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  • Dalai Lama suggests institution to continue at 90th birthday celebrations
    Dawn - 14:32 Jun 30, 2025
    Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, gave on Monday the strongest indication yet that the 600-year-old institution would continue after his death, at prayer celebrations for his 90th birthday. The Dalai Lama joined thousands of Buddhist followers on Monday in the prayer celebrations, a landmark event resonating far beyond the Indian Himalayan town where he has lived for decades. “As far as the institution of the Dalai Lama, there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about its continuation,” he said, speaking in Tibetan. The leader, who turns 90 on July 6, is according to Tibetans the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. He and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959. Draped in traditional maroon and yellow robes, the Dalai Lama sat and listened to speeches and chants of monks, nuns, pilgrims, as well as well-wishers from across the world on Monday. “Though I am 90 years old, physica...
  • Snakes on a plane bound for India, again
    Dawn - 13:22 Jun 30, 2025
    Indian customs officers in Mumbai said they have stopped a plane passenger arriving from Thailand with a wriggling cargo of live snakes, the third such seizure this month. “Customs officers… foiled yet another wildlife smuggling attempt, 16 live snakes… seized from passenger returning from Thailand,” said customs officers in the airport in the Indian financial hub. The passenger, who arrived on Sunday, has been arrested, the customs agency said in a statement, with “further investigation underway”. The live snakes included reptiles often sold in the pet trade, and were largely non-venomous, or with venom too weak to affect people. They included garter snakes, a rhino rat snake and a Kenyan sand boa, among others. In early June, customs officers stopped a passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers, also arriving from Thailand. Days later, officers stopped another traveller carrying 100 creatures including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums. Wildlife trade monitor Traffic, which battles the smugglin...
  • Explosives sniffer dog ‘Deep’ retires after nearly a decade of loyal service with KP Police
    Dawn - 12:52 Jun 30, 2025
    After years on the front lines of danger, a four-legged hero has taken his final bow. Deep, an 11-year-old British Labrador and one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police’s “most trusted” explosives sniffer dogs, retired last week after nearly a decade of sniffing out threats, saving lives, and earning the respect of his human colleagues. Trained in explosives detection, Deep was part of the KP Police’s elite K9 Unit, formed in 2014 to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts and support criminal investigations. Over the years, he worked alongside officers during high-stakes operations, security sweeps, and major public events, where his instincts often proved life-saving. During his nearly 10 years of service, Deep showed that he was more than just a service dog: he became a symbol of loyalty and bravery. To honour Deep’s outstanding contributions, the KP Police Special Branch K9 Unit held a modest but heartfelt retirement ceremony last Tuesday. The event was attended by unit officials and K9 handlers and marked the first...
  • Israel steps up Gaza bombardment ahead of White House talks on ceasefire
    Dawn - 12:43 Jun 30, 2025
    Palestinians in northern Gaza reported one of the worst nights of Israeli bombardment in weeks after the military issued mass evacuation orders on Monday, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration. A day after US President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old conflict, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals. But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, there was no sign of fighting letting up. “Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes,” said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. “In the news, we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground, we see death, and we hear explosions.” Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of the Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of fami...
  • US must rule out more strikes before talks can resume: Iran
    Dawn - 12:32 Jun 30, 2025
    Diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran cannot resume unless the US rules out further strikes on Iran, its deputy foreign minister told the BBC late Sunday. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the British broadcaster that the US had signalled it wants to return to the negotiating table, a week after it struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. “We have not agreed to any date, we have not agreed to the modality,” said Takht-Ravanchi. “Right now we are seeking an answer to this question. Are we going to see a repetition of an act of aggression while we are engaging in dialogue?” The US needed to be “quite clear on this very important question”, he said. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was not offering Iran anything nor talking to it “since we totally obliterated” the country’s nuclear facilities. “I am not offering Iran anything, unlike Obama,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The two countries were in talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme when Israel hit Iranian nuclear sites and military inf...
    Tags: Iran
  • Several injured as roofs collapse in separate incidents in cities across Punjab
    Dawn - 11:08 Jun 30, 2025
    Several people were injured on Monday in separate incidents of roofs collapsing in cities across Punjab, according to rescue officials. Six people were injured when the roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rain near Rawalpindi’s Lal Haveli. According to Rescue spokesman Usman Gujjar, the incident occurred early morning near New Sarafa Bazaar. The injured included three women and three men. Four of the injured were provided first aid on the spot, while two otherswere shifted to the Rawalpindi District Headquarter Hospital. Their condition is said to be out of danger. Rawalpindi Rescue 1122 control room received a call from near Lal Haveli to inform about the collapse of the roof, after which emergency vehicles reached the spot. According to the caller, three people were trapped in the house. However, as per the rescue staff, no one was trapped in the house. All the injured belonged to the same house and were identified as Muhammad Ali, 19; Akbar, 45; Easy, 27; Alina, 17; Two greats, 22; and Shabnam, 18. Gujj...
  • 22 killed, 11 injured in KP rain and floods since June 25: PDMA
    Dawn - 10:13 Jun 30, 2025
    At least 22 people died and 11 others were injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in accidents related to rain, strong winds, flash floods and landslides since June 25, according to a report by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Heavy rainfall and flash floods have wreaked havoc in the province while 18 people were swept away along the Swat River due to a sudden surge in the gushing water. Authorities have warned of potential flash floods and landslides as monsoon rains continue across the province. The PDMA released a report on the loss of life and property due to rain-related incidents in different districts of the province including Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Chitral, Buner, Swabi, Kurram Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir, Torghar, and South Waziristan. According to the report, the victims include seven men, five women and 10 children, while the injured include six men, four women and one child. A total of 75 houses were damaged due to rain, of which 64 were partially and 11 completely dest...
  • Country’s June inflation likely to remain between 3-4pc: finance ministry
    Dawn - 10:12 Jun 30, 2025
    The finance ministry, in its monthly economic outlook report on Monday, said that the consumer price index (CPI) inflation was expected to remain in the range of 3 to 4 per cent in June. Last month, depicting a cautious outlook towards growth in Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM), the Ministry of Finance (MoF) had presented a rising trajectory for inflation during May and June. The year-on-year consumer inflation rate in May was the highest since Dece­m­ber, indicating a rebound in inflation after months of slowdown. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the CPI inflation had stood at 3.46pc in May 2025 as compared to the previous year. “Inflation is expected to remain within the range of 3.0-4.0pc for June 2025,” said the finance ministry in its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook (June 2025) report. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities, said that the finance ministry’s inflation projections were in line with their expectations. “We projected the inflation to remain at 3....
    Tags: June
  • Pakistan Cricket Board appoints Azhar Mahmood as acting red-ball head coach
    Dawn - 10:08 Jun 30, 2025
    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday appointed former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood as the acting red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s team. In April, after having tested as many as six head coaches without any positive results in key international contests during the past two years for the national team, the PCB again advertised the post. Aaqib Javed, the last interim head coach for both formats who had failed to deliver after performing double duties as selector and coach during the past six months, had left the job following this year’s ICC Champions Trophy held in February-March. “The Pakistan Cricket Board today announces Azhar Mahmood as the acting red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s team,” a PCB press release read. According to the press release, the former Pakistan all-rounder will serve in this role until the conclusion of his current contract. “A seasoned cricketing mind, Azhar Mahmood steps into the role with an impressive portfolio of experience. Having served as the assistant head co...
  • No casualties reported as 22 rescued from partially collapsed building in Karachi’s Kharadar
    Dawn - 09:21 Jun 30, 2025
    At least 22 people, including women and children, were rescued on Monday after part of a building collapsed in Karachi’s Kharadar, rescue officials said. According to information from Edhi and Rescue 1122, no casualties or injuries have been reported at the building, which is located near M Suleman Mithaiwala. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassan Ul Haseeb Khan told Dawn.com that the bridge connecting two buildings at the sixth floor had collapsed, leaving residents on higher floors stranded. View this post on Instagram He noted that the bridge was an old and dilapidated part of the building whose structure may have been weakened in the recent rains. “The building has been vacated and declared unlivable because it might collapse any time,” Khan said. “There were difficulties during the rescue operation as it was an old area of the city where it is difficult to commission snorkels due to the congested locality. “Besides people living in adjoining residential buildings refused to vacate, claiming their building was ...
  • Pakistan’s foreign policy focuses on geo-economics, peace: Dar
    Dawn - 09:11 Jun 30, 2025
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday stressed that Pakistan’s current foreign policy’s focus is on geo-economics, calling for the reimagination of regional cooperation within South Asia. In recent months, Pakistan has increasingly sought to restore relations with neighbouring countries. On June 19, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh launched a trilateral cooperation mechanism, pledging to pursue “win-win cooperation” in what marked a subtle yet significant shift in South Asia’s strategic landscape. In recent months, Pakistan and Afghanistan have set out to restore their strained ties as Pakistan seeks to pursue a “secure and prosperous future” for itself, according to Dar. Speaking at an event held to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISSI), Dar stressed the significance of using foreign policy as a tool to promote the country’s economic interests, stating that enhancing trade, prompting foreign investment, attracting remittances and technology flow...
    Tags: Pakistan
  • Pakistan continue winning streak after crushing Japan at Asian Youth Netball Championship
    Dawn - 07:57 Jun 30, 2025
    Pakistan proved their dominance yet again after crushing Japan 79-39 on Monday at the Asian Youth Netball Championship in South Korea. The victory was the fourth consecutive for Pakistan, who now lead Pool B with 8 points. The green shirts were 16-9 in the first quarter before extending their lead to 39-17 by halftime. The score jumped to 60-26 in the third quarter, with the women cruising to 79-39 to end the match. Leya Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, Haleema, Sarina Hussain, Jasmine Farooq, Farah Rasheed, Amani, Parisa, Sumayya Ahmed and Alina played exceptional roles in securing the team’s victory. Senior officials of the Pakistan Netball federation, including chairman Mudassar Arain, president Samreen Malik, and secretary general congratulated Muhammad Riaz congratulated the team on their impressive win over Japan. Pakistan now faces Maldives tomorrow. Pakistan thrashed hosts South Korea 91-6 yesterday after opening the tournament with a strong 71-15 over Saudi Arabia on Friday, followed by a 56-32 victory over...
  • Bangladesh’s biggest port resumes operations as strike ends
    Dawn - 07:49 Jun 30, 2025
    Bangladesh’s biggest port resumed operations on Monday after customs officials called off a strike that had disrupted the export and import of goods for around 48 hours. Sehela Siddiqa, joint tax commissioner and secretary of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council — a platform of protesting workers — confirmed the resumption of activities at Chittagong and all other ports. “The ports are now fully functional and operating across the country,” Siddiqa told AFP. “All employees have returned to work.” A section of employees at the NBR, the country’s tax collection authority, has been protesting for over a month against a move by the interim government to reform the agency. The government’s proposal includes abolishing the NBR and establishing two separate bodies to handle tax policy formulation and tax collection. Over the weekend, some NBR staff launched what they called a “complete shutdown”, stopping work in a range of departments, including customs. The workers resumed duties after the gove...
  • Over 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June ahead of return deadline: UN agency
    Dawn - 06:38 Jun 30, 2025
    More than 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June, most of them deported, as returns surge ahead of a Tehran-set deadline, the United Nations migration agency said on Monday. From June 1-28, 233,941 people returned from Iran to Afghanistan, International Organisation for Migration spokesman Avand Azeez Agha told AFP, with 131,912 returns recorded in the week of June 21-28 alone. “In total, from 1 January to 28 June 2025, 691,049 people have returned, 70 percent of whom were forcibly sent back,” he said. The number of returnees surged in recent weeks, as Afghans reported increased deportations and pressure to leave ahead of a July 6 deadline announced by Iran in May for Afghans without documents to leave the country. For several days last week, the number reached 30,000 per day, the IOM said. Figures have remained around 6-7,000 in recent days, Taliban border authorities and the UN said, with the numbers expected to increase ahead of the deadline.
  • Aurangzeb departs for Spain to attend global development financing moot
    Dawn - 06:05 Jun 30, 2025
    Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb departed from Islamabad on Monday for Seville, Spain to participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) being held from July 1 to 3, 2025, according to a statement issued by his ministry . The global conference will bring together leaders, policymakers, and international development experts to explore innovative and sustainable financing strategies to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly for developing and emerging economies. During the visit, Aurangzeb will represent Pakistan in the main conference sessions and a range of high-level side events. On July 1, he will co-chair the multi-stakeholder roundtable on “Leveraging Private Business and Finance”, and deliver a keynote address at the International Business Forum (IBF) Policy Dialogue on “Accelerating EMDEs (Emerging Market and Developing Economies) Investment: The Role of Credit Ratings”. He is also scheduled to address the gene...
  • Mepco staffer burnt in transformer blast dies
    Dawn - 05:08 Jun 30, 2025
    LAHORE: A Mepco employee who sustained burns while working on a transformer in Gulberg Sub-Division in Multan died at the Nishtar Hospital on Sunday. Deceased technician Sajawal Khan, colleague Muhammad Khalid, Waqas Ali (12) and Ahsan (17) were also injured when boiling oil fell on them. Sources said technicians were working on the 11kV transformer without safety gear including helmets, gloves or harness belts. They said basic precautions like earthing lines and using protective equipment were routinely violated. The explosion occurred during D-coil installation and boiling oil caused severe burns. Company CEO Jam Gull Muhammad Zahid told Dawn that an inquiry had been initiated and he could not say anything further before completion of the inquiry. He said all the safety gadgets were being provided to the workers and he did not know yet why the incident took place or if any protocol was violated or not. Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2025
    Tags: Mepco
  • Man in Bahawalnagar district booked for ‘inviting friends to rape his wife’
    Dawn - 05:05 Jun 30, 2025
    BAHAWALNAGAR: Fort Abbas police arrested a man on Sunday for allegedly inviting his friends to his house to rape his wife. In the FIR registered by the police on the complaint of the woman, who stated that her husband, a resident of Thokar Jamil Shah, was a drug addict and would frequently invite his friends home for using drugs. She said that on June 27 her husband came home high on drugs along with three other addicts. She said that the three addicts sexually harassed and attempted to rape her with the consent of her husband but she offered resistance and raised an alarm. On hearing her cries, some neighbours arrived there and her husband and his friends manged to escape, she added. A police spokesperson says that the complainant’s husband and one of his friends have been arrested. MINOR RAPED: A seminary teacher was arrested on Sunday for allegedly trying to sexually assault a minor student at Mandi Sadiq Ganj. As per the FIR registered with Mandi Sadiq Ganj police, a 13-year-old boy of Klanchwala village ...
  • Govt asks for Rs1.15/unit cut in electricity rate
    Dawn - 02:26 Jun 30, 2025
    • Reduction to benefit consumers in all categories, except ‘lifeline’ domestic users, using up to 50 units per month • Relief worked out based on Nepra’s tariff determination, power purchase price, reduced subsidies under IMF deal • Regulator to hold public hearing on Tuesday to consider Centre’s application ISLAMABAD: The government wants to reduce the electricity price for consumers across the country starting July 1, it emerged on Sunday. The federal government has filed a petition with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), requesting a Rs1.15 per unit reduction in the tariff. The change would be applicable to all but lifeline domestic consumers. The power division has advised against any change in electricity rates for the first two lifeline slabs of domestic consumers, as they were already over-subsidised. Nepra has called a public hearing on July 1 to complete the formality before notification and application of the revised tariff. According to the petition, the per unit rate for lif...
  • Alternative section of KKH to be complete by next year
    Dawn - 00:24 Jun 30, 2025
    MANSEHRA: Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydropower project are set to complete an alternative section of the Karakoram Highway by next year, significantly reducing travel time between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. “We are building a state-of-the-art highway that meets all standards of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative. Tunnels and arch bridges will keep it straight and free of dangerous curves,” Amir Shafique, general manager of the Dasu hydropower project, told reporters on Sunday. The construction of the alternative KKH section within the Upper Kohistan district stretching from Kamila Bazaar to Summer Nullah is progressing well and, according to Wapda, is expected to be completed by 2026. “As the existing KKH will be submerged by the Dasu dam reservoir, the new section will meet Chinese standards. Even in case of landslides or flooding, traffic will continue to flow smoothly at full speed,” Mr Shafique said. He said that the 62km alternative section was part of the pr...
  • At least 8 dead, 13 injured in rain-related incidents across GB, Punjab and Sindh: officials
    Dawn - 19:58 Jun 29, 2025
    Rescue 1122 personnel attempt to clear a fallen tree blocking a road in Lahore on June 29. — Rescue 1122At least eight more people were killed and 13 injured on Sunday in separate rain-related incidents across Karachi, some areas of Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to rescue officials. Monsoon rains, which fall across the region from June to September every year, continue to lash many parts of the country, prompting authorities to release an urban flooding warning for several cities. According to rescue officials, at least 32 people have been killed across four provinces over the last two days as heavy rains triggered flash floods and damaged houses. Meanwhile, some people lost their lives due to electrocution. On Sunday, Rescue 1122 issued a statement outlining more deaths and injuries in Lahore as a result of rain-related incidents. “Rescue 1122 received 10 emergency calls about collapsing walls in different parts of the city,” the statement read. “One woman was killed and 10 others were seriously injured. They were moved to different hospitals and received medical aid in Rescue Emergency ambulances.” T...
    Tags: Punjab

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