Dawn
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Dawn - 02:27 Jul 24, 2026
• Association calls off strike for 15 days in late-night development after govt assurances • Most fuel stations remain open as rival group decides to stay away from protest LAHORE: A split among petroleum dealers blunted the impact of Thursday’s nationwide shutdown call, with petrol pumps remaining open in most urban and semi-urban areas across the country. However, late on Thursday night, the All Pakistan Petroleum Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) called off the shutdown for 15 days. In a video message, APPPOA Vice Chairman Noman Butt said the government had agreed to move a summary within 15 days for implementing the increase in dealers’ commission approved in December last year. It had also agreed to review the issue of daily fuel pricing within the same period. APPPOA Chairman Humayun Khan also announced an end to the shutdown call. In December, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved an increase in dealers’ commission from Rs8.64 to Rs9.98 per litre in two phases by June 2026. However, the... -
Dawn - 02:24 Jul 24, 2026
• Says armed forces vigilant about situation in Bab el-Mandab; will give swift response if Islamabad’s assets come under attack • PM reassures Saudi crown prince of full support, condemns Yemeni rebels’ attacks on oil tankers • Dar meets Omani FM on sidelines of Asean moot; FO says efforts on to secure de-escalation ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday doubled down on its warning to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, describing any attack on its maritime interests as a “red line” and declaring that such a strike would be treated as an attack on the country, while simultaneously reassuring Saudi Arabia of its support and pledging to work with Riyadh to ensure the uninterrupted flow of ships through the Bab el-Mandab chokepoint. At his weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi left little room for ambiguity about Islamabad’s position. “I do not think that there is a thin line when it comes to defending our national security and our assets. This is not a thin line; this is a red line. This red line is stri... -
Dawn - 18:48 Jul 23, 2026
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday praised Pakistan’s initiative at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to strengthen mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, saying the move was particularly important at a time when conflicts were escalating across the Middle East and beyond. Addressing an UNSC open debate held pursuant to Pakistan-sponsored Resolution 2788 (2025), the UN chief presented recommendations aimed at making diplomacy, mediation and conflict prevention more effective tools for maintaining international peace and security. The resolution, which was presented by Pakistan during its presidency of the UNSC last year and adopted unanimously by the Council, seeks to strengthen the use of peaceful means available under the UN Charter, including negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement. Pakistan had argued that diplomacy should not be used only after conflicts erupt but should serve as a means to prevent crises from escalating. “As conf... -
Dawn - 18:26 Jul 23, 2026
The government on Thursday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs4.40 and Rs3.62 per litre, respectively, passing on the impact of fluctuating global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Persian Gulf. Following the changes, the price of petrol stands at Rs331.52 per litre, while that of HSD stands at Rs378.66 per litre. The government is charging a total of Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 on diesel. The Petroleum Division’s notification said the new prices would be applicable on July 24 (Friday). The diesel price has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3. Its price had started rising from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war broke out on February 28. The petrol price had peaked at Rs458.41 on April 3 after beginning its upward trajectory from Rs266 in the first week of March. Earlier, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices ... -
Dawn - 18:04 Jul 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples during the first six months of 2026, with the positivity rate dropping from 48.1 per cent during the same period last year to 13.1pc this year. Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq told Dawn that the improvement was the result of a new strategy involving external audits, better team selection, enhanced training and the support of law enforcement agencies. However, a polio expert cautioned that unchecked cross-border movement from Afghanistan remained a major concern, as poliovirus strains linked to Kandahar and Nangarhar had been detected in environmental samples collected from Quetta and Peshawar, respectively. According to data released by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication, 127 environmental samples were collected across the country during June 2026 as part of routine poliovirus surveillance. Of these, 117 tested negative, while ... -
Dawn - 17:53 Jul 23, 2026
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of Israeli Jews into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Thursday, breaching the site’s decades-old status quo as he marked a Jewish day of mourning. The visit coincided with Tisha B’Av, the Jewish fasting day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, which is being observed from Wednesday night through Thursday this year. AFP footage showed Ben Gvir and hundreds of fellow worshippers at the Al-Aqsa compound, including Jewish settlers who lined up from the early morning hours to enter the site, where many performed prayers. “Look at what’s happening here: Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here,” Ben Gvir said in a video filmed at the compound and posted on his Telegram channel. “Everywhere, people understand that the State of Israel is the sovereign authority. There is still more to do, and with God’s help, we will continue to move forward.” Located in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, the... -
Dawn - 17:36 Jul 23, 2026
The Republican-led US House of Representatives backed a resolution on Thursday directing President Donald Trump to halt military action against Iran unless he obtains Congress’ approval, but the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, similar measure. The House vote, the latest rebuke of Trump from Congress, was 214-208 in favour of the war powers resolution as four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it. But the Senate voted 49 to 47 to block its own war powers measure within hours of the House vote. The House resolution, introduced by Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, directed Trump “to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities” against Iran unless Congress authorises it. However, it was largely symbolic. Lawmakers have passed similar resolutions repeatedly in recent months, but they have not led to a cessation of the war. US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is followed by reporters as he walks back to his office in the US Capitol Building on July 23, 2... -
Dawn - 16:38 Jul 23, 2026
KARACHI: The police on Thursday killed the alleged abductor and murderer of a six-year-old girl in a shootout after the suspect allegedly opened fire on law enforcers during a raid in Karachi’s Keamari area. According to a statement issued by the Keamari police spokesperson, a first information report (No. 265/2026) under Sections 364-A and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered at Jackson Police Station regarding the abduction and murder of a six-year-old girl. The spokesperson stated that police obtained CCTV footage from various locations along with other available evidence, which was thoroughly examined during the investigation. “Based on the CCTV footage and information gathered during the investigation, police received credible information regarding the whereabouts of a suspect,” the spokesperson said. Acting on this information, he said, a police party reached the Mubarak Mosque area, within the jurisdiction of Jackson Police Station. “However, upon seeing the police party, the suspect opened fi... -
Dawn - 16:30 Jul 23, 2026
Torrential rains in Gilgit-Baltistan caused widespread travel disruptions in the mountainous region as flash floods and landslides washed away roads and bridges, leaving thousands, including tourists, stranded. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rain and warned of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in GB until July 26. Floods blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH), Babusar Road, Baltistan Road, Naltar Highway, Ghizer-Shandur Road, Astore Valley Road and other routes connecting various remote areas, leaving thousands, including tourists, stranded at multiple locations. The GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) said the KKH was blocked at multiple sections from Dassu to Hunza and Nagar districts. Picture taken on July 23, 2026 shows a tractor stranded after landslides and floods were caused by torrential rainfall in Gilgit-Baltistan. —Photo via author Continuous flooding at multiple locations caused difficulties for relief and rehabilitation activities. Many areas remained disconnected from... -
Dawn - 15:55 Jul 23, 2026
During its war with the United States, Iran has targeted Middle East bases where American troops are stationed, turning assets once seen as a bulwark against Tehran into targets. Below, AFP examines some of the major concentrations of US forces in the region, which fall under the US military’s Central Command (Centcom). Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Middle East bases housing US troops “can support a wide range of missions from logistics, pre-positioning assets, refuelling, and of course combat operations”. Iran, in justifying its own retaliatory strikes, has accused Gulf states of allowing the US to use the bases to launch attacks, which Dent said was likely, though Tehran’s “perennial argument that all of these bases are inherently offensive is not accurate”. Bahrain The small kingdom hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters. Bahrain’s deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircr... -
Dawn - 15:35 Jul 23, 2026
Thousands of supporters of India’s youth-led “cockroach” movement have been protesting since June, demanding the education minister resign over exam paper leaks, in the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term. Activists say the leaks showed widespread corruption, a complaint which has brought crowds onto the streets for years. Following are details of major rallies, triggered by graft and other crimes and causes, over the past two decades. April 2011 Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare started the first of two hunger strikes in a bid to push the government to bring in anti-graft legislation. Hundreds of thousands rallied to his support across the country and he was briefly jailed by the then-Congress alliance government. India’s parliament eventually passed an anti-graft law, though Hazare said it watered down his demands. Some of his supporters went on to form the Aam Aadmi Party in 2012, now one of Modi’s opponents in parliament. December 2012 Public fury over the gang-rape of a... -
Dawn - 15:06 Jul 23, 2026
LAHORE: Heavy monsoon rains caused widespread water accumulation across Lahore on Thursday, disrupting routine life, slowing traffic and creating difficulties for commuters as rainwater remained stagnant on major roads, intersections and underpasses in several parts of the provincial capital. Despite claims by the district administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Lahore that drainage operations were being carried out on an emergency basis, residents faced difficulties due to three to four feet of standing water on streets, roads and submerged underpasses, along with slow traffic movement. The city received 343 millimetres of rain over the past 48 hours, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), which warned of possible urban flooding during the second spell of monsoon rains. Rainwater accumulated at more than 130 locations across Lahore, affecting traffic movement in several areas. Low-lying localities, major roads and underpasses remained among the worst-affected poin... -
Dawn - 13:52 Jul 23, 2026
A group of killer whales have been documented blowing a sunfish to bits in an unusual underwater escapade offering never-before-seen insights into orca behaviour, according to research released on Thursday. Video released by the US-based NGO Beneath The Waves shows one orca holding the tail of a sunfish, with its fellow whale then charging with full force into the rotund mola, which explodes into pieces. The sunfish is already dead — this isn’t an elaborate murder ritual. Instead, it might be an attempt to turn the fish into smaller bite-sized chunks, researcher Kathryn Ayres said. “Or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food,” she explained. “Orcas often tear apart prey and share it with other members of the group, including calves and juveniles.” The antics were documented on two occasions in 2024 and 2025 off the Gulf of California, according to the research published in the peer-reviewed Frontiers in Ethology. Mark Peter Simmonds, director of science at OceanCare, likened... -
Dawn - 13:42 Jul 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Korea South-East Power Co. Ltd (KOEN), a state-owned company of the Republic of Korea, has approached the prime minister over “unfair” treatment of its $1 billion investment plans in Pakistan, which were stonewalled during the regulatory approval process. In a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Korean energy firm’s CEO Kim Min Young complained that the company — which operates thermal power stations, pumped-storage power plants, and combined cycle power plants — had been working on two hydropower projects for 10 years but had been blocked at the last stage. He said KOEN, a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), had been developing two run-of-the-river hydropower projects on the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2016, for a total generation of 467 megawatts. The 229MW Asrit Kedam project and the 238MW Kalam Asrit project totalled a combined investment of approximately $1bn, and the firm had already spent about $25m on the ground. “We write to you today with the greate... -
Dawn - 13:33 Jul 23, 2026
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday drew attention to key challenges threatening peaceful coexistence and stability across the world, listing the Kashmir dispute and India’s threats to Pakistan’s water share among them. He made the remarks at the 33rd ministerial meeting of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) held in Manila, the Philippines. Foreign ministers and delegates from 27 member states of ARF gathered for the summit, which comes amid a flare-up in the war between the United States and Iran. The conflict is a key concern for the 11-nation Asean, which has a combined gross domestic product of about $3.8 trillion heavily reliant on Middle East oil. Addressing the meeting, DPM Dar highlighted eight key challenges that he said “continue to threaten peaceful coexistence, stability and our livelihoods across the region and the world”. “Any delay in addressing these challenges will only undermine our collective efforts to achieve peace, stability and prosperity across our regions and ... -
Dawn - 13:06 Jul 23, 2026
Alphabet’s Google was fined a total of €890 million ($1 billion) on Thursday for flouting European Union rules aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech, the European Commission said. However, the US tech giant is likely to avoid fresh fines as EU regulators lauded good progress in its ongoing efforts to comply with the landmark legislation. The fines underscored Europe’s determination to prevent Big Tech companies from thwarting rivals, defying US criticism and retaliatory tariff threats. One fine of €460 million was handed out to Google by the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act for favouring its own services in shopping, hotels, transport and sports results in search results. A second fine of €430 million targeted Google’s restrictions on its app store Google Play, preventing app developers from steering users free of charge to cheaper offers on rival app stores or websites. Reuters was the first to report on both fines, which are the first for the US tech giant under the DMA but the fifth an... -
Dawn - 12:54 Jul 23, 2026
United States President Donald Trump has threatened to attack a site linked to Iran’s nuclear programme known as Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified facility buried deep underground near one of Tehran’s main nuclear sites. The threat reflects escalating tensions as Tehran and Washington trade fire in the Gulf, setting back efforts to end the conflict. Here is what we know about Pickaxe Mountain: What is Pickaxe Mountain? Pickaxe Mountain is located 220 kilometres (140 miles) south of Tehran and 2km (1.2 miles) from the Natanz nuclear complex. The Natanz site, where two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants were located, was bombed during the war started by the United States and Israel on February 28, and during last year’s 12-day war. The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain was not targeted in either of those wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based think-tank focused on nuclear non-proliferation. The peak rises to some 1,600 metres above sea lev... -
Dawn - 12:34 Jul 23, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said a landmark deal with Saudi Arabia that would establish a civilian nuclear programme in the Gulf country is contingent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and normalising ties with Israel. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the deal only pertained to the civilian use of nuclear facilities “such as the ones that Iran and [the] UAE (and others) already have”. He added that the deal “will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords”. The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements brokered under Trump in 2020 and govern the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and countries that have historically been hostile to it. They, however, remain unpopular among the public in many parts of the region, not least because they do not tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The move comes as the United States under President Donald Trump fights a war with Iran that began in large part over concerns wi... -
Dawn - 12:28 Jul 23, 2026
The three suspects arrested in connection with a young doctor’s killing during a robbery near Karachi’s Teen Talwar were killed in an exchange of fire on Thursday, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) claimed. The SIU statement claimed it conducted a raid in Ahmed Brohi Goth, near the metropolis’ Northern Bypass Toll Plaza, to arrest the three suspects’ accomplices. The suspects were taken to the location, within the jurisdiction of Gulshan-i-Memar police station, to identify their accomplices. However, the accomplices allegedly opened fire on the police party upon seeing the law enforcers. The police further claimed that the three suspects and a police official were injured in the exchange of fire and were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). However, the three suspects succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital, according to the police. The police claimed they were searching for the absconding suspects, adding that further legal proceedings were underway. A judicial magistrate gra... -
Dawn - 09:59 Jul 23, 2026
QUETTA: District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his guard were gunned down on Thursday, while another judge was among two injured when they came under attack while heading to Mastung, officials said. Judge Kakar and Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari were on their way to Mastung from Quetta when unknown armed men attacked the vehicles they were in, Balochistan Home Department’s aide Babar Yousafzai told Dawn. The armed men targeted Kakar and others at Wali Khan crossing, killing him and his guard on the spot, Yousafzai said. He added that the two injured, including Lashari, were taken to a hospital in Mastung. The incident comes a day after three people were killed and five others were injured in a gun attack on a Karachi-bound passenger bus and a bridge on the national highway was blown up in Mastung’s Khud Kocha area. Subsequently, authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in the Khud Kocha sub-tehsil from 9pm on Wednesday. Thursday’s attack also follows security forces killing three terroris...
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