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Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka in Kiev

January 11, 2026January 11, 2026 capital

By Muhammad Sohail Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka visited Kiev on Friday, January 9, where he held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha. This was his second working trip abroad since taking office as Minister. The main topics of the talks between the heads of diplomacy were the Czechs’ relations with Ukrainian refugees, cooperation in the field of drone warfare, and current peace negotiations. “Ukraine has demonstrated a great will to end the war and has made significant concessions. Thanks to the active role of the US, space is…

Cold wave triggers surge in flu, respiratory illnesses across Punjab

January 11, 2026 capital

The province of Punjab is facing a growing public health challenge as an intense cold wave continues to sweep across the region, triggering a sharp rise in respiratory and viral illnesses. Lahore and other major cities are witnessing an unprecedented rush at public hospitals, where doctors report a continuous increase in patients suffering from super flu, influenza, viral infections, chest complications, pneumonia and high fever. A survey of patient flow at major government hospitals in Lahore reveals a troubling situation. Over the past 24 hours, more than 1,000 patients with…

Centre committed to K-P’s development: PM

January 11, 2026 capital

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the timely completion of federally funded development projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the resolution of public issues were among the top priorities of the incumbent government. He said the federal government was “fully aware” of the problems faced by the people of K-P and was taking tangible steps within its jurisdiction to ensure sustainable solutions. The prime minister expressed these views in a meeting with K-P political representatives, the PM Office Media Wing said in a statement. During the meeting, a detailed…

Water filtration plants to be transferred to PSPC

January 11, 2026 capital

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to transfer all existing water filtration plants in the Rawalpindi division to the Punjab Saaf Pani Company to ensure the provision of clean drinking water according to health standards. New filtration plants will also be installed in areas currently without such facilities. Consultation between the Rawalpindi administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has been finalised. WASA will present a comprehensive report on existing and proposed filtration plants to the commissioner. At present, WASA Rawalpindi manages 127 water filtration plants within the city.…

US Senate advances resolution to curb Trump’s war powers in Venezuela

January 9, 2026 capital

The US Senate advanced a resolution on Thursday that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, paving the way for further consideration in the 100-member chamber. The vote on a procedural measure to advance the war powers resolution was 52 to 47, as five of Trump’s fellow Republicans voted with every Democrat in favor of moving ahead. One Republican senator did not vote. The vote took place days after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic military raid in…

China slams ships seizure by US

January 9, 2026 capital

China has said that the arbitrary detention of foreign vessels in international waters by the United States constitutes a serious violation of international law. A day earlier, Moscow condemned the move, with Russian experts describing it as “state-level piracy.” China’s response followed an announcement by the US European Command that it had seized an oil tanker linked to Venezuela and registered as a Russian vessel during an operation in the North Atlantic on Wednesday. Speaking at a regular press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro declared healthy after prison fall

January 9, 2026 capital

BRASILIA: Brazil’s far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro was declared healthy on Wednesday after a battery of tests to check him for head injuries following a fall in prison, where he is serving 27 years for leading a failed coup d’etat. The 70-year-old was taken from a federal police detention facility to the DF Star private hospital for a CT scan, MRI and EEG test, according to a Supreme Court authorization seen by AFP. Doctor Brasil Caiado later told reporters the tests revealed a “mild head injury” but “no intracranial injuries, which…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro declared healthy after prison fall

January 9, 2026 capital

Lebanon says first phase of disarming Hezbollah complete

January 9, 2026 capital

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s army said Thursday that it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah in south Lebanon, while Israel called the efforts encouraging but “far from sufficient”. Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming the Iran-backed militant group, which was badly weakened after more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire. Despite the truce, Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon, usually saying it is…

Foreign reserves rise $141m to $21.19b

January 9, 2026 capital

KARACHI: Pakistan’s total liquid foreign currency reserves stood at $21.19 billion as of January 2, 2026, reflecting a modest improvement in the country’s external liquidity position, according to official data. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) held $16.06 billion in foreign reserves, while commercial banks collectively maintained net foreign reserves of $5.14 billion, bringing the total liquid reserves to $21.19 billion. During the week ended January 2, the SBP’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $141 million, signalling a slight strengthening of the central bank’s buffer amid ongoing external pressures. Analysts…