US President Donald Trump, addressing the country’s Congress for the first time since returning to office, barely spoke about Israel’s war on Gaza or the ongoing ceasefire efforts, according to Al Jazeera.

He said his administration is “bringing back our hostages from Gaza”, and talked up the agreements to establish formal relations between Israel and Arab states, suggesting that more deals may be on the way, Al Jazeera noted.

“In my first term, we achieved one of the most groundbreaking peace agreements in generations, the Abraham Accords,” he said, referring to the normalisation treaties.

“Then and now, we’re going to build on that foundation to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the entire region. A lot of things are happening in the Middle East — rough neighbourhood.”

Opinion

Editorial

Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....
Battling hate
Updated 15 Mar, 2026

Battling hate

In the current scenario, geopolitical conflict, racial prejudice and religious bigotry all contribute to the threats Muslims face.
TB drugs shortage
15 Mar, 2026

TB drugs shortage

‘CRIMINAL negligence’ is the phrase that jumps to mind when one considers the disturbing consequences of the...
Chinese diplomacy
Updated 14 Mar, 2026

Chinese diplomacy

THERE are signs that China is taking a more active role in trying to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism...