A Chinese-made JF-17 Thunder fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force crashed during a routine training mission in Pakistan, according to reports. Both pilots managed to eject safely before the aircraft went down, preventing any loss of life. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, with initial reports pointing toward a possible technical malfunction. The JF-17, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, is one of the Pakistan Air Force’s key combat aircraft. The incident has once again raised concerns over fighter jet safety and maintenance as military aviation accidents continue to occur during training operations worldwide. 

Meta reportedly instructed employees across multiple regions to work from home before sending layoff emails to nearly 8,000 workers. According to reports, affected staff in Singapore received termination notices at around 4 am local time, with emails sent in phases across different time zones. The company is restructuring teams, reducing management layers and closing thousands of open positions. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced major investments in artificial intelligence and smaller operational teams. The layoffs add to a growing trend of job cuts across the global technology sector. (PC: NDTV)

Delhi remains under a five-day orange alert after the India Meteorological Department warned of severe heatwave conditions across the national capital. Temperatures are expected to reach nearly 46 degrees Celsius, with no major relief likely over the next week. The IMD said hot and dry winds, along with the absence of western disturbances, are intensifying the heat. Authorities warned of rising risks of heat-related illnesses, especially among children, elderly people and those with health conditions. Delhi’s peak electricity demand also touched a season-high 7,776 MW amid soaring temperatures and increased power consumption across the city. (PC: HT)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed deeper strategic cooperation during Putin’s state visit to Beijing, signalling stronger alignment amid rising global tensions. Putin said both nations would expand bilateral cooperation and coordinate more closely on international platforms like BRICS. Xi responded that China-Russia relations had entered a “new stage of faster development”, adding that mutual trust between the two countries continued to strengthen. Chinese state media described the talks as “substantial”, while Putin called the partnership “exemplary”. The visit mirrored the ceremonial welcome recently accorded to US President Donald Trump, underscoring Beijing’s effort to project itself as a central hub of global diplomacy and strategic influence. (PC: BBC)

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for his 25th official visit to China, where he was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a military honour guard. During the two-day state visit, Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sign cooperation documents and issue a joint statement on strengthening strategic ties. Putin will also meet Premier Li Qiang, attend exhibitions and hold informal discussions with Xi. The Kremlin said discussions would include “important and sensitive issues”. The visit comes shortly after US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic trip to China.

Lawmakers in Iran are preparing to vote on a bill that would offer a "$58 million bounty" for the killing of Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Admiral Brad Cooper. Iranian officials say the proposal is a response to recent attacks on the country. The debate comes as indirect talks between Iran and the United States continue through Pakistan. The proposal has raised fears of further escalation in the Middle East. (PC: Reuters)

Officials in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they were unaware of a planned United States attack on Iran. This came after Donald Trump said Gulf leaders had asked him to delay military action. Trump later warned that the US could still strike Iran within days if nuclear talks fail. Iran has sent a new proposal through Pakistan. The growing tensions have raised concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Tensions across the Middle East have intensified after reports claimed Iranian lawmakers are drafting legislation proposing a €50 million reward linked to the assassination of former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to reports, the proposed bill emerged following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in military strikes on February 28. Iranian officials accused Israel and US Central Command figures of involvement. Iranian parliament members described the draft as a major shift in Tehran’s retaliation strategy, warning that future attacks on Iran could trigger responses not only against the US and Israel but also regional allies aligned with them amid fragile diplomatic negotiations. (PC: X)

Pakistan’s Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has approved a major heritage restoration initiative under the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival to revive Lahore’s pre-Partition place names. Areas like Krishan Nagar, Dharampura and Lakshmi Chowk have officially replaced later Islamic-era names. Analysts view the campaign as a soft-power strategy by the ruling PML-N to project cultural inclusivity, reconnect with shared Punjabi heritage and appeal to Indian audiences and the global diaspora. However, critics argue the symbolic renaming cannot overcome Pakistan’s structural realities, including demographic decline of minorities, blasphemy laws, destroyed religious sites, systemic discrimination and heavily restricted India-Pakistan border and visa regimes limiting meaningful cultural reconciliation efforts. (PC: X)

Three people were killed after two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego in California, United States, in what police are investigating as a suspected hate crime. The attackers, aged 17 and 18, later died by suicide inside a vehicle found a few blocks from the mosque. Among those killed was a security guard who police said acted heroically and helped prevent a far deadlier attack. Authorities said one suspect left behind writings containing hate speech and extremist rhetoric. The shooting happened days before Eid al-Adha celebrations, shocking the Muslim community across the US. The FBI and local police have launched a full investigation into the attack and the suspects’ motive. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the violence and said attacks targeting places of worship would not be tolerated in the United States. (PC: BBC)