New Delhi, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that India and the United States, as the two largest democracies, lay the foundation for "incredible cooperation", while emphasising that his visit is not focused on "restoring" ties, but rather on enhancing what he described as a "very solid and strong strategic partnership."

He called the US' partnership with India "one of the most important in the world".

Rubio made these statements in his opening remarks during his meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar at New Delhi's Hyderabad House.

"It has already been a fantastic first day. We're looking forward to our visits and our talks today and learning more about the country," Rubio said in his remarks.

Reiterating EAM Jaishankar's remarks that the United States and India are "strategic allies of critical importance", the US State Secretary said, "We obviously work with countries all over the world and all over the region on a variety of issues as they emerge, but our strategic partnership is what sets this relationship apart, because it's not simply limited to a region. It extends to opportunities to cooperate globally in different regions of the world, and that includes potentially in the Western Hemisphere and places like that."

Rubio said that India and the US share many common interests and will continue to build upon the "solid and strong" ties.

"We are the two largest democracies in the world, and that alone is the baseline for incredible cooperation. But we have so many common interests that it makes all the sense in the world for us to continue to build upon," he said.

"This is not about restoring or reinvigorating. I've seen people use that terminology. This is about continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership -- one of the most important ones that we have, and one of the most important ones in the world," he added.

EAM Jaishankar, in his opening remarks during the meeting, said that he is looking forward and is confident of holding "open and productive discussions".

"We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which I think in plain language means that we have a very deep, very broad-based cooperation. And a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world," the EAM said.

"And that is because we have converging interests on many issues and in many parts of the world. So I look forward to our conversation today. These are complicated times, but as strong partners, I'm very confident we'll have very open and productive discussions. Once again, a very warm welcome," he added.

Both leaders then held a delegation-level meeting at the Hyderabad House, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, technology, etc.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, in his opening remarks during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at New Delhi's Hyderabad House, said that he is looking forward and is confident of holding "open and productive discussions".

In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar said, "We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which I think in plain language means that we have a very deep, very broad-based cooperation. And a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world."

"And that is because we have converging interests on many issues and in many parts of the world. So I look forward to our conversation today. These are complicated times, but as strong partners, I'm very confident we'll have very open and productive discussions. Once again, a very warm welcome," he added.

Both leaders will then hold a delegation-level meeting at the Hyderabad House, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, technology, etc.

Earlier on Saturday, Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also extended an invitation on behalf of US President Donald Trump to visit the White House in the near future.

He briefed PM Modi on the "sustained progress" in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated on Saturday.

In a post on X, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, stated that, during the meeting, both sides had a "productive discussion" on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across various sectors.

He also mentioned that India remains a "vital partner" to the United States.

"Great to join Secretary Rubio for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across security, trade, and critical technologies - areas that strengthen both our nations and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner to the United States!" Gor posted on X.

"News! Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invitation on behalf of President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future!" he added in another post.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Sunday expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of condolence following the loss of lives in the mining accident in Shanxi Province.

He said that the sympathy and support from India are "deeply valued" in the difficult time.

According to the officials on Saturday, a total of 82 people were confirmed dead, while two others remained missing after the coal mine gas explosion on Friday. The gas explosion hit the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County at 7:29 p.m. on Friday.

A total of 128 people are receiving treatment at hospitals, including two in critical condition and two in serious condition.

In a post on X, Chinese envoy Feihong said, "We appreciate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's kind message of condolence following the mining accident in Shanxi Province. The sympathy and support from the people of India are deeply valued at this difficult time."

"Our thoughts are with the victims, the missing, and their families. We are making every effort in the rescue and relief operations," he said.

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday had conveyed his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the loss of lives in the accident.

"Saddened by the loss of lives in a mining accident in Shanxi Province, China. On behalf of the people of India, my condolences to President Xi Jinping and the people of China. May the bereaved families find strength in this tragic hour. Praying for the early and safe recovery of all remaining missing persons," PM Modi wrote on X.

Meanwhile, officials said that toxic and harmful gases under the mine shaft have exceeded safe limits for a long time, posing a risk of secondary disasters.

The company involved in the coal mine explosion was found with "serious violations of laws." Those responsible for the company have been placed under control. The company's coal mines have ceased production for a safety overhaul, said Chen Xiangyang, mayor of Changzhi City, which administers Qinyuan, according to Xinhua news agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue of the missing and treatment of the injured and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause, with accountability pursued in accordance with the law.

The investigation team said it will thoroughly ascertain the cause of the accident, clarify the responsibilities of local authorities, industry regulators and the enterprise involved, and mete out strict penalties in accordance with laws and regulations.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan and Canada Ajay Bisaria has said the India-US relationship is entering a “very positive phase” after months of strain under President Donald Trump’s second term, even as concerns remain over Washington’s handling of Pakistan and its rhetoric towards India.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Bisaria described US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s India visit as both a reassurance exercise and a strategic reset after what he called the “bad dream” period of Trump-era tariffs.

“But the Rubio visit is partially also a damage control visit,” Bisaria said. “Because I think it was overdue in the sense of some signals of reassurance politically of reassurance from the US were required.”

Bisaria said the rollback of Trump tariffs earlier this year helped stabilise the bilateral relationship after months of economic uncertainty.

“The way I look at the 16 month Trump period is that we went through a bad dream from August till February of the Trump tariffs,” he said. “Once those tariffs were rolled back, things began to get better.”

He identified three major “irritants” in the relationship during Trump 2.0. The first was the tariff dispute. The second, he said, was Washington’s evolving relationship with Pakistan.

“Particularly after Operation Sindoor, this is a matter of concern in India,” Bisaria said, adding that New Delhi felt the US had become “insensitive to India’s concerns about the perpetrators of that terrorism.”

Bisaria said successive US presidents since Bill Clinton had largely “de-hyphenated” India and Pakistan. However, he argued that the White House’s recent engagement with Pakistan’s military establishment had raised fresh concerns in New Delhi.

“It was being insensitive to India’s concerns about the perpetrators of that terrorism and whatever transactional deal due to critical minerals, crypto and counter-terrorism,” he said.

According to Bisaria, the Trump administration’s Pakistan outreach was driven more by transactional considerations than by any larger strategic shift.

“This particular administration has been framing not just Pakistan, but other relationships, very transactionally,” he said.

He cited three factors behind the renewed warmth between Washington and Islamabad: crypto-linked business interests, critical minerals cooperation and counter-terrorism coordination.

“The Pakistanis have been good at helping in the counter-terrorism in the sense they periodically deliver some high value terrorists to the Americans,” Bisaria said.

Despite the friction, Bisaria said the broader India-US relationship remained on a positive trajectory because of strong cooperation in defence and technology.

“Overall the sense is that the relationship is still headed in a positive direction because defence technology and a very positive ambassador that the US has, Sergio Gor, all these are positive drivers of the relationship as well,” he said.

Responding to a question, Bisaria pointed to a dramatic improvement in India-Canada ties under Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after years of tensions during Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

“That turnaround really started last year in Cannes when soon after being elected, Mark Carney invited PM Modi for the meeting,” he said.

He said both countries had moved sensitive security issues into a “professional security dialogue” led by national security advisers, allowing political ties and trade discussions to move forward.

“What both sides have done is depoliticised the security dialogue,” Bisaria said. “And said, you guys manage it and the politicians will stay out of it.”

Bisaria, a former diplomat and author, served as India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2017 to 2020 and later as High Commissioner to Canada. His comments come at a time when India is recalibrating ties with major global powers amid ongoing geopolitical tensions involving China, Iran and the Indo-Pacific region.

India and the US have steadily expanded cooperation over the past two decades through initiatives covering defence, technology, energy and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad grouping involving India, the US, Japan and Australia has also emerged as a major pillar of regional cooperation.

Source: IANS

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Seoul, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung vowed Sunday to build a government that "saves people's lives" and to uphold the teaching that all people are equally worthy, as he attended a ceremony marking Buddha's Birthday.

Lee made the remarks during a ceremony hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, as he has increasingly prioritised policies aimed at protecting public safety and addressing issues that directly affect people's daily lives, such as stalking crimes and other safety-related incidents.

"We will build a country that looks after the lives of each and every citizen more carefully and listens to the voices of those at the lowest levels of society," he said in his speech at Jogye Temple.

"Above all, I will do my utmost to build a government that saves people's lives and put into practice the teaching that all people are equally worthy and equal," he said.

Lee said the Buddha's teachings have shared both hardship and joy over the years, helping people heal pain and embrace marginalised neighbours whenever the country experienced crises and sorrow, reports Yonhap news agency.

"Even at times of war, poverty, disasters and social conflict, the lanterns at Buddhist temples never went out," he said. "(They) allowed people to take a moment to pause and find peace of mind whenever they grew weary of life,"

"Our society today also urgently needs a spirit of consideration and understanding that embraces different views, as well as a warm-hearted pursuit of co-existence and shared prosperity, rather than every person fending for themselves," he said.

Source: IANS

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Geneva, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The six-day 79th World Health Assembly has concluded in Geneva, during which member states adopted multiple resolutions to advance multilateral cooperation in safeguarding human health.

Held under the theme "Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility," the assembly adopted more than 20 decisions and 13 resolutions on issues including stroke, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, emergency care, haemophilia, precision medicine and radiation, reports Xinhua news agency.

In his closing remarks on Saturday (local time), President of the Assembly Victor Atallah Lajam said that amid intensifying geopolitical conflicts, frequent public health emergencies and severe challenges to the multilateral system, the assembly successfully completed its agenda, once again demonstrating the power of multilateralism.

Atallah, also minister of health of the Dominican Republic, said the assembly focused on its core mission of protecting human health and adopted a series of major decisions and future guidance with direct impact, noting that these outcomes will benefit millions or even more people, with emphasis on strengthening emergency preparedness and response, curbing antimicrobial resistance, promoting innovation in indigenous peoples' health, regulating ethical organ transplantation, and enhancing the protection and support for health workers.

On emerging issues such as digital health, interoperability, artificial intelligence and digital governance, in-depth discussions were held, and the need for ethical and inclusive frameworks was reaffirmed to advance people-centred, interoperable and diverse medical cooperation in precision medicine and diagnostic imaging, the president added.

The assembly also addressed a range of political and administrative issues, including an agreement to reform the global health architecture through a member state-led joint process hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In his closing remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged member states to translate resolutions into action without delay, stressing that achieving global health goals "will require political commitment, sustained financing, and continued cooperation between member states, partners and communities."

Source: IANS

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Seoul, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung called on Sunday for a public debate on introducing tougher measures against those who post hateful and derogatory content online or engage in such behaviour.

Lee made the remarks in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing a report that young people believed to be linked to a far-right online forum had engaged in provocative acts mocking former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun near the site of a memorial ceremony held on the anniversary of his death.

"There are differing views on whether expressions that incite social division and conflict through mockery and insults, such as (those seen on) Ilbe, should be protected under freedom of expression or (face) sanctions, including punishment," Lee said in the post.

Ilbe refers to "Ilbe Storehouse," a South Korean internet community known for extreme political views, misogyny, racism and hate speech.

Lee raised the need for "stricter conditions" and measures such as punishment, or even punitive damages, for mocking and hateful expressions.

He also mentioned how there has been a debate over shutting down those online forums, reports Yonhap news agency.

"What do you think? ... I will also raise the matter at a Cabinet meeting," he said.

Lee's remarks came a day after he criticised Starbucks Korea over its 2024 promotional material that critics said evoked the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

Starbucks Korea introduced its "Siren Classic Mug Collection" on April 16, 2024, the anniversary of the ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people, mostly students on a school trip. Critics said the use of "Siren" was inappropriate because sirens in Greek mythology are associated with luring sailors to shipwrecks.

The coffee chain has come under fire for launching a "Tank Day" event on the anniversary of a 1980 pro-democracy movement that was violently suppressed by the military.

Source: IANS

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Beijing, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) More than 10 people were unaccounted for after heavy rain battered Yongchuan District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, said local authorities.

According to the meteorological department, torrential rains struck parts of central and western Chongqing between 11 p.m. on Saturday and 12 a.m. on Sunday. Guankouwan and Hanjiagou Village in the district logged 296.7 mm and 256.9 mm of extraordinary rainstorms, respectively.

Given the short interval between the current and previous rounds of heavy rainfall, the continuous precipitation poses a higher risk of inducing geological disasters, including landslides, collapses, and debris flows, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the meteorological authorities.

Chongqing has activated a Level-III emergency response for geological disasters in the Yongchuan District at 7 a.m. on Sunday. The local relevant departments are carrying out emergency rescue work.

Meanwhile, the death toll from heavy rainfall in Shimen County, central China's Hunan Province, rose to seven, with 14 others still missing, local authorities said.

Among the missing, five were added following further investigation, according to the county's emergency management and production safety committee. Search and rescue operations are underway.

The severe downpour started at 7 a.m. on May 17. It is the first round of torrential rain to hit the county this year. A total of 23 townships and districts have been affected, according to the municipal emergency management bureau of Changde City, which administers Shimen.

Search and rescue operations are underway, alongside efforts to repair damaged infrastructure and guarantee daily necessities for affected residents.

The National Development and Reform Commission said on Wednesday that it has urgently allocated 50 million yuan (about 7.31 million US dollars) from the central government's investment budget to support post-flood emergency recovery efforts in Hunan Province.

Some areas in Hunan have been hit by severe flooding, resulting in heavy casualties and property losses. Continuous heavy rainfall has lashed the province's Shimen County, leaving five people dead and 11 others missing, according to local authorities.

Source: IANS

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Abuja, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least 12 suspected terrorists were killed in a gunfight with Nigerian troops after they attempted to attack a military facility in the northeastern state of Borno, the army has said.

In a statement on Saturday (local time), Nigerian Army spokesperson Sani Uba said the suspected terrorists tried to infiltrate a military position in Kirawa town along the Nigeria-Cameroon border early Friday, but were repelled by troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion and allied forces.

According to Uba, government troops responded with heavy fire, forcing the attackers to retreat toward the Cameroon border area.

The military said several attackers escaped with possible gunshot wounds.

Troops also recovered weapons and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a machine gun, the statement said.

Earlier on May 19, the military announced that a total of 175 Islamic State fighters and top commanders had been killed by Nigerian troops and US forces in recent combined counter-terrorism operations in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

In a statement, military spokesman Samaila Uba said the coordinated air and ground strikes, which commenced over the weekend, had delivered a major blow to the terrorist group's operational capacity, destroying multiple IS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment and financial networks sustaining their activities.

Uba said several high-profile IS commanders were among those killed, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the group's second-in-command globally.

According to him, al-Minuki played a central role in IS external operations, including coordination of terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics and attack planning targeting civilians. His elimination is expected to severely disrupt the terrorist group's command structure, operational coordination and external attack networks, Uba explained.

He identified other key terrorist figures killed during the operations, including Abd-al Wahhab, described as a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, another senior member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior media production operative.

The military spokesman said the successes further underscored the sustained efforts of the armed forces of Nigeria in tracking and eliminating terrorist elements across the country, adding that the joint operations would be continued to dismantle all terrorist networks threatening national and regional security.

The recent operations were conducted under a recently established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership between Nigeria and the United States aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating in the region.

Source: IANS

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Tehran, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have said that his country seeks to safeguard national interests and remains highly cautious in negotiations with the United States.

During a meeting with visiting Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, Pezeshkian cited Washington's repeated breach of commitments, attacks on Iran amid talks, and targeted killings of its officials as the basis for widespread public mistrust, according to a presidency statement on Saturday (local time).

Under such circumstances, Iran has pursued negotiations relying on its "brotherly relations" with friendly countries, "but our main goal is to solely safeguard the Iranian nation's interests through appropriate solutions," Pezeshkian said.

"We merely seek to safeguard our people's legal and legitimate rights, but our history and experience of negotiating with the United States urge us to exercise utmost caution," he said.

War has never been in anyone's interest and will only bring losses to the region and the world, he added.

Munir, who arrived in Tehran Friday night, reaffirmed in the meeting his commitment to regional stability, welcomed the progress made in the negotiations, and voiced hope that they would yield favourable results for Iran and regional states, reports Xinhua news agency.

Separately, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday that if Washington does not show flexibility, peace talks with Tehran will be doomed to failure.

Iran insists on not discussing its nuclear program at this stage, releasing its frozen assets prior to negotiations, and continuing its control and management over the Strait of Hormuz, Fars reported, citing an informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

No negotiation will take place if the three remaining serious issues of disagreement are not resolved, it reported.

Iran, the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Following the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Pakistan's Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.

Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict.

Source: IANS

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Los Angeles, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) There is no tsunami threat to the US state of Hawaii after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted 12 km south of Honaunau-Napoopoo on Hawaii's Big Island, authorities have said.

The earthquake struck at 9:46 p.m. local time on Friday, and the epicentre, with a depth of 22.4 kilometres, was initially determined to be at 19.34 degrees north latitude and 155.84 degrees west longitude, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

"The earthquake was widely felt across the Hawaiian Islands ... There are no apparent impacts to Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes," said the USGS in a statement.

Several small aftershocks have occurred and may continue in the coming days, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the US Geological Survey.

Moderate earthquakes are common in Hawaii. Over the past 50 years, 36 other earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater have struck within 100 kilometres of Friday's quake.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue a tsunami warning following the earthquake. In a statement, Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the earthquake was not large enough to cause a tsunami for the Island of Hawaii.

In the United States, the tsunami alert has four types, including a tsunami information statement, a watch, an advisory, and a warning.

A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or waves to those in or near the water is imminent, expected, or occurring. During this alert, the public should stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.

A tsunami warning is issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate widespread inundation is imminent, expected, or occurring. During this alert, the public should move to high ground or inland.

Source: IANS

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Kinshasa, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has temporarily suspended all passenger flights to and from Bunia, the capital of the northeastern Ituri Province that is the epicentre of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Ministry of Transport have said.

An Ebola outbreak was declared in Ituri on May 15, with Bunia among the main affected areas. According to an official statement on Saturday (local time), no aircraft will be allowed to land at or take off from Bunia Airport until further notice, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ministry said all commercial, private and special flights to and from Bunia have been suspended. However, humanitarian, medical and emergency flights may be authorised subject to approval from aviation and health authorities.

The outbreak has since spread to neighbouring North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Uganda, which borders Ituri, has also reported confirmed cases.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday that the situation in the DRC is "deeply worrisome," citing 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths.

He added that the actual scale of the outbreak is believed to be significantly larger, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. "These numbers are changing as surveillance efforts and laboratory testing improve, but violence and insecurity are impeding the response," Tedros said in a social media post.

Uganda's Ministry of Health said Saturday that three new Ebola cases had been confirmed in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to five.

The Bundibugyo strain causes this Ebola outbreak, a rarer Ebola variant first detected in Uganda in 2007. Unlike the Zaire strain responsible for previous DRC outbreaks, the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Candidate vaccines are under discussion, but WHO officials say doses remain months away at best.

Anais Legand, a WHO technical officer on viral hemorrhagic fevers, said Wednesday that while preparations for possible trials continue, the priority is to establish safe and optimised treatment centres, create patient referral pathways, and ensure that every suspected case is detected and treated early.

Source: IANS

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Tehran, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran and the United States are working to finalise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war.

"At this stage, our focus is on ending the imposed war," Baghaei told state-run IRIB news agency on Saturday, following a visit to Tehran on Friday by a Pakistani delegation that included Army Chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

"Our intention has been to firstly agree on a MoU consisting of 14 clauses," Baghaei said, noting that "within a period of 30 to 60 days," they would "reach a final agreement."

"We are at the stage of finalizing the MoU. The issues that are being discussed are focused on ending the war (on all fronts, including Lebanon)," he said. "Among the major topics to be addressed in the MoU are the cessation of US maritime attacks, or naval blockade as they themselves call it, and other issues pertaining to the release of Iranian frozen assets."

Clarifying on the 30- to 60-day period brought up in the MoU's text, Baghaei said it will only begin once the document is formally agreed upon, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We should wait and see what will happen within the next three to four days," he said, adding that Iran's nuclear issue is not a focus of the peace talks at this stage.

Baghaei also referred to Pakistan as the principal mediator in the talks, highlighting its "important role" in ensuring the continued exchange of messages between Iran and the United States.

Iran, the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.

Following the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Pakistan's Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.

Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistani mediation.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera sharply criticised the Trump administration’s new immigration policy that could force many Green Card applicants living legally in the United States to leave the country and complete the process abroad, calling it disruptive and harmful to families, workers and the American economy.

“I strongly oppose the Trump administration’s disruptive decision to require many students, temporary visa holders, and other individuals seeking green cards to leave the United States and return to their home countries while their applications are processed,” Bera said in a statement.

“This policy creates unnecessary fear and uncertainty for families, workers, and employers who are following the law,” he said.

The California Democrat’s remarks came after the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memo declaring that adjustment of status inside the United States should be treated as an “extraordinary form of relief” rather than a routine immigration pathway.

Under the new approach, immigration officers are instructed to consider applications on a “case-by-case basis,” with many applicants expected to pursue consular processing from their home country.

USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler defended the policy, saying the administration was “returning to the original intent of the law.”

“From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances,” Kahler said.

The administration argues that the change would discourage visa overstays and reduce pressure on the immigration system.

But Bera warned the move ignored the reality faced by many immigrants already caught in lengthy visa backlogs.

“The Administration disregards the fact that many individuals seeking permanent residency are here legally and waiting for their cases to move through an already backlogged immigration system,” he said.

Bera said the policy could particularly hurt highly skilled immigrants working in the United States through legal visa programmes.

“America has long benefited from attracting top researchers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators through our legal immigration system and worker visa programmes,” he said.

“Forcing these individuals to leave the United States during the green card process will deprive our country of their innovation, their tax contributions, and the many ways they strengthen our economy and communities.”

The congressman, whose parents immigrated from India, also framed the issue personally.

“As the son of Indian immigrants, I know firsthand that our nation is strengthened by people who come here legally, work hard, and contribute to our communities,” Bera said.

“We should be reducing processing delays and modernising our immigration system, not creating additional barriers for people who are following the rules.”

Bera added that he expected the policy to face legal scrutiny.

“I support legal challenges to this policy and expect the courts to halt its implementation,” he said.

The policy has already triggered criticism from immigration advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that forcing applicants to leave the country during processing could separate families, interrupt careers and create uncertainty for employers.

The issue is expected to resonate strongly among Indian nationals in the United States, particularly H-1B visa holders and international students. Indians form one of the largest groups waiting in employment-based Green Card backlogs and many rely on adjustment of status provisions to remain in the country while applications are processed.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) A gunman who opened fire near the White House on Saturday evening was shot dead by Secret Service officers after an exchange of gunfire close to the executive complex, officials said.

A bystander was also struck during the shooting, while President Donald Trump was inside the White House and was not injured.

The shooting happened shortly after 6 p.m. near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, close to the White House grounds and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

In a statement, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said: “Shortly after 6 p.m Saturday an individual in the area of 17th street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing.”

The Secret Service said its officers “returned fire striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.”

“During the shooting one bystander was also struck by gunfire,” the statement said. “No injuries were sustained by officers.”

Officials did not identify the suspect or disclose a possible motive. The condition of the bystander was not immediately released by the Secret Service, though CNN reported the person was in critical condition.

The agency said Trump was inside the White House at the time of the shooting. “The President was in the White House during the incident, however no protectees or operations were impacted,” the statement added.

The White House complex was briefly locked down as armed Secret Service personnel moved across the North Lawn and security teams rushed journalists and staff into the press briefing room.

CNN reported that members of the press corps were told to shelter in place as agents shouted “get down” and warned of “shots fired.”

Journalists near the White House described hearing repeated gunfire. Allison Robbert, a photographer for The New York Times, said about “20 to 30 gunshots” could be heard from outside the press room area.

“Journalists heard it from outside the press room and were ushered inside by Secret Service,” she said in a text message.

ABC News correspondent Selina Wang also described the chaotic moments after the shooting began.

“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” Wang wrote on X. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was assisting in the investigation.

“The FBI is also on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds - we will update the public as we’re able,” Patel wrote on X.

The Secret Service said the incident remained under investigation and additional information would be released later. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Metropolitan Police Department and National Guard personnel, responded to the area as roads around the White House were sealed for several hours.

The shooting came less than a month after another gunfire incident disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, where journalists, lawmakers and senior administration officials had gathered.

Source: IANS

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Los Angeles, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County as emergency crews worked to cool down a tank containing volatile industrial chemicals at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove.

"The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority," Newsom said in a statement on Saturday, adding that California was deploying all available resources to support responders and affected communities, Xinhua news agency reported.

Taking to social media platform X, Newsom posted: "I’m proclaiming a state of emergency in Orange County as California continues to respond to the hazardous chemical incident in Garden Grove. @Cal_OES has been mobilized for over 24 hours and state agencies are supporting impacted communities to protect public safety, and assist local officials as response efforts continue. Please continue to follow guidance from emergency officials."

The emergency order allows the state to mobilize additional resources and accelerate coordination among local, state and federal agencies responding to the crisis at the GKN Aerospace plant in Garden Grove, where a tank holding methyl methacrylate (MMA) has remained at an unstable temperature for days. MMA is a highly flammable industrial chemical used in acrylic plastics and aerospace manufacturing.

The situation has grown more urgent as temperatures inside the compromised tank have continued to rise, reaching about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.22 degrees Celsius) from 77 degrees (25 degrees Celsius) a day earlier.

Fire officials have warned that the worsening heat leaves two primary scenarios: the tank could rupture, leaking toxic chemicals, or explode and potentially rupture other chemical tanks nearby.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The White House North Lawn was cleared by the US Secret Service on Saturday evening after the sound of apparent gunfire triggered a major security response near the White House complex, according to US media reports.

Reporters on the White House grounds were instructed to sprint immediately into the White House press briefing room as security personnel moved swiftly to secure the area.

Streets surrounding the White House were flooded with dozens of police officers and law enforcement officials following the incident, which caused a temporary lockdown around the presidential complex.

According to a statement released by the US Secret Service, the shooting occurred shortly after 6 pm ET near the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, just outside the White House grounds. Officials said a person approached a security checkpoint, “removed a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers.”

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents were assisting in the response and investigation. In a post on X, Patel said: “FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds - we will update the public as we’re able.”

A US Secret Service official said that the suspect was later “down” and transported to a hospital. Authorities have not yet released the identity or condition of the individual involved.

Witnesses and media personnel reported hearing multiple rounds of gunfire during the chaotic moments. Local media reported that dozens of shots were heard in the area before law enforcement secured the scene.

The White House was placed on lockdown immediately after the shooting, while heavily armed officers and emergency response teams surrounded nearby streets and checkpoints.

At the time of the incident, US President Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House working on efforts related to negotiations with Iran, according to media reports.

Authorities said an investigation into the shooting has been launched. No additional details about possible injuries to officers or civilians were immediately available. Security agencies continue to monitor the situation as officials work to determine the motive behind the incident.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) US President Donald Trump has said that Washington and Tehran were close to finalising a broad peace agreement after a series of calls with leaders from the Middle East and South Asia, including Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir and leaders of Gulf nations.

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said an agreement had been "largely negotiated" between the United States, Iran and several regional countries, with only final details left to be completed.

"I am in the Oval Office at the White House where we just had a very good call with President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of The United Arab Emirates, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Qatari Minister Ali al-Thawadi, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah of Pakistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all things related to a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE," the US President wrote.

The statement marked one of the most expansive diplomatic claims made by Trump in recent months regarding Iran and regional security.

"An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed," he said.

Trump also added that he separately spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Separately, I had a call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, which, likewise, went very well," he wrote.

Trump said negotiations were now focused on the final elements of the understanding.

"Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," he added.

One of the most significant parts of Trump's statement related to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a major share of the world's oil shipments pass.

"In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened," Trump wrote.

The remarks are likely to draw close attention in India, which depends heavily on crude oil imports from the Gulf region and has long monitored instability around the Strait of Hormuz with concern.

Any reduction in tensions involving Iran could ease fears over energy prices, shipping disruptions, and supply chain risks.

Trump did not disclose details of the proposed memorandum of understanding or explain the role each country would play in the arrangement.

The White House also did not immediately release further details.

Source: IANS

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Paris, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had been banned from entering France effective immediately.

In a post on social platform X, Barrot said on Saturday that the decision followed Ben-Gvir's "unqualifiable" actions toward French and European citizens aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla.

"We cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated or subjected to violence in such a manner, especially by a public official," Barrot said, Xinhua news agency reported.

He also called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir.

Hundreds of members from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were brought to Israel's Ashdod Port on Wednesday, as Ben-Gvir released the video showing some of them shackled and forced to the ground.

In the video, released by Ben-Gvir on his social media channels, dozens of activists are shown kneeling on the floor, bent forward with their heads down and hands bound behind their backs with zip ties, as the Israeli national anthem is played loudly over speakers.

Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli naval vessels intercepted all ships in the convoy in international waters, about 250 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

According to the organisers, 428 activists were "kidnapped" by Israel after the interception began on Monday morning.

Barrot on Wednesday condemned the treatment of activists from the Global Sumud flotilla, calling the actions of the Israeli side "unacceptable" and announcing that Israel's Ambassador to France, Joshua L. Zarka, would be summoned.

Earlier this week, Israeli forces seized two humanitarian aid flotillas carrying South Korean activists arriving for the Gaza Strip.

The Lina Al Nabulsi, carrying South Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean American activist Jonathan Victor Lee, the Kyriakos X aid flotilla, which was carrying South Korean activist Kim Dong-hyeon, were seized.

Kim Ah-hyun and Kim Dong-hyeo were later released by Israel, according to the South Korean Presidential office.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) BRICS member countries condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and other terrorist attacks against them and reaffirmed commitment to further enhancing counter terrorism cooperation among them, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.

The 11th Annual BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) Plenary and Sub Groups' Meetings were held in New Delhi on May 21-22 under the Chairmanship of India.

The meetings marked 10 years of the establishment of the BRICS CTWG.

Ambassador Sibi George, MEA Secretary (West) , "emphasised the importance of collective and united efforts of the BRICS member countries to tackle the global menace of terrorism and urged the BRICS member countries to work together to make BRICS CTWG a more resilient, constructive, innovative, inclusive and result-oriented Working Group in the keynote address on the inaugural day."

He also thanked BRICS member countries for showing solidarity and extending support to India following the heinous terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, 2025.

Ambassador George emphasised the need for a robust collaborative approach to tackle the challenges to counter terrorism, like evolving terror funding mechanisms, radicalisation and the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorism.

He reiterated India's policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

Sibi George also expressed India's concern over cross-border terrorism and called for concerted and united efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The Indian diplomat reaffirmed India's commitment to further deepen cooperation with BRICS member countries for a secure and terror-free world.

According to the statement, during the meetings, member countries discussed the full spectrum of counter-terrorism cooperation to address existing and emerging challenges.

Vinod Bahade, MEA Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), chaired the meetings in which senior counter terrorism officials from 10 BRICS member countries also participated.

The BRICS CTWG Plenary meeting was preceded by the meetings of the five thematic Sub Groups, the MEA said.

Source: IANS

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Moscow, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The death toll from the attack on a dormitory in Starobelsk in Russia's Luhansk region, has risen to 18 with more bodies being found in the rubble, local media reported.

There may be three more children under the rubble, the press service of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations stated.

"The bodies of two more people were recovered from the rubble. This brings the total to 60 injured, 18 of whom died," Russia’s Tass news agency quoted a ministry official as saying.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had on Friday condemned the Ukrainian attack on the Starobilsk college.

According to the Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko, the college was targetted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with four fixed-wing UAVs.

86 children aged 14 to 18 were present in the premises when the attack happened.

The United Nations has also condemned the attack with Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General's spokesman, saying: “We strongly condemn any attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur. Regarding Ukraine, I would like to note that we are following with concern reports of the overnight shelling of a college building and dormitory in the city of Starobilsk ..., which resulted in the death and injury of numerous people, including children."

Attacks like this are prohibited by international humanitarian law. "We urge all parties concerned to refrain from any actions that could further escalate an already dangerous situation," Dujarric added.

At a Security Council meeting convened at Russia's request following the attack, Vanessa Frazier noted that Children, schools, and hospitals should never be targets during armed conflict.

"Civilians, children, humanitarian personnel, and civilian objects —including schools and hospitals — must never be targetted. The protection of children must remain a priority. Their homes, their classrooms, and their futures cannot be considered collateral damage," Frazier said.

"We are following reports of deaths and injuries in Luhansk last night. Many questions regarding this attack remain unanswered. While we await answers to these questions, we emphasise the need for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire as a means of achieving a lasting, negotiated end to the war," stated Tammy Bruce, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN.

–IANS

ksk/as

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least 13 more people have died from measles and measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths to 512, local media reported.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning.

Among the 13 fatalities, one was a confirmed measles death, while the remaining 12 died with symptoms of the disease, Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star, reported

Reports suggest that the number of confirmed deaths surged to 86, while suspected deaths reached 426.

Additionally, 165 new confirmed cases were reported, taking the total tally of confirmed cases to 8,494 during the same period.

The DGHS also recorded 1,967 new suspected cases over the last 24 hours, increasing the total to 62,507.

Amid an escalating measles outbreak in Bangladesh, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) earlier this week said that it had repeatedly warned the country's earlier interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, both through written communication and meetings with health ministry officials, about vaccine shortages that could trigger a major health crisis, local media reported.

Addressing a press briefing in Dhaka, Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative to Bangladesh, said that the UN agency sent five to six letters to the health authorities on the issue and raised the matter in 10 meetings during the tenure of the interim government.

“From 2024, we were warning the government that the shortage of vaccines could lead to an outbreak. From 2024 to 2025 and into 2026, we sent letters, and we had 10 different meetings signalling this was a problem and that orders for vaccines needed to be given. They could not,” The Daily Star quoted Flowers as saying.

According to Flowers, Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, raised concerns over vaccine shortages at a meeting with the foreign ministry during his visit to Bangladesh in August last year.

She added that the UN agency would provide evidence to assist the investigation launched by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government on the measles outbreak.

Source: IANS

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Quetta, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Yet another civilian has been extrajudicially killed in Balochistan by Pakistani forces, a leading human rights organisation alleged on Saturday.

This latest incident comes against the backdrop of a growing wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances across the province.

Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) mentioned that 27-year-old shopkeeper Mehran Baloch was shot dead in broad daylight by Pakistan-backed death squads on May 21 while leaving his shop in the Surap Bazaar area in the Kech district.

Condemning the brutal killing, the BYC said, “Despite the presence of checkpoints and heavy military surveillance, Baloch civilians are continuously being targeted, while criminal networks and drug traffickers move freely without fear. During the days of Eid, instead of celebrations, many Baloch families are receiving the dead bodies of their sons. Fear, sorrow, and silence have spread across the region as more families lose their loved ones.”

The rights body called on international human rights organisations, the United Nations, and the global community to urgently take notice of the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan.

“Whenever Baloch voices speak out against oppression, enforced disappearances, and killings, they are met not with justice, but with arrests, harassment, and further repression,” it added.

Meanwhile, Sabiha Baloch, the central leader of the BYC, on Saturday sharply criticised the violent raid on the residence of Zareef Baloch, who was extrajudicially killed by Pakistani forces last year, calling it a continuation of state repression against Baloch families.

“Security forces entered the house at night, confiscated women’s belongings, damaged household property, and terrorised family members already grieving the loss of their loved one. The targeting of families after custodial killings has become a recurring reality in Balochistan, creating fear and insecurity within entire communities.” Sabiha wrote on X.

Zareef Baloch was forcibly disappeared on December 26, while his tortured and mutilated body was abandoned near a neighbouring house the following day.

“His body bore signs of severe torture, including burns inflicted on his tongue, constituting torture and cruel, inhuman treatment prohibited under international law,” Sabiha stated.

The BYC leader said that the continued harassment of families after the killing of their relatives reflects the absence of accountability and weak protection of basic human rights.

“Raids on civilian homes, humiliation of women, confiscation of personal belongings, and intimidation of traumatised families are violations of fundamental human dignity and justice,” Sabiha said, slamming the Pakistani forces.

Source: IANS

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Brussels, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) A group of seven leading international human rights groups wrote to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), urging them to prioritise human rights violations in China during their engagement with Chinese counterparts.

In its letter to the MEPs ahead of their upcoming visit to China, the human rights organisations alleged that the Chinese authorities exert unrelenting control over information and public discourse while suppressing dissent and peaceful assembly, surveilling rights activists and other civil society actors, and prosecuting many under “vague” national security provisions.

The signatories included Amnesty International, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, International Campaign for Tibet, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and World Uyghur Congress.

The rights groups highlighted that groups which previously enjoyed limited operational space – including feminists and members of the LGBTI community – are now facing tighter restrictions and harsher punishment.

They further accused Chinese authorities of disregarding many of the country’s international human rights obligations while seeking to redefine global human rights standards and undermine key international institutions.

“Our organisations have long called on European decision-makers to move beyond abstract expressions of concern to seek to meaningfully address the human rights crisis affecting people across China and take concrete actions to mitigate it. This is because we believe in the universality of human rights and in the human rights commitments the European Union (EU) has made to the international community and to its own citizens," the letter detailed.

“Yet we repeatedly see the human rights track in EU-China relations deprioritised and deprived of the same determination dedicated to security, trade and other areas of EU external action,” it added.

Since President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, the signatories said that the Chinese authorities have launched a wholesale assault on human rights, including widespread arbitrary detention, forced assimilation, forced labour and torture, as well as transnational repression beyond China, including in Europe.

They further alleged that these abuses have continued with impunity, as only a few Chinese officials have been held accountable for these serious violations.

Highlighting the widespread atrocities across China and beyond, the rights bodies said, “While the EU considers China as simultaneously a cooperation partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival, the European institutions need to take into account all aspects of Chinese authorities’ actions – above all, China’s mounting rights violations at home and abroad and its active undermining of global human rights norms and the international institutions that safeguard them.”

The human rights organisations called on the MEPs to reaffirm the European Parliament’s unequivocal commitment to the universality and indivisibility of human rights and to engage their Chinese counterparts on serious human rights violations in China.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad/Kabul, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The recent seizures of weapons by Afghan forces along the border, smuggled from Pakistani territory, are not merely arms interceptions but signals “warning flares” exposing the deeper fractures in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. Each intercepted cache underscores an environment shaped by mistrust – reflecting continued concerns over cross-border smuggling networks originating from Pakistan.

“The eastern frontier of Afghanistan has once again become the stage for a familiar but unsettling drama. Under the cover of night, in the rugged terrain of Dand wa Patan, Taliban border units intercepted yet another shipment of weapons, allegedly smuggled from Pakistan. It was not an isolated incident; it was the latest chapter in a pattern that has become too frequent to ignore," a report in Eurasia Review detailed

“Recently, the 3rd Border Brigade moved on what they described as 'precise intelligence'. By the end of the operation, 26 weapons, including M4's and AK-47s, were laid out on the ground, a stark reminder of the region’s persistent volatility. Only days earlier, another cache was seized in Torkham: specialised handguns, suppressors, and equipment reportedly intended for covert attacks inside Afghanistan," it added.

According to the report, the situation is further complicated by the allegations within Afghan security circles that elements within Pakistan’s intelligence establishment may have facilitated or permitted these transfers.

“These claims remain contested, but their persistence reflects a long history of covert manoeuvring, proxy dynamics, and strategic ambiguity along the Durand Line. Even the suggestion of such involvement is enough to deepen the diplomatic rift,” it noted.

The report stated that amid the rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, the recent Urumqi talks in China were expected to provide a reset, but instead reflected the entrenched positions of both sides.

Pakistani officials reportedly advanced a familiar set of demands – calling on the Afghan authorities to take action against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch insurgents, label them as terrorists, and carry out operations against them on Afghan soil.

The approach was viewed as a “maximalist position”--- effectively placing Pakistan’s internal security challenges on Afghanistan.

“The Afghan delegation pushed back firmly. Their message was clear: Pakistan’s domestic security challenges must be addressed within Pakistan’s own institutional framework. If Islamabad has evidence, it should present it, not rely on sweeping accusations or pressure tactics. This stance aligns with a broader principle in international security: no state can be expected to act as an external enforcement arm for another’s internal insurgencies,” the report mentioned.

It stated that Pakistan's response reflected a recurring pattern of externalising blame, portraying cross-border militancy as a problem originating in Afghanistan rather than confronting deeper structural issues within its own borders.

“This narrative may be politically convenient, but it obscures deeper drivers of instability: socioeconomic marginalisation, fragmented governance, and decades of reliance on proxy actors that have produced a dangerous strategic boomerang,” the report highlighted.

Source: IANS

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Tokyo, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's expanding maritime outreach, including its 'Necklace of Diamonds' counter-strategy, logistics agreements with Australia, France and Japan, coastal surveillance networks, naval base arrangements in Seychelles and BrahMos missile sales to the Philippines beginning in 2024 signals the most “proximate and credible structural pushback” to Chinese maritime assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

No other Quad members possess India's geographic and strategic positioning to perform this role, a report has mentioned.

"China's 'String of Pearls' strategy is, at its operational core, a strategy directed at India. The network of Chinese-funded ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, and Chittagong in Bangladesh encircles India's maritime perimeter. Since 2008, Beijing has sent more than 45 naval missions to the Indian Ocean Region, and China now operates at least 13 ports across it,” a report in Japan Forward detailed.

According to the report, the Western discourse on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) often overlooks a key point – India entered the framework not merely as a junior partner absorbing an external doctrine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) in March 2015 from Port Louis in Mauritius, two years before the United States formally adopted the FOIP framework.

“The doctrine prioritises trust, respect for international maritime norms, peaceful dispute resolution, and cooperative security in the Indian Ocean. It was, in essence, India's own rules-based order doctrine, rooted in its immediate strategic neighbourhood," the report highlighted.

“Over the decade that followed, the Indian Navy advanced SAGAR through anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, humanitarian missions, COVID-19 relief dispatched to Mauritius, Maldives, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles, and a network of coastal surveillance radars installed across IOR littoral states from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh,” it added.

The report noted that in March 2025, India broadened the initiative into MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), a framework explicitly framed as an inclusive alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

It added that practical implementation followed quickly, with the AIKEYME (Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement) naval exercise with Tanzania in April 2025 bringing together ten African nations, while India's IOS SAGAR mission carried out joint EEZ patrols with personnel from African and South Asian navies.

India's refusal to enter a formal security alliance with the US, the report said, is precisely what prevents FOIP from being perceived across the Global South as a Western containment project.

“Analysts argue that FOIP is also often interpreted as a framework for countering China and that emphasising inclusivity is essential to its credibility as a region-wide organising principle. India's participation, on its own terms, signals to fence-sitting nations across ASEAN, Africa and South Asia that FOIP is not a binary Cold War choice,” it stated.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday conveyed his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the loss of lives in a mining accident in Shanxi Province.

“Saddened by the loss of lives in a mining accident in Shanxi Province, China. On behalf of the people of India, my condolences to President Xi Jinping and the people of China. May the bereaved families find strength in this tragic hour. Praying for the early and safe recovery of all remaining missing persons,” PM Modi wrote on X.

The coal mine accident in north China's Shanxi Province has left 82 dead, with nine others still trapped.

A gas explosion hit the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County at 7:29 pm on Friday, when more than 200 people were down the shaft, according to the county's emergency management bureau, Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 123 people are receiving treatment at hospitals, including two in critical condition and two in serious condition, while 119 others sustained minor injuries.

Multiple rescue teams are taking turns going down the mining shaft.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue of the missing and treatment of the injured and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause, with accountability pursued in accordance with the law.

The investigation team said it will thoroughly ascertain the cause of the accident, clarify the responsibilities of local authorities, industry regulators and the enterprise involved, and mete out strict penalties in accordance with laws and regulations.

Deadly accidents are common in China's coal mining industry, due to which safety standards have been tightened in recent years, but accidents still occur.

Earlier in 2025, three people were trapped following a coal mine accident in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The accident occurred when part of an underground tunnel collapsed in Zhenping County, in the city of Ankang. Eight workers were carrying out rectification work at the site when the collapse happened, with five of them managing to escape safely.

–IANS

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Source: IANS

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Dhaka, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The failure of rape trials in Bangladesh reflects a broader systemic collapse across the entire judicial chain rather than a single flaw. From the filing of the initial complaint to the final stages of cross-examination, the survivor often confronts institutional incompetence and political interference, a report has detailed.

The horrific discovery of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old minor girl, Ramisa, in Dhaka's Pallabi area has once again laid bare a troubling reality, according to a report in Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Daily Star.

Her decapitated body was found inside a neighbour's flat — “a site of unimaginable horror where her shoes remained neatly placed outside the door while a life was snuffed out within.”

This comes amid another recent disturbing incident in Netrokona district, where an 11-year-old child was reportedly subjected to a brutal sexual assault, leaving her seven months pregnant.

“These incidents, alongside the older cases of Madhabdi and Sitakunda and many others, prove that the legal system remains a graveyard for rape complaints. These cases follow a predictable and tragic cycle. We see initial horror and outcry, a promise of swift action, and, eventually, years of delay or the case's total disappearance,” the report said, highlighting several incidents of sexual abuse across Bangladesh.

“The fundamental problem lies in the disconnect between paper laws and courtroom practice. While the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act promises quick resolutions, the reality is a backlog so immense that it effectively functions as a denial of justice. Thousands of cases have remained unresolved for more than 5 years,” it added.

The report noted that despite a sharp rise in reported cases of sexual violence, Bangladesh continues to record an abysmally low conviction rate. It added that the judicial system is burdened by a massive backlog that effectively amounts to a denial of justice.

Citing official data from the High Court, the report said that by December 2025, 30,365 cases had been pending in the system for more than 5 years.

Additionally, Dhaka-based rights group Ain o Salish Kendra documented at least 56 girls under the age of 12 who were raped in the first four months of 2026, including 16 children below six years.

The Rape Law Reform Coalition, a group of human rights defenders in Bangladesh, estimated a judicial backlog of over 10 lakh pending cases, with 10,000 rape cases remaining unresolved for over five years. In 2025 alone, the police recorded 7,068 rape cases across Bangladesh, affecting 5,171 adult and 1,897 child victims.

“This data reflects a systemic failure to deliver verdicts, forcing survivors to navigate a process that often feels designed to defeat them,” The report stated.

Source: IANS

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Lisbon, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's government and media have attempted to project the country as a link between the Muslim world and the West, alongside renewed aspirations to position itself as a leading voice of the global Muslim community. Yet serious doubts remain about how far a state marked by economic underdevelopment, governance challenges, and strained public welfare systems can effectively claim such leadership.

“Pakistan is at one of its toughest economic crisis in recent years. The country has been relying on IMF bailout loans time and again to keep its economy afloat. Foreign currency reserves have dipped to alarmingly low levels at various points, the price of essential commodities is skyrocketing, and energy supply is still an issue in daily life. The high cost of electricity, joblessness and the drop in buying power have led to a lot of frustration among millions,” a report in the Lisbon Post detailed.

“Life is in itself a struggle for many in Pakistan. Middle-class families are cutting spending, small businesses are closing down, and young graduates are looking for work overseas. However, the politics in Islamabad seem to be more preoccupied with their own grandiose geopolitical agenda and symbolic aura in the Muslim world rather than with their internal problems," it added.

According to the report, Pakistan seeks recognition as a peacemaker and a contributing force within the Muslim world in the international arena. However, it continues to face serious criticism over democratic backsliding, restrictions on press freedom, political polarisation, and human rights concerns, with enforced disappearances and state repression remaining persistent issues, particularly in Balochistan province.

"How can a nation be called a leader of others when it doesn't lead itself well? How can a nation be called a leader of other nations if it can't be a leader of itself in the areas of stability, economic security, and equal rights? While symbolic diplomacy can serve as an aid to support strong institutions, economic resilience and public trust, it cannot substitute for it,” the report noted.

“Here, too, there's a bit of domestic political showmanship involved in the quest for Muslim-world leadership. International relevance can help governments to shift their focus from domestic controversies. If the inflation rate climbs, employment is lost, and discontent among the people increases, and foreign policy successes and nationalist stories become political tools,” it further said.

Emphasising Pakistan's economic and governance failures at home, the report said real leadership cannot be reduced to “speeches, televised diplomacy, or symbolic rhetoric" but must be built on “stability, economic strength, public confidence and a state's right to prioritise dignity and opportunity for its own citizens first.”

Source: IANS

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Male, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) While Pakistan hosted high-stakes negotiations between American envoys and Iranian diplomats in April this year amid the unrest in West Asia, Riyadh publicly announced the arrival of Pakistani military forces and aircraft at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia under the terms of a defence agreement.

Pakistan issued no corresponding statement, but the Saudi announcement immediately raised questions over Islamabad’s claim of neutrality. The apparent diplomatic breakthrough suddenly became entangled with a “secret military obligation” that risked pulling Pakistan into the conflict in West Asia.

A report in Maldivian media outlet Etruth MV cited a detailed investigation by Drop Site News, revealing how the US–Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad unexpectedly brought Pakistan's covert military ties with Saudi Arabia into focus.

The findings, titled “Leaked Documents Reveal Details of the Secret Saudi Arabia–Pakistan Mutual Defence Pact", disclosed for the first time the “contents of a classified defence agreement” obligating Pakistan to potentially defend Saudi Arabia in the event of war.

“According to Drop Site, these leaked documents show that while Pakistan was presenting itself as a neutral mediator between Washington and Tehran, it was simultaneously tied to a far-reaching mutual defence pact with Riyadh, an arrangement never presented to Pakistan’s parliament and largely unknown to the public. This revelation fundamentally reshaped the context of the Islamabad talks, raising questions about Pakistan’s neutrality, its strategic vulnerabilities, and the depth of its military commitments to Saudi Arabia,” it detailed.

The 2025 Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

“Yet the leaked documents and internal assessments suggest the pact is asymmetrical. Pakistan is obligated to defend Saudi Arabia, but Saudi Arabia is not meaningfully committed to defending Pakistan, particularly against India, Islamabad’s primary strategic rival,” it added.

The report noted that the leaked documents gained relevance during the US–Iran ceasefire talks hosted by Pakistan in April. As Islamabad announced a two-week regional pause in hostilities and projected itself as a neutral mediator, Saudi Arabia's announcement of Pakistani troop deployments — made while US Vice President JD Vance was engaged in talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad — raised concerns over Pakistan's neutrality.

“Drop Site’s reporting shows that Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is far deeper and more binding than publicly acknowledged. The SMDA obligates Pakistan to defend Saudi Arabia in ways that could directly conflict with its diplomatic efforts, domestic politics, and regional security interests. The US–Iran talks in Islamabad brought these contradictions into sharp relief,” it highlighted.

Source: IANS

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Brussels, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) China is not merely a competitor but a “predatory power” in the international system that has “mastered the art of winning” without direct confrontation. While Western countries have spent decades focused on “globalisation” and “liberal reform”, Beijing has benefited from the gradual shift of the West’s industrial base to its own economy, a report mentioned.

For Chinese President Xi Jinping, the weakening of the West is not a strategic goal but something that he watches unfold, said Konstantinos Bogdanos, a Greek politician and journalist, writing for the digital news website 'Brussels Signal'.

Highlighting the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, Bogdanos said, “On one side, we have the American president, a man who views geopolitics as a series of tactical deals and immediate shows of force – a true disciple of Thucydides (or, rather, of what the great historian attributes to the Athenians), believing that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. On the other side, we have the quiet emperor, who thinks in centuries, playing a game that is far more patient and lethal."

“While the cameras capture handshakes, witty exchanges and grand banquets, we must look at the strategic ghost haunting the room. There is an ancient Eastern proverb, often misattributed to Sun Tzu but rooted deeply in the Chinese strategic mind, which suggests that if you sit by the river long enough, you will eventually see the bodies of your enemies float by. This is the essence of modern China. They are not in a rush to go to war; they are waiting for the West to drown in its own decadence, its own debt, and its own ideological civil wars,” he added.

According to the expert, Trump’s visit to Beijing reflects an attempt to steer a “turbulent" relationship through personal diplomacy and economic pressure driven by the belief that China only respects strength.

“But even if a deal on trade or a temporary truce on Taiwan materialises, they will not be reversing the flow. China’s global expansionism – its bid to control European trade routes and African mines – is not a series of arbitrary business moves. It is the steady construction of a world where the West becomes a historical relic,” Bogdanos further stated.

He noted that from the Covid-19 pandemic to China’s social credit systems, Beijing has offered a clear view of its vision for the future – “a world without the individual, a world where the state is the only god.”

“While the EU issues strategic autonomy memos that nobody reads, China is busy ensuring that every solar panel and every electric car battery in Europe is provided by their Communist Party. They are waiting for us to become so dependent that ‘sovereignty’ becomes a word with no meaning,” Bogdanos said, raising concerns.

Source: IANS

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Oslo/New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The recent third India–Nordic Summit in Norway underscored India's standing as a great power in 2026 and how the nation is actively shaping coalitions, setting international agendas.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, describing India as "one of the greatest powers", carried significant weight because it came from a European head of government — “a signal to Western policy circles that the old taxonomy no longer applies”, a report mentioned.

“The Norwegian capital, Oslo, hosted the third edition of the India–Nordic Summit, a gathering that, on the surface, brought together the leaders of India and five small Nordic states around a shared agenda of climate and technology. Beneath the surface, however, something more consequential was taking shape,” a report in One World Outlook detailed.

'Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen looked across the table at India’s delegation and said aloud what many in Western policy circles had long been reluctant to declare: India is "not a middle power, but one of the world’s greatest powers."' That statement, delivered in Oslo, may well serve as a marker for when Europe’s official perception of India permanently shifted,” it added.

More than another "diplomatic rendezvous", the report said, the summit marked an important moment in India’s expanding global outreach.

“It was the moment a relationship that had been, at best, a ‘nice-to-have’ arrangement crystallised into a strategic alignment, one explicitly framed around green technology, digital governance, Arctic affairs, and the architecture of a new global order," One World Outlook report mentioned.

The report highlighted the elevation of India–Nordic ties to a 'Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership' as the summit’s most concrete development.

“This is not mere semantic upgrading. By explicitly linking cooperation to the clean energy transition, trade and investment flows, and the blue economy — covering oceans, shipping, and fisheries — the five Nordic states and India committed to a structured, purpose-driven relationship rather than the generalist political dialogue that had characterised earlier summits,” it added.

Emphasising the significance of the partnership, the report said that Nordic innovation can translate into global impact only through access to markets and manufacturing capabilities on the scale of India.

While India’s green and digital ambitions require the technological depth that Nordic economies have built over decades, the strategic partnership institutionalises this complementary relationship.

Spotlighting India's position as a major global player, the report said, “India arrived in Oslo not to be lectured or assisted but to co-author. That is the difference the 3rd India–Nordic Summit inscribed into the record of global affairs — and it is a difference that will compound in the years ahead.”

Source: IANS

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Ottawa, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Khalistan-linked activities over the years have tarnished the positive image of the Sikh community globally. The violent demonstrations overseas, anti-India slogans, aggressive protests outside religious places, and separatist campaigns by extremist elements fuelled widespread controversy across the world, a report has highlighted.

Several incidents have surfaced in recent years in countries such as Canada, Britain, the United States, and Australia, where Khalistan-supporting groups allegedly sought to promote extremism and radicalism under the pretext of democratic freedom, according to a report in Khalsa Vox.

It added that protests outside Indian embassies, disrespect towards national symbols, tense activities near temples and religious places, and inflammatory statements inciting violence have impacted both India’s image and the reputation of the global Sikh community.

Emphasising that Sikhism has long been regarded as one of the world’s most respected religions committed to the service of humanity, the report said that the growing activities of Khalistani supporters and extremist elements have contributed to an increasingly negative atmosphere, leaving the entire Sikh community embarrassed.

It noted that the most troubling aspect is that many people globally are not able to clearly differentiate between Sikhism and Khalistani ideology.

“Due to the activities of a few extremist organisations, there is a growing tendency to view the entire Sikh community with suspicion, whereas the reality is that the majority of Sikhs believe in peace, brotherhood, and patriotism. Sikhs have always made proud contributions to India’s armed forces, judiciary, politics, industry, and social service. In such a situation, it is extremely unfortunate that the identity of the entire community is being affected by the activities of a few separatist elements,” the report mentioned.

It highlighted that the teachings of the Sikh Gurus reject all forms of extremism or hatred.

The report stressed the need for the Sikhs around the world to clearly distance themselves from extremist elements, damaging the image of the community.

It added that Gurudwaras and Sikh institutions should prevent religious platforms from being used to spread hatred and political extremism. Rather than being influenced by provocative historical narratives, it said young people should be guided towards education, community service, leadership, and nation-building.

"The Sikh community has always been a strong pillar of nation-building and social harmony. It is important that the voices of peaceful and patriotic Sikhs receive greater recognition so that the true identity and core values of Sikhism can be presented before the world,” the report stated.

Source: IANS

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Male, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The rising mpox cases have exposed weaknesses in Pakistan’s healthcare system, raising concerns about the capacity of existing public health mechanisms to respond effectively, a report has said.

“Public health crisis seldom arrive with spectacle. They emerge quietly, building through scattered infections before revealing their full scale. In Pakistan, the recent rise in mpox cases reflects precisely such a pattern—one that is beginning to unsettle health authorities and expose vulnerabilities within the country’s disease surveillance systems,” a report in Maldivian media outlet Etruth MV mentioned.

According to the report, the infections that initially appeared to be isolated and travel-linked have now evolved into a more “complex epidemiological situation”.

“The confirmation of 26 mpox cases over the past year has prompted heightened vigilance, particularly in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where authorities have placed both public and private healthcare facilities on high alert,” it added.

The report noted that the transition from imported infections to suspected local transmission marks a critical juncture signalling not only the persistence of the virus but also the growing challenge of containing its spread within communities.

“When a disease establishes local transmission, containment becomes more complex. The chain of infection extends beyond identifiable entry points, making contact tracing more challenging and increasing the likelihood of undetected spread,” it stated.

The emergence of suspected local transmission, the report said, has drawn attention to the shortcomings in Pakistan’s disease surveillance infrastructure, where effective monitoring of infectious diseases depends on timely detection, accurate reporting and coordinated response mechanisms.

The gradual increase in mpox cases suggests that surveillance systems may have struggled to detect and contain the outbreak at an earlier stage.

Highlighting regional disparities in healthcare infrastructure within Pakistan, the report said provinces such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face unique challenges, including resource constraints and uneven access to medical facilities. It added that these factors can affect both detection and effectiveness of response efforts.

"The concentration of cases in specific regions may reflect differences in surveillance intensity rather than the actual distribution of infections. This raises the possibility that cases in other areas may remain undetected or underreported,” the report noted.

It said, "The situation also underscores the broader pressures facing the healthcare system, including resource constraints and competing priorities. These factors can influence the speed and effectiveness of responses to emerging threats," emphasising the limitations of Pakistan’s healthcare system in responding to growing threats,

Source: IANS

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Rome, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan’s education crisis exposes a deep governance failure, where official claims of combating extremism are undermined by allowing school materials and public narratives that reinforce the ideology sustaining it. For years, the education system in the country has remained a major concern among human rights advocates, minority representatives and education reformers, a report had detailed.

Europe’s stance on human rights appears inconsistent when it overlooks the ideological formation of future generations in Pakistan, a major beneficiary of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) under the European Union, Dimitra Staikou, a Greek lawyer, writer, and journalist, wrote in EU Today.

She highlighted that the criticism goes beyond Pakistan’s underfunded schools, uneven access to education or poor learning outcomes -- pointing to curriculum content that continues to reinforce a narrow definition of national identity linked to religious conformity and suspicion of those outside the dominant narrative.

“That matters beyond Pakistan’s borders. For the European Union, Pakistan is not a distant or marginal case. It is a beneficiary of preferential trade access under the EU’s GSP+ scheme, which is formally linked to the implementation of international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance. The content of Pakistani classrooms, therefore, has a direct bearing on how Europe assesses Pakistan’s long-term direction, its treatment of minorities and its willingness to confront extremism at its roots,” Staikou stated.

“At the centre of the concern is the role of education in shaping civic identity. In a healthy system, schools should encourage critical thinking, social mobility and coexistence. In Pakistan, critics argue that the opposite too often occurs. Textbooks and classroom materials have been accused of presenting religious minorities as peripheral to the national story, framing India as a permanent enemy, and merging patriotism with religious orthodoxy,” she added.

According to the expert, the outcome is not simply poor education, but the reproduction of a worldview in which diversity is viewed with suspicion and conformity is framed as a civic virtue.

Staikou stressed that this is a serious challenge in Pakistan, which is already grappling with sectarian violence, attacks on minorities, blasphemy-related abuses and the persistent influence of extremist networks.

Emphasising that Europe should not treat extremist ideological narrative in Pakistan as a remote South Asian debate, Staikou said, “Radicalisation today travels through digital networks, diaspora communities, encrypted platforms and informal ideological ecosystems. Narratives of grievance, exclusion and religious confrontation do not remain within national borders. They circulate, adapt and find audiences among vulnerable individuals far from the places where they first emerge.”

Source: IANS

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