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As India continues its multi-nation diplomatic campaign under Operation Sindoor , Pakistan has announced a regional tour by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif beginning Sunday, May 25. The parallel diplomatic initiatives come amid heightened regional sensitivity following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack , and reflect efforts by both countries to engage their respective international partners. Image Source: MEA/FM on X Sharif’s six-day itinerary includes visits to Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan . The outreach is intended to reinforce ties with longstanding regional allies, with media in Islamabad describing it as part of a broader effort to “present Pakistan’s position on current regional challenges.” Meanwhile, India’s Operation Sindoor diplomatic campaign has continued to expand across continents. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar recently concluded visits to Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands , holding strategic discussions on security, counterterrorism, a...

Harvard University has sharply criticized the U.S. government for revoking its authority to sponsor international students and scholars, calling the move a politically motivated retaliation for the university's defense of academic freedom . Image Source: Harvard Website, Screengrab In a message addressed to the Harvard community, Interim President Alan M. Garber stated that the federal action threatens the future of thousands of international students and scholars and represents a broader attempt to interfere in the university’s academic operations .  “The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence,” Garber said.  He characterized the federal move as “ unlawful and unwarranted ,” arguing it seeks to force the university to submit to what he described as the government’s “illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body.” The U.S. Department of Ho...

Ukraine and Russia have initiated what officials say is their largest prisoner-of-war exchange to date, following limited diplomatic engagement in Istanbul last week — the first formal peace talks between the two countries in over three years. Image Source: Wikipedia/Representational Only Ukrainian authorities have confirmed to global media that the exchange process began Friday, involving a planned swap of 2,000 prisoners , as agreed during the recent round of talks. While the broader negotiations failed to yield breakthroughs on a ceasefire, the prisoner agreement was seen as a modest yet significant confidence-building measure. The Istanbul talks, hosted with international mediation, ended without resolution on core issues, largely due to what Ukrainian officials described as uncompromising demands from Moscow . However, both sides agreed to proceed with the prisoner exchange as a humanitarian gesture. Adding to the international spotlight, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on...

North Korea has vowed to hold officials accountable for what it called “unpardonable criminal negligence” following the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, while denying claims of extensive damage to the vessel. The announcement came after leader Kim Jong Un reportedly expressed anger over the incident, demanding swift punishment for those involved. Image Source: Wikipedia/Representational Only. In a statement released Friday, North Korea’s Central Military Committee said it is pursuing the arrest of those responsible for the failure, which it labelled a serious breach of duty. The committee maintained that the warship did not suffer major damage and would be repaired within 10 days . However, satellite imagery published by international media , including the Associated Press, paints a different picture. Images show the vessel listing on its side, partially submerged, and covered with tarpauli...

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), challenging a decision to revoke its ability to enrol international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) . The action, announced by the department less than 24 hours prior, would effectively bar over 7,000 international students from attending the institution. Image Source: Wikipedia/Representational Only. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston, Harvard called the government’s order a “blatant violation” of constitutional and federal law, and warned of its “immediate and devastating effect” on the university’s academic operations and global character. The move comes after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the revocation of Harvard’s SEVP certification beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year. The department cited alleged concerns over “fostering violence, antisemiti...

The United Kingdom is set to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius , with a formal agreement expected to be signed on Thursday, despite a late-night legal challenge and ongoing international controversy. The move marks a significant moment in post-colonial diplomacy and has drawn close attention in India due to its strategic implications in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Chagos Archipelago , a cluster of islands in the central Indian Ocean, includes Diego Garcia , which hosts a major US-UK military base and is seen as a critical node for Western strategic operations across Asia and the Middle East. While the base will remain under Anglo-American control, the rest of the islands are to be handed over to Mauritius , concluding a decades-long sovereignty dispute. The decision follows legal and political pushback in the UK, including a High Court injunction filed by Chagossian activists just hours before the deal’s scheduled finalization. Two Chagossian women, Bernad...