Author: News Desk

News DeskISLAMABAD: With Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 expected around March 20, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued guidelines to help citizens obtain new currency notes safely and avoid illegal sellers charging premium rates. The SBP has outlined multiple official channels for obtaining fresh notes: Step 1: Use the 8877 SMS Service Step 2: Visit the Designated Bank Branch Step 3: Contact Your Bank Manager Step 4: Visit SBP Bank Services Corporation Offices Step 5: Check ATMs During Last Ten Days of Ramadan Citizens are strongly advised to obtain fresh notes only from authorized sources and report illegal sellers to authorities…

News Desk COLOMBO/SRI LANKA: TThe ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalated sharply on Wednesday after a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors. The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, reportedly returning from eastern India, was struck in international waters hundreds of miles from the Persian Gulf, expanding the conflict across the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan authorities said 32 sailors were rescued and around 60 remain missing from the ship’s estimated crew of 180. Bodies of 87 crew members were recovered and brought to the National Hospital in Galle. Search-and-rescue operations…

News Desk ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan underwent a follow-up eye examination at Adiala Jail, carried out by a four-member team of medical specialists from public and private hospitals. The team, which included retina specialist Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif from PIMS Hospital, arrived at the jail with modern medical equipment to conduct the scheduled review. Doctors posted at Adiala Jail assisted the visiting team during the examination. Sources said the specialists completed the follow-up check-up using advanced instruments and departed from the jail after concluding the examination. No further details on the results of the examination…

News Desk RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has strongly condemned recent Iranian attacks on Gulf countries and pledged to take all necessary measures to protect national security and regional stability. During an online cabinet meeting, ministers reviewed the latest regional developments following attacks attributed to Iran. The cabinet described the strikes on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states as a serious crime that undermined regional peace and violated national sovereignty. Saudi officials reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens and expatriates, stressing that protecting the country’s security remains a top priority. The government said…

News Desk DUBAI: A suspected Iranian drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai, igniting a fire that sent thick black smoke into the air. US officials confirmed that all diplomatic personnel were safe, as tensions across the Middle East continued to escalate. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the drone struck a lot near the consulate’s chancellery building, causing a fire, but emergency teams contained it within about 45 minutes. No injuries were reported. Dubai authorities reaffirmed their commitment to public safety and security following the incident. Rubio noted that US personnel had already…

News Desk TELAVIV/TEHRAN: Israeli media outlets have claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. The report has not yet been confirmed by Iranian officials. Earlier, Israeli sources had said that Iran’s 88-member Assembly of Experts was conducting an online vote to choose the successor, a process reportedly in its final stage. The Assembly’s building in Qom had been targeted in a US-Israeli strike, but the site had been evacuated beforehand, preventing any casualties. Meanwhile, plans for the late Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral are underway. A large mourning gathering…

News Desk WASHINGTON: Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer stirred a momentary controversy during remarks on rising tensions between Iran and Israel when he accidentally said, “No one wants Israel as a nuclear state.” Realizing the slip, Schumer quickly clarified that he had meant Iran, not Israel. The Senate Minority Leader added that the current situation reflects what he described as former President Donald Trump’s “war,” noting that briefings given to the Intelligence Committee had heightened concerns among senators. Schumer further criticised the Trump administration for lacking a clear strategy or comprehensive planning regarding the conflict, warning that the absence of a…

News Desk GULF REGION: Shipping companies operating in Gulf countries have imposed substantial war risk surcharges on commercial cargo shipments. Hapag-Lloyd has announced a war risk surcharge ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 per container. Meanwhile, CME Shipping Line has introduced an emergency surcharge of up to $4,000 per container. According to notices issued by the companies, the surcharge will apply to all new bookings. The fees will cover shipments not only to the Persian Gulf but also to containers bound for the Red Sea. #Shipping #GulfTrade #WarRiskSurcharge #CargoCosts

News Desk HORMOZGAN, IRAN: Iran held mass funeral prayers on Thursday for 180 schoolgirls killed in a deliberate airstrike on a girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan province, on 28 February, in an attack attributed to the United States and Israel. Thousands of mourners attended the ceremonies, grieving the victims and condemning both Israel and the United States. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, shared a striking image on social media of the graves, describing the attack as a deliberate assault on a primary school that left the children’s bodies mutilated. He criticized US President Donald Trump’s previous promises to “rescue” Iranians,…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: Following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, US President Donald Trump indicated that Tehran’s next leadership should emerge from within the country, signaling a preference for an internal transition rather than one guided by exiled opposition figures. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump referenced Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former Shah, saying: “He seems like a very nice person, but it seems to me that someone from within might be better.” The President also revealed that two waves of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran had targeted and eliminated several individuals considered…