KARACHI (INP): The European Union (EU) refused to lift the ban on Pakistani air carriers including PIA. The European Union (EU) in its recent meeting found no grounds for amending the current list of air carriers banned from operating within the Union, including Pakistani airlines. This decision comes after a comprehensive review by the EU Air Safety Committee, which involved an on-site evaluation of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and sample assessments of Pakistani air carriers Fly Jinnah and Airblue Ltd. The on-site assessment, conducted between November 27 and 30, 2023, focus ..read more

SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters): The United States, Japan and South Korea agreed to hold new trilateral joint exercises this summer, a joint statement issued by USDepartment of Defense said on Sunday, after a meeting of the three allies’ defense ministers. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Won-sik met on Sunday in Singapore on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit there. The three “committed to continue to strengthen trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, the ..read more

JERUSALEM (Reuters): The top Israeli court heard responses by the state on Sunday to challenges against exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jews from military conscription, a long-standing source of friction with more secular citizens now inflamed by the long Gaza war. In the name of equality, the Supreme Court in 2018 voided a law waiving the call-up for ultra-Orthodox men who want to study in seminaries instead. Parliament failed to come up with an alternative arrangement, and a government-ordered stay on a mandatory mobilization of ultra-Orthodox expired in March. That has left Prime Mini ..read more

SYDNEY (Reuters): An annual poll of how Australians view foreign relations showed trust in the United States has dipped, although most (83 percent) saw the US alliance as important for security, and 63 percent said it makes Australia safer from attack or pressure from China. Cyberattacks from other nations were seen as the top threat (70 percent), while concern over potential conflicts over Taiwan (59 percent) and the South China Sea (57 percent) also loomed large. Australia has boosted its military cooperation with alliance partner the United States, including in the AUKUS nuclear submarine ..read more

FRANKFURT (Reuters): NATO’s recent move to strengthen its eastern border is aimed at deterring Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday, adding it should be clear to Moscow that the alliance will be ready to defend itself if necessary. Speaking at the Eastern German Economic Forum also attended by Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, Scholz said Germany has played a leading role in NATO’s presence in the Baltics on Russia’s border, stretching back nearly a decade. “And because the threat from Russia will continue, we and other allies decided last year to deploy additional u ..read more

Paul Benjamin Osterlund One of the country’s most popular fast-food items, çig köfte is traditionally associated with wild and rowdy gatherings in south-eastern Turkey. Those unfamiliar with Turkish cuisine may be unaware that one of the country’s most popular and ubiquitous dishes, found in thousands of kiosks throughout the country, is çig köfte. Although this literally translates to “raw meatball”, it has another surprise; more often than not, it’s made from entirely vegan ingredients. Çig köfte traditionally contains a mixture of raw minced beef, bulgur wheat and a cornucopia of spices an ..read more

Nada Hameed JEDDAH: Joel Alessandra, the renowned French comic book artist, travelled through Saudi Arabia recently so that he could portray the nation’s rich culture and heritage. Known for his innovative use of coffee and watercolors in his drawings, Alessandra’s visit was facilitated by the French Embassy and the Alliance Francaise Saudi Arabia. Having visited Riyadh, Alkhobar and AlUla, Alessandra found himself captivated by the charm of Al-Balad, Jeddah’s old town. “This part of the city of Jeddah is the one that inspired me the most. We feel the atmosphere of a time when pilgrims stopp ..read more

F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Sunday announced that the Pakistan cricket team would be invited as royal guests for Hajj 2025 if they win the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.  Pakistan’s national cricket squad arrived in Dallas on Saturday night to take part in the T20 World Cup 2024. Skipper Babar Azam’s side will open their World Cup campaign on June 6 against the United States. The 2009 world champions will face India, Ireland and Canada in subsequent Group A matches of the World Cup. The cricket megaevent is being co-hosted by the United ..read more

F.P. Report KARACHI: A flight of Fly Jinnah Airlines on Sunday made an emergency landing at Karachi airport after developing a technical fault According to sources within the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Islamabad-bound flight 670, carrying Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and 149 other passengers, made an emergency landing at the Karachi airport, soon after taking off. The flight was cancelled after the emergency landing, while the sources revealed that the same flight made emergency landings several times due to technical faults. The pilot wisely diverted the plane back to Karachi airport a ..read more

(Web Desk): Bilal Saeed is facing criticism for his recent song in Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film Jatt & Juliet 3 with netizens who see the lyrics against ethics and social norms. The film is highly anticipated and set to hit cinemas on June 27, 2024. Jatt & Juliet 3 promises a captivating blend of romance and comedy, with Neeru Bajwa starring alongside Diljit. The latest song from the film, ‘Je Main Rab Hunda’, features the talented Pakistani singer Bilal Saeed. It showcased breathtaking scenery that complemented the song’s sentimental tone. The song’s release has generated significa ..read more