LIVE: US to Permanently Shut Pakistan's Peshawar Consulate Under Trump Plan | Spotlight

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:15]Heat. Heat.

[00:00:42]Hello and welcome to First Post Spotlight, where we bring you the stories that matter from across the world, shining a light on the biggest issues and controversies. I'm Kerry Johnston live from the First Post Studios. But first, a look at the today's headlines.

[00:00:56]Iran's foreign minister Abbas Arachi dials his Saudi counterpart as Thran rushes to shore up support for its set of conditions to end the war in West Asia amid indirect talks with the US.

[00:01:10]Israel's army says it's striking Iran back Hezbollah's infrastructure in several areas of Lebanon despite a truce with the neighboring country.

[00:01:22]India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Vietnam's President Tam in New Delhi. The two sides set a goal to increase bilateral trade to $25 billion within four years.

[00:01:35]Ukraine's President Vladimir Zalinski accuses Russia of rejecting its efforts to halt fighting. The two sides have declared competing unilateral ceasefires between May the 5th to 9th.

[00:01:49]And in Cape Verde, emergency crews evacuate three people from a cruise ship stricken with a deadly outbreak of antivirus. The World Health Organization says the public health risk from the outbreak remains low.

[00:02:05]We begin with Pakistan which faces a major diplomatic blow. The United States has announced the permanent shutdown of its consulate in Peshawa. The reason cited safety concerns and efficient resource management. Well, this move marks the first closure of a US overseas mission under the Trump administration's reorganization plan. The US State Department has notified Congress of its intent. In its statement, it says the decision will save nearly $7.5 million annually without affecting Washington's national interest in Pakistan.

[00:02:40]This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management. While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the administration's policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast.

[00:02:56]The Pashawa consulate has long held strategic prominence. Located near the Afghan border, it served as a key access route to Afghanistan. It also supported US citizens in northwestern Pakistan and assisted Afghan nationals seeking help.

[00:03:10]Under the plan, services will now shift to the US embassy in Islamabad about 183 km away. The closure would not adversely affect the mission's ability to advance core US national interests, assist US citizens, or conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because those functions would continue to be performed by US Embassy Islamabad.

[00:03:36]So, what happens to its resources? Well, the consulate currently employs 18 American officials and 89 local staff.

[00:03:43]The closure is expected to cost around $3 million. About 1.8 8 million will go towards relocating armored office trailers. The rest will cover the transfer of vehicles, equipment, and communication systems to Islamabad, Karachi, and Nahor. Well, the closure may seem sudden, but it isn't. The plan has been under consideration for nearly a year and was first announced in March 2026.

[00:04:08]Officials clarify that the move is not linked to the West Asia war. However, the conflict has triggered protests in Pakistan, including in Karachi and Peshawa that temporarily disrupted operations. This comes amid a wider US diplomatic restructuring. Thousands of roles have been cut and the US agency for international development has been largely dismantled. But the setbacks for Pakistan do don't stop there. Days ago, a China based company shut its operations in Pakistan's Guada free zone. It laid off its entire workforce citing an unviable business environment.

[00:04:45]While the project was linked to the China Pakistan economic corridor, the firm pointed to persistent operational bottlenecks and repeated shipment delays leading to mounting financial losses.

[00:04:58]Well, eventually operations became unsustainable, highlighting deeper structural concerns for foreign investors. For years, Pakistan has relied on both China and the United States. Beijing for economic investment in infrastructure, Washington for security and diplomacy. But recent developments reveal a more complex reality. Both partners are reassessing risks on the ground. These signals underscore Pakistan's internal security challenges and limits to its leverage.

[00:05:27]For Prime Minister Shabbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asimir, the pressure is rising as scrutiny from key partners intensifies.

[00:05:37]Well, the challenge is to improve security, restore investor confidence, and balance ties with global powers. And as allies grow more cautious, the question remains, is this just a diplomatic reset or Pakistan's deteriorating global standing?

[00:05:57]The controversy over H1B visas has resurfaced once again. This time, US Senator Eric Schmidt has reignited the debate. His remarks have once again sparked discussions over foreign talent and American jobs. It began after Schmidt reacted to the official H-1B report for 2025. The H1B allows skilled foreign professionals to work legally in the US. While the report showed India leads the list with more than 283,000 H1B approvals, followed by China with over 49,000.

[00:06:30]Schmidz claimed the system was hurting American workers. In a post on X, he said US workers were being asked to upskill while companies hired foreign talent through H-1B visas. He also accused big tech companies of encouraging the practice even as they cut jobs in the US.

[00:06:51]The H1B program is displacing American workers. The H1B program is a national security nightmare. Enough. No more flooding the market with 400,000 plus H1B visas while our people and our sovereignty get screwed.

[00:07:06]The senator also alleged that the H-1B system was being misused through fake credentials. He claimed foreign workers were replacing American talent in key industries. Schmidt also raised concerns over Chinese H1B approvals. He claimed they could pose risks to US technology and intellectual property. But the claims have also triggered strong push back. immigration entrepreneur James Blunt. He said the number of H-1B approvals was relatively small for an economy the size of the US. He also said many of the approvals were renewals for people already living and working in America. According to him, the data does not support claims of foreign workers flooding the US job market. The debate also comes as the Trump administration has made the H1B process more restrictive. The US has introduced a $100,000 fee for new applicants under Trump's Make America Great Again approach.

[00:08:03]>> Uh what this proclamation will do is raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H1B applicants to $100,000.

[00:08:12]This will ensure that the people they're bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that they're not replaceable by American workers. So, it'll protect American workers, but ensure that companies have a pathway to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the United States.

[00:08:28]>> Washington has also expanded social media vetting for applicants and their dependents. At the same time, under the new rules for the 2027 financial year, the H1B lottery will shift from a random selection model to wage-based system.

[00:08:42]This means higher salary and higher skilled applicants will receive greater priority over lower wage entrylevel positions. Supporters of the H-1B program argue that skilled immigrants have been central to America's technology success story. The H1B visa program introduced in 1990 helped bring some of the world's top tech talent to the US. Global technology leaders including Sundar Pichai, Satia Nadella, Elon Musk and Zoom founder Eric Juan all benefited from US work visas during their careers. These professionals did not just take jobs, they built companies, created innovation, and generated millions of jobs across the global economy. H1B holders have played a major role in building Silicon Valley, driving AI research, cloud computing, and digital transformation in the United States. Donald Trump himself recently defended H-1B visas during an interview.

[00:09:40]He said the United States sometimes needed foreign professionals because American workers may not always have certain talents. He added that the country must continue to bring in talent.

[00:09:52]Well, from Silicon Valley to the global AI race, the H-1B visa remains more than just an immigration issue. For many, it has become a debate over who builds the future of technology and who gets left behind.

[00:10:07]North Korea has reportedly announced a major policy shift, one that could have serious implications for the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has dropped its long-standing goal of reunification with South Korea, marking a sharp break from decades of policy dating back to 1948.

[00:10:24]According to an AFP report, North Korea has rewritten its constitution, removing all references of reunification with the South. This is significant because both Koreas have long officially claimed that they were part of a single nation. The new constitution now defines North Korea as a separate state. The updated constitution reportedly has a new clause defining North Korea's territory. It says this includes the area bordering China and Russia to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south using South Korea's official name. Earlier, North Korea's constitution had claimed authority over the entire Korean peninsula. North Korea has also vowed not to tolerate any infringement of its territory. It did not however specify the location of its border with South Korea or explicitly mention any disputed while the move reflects leader Kim Jong-un's push to treat South Korea not as a partner but as a separate country and the revision marks the first time North Korea has added a territorial clause to its constitution which was reportedly adopted at a meeting of the country's legisl in March this year.

[00:11:32]Well, the constitution also saw other changes. The reported update officially names Kim Jong-un as North Korea's head of state instead of just referring to him as the supreme leader who represents the country. Further, it confirms that Kim has full control over North Korea's nuclear weapons, calling the country a responsible nuclear weapons state. But what do these changes really mean for North Korea's bilateral ties with South Korea? Well, on one hand, the North Korean leader labeled Seoul as the most hostile state in the policy address earlier this year. Over the past several months, North Korea has also rejected any possibility of talks with its southern neighbor. And on the other hand, the political scientist in South Korea claims that the new policy can form the basis for peaceful coexistence between the two states.

[00:12:23]North Korea appears to have redesigned the constitution overall in an effort to project the image of a normal state.

[00:12:32]In 2024, Kim Jong-un urged a constitutional amendment that defined South Korea as the North's primary foe, an invariable principal enemy. As for expansion of nuclear forces, Pyongyang carried out four missile tests just last month, the highest monthly total in more than 2 years. North Korea has also been drawing closer to Russia, deploying thousands of troops to fight in Ukraine.

[00:12:56]Well, the two countries also have a mutual defense pact already in effect and another which was finalized recently.

[00:13:05]The North Korean government would continue to fully support Russia's policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests.

[00:13:16]Well, by formally abandoning the idea of unification, North Korea is not just changing policy. It's redrawing its strategic identity. For decades, the idea of a unified Korea, however distant, remained alive on paper. Today, though, that thought stands officially erased.

[00:13:35]What comes next could shape the future of regional security, from nuclear posturing to diplomatic engagement with South Korea and beyond.

[00:13:46]Now, in the age of artificial intelligence, even world leaders are apparently not safe from the internet's favorite pastime, online fakery. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney has sounded the alarm over the growing threat of AI generated deep fakes. After a series of fake images portraying her inery spread rapidly across social media, it fooled many users into believing they were genuine. The controversy erupted after several fabricated images of Maloney created using artificial intelligence began circulating online in recent days. One of the most widely shared pictures appeared to show the Italian leader sitting on a bed wearing underwear, sparking outrage among users who assumed the image was real. Maloney addressed the controversy directly in a Facebook post accusing political opponents of spreading manipulated content in an effort to attack her reputation.

[00:14:43]Several fake photos of me have been circulating in recent days, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous political opponent.

[00:14:55]The prime minister did manage to inject a dose of humor into the situation by saying that whoever created the images had improved her appearance, but only warned though that the issue extended far beyond personal attacks against politicians, calling deep fakes a dangerous tool capable of deceiving the public and manipulating opinion.

[00:15:15]>> But the fact remains that simply to attack and spread falsehoods, people are now willing to use absolutely anything.

[00:15:23]The issue, however, goes beyond me. Deep fakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot.

[00:15:36]>> She also urged social media users to verify content before sharing it online, offering a simple rule for the internet age. Verify before believing and think before sharing, as tomorrow it may happen to you. Well, the instant comes as Italy increases efforts to regulate artificial intelligence and tackle the growing misuse of deep fake technology.

[00:15:58]Last September, Italy became the first country in the European Union to nationally approve a sweeping law regulating AI use, introducing prison terms for people who use the technology to cause harm, including the creation of malicious deep fakes. Maloney's government has made uh regulation a political priority following several scandals involving doctorred and sexually explicit fake images of prominent Italian women. One such controversy involved a pornographic website that allegedly published manipulated images of female politicians including Maloney and opposition leader Ellie Schlain. Now, the images, which caused outrage in August last year, reportedly altered publicly available photographs accompanied by vulgar captions. They were widely shared online before Italian authorities intervened.

[00:16:47]Meanwhile, Maloney is also pursuing a separate liel case linked to AI generated pornography. Two years ago, she filed legal action against a man from Sardinia accused of creating fake pornographic images using her face and publishing them online. That case is still ongoing.

[00:17:06]Maloney's post highlights a growing global concern over how rapidly advanced AI tools are blurring the line between reality and fabrication and how a convincing fake can travel fast across the internet long before the truth can catch up.

[00:17:24]That's all we have time for on the show today, but we'll see you again tomorrow.

[00:17:28]Thanks for watching. Bye-bye.

[00:17:32]From breaking news to the day's biggest controversies, >> shedding light on the world's top headlines, detailed analysis on the stories that matter the most to you. Catch it all on Spotlight at 6:00 p.m. India time and 12:30 GMT, only on First Post.

[00:17:56]Spotlight, where we bring you the stories that matter from across the world, shining a light on the biggest issues and controversies. I'm Kerry Johnston live from the First Post Studios. But first, a look at the today's headlines.

[00:18:09]Iran's foreign minister Abbas Arachi dials his Saudi counterpart as Thran rushes to shore up support for its set of conditions to end the war in West Asia amid indirect talks with the US.

[00:18:23]Israel's army says it's striking Iran back Hezbollah's infrastructure in several areas of Lebanon despite a truce with the neighboring country.

[00:18:35]India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Vietnam's President Tonam in New Delhi. The two sides set a goal to increase bilateral trade to $25 billion within four years.

[00:18:48]Ukraine's President Vladimir Zalinski accuses Russia of rejecting its efforts to halt fighting. The two sides have declared competing unilateral ceasefires between May the 5th to 9th.

[00:19:02]And in Cape Verde, emergency crews evacuate three people from a cruise ship stricken with a deadly outbreak of antivirus. The World Health Organization says the public health risk from the outbreak remains low.

[00:19:18]We begin with Pakistan which faces a major diplomatic blow. The United States has announced the permanent shutdown of its consulate in Peshawar. The reason cited safety concerns and efficient resource management. Well, this move marks the first closure of a US overseas mission under the Trump administration's reorganization plan. The US State Department has notified Congress of its intent. In its statement, it says the decision will save nearly $7.5 million annually without affecting Washington's national interest in Pakistan.

[00:19:53]This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management. While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the administration's policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast.

[00:20:09]The Pashawa consulate has long-h held strategic prominence. Located near the Afghan border, it served as a key access route to Afghanistan. It also supported US citizens in northwestern Pakistan and assisted Afghan nationals seeking help.

[00:20:23]Under the plan, services will now shift to the US embassy in Islamabad about 183 km away.

[00:20:31]The closure would not adversely affect the mission's ability to advance core US national interests, assist US citizens, or conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because those functions would continue to be performed by US Embassy Islamabad.

[00:20:49]So, what happens to its resources? Well, the consulate currently employs 18 American officials and 89 local staff.

[00:20:56]The closure is expected to cost around $3 million. About 1.8 8 million will go towards relocating armored office trailers. The rest will cover the transfer of vehicles, equipment, and communication systems to Islamabad, Karachi, and Nahor. Well, the closure may seem sudden, but it isn't. The plan has been under consideration for nearly a year and was first announced in March 2026.

[00:21:20]Officials clarify that the move is not linked to the West Asia war. However, the conflict has triggered protests in Pakistan, including in Karachi and Peshawa that temporarily disrupted operations. This comes amid a wider US diplomatic restructuring. Thousands of roles have been cut and the US agency for international development has been largely dismantled. But the setbacks for Pakistan do don't stop there. Days ago, a China based company shut its operations in Pakistan's Guadada free zone. It laid off its entire workforce citing an unviable business environment.

[00:21:57]While the project was linked to the China Pakistan economic corridor, the firm pointed to persistent operational bottlenecks and repeated shipment delays leading to mounting financial losses.

[00:22:10]Well, eventually operations became unsustainable, highlighting deeper structural concerns for foreign investors. For years, Pakistan has relied on both China and the United States. Beijing for economic investment in infrastructure, Washington for security and diplomacy. But recent developments reveal a more complex reality. Both partners are reassessing risks on the ground. These signals underscore Pakistan's internal security challenges and limits to its leverage.

[00:22:40]For Prime Minister Shabbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asin Munir, the pressure is rising as scrutiny from key partners intensifies.

[00:22:50]Well, the challenge is to improve security, restore investor confidence, and balance ties with global powers. And as allies grow more cautious, the question remains, is this just a diplomatic reset or Pakistan's deteriorating global standing?

[00:23:10]The controversy over H1B visas has resurfaced once again. This time, US Senator Eric Schmidt has reignited the debate. His remarks have once again sparked discussions over foreign talent in American jobs. It began after Schmidt reacted to the official H-1B report for 2025. The H-1B allows skilled foreign professionals to work legally in the US.

[00:23:32]While the report showed India leads the list with more than 283,000 H1B approvals, followed by China with over 49,000.

[00:23:42]Schmidz claimed the system was hurting American workers. In a post on X, he said US workers were being asked to upskill while companies hired foreign talent through H-1B visas. He also accused big tech companies of encouraging the practice even as they cut jobs in the US.

[00:24:03]The H1B program is displacing American workers. The H1B program is a national security nightmare. Enough. No more flooding the market with 400,000 plus H-1B visas while our people and our sovereignty get screwed.

[00:24:19]The senator also alleged that the H-1B system was being misused through fake credentials. He claimed foreign workers were replacing American talent in key industries. Schmidt also raised concerns over Chinese H-1B approvals. He claimed they could pose risks to US technology and intellectual property. But the claims have also triggered strong push back. Immigration entrepreneur James Blunt said the number of H-1B approvals was relatively small for an economy the size of the US. He also said many of the approvals were renewals for people already living and working in America.

[00:24:55]According to him, the data does not support claims of foreign workers flooding the US job market. The debate also comes as the Trump administration has made the H-1B process more restrictive. The US has introduced a $100,000 fee for new applicants under Trump's Make America Great Again approach. Uh what this proclamation will do is raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H1B applicants to $100,000.

[00:25:25]This will ensure that the people they're bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that they're not replaceable by American workers. So, it'll protect American workers, but ensure that companies have a pathway to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the United States.

[00:25:41]>> Washington has also expanded social media vetting for applicants and their dependents. At the same time, under the new rules for the 2027 financial year, the H-1B lottery will shift from a random selection model to wage-based system. This means higher salary and higher skilled applicants will receive greater priority over lower wage entrylevel positions. Supporters of the H-1B program argue that skilled immigrants have been central to America's technology success story. The H1B visa program introduced in 1990 helped bring some of the world's top tech talent to the US. Global technology leaders including Sundar Puchai, Satia Nadella, Elon Musk and Zoom founder Eric Juan all benefited from US work visas during their careers. These professionals did not just take jobs, they built companies, created innovation, and generated millions of jobs across the global economy. H1B holders have played a major role in building Silicon Valley, driving AI research, cloud computing, and digital transformation in the United States.

[00:26:48]Donald Trump himself recently defended H-1B visas during an interview. He said the United States sometimes needed foreign professionals because American workers may not always have certain talents. He added that the country must continue to bring in talent.

[00:27:04]Well, from Silicon Valley to the global AI race, the H-1B visa remains more than just an immigration issue. For many, it has become a debate over who builds the future of technology and who gets left behind.

[00:27:20]North Korea has reportedly announced a major policy shift, one that could have serious implications for the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has dropped its long-standing goal of reunification with South Korea, marking a sharp break from decades of policy, dating back to 1948.

[00:27:37]According to an AFP report, North Korea has rewritten its constitution, removing all references of reunification with the South. This is significant because both Koreas have long officially claimed that they were part of a single nation. The new constitution now defines North Korea as a separate state. The updated constitution reportedly has a new clause defining North Korea's territory. It says this includes the area bordering China and Russia to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south using South Korea's official name. Earlier, North Korea's constitution had claimed authority over the entire Korean Peninsula. North Korea has also vowed not to tolerate any infringement of its territory. It did not however specify the location of its border with South Korea or explicitly mention any disputed maritime boundaries in the Yellow Sea.

[00:28:31]While the move reflects Leader Kim Jong-un's push to treat South Korea not as a partner but as a separate country and the revision marks the first time North Korea has added a territorial clause to its constitution, which was reportedly adopted at a meeting of the country's legisl.

[00:28:48]Well, the constitution also saw other changes. The reported update officially names Kim Jong-un as North Korea's head of state instead of just referring to him as the supreme leader who represents the country. Further, it confirms that Kim has full control over North Korea's nuclear weapons, calling the country a responsible nuclear weapons state. What do these changes really mean for North Korea's bilateral ties with South Korea?

[00:29:16]Well, on one hand, the North Korean leader labeled Seoul as the most hostile state in the policy address earlier this year. Over the past several months, North Korea has also rejected any possibility of talks with its southern neighbor. And on the other hand, the political scientist in South Korea claims that the new policy can form the basis for peaceful coexistence between the two states.

[00:29:39]North Korea appears to have redesigned the constitution overall in an effort to project the image of a normal state.

[00:29:48]In 2024, Kim Jong-un urged the constitutional amendment that defines South Korea as the North's primary foe and invariable principal enemy. As for expansion of nuclear forces, Pongyang carried out four missile tests just last month, the highest monthly total in more than 2 years. North Korea has also been drawing closer to Russia, deploying thousands of troops to fight in Ukraine.

[00:30:12]Well, the two countries also have a mutual defense pact already in effect and another which was finalized recently.

[00:30:21]The North Korean government would continue to fully support Russia's policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests.

[00:30:32]Well, by formally abandoning the idea of unification, North Korea is not just changing policy, it's redrawing its strategic identity. For decades, the idea of a unified Korea, however distant, remained alive on paper. Today, though, that thought stands officially erased.

[00:30:51]What comes next could shape the future of regional security, from nuclear posturing to diplomatic engagement with South Korea and beyond.

[00:31:02]Now, in the age of artificial intelligence, even world leaders are apparently not safe from the internet's favorite pastime, online fakery. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney has sounded the alarm over the growing threat of AI generated deep fakes. After a series of fake images portraying her in Laundry spread rapidly across social media, it fooled many users into believing they were genuine. The controversy erupted after several fabricated images of Maloney created using artificial intelligence began circulating online in recent days. One of the most widely shared pictures appeared to show the Italian leader sitting on a bed wearing underwear, sparking outrage among users who assumed the image was real. But only addressed the controversy directly in a Facebook post accusing political opponents of spreading manipulated content in an effort to attack her reputation.

[00:31:59]>> Several fake photos of me have been circulating in recent days, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous political opponent.

[00:32:11]Well, the prime minister did manage to inject a dose of humor into the situation by saying that whoever created the images had improved her appearance, but only warned though that the issue extended far beyond personal attacks against politicians, calling deep fakes a dangerous tool capable of deceiving the public and manipulating opinion.

[00:32:31]>> But the fact remains that simply to attack and spread falsehoods, people are now willing to use absolutely anything.

[00:32:39]The issue, however, goes beyond me. Deep fakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot.

[00:32:52]>> She also urged social media users to verify content before sharing it online, offering a simple rule for the internet age. Verify before believing and think before sharing, as tomorrow it may happen to you. Well, the instant comes as Italy increases efforts to regulate artificial intelligence and tackle the growing misuse of deep fake technology.

[00:33:14]Last September, Italy became the first country in the European Union to nationally approve a sweeping law regulating AI use, introducing prison terms for people who use the technology to cause harm, including the creation of malicious deep fakes. Maloney's government has made uh regulation a political priority following several scandals involving doctorred and sexually explicit fake images of prominent Italian women. One such controversy involved a pornographic website that allegedly published manipulated images of female politicians including Maloney and opposition leader Ellie Schlain. Now, the images, which caused outrage in August last year, reportedly altered publicly available photographs accompanied by vulgar captions. They were widely shared online before Italian authorities intervened.

[00:34:03]Meanwhile, Maloney is also pursuing a separate liel case linked to AI generated pornography. Two years ago, she filed legal action against a man from Sardinia, accused of creating fake pornographic images using her face and publishing them online. That case is still ongoing.

[00:34:22]Maloney's post highlights a growing global concern over how rapidly advanced AI tools are blurring the line between reality and fabrication and how a convincing fake can travel fast across the internet long before the truth can catch up.

[00:34:40]That's all we have time for on the show today, but we'll see you again tomorrow.

[00:34:44]Thanks for watching. Bye-bye. Hello and welcome to First Post Spotlight, where we bring you the stories that matter from across the world, shining a light on the biggest issues and controversies.

[00:34:53]I'm Kerry Johnston live from the First Post Studios. But first, a look at the today's headlines.

[00:35:00]Iran's foreign minister Abbas Arachi dials his Saudi counterpart as Thran rushes to shore up support for its set of conditions to end the war in West Asia amid indirect talks with the US.

[00:35:14]Israel's army says it's striking Iran back Hezbollah's infrastructure in several areas of Lebanon despite a truce with the neighboring country.

[00:35:26]India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Vietnam's President Tam in New Delhi. The two sides set a goal to increase bilateral trade to $25 billion within four years.

[00:35:39]Ukraine's President Vladimir Zalinski accuses Russia of rejecting its efforts to halt fighting. The two sides have declared competing unilateral ceasefires between May the 5th to 9th.

[00:35:53]And in Cape Verde, emergency crews evacuate three people from a cruise ship stricken with a deadly outbreak of antivirus. The World Health Organization says the public health risk from the outbreak remains low.

[00:36:09]We begin with Pakistan which faces a major diplomatic blow. The United States has announced the permanent shutdown of its consulate in Peshawa. The reason cited safety concerns and efficient resource management. Well, this move marks the first closure of a US overseas mission under the Trump administration's reorganization plan. The US State Department has notified Congress of its intent. In its statement, it says the decision will save nearly $7.5 million annually without affecting Washington's national interest in Pakistan.

[00:36:44]This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management. While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the administration's policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast.

[00:37:00]The Pashawa consulate has long held strategic prominence. Located near the Afghan border, it served as a key access route to Afghanistan. It also supported US citizens in northwestern Pakistan and assisted Afghan nationals seeking help.

[00:37:14]Under the plan, services will now shift to the US embassy in Islamabad about 183 km away. The closure would not adversely affect the mission's ability to advance core US national interests, assist US citizens, or conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because those functions would continue to be performed by US Embassy Islamabad.

[00:37:40]So, what happens to its resources? Well, the consulate currently employs 18 American officials and 89 local staff.

[00:37:47]The closure is expected to cost around $3 million. About 1.8 8 million will go towards relocating armored office trailers. The rest will cover the transfer of vehicles, equipment, and communication systems to Islamabad, Karachi, and Nahor. Well, the closure may seem sudden, but it isn't. The plan has been under consideration for nearly a year and was first announced in March 2026.

[00:38:11]Officials clarify that the move is not linked to the West Asia war. However, the conflict has triggered protests in Pakistan, including in Karachi and Peshawa that temporarily disrupted operations. This comes amid a wider US diplomatic restructuring. Thousands of roles have been cut and the US agency for international development has been largely dismantled. But the setbacks for Pakistan do don't stop there. Days ago, a China based company shut its operations in Pakistan's Guadada free zone. It laid off its entire workforce citing an unviable business environment.

[00:38:48]While the project was linked to the China Pakistan economic corridor, the firm pointed to persistent operational bottlenecks and repeated shipment delays leading to mounting financial losses.

[00:39:02]Well, eventually operations became unsustainable, highlighting deeper structural concerns for foreign investors. For years, Pakistan has relied on both China and the United States. Beijing for economic investment in infrastructure, Washington for security and diplomacy. But recent developments reveal a more complex reality. Both partners are reassessing risks on the ground. These signals underscore Pakistan's internal security challenges and limits to its leverage.

[00:39:31]For Prime Minister Shabbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, the pressure is rising as scrutiny from key partners intensifies.

[00:39:41]Well, the challenge is to improve security, restore investor confidence, and balance ties with global powers. And as allies grow more cautious, the question remains, is this just a diplomatic reset or Pakistan's deteriorating global standing?

[00:40:01]The controversy over H1B visas has resurfaced once again. This time, US Senator Eric Schmidt has reignited the debate. His remarks have once again sparked discussions over foreign talent in American jobs. It began after Schmidt reacted to the official H-1B report for 2025. The H1B allows skilled foreign professionals to work legally in the US.

[00:40:24]While the report showed India leads the list with more than 283,000 H1B approvals, followed by China with over 49,000.

[00:40:34]Schmidz claimed the system was hurting American workers. In a post on X, he said US workers were being asked to upskill while companies hired foreign talent through H-1B visas. He also accused big tech companies of encouraging the practice even as they cut jobs in the US.

[00:40:54]The H1B program is displacing American workers. The H1B program is a national security nightmare. Enough. No more flooding the market with 400,000 plus H-1B visas while our people and our sovereignty get screwed.

[00:41:10]The senator also alleged that the H-1B system was being misused through fake credentials. He claimed foreign workers were replacing American talent in key industries. Schmidt also raised concerns over Chinese H-1B approvals. He claimed they could pose risks to US technology and intellectual property. But the claims have also triggered strong push back. immigration entrepreneur James Blunt. He said the number of H-1B approvals was relatively small for an economy the size of the US. He also said many of the approvals were renewals for people already living and working in America. According to him, the data does not support claims of foreign workers flooding the US job market. The debate also comes as the Trump administration has made the H1B process more restrictive. The US has introduced a $100,000 fee for new applicants under Trump's Make America Great Again approach.

[00:42:07]>> Uh what this proclamation will do is raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H1B applicants to $100,000.

[00:42:16]This will ensure that the people they're bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that they're not replaceable by American workers. So, it'll protect American workers, but ensure that companies have a pathway to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the United States.

[00:42:32]>> Washington has also expanded social media vetting for applicants and their dependents. At the same time, under the new rules for the 2027 financial year, the H-1B lottery will shift from a random selection model to wage-based system. This means higher salary and higher skil applicants will receive greater priority over lower wage entrylevel positions. Supporters of the H-1B program argue that skilled immigrants have been central to America's technology success story. The H1B visa program introduced in 1990 helped bring some of the world's top tech talent to the US. Global technology leaders including Sundar Puchai, Satia Nadella, Elon Musk and Zoom founder Eric Juan all benefited from US work visas during their careers. These professionals did not just take jobs, they built companies, created innovation, and generated millions of jobs across the global economy. H1B holders have played a major role in building Silicon Valley, driving AI research, cloud computing, and digital transformation in the United States.

[00:43:39]Donald Trump himself recently defended H-1B visas during an interview. He said the United States sometimes needed foreign professionals because American workers may not always have certain talents. He added that the country must continue to bring in talent.

[00:43:56]Well, from Silicon Valley to the global AI race, the H-1B visa remains more than just an immigration issue. For many, it has become a debate over who builds the future of technology and who gets left behind.

[00:44:11]North Korea has reportedly announced a major policy shift, one that could have serious implications for the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has dropped its long-standing goal of reunification with South Korea, marking a sharp break from decades of policy dating back to 1948.

[00:44:28]According to an AFP report, North Korea has rewritten its constitution, removing all references of reunification with the South. This is significant because both Koreas have long officially claimed that they were part of a single nation. The new constitution now defines North Korea as a separate state. The updated constitution reportedly has a new clause defining North Korea's territory. It says this includes the area bordering China and Russia to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south using South Korea's official name. Earlier, North Korea's constitution had claimed authority over the entire Korean Peninsula. North Korea has also vowed not to tolerate any infringement of its territory. It did not however specify the location of its border with South Korea or explicitly mention any disputed maritime boundaries in the Yellow Sea.

[00:45:22]While the move reflects Leader Kim Jong-un's push to treat South Korea not as a partner but as a separate country and the revision marks the first time North Korea has added a territorial clause to its constitution which was reportedly adopted at a meeting of the country's legislature in March this year. Well, the constitution also saw other changes. The reported update officially names Kim Jong-un as North Korea's head of state instead of just referring to him as the supreme leader who represents the country. Further, it confirms that Kim has full control over North Korea's nuclear weapons, calling the country a responsible nuclear weapons state. What do these changes really mean for North Korea's bilateral ties with South Korea? Well, on one hand, the North Korean leader labeled Seoul as the most hostile state in the policy address earlier this year. Over the past several months, North Korea has also rejected any possibility of talks with its southern neighbor. And on the other hand, the political scientist in South Korea claims that the new policy can form the basis for peaceful coexistence between the two states.

[00:46:30]North Korea appears to have redesigned the constitution overall in an effort to project the image of a normal state.

[00:46:39]In 2024, Kim Jong-un urged the constitutional amendment that defines South Korea as the North's primary foe, an invariable principal enemy. As for expansion of nuclear forces, Pongyang carried out four missile tests just last month, the highest monthly total in more than 2 years. North Korea has also been drawing closer to Russia, deploying thousands of troops to fight in Ukraine.

[00:47:03]Well, the two countries also have a mutual defense pact already in effect and another which was finalized recently.

[00:47:12]The North Korean government would continue to fully support Russia's policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests.

[00:47:23]Well, by formally abandoning the idea of unification, North Korea is not just changing policy, it's redrawing its strategic identity. For decades, the idea of a unified Korea, however distant, remained alive on paper. Today, though, that thought stands officially erased.

[00:47:42]What comes next could shape the future of regional security, from nuclear posturing to diplomatic engagement with South Korea and beyond.

[00:47:54]Now, in the age of artificial intelligence, even world leaders are apparently not safe from the internet's favorite pastime, online fakery. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney has sounded the alarm over the growing threat of AI generated deep fakes. After a series of fake images portraying her inyer spread rapidly across social media, it fooled many users into believing they were genuine. The controversy erupted after several fabricated images of Maloney created using artificial intelligence began circulating online in recent days. One of the most widely shared pictures appeared to show the Italian leader sitting on a bed wearing underwear, sparking outrage among users who assumed the image was real. but only addressed the controversy directly in a Facebook post accusing political opponents of spreading manipulated content in an effort to attack her reputation.

[00:48:50]>> Several fake photos of me have been circulating in recent days, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous political opponent.

[00:49:02]Well, the prime minister did manage to inject a dose of humor into the situation by saying that whoever created the images had improved her appearance, but only warned though that the issue extended far beyond personal attacks against politicians, calling deep fakes a dangerous tool capable of deceiving the public and manipulating opinion.

[00:49:23]>> But the fact remains that simply to attack and spread falsehoods, people are now willing to use absolutely anything.

[00:49:30]The issue, however, goes beyond me. Deep fakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot.

[00:49:43]>> She also urged social media users to verify content before sharing it online, offering a simple rule for the internet age. Verify before believing and think before sharing, as tomorrow it may happen to you. Well, the instant comes as Italy increases efforts to regulate artificial intelligence and tackle the growing misuse of deep fake technology.

[00:50:05]Last September, Italy became the first country in the European Union to nationally approve a sweeping law regulating AI use, introducing prison terms for people who use the technology to cause harm, including the creation of malicious deep fakes. Maloney's government has made uh regulation a political priority following several scandals involving doctorred and sexually explicit fake images of prominent Italian women. One such controversy involved a pornographic website that allegedly published manipulated images of female politicians including Maloney and opposition leader Ellie Schlain. Now, the images, which caused outrage in August last year, reportedly altered publicly available photographs accompanied by vulgar captions. They were widely shared online before Italian authorities intervened.

[00:50:54]Meanwhile, Maloney is also pursuing a separate liel case linked to AI generated pornography. Two years ago, she filed legal action against a man from Sardinia accused of creating fake pornographic images using her face and publishing them online. That case is still ongoing.

[00:51:13]Maloney's post highlights a growing global concern over how rapidly advanced AI tools are blurring the line between reality and fabrication and how a convincing fake can travel fast across the internet long before the truth can catch up.

[00:51:32]That's all we have time for on the show today, but we'll see you again tomorrow.

[00:51:35]Thanks for watching. Bye-bye. Hello and welcome to First Post Spotlight, where we bring you the stories that matter from across the world, shining a light on the biggest issues and controversies.

[00:51:44]I'm Kerry Don live from the First Post Studios. But first, a look at the today's headlines.

[00:51:51]Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arachi dials his Saudi counterpart as Thran rushes to shore up support for its set of conditions to end the war in West Asia amid indirect talks with the US.

[00:52:06]Israel's army says it's striking Iran back Hezbollah's infrastructure in several areas of Lebanon despite a truce with the neighboring country.

[00:52:17]India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Vietnam's President Tam in New Delhi. The two sides set a goal to increase bilateral trade to $25 billion within four years.

[00:52:30]Ukraine's President Vladimir Zalinski accuses Russia of rejecting its efforts to halt fighting. The two sides have declared competing unilateral ceasefires between May the 5th to 9th.

[00:52:44]And in Cape Verde, emergency crews evacuate three people from a cruise ship stricken with a deadly outbreak of Santa virus. The World Health Organization says the public health risk from the outbreak remains low.

[00:53:00]We begin with Pakistan which faces a major diplomatic blow. The United States has announced the permanent shutdown of its consulate in Peshawa. The reason cited safety concerns and efficient resource management. Well, this move marks the first closure of a US overseas mission under the Trump administration's reorganization plan. The US State Department has notified Congress of its intent. In its statement, it says the decision will save nearly $7.5 million annually without affecting Washington's national interests in Pakistan.

[00:53:35]This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management. While our physical presence in Pashawa is changing, the administration's policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast.

[00:53:51]The Kashawa consulate has long-h held strategic prominence. Located near the Afghan border, it served as a key access route to Afghanistan. It also supported US citizens in northwestern Pakistan and assisted Afghan nationals seeking help.

[00:54:05]Under the plan, services will now shift to the US embassy in Islamabad about 183 km away.

[00:54:13]The closure would not adversely affect the mission's ability to advance core US national interests, assist citizens, or conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because those functions would continue to be performed by US Embassy Islamabad.

[00:54:32]So, what happens to its resources? Well, the consulate currently employs 18 American officials and 89 local staff.

[00:54:38]The closure is expected to cost around $3 million. About 1.8 8 million will go towards relocating armored office trailers. The rest will cover the transfer of vehicles, equipment, and communication systems to Islamabad, Karach, and Nahor. Well, the closure may seem sudden, but it isn't. The plan has been under consideration for nearly a year and was first announced in March 2026.

[00:55:03]Officials clarify that the move is not linked to the West Asia war. However, the conflict has triggered protests in Pakistan, including in Karachi and Peshawa that temporarily disrupted operations. This comes amid a wider US diplomatic restructuring. Thousands of roles have been cut and the US agency for international development has been largely dismantled. But the setbacks for Pakistan do don't stop there. Days ago, a China based company shut its operations in Pakistan's Guadada free zone. It laid off its entire workforce citing an unviable business environment.

[00:55:40]While the project was linked to the China Pakistan economic corridor, the firm pointed to persistent operational bottlenecks and repeated shipment delays leading to mounting financial losses.

[00:55:53]Well, eventually operations became unsustainable, highlighting deeper structural concerns for foreign investors. For years, Pakistan has relied on both China and the United States. Beijing for economic investment in infrastructure, Washington for security and diplomacy. But recent developments reveal a more complex reality. Both partners are reassessing risks on the ground. These signals underscore Pakistan's internal security challenges and limits to its leverage.

[00:56:22]For Prime Minister Shabbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asimir, the pressure is rising as scrutiny from key partners intensifies.

[00:56:32]Well, the challenge is to improve security, restore investor confidence, and balance ties with global powers. And as allies grow more cautious, the question remains, is this just a diplomatic reset or Pakistan's deteriorating global standing?

[00:56:52]The controversy over H1B visas has resurfaced once again. This time, US Senator Eric Schmidt has reignited the debate. His remarks have once again sparked discussions over foreign talent in American jobs. It began after Schmidt reacted to the official H-1B report for 2025. The H-1B allows skilled foreign professionals to work legally in the US.

[00:57:15]While the report showed India leads the list with more than 283,000 H1B approvals, followed by China with over 49,000.

[00:57:25]Schmidz claimed the system was hurting American workers. In a post on X, he said US workers were being asked to upskill while companies hired foreign talent through H-1B visas. He also accused big tech companies of encouraging the practice even as they cut jobs in the US.

[00:57:46]The H1B program is displacing American workers. The H1B program is a national security nightmare. Enough. No more flooding the market with 400,000 plus H-1B visas while our people and our sovereignty get screwed. The senator also alleged that the H-1B system was being misused through fake credentials.

[00:58:06]He claimed foreign workers were replacing American talent in key industries. Schmidt also raised concerns over Chinese H-1B approvals. He claimed they could pose risks to US technology and intellectual property. But the claims have also triggered strong push back. immigration entrepreneur James Blunt said the number of H-1B approvals was relatively small for an economy the size of the US. He also said many of the approvals were renewals for people already living and working in America.

[00:58:37]According to him, the data does not support claims of foreign workers flooding the US job market. The debate also comes as the Trump administration has made the H1D process more restrictive. The US has introduced a $100,000 fee for new applicants under Trump's Make America Great Again approach. Uh what this uh proclamation will do is raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H1B applicants to $100,000.

[00:59:07]This will ensure that the people they're bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that they're not replaceable by American workers. So, it'll protect American workers, but ensure that companies have a pathway to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the United States.

[00:59:23]>> Washington has also expanded social media vetting for applicants and their dependents. At the same time, under the new rules for the 2027 financial year, the H-1B lottery will shift from a random selection model to wage-based system. This means higher salary and higher skill applicants will receive greater priority over lower wage entrylevel positions. Supporters of the H-1B program argue that skilled immigrants have been central to America's technology success story. The H-1B visa program introduced in 1990 helped bring some of the world's top tech talent to the US. Global technology leaders including Sundar Pichai, Satiety Nadella, Elon Musk and Zoom founder Eric Juan all benefited from US work visas during their careers. These professionals did not just take jobs, they built companies, created innovation, and generated millions of jobs across the global economy. H1B holders have played a major role in building Silicon Valley, driving AI research, cloud computing, and digital transformation in the United States.

[01:00:30]Donald Trump himself recently defended H-1B visas during an interview. He said the United States sometimes needed foreign professionals because American workers may not always have certain talents. He added that the country must continue to bring in talent.

[01:00:47]Well, from Silicon Valley to the global AI race, the H1B visa remains more than just an immigration issue. For many, it has become a debate over who builds the future of technology and who gets left behind.

[01:01:02]North Korea has reportedly announced a major policy shift, one that could have serious implications for the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has dropped its long-standing goal of reunification with South Korea, marking a sharp break from decades of policy dating back to 1948.

[01:01:20]According to an AFP report, North Korea has rewritten its constitution, removing all references of reunification with the South. This is significant because both Koreas have long officially claimed that they were part of a single nation. The new constitution now defines North Korea as a separate state. The updated constitution reportedly has a new clause defining North Korea's territory. It says this includes the area bordering China and Russia to the north and the Republic of Korea to the south using South Korea's official name. Earlier, North Korea's constitution had claimed authority over the entire Korean peninsula. North Korea has also vowed not to tolerate any infringement of its territory. It did not however specify the location of its border with South Korea or explicitly mention any disputed maritime boundaries in the Yellow Sea.

[01:02:13]While the move reflects leader Kim Jong-un's push to treat South Korea not as a partner but as a separate country and the revision marks the first time North Korea has added a territorial clause to its constitution which was reportedly adopted at a meeting of the country's in March this year. Well, the constitution also saw other changes. The reported update officially names Kim Jong-un as North Korea's head of state instead of just referring to him as the supreme leader who represents the country. Further, it confirms that Kim has full control over North Korea's nuclear weapons, calling the country a responsible nuclear weapons state. What do these changes really mean for North Korea's bilateral ties with South Korea?

[01:02:58]Well, on one hand, the North Korean leader labeled Seoul as the most hostile state in the policy address earlier this year. Over the past several months, North Korea has also rejected any possibility of talks with its southern neighbor. And on the other hand, the political scientist in South Korea claims that the new policy can form the basis for peaceful coexistence between the two states.

[01:03:21]North Korea appears to have redesigned the constitution overall in an effort to project the image of a normal state.

[01:03:30]In 2024, Kim Jong-un urged a constitutional amendment that defined South Korea as the North's primary foe, an invariable principal enemy. As for expansion of nuclear forces, Pyongyang carried out four missile tests just last month, the highest monthly total in more than 2 years. North Korea has also been drawing closer to Russia, deploying thousands of troops to fight in Ukraine.

[01:03:54]Well, the two countries also have a mutual defense pact already in effect and another which was finalized recently.

[01:04:03]The North Korean government would continue to fully support Russia's policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests.

[01:04:15]Well, by formally abandoning the idea of unification, North Korea is not just changing policy. It's redrawing its strategic identity. For decades, the idea of a unified Korea, however distant, remained alive on paper. Today, though, that thought stands officially erased.

[01:04:33]What comes next could shape the future of regional security, from nuclear posturing to diplomatic engagement with South Korea and beyond.

[01:04:45]Now, in the age of artificial intelligence, even world leaders are apparently not safe from the internet's favorite pastime, online fakery. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney has sounded the alarm over the growing threat of AI generated deep fakes. After a series of fake images portraying her inyer spread rapidly across social media, it fooled many users into believing they were genuine. The controversy erupted after several fabricated images of Maloney created using artificial intelligence began circulating online in recent days. One of the most widely shared pictures appeared to show the Italian leader sitting on a bed wearing underwear, sparking outrage among users who assumed the image was real. Well, only addressed the controversy directly in a Facebook post accusing political opponents of spreading manipulated content in an effort to attack her reputation.