Iranian authorities have arrested five individuals in the central city of Yazd on suspicion of spying for Israel and allegedly collaborating with its intelligence services, Iranian media reported on Saturday. According to local news outlets, the suspects were allegedly involved in gathering sensitive information and taking photographs of strategic sites. Authorities claim the individuals were working in coordination with Israeli …

BEIJING: At the invitation of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana from June 16 to 18, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Friday. The establishment of the China-Central Asia mechanism is a decision unanimously made by China and the five Central Asian countries, which …

In an era where divisions and misunderstandings between civilizations threaten global harmony, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) emerges as a bold, timely and visionary framework for fostering peaceful coexistence, cultural harmony and mutual respect. The initiative underscores the need for equality, inclusivity and dialogue among different civilizations, challenging the outdated notion of “clash of civilizations” with a …

American pop star Katy Perry has won hearts online after sharing a heartwarming behind-the-scenes video of her four-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove, singing softly behind a curtain in a quiet hotel room. The clip, recorded in Katy’s suite at the Capella Sydney, quickly became the highlight of a series of tour updates she posted on Instagram on Friday. Fans flooded the …

US President Donald Trump issued a strongly worded message on Friday, warning Iran of even more severe consequences unless it agrees to a deal with the United States and Israel, amid rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East. In a post shared on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he had given Iran “chance after chance” to negotiate …

The polio eradication programme requested on Friday detailed information regarding mobile populations from all districts. According to details, the district authorities are required to immediately submit data on these populations to the polio programme. A meeting was held to review the progress of the polio eradication campaign, chaired by Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinator Adeel Tasawar. Polio officers from 36 …

Former Pakistan captain and star cricketer Babar Azam has joined the Australian T20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL), for the first time. According to details, BBL franchise Sydney Sixers have pre-signed Babar Azam ahead of the draft, announcing the news via their official social media accounts. According to the BBL, the Pakistani and global cricket superstar will make his …

Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the Israeli military’s early morning airstrikes on Iran, calling the attack an “unacceptable” violation of international law and a grave threat to regional peace and stability. In an official statement, the Foreign Office expressed deep concern over what it described as a clear breach of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying the Israeli assault was …

At least five Iranian citizens were martyred and more than 50 others injured in the Israeli aerial assault on Tehran early Friday, according to a statement issued by Iran’s Ministry of Health. The Ministry confirmed that all fatalities occurred in the capital, Tehran, following what officials described as a “coordinated and premeditated” military strike by Israeli forces. The aerial bombardment …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a change in the national selection committee as Usman Hashmi has replaced Hassan Cheema as data analyst. According to details surfaced on Wednesday, the PCB said: “Only the data analyst position has been changed, and this role does not have voting rights.” Hashmi will support the selection committee in their duties.” The national …

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced the appointment of headmasters in 35,000 government schools across the province. In an official directive issued to the School Education Department, the minister emphasized that permanent headmasters will be appointed after many years of vacancies in these key positions. The decision includes an additional monthly compensation of Rs 10,000 for appointed headmasters. …

The federal government has introduced a new tax on petrol and diesel vehicles as part of the Budget 2025–26, targeting all internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles — both locally manufactured and imported. According to the Finance Bill 2025–26, a fixed levy will now be charged on ICE vehicles based on engine capacity, with the rate applied as a percentage of …

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday forecast rain accompanied by thunder and strong winds in various parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to the Met Office, strong and dusty winds are expected in the plain areas of Punjab, with light rain likely in cities such as Talagang, Jhelum, and Rawalpindi. Isolated showers accompanied by thunder are also …

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government will present its budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 on Friday –  June 13 –  with an expected outlay of over Rs2.18 trillion. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam has once again been assigned the additional charge of the finance portfolio and will present the budget in the KP Assembly. According to officials in the Finance …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed serious reservations over the federal government’s decision to issue supplementary grants amounting to Rs344.64 billion during the ongoing fiscal year without prior approval from the National Assembly, terming it a violation of the loan agreement. According to an official document, the government disbursed these funds for various sectors, ranging from energy and defense …

The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) expressed on Wednesday disappointment over the federal budget, saying that it offers no relief for the agriculture sector or the business community. According to details, Pakistan Business Forum Chief Organiser Ahmed Jawad said: “The budget once again fails to support the agriculture sector, contradicting the prime minister’s stated vision. How does the government plan to …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow. During the visit, he is expected to meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. to discuss key bilateral, regional, and global issues. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the Deputy Prime Minister, federal ministers, and other senior …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest T20I player rankings on Wednesday. According to details, Australian batter Travis Head has secured the top position, while India’s Abhishek Sharma has moved up to second place. Pakistan’s Babar Azam is ranked 12th and Mohammad Rizwan secured the 13th position. In the bowlers’ rankings, New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy has retained the …

US Central Command (Centcom) chief General Michael Erik Kurilla described on Wednesday relations with Pakistan as “vital” to US national security. General Kurilla emphasised that the United States cannot afford to strain ties with Pakistan for the sake of India. He said that the US, in cooperation with Pakistan, has been conducting successful operations against IS. According to General Kurilla, …

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub on Wednesday launched a scathing critique of the federal budget and government policies, accusing the ruling coalition of pushing the country towards economic collapse. Speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Ayub alleged that the government had “destroyed the economy,” pointing to the sharp rise in the …

The federal government has allocated Rs8,205 billion for distribution among the provinces under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for the new fiscal year, with Punjab and Sindh emerging as the biggest beneficiaries, budget documents revealed. According to official figures, Punjab is set to receive Rs4,760 billion from the divisible pool, maintaining its position as the largest recipient due to …

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday defended the government’s limited relief to the salaried class in the newly unveiled budget for fiscal year 2025-26. Addressing a post-budget press conference in Islamabad, the finance minister said that while he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were keen to provide maximum relief to the salaried class, “we can only go further according …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong has emphasised the deep-rooted cultural and diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan highlighting both nations’ commitment to promoting global peace, mutual understanding and shared prosperity under various global initiatives spearheaded by China. While addressing the event hosted by Chinese embassy in connection with the celebrations of the international day for dialogue …

British-Albanian pop sensation Dua Lipa has ignited fresh speculation about her engagement to actor Callum Turner after sharing an affectionate tribute and a series of intimate photographs featuring a prominent diamond ring on her left hand. The 29-year-old singer took to Instagram on Monday, June 9, posting a carousel of pictures alongside Turner, 34, in which the two appeared close …

US President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that he has no intention of discontinuing the use of Starlink internet services at the White House, despite a public fallout with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, the CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla. “I may move the Tesla around a little bit, but I don’t think we’ll be doing that with Starlink. It’s …

Pakistan’s fast-bowling spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi leads a high-profile contingent of players from the country who have confirmed their availability for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) Draft, scheduled to take place on June 19. Afridi, alongside fellow national teammates Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan, is among more than 600 overseas cricketers who have registered for selection in …

In a diplomatic push to highlight India’s recent military provocations and violations of international law, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led a high-level delegation to the United Kingdom. The visit included crucial meetings with British lawmakers and government officials aimed at promoting peace and stability in South Asia. The delegation was warmly received at …

The federal government is set to unveil a Rs17,600 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year today, with a focus on increasing revenues through new taxation measures while offering relief to lower-grade government employees. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is targeting a record-breaking tax collection goal of Rs14,130 billion. According to official sources, the total income for the next …

BEIJING: China’s recent announcement of new regulations to strengthen export control measures on certain rare earth-related items is a measure driven by its domestic industrial sustainable development needs. The move aligns with international management standards and reflects China’s responsibilities as a major country — and is not, as some claim, a so-called “tactical countermeasure.” This step also underscores China’s sense …

Brazil forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, his club Santos said in a statement as quoted by Brazilian media. The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the viral infection, the Brazil Serie A side said on Saturday. The club did not disclose how long Neymar …

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Monday that the upcoming budget will include measures aimed at providing relief to the poor and promoting economic growth. Expressing his thoughts, Aurangzeb said, “It is not possible to change everything overnight; time is required.” He emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, there has been notable economic improvement. “We intend …

WhatsApp, the messaging giant owned by Meta, is offering its users more control over data usage and storage through a new feature. This feature allows users to choose the quality of automatically downloaded media, offering the option to select either “standard” or “HD” quality. Currently available to select beta testers on WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.25.18.11, the feature allows …

As Pakistan braces for the federal budget announcement for the fiscal year 2025-26 on Tuesday, key figures and policy directions have already emerged. The National Economic Survey will be presented today (Monday), setting the stage for a crucial budget presentation that comes amid high inflation, mounting debt, and ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to official sources, …

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed on Monday concern about the growing threat posed by India’s hardline Hindutva ideology to the entire region. According to details, in a meeting at the President’s House with leaders and workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), President Zardari extended his Eid ul-Azha greetings to party members. On this occasion, he said: “Minorities, particularly Muslims …

Despite the dire conditions, the religious fervour and determination of the Palestinian people remained remarkable. In war-ravaged Gaza, efforts were made to restore the spirit of Eid. Small and large gatherings for Eid prayers were held in refugee camps and among the ruins of mosques. Despite continued Israeli bombardment, children women, and the elderly participated in Eid prayers, fulfilling their …

Pakistan is on the brink of a worsening water crisis as the country’s usable water reserves continue to plummet at an alarming rate, according to the latest data released by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). As of today, the nation’s usable water reserves stand at 3.856 million acre-feet, reflecting a significant decrease of 188,000 acre-feet compared to the …

Federal government will release the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2024-25 on June 9. According to official sources, while several economic targets were missed, the overall performance shows ‘moderate improvement’ compared to the previous year. The targeted GDP growth of 3.6% could not be achieved, with actual growth recorded at 2.7%. However, inflation remained significantly below expectations, recorded at …

High levels of bacteria have led to the suspension of daily water shows and the closure of a shallow play pool at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, organisers announced on Thursday. The decision was made after the complaints from visitors about swarms of tiny flying insects across the expansive waterfront site, where Expo 2025 will run until mid-October. Since …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that dialogue and cooperation are the only correct choice for China and the United States. In the phone talks initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, Xi said that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations requires the two sides to take the helm and set the right course, adding …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded on Wednesday United States President Donald Trump’s efforts in promoting peace and praised his role in facilitating a ceasefire, saying the latter has proven to be a proponent of peace and economic cooperation. Speaking at an event held at the US Embassy in Islamabad to mark the 249th Independence Day of the United States, the …