Author: News Desk

News Desk DUBAI: Roads and Transport Authority has officially launched a driverless taxi service, marking a major step forward in smart mobility in Dubai. The autonomous taxi service has been introduced in the coastal residential and commercial area of Umm Suqeim, near Jumeirah, as part of efforts to integrate advanced transport technologies into daily urban life. According to officials, the service is being operated in collaboration with two Chinese autonomous driving technology companies, bringing cutting-edge self-driving solutions to the emirate’s roads. The taxis are available to the public through ride-hailing platforms including Uber and Apollo Go. Authorities say the initiative…

News Desk TEHRAN: Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has issued a stern warning that Israel must prepare for a shifting regional order in the Middle East. In his statement, General Qaani criticised Benjamin Netanyahu for aspiring to expand a security belt across the region, describing such plans as unrealistic. He highlighted the coordinated actions of Hezbollah in the north and Ansar Allah in the south, saying their operations have revealed the shortcomings of promises of protection offered to Israeli settlers. General Qaani further stated that the aspirations of martyred commanders from previous…

News Desk TEHRAN: Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran respects Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation, amid rising regional tensions. In a statement, Araghchi clarified that Iran’s military and strategic actions are aimed at countering aggressive enemy forces, not regional neighbours. “The hostile powers neither respect Arabs nor Iranians, nor can they provide security,” he said, pointing to Iran’s operations against external military targets. “Just look at what we have done with their air command,” he added, highlighting Tehran’s defensive posture. Araghchi also called for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East, saying the time has come…

News Desk JERUSALEM: Knesset has approved a highly controversial bill allowing the execution of Palestinians accused of harming Israel, according to reports, in a move that has drawn sharp concern from observers and rights groups. Under the newly passed legislation, individuals convicted under the law could face execution within 90 days, marking a significant shift in Israel’s legal approach toward Palestinians accused of security-related offences. The measure has been described by critics as one of the most severe steps taken in recent years. The law also permits the arrest and trial of Palestinians on the basis of suspicion, a provision…

News Desk MOSCOW: Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to supplying oil and petroleum products to Cuba, calling it a duty as the Caribbean nation struggles with acute fuel shortages caused by stringent international sanctions. A spokesperson for the Kremlin said that supporting Cuba’s energy needs remained a priority, emphasizing that the recent arrival of a Russian oil tanker on the island marked a significant step in ensuring the country’s fuel security. The official confirmed that Russia intends to continue providing oil shipments to Cuba in the foreseeable future. The spokesperson also revealed that oil supply to Cuba had been a…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran has confirmed the death of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri, marking a significant development amid escalating regional tensions. According to official statements, Tangsiri had been critically injured before succumbing to his wounds. The confirmation followed earlier reports from international media suggesting that senior Iranian military officials were targeted in recent strikes. The development came days after Yoav Gallant claimed that high-ranking Iranian officers had been targeted in attacks on March 26, intensifying speculation over covert military operations between the two regional rivals. Reports indicate that the alleged strike took place in the…

News Desk WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance said in an interview that the United States had achieved, or was close to achieving, its military objectives in Iran, and indicated that American forces would soon withdraw from the country. Speaking on a podcast, Vance suggested that the conflict, which has drawn international scrutiny, would continue “for a little while longer” until the Islamic Republic was sufficiently neutralized. “The president’s going to keep at it for a little while longer to ensure that once we leave, we don’t have to do this again for a very long time,” Vance said, emphasizing…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran claimed it had carried out a coordinated missile and drone strike on a US-operated airbase in Saudi Arabia, reportedly targeting high-value military assets, including a sophisticated surveillance aircraft. According to Iranian state media, the attack was directed at Prince Sultan Air Base, a facility used jointly by Saudi and American forces, and involved the launch of six ballistic missiles alongside 29 drones. Iranian outlets, including Press TV, said a Boeing E-3 Sentry — an advanced airborne early warning and control aircraft used for surveillance and command operations — had been damaged during the strike. Reports also…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, commended Pakistan’s mediation efforts to halt the war with the United States and Israel during an hour-long telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late on Sunday night. A statement from the Iranian presidency captured the tone of the exchange, with Pezeshkian expressing gratitude to Islamabad for stepping in to curb what Tehran described as unprovoked aggression. The call came as the conflict, now in its sixth week, continued to cast a long shadow over the Middle East, with Iranian cities hit by airstrikes, oil facilities set ablaze, and civilian casualties rising into…

News Desk WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump drew attention to Pakistan’s recent naval activity in the Gulf by sharing a post from the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on his social media platform, Truth Social. The post highlighted the transit of 20 Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with two vessels scheduled to cross daily, a move Islamabad described as both “constructive and commendable.” Dar framed the operation as a milestone in efforts to promote peace and stability across the strategically sensitive region. Speaking to reporters and via his social media statement, the deputy prime minister said the…