Dawn
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Dawn - 12:20 Jul 25, 2026
The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to renew Volker Turk’s mandate as high commissioner for human rights for four years despite strong opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel. By a vote of 144 in favour, 10 against, and 13 abstentions, the assembly approved the renewal, beginning October 12, 2026, as proposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. An alternative proposal from Russia to extend the mandate by only a few months, until December 31, 2026, was overwhelmingly rejected, as was the US request to postpone the vote. Ambassador Jeff Bartos, US representative for UN management and reform, criticised the four-year renewal on both procedural and substantive grounds, accusing Guterres of having rushed the process. “Make no mistake: If this assembly tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals, and the misuse of UN posts, there will be consequences. “The United States will immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding,” he warned just before the vote, accusi... -
Dawn - 11:51 Jul 25, 2026
US President Donald Trump lashed out at “fake news media” and talked about serving a banned third term as he addressed a rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday, three months after an assassination attempt disrupted the event. “This place is really the largest group of Trump derangement syndrome people ever put together at one time,” Trump told the media gala at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, DC. The 80-year-old started with a relatively conciliatory tone, reflecting on the attack by a gunman that forced him to be evacuated from the dinner in April. “The show must go on,” Trump said. But he quickly pivoted to attacking a wide range of perceived enemies in an often rambling speech, starting with journalists before training his fire on Democratic opponents. Trump had earlier thrown up his hands and laughed as he shook hands with a Wall Street Journal team that broke stories on his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. But he later joked that “this has not been an easy evening, ... -
Dawn - 11:50 Jul 25, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has set up a dedicated dark web investigation unit to track and prosecute criminals operating in the shadowy realm, to effectively counter threats to the country’s interests emanating from encrypted online platforms, officials said on Saturday. Housed in the state-of-the-art National Command and Control Centre (NC3) at FIA headquarters, the unit will use modern technology to overcome obfuscation techniques employed by criminals to identify them, track dubious transactions usually carried out through cryptocurrency, and execute enforcement actions, FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar told Dawn. He said the unit will focus on tracing criminal networks involved in creating illegal documents that facilitate human trafficking and illegal migrant smuggling and other similar subjects within the ambit of the FIA. The dark web refers to websites that are not indexed by search engines, and are usually encrypted, only accessible through specialised browsers. It can be ... -
Dawn - 11:09 Jul 25, 2026
India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he has resigned from his position, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks. India’s biggest street protests of recent years had become a political flashpoint, posing one of the biggest challenges to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as opposition politicians joined youngsters’ calls to demand action and disrupted parliament. The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers to push for the move. In a two-page statement shared on X, Pradhan said he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Considering the situation that has developed at Jantar Mantar and across the country — that anti-national forces should not take advantage of this situation, that the unity of the country should be preserved, tha... -
Dawn - 09:32 Jul 25, 2026
Security forces have killed three more terrorists in an ongoing intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Khad Kocha area of Balochistan’s Mastung district, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday, citing security sources. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a statement commending the security forces, also confirmed the development. The security operation, conducted under an indefinite curfew, was launched after a shooting on a Karachi-bound coach coming from Quetta claimed three lives and injured five others on Wednesday. On Saturday, Radio Pakistan quoted security sources as saying that “Fitna al-Hindustan has suffered further losses” in the IBO, which has been dubbed Operation Al-Azm. The government uses the term “Fitna al-Hindustan” for Balochistan-based groups to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. “The number of terrorists killed so far during Operation Al-Azm has reached 13,” Radio Pakistan reported. Six of these had been killed on Thursday and another ... -
Dawn - 08:54 Jul 25, 2026
A viral video of a Thai woman confronting a group of noisy Italian teenagers who exchange vulgar words and gestures on a Bangkok train prompted online backlash and an apology from Italy’s embassy on Saturday. The TikTok video, posted on Friday, was shared more than 28,000 times with the caption: “What nationality are they?? Is it time for Thailand to stop free visas yet?” In the clip, a Thai woman off-camera is heard repeatedly telling the Italian group to be quiet. “In Thailand, we don’t scream,” she says, before a woman from the group replies: “Sorry for bringing money to your country.” One boy was filmed waving and then gesturing to the camera with only his middle finger raised. The dispute escalated as the Thai woman accused the Italians of having “no manners” — and then also used vulgar language and gestures. The incident has divided opinion online, with some internet users criticising the teenagers for impropriety and disrespecting local customs, while others said the Thai woman reacted too harshly. The... -
Dawn - 07:59 Jul 25, 2026
MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Saturday warned that it would not allow any individual or institution to violate the code of conduct, amid a controversy over development pledges made by the PML-N during the ongoing election campaign. The warning came after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced development schemes, including the ‘gift’ of 10 e-buses at election rallies in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. The announcement did not go over well with the PPP, which described it as “political bribery”. It subsequently approached the Election Commission, urging it to take notice of what it termed a violation of the election code of conduct. An Election Commission spokesperson said federal and provincial ministers were free to participate in electioneering in AJK but could not use official protocol, government resources or the state machinery for electoral purposes. The spokesperson warned that the announcement of any new development scheme, ... -
Dawn - 07:44 Jul 25, 2026
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal on Saturday announced that the party would take to the streets against the injustice being meted out to Karachi. Kamal, who is also the federal health minister, made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Karachi, where he railed against the Sindh government’s indifference towards the metropolis and its people. “MQM-P has decided that it will no longer stay quiet. We will adopt all the ways listed in the Constitution. We spoke in assemblies, they do not agree. We presented a constitutional amendment, they do not agree. Now, we will make use of the streets while staying within the law and the Constitution. We will come onto the streets with the people,” he said. “The law and the Constitution give us the right to come out onto the streets. Pakistan is at a point where it cannot function under the same system any longer,” he said. This system, he said, was the one with four provinces and a federating unit. Referring to the distributi... -
Dawn - 07:35 Jul 25, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday declared the petitions filed by human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha seeking the suspension of their sentences in the controversial tweets case as admissible. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan announced the verdict, that was reserved on Friday, and rejected the prosecution’s miscellaneous application seeking the dismissal of the petitions on grounds of premature filing. During the proceedings, the prosecution had maintained that the petitions filed by Imaan and Hadi were premature and therefore not maintainable at this stage. However, after hearing arguments from both sides, the IHC rejected the prosecution’s objection and declared the petitions admissible for hearing. The verdict now clears the way for the please seeking the suspension of the sentences to proceed for hearing. On January 24, rights lawyers Imaan and Hadi were sentenced by an Islamabad sessions court to a total of 17 years in jail on multiple charges under... -
Dawn - 07:16 Jul 25, 2026
Growing up with a chronically ill mother in a remote village in India, Rema Begum aspired to become a doctor until her dream was cut short by her own tragic death. After years of studying and costly coaching classes, the 20-year-old believed she had finally done enough to win a coveted seat at a government medical school. Then came news that the question paper of the medical entrance examination she sat for had been leaked, and a retest was ordered. Days later, Begum was dead. She was among at least 20 students who reportedly took their own lives after the incident, according to local media and activists. The exam paper leak, alongside a string of other irregularities, has fuelled nationwide protests and public anger over an education system many students say is stacked against them. A month after her death, Begum’s father Rajaul Islam is still struggling to understand how his “gem” of a daughter lost hope. But he believes the retest announcement changed everything. “After the exam, she was absolutely confide... -
Dawn - 06:43 Jul 25, 2026
The deceptive veneer of a monolithic and unyielding Taliban regime is rapidly giving way to profound structural decay, demonstrating that authoritarian societal suppression should not be conflated with institutional permanence or state capacity. Nearly five years after the fall of Kabul, the Taliban administration has reached a strategic impasse, balancing precariously on the precipice of a localised, multi-factional civil conflict. This impending instability is not merely a function of diplomatic isolation or international sanctions. Instead, it is being accelerated by an unsustainable internal economy of power, a volatile relationship with regional neighbours, and the emergence of decentralised, non-state resistance movements. Fissures within Domestically, the regime is fracturing along factional lines as the illusion of a unified command is replaced by a zero-sum power struggle between two competing power centres. On one side stands the radical Kandahar faction, a hyper-conservative clerical elite gathered... -
Dawn - 06:28 Jul 25, 2026
WASHINGTON: The US has announced a new global visa restriction policy trageting foreign nationals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes. Under the new policy, individuals engaged in online investment scams, sextortion and related offences — and their immediate family members — could be barred from entering the country. Announcing the policy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move was part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign to combat cybercrime, fraud and predatory online schemes targeting American citizens. Rubia said in a statement that Trump had made clear in an executive order that “his administration is taking action to counter an unprecedented threat from online investment scams”. The secretary said online investment scams, many allegedly “orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organisations, defrauded US citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 while also fueling corruption, money laundering and human trafficking”. He added that American children had also been specif... -
Dawn - 05:59 Jul 25, 2026
“I am the captain of the MT Honour 25, requesting immediate assistance for our vessel. Our condition is extremely critical. Several members of my crew have fallen seriously ill, suffering from diabetes and infections. They are no longer able to hold on,” said Indonesian Captain Ashari Samadikun through a recorded video message dated June 16, 2026. “We are surviving solely on plain white rice and contaminated water. The company has not sent any form of assistance to us. The hijackers refuse to negotiate with any third parties; they only want to negotiate directly with the company listed on our ship’s documents.” The Honour 25 — a Palau-flagged oil tanker carrying 17 to 19 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis — was hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia on April 21, 2026. Three months have gone by and there has been no progress either in negotiations or the payment of the ransom, said to be around $3 million, for the recovery of the hostages. Since its hijack, the crew has made several em... -
Dawn - 05:30 Jul 25, 2026
Houthi rebels claimed a missile strike on Saudi Arabia on Saturday, hours after vowing to retaliate against the kingdom for attacks as the Middle East conflict expanded. Riyadh struck Houthi military targets in Hodeida on Friday, with rebel media reporting two wounded after the Yemeni group announced a maritime blockade of the top oil producer and hit its ships. The flare-up marks a new front of the war that has engulfed the region following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February, and comes on top of Iran’s parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh’s only other maritime route. The rebels had accused Saudi Arabia of a “dangerous escalation” and said its actions “will not go unanswered”. The Houthis’ Ansarollah media said on Telegram early on Saturday that a “Yemeni missile strike” had sparked fires in the southern Saudi city of Jizan on the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on the claim. But Riyadh’s civil defence agency had issued brief warnings to residents in Jizan and Yanbu early ... -
Dawn - 03:55 Jul 25, 2026
THE HAGUE: Member states of the International Criminal Court voted on Friday to dismiss Karim Khan as prosecutor following allegations of sexual misconduct. Eighty-two of the court’s 125 member states voted in favour of the prosecutor’s removal. Khan, 56, denies any wrongdoing and his lawyer said he will challenge his dismissal. “Mr Khan will challenge the lawfulness and fairness of the decision through all available legal mechanisms,” lawyer Tayab Ali wrote on X. Khan’s dismissal follows an announcement by the United States that it will launch a renewed diplomatic campaign to dismantle the ICC, which it says is a threat to its sovereignty. Diplomats running the court’s oversight body decided last month that the British barrister had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior ICC lawyer and should be fired. Member states largely followed that conclusion in a vote at the United Nations in New York on Friday. During a visit to the Philippines on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there wer... -
Dawn - 03:41 Jul 25, 2026
ISLAMABAD: In a first, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday awarded DHA City, located on M-9 motorway, two parallel licences for electricity distribution and supplier of last resort (SoLR) for a period of 21 years. This is the first of its kind move under which a privately owned entity — DHA Energy Supply Company (Desco) — got licences to have both responsibilities of distribution of electricity and the supplier of last resort under the revised Nepra regime for competitive trading bilateral contract market (CTBCM) other than legacy utility distributors and SoLRs like ex-Wapda distribution companies and K-Electric. Initially, Desco’s jurisdiction for the distribution licence would be in DHA City Karachi (DHACK), located about 56 kilometres from Karachi city in district Malir. In its application, Desco reported that there was no infrastructure that may connect it to the national grid or KE network and the only source of supply available nearby was that of the Lucky Cement Limited w... -
Dawn - 03:33 Jul 25, 2026
RAWALPINDI: A nurse was booked by police for mistakenly chopping off the thumb of a newborn baby girl in the nursery ward of Rawalpindi Holy Family Hospital. Police investigating the incident said efforts were underway to trace and investigate the accused nurse, who had not been available so far. They said the exact circumstances in which the child’s thumb was cut off would be known after the investigation. Qasir Mehmood, the father of the child and a resident of Hassan Abdal, lodged an FIR with New Town police, stating that his 23-day-old daughter had been admitted to the Holy Family Hospital’s nursery ward for treatment after being born at the hospital. He said that when he visited his daughter on Thursday evening, he found that her right thumb had been cut off. After he inquired from the doctor, he was told that a nurse had mistakenly cut off the child’s thumb during treatment in the nursery ward. The doctor informed him that the hospital would conduct an inquiry and let him know what had happened, he stat... -
Dawn - 03:30 Jul 25, 2026
PAKISTAN’S economic debate is trapped in outdated vocabulary. Each time the rupee weakens, headlines scream ‘devaluation’. Anchors ask whether one is imminent, while policymakers debate whether the exchange rate should be defended or strengthened. as if it was simply another policy tool. It’s not. The language belongs to another era. Today, most countries let their currencies move more freely. When an economy gets dangerously out of balance, the currency has to adjust to avoid a more disruptive crisis, as our own history has shown. The exchange rate is not an administrative decision. It is the market price of one country’s currency in terms of another. This price is shaped by domestic inflation relative to that of the country’ trading partners and the accompanying interest-rate differentials, productivity, government spending more than it earns, external balances, capital flows, adequacy of foreign currency reserves and, above all, expectations of what businesses think will happen to the economy in the future... -
Dawn - 03:22 Jul 25, 2026
SINCE early this month, Balochistan has been reeling from a series of dastardly terror attacks. The nexus of ideologically different banned terrorist groups — the religiously motivated extremists of the TTP and BLA terrorists — poses a grave challenge. The current spate of violence started on July 5, when terrorists managed to reach the fertile Shaban area next to Hanna-Urak in the suburbs of Quetta cantonment, and then launched another attack the next day on the Mangi Dam Ziarat police post at the pumping station. Despite a valiant fight put up by a DSP and 40 policemen, the terrorists, who had attacked in a large numbers, kidnapped and killed 27 ammunition-deficient law-enforcement personnel. Timely reinforcements by the police and FC could have prevented this tragedy. Meanwhile, an FC convoy was attacked near Khad Kucha, district Mastung, resulting in casualties. In addition, a military contingent in unmarked vehicles was attacked at Bela-Vinder by the BLA’s Majeed Brigade, resulting in casualties in doubl... -
Dawn - 03:14 Jul 25, 2026
THE brutal slaying of a judge and his guard in Mastung is the latest in a series of blood-drenched events that have rocked Balochistan since the start of this month. Both state functionaries and ordinary citizens have been killed in these acts of terrorism. Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar was travelling from Quetta to Mastung with another judge and security personnel when their vehicle came under attack. The judge and his guard Muhammad Zaman did not survive. Some unverified reports indicate the IS-K claimed responsibility for the assault. IS-K has been active in the province for some years, and if its role is confirmed, it would mean it is expanding its targets. Before the judge’s martyrdom there was the Mangi Dam attack, claimed by the banned TTP, as well as a deadly assault on a Karachi-bound bus in the Khud Kocha area, and the killing of workers originally hailing from Punjab in Mashkhel. The recent wave of violence indicates the complexity of the threat in Balochistan, where terrorists belonging to different id...
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