Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The incomplete development work in E-12 sector has caught the attention of the current management of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as its engineering wing has been tasked with taking steps to complete this sector on priority basis. Sources told Dawn that recently CDA Chairman retired Lt Sohail Ashraf directed the engineering wing to get development work of this sector completed on priority basis. They said it was decided that after Eid, a meeting would be held on this one-point agenda. Over 4,000 allottees of this sector, launched in 1989, have been waiting to get possession of their plots for the last 37 years, whereas during this period business of private housing schemes in Islamabad had massively increased. CDA chief directs engineering wing to get work completed in the sector on priority basis The sources said the CDA chief recently directed the land directorate to resolve legitimate issues of local landlords on priority basis, adding that the CDA had possession of the land in almost...

CHITRAL: The International Day of the Markhor passed unnoticed in Chitral as the local wildlife department failed to hold any ceremony or awareness event to mark the occasion for the second consecutive year. The silence is particularly stark given that Chitral hosts the largest population of Kashmir Markhor in its national park, while the wildlife department’s two divisional offices exist here. The day, established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) two years ago on May 24, 2024, aims to highlight the ecological importance of Pakistan’s national animal and boost global conservation efforts Local ecologists and conservationists have expressed regret over the official negligence and pointed out that the Kashmir Markhor found in Chitral was globally renowned for its unique physique, majestic flared horns, and distinct beauty. “To completely ignore a day dedicated to our national animal, especially in its primary habitat, sends a terrible message about our conservation priorities,” said a local ecologi...

KARACHI: Reminding people to remember and implement the spirit of Eidul Azha, health experts on Tuesday urged the public to exercise caution regarding their dietary habits and meat consumption to avoid medical emergencies during the festive occasion. In a statement, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro cautioned that the sudden shift to heavy, meat-dominated meals can put a severe strain on the digestive system. “Hospitals and clinics historically witness a sharp spike in emergency room visits during the days of Eid due to acute gastrointestinal issues,” he said. Sudden shift to heavy, meat-dominated meals on Eid can strain digestive system, warns PMA “Overindulging in rich, fried and heavily spiced meat dishes frequently lead to distressing health complications, including severe diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, acute vomiting and nausea, indigestion, hyperacidity and severe abdominal cramps. It can also lead to aggravation of conditions for patients with hypertension, dia...

Annual global mean near-surface temperatures will range between 1.3°C and 1.9°C

Loan, critical for supporting Ukraine's ⁠finances, was blocked until last month, when Hungary government lifted veto

Attack targets home near Al-Israa Tower, says Palestinian Red Crescent Society

Both interior ministers exchange Eidul Azha greetings, convey best wishes to each other

Pakistan stands as the seventh nuclear nation and the first Muslim state with nuclear capability

Brent crude futures rise $3.51, or 3.72%, to $97.8 a barrel

Iran's retaliatory strike came in response to US strike in southern Iran, IRGC says in statement

India’s interior minister has ordered the demolition of illegal buildings within 15 kilometres of the border with Pakistan, his office said Wednesday. Home Minister Amit Shah is known for his hardline stance on national security, illegal migration and transnational crimes. “Amit Shah stressed the need for strict enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against illegal constructions, particularly within 0-15 kilometres of the international border,” the Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement. “He directed the concerned authorities to demolish all such unauthorised constructions.” Shah urged officials to boost efforts “to effectively address infiltration, narcotics smuggling, encroachment, terror financing, and other trans-border crimes”, according to the statement. Shah issued the order while in the western state of Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan.

A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh — nicknamed “Donald Trump” for its distinctive blond tuft — has been ​spared from Eidul Azha sacrifice after a ‌last-minute government intervention, a Home Ministry official said on Wednesday. The nearly 700-kg animal had already been sold for ritual ​slaughter when authorities stepped in, citing security ​concerns after a surge of public interest ahead ⁠of Thursday’s festival. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered the ​buffalo be spared, the buyer refunded, and the animal ​moved to the national zoo in Dhaka. “At the last moment, the decision was taken to spare the buffalo from sacrifice due ​to security concerns and the unusual level of ​public interest,” a ministry official said. What began as a routine ‌Eid ⁠purchase quickly turned into a nationwide curiosity after videos went viral. Crowds gathered at the farm, with visitors travelling from far afield to see its blond ​fringe and calm ​demeanour. Farm owner ⁠Ziauddin Mridha said the name came from his younger brother, ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the United States to provide more ammunition for its Patriot air defence systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles, according to a document reviewed by AFP on Wednesday. The appeal underscores Ukraine’s almost total reliance on its Western allies to down Russian missile barrages, despite having pioneered a system for intercepting long-range drones that is the envy of some of the world’s most advanced militaries. The request comes just days after one of the worst combined missile and drone attacks launched against Kyiv since the Russia-Ukraine war more than four years ago, which wrought devastation across the capital. In a letter dated May 26 and addressed to US President Donald Trump, Zelensky asked Washington to “help us secure this vital tool of protection against Russian terror — Patriot missiles PAC-3 and additional systems — to stop Russian ballistic missiles and other Russian missile attacks.” Zelensky conceded in the five-page document, which was als...

WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump told his cabinet and the media during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday that his administration is “not satisfied” with the terms of a deal with Iran yet, “but we will be”. The session, which is open to reporters, is one of the administration’s most closely watched meetings in recent weeks. The president and his cabinet members touched upon a number of domestic and international issues of interest, as well as discussing the ongoing negotiations with Iran. “They just want to make a deal. I dont think they have a choice,” Trump said, referring to Tehran. “Their economy is in free fall, their money has no value, their whole economic system has broken down,” he said. “They thought they were gonna outwait me, like, ‘He’s got a midterm’. I dont care about the midterm.” he said. “It’s very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I am doing this for the whole world not for the US only,” he said. “We’ve had great support from other nations. We need it all.” T...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday hoped that a peace deal between Iran and the US could be finalised soon. The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement said that President Pezeshkian had telephoned PM Shehbaz to extend Eid greetings in a call that lasted around 30 minutes. During the call, PM Shehbaz hoped that a peace deal which afforded dignity and honour to the Iranian nation could be reached soon. “This would help unlock the true economic potential of Iran and benefit the entire region,” the premier said. The prime minister stated that as a brotherly and neighbouring country, “Pakistan would always stand by Iran and that a great future lay ahead for both countries, once peace was restored in the region.” The two leaders also exchanged Eid greetings and conveyed their best wishes to each other, the people of their two countries, and the Muslim Ummah, the PMO added. “The Iranian president expressed his profound gratitude to the pri...

US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has no cash in its official Gaza reconstruction fund, despite member countries pledging billions of dollars, a source familiar with the board told AFP on Wednesday. Trump first conceived of the board to rebuild Gaza, where Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-backed ceasefire in October in a bid to halt two years of devastating war. But he quickly raised eyebrows by sending out wide invitations, including to Russian President Vladimir Putin and to countries far removed from traditional Middle East diplomacy. Since the board was set up, its fund — administered by the World Bank and endorsed by the United Nations — has received no money from donors, the source familiar with the Board of Peace told AFP. The source said money had not been deposited because the fund was designed for the reconstruction and development phase, which has not yet been reached. Israeli military operations in Gaza have continued despite the ceasefire, with at least 910 people killed since then, accor...

Hundreds of people in India’s border region with Bangladesh have fled to the frontier, police said Wednesday, after the government ordered the construction of detention centres for undocumented Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya refugees. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in West Bengal state in early May with a hardline policy to “detect, delete and deport” illegal migrants. India’s right-wing have long argued that illegal migration is a national security threat, and warned of changing demography in India’s border states. West Bengal government’s last week ordered the setting up of “holding centres” for “apprehended foreigners”, singling out both Bangladeshis and Rohingya. The decision has fuelled anxiety among West Bengal’s roughly 35 million Muslims, many of whom share linguistic and cultural ties with neighbouring Bangladesh. Indian police officer Shirshendu Pati, from the Swarupnagar Police Station about 10 kilometres from the Bangladesh bo...

Joint statement demands militant groups including TTP, ETIM should not be allowed to use any territory to threaten regional security Shehbaz Sharif assures full support to Chinese companies for business expansion.

Says protection from Russian ballistic missiles is vital for achieving peace talks

Iranians isolated by a long internet shutdown imposed by the authorities during the war with the US and Israel expressed joy as social media came back to life in a country where even in normal times access to the outside world remains restricted via censorship of many websites. “Ive never been so happy in my life to see Telegram notifications,” Kian Galvani, an engineering student, wrote on his account on X. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order to reopen international internet access, Iranian state media reported on Monday, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout. The report cited the head of public relations at Irans Communications Ministry. The mechanism for how and when Iran would reconnect to the global web following the decision was unknown. Authorities initially imposed an internet blackout from January 8 in a crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests which US-based HRANA rights group said killed thousands. Connections were gradually restored in February, before a new black...