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			<title>Trump tells Congress hostilities with Iran that began on Feb 28 'have terminated'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605818/centcom-chief-briefs-trump-on-possible-final-blow-against-iran-fox-news</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605818/centcom-chief-briefs-trump-on-possible-final-blow-against-iran-fox-news#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 05:52:36 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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				<![CDATA['There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7,' he says in letters]]>
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				<![CDATA[United States President Donald Trump told Congress members on Friday that hostilities with Iran since the attacks on February 28 had &quot;terminated&quot; following the ceasefire between the two enemies, American media outlets reported.

&quot;On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between United States forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,&quot; Trump wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson, Axios reported.

Trump further wrote that &quot;the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.&quot;

CBS News added that the letter was also written to&nbsp;Senator Chuck Grassley, the president pro tempore of the US Senate.

Earlier, he said he was &quot;not satisfied&quot; with Iran&#39;s latest proposal in negotiations to end the war between the countries.

&quot;They want to make a deal, I&#39;m not satisfied with it, so we&#39;ll see what happens,&quot; Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump did not elaborate on what he sees as the proposal&#39;s shortcomings.

The president said negotiations continued by phone after he called off his envoys&#39; trip to Pakistan last week. He expressed frustration with Iran&#39;s leadership, which he described as fractured.

&quot;It&#39;s a very disjointed leadership,&quot; he said. &quot;They all want to make a deal, but they&#39;re all messed up.&quot;



.@POTUS: &quot;We just had a conversation with Iran. Let&#39;s see what happens, but I would say that I&#39;m not happy... They&#39;ve got to come up with the right deal. At this moment, I&#39;m not satisfied with what they&#39;re offering.&quot; https://t.co/5WDUtIk1i5 pic.twitter.com/UoOYeRwIaM
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 1, 2026


He further said that he had &quot;great respect&quot; for Pakistan, Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Trump added that Pakistan was &quot;continuing to worh with us&quot; in the negotiation process.

Iranian state media reported earlier that Iran submitted its latest proposal for negotiations with the US to mediator Pakistan.

IRNA reported that according to its foreign policy correspondent, the country &quot;delivered the text of its latest negotiation plan to Pakistan on Thursday evening, May 10, as a mediator in negotiations with the US&quot;.



#ایران متن تازه&zwnj;ترین طرح مذاکراتی را به #میانجی_پاکستانی داد

ایران متن طرح مذاکراتی خود را شامگاه پنجشنبه ۱۰ اردیبهشت به #پاکستان به عنوان میانجی مذاکره با #ایالات_متحده، تحویل داده است. https://t.co/UaevvjflIy pic.twitter.com/AoeOYVgJFt
&mdash; خبرگزاری ایرنا (@IRNA_1313) May 1, 2026


The White House said it would not detail private diplomatic conversations when asked about Iran&rsquo;s new proposal.

&ldquo;We do not detail private diplomatic conversations. President Trump has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, and negotiations continue to ensure the short- and long-term national security of the United States,&rdquo; spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.

Earlier, a senior United Arab Emirates official said that Tehran could not be trusted over any unilateral arrangements it makes for the Strait of Hormuz, in a ​sign of deep mistrust on all sides as efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran remained at an impasse.



في النقاش الدائر حول مضيق هرمز، تبرز الإرادة الدولية الجماعية وأحكام القانون الدولي كضامن رئيسي لحرية الملاحة في هذا الممر الحيوي، بما يخدم استقرار المنطقة والاقتصاد العالمي في مرحلة ما بعد الحرب.

وبطبيعة الحال، لا يمكن الوثوق بأي ترتيبات إيرانية أحادية أو التعويل عليها بعد&hellip;
&mdash; د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) May 1, 2026


Two months into the conflict, the vital sea channel is still largely &zwnj;closed because of an Iranian blockade and the US Navy is blocking exports of Iranian crude oil. The blockade has choked off 20% of the world&#39;s oil and gas supplies, pushing up global energy prices and increasing concerns that there will be an economic downturn.

A ceasefire has been in place since April 8 but reports that US President Donald Trump was to be briefed on plans for new military strikes to compel Iran to negotiate pushed global oil prices up to a ​four-year high at one point on Thursday.

Iran has activated air defences and plans a wide response if attacked, having assessed that there will be a short, intensive US strike, possibly ​followed by an Israeli attack, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

&#39;Treacherous aggression&#39;

Washington has not said what its next steps are. Trump ⁠said on Tuesday he was unhappy with the latest proposal from Iran, and mediator Pakistan has not set a date for new talks on ending a war that has killed thousands, mainly in Iran ​and Lebanon.

Read: Trump says King Charles does not want Iran to have nuclear weapon

After US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, Iran fired at US bases, infrastructure and US-linked companies in Gulf states, while the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel, which responded with strikes ​on Lebanon.

Underlining the concerns of the Gulf states, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the &quot;collective international will and provisions of international law&quot; were the primary guarantors of freedom of navigation through the strait.

&quot;And, of course, no unilateral Iranian arrangements can be trusted or relied upon following its treacherous aggression against all its neighbours,&quot; Gargash wrote.

Trump faces a formal US deadline on Friday to end the war or make the case to Congress for extending it under the 1973 War ​Powers Resolution.

The date looks set to pass without altering the course of the war after a senior administration official said that, for the resolution, hostilities had terminated due to the ​April ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

Financial and energy markets remained on edge because of concerns about the impasse over negotiations and worries that there could be a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude &zwnj;futures rose ⁠again on Friday, up slightly at over $111 a barrel and poised for a 5.7% gain over the week after hitting $126 a barrel on Thursday, the highest level since March 2022.

Iran says not to expect quick results from talks

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned on Thursday against expecting quick results from talks.

A senior official of Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards said any new US attack on Iran, even if limited, would usher in &quot;long and painful strikes&quot; on US regional positions, while Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi was quoted by Iranian media as saying: &quot;We&#39;ve seen what happened to your regional bases, we will see the same thing ​happen to your warships.&quot;

Trump repeated on Thursday that ​Iran would not be allowed to have ⁠a nuclear weapon, and said the price of gasoline - an important concern for his Republican Party before midterm elections in November - would &quot;drop like a rock&quot; as soon as the war ended.

Iran says its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes.

Trump said on Thursday that Iran&#39;s economy was &quot;a disaster&quot;, but analysts said that ​if he expects Iran to blink first in a game of economic chicken, he may be waiting a while.

The conflict has aggravated Iran&#39;s dire economic ​problems, risking calamity after ⁠the war, but it looks able to survive a standoff in the Gulf for now, despite the U.S. blockade that has cut off its energy exports.

Axios news site reported that one plan to be shared with Trump during a briefing by top U.S. military leaders that was scheduled for Thursday involved using ground forces to take over part of the strait to reopen it to commercial shipping. Trump is also considering extending the US blockade ⁠or declaring ​a unilateral victory, officials have said.

Washington did not immediately announce any details of its plans.

In a sign that the US was also ​envisaging a scenario where hostilities cease, a State Department cable due to be delivered orally to partner nations by May 1 invited them to join a new coalition, called the Maritime Freedom Construct, to enable ships to navigate the strait.

France, Britain and ​others have held talks on contributing to such a coalition but said they would help to open the Strait only when the conflict ends.

US war on Iran &lsquo;definitely not&rsquo; self-defence: Iranian foreign ministry

Baghaei took to social media on Friday to rebuke the US for its war of &ldquo;aggression&rdquo; and challenge Washington&rsquo;s own narrative that its attacks on Iran were a case of &ldquo;self-defence&rdquo;, according to Al Jazeera.



&#39;Self-defense&#39; against what? Was there any &#39;armed attack&#39; by Iran to justify &#39;self defense&#39;?
Definitely not!
So this was absolutely NOT &#39;self-defense&#39; &mdash; it was an act of AGGRESSION against the nation of Iran. pic.twitter.com/iPemdStD71
&mdash; Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) May 1, 2026


In a post on X, Baghaei highlights a US State Department document justifying the war, which stated that: &ldquo;The United States engaged in this conflict at the request of and in the collective self-defence of its Israeli ally, as well as in the exercise of the United States&rsquo; own inherent right of self-defence&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Self-defence against what?&rdquo; Baghaei asks.

&ldquo;Was there any &lsquo;armed attack&rsquo; by Iran to justify &lsquo;self-defence&rsquo;? Definitely not!&rdquo;

&ldquo;So this was absolutely NOT &lsquo;self-defence&rsquo; &mdash; it was an act of AGGRESSION against the nation of Iran.&rdquo;

US lying about war cost

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the &ldquo;Pentagon is lying&rdquo; about the economic cost of the war, launched by the Trump administration on February 28 alongside Netanyahu, according to Al Jazeera.



The Pentagon is lying. Netanyahu&#39;s gamble has directly cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed.

Indirect costs for U.S. taxpayers are FAR higher. Monthly bill for each American household is $500 and rising fast.

Israel First always means America Last. pic.twitter.com/onailLYFdL
&mdash; Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 1, 2026


&ldquo;Netanyahu&rsquo;s gamble has directly cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed,&rdquo; Araghchi wrote on X.

&ldquo;Indirect costs for US taxpayers are FAR higher. Monthly bill for each American household is $500 and rising fast,&quot; he said, sharing graphs showing rising debt and Americans&#39; self-reported worsening financial situations.

&quot;Israel First always means America Last.&rdquo;

France to launch &lsquo;defensive&rsquo; mission in Hormuz

The French foreign minister said Friday that a &ldquo;defensive&rdquo; international maritime mission in the Strait of Hormuz would begin operations once conditions allow.

&ldquo;The Hormuz blockade must stop; it must cease. There can be no blackmail, no blockade, nor any toll on a strait,&rdquo; Jean-Noel Barrot said, stressing that straits are governed by international law and &ldquo;cannot under any circumstances be obstructed.&rdquo;

He said the rise in fuel prices, &ldquo;being strongly felt at the pump,&rdquo; was linked to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, which he said France had condemned because it violates international law and has major consequences for the global economy.

Barrot noted that France had acted since the start of the crisis to limit its impact, including measures to protect households and businesses from rising energy costs.

He said targeted support had been introduced for sectors most exposed to fuel price increases, including fishing, agriculture, transport and heavy road users, to help them absorb part of the shock.

At the same time, he added, France launched a plan to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons through electrification efforts in transport and heating, aimed at limiting exposure to future crises.

Strictly defensive mission

France has also deployed naval assets in the region since the beginning of the war, Barrot said, &ldquo;to protect our nationals, facilitate their repatriation, and protect our partners,&rdquo; some of whom were targeted by Iranian attacks.

He said the international mission, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, was now at an advanced stage and would be strictly defensive, operating in coordination with countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz.

&ldquo;This international mission is strictly defensive in nature,&rdquo; he said, adding that planning had been finalised and the concept had been presented to key regional partners.

Barrot said the objective would be to allow maritime traffic to resume &ldquo;as quickly as possible&rdquo; once conditions permit, through escort and mine-clearing operations.

Will not participate in US-led operation

Asked about a US-led coalition, Barrot said France would not participate, noting that the American initiative appeared aimed at linking ongoing military operations with maritime activity.

&ldquo;We would not take part in it,&rdquo; he said, adding that France remained fully focused on its own initiative and that it was not in competition with other proposals.

US CENTCOM chief briefs Trump on possible &#39;final blow&#39; against Iran

The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) briefed US President Donald Trump on potential &quot;final blow&quot; strike options against Iran, Fox News reported on Thursday.

Admiral Brad Cooper presented the possible options during a briefing with Trump in the Situation Room, outlining a &quot;short and powerful wave of strikes&quot; should the president decide to resume combat operations.

The assessed targets reportedly include Iran&#39;s &quot;remaining military assets, leadership and infrastructure,&quot; the broadcaster added.

Read more: Iran&#39;s supreme leader strikes a defiant note

The Pentagon is also considering deploying advanced weapons systems, including a new hypersonic missile known as &quot;Dark Eagle,&quot; according to Fox News.

The broadcaster said the system is capable of striking targets up to 2,000 miles (3,218 kilometres) away, potentially targeting remaining ballistic missile launchers.

It added that B-1B Lancer bombers, which can be armed with up to 5,000 pounds of hypersonic weapons, have been increasing their presence in the region and can carry &quot;big payloads.&quot;

Lebanese premier vows to reclaim &lsquo;every inch&rsquo; of occupied land, advance economic recovery

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed on Friday to reclaim &ldquo;every inch&rdquo; of occupied territory and push forward economic recovery efforts, in a message marking Labour Day.

In a statement posted by the prime minister&rsquo;s office on US social media company X, Salam addressed workers across Lebanon, acknowledging the hardship many face amid a prolonged economic crisis.



في عيد العمّال، أتوجّه إلى كل عاملةٍ وعاملٍ في لبنان، إلى من ينهضون كل صباح رغم القلق والضيق، ويواصلون العمل في ظلّ ظروفٍ قاسية لم يعرفها وطننا من قبل.
أدرك حجم المعاناة التي يعيشها كثيرون منكم، من فقدانٍ للوظائف، وتراجعٍ في القدرة الشرائية، وضغطٍ يوميّ يثقل كاهلكم. ومن موقع&hellip; pic.twitter.com/tMzd7c8qbM
&mdash; Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafsalam) May 1, 2026


&ldquo;I understand the extent of the suffering many of you are experiencing, from job losses and declining purchasing power to daily pressures weighing heavily on you,&rdquo; he said.

Salam pledged that the government would continue working to improve living conditions, restore occupied land, and press ahead with reforms.

&ldquo;We will continue serious work to improve your living conditions, restore every inch of our occupied land, and advance reform efforts and economic recovery,&rdquo; he said.

Since 2019, Lebanon has been experiencing a financial collapse described by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern history. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 98% of its value, weakening from about 1,500 to around 90,000 to the dollar.

Salam added that the government aims to create new job opportunities, restore stability, and place the country on a path toward &ldquo;real recovery.&rdquo;

Lebanon&rsquo;s economic crisis has deepened recently, compounded by ongoing Israeli attacks and displacement. A Wednesday update from the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme found that about 1.24 million people &mdash; nearly one in four assessed &mdash; are expected to face acute food insecurity at crisis levels between April and August 2026.

The report said escalating violence and displacement since early March have driven the deterioration in food security conditions.

Iran demands reparations from six Arab states

Iranian ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Amir-Saeid Iravani has called for holding to account the states participating in the unjustified US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, according to Iranian news outlet Press TV.

He made the remarks in a letter addressed to the UN chief and the Security Council president on Thursday in response to &quot;anti-Iran letters&quot; sent by six Arab countries, including, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan, to the world body, as per Press TV.

&ldquo;The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates once again its clear and consistent position that all States whose internationally wrongful acts have played a role in the United States&#39; and the Israeli regime&#39;s aggression against its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be held accountable,&rdquo; he said.

Iravani also said the Persian Gulf littoral states are under an obligation to make full reparation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, including compensation for all material and moral damage caused by their internationally wrongful acts.



Iran seeks reparations from five Arab states for enabling US-Israeli aggressionhttps://t.co/oVErqX8IfY
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 14, 2026


He warned of threats to international peace and security amid the continued failure of the UN Security Council to address the unlawful use of force by the US and the Israeli regime, as well as the complicity of states that have either facilitated or directly participated in the military assault.

The envoy rejected the &quot;anti-Iran claims&quot; made by the six Arab countries regarding the premeditated and unprovoked US-Israeli aggression that killed more than 3,375 people and damaged over 125,630 civilian structures across the country, according to Press TV.

&ldquo;The claims advanced by the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan that the armed attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran were not launched from their territories, even if true, quod non, only serve to confirm that Iran has been targeted by aggressors operating from military bases and facilities situated within those States.&rdquo;

He noted that the failure of the Security Council to uphold Iran&rsquo;s legitimate right of self-defence does not negate the nation&#39;s inherent right of self-defence under general international law.

Iran threatens painful response if US renews attacks

Iran said on Thursday it would respond with &quot;long and painful strikes&quot; on US positions if Washington renewed attacks and ​restated its claim to the Strait of Hormuz, complicating US plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway.

Two months into the US-Israeli war on Iran, the vital sea channel remains closed, choking off 20% of the &zwnj;world&#39;s oil and gas supplies. That has sent global energy prices surging and heightened concerns about the risks of an economic downturn.

Efforts to resolve the conflict have hit an impasse, with a ceasefire in place since April 8, but Iran is still blocking the strait in response to a US naval blockade of Iran&#39;s oil exports, Tehran&#39;s economic lifeline.

Trump was scheduled to receive a briefing on Thursday on plans for a series of fresh military strikes to compel Iran to negotiate an end to the conflict, a US official told Reuters.

Such options have long been part of ​US planning but reports of the proposed briefing, first issued by news site Axios late on Wednesday, initially spurred big gains in oil prices, with the benchmark Brent crude contract hitting more than $126 a barrel at one point. It ​later slipped back to around $114.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday evening that it was not reasonable to expect quick results from US talks, according to the official ⁠IRNA news agency.

&quot;Expecting to reach a result in a short time, regardless of who the mediator is, in my opinion, is not very realistic,&quot; he was quoted as saying.

Air defence activity was heard in some areas of Iran&#39;s capital, Tehran, late on ​Thursday, Iran&#39;s semi-official Mehr news agency reported, and the Tasnim news agency said air defences were engaging small drones and unmanned surveillance aerial vehicles.

On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates said it had banned its citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, and urged ​those currently in those countries to leave immediately and return home, citing regional developments.

Trump reiterated to reporters on Thursday that Iran would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and that the price of gasoline - a key concern for his Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections - would &quot;drop like a rock&quot; as soon as the war ended.

While repeating allegations of serious rights violations by Iran, Trump said he was &quot;OK&quot; with it playing in the upcoming soccer World Cup in the United States, after FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted the country would take part.]]>
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			<title>Israeli army demolishes Christian monastery, nuns' school in southern Lebanon</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605873/israeli-army-demolishes-christian-monastery-nuns-school-in-southern-lebanon</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605873/israeli-army-demolishes-christian-monastery-nuns-school-in-southern-lebanon#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 17:31:59 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[xinhua.]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Israel’s offensive in Lebanon since March 2 has killed over 2,600 and displaced 1 million]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Israeli army demolished a monastery and a school run by the Sisters of the Holy Saviour in the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun, the state National News Agency reported on Friday.



🔴 Israeli army demolished a monastery and a school run by the Sisters of the Holy Savior in the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun, local media reports https://t.co/RJqxiN6dwW pic.twitter.com/2T58ie8I6r
&mdash; Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 1, 2026


The school &ldquo;was considered one of the most prominent educational institutions in the region&rdquo;, having educated thousands of students over the years from various towns in the Bint Jbeil district, said the agency.

Its targeting represents &ldquo;a major loss at both the educational and social levels&quot;,&nbsp;it added.

Israel has waged an offensive in Lebanon since March 2, killing more than 2,600 people and displacing over a&nbsp;million.

A 10-day ceasefire that began on April 17 was later extended until May 17, but Israel continues to violate it daily through airstrikes and the demolition of homes.

Moreover, Israel also maintains what it calls a &quot;buffer zone&quot; in southern Lebanon, which it claims is meant to prevent attacks from Hezbollah. An earlier truce was reached in November 2024.]]>
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			<title>UN chief Guterres says money owed by US is 'non-negotiable'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605850/un-chief-guterres-says-money-owed-by-us-is-non-negotiable</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605850/un-chief-guterres-says-money-owed-by-us-is-non-negotiable#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:10:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Says UN will reform to be more effective, cost-efficient, and deliver for people]]>
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				<![CDATA[United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the billions of dollars the United States owes to the world body is &quot;non-negotiable&quot;, after reports that ​Washington had placed conditions on releasing the funds.

The development newswire Devex reported &zwnj;this week that two diplomatic notes circulated by the US called for nine &quot;quick-hit&quot; reforms as a condition for releasing more funds, including further cost-cutting, and moves to counter China&#39;s influence at ​the United Nations.

&quot;The money we are talking about is referred to as ​assessed contributions,&quot; Guterres told reporters when asked about the reports. &quot;Assessed contributions ⁠are an obligation of member states. They are non-negotiable.&quot;

Guterres, who has been leading ​reform efforts under pressure from member states, especially the US, said the ​UN would do its best &quot;to make sure that we make this organisation as effective and as cost-effective and as able to deliver for the people we care for&quot;.

&quot;But these are two separate ​things,&quot; he added.

Read More: Guterres rebukes US over dues

According to Devex, the US-demanded cost-cutting included overhauling the UN pension ​system, ending long-distance business-class travel for some senior and all mid-level professionals, additional cuts to &zwnj;senior UN ⁠ranks and a 10% reduction in long-running and ineffective peacekeeping missions.

It said they also included a demand to block China from channelling tens of millions of dollars each year to a discretionary fund housed in the office of the UN ​secretary-general, a move aimed ​at countering Chinese ⁠influence.

The US mission to the United Nations has not commented on the reports. The US has said repeatedly it will keep ​pressuring the UN&nbsp;to reform after announcing its withdrawal ​from dozens ⁠of UN bodies this year and cutting millions of dollars in funding last year.

Guterres warned in January that the UN faced &quot;imminent financial collapse&quot; due to unpaid fees, most ⁠of which ​are owed by the US. The UN ​said in February that the US had paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes ​to the world body.]]>
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			<title>Gaza aid flotilla activists taken to Crete after Israeli interception</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605866/gaza-aid-flotilla-activists-taken-to-crete-after-israeli-interception</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605866/gaza-aid-flotilla-activists-taken-to-crete-after-israeli-interception#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 16:06:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Israeli navy moves 168 flotilla crew to Greek boats; taken ashore safely by buses]]>
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				<![CDATA[More than 100 pro-Palestinian ​activists aboard boats carrying aid bound for Gaza were taken to the Greek island of Crete on Friday after Israeli forces &zwnj;seized their vessels in international waters near Greece, flotilla organisers said.

The activists were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, launched in recent months in an attempt to break Israel&rsquo;s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12.

On Friday, an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of ​the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to shore where buses and an ambulance waited for them, organisers said and Reuters ​footage showed.

Israel&#39;s foreign ministry called the flotilla organisers &quot;professional provocateurs&quot; and said: &quot;Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful ⁠naval blockade on Gaza.&quot;

Two activists held

Two activists were detained by Israeli authorities, according to statements from Israel and the organisers of the flotilla, who ​identified them as Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila.

Spain&#39;s Foreign Minister&nbsp;Jose Manuel Albares&nbsp;accused Israel of ​illegally arresting Abu Keshek and demanded his immediate release.

Israel&#39;s foreign ministry said Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and Avila was suspected of illegal activity, adding that both would be taken to Israel for questioning.

In a post on their Telegram channel, organisers of the flotilla alleged that activists had been denied adequate food and ​water and &quot;forced to sleep on floors that were deliberately and repeatedly flooded&quot; aboard an Israeli naval vessel, describing their treatment as &quot;40 hours of calculated ​cruelty&quot;.

Read More: Israel intercepts Gaza aid ships in international waters, organisers say

They said some suffered injuries, including broken noses and cracked ribs, when they were kicked and dragged across the deck with their hands tied after they tried &zwnj;to protest ⁠against the detention of their two fellow activists.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the allegations of mistreatment.

Germany and Italy&#39;s foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying they were following developments with &quot;deep concern&quot;.

Some vessels still trying to reach Gaza 

A source who asked not to be identified said that while 22 boats had been intercepted by Israel, 47 others were still sailing off southern Crete and planned to anchor there at some point before continuing ​onwards to Gaza. Each ship is ​carrying about a tonne of food, ⁠medical and other equipment, the source said.

The 22 vessels were seized by Israel late on Wednesday in international waters off Greece&#39;s Peloponnese peninsula, which is hundreds of miles from Gaza, the flotilla&#39;s organisers said. In a statement ​on Thursday, the US State Department threatened &quot;to impose consequences&quot; against those who support the flotilla, which it cast ​as pro-Hamas.

Pro-Palestinian activists say ⁠Israel and the US&nbsp;wrongly conflate their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for Hamas.

Last October, Israel&#39;s military halted a previous flotilla assembled by the same organisation, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants.

Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient, despite a ceasefire reached ⁠in October ​that included guarantees of increased aid.

Most of Gaza&#39;s more than two&nbsp;million people have ​been displaced, many now living in bombed-out homes and makeshift tents pitched on open ground, roadsides, or atop the ruins of destroyed buildings.

Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies ​withholding supplies for its residents.]]>
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			<title>UK man appears in court over stabbing of two Jewish men in London</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605826/uk-police-charge-man-over-stabbing-of-two-jewish-men-in-london</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605826/uk-police-charge-man-over-stabbing-of-two-jewish-men-in-london#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 08:06:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605826</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Remanded in custody until his ​next appearance at London's Old Bailey ⁠court on May 15]]>
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				<![CDATA[A 45-year-old man appeared in a London court ​on Friday, charged with attempted murder over an attack during which two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, &zwnj;in what police are treating as a terrorist incident.

In its wake, government officials raised the national terrorism threat to its second-highest level, meaning a terrorist attack is highly likely within the next six months.

The stabbings, on Wednesday, followed a spate of incidents targeting Jewish premises in the same area of north London, home to a large ​Jewish population, prompting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to vow stronger action to protect Jewish people.

Pro-Palestinian marches, which critics say have ​encouraged antisemitism,&nbsp;could now face new restrictions amid widespread calls for more protection for Britain&#39;s small Jewish community ⁠of about 290,000.

Essa Suleiman appeared at London&#39;s Westminster Magistrates&#39; Court charged with two counts of the ​attempted murder of 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine,&nbsp;named in the charges as Norman Shine,&nbsp;and possession of a bladed article in ​relation to Wednesday&#39;s attack.

Suleiman, a British national who was born in Somalia, was also charged with attempted murder in relation to a separate incident earlier on the same day in south London, when prosecutor Emma Harraway said he had visited a man&#39;s home and allegedly tried to stab him.

He allegedly then travelled to the north ​of the British capital later that day, she said.

The first victim, Rand, had been studying at a synagogue in Golders Green and was ​wearing &quot;traditional clothing associated with an Orthodox Jewish man&quot; when Suleiman allegedly ran at him and stabbed him with the knife, Harraway said.

Suleiman then allegedly attacked Shine, also &zwnj;wearing ⁠traditional Jewish attire, as he waited at a bus stop, the prosecutor added, before the suspect was arrested by police using a stun gun, Harraway said.

Rand suffered a punctured lung but has since been released from the hospital, while Shine suffered a stab wound to his neck, although the wound was not life-threatening.

Suleiman, flanked by two security guards, appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit, often stroking his goatee beard, and ​was remanded in custody until his ​next appearance at London&#39;s Old Bailey ⁠court on May 15.

Read More: UK police charge man over stabbing of two Jewish men in London

Speaking only to confirm his name and date of birth, he did not indicate any pleas to the charges, and the court was told by the prosecution that his address was a ​mental health facility in south London.

The incident has taken on a political dimension ​ahead of local government ⁠elections on May 7, which are likely to see Starmer&#39;s Labour Party suffer heavy losses and could even trigger an internal challenge to his leadership.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch both visited the site of the attack to amplify a message, voiced by some in ⁠the community, ​that the government had failed to protect Jews.

Starmer, who has condemned the incident and ​pledged more funding and tougher legislation, was heckled by a small group of people when he visited, as was London police chief Mark Rowley]]>
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			<title>Iran's supreme leader strikes a defiant note</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605811/irans-supreme-leader-strikes-a-defiant-note</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605811/irans-supreme-leader-strikes-a-defiant-note#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:56:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Mojtaba stakes Tehran claim on Hormuz]]>
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				<![CDATA[Iran said on Thursday it would respond with &quot;long and painful strikes&quot; on US positions if Washington renewed attacks, and also reasserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz, complicating US plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway.

Two months into the US-Israeli war with Iran, the vital sea channel remains closed, choking off 20% of the world&#39;s oil and gas supplies. That has sent global energy prices surging and heightened concerns about the risks of an economic downturn.

Efforts to resolve the conflict have hit an impasse, with a ceasefire in place since April 8 but Iran still blocking the strait in response to a US naval blockade of Iran&#39;s oil exports, the country&#39;s economic lifeline.

US President Donald Trump is slated to receive a briefing on Thursday on plans for a series of fresh military strikes on Iran to compel it to negotiate an end to the conflict, a US official told Reuters.

Such options have long been part of US planning but reports of the proposed briefing, first issued by news site Axios late on Wednesday, initially spurred big gains in oil prices, with the benchmark Brent crude contract LCOc1 hitting more than $126 a barrel at one point. It later slipped back to around $114.

Any US attack on Iran, even if limited, will usher in &quot;long and painful strikes&quot; on US regional positions, a senior Revolutionary Guards official said.

&quot;We&#39;ve seen what happened to your regional bases, we will see the same thing happen to your warships,&quot; Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi was quoted by Iranian media as saying.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written message to Iranians that Tehran would eliminate &quot;the enemies&#39; abuses of the waterway&quot; under new management of the strait, indicating that the country intended to maintain its hold over it.

&quot;Foreigners who come from thousands of kilometres away...have no place there except at the bottom of its waters,&quot; he said.

Brent prices have doubled since the war began on February 28, driving inflation and sending pump prices to politically painful levels worldwide.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that if the disruption caused by the closure dragged on through mid-year, global growth would fall, inflation would rise and tens of millions more people would be pushed into poverty and extreme hunger.

&quot;The longer this vital artery is choked, the harder it will be to reverse the damage,&quot; he told reporters in New York.

Trump faces a formal US deadline on Friday to end the war or make the case to Congress for extending it. However, analysts and congressional aides said they expect him to either notify Congress that he plans a 30-day extension or simply disregard the deadline.

As well as blocking almost all but its own shipping through the strait, Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel and at US bases, infrastructure and US-linked companies in Gulf states.

Another plan to be shared with Trump involves using ground forces to take over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping, Axios said. Trump is also considering extending the U.S. blockade on Iran or declaring a unilateral victory, officials have said.

In a sign the US was also envisaging a scenario where hostilities cease, the State Department cable invited partner countries to join a new coalition called Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC) to enable ships to navigate the strait.

&quot;The MFC constitutes a critical first step in the establishment of a post-conflict maritime security architecture for the Middle East,&quot; said the cable, which was due to be delivered orally to partner nations by May 1.

France, Britain and other countries have held talks on contributing to such a coalition but said they were willing to help open the Strait only when the conflict ends.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri held a phone call on Thursday to discuss developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as the Islamabad negotiations process.

Araqchi said halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon formed part of the IranU.S. ceasefire understanding and would remain a key issue in any future process, according to his Telegram account. A shaky ceasefire is in place in Lebanon, limiting clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Mediator Pakistan was trying to avoid escalation while the U.S. and Iran exchange messages on a potential deal, a Pakistani source said on Wednesday. Trump has said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, while Tehran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Iran&#39;s latest offer for resolving the war would set aside discussion of its nuclear program until the conflict is formally ended and shipping issues resolved.

That did not meet Trump&#39;s demand to tackle the nuclear issue at the outset.]]>
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			<title>Iran warns US of ‘prolonged, painful blows’ amid reports of potential strike plans</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605621/us-seeks-new-international-coalition-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605621/us-seeks-new-international-coalition-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 05:56:14 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA['We have seen the fate of your bases in the region; we will also see your vessels,' says IRGC Aerospace Force chief]]>
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				<![CDATA[A commander of Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force warned the United States on Thursday against potential military action amid reports Washington was&nbsp;considering new strikes against Tehran.

The warning followed a report by&nbsp;Axios that US President Donald Trump was&nbsp;expected to receive a briefing from US Central Command (CENTCOM) on options for a &ldquo;short and intense&rdquo; series of strikes aimed at breaking the current stalemate.

In response, Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, said Tehran would respond to any such operations &ldquo;even if short and rapid&rdquo; with &ldquo;prolonged and painful blows&rdquo;.

&ldquo;We have seen the fate of your bases in the region; we will also see your vessels,&rdquo; he added in his comments carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

According to Axios, CENTCOM has prepared plans that could include strikes on Iranian infrastructure, as well as broader options such as increased naval pressure in the Strait of Hormuz.

The proposals were reportedly aimed at forcing Iran back to negotiations with greater flexibility, particularly on the nuclear issue.

The report also said Washington was considering steps to secure maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz and was&nbsp;preparing for possible Iranian retaliation.

Meanwhile, an Iranian lawmaker warned that Tehran could resort to &ldquo;reciprocal action&rdquo; if efforts to secure war compensation through legal and financial channels failed.

Alireza Salimi, a member of the parliament&rsquo;s presiding board, said in an interview with the parliament-affiliated ICANA news agency that Iran was&nbsp;pursuing a multi-stage strategy to claim damages following what he described as US and Israeli attacks.

He said compensation for damage to infrastructure was&nbsp;a key demand, but stressed that Iran&rsquo;s approach went&nbsp;beyond financial claims.

Salimi outlined a three-step plan, beginning with legal action through international institutions to hold the &ldquo;aggressor&rdquo; accountable.

If those efforts proved&nbsp;ineffective, he said Iran would seek to recover damages by seizing assets linked to the responsible parties.

&ldquo;As a final step, if neither legal action nor asset recovery yields results, Iran will pursue reciprocal action to impose equivalent costs,&rdquo; he said.

Salimi also said the US should be considered a &ldquo;hostile state&rdquo; under international law due to what he described as violations of sovereignty without authorisation.

He added that countries allowing their territory or airspace to be used for attacks could be considered complicit and face legal claims.

Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said any attempt to impose a maritime blockade or restrictions in the Persian Gulf would violate international law.

&ldquo;Such actions are against the interests of regional nations and global peace and stability, and are doomed to fail,&rdquo; he said in a message marking Persian Gulf National Day.

A legislative plan addressing these measures was currently in its final stages following review by parliament&rsquo;s judicial commission, he said.

Mojtaba Khamenei signals new Gulf chapter, calls for US exit from Hormuz

Earlier, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a published written message that a new chapter for the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz was taking shape since the war on Iran by the United States and Israel broke out.

&quot;Today, with two months having passed since the largest military campaign and aggression by the world&#39;s tyrants in the region and the disgraceful defeat of America in its plan, a new chapter for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is being written,&quot; he stated, according to Iran&#39;s Press TV.



👉 &quot;Today, with two months having passed since the largest military campaign and aggression by the world&#39;s tyrants in the region and the disgraceful defeat of America in its plan, a new chapter for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is being written.&quot;
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 30, 2026


Iran&#39;s supreme leader said that Tehran would secure the Gulf region and eliminate what he described as &quot;the enemy&#39;s abuses of the waterway,&quot; and spoke on the continued resistance of the Iranian people against foreign aggression.

&quot;Persian Gulf nations, long accustomed to their rulers&#39; silence before aggressors, have witnessed in the past 60 days the resolve of Iran&#39;s naval forces and the IRGC, alongside the zeal and bravery of southern Iran&#39;s people and youth in rejecting foreign domination.&quot;



👉 &quot;Persian Gulf nations, long accustomed to their rulers&#39; silence before aggressors, have witnessed in the past 60 days the resolve of Iran&#39;s naval forces and the IRGC, alongside the zeal and bravery of southern Iran&#39;s people and youth in rejecting foreign domination.&quot;
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 30, 2026


He is quoted as saying that the Gulf will have a &quot;bright future&quot; without the presence of the US, according to Iranian state news, and commented on the US&#39; inability to protect their bases and the assets of countries friendly to them.

&quot;America&#39;s fake bases do not have the power and ability to provide even their own security, let alone giving hope for providing security for the dependents and America-lovers of the region.&quot;



👉&quot;America&#39;s fake bases do not have the power and ability to provide even their own security, let alone giving hope for providing security for the dependents and America-lovers of the region.&quot;
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 30, 2026


The supreme leader added that new management of the Strait of Hormuz would bring calm, progress and economic benefits to all Gulf nations.



👉 &quot;The history of repeated aggression by European and American foreigners, the insecurities, losses, and numerous threats to the countries of the region, is only a part of the sinister plans of the world&#39;s arrogant powers against the inhabitants of the Persian Gulf region.&quot;
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 30, 2026


&quot;The history of repeated aggression by European and American foreigners, the insecurities, losses, and numerous threats to the countries of the region, is only a part of the sinister plans of the world&#39;s arrogant powers against the inhabitants of the Persian Gulf region,&quot; he stated, according to Press TV.

&quot;The legal rules and the new management of the Strait of Hormuz will bring comfort and progress for the benefit of all the nations of the region, and its economic blessings will gladden the hearts of the people.&quot;



👉 &quot;The legal rules and the new management of the Strait of Hormuz will bring comfort and progress for the benefit of all the nations of the region, and its economic blessings will gladden the hearts of the people.&quot;
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 30, 2026


Russia&#39;s Lavrov says US-Israeli conflict with Iran has &lsquo;negative impact&rsquo; on Caspian Sea

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that the prolonged US-Israeli conflict with Iran has had a &ldquo;negative impact&rdquo; on the Caspian Sea and its coastline.

&ldquo;The Caspian Sea must remain a zone of peace and cooperation,&rdquo; Lavrov stated during a press conference following talks with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in the Central Asian nation&rsquo;s capital Astana.

Lavrov further described a strike on Iran&#39;s port city of Bandar Anzali last month as unacceptable, noting the seaport serves the &ldquo;trade and logistics interests&rdquo; of all five Caspian states.

Lavrov said that he and Kosherbayev spoke &ldquo;in favour of a speedy resolution of the crisis in the Persian Gulf region and the Middle East as a whole, moving towards achieving political agreements between all parties involved.&rdquo;

&ldquo;When discussing the Middle East, we certainly believe it&#39;s important not to lose sight of what&#39;s happening in Lebanon, particularly the impasse that has developed, with no clear path out, regarding the creation of a Palestinian state,&rdquo; Lavrov further said.

US, Israel responsible for &lsquo;insecurity&rsquo; in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the US and Israel for the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, again defending the decision to keep out &ldquo;hostile countries&rdquo;, according to Al Jazeera.

In a message commemorating National Persian Gulf Day on state media, Pezeskhian stated that the waterway was &ldquo;a symbol of the great Iranian nation&rsquo;s resistance&rdquo;.

&ldquo;The responsibility for any insecurity in this water area lies with the United States and the Zionist regime,&rdquo; he said.

No reason to negotiate over zero enrichment: Iranian lawmaker

According to Al Jazeera, Iranian MP Manouchehr Mottaki has said if Iran had known early on that the US was seeking zero uranium enrichment, it would have shifted strategies.

&ldquo;I have no objection to going to the negotiating table, but we should have looked more closely at how to proceed,&rdquo; Mottaki, who represents Tehran and previously served as foreign minister, told Iran&rsquo;s ISNA, as per Al Jazeera.

After the first round of talks, Mottaki said, &ldquo;Trump started whispering outside about zero enrichment&rdquo;, while US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker did not &ldquo;dare&rdquo; mention it.

&ldquo;If we had concluded that their final opinion was non-enrichment, naturally there would have been no point in negotiating with them, because this issue is fundamentally not related to America,&rdquo; Mottaki added, according to Al Jazeera.

US seeks new international coalition to reopen Strait of Hormuz

The Trump administration is seeking to build an international coalition to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as vessel traffic through the critical waterway remains stalled amid the ongoing US-Iran standoff, according to a report published on Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal, citing an internal State Department cable sent to US embassies, reported that Washington has asked its diplomats to press foreign governments into joining a new alliance called the &quot;Maritime Freedom Construct,&quot; which would coordinate information sharing, diplomatic efforts and sanctions enforcement to reopen the Strait.

&ldquo;Your participation will strengthen our collective ability to restore freedom of navigation and protect the global economy,&rdquo; the cable reportedly says.

Read: Trump holds talks on prolonged Iran blockade

According to the report, a senior administration official confirmed the proposal as one of the many diplomatic and policy resources at the president&#39;s disposal.

The initiative comes weeks after President Donald Trump declared the strait &quot;COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS,&quot; only for ship traffic to remain largely stalled. Iran has sought to lay mines and attack tankers transiting the waterway without Tehran&#39;s approval, while the US has enforced a blockade on all vessels heading to or from Iranian ports.

The Strait&#39;s future has become a central sticking point in stalled peace negotiations, with Trump reportedly telling aides Monday to prepare for an extended blockade until Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, US Congresswoman Sara Jacobs questioned Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth about Donald Trump&#39;s ability to be Commander-in-Chief at a Congressional session on Thursday.

&quot;Do you believe that the president is mentally stable enough to be the Commander-in-Chief?&quot;

Hegseth refused to &quot;engage with the level of disparagement&quot; that she was &quot;putting on the Commander-in-Chief.&quot; He did not answer her question.

US blockade &lsquo;will fail,&rsquo; says Iran

A top military adviser to Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader said that the US blockade of Iranian ports &ldquo;will fail,&rdquo; warning that Tehran could choose confrontation if it persists.

In remarks aired early Thursday on state television, Mohsen Rezaei said Iran has multiple ways to bypass the blockade, stressing that efforts to impose it would not succeed.

He added that if the blockade continues, Iran may resort to confrontation to break it.

Rezaei also outlined possible scenarios in the event of another war, saying it would likely focus on southern coastal areas, extending toward Isfahan, with some activity in the west of the country.

Read more: Brent oil rises 7% on report US considering military options to break Iran deadlock

He warned that such a conflict could include bombings and assassinations in Tehran.

The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, with Tehran retaliating with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets.

The US-Israeli bombing killed more than 3,300 people before Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8 mediated by Pakistan.

While originally scheduled to expire on April 22, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the truce on April 21 at the request of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.]]>
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			<title>Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says new management of Strait of Hormuz 'will bring calm'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605702/irans-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-says-new-management-of-strait-of-hormuz-will-bring-calm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605702/irans-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-says-new-management-of-strait-of-hormuz-will-bring-calm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 16:22:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605702</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Iran leader says Gulf future without US, new Hormuz rules to boost stability, economy]]>
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				<![CDATA[Iran&#39;s new ​Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei &zwnj;said in a published written message on Thursday ​that a new chapter ​for the Gulf and ⁠Strait of Hormuz ​has been taking shape since ​the Iran war with the United States and Israel broke ​out on February ​28.

He said that Tehran &zwnj;would ⁠secure the Gulf region and eliminate what he described as &quot;the enemy&#39;s ​abuses ​of ⁠the waterway&quot;.

Khamenei added that the ​new management of ​the ⁠Strait of Hormuz would bring calm, progress and ⁠economic ​benefits to ​all Gulf nations.

He also said the future of the Gulf would be &ldquo;without US presence&rdquo;, stressing that new legal and management frameworks for the Strait of Hormuz would&nbsp;bring stability and economic benefits to the region.



The brilliant future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without the US where the progress, comfort, and prosperity of its nations are served.
&mdash; Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) April 30, 2026


In a written statement released by his office to mark Persian Gulf National Day, Khamenei said the presence of foreign powers, particularly the United States, had&nbsp;been a source of instability in the region, adding that a &ldquo;new phase is emerging&rdquo;.

He said the Gulf was&nbsp;a key part of regional identity and global economic connectivity, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

Khamenei said Iran would ensure security in the Gulf through what he described as new management of the Strait of Hormuz, including updated legal frameworks.

&ldquo;These frameworks will bring stability, progress and economic benefits for all nations in the region,&rdquo; he added.

Read More: Iran warns US of &lsquo;prolonged, painful blows&rsquo; amid reports of potential strike plans

The supreme leader said regional countries shared a common destiny in the Gulf and that external actors &ldquo;from thousands of kilometres away&rdquo; have no place in its future.

The message also referred to what it described as a &ldquo;new regional order&rdquo; emerging from recent developments.

The statement came amid heightened tensions following the war that began on February 28 between Iran and the United States and Israel, which disrupted shipping and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire announced on April 8 has so far held, while diplomatic efforts continue to reach a broader agreement, including discussions over maritime access and security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran designated April 30 as Persian Gulf National Day in 2005, commemorating the expulsion of Portuguese forces from the Strait of Hormuz during the Safavid era.

Khamenei was selected as the supreme leader on March 9 following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since taking office, he has communicated only through written statements.]]>
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			<title>Gaza flotilla organisers say 211 activists 'kidnapped', 22 vessels intercepted by Israel</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605687/gaza-flotilla-organisers-say-211-activists-kidnapped-22-vessels-intercepted-by-israel</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605687/gaza-flotilla-organisers-say-211-activists-kidnapped-22-vessels-intercepted-by-israel#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 14:01:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Israel's foreign ministry says 20 of the ships 'now making their way peacefully to Israel']]>
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				<![CDATA[Organisers of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Thursday said Israel&#39;s army had &quot;kidnapped&quot; 211 activists, including a Paris city councillor, in a raid in international waters off Greece.

American news outlet CBS News&nbsp;also reported that Israeli forces intercepted 22 vessels near the Greek Island of Crete, as most of the detained crew members were onboard.

Helene Coron, a spokeswoman for the Global Sumud France, told an online news conference that the operation had taken place near the island of Crete, at an &quot;unprecedented&quot; distance from Israel.

Yasmine Scola, an activist on board the flotilla, said her colleagues had been &quot;kidnapped&quot; by Israel.

Israel&#39;s foreign ministry had earlier put the number of those detained at 175.



israeli military boats have illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence.

Communications with 11 vessels have been lost and israeli media claims that 7 boats have been intercepted. Governments must act now to protect the&hellip; pic.twitter.com/DfuRyFm925
&mdash; Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) April 29, 2026


Coron said those intercepted included Paris Communist municipal councillor Raphaelle Primet and another 10 French nationals.

&quot;We don&#39;t have the information for the other nationalities, but the boats were mixed in terms of nationality, so there were crew members from all 48 delegations,&quot; she said.

The organisers of the latest flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists seeking to break Israel&#39;s blockade on Gaza had announced earlier today that their boats were surrounded by Israeli military ships while off the coast of the Greek island of Crete.

&quot;At the time of publishing this statement (06:30 Paris time, 04:30 GMT), at least 22 of the flotilla&#39;s 58 boats have been stormed by Israeli forces in complete violation of international law,&quot; the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement.

Israel&#39;s foreign ministry derisively called the initiative a &quot;condom flotilla&quot; after prophylactics were found in a previous convoy, adding that 20 of the ships were &quot;now making their way peacefully to Israel&quot;.

Scola said her ship was carrying school supplies and food.

The remaining boats in the flotilla are currently near Crete, according to the organisation&#39;s live tracking on its website.

The flotilla organisers could not immediately give more details on what the remaining ships planned to do.

The flotilla set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy.

Read More: &lsquo;Apartheid without borders,&rsquo; says UN special rapporteur on Israel&#39;s interception of aid flotilla

Overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, the flotilla said its boats had been &quot;illegally surrounded&quot; by Israeli vessels.

Italy called for the immediate release of Italian nationals on board the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Italy &quot;condemns the seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels ... and calls on Israel to immediately release all the unlawfully detained Italians&quot;, the government said in a statement.

&#39;Lasers and assault weapons&#39;

&quot;Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as &#39;Israel&#39;, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,&quot; the organisation had said.

&quot;Boat communications are being jammed and a SOS was issued.&quot;

A Greek coastguard source told AFP it had responded to a distress signal from the flotilla, but once its patrol boat reached the area, it was told that no assistance was required.

In the summer and autumn of 2025, a first voyage by the Global Sumud Flotilla across the Mediterranean towards Gaza drew worldwide attention.

The boats in that flotilla were intercepted by Israel off the coasts of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in early October.

The Israeli operation, described as illegal by the organisers and by Amnesty International, drew international condemnation.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and then expelled by Israel.

Israel controls all entry points to Gaza, and has been accused by the United Nations and foreign NGOs of strangling the flow of goods into the territory, causing shortages since the start of the war in October 2023.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, and the conflict&nbsp;triggered by Hamas&#39;s attack on Israel has led to severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel.

A fragile ceasefire was reached last October after two years of devastating conflict.

Hamas&#39;s October 2023 attack killed 1,221 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures compiled by AFP.

Israeli military operations carried out in retaliation have killed more than 72,000 people in the Palestinian territory, mostly civilians.]]>
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			<title>Trump's attacks on Europe's leaders worsen transatlantic frost</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605857/trumps-attacks-on-europes-leaders-worsen-transatlantic-frost</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605857/trumps-attacks-on-europes-leaders-worsen-transatlantic-frost#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:25:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605857</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[More worrying for Europe, the US has floated punishing NATO allies over Iran support.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The past weeks have not been reassuring for those who thought Europe could navigate its tricky relationship with United States President Donald Trump.

Trump this week lashed out at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his criticism of the Iran war, calling him &quot;totally ineffective&quot;, and ​threatened to cut the 36,400 US troops based in Germany.

He has aimed at&nbsp;British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in strikingly personal terms, saying that he is &quot;not Winston Churchill&quot; and &zwnj;threatening to impose a &quot;big tariff&quot; on imports from the United Kingdom.

More worrying for Europe, Trump&#39;s Defence Department has floated punishing NATO allies that it believes are not supporting US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain as a member and reviewing US recognition of the Falkland Islands as a UK possession.

&quot;It&#39;s unnerving to say the least,&quot; said one European diplomat. &quot;We are braced for anything, anytime.&quot;

The latest US broadsides, fired over disagreements about the Iran war, have seemingly turned US-Europe ​relations back to the early days of the second Trump administration and raise fresh questions about the best way to handle a mercurial ally.

A second European diplomat said former German ​chancellor Angela Merkel, who had a rocky relationship with Trump during his first term, had modelled the right approach.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve all learned a bit how to ⁠handle Trump by now. You must not react immediately, you must let the storm pass, while standing firmly on your positions,&quot; the diplomat said.

Even those who attempted flattery have faced Trump&#39;s ire, the ​diplomat said. &quot;All those who tried that got their volley of insults, like the others. So everybody realises now that flattery doesn&rsquo;t work either,&quot; the diplomat said.

The White House had no immediate comment.

Back in the crosshairs 

Last ​year, US tariffs, Trump&#39;s push to acquire Greenland and a cut in US aid to Ukraine deeply unsettled transatlantic relations.

Some leaders, including Starmer, Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, worked to stabilise ties through regular visits, trade deals and policy shifts, including some that have been unpopular domestically, only to find themselves in the crosshairs again following the start of the Iran war in February.

Even NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, known in Europe as a &quot;Trump whisperer&quot;, faced a scolding ​from Trump during a White House meeting this month. Trump also blasted Meloni,&nbsp;once his favourite European leader,&nbsp;after she criticised the Iran war and chided Trump for what she called an &quot;unacceptable&quot; verbal assault against ​Pope Leo.

While many members of the US administration are deeply sceptical of Europe, not all members of the president&#39;s Republican Party support Trump&#39;s approach.

&quot;The continued attacks on NATO allies are counterproductive, the comments hurt Americans,&quot; wrote Republican &zwnj;Representative Don ⁠Bacon on X on Thursday, following Trump&#39;s threat to cut troop levels in Germany.

&quot;The two big airfields in Germany give us great access in three continents. We are shooting ourselves in our own feet.&quot;



We have two huge air bases in Germany with first-class facilities. These bases give us great access to three continents. They&rsquo;re strategically located and help give us global reach. Let us not shoot ourselves in the foot.https://t.co/7KsmliSeaa
&mdash; Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) April 30, 2026



Read More: Trump criticises Germany&#39;s Merz, tells him to stop interfering over Iran

Some of Trump&#39;s social media posts this week caught European officials off guard.

Less than two hours before the post about US troop levels in Germany, Berlin&#39;s top general, Carsten Breuer, told reporters that he got a thumbs up for Germany&#39;s new military strategy when he met with Defence Undersecretary Elbridge Colby at the Pentagon earlier in the day. He did not indicate that any troop reductions were discussed.

German military officials were fairly sanguine about ​the situation and military cooperation remained intact, a ⁠former senior US defence official said. &quot;They&#39;re saying, &#39;We&#39;ve seen this movie before. This is going to be a lot of bluster and at the end of the day, nothing is going to change.&#39;&quot;

Jeffrey Rathke, a former US diplomat who heads the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said ​European allies were becoming bolder in their opposition to Trump&#39;s policies, not least due to political pressure at home.

&quot;Merz has become increasingly pointed in ​his criticisms of the US ⁠decision to go to war against Iran,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s pretty clear that something has changed for someone who, just two months ago, went out of his way to say, &#39;It is not our time to lecture the United States.&#39;&quot;

&quot;The US war is not just something that the German public can observe in a detached way. It&#39;s something that affects them,&quot; he added, citing a war-related surge in energy costs.

European diplomats say they remain ⁠committed to transatlantic ​ties even as the &quot;tectonic plates&quot; of Europe and the US are shifting, but changes are required.

&quot;For us, the main ​lesson is that we can&#39;t rely anymore on the post-World War status quo, and that we need to be not only a soft power space, but a space that can be also backed by power,&quot; said one Western diplomat, noting ​that Europeans were acting quickly to expand their military capabilities.]]>
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			<title>Wang tells Rubio Taiwan is 'biggest risk' in ties</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605802/wang-tells-rubio-taiwan-is-biggest-risk-in-ties</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605802/wang-tells-rubio-taiwan-is-biggest-risk-in-ties#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:46:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605802</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Wang and Rubio last met in-person in Munich in February]]>
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				<![CDATA[China and the US should prepare for &quot;important high-level exchanges&quot;, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, while warning the Taiwan issue is &quot;the biggest point of risk&quot; for relations.

&quot;The Taiwan issue concerns China&#39;s core interests,&quot; Wang told Rubio, adding that the U.S. should &quot;keep its promises and make the right choices in order to open up new space for China-U.S. cooperation and make due efforts for world peace&quot;, an official summary of the call released by Wang&#39;s ministryshowed.

The phone conversation came weeks before an expected mid-May summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, and it underscored Taiwan&#39;s place at the top of Beijing&#39;s agenda.

Wang and Rubio last met in-person in Munich in February, as trade tensions between the world&#39;s two largest economies eased. A fragile tariff truce was struck during a Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea last October.

&quot;Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Trump, China-U.S. relations have generally remained stable,&quot; Wang told Rubio during Thursday&#39;s call, the first publicly known conversation between the two men since the U.S. and Israel began strikes against Iran on February 28.

&quot;Both sides should safeguard the hard-won stability, make good preparations for agendas of important high-level interactions, expand cooperation, and manage differences,&quot; Wang said.

The two men also discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Chinese readout showed, without providing further details.]]>
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			<title>Afghan linked to2021 Kabul airport attack convicted</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605803/afghan-linked-to2021-kabul-airport-attack-convicted</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605803/afghan-linked-to2021-kabul-airport-attack-convicted#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:46:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605803</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Prosecutors said Sharifullah helped the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate]]>
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				<![CDATA[A federal jury in Virginia on Wednesday convicted an Afghan man of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization in connection with the 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed 13 US service members and about 160 Afghan civilians.

But the jury deadlocked on whether his actions directly caused the deaths, sparing the defendant, Mohammad Sharifullah, from a possible life sentence. He still faces up to 20 years in prison.

US District Judge Anthony Trenga did not immediately set a sentencing date. The attack occurred on August 26, 2021, as US forces were evacuating from Afghanistan at the end of America&#39;s longest war.

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest at Abbey Gate, killing 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman and one Army soldier, along with an estimated 160 Afghan civilians.

Prosecutors said Sharifullah helped the Islamic State group&#39;s Afghanistan affiliate, ISIS-K, by conducting reconnaissance and facilitating communications ahead of the attack.

Defense attorneys argued the government relied too heavily on Sharifullah&#39;s own statements during FBI interrogations and failed to independently prove his role in the bombing.

The case marked the first US criminal trial stemming from the Abbey Gate attack, a politically charged episode that has continued to shape debate over how former President Joe Biden&#39;s administration withdrew from Afghanistan.

Early in President Donald Trump&#39;s second term, Sharifullah was arrested in Pakistan, near the Afghan border, by Pakistani security forces working with the FBI and CIA.]]>
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			<title>Lebanon hunger crisis deepens</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605805/lebanon-hunger-crisis-deepens</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605805/lebanon-hunger-crisis-deepens#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:46:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605805</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Conditions going from bad to worse in Gaza]]>
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				<![CDATA[At least nine people were reported to have been killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday, as ongoing hostilities continue to exact a heavy toll on civilians and drive a worsening humanitarian crisis marked by rising hunger and strained public services.

The UN relief coordination office, OCHA, cited reports from Lebanese authorities that at least 13 people were also injured in multiple airstrikes and military activity across towns in the south.

Between 17 and 28 April alone, 48 people were killed and 183 injured, bringing the total toll since the escalation began on 2 March to more than 2,500 killed and over 7,800 wounded, according to the country&#39;s health ministry.

Despite an extended ceasefire, the situation remains &quot;fragile and volatile,&quot; OCHA said, with continued violence hampering humanitarian access and recovery efforts.

Aid agencies have managed to carry out 100 assisted missions to hard-to-reach areas through a UN-coordinated notification system, allowing some relief to reach communities under strain.

Insecurity, coupled with the economic impact of the conflict, has further strained livelihoods, while rising costs and supply disruptions are worsening food insecurity.

Estimates indicate that nearly a quarter of the population is facing acute hunger.

A new alert from the UN-backed global food security tracker IPC on Wednesday warned that the situation is deteriorating rapidly.

Around 1.2 million people could face high levels of acute food insecurity between now and August.

&quot;Behind every number are families struggling to meet their food needs consistently,&quot; the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said, as it continues to scale up assistance, together with partners.

In one school-turned-shelter in Jdeideh, in northern Beirut city, 377 people &ndash; around 90 families &ndash; are living in cramped conditions, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported, highlighting the pressures on basic infrastructure.

The UN health agency has been working with partners to strengthen medical treatment options including support for hospital blood banks to ensure lifesaving transfusions during emergencies.

Gaza conditions deteriorate

In Gaza, humanitarian conditions remain dire, with families facing overcrowded shelters, limited access to water and growing health risks.

OCHA said UN and partner teams visiting displacement sites in eastern Gaza city found around 600 families living in &quot;harsh conditions,&quot; sheltering in damaged buildings and tents with little access to clean water and virtually no sanitation services.

Rodents and insects are widespread, increasing the risk of disease, while untreated waste and overcrowding are compounding already difficult living conditions.]]>
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			<title>Why Pakistan has emerged as the pivotal mediator in the Iran conflict</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605696/why-pakistan-has-emerged-as-the-pivotal-mediator-in-the-iran-conflict</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605696/why-pakistan-has-emerged-as-the-pivotal-mediator-in-the-iran-conflict#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 15:16:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605696</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Gulf states trust Pakistan’s role; Islamabad leads regional talks, keeps close Saudi, UAE ties]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Ever since the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out on February 28, Pakistan&#39;s efforts to advance mediation have been difficult to ignore.

The federal government has shuttled multiple peace proposals between both capitals, stretched its diplomatic bandwidth to get conflicting parties to the negotiating table, and, despite limited success in early April talks in Islamabad, it continues to acquire considerable support from both Iran and the United States in brokering a consensus on the path to de-escalation.

The value of having no skin in the game

These dynamics merit a deeper understanding of what constitutes Pakistan&#39;s role as a pivotal mediator in the conflict and the drivers that propel it to that status.

First, Islamabad does not carry some of the constraints associated with Gulf countries and traditional US-focused mediators. For instance, Islamabad does not host any US military bases, making it a critical player in earning the trust of Tehran,&nbsp;which has attacked Middle Eastern countries, including mediators Oman and Qatar, for their perceived role in facilitating US attacks on the country.

Islamabad preserves this trust by avoiding any appearance of military complicity &mdash;&nbsp;even tacit support for the US &mdash;&nbsp;which could bring it into the line of fire in the current war.

Read More: Mojtaba Khamenei signals new Gulf chapter, calls for US exit from Hormuz

On the other hand, Islamabad, as the destination of choice, provides ample geographical safety from core conflict flashpoints.

For instance, Pakistan is not in close proximity to areas in the immediate periphery of the Strait of Hormuz, where fluctuating US-Iran tensions on opening up the waterway have sent substantial alarm across Middle Eastern economies.

This matters to US negotiators, who have shown sensitivity to regions that could invite Iranian attacks, and similar threat perceptions for Tehran &mdash;&nbsp;which has seen much of its top leadership become the target of unwarranted Israeli-US attacks &mdash;&nbsp;make Islamabad a destination offering greater security and a stronger basis for negotiating in earnest.

Gulf countries view Pakistan&#39;s role with a high degree of trust as well. This was apparent in the lead-up to the first round of &quot;Islamabad Talks&quot; when regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia partnered with T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt to assess the contours of regional security in four-way talks in Islamabad.

Pakistan also maintains very close ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the&nbsp;leadership has made the most of its multivector foreign policy by making time-sensitive visits to countries such as Qatar to gauge prospects for de-escalation. Pakistan is also among the few countries to have the ear of US President Donald Trump, who has voiced his support for the top leadership brass.

Energy dependency as a driver of diplomacy

This proximity enables Islamabad to credibly facilitate the vital exchange of competing peace plans to the benefit of US-Iran talks, as well as account for expectations regarding an enduring de-escalation scenario, as seen through the lens of major Gulf partners, including Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

At the same time, Pakistan&#39;s geographical proximity to Iran &mdash;&nbsp;a close neighbour with a history of shared counterterrorism cooperation&nbsp;and energy ties &mdash;&nbsp;makes mediation a matter of strategic value when the economy is already on the margins.

This reality, reinforced by growth risks and limited borrowing potential, makes it clear that Pakistan&nbsp;cannot afford to look the other way when drastic energy shocks from the Strait of Hormuz tensions affect global energy outlooks, as well as domestic energy supplies.

Pakistan imports the lion&#39;s share of its gas from key Gulf countries. The energy factor lends Islamabad&#39;s mediation the additional immediacy that is central to seeing the conflict through for its domestic constituency as well.

Pakistan&#39;s iron-clad relationship with China is also a positive reinforcer. This alignment is reflected in both countries&#39; &quot;five-point&quot; peace plan, which calls for de-escalation and a resumption of peace talks.

The federal government&#39;s history of opposing unilateral sanctions, firm regard for international law&nbsp;and refusal to take sides in the Iran-US conflict lends its mediating potential the promise of permanence, alignment with UN-backed dialogue principles, and rare credibility in brokering consensus.

It is this practical reading of gradual but enduring peace talks momentum, geographical constraints, energy drivers, and close diplomatic proximity to both Tehran and Washington that gives Islamabad the leverage and endurance to emerge as a major mediator in the US-Iran war.]]>
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			<title>Trump says he will raise tariffs on EU autos to 25%</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605868/trump-says-he-will-raise-tariffs-on-eu-autos-to-25</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605868/trump-says-he-will-raise-tariffs-on-eu-autos-to-25#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 16:36:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605868</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says 100b dollars were invested on plants to built automobiles on US soil under MAGA initiative]]>
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				<![CDATA[United States President ​Donald Trump on Friday &zwnj;said he would be increasing tariffs on cars and trucks ​from the European Union ​to 25%, saying the bloc had ⁠not complied with its ​trade deal.

&quot;Based on the ​fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed ​to trade deal, next ​week I will be increasing tariffs &zwnj;charged ⁠to the European Union for cars and trucks coming into the United States,&quot; he ​wrote ​in ⁠a social media post.

&quot;It is fully understood ​and agreed that, if ​they ⁠produce cars and trucks in USA plants, there will ⁠be ​no tariff,&quot; Trump ​added.

Read More: Trump&#39;s attacks on Europe&#39;s leaders worsen transatlantic frost

In his post, Trump also emphasised manufacturing automobiles in the US.



https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116500111621281950



&ldquo;Many automobiles and truck plants are currently under construction, with over 100b dollars being invested,&quot; he added.

Trump told reporters at the White House that the higher tariff would force European car ​makers to move their factory production to the US&nbsp;more quickly.

&quot;We have a trade deal with the European Union. They were ​not adhering to it. So I raised the tariffs on cars and trucks to 25%, that&#39;s billions of dollars coming into the United States, and it forces them to move their factory production much faster.&quot;

The past weeks have not been reassuring for those who thought Europe could navigate its tricky relationship with Trump.

The Trump administration last year imposed a 25% tariff on global automotive imports under a national ​security trade law, but reached a deal with the EU in August to lower those duties to a net 15%, ​inclusive of prior duties.

In exchange, the EU agreed to eliminate duties on US&nbsp;industrial goods, including autos, and accept US&nbsp;safety and emissions &zwnj;standards ⁠on vehicles.

Although EU lawmakers&nbsp;advanced legislation&nbsp;in March to implement the tariff reductions, the process is not expected to be completed before June, as EU governments and the European Parliament negotiate final texts.

&quot;President Trump&#39;s behaviour is unacceptable,&quot; Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament&#39;s international trade committee, told Reuters.

&quot;This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the US&nbsp;side is. We have already witnessed these arbitrary ​attacks from the US&nbsp;in ​the case of Greenland; this ⁠is no way to treat close partners. Now we can only respond with the utmost clarity and firmness, drawing on the strength of our position,&quot; Lange said.

But a Trump administration official, ​asked to explain Trump&#39;s move, said: &quot;The EU has not complied with the autos deal after ​eight months.&quot;

Shares ⁠of Ford Motor&nbsp;fell 2% after Trump&#39;s announcement, while those of Stellantis were down 1.7%. General Motors shares&nbsp;dropped 1.1%.

Ryan Majerus, a former senior US&nbsp;Commerce Department official who is now a partner with King &amp; Spalding, said the president&#39;s move also may be ⁠related to ​Trump&#39;s frustration that some European countries had baulked at supporting the US-Israeli&nbsp;war against ​Iran.

&quot;This is not going to sit well in the EU, and I&#39;m not sure the administration cares, because they&#39;re so incredibly antagonistic toward the EU,&quot; Majerus said.]]>
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			<title>III International Lazgi Dance Festival concludes in Uzbekistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605871/iii-international-lazgi-dance-festival-concludes-in-uzbekistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605871/iii-international-lazgi-dance-festival-concludes-in-uzbekistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 17:09:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Writers and artists from 80 countries worldwide attended the international cultural event]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The III International Lazgi Dance Festival concluded in Khiva, Uzbekistan, which also included the International Scientific and Practical Conference.

Internationally renowned writers, authors, journalists, academicians, and performers from 80 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Spain, Egypt, Georgia, India, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Austria, Jordan, Mexico, Ghana, North Macedonia, Iran, China, Pakistan, and Italy, attended the event.

Moreover, the III meeting of the Uzbekistan-Turkic Joint Cultural Commission, the III meeting of rectors of higher educational institutions of arts and dance from TURKSOY member states, a conference on the topic &ldquo;Anthology of Traditional Dance of the Turkic World,&rdquo; and an &ldquo;Ethnocultural Forum&rdquo; were held within the framework of the festival.



🇺🇿 III. Uluslararası Lazgi Dans Festivali kapanış t&ouml;reni renkli anlara sahne oldu. pic.twitter.com/ch2a5dZt0E
&mdash; T&Uuml;RKSOY (@turksoyorg) May 1, 2026


Read More: Pakistan&#39;s indie cinema finds global spotlight

The Pakistani delegation comprised Dr Shazia Anwer Cheema and Vikas Kumar, who presented their scientific papers, while Ch Hamid Mahmood and Agha Iqrar Haroon participated in the International Forum discussion.



Pakistani delegation at the Lazgi Dance Festival. PHOTO: dnd.com.pk

The paper presented by Dr Cheema, titled &ldquo;From Spectacle to Gesture: Re-situating Lazgi within Punjabi Performing Arts and Embodied Performance Theory,&rdquo; was approved for publication in the International Conference Documentation Compendium.]]>
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			<title>South Asia likely to see weaker monsoon and higher temperatures in 2026: PMD</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605834/south-asia-likely-to-see-weaker-monsoon-and-higher-temperatures-in-2026-pmd</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605834/south-asia-likely-to-see-weaker-monsoon-and-higher-temperatures-in-2026-pmd#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 10:03:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Aftab Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605834</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[There is strong consensus among experts that El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Friday that most parts of South Asia were likely to receive below-normal rainfall during the 2026 southwest monsoon season, while temperatures were expected to remain higher than average.

El Ni&ntilde;o is a climatic phase in the Pacific Ocean marked by unusually warm sea surface temperatures, while its counterpart, La Ni&ntilde;a, brings cooler-than-average waters. Together, they form the El Ni&ntilde;o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system, a key driver of global weather patterns.

The outlook was finalised at the 34th session of the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF-34), held in Mal&eacute;, Maldives, with participation from experts representing national meteorological and hydrological services of nine countries, alongside international climate organisations.

According to an&nbsp;official statement from the PMD, the forum noted that &ldquo;below normal rainfall is most likely during the 2026 southwest monsoon season (June&ndash;September) over most parts of South Asia, particularly across the central parts of the region.&rdquo;

However, the forum noted regional variation, stating that &ldquo;some areas over the north-western, northeastern, and parts of the southern region are likely to experience normal to above normal rainfall.&rdquo;

The statement also highlighted rising temperatures, warning that &ldquo;during the season, minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be above normal across most of South Asia.&rdquo;

On major climate drivers, the forum said that &ldquo;currently, ENSO-neutral conditions in the equatorial Pacific are transitioning toward an El Ni&ntilde;o.&rdquo;

It added that, &ldquo;based on global climate model forecasts, there is strong consensus among experts that El Ni&ntilde;o conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season.&rdquo;

Regarding the Indian Ocean, the statement noted, &ldquo;Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions currently prevail over the Indian Ocean,&rdquo; but added that &ldquo;climate models indicate that a positive IOD phase is likely to emerge later in the monsoon season.&rdquo;

Participants at the forum reviewed both observed and projected climatic conditions, including ENSO, IOD, northern hemisphere winter and spring snow cover, and land surface temperature anomalies, all of which can influence monsoon performance.

The meeting included representatives from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Regional Climate Centre in Pune, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, among others.

Read: El Nino alert: summer turns fierce

The forum also cautioned about forecast uncertainty, noting that &ldquo;global climate model predictions prior to and during the spring season generally have noticeable uncertainty due to the spring barrier in seasonal predictability.&rdquo;

It added that &ldquo;other regional and global factors, as well as intra-seasonal features of the region, can also affect the seasonal climate patterns.&rdquo;

According to meteorological projections, the activation of El Nino could lead to higher temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and below-average rainfall in Pakistan. In extreme cases, this may also trigger drought-like conditions in certain regions.

The PMD&nbsp;had&nbsp;issued a heatwave alert on Tuesday, warning that the southern parts of the country could experience a low-intensity heatwave between April 29 and May 3. During this period, temperatures may soar to as high as 52&deg;C in some areas.

Historical climate data shows that May and June are typically the hottest months of the year in Pakistan. Areas most vulnerable to extreme heat include southern Punjab, upper Sindh, and southeastern Balochistan, where average temperatures range between 43&deg;C and 45&deg;C. Observational data suggests that temperatures in these regions are already running 2-4&deg;C above normal.

Explaining the science behind the phenomenon, PMD spokesperson and Deputy Director Anjum Nazir Zaigham stated that El Ni&ntilde;o and La Ni&ntilde;a were two phases of the same climatic system. During El Ni&ntilde;o, waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become significantly warmer than usual, directly influencing weather conditions in Pakistan. This can result in prolonged heat spells, weaker winds, reduced rainfall, and even drought in some areas. In contrast, La Ni&ntilde;a brings cooler ocean temperatures, often leading to stronger winds, increased rainfall, and cooler conditions across Pakistan and other parts of South Asia.

Citing data from the World Meteorological Organisation, Zaigham added that current sea surface temperatures were already 0.5&deg;C above normal. If this anomaly reached&nbsp;0.8&deg;C, the likelihood of El Ni&ntilde;o forming in May rose&nbsp;sharply to 61%.

With climate signals aligning and temperatures already trending above average, Pakistan may be heading into a summer where the heat does not just arrive-it tightens its grip.]]>
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			<title>Bangladesh seals Boeing jet deal, shifts from Airbus</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605806/bangladesh-seals-boeing-jet-deal-shifts-from-airbus</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605806/bangladesh-seals-boeing-jet-deal-shifts-from-airbus#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:46:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Boeing will supply a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including 10 787 Dreamliners and four 737 MAX jets]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Bangladesh signed a deal on Thursday to buy 14 aircraft from U.S. planemaker Boeing BA.N, officials said, a move that marks a shift away from Europe&#39;s Airbus AIR.PAamid trade pressure from Washington.

Officials did not disclose the value of the deal, though at list prices it would be worth about $3.7 billion.

Boeing will supply a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including 10 787 Dreamliners and four 737 MAX jets, to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as the national carrier looks to modernise its fleet and expand capacity to meet rising demand.

The order features eight 787?10s, marking Biman&#39;s first purchase of the largest Dreamliner variant, along with two 787?9s, Boeing said on Thursday, confirming the order.

The aircraft will be delivered in phases, a Biman official and an official from the aviation ministry said, without providing further details.]]>
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			<title>Guterres rebukes US over dues</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605804/guterres-rebukes-us-over-dues</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605804/guterres-rebukes-us-over-dues#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:46:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[US demanded that cost-cutting include overhauling the UN pension system]]>
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				<![CDATA[United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the billions of dollars the United States owes to the world body is &quot;non-negotiable,&quot; after reports that Washington had placed conditions on releasing the funds.

The development newswire Devex reported this week that two diplomatic notes circulated by the U.S. called for nine &quot;quick-hit&quot; reforms as a condition for releasing more funds, including further cost-cutting, and moves to counter China&#39;s influence at the United Nations.

&quot;The money we are talking about is referred to as assessed contributions,&quot; Guterres told reporters when asked about the reports. &quot;Assessed contributions are an obligation of member states. They are non-negotiable.&quot;

Guterres, who has been leading reform efforts under pressure from member states, especially the United States, said the U.N. would do its best &quot;to make sure that we make this organization as effective and as cost-effective and as able to deliver for the people we care for.&quot;

&quot;But these are two separate things,&quot; he added.

According to Devex, the U.S.-demanded cost-cutting included overhauling the U.N. pension system, ending long-distance business-class travel for some senior and all mid-level professionals, additional cuts to senior U.N. ranks and a 10% reduction in long-running and ineffective peacekeeping missions.]]>
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			<title>Suu Kyi to be moved to house arrest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605807/suu-kyi-to-be-moved-to-house-arrest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605807/suu-kyi-to-be-moved-to-house-arrest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 21:46:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Dujarric added that the only viable political solution in Myanmar &quot;must be based on immediate cessation of violence]]>
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				<![CDATA[Myanmar&#39;s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to be moved to house arrest, state media reported on Thursday, more than five years after the military ousted the civilian government she led and jailed the Nobel laureate.

Suu Kyi, 80, has been detained by the junta since and her whereabouts have been unclear amid a deadly civil war that was triggered by the February 2021 coup that has engulfed much of the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

&quot;...the remaining portion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi&#39;s sentence has been commuted to be served at a designated residence,&quot; state-run MRTV reported, using an honorific for the veteran politician.

State media also broadcast a photograph of Suu Kyi, seated on a wooden bench and flanked by two uniformed personnel - the first public image of her in years.

At the United Nations in New York, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric welcomed the news.

&quot;We&#39;ve just seen the reports,&quot; he said. &quot;I can tell you that we appreciate the commutation of Aung San Suu Kyi to a so-called house arrest in a designated residence. It is a meaningful step towards conditions conducive to credible political process.&quot;

Dujarric added that the only viable political solution in Myanmar &quot;must be based on immediate cessation of violence and a genuine commitment to inclusive dialogue.&quot;

However, in a statement, her son Kim Aris said Thursday&#39;s announcement by Myanmar authorities did little to dispel fears about her condition or even confirm that she was still alive.

&quot;I still do not know where my mother is. I do not know how she is. I remain deeply concerned about whether she is still alive,&quot; he said. &quot;If she is alive, I ask for proof of life.&quot;

In December, Aris told Reuters he has not heard from his mother in years, only receiving sporadic, secondhand details about her heart, bone and gum problems since her detention.

&quot;It is good to hear that the house arrest has been confirmed but we haven&#39;t received any direct notification,&quot; a member of her legal team told Reuters. &quot;We only found out about it from the news announcement.&quot;

THIRTY-THREE-YEAR SENTENCE

After a marathon run of trials, Suu Kyi was sentenced to 33 years after convictions on charges ranging from corruption and inciting election fraud to violating state secrecy rules, which her allies maintain were politically motivated and aimed at sidelining her.

That sentence was later commuted to 27 years, and then by a sixth in a Myanmar New Year amnesty on April 17 that freed her ally and co-defendant Win Myint, the former president.

Earlier on Thursday, her sentence was reduced by a further one-sixth as part of a wider amnesty of all prisoners in Myanmar&#39;s jails.]]>
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			<title>EU seeks to close loopholes allowing rapists to walk free</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605398/eu-seeks-to-close-loopholes-allowing-rapists-to-walk-free</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605398/eu-seeks-to-close-loopholes-allowing-rapists-to-walk-free#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 26 21:52:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Parliament backs consent-based definition of rape]]>
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				<![CDATA[European Parliament lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of a consent-based definition of rape - known as &quot;only yes means yes&quot; - and urged the European Commission to propose legislation establishing EU-wide rules.

The EU adopted minimum standards to combat violence against women for the first time in 2024, but a proposed article to create a common definition of rape was dropped after opposition from several member states.

&quot;Silence, lack of resistance, the absence of a &#39;no&#39;, previous consent, past sexual conduct, or any current or previous relationship must not be interpreted as consent,&quot; the Parliament said in a statement after the vote on the report.

The report also recognises two trauma responses, clarifying that neither can be interpreted as consent. It identifies the &quot;freeze response&quot;, a reaction to fear or threat that can lead to temporary paralysis and a loss of the ability to speak, and the &quot;fawn response&quot;, which is a survival strategy.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said it would support national reforms, map the bloc&#39;s legal system and work to &quot;identify further EU action, including legislative, to ensure that sex without consent is defined as rape across the EU&quot;.

EU countries apply different legal definitions of rape, even among those that have ratified the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty designed to protect women that criminalises rape based on the absence of consent.

France updated its rape laws last year to include &quot;freely given and informed&quot; consent following the Gisele Pelicot mass rape trial. Previously, French criminal law did not include the concept of consent and defined rape as sexual acts using &quot;violence, coercion, threat or surprise&quot;.

German law uses the absence of &quot;no&quot; while Austria relies on a force-based definition. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, and Slovakia have not ratified the convention while in October, Latvia&#39;s parliament voted to withdraw from it.

&quot;Most rapes are committed by someone the victim knows, at home, without physical violence, and most victims are paralysed by fear rather than fight back. For years the law has been built around the wrong picture of rape entirely,&quot; Swedish lawmaker Abir Al-Sahlani with the Renew group said in a statement.]]>
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			<title>Suspect in Washington dinner shooting charged with trying to assassinate Trump</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605294/suspect-in-washington-dinner-shooting-charged-with-trying-to-assassinate-trump</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605294/suspect-in-washington-dinner-shooting-charged-with-trying-to-assassinate-trump#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 26 14:59:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Could face life in prison]]>
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				<![CDATA[The man accused of opening fire at the venue of a Washington dinner attended by&nbsp;Donald Trump was charged on Monday with attempting ​to assassinate the US president and could face life in prison if convicted.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, wore a blue jail-issue V-neck shirt and pants &zwnj;at his first appearance in Washington federal court, two days after authorities said he launched an unsuccessful attack at the White House Correspondents&#39; Association Dinner, an annual black-tie gathering of journalists and politicians. His hands were cuffed behind his back as he was led into and out of the courtroom.

&quot;He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump,&quot; prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine said.

The incident is ​the latest in a pattern of political violence in the US. Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a rally last September, months ​after a Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were killed. Trump himself was the target of two assassination attempts in the ⁠2024 presidential campaign.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters after the hearing that investigators believe Allen targeted Trump in part because he appeared to refer to the president ​as a &quot;traitor&quot; and called him other epithets in an email he sent to relatives the night of the incident.

Read More: Man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump

&quot;Violence has no place in civil life,&quot; Blanche told reporters. &quot;It cannot and ​will not be used to disrupt democratic institutions, and it certainly cannot continue to be used against the president of the United States.&quot;

Allen to be held in jail 

Allen, of Torrance, California, also faces charges of illegally transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

Ballantine said Allen brought a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and three knives to Washington, while a court filing ​also said he was armed with a Rock Island Armory 1911 .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Blanche said authorities recovered a spent shell casing inside the shotgun, a sign it ​had been fired.

Allen did not respond to the allegations at the brief hearing. He said he had a master&#39;s degree in computer science. Defence lawyer Tezira Abe said at the hearing that Allen &zwnj;had no ⁠prior arrests or convictions.

US Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Allen held in custody until at least Thursday, when he is due to return to court for a hearing to consider whether he should be held in jail until trial.

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney in Washington, told reporters that additional charges would be brought against Allen.

&#39;Friendly federal assassin&#39;

Allen booked a room at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner took place, on April 6 and travelled from California to Washington by train last week, according to an affidavit filed ​by an FBI agent in court.

According to the affidavit, ​Allen, on Saturday, sent an email ⁠to family members referring to himself as the &quot;Friendly Federal Assassin&quot; and discussing plans to target senior Trump administration officials.

&quot;On to why I did any of this: I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me,&quot; Allen wrote ​in the email, according to the affidavit.

The shooting on Saturday rattled the press dinner, a prominent event on Washington&#39;s social calendar, sending ​attendees diving under tables ⁠and prompting law enforcement to whisk senior officials out of the room. Trump, who was set to deliver remarks later in the evening, was rushed off the stage by security personnel.

US officials have described Allen&#39;s takedown as a law enforcement success. But the incident has revived concerns about the safety of Trump and other US&nbsp;officials.

Allen ran through a magnetometer at a security ⁠checkpoint at ​the hotel while holding a long gun, according to the affidavit. A Secret Service officer fired at ​Allen, who fell to the ground but was not shot, the affidavit read.

The affidavit said the Secret Service officer was shot in the chest while wearing a ballistic vest, but did not specify by whom.]]>
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			<title>Israeli strikes hit east Lebanon</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605207/israeli-strikes-hit-east-lebanon</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605207/israeli-strikes-hit-east-lebanon#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 26 21:47:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605207</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tel Aviv expands scope despite ceasefire]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Israeli military began carrying out strikes in eastern Lebanon on Monday, expanding the scope of its bombing campaign during a ceasefire that has failed to fully halt hostilities with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

The strikes on Lebanon&#39;s eastern Bekaa Valley marked the first time the area has been hit since a US-brokered ceasefire came into force on April 16, significantly reducing the pace of attacks without entirely stopping the exchanges of fire.

Israel has continued to carry out strikes across southern Lebanon, and its troops are occupying a strip of the country&#39;s south, destroying homes they describe as infrastructure being used by Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group, meanwhile, has kept up its drone and rocket attacks against Israeli troops in Lebanon and on northern Israel.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said it was beginning to strike Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa as well as areas in southern Lebanon. Security sources told Reuters strikes had hit near the town of Nabi Chit, near Lebanon&#39;s eastern border with Syria, with no immediate reports of casualties.

Lebanon&#39;s state media agency reported several strikes across the south that left at least three people wounded.

Hezbollah said on Monday it had attacked an Israeli tank in southern Lebanon with a drone. The Israeli military said a drone launched by Hezbollah exploded near its troops in southern Lebanon, without causing casualties.

More than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah fired on Israel in support of its ally Iran and triggered an Israeli ground and air campaign that has left swathes of southern Lebanon in ruins.

The war has deepened differences among people in Lebanon, who are divided over Hezbollah&#39;s arms and over prospective peace talks with Israel. The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States have met twice to discuss the ceasefire, intended to pave the way for direct talks to secure a peace deal between the longtime foes.

Hezbollah fiercely opposes direct negotiations, with its head Naim Qassem describing the talks in a written statement on Monday as a &quot;humiliating and unnecessary concession.&quot;

&quot;Let it be clear, these direct negotiations and their outcomes are considered nonexistent to us and do not concern us at all. We will continue our defensive resistance for Lebanon and its people,&quot; Qassem said.]]>
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