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Dawn - 08:38 Mar 05, 2026
Oil prices surged more than three per cent on Thursday, extending a rally as the escalating US-Israeli war with Iran raised fears of prolonged disruptions to vital Middle East oil and gas supplies. Brent crude advanced $2.65, or 3.26pc, to $83.99 per barrel by 05:20 (GMT), a fifth session of gains. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.76, or 3.70pc, to $77.42. Crude oil markets remained on edge as they face ongoing risks to supply following the attacks in the Middle East, and concerns are centred on the flow of supply through the Strait of Hormuz, ANZ analysts said in a note on Thursday. Iran launched a wave of missiles at Israel early on Thursday, as the conflict entered its sixth day and just hours after moves to halt the US air assault were blocked in Washington. On Wednesday, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, killing at least 80 people, and Nato air defences destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile heading towards Turkiye. Iranian forces have struck oil tankers in or near the Strait ... -
Dawn - 08:29 Mar 05, 2026
Nepal votes on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government. Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party. “Nepalis have been waiting for change for so long, from one system to another,” said Nilanta Shakya, 60, a retired engineer, who was among the first to vote at a college in the capital, Kathmandu. “I hope there is a meaningful change this time,” she added. People stand in a queue outside a polling station as they wait for their turn to vote at a village, in Jhapa district, Nepal on March 5, 2026. — Reuters Nearly 19 million voters are choosing who replaces the interim government in place since the September 2025 uprising, in which at least 77 people were killed, and parliament and scores o... -
Dawn - 07:10 Mar 05, 2026
Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) confirmed the first wild polio case of 2026 in a four-year-old child from Bello Union Council in Sindh’s Sujawal District on Thursday. Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine for every child under five during each campaign, along with the timely completion of all essential immunisations. In a press release, NEOC said the case was reported through the polio surveillance network and confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad. “The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is already analysing the best response to tackle and prevent further transmission,” it said. Despite challenges, eradicating the global public threat of polio in Pakistan and worldwide is within reach, and the PEI continued to “intensify its efforts to leave no child behi... -
Dawn - 06:24 Mar 05, 2026
WASHINGTON: The White House has acknowledged that the Donald Trump administration is deliberately avoiding categorical statements on Iran, as doing so could limit the president’s flexibility in a fast-evolving security environment. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said deploying US ground troops into Iran is not part of the current military strategy, but declined to rule out the option entirely. “It’s not part of the current plan, but I’m not going to remove an option for the president that is on the table,” she said. Leavitt suggested that previous administrations had sometimes narrowed their strategic space by prematurely dismissing potential actions before fully assessing how unfolding developments might alter the situation. The present approach, she indicated, is designed to preserve maximum latitude for decision-making. The calibrated message reflects a broader doctrine in US national security policy: maintain ambiguity to strengthen deterrence while avoidi... -
Dawn - 03:10 Mar 05, 2026
ISLAMABAD: A former senior adviser to the US Secretary of Defence, has claimed that the US Navy is increasingly relying on Indian ports for docking and unloading operations due to escalating tensions with Iran. Former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor’s remarks, made in a recent interview on One America News, have sparked discussion on social media, particularly in South Asia, highlighting what some view as a potential shift in US military logistics away from traditional Persian Gulf bases, according to a media report. He argued that threats to US installations in the Gulf had prompted this pivot towards Indian facilities, suggesting the move formed part of broader American operations potentially linked to conflicts involving Iran. However, New Delhi has termed these reports “baseless and fabricated”. In a post on X, the MEAFactCheck account of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the claim that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. Official US-India defence cooperation, stren... -
Dawn - 02:39 Mar 05, 2026
A MAP detailing US strikes on Iran, which was shown at Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon briefing.—X / IdreesAli114 • Ex-Khamenei aide says Tehran has no intention of negotiating • Israel plans another ‘one, two weeks’ of attacks • Death toll in Iran crosses 1,000; Tehran hits back at targets in Gulf; Qatar, Turkiye condemn strikes • US expands bombing further into country; claims killing leader of Trump assassination plot • UN Iran probe body says war violates Charter • White House eyes ‘post-war role’ in Iran DUBAI / TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: Even as US and Israeli forces continued to pummel targets across Iran, Iran claimed “complete control” of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The Revolutionary Guards said Iranian forces had “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil and gas supplies, and any vessels seeking to pass risked damage from missiles or stray drones. A security official close to IRGC said its new head, Ahmad Vahidi, was present in every high-ranking meeting and that its overriding obj... -
Dawn - 18:45 Mar 04, 2026
The US financial services industry is on heightened alert for potential cyberattacks amid the unfolding US war in Iran, with firms stepping up monitoring for threats that often rise during periods of geopolitical conflict, said executives and analysts. The assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last weekend in an air strike has sparked a conflagration in the Middle East that has roiled markets globally and stoked concerns over the potential for Iran-linked cyberattacks on US financial services operations. Cybersecurity has long been a top priority for the financial services industry, which operates critical US infrastructure, including payments, clearing and settlement systems, as well as trading platforms and Treasury markets, making it a top target of cyberattacks, according to industry data. “The industry remains vigilant and ready to respond to cyber threats at all times, and especially when global cybersecurity risks are heightened,” said Todd Klessman, managing director for financial servi... -
Dawn - 18:20 Mar 04, 2026
On the fifth day of the United States-Israel war against Iran, the conflict stands in a position neither side may have fully anticipated when the first strikes were launched on Feb 28. The US and Israel may have achieved clear tactical air dominance over large parts of Iran with fixed air defence networks having been degraded, leadership having been struck at the highest level, and naval assets mostly at pier have been largely damaged. Yet the strategic picture remains unsettled, and in some respects, increasingly complicated. The opening hours of the war were decisive in military terms. Stealth platforms penetrated whatever air defences Iran possessed after last year’s 12-day war, followed by bomber waves which suppressed what were once key elements of the integrated air defence system. US-Israeli targets were not symbolic but structural, including leadership nodes, fixed military infrastructure, naval platforms, and border posts. The assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was ... -
Dawn - 17:45 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday deplored the opposition’s decision to boycott an in-camera briefing convened on national security, advising it to rethink its policy on issues linked to national interests. Earlier in the day, the government had invited the heads of all parliamentary parties to an in-camera briefing on national security convened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at his office. However, the PTI had decided not to attend any meeting unless a meeting with its founder Imran Khan was arranged. Talking about the development in the National Assembly, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the opposition should demonstrate seriousness on issues of national interest. He said political differences aside, this was the time to send a message of complete unity in Pakistan on matters of national interest. The minister said the session was organised neither to promote the agenda of any political party nor to benefit anyone individually. “It was a matter of Pakistan’s security an... -
Dawn - 17:29 Mar 04, 2026
Multiple anti-state, Indian and Afghan accounts on social media platform X have been sharing a video since March 2, claiming that it shows Allama Raja Nasir, opposition leader in the Senate, saying Pakistan allowed the United States to use its airspace against Iran. However, the clip is doctored using artificial intelligence (AI). Israel and the United States launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, and assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East. Iran called the strikes unprovoked and illegal, and responded with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases. The war entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with no let-up in attacks by the US, Israel or Iran. Meanwhile, Washington has said it was winning in the war against Iran, adding that the US military could fight as long as needed. On March 2, an anti-state account on X shared a clip of Nasir speaking on a talk show with the ... -
Dawn - 17:28 Mar 04, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday said that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan could only prevail if the Taliban regime “renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations”. According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), CDF Munir made the remarks as he visited Wana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan to review the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness along the Western border. “He reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations,” the statement said. It said that CDF Munir laid a floral wreath at the martyrs’ monument to pay homage to those who had rendered supreme sacrifices in defence of the motherland. “He offered fateha and reaffirmed that the sacrifices of shuhada remain the cornerstone of Pakistan’s security and resilience,” it added. During the visit, CDF Munir was given a comprehensive b... -
Dawn - 17:19 Mar 04, 2026
New Zealand’s Finn Allen blasted the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in Kolkata on Wednesday as his side hammered South Africa by nine wickets to reach the final. Chasing 170 to win the first semi-final, Allen hit an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, to obliterate the previous mark of 47 balls by Chris Gayle, as New Zealand raced home with 7.1 overs to spare. Allen went on a rampage as he finished with two fours, two sixes and a four off successive balls to hit the winning runs and reach his hundred with a roar of delight at Eden Gardens. Tim Seifert hit 58 in a 117-run opening stand with Allen off just 9.1 overs to set up the victory romp. Seifert hit two sixes and seven fours while Allen bludgeoned eight sixes and 10 fours in a brutal display of controlled power hitting. “Obviously, we wanted to start looking straight and obviously try and put them on the back foot early,” said Allen. “I think it’s easy for me when Timmy’s (Seifert) going like that, I can kind of just watch and then hit it when it’s ... -
Dawn - 16:47 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors on Wednesday unanimously approved the agreement between the agency and Pakistan for the application of safeguards at Unit 5 of the Chashma nuclear power plant, according to the Foreign Office. The statement from the FO was shared on the social media platform X by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. “This important development reflects the international community’s continued confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and its adherence to global non-proliferation and safeguards obligations,” the FO said. It added that the plant had a gross capacity of 1,200 MW and the pressurised water reactor was expected to become operational by 2030. “Upon completion, the unit will provide a substantial source of low-carbon electricity to Pakistan’s national grid, contributing to energy security, climate goals and sustainable economic growth,” the FO said. It further said that Pakistan currently operat... -
Dawn - 15:53 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to take a series of major measures —including weekly petroleum price revision, compensating oil companies for elevated costs of insurance and import premiums, and fuel conservation measures like mandatory work from home — to keep the markets liquid amid the drying out of trade movement following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A summary is being submitted to the federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in this regard for action without delay as petroleum prices appeared to surge, informed sources told Dawn. However, even before the ECC takes these decisions, the state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO), under the government’s assent, has launched two import tenders each for petrol and diesel outside the Strait of Hormuz as a precaution, although both product stocks are among the highest in the country at present. Both petrol and diesel have over 500,000 tonnes of stocks, enough for 26 and 25 days’ cover. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has already been requested to provide oil... -
Dawn - 14:39 Mar 04, 2026
Harry Brook conceded on Wednesday that India were favourites to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, but warned them that England’s “perfect performance” was “just around the corner”. The previous two winners of the T20 World Cup — India won in 2024, England in 2022 — will go head-to-head in a blockbuster semi-final at Mumbai’s famed Wankhede stadium on Thursday night. The match will be played in a cauldron-like atmosphere — temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-30s Celsius with a capacity crowd of 35,000 Indian fans raising the roof. Hundreds of millions more will follow on TV and streaming sites across the cricket-obsessed nation. Asked if it gets any better than that, Brook said: “It’s up there for sure. “It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semi-final against the home nation on a very iconic ground,” the England captain told reporters at the Wankhede stadium, minutes before his side’s final training session ahead of the semi-final. “We’re obviously going into the game very conf... -
Dawn - 14:10 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The leaders of parliamentary parties, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were on Wednesday given an in-camera briefing on the regional situation. PM Shehbaz had invited parliamentary leaders and party heads to “sit down and develop a course of action so we can move forward”, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday while addressing the National Assembly. The briefing began shortly after 11:30am at the Prime Minister House and concluded after more than two hours. It mainly discussed the ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ against terrorist hideouts and the Middle East conflict. “The meeting was given an in-camera briefing regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, the hostilities in Iran, Middle East and the Gulf, and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts,” read a statement from the PM Office (PMO). It added that the parliamentary leaders of the participating political parties “freely expressed their views”. “The participants underscored the need for national unity, consensus and unanimity in the... -
Dawn - 13:31 Mar 04, 2026
The United States military has joined Israel and attacked more than 1,000 targets in Iran and assassinated many of its top officials, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Below is a look at the legality of the US attacks, which critics say exceed the president’s authority and fail to comply with international law. What has Trump said? US President Donald Trump has provided varying objectives and justifications. He has said he felt Iran was going to strike first and the attack was meant to eliminate imminent threats to the United States, its military bases overseas and allies, although he did not provide details and some claims were not backed by US intelligence reports. Trump also said Iran could obtain a nuclear weapon within one month, but he did not provide evidence, and this contradicted his claims in June that the US military had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. Presidential power to use the military The attacks on Iran are pushing the boundaries of Trump’s constitutional authority, ac... -
Dawn - 13:14 Mar 04, 2026
EU expresses solidarity with Spain following Trump’s trade threat; Madrid says it ‘won’t be vassals’
The European Union (EU) stands in full solidarity with Spain, European Council President Antonio Costa said on Wednesday, following US President Donald Trump’s threats to cut trade with Madrid over its stance against Washington’s attacks on Iran. “I have just held a call with President Sanchez to express the EU’s full solidarity with Spain. The EU will always ensure that the interests of its member states are fully protected,” Costa said on the social media platform on X. Trump lashed out at the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, criticising its refusal to grant use of the Rota naval base and Moron air base, as well as his refusal to join Nato allies in a pledge to boost defence spending. “So we’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said. Meanwhile, the European Commission said it was “ready” to defend EU interests. “We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all their citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready... -
Dawn - 12:39 Mar 04, 2026
Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced nationwide protests on Friday against US-Israel attacks on Iran and to express solidarity with the neighbouring country, according to a press release issued by the party’s information secretary. The statement said that JI emir met Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam in Islamabad and addressed a press conference following the meeting, in which he strongly criticised the US, Israel, and India and described them as an “evil trinity”. It added that Rehman also termed the Board of Peace led by US President Donald Trump, of which Pakistan is a member, as deceptive and demanded the government withdraw from it. The statement added that during the meeting, the JI emir also conveyed condolences over the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders in US-Israeli strikes. “He offered prayers for the departed and assured the ambassador that the people of Pakistan and Jamaat-i-Islami stand firmly with Iran in the current... -
Dawn - 12:28 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday cautioned over oil stocks amid global uncertainty due to the US-Israel and Iran war, but said that there was no emergency-like situation in Pakistan. Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the minister suggested conserving fuel as a preventive measure. “We are not going for rationing of fuel as there is no fuel shortage in the country, but things could become serious if the war drags on,” Aurangzeb said in response to the query by Saleem Mandviwala, the chairman of the committee. The committee was informed that there were petrol and diesel stocks for 28 days, crude oil stocks for 10 days, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 15 days. “But some cargoes have been stuck in Qatar and to offset this short supply, the output from local gas fields was being enhanced,” he added. The committee was informed that the finance ministry would hold daily meetings with the relevant departments to monitor the country’s fue...
7911 items