Pakistan

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The Pakistan Navy is conducting a humanitarian rescue operation in the Arabian Sea to assist the crew of a vessel facing technical difficulties.

Treasury backs opposition briefly before amendments rejected

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The latest Henley Passport Index has ranked Singapore as the world’s most powerful passport, maintaining its top position in global mobility rankings.

Thieves steal solar light poles installed within the society

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A tiny, little-known world beyond Pluto appears to have an atmosphere, Japanese astronomers said on Monday, defying what had been thought possible for icy objects in our cosmic backyard. If confirmed, the roughly 500-kilometre-wide rock would become just the second world past Neptune in our Solar System to host an atmosphere — after only Pluto itself. Formerly classified as a planet, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006, in part because astronomers were discovering other similar objects in a distant region called the Kuiper Belt. While Nasa under US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of restoring Pluto’s planet status, the discovery of another atmosphere nearby could undermine the argument for its reinstatement. For the new discovery, Japanese researchers and an amateur astronomer pointed their telescopes at an object with the unwieldy name of (612533) 2002 XV93. The icy world is nearly 40 times further from the Sun than Earth — or roughly six billion kilometres away. These dark objects c...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed a “record” victory on Monday in key elections in opposition-held West Bengal state after official trends and partial results showed a thumping majority for his Hindu nationalist party. Votes were still being counted under tight security in the state of more than 100 million people, one of five states and territories that held elections in April and May where results were also being announced on Monday. The results should put Modi on a stronger footing while he battles a series of economic and foreign policy challenges, including high unemployment rates and a pending US trade deal, ahead of a general election in 2029. In keenly fought West Bengal, where Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never won before, the party was leading in 156 of the 293 seats and had won 48 others, according to the Election Commission of India. “The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever,” Modi said on social media. “People’s power has prevailed and BJP’s politics...

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announced on Monday that it remains firmly committed to supporting Pakistan in strengthening midwifery education, workforce development and health systems. In a statement to mark the observance of ‘International Day of the Midwife’ on May 5, UNFPA’s representative in Pakistan, Dr Luay Shabaneh, said that the Fund will continue to work in close partnership with the government and all stakeholders to advance this agenda. “The path forward is clear, the evidence is strong and the returns are undeniable. The question is not whether we can afford to invest in midwives, but whether we can afford not (to do) so. “Let us stand with our midwives by protecting them, valuing their contribution and enabling them to reach their full potential, investing not only in health, but in the dignity, prosperity and future of Pakistan,” the UNFPA representative said. He added that Pakistan now had an opportunity to act by expanding midwifery education, scaling up the B.S. Midwi...

ISLAMABAD: Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasar on Monday took notice of security lapses and poor facilities at the Parliament Lodges, summoning the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and security officials and ordering a comprehensive report within three days. Parliament Lodges house members of the National Assembly and Senate in the capital. Security and maintenance issues have been a recurring issue at the lodges. Chairing an emergency meeting at Parliament House, Nasar expressed displeasure over the unauthorised entry of unrelated persons in the Parliament Lodges and termed the security flaws a “serious threat”. He directed authorities to submit details of all complaints received at the lodges and the subsequent action taken. The deputy chairman also raised questions over delays in renovation and repair work, and expressed dismay at the poor condition of lifts. Citing his own experience of getting stuck in a lift, he called such incidents an “administrative failure”. Lack of progress despite repeated...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday revealed the ‘Team of the Year’ for the 11th HBL Pakistan Super League edition, with Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam leading the side after finishing as the highest run-getter for the season, said a press release issued by the board. The 11th HBL PSL season culminated on Sunday with Peshawar Zalmi lifting the title for the second time since 2017, after beating tournament debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in Lahore. “The team was selected by a five-member committee from the esteemed commentary team. The jury also selected an emerging team of the tournament as well, comprising young Pakistan players,” the PCB said. Babar, who scored 558 runs in 11 innings, was named as the captain of the side. He also struck two spectacular centuries in the season against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United. Peshawar Zalmi’s Kusal Mendis and Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman are also part of the team for scoring the maximum number of runs after Babar. Multan Sultans’ batte...

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of 16 Pakistani entrepreneurs and business leaders is participating in the ‘SelectUSA Investment Summit’ that has opened in National Harbour, Maryland, to establish new connections and opportunities to grow through investing in the United States. The four-day Investment Summit, which opened on Sunday, is the highest-profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organisations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen. US Charge d’ Affaires Natalie A. Baker, in a video statement issued on Monday, welcomed the Pakistani delegation’s participation in the summit, stating that strong economic ties are the heart of the US-Pakistan relationship. “I look forward to helping Pakistani investors expand their global footprint in the United States,” the acting US envoy said. “This is the premier event to promote foreign direct investment in the United States. By facilitating investment, innovation, a...

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday issued a nationwide alert, warning that thunderstorms with rain and possible hail are expected across several regions within the next 12 to 24 hours, particularly in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, in line with forecasts issued earlier by the National.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a detailed judgment in the One Constitution Avenue case, upholding the cancellation of the lease of the multi-billion-rupee project. It ruled that buyers of luxury apartments in the development do not have ownership rights and may instead pursue legal remedies against the builder for recovery of their investment. In a detailed judgment, IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar dismissed a set of petitions filed by M/s BNP (Pvt) Limited — the developer of the project — along with investors and other stakeholders, challenging the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) decision to terminate the lease. The court held that the impugned action was in accordance with law and consistent with the framework laid down earlier by the Supreme Court (SC). In the case, leading lawyers, including former SC judge Ijazul Ahsan, represented the BNP, while advocate Kashif Ali Malik represented the CDA. The dispute concerns a 2005 lease agreement between the CDA and...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday received the Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, and both sides discussed the evolving regional situation.

ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s (HRCP) on Monday launched its annual report for 2025, observing a severe contraction of civic space, the erosion of judicial independence and deepening insecurity over the past year. The report, titled “State of Human Rights in 2025”, was launched in Islamabad, with HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt, former chairperson Hina Jilani, co-chair Munizae Jahangir, vice-chair Nasreen Azhar and Secretary General Harris Khalique present. Butt, while speaking to reporters, said it was a fact that human rights in Pakistan were in their worst state. “It is not a report, it is a charge sheet. In 2025, as many as 273 persons faced enforced disappearance. Around 13 were traced from state agencies’ centres, but others are unknown,” he said. Butt added that thousands of people have been missing for years and that if anyone has committed a crime, they should be produced in a court of law. Khalique said that multiple constitutional and human rights-related violations were part...

Karachi is experiencing an intense heatwave as temperatures climb to 44°C, causing widespread discomfort across the city.

Italian prosecutors have opened an unlawful detention investigation following a raid by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Italian media reported on Monday. The probe was opened following complaints received over the detention last week of Spanish citizen Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who were on an Italian-flagged vessel. An Israeli court on Sunday extended for two days the detention of the two activists who were taken to Israel for questioning. The two were on a flotilla of more than 50 vessels that left France, Spain and Italy, aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and bring supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory. They were intercepted in international waters off Greece on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists. Avila and Abu Keshek were taken to Israel for questioning, while the other activists were released. The Israeli operation was widely criticised, particularly by Italy and Spain. The Rome prosecutor’s office opened a similar investigation...