|

Houthis strike Saudi Aramco refinery following historic defence pact with Pakistan and Turkey

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched a drone strike against Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery, just two days after Saudi Arabia signed a tripartite defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan to bolster regional deterrence.

The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed that emergency crews extinguished a fire resulting from the drone strike at the 400,000-barrel-per-day facility, reporting no casualties or disruptions to operations.

The Houthis also executed combined missile and drone strikes against the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Mocha, killing seven people and damaging critical maritime infrastructure near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

The newly forged Saudi alliance with Pakistan and Turkey specifies that an armed aggression against one signatory constitutes an attack on all, though member states have not yet detailed any operational military response.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the Red Sea strikes targeted Saudi military assets and ammunition stores, framing the operations as part of an ongoing naval blockade against the kingdom.

The escalating attacks in the Red Sea further complicate global energy transport, depriving Saudi Arabia of key alternative routes while regional access through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Police arrest suspect in the murder of British woman

      Authorities in Greece have detained a suspect in connection with the brutal murder of 38-year-old British national Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was discovered inside a suitcase in Athens. The case has attracted significant public attention due to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the crime and the victim’s humanitarian work. According to police, Elizabeth Jane Ross had been visiting Greece for several years and was well known for her involvement with organizations that supported refugees and other vulnerable communities. Through her humanitarian efforts, she worked with various charities and non-governmental organizations dedicated to assisting people in need. Friends and colleagues described her as a compassionate and caring individual who devoted much of her time to helping disadvantaged groups. The investigation began after a homeless man discovered a suspicious suitcase in a car park in the Kypseli district of Athens on 18 July. After noticing the abandoned luggage, he alerted the authorities, who responded to the scene and opened the suitcase. Police were shocked to find the body of a woman inside. The victim was later identified as Elizabeth Jane Ross through official procedures. Following the discovery, Greek police launched an extensive investigation involving forensic experts, detectives, and crime scene specialists. Investigators collected evidence from the suitcase and surrounding area in an effort to determine the identity of the perpetrator and reconstruct the events leading up to the murder. According to reprts, the suspect is a 26-year-old Afghan national who was taken into custody in central Athens. Police believe he may have been directly involved in the killing of Elizabeth Jane Ross. During the initial stages of

  • | |

    PML-N MNA Malik Iqbal Channar dies after prolonged…

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the National Assembly Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar passed away after battling a prolonged illness, his family confirmed on Saturday. His death has been met with grief across political circles, with leaders and supporters paying tribute to his decades of public and political service. According to his family, Malik Iqbal Channar had been ill for several weeks. During his illness, he suffered a brain haemorrhage and was admitted to hospital, where doctors performed surgery in an effort to save his life. Despite medical treatment, he could not recover and passed away. Malik Iqbal Channar was serving as a member of the National Assembly from the NA-168 Bahawalpur constituency. He was considered a senior politician in the region and remained closely associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for many years. Throughout his political career, Channar actively participated in public welfare initiatives and maintained close contact with his constituents. He was known within the party as a loyal worker and a committed representative who remained dedicated to serving the people. Following the news of his death, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound sorrow and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. In his condolence message, the prime minister praised the late lawmaker’s political, social and public contributions. He said Malik Iqbal Channar devoted his life to serving the people and strengthening the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz through his commitment and hard work. Shehbaz Sharif said the country had lost a sincere public representative whose services would be remembered with respect. He described Channar as a loyal and ideological worker of the PML-N and a trusted companion of party president Nawaz Sharif. The prime minister also recalled his personal association with the late parliamentarian. He said he had the opportunity to know Malik Iqbal Channar personally and work alongside him on several occasions during his tenure in the Punjab government. He added that Channar’s loyalty, dedication and commitment to both the party and the people would always be remembered. The prime minister prayed for the departed soul and asked Allah Almighty to grant patience and strength to his family during this difficult time. The passing of Malik Iqbal Channar marks the end of a long political career spent in public service. His death has created a sense of loss among party workers, political colleagues and residents of Bahawalpur, many of whom remembered him as a dedicated leader who remained connected to his constituency throughout his time in office.

  • | |

    US vows unprecedented economic pressure on Iran

    WASHINGTON: The United States hUS vows unprecedented economic pressure on Iranas warned that it will introduce an unprecedented package of economic measures against Iran as Washington prepares to intensify pressure on Tehran amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said further announcements were expected next week, describing the planned measures as unlike anything previously used against a country facing economic isolation. Bessent said the new strategy would combine tougher economic restrictions with continued efforts to prevent Iranian ports from receiving or sending goods. He indicated that Washington intended to use economic pressure alongside restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, said the American military was capable of maintaining a naval presence in the region for an indefinite period to enforce the blockade. He said US naval vessels could be rotated in and out of the region to sustain the operation. The confrontation comes as attempts to revive a ceasefire agreement have faltered. Iran has sought to use its position around the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against Washington, while the United States has continued to tighten economic pressure on Tehran. The waterway has become a major flashpoint because of its importance to global energy supplies. Before the conflict began, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the strait. Shipping activity has since fallen sharply, raising concerns over supplies, prices and the wider global economy. Two vessels belonging to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were also attacked while transiting the strait, according to the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency. The UAE government blamed Iran for the incident. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Washington has control over the strategic waterway. Iran, however, has rejected that assertion and maintained that the strait will not fully reopen unless its demands are addressed. Tehran has called for the removal of economic sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The prolonged confrontation is also putting pressure on the global energy market. The International Energy Agency has revised its forecast for global oil supply, warning that production could fall by about 4.3 million barrels per day this year. Oil prices declined by more than 2% on Thursday as markets reacted to expectations of weaker demand and a rise in US crude inventories. However, renewed attacks in the region continued to fuel fears that the conflict could spread further. The economic consequences are becoming increasingly serious. Economists have warned that a prolonged war could weaken global growth and increase the risk of recession in some economies. Hegseth declined to say whether declaring a ceasefire earlier in the year had been a mistake. He said the administration remained focused on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and insisted that the United States was taking the steps it considered necessary to achieve that objective.

  • | |

    Noah Kahan slams White House over unauthorised song use.

    Noah Kahan has become the latest musician to publicly push back against the Trump administration after the White House used his music without permission, joining a growing list of artists who have objected to their songs being used in administration social media content. The dispute began when the White House posted photographs and video to both Instagram and TikTok showing President Trump touring General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground in Michigan. The posts were set to Kahan’s song American Cars, taken from his chart-topping album The Great Divide. The pairing was clearly intended to evoke a sense of American pride and manufacturing strength, but the artist whose voice and music gave the posts their soundtrack had not been consulted and had not given his approval. Fans were quick to notice and quickly alerted Kahan by tagging him in the comments. His response was direct and unambiguous. “Would never approve of my music being used in support of you or this administration,” he wrote beneath the post. The comment rapidly accumulated tens of thousands of likes, suggesting the sentiment resonated well beyond Kahan’s own fanbase. His frequent collaborator and co-writer on the track, guitarist Noah Levine, also left a response of his own beneath the White House post. His comment was reportedly more direct in its language than Kahan’s, though it was subsequently removed. At the time of publication, the song itself remained attached to the White House’s video despite both objections. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on Kahan’s objection. The incident is part of a pattern that has become increasingly familiar during the Trump administration’s social media operations. Just days before Kahan spoke out, Katy Perry criticised the White House for using her 2010 hit Firework in a TikTok post featuring footage of military strikes. “I’m deeply appalled and angry,” she wrote, adding that she had not approved its use and had not even been asked. Ariana Grande raised similar concerns in June after a version of her song Bye appeared in a White House TikTok post depicting ICE arrests. The list of artists who have previously objected to the administration’s use of their music is extensive. Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Celine Dion, Neil Young and the Rolling Stones have all at various points voiced comparable complaints, reflecting a consistent tension between an administration that appears to deploy popular music as a tool of political imagery and the musicians whose work is being used without their knowledge or consent. For Kahan, the issue was clearly not simply procedural but personal. His response made clear that the objection was not only about the absence of permission but about the specific association itself, one he said he would never willingly choose.

  • | |

    CM Maryam Nawaz orders daily 5am Road cleaning acr…

    LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to intensify sanitation efforts across the province, ordering daily early-morning washing of major roads and improved cleanliness in housing societies, markets and residential areas. Chairing a review meeting on the Suthra Punjab programme, the chief minister instructed officials to ensure effective waste management in both cooperative and private housing societies. She also directed the introduction of uniform dustbins and garbage bags in commercial areas, along with fixed schedules for waste removal. Maryam ordered the daily washing and cleaning of main roads at 5am and stressed that sanitation efforts must extend beyond major thoroughfares to streets, neighbourhoods and vacant plots. Authorities were also told to ensure door-to-door garbage collection across Punjab. The chief minister directed that Suthra Punjab workers receive their salaries by the fifth of every month and called for monthly reports to verify timely payments. She also ordered the early clearance of contractors’ outstanding dues and warned of immediate action if delays in workers’ salaries occurred. Special attention was ordered for areas surrounding schools, colleges, universities and hospitals, as well as parks and green belts. Officials were directed to remove discarded bottles, juice boxes and other waste from these locations. Maryam further instructed authorities to improve sanitation around railway tracks in urban areas and ensure that the entry and exit points of cities are cleaned regularly. Deputy commissioners were asked to maintain close coordination with contractors and the managing directors of Water and Sanitation Authorities to monitor progress. The chief minister also called for uniform standards for field monitoring officers and directed that their motorcycles carry proper branding. Standard operating procedures are to be developed to evaluate sanitation performance at every level, from field workers to senior officers, with particular attention to cleanliness in fruit and vegetable markets. She directed that contractors violating sanitation standards should initially be given 24 hours to correct shortcomings before any financial penalty is imposed. “Imposing fines is not our objective; the focus should be on ensuring cleanliness,” she said, while calling for zero tolerance against persistent negligence. The chief minister also ordered regular cleaning of Suthra Punjab vehicles, waste containers and collection points. She praised sanitation efforts in Lahore, Khanewal, Okara, Attock, Kasur and Murree but directed teams in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and other areas to improve their performance. Maryam Nawaz said the next review meeting would be held the following week to evaluate implementation of the directives and measure progress under the province-wide cleanliness campaign.

  • |

    SEF, Sindh Boy Scouts launch initiative to expand scouting across Foundation-assisted schools*

    KARACHI: The Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), Government of Sindh has initiated a collaboration with the Sindh Boy Scouts Association by holding a Group Scout Leadership Seminar aimed at promoting leadership, discipline and community service among students enrolled in Foundation Assisted Schools. The seminar, held at the Sindh Boy Scouts Association headquarters in Karachi, brought together representatives from 32 Foundation Assisted Schools, including head teachers, faculty members and students. The event was attended by SEF Managing Director Gahanwer Ali Laghari, Deputy Managing Director Shahpara Rizvi, Regional Head Karachi Ashfaque Hussain Meerani, senior directors, assistant directors and other officials. The Sindh Boy Scouts Association was represented by Provincial Scout Secretary Syed Akhter Meer, and other office-bearers. Addressing the seminar, Provincial Scout Secretary Syed Akhter Meer welcomed the participation of SEF schools and said introducing students to the history and values of scouting would encourage them to become part of a global movement focused on leadership, character building and service. He also recalled the support extended to the scouting movement by the late Prof Dr Anita Ghulam Ali during her tenure at SEF, saying it was encouraging to witness the Foundation continuing the same commitment under the leadership of Managing Director Gahanwer Ali Laghari. Participants were also briefed on the history of the scouting movement in Sindh, its achievements and future roadmap through a presentation highlighting the organisation’s contribution to youth development. Former senior bureaucrat Ghulam Ali Pasha said leadership and discipline could not be developed through classroom education alone, stressing that scouting provides young people with practical exposure to teamwork, responsibility and community service. He described such initiatives as essential for preparing students to become confident and responsible leaders. Speaking on the occasion, SEF Managing Director Gahanwer Ali Laghari said the Foundation’s mandate extended beyond improving access to education and academic outcomes. “Alongside quality education, we want our students to develop leadership, discipline and a sense of responsibility. Through scouting, they will have an opportunity to become part of an international movement that promotes these values,” he said. Laghari announced that SEF and the Sindh Boy Scouts Association would jointly organise a series of scouting activities across Foundation Assisted Schools throughout the province. He said the initiative had been launched with schools in Karachi and would gradually be expanded to all SEF-supported schools. “Our objective is to engage the entire network of Foundation Assisted Schools, and we are hopeful that within the next one-and-a-half years, scouting activities will be introduced across the province,” he added. The initiative is expected to provide students with greater opportunities for leadership development, teamwork and community engagement alongside their academic education.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *