Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the Autism Centre of Excellence in Islamabad, calling it an important milestone in the empowerment and development of children with special needs.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially issued the notification declaring Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Abid Sher Ali as a member of the Senate.

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari attended the fifth passing-out parade of Bakhtawar Cadet College for Girls, marking an important milestone for the institution dedicated to education, discipline, and leadership development of young women.

The Lahore–Sialkot Motorway (M-11) has been temporarily closed due to dense fog, a spokesperson for the Central Region Motorways confirmed.

Despite mandating a fixed wage, both government and private employees continue receiving meagre salaries

Senior minister concedes onset of smog season

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Sparks from machines ignite cotton stock; victims trapped inside after roof collapsed

Absence of govt education expansion marks outgoing year

CTD, Special Branch get funds as govt hits out at Centre over non-release of NFC funds

Lifts stay order; ECP can proceed against Sohail Sultan

Islamabad demands full investigation and decisive action against perpetrators and facilitators of terrorist attacks

Strongly criticises PPP govt on killing of people by heavy traffic, street criminals, and people falling in manholes

President Asif Ali Zardari will be undertaking an official visit to Iraq from December 20-24, during which he will hold high-level meetings with the Iraqi leadership to review bilateral ties and explore ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Friday. According to a statement issued by the FO, President Zardari is visiting the Middle Eastern country at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid. The visit underscores the “longstanding, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iraq, rooted in shared bonds of faith, culture, and mutual respect”, the FO said. It added that during his meetings with the Iraqi leadership, President Zardari will review bilateral relations between the two countries and explore ways to further strengthen cooperation across key areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, energy, reconstruction, manpower, technology, education and people-to-people exchanges. The discussions will also cover region...

US President Donald Trump and late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shared a close relationship, with the latter calling Trump his “best friend”, according to a New York Times investigation published on Thursday. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of underage girls. He held close associations with several influential people, including business tycoons and celebrities. In November, Democrats released emails that suggested Trump was aware of the financier’s sexual abuse and definitely “knew about the girls.” According to the NYT, while Trump was not found implicated in Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of minors, it appeared that the two men’s relationship was “far closer” than what the US president maintains. “Beginning in the late 1980s, the two men forged a bond intense enough to leave others who knew them with the impression that they were each other‘s closest friend,” NYT reported, with Epstein reported to have claimed that he w...

Pacer Abdul Subhan spearheaded a dominant all-round display as Pakistan Under-19s cruised into the final of the ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over defending champions Bangladesh at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Friday. The rain-hit second semi-final was reduced to 27 overs a side, and Pakistan skipper Farhan Yousaf’s decision to field first proved decisive as Bangladesh were bundled out for 121 in 26.3 overs. Subhan led the charge with a probing spell of 4-20, accounting for key batsmen Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki to leave Bangladesh reeling. Huzaifa Ahsan offered excellent support with figures of 2-10, while Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam chipped in with a wicket apiece. Samiun Basir was the lone resistance for Bangladesh with a 33-run knock before being run out at the close of the innings. Pakistan’s chase was briefly checked when wicket-keeper-batter Hamza Zahoor fell for a duck, but opener Sameer Minhas ensured there were no further alarms. The right-hander anchored the i...

Airport authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cancelled or delayed dozens of flights and roads were flooded in major cities as the heaviest rainstorm in months lashed the desert nation on Friday. Dubai’s Emirates airline axed 13 flights on Friday and there were also delays and cancellations at neighbouring Sharjah’s airport after the overnight downpour, which woke residents with lightning flashes and loud cracks of thunder. Sharjah’s main street was completely flooded early on Friday, with residents seen wading through it in bare feet. One man rode his bicycle through the water, which reached the top of its wheels. The scenes evoked memories of April 2024, when record rains caused widespread flooding and forced the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights at Dubai’s major international air hub. On Thursday, Dubai police had urged residents to stay in unless “absolutely necessary” as the rainstorm approached. Early on Friday, water-pumping trucks were seen around Dubai clearing blocked roads and large p...