Tuesday, April 14th, 2026
Saudi official urges full compliance with hajj regulations
Makkah, Apr 14: President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Abdulrahman Al-Sudais has emphasized the importance of obtaining a Hajj permit and adhering to the regulations and instructions governing the performance of Hajj. He stressed that the principle of “No Hajj Without a Permit” aligns with the objectives of Islamic law and serves the interests of pilgrims by preserving lives and preventing harm and disorder. Al-Sudais called on all those wishing to perform Hajj to fully comply with the instructions issued by the relevant authoritiesRead More
S. Korea to attend multilateral meeting on Strait of Hormuz this week
SEOUL, Apr 14: South Korea will attend a multilateral meeting this week on joint efforts to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz, including ways to ensure free and safe passage through the waterway in the event of an end to the Middle East conflict, officials said Tuesday. The online meeting, set for late Wednesday (Seoul time), is a follow-up to the Britain-led ministerial meeting of more than 40 countries that took place earlier this month regarding the maritime chokepoint where thousands of vessels and crew remain stranded. Deputy Foreign Minister ChungRead More
Pakistan-Russia ties show strategic acumen, says Chinese expert
BEIJING, Apr 14 (DNA): As highlighted by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, the deepening of Pakistan-Russia relations is a testament to Pakistan’s foresighted strategic acumen, a deliberate realignment that serves its core national interests and reshapes regional and global geopolitics. What was once a cautious partnership has become a bold, forward-thinking choice to strengthen its strategic autonomy and enhance global influence amid intense great-power competition. These views were expressed by Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental Chinese think-tank on diplomacy and international studies based inRead More
Pakistan slams Israeli ‘aggression’ in Lebanon
UNITED NATIONS, APR 14 (DNA): Pakistan Monday strongly condemned the deadly Israeli strikes across Lebanon, especially in the southern part if the country, that have left behind a catastrophic humanitarian situation. Speaking at an OIC Ambassadorial-level meeting held to discuss the current humanitarian situation in Lebanon, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, said the situation was deteriorating by the day for tens of thousands of uprooted civilians. According to the UN, intensified Israeli bombardment in Lebanon has killed more than 2,000 people AND over 6,500Read More
US-Iran talks 2nd round likely soon
Ansar M Bhatti ISLAMABAD: US and Iranian teams could return to Islamabad for the second round of peace talks this week, according to sources. The second round of US-Iran negotiations is expected within days as mediation efforts continue, sources said. Management of a five-star hotel in Islamabad, which hosted the first round, has already been asked to prepare for the delegations again. The hotel has not been given an exact date yet but has been told to stay ready. It is hoped that some breakthrough could be achieved during thisRead More
Punjab’s Changing Education System
Dr. Muhammad Akram Zaheer Punjab’s education landscape has long stood at the intersection of ambition and constraint. Successive governments have promised reform, yet the gap between policy and classroom reality has often remained wide. In this evolving context, the educational vision of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, particularly in relation to the Public Schools Reorganisation Programme (PSRP) and the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), is being closely watched by educators, parents, and policy observers alike. Her approach appears to build upon an existing framework rather than discarding it altogether. The PSRP, which placesRead More