Top Stories of the Week

1. In a Bold First, China Blocks US Sanctions on Five Oil Refineries​

China's five-year-old law just got its first workout!

This is the first time Beijing activated its 2021 Blocking Rules, ordering all entities in China to ignore US sanctions on five oil refineries.

2. US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Iran War Rift​

Honest allies are apparently expensive!

After German Chancellor Merz publicly said Iran was humiliating the US in peace talks, Washington announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany, its largest military presence in Europe.

3. Trump Reversed Hormuz Mission After Saudi Pressure: Report​

A superpower launched a naval mission and forgot to book the airspace!

Saudi Arabia blocked US aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase and its airspace, and a direct call between Trump and MBS failed to fix it, grounding "Project Freedom" less than 36 hours after launch.

4. China Begins Construction of 500MW Wind Farm in Kazakhstan​

Green energy, Belt and Road edition!

The $645 million wind farm in Kazakhstan will generate 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours annually and cut 1.3 million tons of CO₂ per year, cementing China as Central Asia's dominant clean energy partner.

5. Oscars Says No AI Actors and Writers, Human-written Scripts Only​

While governments are still debating AI guardrails, Hollywood just enforced its own!

The Academy ruled that only living human performers qualify for acting awards and screenplays must be written by a person.
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From DiploTV

We are pleased to present an inspiring conversation with H.E. Naeem Khan, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda, as part of our flagship series Conversation With a Diplomat.

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Pakistan-Focus

​FO Confirms Evacuation of 22 Crew Members from US-Seized Iranian Vessel​

The US transferred 22 crew members of the seized Iranian ship MV Touska to Pakistan as a "confidence-building measure," with 15 of the crew later repatriated to Iran.

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​Trail Recognizing Pakistani-Canadian Social Worker Haroon Khan Unveiled in Mississauga​

The Haroon Khan Trail at Tillsdown Park recognizes over 40 years of humanitarian services supporting causes in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, and Somalia.

​Pakistan Receives First LNG Cargo After Weeks of Disruption​

The LNG carrier Seapeak Magellan docked at the Pakistan GasPort terminal carrying around 140,000 cubic metres of LNG, the first cargo to reach Pakistan in nearly two months.

​Bangladeshi Civil Servants Arrive in Pakistan for Leadership Training​

The two-week Executive Leadership Training marks the first structured professional exchange between senior bureaucrats of Bangladesh and Pakistan since the early 1970s.

​Pakistan, UNFPA Review Efforts to Combat Gender-Based Violence​

Pakistan and UNFPA's joint review of gender-based violence programs comes as the country continues to grapple with one of the region's most persistent and under-reported human rights challenges.

​US to Close Peshawar Consulate, Shift Operations to Islamabad​

Reports indicate that the closure had been under consideration for over a year and is expected to save approximately $7.5 million annually.

​TİKA-Led Turkish Delegation Visits Pakistan for Cooperation on Flood Management​

The TİKA-led delegation of Turkish experts conducted field visits to flood-prone areas in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Lahore.

TDI Explainer

​UAE’s OPEC Exit Takes Effect. Will It Bring More Energy Autonomy for the Country?​

The exit deprives Saudi Arabia of a key partner in “burden-sharing.” Traditionally, Riyadh has managed prices by cutting its own production and enforcing discipline across the group.

To read more, click here.

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