Anthony Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister in two decades to win a second consecutive three-year term. His center-left Labor Party is on track to secure a strong parliamentary majority, with Australia’s public broadcaster ABC projecting 85 seats in the House of Representatives — well above the 76 needed for a majority. Meanwhile, More
US President Donald Trump plans to hike America’s defence spending in 2026 to a record $1.01 trillion, says the White House. In his discretionary funding request, released by the White House on Friday, the president proposed to raise the national security budget by 13 percent. The request builds on Trump’s promise to achieve peace through More
India announced on Saturday a complete ban on imports from Pakistan, effectively halting trade with the neighbour. The decision comes amid heightening tensions between the South Asian rivals in the wake of a deadly attack in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir. In a notification, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry also banned the transit of all More
Several government buildings have been set alight by gunmen in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. The arson attack happened in Mongochar bazaar on Friday night when unidentified armed men blocked the Quetta-Karachi Highway in the Kalat district. Dawn quoted sources as saying that a group of gunmen blocked the busy road, intercepted and searched several vehicles, More
At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in latest Israeli airstrikes in the Bureij area of Gaza, reports said on Friday. Al-Jazeera reported, citing Palestinian health officials, that 22 Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes in the Bureij camp today. Eight of the deceased belonged to a single family. The previous day, Al-Jazeera said, More
A fourth round of Iran-US talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme has been postponed for “logistical and technical reasons”. Iran said the two countries, along with facilitators Oman, had jointly decided to postpone Saturday’s meeting in Rome for “logistical and technical reasons”. The US said the timing of the talks had not been confirmed in the More
Washington and Kiev have inked an agreement on the joint exploitation of Ukraine’s energy and mineral resources, the BBC reported on Thursday. Under the deal, signed after months of tense talks, the two countries will set up a reconstruction investment fund to bolster Ukraine’s war-hit economy. The agreement was reflective of commitment on both sides More
Pakistan on Wednesday claimed having “credible intelligence” reports about India’s plans to conduct a military action on it in the next 24 to 36 hours. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar expressed concerns at India’s war hysteria as tensions between the two nuclear-capable nations simmer over a recent attack in the Pahalgam area of India-held Kashmir. On More
At least 14 people have been killed in a blaze at a hotel in the Indian city of Kolkata, a media report said on Wednesday. The fire broke out around 7:30pm at the Rituraj Hotel, located on Madanmohan Street in the city’s Burra Bazaar area, the India Express reported. It added 10 fire engines were More
The fourth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States on Iran’s nuclear program would be held in Rome, the capital of Italy, a media report on Wednesday. At a government meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araqchi said the fourth round of nuclear talks with the US would be held in Rome More
