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KSE-100 surges over 1,000 points on strong early trading

KSE-100 surges

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange opened strongly on the third trading day of the week, as bullish momentum drove the benchmark KSE-100 Index sharply higher.

In early trading, the index jumped by 1,018 points, reclaiming the key psychological level of 151,000. At the time of reporting, the KSE-100 was trading at 151,034 points.

The surge follows the previous session’s close at 150,016 points, reflecting renewed investor confidence and active buying interest in the market.

Meanwhile, Asian markets showed mixed trends amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 posted a nearly 3 percent gain, while Malaysia’s stock market advanced over 1.5 percent.

Conversely, Thailand’s market recorded a modest 1 percent rise, and China’s Shanghai Composite Index slipped slightly. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also experienced minor losses during trading.

Trump slams NATO as allies reject US call for support on Iran

Trump slams NATO

Washington: US President Donald Trump has reacted strongly after several allied nations declined requests for support amid escalating tensions involving Iran.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that the United States does not require assistance from its allies.

“As the president of a powerful country like the United States, I want to make it clear that we do not need anyone’s help,” he said.

However, Trump sharply criticized the NATO, calling its position a “foolish mistake” and stating that the alliance should have been present in the region during this critical time.

Responding to remarks by Emmanuel Macron, who ruled out participation in any operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Trump suggested that the French president may soon leave office.

Trump also named Japan, Australia, and South Korea, saying that while many nations agreed with U.S. actions toward Iran, they failed to support Washington when it mattered most.

Earlier, several countries—including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and China—had declined Trump’s request to assist in operations related to the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan offers to mediate between Iran and US amid rising tensions

Pakistan offers

Islamabad : Pakistan has offered to mediate between Iran and the United States in an effort to ease escalating regional tensions, according to Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar.

Speaking to Arab media, Tarar strongly condemned recent attacks on Iran and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Gulf countries.

He emphasized that Pakistan is willing to play an active role in de-escalation efforts and facilitate dialogue between Tehran and Washington.

“Pakistan is ready to mediate between Iran and the United States to reduce tensions,” Tarar said, adding that the country has previously played a constructive role in resolving international disputes through diplomacy.

Addressing regional security concerns, Tarar rejected allegations by the Afghan Taliban accusing Pakistan of targeting a hospital in Afghanistan.

He described the claims as baseless, stating that the Pakistan Army has not targeted civilian populations and that its operations have been focused solely on terrorist hideouts.

He further noted that misinformation campaigns have previously been attributed to the Afghan Taliban, reiterating Pakistan’s stance against terrorism.

In an earlier interview , Tarar said the Afghan Taliban regime must decide whether it stands with terrorists or with Pakistan. He added that many terrorist networks operating in Pakistan have links to bases in Afghanistan.

Pakistan maintains that its security operations are aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure and eliminating threats posed by cross-border terrorism.

Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani reportedly killed in attack

Senior Iranian official

Tehran : Iranian media has reported that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an alleged attack attributed to the United States and Israel.

According to official Iranian sources, Larijani’s death has been confirmed, with reports also stating that his son, Morteza Larijani, was killed in the same incident.

State affiliated media outlets claim that the attack took place in eastern Tehran, where Larijani had reportedly been visiting his daughter at the time.

A statement shared on Larijani’s official social media account expressed the news in religious terms, saying: “A servant of God has returned to God.” The message further addressed the Iranian people, Muslims worldwide, and “free people of the world,” announcing that “one of God’s servants has been martyred.”

There has been no immediate confirmation or response from U.S. or Israeli officials regarding these claims.

Further details have emerged following reports of the death of Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official, who was allegedly targeted in a strike claimed by Israel.

Prior to the reported attack, a handwritten message was shared on Larijani’s social media account, paying tribute to those martyred. Iranian sources later confirmed his death, describing it as a significant loss to the country’s leadership.

The Israeli military had earlier claimed responsibility for targeting Larijani at a location in Tehran, stating that Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij internal security force, was also killed in the same strike.

Experts warn that the development could have serious implications for regional stability. Sultan Barakat, Senior Professor of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said Larijani’s death is likely to make diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing tensions more difficult and prolonged.

According to Barakat, the incident may strengthen hardline elements within Iran’s political system, pushing the prospect of a negotiated settlement further out of reach.

Biography of Ali Larijani

Ali Larijani was born in Najaf and rose to prominence after joining Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Over the decades, he became one of the most influential figures in Iran’s political, legislative, and foreign policy spheres.

At 67, Larijani was considered a key figure in post-revolution Iranian politics and a member of a powerful religious and political family. He maintained close ties with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and was regarded as a trusted advisor on security matters.

Larijani also played a significant role during the Iran–Iraq War and held multiple high-ranking government positions. He served as Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) for 12 years and was previously Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator.

Known for his conservative yet relatively pragmatic stance, Larijani remained an influential figure in Iran’s domestic and international policymaking until his reported death.

PM Shehbaz tasks IB to monitor government austerity drive

PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assigned the Intelligence Bureau (IB) the task of overseeing the implementation of the government’s austerity campaign.

According to an official notification, the IB will monitor compliance with the austerity measures across federal ministries, divisions, and autonomous institutions.

The notification further stated that the bureau will also supervise the implementation of the austerity campaign in the secretariats of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan.

Under the directive, the IB will submit weekly reports on the progress of the government’s austerity measures to the prime minister and the relevant committee.

The prime minister has instructed authorities to ensure 100 percent implementation of the national austerity campaign.

Earlier, while chairing a meeting to review relief measures for the public, Shehbaz Sharif said that economic stability and public relief remain the government’s top priorities.

He added that due to timely decisions by the government, the country currently has an adequate supply of petroleum products, while nationwide measures to promote savings and austerity have already been implemented and further steps are underway.

Trump urges China, Japan to help secure Strait of Hormuz

Trump urges China

US President Donald Trump has once again called on China, Japan and other countries to help ensure the reopening and security of the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., Trump said US forces were rapidly dismantling Iran’s defense systems and had sunk boats allegedly involved in laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that only about one percent of US oil shipments pass through the strait, while a much larger share of oil for countries like China and Japan travels through the strategic waterway.

Trump said around 90 percent of China’s oil imports and 95 percent of Japan’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, along with about 35 percent of South Korea’s oil, urging these countries to send naval fleets to help secure the route.

The US president claimed that Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks had dropped by about 90 percent, adding that more than 100 Iranian naval vessels had been destroyed and the country’s naval forces severely weakened. He said over 7,000 commercial and military targets had been struck in Iran.

Trump also stated that US forces had destroyed 30 vessels allegedly used to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though he acknowledged it could not be confirmed with certainty whether Iran had actually laid mines there.

He further claimed that Iran’s naval and air defenses had been effectively neutralized, including the destruction of multiple military targets on Kharg Island. However, he added that Iranian oil facilities had not yet been targeted, though “all options remain open.”

Trump criticized some countries for not showing enough enthusiasm in assisting US efforts in the strait, saying the United States had protected many of them from external threats for decades.

The US president also said Iran had expressed interest in negotiations but that Washington was not ready for talks at the moment. He added that Iran’s nuclear program had suffered a “decisive blow” through an operation he referred to as “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

Trump also claimed that he had warned about Osama bin Laden before the September 11 attacks, suggesting the tragedy might have been prevented if his warnings had been heeded.

Shahid Afridi criticizes selection committee after Bangladesh series loss

Shahid Afridi

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sharply criticized the national selection committee following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup and a 1-2 series defeat against Bangladesh.

In a statement shared on X, Afridi expressed concerns that the selection committee members, despite having played extensive cricket themselves, lack understanding of which players are suited to captain specific formats.

He highlighted that senior cricketers were dropped from the squad based on T20 performances, even in the one-day format. Afridi also criticized the inclusion of young players under the pretext of “surgery,” stating that leadership decisions appear to be made by the committee rather than the team itself.

Afridi further argued that some of the selected youngsters have played only a few first-class matches, and Pakistan’s domestic cricket standards are not consistently producing players ready to immediately join the national squad.

These comments came shortly after Pakistan’s recent defeat to Bangladesh in the one-day series, underlining Afridi’s call for more strategic and experience-based selection policies.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s bold remarks on Bollywood ignite fresh debate

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Renowned Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has sparked a fresh debate about truth and storytelling in the Hindi film industry after delivering a blunt critique of modern cinema.

Speaking during an appearance on an Indian television program, Siddiqui criticized many contemporary films in Bollywood, calling them “fake” and accusing them of shaping the direction of Hindi cinema.

He said audiences today are intelligent enough to understand the reality behind the narratives presented in films. According to him, society should not be pushed in the wrong direction, emphasizing that truth remains extremely important.

Siddiqui added that viewers are well aware of the reality behind the stories being told in movies but often avoid openly discussing it.

When asked whether filmmakers should guide society through cinema during a time of global tensions, the actor responded that people today closely follow international events and understand how various narratives are constructed.

He reiterated that many films being produced are “fake” and that audiences are fully aware of what is happening around the world and the truth behind different narratives.

His remarks have reignited a long-standing debate in Bollywood about whether cinema should focus solely on entertainment or also remain closer to reality and truth.

‘One Battle After Another’ dominates Oscars with six awards

The film One Battle After Another dominated the Academy Awards, winning six trophies including Best Picture in one of the most competitive award seasons in recent years, defeating strong rival Sinners.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson personally won three Oscars—his first-ever Academy Awards—for the political thriller that explores issues such as immigration raids and white supremacy in the United States.

After receiving the Best Adapted Screenplay award, Anderson said he wrote the film for his children as a way of apologizing for the world his generation is leaving behind while encouraging hope that the next generation will bring wisdom and decency.

The film follows a former revolutionary struggling with addiction, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who faces off against the menacing Colonel Lockjaw, portrayed by Sean Penn, who won Best Supporting Actor. The film also secured awards for Best Editing and Best Casting.

Despite 11 previous nominations for films like There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights, Anderson had never won an Oscar until this year.

Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler’s vampire-themed drama Sinners—which explores America’s complex racial history—entered the ceremony with a record 16 nominations and won four awards.

These included Best Original Screenplay for Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, who played twin gangster brothers Smoke and Stack.

Jordan later told reporters backstage that he kept detailed journals to develop the backstories of both characters and highlight the subtle differences between them.

Other awards for Sinners included Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson and Best Cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw, making her the first woman to win in that category.

In other major wins, Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for her role as Agnes, William Shakespeare’s grieving wife, in Hamnet. She said winning the award on Mother’s Day in her home country of Ireland made the moment especially meaningful.

Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a deranged witch in the horror film Weapons. The Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value won Best International Feature Film, while K-Pop Demon Hunters claimed Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.”

Both One Battle After Another and Sinners were produced by Warner Bros., which dominated the night by winning 12 out of 24 awards at the ceremony.

‘One Battle After Another’ dominates Oscars with six awards

‘One Battle After Another’

The film One Battle After Another dominated the Academy Awards, winning six trophies including Best Picture in one of the most competitive award seasons in recent years, defeating strong rival Sinners.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson personally won three Oscars—his first-ever Academy Awards—for the political thriller that explores issues such as immigration raids and white supremacy in the United States.

After receiving the Best Adapted Screenplay award, Anderson said he wrote the film for his children as a way of apologizing for the world his generation is leaving behind while encouraging hope that the next generation will bring wisdom and decency.

The film follows a former revolutionary struggling with addiction, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who faces off against the menacing Colonel Lockjaw, portrayed by Sean Penn, who won Best Supporting Actor. The film also secured awards for Best Editing and Best Casting.

Despite 11 previous nominations for films like There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights, Anderson had never won an Oscar until this year.

Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler’s vampire-themed drama Sinners—which explores America’s complex racial history—entered the ceremony with a record 16 nominations and won four awards.

These included Best Original Screenplay for Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, who played twin gangster brothers Smoke and Stack.

Jordan later told reporters backstage that he kept detailed journals to develop the backstories of both characters and highlight the subtle differences between them.

Other awards for Sinners included Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson and Best Cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw, making her the first woman to win in that category.

In other major wins, Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for her role as Agnes, William Shakespeare’s grieving wife, in Hamnet. She said winning the award on Mother’s Day in her home country of Ireland made the moment especially meaningful.

Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a deranged witch in the horror film Weapons. The Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value won Best International Feature Film, while K-Pop Demon Hunters claimed Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.”

Both One Battle After Another and Sinners were produced by Warner Bros., which dominated the night by winning 12 out of 24 awards at the ceremony.