Category: World

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s New Year address on January 1, 2026, went beyond ceremonial greetings, laying out a confident vision of China’s technological rise despite sustained pressure from the United States. Broadcasting from Beijing to an audience of more than 1.4 billion people, Xi highlighted how U.S.-led semiconductor restrictions have unexpectedly accelerated China’s push toward self-reliance and innovation in artificial intelligence and chip manufacturing. “We have achieved major breakthroughs in chip research and development,” Xi said, stressing that Chinese AI models are now competing among the world’s leading systems.…

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Lahore: From Quetta, prominent Baloch human rights activist and Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Sammee Deen Baloch has issued a strong indictment of the Pakistani state, asserting that the crisis in Balochistan is rooted not in armed insurgency but in the systematic targeting of Baloch identity itself. In a sharply worded statement shared on social media platform X, Baloch alleged that the Pakistani establishment views the entire Baloch population as a threat, a mindset she says has led to widespread human rights violations. According to her, unarmed civilians are routinely subjected…

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Bhaktapur: The inquiry commission investigating the events of September 8–9, 2025, has lifted the travel and mobility restrictions imposed on CPN-UML chair and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, a day after recording his testimony, according to reports. A commission team visited Oli’s residence at his Gundu mansion in Bhaktapur to record his statement. Oli had earlier declined to appear at the commission’s office, alleging bias on the part of commission chair Gauri Bahadur Karki and questioning the panel’s impartiality. Officials said his testimony nonetheless needed to be formally documented.…

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Seoul: South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back underscored the need for a strong and unified readiness posture during his visit to the South Korea–US Combined Forces Command (CFC), citing a rapidly evolving security environment, the defence ministry said. Ahn visited the CFC headquarters at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, about 60 km south of Seoul, where he met US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, who also serves as the CFC commander. The visit marked Ahn’s first on-site inspection of the year, highlighting the importance Seoul places on maintaining a robust combined…

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Washington: By early January 2026, the geopolitical map of the Western Hemisphere had been violently redrawn. In the predawn darkness of January 3, the United States executed one of the most audacious military operations of the 21st century. Codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores—an unprecedented act that signaled a dramatic escalation in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Framed by Washington as a decisive blow against narco-terrorism, the operation saw elite American forces penetrate the…

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New Delhi | A day after the United States carried out military action in Venezuela, President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric toward other countries in the Western Hemisphere, reviving territorial claims, issuing warnings of possible military action, and signalling a more aggressive American posture in the region. In his latest remarks, President Trump once again reiterated his demand for greater US control over Greenland, an autonomous territory under Denmark. Calling Greenland “critically important” to American national security, Trump cited increased Russian and Chinese naval activity in Arctic waters. He claimed…

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Kyiv/Moscow | The Russia-Ukraine conflict showed no signs of easing in the new year as a Russian aerial attack struck Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, killing a patient admitted to a private medical clinic, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Monday. According to local authorities, overnight airstrikes targeted Kyiv and surrounding areas, causing damage to civilian infrastructure, including a medical facility located in the city’s northern Obolonskyi district. The clinic’s general director stated that the blast shattered windows, set patient rooms ablaze, and left debris scattered throughout the building. Despite emergency response efforts, one…

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New Delhi: The India-Bangladesh relationship, forged in the crucible of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, has long been shaped by friendship, shared history, and strategic alignment. India’s decisive support during the Liberation War laid the foundation for what was once considered a “golden era” of bilateral ties. However, in recent years, this relationship has faced increasing complexity, marked by political shifts, public unrest, and rising skepticism. From Liberation to Strategic PartnershipIndia’s enduring support for Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League has been a cornerstone of its policy for decades. Even through…

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Mumbai: GHV Infra Projects has taken a decisive step in its global growth strategy by entering the international engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) market. The company has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, GHV INFRA FZ LLC, registered in the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone in the United Arab Emirates. This move positions GHV Infra to aggressively pursue high-value EPC projects across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. An on-ground presence in the UAE—a global infrastructure hub—reflects the company’s long-term vision to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen its share in the…

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Tehran/New Delhi: A courageous wave of protest by women in Iran against compulsory burqas and veils is capturing global attention, highlighting a growing struggle for personal freedom in Islamic societies. Since the suspicious death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022 while in police custody, Iranian women have taken to the streets, removing their scarves and defying dress codes imposed under strict Islamic laws. The movement, now accelerating in 2025–26, has spread awareness about gender rights beyond Iran, influencing neighboring Muslim-majority countries and sparking conversations worldwide. Iran, a fully Islamic state…

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