The missiles were detected near North Korea's South Hamgyong province after being "fired toward the East Sea", South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Berlin (AFP) May 15, 2025 - Britain and Germany are working together to develop strike missiles, their defence ministers said Thursday, as Russia's war rages in Ukraine and European powers seek to reduce dependence on US weapons.

"We together will begin co-leading the development of a new European-developed deep precision strike capability with a range of 2,000 plus kilometres (1,250 miles)," Britain's John Healey said at a bilateral meeting in Berlin.

Germany's Boris Pistorius said work on the missiles had begun and would be critical for European security.

"The current threat situation makes it absolutely clear that we need to close all capability gaps," Pistorius said. "And we need to do that as quickly as possible."

Europe's governments have looked to establish more independence of US military technology amid doubts about Washington's future commitment to Europe's security.

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in February that Europe would have to work to achieve "real independence" from the United States whose leadership now seemed "largely indifferent" to the fate of Europe.

The defence ministers also pointed to other projects their countries were working on, including joint procurement of torpedoes and the establishment of a new forum bringing together defence firms from each nation.

"European nations in NATO must do more and step up to strengthen European security," Healey said. "The best way to do that is for leading nations like Germany and the UK to do more together."

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Washington (AFP) May 14, 2025 - The United States on Wednesday unveiled fresh sanctions against six people and 12 firms -- including several based in China and Hong Kong -- for their support of Iran's ballistic missile program.

The action follows sanctions on a series of entities and individuals linked to Iran's oil industry and nuclear program the Trump administration imposed in recent weeks.

Wednesday's sanctions are aimed at organizations involved in "efforts to help the Iranian regime domestically source the manufacturing of critical materials needed for Tehran's ballistic missile program," according to the US Treasury Department.

"The United States cannot allow Iran to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

Tehran's attempts to produce missiles and components domestically "represents an unacceptable threat to the United States and the stability of the region," he added.

Those sanctioned include three Chinese nationals -- Qin Jinhua, Qin Dehui, and Wang Chao -- who work for a China-based firm which has exported carbon fiber precursor materials to a sanctioned Iranian firm, and another Hong Kong-based company.

"Iran remains heavily reliant on China to conduct its malign activities in the Middle East," US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

"This is another example of how the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and China-based companies provide key economic and technical support to Iran and its proxies," she added.

Wednesday's sanctions come a day after the United States announced fresh sanctions on Iranian oil sales to China, as President Donald Trump's administration continues its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran while backing ongoing nuclear talks.

The sanctions follow similar designations in recent weeks, at the same time as Washington and Tehran have stepped up nuclear talks.

The two sides held their fourth round of indirect talks over the weekend, which mark their highest-level contact since the United States in 2018 pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Jerusalem (AFP) May 11, 2025 - Israel's military issued a warning on Sunday for Yemenis to leave three ports in areas controlled by Huthi rebels, following Israeli strikes in recent days in retaliation for missile attacks.

"Due to the use of sea ports by the terrorist Huthi regime... we urge all people present in these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your safety until further notice", military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post in Arabic on X, mentioning Yemen's ports of Ras Issa, Hodeida and Salif.

The lifeline port of Hodeida was hit in an Israeli raid earlier this week, part of Israel's military response to recent Huthi attacks including a rare missile launch that hit inside the perimeter of Israel's main airport on May 4.

Warnings similar to Adaree's message on Sunday were issued before Israeli strikes this week on the capital Sanaa.

On Friday, after the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to retaliate against the Iran-backed rebels.

"The Huthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As we promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary," Katz said in a post on X.

The Huthis, who control large swathes of Yemen and say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians, have launched repeated attacks on Israel and on Red Sea shipping since shortly after the October 2023 war began between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The United States, which launched a bombing campaign in response to Huthi threats to renew their attacks on shipping, reached a ceasefire agreement with the rebels on Tuesday.

But the Huthis vowed to continue targeting Israel and Israeli ships, saying that their deal with Washington did not include Israel.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Seoul (AFP) May 8, 2025 - North Korea fired multiple types of short-range ballistic missiles Thursday, South Korea's military said, around a week after leader Kim Jong Un tested a new weapons system for his latest warship.

Seoul's military said it had "detected the launch of various types of short-range ballistic missiles," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The missiles were "fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea into the East Sea between approximately 08:10 and 09:20 today (from 2310 GMT Wednesday)," they added, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

The missiles flew up to about 800 kilometers before splashing down in waters to the east of the peninsula, the JCS said, adding it strongly condemned the North for a "clear act of provocation that poses a serious threat to peace and stability".

"Our military, under the strong South Korea-US combined defense posture, is closely monitoring various North Korean activities to prevent any misjudgment (by the North)," it said in a statement.

The launch, the nuclear-armed North's first missile test since March, came about a week after Kim oversaw the test-firing of a new warship weapons system.

Pyongyang unveiled the 5,000-ton destroyer-class vessel named Choe Hyon last month.

North Korea claims the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year".

Some analysts have said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical nuclear missiles -- although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its nukes.

The South Korean military has said the destroyer could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Kyiv.

Russia and North Korea also recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two neighbours.

North Korea launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions.

Experts have long warned that the nuclear-armed North may be testing weapons for export to Russia for use against Ukraine.

The launch also came as Russia prepared to hold World War II Victory Day commemorations, with world leaders including China's Xi Jinping expected to attend -- but not Pyongyang's Kim.

A three-day truce in the conflict with Ukraine has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with the celebrations, although Kyiv has never agreed to it and has dismissed it as political theatre.

The Thursday missile launch appears to "serve as a reminder of North Korea's contribution and stake in Russia's apparent efforts to commemorate Victory Day as a triumph over Ukraine," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP.

- Testing, testing -

Japan's defence ministry said there was no impact on Japan from the North Korean missiles, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Kim earlier this week inspected shell manufacturing at munitions factories, with state media claiming the country's shell output had increased dramatically in recent months.

Given the latest development, it is "entirely possible" that Thursday's missile launch "served as a test firing prior to potential export to Russia", North Korean studies scholar Ahn Chan-il told AFP.

South Korea's military said in early March that the North fired "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles", the same day Seoul and Washington began a major annual joint military drill known as Freedom Shield.

Pyongyang also carried out a test-launch of strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea in late February, which it said showed off "counterattack capabilities".

Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine, in the region to deter the North.

Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion.

The two Koreas are technically still at war as the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

With relations souring, the North last year blew up roads and railways connecting it to the South and fortified areas of the border with more mines.

In early April, South Korea's military said its troops fired warning shots when around 10 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified border that divides the peninsula.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) May 6, 2025 - A Russian ballistic missile strike Tuesday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed three people and wounded 11, with children among both the dead and injured, authorities said.

"According to preliminary information, the enemy struck civilian infrastructure in the Sumy district with a ballistic missile," Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.

"Three people are known to have died (two died in hospital, including one child) and 11 were injured, including five children," it added.

Photos released by the emergency service show firefighters putting down a fire in a private house that was reduced to rubble.

Moscow has ramped up its advances on Sumy, where it seeks to create a "buffer zone" after it has recently pushed Kyiv's forces out of the bordering Russian Kursk region.

The strike comes as Ukraine launched a barrage of drones on Russia, killing one woman and forcing Moscow to close a dozen of airports just days before foreign leaders gather there for a major Victory Day parade.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Islamabad (AFP) May 5, 2025 - Pakistan conducted a second missile test and India ordered civil defence drills in an escalating stand-off over contested Kashmir that the UN said on Monday has brought the two nations to the brink of war.

New Delhi blames Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists last month -- the deadliest against civilians on the Indian-administered side of the Himalayan territory for years -- sparking a series of heated threats and diplomatic tit-for-tat measures.

Pakistan rejects the accusations, and the two sides have exchanged nightly gunfire since April 24 along the de facto border in Kashmir, the militarised Line of Control, according to the Indian army.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said relations between Pakistan and India had reached a "boiling point", warning that "now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink" of war.

The Pakistani military said Monday it had tested a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 120 kilometres (75 miles), a launch "aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops".

The missile test comes as Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi was in Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, ahead of a visit to India on Thursday.

Tehran has offered to mediate between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, and Araghchi will be the first senior foreign diplomat to visit both countries since the April 22 attack sent relations into a tailspin.

"We will spare no effort to help de-escalate the situation between the two countries," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said.

Pakistan announced a previous test on Saturday of a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres -- about the distance from the Pakistan border to New Delhi.

It has not said where either of the tests took place.

Sharif, who cancelled a visit to Malaysia scheduled for Friday, said the launch "clearly shows that Pakistan's defence is in strong hands".

Indian information ministry officials said that several civil defence "mock drills" would take place on Wednesday, preparing people to "protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack".

- Calls to de-escalate tensions -

Muslim-majority Kashmir, a region of around 15 million people, is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed in full by both.

Rebels in the Indian-run area have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.

India regularly blames its neighbour for backing gunmen behind the insurgency.

Hindu nationalist Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India will "identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer" who carried out the attack at Pahalgam last month, and will "pursue them to the ends of the Earth."

Pakistan's government has denied any involvement in the shooting and vowed that "any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response".

No group has claimed responsibility for the April 22 killing of 26 mainly Hindu men in the tourist hotspot of Pahalgam, but Indian police are seeking at least two Pakistani citizens they say are among the alleged gunmen.

International pressure has been piled on both New Delhi and Islamabad, who have fought several wars over the disputed Kashmir region.

US Vice President JD Vance has called on India to respond to the attack in a way "that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict".

Vance also urged Pakistan to "make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with".

Russia's Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Moscow was "following with great concern the atmosphere that has developed on the border", calling for both nations to "reduce tensions".

In Indian-run Kashmir, a vast manhunt seeking the gunmen continues across the territory, while those living along the frontier are moving further away -- or cleaning out bunkers fearing conflict.

On the Pakistani side, emergency drills have been carried out on playing fields, residents have been told to stock up on food and medicine, and religious schools have closed.

burs-ecl-pjm/dhw

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Sanaa (AFP) May 5, 2025 - Israel struck Yemen on Monday in what the Huthis said was a joint raid with the United States, a day after the Iran-backed rebels claimed missile fire at Israel's main airport.

The Huthi-run Al-Masirah television said six air strikes hit the port of Hodeida, on Yemen's western coast, and reported an attack on Bajil district in the same province, blaming "US-Israeli aggression" for both.

b Israel confirmed it had carried out the strikes, while a US official denied any part in the raid.

The Israeli military said its "fighter jets struck terror targets belonging to the Huthi terrorist regime along Yemen's coastline and further inland".

In a statement, it said the rebel-held Hodeida port "is used for the transfer of Iranian weapons, military equipment, and other equipment intended for terrorist purposes".

In Bajil, the military said it hit a "concrete plant... which functions as a significant economic resource for the Huthis".

A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "US forces did not participate in the Israeli strikes on Yemen today."

Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Huthi-run health ministry, said in a post on X that 21 people were wounded in the attack on Bajil.

Earlier the Huthis' Saba news agency said US strikes hit the capital Sanaa and the airport road, wounding 16 people according to the rebels' health ministry.

Al-Masirah reported another four strikes in Sanaa and seven in the northern governorate of Al-Jawf.

The reported strikes come after Israel said a missile fired from Yemen on Sunday struck inside the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv for the first time.

The Huthis claimed responsibility, saying they fired a "hypersonic ballistic missile" at Ben Gurion airport, Israel's main international gateway.

The rebels said they "will work to impose a comprehensive air blockade on the Israeli enemy by repeatedly targeting airports, most notably... Ben Gurion airport".

The missile gouged a wide crater in the ground near an airport parking lot, injuring six people and forcing airlines to suspend flights.

- Iran denial -

The Huthis, who control swathes of Yemen including Sanaa, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war that began in October 2023, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians.

US strikes against the Huthis began under former president Joe Biden but have intensified under his successor Donald Trump.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed a tough response against the Huthis, as well as its main backer Iran, over the airport attack.

In a video published on Telegram, Netanyahu said Israel had "acted against" the Huthis in the past and "will act in the future".

"It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs," he added.

On social media platform X, Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at "a time and place of our choosing".

Iran on Monday denied supporting the attack, calling it an "independent decision" by the Yemeni rebels taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Reacting to Netanyahu's threats, the Islamic republic warned it would retaliate against any attack on its territory.

"Iran underlines (its) firm determination... to defend itself," the Iranian foreign ministry said, warning Israel and the United States of "consequences".

An Israeli military spokesperson told AFP that Sunday's attack was "the first time" that a missile has directly struck inside the airport perimeter.

An AFP journalist inside the airport during the attack said he heard a "loud bang" at around 9:35 am (0635 GMT), adding that the "reverberation was very strong".

Flights resumed after being halted briefly, with the aviation authority saying on Sunday that Ben Gurion was "open and operational".

Some international airlines have cancelled flights, including SWISS which extended its suspension until Sunday.

Huthis say US bombed Yemen after strike on Israel's main airport
Sanaa (AFP) May 5, 2025 - Yemen's Huthis on Monday accused the United States of carrying out fresh strikes in and around Sanaa, after the Iran-backed rebels claimed a missile strike on Israel's main airport.

The Huthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two on Arbaeen Street in the capital and the airport road, blaming them on "American aggression".

Sixteen people were wounded, Saba cited the Iran-backed rebels' health ministry as saying. The rebels' Al-Masirah TV later reported another three strikes in Sanaa and seven in the northern governorate of Al-Jawf.

The accusations came after Israel said a missile fired from Yemen on Sunday struck inside the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv for the first time.

The Huthis claimed responsibility, saying they fired a "hypersonic ballistic missile" at Ben Gurion, Israel's main international gateway.

The rebels "will work to impose a comprehensive air blockade on the Israeli enemy by repeatedly targeting airports, most notably... Ben Gurion Airport", they said in a statement.

The missile gouged a wide crater in the ground near an airport parking lot, injuring six people and forcing airlines to suspend flights.

The Huthis, who control swathes of Yemen including the capital, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a tough response against the Huthis, as well as its main backer Iran, over the attack.

In a video published on Telegram, Netanyahu said Israel had "acted against" the Huthis in the past and "will act in the future".

"It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs," he added, without elaborating.

On social media platform X, Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at "a time and place of our choosing".

Hours later, the Huthis threatened to launch more such strikes and warned airlines to cancel their flights to Israeli airports.

- Iran denial -

Iran on Monday denied supporting the attack, calling it an "independent decision" by the Yemeni rebels taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Reacting to Netanyahu's threats, the Islamic republic warned it would retaliate against any attack on its territory.

"Iran underlines (its) firm determination... to defend itself," the Iranian foreign ministry said, warning Israel and the United States of "consequences".

Following Sunday's attack, an Israeli police video showed officers standing on the edge of a wide hole in the ground.

"You can see the area just behind us: a crater was formed here, several dozen metres wide and several dozen metres deep," central Israel's police chief, Yair Hezroni, said in the recording.

"This is the first time" that a missile has directly struck inside the airport perimeter, an Israeli military spokesperson told AFP.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said it had treated at least six people with light to moderate injuries.

An AFP journalist inside the airport during the attack said he heard a "loud bang" at around 9:35 am (0635 GMT), adding that the "reverberation was very strong".

"Security staff immediately asked hundreds of passengers to take shelter, some in bunkers," the journalist said.

- 'Panic' -

Flights resumed after being halted briefly, with the aviation authority saying on Sunday that Ben Gurion was "open and operational".

On Monday, Israel's security cabinet approved the expansion of military operations in Gaza including the "conquest" of the Palestinian territory, after the army called up tens of thousands of reservists for the offensive.

An Israeli official said the plan for expanded operations "will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection".

US strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels began under former president Joe Biden, but have intensified under his successor Donald Trump.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Sanaa (AFP) May 5, 2025 - Yemen's Huthis on Monday accused the United States of carrying out strikes in and around Sanaa, after the Iran-backed rebels claimed a missile strike on Israel's main airport.

The Huthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two on Arbaeen Street in the capital and the airport road, blaming them on "American aggression".

Sixteen people were wounded, Saba cited the Iran-backed rebels' health ministry as saying.

The accusation came after Israel said a missile fired from Yemen struck inside the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday.

The Huthis claimed responsibility, saying they fired a "hypersonic ballistic missile" at Ben Gurion, Israel's main international gateway.

The missile gouged a wide crater in the ground near an airport parking lot, wounding six people and forcing airlines to suspend flights.

The Huthis, who control swathes of Yemen including the capital, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a tough response against the Huthis, as well as its main backer Iran, over the attack.

In a video published on Telegram, Netanyahu said Israel had "acted against" the Huthis in the past and "will act in the future".

"It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs," he added, without elaborating.

On social media platform X, Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at "a time and place of our choosing".

Hours later, the Huthis threatened to launch more such strikes and warned airlines to cancel their flights to Israeli airports.

- Iran denial -

Iran on Monday denied supporting the attack, calling it an "independent decision" by the Yemeni rebels taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Reacting to Netanyahu's threats, the Islamic republic warned it would retaliate to any attack against its territory.

"Iran underlines (its) firm determination... to defend itself," the Iranian foreign ministry said, warning Israel and the United States of "consequences".

Following Sunday's attack, an Israeli police video showed officers standing on the edge of a wide hole in the ground.

"You can see the area just behind us: a crater was formed here, several dozen metres wide and several dozen metres deep," central Israel's police chief, Yair Hezroni, said in the recording.

"This is the first time" that a missile has directly struck inside the airport perimeter, an Israeli military spokesperson told AFP.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said it had treated at least six people with light to moderate injuries.

An AFP journalist inside the airport during the attack said he heard a "loud bang" at around 9:35 am (0635 GMT), adding that the "reverberation was very strong".

"Security staff immediately asked hundreds of passengers to take shelter, some in bunkers," the journalist said.

- 'Panic' -

One passenger said the attack, which came shortly after air raid sirens sounded across parts of Israel, caused "panic".

"It is crazy to say but since October 7 we are used to this," said the 50-year-old, who did not want to be named, referring to the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war.

Flights resumed after being halted briefly, with the aviation authority saying on Sunday that Ben Gurion was "open and operational".

On Sunday, Israel's army called up tens of thousands of reservists for an expanded Gaza offensive.

"This week we are issuing tens of thousands of orders to our reservists to intensify and expand our operation in Gaza," said army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

The army would destroy all Hamas infrastructure, "both on the surface and underground", he added.

Israel's security cabinet, in a meeting overnight, approved a plan to expand military operations in Gaza, including the "conquest" of the Palestinian territory, an official said Monday.

US strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels began under former president Joe Biden, but have intensified under his successor Donald Trump.

ha/th/dv

X

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Islamabad (AFP) May 5, 2025 - The Pakistan military said on Monday it had conducted a missile test with a range of 120 kilometres (75 miles), the second launch in two days as tensions with India have soared over disputed Kashmir.

New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for backing a deadly attack on tourists on the Indian side of Kashmir last month, sparking a fresh stand-off between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

"The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy," the military said in a statement.

On Saturday, the military said it had tested a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres (280 miles).

It did not say where either of the tests took place.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was satisfied with the military's "full preparedness for national defence".

"The successful training launch clearly shows that Pakistan's defence is in strong hands," he said in a statement.

The missile training launch comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has given his military "full operational freedom" to respond to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

Pakistan has denied any involvement and called for an independent probe.

Islamabad warned last week of an imminent air strike from its neighbour and has repeatedly made clear it will respond with force to any aggression by India.

International pressure has been piled on both New Delhi and Islamabad -- who have fought several wars over the disputed Kashmir region -- to de-escalate.

The two sides have exchanged nightly gunfire for more than a week nine along the militarised Line of Control, the de facto border, according to Indian defence sources.

Muslim-majority Kashmir, a region of around 15 million people, is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed in full by both.

On the Pakistani side, emergency drills have been carried out on playing fields, residents have been told to stock up on food and medicine, and religious schools have been closed.

In Indian-run Kashmir, a vast manhunt seeking the gunmen continues across the territory, while those living along the frontier are moving further away -- or cleaning out bunkers fearing conflict.

Sharif has postponed an official visit to Malaysia scheduled for Friday as tensions mounted, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday.

His office said the two sides spoke on Sunday night and that he "conveyed that he looked forward to paying an official visit to Malaysia later this year".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Islamabad on Monday for an official visit.

"Pakistan is presenting its case to friendly countries," Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on a visit to Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Monday.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:30:10 AEST Subscribe to our daily selection of space, military, environment and energy newsletters responseText http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=0016gbbKsaiGSpQFojVO8ZoHw%3D%3D