Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: In a major boost for Pakistani hockey, the national team has qualified for the Hockey World Cup, ending an eight-year wait to return to the prestigious global tournament. Pakistan put up an impressive performance to edge Japan 4-3 in the semi-final of the FIH Hockey World Cup qualifier at the Suez Canal Authority Hockey Stadium in Egypt on Friday. The President emphasized need to promote sports such as hockey and football, stating that these are the games of working class and ordinary people, and they should be further developed across the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the national side, praising the players for their commitment and resilience. He advised the team to continue working hard and maintain the same level of dedication and determination as they prepare for the tournament. Pakistan&rsquo;s qualification marks a significant moment for the country&rsquo;s hockey revival, rekindling hopes among fans that the national team can restore its historic success.&nbsp;

Hockey

PM Sharif and President Zardari praise Pakistan’s national hockey team after their qualification, calling it a major step toward reviving the country’s historic success in hockey and urging continued dedication.

Pakistan seal Hockey World Cup spot with 4-3 win over Japan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formulation of a relief-focused policy framework emphasizing economic growth, austerity, and savings amid global economic pressures. A review meeting on the country&rsquo;s economic situation in the context of recent global developments was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sharif, said a press release issued on Saturday by Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (Media Wing). During the meeting, a briefing was given on the recent global tensions and their economic impacts on the region. The prime minister directed that a policy framework based on economic growth, simplicity (austerity), and savings be formulated. In view of the current global economic pressures caused by these tensions, the prime minister instructed that an austerity- and savings-based strategy be developed. He also directed the committee to present practical proposals in this regard within the next 48 hours. Sharif instructed that the policy framework should not only minimize the burden on the public but also give top priority to public relief. The prime minister was briefed by the active committee working on this matter. Sharif had already formed a committee last week to review the global economic effects of the recent tensions. The committee had been working on a policy plan, due to which no shortage of petroleum products occurred in the country. According to the briefing, the increase in petroleum product prices yesterday was made on the committee&rsquo;s recommendation, in which the minimum possible burden of global price increases was passed on to consumers. The prime minister directed the committee to work more actively and present simple and practical recommendations for the public as soon as possible. Sharif issued clear instructions that any petrol pump or company found involved in creating an artificial shortage or hoarding must be immediately shut down, its license canceled, and legal action taken. The prime minister also directed the minister for finance and the minister for petroleum to visit all four provinces and, in coordination with provincial governments, prepare a plan and strategy to ensure the conservation of petroleum products and their uninterrupted supply to the public.

Economy

A review meeting on the country’s economic situation in the context of recent global developments was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sharif; during the meeting, a briefing was given on the recent global tensions and their economic impacts on the region.

Pakistan PM directs formulation of relief-focused plan amid global economic pressures

KATHMANDU:&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">Nepal&#39;s rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah held an unassailable lead against ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the highly contested face-off in Nepal&#39;s southeastern district of Jhapa, according to data by the Election Commission. The high-stakes parliamentary election on Thursday came six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government, with at least 77 people killed. The September 2025 youth-led demonstrations, under a loose Gen Z banner, began over a brief social media ban but quickly tapped into broader grievances over corruption and a struggling economy. According to early trends issued by the Election Commission Saturday, 35-year-old Shah&#39;s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on track to win a majority in the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. &quot;Looking at the trend, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has taken the lead in many places and has won several seats,&quot; commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai told AFP. If the trends are confirmed by the vote count, 35-year-od Shah&#39;s victory over a veteran Marxist leader -- and his rise from city mayor to potential prime minister -- would mark one of the most dramatic results in recent Nepali politics. &quot;This is heading to a landslide victory -- this reflects the frustration that has been building up,&quot; said Chandra Dev Bhatta, a political analyst. &quot;It is actually the people&#39;s revolt against the established political parties,&quot; he added. &quot;The people understand that the new do not really have strong agendas, but it is a punishment to the parties for their decades-long poor governance.&quot; &nbsp;&#39;A day will come&#39; By Saturday morning, on the second day of counting, there were only 34 declared results -- RSP took 27, Nepali Congress won four, and the Marxist party of ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli was trailing with one. Former Maoist guerrilla commander Pushpa Kamal Dahal has one seat for his party. But trends showed that Shah&#39;s RSP was also leading in 90 of the 165 constituencies in the direct elections. It had secured comfortably more than half of votes so far counted in the proportional representation vote, which determines a further 110 seats via party lists. Bhattarai said results from direct elections would be ready by Monday, but longer for full results to be ready. &quot;According to our plan, it will take at least a week to count the proportional votes, after which the election will go through the official process,&quot; he added. He said that vote counting was &quot;going smoothly&quot; across the Himalayan nation, from snowbound high-altitude mountain regions to the hot plains bordering India. On Friday, Shah&#39;s party loyalists danced on the streets of Kathmandu in celebration -- even though votes counted remain low, and final results could take days. DP Aryal, RSP deputy chairman, issued a message urging supporters to hold back on celebrations. &quot;Once we work, a day will come for us to celebrate,&quot; he said in a post on social media late Friday. Shah has also taken a commanding lead in the seat he is contesting -- a head-to-head contest against the 74-year-old ousted prime minister Oli, symbolising the clash between the old guard and a youth-driven call for change. Better known as Balen, Shah first leveraged his music fame and strong social media following to become Kathmandu&#39;s first independent mayor in 2022. Nepali Congress, the largest party in the past coalition government, saw its new leader Gagan Thapa trailing in his own constituency. &quot;This is even a bigger upset than we expected -- it underscores the level of public disenchantment with the old parties for under-performance, as well as anger over the events of September,&quot; said Kunda Dixit, publisher of the weekly Nepali Times. In Jhapa, soldiers with armoured trucks manned barbed wire barricades around the counting centre. Yagya Prasad Adhikari, a 49-year-old businessman who travelled from Kathmandu for the vote, said he supported the calls for calm before full results were ready. &quot;We want someone who works, not someone who talks,&quot; he said. &quot;We support Balen not celebrating.&quot; Meanwhile, the burnt-out ruins of Oli&#39;s home in Jhapa -- torched during the unrest, like hundreds of other buildings, including parliament -- serve as a reminder of the deadly violence that occurred last year. Dharmakala Gautam, 74, who watched the house burn, said she was tired of promises by politicians that never materialised. &quot;When the Maoists came to rule, we hoped for change -- but not much happened,&quot; she said. &quot;I will keep some hope this time too.&quot;

Asia

Election trends show rapper-turned-politician Balendra “Balen” Shah’s centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party heading for a landslide and possible majority in Nepal’s 275-seat parliament, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests. 

Nepal's Balendra Shah holds unassailable poll lead for seat: Commission figures

In this handout photo, taken and released by Saudi defense ministry on March 7, 2026, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman speaks during a meeting with Pakistan Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Mu

Security

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman says talks with Pakistan’s army chief focused on Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and security cooperation under their Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, emphasizing joint efforts to maintain stability.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan discuss halting Iranian attacks on Kingdom

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s military eliminated fifteen terrorists linked to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij and Fitna al Hindustan, on Thursday in the southwest province of Balochistan, according to a statement from the military&rsquo;s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;According to the statement, &ldquo;intelligence-based operations (IBO) were conducted in Harnai and Basima Districts&rdquo; following reports of the presence of &ldquo;Khwarij ex Fitna al Khwarij.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;During the operation in Harnai, the military &ldquo;effectively engaged the Khwarij Hideout&rdquo; and after an intense engagement, &ldquo;twelve Indian sponsored Khwarij&rdquo; were eliminated, ISPR said. ISPR added that &ldquo;weapons, ammunition, and explosives&rdquo; were also recovered from the terrorists. President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute to the security forces for the operation in Balochistan. In a statement from his office, Zardari said eliminating foreign-backed terrorism is the &ldquo;top priority&rdquo; of the country. He also praised the &ldquo;professional capability and resolve of the security forces.&rdquo; &ldquo;In the unwavering resolve for the protection of the motherland, the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the security forces,&rdquo; he said in his statement. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for the operation in Balochistan against the Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan. In a statement from the prime minister&rsquo;s office, Sharif said the military was achieving &ldquo;great successes against terrorism.&rdquo; &ldquo;In this war against terrorism, the entire nation stands with the Pakistan Armed Forces; we are committed to the complete elimination of terrorism from the country,&rdquo; Sharif said in the statement.

Pakistan security forces killed 15 terrorists linked to Fitna al Khwarij and Fitna al Hindustan during intelligence-based operations in Balochistan’s Harnai and Basima districts, recovering weapons and explosives, as national leaders praised the military’s counterterrorism efforts.

Pakistan security forces kill 15 terrorists in Balochistan operation: Military

ISLAMABAD: The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) on Saturday highlighted the killing of a Muslim truck driver in India&rsquo;s Rajasthan state, a case that has renewed scrutiny of alleged cow-vigilante violence targeting minorities in the country. The incident, first reported by the Observer Post, occurred in the Bhiwadi area of Alwar district, where 28-year-old Aamir, a truck driver from neighboring Haryana, died after what relatives say was an attack by members of the Hindu nationalist group Bajrang Dal. According to family members cited in Indian media reports, Aamir was stopped by men accusing him of cattle smuggling before being assaulted. His relatives alleged that the attackers &ldquo;shot him in the head,&rdquo; blaming Bajrang Dal-linked cow vigilantes for the killing. Local police said the precise cause of death would be determined after post-mortem and forensic examinations, adding that the investigation remains ongoing. The killing comes amid broader international concern about policing practices and violence against marginalized communities in India. In a report issued last month, experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council warned of what they described as a pattern of excessive and often lethal force by Indian law-enforcement authorities and vigilante groups, disproportionately affecting minorities including Muslims. &ldquo;These allegations paint a picture of law enforcement violence that is not sporadic, but systemic,&rdquo; the UN experts said. &ldquo;If substantiated, they reveal grave violations of the right to life, the absolute prohibition of torture, and the right to non-discrimination.&rdquo; The experts called on the government of India to launch urgent and independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings and torture-related deaths, warning that practices such as so-called &ldquo;encounters&rdquo; risk normalizing unlawful violence. Aamir&rsquo;s family says his death has left them devastated. Relatives described him as the sole breadwinner supporting his parents, wife and young child. His wife is four months pregnant, and his sister&rsquo;s wedding was scheduled for next month. IAMC, a Washington-based advocacy organization representing Indian American Muslims, said the case underscores continuing concerns over mob attacks carried out under the banner of cow protection. In a social media statement, the group urged authorities to ensure accountability for the killing and to address what it described as a pattern of vigilante violence linked to accusations of cattle smuggling. Attacks by self-styled cow-protection groups have repeatedly triggered controversy across India, where cows are considered sacred by many Hindus and slaughter is banned or restricted in several states. Rights groups say such laws have increasingly been used by vigilantes to target Muslims and other marginalized communities. The latest killing in Rajasthan is likely to intensify criticism from activists who argue that India&rsquo;s authorities have failed to curb mob violence or hold perpetrators accountable, leaving minority communities increasingly vulnerable to attacks carried out in the name of cow protection.

India

Rights advocates say a Muslim truck driver dies after suspected cow vigilantes stop his vehicle in Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi area, while police launch forensic inquiries and his family alleges members of a Hindu nationalist group carried out the attack.

Cow vigilantes in India kill Muslim driver, rights group raises alarm

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday his government was considering lifting sanctions on more Russian oil, a day after it temporarily authorized India to buy from Moscow as global oil prices surged. The US-Israel war on Iran and Tehran&#39;s retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have upended the world&#39;s energy and transport sectors, virtually halting activity in the Strait of Hormuz. Crude soared 8.5 percent on Friday and was up nearly 30 percent for the week after President Donald Trump said only the &quot;unconditional surrender&quot; of Iran would end the Middle East war.&quot;We may unsanction other Russian oil,&quot; Bessent told Fox Business on Friday. &quot;There are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water. And in essence, by unsanctioning them, Treasury can create a supply.&quot; Washington has insisted that the new measures are not aimed at easing restrictions on Moscow, imposed over its conduct in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but instead only affect supplies already in transit. &quot;We&#39;re going to keep a cadence of announcing measures to bring relief to the market during this conflict,&quot; said Bessent, with high oil prices a pain point both domestically and for international markets. Kremlin economic adviser Kirill Dmitriev said he was discussing the issue with the United States, posting on X that: &quot;Western sanctions have proven detrimental to the world economy.&quot; On Thursday, the US government temporarily eased economic sanctions to allow Russian oil currently stranded at sea to be sold to India. It said the transactions, including from vessels blocked by various sanctions regimes, are authorized through the end of the day on April 3, 2026.

Middle East

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the government is considering lifting sanctions on more Russian oil, a day after it temporarily authorized India to buy from Moscow as global oil prices surged

US Treasury secretary hints at lifting more Russian oil sanctions

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the United States is &quot;not concerned&quot; about reports that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran on US troop positions and movements. While declining to confirm the reports, Hegseth, in an interview with CBS&#39;s &quot;60 Minutes,&quot; said: &quot;We&#39;re tracking everything.&quot; &quot;Our commanders are aware of everything,&quot; he said. &quot;We have the best intelligence in the world. We&#39;re aware of who&#39;s talking to who.&quot; &quot;We&#39;re not concerned about that,&quot; the defense secretary said. &quot;We mitigate it as we need to.&quot; Earlier Friday, the White House also downplayed a report that Russia is providing Iran with targeting information about US forces in the Middle East. &quot;It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,&quot; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. &quot;We are achieving the military objectives of this operation and that is going to continue,&quot; Leavitt said. The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the intelligence, said Russia has provided Iran with the locations of US military assets, including ships and aircraft. Six US service members were killed in a drone attack on a US base in Kuwait on Sunday and the CIA station in Riyadh has also been hit. The Post said China did not appear to be aiding Iran&#39;s defenses. Russia and China have longstanding diplomatic and trade ties with Iran, while Russia has close military links to the country. Both Moscow and Beijing have criticized the US-Israeli war against Iran.

US says it is unconcerned over reports Russia sharing intelligence with Iran on American troop positions, asserting operations and military objectives continue

US 'not concerned' by reports Russia aiding Iran's targeting

Web Desk/AFP

Foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss 'Iranian attacks on the territories of several Arab countries'; the meeting was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt.


Iranian president says will not target neighboring countries unless attacked from there

BEIRUT: Three UN peacekeepers were wounded when their base in southern Lebanon was hit on Friday, the UN force and the Ghanaian military said, with Lebanon&#39;s president accusing Israel of targeting them. The attack came as Israel and Iran&#39;s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah exchanged fire after the Middle East war expanded into the country on Monday. &quot;Amidst heavy firing this evening, three peacekeepers were injured inside their base in... Qawzah&quot; in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement. &quot;The most severely injured has been transferred to a hospital in Beirut for treatment.&quot; Ghana&#39;s military said that its UNIFIL battalion headquarters came under &quot;two missile attacks,&quot; adding that &quot;two soldiers are critically injured, while one other has been traumatized.&quot;&quot;The officers&#39; mess facility also got hit and has been burnt down completely.&quot; Neither UNIFIL nor the Ghanaian army specified the source of the attack, but the international force said it will investigate the circumstances of the incident. &quot;It is unacceptable that peacekeepers performing (UN) Security Council-mandated tasks are targeted,&quot; it added. In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned &quot;Israeli attacks on Lebanon,&quot; adding that they had &quot;even reached the point of a direct assault on UNIFIL.&quot; French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the &quot;unacceptable attack&quot; on UNIFIL after speaking with his Lebanese and Syrian counterparts. &quot;France is working with its partners to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region,&quot; Macron said on X, highlighting the &quot;key stabilising role&quot; played by the UN force. In a post on X, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said that she was &quot;dismayed that our colleagues have suffered injuries and wishing them a full recovery&quot;. UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades and was assisting the Lebanese army while it was dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure near the Israeli border after the last war opposing the Iran-backed group and Israel in 2024. It plans to withdraw all troops from Lebanon by mid-2027.&nbsp;

Three UN peacekeepers were wounded when their base in southern Lebanon was hit on Friday, the UN force and the Ghanaian military said, with Lebanon's president accusing Israel of targeting them

Pakistan seal Hockey World Cup spot with 4-3 win over Japan

Latest News

Pakistan PM directs formulation of relief-focused plan amid global economic pressures

Nepal's Balendra Shah holds unassailable poll lead for seat: Commission figures

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan discuss halting Iranian attacks on Kingdom

Pakistan seal Hockey World Cup spot with 4-3 win over Japan

Pakistan security forces kill 15 terrorists in Balochistan operation: Military