WASHINGTON:&nbsp;The Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence threat level for Israel to its highest level, US media reported on Saturday. The Pentagon&#39;s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) said Israel&#39;s &quot;ability to conduct human espionage and technical collection is at a &#39;critical level&#39;,&quot; NBC News said, citing US officials. The move came after concerns that Israel had been attempting to spy on top US officials to get information on &quot;the Trump administration&#39;s internal deliberations and decision-making on the conflicts in the Middle East,&quot; the American network said. The New York Times cited reports of Israeli efforts to eavesdrop on senior officials, including President Donald Trump&#39;s top negotiator, Steve Witkoff, and the Pentagon&#39;s top policy official, Elbridge Colby. The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, triggering the war. Since then, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s relationship appears to be under strain. Trump unleashed a tirade over the phone at Netanyahu over Israel&#39;s threats to bomb the Lebanese capital Beirut, fearing it would undermine talks with Tehran, the Axios news outlet and ABC News reported earlier in the week.

Middle East

The move comes after concerns that Israel is attempting to spy on top US officials to obtain information on 'the Trump administration’s internal deliberations and decision-making on the conflicts in the Middle East,' an American network says.

Pentagon raises threat of Israeli spying to 'critical': US media

TOKYO: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi&#39;s government backed on Wednesday $19 billion in additional spending to help Japanese households struggling with soaring everyday costs driven by the Iran war. The budget could reportedly be passed as soon as Friday in the legislature dominated by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and allies of Takaichi, who previously said the money would go toward easing petrol, electricity and gas costs. The extra budget was &quot;decided&quot; at a cabinet meeting, the prime minister&#39;s office said on its website. Top government spokesman Minoru Kihara told reporters at a news conference the cabinet had allocated 3.1135 trillion yen ($19 billion). That includes 2.5 trillion yen for a newly established &quot;contingency reserve&quot; for the situation in the Middle East, he said. &quot;Amid ongoing uncertainty in the situation in the Middle East, we have formulated this budget from the standpoint of minimizing risk,&quot; Kihara said. He added that the budget would allow for &quot;robust financial readiness&quot; and that the government would closely monitor future price trends to ensure that the daily lives of the public and economic activity are not disrupted. In May, leading potato chip maker Calbee unveiled a new grey packaging for 14 product lines, swapping its signature orange-and-yellow packets, with local media attributing the move to an ink shortage linked to the Iran war. Takaichi said the government expects to secure a stable supply of oil until next spring. She added that alternative supplies of naphtha, an oil byproduct used in a wide range of industries, from outside the Middle East, have recovered to more than 80% of their previous levels. Japan&#39;s central bank hiked its inflation forecasts in April and cut its growth projections after the Iran war sent oil prices soaring. Kihara said the supplementary budget would be covered by deficit-financing bonds. However, total bond issuance will not rise, he added, as some debt authorized in the previous fiscal year will not be issued due to expected tax revenues, among other factors.

Sanae Takaichi - (Photo: Sanae Takaichi's X Account)

Asia

Japan approved a ¥3.1 trillion ($19 billion) supplementary budget, including a large Middle East contingency fund, to cushion households from Iran war-driven rises in fuel, electricity, and gas costs.

Japan's govt backs $19B to dampen Iran war impact

BRUSSELS: At a plant near Frankfurt, Germany, hydrogen and CO2 sourced from a nearby chlorine factory and a biogas facility are piped into a reactor and -- after a few more steps -- converted into jet fuel. Interest in such synthetic propellants is growing as the Iran war pushes Europe to reassess its dependencies, raising hopes of a turnaround for the struggling sector, according to industry experts. The conflict &quot;made the business case for e-SAF much stronger,&quot; Mariano Berkenwald, head of strategy at Ineratec, the firm operating the Frankfurt facility, told AFP. Before the war squeezed Europe&#39;s jet fuel supplies, electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF), was largely touted for its climate friendly credentials. Doing away with oil can reduce planet-warming emissions from aviation by 90%, proponents say, with aviation itself responsible for up to 4% of all greenhouse gases released in the European Union. Brussels has made it a key component of a push to green up transport, mandating that fuel suppliers blend at least 1.2% of the stuff into the kerosene available at EU airports by 2030 and 35% by 2050. But the sector has struggled to take off, bogged down by high costs and low investments. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Zero&#39; to hero?&nbsp;</h2>Founded 10 years ago, Ineratec launched production last year -- and its small German facility is currently the only one in Europe making the propellant. About 40 more projects under development are stuck in a rut, unable to secure the funding needed to start production plants, said Camille Mutrelle of advocacy group Transport &amp; Environment. Europe needs roughly nine more factories to meet the 2030 target, but &quot;we still have zero,&quot; she said. Ineratec&#39;s plant churns out some 2,500 tons of fuel a year, enough to power only about 50 transatlantic flights. With the clock ticking, Brussels, which recently scaled down the ambition of other climate goals, notably for cars, has been under pressure to scrap the target, or at least the hefty fines suppliers would face for failing to meet it. The industry was braced for a review of the mandate due next year. It now believes&nbsp;the Iran war and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for global gas and oil, might have changed the momentum. Since its key ingredients can be sourced entirely in Europe, e-SAF has drawn attention from military forces, which worry about the ready availability of fuel to power fighter jets, helicopters and other vehicles -- and could pay a premium for it, according to Matteo Mirolo, an aviation consultant specializing in sustainable fuels. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Defense interest&nbsp;</h2>E-SAF costs about 10 times as much as kerosene, and even supporters concede it is unlikely to ever match the price of its fossil-fuel-based rival. Germany&#39;s armed forces recently tested Ineratec&#39;s fuel.&nbsp; And other governments have expressed interest in building capacity, said Mutrelle. &quot;The current crisis is a wake-up call regarding Europe&#39;s energy independence,&quot; said Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of Airlines for Europe, a civil aviation lobby group. Making sustainable fuels cheaper and more readily available should be &quot;an urgent strategic priority&quot;, she added. Supporters hope that securing government backing for the technology could finally persuade investors to bet on it. Doubts over the sector and low prospective returns meant that energy majors have so far largely stayed away, preferring to invest in biofuels, said Mutrelle. Derived from waste, these propellants are also part of the EU&#39;s climate plans. But production often relies on the import of waste oil and fat from China, which makes them less palatable from a security of supply perspective. Fuel manufacturing group FuelsEurope did not reply to a request for comment. The European Commission said it was considering establishing an EU financing mechanism for e-SAF to support its development. &quot;We need home-grown energy, including fuels and aviation fuels,&quot; a commission spokesperson said. Berkenwald of Ineratec said the company has been getting more calls of late, but they have yet to translate them into contracts. &quot;We are hopeful that that&#39;s where this is heading,&quot; he said.

Business

Interest in synthetic propellants is growing as the Iran war pushes Europe to reassess its dependencies, raising hopes of a turnaround for the struggling sector, according to industry experts.

Europe's green jet fuels see upside in Iran war

Web Desk

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;India&#39;s state-run oil companies raised petrol and diesel prices by more than 3% on Friday as disruption to energy supplies due to the Iran war mounts pressure on the economy, AFP reported.&nbsp; The increase marks the first hike in automobile fuel prices in India since the start of US-Israel war on Iran in February. India, the world&#39;s third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the vital waterway. In Delhi, petrol prices rose to 97.77 rupees ($1.02) per liter from 94.77 rupees, while diesel climbed to 90.67 rupees from 87.67, according to data from the Indian Oil Corporation. Rates vary across the country depending on local taxes. Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress (INC) posted on X on Friday that the people of the country must understand that, alongside the current international fuel crisis, the major reason for the economic crisis in India is the leadership crisis in the Modi government, the lack of visionary thinking, and incompetence that is overflowing to the brim. &#39;Modi-Govt-Made crisis&#39; &quot;This crisis is a Modi-Govt-Made crisis. The common people of the country are paying the price for it from their own pockets on petrol, diesel, and LPG,&quot; he further said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055154388818346299&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f9063bdf792bf1cb150a9b746b12014f1b142a17&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2055154388818346299"></iframe></div></div>Oil companies say they have been incurring losses due to higher global crude oil prices. The government had earlier raised prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a primary cooking fuel for millions of households. &quot;When diesel prices rise, it creates a cascading effect of inflation across the entire country. From industries to household budgets and farmers&mdash;everyone is badly affected,&quot; the INC president said. Further, Mallikarjun said in his post, &#39;When the West Asia War began, the country was told that &ldquo;sab changa si&rdquo; and the Congress party&#39;s questions were dismissed. No concrete steps were taken; instead, due to American &ldquo;Permission&rdquo; and &ldquo;Allow,&rdquo; our Sovereignty was put up as collateral&#39;.&quot;&nbsp; He said, &quot;Now, as the crisis is escalating, Modi ji has started rattling the toy of Work From Home and fuel conservation.&quot; Delhi&#39;s chief minister on Thursday said government offices will have two work-from-home days a week for those able to and urged residents to cut back on private vehicle use. India has ramped up imports of Russian crude to plug gaps in supplies from the Middle East, ship‑tracking and import data show, following a temporary US waiver on sanctions. But with the waiver set to end on Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticized &quot;unilateral coercive measures&quot;, without naming any country.

Petrol Station in India - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India

India raised petrol and diesel prices by over 3% for the first time since the Iran war began, as disrupted oil supplies and sanctions pressure fuel costs and strain the economy.

India hikes fuel prices as Middle East war strains supplies

Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Demand for rooftop solar systems in Europe has surged since the start of the Iran war, as households seek ways to cut electricity bills and shield themselves from another energy shock, Reuters reported on Thursday.&nbsp; The conflict has driven up oil, gas and power prices, renewing interest in home solar across several countries. The report said companies in Germany, Britain and the Netherlands have seen demand from homeowners more than double since the war began in late February.&nbsp; The rebound is striking because Europe&rsquo;s solar market weakened last year, with residential rooftop systems accounting for just 14% of new installations in 2025, about half their share in 2021. In Germany, solar wholesaler Solarhandel24 said its net sales more than tripled in March from a year earlier to nearly 70 million euros.&nbsp; The company expects another strong month in April and plans to hire about 85 more workers as orders continue to grow. To keep up, it has built stockpiles of around 500,000 solar panels. Company executives said the move was expensive, but justified by expectations of much higher demand this year. German energy firm Enpal also reported strong growth.&nbsp; Its orders rose 30% year-on-year in March to 130 million euros, while April was tracking for a 33% increase to about 120 million euros, driven mainly by rooftop systems. Batteries includedThe boom is spreading beyond solar panels alone.&nbsp; More households are now buying full systems that include batteries and electric-vehicle wallboxes, allowing them to store excess electricity and use it later, which is lifting demand for storage technology as well.&nbsp; Dutch industry group Holland Solar said demand for storage has climbed by 40% to 50%. There is also a major contradiction in Europe&rsquo;s energy transition.&nbsp; While homeowners are turning to solar to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, almost 90% of the solar panels used in these systems still come from China. Even so, some executives told Reuters this looks like more than a temporary spike.&nbsp; They said repeated geopolitical crises are making rooftop solar increasingly attractive not only as a way to lower bills, but also as a tool for energy security.

Europe

The conflict has driven up oil, gas and power prices, renewing interest in home solar across several countries.

Europe rooftop solar demand surges amid Iran war fallout

BEIJING: Russia&#39;s foreign minister said that his country could make up for China&#39;s energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is choked by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Russian state media reported Wednesday. &quot;Russia can, without a doubt, compensate for the shortfall in resources that has arisen&quot; for China and &quot;other countries that are interested in working with us&quot; Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference in Beijing, in response to a question about the Hormuz blockage. He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China in the first half of the year, Moscow&#39;s TASS state news agency reported. Russia and China&#39;s close economic and political partnership has deepened since Moscow&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov, who began a two-day visit to Beijing on Tuesday and met President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, characterised the bilateral relationship as &quot;unshakable in the face of any storms&quot;, Russia&#39;s TASS and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. Ties between the countries &quot;play a stabilising role in world affairs&quot; and are &quot;becoming increasingly important... for the global majority that does not want problems or turbulence&quot;, he said. Lavrov&#39;s visit comes during the same week as a string of foreign leaders meet with Xi in the Chinese capital, including To Lam of Vietnam and Pedro Sanchez of Spain.

China

Sergei Lavrov says Russia can offset China’s energy shortfall amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, as Moscow and Beijing deepen strategic ties.

Russia can 'compensate' for China's resource gap from Iran war

ISLAMABAD: World leaders on Wednesday publicly thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Messages on X from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern officials emphasized Islamabad&#39;s role as a crucial diplomatic channel in reducing tensions. The United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the announcement, calling on all the parties to comply with their &quot;obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.&quot; According to a statement issued by spokesperson St&eacute;phane Dujarric, the secretary-general expressed &quot;sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire.&quot; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she welcomed the ceasefire and &ldquo;thank[ed] Pakistan for its mediation,&rdquo; while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also said he welcomed the pause in fighting and thanked Pakistan for its role.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041755410290393255&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;European Council President Ant&oacute;nio Costa said he welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire announcement and urged all sides to uphold its terms to achieve a lasting outcome, while the European Union&rsquo;s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the deal as a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041784093843521606&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Portugal&rsquo;s foreign ministry also welcomed the ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, adding to a broader European chorus backing diplomacy over further military action.&nbsp;Support for Pakistan&rsquo;s role also came from beyond Europe. New Zealand said it welcomed the announcements by Washington and Tehran and all efforts to end the conflict, while Oman&rsquo;s foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire declaration and praised mediation efforts.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041684624091574750&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Kazakhstan&rsquo;s presidency said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the agreement on a full ceasefire and truce in the Middle East, reached with the assistance of international mediation.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041752473862598933&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=873a55453a537d0656fc6f405763375253472d25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 874px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Ukraine&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv welcomed the agreement to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and cease fire, as well as Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation efforts, underscoring how widely Islamabad&rsquo;s role was being acknowledged across different regions.&nbsp;Norway&rsquo;s foreign minister Espen Barth Eide likewise said the temporary ceasefire gave diplomacy a chance at a moment when the world had stood on the edge of a wider confrontation.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign ministry said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had been engaged with foreign counterparts as the ceasefire took shape.&nbsp;Taken together, the wave of public messages and statements shows that Pakistan has earned visible international recognition for its mediation efforts. Reaction from world leadersLeaders from Europe and East Asia welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, in a joint statement issued on Wednesday. In the statement, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, the European Commission, the European Council, and Japan jointly thanked Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this &ldquo;important agreement.&rdquo; &ldquo;The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means,&rdquo; the statement said. It also encouraged quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement, adding that this will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. &ldquo;It can avert a severe global energy crisis,&rdquo; it added. &ldquo;We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners,&rdquo; the statement said.

Foreign Affairs

World leaders from Europe, Asia and the Middle East publicly thanked Pakistan for helping mediate the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, underscoring Islamabad’s diplomatic role in opening channels for de-escalation, easing tensions and supporting renewed dialogue during a dangerous regional crisis.

‘Islamabad Diplomacy’ hailed as world leaders praise Pakistan’s Iran mediation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced sweeping fuel subsidies and relief measures to shield citizens from increasing global oil prices driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict, as the government intensifies efforts to manage economic fallout. In a televised address, PM Sharif acknowledged the growing burden on households and farmers as energy prices spike worldwide. &ldquo;I am addressing you once again in these difficult times when war is raging in the Gulf and the prices of oil are skyrocketing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It is a bitter reality that the poor are suffering and the farmers are facing new challenges.&rdquo; The measures come as Pakistan faces rising import costs and supply pressures amid instability in key energy routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed global oil prices sharply higher and strained economies across Asia. The prime minister said his government had delayed passing on the full impact of rising oil prices to consumers over the past three weeks. &ldquo;I have not considered it appropriate to burden you with the prices of oil&hellip; because I know very well how a common man in Pakistan spends his life,&rdquo; he said. As part of the new relief package, the prime minister announced a significant reduction in petrol prices. &ldquo;I am announcing a reduction of Rs80 [$0.29] per liter in the price of petrol&hellip; the price&hellip; will be reduced to Rs 378 [$1.36] per liter,&rdquo; he said, adding the cut would remain in place for at least one month. The government also introduced targeted subsidies aimed at easing transport and agricultural costs. Motorbike users and public and goods transport will receive Rs100 ($0.36) per liter support, while small and large transport operators will be provided monthly subsidies to offset rising fuel expenses. Support has also been extended to farmers, with Rs1,500 ($5.39) per acre announced to help mitigate the impact of higher input costs. Officials say the measures are being financed partly through adjustments such as levies on higher-end fuel consumption and broader fiscal reprioritization, allowing relief to be directed toward lower- and middle-income groups. The announcement follows a series of high-level consultations involving federal and provincial leadership, aimed at coordinating a national response to the crisis. &ldquo;There was a lot of discussion&hellip; a comprehensive program was announced,&rdquo; PM Sharif said, highlighting efforts to ensure supply stability and avoid shortages seen in other countries. Additional steps have been rolled out across the country. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said public transport in Islamabad would be free for 30 days, with the government covering Rs350 million ($1.26 million) in costs. Provincial authorities have also introduced parallel measures. In Punjab, free public transport has been announced across major systems, while other regions are implementing targeted subsidies for commuters and fuel users. PM Sharif stated that the government would continue efforts to cushion the impact of the crisis. &ldquo;We will not rest until you return to your daily life in peace and tranquility,&rdquo; he said. The developments highlight how the conflict has extended beyond the battlefield, driving inflationary pressures and forcing governments to adopt emergency economic measures to protect vulnerable populations.

Economy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announces fuel subsidies, petrol price cuts and free public transport to ease inflation pressures, as surging global oil prices driven by the Iran war strain Pakistan’s economy and household budgets.

Pakistan unveils fuel relief, free transport as oil prices surge

PARIS: Beneath a hail of bombs, few Iranians have the heart to prepare for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, as war casts a shadow across the country. &ldquo;People just aren&rsquo;t thinking about it,&rdquo; said a resident of the northern city of Bukan, reached by phone from Paris. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the first time in my life that I&rsquo;ve forgotten how to grow sabzeh,&rdquo; a mother said, referring to the sprouted lentils grown for Nowruz. Yet the holiday is a central moment in Persian culture, typically marked by weeks of anticipation. Nowruz, meaning &ldquo;new day,&rdquo; will ring in the year 1405 on the Persian calendar and the arrival of spring on the afternoon of March 20. But this year, the festive spirit eludes many. The dazzling &ldquo;fire festival&rdquo; (Chaharshanbe Suri) that kicks off the holiday season will be closely watched on Tuesday evening. It is the first moment for Iranians to gather in public outside state-organized rallies in support of the authorities. On the night of bonfires, Iranians jump over flames to ward off misfortune and welcome renewal. Over the past two decades, the ancient celebration has become a powerful outlet for young people despite the disapproval of authorities and much of the Shia clergy, who deem it a &ldquo;pagan&rdquo; ritual. Whether Iranians will be allowed to gather at all this year is unclear. Security forces are out in large numbers across major cities and the country remains in a 40-day mourning period following the death of supreme leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war. &ldquo;Normally in the days before Nowruz, everyone is cleaning their home and getting ready for the holiday,&rdquo; the Bukan resident said. &ldquo;This year that feeling is completely gone.&rdquo; &lsquo;The children know&rsquo; In Tehran and many other cities, bazaars &mdash; typically the heart of pre-holiday life &mdash; are nearly empty. Many shops and markets remain shut two weeks after the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. In Piranshahr, in the northwest, &ldquo;the lively, energetic mood of past years has disappeared,&rdquo; said a 40-year-old man, also contacted by AFP from Paris and requesting anonymity. The downturn is another blow to shopkeepers who normally make much of their annual income during the pre-Nowruz rush. &ldquo;My cousin has a clothing shop, but he hasn&rsquo;t been able to open because it&rsquo;s in a city where there are many explosions,&rdquo; said a resident of the capital Tehran. A 48-year-old Afghan migrant who has returned home to seek safety said the streets and bazaars should be packed at this time. &ldquo;But when I went to the market, I didn&rsquo;t see anyone.&rdquo; Even so, many families are trying to find some joy for their children, for whom Nowruz is also a holiday of gifts and treats. &ldquo;I have a six-year-old boy who has no real sense of the war. All he wants are new clothes, sweets and traditional cakes for Nowruz,&rdquo; the Bukan resident said. &ldquo;People try to buy chocolates and snacks for their kids. They want to reassure them,&rdquo; said a father living near Tehran. &ldquo;But the children know and understand everything.&rdquo;

As war devastates Iran, Nowruz feels distant. Iranians struggle to prepare amidst bombings and loss, with empty bazaars and halted traditions. Despite hardships, families seek to create small moments of joy for children.

Persian new year looms as war steals Iranians’ joy

ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that US military bases across the Middle East could be targeted if they are used to launch attacks against Iran, in his first public message since assuming power during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. The written statement, broadcast on Iranian state television and read by a presenter while a still image of Khamenei appeared on screen, comes nearly two weeks after the war began following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. In the message, the new Iranian leader said Tehran had already targeted military installations used in attacks against the country and warned that further strikes could follow. &ldquo;In the recent attack some military bases were used,&rdquo; Khamenei said in the statement. &ldquo;As we had clearly warned, and without attacking those countries themselves, we targeted only those bases.&rdquo; &ldquo;From now on we will be forced to continue doing this,&rdquo; he added. Khamenei also urged governments across the region to reconsider hosting foreign forces. &ldquo;These countries must determine their position toward those who have attacked our homeland and killed our people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I recommend they close those bases as soon as possible.&rdquo; The message marks Khamenei&rsquo;s first official statement since becoming Iran&rsquo;s third supreme leader after the death of his father during the opening wave of strikes that triggered the widening regional war. Although the statement addressed the nation and regional governments, it was not delivered in person and Iranian authorities have not released video or audio of the new leader, leaving questions about his whereabouts and condition following the strikes that killed the previous leadership. In the written message, Khamenei praised Iran&rsquo;s armed forces and called for continued resistance against what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel. &ldquo;The demand of the masses of the people is the continuation of effective and regret-inducing defense,&rdquo; he said. He also signaled that Iran would continue to use strategic pressure points in the conflict, including the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. &ldquo;Certainly the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used,&rdquo; he wrote. Khamenei added that Iranian officials were studying the possibility of expanding the conflict into additional fronts if the war continued. &ldquo;Studies have been conducted regarding the opening of other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and is highly vulnerable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Activating them will take place if the state of war continues and if it serves our interests.&rdquo; The statement also vowed continued retaliation for Iranian casualties during the war. &ldquo;We will not ignore revenge for the blood of your martyrs,&rdquo; Khamenei said. &ldquo;Every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy becomes an independent case for revenge.&rdquo; The conflict has rapidly widened across the region since the initial strikes on Iran, with missile attacks, drone operations and clashes involving allied groups spreading across multiple fronts and raising fears of a broader Middle East war.

 Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei

In his first message since taking power, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows continued military resistance, threatens retaliation for “martyrs,” and says Tehran may open additional fronts while keeping the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.

Articles tagged with "Iran War"

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‘Islamabad Diplomacy’ hailed as world leaders praise Pakistan’s Iran mediation

Pakistan unveils fuel relief, free transport as oil prices surge

Persian new year looms as war steals Iranians’ joy

Iran leader warns US bases in region could face attacks

Pentagon raises threat of Israeli spying to 'critical': US media