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Iran vows to keep Hormuz strait blocked as long as war continues

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TEHRAN: Rescuers work in the rubble of a residential building after air strikes in the Resalat area.—Reuters • Energy secretary claims US Navy escorted ship through ‘troubled waters’, later deletes X post • Araghchi shoots down Trump’s signal for talks, says will fight as long as necessary • Israel says ‘not done with offensive’ yet; Hegseth claims unleashing ‘most intense strikes’ yet • US ‘unhappy’ with Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities • Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts; slams invasion of Lebanon TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: The US continued to put out more mixed signals on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump told Fox News that it was possible he would be willing to talk with Tehran, while his Pentagon chief vowed to ramp up strikes against Iran, promising “the most intense day of strikes” yet. Iran’s forces, however, vowed to fight on, declaring that not one litre of oil would be exported from the Gulf while its war with the United States and Israel continues. ...
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India’s Arshdeep fined for throwing ball at New Zealand’s Mitchell in T20 World Cup final

India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday after an incident during the Twenty20 World Cup final when he hurled the ball at New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell. In the 11th over of New Zealand’s chase on Sunday, Mitchell played the ball to Arshdeep and the bowler threw it straight back at him, hitting the New Zealand batter on the pads. Mitchell was livid and advanced on Arshdeep, who turned around and walked back without apologising, forcing the umpire to step in. India captain Suryakumar Yadav then came over and apologised. The ICC said Arshdeep breached the ICC Code of Conduct for “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner”, handing him a fine of 15 per cent of his match fee. Arshdeep, who apologised to Mitchell at the end of the over and again after the match, accepted the sanction. India beat New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first side...
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5G spectrum auction today

ISLAMABAD: The government has clarified that the 5G spectrum auction will proceed as scheduled on Tuesday (today), and mock exercises with all three participants — Jazz, Zong, and Ufone — have been completed. During a background briefing held on Monday, Shaza Fatima, the Minister of IT and Telecom, stated that efforts have been made to ensure that all three stakeholders benefit from the spectrum auction. Since most of the demands of the telecom companies have been accepted, they will benefit from a reduction in their financial burden. The government will receive revenue through the auction process, and consumers will enjoy fast and reliable internet across the country. “Currently, only 274 megahertz (MHz) spectrum is running the whole system in the country, leading to network issues,” she said, adding that the priority of the government is to enhance the quality as well as the coverage area of 4G in the country. At the same time, the 5G coverage will also commence after the auction....
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Trump says Iran war ‘pretty much’ over, progressing ahead of schedule

US President Donald Trump indicated for the first time on Monday that US military operations in Iran could be coming to an end, saying the war was “very complete” and progressing ahead of schedule. The war had sent stock markets slumping and oil prices soaring again on Monday as Tehran, under new leader Mojtaba Khamenei, fired a new barrage of missiles at its Gulf neighbours and signalled that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would likely remain closed. But Wall Street vaulted into positive territory on Monday after Trump’s remarks, despite the lack of details on any solution to the conflict still raging in the Middle East. “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force,” Trump told CBS News by phone, repeating battle damage assessments that he has given in previous days. Trump told the US broadcaster that the United States was “very far” ahead of his initially stated timeframe for the war of four or five weeks. On...
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Islamabad police release Aurat March activists a day after detention; probe demanded into ‘manhandling’ of detainees

ISLAMABAD: Aurat March organisers, civil society members, and rights groups accused the authorities on Monday of manhandling and threatening women’s rights activists who had been detained the previous day in Islamabad. The assertions were made at a press conference after police released all 44 activists detained ahead of an International Women’s Day rally on Sunday. Police cited the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the district administration not issuing a no-objection certificate (NoC) to the Aurat March for the rally as reasons for the arrests. After the activists were released, they held a press conference at the National Press Club, demanding an investigation into the incident. Aurat March’s Dr Farzana Bari said the organisers of the rally were aware that Section 144 was imposed in the federal capital, but “civil society does not accept any law that is in violation of basic rights”. “You cannot take our right to protest. Similar protests were held ...
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Addressing fuelflation in the agriculture sector

Soaring petroleum prices are squeezing Pakistan’s agricultural sector, reducing farm profits, threatening food affordability, and putting rural livelihoods at risk. Pakistan’s latest petroleum price hike exposes the country’s economic vulnerability to global energy markets. The government raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre, pushing fuel costs to record highs. This affects multiple sectors. Agriculture — central to economic stability, food security, and rural employment — is hit the hardest. According to official announcements, authorities set the ex-depot price of high-speed diesel at Rs335.86 per litre. Petrol is now Rs321.17 per litre, up about 17 per cent, as of last Saturday. Policymakers cite rising international oil prices and fiscal pressures. Global markets respond to Middle East geopolitical tensions. At home, these changes raise more than just transport costs. For Pakistan’s farmers, higher fuel prices raise production costs and increase financial uncertain...
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Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, named new supreme leader

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KUWAIT CITY: Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack.—AFP DUBAI: Iran’s Assembly of Experts has named Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader, state media reported on Sunday. Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with close ties to the powerful Rev­o­lutionary Guards, had long been viewed by elements of Iran’s ruling establishment as a potential succe­ssor to his father, who was assassinated after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Although Iran’s ruling ideology frowns on the principle of hereditary succession, he has a powerful following within the Guards and his dead father’s still-influential office. A member of the council, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, said in a video on Sunday that a candidate had been selected based on Khamenei’s guidance that Iran’s top leader should be “hated by the enemy”. “Even the Great Satan (US) has mentioned his name,” Heidari Alekasir said of t...
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