Strait of Hormuz

US Military Announces End to Maritime Blockade of Iranian Ports

by with No Comment World

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the end of the maritime blockade imposed on Iran’s ports and coastal areas, stating that US forces will no longer interfere with vessels entering or leaving the country.

In a statement, CENTCOM said that, in accordance with instructions issued by President Donald Trump, all restrictions on maritime traffic entering and departing Iran’s ports and coastal regions have been lifted.

According to the statement, US forces have halted all operations related to the enforcement of the maritime blockade against Iran. Commercial and other vessels travelling to or departing from Iranian ports will now be allowed to move without obstruction.

CENTCOM said the decision forms part of the implementation of measures agreed under the recent peace agreement, adding that the move has paved the way for the restoration of maritime trade and shipping activities in the region.

The statement further said that US Navy vessels will remain deployed in the region to oversee the implementation of all provisions of the agreement and to ensure that all parties fully adhere to their commitments.

According to CENTCOM, US forces will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the implementation of the agreement and the safe and free use of maritime routes across the region.

Also Read: PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal to Attend Iran–US MoU Signing Ceremony in Geneva

Prime Minister

PM Shehbaz Sharif Cancels Switzerland Visit After Signing of US Iran MOU

by with No Comment Politics

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cancelled his scheduled visit to Switzerland, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

According to sources, the prime minister was due to depart for Switzerland today, while initial talks under the Iran-US agreement are set to take place tomorrow at the Bürgenstock Resort.

Diplomatic sources said the visit was cancelled because the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed.

Sources further said that technical talks will now be held separately, during which various issues that form part of the overall MoU framework will be discussed.

It is pertinent to mention that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding earlier today in his capacity as a mediator. US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have also signed the agreement.

The prime minister was scheduled to travel to Switzerland today along with a delegation; however, the visit has now been cancelled.

Also Read: Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission Directs Presiding Officers to Provide Form 45 to Polling Agents

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026: 75 Goals Scored by End of First Round of Group Stage

by with No Comment Sports

A total of 75 goals have been scored by the end of the first round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, taking the average number of goals per match to 3.1.

This marks the first time since 1958 that the World Cup has recorded an average of more than three goals per game during the opening phase of the tournament.

According to the latest statistics, players took 600 shots in the first 24 matches, with 200 of them hitting the target. Nine out of the 24 games ended in draws, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the opening round.

Spain has emerged as the leading team in passing, completing 811 passes in a single match. Overall, a total of 22,520 passes have been attempted in the tournament so far, with 19,264 of them completed successfully.

Germany registered the biggest win of the tournament to date by scoring seven goals in a single match, while Türkiye produced the most attacking display, attempting 30 shots in one game.

Uruguay has been the standout team in crossing and corner kicks, recording 42 crosses and 14 corners, the highest figures in both categories so far.

Also Read: Expensive Tickets, Visa Issues Put FIFA World Cup in Controversy Before Kick-Off

Tournament statistics also show that 205 corners, 72 offsides, 52 yellow cards and only three red cards have been recorded in the competition up to this point.

Among individual performers, Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the joint top scorer of the opening phase with three goals. Türkiye’s Arda Güler leads all players in shots attempted with eight efforts.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo tops the charts for successful dribbles, while Germany’s Joshua Kimmich has emerged as one of the standout playmakers of the tournament with two assists.

CCD Chakwal

Chakwal Tragedy: Officer Opened Fire on Assumption, Says Additional IG CCD

by with No Comment Crime & Court

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Karim on Wednesday shared details of the investigation into the death of minor girl Hania in Chakwal, saying the probe was aimed at uncovering the truth and not protecting anyone.

Addressing a press conference, the Punjab police chief said the death of an innocent child had devastated a family and that the tragedy could not be concealed behind procedural difficulties.

“A young girl has lost her life and a family has been shattered. The loss of an innocent child cannot be hidden behind complications,” he said.

The IGP said the police personnel allegedly involved in the incident had been taken into custody and were being interrogated. He added that a joint investigation was underway to establish the facts.

“This investigation is not being conducted to save anyone but to bring the truth to light,” he said.

Mr Abdul Karim said no institution could earn public trust unless it was willing to acknowledge its mistakes. He added that negligence and misuse of authority by police officials would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Also Read: Postmortem Reveals 11 Bullet and Injury Marks on 9-Year-Old Hania Killed in Chakwal Firing Incident

He said the Punjab Police, the provincial government and all relevant institutions were making efforts to ensure a transparent investigation and that measures would be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.

The Punjab IGP also assured that the case would be investigated with honesty and sincerity.

Meanwhile, Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chattha said the First Information Report (FIR) in the case was registered immediately on the complaint of the girl’s father.

He said a police official had been nominated in the FIR on the basis of weapons records and eyewitness accounts.

Providing details of the incident, Mr Chattha said that during an exchange of fire, the suspected robbers had taken cover behind the vehicle and opened fire. The police official allegedly believed that shots were being fired from inside the car.

He said Hania’s father drove away after the firing began, leading the officer to assume that the robbers were inside the vehicle.

Also Read: Pinky Alleges Police Torture; Journalists Barred in Karachi Court

The Additional IG said the standard operating procedures (SOPs) clearly state that police personnel cannot open fire based solely on assumptions.

“Even when police raid the house of a robber, the safety of his family is ensured,” he said, adding that the officer’s decision to fire based on an assumption was a serious mistake.

AJK Election

AJK Election Commission Issues Revised Schedule for Legislative Assembly Elections

by with No Comment Politics

The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has issued a revised election schedule for the Legislative Assembly elections.

According to an official notification, June 23 has been fixed as the last date for submission of nomination papers.

Scrutiny of nomination papers will begin at 8:00 am on June 24, while the list of valid candidates will also be published on the same day.

Appeals against the decisions of Returning Officers can be filed from June 25 to June 28. The Election Commission will hear these appeals on June 29 and 30, while decisions on the appeals will be announced on July 1 and 2.

The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers has been set for July 3 at 2:00 pm. The list of candidates will be published on July 4.

Election symbols will be allotted on July 5, and the final list of candidates along with their election symbols will also be issued on the same day.

Also Read: AJK Government Bans Awami Action Committee Over Alleged Anti-State Activities

According to the notification, polling for the general elections of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly will take place on July 27.

Candidates from Poonch (Rawalakot) will submit their nomination papers to the respective Returning Officers, while scrutiny of nomination papers will also be conducted within Poonch district.

A spokesperson for the AJK Election Commission said that the deadline for submitting nomination papers has been extended following requests from candidates.

The spokesperson added that the schedule has been revised keeping in view public convenience and suggestions put forward by candidates. Prospective candidates have been advised to ensure that they submit their nomination papers within the stipulated date and time.

iphone 1

iPhones Set to Become More Expensive in Pakistan

by with No Comment Technology

Pakistani consumers may soon face higher prices for iPhones and other Apple products after the tech giant announced plans to increase prices globally due to rising component costs and an ongoing memory crisis.

According to reports, Apple’s outgoing Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook confirmed that the company has been compelled to raise prices as a result of increasing costs across the supply chain.

In an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, Cook said, “Unfortunately, price increases have now become inevitable. I have never seen market conditions like these in my 40-year career.”

He added, “We are doing everything possible to absorb the rising costs and protect our customers from the impact, but the situation has now become unbearable.”

The decision is expected to directly affect Pakistan, where prices of iPhones, MacBooks and iPads are likely to increase further.

According to the report, Apple does not have an official or local presence in Pakistan, meaning Pakistani consumers do not benefit from regional pricing and generally experience price increases in line with global markets.

In contrast, Samsung operates officially in Pakistan and also has a local assembly plant. As a result, despite rising global prices, the company recently launched its Galaxy S26 series in Pakistan at comparatively better prices than in the United States and several other countries. Apple users, however, are unlikely to receive similar relief.

Also Read: Hands-On With the iPhone 13, Pro, Max, and Mini

While the exact scale of the price increase and its implementation timeline remain unclear, Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone 18 lineup in the coming months following the conclusion of WWDC 2026, with prices anticipated to be higher than the previous generation.

The report further stated that new MacBooks, iPads and existing Apple products could also become more expensive later this year due to growing demand for artificial intelligence technologies and shortages of key components.

It is worth noting that Apple is not alone in facing these challenges. Major companies including Samsung, HP, Microsoft, Nintendo and Valve are also grappling with rising memory prices and supply chain constraints.

Ausaf-2026-06-18T141727.877-1024x536.jpg

Woman, Two Children Injured in Collision Involving Hafiz Hamdullah’s Car in Islamabad

by with No Comment Crime & Court

ISLAMABAD: A woman and two children were injured in a collision between former senator and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah’s car and a motorcycle in Sector G-8 of the federal capital.

According to details, the accident occurred when the vehicle associated with Hafiz Hamdullah collided with a motorcycle carrying a woman and two children. Sources said that at the time of the incident, the vehicle was being used by Hafiz Hamdullah’s son.

Immediately after the accident, rescue teams reached the scene and shifted the injured woman and the two children to a nearby hospital, where they were provided immediate medical assistance.

Eyewitnesses at the scene claimed that the accident was caused by the motorcyclist’s negligence. According to them, the motorcycle was allegedly coming from the wrong direction and suddenly came in front of the speeding vehicle.

Police have taken notice of the incident and initiated an investigation to determine the actual circumstances surrounding the accident.

Officials said that the inquiry will establish the facts of the case and ascertain responsibility for the collision.

Also Read: 10 Killed, 13 Injured After Passenger Van Catches Fire on Murree Expressway

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir

PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal to Attend Iran–US MoU Signing Ceremony in Geneva

by with No Comment Politics

Preparations are underway in Switzerland for the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States, with Pakistani officials and senior leadership set to attend the event in Geneva.

According to Express News, officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already reached Switzerland to oversee arrangements for the ceremony. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Minister Atta Tarar are scheduled to arrive in Switzerland tomorrow evening.

Diplomatic sources said representatives from several regional countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye, will also attend the ceremony.

Sources further stated that Foreign Office officials had departed in advance to finalize arrangements. Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch has already reached Geneva, accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other senior officials from the Foreign Office are expected to depart late tonight.

Also Read: Pakistan’s Prosperity Journey Cannot Be Stopped by Propaganda, Proxies: Field Marshal Asim Munir

Barrister Gohar

PTI Agrees to Hold Talks With Government

by with No Comment Politics

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has agreed to hold negotiations with the government, expressing support for the Prime Minister’s offer for dialogue.

Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said the party welcomes the Prime Minister’s invitation for talks and questioned the delay in initiating the process. He added that PTI has requested access to its founding chairman as part of the dialogue process.

Barrister Gohar said the House did not begin on positive terms between the government and opposition, stressing that repeated calls for restraint could help reduce tensions and hostility. He further stated that if the House is to be strengthened, a memorandum of understanding should be signed.

He also referred to the suspension of Iqbal Afridi, stating that he was told to leave or face removal, and urged that Afridi be reinstated for the remainder of the session. Barrister Gohar added that Rana Tanveer had apologized to the party, and the apology was accepted.

It is worth noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had once again extended an invitation for talks to PTI on June 13, which the party has now welcomed.

Also Read: Pakistan Says Electronic Signing Ceremony of Iran-US Agreement to Be Held on Sunday

ahsan iqbal

President Names Ahsan Iqbal’s Sister Ayesha Humaira as FPSC Member

by with No Comment Politics

The President of Pakistan has appointed Ayesha Humaira Chaudhry, a Grade-22 officer of the Secretariat Group and sister of Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, as a member of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) for a three-year term.

According to a report by a private television channel, Ayesha Humaira Chaudhry took early retirement from government service before her scheduled retirement in November. Following her retirement, she was appointed as a member of the FPSC.

She has attracted considerable attention in political and bureaucratic circles due to her family relationship with senior cabinet minister Ahsan Iqbal.

Also Read: Australian PM Calls for Transparent Investigation into Fatal Shooting of Child in Chakwal, Pakistan

The report further stated that, under the commission’s rules and regulations, she will receive salary and other benefits associated with her position as an FPSC member, in addition to the pension of a Grade-22 officer.

The Federal Public Service Commission is responsible for recruiting civil servants and bureaucrats for federal government departments through a competitive examination-based recruitment process.