Hi, I want to share this picture today I took at the Foreign Service Academy reflecting one of my all time favourite words - komorebi (light scattering through trees).
Beauty abounds, and I was there to witness it. Alhamdulillah!
🚨 📣 *Most Important*
UN Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Pakistan*
As circulated by the Spokesperson’s office.*
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President James Kariuki CMG (United Kingdom):
The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks across multiple locations in Balochistan province, Pakistan, on 31st January 2026. This reprehensible act of terrorism resulted in the grievous loss of 48 Pakistani nationals, including 31 civilians. Civilian casualties included five women and three children. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for these terrorist attacks.
The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of Pakistan, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard.
The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
(3 February 2026)
*****
Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations
T: +1 212 963 7160
New York, USA
https://t.co/s4r2cEcJQm
https://t.co/Mfu72PQiC1 / Instagram / Whatsapp
When asked to comment on recent statements by the Pakistani military saying that the terrorist organization Balochistan Liberation Army had launched coordinated attacks in Quetta, Gwadar Port and other locations in Balochistan Province, killing 15 security personnel and more than 18 civilians as well as claims by the group that the attacks had resulted in the deaths of 84 Pakistani security personnel, FM spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that China strongly condemns the attacks, expresses deep condolences to the victims, and extends sincere sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families.
Lin stressed that China firmly opposes terrorism in all its forms and will, as always, resolutely support Pakistan in combating terrorism, safeguarding social unity and stability, and protecting the safety of its people.
Embassy of Pakistan's participation in the Opening Ceremony of 1st Cultures of the World Festival in Hanoi - renowned classical dancer, Ms. Sheema Kermani, graced the event with a gorgeous devotional performance on "Aaj Rang Hae"
#HanoiCultureFestival#PakistanInVietnam
Embassy of Pakistan will be participating in the upcoming 1st Cultures of the World Festival in Hanoi.
Renowned classical dancer, Ms. Sheema Kermani, will be gracing the event with her performances and showcasing the diversity of Pakistani culture.
https://t.co/iIKTPEvIKG
Facilitated by #UNDPinPakistan and @UNDPVietNam, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan), Minister of @PlanComPakistan, exchanged insights with experts on Vietnam’s journey of export-led growth, human development, and innovation.
The discussion helped outline key lessons for Pakistan — focusing on public sector reforms for inclusive development and stronger local governance, converting macroeconomic stability into a development dividend, and aligning public investment, skills, and governance with the #SDGs to drive sustainable progress.
Walking through the vast assembly lines of VinFast in Vietnam, I felt as though I was witnessing rise of Vietnam’s story being written in real time. Here stood a company that, starting from zero experience and knowledge, dared to dream of challenging the global automotive giants. Just over two years since delivering its first electric vehicles, VinFast has already outperformed every other automaker in Vietnam to become the nation’s best-selling vehicle brand.
In 2024 alone, VinFast delivered over 67,000 electric vehicles. This extraordinary achievement has made Vietnam one of the rare markets in the world where electric vehicles now outnumber traditional gasoline-powered cars. For a country where the internal combustion engine had dominated for decades, this is nothing short of a revolution.
But what struck me most was not only the speed of this transformation, but the story of the man behind it — Pham Nhat Vuong. Born into a poor family in a war-torn Vietnam, Vuong’s journey began with little more than his intellect and resilience, when he won scholarship to study in USSR. In the early 1990s, after graduation as a young mathematician, he arrived in Ukraine with no wealth and no connections. He opened a small noodle bar for students, then built a dried-food business so successful that Nestlé bought it for $150 million.
With this success, Vuong brought his fortune back home and established Vingroup, which grew into Vietnam’s largest conglomerate spanning housing, retail, healthcare, education, AI, and big data. Yet, he realized that most of these ventures, however successful domestically, had limited global reach. Cars, however, offered a gateway to the world.
So in 2017, without prior experience, a factory, or even a development center, he founded VinFast. Two years later, the first car rolled off the line. Today, VinFast is not only Vietnam’s top brand but also building a factory in the United States, and exploring sites in Europe — an audacious leap into the global market. Vuong has pledged his entire fortune to realize his dream of making Vietnam a global player in sustainable mobility.
As I stood there, I saw more than an automotive factory. I saw the embodiment of vision, courage, and perseverance. I saw proof that nations and individuals, no matter where they start, can achieve greatness when they dare to dream big, invest in innovation, and commit wholeheartedly to their goals.
VinFast’s story is not just rise of Vietnam’s story. It is a universal lesson — that transformation begins when someone dares to imagine a different future and has the courage, dedication & commitment to chase it.
@VinFastofficial
I am journalist Nahed Hajjaj. I am still continuing the coverage and conveying the reality from the northern city of Gaza to the entire world. I have not and will not leave. I will remain steadfast in my city until my last breath. Please keep me in your prayers.
how beautiful they were.
how young and brave these native sons of the land, murdered by the ineffable darkness of foreign colonizers; by their hatred and jealousy, entitlement and jewish supremacy.
These images from Gaza today are beyond the most apocalyptic of imaginations. There are no buildings standing but the rubble keeps being bombed because among the rubble human beings are still moving and falling, with nowhere to go
إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Prof. Rifaat Hussain - scholar and gentleman - is no more. A terrible and shocking loss!
An academic of the very best kind: Always insightful and informed in analysis. Always kind and gracious. Always, and above all else, a teacher.
Let me put it as simply as I can: the decision to invade Lebanon is going to prove the deadliest and costliest mistake in Israel's history - worse even than the genocide, which will not be forgotten, despite the best efforts of Western Zionism.
All the braggadocio is going to meet reality shortly. IDF soldiers and commanders will pay a heavy price and Netanyahu will panic, as he always does. Consequently, he will only get Israel in more trouble, trying to escape his and Israel's assured defeat.
You see, there is no path to victory for Zionism. It can kill a million or two, or three, or four. It will still lose. It is a lost cause, and no amount of bunker busters will save it.
Don't buy the facade of competence and machoism. It is the conduct of idiots who do not understand the gravity of the situation. In a few weeks, they will begin to get it.
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Netanyahu is a stupid strategist made stupider by the blind support of a cave troll in the form of a decaying (former) superpower. Look calmly at what is happening to Israel, and you'll realize what this man is: a 3rd rate soap opera actor with a Napoleon complex, pulling an entire establishment of infantile wankers into the abyss.
There is no way out for Israel. It is doomed to a spiral of war, death, decline, and infighting. Don't believe the hype for one second. Any idiot can drop an American bomb from an American aircraft on a building. It is not strength, it is stupidity, murderousness, and moral decay. And it doesn't win wars. Ask Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Lebanon itself.
We are being psyoped into believing Israel is this giant unstoppable force of nature. It is bullshit.
The language of whitewashing:
🇮🇱: Invades Lebanon
Media: Israel sends troops
🇮🇱: Bombs civilians
Media: Blasts heard, people say
🇮🇱: Destroys Rafah
Media: A limited operation
🇮🇱: Blocks aid
Media: Hunger stalks Gaza
🇮🇱: Flattens apartment buildings
Media: A targeted strike