Author: News Desk

News Desk WASHINGTON: The US Virtual Embassy issued an urgent advisory urging American citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing mounting security concerns. According to international media reports, the embassy warned that flight cancellations and disruptions could occur at any moment, and strongly advised that citizens make their own departure arrangements rather than relying on assistance from the US government. For those unable to leave at once, the advisory recommended staying indoors or in other secure locations, while maintaining adequate supplies of food, water, medicine, and other essentials. It also suggested that, where possible, travelers consider overland routes…

News Desk LONDON: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the International Cricket Council to apply the same standards to all teams, including India, as Pakistan maintains it will not take the field for its scheduled World Cup match against India on 15 February. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain said the real test for the ICC lay in consistency, particularly in how it dealt with countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. He questioned whether the governing body would respond in the same way if India were to withdraw from a World Cup match on government instructions…

News Desk RAJOURI: Indian troops were killed and others injured in a heavy overnight attack on a military sub-camp in the Rajouri sector of Indian-administered Kashmir, local sources reported. The assault, which took place late on 4 February at the Kakora sub-camp, operated by the army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit, marked the latest in a series of violent incidents in the region. According to sources familiar with the matter, eight soldiers lost their lives during the attack, while several others sustained injuries. The Indian army had not issued an official statement immediately, and details regarding the exact sequence of events remained…

News Desk NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks across multiple locations in Balochistan, calling on all states to cooperate with Pakistan in line with international law to counter terrorism. In a statement on Tuesday, the council described the attacks as “heinous and cowardly” and stressed the need to hold those responsible—including perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors—accountable and bring them to justice. The condemnation comes days after the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) carried out multiple attacks, targeting nearly a dozen locations and killing 22 security personnel and 36 civilians. In response, Pakistani…

News Desk KARACHI: Sindh High Court Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput has nominated Justice Agha Faisal to head a single-member judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi. The Sindh government had written to the chief justice on January 29, requesting the formation of a commission to probe the deadly blaze that claimed 80 lives at the shopping center last month. A letter from the high court stated that the commission would investigate the tragedy and determine the causes of the fire. It added that the high court was considering the government’s request alongside the terms of reference…

News Desk WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation on Wednesday, which Trump described as “excellent.” In a statement released after the call, Trump said the leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including trade, military affairs, his planned visit to China in April, the Taiwan issue, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the situation in Iran. Trump also noted that the talks covered China’s purchase of oil, gas, and additional agricultural products from the United States, as well as the delivery of aircraft engines and other economic matters. According to Chinese state media, President…

News Desk ABU DHABI: First Lady of Pakistan Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, MNA, took part in the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Majlis in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the United Arab Emirates government. The Majlis is a key fixture in the annual calendar of the Zayed Award and reflects the UAE’s long-standing commitment to coexistence, compassion, dialogue and human unity. This year’s gathering held added significance as it was convened under the theme of the “Year of the Family”. The theme echoed the vision of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has repeatedly emphasized the family as…

News Desk DUBAI: Pakistan and Kuwait have agreed to strengthen labor cooperation, with Pakistani workers expected to regain employment opportunities in Kuwait. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, met Rabab Abdullah Al-Osaimi, Director-General of Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), in Dubai on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue 2026. The two officials discussed expanding cooperation, improving recruitment processes, and giving Pakistani workers access to Kuwait’s PAM portal. In Kuwait, PAM manages and regulates the labor market and approves job placements for expatriate workers. Both sides also agreed to prepare a Labor Memorandum…

News Desk WASHINGTON: Controversial financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was involved in sexual abuse of minors and human trafficking, claimed in a newly surfaced interview that he provided funding for polio eradication campaigns in Pakistan and India. According to British media reports, the claim emerged from recently released documents and videos. In the interview, conducted at an undisclosed location and time, Epstein referred to himself as a “first-rate sexual predator.” When asked whether he considered himself a devil, Epstein responded that he did not have an answer but questioned why the question was being asked. The interviewer noted that Epstein exhibited…

News Desk TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that any US attack on Iran would trigger a war across the wider Middle East. His remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, with US president Donald Trump issuing repeated threats against Iran. Speaking through state media, Khamenei said references by Trump to the movement of warplanes were intended to intimidate but would not frighten the Iranian people. “Trump keeps saying he has brought aircraft,” Khamenei said. “The Iranian nation will not be scared by such statements, nor will it be intimidated by these threats.” He added…