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A year on from the ousting of Assad

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  Damascus, Syria — “Hold your head high, you’re a free Syrian.” The refrain of this Arabic song—now widely embraced as the unofficial anthem of a new Syria—echoes throughout Damascus. It blares from market loudspeakers, rings out during celebrations in the central square, and is even sung by the man offering traditional coffee to new arrivals at the airport. For decades, many Syrians lived with lowered gazes under the authoritarian rule of the Al-Assad family. The regime maintained an expansive surveillance system in which the feared Mukhabarat , the intelligence network, kept the population in check. Remaining silent was often the safest choice—until the Arab Spring ignited an uprising, and Assad’s fierce response plunged the nation into a ten-year civil war. Today, Syrians are openly and energetically marking the first anniversary of what they regard as their liberation from Assad’s government. The celebration follows a rapid rebel offensive on December 8 last year, led by fo...
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Trump says will get Pak-Afghan conflict ‘solved very quickly’

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  United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would get the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan “solved very quickly”, calling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir “great people”.  Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul flared up earlier this month over accusations of terrorism, as border clashes killed 23 Pakistani troops as well as 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists after an attack by Kabul, which it claimed was retaliation for Islamabad conducting air strikes in its territory.  A first round of talks in Doha last weekend led to a ceasefire agreement, with both governments seeking to firm up the agreement in more talks yesterday.  Trump arrived in Malaysia today to co-sign a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia and to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Kuala Lumpur. He was also involved in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May of this year as well ...
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Location: United States
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US and China ease trade tensions on first day of Trump’s Asia diplomacy tour

 Where things stand  • As President Donald Trump kicks off a diplomacy tour in Asia, the US and China have reached a “basic consensus” in trade talks, Chinese negotiators said.  The announcement eases tensions ahead of Trump’s high-stakes sit-down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week.  The threat of a 100% tariff on China is now “off the table,” according to the US Treasury Secretary.  • Trump has spent the first day of his trip in Malaysia, where he oversaw the signing of a peace agreement between the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand.  Southeast Asian leaders lavished him with praise, jokes, and applause upon his arrival. • Before he arrived in Asia, Trump announced a hike in tariffs on Canada, addressed peace efforts in Gaza and Ukraine, and previewed meetings with key leaders in comments made during the long-haul flight.
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Location: Malaysia
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Trump thanks Qatar for mediation efforts as talks on Gaza plan continue

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  United States President Donald Trump has thanked Qatar for its efforts in securing a ceasefire deal in Gaza as Israeli forces continued attacks on the Palestinian territory, killing at least one person and wounding four others.  Trump made the comments on Saturday as he welcomed Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on board Air Force One on Saturday, as the US president’s plane stopped to refuel in the Gulf country on its way to a summit in Malaysia. Trump, who was speaking with the leaders of Qatar, said, "We've done a lot together, especially in the last year." "What we've done is incredible—bringing peace to the Middle East—and they were a very big part of it, so I just want to thank you," she said. The Qatari Emir, on the other hand, wrote in a post on X that he was pleased to meet Trump and that their meeting was a "good opportunity to discuss peace plans in the Middle East, f...
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Location: United States
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PM Shehbaz makes 34 foreign trips in 20 months

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  Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made 34 foreign visits in 20 months, while President Asif Ali Zardari traveled three times.  These outings highlight Pakistan's active diplomatic efforts abroad. Both leaders prioritized China, reflecting its strategic importance in Pakistan’s economic and regional policies. During the years 2024 to 2025, President Zardari went to China twice and Turkmenistan once. His trips aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, and economic development.  While limited in number, these visits targeted Pakistan’s most critical foreign policy goals. The Prime Minister visited China twice under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.  He concentrated on infrastructure projects, investments, and trade. These efforts reinforced Pakistan’s commitment to regional connectivity and economic growth.  Saudi Arabia was the most visited country, with eight trips by PM Shehbaz.  He also visited the United Sta...
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Location: United Arab Emirates
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IT firms shift focus to Middle East, Europe

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  KARACHI:  Entrepreneurs are looking into new markets like the Middle East and Europe as the United States cuts back on investment in Pakistan's IT companies. In order to meet the changing requirements of European markets, where opportunities in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart systems are rapidly expanding, Pakistan's IT industry must urgently reskill its workforce. Experts warn that Pakistan risks missing out on high-value outsourcing contracts and strategic partnerships in the region unless local software and IT companies improve their human resource capabilities. They emphasize that the skill gap remains a significant obstacle to entering Europe's lucrative technology landscape, particularly in industrial automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems, and edge computing. The government's Uraan program's $10 billion target for the country's exports by FY29 is contingent on expanding this talent pool. Industry leaders have call...
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Location: Europe
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US readies new sanctions to pressure Russia over ongoing war in Ukraine

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  According to a US official and another person familiar with the situation, the administration of US President Donald Trump has prepared additional sanctions that it could use to target key areas of Russia's economy if President Vladimir Putin continues to delay ending Moscow's war in Ukraine. According to two US officials, Washington has held nascent internal discussions about leveraging Russian assets held in the US to support Ukraine's war effort. Additionally, US officials have informed counterparts in Europe that they support the EU using frozen Russian assets to purchase US weapons for Kyiv. After Trump imposed sanctions on Russia on Wednesday for the first time since returning to office in January, it is unclear whether Washington will actually carry out any of those actions in the immediate future. However, it demonstrates that the administration has a well-developed toolkit to further up the ante. Read More: US strike on suspected Venezuelan drug boat kills six in...
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Location: United States
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