Author: News Desk

News Desk BEIJING: China has expressed serious concern over rising Pak-Afghan tensions, urging both countries to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation. Beijing said maintaining regional stability is in the shared interest of all neighbouring states as border hostilities escalate. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Pakistan and Afghanistan are close neighbours, and both also share borders with China. Beijing is closely monitoring the situation and is deeply concerned about the growing conflict. The spokesperson added that China sincerely regrets the reported casualties and stressed the need for calm and diplomatic engagement. Responding to…

News Desk GENEVA: Iran said it discussed proposals on its nuclear program and the potential lifting of sanctions during a fresh round of talks with the United States in Geneva. The nearly three-hour negotiations on Friday, facilitated by Oman, marked the third round of discussions between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks. Iranian officials described the meeting as “serious,” with important proposals presented regarding nuclear activities and sanctions relief. Some measures under consideration will require consultation with other countries, indicating the talks are moving beyond a preliminary phase. While Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Western powers…

News Desk KARACHI: The first total lunar eclipse of 2026 will take place on 3 March and will be partially visible in different parts of Pakistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has said. According to the department, the eclipse will begin at 1:44pm (Pakistan time). The moon will start entering the Earth’s shadow at 2:50pm, while the total phase of the eclipse will begin at 4:05pm. The eclipse will reach its peak at 4:34pm. The total phase will start to end at 5:03pm, and the lunar eclipse will completely finish at 7:23pm. Astronomers said the celestial event would also be visible…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the country is bound by a religious decree issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bans the development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms. In a statement, Pezeshkian said the order from the supreme leader made it clear that Iran would not pursue nuclear weapons. He described the decree as a decisive and longstanding policy that defines the country’s nuclear approach. According to international media reports, Khamenei has maintained since the early 2000s a fatwa prohibiting the production of nuclear weapons, declaring them contrary to Islamic principles.…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Israel is the only country in the region seeking war, while Tehran seeks a fair accord with the United States and has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. Speaking ahead of his departure for Geneva, Abbas Araghchi said Iran has deliberately limited its missile range to 2,000 kilometres and is not developing weapons capable of reaching the United States. He dismissed claims about Iran’s intentions as “fake news,” emphasizing that the country aims to prevent conflict rather than provoke it. Araghchi reiterated that Iran is determined to reach a…

News Desk COLOMBO: New Zealand’s 61-run victory over Sri Lanka has put Pakistan’s T20 World Cup semi-final hopes on a knife-edge. To stay in contention, Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka by a huge margin and rely on England to defeat New Zealand. With New Zealand lifting their Net Run Rate to +3.050 and England already through to the semi-finals, Pakistan faces a daunting challenge. Their Net Run Rate stands at -0.461, meaning they need a 70-run win over Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match to keep hopes alive. Additionally, Pakistan must hope England beats New Zealand, with the…

News Desk ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court has issued a landmark ruling giving tax authorities extensive powers to conduct raids without prior notice. Officials no longer need an existing case against a taxpayer to carry out inspections. The court, led by Justice Amir Farooq, dismissed arguments that raids without a case are illegal. The verdict states that Parliament has explicitly granted tax authorities wide powers to enforce tax laws, and courts cannot impose additional conditions not specified by legislation. According to the ruling, the tax commissioner must provide a written explanation citing the specific law being enforced. Tax authorities are…

News Desk JERUSALEM: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India stands “firmly” with Israel during his address to lawmakers in Jerusalem. The remarks came during the high-profile Modi Israel visit aimed at strengthening trade and defence ties. Addressing the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Israel following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. He conveyed condolences on behalf of the Indian people for lives lost in the assault. “We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond,” Modi said in his speech. During his…

News Desk ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved the Supreme Court seeking urgent relief for Imran Khan medical treatment, demanding his transfer to hospital for specialised eye care. The party says the jailed former prime minister’s eyesight is deteriorating and access to his personal doctors is being denied. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan to seek immediate medical relief for its founder Imran Khan, who has been in jail for over two years. PTI leaders and Khan’s family members are raising concerns over his worsening eye condition and overall health. According to the petition, Khan,…

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has warned that any use of nuclear weapons would have severe consequences, signaling continued escalation amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. He accused Kyiv of threatening Russian energy infrastructure and undermining peace efforts. News DeskMOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia’s adversaries fully understand the consequences of deploying nuclear weapons, remarks likely to heighten tensions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking at a meeting of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, Putin said opponents were aware of what would follow any use of the “nuclear element,” framing his comments as both a warning and…