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BY OUR CORRESPONDENT HABIBMETRO SmartVista Platform adoption marks a major digital transformation in Pakistan’s banking sector Enables advanced card solutions including virtual and physical debit cards Enhances transaction processing speed with over 3.25 million daily transactions capacity Strengthens compliance with global payment schemes and PayPak integration Pakistan, Karachi: Habib Metropolitan Bank (HABIBMETRO), one of Pakistan’s leading trade finance banks, has selected BPC’s next-generation SmartVista platform to power its issuing capabilities and enhance transaction processing. This move is part of a broader digital transformation journey to creating a scalable, future-ready technological foundation for payments and digital services growth.   The transition…

Special to The Islamabad TelegraphBy Our Special Correspondent Reporting from Gaza On-the-ground insights from a veteran journalist covering the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Jake Wood resigns as head of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, citing inability to uphold humanitarian principles. His exit casts serious doubt on the GHF’s controversial aid plan involving biometric vetting and private armed security. Gaza remains in deep crisis: hospitals non-functional, millions displaced, starvation worsening. Wood’s departure raises questions about the future of U.S.- and Israel-backed aid strategies in Gaza. Gaza, May 26, 2025 — The Gaza Strip, already gripped by one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern…

Pakistan Air Force reportedly downs five Indian jets, including advanced Rafales, in swift counteraction. India seeks urgent U.S. intervention, undermining its bilateral claim over the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan showcases superior aerial strategy, real-time coordination, and global diplomatic finesse. Kashmir issue resurfaces on the international agenda amid renewed regional instability. On May 10, a sudden escalation along the Line of Control (LoC) between Pakistan and India resulted in a short but high-stakes military exchange, rekindling global focus on the Kashmir dispute and underscoring the volatility of South Asia’s nuclear-armed rivals. The skirmish began when Indian Air Force (IAF) jets allegedly violated…

Putin and Trump agree on the Vatican as a potential venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks, with Leo XIV seen as a neutral mediator. Pope Leo XIV’s early papacy is defined by a proactive stance on peace, with prior statements condemning Russia’s invasion as “imperial.” Italy confirms safe passage for Russian diplomats under the Lateran Treaty, sidestepping EU sanctions for Vatican-bound missions. Challenges remain over logistics, religious divides, and Europe’s skepticism, yet Leo’s moral authority is giving renewed hope to diplomacy. VATICAN CITY — The world is watching with cautious hope as Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected American pontiff, finds…

Battlefield Debut for China’s Arsenal: Pakistan’s successful use of Chinese J-10C jets and PL-15E missiles marked the first real-world combat test of Beijing’s next-gen military tech — and it delivered. Beijing’s Quiet Celebration: Chinese diplomats expressed “great happiness” over Pakistan’s shootdown of Indian warplanes — but privately scrambled to contain the fallout. India Hits Back with Tech Supremacy Claims: New Delhi claimed it bypassed Chinese-supplied air defenses in just 23 minutes, boasting superior jamming and drone strike capabilities. Trump’s Dubious Ceasefire Win: Donald Trump preemptively claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire before any side confirmed it — raising eyebrows in…

China and Australia have overlapping but complementary roles in Southeast Asia’s green energy transition, especially in EV and hydrogen markets. ASEAN’s surging energy demand offers opportunities for trilateral cooperation in clean energy infrastructure and supply chains. Existing partnerships and trade frameworks like RCEP support joint ventures in lithium processing, battery production, and hydrogen technology. Diplomatic resets and institutional agreements offer hope for long-term regional energy collaboration despite geopolitical rivalries. In an era dominated by climate urgency and great power rivalry, Southeast Asia finds itself at the intersection of two global imperatives: the green energy transition and regional power realignment. For…

Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute warns that war with Iran would be a catastrophic policy failure for the U.S. Trump’s contradictory approach—diplomatic talks paired with military escalation—raises fears of impending conflict. Iran’s history of resisting Western pressure, including past U.S. interventions, underscores the limits of intimidation. Reviving diplomacy through the JCPOA is a far more viable path than war, which could destabilize the entire Middle East. Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the Trump administration has reportedly concluded another round of nuclear talks with Iran—a process described by a senior U.S. official as “positive and productive.” Iran’s Foreign…

Pakistan offers a joint investigation into Pahalgam attack, rejects baseless Indian allegations. Pakistan’s Armed Forces on high alert, ready to respond decisively to Indian provocations. Pakistan Air Force prepared to target illegal Indian dams threatening water security. General Asim Munir seen as a game-changing military leader ready to respond with “10x ferocity.” International analysts warn India could suffer massive losses in case of conflict with Pakistan. Global powers urge restraint amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions post-Pahalgam attack. In the volatile backdrop of South Asia’s enduring rivalries, a deadly attack in Pahalgam, a picturesque region of Indian-administered Kashmir, has once again ignited…

Pakistan rejects Indian propaganda and exposes the Pahalgam attack as a false flag operation aimed at manipulating global perception during a key U.S. diplomatic visit. NSC decisions showcase strategic clarity, with Pakistan suspending all diplomatic, trade, and transit ties with India to defend its sovereignty and national interest. India’s oppressive actions in Kashmir and systemic targeting of Muslims are condemned as state terrorism by Pakistan, reinforcing the legitimacy of the Kashmiri freedom struggle. Pakistan warns against Indian nuclear brinkmanship, declaring it fully prepared to respond across the full spectrum of national power if provoked. In a move resonating with historical…

A Boeing 737 MAX meant for China’s Xiamen Airlines was sent back to the U.S., signaling the first real casualty of the intensifying U.S.-China tariff war. Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, triggering China’s retaliation with 125% tariffs on American goods—crippling aerospace trade. Experts warn that Chinese retaliation could soon target semiconductors, agriculture, and tech—devastating multiple American industries. Global supply chains are destabilizing fast; analysts predict widespread economic disruption and deferred aircraft deliveries across Asia and Europe. In a dramatic escalation of the U.S.-China trade war, President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies are beginning to hammer the very…