Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS: Iran thanked Pakistan on Friday for abstaining from a vote that allowed a UN Security Council meeting on its nuclear programme to go ahead, with Tehran rejecting the session as “legally unfounded”. Iran’s Ambassador and Per­manent Representative Amir Saeid Iravani, in a statement after the meeting, specifically acknowledged Pakistan and Somalia for “not supporting the convening of this meeting”, while praising Russia and China for opposing the session. The meeting was requested by Bahrain and five European members of the Security Council — Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia and the United Kingdom — to discuss implementation of Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, and the secretary general’s latest report on the matter. The session took place amid a dispute over the status of Resolution 2231, with Western members maintaining that it continues to provide a basis for discussing Iran’s nuclear commitments, while Tehran argues that the resolution expired on Oct 18 last year...

• Selection turns politically sensitive as opposition alliance plans protest movement • IHC administration forwards three names for vacant positions • Islamabad lawyers demand vacancies be filled from capital’s legal fraternity ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commi­ssion of Pakistan (JCP) is set to convene on July 20 to select three judges for the Islamabad High Court (IHC), a task that has evolved from a routine administrative matter into a politically sensitive decision. The contest for the vacant seats is expected to be intense, as stakeholders are reportedly keen to avoid alienating the federal capital’s legal fraternity on the eve of a major opposition campaign. The IHC administration, led by Chief Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, has forwarded three names to the JCP for the vacant positions. The official nominees are District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, former advocate general Islamabad Ayyaz Shaukat, who currently serves as chairman of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, and advocate...

Palestinian commission says 49 orders issued since January impose restrictions on use of privately owned land

• CM announces specialised committee will draft authority’s framework • PMD warns of Glof risks in GB, KP amid fresh weather system; urges residents to avoid riverbanks, glacial lakes and vulnerable mountain areas; reports above-normal daytime temperatures in glaciated valleys • Disa­ster Management Authority says emergency plans and 174 early warning systems are in place GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Advocate Amjad Hussain on Saturday announced the establishment of Glaciers Protection Authority to address growing climate change challenges in the region, protect glaciers and attract support from relevant international organisation. Speaking during a departmental briefing by the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Forest and Wildlife Department, the chief minister said a specialised committee would be formed to prepare comprehensive recommendations for the establishment of the authority and present it at the relevant official forum. “Forestry is important to mitigate climate change impacts and for protection of gl...

Alvarez, Martinez score late as defending champions survive another scare to set up England clash

• Toyota, Honda raise rates by over Rs1.3m; others suspend invoicing, deliveries • Auto Policy 2026-31 yet to be notified despite expiry of previous regime KARACHI: With the government yet to announce the Auto Policy 2026-31 following the expiry of the 2021-26 policy on June 30 this year, local assemblers have started raising prices of electrified vehicles after the increase in general sales tax (GST) on hybrid vehicles to 25 per cent from 8.5pc in the budget for FY27. Indus Motor Company has increased the prices of its two Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) models by Rs1.364 million and Rs1.314m to Rs10.299m and Rs9.849m, respectively. Similarly, Honda Atlas Cars Limited has raised the price of its HR-Ve model by Rs1.370m to Rs10.369m. Other assemblers, who have yet to increase prices, have reportedly put on hold the invoicing and delivery of hybrid vehicles to customers eager to take delivery this month. The assemblers appear to be expecting some changes in the new auto policy or believe the...

He was a vocal critic of US President Trump before becoming one of his ​most loyal allies on Capitol Hill

Actor calls husband her 'strength', expresses gratitude to in-laws

Nearly two million evacuated as flights, trains cancelled

Shooting strikes annual Latin festival, PM Carney expresses grief

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday termed Pakistan’s geographical location an asset “that needs to be fully explored, as the country lies at the crossroads of Central, South and West Asia”. “By improving connectivity, the country can achieve maximum economic benefits,” he said while chairing a high-level meeting on improving port connectivity. The maritime affairs secretary gave a detailed briefing to the participants on the current status of Pakistani ports and their utilisation capacity, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement. The meeting reviewed measures to develop and enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of Pakistan’s ports. The discussions also focused on improving port connectivity, streamlining operational processes, strengthening inter-agency coordination, facilitating trade and logistics, and advancing reforms to position Pakistan’s ports as efficient regional trade gateways. ‘Promoting economy’ At a separate meeting, Mr Dar also emphasised the imp...

KARACHI: Dr Ayesha I. Mian has been elected as the president of the International Associ­ation for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) for the 2026-2030 term. According to a press release, her election makes her the first Pakistani and the first South Asian to lead the organisation since its establishment in 1937. Dr Mian’s election marks an important moment not only for Pakistan but also for the growing recognition of expertise emerging from low- and middle-income countries. An alumna of Aga Khan University, Dr Mian previously served on the faculty of the University of Texas and Baylor College of Medicine. After returning to Pakistan in 2013, she became Founding Dean of Student Experience and Chair of the Depa­rtment of Psychiatry at AKU, where she established Pakistan’s first Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship training programme. She currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Synapse — Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, where she continues to advance evidence-based clinica...

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday ruled out any wheat shortage in the country, saying seasonal production targets had been achieved and output was estimated to be 1.36 million metric tonnes higher than last year’s harvest. The announcement was made during the ninth meeting of the Wheat Board, chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain. Provincial representatives informed the meeting that sufficient wheat stocks were available across all regions to meet national requirements. Food officials also warned of a strict crackdown against hoarding, artificial price hikes and market manipulation. “The strategic production goals set for the season have been successfully accomplished,” the board said, expressing satisfaction over the country’s wheat situation. The meeting was attended by the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh, agriculture and food secretaries from all provinces, senior ministry ...

Earlier today, 3 terrorists were killed; total number of terrorists killed across Balochistan since July 5, is 109

Ruled from 1995 to 2013 before abdicating to son Tamim

Says dialogue, diplomacy remain only viable path to resolving disputes, achieving lasting peace and stability

Says Sheikh Hamad played pivotal role in strengthening the bonds of friendship with Pakistan

Iran says it closes strait after firing warning shot that strikes a vessel traveling on an unapproved route

Jude Bellingham scored twice, including the extra-time winner, as England ground out a 2-1 victory over a battling Norway side at Miami Stadium on Sunday to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the fourth time. The teams were locked up ​1-1 at the end of regulation time after Andreas Schjelderup had opened the scoring for Norway with a wonder strike in the 36th minute and Bellingham skipped ‌into the area to equalise just before halftime. Three minutes into extra time, though, Morgan Rogers fired a long-range shot at the Norwegian goal that Orjan Nyland could only parry and Bellingham stole in to bury the rebound, delighting the white-shirted fans in the crowd of 64,478. England will face Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta on Wednesday in their fourth semi-final in their last five major championships, looking to stay on course for a repeat of their sole World ​Cup triumph of 1966. “The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but I’m not happy with the performance,” England coach Thomas Tuch...

ISLAMABAD: Geo News was allowed to resume its transmission on Sunday after remaining suspended for 15 days as ordered by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) over its regulatory violation. On Saturday, Pemra upheld its earlier decision to suspend Geo News for 15 days over the depiction of religious figures in the channel’s transmission aired on Muharram 10, warning that any future violation could lead to the cancellation of its licence. As the suspension period expired on Saturday, the channel resumed transmission at around Sunday midnight. In its final order, issued after the authority’s 191st meeting, Pemra said it had conducted a detailed review of the matter, taking into account the recommendations of the Council of Complaints, Lahore, the record of proceedings, the written and oral submissions of the licence holder, the Pemra Ordinance 2002, the relevant rules, and the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015. The Council of Complaints deliberated on th...