Dawn
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Dawn - 04:29 Feb 09, 2026
A white supremacist who shot and killed 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques in 2019 launched an appeal Monday seeking to overturn his conviction. Brenton Tarrant, an Australian former gym instructor, admitted carrying out New Zealand’s deadliest modern-day mass shooting before being sentenced to life in jail in August 2020. Now, the convicted killer argues that his “torturous and inhumane” detention conditions during his trial made him incapable of making rational decisions when he pleaded guilty, according to a court synopsis of the case. Tarrant is being held in a specialist unit for prisoners of extreme risk at Auckland Prison, seldom interacting with inmates or other people. “I did not have the mind frame or mental health required to be making informed decisions at that time,” Tarrant told the court, according to the New Zealand Herald. Tarrant said his state of mind was such that he had considered trying to implicate President Donald Trump in the crime. Life without parole “What I said at the time ... -
Dawn - 03:21 Feb 09, 2026
• Punjab leads with Rs609bn cash surplus, followed by Sindh’s Rs354bn • KP transfers Rs175bn; Balochistan sends Rs41bn • Revenue-to-GDP ratio falls to 8.2pc in July-Dec despite reforms ISLAMABAD: Amid a decline in the revenue-to-GDP ratio despite purported reforms, the four provinces reached close to meeting their IMF-dictated annual target of delivering a cash surplus to the Centre within the first half of the current fiscal year. The official fiscal operations data released by the Ministry of Finance for July-December 2025 suggest the four provinces returned Rs1.18 trillion in cash to the Centre, just Rs285 billion short of the Rs1.464tr target set for the whole under the IMF’s $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF). During the same period last year, the provinces had jointly produced over 50 lower surpluses worth Rs775bn against the budgeted target of Rs1.2tr. With its larger fiscal muscle, Punjab led the provinces by providing Rs609bn budget surplus in six months, followed by Sindh’s Rs354bn. Khyber Pakhtunkhw... -
Dawn - 03:13 Feb 09, 2026
• Opposition claims Modi surrendered to Trump over Epstein files • Growers fears the disastrous impact of the agreement; nationwide protests set for Feb 12 NEW DELHI: Indian farmers on Monday slammed a new US trade deal as “a surrender to multinational agricultural giants”, calling for the commerce minister’s resignation as Congress accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of capitulating to US President Donald Trump over the “Epstein files” release. Congress leaders claimed an Indian minister, a businessman and individuals close to the prime minister were mentioned in the files, along with Modi. According to a report in The Hindu, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) demanded Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s immediate resignation as soon as he explained the details of the bilateral pact. Leaders of the union representing apple and cotton growers said any relaxation on the import of cotton would be disastrous for the economies of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Talking to repo... -
Dawn - 21:54 Feb 08, 2026
A meeting between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards was held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday to discuss Pakistan’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match with India on February 15. The meeting was still in progress until late Sunday night, while the ICC, as well as the two cricket boards, decided not to speak to the media regarding the discussion. After a four-hour meeting, no joint declaration was issued. Per sources, there was a break for a late-night dinner, and a second round of talks was scheduled after that. Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier told Dawn that the two sides will most likely announce the outcome of the meeting after receiving an endorsement from the Government of Pakistan. They added that the main concern of the PCB expressed during the meeting was related to the “politics rampant at a large-scale level across the ICC affairs and India’s excessive involvement in it.” The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s ... -
Dawn - 19:20 Feb 08, 2026
PESHAWAR: Police repulsed an attack by unidentified militants, who targeted a police checkpoint in the Passani village located on the outskirts of Peshawar, officials said. Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed told Dawn that “the militants attacked a police post and an exchange of fire also took place, but the policemen, deployed at the facility, retaliated, forcing the militants to escape.” The CCPO added that the situation was “under control”. No casualties or injuries were reported as a result of the attack; however, the nature of the attack and physical losses are yet to be ascertained. On November 26, unidentified persons blew up a gas pipeline in Hameed Khan Machine area, some five miles south of the police post in Passani. Residents said that an explosion had triggered a fire from the pipeline. A police official said that the pipeline was blown up for the second time. “The same pipeline was blown up two years ago by terrorists,” he added. On August 15 last year, police and se... -
Dawn - 18:52 Feb 08, 2026
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday lauded the people of Lahore for abiding by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the provincial government, as the three-day Basant festival approached its culmination. “Lahore is happy today, I am happy, too. The residents of Lahore played a vital role in making this Basant successful by following all the rules and regulations,” she said in a statement, posted on PML-N’s official X account. Maryam continued: “The idea of safe Basant will also be adopted in other cities.” Brightly coloured kites soared through the skies over Lahore this weekend, marking the return of a festival after a 19-year ban that had been imposed over safety concerns. Families and groups of friends gathered on rooftops, in parks and on streets for the three-day kite-flying festival. “Everyone is excited — all of Punjab, all of Pakistan. It has become hard to find kites and strings because they sold out,” Shahzaib, a kite flyer, told AFP. Punjab authorities banned the festival in 200... -
Dawn - 18:03 Feb 08, 2026
Sri Lanka’s 11th-hour call to draft in Kamindu Mendis proved a masterstroke as the all-rounder produced a match-turning cameo to set up a 20-run win over Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Kamindu’s blistering 44 off 19 balls with four fours and two sixes gave Sri Lanka the late thrust they badly needed to post 163. The spin trio of Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage then ran through the Irish middle order, sharing seven wickets to seal a comfortable victory. “I just wanted to score a few boundaries and put a partnership with Kusal Mendis,” said Kamindu. “Kusal was outstanding today. He deserves a lot of credit. We wanted someone to bat through the innings. “They played well during the run chase until the 15th over. We had to keep our calm and we knew they had to take risks and we bowled well towards the end.” Hasaranga claimed three wickets to take his World Cup tally to 40, second only to Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, who has 50. There ... -
Dawn - 17:57 Feb 08, 2026
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s coalition swept to a historic election win on Sunday, paving the way for promised tax cuts that have spooked financial markets and military spending aimed at countering China. The conservative Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader who says she is inspired by Britain’s “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, was projected to deliver as many as 328 of the 465 seats in parliament’s lower house for her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP alone sailed past the 233 seats needed for a majority less than two hours after polls closed, on track for one of its best-ever election results. With her coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, Takaichi now has a supermajority of two-thirds of seats, easing her legislative agenda as she can override the upper chamber, which she does not control. Winter election brings blizzard of votes “This election involved major policy shifts — particularly a major shift in economic and fiscal policy, as well as strengthening security... -
Dawn - 17:55 Feb 08, 2026
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A policeman was shot dead, while two of his family members were injured on Sunday after unidentified armed men opened fire on them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district, officials said. According to the police, the incident took place in the Boya area of Upper South Waziristan. The policeman, identified as Constable Zahidullah Wazir, was martyred on the spot, while his father, Ghulam Nabi, and brother, Waheed, sustained serious injuries. All three belonged to the Shakai tehsil of Upper South Waziristan District. “The martyred police constable was the brother of Muhammad Jan Wazir, a political moharrir of the district administration, Lower South Wazirista,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wana Circle, Asghar Ali Shah, told Dawn. “The condition of the injured persons is critical; however, they are being provided immediate medical treatment.” Following the incident, the unidentified assailants managed to flee the scene. Police rushed to the area soon after receiving informatio... -
Dawn - 17:18 Feb 08, 2026
Islamabad was once known for its lush greenery, but the felling of trees across the city for infrastructure and monuments has prompted local anger and even lawsuits. Built in the 1960s, the city was planned as a green city, with wide avenues, parks and tree-lined sectors. Many residents fear that vision is steadily being eroded, with concrete replacing green spaces. Muhammad Naveed took the authorities to court this year over “large-scale tree cutting” for infrastructure projects, accusing them of felling “many mature trees” and leaving land “barren”. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) blamed major infrastructure development, including road construction and monuments, for the mass razing of trees and natural vegetation in Islamabad. Between 2001 and 2024, the capital lost 14 hectares of tree cover, equal to 20 football pitches, according to Global Forest Watch, though the figure does not account for tree cover gains during the same period. For Kamran Abbasi, a local trader and resident since the 1980s, it f... -
Dawn - 17:13 Feb 08, 2026
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/QUETTA: Most of the markets in Lahore and Islamabad were open on Sunday, despite a strike call by opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) in protest of alleged discrepancies in the 2024 general elections. The PTI — a part of the TTAP — had announced a strike today to mark the second anniversary of the Feb 8, 2024 general elections, which it alleges were marred by rigging. The party also said it will observe a day of mourning following Friday’s suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad that claimed at least 36 lives. A partial shutdown was observed in Peshawar, while a complete shutdown strike was reported in Quetta. In Lahore, all major markets remained closed, primarily due to Sunday and the ongoing Basant festival. In the evening, the TTAP could not hold a torch-bearing rally outside Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque as planned, claiming road closures and the arrest of over two dozen workers. Despite the alleged arrests of over two dozen workers — including eight... -
Dawn - 15:12 Feb 08, 2026
The rise of short-form digital content such as reels, clips, and continuous notifications has reshaped how the human brain processes information, attention, and time. These formats reward instant reactions rather than sustained thought. Although they offer quick entertainment and information, they also leave many people feeling mentally drained, distracted, and disconnected from deeper forms of engagement. Co-founder and psychologist at Mindwell Solutions, Namrata Singh Chhetri, sheds light on how constant digital stimulation affects mental fatigue and why slowing down may be more essential than ever. How has the rise of short-form content like reels changed the way our minds process information and time? Long lectures, videos, or articles focus on reflection, narrative construction, and sustained attention, whereas short-form content stimulates the brain to quickly determine whether something is ‘worth attention’, scan for immediate relevance, and identify patterns in a matter of seconds. Short-form content ... -
Dawn - 13:42 Feb 08, 2026
England clung on to beat Nepal by four runs in a last-ball thriller in Mumbai on Sunday and avoid one of the biggest upsets in the history of the T20 World Cup. Chasing an imposing 185 to win, Nepal’s Lokesh Bam (39 not out) needed a six off the final delivery of the match bowled by Sam Curran but could only club the ball to deep cover for a single. It was an agonising end to a valiant run chase by the cricketing minnows, who put England’s premier bowlers Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid to the sword. Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53) scored quick fifties for England but it was a late cameo by Will Jacks that took them to 184-7 in the Group C match, a total that proved just out of reach. Jacks smashed three spectacular sixes off the final over from Karan KC to finish 39 not out off 18 balls . Nepal fell just short at 180-6, despite being roared on by most of the spectators in a three-quarters full Wankhede stadium. They got off to a flying start in their chase, Kushal Bhurtel crunching 29 off 17 balls befor... -
Dawn - 13:40 Feb 08, 2026
Gunmen killed three people and abducted a Catholic priest and several others during an early morning attack on the clergyman’s residence in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, church and police sources said on Sunday. Saturday’s assault in Kauru district highlights persistent insecurity in the region, and came days after security services rescued all 166 worshippers abducted in attacks by gunmen on two churches elsewhere in Kaduna. Such attacks have drawn the attention of US President Donald Trump, who has accused Nigeria’s government of failing to protect Christians, a charge Abuja denies. US forces struck what they described as terrorist targets in northwestern Nigeria on December 25. The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan named the kidnapped clergyman as Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Karku, and said 10 other people were abducted. Three residents were killed during the attack, which began at about 3:20am (7:20 PKT, the diocese said in a statement. A Kaduna police spokesperson c... -
Dawn - 13:25 Feb 08, 2026
Recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium is key for nuclear talks with the United States to succeed, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday. American and Iranian diplomats held indirect talks in Oman on Friday, aimed at reviving diplomacy amid a US naval buildup near Iran and Tehran’s vows of a harsh response if attacked. “Zero enrichment can never be accepted by us. Hence, we need to focus on discussions that accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that enrichment is and will stay for peaceful purposes,” Araqchi said. Iran and the US held five rounds of nuclear talks last year, which stalled mainly due to disagreements over uranium enrichment inside Iran. In June, the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities at the end of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Tehran has since said it has halted enrichment activity, which the US views as a possible pathway to nuclear bombs. Iran says its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. A diplomat in the region briefed by Iran told Reuters ... -
Dawn - 12:38 Feb 08, 2026
The office of the Dalai Lama said on Sunday that he had never met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after Chinese media reported the Tibetan Buddhist leader’s name was mentioned in a cache of files released by the US government. The US Justice Department published last month the latest tranche of the Epstein files — more than three million documents, photos and videos related to its investigation into the disgraced financier. An AFP search of the files found the Dalai Lama’s name was mentioned more than 150 times, with no mention of him meeting or interacting with Epstein. The mere mention of someone’s name in the Epstein files does not in itself imply any wrongdoing by that person. “Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the ‘Epstein files’ are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein,” the leader’s office said in a statement posted on X. “We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction... -
Dawn - 12:29 Feb 08, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday issued renewed warnings about the threats to global peace due to “terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan”, and criticised the Taliban regime’s policies, which he said created conditions “similar to or worse than pre-9/11”. He made the remarks in a statement thanking world leaders for showing solidarity with Pakistan over the recent attack on an imambargah in Islamabad, which killed 36 people and injured more than 160. The militant group Islamic State (IS) had claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, Zardari reiterated the Pakistani nation’s resolve to combat terrorism and violent ideology. “Pakistan has long maintained that terrorism cannot be confronted by a single country in isolation,” he was quoted as saying. Citing Pakistan’s experience, he said in the statement that whenever “terrorist groups are allowed space, facilitation or impunity beyond national borders, the consequences are borne by innocent civilia... -
Dawn - 11:27 Feb 08, 2026
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Sunday that Basant festivities in Lahore could continue till 5am on Monday, extending the previous deadline that was set to end today. Previously, the Punjab government had given the approval for Basant celebrations in the provincial capital for just three days, from February 6-8. But the provincial chief executive said in a post on social media platform X today: “Looking at the incredible energy, festivity, unity, and joy across Lahore, Punjab and Pakistan … I am pleased to announce that Basant celebrations timings are being extended till 5am tomorrow morning.” She said the extension was a “reward for the people of Lahore” for celebrating Basant with great discipline and for responsibly following all safety standard operating procedures. “Please continue to celebrate safely, stay away from electric wires, secure your rooftops, and follow all guidelines. Let’s make this historic Basant joyful, safe, and memorable for everyone.” she added. The kite-flying festiva... -
Dawn - 10:07 Feb 08, 2026
Pakistan’s naval chief has held discussions on aligning strategic perspectives and coordinated responses to maritime security challenges with the leadership of the Malaysian navy during an official visit to the southeast Asian country, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday. “Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf paid an official visit to Malaysia and called on the leadership of the Royal Malaysian Navy. He was received at Royal Malaysian Navy Headquarters by Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy bin Ithnain, chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, and was accorded a Guard of Honour,” a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations said. It added that Admiral Asharf’s discussions during the visit focused on “aligning strategic perspectives and enhancing operational cooperation, capacity building, and coordinated responses to maritime security challenges”. “Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted Pakistan Navy’s contributions to regional stability through Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) and particip... -
Dawn - 09:46 Feb 08, 2026
IN the mid-2010s when I went to visit my family in New York, they had installed an electric bidet on their toilet. It was a relief, not to mention kind of cool. The Tushy was created by Miki Agarwal, half Indian, half Japanese, because she saw a gap in the market. The product was well received by the media. Its sales surged during the pandemic, due to the shortage of toilet paper. One report said Tushy sales were 10 times the norm; it even earned $1 million in a day. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and Zohran Mamdani, NYC’s newly elected mayor, announced he wanted to instal bidets in the official mayoral residence. Within hours, American media treated this as if he had suggested replacing the American flag with a bidet. Fox News called it an “elite luxury”. Social media went wild, albeit with some hilarious memes. One Democratic insider told a reporter that the socialist mayor thinks he’s “flush with cash” to buy bidets. I was surprised. We’re talking about bidets. Basic hygiene. And yet, this has become a r...
10758 items