India launches missile strikes at 3 air bases in Pakistan
India launched air-to-surface missiles at three air bases in Pakistan, but all strategic assets of the Pakistan Air Force remained safe in the attack, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army said in the wee hours of Saturday.
India carried out missile and drone strikes targeting multiple Pakistani military installations in Punjab province, including Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi district near the capital city of Islamabad, Murid Air Base in Chakwal district, and Shorkot Air Base in Jhang district, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistani army, told the media.
He claimed that India also launched drone and missile strikes in Afghanistan.
"These unprovoked and reckless acts demonstrate India's madness and treacherous nature," the officer said, adding that "through its continued aggression, India is pushing the region towards a dangerous and unnecessary conflict. Now you just wait for our response," said Chaudhry.
Iran's FM confirms next round of talks with U.S. to be held in Oman Sunday
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Friday that the next round of indirect talks with the United States will be held in Oman on Sunday, adding the Omani side is expected to announce the time to start the negotiations.
He made the remarks in an interview with Shahrara newspaper on the sidelines of his visit to the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad while commenting on the Omani-mediated talks with the United States on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of Washington's sanctions.
Araghchi said, "Our Omani friends asked our opinion about setting the next meeting date on Sunday, and we announced our consent. Apparently, they have spoken to the other side, and up to this moment, the negotiations are scheduled to be held on Sunday."
The minister added that although Iran's positions in the negotiations were principled and fixed, the U.S. side was sending contradictory messages, emphasizing that Iran would insist upon its "clear" positions.
670,000 displaced in Syria since November, 1 mln others return home: UN
Despite the threat of explosives in Syria, UN humanitarians said on Friday that while 670,000 people have been displaced since November, more than 1 million others have returned home.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said people continue to be on the move across the country despite explosive ordnance contamination, including unexploded ordnance, mines, improvised explosive devices and other remnants of war that continue to have a deadly impact across Syria.
"Since Dec. 8, more than 900 civilian casualties have been reported, including 367 deaths and 542 injuries," OCHA said. "Children represent over one-third of these casualties."
European solar report hails China's role in green energy expansion
China accounted for around half of both newly added and total global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2024, a milestone hailed by European analysts as a major contribution to the world's carbon reduction goals.
China installed 329 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity within 2024, representing 55 percent of global new additions, according to a report released by the industry group SolarPower Europe during the 2025 Intersolar Europe exhibition, which just concluded here on Friday.
That brought global cumulative solar capacity to more than 2 terawatts (TW) by the end of last year, with China leading at 985 GW, followed by the United States, India, and Germany, said the report, titled Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025-2029.
"China's growth is a major achievement from a global decarbonisation perspective," the report noted. "Its comprehensive solar commitment has enabled the technology's rapid global development."
Spain invests 8.4 mln euros to boost global presence of its food, gastronomy
Spain is investing 8.4 million euros (9.46 million U.S. dollars) in a fresh push to elevate its global standing in food and gastronomy through the sixth edition of its "Food Nation" initiative, authorities announced.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and Spain Export and Investment (ICEX) have signed a new cooperation agreement on Monday to fund the program through Sept. 30, 2026.
The agreement "broadens the initiative's reach to cover the foundation of the food chain, such as livestock and fish farming," Maria Naranjo, director of the food industry at ICEX, told Xinhua on Friday.
"We want a common agricultural policy for our farmers and our livestock breeders that is well-funded for the future and also has its own institutional personality," Agriculture Minister Luis Planas said in a Europe Day video message shared with Xinhua.
Originally launched in 2020, the "Food Nation" project aims to reinforce Spain's image as a global supplier of quality, safe, and trustworthy food, while cementing its reputation as a leader in world gastronomy.
The new edition will concentrate efforts on strategic markets such as China, Japan, Morocco and Mexico, while exploring new opportunities in Algeria and Serbia. ■
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