world

In a significant diplomatic development amid rising global concerns over terrorism, India and the United States have come together at the United Nations to push for stronger international action against Pakistan-based terror networks. The joint move follows a series of high-profile terror attacks, including the recent massacre in Sydney and earlier strikes in India’s Pahalgam region. The Donald Trump administration, aligning closely with New Delhi, has urged the United Nations to impose fresh sanctions under the UN Security Council’s 1267 sanctions regime against major jihadist organisations operating from Pakistan. The proposed action targets the Islamic State (IS) group, Al-Qaeda affiliates, and Pakistan-origin terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), along wit...

India has decided not to move forward with the purchase of Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-57, dealing a setback to Moscow’s long-standing efforts to secure a major defence deal with New Delhi. Despite high expectations ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India, no agreement on the Su-57 materialised, signalling a clear shift in India’s defence priorities. For nearly two years, Russia has been actively pitching the Su-57 to India, projecting it as one of the centrepieces of bilateral defence cooperation. In the run-up to President Putin’s visit, Russia’s state-run news agency TASS and several Kremlin-controlled media outlets claimed that a deal was close to being finalised. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had publicly stated t...

The devastating terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during celebrations of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah has sent shockwaves across Australia and the world, raising renewed concerns over Islamist extremism and international terror networks. At least 15 people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed and nearly 40 others injured in what authorities are calling one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Australia’s history. New South Wales Police confirmed that the attack was carried out by two gunmen—a father and his son—who opened indiscriminate fire on the crowd gathered at the beachfront. The attackers have been identified as Sajid Akram (50), who was shot dead during a police operation, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who remains critically injured and under police cus...

In an extraordinary act of courage, a 43-year-old civilian, Ahmed Al Ahmed, averted a far greater tragedy during the deadly terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach by confronting an armed attacker with his bare hands and seizing his rifle. His fearless intervention is being hailed worldwide as a defining moment of bravery amid one of Australia’s deadliest recent terror incidents. The attack occurred during celebrations for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, when two gunmen—later identified by police as a father and son aged 50 and 24—opened fire on the crowded beachfront. At least 15 people were killed and nearly 30 injured, including two police officers. One of the attackers was shot dead by police, while the other was critically injured. Authorities have confirmed that the attackers were ...

The recent terror attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, which has claimed at least 15 lives, has reignited a global debate on Islamist extremism and alleged Pakistan-backed jihadist ideology. The attack occurred during a public gathering to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, intensifying concerns over the sharp rise in anti-Jewish violence in several parts of the world. According to New South Wales Police, two attackers—identified as a father and son of Pakistani origin—opened fire at the crowded beachfront. One of the attackers was killed in a police encounter, while the other remains critically injured. Nearly 30 people, including two police officers, were wounded in the attack. The incident has drawn strong international reactions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah...

Canberra: A skydiving stunt in Australia turned into a near-tragedy when a parachute got entangled in a plane’s wing mid-jump, leaving the skydiver dangling thousands of feet above the ground. The incident occurred during a 16-way formation jump being filmed with 17 parachutists. Adrian Ferguson, the skydiver involved, became trapped in the wing flap immediately after exiting the plane. Fellow skydivers watched in alarm as Ferguson swung perilously in mid-air at an altitude of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet). Dramatic Rescue in Mid-Air Ferguson managed to save himself by using a hook knife to cut his reserve parachute, which had snagged on the aircraft, and then freeing the main parachute. He carefully cut 11 suspension lines to detach from the damaged chute and safely descended to the...

Beijing/Washington: While the U.S. has been publicizing its sixth-generation fighter jet F-34, China has quietly advanced its J-36 program, rapidly overtaking America in the next-generation stealth fighter race. Reports indicate that China’s speed and strategic approach have caught American defense establishments off guard. Developing next-generation stealth fighters is an extremely complex task that requires extensive prior experience. Assigning such a program to institutions lacking this expertise, as the U.S. has done with Boeing for the NGAD F-47, could prove to be a strategic misstep. China’s Advantage Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC), which developed the world’s largest heavy stealth fighter fleet with the J-20, is now leading the J-36 sixth-generation fighter program. ...

Islamabad: Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Pakistan’s ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has made a public appeal to Elon Musk regarding her ex-husband’s incarceration. According to Jemima, her posts on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting Imran Khan’s treatment in prison are being restricted, limiting their reach to the public. Jemima stated that her two sons have been denied access to meet or speak with their father over the past 22 months. Social media remains her primary platform to update the world on Imran Khan’s condition, but she claims that her posts are being filtered, reducing their visibility. Addressing Musk directly, Jemima wrote: “Whenever I post about Imran, the reach of my posts is almost completely blocked, not just in Pakistan but globally. Despite having 3.5 million ...

Islamabad/Riyadh: While China built Pakistan’s Gwadar Port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), intelligence sources have revealed that a new strategic game is underway in the Arabian Sea. According to sources cited by Navbharat Times Online, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are planning a comprehensive maritime and logistics project at Gwadar Port that extends far beyond economic interests, with clear military and strategic implications. The proposal envisions transforming Gwadar from a commercial port into a multi-dimensional strategic hub. It aims to strengthen Pakistan’s maritime logistics and energy security while extending Saudi Arabia’s strategic reach across the Arabian Sea and adjacent regions. The plan includes enhanced bilateral defense cooperation and rapid deployment...

New Delhi/Washington: India and the United States are inching closer to finalizing their long-pending trade deal. In a revised proposal presented to the U.S., India has agreed to several American demands while placing key conditions of its own. At the heart of the proposal is India’s demand to remove the additional 25% tariff imposed on Russian oil, a measure introduced by the Trump administration in August as part of punitive duties on imports from India. According to sources cited by The Hindu, India has requested the immediate removal of tariffs on imports including walnuts, almonds, apples, and industrial goods. In exchange, the U.S. would reduce its tariffs on Indian goods by 25%. The revised proposal is part of a larger bilateral trade agreement, but India is currently focused on ...