Dawn
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Dawn - 02:33 Jul 31, 2026
Rio de Janeiro: A US government map of Africa mislabeled every country during a State Department presentation at a global conference in Brazil this week, causing a stir among attendees who took screenshots and posted them online. This news agency viewed a video of the presentation given at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro, which shows the errant map displayed halfway during a presentation about the State Department’s new health agreements. An analysis found the image of the map included in the presentation contained an artificial intelligence watermark that signals it was made with OpenAI tools. The company did not respond to a request for comment. The State Department said it took “full responsibility” for the confusion caused and that the map had been produced by a team member who hastily changed the slide deck before the event. The map showed Nigeria, where the US currently has several hundred troops deployed, as landlocked in the Sahara Desert. Mozambique, which is in southeastern Africa, was re... -
Dawn - 02:31 Jul 31, 2026
• Floods along GT Road affect over 1,000 houses, inundate over 43,000 acres of land • Official says water in affected villages receding, warns rainfall may cause floods again • FFD says Indus flowing at medium flood, predicts ‘medium-to-high-level flows’ in eastern rivers’ nullahs LAHORE: Recent floods in Ferozewala, Muridke — Sheikhupra tehsils — and Kala Shah Kaku have affected more than 94 villages, submerging vast tracts of land along the Lahore-Gujranwala tract of the GT Road for the past several days. According to a Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) report, at least 1,215 houses — 1,075 in Ferozewala and 140 in Muridke — were affected, while 43,188 acres of land were inundated. The PDMA said 738 people and 46 livestock were evacuated, adding that 13 relief camps were established. Over a dozen medical camps and mobile clinics treated 1,633 patients while 4,085 ration bags were distributed among affected families. The PDMA report said that Rescue 1122 deployed seven dewa... -
Dawn - 02:26 Jul 31, 2026
• Govt stands firm on petroleum pricing deregulation plan • Petroleum minister defends daily pricing, claims ‘transparent’ mechanism protects consumers from price shocks • Senate panel directs Ogra to submit proposal that addresses dealers’ concerns ISLAMABAD: Undeterred by public criticism, the government on Thursday indicated it could reintroduce targeted fuel subsidies within the next few days, with financial support from the provinces, if renewed tensions in the Middle East persisted, and stood firm on its plan to go ahead with petroleum price deregulation. “If this matter [renewed US-Iran attacks] does not end in a few days, we will bring back the targeted subsidy mechanism that we previously used to prevent the price shock from reaching the people,” Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said, recalling that the prime minister had initially provided Rs130 billion in fuel subsidies before bringing the provincial governments on board under the targeted subsidy mechanism. He said the prime minister and the ... -
Dawn - 02:18 Jul 31, 2026
QESHM ISLAND (Iran): A plume of smoke rises after a residential area was hit by US missile strikes. Iranian media reported on Thursday that three civilians were killed and two children wounded in the attack.—Reuters • 14 countries, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, back joint statement • Dar, Saudi counterpart discuss Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb situation • Sisi warns of serious escalation after port strike in Egypt • Iran says US strikes killed civilians, IRGC members • Claims attacks on US-linked targets in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain • US denies Iranian claim of damage to F-35 jets in Jordan RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday unveiled plans for a multinational maritime defence coalition to protect shipping and energy supply routes in the Red Sea region, as the Middle East war spread across new fronts with US-Saudi strikes on Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, Iranian attacks on US-linked targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, and a drone strike on gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta port. The Saudi defence ministry said chie... -
Dawn - 02:13 Jul 31, 2026
• Condemns attacks by non-state actors against kingdom • Stresses Islamabad will honour defence commitments with Gulf partners • Insists defence agreements don’t undermine Pakistan’s role as mediator • India to be invited to SCO summit in Pakistan next year ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday endorsed Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Iraq as an exercise of its right to self-defence, while reaffirming that it would honour all defence commitments undertaken with its Gulf partners. The country also insisted that those arrangements did not diminish Islamabad’s role as a mediator in the Iran-US conflict. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and we respect that right,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at the weekly media briefing. The remarks came two days after Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out coordinated strikes against installations of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Units, accusing elements within the umbrella force of launching attacks ... -
Dawn - 02:05 Jul 31, 2026
The government on Thursday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.09 and Rs2.42 per litre, respectively. Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs336.15 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs393.04 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 per litre on diesel. The Petroleum Division’s notification said the new prices would be applicable for July 31 (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 following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US. The government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel ... -
Dawn - 18:39 Jul 30, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday refused to recognise National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai as chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) over the party’s failure to hold intra-party elections. A full five-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter. Two other cases related to the party were also fixed for hearing. It was learnt that not only Achakzai’s leadership but also certain “controversial” amendments made to the party’s constitution and PkMAP’s account details were under question. At the initial hearing last week, the ECP bench had observed that a decision would first be made regarding the party’s counsel, Aimal Mandokhail. On Thursday, the chief election commissioner said an order would be issued regarding the power of attorney. Raja made the remarks after asking the lawyer who had signed the power of attorney submitted to the commission. Mandokhail replied that party chairma... -
Dawn - 18:33 Jul 30, 2026
KARACHI: The brother of imprisoned Uzair Baloch, chief of the defunct People’s Amn Committee, was shot and critically wounded in Karachi’s Lyari area on Thursday evening, according to police. Chakiwara police, in a statement, said that Zubair Baloch, 40, was shot and injured on main Chakiwara Road, while two passersby were also injured. They were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that Zubair had been arrested in seven criminal cases in 2012 and was released in January 2025. He added that Zubair was sitting outside his residence in Singu Lane when armed suspects on a motorcycle opened fire on him and fled the scene. Zubair sustained multiple injuries, including to his chest and abdomen, and was undergoing surgery. DIG Raza noted that one of the injured passersby was also in serious condition. The DIG added that the police were investigating the incident from different angles, including gang rivalry and personal enmity. A social activist from the ar... -
Dawn - 18:01 Jul 30, 2026
The government on Thursday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.09 and Rs2.42 per litre, respectively. Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs336.15 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs393.04 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 per litre on diesel. The Petroleum Division’s notification said the new prices would be applicable for July 31 (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 following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US. The government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel ... -
Dawn - 17:56 Jul 30, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Anticipating the new fiscal year to begin with double-digit inflation, the government on Thursday expressed concern over renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, saying they posed downside risks to inflation and the external outlook. “Renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pose downside risks to inflation and the external outlook,” the Ministry of Finance said in its Monthly Economic Update & Outlook (July 2026), while assuring that the external sector would remain resilient, supported by government measures to facilitate exports and sustain the strong momentum in remittance inflows. “Overall, prudent macroeconomic management, fiscal discipline, ongoing structural reforms, stronger industrial activity and improved external buffers are expected to sustain the recovery in economic activity while preserving macroeconomic stability,” the finance ministry said, adding that macroeconomic stabilisation had largely been achieved in FY2026. It said the economy was expected to maintain its... -
Dawn - 17:53 Jul 30, 2026
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday urged all political parties to “settle” various national-level issues, including the question of creating new provinces. Addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 being held in Islamabad, Naqvi said there was “only one solution” to improving the country’s overall condition: “You will have to take [the matter of] administrative units, provinces or whatever you may call it, to the public.” The interior minister argued: “All political parties should sit together in a single room, whether for a day, a month or a year. They will have to settle every issue of their country, including new units and provinces.” “Unless they do so, unless they sit together and change this, this country will remain in the same condition, regardless of how many seminars and functions you hold.” Various political parties have demanded the creation of more provinces or administrative units for better governance. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — an ally of the PML-N-led ruling co... -
Dawn - 16:34 Jul 30, 2026
European football’s governing body UEFA said on Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan. “No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement. “The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product … No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.” FIFA, football’s world governing body, on Tuesday announced plans to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. Under the proposal, private investors would be allowed to acquire stakes in the company but would remain minority shareholders, FIFA said. The governing body hopes to raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for the FIF... -
Dawn - 16:33 Jul 30, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministry briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on enhanced consular services for overseas Pakistanis, including the digitisation of systems for services such as document attestation and foreign payments, the PMO said on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the PMO, PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting in Islamabad, where he was briefed on the progress of these initiatives by officials from the foreign ministry, the interior ministry, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the IT ministry, Pakistan’s ambassadors posted in various countries and other senior officials. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, alongside Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Shaza Fatima Khawaja; Minister of State Aoun Chaudhry, Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa, and other senior officials. The briefing covered enhanced services at Pakistani embassies for overseas Pakistanis, the digitisation of the document attestation process... -
Dawn - 16:13 Jul 30, 2026
QUETTA: At least two miners were killed and several others were feared trapped after an explosion in a private coal mine in the Sorange area of Balochistan’s provincial capital on Thursday. Provincial Minister for Mines and Minerals Mir Shoaib Nosherwani confirmed the fatalities, adding that a rescue operation was underway at the incident site. “The rescue operation was launched immediately after the coal mine collapse incident in Sorange,” said the minister. Nosherwani added that the process of removing the debris and installing exhaust systems to reach the trapped miners was underway. “All possible assistance will be provided to the families of the affected workers, and necessary instructions have been issued to the relevant authorities,” said the minister. He further said that the chief inspector of mines and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials had reached the site on the instructions of provincial chief minister Sarfraz Bugti. Earlier, labour leader Pir Muhammad Kakar told Dawn that ... -
Dawn - 15:27 Jul 30, 2026
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned on Thursday that a stolen election in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) would start a “countdown” for the federal government. Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice. “The PML-N thinks that after its defeat in Gilgit-Baltistan, a defeat in AJK would mean a countdown begins for its government,” Bilawal said while addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad ahead of the August 2 elections. “But this is a misconception.” “If you steal [the election] … write it down, take my guarantee, that a countdown will start for your federal government,” he warned. “If you steal my mandate, I will come for your throne.” The PPP scion added that his party had elders who had challenged former leaders, including General Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, and were expert... -
Dawn - 15:21 Jul 30, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and its territorial waters have been removed from the Listed Areas of the Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War Committee (JWC), it emerged on Thursday, a move that will help reduce war-risk insurance premiums and shipping costs. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry welcomed the decision and said it would improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exports and strengthen the confidence of international shipping companies, traders and investors in the country. He added that Pakistan’s removal could also make Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar more attractive to global shipping lines and investors, creating opportunities for regional trade, cargo transit and transshipment. According to the minister, the issue was taken up on March 13, 2026, when it was noted that Pakistan and its maritime areas had been among the JWC’s Listed Areas for two decades — after the US declared its war on terror following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Their inclusion had resulted in addit... -
Dawn - 15:06 Jul 30, 2026
Joe Root was reappointed as England’s Test captain on Thursday, with ex-New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming named as head coach as the team embark on a new era. The announcement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) follows the sacking of Brendon McCullum as Test coach and the shock retirement of former skipper Ben Stokes from international cricket earlier this month. McCullum, who remains in charge of England’s white-ball teams, lost his job after a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand in June, which followed a disastrous Ashes campaign in Australia. Root will resume his role as skipper in the three-match series with Pakistan starting next month but Fleming is not scheduled to arrive until later in the year. Yorkshireman Root holds the record for captaining England in the most Tests (65) and for the most wins (27). He skippered the team from 2017 to 2022 and took the role on an interim basis at the Oval during the recent series against New Zealand. The 35-year-old is second behind India’s Sachin Tend... -
Dawn - 15:01 Jul 30, 2026
Standing on the roof of a war-damaged building overlooking the ruins of Gaza City, beekeeper Ibrahim al-Dabba gently lifts a honeycomb frame as bees buzz around him. “Bees require trees, we are raising bees amongst rubble,” he says. For Gaza’s beekeepers, the struggle to rebuild their livelihoods after more than two years of war is about much more than honey. It is also about preserving one of nature’s most important pollinators in a territory where farmland has been devastated and access to orchards near the border with Israel has been cut off. Before the war, the beekeepers kept around 30,000 hives, according to agricultural engineer and beekeeper Rateb Sammour. Honey production had already been declining from some 400 metric tonnes annually several years ago to roughly half that amount as climate change affected the flowering seasons. Honey production hit The conflict dealt a far greater blow, however. Sammour, a well-known Gaza beekeeper and honey producer, estimates around 700 hives remain, with beekeepe... -
Dawn - 14:05 Jul 30, 2026
Twenty-five cats stuck inside a shopping mall in Japan gutted in an explosion after a major earthquake have been rescued, the operator said on Thursday, triggering huge relief on social media. Momo, Kohaku, Tango, Shandy — a fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat — and the others were in Cat Cafe MOFF on the ground floor of the Aeon mall in Kashima when the deadly 7.1-magnitude quake hit on Tuesday. The mall was evacuated and employees returned to retrieve the cats when a huge explosion — likely caused by gas — ripped through the building, and staff “hurriedly evacuated”, the cafe said. At least 34 people died in the quake, according to authorities in the southwestern Kumamoto region. On Wednesday, with permission from the fire service, the police and the mall operator, MOFF’s manager entered the building and safely rescued all 25 cats, which were unharmed. Around 10pm (6pm PKT) the same day, the animals arrived safely in the city of Hiroshima in western Japan, where the company has another cat cafe, it said. View this ... -
Dawn - 13:54 Jul 30, 2026
MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted two resolutions on the recent unrest in Rawalakot and other parts of the region, with one condemning statements by federal ministers on the crisis and the other endorsing the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to probe the violence and pave the way for a negotiated settlement. This development emerged amid polls in AJK, which are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice. The assembly met under the chairmanship of panel member Nabeela Ayoub, but only nine members were in attendance — seven from the ruling PPP and one each from the opposition PML-N and PTI. The first resolution was tabled by former AJK president Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan on Wednesday, while the second...
12682 items