FGN48 POPE-LD-JOURNALISTS

World needs free, rigorous & objective information: Pope Leo Vatican City: The world needs free, rigorous and objective journalism, otherwise people will be unable to distinguish between "fact and fiction" and "true and false", as in totalitarian rules, Pope Leo said on Thursday.

FGN50 CHINA-RARE EARTHS

China clamps down more curbs on export of rare-earth technologies Beijing: China, which virtually holds a monopoly over rare earth materials, on Thursday announced further export controls for mining and processing the minerals, alleging that unnamed foreign firms are using its supplies for military purposes.

  FGN55 CHINA-INDIA-LD FLIGHTS

China says resumption of direct flights with India positive move to improve ties Beijing: China on Thursday described the resumption of direct flights with India after a five-year hiatus as a positive step, saying it demonstrated that both countries are "faithfully acting" on the understandings reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to strengthen bilateral ties.

FGN41 US-TRUMP-INDOPAK

Trump again claims he pushed India, Pakistan to peace through trade pressure, tariff threats Washington: US President Donald Trump has again claimed that he played a key role in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan by threatening to impose massive tariffs on both countries, saying the move "stopped the fighting" between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

FGN43 UK-GAZA-REAX

UK welcomes ‘moment of profound relief’ with Gaza peace plan London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is on an India visit, welcomed an agreement on the first phase of the Gaza peace plan to halt Israel-Hamas hostilities on Thursday as a “moment of profound relief”.

FGN26 LANKA-INDIAN-FISHERMEN

Sri Lankan Navy arrests 47 Indian fishermen Colombo: As many as 47 Indian fishermen were arrested and their five trawlers seized on Thursday at Talaimannar in northern Sri Lanka for alleged illegal fishing in the island nation’s waters, the Navy here said.

FGN29 WASIA-WARS-GAZA

Israel, Hamas to free hostages, prisoners after agreeing to first phase of Trump's peace plan Tel Aviv: Israel and Hamas agreed to pause fighting in Gaza to free the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, accepting elements of a plan put forward by the Trump administration that Palestinians greeted warily Thursday as a possible breakthrough toward ending the devastating two-year-old war. (AP)

FGN53 NOBEL-LD LITERATURE

Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai wins Nobel Prize in literature Stockholm: Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai, whose philosophical, bleakly funny novels often unfold in single sentences, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for his “compelling and visionary oeuvre.” (AP)

PTI GRS GRS GRS

Export controls tighten as China restricts rare-earth technology exports, affecting global supply chains and trade enforcement. China announced additional export controls on rare-earth mining and processing technologies, citing concerns over military diversion, a measure with customs and licensing implications affecting global supply chains. The Sri Lankan Navy's arrest of 47 Indian fishermen and seizure of five trawlers raises maritime enforcement and fisheries-jurisdiction issues, while resumption of direct flights between China and India signals restoration of transport connectivity that may facilitate commerce and regulatory cooperation.