The UAE has asked Pakistan to repay a $2 billion loan due to rising tensions in the Middle East. Reports said the request followed the US-Israel conflict with Iran. The money was kept with Pakistan’s central bank as a deposit. Pakistan will return the amount by the end of this month. Officials said the country has been paying about 6 per cent interest. In the past, the UAE extended the deposit yearly. Pakistan has over $21 billion in reserves. However, it may need more external funding soon to manage its financial needs in the coming months. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it has “48 hours before all hell” breaks out. He reminded Iran of a deadline to make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said “time is running out” as the deadline nears. He claimed Iran had asked for more time, and he extended it to 10 days. Iran has rejected the US proposal, calling it unfair. Trump also warned of possible attacks on energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the region. Iran’s parliament speaker hinted at action on another key shipping route, raising concerns over global trade disruption. (PC: AP)

A US F-15 fighter jet has been shot down over Iran. One pilot has been rescued, but another remains missing. Search operations are ongoing. Iran has reportedly offered a reward for the pilot’s capture. US President Donald Trump warned that “time is running out” for Iran to make a deal. He said Iran has 48 hours before strong action. Meanwhile, airstrikes near the Iran-Iraq border killed an Iraqi civilian and injured others. Iraq has closed a key border crossing after the attack. Gas supplies from Iran to southern Iraq have also stopped. Tensions continue to rise in the region.

A Russian drone attack hit a market in Nikopol, southern Ukraine, killing five people. At least 21 others were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. Officials said the strike happened in a “busy spot” on Saturday morning. Images showed damaged kiosks and debris across the market. Ukraine said the attack is being treated as a war crime. The town has faced frequent shelling since the war began. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched strikes on Russia, killing one person in Taganrog. Both sides reported heavy drone attacks overnight. Efforts to reach a ceasefire have stalled, with fighting continuing across multiple regions. (PC: Reuters)

A strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant killed one person on Saturday. Iranian media said the victim was a security staff member. This is the fourth strike near the site since the conflict began. A building was also damaged, but officials said there was no radiation leak. The IAEA chief warned that nuclear sites “must never be targeted.” He said even nearby buildings may hold critical safety systems. Iran’s foreign minister criticised the US and Israel over repeated attacks. He warned of serious regional risks. Russia has called for a temporary ceasefire to safely evacuate its workers from the plant next week.

Iran said it is open to mediation talks with the United States in Islamabad. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “We have never refused to go to Islamabad.” He thanked Pakistan for its efforts. He added that Iran wants “a conclusive and lasting end” to the war. Reports earlier claimed Iran delayed the process. Pakistan rejected those claims, calling them “baseless” and a “figment of imagination.” Officials said there was a misunderstanding. Pakistan is trying to broker peace between the US, Israel, and Iran. Talks have not succeeded yet. Fighting continues, with attacks on key sites and rising tensions in the region. (PC: AP)

A major escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict saw Iran launch a ballistic missile carrying cluster munitions toward central Israel, striking areas near Tel Aviv. The attack caused a building collapse in Ramat Gan and widespread infrastructure damage, including power outages in nearby regions. Submunitions scattered across multiple locations, damaging roads, industrial zones, and civilian areas. Emergency teams rushed to defuse unexploded bomblets as fires broke out and residents took shelter in bunkers. Israeli defense systems were activated amid continued strikes, highlighting growing concerns over the use of cluster weapons and the intensifying scale of the conflict.

Amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, Iran has raised concerns about a potential second global trade disruption by signalling risks around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, after tensions already choked the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is vital for oil and cargo flows between Asia and Europe. Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have warned of possible naval blockades, indicating a coordinated escalation strategy. Experts warn that simultaneous disruption of both chokepoints could severely impact global energy supplies, trade routes, and inflation, particularly for import-dependent nations like India, raising fears of a wider economic shock. (PC: MSN)

Iran has firmly rejected Pakistan’s attempt to mediate peace talks with the United States, calling Washington’s demands “unacceptable” and refusing to engage in negotiations in Islamabad. The move highlights a deep trust deficit and effectively stalls diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Iran has intensified military actions, reportedly launching its 83rd wave of counter-strikes, signaling further escalation. Tensions have worsened following reports of a downed US aircraft and a missing American airman. While Qatar may emerge as a potential mediator, the situation remains volatile with no immediate resolution in sight. (PC: MSN)

U.S. President Donald Trump’s frustration over European allies refusing to support the U.S.-led Iran war has pushed NATO into a deep crisis. Several NATO countries declined to deploy naval forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Trump to question the alliance’s value and even consider withdrawing the United States. The tensions have shaken transatlantic relations, with analysts warning NATO faces one of its most serious challenges in decades. European nations are now reassessing their security independence, while U.S. actions—alongside disagreements over global conflicts—have further strained unity within the alliance. (PC: Reuters)