US President Donald Trump cast doubt on renewed fighting with Iran, telling CNN it was “highly unlikely,” ahead of a meeting with mediator Qatar’s prime minister on Monday. Trump has threatened to resume strikes in recent weeks, with US media reports suggesting that hostilities could restart after last Tuesday’s midterm elections. The president told CNN in an interview on Sunday that renewed fighting was “highly unlikely,” but warned that his decision “depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement.” “I would if necessary, but we hit them…

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European top diplomats were on Monday set to press US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure any settlement in the war with Russia is fair to Ukraine and steer clear of any new escalation with Iran, at talks of the G7 group in Paris. The meeting of ministers from the leading industrialised nations of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States will provide Europe and its allies with a chance to air preoccupations with their US counterpart. Russia’s war against Ukraine following the February 2022 full-scale…

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Captain Babar Azam and two debutants were among four batters to hit half-centuries as Pakistan reached 281-5 on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Monday. Opener Tayyab Arif scored an impressive 57 and Mohammad Taha a patient 51 — both playing their first Test — while Azam hit 50, with Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl on what appeared to be a green pitch in Rawalpindi seeming to backfire. Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 57 when bad light stopped play 15 minutes early, with Ghazi Ghori on…

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Construction work on the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project has been suspended indefinitely after a protective embankment developed a breach, allowing a large volume of water to enter Tunnel 5. The incident prompted an emergency response, with all Pakistani and foreign workers evacuated to safety. No casualties have been reported. Deputy Commissioner Haripur Waseem Ahmed, who reached the site with rescue and administrative teams, confirmed that water had entered the tunnel following the breach. He said a Pakistani worker was swept away by the strong current as water flooded the…

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US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House on Monday, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict with Iran continue to face major challenges. According to the White House schedule, the meeting will take place behind closed doors. US Vice President JD Vance is also expected to hold talks with the Qatari leader, a US official said. Qatar has emerged as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran, relaying proposals and working to narrow differences over Iran’s…

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Iran defended a proposal on Monday to restart peace talks in as ​few as two days as the ‌most reasonable offer on the table, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called some of ​Iran’s conditions “outrageous and ridiculous”. “Is it unreasonable that ​Iran demands that US illegal sanctions ⁠and its naval blockade must be lifted ​before negotiations start and that the war should ​end on all fronts?” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told a weekly press conference in response to ​Rubio’s remarks. Iran has made the offer ​to shorten…

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David Warner said on Monday that former Australian teammate Usman Khawaja’s comments that the entire team had been aware of the plan to tamper with the ball during a 2018 tour ​of South Africa were “100 per cent accurate”. Warner and fellow batsmen Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft ‌were banned over the plan to rough up the ball with sandpaper during the third test at Newlands in Cape Town. In an excerpt of his autobiography released on Saturday, Khawaja said “open, lighthearted discussions” about tampering were not confined to ​batters,…

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Gold prices recorded an increase in both domestic and international markets on Monday, with the price of gold per tola rising by Rs3,200 to reach Rs432,336. Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold increased by Rs2,744 to Rs370,658, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). In the international market, gold prices rose by $32 to reach $4,098 per ounce. Meanwhile, the price of silver increased by Rs55 to reach Rs5,723 per tola.

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