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Dawn - 15:41 Jul 14, 2026
New York became the first US state on Tuesday to halt construction of large new data centres, imposing a one-year moratorium as concerns grow that the facilities driving the artificial-intelligence boom are raising power costs, straining water supplies and burdening local communities. The moratorium positions New York at the forefront of a growing national debate over how to manage the infrastructure needed to support AI. While technology companies are racing to build new data centers, lawmakers and regulators in dozens of states are weighing measures to limit their effect on electricity grids, utility bills and local communities. “As data centre development threatens to hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, it’s my responsibility to take action and lead,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She will also pursue legislation to repeal sales tax exemptions for large data centres, Hochul added. The construction ban will apply to data centres that use 50 me... -
Dawn - 15:07 Jul 14, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir is on an official visit to Turkiye aimed at strengthening strategic and defence cooperation between the two countries, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that during his visit, the CDF had a series of high-level engagements with Ankara’s political and military leadership. “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir called on President HE Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Minister of National Defence, Yasar Guler, to discuss matters of mutual interest and regional security,” an ISPR statement read. The military’s media wing added that the discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye in the “evolving geopolitical environment”. A post on the Turkish Presidency’s X account, which also had a picture of the two, said Erdogan received Munir at the Ankara airport. ISPR added that Field Marshal Munir was welcomed with a guard of honour at the Turkish Genera... -
Dawn - 14:54 Jul 14, 2026
France on Tuesday showcased its military power and unity with allies, holding its largest-ever national day parade with Ukraine’s president as the guest of honour. The final July 14 parade presided over by President Emmanuel Macron brought together thousands of French troops and two dozen foreign heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and hundreds of European troops. The parade marks the storming of the Bastille fortress in the French revolution. Troops march during the annual Bastille Day military parade as a national flag flutters under the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris on July 14, 2026. —AFP France’s Armed Forces drive their motorised vehicles during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris on July 14, 2026. —AFP Soldiers of the 12th Cuirassier Regiment Contact Block (12e régiment de cuirassiers – bloc mêlée/contact) march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Pari... -
Dawn - 14:52 Jul 14, 2026
For Ukraine and its supporters, the sudden death of US Senator Lindsey Graham raises an important question: Without a close ally of President Donald Trump advocating loudly for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government, will his administration’s recent tilt in favour of Kyiv last? The answer will especially affect two major issues — legislation to sanction Russia, which Graham pushed for more than a year, and military assistance for Ukraine. On both, the momentum has lately been in Ukraine’s favour as Kyiv faces intensified attacks by Russia and pressure to end the nearly 4.5-year-long conflict. Graham and other senators who back the sanctions bill announced on Friday that they had an agreement with the White House to move ahead on the “Sanctioning Russia Act,” which has been stalled due to resistance from Trump despite being co-sponsored by 85 of 100 senators. Trump himself said last week that he would grant Kyiv a license to make interceptors for the Patriot defensive missile system, although Zelenskiy’s g... -
Dawn - 14:35 Jul 14, 2026
Karachi was ranked among the ‘least-liveable cities in the world’ last week, ranking 170th among 173 cities on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) annual Global Liveability Index 2026. The EIU’s ranking measures indicators such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure, and quantifies the challenges presented to an individual’s lifestyle in any given location. Karachi scored poorly in nearly all metrics except education, with an overall score of 43 out of 100 — higher only than Dhaka, Tripoli and Damascus. It scored 20 on stability, 54 on healthcare, 36 in culture and environment, 75 in education and 52 in infrastructure. Work is carried out on Karachi’s Red Line BRT on a dug-up road. — White Star A motorcyclist navigates over a broken road in Karachi. — White Star Cars drive single-file along a road that is mostly dug up in Karachi. — White Star Workers carry out construction work on a pipeline under a dug-up road in Karachi. — White Star Vehicles idle amid a traffic... -
Dawn - 14:32 Jul 14, 2026
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Tuesday said that an operation was under way in the region to clear obstacles created by the banned Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JAAC) at entry and exit points, warning that the government would treat “blackmailers” with an “iron hand”. “The clearance operation will continue until all routes are opened,” AJK Home Secretary Chaudhry Guftar Hussain said during a press conference. Hussain also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting human lives and ensuring the continuation of economic and business activities in the region. “The state is committed to protecting human lives and property against all threats and to ensuring the continuation of economic, educational and business activities, and restoring normalcy across the region,” the home secretary said at the press conference. “The state will not accept any threat or blackmail, and all blackmailers will be treated with an iron hand,” he warned. The home secretary also shared details of a vi... -
Dawn - 13:11 Jul 14, 2026
PESHAWAR: Twenty-one of a total of 26 vehicles loaded with World Food Programme (WFP) aid items crossed into Afghanistan via the Torkham border on Tuesday. Since October 2025, the Torkham border — a key trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan — has been closed due to the “escalating security situation” along the border. Torkham officials and agents said that all 26 vehicles carrying humanitarian assistance comprising food items for Afghanistan arrived in Torkham from Karachi on Monday. The vehicles then underwent the necessary electronic scanning and customs clearing process before these vehicles were issued gate passes for crossing over to Afghanistan. However, they were unable to cross the border on Monday evening due to the stipulated closure of the border at 8pm. The vehicles were taken to the Zero Point on Tuesday morning and later allowed to cross the border into Afghanistan. Officials said that the remaining five will also leave for Afghanistan later in the day. Custom clearing agents said that af... -
Dawn - 12:59 Jul 14, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally started consultations with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to finalise the date for local government elections in 23 districts of the province. The tenure of LGs in KP ended on March 15 this year. According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2013, local representatives are elected for a four-year term. Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired a meeting to this effect at the ECP Secretariat on Tuesday. Members of the commission, the ECP secretary, the KP chief secretary, the local government secretary and senior ECP officials attended the meeting. According to a press release, the chief election commissioner emphasised the importance of establishing local governments, saying holding LG elections was a constitutional requirement under Article 140-A of the Constitution. “Under Section 219(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP is bound to hold local government elections within 120 days of the expiry of the term of lo... -
Dawn - 12:56 Jul 14, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark index lost more than 6,400 points on Tuesday as equities experienced a massive meltdown amid renewed fighting between the United States and Iran. The KSE-100 index opened in the red and had lost 3,464.89 points at 10am, dropping to 176,462.15 points from the previous close of 179,927.04. During the day, the market witnessed minor fluctuations, followed by a steep decline after 2:30pm. Finally, the index closed at 173,518.81 points, down 6,408.23 points (3.56 per cent) from the previous close. The decline came as global oil prices rose to their highest in four weeks on Tuesday, as the US reimposed its naval blockade of Iran while the two countries stepped up attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, heightening uncertainty about energy flows. Brent crude futures were up $2.89, or 3.47pc, at $86.19 per barrel at 5pm PKT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.53, or 1.96pc, to $79.67 a barrel. Oil prices are now at their highest since the two countries signed a memor... -
Dawn - 12:08 Jul 14, 2026
India has prohibited the import of goods produced using forced labour, the trade ministry said on Tuesday, in a move that could help avert new tariffs from a probe by the United States. The Asian nation is one of the several countries facing proposed new US trade tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent over allegations they failed to prohibit import of goods produced with forced labour. The ministry’s notification, dated Monday, said it empowers “the central government to prohibit, by notification, the import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, through the use of forced labour”. India’s foreign trade body will investigate whether imported goods were made using forced labour and, if evidence is found, recommend that the government ban imports of those products after consultations, according to the notification. The notification will come into force after 30 days. Like most countries, the bulk of goods from India currently face a 10pc US tariff. But Washington is expected to introduce steeper tariffs t... -
Dawn - 11:35 Jul 14, 2026
After Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz reaffirms Pakistan's support for kingdom's security
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Pakistan “strongly condemns the blatant attacks” against Saudi Arabia the previous night, reaffirming Islamabad’s unwavering support for the kingdom’s security. The premier’s condemnation in an X post did not further specify the attacks. But, his statement came after Saudi Arabia said on Monday that it had intercepted ballistic missiles fired at the country’s south by Houthis. “Such reprehensible actions constitute a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have the potential to further undermine regional peace and stability,” PM Shehbaz warned. He said Pakistan “reaffirms its unwavering support for the kingdom’s security and stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly kingdom of Saudi Arabia at this critical time”. “On its part, Pakistan will continue to support all sincere efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, security, and mutual understanding across the region,” he added. Pakistan and Saudi Arab... -
Dawn - 11:31 Jul 14, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed that remittances from abroad be fully digitised as the government aims to achieve a cashless and digital economy. The premier issued the directives during a meeting he chaired in Islamabad on promoting a cashless economy and digital payments. “The prime minister directed that awareness campaigns to encourage merchants toward digital payments via QR codes be made more effective, and that remittances from abroad be digitised to 100 per cent,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The meeting was briefed that 92pc of remittance funds were received digitally during the past year. Workers’ remittances are seen as the single most critical stabilising force for Pakistan’s external sector, with the inflows reaching a record $41.6 billion in the last fiscal year. The government last month also expanded the scope of its Roshan Digital Account (RDA) framework, opening the scheme initially meant for overseas Pakistanis to foreign nationals and investors... -
Dawn - 11:04 Jul 14, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir has met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, according to a post on the Turkish Presidency’s X account. The presidency’s post on Tuesday, which also had a picture of the two, said Erdogan received Munir at the Ankara airport. Reuters reported that the meeting was held behind closed doors at the Ankara airport. The report said that Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Chief of Turkish General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalin also attended the meeting. Separately, an X post by the Turkish embassy in Pakistan said CDF Munir was accorded a guard of honour by a tri-services contingent of the Turkish armed forces following his arrival in Ankara. General Bayraktaroglu welcomed him during his official visit, the post said. “Rooted in brotherhood, mutual trust and a shared strategic vision, the enduring defence and military cooperation between Turkiye and Pa... -
Dawn - 10:16 Jul 14, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark index lost more than 6,000 points during intraday trade on Tuesday as equities experienced a massive meltdown amid renewed fighting between the United States and Iran. The KSE-100 index opened in the red and had lost 3,464.89 points at 10am, dropping to 176,462.15 points from the previous close of 179,927.04. After minor fluctuations, the index had lost 6,088.03 points (3.38 per cent) by 3pm, dropping to 173,839.01 points. The decline came as global oil prices rose to their highest in four weeks on Tuesday, as the US reimposed its naval blockade of Iran while the two countries stepped up attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, heightening uncertainty about energy flows. Brent crude futures were up $2.74, or 3.29pc, at $86.04 per barrel at 12:51pm PKT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.21, or 2.83pc, to $80.35 a barrel. Oil prices are now at their highest since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war on June 18. Awais Ashraf, dir... -
Dawn - 10:07 Jul 14, 2026
Teacher Raja Dey fears attendance might drop now that government-run schools have stopped serving eggs for lunch in his eastern Indian state, a dietary change that has stirred a political storm. The humble egg, a popular food in West Bengal, was taken off the menu after the state’s recently elected Hindu nationalist government said a religious charity will provide free, vegetarian cooked meals in state-run schools. The new arrangement has rekindled a long-running debate over food, faith and nutrition in the world’s most populous country, with critics accusing the government of trying to turn schoolchildren vegetarian. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, which swept to power in West Bengal for the first time in regional elections held in May, often promotes vegetarianism as a part of its nationalist agenda, although most Indian Hindus eat meat and fish. Eggs, which Hindus generally consider non-vegetarian, are even more widely consumed. Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whose regional Trinam... -
Dawn - 09:50 Jul 14, 2026
Another four terrorists have been killed during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, following which the total number of terrorists killed in the operation has reached 83, state-owned Pakistan TV reported on Tuesday, citing security sources. The ongoing sweep was launched in retaliation for a deadly attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat. During that assault, armed attackers kidnapped and killed 27 police officers. Troops from the army, Frontier Corps, police and the Anti-Terrorism Force are participating in the joint operation. In a post on the social media platform X, the broadcaster said, “Security sources say four more khawarij terrorists were killed in ongoing air and ground operations, taking the total number of terrorists killed in Operation Shaban to 83.” “Since July 5, a total of 121 khawarij terrorists have been eliminated in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations,” it said, adding that the operation would continue “until the last terrorist is ne... -
Dawn - 09:22 Jul 14, 2026
Ministers, mostly from the ruling PML-N, have rebuked Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his recent remarks about security personnel, it emerged on Tuesday. Fazl made the statement during a recent party rally in Punjab’s Kasur, where he spoke about the security and terrorism situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In this context, he mentioned that soldiers’ martyrdom was often cited, adding that personnel were drawing salaries to fight for the country. In a post on X, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reacted to his statement by expressing disappointment and terming his words “unfair”. Asif said he expected a seasoned politician such as Fazl to be more responsible in his choice of words. “Linking the sacrifice of military personnel for the homeland to their salary is not only unfair but tantamount to hurting the sentiments of the martyrs and their families. No one sacrifices their life merely for a salary; there is an ideology, a belief, a duty, and a deep association w... -
Dawn - 08:55 Jul 14, 2026
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Aiwan-i-Sadr. According to the PPP, the two discussed the “overall situation in the country, including matters relating to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)”. Tuesday’s meeting comes ahead of the upcoming elections in the region, scheduled for July 27. Last month, PPP’s Bilawal and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that their parties would jointly contest the AJK general elections. Meanwhile, ahead of the elections, the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has called for widespread protests demanding the abolition of 12 reserved seats. Bilawal had also met with Dar last week to discuss the “situation in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan”, according to Radio Pakistan. “Both leaders also agreed on the importance of holding free, fair, and transparent forthcoming general elections in AJK,” the report said. It is worth mentioning that last month, the PPP formed a governm... -
Dawn - 08:36 Jul 14, 2026
Police on Tuesday said that the “mastermind” of the deadly attack on a Rangers camp in Karachi last month has been arrested, adding that the terrorists had training and “backing from Afghanistan”. On the night of June 27, terrorists attacked the local headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area, during which three security personnel were martyred and four were injured, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). ISPR said the attack was carried out by terrorists “belonging to Indian proxy Jamaatul Ahrar” (JuA), adding that three terrorists were killed in retaliatory action while one was arrested, whom it identified as an Afghan national. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday alongside Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, City Senior Superintendent of Police Irfan Bahadur detailed the involvement of elements from Afghanistan in the “entire planning” and execution of the attack. The SSP identified the “mastermind” of the attack as Qari Basheer alias Qari Habib, add... -
Dawn - 08:18 Jul 14, 2026
THE murder of five workers from Punjab in Mashkel is another grim reminder that ethnic violence remains a persistent feature of Balochistan’s fragile security landscape. The targeting of civilians on the basis of their ethnicity underscores the continued ability of terrorist groups to exploit fault lines and perpetuate insecurity in the province. Such killings must be unequivocally condemned. The attack is part of a fresh surge of terrorism, that defies ongoing counterterrorism operations, in which security forces have killed 109 terrorists since early July. It is clear that decades of operations, militant losses and official assurances have not achieved the desired results, and tactical victories against terrorist groups have yet to translate into lasting security for ordinary citizens. The targeted killing of workers from Punjab is not a new development. Over the years, workers and travellers hailing from Punjab have been singled out after identity checks on highways or at their places of work. Such attacks...
12682 items