, deep defense cooperation, and a shared commitment to regional stability.

China

In a statement, the Chinese defense authority says its exported J-10CE fighter jet achieves first combat victory, downing multiple enemy aircraft without losses during combat.

China confirms J-10CE ‘first combat victory’ in Pakistan-India May conflict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday strongly condemned a terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Tank district that resulted in the martyrdom of police personnel. He reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country, according to an official statement.&nbsp;The attack targeted a police vehicle in the Tank area, killing five police officials, including an Additional Station House Officer (SHO). An investigation into the incident has been ordered and authorities have been directed to bring those responsible to justice at the earliest, according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;In his statement, the prime minister offered prayers for the elevation of the martyrs&rsquo; ranks and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-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=2010691992112562181&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8f9e95ef61cc881f44a56b9642bae75afec05f34&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;The Government of Pakistan remains committed to the complete elimination of terrorism from the country,&rdquo; the prime minister stated.&nbsp;President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of police personnel in the attack, according to a separate statement on X.&nbsp;The president paid tribute to the fallen officers for their bravery and service to the nation. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2010658334727458837&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8f9e95ef61cc881f44a56b9642bae75afec05f34&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 416px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;May Allah Almighty grant the martyrs an exalted place in His eternal mercy and grant fortitude (Sabr-e-Jameel) to the bereaved families,&rdquo; President Zardari said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed said the &ldquo;cowardly terrorist attacks in Tank and Lucky Marwat cannot, under any circumstances, shake the resolve of our police personnel,&rdquo; according to KP police&#39;s official Facebook page.&nbsp;&ldquo;The martyred officers and soldiers laid down their lives in the line of duty; the entire force takes immense pride in them,&rdquo; the IGP said, adding that the morale of the police force remains high.&nbsp;He stated that the sacrifices of the martyrs would never go in vain and assured that the families of the fallen officers would be provided &ldquo;every possible cooperation and full support.&rdquo; The IGP further confirmed that investigations had been accelerated and those involved would be brought to justice soon.&nbsp;Separately, District Police Officer Lucky Marwat Nazir Khan said the police remained firm against militant elements.<div class="fr-embed"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpakhtunkhwapolice%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0c7V4FofrVAvXESbwjqcJKcVo5Lwe6QY2crUc6zRKFoD6B2cu6f5SJumVf1FEToZtl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;These cowardly acts by Fitna al-Khawarij cannot dampen our morale. The Lucky Marwat Police are responding forcefully to every challenge and are prepared to make every possible sacrifice for the protection of the public,&rdquo; he stated in a Facebook post by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.&nbsp;Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly condemned the blast near the police vehicle in Tank and paid tribute to the five martyred officers.&nbsp;&ldquo;The brave soldiers of the police have sacrificed their &lsquo;today&rsquo; for the peaceful &lsquo;tomorrow&rsquo; of the nation,&rdquo; the interior minister said on X, adding that the sacrifices of the martyrs would always be remembered.<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=2010658332152152415&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8f9e95ef61cc881f44a56b9642bae75afec05f34&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 368px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;The martyrs are our pride, and the nation can never forget their timeless sacrifices,&rdquo; Naqvi stated.

Security

Pakistan’s leadership condemned a terrorist attack in KP’s Tank district that killed five police personnel. The prime minister ordered an investigation as the president, interior minister and police vowed justice and reaffirmed resolve against terrorism.

President, PM condemn attack on police, vow eradication of terrorists

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, has said the United States and Israel are orchestrating unrest inside Iran, warning that any foreign aggression would be met with a strong and decisive response. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, the ambassador thanked the government, media and people of Pakistan for closely and sensitively following developments in Iran. He said Iran&rsquo;s security was being threatened through a &ldquo;designed plan&rdquo; involving the US, Israel and terrorist elements, while Iranian security forces and the public were working to maintain law and order. Moghaddam said recent protests were rooted in economic challenges caused by decades-long US sanctions, government reforms related to foreign exchange and subsidy mechanisms for essential goods.&nbsp; He stressed that peaceful protest is a constitutional right in Iran and that the government engaged directly with traders and demonstrators, including meetings held by the interior minister, commerce minister and the president. However, he said the protests were later exploited by hostile foreign actors. The Iranian envoy said that the US and Israel facilitated the infiltration of armed groups from Syria and Iraq under the cover of protests, adding these elements targeted both security personnel and civilians. He said Iran has lost around 100 police and security personnel, adding that terrorist violence, including attacks on women and children, is unacceptable anywhere in the world. Rejecting foreign-backed opposition narratives, the ambassador said public rallies in support of Iran&rsquo;s political system were underway, reflecting what he described as the people&rsquo;s rejection of external interference. On the possibility of military aggression, the ambassador warned that Iran has proven over the past four decades that it will deliver a befitting response to any attack by the US or Israel. He said diplomatic channels with Washington remain open through the Swiss-managed interest protection office, but stressed that Iran will never recognize or negotiate with Israel.

Beyond Borders

In an Exclusive Interview with Pakistan TV, Iranian Envoy Says Security Threats Are Part of a ‘Designed Plan’.

Iranian Ambassador says US, Israel Behind Unrest, Warns of Strong Response

Pakistan TV

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik said Islamabad was ready and willing to play a constructive role in defusing tensions between Iran and the United States, stressing that Pakistan does not seek instability in the region and will make every possible effort to help lower tensions. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Musadik Malik said Pakistan enjoyed strong relations with both Iran and the United States and believed dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path to preventing further escalation in the region. He said, &quot;The growing instability is being fueled by Israel&rsquo;s continued actions across Palestine, Syria and Lebanon.&quot; &quot;This is a vulgar display of atrocities,&quot; he said. He said Israel committed the genocide in Gaza. Malik questioned Israel&rsquo;s right to occupy land, seize water resources and carry out repeated military aggression across the region. He warned that such actions carry serious repercussions. The minister emphasized that Pakistan wants peace and stability across the Middle East and South Asia, adding that unchecked unilateral actions weaken the global rule-based order and threaten international peace. He said no country had the right to kill civilians, including women and children, under any pretext. Turning to South Asia, Malik strongly criticized India&rsquo;s approach to the Indus Waters Treaty, calling any attempt to control or delay Pakistan&rsquo;s water supply illegal and irrational. He said the Indus river system was the backbone of Pakistan&rsquo;s economy and livelihoods, supporting nearly half of the population and a significant share of the country&rsquo;s GDP. Malik warned that any effort by India to disrupt water flows, particularly during critical agricultural seasons, would be viewed as an act of war and met with a commensurate response. He said India was attempting to manipulate water flows through a cascade of hydropower projects in violation of the treaty. He also questioned India&rsquo;s reluctance to approach international arbitration mechanisms, saying that refusal to engage neutral forums suggests the wrongdoing. Addressing regional security concerns, Malik said Pakistan would continue to combat terrorism and urged Afghanistan to prevent militant groups from using its soil to attack Pakistan. He noted that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades and expects Kabul to act as a responsible neighbour. Malik concluded by warning that weakening multilateralism and international treaties could push the world toward greater instability, calling for renewed commitment to diplomacy, dialogue and international law.

Minister For Climate Change Talks Exclusively to Pakistan TV

Malik Says Pakistan Ready to Help Defuse Iran–US Tensions

SAN FRANCISCO: Tech giants Apple and Google announced Monday a multi-year partnership that will see Apple&#39;s next-generation artificial intelligence features, including its Siri assistant, be powered by Google&#39;s Gemini technology.&nbsp;The collaboration marks a significant shift for Apple, which has traditionally developed its core technologies in-house.&nbsp;A joint statement said Apple selected Google&#39;s AI technology after a &quot;careful evaluation&quot; determined it provided &quot;the most capable foundation&quot; for the iPhone-maker&#39;s AI ambitions.&nbsp;The announcement represents a rare alliance between two companies that have long competed in the smartphone market, where Apple&#39;s iOS and Google&#39;s Android operating systems dominate globally.&nbsp;However, the two rivals have maintained a lucrative partnership for years, with Google paying Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on iPhones and other Apple devices.&nbsp;That arrangement has faced scrutiny from regulators, with the US Justice Department arguing in an antitrust case that the deal helps Google maintain its search monopoly, though a judge said the arrangement could continue.&nbsp;Financial details of the AI arrangement were not provided.&nbsp;Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said the partnership was &quot;a major validation moment for Google&quot; and &quot;a stepping stone&quot; for Apple to get its AI strategy on track into 2026 and beyond.&nbsp;Apple reportedly also considered partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity.&nbsp;The company co-founded by Steve Jobs is largely perceived to have stumbled in efforts to roll out AI capabilities across its products and last month announced the head of its artificial intelligence team was stepping down.&nbsp;Apple last year delayed the release of an improved Siri digital assistant and is now promising it for later in the year.&nbsp;Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and other tech rivals have been releasing ever-improved AI models and features in a fierce race to lead the sector.&nbsp;Despite the collaboration, Apple emphasized that its in-house AI system, Apple Intelligence, will be used to power its iPhones and iPads at the device-only level, maintaining what it described as &quot;industry-leading privacy standards.&quot;

Artificial Intelligence

Apple and Google announced a multi-year partnership to power Apple’s next-generation AI, including Siri, with Google’s Gemini, marking a rare alliance as Apple seeks to catch up in AI while stressing privacy and competition pressures.

Apple chooses Google's Gemini AI to power Siri

SAN FRANCISCO: Meta on Monday appointed banker Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chairman, tapping a former member of the Trump administration to help steer the technology giant&#39;s massive AI infrastructure expansion.&nbsp;Powell McCormick, who served on Meta&#39;s board, will join the company&#39;s management team as it scales what founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg described as &quot;the massive physical and financial model that will power the next decade of computing.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;Dina&#39;s experience at the highest levels of global finance, combined with her deep relationships around the world, makes her uniquely suited to help Meta manage this next phase of growth,&quot; Zuckerberg said.&nbsp;In a separate post, Zuckerberg said Powell McCormick &quot;will be involved in all of Meta&#39;s work, with a particular focus on partnering with governments and sovereigns to build, deploy, invest in, and finance Meta&#39;s AI and infrastructure.&quot;&nbsp;The appointment comes as Meta accelerates investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centers and energy supply.&nbsp;In her new role at Meta, Powell McCormick&#39;s banking experience will be key. She will help guide the company&#39;s overall AI infrastructure strategy and oversee its multi-billion-dollar investments.&nbsp;She will also focus on building partnerships to expand the company&#39;s investment capacity, the company said, as Meta seeks to keep up with its big tech rivals in spending massively on AI.&nbsp;An Egyptian-American, Powell McCormick spent 16 years as a partner at Goldman Sachs, serving on the firm&#39;s management committee and leading its global sovereign investment banking business.&nbsp;Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East have become major investors in the AI infrastructure build-out and could play a role in Meta achieving its AI spending goals.&nbsp;Her last job was at BDT &amp; MSD Partners, a bank and advisory firm that has been involved in finding US investors for TikTok, according to news outlet Axios.&nbsp;Her hiring continues Zuckerberg&#39;s political pivot to the right, with Republican Powell McCormick one of the company&#39;s most visible arrivals since Sheryl Sandberg, the former chief operating officer and member of the Clinton administration who left in 2022.&nbsp;Zuckerberg has recently made a visible shift toward President Donald Trump and conservative positions, doing away with third-party fact-checking, reversing company diversity initiatives and embracing a more traditionally masculine image.&nbsp;Trump congratulated Powell McCormick on the appointment in a social media post, calling her &quot;a fantastic, and very talented, person, who served the Trump Administration with strength and distinction.&quot;&nbsp;Powell McCormick served as deputy national security advisor during Trump&#39;s first term, a role in which she helped shape US foreign policy.&nbsp;She is married to the Republican senator from Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick.

Business

Meta names Dina Powell McCormick president and vice chairman, tasking the former Goldman Sachs banker and Trump administration official with guiding the company’s expanding AI infrastructure and global investment strategy.

Zuckerberg names banker, ex-Trump advisor as Meta president

ISLAMABAD: A high-level Indonesian defense delegation visited Pakistan on Monday to discuss expanding cooperation in defense production, the Ministry of Defense Production said in a statement. The delegates focused on establishing joint working groups and exploring collaboration between the two countries&#39; defense institutions. The delegation was led by Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who met with Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Defense Production, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, and senior officials from the ministry of defense production. Harraj said that Pakistan has immense potential in the field of defense production and agreed to establish Joint Working Groups for Defense Production cooperation between entities of both countries. Indonesia&rsquo;s minister for defense expressed keen interest in expediting the Joint Working Groups, as it will open doors to future collaboration and help explore and benefit from each other&rsquo;s capabilities. &ldquo;Pakistan is a very important country with rich culture, working democracy and vibrant economy. Both sides hoped the brotherly relationship is translated into long term relationship based on mutual trust &amp; respect,&rdquo; the statement added. During the meeting, Harraj extended an invitation to the Indonesian Authorities to actively participate in the Defense Exhibition IDEAS-2026 to explore defense collaboration. &ldquo;Federal Minister for Defense Production Raza Harraj stated that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect, and goodwill towards each other,&rdquo; the statement said. He further stated that recent significant interactions between the two countries have set the pace for a high-yielding relationship. Later on Monday, the Indonesian minister also met with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, as per a statement by Pakistan&#39;s military media wing.&nbsp; &quot;The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and exploration of avenues for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation,&quot; the statement said. &quot;The visiting dignitary lauded professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.&quot; The COAS &amp; CDF reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to fostering strong defense relationship with Indonesia based on shared values and mutual respect. Additionally, the Indonesian defense minister called on the Chief of Air Staff and Air Chief Marshal, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, following the recent state visit of the Indonesian President. &ldquo;The meeting reaffirmed the historic and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Indonesia and focused on strengthening bilateral Air Force cooperation, particularly in capacity building, training, and technological collaboration,&rdquo; according to ISPR.&nbsp; During the meeting, the air chief briefed the delegation on PAF&rsquo;s modernization drive, including infrastructure development, revamped training, and induction of niche capabilities to enhance readiness for multi-domain operations. The Indonesian Defense Minister praised PAF&rsquo;s professionalism, combat readiness, and indigenization achievements under the National Aerospace Science &amp; Technology Park, and expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation in training, aviation, and aerospace domains.&nbsp; Islamabad and Jakarta underscored the strengthening trajectory of Pakistan&ndash;Indonesia defense relations and a mutual commitment to expand cooperation through continued engagement and dialogue.

Foreign Affairs

A high-level Indonesian defense delegation visited Pakistan to discuss expanding defense production cooperation. Both sides agreed to form Joint Working Groups, explore collaboration, and strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual trust, respect, and goodwill.



Indonesia delegation visits Pakistan to boost defense production cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, Attaullah Tarar, called for a united front against misinformation, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan on Monday. According to the statement, Tarar cited a World Economic Forum report that ranks false information as a bigger short-term global threat than nuclear warfare or climate change. The information minister was speaking at a dialogue organized by the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. The event focused on &quot;Facts Survive AI: Fighting Misinformation Together.&quot; &quot;The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report of 2024 says that the biggest short-term risk to the world at large is misinformation,&quot; Tarar said, according to APP. &quot;They do not say climate change. They do not say nuclear warfare.&quot; The information minister announced the establishment of Pakistan&#39;s first Digital Communication Department under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The department counters misinformation through social media handles that verify information or label fake content, he said. The minister met with representatives of social media platforms that have started labeling AI-created content, the news agency reported. &quot;So, I think we need to have labels for AI-created content or AI-generated content,&quot; he said. Tarar praised IBA&#39;s iVerify system for its success in combating false information at the national and international levels. He called for establishing more such systems to promote responsible journalism and combat fake news effectively. &quot;The community at large, the government, media houses, academia, the civil society, everyone has a role to play in countering misinformation,&quot; Tarar said. The minister urged the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and All Pakistan Newspaper Society to join the effort. He assured them of full government support. Tarar cited Pakistan&#39;s information response during a May conflict with India as an example of effective narrative management. &quot;Pakistan won that war in a very, very effective manner,&quot; he said. The ministry, he said, is collaborating with the United Nations Development Program to address misinformation. A training workshop scheduled this week will equip Ministry of Information officers and media professionals with skills to counter false information. Tarar stated that there was a need to educate younger generations about the ethical use of AI. &quot;We need to educate all segments of society on how to use AI responsibly,&quot; he said. The minister highlighted vulnerable groups, including minorities, children, and women, as particularly at risk from misinformation campaigns. The information minister stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has granted the ministry full authority to combat misinformation. He expressed hope that younger generations can work together to defeat misinformation.

Tarar also urged tech platforms to cooperate on combating AI-generated fake news and disinformation campaigns.

Articles by Reuters/AP