The truce reached Tuesday showed signs of unravelling, with Israel bombarding Lebanon and Washington contradicting some of Iran's demands to end the war ahead of planned talks.
Lebanon declared a national day of mourning on Thursday after Israeli strikes pummelled the country, killing nearly 200 people and calling into question the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The United States has dispatched Vice President JD Vance, along with senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Islamabad for high-stakes talks with Iran aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire.
The move drew global praise, with leaders and social media users lauding Pakistan’s leadership for stepping in at a critical moment to defuse tensions.
Indian action movie "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" has swept domestic box-office records as the highest-earning Bollywood Hindi-language film, its producers said Wednesday, and is vying for other top spots.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following the Mideast ceasefire announcement.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States to secure a temporary ceasefire and host negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.
Israel's opposition leaders swiftly criticised the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.
Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Experts warn such attacks could trigger unprecedented global oil shortages and destabilize energy markets.
Iran rejected a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and called for a permanent end to the war, while Trump threatened to destroy all bridges and power plants if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
