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Lebanon, Israel begin first direct talks in more than 30 years under US mediation

Lebanon and Israel began the first round of direct diplomatic talks in more than 30 years on Tuesday under US mediation as Israel continues to pursue an offensive in southern Lebanon that it says targets Hezbollah. Lebanese ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh, and Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, represented their countries during the meeting at the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also doubles as US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Counsellor Michael Needham and US envoy to the UN Mike Waltz represented the Trump administration. Rubio sought to temper expectations for the talks, saying the meeting represents the start of a "process", rather than a culminating event. "All of the complexities of this matter are not going to be resolved in the next six hours, but we can begin to move forward to create a framework where something can happen, something very positive, something very permanent,...
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Alibaba-backed Buy Now Pay Later firm gets SECP licence

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has granted a licence to Koko Tech Pakistan (Private) Limited (KTPL) to operate a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) business in Pakistan, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. KTPL is owned by Alibaba.com Holdings, one of the world’s leading e-commerce and technology companies. The entry of Alibaba-backed KTPL marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s digital financial ecosystem, reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s large consumer base, expanding digital economy and untapped financial services market. With advanced AI-driven credit assessment systems and globally tested digital infrastructure, KTPL is expected to introduce innovative, data-driven lending solutions in the BNPL space. This will enhance access to consumer financing, particularly for young users, freelancers and small businesses that remain underserved by traditional banking channels, which have often been relucta...
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China says Islamabad US-Iran talks a step towards de-escalation, hopes ceasefire holds

China said on Monday that the US-Iran talks in Islamabad were a step towards de-escalation, expressing hope that both parties will maintain the ceasefire. "US-Iran negotiation in Islamabad was a step towards de-escalation. China hopes the ceasefire will be kept, disputes will be resolved through political and diplomatic means rather than reigniting the flames of war, and conditions will be created for an early return of peace to the Gulf," a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Lin Jian said in a post on X. The U.S.-Iran negotiation in Islamabad was a step towards de-escalation. China hopes the ceasefire will be kept, disputes will be resolved through political and diplomatic means rather than reigniting the flames of war, and conditions will be created for an early return of peace… pic.twitter.com/VDU95i8jfW — Lin Jian 林剑 (@SpoxCHN_LinJian) April 13, 2026 Jian also called for ending the United States–Iran dispute at the earliest, terming the military con...
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Pakistan's envoy says ties with US not merely optional but necessity for present, future

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh on Monday said that the Pakistan-US bilateral relations were not merely optional but an important necessity of the present time and the future. The ambassador, in his address at the “Pakistan Conference” held at Harvard University, invited American businessmen and investors to exploit Pakistan’s potential, reiterating the country’s commitment to provide every possible facilitation to investors. Shiekh said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had envisioned Pakistan emerging as “the axis of the world” and that, owing to Pakistan’s decades-long positive diplomatic role and consistent efforts, the country was selected as a facilitator for US-Iran negotiations. The ambassador thanked the United States and Iran for their strong expression of confidence and reaffirmed that his country would continue its sincere efforts for regional peace. Read More: Iran warns 'no port in Gulf, Sea of Oman will be safe' after US blo...
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Blaming parents: oversimplification of social deviance

I recently listened to a sermon on parenting in which a religious scholar spoke passionately about the moral decline of society. Disrespect for elders, drug use and other forms of antisocial behaviour, he argued, were largely the result of poor parenting. While there was some truth in his concern, what struck me was the sweeping nature of the claim. It felt intuitively unsatisfying because such a claim overlooks the many other forces that shape who children become. It also seemed that beneath the moral urgency of the message lay a subtle push towards religious schooling as the corrective path. A closer look reveals why such explanations, though persuasive, are incomplete. No serious body of knowledge - whether in Sociology, Psychology or Behavioural Genetics - supports the idea that parenting alone determines behaviour. Human development is shaped by an intricate interplay of factors: biological predispositions, peer influences, schooling systems, media exposure, economic conditions an...
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UK will not join US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom will not participate in a United States blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to local media, following US President Donald Trump’s remarks about blockading the critical shipping route. "We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home," said a government spokesperson, according to Sky News. "The Strait of Hormuz must not be subject to tolling," the official added. BREAKING: The UK will not be involved in a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Sky News understands. Earlier today, Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy would be blocking the critical shipping route. Sky's political correspondent @LucyJMcDaid has the latesthttps://t.co/aJEtGwKcEW pic.twitter.com/Kf9aqrIL90 — Sky News (@SkyNews) April 12, 2026 The official noted that London is "urgently working" with France and other partners to build a broad coalition...
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First Pakistan-bound container vessel reaches Karachi after Strait of Hormuz reopening

The vessel MV SELEN arrived at Karachi Port on Saturday, becoming the first Pakistan-bound vessel to do so following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after more than a month of disruption caused by conflict in the Middle East. In a statement, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said: “MV SELEN, operated by NLC (AP Line), has berthed at Karachi Port, marking the first Pakistan-bound container vessel arrival following recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.” It added that the vessel, arriving from Jebel Ali, signalled the resumption of containerised trade and reinforced confidence in maritime supply chains. Read: First Pakistani vessel carrying oil shipment arrives via Strait of Hormuz The KPT said the development reflected effective coordination among port, shipping and logistics stakeholders to sustain cargo operations. Although the Strait of Hormuz had remained disrupted since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, Pakistan continued to receive oil ...
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