Pakistan for Friday, January 2, 2026

• US, Iran in verbal duel over violent protests
• 'Digital terror': Adil Raja, others sentenced to life
• Qatar-returned woman killed for ‘honour’
• Police stations to be renamed as ‘public safety centres’
• Stray dog culling kicks off in Rawalpindi
• Man arrested for filming women in hospital washroom
• ‘Private school students to get 10,000 laptops’
• Probe widened in ransom mystery
• Food inflation hits daily wagers
• Illegal arrests amount to abduction: IHC
• Two candidates elected unopposed in district bar polls
• Ban on mountain cutting
• Gunmen attack brother of PTI’s Sheikh Waqas Akram in Jhang; guard killed, 3 others injured
• Wajiha Qamar, Turkish envoy discuss expansion of education ties
• ECP seeks explanation from KP CM’s aide over Haripur by-poll allegations
• IT Minister announces spectrum auction, 5G time-line
• Iran-Pakistan media ties to strengthen, says Iranian ambassador
• Gilani for investing in Balochistan’s infrastructure, minerals
• Regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China: FO
• CJP highlights importance of constitutional governance
• Young people bright future of country: KP Governor
• Trade deficit widens to $19b
• SPI rises 2.41% YoY despite weekly decline
• Informal gold trade drains revenue, distorts prices
• SBP releases Rs4.5tr borrowing plan
• 'Mineral marvel' to be showcased at Riyadh forum
• PSX tops 179,000 as equities extend rally
• NARC opens speed breeding units for wheat and pulses
• Fisheries reforms key to boosting seafood exports
• Cement sales grow 9.7% to 25.8m tonnes
• PM Shehbaz has not set a ‘minus Imran’ condition, says Sanaullah, referring to negotiations
• Four decomposed bodies recovered from ditch in Karachi’s Mai Kolachi
• Dense fog forces closure of M-3 Motorway section for safety
• 31 Levies personnel dismissed in Chagai over absenteeism
• Duffer brothers address ‘Stranger Things’ criticism
• CJP stresses harmony among state organs
• Shahzad Akbar alleges attack on UK home
• Supermoon to brighten Pakistan skies today
• ECP announces revised by-poll schedule for PP-167
• Tarar defends 26th, 27th amendments
• ECP seeks explanation from CM's aide
• Govt revises list of officers nominated for NMC
• FPSC reports improved recruitment
• Turkiye reaffirms deeper education ties with Pakistan
• Sana: No 'minus-Imran' condition for talks
• PTI shifts mobilisation to the south
• 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' leads New Year's Eve box office
• Beyoncé declared the fifth billionaire musician by Forbes
• Barry Manilow reveals he has lung cancer
• How Nicki Minaj went from Trump critic to his biggest fan
• Taylor Swift gives an 'early gift' to fans this holiday season
• Keanu Reeves celebrates New Year in New York with Alexandra Grant
• Kelly Osbourne pays tribute to makeup artist Jasen Kaplan
• Inquiry ordered after teenage girl allegedly killed in crossfire between police, suspected robbers in Karachi’s Landhi
• ‘Drone swarms’ test KP police limits
• 2025 was UK’s hottest and sunniest year on record
• Yemen’s government launches operation against southern separatists
• Hyderabad declared 'no-fly zone' for kites
• 22 bonded labourers freed from landlord's confinement
• Sindh to have uniform exam standards
• Young woman riding bike killed by trailer
• Robbers-cops gunfight claims student's life
• Cervical cancer shots available free
• Four bodies recovered from manhole
• Woman, lover arrested for killing three children
• PML-N candidate elected unopposed in by-polls
• Elderly woman mauled to death by stray dogs
• Utmanzai tribe holds peace rally in Mir Ali, warns of civil disobedience
• Why men must pay closer attention to cardiac health
• Islamabad ATC hands double life sentences to YouTuber Adil Raja, 6 others for ‘waging war against Pakistan’
• Ex-information secretary Ambreen Jan selected to head Pemra
• First super moon of 2026 to light up skies this weekend
• Snowfall sweeps northern areas, deepening cold and attracting tourists
• First supermoon of 2026 to be visible in Pakistan on Jan 3 and 4: Suparco
• Ex-Imran aide Shahzad Akbar says UK residence subjected to ‘deliberate, targeted’ attack
• ‘Spectrum-starved country’: IT minister says govt to auction 600 MHz spectrum next month
• Iranian official reacts to Trump’s statement on protests, warns US interference ‘would mean destabilising region’
• Parliamentary panel shortlists two names for PEMRA chairmanship
• ECP sends notice to Shafiullah Jan, seeks explanation over Haripur by-poll allegations
• Contaminated water kills 9, hospitalises 200 in India’s Indore
• Pakistan, 7 other Muslim-majority nations express ‘deepest concern’ over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza
• CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz says shrimp farming to boost Punjab’s exports
• IHC declares unlawful police arrests tantamount to abduction
• AJK PM directs launch of Health Card services for public
• Federal cabinet approves postponement of Islamabad local government elections
• Female biker killed after being hit by trailer in Karachi’s Landhi; driver flees
• FWO clears Khunjerab Pass despite extreme weather
• Restoration work begins on historic Lahore High Court building
• Regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, Pakistan reiterates
• Balochistan launches Pink Bus Service for women
• Pakistan reiterates support for One-China policy
• Fog disrupts flight operations across Pakistan
• Punjab launches large-scale shrimp farming initiative
• Swiss face painful task of identifying victims of deadly bar fire
• HRCP expresses concern at roughing up of YouTuber Rajab Butt during court appearance in Karachi
• Australia’s Usman Khawaja to retire after Ashes finale, slams ‘racial stereotyping’
• Canada asks Air India to probe incident of pilot reporting for duty under influence of alcohol, source says
• NADRA to launch pilot project for CNIC services via e-Sahulat
• President approves CDA Amendment Act 2025
• Dense fog forces closure of key motorway sections
• Country witnessed 34pc increase in terrorism in 2025
• Pakistan hopes for diplomatic end to Yemen standoff
• Ticket row turns violent at New Year concert in Islamabad housing society