Category: English

The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) denied an Iranian claim that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had destroyed an unmanned US military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. “All US military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones on patrol in the Strait of Hormuz supporting CENTCOM’s defensive layer,” the command said in a post on X on Friday. Earlier, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that the Iranian Navy had destroyed an “enemy unmanned vessel” operating east of…

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Pakistan is “cautiously optimistic” about its mediation between Iran and the United States, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday in his ​first interview since a high-level delegation visited Tehran this week. Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has been to Tehran twice this month, most recently on Monday alongside Saudi and Turkish officials. “Why would the Field Marshal be going twice if it is not for some positivity? So yes, of course,” Chaudhry said…

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened talks on Friday with G20 counterparts, including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, in meetings set to be fractious as wars in Ukraine and Iran, alongside surging energy costs, fan discord. The foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, takes place just days before crucial US midterm elections, setting the stage for a December G20 leaders’ summit in Miami at President Donald Trump’s Doral resort. But ongoing conflicts have deepened rifts even as the United States seeks to focus on economic growth, trade imbalances and supply chain…

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A tanker that has been spilling crude oil into the Gulf since it was attacked on October 9 has stopped leaking, Emirati state news agency WAM said on Friday, citing the energy ministry. “According to the latest field assessments, no new oil leakage has been detected from the tanker, while maritime and aerial monitoring operations are continuing,” WAM said. According to the agency, satellite images captured on Friday show the oil slick is concentrated off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, an emirate north of Dubai, partially extending towards coastal…

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) provincial parliamentary party has backed negotiations with the federal government to resolve the political crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency, party sources said on Friday. The decision was taken during an online meeting of the party’s provincial parliamentary group in Peshawar, attended by more than 40 lawmakers, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Noorul Haq Qadri. According to sources, participants agreed that negotiations with the federal government should be pursued to address the…

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National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has sought nominations from the government and opposition for a 30-member parliamentary committee tasked with proposing reforms to Pakistan’s electoral system. The speaker has written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, requesting them to suggest names for the committee. According to the proposed composition, the committee will comprise 20 members from the National Assembly and 10 from the Senate. Political parties will be represented in…

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A labourer died after consuming poison in front of a microfinance bank in Sheikhupura, following a dispute over an unpaid loan instalment, sources said. Police have arrested bank employees allegedly involved in the incident. According to the sources, bank staff allegedly took a woman from her home and kept her at their office after she failed to pay an instalment on a Rs50,000 loan. Her husband, Akhtar, pleaded with the staff to release her. The staff allegedly ignored him and pushed him out of the office. Distressed by the incident,…

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered ministries and departments to speed up federal development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and ensure funds arrive on time. He chaired a review meeting on the projects, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said. He directed officials to remove all bottlenecks on a priority basis and improve coordination among institutions. The prime minister also ordered regular monitoring of projects, especially in the energy sector, so GB residents see the benefits at the earliest. He specifically instructed authorities to complete the 100-megawatt solar power project…

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US President Donald Trump said on Friday he believed the war with Iran would end soon, but did not say how. He spoke days before the November 3 midterm congressional elections. “It’s going to get wrapped up soon,” Trump said in an interview with Kansas City radio station KCMO. “We need a guarantee there’ll never be a nuclear weapon.” Trump has said the US would not strike Iran before the elections. Washington has told mediators that Iran abandoning its nuclear programme is a basic condition for any negotiations, Al Arabiya…

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Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Rawalpindi to discuss regional security dynamics and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation. They also exchanged views on regional peace and stability and stressed the importance of continued engagement in areas of shared interest. Field Marshal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Singapore, highlighting the importance of closer institutional…

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