World

'It is a historic step that affirms the growing international support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, contiguous state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital,' a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, said.

Latvia plans to raise VAT on Russian-language publications from 5% to 21% starting 2026, RT reported. The move follows stricter language laws and deportations targeting Russian speakers. Moscow denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination' and introduced a new policy to promote the Russian language globally.

Nine of Taiwan's allies wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging the UN to resist China's pressure and allow Taiwan's meaningful participation. They argued Resolution 2758 has been misused to exclude Taiwan and warned its distortion threatens peace in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific, Taipei Times reported.

The Indian Navy's INS Nistar is participating in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore with 17 partner nations. The indigenously built vessel will serve as a mothership for submarine rescue operations during the sea phase, showcasing India's maritime capabilities and commitment to safeguarding submariners worldwide.

Pakistan is falling behind its regional peers in the digital trade sector due to fragmented regulations, inadequate infrastructure, and poor policy coordination, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned in a report released on September 19. The ADB's study, Digitally Connected Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC): Digital Trade, Emerging Regulatory Challenges, and Solutions, highlighted that despite Pakistan's strategic location linking South and Central Asia, the country has been slow to implement reforms needed for cross-border e-commerce and digitally delivered services, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev criticised the US decision to raise the H-1B visa sponsorship fee to USD 100,000, calling it rushed and restrictive. He said the move hampers the flow of skilled Indian professionals, reflects pressure from US politics, and risks hurting innovation despite partial modifications.

After President Donald Trump imposed new H1-B visa fees, tech companies and banks sent urgent memos to vacationing employees fearing they would not be allowed back once the new rule took effect

French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticised Israel's settlement expansion plans in the occupied West Bank, calling it a 'political project' aimed at undermining the possibility of a two-state solution and denying Palestinians their right to peace.

Former Indian diplomat KP Fabian termed the US H-1B visa fee hike as negative but noted it now applies only to fresh applications. He said current visa holders face no change, warned earlier proposals risked family separation, and added the US modified rules after corporate opposition.

The attack was carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli strikes killed 91 Palestinians in Gaza in one day, including relatives of al-Shifa hospital director and people fleeing Gaza City, Al Jazeera reported. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv demanding a ceasefire and urging US President Donald Trump to press Israel for a deal to free remaining captives.

Technical education, especially for the region's youth, who make up 70% of the population, is severely lacking. He stated the absence of a medical college, a functioning cardiac centre, and insufficient dialysis and cancer treatment facilities, describing the health infrastructure as inadequate for the region's 2.5 million people.

Brazil has formally joined South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, invoking Article 63 of the ICJ statute.

US President Donald Trump claimed he ended the India-Pakistan conflict through trade and said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for 'ending seven wars.' He criticised Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, linking oil drilling to halting the conflict and saying 5,000-7,000 people are dying every week.

Speaking at the 'Together for Palestine' concert in London on Friday, Cantona, an outright icon in the sport and also known for his outspoken political views, urged global football governing bodies and clubs to take a stand against Israel.

She should be celebrated globally as an information hero, not trapped in brutal prison conditions, says another international press freedom group

Locals accused forces of detaining the wounded, while rights groups disputed the army's claim that militants were targeted. BSO-Azad condemned the attack as 'war crimes.'

'Video surveillance has confirmed there was only one shooter and they are currently being detained,' the Nashua Police Department said in a statement. 'The scene is still an active investigation, but there is no further danger to the public,' Fox News quoted.

A petition filed in the Islamabad High Court challenges alleged 'provocative and malicious' posts from PTI founder Imran Khan's X account during his imprisonment. The petitioner urged probes by cybercrime authorities, blocking of such content, and restrictions on PTI redistributing posts, calling the activity 'unconstitutional and illegal.'

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told Apostrof TV that Ukraine should fight until it captures Moscow, rejecting calls for a ceasefire or settling for 1991 borders, RT reported. He argued peace is impossible under Putin's regime, as Russia claims battlefield gains and blames the West for provoking the conflict.

Talks for the agreement, officially termed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, formally began in November 2023

Speaking with ANI, Commanding Officer Amitsubhro Banerji highlighted INS Nistar's dual roles -- conducting deep-sea diving operations and serving as a mothership for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) for submarine rescue missions.

Punjab has imposed wheat movement restrictions and launched geotagging of stocks to prevent shortages after floods destroyed crops, Dawn reported. Authorities cracked down on hoarding, boosting flour mill reserves and lowering wheat prices from PKR 3,800 to PKR 3,000 per 40kg, as protests erupted in Sindh and KP.

The US State Department's 2025 Fiscal Transparency Report urged Pakistan to place defence and intelligence budgets under parliamentary or civilian oversight, Dawn reported. It also called for timely budget publication and fuller debt disclosure, while noting progress in audit independence and public access to budget documents.

The frequent incursions and maritime operations reflect rising tensions between Taiwan and China, a relationship long fraught with geopolitical strain. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), governs itself independently with its own distinct political and economic systems.