Dawn
Source:
https://www.dawn.com
Found 12400 news
-
Dawn - 22:09 Jun 19, 2026
As soon as Switzerland and Bosnia were off the pitch after their World Cup match on Thursday, another team were on it. But instead of tearing at the grass with studs this team were mowing, brushing, seeding, and repairing it. After being battered by some of the world’s best and most physically abusive (to grass) players for two hours, the surface was getting some tender loving care - a necessity in this World Cup, which is often being played atop grass pitches placed on a sub-surface that usually supports artificial turf. It has not all gone well. French coach Didier Deschamps, after his side’s 3-1 win over Senegal on Tuesday, said his squad had to alter their boots for the New York-New Jersey pitch, which was not great. “Let’s just say it’s … it’s different. It’s unusual, so you have to get used to it,” said Deschamps. “It’s different, so the bounce is different too.” None of his players used screw-in studs “even though boots today are a bit more adaptable.” France midfielder Adrien Rabiot added: “The pitch ... -
Dawn - 19:01 Jun 19, 2026
British Transport Police said on Friday that it was responding to reports of a train “collision” north of London, with other emergency services saying they were attending to the incident amid media reports of injuries. “We’re responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the Bedford area,” the transport police force said on X, referring to a market town around 56 miles (90 kilometres) north of the capital. Unverified footage posted to social media appeared to show two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains having collided, with one running into the other, and passengers pictured standing on the tracks beside damaged rail carriages. The trains appeared to have remained upright on the track, according to the images posted. “Emergency services are dealing with an incident between London St Pancras and Leicester,” EMR said on X, without providing further details. The East of England Ambulance Service said on social media it had sent “a number of resources, including air ambulance and our Hazardous Area... -
Dawn - 17:55 Jun 19, 2026
ATTOCK: Train services on the Attock–Mari Indus–Multan railway section were temporarily suspended on Friday after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide between Jhamat and Chhab railway stations in Attock’s Jand tehsil in Punjab, blocking the track and leaving passengers stranded. According to an official of the track maintenance department, mud and debris fell onto the track following the downpour, prompting authorities to suspend train services as a precautionary measure. One train was reportedly stranded near Tunnel No. 129, while the 202-Up passenger train was halted at Jhamat Railway Station. The disruption caused inconvenience to hundreds of passengers, particularly women, children and elderly travellers. Emergency maintenance teams work on clearing debris from the railway track in Attock’s Jand tehsil on June 19. — photo via author Several passengers complained about the lack of basic facilities during the unexpected delay. Female passengers aboard the affected train said they faced difficulties due to a... -
Dawn - 17:40 Jun 19, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a Rs74 reduction in petrol prices and a Rs67 cut in high-speed diesel (HSD) prices as the government seeks to pass on the benefit of declining international oil prices. The official notification for the new petroleum prices is yet to be issued. Once notified, the price of petrol will stand at Rs299.78 and high-speed diesel (HSD) at Rs311.78, down from Rs373.78 and Rs378.78 per litre, respectively. Pakistan Fuel Prices 2026 – Dawn.com Pakistan fuel prices: Feb 28 – Jun 19, 2026 Official ex-depot prices (PKR/litre) per OGRA & Ministry of Energy notifications Petrol (MS-92) Diesel (HSD) Pre-crisis baseline Petrol peaked at Rs458.41 and diesel at Rs520.35 on April 3, 2026. After successive cuts, petrol reached Rs299.78 and diesel Rs311.78 on June 19, 2026. Sources: OGRA / Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) official notifications; Dawn.com reporting. Pre-crisis prices: petrol Rs266.17, diesel Rs280.86 (effective Feb 28, 2026). Jun 19 prices as announced by PM ... -
Dawn - 17:30 Jun 19, 2026
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday presented the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. The budget outlay is Rs2.17 trillion, with an estimated fiscal deficit of Rs48 billion, according to the budget documents. At the outset of his budget speech, he said all parliamentarians of the PTI from the provincial assembly had “unanimously decided” to present the budget. Earlier, the presentation of the KP budget remained doubtful as the provincial government reportedly linked it to a meeting with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan. In his speech, Afridi also announced that the budget he was presenting had a deficit of Rs48bn. “The KP government will not seek a loan of Rs48bn from anyone,” he said, adding that “we will provide this amount to the people of KP from our own resources”. Moreover, he said the budget would be in accordance with the Federal Board of Revenue’s tax collection target of Rs15.2 trillion. “There will be no grants for the Centre in this budget,” he added. Here, he w... -
Dawn - 17:23 Jun 19, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following a phone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, said the two leaders agreed that the next phase of Iran-US negotiations must be “guided by a firm commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, and vigilance against any attempt to undermine the peace process”. On Thursday, a long-awaited peace deal was finally signed between the United States and Iran after a preliminary agreement was reached between the two sides earlier in the week, heralding an end to the bitter animosity that has afflicted the Middle East for months. In a post on his X handle, the premier said he held a “warm and most cordial” conversation with the Saudi crown prince and thanked him for the kingdom’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s peace efforts. The premier also congratulated the crown prince on the signing of the “Islamabad Peace Deal”. “His Royal Highness’s wise leadership and the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to regional peace and stability remained vital guiding forces throughout th... -
Dawn - 17:20 Jun 19, 2026
Italy reacted angrily on Friday after reported comments by US President Donald Trump mocking Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the foreign minister cancelling a planned US visit. Meloni said she was “frankly stunned” by Trump’s comments to Italian channel La7. According to a written transcript of the phone interview provided to AFP by the network, he said Meloni “begged me for a picture” at the G7 summit this week and he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her”. He also suggested that Meloni was probably “happy that I talked to her, I didn’t have to talk to her”. Meloni called what Trump said “made up”, adding: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.” “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies,” the far-right leader wrote on X. “I can only say that it’s a pity he doesn’t show the same determination with enemies of the West, with enemies of the United States, with leaders with whom, instead, he is far more accommodating,” she said. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taj... -
Dawn - 16:21 Jun 19, 2026
United States Vice President JD Vance is poised to take on his biggest role yet on the international stage as President Donald Trump’s chief negotiator to end the three-month war with Iran, a moment that could shape Vance’s prospects as a White House successor. The two nations agreed to a provisional peace agreement on Wednesday that suspended hostilities but left core issues unresolved, deferring decisions on Iran’s nuclear programme, its support for regional groups and the economically vital Strait of Hormuz to 60 days of talks. The discussions are a high-risk scenario for all sides in the conflict, the broader Middle East, and for Vance’s political ambitions. And the situation remains fluid: Vance cancelled a planned Thursday night flight to Switzerland for the start of talks, though the White House said the US delegation is “prepared to depart at the first available opportunity”. The fast-moving developments coincide with the publication of Vance’s book on his conversion to Catholicism, Communion, and a... -
Dawn - 15:35 Jun 19, 2026
Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan suspended the election results in three constituencies on Friday, while consolidated results for another — GBA-16 — could not be issued despite an order from the GB chief election commissioner (CEC). The election process has been delayed since June 7, prolonging the formation of the GB government. The chief justice heard various election-related petitions on Friday concerning PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad from GBA-9 (Skardu), PPP candidate Mohammad Naseem from GBA-17 (Diamer-III), and independent candidate Dilpazeer Khan — who later joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) — from GBA-15 (Diamer-I). Nashad, the PPP candidate from GBA-9, was disqualified by the returning officer (RO) for failing to declare his assets in his nomination papers. An election tribunal judge had also upheld the decision to disqualify the candidate; however, he later challenged it in the GB chief court, which allowed him to contest the elections.... -
Dawn - 15:11 Jun 19, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index tumbled by over 2,400 points on Friday, breaking its four-day bullish spree. Falling oil prices following the signing of the ‘Islamabad MoU’ between the United States and Iran had fueled optimism, triggering buying interest across multiple sectors. As a result, the KSE-100 index had maintained its recovery for the fourth straight session on Thursday. On Friday, initial positive momentum pushed KSE-100 to an intraday high of 182,185.87 points at 10:14am. However, the market declined almost steadily after 10:30am until it regained some points later. The KSE-100 index declined by 2,858.75 points (1.58 per cent) to stand at 178,539.46 at 12:03pm. After hitting an intraday low of 177,836.16 at 2:34pm, it reversed some of its losses but closed at 178,922.75, down by 2,475.46 (1.36pc) from the previous close of 181,398.21. The downward trend followed the postponement of the planned US-Iran talks in Geneva, which were seen as a key step in the peace framework ... -
Dawn - 15:06 Jun 19, 2026
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend the fourth meeting of the R-4 group of countries in Cairo on June 21 at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart, Dr Badr Abdelatty, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). “At the invitation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend the 4th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the R-4 Group of Countries, to be held in Cairo, Egypt, on 21 June 2026,” said the statement. The meeting would bring together the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan to “discuss regional developments and exchange views on issues related to peace, security, and stability”. “Building on the outcomes of previous R-4 meetings, the ministers will also discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of shared interest,” added the statement. During the visit, FM Dar would hold bilateral consultations with his Egyptian counterpart and would also call on... -
Dawn - 14:02 Jun 19, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday assured the PTI that it would discuss with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the extension of tax exemptions for the merged districts of the erstwhile Fata and Pata regions, according to federal minister Rana Sanaullah. Sanaullah, who also serves as the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs, made the remarks after key leaders from the government and the PTI met at Parliament House. “The finance minister has promised [the opposition] that he will seek to extend these exemptions after speaking with the IMF, and God-willing, will make efforts for it,” Sanaullah told reporters after the meeting. The meeting was held in the chamber of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam also attended from the government side, while Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar and PTI MNAs from the erstwhile Fata represented the opposition. Sanaullah said the opposition had raised concerns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the National As... -
Dawn - 12:39 Jun 19, 2026
Australia has detected its first suspected mainland case of H5N1 bird flu in a remote part of the country’s southwest, authorities said on Friday. A migratory sea bird known as a brown skua found in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand National Park tested positive for avian influenza, and further testing is being conducted to confirm the strain, said state Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis. “We are taking the suspected case of H5 bird flu seriously,” Jarvis said. “If this is confirmed H5 bird incursion, there will be a rapid and coordinated national response.” The virulent strain of H5 bird flu has spread through wild bird and mammal populations since 2021, killing millions, infecting poultry and dairy farms and even some farm workers. Australia is the only continent without a confirmed mainland case of the deadly strain. H5 was confirmed on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic Australian territory in late 2025. The country has been preparing for the arrival of H5N1 bird flu by tightening biosecurity at farms... -
Dawn - 12:38 Jun 19, 2026
In 2018, a wildlife patrol found a skull and claw at the top of Trail 6 in the Margallah Hills, just behind Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. The rest of the animal’s body had either decomposed or been scavenged, but some of the skin on the claw remained intact. On closer inspection, it was found to have the rosette patterns of a leopard. Analysis confirmed that the animal had been a fully grown adult and had died a natural death. Its skull was sent to the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, where it has been kept in a lab and away from public display ever since. What was a shy, secretive and highly territorial leopard doing out here in its old age? No one could say for sure. Nevertheless, the discovery completely changed what we know about big cats in the capital. British gazetteers say leopards were found in Swat, Dir and Murree and even the Kala Chitta range to Islamabad’s west, but they make no mention of sightings in the Margallahs. At most there are mentions of jackal, deer, monkey and boar (tigers became ext... -
Dawn - 12:24 Jun 19, 2026
As the hantavirus scare comes to an end with the last cruise ship passengers set to leave quarantine, what did the world learn from this sudden outbreak of a previously little-known virus? The deaths of three people who had been onboard the MV Hondius sparked a global health alert in early May, prompting fears the ship’s many international passengers could spread the rodent-borne disease across the world. Many nations responded by putting the passengers and contact cases in quarantine or isolation for the disease’s six-week incubation period. There were no further deaths during the outbreak — and all 12 confirmed hantavirus cases were passengers on the ship. With the last remaining passengers soon to leave quarantine, AFP answers key questions about an episode that again highlighted the risk viruses in animals pose to humans. Is it over? Almost all the passengers of the Dutch-flagged ship quarantined in the Netherlands have been allowed to return home, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday. In ... -
Dawn - 09:49 Jun 19, 2026
A French appeals court on Friday confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender denies. In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her. The PSG right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose second match of the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Friday against Scotland, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Shortly after the Versailles Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been “waiting for this trial since day one”. “At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he said. A date has not been announced for the start of the trial at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department. “This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything, he remains steadfast in his defence,” Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said. The plaintiff’s lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo said the decision brought her ... -
Dawn - 09:34 Jun 19, 2026
Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday in what could be the most consequential local election in more than six decades. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor nicknamed the “King of the North”, won the contest in Makerfield in northwest England with 24,927 votes, while the candidate for Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party came second with 15,696 votes. His victory means he will now be able to trigger or take part in a contest to replace Starmer, struggling with some of the worst popularity ratings of any leader. But the key question is when and how Burnham will do it. In his victory speech, Burnham said the result could be a “turning point” for British politics and told his party that this was a final chance to change direction. “We must hear it, we must act upon it, and we must get it right,” he said. “There will be no second chance.” Burnham, a career politician who has expressed support for ... -
Dawn - 09:34 Jun 19, 2026
The information ministry on Friday refuted Afghanistan’s claims of targeting alleged terrorist camps in the border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In a statement on its fact check account, the ministry said, “The Afghan Taliban regime, through their various propaganda mouthpieces and official statements, is claiming to have targeted some alleged ISKP camps in border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan using rudimentary drones. “The claims are false as usual,” it declared. The ministry added that terrorist camps, including “those of Daesh and more than two dozen other terrorist organisations are factually located, run and patronised from inside the territories under control of [the] Afghan Taliban regime”. According to the statement, one rudimentary drone of the Taliban regime intruded into Pakistan’s airspace near Shinko, Khyber and was “immediately identified and neutralised by the alert air defence system of the Pakistan Air Force”. The ministry also shared a picture of the aforemention... -
Dawn - 09:31 Jun 19, 2026
RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Friday disposed of a petition filed by the family of nine-year-old Hania Ahmed, who was killed in a shootout in Chakwal last week, seeking the transfer of the case from local police to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The petition was filed by a Pakistani-origin Australian family shot at during a robbery in Chakwal last week by Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD) after officials mistook it as belonging to the robbers. As a result, Hania died on the spot, and other family members sustained injuries. On Friday, LHC Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan wrapped up the case after directing provincial authorities to ensure a completely fair, transparent, and unbiased investigation, and to strictly proceed against the accused officials in accordance with the law. During the proceedings, Punjab Additional Advocate General Imran Shaukat Rao formally informed the bench that a first information report (FIR) had already been registered against the delinquent of... -
Dawn - 08:51 Jun 19, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that a “significant” reduction in fuel prices would be announced later in the day, following the swift decrease in global oil prices after the signing of a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran to cease hostilities. “Today, we have to announce the weekly revision in oil and petrol prices. And I will say just this much: as promised by the government to pass on the relief to the people after oil prices fall, a significant decrease in the prices will be announced today,” he said during an address to the National Assembly (NA). He noted that global oil prices were swiftly falling after the recent agreement between the US and Iran. “Surely, they will decline further,” he added. The premier then recounted that the prices had risen sharply after the US-Israeli war on Iran began, resulting in a “storm of inflation”. “While the people of Pakistan made every humanly possible effort to save the economy, the federal government immediately ...
12400 items