ZEESHAN AFZAL

  Iran .. | BBC.Com | Western officials say they have already seen a decrease in the number of missiles Iran is firing – down from hundreds in the first day of the war to dozens now. Before the war, it was estimated that Iran had a stockpile of more than 2,000 short-range ballistic missiles. No military publishes precise numbers on how many weapons they have at their disposal, as such figures remain classified to keep adversaries in the dark. America's top commander, Gen Dan Caine, said on Wednesday that Iran's ballistic missile launches were down 86% from the first day of the fighting on Saturday. US Central Command (Centcom) says there's been a 23% decrease in just the last 24 hours. Iran was believed to have mass-produced tens of thousands of its Shahed one-way attack drones before the war. It's exported the technology to Russia – which has been using their version of the Shahed to devastating effect in Ukraine. Even the US has copied the design. But Caine said Iran...

US Policy Shifts and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance. March 3, 2026 | David A. Gantz | bakerinstitute.org Currently, the United States and Europe disagree on several fronts to such an extent that the post-World War II transatlantic alliance is significantly fractured. U.S.-Europe relations have reached a point where its recovery, if pursued, would be a difficult and lengthy process. Why US-Europe Relations Are Shifting, Recent developments in the economic, political, and military dimensions of U.S. relationships with Europe, including the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (U.K.), suggest that alliances fostered over more than a century are facing substantial and potentially unprecedented risks. While the future is uncertain, diplomatic and economic shifts initiated by the United States since January 2025 indicate that mostly cordial transatlantic relations are phenomena of the past and may never be completely restored. Even if subsequent U.S. presidential administr...

Trump Sends Interior Secretary to Venezuela to Push Oil, Mining .................................. March 4, 2026 | bloomberg.com Donald Trump deployed his Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to Venezuela on Wednesday as the president seeks to revive oil and mineral production in the South American country. Burgum, who leads Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council, is expected to meet with officials including acting President Delcy Rodríguez along with mining and oil executives during the trip, a White House official said. He’s also expected to unveil an oil deal while in Venezuela, delivering an early affirmation of Trump’s bid to boost crude production in the country, the official said. The trip to Caracas come as the US government steps up coordination with Venezuela’s interim government in the wake of the January capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. Trump is pressing energy companies to spend about $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry, tapping its enormous crude r...

Read More:  Oil Companies in ‘Active’ Talks Over Recouping Venezuela Losses  ........................................... March 4, 2026 | bloomberg.com For oil and mineral companies, the potential prize is huge. While Venezuela’s recent oil production has struggled to reach 1 million barrels per day, it was pumping out more than three times that in the 1990s. Similarly, the country has sizable reserves of high-quality thermal coal — and made a bid to revive output last year — after production plummeted from 2000, when annual levels were around 8 million tons. Venezuela also has some of the largest gold deposits in the Western Hemisphere, as well as diamonds and iron ore. And the country lays claim to a host of critical minerals, including bauxite and copper. But simply safely accessing those deposits — much less mounting major commercial extraction efforts — poses risk, with many mines in southern Venezuela long under the control of criminal groups. Human rights and conservatio...

Privatisation Commission approves Fauji Fertiliser's entry into PIA buyout consortium The Rs135bn deal nears its first major payment deadline in late April By Our Correspondent | March 04, 2026 FFC meets all regulatory, eligibility requirements, confirms PC board. Proposal now moves to Cabinet Committee on Privatisation for final approval. Arif Habib Corp-led consortium won PIA bid, allowing up to two new members. ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission has approved the participation of Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) in the consortium acquiring a 75% stake in Pakistan International Airlines, broadening the buyer group as the Rs135 billion ($480 million) deal approaches its first major payment deadline in late April. The board of the Privatisation Commission, led by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, confirmed that FFC meets all regulatory and eligibility requirements before endorsing its inclusion,  The News  reported. The matter will now move to the Cabin...

ایران کے ایٹمی ہتھیار پروگرام کے شواہد نہیں ملے: رافیل ................................................. , گروسی انہوں نے تصدیق کی کہ ایران 60 فیصد تک یورینیم افزودہ کر چکا ہے، جو عام توانائی ضروریات سے کہیں زیادہ اور باعثِ تشویش ہے۔ اقوامِ متحدہ کے جوہری نگران ادارے کے سربراہ کا کہنا ہے کہ ایران میں ایٹمی ہتھیار بنانے کے کسی منظم اور مربوط پروگرام کے شواہد نہیں ملے۔ تاہم انہوں نے تصدیق کی کہ ایران 60 فیصد تک یورینیم افزودہ کر چکا ہے، جو عام توانائی ضروریات سے کہیں زیادہ ہے اور اس پر عالمی برادری کو تشویش ہے۔ الجزیرہ کے مطابق بین الاقوامی جوہری توانائی ایجنسی کے سربراہ رافیل گروسی نے کہا ہے کہ ادارے کے معائنہ کاروں کو ایران میں جوہری ہتھیار بنانے کے کسی منظم اور مربوط پروگرام کے شواہد نہیں ملے، حالانکہ اسرائیل اور امریکا کی جانب سے اس حوالے سے دعوے کیے جاتے رہے ہیں۔ امریکی نشریاتی ادارے این بی سی نیوز کو دیے گئے ایک انٹرویو میں رافیل گروسی کا کہنا تھا کہ ایجنسی کو ایران میں ایٹمی ہتھیار تیار کرنے کے کسی منظم اور باقاعدہ پروگرام کے عناصر کی نشاندہی نہیں ہوئی۔ تاہم انہوں نے اس با...

Strait of Hormuz Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, specifically the United Arab Emirates, and Musandam (Oman). Read more about Strait of Hormuz, Location, Importance, Latest News.... Read more at: https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/strait-of-hormuz/ Strait of Hormuz Latest News Naval forces from Iran, Russia and China are set to conduct a joint military exercise in waters around the Strait of Hormuz. About Strait of Hormuz It is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, specifically the United Arab Emirates, and Musandam (Oman). The Gulf of Oman is on the strait’s east, while the Persian Gulf is on the west.  It is the only sea channel linking the oil-rich Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (southeast). Iran is located on the north coast, while the UAE is on the south coast.  At its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz is only 29 nautical miles wide (54 km).  Islands: Some of t...

  Here are the latest verified developments (March 2, 2026) on the war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States — covering how the conflict is unfolding, key statements from leaders, and broader regional impacts:      1. Conflict Escalation and Military Actions The military conflict has expanded significantly beyond Iran , with strikes, counterstrikes, and fighting involving multiple fronts across the Middle East. Israeli and U.S. forces have carried out air strikes on Iranian targets ; Iran has responded with missiles and drones at Israeli territory and U.S. bases . Reports indicate regional spillover , including engagements involving Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Kuwaiti air defences (three U.S. jets were downed accidentally).      2. Leadership Statements & Political Reactions U.S. President Donald Trump said the military campaign could last several weeks and vowed to continue until objectives are met, while acknowledging the ...

Trump just showed his hand on Iran. Story by Newsweek Editors.. President Donald Trump attacked Iran’s “sinister” nuclear ambitions as he laid out his case for deposing the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. The subtext was clear: His patience with Iran is running out. The president still favors a deal—both sides do—but he has been unequivocal that Iran must meet his demands. Tehran would have to curb its nuclear program and also address its missile development and regional activities. “We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon,’” he said. Crucially, Iran has said those words—often. Indeed, hours before Trump’s speech, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said: “Our fundamental convictions are crystal clear: Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon.” Trump, therefore, has shown his hand—and the message is unmistak...