Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that Iran will be forced to open the Strait of Hormuz, that it will never be able to build naval warships again, and that the US is eliminating the threat posed by the Iranian regime. Speaking at an event, President Trump said that dialogue with Iran is ongoing, the US military has performed excellently, Iran wants a deal, and negotiations are underway that will produce results. He added that if Iran possessed a nuclear bomb, it could have used it against Israel, and that it would have deployed such weapons…

By our correspondent WASHINGTON: Officials in the United States have claimed that China’s largest chip-making company provided semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Iran’s military. According to foreign media reports, two senior officials linked to the Donald Trump administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Chinese equipment was delivered to Iran nearly a year ago, adding there is no evidence that the cooperation has stopped. The officials said the collaboration may have also included technical training related to semiconductor technology, which could significantly support Iran’s military-industrial capabilities. Reports said it remains unclear whether the supplied equipment was of US origin, as…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, faced heavy criticism from Pakistani politicians on Thursday after issuing sharply worded remarks about Pakistan’s role in mediating the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran. Speaking at an all-party meeting convened to discuss the West Asia crisis, Jaishankar dismissed Pakistan’s efforts as a mediator, saying India did not view itself as a “dalaal” (broker). “There is nothing new in Pakistan’s mediation efforts, as that country has been ‘used’ by the US since 1981,” he reportedly said, according to The News. The comments came days after reports suggested Pakistan was positioning itself…

By our correspondent WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to orchestrate a popular uprising in Iran, according to an American news website. Netanyahu had suggested last week that the Iranian populace could be brought onto the streets, arguing that the Iranian government is already in disarray and that there exists an opportunity to further destabilize the regime. Trump responded to Netanyahu by questioning why people should be called into the streets, adding that they would be killed. The US president has avoided making regime change in Iran an immediate objective, preferring to keep…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Pakistan Railways has reported record earnings of over Rs1 billion from passenger train operations during the three days of Eid, officials said. According to a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways, the department generated Rs110 million on the first day of Eid, Rs170 million on the second day, and more than Rs200 million on the third day. Overall, passenger train services brought in over Rs1 billion in revenue over the past week.Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said the record revenue was the result of effective policies and praised the administration for its performance. He added that improving passenger facilities…

By our correspondent RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s space agency Suparco launched its Space 4 Climate Initiative. The move promised sharper eyes on the climate crisis. Satellite technology took center stage. Disaster response stood to gain the most. The initiative rolled out a new digital platform. It fused satellite data with geo-analysis. Pollution levels came under close watch. Greenhouse gases faced scrutiny. Forests received mapping. Glaciers drew focus. Coastal shifts raised alarms. River systems tracked changes. ISPR announced the details. The platform aimed high. It flagged weather risks early. Floods loomed large in Pakistan’s memory. Droughts parched the land. Heatwaves scorched cities. Rising…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Experts in international affairs said Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt were making sincere and intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing the development as a positive sign amid escalating regional tensions. They said the diplomatic push by these countries showed a growing urgency to de-escalate the conflict and prevent further instability in the Middle East. According to analysts, backchannel contacts and formal engagements were being pursued simultaneously to bring both sides closer to dialogue.The experts noted that Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt had historically played important roles in regional diplomacy and were…

By our correspondent NEW YORK: The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were killed after the aircraft collided with a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, US media reported. The incident occurred late on Sunday and forced the temporary closure of the airport. According to reports, dozens of people were injured in the collision involving the Air Canada Express CRJ-900 aircraft and a fire truck reportedly manned by police officers. US media outlet NBC News said that several first responders were also injured, with earlier reports indicating that two officers suffered broken…

By our correspondent RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to defending national sovereignty and eliminating threats to internal and external security, saying the armed forces remain fully prepared to counter terrorism and extremism. In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on the occasion of Pakistan Day, the military said the country continues to face challenges from terrorism but remains steadfast in coordination with law enforcement agencies to ensure national stability. The statement highlighted the significance of March 23, 1940, describing it as a defining moment that led to the creation of Pakistan. It said the…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has imposed an immediate ban on the use of high-octane fuel in government vehicles as part of austerity measures to reduce public spending. In an official statement, the prime minister said the restriction would apply with immediate effect, adding that if high-octane fuel is deemed necessary, officials must pay for it from their own pocket. Shehbaz Sharif said the decision aims to ensure responsible and efficient use of national resources. He directed all federal departments, authorities and subordinate institutions to fully implement the order without delay. He added that austerity policies…