Category: World

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has put new rules in place for first-time travelers, especially those around 35 years old, from areas like Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and Jhelum. These rules affect travel to certain countries, including Saudi Arabia, even for religious trips like Umrah.

The FIA is carefully checking passengers going to 15 countries—including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkiye, and more. They want to make sure that travelers have a clear reason for their trip, confirmed hotel bookings, and enough money to support themselves.

This decision comes after some tragic boat accidents involving people from Pakistan who were traveling under the pretence of going to Umrah. Many of those involved were aged between 15 and 40 and came from various towns, including Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat.

Airport immigration officials are checking travelers’ documents and asking questions to make sure they really plan to travel for the right reasons. A recent look at travel records showed that many people were misusing visit, tourist, and student visas to try to sneak into Europe. The FIA flagged these 15 countries as common paths for people trying to enter illegally.

Lucknow, India — A terrible accident happened in the mountains of Uttarakhand when an avalanche hit a group of construction workers building a highway near the Tibet border. On Friday, four workers lost their lives, and many others needed help after being trapped under snow.

At first, 55 construction workers were caught in the avalanche near Mana Pass. Thankfully, rescuers managed to save 50 of them. Sadly, four of those workers died later. Teams, including military helicopters, are still looking for five workers who are missing.

Some workers are hurt seriously and are in the hospital, but others have been rescued. The workers were mostly people from other places who were working to widen a 50-kilometer stretch of highway from Mana, the last village in India before Tibet.

Kamlesh Kamal, a spokesperson from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, said it is hard to rescue people because of heavy snow and bad weather. The area is difficult to reach, full of snow and storms that make it challenging to see.

This part of the Himalayas is very sensitive to climate change and often faces avalanches and sudden floods. Last year, in 2022, an avalanche took the lives of 27 trainee mountaineers in the same region. The previous year, a glacier burst caused a flood that killed over 200 people.

ROME — Pope Francis is taking it easy after a surprising problem in his recovery from double pneumonia. Doctors had to help him breathe using a special machine after he coughed so hard that he accidentally inhaled vomit. They needed to remove it to help him breathe better. The doctors will take a day or two to see how this affects his overall health. His situation is still serious, meaning he’s not completely out of danger.

On Saturday morning, the Vatican shared that the pope was resting well after a quiet night. On Friday, they explained that Francis had a sudden coughing fit, which worsened his breathing. The doctors used noninvasive ventilation, which helps him get oxygen without putting tubes down his throat. Throughout this, the pope stayed awake, alert, and worked with the doctors to help him feel better, wearing a mask for extra oxygen.

This incident is different from a previous breathing crisis he had earlier. Medical experts say this latest episode shows how fragile the pope’s health is and that his condition can change quickly. Dr. John Coleman, a lung doctor, said it’s concerning for someone of his age and past health problems. Dr. William Feldman explained that they use machines like this to help avoid more serious treatment. While doctors didn’t call his state critical this time, they still say he is not safe yet because of his complex health needs.

People continue to pray for the pope’s recovery. Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández led a prayer gathering in St. Peter’s Square, asking for blessings not just for the pope but for everyone suffering around the world. The Vatican also shared that Francis is still doing his work from the hospital, showing he is committed despite his health issues.

Toronto: Anita Anand, an Indian-Canadian Cabinet Minister, has decided to run in the next Federal election. This is a change from her earlier plan to leave politics and go back to teaching. She says she is motivated by the serious problems Canada faces, especially threats from the United States regarding tariffs.

On Friday, Anand posted on social media, “Our country is facing a big crisis. These are important times for Canada’s future, and I can’t step away now. I am excited to keep serving and will run in the next election.”

Originally, Anand announced she would leave politics on January 11, just days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would resign once a new leader is chosen for the Liberal Party. That process is set to finish by March 9. Even though the Federal election is scheduled for October 2025, it could happen earlier.

Mark Carney, a former central banker, is likely to be the new leader and could become Canada’s next Prime Minister. Anand joined Carney for an event in her riding of Oakville on Friday night.

In her statement, Anand said Canada is at a “crucial moment” in history. She emphasized that since her January announcement to leave public life, the situation has only become more serious. “Illegal tariffs are being threatened, and our neighbor is talking about annexing us,” she noted.

In the last seven weeks, Anand has been very active in dealing with issues between Canada and the U.S. Currently, she serves as the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. Anand was first elected to the House of Commons in 2019 from Oakville and successfully kept her seat in 2021. After new ridings were drawn in 2022, her riding split into Oakville East and Oakville West.

Anand is the first Hindu Cabinet minister in Canada and was seen as a possible candidate for party leadership, but she made it clear in January that she would not run to succeed Trudeau. During that announcement, she said, “I will honorably serve until the next election.” Before her political career, Anand was a law professor at the University of Toronto.

Since becoming a minister in 2019, she has held several important roles, including Minister of Public Services and Procurement, where she played a key part during the Covid-19 pandemic by helping to buy vaccines. In 2021, she became the Minister of National Defence and later President of the Treasury Board. Last year, she took on the role of Minister of Transport and Internal Trade.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently had a heated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the White House. After a tough discussion, Trump kicked Zelensky out, saying he wasn’t ready to make peace with Russia. Russia made fun of Zelensky for this incident, calling him a “scumbag.” However, many countries are standing up for Ukraine.

Here are some of the leaders who have shown support for Ukraine:

1. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer: He praised the courage of the Ukrainian people who have been fighting Russia for over three years. He said Europe supports Ukraine in seeking peace.

2. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: He called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “illegal” and said that Canada will continue to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy.

3. Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar: She stated that what happened in the Oval Office goes against the values of diplomacy. She reaffirmed her country’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and called for protecting democratic ideals.

4. Romanian Interim President Ilie Bolojan: He emphasized that Ukraine’s security is essential for Europe’s safety.

5. Polish Premier Donald Tusk: He reassured Zelensky, saying, “You are not alone.”

6. European Union Leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa: They encouraged Zelensky, saying that the bravery of the Ukrainian people is admirable and that the EU will continue to work with Ukraine for peace.

7. Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: He reminded everyone that the Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else, while Friedrich Merz, a likely future leader, stated that it’s vital to recognize who is the aggressor in the conflict.

8. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: She suggested a meeting among Western leaders to discuss big challenges, including how to handle the situation in Ukraine.

9. Other Supporting Nations: Leaders from other European countries, like Belgium, Croatia, and Spain, also expressed their support for Ukraine.

10. French President Emmanuel Macron: He clearly stated that Russia is the aggressor and praised the Ukrainians for fighting for their dignity and security in Europe.

After a tense meeting at the White House, Russian media celebrated while U.S. President Donald Trump scolded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump told Zelensky he was being “disrespectful” and warned against making the situation worse. “You can’t tell us how to feel. You are risking a World War III,” Trump said. He added, “I have made you strong. Now you need to make a deal, or we are done. You don’t have the power.”

Former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, now a top official in Russia, mocked Zelensky online, saying, “Trump finally told the truth to the Ukrainian president. The Kiev government is playing with fire. It’s time to stop supporting their military.” A Kremlin-backed news site claimed Zelensky looked nervous during the meeting.

Interestingly, the White House kicked out a reporter from the Russian news agency TASS during the meeting. They were not on an approved list and were taken out by a staff member.

TASS reported on the meeting, making Zelensky look bad compared to Russia. This meeting came after Trump tried to talk to Putin about ending the war without including Zelensky. Trump also incorrectly claimed that Ukraine started the conflict and criticized Zelensky’s leadership. Zelensky responded by calling Trump’s statements false and said he was spreading Russian lies. Later, when asked about calling Zelensky a “dictator,” Trump seemed surprised and said, “Did I say that? I don’t believe I said that. Next question.”

During a tense meeting at the White House, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova looked very worried as she watched President Donald Trump argue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting, meant to show unity between the two countries, quickly turned heated when Trump pressed Zelensky about why he wouldn’t agree to a ceasefire with Russia.

As their disagreement became visible on cameras worldwide, Markarova closed her eyes and rested her head in her hand, trying to ignore the uncomfortable situation. Zelensky had hoped this meeting would get more support from Trump, especially since Ukraine needs help to defend against Russia.

Zelensky frustrated Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance when he mentioned that a proposed deal wouldn’t be strong enough to stop Russia from attacking further. He highlighted that Russian President Putin hates Ukrainians and aims to destroy Ukraine. In response, Trump and Vance criticized Zelensky’s attitude, calling it “disrespectful” and saying it makes it harder to reach an agreement to end the war.

Trump warned Zelensky that he needed to be more grateful for U.S. support. He said, “You have to be careful or it could lead to World War III.” Trump emphasized that without U.S. backing, Ukraine would be in a difficult position. The meeting was initially set to celebrate a natural resources agreement, but the escalating tension overshadowed that purpose.

On February 28, the WWE SmackDown event in Toronto had a playful vibe, especially for John Cena. Logan Paul humorously pretended to be Cena during his entrance, getting the crowd excited. Not to be outdone, Drew McIntyre mentioned that he plans to “bury John at Elimination Chamber.”

The Rogers Centre is ready to host the WWE Elimination Chamber event on Saturday, March 1. Superstars like The Rock and John Cena, who plans to retire from wrestling in 2025, will be facing off in front of about 30,000 fans. Even with his impressive two-decade career in the ring, Cena is getting playful jabs from other wrestlers before what could be one of his last matches.

Stay tuned for updates as this story continues to develop!

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not resign after a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. During the meeting, which got heated, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that Zelensky should step down. However, Zelensky made it clear that he won’t leave his position. In a recent interview, when asked if he would resign, he replied, “No. Only the people of Ukraine can decide that.” He also mentioned he would consider stepping aside if Ukraine gets accepted into NATO, the military alliance. This situation is still developing, so keep following for more updates!

In January, U.S. consumer spending took an unexpected dip, which might make it harder for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates just yet. Consumer spending, a big part of the U.S. economy, fell by 0.2% last month after a big rise of 0.8% in December, according to the U.S. government’s report. Economists had thought spending would increase by 0.1%, but the actual results were different.

The drop in spending could be due to a few reasons. People may have already bought what they needed in December, when many were worried about higher prices from tariffs. Additionally, cold weather and snowstorms across the country, as well as wildfires in places like Los Angeles, probably hurt shopping. The unusual weather also slowed down construction jobs.

Experts think that this news suggests the economy may grow slower at the beginning of the year, with predictions mostly below a 2% growth rate. Last quarter, the economy grew by 2.3%.

Problems have also arisen from policies from President Trump, like tariffs and big budget cuts, leading to job losses for many federal workers. In his first month, Trump put tariffs on goods from China and said new tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada would begin soon. Other tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars are also coming soon.

Confidence among businesses and consumers is falling due to worries about these tariffs, which could increase costs for everyone. People believe prices will rise over the next year, and recent data shows that the costs of living (the PCE price index) increased by 0.3% in January. Over the past year, prices rose by 2.5%. If you take out food and energy prices, the core inflation rate was 2.6%.

The Federal Reserve is keeping an eye on these price measures for their target of 2% inflation. Financial markets think the Fed might start to cut interest rates in June. Right now, their interest rate is between 4.25% and 4.50%, having decreased by a total of 1% since last September. Recent discussions have shown concerns about rising inflation due to Trump’s policies. Earlier, the Fed raised rates sharply in 2022 and 2023 to keep inflation in check.