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When a memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to bring the Iran war to a formal close within sixty days was announced on June 14, the world, particularly Asian economies dependent on Gulf oil, breathed relief. The Strait of Hormuz, which had been largely shut to shipping since late February, seemed to be slowly reopening, and oil prices retreated from their crisis peaks. The damage the conflict had inflicted on Asian economies — on growth, household budgets, and government finances — appeared to be contained as the ceasefire, no matter how fragile, between the US and Iran spawned hopes of a lasting peace in the region, which supplies around 90 per cent of energy to the Asian economies. But, barely a month into the ceasefire, fresh hostilities broke out between the US and Iran. Though Pakistan and other mediators have kept pushing both to return to the MoU — a 14-point framework under which Washington and Tehran agreed to halt hostilities and reopen H...

RAWALPINDI: People receive ballot papers from election officials as they wait to cast their votes at a polling station in Millat Colony, during the second phase of elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly.—Online • Initial tally shows ‘N’ leading second phase of elections • PPP set to win two refugee, two territorial seats; alleges widespread rigging • Polling in two constituencies postponed till tomorrow • Sporadic violence hits AJK capital • Bilawal says PML-N ‘crossed all limits’, accuses party of using violence • Azma eyes victory, says voters ‘deeply impressed’ by Maryam’s performance as CM MUZAFFARABAD: The PML-N appeared in a comfortable position to consolidate its lead over the PPP in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly after unofficial results from the AJK polls’ second phase showed it ahead in most contests, including the refugee seats spread across Pakistan. By late Sunday night, the Election Commission ha...

As rescuers recovered the body of climbing legend Nirmal Purja on Sunday, grief rippled hundreds of kilometres away in Nepal at the school where he first displayed the grit that would make him world-famous. At the Small Heaven School in Chitwan district, friends, teachers and students gathered around a framed photograph of the 43-year-old British-Nepali climber, adorned with flowers. Lighting candles, they shared with AFP their memories of the boy they knew long before he became one of the most celebrated figures in modern mountaineering. “When he was missing, we were praying for him and spent sleepless nights,” Dhiraj Bahadur Panta, a school friend of Purja, told AFP , his voice quivering with emotion. “It was not only me and my friends. I think people all over the world who knew him… prayed for him. But it was his fate; no one could avoid it.” Purja was killed alongside nine other climbers after they were caught in a deadly avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak on Thursday. News ...

• US embassies urge citizens to ‘consider departing’ the region • Iran says any country acting as US defensive shield will be engulfed by flames of war • Official insists Tehran planning for worst-case scenarios • 30 commercial vessels redirected by US naval blockade, says Centcom • Tanker struck by ‘unknown projectile’ off Oman; Kuwait destroys hostile drones • Houthis deny plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red Sea TEHRAN: United States embassies in capitals across the Middle East urged Ame­rican citizens to beware of an “unforeseen escalation” in the regional conflict and asked them to be ready to leave on Saturday as Iran’s military accused the US of “escalating tensions” in the region and warned countries against cooperating with Washington. US embassies in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates posted the alerts online. “Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart ...

MUZAFFARABAD: Polling for the second phase of elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will be held on Sunday in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan, where more than 340 candidates are contesting 21 seats. According to the AJK Election Commission, 207 candidates are in the fray for the nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division, comprising five seats in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts. Another 137 candidates are contesting the 12 refugee constituencies, including six seats representing refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six from Jammu. A total of 809,621 voters are registered in Muzaffarabad division, including 427,955 men and 381,666 women. The 12 refugee constituencies have a combined electorate of 438,834, comprising 247,776 male and 191,054 female voters. Internet services were suspended again on Friday, less than 45 hour...