Analysis: PTI parliamentary panels exit to leave field open for govt

• Observers say move reminiscent of 2022 resignations, will strengthen treasury benches • Lawmakers of ruling parties vie for coveted slots left vacant after over 40 opposition members quit standing committees AS more than 40 PTI lawmakers quit parliamentary committees, including the apex Public Accounts Committee, in line with the order of their chief Imran Khan, the decision has been described by analysts as a … Continue reading Analysis: PTI parliamentary panels exit to leave field open for govt

Trump scraps India visit for Quad summit amid deteriorating ties: report

United States President Donald Trump has scrapped plans to attend an upcoming summit of the ‘Quad’ grouping in India amid deteriorating ties between Washington and New Delhi, US newspaper The New York Times (NYT) reported on Saturday. Relations between the two countries have plummeted, with 50 per cent levies on many Indian imports into the US taking effect this week as punishment for New Delhi’s … Continue reading Trump scraps India visit for Quad summit amid deteriorating ties: report

Lawmakers pull up GB, AJK over disaster preparedness

• Senate panel regrets tourists were not barred from travelling to vulnerable areas, despite NDMA alerts • Calls for revised Afghan refugee policy that balances humanitarian obligations and national security ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Friday expressed concern over the lack of preparedness of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) governments and their failure to act on early warnings issued by the National Disaster … Continue reading Lawmakers pull up GB, AJK over disaster preparedness

Agha, Rauf star as Pakistan down Afghanistan in tri-series opener

Skipper Salman Agha hit an unbeaten half-century and fast bowler Haris Rauf grabbed four wickets as Pakistan upstaged Afghanistan by 39 runs in the tri-series opener in Sharjah on Friday. Agha hit a 36-ball 53 not out with three sixes and as many boundaries, which lifted Pakistan to 182-7 in their 20 overs. Pacers Rauf took 4-31 and Shaheen Afridi 2-21, while spinners Mohammad Nawaz … Continue reading Agha, Rauf star as Pakistan down Afghanistan in tri-series opener

Ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan to lead Pakistani delegation aboard Gaza aid flotilla

Former Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan will lead the Pakistani delegation aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, according to posts from his social media account on Friday. Earlier this month, it was announced that Pakistan would be joining the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the Israeli siege of Gaza, according to a post on Instagram by the Pak-Palestine Forum, a … Continue reading Ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan to lead Pakistani delegation aboard Gaza aid flotilla

Five Lahore localities flooded by the Ravi

LAHORE: The floodwater in the River finally entered Lahore’s five residential localities on Thursday morning, inundating roads and damaging houses and other infrastructure. However, the timely evacuation saved the residents, as none of them was found stranded in the floodwater, it is learnt. The localities suffered due to flood included Shafiqabad, Farrakhabad and Tallat Park near Shahdara bridge and Theme Park, near Chuhng (Multan Road) … Continue reading Five Lahore localities flooded by the Ravi

1.5m affected as Punjab reels from ‘worst flood in decades’

• PM Shehbaz, CM Maryam oversee massive relief and evacuation operation • Over 1,400 villages inundated; grain crops submerged • Chenab expected to swell to dangerous level at Head Trimmu • Sialkot airport shut due to floodwater • Minister says no compensation for structures built illegally in high-risk areas MANDI BAHAUDDIN: Residents wade through a flooded road in Qadirabad village near the River Chenab.—Reuters LAHORE: … Continue reading 1.5m affected as Punjab reels from ‘worst flood in decades’

Iran vows response to ‘unjustified and illegal’ sanctions snapback by European powers

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran would respond to a decision by France, Britain and Germany to trigger a mechanism reimposing UN sanctions under a moribund 2015 nuclear deal. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will respond appropriately to this illegal and unjustified action by the three European countries, in order to protect and guarantee its national rights and interests,” Araghchi told … Continue reading Iran vows response to ‘unjustified and illegal’ sanctions snapback by European powers

National Commission for Human Rights exposes systematic exploitation, GBV in brick kilns

ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) launched a study on Tuesday exposing human rights abuses against brick kiln workers in the country. The study, titled “Unveiling exploitation and abuse in the brick kilns of Punjab”, was conducted in collaboration with the Pakistan Partnership Initiative. The investigation highlighted systemic exploitation, gender-based violence, debt bondage, and widespread denial of basic labour rights to brick kiln … Continue reading National Commission for Human Rights exposes systematic exploitation, GBV in brick kilns

Google rolls out AI-powered search in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Google has launched its new ‘AI Mode’ in Pakistan, offering users access to its most advanced AI-powered search experience. First introduced in the United States this year, the feature is now expanding globally, with Pakistan among the latest countries to gain access. The tool, powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5, enables people to ask longer and more complex questions that previously required … Continue reading Google rolls out AI-powered search in Pakistan