Pakistan

China on Friday successfully tested an experimental rocket retrieval system using a net attached to a sea platform, state media reported, in the hope of breaking US dominance in reusable rockets. The Long March 10B rocket lifted off from the Hainan commercial space launch site in southern China at 12:15pm (9:15am PKT) and, about six minutes after separation of its booster and upper stage, the booster returned vertically and was recovered on an offshore platform, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The test marks China’s first successful retrieval of an orbital-class rocket, putting the country closer to developing reusable rockets. The rocket had sent a satellite into preset orbit on Friday, state media said. Shares in Chinese aerospace firms jumped on the news, with China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications hitting daily limits. The Long March 10B has been compared to the Falcon 9, SpaceX’s widely used medium-lift rocket. It was developed for commercial aerospace by the country’s main state rocket devel...

Renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani has declared purchasing goods with cryptocurrency “impermissible”, citing research conducted by experts so far which found that cryptocurrency does not qualify as “wealth”, it emerged on Friday. The fatwa was originally issued by Darul Ifta, Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi, and dated 24 Zilhaj 1447 AH (June 10, 2026). Apart from Mufti Usmani, a former judge of the Federal Shariat Court, five other prominent scholars are its signatories. Responding to a question about purchasing books with cryptocurrency, the fatwa said: “It is not permissible for you to purchase the books in question using cryptocurrency.” “According to research and opinion of experts so far, cryptocurrency is not considered ‘maal’ (wealth) in Sharia. Instead, it is merely the recording of fictitious numbers in an account, whether in the form of USDT or other crypto tokens,” it stated. As cryptocurrency was not recognised as wealth, the fatwa maintained that the buyer did not technically become the owner ...

The Sindh government on Friday ordered a private school in Karachi to reverse fee hikes imposed during the summer holidays. In a letter addressed to the principal and administrator of Veritas Learning Circle (Primary), dated July 10 (Friday), Sindh’s Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions — part of the provincial government’s School Education and Literacy Department — referred to a hearing held the previous day regarding complaints about the school’s “illegal and extraordinary” fee hike. A copy of the letter is available with Dawn. “During the course of the hearing, it was determined that your school, including all of its campuses, had enhanced tuition fees without the approval of the registration authority, in violation of the Rule 7(6) of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Rules 2005,” the letter said. The rule states that “any complaint regarding the tuition fees in violation of the rules or charging of any fee other than tuition fees shall be li...

As flames approached their homes and the smoke-filled air became choking, panicked residents in rural Andalusian villages around Los Gallardos in southern Spain chose to flee, a decision some paid for with their lives. Firefighters on Friday were still trying to contain one of Spain’s deadliest wildfires, with a total of 11 people confirmed dead, while 19 more are missing. A firefighting vehicle stands next to a Spanish Civil Guard vehicle as residents get ready to leave their homes while smoke and flames rise during a wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almeria, Spain on July 10, 2026. —Reuters Authorities told some residents of areas in the mountains above Los Gallardos to evacuate via a recommended route, while residents of the forested hamlet of Bedar were told to shelter in place. However, as the flames rapidly approached, Antonio Rubio, a handyman living in Bedar, said the smoke had made it impossible to shelter in place. “We left the house yesterday (Thursday) afternoon at 5 o’clock. The fire didn’t reach my ho...

Cause remains unclear

The Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) said on Friday that the search for the crew of a cargo plane that crashed into the Arabian Sea was ongoing, adding that additional wreckage had been located. In a statement, the authority said the search and rescue missions by the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency in the deep sea were still in progress. “The search for the crew members is continuing with full vigour through the coordinated employment of aerial and sea-borne assets,” it said. “Additional parts and debris of the ill-fated aircraft have been located and retrieved for subsequent analysis by the investigation team,” it said, adding that updates would be shared as the search and rescue operations continued. On Tuesday night, a K2 Airways Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft en route from Sharjah to Karachi had disappeared from radar over the Arabian Sea, about 300 kilometres west of Karachi, while approaching Pakistani airspace. The pilot had reported a navigation problem during the flight and reques...

Global equity funds drew $49.23 billion in weekly inflows, their biggest since June 17, LSEG Lipper data showed

Hidden charges, overbilling to invite strict action, including registration cancellation 

Three lions drown ⁠and more than 100 animals go missing

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday predicted rain, windstorm and thundershowers in the upper parts of the country over the weekend. The department said that moist currents from the Arabian Sea were continuously penetrating the upper parts of the country, increasing in strength on Saturday (July 11) evening. “Meanwhile, a westerly wave is also likely to approach the upper parts on Saturday,” it said. Rain, windstorm and thundershower with isolated heavy rainfall have been predicted in Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from Friday night (July 10) to Monday (July 13). Similar weather conditions are expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu on Saturday and Sunday (July 12). Meanwhile, scat...

They were eliminated in the Round of 16

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held separate meetings with candidates for the post of United Nations Secretary-General, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to multilateral cooperation and its continued support for the UN’s role in promoting global peace, security and sustainable development.

KARACHI: Search and rescue teams have recovered additional wreckage from the K2 Airways cargo aircraft that crashed into the Arabian Sea after losing contact with air traffic control, as efforts continue to locate the missing crew members.

The 39-year-old will face Switzerland in the quarter-final

The England defender was handed a two-match suspension

He regained the jersey from Torstein Traeen

Brook and Salt smashed half-centuries in a nine-wicket victory

Noskova secured her first Grand Slam final

Four terrorists were killed in a joint intelligence-based operation in the Khattak Dam area near the border between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak and Kohat districts, according to police. In a statement, Karak police said that credible information was received regarding the presence of terrorists in the area at around 5am. It said that an operation was carried out in tandem with the Kohat police. “During the operation, terrorists opened fire on the police party, prompting an effective retaliatory response from the police,” it said. Following an “intense exchange of fire”, four terrorists from the ‘Commander Zahid Group’ were killed, it added. The statement said the terrorist group had reportedly been involved in the killing of several police officers and personnel. The statement said police had launched a search operation and cordoned off the area as they gathered further details on the identities and criminal records of the killed terrorists. In its statement, Karak police reiterated its commitment to eradicati...

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued 47 district-level Class Licences for internet services this year as part of efforts to expand broadband connectivity and improve digital access across the country, according to official documents.