Middle East
UAE's Lana Nusseibeh emerges as late contender for UN top job
Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh, 48, of Palestinian descent, is a late contender for UN chief with Gulf backing, despite criticism over Israel ties and Sudan.
Journalist
Bilal Javed
Editor, World & Geopolitics
Bilal Javed edits The Indus Compass’s world and geopolitics coverage. He follows the United Nations, NATO, US politics, wars and conflicts, democracy and the global economy, and he also writes on business and sport.
His reports for the site include the US-Iran war and the mediation efforts around it, the Israeli election count, cases at the International Court of Justice, and the markets and oil prices that move with them. In stories on the Middle East he gives particular weight to the human cost of conflict and says where every casualty figure comes from.
He explains what each story means for readers in Pakistan.
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Articles by Bilal Javed
299 articles · page 4 of 10
- Islamabad
Pakistan tells UN: civil nuclear cooperation must be non-discriminatory
At the UN, Pakistan said anti-proliferation efforts must not block peaceful nuclear cooperation, as the IAEA chief said an Iran deal needs verification.
- Islamabad
R4 and European ministers agree to keep meeting after Istanbul talks
Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey agreed with European foreign ministers to keep meeting, and the R4 condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- Europe
Melania Trump secures Oleshky ceasefire from October 29
Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt fighting in Oleshky from October 29 to let in aid and evacuate civilians, the White House said, crediting Melania Trump.
- Economy
PM sets Rs4,500 per maund wheat price for 2027, up Rs1,000
PM Shehbaz Sharif set the wheat price at Rs4,500 per maund for 2027, Rs1,000 more than last year, but farmers had asked for Rs5,000 per 40kg.
- Europe
UK tells public to keep three days of emergency supplies at home
Britain launched a 'Be Ready' campaign urging households to keep three days of food and water, citing the PHP software flaw and a summer of wildfires.
- Economy
Weekly inflation rises to 11.85pc as LPG, chicken and flour climb
Weekly inflation reached 11.85 per cent in the week to October 22, with LPG up 22pc in a week and 107pc on the year, and flour 36pc above last year.
- Middle East
Israel orders West Bank closure after Hebron shooting kills two Palestinians
Two Palestinians were shot dead and five Israelis wounded near Hebron, after which Netanyahu ordered a cordon on the city and a full West Bank closure.
- Islamabad
Dar in Istanbul for first R4 and E3 foreign ministers' meeting
Ishaq Dar flew to Istanbul for the first meeting of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey with Britain, France and Germany on Iran, Yemen and Hormuz.
- Asia
Taiwan shuts down as Typhoon Champi nears, flights cancelled
Almost all of Taiwan closed on Friday as Typhoon Champi approached with gusts near 191 kph, one person was killed, 171 hurt and 979 flights were cancelled.
- Energy
LPG hits Rs750 a kg in northern KP as OGRA delays crackdown
LPG is selling at up to Rs750 a kilogram in northern KP against an official Rs279.34, while OGRA holds back a crackdown for fear of supply strikes.
- Middle East
Houthis claim strikes on Saudi defence ministry; Aramco evacuates HQ
Houthis claim strikes on Saudi Arabia's defence ministry and Aramco sites as Aramco evacuates its Dhahran HQ, oil hits $112 and Iran threatens Gulf datacentres.
- Asia
Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Nagqu in northern Tibet late on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32, Chinese state media reported.
- Europe
ICC wins EU's top rights prize while facing US sanctions
The European Parliament awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court, which faces US sanctions over its Netanyahu arrest warrant.
- Americas
Judge orders Trump to testify by December 11 in $10bn BBC lawsuit
A US judge ordered Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10bn defamation suit against the BBC over an edited January 6 speech.
- Islamabad
Pakistan and EU agree to work together on counterterrorism at UN forums
Pakistan and the EU agreed at their 10th counterterrorism dialogue to cooperate at the UN, and voiced shared concern over the security situation in Afghanistan.
- Middle East
Israel frees West Bank settler suspects to house arrest after attacks
All but one of 10 Israeli settlers arrested over attacks on a Washington Post photographer and a French mayor in the West Bank have been freed to house arrest.
- Asia
Kim Yo Jong says North Korea will restart border loudspeakers within days
Kim Yo Jong said North Korea will put loudspeakers on standby along the border within days, warning Seoul of 'the most horrible and distressing situation'.
- Middle East
Pakistani injured in attacks on Saudi oilfield and Dammam airport
A Pakistani was among those hurt when drone debris hit Saudi Aramco's Shaybah field, while an attack on Dammam's King Fahd airport killed one and injured eight.
- Americas
US midterms 2026: what is at stake for Trump and Congress
Americans vote on November 3 for the House, a third of the Senate and 36 governors, with Trump's approval at a record low and $3.8bn spent on ads.
- Middle East
Israeli forces detain US congressional candidate at West Bank olive harvest
Israeli forces detained US candidate Brad Lander, rabbis and over 30 Americans helping Palestinians harvest olives near Bethlehem; Lander was later freed.
- Middle East
Iran's IRGC says seven vessels hit in Gulf, warns US of wider response
Iran's IRGC Navy said four vessels were hit and three struck mines near Hormuz, as Trump said the US is 'not negotiating' and something will happen soon.
- Middle East
US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia
The US told non-emergency staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia after deadly Houthi attacks, as drone debris killed two at the Shaybah oilfield.
- Middle East
Gulf states hold emergency military meeting in Riyadh amid Houthi attacks
GCC military officials held an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh to strengthen coordination and readiness as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continue.
- Americas
Pentagon lends 'heat ray' weapon to US border agency for Mexico border
The Pentagon has lent its Active Denial System, a beam that makes skin feel as if it is burning, to the Department of Homeland Security for border use.
- Middle East
Sisi says Egypt will defend Saudi Arabia but will not attack Yemen
Egypt's President Sisi said any military help for Saudi Arabia would be limited to defending its territory and would not include an attack on Yemen.
- Americas
Nearly 1,000 evacuated after chemical tank explodes in Toledo, Ohio
A tank of glycidyl methacrylate exploded at a Toledo facility, forcing 983 people from their homes; officials say the chemical may stay explosive for 12 hours.
- Pakistan
Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Indonesia sign 'Badr' defence industry pact
Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Indonesia signed the 'Badr' memorandum in Doha to cooperate on defence production, research and training; other nations may join.
- Middle East
'Apartheid automation': how Israel uses AI to watch Palestinians
From satellite scans that flag Palestinian homes for demolition to facial recognition at checkpoints, Israel's AI tools tighten control over Palestinians.
- Europe
Over 150 authors urge UK to change Palestine Action ban after Rooney sales end
More than 150 writers including Annie Ernaux and Arundhati Roy urged Britain to amend its Palestine Action ban after Sally Rooney's books were pulled from sale.
