Pakistan

North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme is “absolutely non-negotiable”, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un said in a statement carried by state media on Sunday, ahead of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Pyongyang has long insisted on its right to a nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes although they are forbidden under the terms of UN Security Council sanctions. It enshrined its nuclear status in its constitution in 2023. “Our status as a nuclear power is absolutely non-negotiable,” Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong said in a statement published by North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun, adding that the North “will not tolerate any threats”. A key player in the country’s communications and foreign policy, Kim Yo Jong’s statement came on the eve of Xi’s visit to North Korea, scheduled to take place from Monday to Tuesday, according to state media. Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support to North Korea, which is one of the most diplomatically isolated countries in the world and...

In a Tehran neighbourhood dotted with shops selling football jerseys and sporting goods, 10-year-old Helma was already feeling World Cup fever. “I’m supporting Iran because it’s always the champion!” she said, sporting a bracelet in the green, white and red of the national flag. “This year, it will be number one out of all the countries!” Holding a shopping bag containing a national team jersey, her mother explained that Helma was set to appear in a video clip supporting Iran’s side, adding: “We came to buy Team Melli outfits for the shoot.” But after weeks of war with Israel and the United States — one of the co-hosts of this year’s tournament — not to mention persistent economic hardship and stuttering efforts to bring the conflict to a final close, not every Iranian shares the grade-schooler’s excitement. This handout photograph taken and released by Iran Football Federation Press Office on June 6, 2026 shows Iran’s national football team posing at Antalya Airport in Turkiye before boarding a plane ahead o...

SAHIWAL: A woman and her daughter suffered severe burn injuries after her husband and brother-in-law allegedly doused them with petrol and set them ablaze in Shadman Colony on Friday afternoon. Rescue 1122 shifted the injured mother and daughter to Sahiwal Teaching Hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses said the fire also destroyed household furniture and utensils before the suspects fled the scene. Reports said Sobia Parveen, sister of complainant Muhammad Bilal and a resident of Vehari City, married Shaban Bhatti of Chak 65/5-L, Tehsil Sahiwal, around 15 years ago. The couple has five children. Police said domestic violence had reportedly persisted throughout the marriage, with Sobia allegedly subjected to frequent abuse and severe beatings by her husband and brother-in-law. A few months ago, she left her husband’s home due to the continued violence and started living in a rented house near Shadman Chowk along with her children. She had been working as a domestic help to support the family. On Friday, Shaban ...

US strikes Iranian sites after Iran launches drones Trump claims Iran retains 21pc to 22pc of missiles stockpiles after regional strikes Kuwait denounces ‘Dangerous Escalation’ by Iran after overnight attacks on Gulf States Iran calls overnight US attack on radar site ‘flagrant’ violation.

396 candidates are in race for 24 general seats of Gilgit Assembly 23 PPP’s candidates and 22 candidates from PML-N are contesting elections n GB Elections: 551 Polling Stations declared highly sensitive.

ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD - The police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) said on Saturday they had arrested 72 people linked to a banned protest group, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), during a security crackdown, alleging some detainees possessed weapons, suspicious documents and material aimed at disrupting public order in the.

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that heatwave conditions are likely to develop across the country from June 07 to 12 as a high-pressure system is expected to form in the upper atmosphere on June 8 and persist until June 11.

LARKANA: The Right Bank Canal System of Sukkur Barrage is currently experiencing a critical irrigation water shortage, severely impacting the command areas of Larkana an Qambar-Shahdadkot districts, as well as the lands in Balochistan, fed through the North West Canal (NWC) during the peak Kharif crop season. The impact is also affecting Dadu Canal, Rice Canal and those irrigating the Sukkur district. Sources privy to the situation told Dawn on Saturday that the prevailing shortfall across the canal network has reached an alarming level — North West Canal (-) 64.1%, Rice Canal (-) 38.0% and Dadu Canal (-) 82.0%. Credible data obtained from sources in Sindh’s irrigation department indicates that Punjab is currently drawing 53,394 cusecs against its allocated share of 44,000 cusecs — an excess withdrawal of around 21.35%. Similarly, Taunsa Barrage is lifting 25,694 cusecs against its entitled share of 24,000 cusecs, reflecting an over-withdrawal of approximately 9.3%. Meanwhile, the pond level at Chashma Barrag...

• Prices stay high despite export disruptions • Beef hits Rs1,500-1,800 per kg, mutton Rs2,700-2,900 KARACHI: Amid disease outbreaks, export suspensions, volatile market conditions and rising feed and production costs, the poultry sector has continued to grow by eight per cent annually over the past 10 years. Higher prices for poultry might cause a slowdown in the purchasing patterns of low- and middle-income people, but they still rely on poultry as it costs much less than beef and mutton. As per the Economic Survey FY25, rural poultry had shown modest gains, but commercial production remained the main growth driver. After remaining on the higher side, poultry live bird prices have fallen by an average Rs100 per kg to Rs370-420 per kg in Karachi after Eidul Azha. Consumers were expecting a further price drop in the wake of the closure of borders with Afghanistan, but the prices of poultry continued to show an upward trend. In October 2025, when the Afghan border was closed, the live-bird price had fallen to ...

• Police arrest at least 72 people, recover ‘weapons, suspicious documents’ • Situation tense in Poonch after trader gunned down in ‘clash with police’ MUZAFFARABAD: Auth­or­it­ies in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday launched a crackdown on the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), arresting scores of its leaders and activists from different areas. “In fulfilment of its responsibility to maintain public order and protect the lives and properties of citizens, police have arrested around 72 people affiliated with the proscribed JAAC over the past 18 hours,” said a handout issued by a spokesperson for police chief Liaqat Ali Malik. “During initial action, weapons, communication gadgets, suspicious documents, material related to plans that could adversely affect public order and organised mechanisms for violent agitational activities had been found, in addition to indications of questionable contacts with patrons and foreigners which are being investigated under law,” it added. The police spokes...

KHUZDAR: Balochistan Natio­nal Party (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal on Saturday announced a shutter-down strike across Balochistan on June 10, condemning the June 2 incident in Zehri in which the party’s district vice-president was shot dead. Speaking at a press conference here alongside senior BNP-M leaders, Mr Mengal said the killing of the party’s district vice-president, Sardarzada Khalil Ahmed Musiani, and the arrest of several members of the Musiani family represented a grave violation of both political and tribal traditions. He alleged that security personnel raided the residence of tribal elder and BNP-M leader Sardar Nasir Ahmed Musiani, violated the sanctity of the home, assaulted family members, and shot his son in front of him. He later died after allegedly being denied timely medical treatment. “Authorities claim that peace prevails in Balochistan. Is this their idea of peace… that a son is killed in front of his father and family members are not even allowed to attend his funeral?” Mr Me...

• Cites restricted access to bombed nuclear sites as key reason for inspection gaps, denies seeking nuclear weapons • IAEA warns lack of access poses a ‘proliferation concern’, urges immediate resumption of verification activities TEHRAN: Iran has repudiated an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report as a “tool of political pressure”, following concerns over restricted access to its nuclear site. Tehran was engaged in discussions with Washington about its nuclear programme when the United States and Israel attacked it on February 28, sparking war in the region. Israel had previously struck Iran in June 2025, also while Washington and Tehran were engaged in nuclear negotiations, with Washington joining with later strikes before a ceasefire was declared. During both conflicts, Iranian nuclear sites were bombed repeatedly. “If the agency wants to be part of a diplomatic solution, it must refrain from turning a technical report into a tool of political pressure,” Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi...

BEIRUT: An Israeli strike on a military vehicle in southern Lebanon killed three soldiers, the Lebanese military said on Saturday, laying bare Israel’s continued aggression just days after the countries discussed a conditional truce during talks in the United States. Israel has launched an invasion into Lebanon, claiming it seeks to root out Hezbollah, which engaged in the wider Middle East war by launching retaliatory missiles against Israeli forces in response to US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Meanwhile, Lebanon has vowed that it will disarm Hezbollah over time, but has also denounced Israel’s invasion, accusing it of employing scorched-earth tactics to drive civilians out of southern towns and villages. In the latest incident, the Lebanese army said two officers and a soldier were killed in a strike on a military vehicle on the road between Khardali and Nabatieh. Tehran rejects claims it is using Lebanon as ‘bargaining chip’, urges Beirut to focus on ‘real foe’ Hezbollah dubbed the a...

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council’s annual report for 2025, presented to the General Assembly on Friday, reaffirmed the continued relevance of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the Palestinian question, describing them as long-standing issues on the UNSC’s agenda with implications for regional and international peace and security. The report noted that more than 20 communications concerning the India-Pakistan question were brought before the UNSC during the reporting period and that the council held closed consultations on the issue in May 2025. It also documented the UNSC’s engagement with the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly Gaza, including the adoption of Resolution 2803 endorsing a Gaza peace plan. Pakistan, which coordinated and drafted the introduction to the report during its UNSC presidency in July 2025, welcomed the references to both disputes, saying they underscored the need for their resolution in accordance with UN resolutions and international law. Addressing t...

• Iran launches fresh missile, drone attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain • Kuwait says new attack ‘dangerous escalation’; Bahrain denounces ‘blatant aggression’ • Falling debris causes ‘material damage’ in Kuwait • Centcom says four attack drones downed near Hormuz; Iranian coastal radar sites also hit • Trump says Iran has ‘22pc’ of missiles left • US okays sale of $2bn in anti-drone weapons to Kuwait KUWAIT CITY: Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait early on Saturday, while the United States said it struck Iranian coastal radar sites after intercepting missiles and drones aimed at Gulf allies and the Strait of Hormuz, further straining a fragile ceasefire. Bahrain and Kuwait intercepted seven Iranian missiles, while Bahrain also destroyed several drones, officials said. It was the second attack on both Gulf states since Wednesday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted “enemy bases” with missiles after the US military said it struck radar sites in Iran and downed drones hea...

• IRNA says ‘important message’ meant for Iran’s supreme leader • Interior minister receives instructions from PM before departure ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday stepped up efforts to break the impasse in the US-Iran dialogue, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arriving in Tehran carrying a message from Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Mr Naqvi was received by his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni. Pakistan’s newly appointed ambassador to Iran, Imran Ahmad Siddiqui, was also present. The visit comes at a delicate moment in the diplomatic process that Pakistan has been facilitating for months, as indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran have drifted into what diplomats describe as a fragile stalemate despite both sides continuing to publicly endorse diplomacy over renewed confrontation. Iran’s official news agency IRNA, quoting an informed source, reported that Mr Naqvi was carrying an “important message” from Field Marshal Munir for M...

ISLAMABAD: The ceramic tiles and glass industries have expressed concern over proposed duty cuts on imports of ceramic tiles and glass products. Talking to a selected group of journalists on Saturday, Atif Iqbal, Secretary General of the All Pakistan Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers Association (APCTMA), said that as the Federal Budget 2026-27 approaches, stakeholders of Pakistan’s ceramic tiles industry have urged policymakers to protect domestic manufacturing from premature tariff reductions under the National Tariff Policy (NTP) 2025-30. Similarly, the Pakistan Glass Manufacturers Association (PGMA) has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating condition of the domestic glass manufacturing sector, warning that any reduction in import duties on finished glass products could push the industry towards complete closure. In a communication addressed to the Ministry of Industries and Production, the PGMA stated that the glass sector is already operating at only 50pc of its installed capacity, while the remaining...

Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have overwhelmingly voted to authorise a potential strike during the World Cup, just days before football’s global showpiece begins. The Unite Here Local 11 union, which represents about 2,000 stadium food and beverage workers, is demanding better pay along with assurances that federal immigration agents will not be allowed to enter the venue. A whopping 96 per cent of voters approved the strike call, meaning they have the green light to walk off the job at any time, with the World Cup due to open on Thursday. “Contract negotiations with stadium food service operator Legends Global and FIFA have not had significant progress on key economic and workplace safety issues,” the union said in a statement. New talks are scheduled for Monday, ahead of the first World Cup match on US soil on June 12 at SoFi. Cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, and others are represented by Unite Here. SoFi Stadium — the world’s most expensive sports venue, which opened in 2020 at a cost exceeding $5 ...

GILGIT: The people of Gilgit-Baltistan will vote in the general elections for the GB Legislative Assembly on Sunday after the polls were delayed by four months due to harsh winter weather. The PPP and other political parties have staged a series of rallies across the region and ramped up efforts to garner support ahead of the polls. All arrangements have been finalised, with elections to be contested in 24 constituencies. According to the GB Election Commission, there are 958,480 registered voters in the region, including 503,772 male and 454,708 female voters. A total of 396 candidates are contesting the elections, with 266 running as independents. Only eight women are contesting the elections, five of them as independent candidates. Meanwhile, 23 candidates from the PPP are contesting the elections, while the PML-N has fielded 22 candidates. Both parties have nominated one female candidate each. Additionally, 15 candidates from the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and 10 from the PTI are in the fray. Moreove...

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a heatwave warning for various parts of the country from June 7 to June 12. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the districts of Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan are expected to record maximum temperatures four to six degrees Celsius above normal, ranging between 41°C and 46°C from June 8 to 11. Temperatures are expected to rise to 37°C-40°C in KP’s northern districts of Chitral, Dir and Swat, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan, from June 8 to 10. In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, maximum temperatures are expected to range between 41°C and 44°C from June 8 to 10. From June 8 to 11, temperatures are expected to range between 44°C and 48°C in Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Joharabad, Khushab, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Layy...