Author: News Desk

News Desk MANAMA: Explosions were heard in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, according to reporters on the ground. AN international news outlet said in Manama there reported hearing multiple blasts across the city. Bahrain’s state news agency later confirmed that attacks had taken place within the country, though officials did not immediately provide details about the nature or targets of the strikes. The development is particularly sensitive given that Bahrain hosts the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, a key strategic command overseeing American naval operations in the Gulf. The explosions followed a series of alerts issued by Bahrain’s interior ministry.…

News Desk TEHRAN: Explosions were reported across Iran late on Friday after Israel, backed by the United States, launched what Washington described as large-scale military operations against the country. The US president, Donald Trump, confirmed that American forces were involved in the assault alongside Israel. In a statement posted on Truth Social, he said the US had begun “major and decisive military operations” inside Iran. Iranian media reported blasts not only in the capital, Tehran, but also in several other cities, including Kermanshah, Qom, Lorestan, Karaj and Tabriz. The scale of the damage and the number of casualties were not…

News Desk ROME: Following a high-level conference on illegal immigration in Warsaw, five European countries have agreed to provide official employment opportunities to Pakistani workers. The meeting, attended by interior ministers from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania, included Pakistan’s delegation led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and focused on efforts to curb illegal immigration and human trafficking. Conference participants praised Pakistan’s measures to address illegal migration and noted their positive impact on regional security. The five EU nations committed to creating legal job avenues for Pakistani citizens and enhancing cooperation on immigration issues. Each country will appoint a focal…

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…