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Dawn - 02:59 Apr 05, 2026
• UN official says Israeli forces destroy 17 surveillance cameras linked agency’s office in Naqura • Indonesia receives bodies of three peacekeepers slain by Israel BEIRUT: Israel’s military renewed its strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on Saturday, severely damaging buildings and a major hospital, as international tensions escalated over the safety of United Nations peacekeepers caught in the crossfire. As Indonesia received the bodies of three of its UN peacekeepers killed while deployed in Lebanon, a UN security official told AFP that Israeli forces destroyed 17 surveillance cameras linked to the UNIFIL main headquarters in Naqura. The bodies of the three Indonesian men arrived in Jakarta on Saturday. Their flag-draped coffins were carried into an airport hall on the shoulders of uniformed comrades for a ceremony attended by President Prabowo Subianto. Family members wept over the coffins, each fronted by a photograph of the dead soldier in a gold frame. The fatalities occurred in two separate ... -
Dawn - 02:55 Apr 05, 2026
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is considering a broader cabinet shake-up in the wake of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s removal this week, as he grows increasingly frustrated with the political fallout from the war with Iran, five people familiar with internal White House discussions said. Any potential reshuffling could serve as a reset for the White House as it confronts a politically challenging stretch: The five-week-old war has driven up gas prices, dragged down Trump’s approval ratings and intensified anxiety about the consequences for Republicans heading into November’s midterm elections. Some allies said his televised speech, which one senior White House official described as an attempt to project a sense of control and confidence about the direction of the war, fell flat, adding to the sense that changes in messaging or personnel were needed. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick among those potentially on ‘the chopping block’ “A shake-up to show action ... -
Dawn - 02:40 Apr 05, 2026
• Araghchi denies rejecting Pakistan as venue for talks • Dar discusses UN resolution with Bahrain FM, calls Egyptian counterpart • Ghalibaf says sustainable security in region Iran’s priority, offers bilateral arrangements ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday pushed back at reports that Iran was unwilling to travel to Islamabad for future talks with the US, underscoring that Tehran’s position hinged on the terms and conditions of any negotiations. “Iran’s position is being misrepresented by the US media. We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad,” Mr Araghchi said in a post on X. “What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us,” he further said. His remarks came a day after a report by The Wall Street Journal said Iran had declined to participate in talks in Islamabad, citing objections to US demands and suggesting Pakistan’s efforts had stalled. Responding to Mr Araghchi, P... -
Dawn - 02:37 Apr 05, 2026
Iran’s top security official and Supreme National Security Council secretary, Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17, 2026: the latest round of US-Israel military strikes against Iran began when Tehran was engaged in negotiations with the Washington on its nuclear programme | AFP Operation Epic Fury — the latest round of military strikes against Iran — began when Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States to renew restrictions on its nuclear programme. This is not the first time the United States has bombed Iran during nuclear negotiations. In June 2025, while its representatives were in talks with Iran over that country’s ability to produce nuclear weapons, Washington launched Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Washington has been broader in its selection of targets in Iran this time around, even though one stated US goal has been to ensure that Iran does not gain nuclear weapons capability. By launching strik... -
Dawn - 00:51 Apr 05, 2026
QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Saturday fixed the price of Iranian smuggled petrol at Rs280 per litre and announced that strict action would be taken against those charging more than this rate. Officials said that a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti decided that Iranian petrol would be sold in Balochistan at a fixed price announced by the provincial government. “The Iranian petrol will be sold only in Balochistan, and it will not be allowed to be sent out of the province,” said Kalat Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed Durrani, adding that nobody would be allowed to charge more than the fixed rate. He said there was no justification for selling Iranian petrol at the rate announced by the federal government for imported petroleum products. “The authorities will start strict checks and will take legal action against those found selling Iranian petrol at higher prices.” People involved in the Iranian petrol business had increased prices soon after the federal government announced highe... -
Dawn - 00:51 Apr 05, 2026
ISLAMABAD: While rain and windstorms killed at least six people across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, authorities have warned that the impact may worsen, with a fresh spell of rains forecast in the coming days across the country. The Met office forecast further rain, windstorms and thunderstorms across much of the country over the coming week due to a new western disturbance entering Balochistan and KP on Sunday evening and persisting until April 9. There are concerns about urban flooding, infrastructure damage and crop losses as well. In KP, four people died in Khyber district, while 12 others were injured in rain-related incidents, including six in Mohmand and three members of a family in Bannu after a roof collapse. Additional injuries were reported in Karak and Bajaur. Authorities issued a flood advisory for low-lying areas along the Kabul and Budhni rivers, where water levels reached a mid-level flood stage with a discharge of 12,729 cusecs. Rescue 1122 urged residents near streams and canals in areas... -
Dawn - 18:05 Apr 04, 2026
The United Arab Emirates on Saturday condemned what it described as “riots, acts of vandalism, and assaults” outside its embassy and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus. In a statement, the UAE’s foreign ministry called on Syria to uphold its obligations to secure the embassy and its staff, investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators to account. A Reuters reporter saw dozens of protesters gathering outside the UAE’s embassy in Damascus at midday on Friday, including some chanting “the Zionist embassy”. A Syrian security official told Reuters that the incident occurred after some participants split off from a larger pro-Palestinian demonstration being held at the nearby Umayyad Square and tried to storm the embassy. “Internal security forces prevented them from doing so and dealt with the situation,” the official said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorised to speak to the media. Syria’s foreign ministry did not directly refer to the incident but said in a statement on Friday ev... -
Dawn - 17:41 Apr 04, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the disbursement of relief funds to people operating public transport and freight vehicles had begun through digital wallets. In a post on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting to review the country’s petroleum reserves and the measures taken by the government to provide relief to the people during the ongoing crisis. “The prime minister said that the disbursement of relief funds to individuals operating public transport and freight vehicles had begun through digital wallets,” it said. “Subsidies are now being digitally transferred for public transport buses and wagons, as well as goods transport trucks and freight vehicles under an efficient and transparent system,” the premier was quoted as saying. The prime minister added that the government was striving to ensure that relief reaches economically vulnerable groups as quickly as possible, the PMO said. “We will not abandon our people during di... -
Dawn - 17:18 Apr 04, 2026
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said that Tehran’s leadership “never refused to go to Islamabad” for possible peace talks that Pakistan has offered to host to bring the ongoing US-Israeli war on the Islamic republic to an end. “Iran’s position is being misrepresented by US media,” Araghchi wrote on X. “We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us,” he emphasised. He also shared a video showing Iranians waving Pakistan’s flags in an apparent show of appreciation for Pakistan and its people. The Iranian official ended his post with “Pakistan Zindabad” written in Urdu. Araghchi’s statement comes a day after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing unnamed mediators, reported that the “current round of efforts by regional countries led by Pakistan to reach a ceasefire” between the United States and Iran had reached a “dead end”. Deputy Prime Min... -
Dawn - 16:46 Apr 04, 2026
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday stressed political unity in the country amid the economic crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. He made the remarks while speaking in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to mark the 47th death anniversary of PPP founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “We feel that there should be consensus in Pakistan and political differences should be kept aside in order to work together,” he said. He also appreciated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for constructively participating in consultations held with the president and the prime minister. He thanked Afridi for participating in the meetings, and playing a “positive role” in the process. “Together, the Centre, provinces, political parties … will face these difficulties as one. If there is no division among us, there is no force in the world that can break Pakistan,” he said. In his remarks, Bilawal had also condemned the US-Israeli war on Iran, saying that the entire world, including Pakistan, was... -
Dawn - 16:10 Apr 04, 2026
Two family members of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in 2020, have been arrested in the United States after their residency permits were rescinded, the State Department said on Saturday. “Last night, the niece and grandniece of deceased Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Qassem Soleimani were arrested by federal agents following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s termination of their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status,” a department statement said. It identified the niece as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar. Her daughter was not named. Both “are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the statement said, without specifying their whereabouts. Soleimani, who led the IRGC’s foreign operations arm, was assassinated in a US drone strike while he was in the Iraqi capital Baghdad in January 2020 — the final year of President Donald Trump’s first term in the White House. “As identified by both press reporting and her own social media commentary, Soleimani Af... -
Dawn - 15:50 Apr 04, 2026
The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday rejected “misleading and unfounded commentary” regarding financial deposits from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), saying this was a “routine transaction”. A senior Pakistani official had said on Friday that the country had decided to return $3.5 billion in debt to the UAE before the end of this month. According to the official, Abu Dhabi had sought the immediate return of the amount. These funds were part of external financing support extended by the UAE in 2019 to help stabilise Pakistan’s balance of payments. In a statement, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, “The deposits were placed under bilateral commercial agreements, demonstrating the UAE’s strong support for Pakistan’s economic stability and prosperity.” He said that pursuant to mutually agreed terms, the government, through the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), was now returning the matured deposits to the UAE. “This is a routine financial transaction, and any attempt to portray it otherwise is erroneous and misleadin... -
Dawn - 15:21 Apr 04, 2026
The family of Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre on Saturday urged Britain’s King Charles to meet with survivors during his state visit to the United States later this month, saying the trip coincides with the anniversary of her death. In a statement shared with Reuters, Sky and Amanda Roberts said the visit would take place two days after the one-year anniversary of Giuffre taking her own life. “We strongly urge King Charles to meet with us and survivors and hear what we have to say,” they said. “We are thankful to him for heeding our sister’s allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and for his decisive action in stripping his brother from his position as a prince.” Buckingham Palace didn’t respond to a request for comment. Palace officials have previously said the king could not become involved while investigations connected to sexual abuse by Epstein and his circle remain ongoing. Giuffre accused the late US financier Epstein of trafficking her to King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountba... -
Dawn - 15:15 Apr 04, 2026
Pakistan is expected to witness a spell of heavy rains, beginning from Sunday night in Balochistan and lasting till April 9 in the upper parts of the country, according to the Met Office. In a weather advisory issued on Saturday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said it predicted that “another western disturbance is likely to approach western parts of Balochistan” on Sunday evening and was likely to persist in the upper regions till April 9. Under the influence of the weather system, showers with isolated heavy falls or hailstorms were likely in various areas of all provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). In Balochistan, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavyfalls/hailstorm was expected in Quetta, Chaman, Chagai, Dalbandin, Kharan, Ziarat, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Mastung, Sibi, Kohlu, Nasirabad and Loralai from Sunday night to the morning of April 7 (Tuesday) with occasional gaps. The same ... -
Dawn - 15:04 Apr 04, 2026
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday advocated for the revision of market timings to cut down on oil usage by saving electricity, as the country faces rising import costs amid the global oil crisis. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Iqbal stressed the need to reduce energy spending to combat the economic difficulties arising from the ongoing war. Pointing out that Pakistan generated electricity using imported fuel, the planning minister emphasised the need to “bring efficiency in the consumption of petrol and diesel”. Iqbal observed that markets in Pakistan usually opened after 12pm and remained open till 2am, using “electricity generated from imported fuel”. “If we use electricity at night now, this will be generated from furnace oil, which costs the public Rs60-80 per unit,” he explained, asking whether such “irresponsible conduct” suited a nation facing an enormous crisis. “Crises are moments of behavioural change,” he said. The planning minister noted that provinces have been asked to consult ... -
Dawn - 13:31 Apr 04, 2026
Awaam Pakistan President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday called on the government to deregulate petroleum prices and promote electric vehicles (EVs) to absorb the economic impact of rising oil prices amid the US-Israel war on Iran. Since the February 28 strikes by the US and Israel on Iran triggered the war and pushed up global oil prices, fuel prices in Pakistan have reached record highs. In two major hikes, petrol prices have risen from Rs266.17 to Rs378 — after a partial reduction in a recent hike — while those of high-speed diesel have surged from Rs280.86 to Rs520.35. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Abbasi said: “I would like to say two things: deregulate the petroleum prices — the government is not capable of handling it — and pay attention to electric vehicles (EVs), especially on motorcycles.” “This amount keeps on increasing […] your system will function only if you incentivise EVs,” he added, citing China as an example of having policies to promote EVs. The former prime minister also ra... -
Dawn - 12:27 Apr 04, 2026
The Pakistan Navy on Saturday inducted the second Milgem-class corvette into its fleet, said a statement from the service’s public relations department. The warship is the second of four Milgem class corvettes, the contract for which was signed with ASFAT Inc, a Turkish state-owned defence contractor firm in 2018. Under this contract, two ships were to be constructed in Turkiye and the remaining two ships in Pakistan. At the induction ceremony of the warship PNS Khaibar, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted that Pakistan’s strategic location along vital maritime trade and energy corridors demands a potent naval force to safeguard national interests and ensure secure sea lines of communication (SLOCs). The naval chief maintained that during last year’s war with India, the navy was “poised to sink” the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier, which forced the warship and its escorts to retreat to their “perceived safe havens”. “The mastery and conduct of naval operations during Marka-i-Haq delivers... -
Dawn - 12:21 Apr 04, 2026
Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen felt like he was “falling out of the sky” as his spacecraft followed its complex flight path to the Moon, the Canadian said in a Saturday video call. The four Artemis astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon on Saturday morning — more than 150,000 miles (241,000 kilometres) from home — as they zipped toward the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half a century. Hansen, a 50-year-old former fighter pilot on his maiden voyage into space, said he saw “some extraordinary things” during the first hours aboard the Orion. “By the time we had a bit of a nap and got up, the Earth was just so far away,” Hansen, flanked by American crewmates Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, told a question-and-answer session hosted by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). ‘Like falling out of the sky’ Hansen then described the translunar injection burn — a maneuver that brought Orion within 200 kilometres of Earth before swinging around onto a new course for the Moon. “It just fe... -
Dawn - 11:39 Apr 04, 2026
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday said India was planning a “false-flag operation” to blame Pakistan, warning New Delhi of a strong reaction if it conducted such a “drama”. Speaking to the media in Sialkot, Asif said: “They [plan] some kind of false-flag operation through their own men or through the Pakistanis in their detention by laying down some bodies somewhere and saying they were terrorists and had done so and so. “The kind of insult they faced around a year ago […] the entire world, in fact, their own public, taunts them that they are five times larger than Pakistan in every aspect — population, resources, military, airforce,” he added. The minister asserted that the Indian leadership would keep facing such backlash “till the end of the world”, recalling the Pakistan Air Force’s performance during the conflict with India last year. “If they try to enact such a drama this time, then God-willingly, we will take them to Kolkata,” he added, referring to the eastern Indian city near the border with... -
Dawn - 10:15 Apr 04, 2026
The four Artemis astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon on the way to their planned lunar flyby, Nasa said on Friday evening. “You are now closer to the moon than you are to us on Earth,” mission control told the astronauts at around 11pm (4am GMT), according to the space agency’s official live broadcast. his screengrab from a NASA live broadcast video shows (L-R) NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman during a press call as they travel to the Moon in the Orion spacecraft, on April 3, 2026. —AFP “We all kind of had a collective, I guess, expression of joy at that… We can see the Moon out of the docking hatch right now, it is a beautiful sight,” said astronaut Christina Koch replied. The milestone was hit around two days, five hours and 24 minutes after liftoff, according to the Nasa official broadcast. The US space agency’s online dashboa...
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