Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Sarah McBride becomes first openly transgender member of US Congress

Sarah McBride

WASHINGTON:  Democrat Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Edison Research projected on Tuesday, winning election to Delaware’s at-large seat. McBride, a 34-year-old state senator, won a competitive primary for Delaware’s at-large congressional district, considered safely Democratic, in September. She became the first openly transgender person to … Read more

US-Saudi defense deal linked with Israel, Palestinian pleas denied

US-Saudi defense deal

US-Saudi defense deal linked with Israel. Saudi Arabia could also be designated a Major Non-NATO Ally. Saudi Arabia and Israel strengthen Riyadh’s ties with Washington. Saudi Arabia is reportedly determined to secure a military pact with the United States that would require the US to defend the kingdom in exchange for normalized ties with Israel, … Read more

US Congress faces expense & ethics debate, raising risk of shutdown

US Congress

US Congress faces expense & ethics debate. Kelly Armstrong acknowledged the difficulty of achieving consensus within their caucus. House hardliners are against combining border security. This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is set to return for what is expected to be a contentious battle over spending cuts and impeachment, potentially leading to gridlock in … Read more

Zelenskyy’s US visit draws criticism from Russia

Russia

Russia has criticized Ukraine’s president for visiting Washington. US ambassador to Russia warned “provocative acts” might escalate tensions. Russian commentators accused the US of “pumping Ukraine full of weapons”. Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s travel to Washington, D.C., has drawn harsh criticism from Russia, which accuses the US of waging an unofficial war against it. In order to … Read more

US Congress individuals to show up in Pakistan on Sunday to assist with flood victims

US Congress

General Michael conversed with Chief of Army Staff. General Qamar Javed Bajwa through phone and gave sympathies. CENTCOM is sending an evaluation group to Islamabad to figure out. Individuals from the United States Congress, Sheila Jackson and Tom Suzy, have passed on the country to visit flood-impacted regions in Pakistan and will show up on … Read more

Trump calls on US lawmakers to prioritize funding for school security

Former President Donald Trump urges US Congress to put school security money ahead of delivering military aid to Ukraine. Mr. Trump questioned how the US “had $40 billion to go to Ukraine” but cannot secure school security while speaking at a pro-gun conference. In Houston, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the country’s largest gun lobby, … Read more

France says UAE arms deal secures supply chain, jobs

France UAE

PARIS: A 17-billion-euro ($19.23 billion) French arms deal with the United Arab Emirates will secure the industrial supply chain for France’s Rafale warplane for the next decade and directly support 7,000 domestic jobs, Reuters quoted a French defence ministry official, as saying. The deal, sealed on Friday, includes the largest ever overseas sale of the French warplane. … Read more

US averts govt shutdown one day ahead of deadline

US

WASHINGTON: The US Congress approved a stopgap funding bill on Thursday in a rare show of cross-party unity to keep federal agencies running into 2022 and avert a costly holiday season government shutdown. With the clock ticking down to the 11:59 pm Friday deadline, the Senate voted by 69 to 28 to keep the lights on … Read more

US tells Taliban to ‘earn’ release of frozen funds

US tells Taliban to ‘earn’ release of frozen funds

WASHINGTON: The United States rebuffed an appeal by the Taliban to release Afghan assets frozen after their takeover, saying the new government in Kabul must ‘earn’ legitimacy first. Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a tweeted statement that Washington had long made clear that if the Taliban claimed power by military force … Read more

FM Qureshi speaks with congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday has shared Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace with congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

FM Qureshi said on the micro-blogging site Twitter that “Happy to speak with Congresswoman @JacksonLeeTX18, Chairperson of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus.”

“Appreciate Congressional Caucus’s role within the US Congress working tirelessly to improve bilateral relations between USA and Pakistan”, tweeted Foreign Minister. 

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan also said that he has spoken with Congresswoman Jackson on Pakistan’s vision for socio-economic progress & Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace and prosperity including peace in Afghanistan.

“Further, we look forward to building greater inter-parliamentary ties between the United States and Pakistan,” said Qureshi.

Earlier, FM Qureshi had called on the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Non-Proliferation led by Chair Ami Bera and Ranking Member Steve Chabot.

In a Tweet, the foreign minister wrote, “a broad-based & strategic partnership advances our shared interests, bilaterally & regionally.”

FM Qureshi further added, “spoke about Pakistan key role in facilitating a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan & stressed that peace is a shared responsibility of Afghan parties and key stakeholders.”

He also highlighted continuing human rights violations in IIOJK and said that resolution of the J&K dispute pivotal to stability in South Asia.

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It Is Time To Bring World’s Longest War To Logical Conclusion: Biden

It Is Time To Bring World's Longest War To Logical Conclusion: Biden

US President Joe Biden outlined his plans for the country’s development while addressing a joint session of Congress for the first time on Wednesday, April 28, marking the 100th day of his term as President of the United States. “The United States is re-emerging and closer to overcoming the historic Coronavirus pandemic,” Biden claimed. The … Read more

US Congress passes ‘Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act’ for Pakistani women

Malala Yousufzai

The U.S. Congress has passed the ‘Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act’ which will increase the number of scholarships available to Pakistani women to receive higher education under a merit and needs-based programme. According to media reports, the bill which was passed by the House of Representatives in March 2020, also got approval by the United States … Read more

US Congress overturns Trump defense spending bill veto

Donald Trump farewell

The US Congress overturned President Donald Trump’s veto of a defense spending bill. This has happened the first time in his presidency. According to the international news agency, the Republican-controlled Senate held a rare New Year’s Day session to debate the move, which had already been voted for by the House of Representatives. The $740bn … Read more

President Trump calls coronavirus aid bill ‘wasteful’

president trump

US President Donald Trump opposed the newly-approved $900bn (£670bn) coronavirus relief bill. He has urged Congress to amend the bill to more than triple its stimulus payments to Americans.  He posted a video message on Twitter. He said the package “really is a disgrace”, full of “wasteful” items. “It’s called the Covid relief bill, but it has … Read more

US top Official claims foreign powers trying to subvert democracy

US

The United States’ US  top intelligence official John Ratcliffe has said that he was concerned that lawmakers had leaked sensitive classified materials to the public. John Ratcliffe, the Director of National Intelligence, told in an interview that he will continue to keep Congress informed via written reports and will continue to brief relevant congressional committees. … Read more

US Senators vote to limit Trump’s powers on Iran

George Floyd death-Trump warns to deploy military forces to control protests

US senators has limited President Donald Trump’s capability to wage war on Iran without congressional approval. A bill has been passed by Trump’s fellow republicans in which this decision was taken. The resolution was passed by a vote of 55-45 after Trump warned that America will be less safe from Iran. Note that the House … Read more