Amna Baloch on Wednesday took charge as Pakistan’s 33rd Foreign Secretary, succeeding Ambassador Syrus Sajjad Qazi, who retired upon reaching superannuation. Ambassador Syrus was honored with a formal farewell dinner at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night. Baloch, a Grade-22 officer of the Foreign Service of Pakistan, was appointed as Foreign Secretary last week. She is the second woman to …

The Ministry of Finance has issued notifications regarding three key amendments to the pension rules. According to the notification, the family pension will now be limited to 10 years whereas if the pensioner dies, only legal heirs will be eligible to receive the pension transfer. The notification stated that the spouse of a deceased pensioner will continue to receive a …

The Supreme Court heard the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams funds case on Wednesday, during which the federal government requested the release of the funds to the federation and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman informed the court that a separate petition had been filed for this purpose, seeking the transfer of the …

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has called for the establishment of a ‘Charter of Parliament’ to encourage cooperation between the government and opposition, stressing the need for a unified approach to running the House. “If the opposition will not speak here, where will it speak?” the speaker Ayaz Sadiq remarked, urging both sides to engage in constructive dialogue. Ayaz Sadiq …

Mahira Khan one of Pakistan’s leading actresses has ignited a fresh debate after sharing her views on traditional customs regarding clothing. During an in-depth conversation with renowned poet Anwar Maqsood at the Arts Council Karachi, the superstar reflected on her career, the importance of cultural values, and her family’s influence on her upbringing. In the discussion, Mahira spoke fondly of …

The federal government is facing delays in passing key legislation due to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F)’s indecision over joining the coalition government. The JUI-F’s support in parliament is crucial for the government to secure the necessary number of votes for a constitutional amendment, but there is no decisive progress as JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has yet to make a …

BEIJING: China is strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposes the moves of the United States in manipulating Hong Kong-related issues and suppressing Hong Kong’s development, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to the U.S. House of Representatives considering and passing the “Hong Kong Economic and …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Women. Xi said that women are important promoters of human civilization and social progress and have scored remarkable achievements in all walks of life. Since the forum’s launch, women of various countries, upholding the Shanghai Spirit, have contributed to the building …

JERUSALEM: Two Israeli soldiers were killed when a military helicopter crashed in the Rafah area, southern Gaza Strip, during an overnight mission, Israel’s army said on Wednesday. The Black Hawk helicopter from the Israeli Air Force was evacuating an injured soldier to a hospital for medical treatment when it crashed. Seven other soldiers were injured and were subsequently evacuated for …

Bangladesh’s southeastern Comilla district borders the Tripura state of India to the east. Both regions have been drenched by heavy monsoon rains, with Tripura experiencing significantly more rainfall than Comilla over the past 72 hours. Amidst the chaos, authorities in Tripura made an impromptu overnight decision to open a sluice gate of the Dumboor Reservoir, releasing a large volume of …

The Afghanistan national cricket team has voiced its dissatisfaction with the facilities at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in India’s Greater Noida state, following a rain-hit one-off Test match against New Zealand. The opening day on September 9 was washed out due to a wet outfield and persistent rain, and the match continued to be halted on the second …

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) lawmaker Daniyal Chaudhry on Tuesday introduced ‘The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2024’ to increase the number of apex court’s judges from 17 to 23, in the National Assembly. According to “The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2024”, the total number of judges, including the Chief Justice, will increase from 17 to …

Singer and actor Selena Gomez revealed that she is unable to carry her own children due to medical issues while opening up about her journey of coming to terms with this reality, stating it was something she had to “grieve.” She broke the news in a heartfelt and candid interview with Vanity Fair. “I haven’t ever said this, but I …

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has transferred 161 high-profile cases to the Anti-Corruption Department following recent amendments being upheld by the Supreme Court. The transferred cases include those involving officers from key departments such as the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), Malir Development Authority (MDA), Board of Revenue, Department of Agriculture, Irrigation Department, Works and Services Department, School Education Department, and …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan has denounced the recent events in and outside the parliament, likening them to an attack on democracy comparable to the events of May 9, 2023. Speaking during a National Assembly session on Tuesday, Khan condemned the arrests of PTI lawmakers, declaring that September 10 will be remembered as a dark chapter in the …

India has expressed its willingness to participate online in the upcoming meeting of trade ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Thursday. As preparations for the high-level meeting continue, senior officials from SCO member countries are currently engaged in discussions to finalize the agenda for the trade ministers’ meeting, sources said. These deliberations …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan has declared an end to negotiations with all parties, including the establishment, signalling a hardened stance amidst ongoing political turmoil. Speaking to the media at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, the former prime minister revealed that six party leaders were previously permitted to engage in dialogue with the establishment. He emphasized he had never prohibited …

A Judicial Magistrate in Bannu has issued arrest warrants for Islamabad Judge Humayun Dilawar, his father, and his brother over allegations of illegally occupying valuable government land. The case involves claims of encroachment on public property. The arrest warrants were issued for Judge Humayun Dilawar, his brother Sadiq, and their father Dilawar Khan. Additionally, a warrant was also issued for …

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has called for decisive action regarding the events that transpired in parliament last night regarding arrests of multiple PTI lawmakers from allegedly within and outside the Parliament House. Speaking during a session of the assembly on Tuesday, Sadiq said: “Action will have to be taken over what happened in parliament last night.” He also said …

Pakistan Army killed at least 16 Afghan Taliban as they responded strongly to unprovoked aggression along the Pakistan-Afghan border. As per details, Afghan Taliban opened unprovoked fire at Pak-Afghan border on September 7, which lasted till September 9 evening. Pakistani Army responded strongly to the unprovoked firing from Afghanistan and killed 16 Taliban fighters, while 27 were injured, according to …

Students from Rajshahi University, Barisal University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet have held protests demanding fair water-sharing agreements with India and protesting sudden floods caused by the opening of the Dumbur dam in Tripura. At about 1am on Thursday, students from BU staged a protest march on the Barisal-Kuakata highway in front of the university, gathering …

What Is a Stiff Neck? The phrase “pain in the neck” was created for a good reason. Waking up with a stiff neck is an annoying and uncomfortable way to start your day. And a stiff neck is a common problem, affecting about 10% of the population at any given time. There are many reasons for neck pain, but it’s …

At a time when the RLNG consumption has decreased in the country manifold and the decision to switch the industrial sector to national grid from gas-based captive power plants (CPPs) while toeing the direction of IMF will lead to recovery loss of Rs420 billion to the Sui gas companies. “We get the revenue of Rs420 billion per annum from captive …

Angelina Jolie makes shocking revelation about health amid her tumultuous split with former husband Brad Pitt. The Hollywood icon, who is rooting for her upcoming film Maria, received an accolade over the weekend in honor of bridging the gap between social impact and cinema. While she picked up her TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media, The Tourist star said in …

A remote-controlled bomb attack on a police van in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) South Waziristan injured 13 people which included six police personnel and seven civilians, a hospital official told Internews on Monday. According to police officials, the bomb exploded on a police van at Kir kot Road in the Wana Rustam Bazar. The officials added they reached site of the …

Pakistan has etched its name in Scrabble history by clinching the World Youth Scrabble Championship (WYSC) for a record fifth time. The triumph was secured by 16-year-old Affan Salman, who dominated the tournament held in Sri Lanka, winning 19 out of 23 games. This victory marks a significant milestone, as Pakistan becomes the first nation to achieve such a feat …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its executive board meeting schedule through September 18, 2024, and Pakistan, which direly needs external funding to bail out its economy, is not included on the agenda. According to the Fund’s website, the IMF schedule of the executive board meeting set to be held on September 9, 13 and 18 but to take …

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has acknowledged that the country has experienced multiple internet service disruptions over the last five years, with several incidents occurring just this year. The details, revealed in an official document that surfaced recently, shed light on the recurring challenges faced by Pakistan’s internet infrastructure, often attributed to submarine cable failures. According to the PTA’s report, …

Pakistan has once again achieved a significant milestone on the international stage with a historic performance at the UK Shooting Championship 2024, held at the legendary Bisley Ranges in Great Britain from September 3 to 8. The Long Range Shooting Championship saw participation from approximately 160 world-class shooters hailing from 18 countries, making it a fiercely competitive event. Despite the …

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa has said that there has been transparency in the affairs of the Supreme Court, as earlier it could be determined just by looking at the bench what the case decision would be. Now, the chief justice is not sent a cause list, and it is one’s fate which bench hears their …

Pakistan vs Malaysia match ended in a tie with 2-2 goals in Asian Hockey Champions Trophy. Pakistan initially took the lead against Malaysia with a score of 2-0 in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy match played in Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia, China. However, Malayaisa fought back and scored back to back two goals. Pakistan managed to score the first goal …

Meta has unveiled its plans for integrating third-party chats into its popular messaging platforms, WhatsApp and Messenger, first for users in the European Union The upcoming update introduces greater flexibility, allowing users to choose between merging messages from Messenger, WhatsApp, and supported third-party apps into a single inbox or keeping them separate. To enhance user experience, Meta is implementing new …

Oil prices fell on Sunday with Brent crude falling below $72 amid sluggish demand and reports that Libya is close to agreeing to resuming crude oil exports. Crude oil futures were down in mid-morning Asian trade on September 8 due to losses after Brent markers dropped below $75 per barrel this week on a wave of sluggish developments on the …

Pakistan’s textile hub is in crisis as Faisalabad’s power looms industry is bearing the brunt of exorbitant electricity bills. The rising raw material costs have crippled loom owners, leaving workers unemployed. The once-thriving area of Ghulam Muhammad Abad, often referred to as “the Manchester of Faisalabad,” is now marked by silent factories and idle looms, with many small and large …

Israeli military strikes across the Palestinian Gaza Strip killed at least 61 people in the space of 48 hours, medics said on Saturday. Eleven months into the war, numerous rounds of diplomacy have so far failed to clinch a ceasefire deal to end the conflict and bring the release of Israeli and foreign hostages held in Gaza. Airstrikes on two …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called upon the nation to support the government’s efforts in promoting literacy and ensuring education for all, emphasizing the importance of building a bright future for the children and the country. “Literacy is a fundamental human and constitutional right that guarantee the future of our country,” the prime minister said in a message on …

Minorities in India are facing severe challenges in the third term of the Modi government, as ethnic, linguistic, and religious prejudices intensify. The extremist policies of the BJP are exacerbating these issues, leading to widespread deprivation of basic rights and escalating violence. In Manipur, the situation has reached a critical point. The region is engulfed in violence, with the Matti …

Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on September 8, 2024. The couple, known for their high-profile relationship and careers, is now celebrating this joyous addition to their family. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see their daughter and learn what name the couple has chosen for her. In a past revelation, Ranveer …

As part of its ongoing mission to reduce government expenditure, the federal government has decided to abolish the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CAD), which oversees Islamabad’s affairs. The decision includes the elimination of posts from grades 1 to 16 across all ministries. The Federal Cabinet has directed the Cabinet Division to oversee the dissolution of CAD, while …

ISLAMABAD: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province said on Saturday that it had arrested 33 suspected terrorists in 475 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the province in August. The CTD said in a police statement that it had interrogated 475 suspects during the IBOs, out of which 33 were found to have strong links with banned …