Saturday, September 19th, 2026
US working to keep Strait of Hormuz open and secure: CENTCOM chief
WASHINGTON: The US military is continuously working to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and secure, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper said, adding that Iran had not exported a single barrel of oil due to strict US sanctions. Cooper said the US military had facilitated the exit of more than one billion barrels of crude oil through the strategic waterway over the past two months. He added that US forces had helped more than 2,000 commercial vessels pass through the strait, while key transit routes remained clearRead More
EU urges US to reconsider visa denial to Palestinian delegation for UN meeting
NEW YORK, SEP 19: The European Union said on Saturday it regretted Washington’s decision to deny visas for the second year running to Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, urging a rethink. “In light of its existing headquarters agreements with the UN and its obligations as host state, we urge the United States for this decision to be reconsidered,” said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesman for the EU’s diplomatic service.
In call with Iran’s Araghchi, Dar stresses need for uninterrupted energy supplies
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday stressed the importance of “uninterrupted energy supplies” and the safe and expeditious passage of ships, particularly given their implications for developing countries and global supply chains. The deputy prime minister made the remarks during a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said the Foreign Office (FO). In a statement posted on X, the Foreign Office said that the two agreed to maintain close cooperation and to meet in New York on the sidelines of the 81st UN GeneralRead More
Govt abolishes five-litre petrol limit per token in PM’s relief scheme
ISLAMABAD, SEP 19: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima on Saturday announced three major changes to the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme to facilitate beneficiaries, particularly motorcycle, rickshaw and Qingqi users. Addressing a media briefing, the minister said the eligibility of the scheme had been extended to motorcycles registered from January 1, 2006, instead of the previous 2011 cut-off. She said the decision was taken in response to feedback received from citizens and journalists regarding the eligibility of older motorcycles. Fatima said the Rs500-per-token limit for two-Read More
D-8 chief highlights openness, connectivity for Asia-Pacific growth
Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood Represents D-8 At Boao Forum For Asia High-Level Events In China ISTANBUL, SEP 19 /DNA/ – At the invitation of Zhang Jun, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), the Developing-8 Organisation Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood participated in two major high-level events in Haikou, China, from 15-17 September 2026. These included the Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation Roundtable; and the 2026 Haikou Conference of the Global Health Forum. The Secretary-General also had productive bilateral interactions on the sidelines with leading participants from a cross-section — aimed atRead More
Dar chairs national steering committee on fuel subsidy review
ISLAMABAD, SEP 19 /DNA/ – Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy to review the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Special Relief Scheme. The Committee was informed that overwhelming majority of fuel stations across the country are now operational on the system, and citizens are redeeming fuel tokens. Registration continues nationwide through sms to 9771. The Committee approved redemption of fuel tokens through SMS for stations located in areas without internet connectivity. Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and theRead More