WORLD

 TEHRAN, 24 September, 2026 (Nosheen): An Iranian passenger aircraft was forced to return to Tehran after Turkmenistan denied it permission to enter its airspace, Iranian authorities said. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said the aircraft was diverted back to Tehran and landed at Imam Khomeini International Airport. Majid Akhavan, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Organization, confirmed the incident but no further details were immediately provided about the reason for the airspace restriction. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that all flights operated by Iranian airlines to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also been cancelled. Iranian officials said the UAE had not formally notified Tehran about the suspension of flights. According to the Iranian Civil Aviation Organizati...

WASHINGTON, 24 September, 2026 (Ghufran): US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday, describing their relationship as a “great friendship” built on mutual respect and the interests of both countries. Trump said the two leaders would discuss pressing issues including artificial intelligence, security, technology and super intelligence, stressing that decisions in these areas could have long-term implications for global peace and prosperity. Xi, in his remarks, said China and the United States had both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity and ensure that its development remains under human control. Trump personally greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews, marking the first tim...

 QUETTA, 24 September, 2026 (Ghufran): The Balochistan government has imposed Section 144 across the province for 30 days, citing security concerns and the need to maintain law and order. According to Home Department Adviser Babar Yousafzai, the restrictions will remain in force from September 23, 2026. Under the order, the display and public exhibition of all kinds of weapons have been banned at public places, while gatherings of five or more people, sit-ins, rallies, protests and similar activities have also been prohibited. The provincial government has further banned covering one’s face, wearing a veil or using any other means at public places that could obstruct the identification of an individual. All law enforcement agencies and district administrations have been direct...

 New York, 23 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Denmark and Greenland have signed an agreement allowing an expanded US military presence on the strategically located Arctic island. The agreement, signed during Trump’s visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, stops short of his earlier demand for the United States to annex Greenland but provides greater access for US military operations. Under the deal, the United States can establish a “Golden Dome” defence system in Greenland to help protect against ballistic missile threats. Trump said the agreement would give the United States permanent control over security and other needs on the territory, while also preventing US adversaries from establishing military bases or makin...

Beijing, 23 September, 2026 (Ghufran): China’s ambassador to the United States has warned that Beijing has “red lines” on Taiwan, human rights and other issues that cannot be crossed ahead of this week’s planned meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington. Ambassador Xie Feng said China’s sovereignty, security and development interests must be respected, identifying Taiwan, democracy and human rights, development paths and systems, and development rights as four issues that cannot be challenged. Writing in the Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, Xie said managing differences between China and the United States requires good faith and urged Washington to avoid using national security, economic imbalances and forced labour as pretexts to co...

 New York, 23 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Iran can reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official said. The official said Tehran wants Washington to formally announce its willingness to resolve the conflict diplomatically and agree on a timeline for negotiations. Iran’s delegation attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York has full authority to revive diplomacy with the United States, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who arrived in New York, is not expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the UN headquarters. The Iranian official said details of an agreement to end hostilities could be discussed through mediators in New York, noting that T...

Islamabad, 22 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Pakistan’s Manesha Ali has won a gold medal at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Cup in Angola after defeating Angola’s Leonela Isabel Blaiye. With just 15 seconds remaining in the second round, Ali, who hails from Gilgit-Baltistan, secured a standing guillotine following a late attack by Blaiye. The IMMAF World Cup is an international amateur mixed martial arts competition featuring 15 top-ranked teams from around the world. The IMMAF praised Ali’s performance in a post on X, saying she claimed gold through a second-round guillotine. Ali’s victory comes as women fighters continue to gain greater recognition in Pakistan. Brave Gym in Lahore, where Ali trains, described her as a role model for young girls across the countr...

New York, 22 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have called on Iran to end its arming and support of the Houthis in Yemen, warning that continued assistance could contribute to further escalation, disrupt international trade and create wider instability. In a statement issued after their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States strongly condemned continued Houthi strikes in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia. The ministers urged the Houthis to immediately halt military actions, threats and attacks targeting civilian shipping and called on the group to return to the political process in good faith.

 Washington, 22 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to urge US President Donald Trump to halt arms sales and deliveries to Taiwan during his upcoming Washington visit, citing the 1982 US-China joint communiqué, according to sources familiar with the discussions. China considers Taiwan one of its most sensitive and important diplomatic issues and has repeatedly called for an end to US arms sales, while Washington is legally required to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities despite not having formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. Beijing is expected to highlight the 1982 communiqué, under which the United States said it intended to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan, while a separate statement by then-President Ronald Reagan linked any ...

 Tehran, 22 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned the United States that it would “change the geography of the war” if Washington escalates the ongoing conflict, as tensions continued to rise across the Middle East. Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said the war was not over and warned that Iran would change its weapons, military tactics and targets in the event of further escalation. Meanwhile, the British military said an “unknown projectile” struck a tanker as it entered the Strait of Hormuz, injuring two crew members, while the vessel continued toward its next port of call under its own power with no reported environmental impact. Britain has also agreed to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia, including Royal Air Force air...