International

PARIS: Representatives from 195 countries on Friday approved a critical UN science report that will provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment yet of the state of Earth’s climate. “Today, #IPCC’s latest #ClimateReport — #ClimateChange 2021: the Physical Science Basis — was approved and accepted in a historical first virtual approval session,” the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tweeted on …

The US State Department has revised its travel advisory for Pakistan, upgrading it from “no travel” to “avoid unnecessary travels”. The revision — from level four to level three — although not a major change, is still a notable improvement. “Pakistan’s security environment has improved since 2014 when Pakistani security forces undertook concerted counter terrorist and counter militant operations,” the latest travel …

UNITED NATIONS: The top UN official in Afghanistan appealed to the Security Council on Friday to act now to avert a catastrophe in the war-torn country. Pakistan, while acknowledging the growing concern over Afghanistan, warned the world body not to allow India to “project a distorted picture” during its presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC). India called Friday’s special …

Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the UN’s reiteration that its position on Indian occupied Kashmir remained unchanged and it continued to see the valley as disputed territory, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). The statement came days after UN Secretary General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric clarified during a news briefing in New York that the UN’s “position on Kashmir is …

NEW DELHI: On the second anniversary of India’s smash and grab of the occupied and erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the move had complicated the Kashmir issue, opened new regions of strife and led to a military standoff on the border with China. “On the completion of two years of abrogation of Article …

ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming Pakistan’s abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday again urged the international community, including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), human rights organisations and the global media, to hold India accountable for killing innocent Kashmiris and denying their right to self-determination. “We will continue to extend all possible assistance to Kashmiris …

National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf has said that Pakistan will not accept a “forceful takeover” in Afghanistan and instead support a political solution to the war-torn country’s conflict. “We will not accept a forceful takeover,” he told reporters at a press conference held at the Pakistan embassy in Washington, DC late on Wednesday, wrapping up a week of talks …

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that Hong Kong citizens currently in the United States who fear for their safety amid the political crackdown back home will receive temporary safe haven. Biden said the move recognises “the significant erosion” of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong by the Chinese government. “By unilaterally imposing on Hong Kong the Law of …

MANILA: Chaos overtook several Covid-19 vaccination sites in Manila on Thursday as thousands showed up hoping to receive a shot before the Philippines capital heads back into lockdown for two weeks. Movement restrictions will be reimposed across greater Manila, an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to 13 million people, from midnight on Thursday to try slow the …

KABUL: Infamous warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum has returned to Afghanistan as the Taliban inch closer to taking control of his longtime stronghold in the north and fight for control of a string of cities elsewhere. Ehsan Nero, a spokesman for the former army paratrooper, said that Dostum arrived in Kabul on Wednesday night and was meeting senior officials to talk …