Palestinian agency warns about Israeli plans for more than 1,000 new illegal settlement units in West Bank

Israel’s Higher Planning Council advances nine such projects since beginning of July, entrenching de facto annexation The Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission warned Friday that Israel is advancing new illegal settlement plans in the occupied West Bank involving the construction of 1,024 settlement units on more than 1,069 dunams (1,264.2 acres) of Palestinian land….

Read More

India’s Skyroot launches Vikram-1 in first private orbital rocket mission

Making India the third country to achieve ⁠orbital launch capability through private enterprise Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace launched its Vikram-1 rocket, marking the first attempt by an Indian private company to place a satellite in orbit, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, July 18, 2026. Photo: REUTERS Indian space…

Read More

Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to 5,069

16,740 people injured in last month’s disaster, says National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez A rescuer works at the site of a collapsed building after earthquakes hit the country, in Caracas, Venezuela, June 25, 2026. Photo: Reuters The death toll from last month’s back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela climbed to 5,069, the country’s National Assembly President Jorge…

Read More

Cricket legend Garry Sobers is no more

. BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS: Sir Garry Sobers, the West Indies legend widely regarded as cricket’s greatest all-rounder, has died at the age of 89, Cricket West Indies announced on Friday, bringing to an end the remarkable life of a player whose unmatched versatility, brilliance and longevity set the benchmark for generations of cricketers. “A great innings…

Read More

US, Iran attack infrastructure in re-escalation

• China, Pakistan urge adherence to ceasefire, talks resumption • Iran strikes US bases in Gulf countries • Kuwait Chabahar port tower appears damaged after repeated US strikes. Photo: Courtesy: X/@PeteHegseth DUBAI/ BEIJING: The United States struck bridges in Iran, and Tehran responded by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait on Friday, as…

Read More

PM assures Chinese investors of security

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to Chinese investors, on Friday said the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan remained the government’s highest priority and assured them of comprehensive protection. Addressing the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical Business-to-Business Conference, the prime minister hailed the signing of nine agreements worth around $440 million between Pakistani…

Read More

Breakthrough deal ends Ziarat sit-in

Representative of the government and the protesters sign an agreement in Quetta. Photo: Express QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to set up a judicial commission to investigate the Ziarat tragedy, following a written agreement with the Ziarat sit?in committee. The breakthrough came after days of tense negotiations, eventually resolved through reconciliation efforts led by…

Read More

24 terrorists killed in Bannu IBO

RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed 24 terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district and adjoining areas over the past 24 hours, following a recent spike in attacks on police and vehicle-borne suicide bombing in the district, the military’s media wing said on Friday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the…

Read More