Washington, May 21 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply escalated criticism of Cuba’s leadership on Thursday, calling the island a “failed state” and warning that instability there directly threatens US national security. Speaking during a media gaggle in Miami ahead of his India trip, Rubio said Cuba’s political and economic system was “broken” and accused the government of blocking humanitarian assistance while enriching military-linked entities.“Their economic system…

Dhaka, May 21 (IANS) As many as seven children died from symptoms similar to measles in Bangladesh in 24 hours till 8 am on Thursday, raising the death toll since March 15 to 488, local media reported. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), four deaths were suspected as measles-related while three were confirmed by laboratory. Among the latest fatalities, the highest number of deaths were reported in Chittagong, leading Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported.Since Marc…

Beijing, May 21 (IANS) Although China’s Social Assistance Law reflects broader welfare ambitions, it raises serious concerns about whether a system without an active civil society can adequately address the vulnerabilities of communities overlooked by the authorities.The new law, set to come into effect on July 1 2026, has been projected by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a key milestone towards building a more effective and comprehensive welfare system, a report has stated.China’s move…

Canberra, May 21 (IANS) Pakistan’s propaganda gained traction in international media, reinforcing the impression that Islamabad had emerged as a central point for United States-Iran negotiations. However, later developments cast doubts on the accuracy and durability of those claims, with core elements of the claimed process failing to take shape, a report has detailed. According to a report in ‘The Australia Today’, Pakistan’s current diplomatic positioning for a considerable time was seen…

Washington/Beijing, May 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) policy has created industrial corridors, increased foreign investment caps, and built a defence-tech startup ecosystem that is already exporting, signalling a tangible and expanding capacity.With hundreds of companies operating and more emerging, India has set a defence export target of about $6 billion by 2029, compared to around $80 million a decade ago, a report has mentioned.The recent meeti…

Cape Town, May 21 (IANS) India’s action on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) seeks to protect its legitimate interests in the Indus Basin and should not be viewed as aggression, a report has highlighted. It said that India’s actions should be viewed as a long-overdue correction of an asymmetric framework based on goodwill that was never returned.Since the signing of the treaty, Pakistan has repeatedly used its dispute resolution provisions as a strategic instrument to delay and hinder development …

Islamabad, May 21 (IANS) Two school children lost their lives on Thursday, after a quadcopter drone struck a hilly area of Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, local media reported.The fatal incident occurred in the Sahi Thangi area, which is situated about 25 kilometres from Khar, the district headquarters of Bajaur, in the afternoon, reported Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn, citing local residents and official sources.The sources added that the children who were killed w…

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) US Ambassador Sergio Gor on Thursday expressed immense confidence regarding the finalisation of a landmark bilateral trade deal between Washington and New Delhi in the “coming weeks and months”. Speaking at the Annual Leadership Summit of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) here, Ambassador Gor said, “President Trump’s goal is to facilitate bilateral trade in a way that creates lucrative opportunities for American businesses and workers.”He said the current interim…

Quetta, May 21 (IANS) Students of the University of Balochistan sub-campus held a protest in Mastung district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province against delay in the distribution of the laptops under Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme and the prolonged internet disruption in the area, local media reported. As per reports, a large number of students gathered outside Mastung’s Degree College and blocked the national highway, causing long queues of vehicles, The Balochistan Post reported. Traff…

Islamabad, May 21 (IANS) A leading international human rights organisation on Thursday wrote to the Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, expressing grave concerns over the structural and persistent discrimination, harassment and violence against the Ahmadiyya community in the province.In its letter to CM Maryam Nawaz, Amnesty International said that these violations routinely intensify in periods preceding and during major religious occasions, such as the upcoming Eid ul-Adha.The righ…