Islamabad: President Donald Trump is sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, the White House said Friday, just hours after Iran’s top diplomat headed to the South Asian nation where officials have been trying to get the United States and Iran to convene for a second round of ceasefire negotiations.The trip comes as much of the world is on edge over a war that has snarled crucial energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz, clouded the global economic picture and left thousands dead across the Middle East.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an interview on Fox News Channel that the two will have talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday.“We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward to a deal,” Leavitt said.She said Vice President JD Vance would not be travelling but that he remains “deeply involved.” She said he will be in the US, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president’s national security team, on “standby” to fly to Pakistan “if necessary.”Earlier Friday, Araghchi wrote on X that he was on his way to Pakistan, Oman and Russia on a trip focused on “bilateral matters and regional developments.”Islamabad has sought to reinject momentum into the negotiations between Iran and the United States, which did not resume this week as had been expected. (Agencies)Pakistan forges ahead with diplomatic effortsApril 24, 2026 11:08 pmPakistan has been trying to get US and Iranian officials back to the table after Trump this week announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, honouring Islamabad’s request for more time for diplomatic outreach. That hasn’t lowered tensions in the strait, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas is shipped during peacetime.Standoff intensifies in Strait of Hormuz after Trump issues ‘shoot and kill’ orderApril 24, 2026 10:40 pmTensions in the standoff between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz intensified Friday after US President Donald Trump said he ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats in the strait, while Iran pushed back on Trump’s claim there was a leadership rift in the Islamic Republic. The standoff between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20 per cent of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight.Sanchez sidesteps Spain-US dispute at NATO, brushing off reported Pentagon emailApril 24, 2026 4:37 pmSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday refused to be drawn into a dispute with the United States over reports that the Pentagon is weighing whether to punish members of NATO who fail to support American operations in the Iran war. Among those in the firing line is Spain, which has refused to allow US forces involved in the war to use bases on its territory or airspace. Spain says that US-Israeli actions in the Iran war contravene international law. France and the UK also refuse to give US forces free rein to use their territory for the bombing campaign. The Pentagon is reported to be mulling whether to suspend Spain from NATO, according to an unidentified US official referring to a US Defence Department email, and quoted by the Reuters news agency. APSterling edges up but heads for weekly loss as Iran tensions overshadow UK dataApril 24, 2026 4:07 pmThe British pound rose slightly against the dollar on Friday but was headed for a weekly loss, as traders kept an eye on stalled peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran while some strong UK retail data barely moved the needle. Sterling was 0.1 per cent higher versus the dollar at $1.348, as broader currency markets traded largely range-bound. Against the euro, the pound fell 0.1 per cent to 86.69. Reuters UK retail sales for March rose more than expected, official data showed. British motorists worried about fuel price increases rushed to the pumps immediately after the start of the Iran war, pushing up total sales volumes for the country’s retail sector. “There had been concerns that the uncertainty over the impact of the situation in the Middle East on household finances might dampen consumers’ appetite to spend, but even the figures for March were fairly robust,” Investec economists wrote in a note.Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift, source saysApril 24, 2026 3:58 pmAn internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the U.S. position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands, a U.S. official told Reuters. The policy options are detailed in a note expressing frustration at some allies’ perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights – known as ABO – for the Iran war, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the email. ReutersIslamabad remains shut for heavy traffic amid uncertainty over US-Iran talksApril 24, 2026 3:49 pmPakistan’s capital Islamabad continues to remain closed for heavy traffic on Friday as authorities await the possible visit of top leaders of the US and Iran for peace talks, which were stalled due to differences on key issues. The administrations of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi had closed all major roads and markets in VVIP movement areas on Jattvibeday amid indications that the talks could begin any day during the week. More than 10,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. However, no schedule for the arrival of the leaders has been announced as the week draws to a close. With uncertainty persisting, district administrations are yet to decide on reopening areas around the Nur Khan Airbase and resuming Metro Bus, electric bus services and goods transportation. PTIChina rejects Trump accusation that intercepted Iran ship was ‘gift from China’April 24, 2026 1:30 pmBeijing: China’s foreign ministry on Friday rejected an accusation by US President Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by US forces was a “gift from China.” The US said it fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s military said the ship had been travelling from China and vowed retaliation against what it called “armed piracy by the US military.” Reuters’Israel prepared to renew war against Iran, awaiting US green light,’ says Defence MinisterApril 24, 2026 12:25 pmTel Aviv: Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Israel is prepared to escalate military action against Iran, while awaiting approval from the United States to proceed with further operations, according to a report by the Jerusalem Post. ANI‘Clock is ticking’; Trump’s new ultimatum to IranApril 24, 2026 11:37 amUS President Donald Trump on Thursday downplayed the pressure on him to end the war, saying that a deal will be made if it is good for the US. In a post on Truth Social, he said, “With Iran, please be advised that I am possibly the least pressured person ever to be in this position. I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t — The clock is ticking!” ANIIsrael continues to pound the Iranian-backed HezbollahApril 24, 2026 9:47 amDubai/Washington: Despite the extension of their ceasefire, fighting continued in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces continued to pound the Iranian-backed Hezbollah targets following some of the deadliest days since their earlier deal to halt fighting on April 16. ReutersMojtaba Khamenei rejects Trump’s claim of disarray in Iranian leadershipApril 24, 2026 9:44 amDubai/Washington: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday rejected Trump’s claim of disarray in the leadership describing it as “the enemy’s media operations” to maliciously undermine Iranian unity and security. “Unity will become stronger and more solid, and enemies will become weaker and more humiliated,” he said in a post on X, as he remained out of the public eye since taking over from his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed by US strikes in the early days of the war that began on February 28. ReutersStrait of Hormuz remains effectively blocked, choking global energy supplyApril 24, 2026 9:42 amDubai/Washington: Trump on Thursday said the US Navy has orders to “shoot and kill” Iranian boats laying mines in the strait and the US could knock out in a day any refurbishing of weapons that Iran may have made during a ceasefire in place since April 8. But navigation in the passage remained effectively blocked, and the Iranian capture of two huge cargo ships was a reminder that the US struggles to keep control of the strait and Tehran continued to cause trouble for oil markets and pose major strains to the global economy. The US has maintained a blockade. ReutersGuyana says tanker seized by US ‘fraudulently’ flying Guyana flagApril 24, 2026 8:55 amGuyana: The South American nation of Guyana said that a tanker seized by the United States in Asia for allegedly carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil was “fraudulently flying the Guyana flag”. APIran’s central bank confirms Hormuz toll revenue deposited in cashApril 24, 2026 8:50 amIran’s central bank has confirmed that revenue from newly introduced transit fees for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has been successfully deposited, putting to rest speculation over the form of payment, Iranian state media reported. The clarification follows earlier media claims suggesting that Iran was collecting transit fees in digital currencies such as Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.Trump answers big nuclear use questionApril 24, 2026 8:48 amUS President Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out striking Iran with a nuclear weapon, after his previous threats to completely destroy Iranian civilisation. “No, I wouldn’t use it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Why would I use a nuclear weapon when we’ve, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it?” he asked. Trump also added that nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended by 3 weeks after Oval Office meetingApril 24, 2026 8:17 amLebanon and Israel extended their ceasefire for three weeks after a high-level meeting at the White House, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday. Trump hosted Israel’s ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Moawad in the Oval Office for a second round of US-facilitated talks, a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people including a journalist. Reuters