Washington okays F-16 fleet upgrade package for Pakistan

AUS military upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter fleet, worth $686 million, has been cleared through a statutory congressional notification process.

Lockheed Martin, the US aerospace and defence company that manufactures the F-16 fighter aircraft, and has long been responsible for its design, upgrades, and sustainment programmes for international operators, has been named the principal contractor for the proposed sale.

The sale was processed under existing authorities provided by the Arms Export Control Act and annual appropriations laws.

These provisions allow the executive branch to obligate and disburse funds once Congress has been formally notified and does not object within the required time period.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved Pakistan’s request for a $686 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) covering F-16 hardware, software upgrades, and sustainment support, and formally notified the US Congress of this decision.

Under US law, this approval does not mean the sale bypassed congressional oversight. Once the DSCA issues its notification, Congress is provided a mandatory 30-day review period during which lawmakers may object or introduce a resolution to block the transaction.

If no objection is raised within this timeframe — which is the norm — the sale is considered to have received congressional approval. A separate vote is required only if Congress chooses to intervene.

This process is built into the legal framework governing US arms transfers. The DSCA is authorized to manage such transactions through mechanisms such as Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

These programmes typically rely on the purchasing country’s own funds, or on US loans or grants that have already been approved at the executive level by the President and the State Department — as is the case with Pakistan’s F-16 package.

Khaleda Zia dies at 80 after prolonged illness

Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, died after a prolonged illness. Khaleda, aged 80, had advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, chest and heart problems.

“The BNP chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6:00 a.m. (0000 GMT), just after the Fajr prayer,” the party said in a statement.

Despite years of ill health and imprisonment, Zia vowed in November to campaign in elections scheduled for February 2026 — the first vote since a mass uprising toppled her arch-rival, Sheikh Hasina, in August 2024.

Zia’s BNP is widely seen as a frontrunner. But in late November, she was rushed to the hospital, where, despite the best efforts of medics, her condition declined from a raft of health issues.

During her final days, interim leader Muhammad Yunus called for the nation to pray for Zia, calling her a “source of utmost inspiration for the nation”.

Zia was jailed for corruption in 2018 under Hasina’s government, which also blocked her from travelling abroad for medical treatment. She was released in August 2024, shortly after Hasina was forced from power.

There had been plans earlier this month to fly her on a special air ambulance to London, but her condition was not stable enough.

Her son, political heavyweight Tarique Rahman, only returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in selfimposed exile in December, where huge crowds of joyous supporters welcomed him back. Rahman will lead the party through the February 12 general election, and is expected to be put forward as prime minister if his party wins a majority.

Syed Ovais Akhtar, Managing Editor, SouthAsia, Passes Away

Syed Ovais Akhtar, the Managing Editor & COO of Monthly SouthAsia, passed away in Karachi after battling a prolonged illness. He was 70.

Akhtar, a prominent figure in Pakistan’s media and corporate communication landscape, was the younger brother of Syed Jawaid Iqbal, the Editor-in-Chief of SouthAsia Magazine.

He began his career in the UAE with Abu Dhabi Airport Services (ADAS) as an aviation professional. In the late 1970s, he started his journalistic journey by joining ThirdWorld Magazine, a publication that would later be rebranded as SouthAsia. His early years in the field set the foundation for a distinguished career in both marketing and corporate communication.

In addition to his work at SouthAsia., he contributed his skills and knowledge to various high-profile publications. These included Monthly Slogan, which is regarded as Pakistan’s premier corporate communication and showbiz journal; Enterprise, a leading business bimonthly; and AutoNews Magazine, a well-known publication in the automotive sector.

As a consummate communication professional, Akhtar’s career was marked by his dedication to excellence in communication, particularly in the fields of marketing and corporate communication. His professional approach helped many publications solidify their reputations as leading voices in their respective sector.

Syed Ovais Akhtar leaves behind a grieving family, including his wife and son, Syed Zain Akhter, who currently serves as the Editorial Coordinator at SouthAsia Magazine.

HBL Reinforces Commitment to Inclusive Growth with 2024

HBL, Pakistan’s premier financial services group, recently launched its Impact & Sustainability Report 2024, highlighting the Group’s continued commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for Pakistan.

Guided by its majority shareholder, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), and a strong governance framework, HBL remains focused on delivering environmentally and socially responsible growth across its operations.

The report highlights HBL’s efforts to expand access to finance in underserved areas, empower women entrepreneurs, strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural value chain through HBL Zarai Services, and support healthcare, education, arts, and humanitarian initiatives through HBL Foundation. It also reflects the Bank’s growing focus on environmental stewardship, including renewable energy adoption, green financing, and climate-resilient solutions.

Covering the collective impact of HBL Bank, HBL Microfinance Bank, HBL Zarai Services, and HBL Foundation, the report showcases tangible outcomes across financial inclusion, agriculture and rural development, climate action, diversity and inclusion, and community uplift.

Speaking on the launch, Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO – HBL, said, “At HBL, sustainability is not a parallel agenda — it is central to how we do business. This Impact & Sustainability Report reflects our belief that financial institutions must play a transformative role in strengthening communities, protecting the environment, and enabling inclusive economic growth.”

Aligned with international frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the report demonstrates HBL’s progress in embedding responsible banking practices across its operations and value chain.

Pakistan rout India to clinch U-19 Asia Cup

Pakistan produced a dominant all-round performance to thrash arch-rivals India by a massive 191 runs in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup at the ICC Academy Ground, claiming the prestigious title emphatically.

Opener Sameer Minhas lit up the first half of the match with a record-breaking 172 — the highest individual score in a U-19 Asia Cup final — propelling Pakistan to a formidable 347 for 8 after being asked to bat first.

In reply, India’s much-vaunted batting line-up crumbled spectacularly, folding for a paltry 156 in just 26.2 overs as pacer Ali Raza ripped through the order with figures of 4 for 42.

The victory marked a sweet redemption for Pakistan, which had suffered a heavy defeat to the same opponents in the group stage and had entered the final as underdogs against an unbeaten Indian side.

Instead, it was Pakistan who delivered a clinical display, overwhelming India in every department to lift the trophy amid jubilant celebrations.
Chasing 348, India started explosively, but the introduction of spin and disciplined pace turned the tide irreversibly. India’s innings lasted a mere 26.2 overs, underscoring Pakistan’s bowling dominance and fielding sharpness after the break. The margin of victory was the largest in a U-19 Asia Cup final, completing a comprehensive rout.

7 elephants killed by train accident in India

A passenger train smashed into a herd of elephants in India’s northeast, killing seven animals on the spot. No travellers were injured in the accident in Assam state, home to more than 4,000 of the roughly 22,000 wild elephants in India.

Senior Assam police official V.V. Rakesh Reddy told AFP that seven jumbos were killed, and one elephant sustained an injury. Five coaches of the train, which was headed to New Delhi from the remote state of Mizoram, were derailed.

Authorities have introduced speed restrictions along routes designated elephant corridors, but the latest accident occurred outside of these zones. “The loco pilot, on observing the herd of elephants, applied emergency brakes.

Meetings with Imran Khan will remain suspended till February 8

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that meetings with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan would remain suspended till February 8, 2026.

“Meetings with Khan will remain suspended till Feb 8,” the minister said while speaking on Geo News’ show ‘Capital Talk’, in reply to a question by the show’s host about whether meetings with Imran would remain suspended.

As court-ordered prison visits stay blocked, Imran’s family and party have expressed concerns about the conditions in which he is being kept inside the prison. A United Nations special rapporteur has also warned that Imran is being held in conditions that could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment.

Chaudhry maintained that the prison is “not the headquarters of a political party”, and criticised the PTI for “spreading venom against institutions and leaders of the institutions“.

The PML-N leader said that regular meetings were held between PTI leaders and its founder in Adiala jail in the past, and the government had no issues. However, he stated that the meetings then turned into political press conferences outside the prison, and the opposition party started to create narratives, which were then “run by Indian media”.

SICPA Pakistan Marks 30 Years of Excellence and Partnership

SICPA Pakistan, a trusted partner in secure identification, authentication, and traceability solutions, celebrated its 30th anniversary in Karachi. The event was graced by Jameel Ahmad, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), as the Chief Guest and attended by senior officials from the SBP, representatives from the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC), and SICPA’s valued Brand Protection partners.

In his welcome address, Mr. Rizwan Butt, Managing Director, SICPA Inks Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., highlighted SICPA’s 30-year journey and its longstanding partnership with the State Bank of Pakistan and the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation. Since its incorporation in 1995 as a provider of security inks for banknotes, SICPA Pakistan has expanded its capabilities significantly. The establishment of the Brand Protection business in 2007, major facility upgrades in 2012, and the introduction of advanced QUAZAR® technology in 2022 have strengthened SICPA’s ability to protect over 60 leading brands across multiple industries.

Mr. Jameel Ahmad, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, congratulated SICPA on completion of 30 successful years in Pakistan. He expressed his satisfaction that the partnership between SICPA and Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC) to produce quality security inks has been a win-win for both SICPA and PSPC.

Russia pledges ‘full support’ for Venezuela

Russia expressed “full support” for Venezuela as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by US forces deployed in the Caribbean, the two governments said.

The foreign ministers of the two allied countries blasted the US actions, which have included bombing alleged drug-trafficking boats and, more recently, the seizure of two tankers. A third ship was being pursued.

“The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping,” the Russian foreign ministry said of the call between ministers Sergei Lavrov and Yvan Gil.

“The Russian side reaffirmed its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context,” it added.

Venezuela’s Gil said he and Lavrov had discussed “the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being perpetrated in the Caribbean: attacks on vessels, extrajudicial executions, and illicit acts of piracy carried out by the United States government.”

President Donald Trump on December 16 announced a blockade of “sanctioned oil vessels” sailing to and from Venezuela. Trump has claimed Caracas under Maduro is using oil money to finance “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.

Woman becomes first wheelchair user to visit space

A person who uses a wheelchair blasted off into space for the first time, taking a brief ride on a Blue Origin flight.

The space company owned by American multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos launched its New Shepard suborbital mission at 8:15am from its site in Texas.

Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency, was among the passengers to cross the Karman line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, during the approximately 10-minute flight.

Benthaus suffered a spinal cord injury after a mountain biking accident and now uses a wheelchair.

“After my accident, and I really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is” for people with disabilities, she said in a video released by the company. “If we want to be an inclusive society, we should be inclusive in every part, and not only in the parts we like to be,” Benthaus added.

The small, fully automated rocket took off vertically, and the capsule carrying the tourists then detached in flight before gently descending back to the Texas desert, slowed by parachutes.

It was the 16th crewed flight for Blue Origin, which has for years offered space tourism flights — the price isn’t public — using its New Shepard rocket.

Dozens of people have traveled to space with Blue Origin, including the pop singer Katy Perry and William Shatner, who played Star Trek’s legendary Captain Kirk.

These high-profile guests are designed to maintain public interest in the flights at a time when private space companies are vying for supremacy. Virgin Galactic offers a similar suborbital flight experience.

But Blue Origin also has ambitions to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the orbital flight market. This year, the Bezos company successfully carried out two uncrewed orbital flights using its massive New Glenn rocket, which is significantly more powerful than New Shepard.

Nepal to regulate the number of Himalaya climbers

Amid growing concern over decades of waste accumulation on Nepal’s high mountains, including Mount Everest, the government has unveiled a five-year action plan aimed at restoring cleanliness and regulating climbing across the Himalaya. Announcing the measures, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said it may limit the number of climbers and regulate the timing of expeditions, citing congestion on popular peaks and the narrow window of favourable weather. The measures are outlined in the Action Plan to Keep Mountains Clean (2025–2029).

Under the plan, the government will introduce policies to regulate both the number of climbers and expedition schedules. The initiative follows a Nepal Supreme Court order issued last year directing authorities to issue climbing permits only after clearly specifying the number of climbers. Nepal has been conducting annual clean-up drives on its mountains, and data from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) shows that more than 83 metric tonnes of waste were collected from Mount Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse during the Spring 2025 climbing season alone.

Sri Lanka cyclone caused $4.1 billion damage

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka last month, caused an estimated $4.1 billion in damage to buildings, agriculture, and critical infrastructure, according to a World Bank report.

The natural disaster killed more than 640 people and affected more than 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s population. Floods and landslides caused by the cyclone left extensive damage throughout the South Asian island nation.

The total damage, as estimated by the World Bank, is equivalent to approximately 4 percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP.

Trump announces new US warship class

US President Donald Trump announced a new class of heavily armed warships that will be named after himself — an honor usually reserved for leaders who have left office.

Two of the Trump-class ships will be built initially, but that number could grow substantially, according to the president, who said they will be “some of the most lethal surface warfare ships” and “the largest battleship in the history of our country”.

Trump announced at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, alongside Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan, with images of the planned high-tech vessels on display nearby.

Asked if the planned warships are a counter to Washington’s rival Beijing, Trump declined to specify, instead saying: “It’s a counter to everybody, it’s not China. We get along great with China.”

He said the ships will weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tons and will be armed with missiles and guns as well as weaponry still in development, such as lasers and hypersonic missiles.

They will also be capable of carrying atomic weapons in the form of the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, Trump said.

The Trump-class ships will be substantially larger than existing U.S. destroyers and cruisers, but the projected displacement cited by the president is somewhat smaller than that of the last American battleships — from the Iowa class — which were retired in the 1990s.

Pakistan snaps up major arms deal with Libyan force

Pakistan has signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to sell conventional military equipment to the Libyan army, entering a select club of countries that export conventional arms and equipment.

According to the Reuters news agency, the over $4 billion deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, will see arms sold to the Libyan National Army (LNA).

It was finalised after a meeting between Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the LNA, in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, officials said.

Afghanistan Premier League set to launch in October 2026

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a new T20 league, the Afghanistan Premier League.
In a press release, the ACB stated that the inaugural season of the Afghanistan Premier League will feature franchises from five cities. The teams will include prominent national players, international stars, and emerging local talent.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said during the league’s launch event in Dubai that the Afghanistan Premier League represents a significant step in the country’s cricketing journey. He added that it will create new opportunities for players, inspire the younger generation, and showcase Afghan cricket on the global stage.

The first season of the tournament is planned to begin in October 2026 in the United Arab Emirates, while the player draft or auction is expected to take place in June or July 2026.

It is worth noting that the Afghanistan Cricket Board had previously launched a tournament under the same name in early 2018. However, only one season of that league was played.

That edition featured globally renowned players such as Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, and Shahid Afridi, but the league was discontinued due to issues with fee payments and concerns over transparency.

Currently, Afghanistan also hosts its domestic T20 league, the Shpageeza Cricket League, every year between July and August, featuring five domestic teams.