Author: News Desk

News Desk ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied media reports alleging that it agreed to release up to $20 billion in frozen assets to Iran, with the foreign ministry saying claims that Iranian funds had been released were “entirely false and unfounded”. The UAE foreign ministry issued a statement early on Saturday categorically denying reports of the transfer, including allegations concerning $3 billion. The statement affirmed that the allegations were entirely false and unfounded, stressing that no frozen Iranian funds had been released, transferred, or facilitated through the UAE. The denial came after Reuters reported that the…

News Desk WASHINGTON: Prominent American journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof has publicly praised Pakistan’s political and military leadership for their role in recent diplomatic efforts linked to the Iran–US dialogue. Kristof reshared a social media statement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing its tone and substance as noteworthy, and highlighting what he portrayed as Pakistan’s constructive engagement in a sensitive regional process. In his comments, Kristof said the United States, Israel, and Iran had all made “mistakes” during the broader conflict, arguing that diplomatic opportunities had repeatedly been missed. He added that Pakistan’s mediation efforts were particularly…

News Desk WASHINGTON: The United States and Iran signalled on Friday that an agreement to end their war was close, with a senior US administration official saying both sides had agreed on a text and that Washington expected to sign an initial deal in the coming days. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that while changes to the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict. “Iran is the winner of the war with the US,” he said on state television. Hours after those remarks, US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way…

News Desk MOSCOW: Russia has expressed renewed concern over what it described as a widening and increasingly sophisticated terrorist threat in Afghanistan, warning that armed groups operating in the country were not only persisting but also enhancing their operational capabilities through access to modern technologies. A senior official from the Russian foreign ministry raised the alarm while addressing the 19th meeting of Central Asian states, where regional security dominated discussions among participating delegations. According to Russia’s state news agency, the official said more than 20 terrorist groups remained active across Afghanistan, with estimates suggesting that the number of affiliated fighters…

News Desk MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has reinstated 177 First Information Reports (FIRs) against members of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), reversing earlier decisions that had withdrawn protest-related cases under a political agreement, officials said on Thursday. The move marks a renewed escalation in tensions following recent unrest in the region, which has been marked by competing claims over casualties, governance grievances and political legitimacy. According to official sources, at least seven people have been killed in recent clashes, though figures remain disputed between authorities and the JAAC. The government said the decision to restore…

News Desk WASHINGTON The US weather agency has confirmed the arrival of El Niño, warning that the climate pattern could intensify into one of the strongest events on record, bringing widespread global weather disruptions. El Niño, a natural warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, is known to alter global wind and rainfall patterns, often triggering droughts, floods and extreme heat. Meteorologists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said there is a 63 percent chance of a very strong El Niño between November and January, potentially ranking among the most powerful…

News Desk SINGAPORE: Global oil prices rose sharply on Thursday after renewed escalation between the United States and Iran, with traders reacting to reports of attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. Brent crude futures climbed $1.48, or 1.59%, to $94.58 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $1.71, or 1.90%, to $91.74 by early morning trade. Prices had briefly surged by more than $3 earlier in the session. The increase came after Tehran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global oil and…

News Desk OTTAWA: Canada’s government has introduced legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms unless those services meet specific safety standards, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to strengthen online protections for young people. The proposed digital safety bill, unveiled on Wednesday, would also introduce new rules for artificial intelligence chatbots and establish a digital regulator responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards. Under the legislation, companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 3% of their global revenue or C$10m, whichever is greater. Canadian Identity and…

News Desk BEIJING:: China has renewed its call for the United States and Iran to immediately halt military actions and return to dialogue, expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict in the region. Speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China was “gravely concerned” by the latest developments and warned that continued military confrontation would only worsen the situation. Lin stressed that military action could not provide a lasting solution to the dispute and urged all parties to respect the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of regional countries. He called on the…

News Desk TEHRAN: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday for high level talks with senior Iranian officials amid Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States, media reported. He was received by his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni. According to Tasnim, Naqvi was expected to meet several senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during his visit focused on regional diplomacy and security consultations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier provided guidance to the interior minister ahead of the visit. Naqvi had met the prime minister in Lahore to discuss the trip as well…