<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel>
                        <title>Latest News, Breaking News &amp; Top News Stories | The Express Tribune</title>
                        <atom:link href="https://tribune.com.pk" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
                        <link>https://tribune.com.pk</link>
                        <description>latest news</description>
                        <lastBuildDate>Tue, 22 Sep 26 02:16:08 +0500</lastBuildDate>
                        <language>en-US</language>
                        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
                        <generator>https://laravel.com/</generator><item>
			<title>Everyone is an expert on awareness</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630641/everyone-is-an-expert-on-awareness</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630641/everyone-is-an-expert-on-awareness#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Mirza Mujtaba Baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630641</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In a government hall in Karachi, a heatwave awareness seminar is underway. Four speakers sit on stage, a hundred chairs are filled, a banner carries the sponsor&#39;s logo, and a photographer moves through the room. By the end there is applause, a flurry of social media posts, and a newspaper photo announcing that an awareness campaign has been held.

Nobody asks the only question that matters. Did anyone&#39;s awareness change? Did the daily wage labourers working outside at noon, the people genuinely at risk, get anything out of it? Usually nobody knows, because nobody asked.

I have spent nearly twenty-eight years working in environmental public awareness in Pakistan, and this scene has played out, in one form or another, for most of that time. Technology changed. Social media arrived. Everyone now carries a phone with a camera. But the underlying method has stayed almost exactly the same: pick a topic, print a poster, hold an event, take a photo, publish a post. If the tools changed but the method never did, are we actually learning, or just repeating ourselves?

Here is the deeper problem. In Pakistan&#39;s environmental sector, an unusual confidence is common. Journalists, activists, advocacy groups, teachers, officials and corporate social responsibility teams will all happily explain how public awareness should be done. Almost nobody says, this is not my area. That is not an accusation, it is an observation. Caring about the environment and knowing how to design environmental public awareness are two different skills. A person can be an excellent reporter, an effective campaigner or a gifted teacher, without ever having learned how a real awareness intervention is designed, delivered and measured.

Start with a distinction that keeps getting lost. Environmental awareness simply means a person knows something, say that plastic is harmful. Environmental public awareness is different: a communication process someone deliberately designs around one specific problem, for one specific audience, with one clear goal. Knowing plastic is harmful is just a fact about a person&#39;s mind. Asking why shopkeepers in one part of Karachi still use plastic bags, and what would make them switch, is a plan. Turning that plan into reality takes concrete steps: defining the true problem, gathering solid evidence instead of a few internet facts, identifying which audience must change and which audience can help or block that change, ordering the message, picking the right channel and measuring results before and after. Skip a step and what is left is not public awareness. It is only information handed out, mistaken for being something more.

This confusion shows up everywhere. A cleanup walk branded &#39;Say No To Plastic&#39; generates good photographs but does nothing to change the daily shopping habit that created the waste. Air quality numbers get shared with no accompanying action a person can take, so they generate anxiety instead of change. Tree plantation drives announce impressive numbers of saplings planted in a day, and almost never report how many survived six months later. Waste segregation instructions are handed to households with no explanation of what happens after the truck arrives, and often the answer is that everything gets remixed anyway. In every case, the professional version is not more expensive. It simply asks a different first question: who needs to change, why haven&#39;t they already, and how will we know if they did.

Part of the reason this keeps happening is that the sector rewards the wrong things. Attendance counts, photographs, banners, media coverage and social media likes are treated as results. They are not. They are signs that an event occurred, nothing more. A genuine outcome assessment looks at what changed in people&#39;s knowledge, perceived risk, intention and practice, measured before an intervention and again afterward. This is not complicated work, usually just a short set of questions asked twice. The barrier has never been the difficulty of measurement. It has been the absence of any will to measure at all.

There is also a quieter problem worth naming honestly. Public relations and environmental public awareness are not the same thing, even though they get treated as interchangeable. Public relations build an institution&#39;s reputation. Public awareness changes public understanding and behaviour on a defined issue. Confusing the two is one of the most damaging habits in this field, because it lets an institution declare victory the moment it gets a good photograph, regardless of whether anyone&#39;s behavior actually moved.

There is also a stranger phenomenon worth admitting. People with only partial environmental knowledge, enough to speak confidently, not enough to tell science apart from advocacy, from public relations, from public awareness, often resist correction harder than complete newcomers do. A little knowledge convinces someone he already knows everything.

None of this requires an imported theory. It requires government agencies to fund permanent awareness units instead of one off events, universities to teach environmental communication as its own discipline, NGOs to separate awareness work from general event management, media houses to distinguish journalism from campaigning, professionals to accept that working around a topic does not make one an expert in it, and donors to demand measurable outcomes instead of headcounts and photographs.

We have spent decades running activities in the name of environmental awareness. We have rarely stopped to ask whether that awareness actually works, on whom, and why. That is the question this field now has to face, well beyond the photographs, the numbers and the banners.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Mirza-Mujtaba-Baig1727731269-0/Mirza-Mujtaba-Baig1727731269-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Nothing happened at midnight</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630640/nothing-happened-at-midnight</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630640/nothing-happened-at-midnight#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Haroon Rashid Siddiqi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630640</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. Stephen Hawking

In late 1999, at PIDC House, Karachi, a task force at Pakistan Petroleum Limited was probably worrying about what would happen when the clock struck midnight on December 31. Around the world, similar meetings were taking place in banks, airlines, power plants and government offices. The fear was that computers, programmed to recognise the year through its last two digits, would mistake 2000 for 1900. A century-old error, it was feared, could bring modern life to a standstill.

Billions of dollars were spent. Programmers worked overtime, examining systems and correcting the suspected fault. Then midnight arrived. The lights remained on, aircraft continued to fly and the world carried on as usual. The catastrophe did not come. The most memorable mishap attributed to the occasion was reportedly a malfunctioning slot machine in Delaware.

The episode has since become a convenient joke about the human tendency to exaggerate the dangers of new technology. It is tempting, therefore, to place today&#39;s warnings about artificial intelligence in the same category: another expensive exercise in apprehension, another prophecy destined to disappear beneath the next day&#39;s headlines.

There is some justification for such scepticism. When Anthropic&#39;s chief executive warns that artificial intelligence could take over the internet within six months to a year, the prediction carries the urgency of a Y2K memorandum. It also comes from a company developing the safety tools that might be needed to prevent such an outcome. When those sounding the alarm are simultaneously seeking greater investment, public confidence and regulatory influence, the public is entitled to ask whether genuine concern and commercial interest are being presented as one and the same thing.

Yet the comparison with Y2K has a serious limitation. The millennium bug was a known technical defect. Its cause could be identified, its consequences tested and its correction implemented. Engineers knew what they were looking for. The world was not saved by a miracle at midnight. It was saved, in large measure, by years of painstaking work that prevented the anticipated failures.

Artificial intelligence presents a different challenge. Nobody, including those who develop the most advanced systems, fully understands how a model trained on vast quantities of human knowledge will behave when given a complicated objective and considerable freedom to pursue it. It may find solutions its creators did not anticipate, or pursue an instruction in a manner its designers never intended.

That is not a calendar error waiting for a software patch. It is an open question about the behaviour of increasingly capable machines. Anyone who declares with absolute confidence that artificial intelligence will destroy civilisation, or that it will certainly remain harmless, is perhaps revealing more about his temperament than about the technology itself.

There is, nevertheless, room for a little humour. Consider the dramatic picture sometimes offered by the more excitable commentators: artificial intelligence awakens in a distant data centre, seizes control of the internet and proceeds to take command of humanity. But what happens next? Does it spend the afternoon arguing with another machine over a coding error? Does it fail a traffic-light security test and politely request another attempt? The prospect of humans wandering about in smart glasses and wireless earbuds, awaiting instructions from a server rack, sounds at times less like a security assessment than a conversation in a university hostel after midnight.

But ridicule is not an argument. The sceptics are right that fear attracts attention and that dramatic predictions can serve commercial purposes. Humanity has a long history of panicking over new inventions. The telephone, radio and television were all once accused of threatening the human mind. Not every warning about a new invention deserves to be treated as a forecast of disaster.

The concern about artificial intelligence, however, rests on a difference that should not be dismissed. A conventional computer generally follows instructions written by people. An advanced AI system learns patterns from enormous quantities of information and may discover ways of pursuing a task that its creators did not foresee. During testing, Anthropic and OpenAI have both reported instances in which their models behaved outside the boundaries of the tasks assigned to them. Such incidents do not prove that machines are about to seize control of the world. They do, however, demonstrate that these systems deserve serious examination.

The sensible response lies somewhere between panic and complacency. We need the discipline with which the aviation industry approaches a new aircraft: confidence supported by evidence, careful records, repeated testing and a refusal to overlook a warning simply because the journey has so far been uneventful.

Nothing happened at midnight in 1999, and that was a triumph of preparation rather than proof that the fears had been foolish. Artificial intelligence may yet benefit humanity enormously. It may also create dangers that are difficult to anticipate. We can laugh at the extravagant predictions while taking genuine risks seriously. That may be the wisest way to enter an age in which machines are becoming cleverer, and humans are still trying to understand what they have created.

Perhaps the deeper question is not whether artificial intelligence will become a Frankenstein, but whether its creators will have the wisdom to keep it under human control. In the end, the matter may be summed up in a modest couplet of my own which, though metaphysical in its wider meaning, carries a potent metaphorical connotation in the context of AI.

Hum ko to banaya tha faqat aik Khuda nai

Hum nai to bana dalai kaee aik khuda aur]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Haroon-Rashid-Siddiqi1624736949-0/Haroon-Rashid-Siddiqi1624736949-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Listening to the Universe's whisper</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630639/listening-to-the-universes-whisper</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630639/listening-to-the-universes-whisper#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Intikhab Ulfat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630639</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The return of Professor Nergis Mavalvala to Karachi in September 2026 is more than a distinguished scientist&#39;s homecoming. It is a reminder that curiosity nurtured in an ordinary childhood can eventually reach the farthest corners of the universe - and that geography need never define the boundaries of intellectual ambition.

Born in Lahore and raised in Karachi, Mavalvala attended the Convent of Jesus and Mary before leaving Pakistan in 1986 to study in the US. Her journey subsequently took her from Wellesley College to MIT, Caltech and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, better known as LIGO. Today, she is Dean of MIT&#39;s School of Science and one of the world&#39;s leading experimental physicists.

Yet the most inspiring part of her story may lie in its modest beginnings. As a child, she enjoyed taking things apart, understanding mechanisms and repairing bicycles. These activities may have appeared unremarkable, but they cultivated the instincts essential to experimental science: curiosity, patience, mechanical intuition, confidence with tools and the willingness to try repeatedly after failure.

On Sept 22, Mavalvala is scheduled to deliver the University of Karachi&#39;s ORIC Distinguished Lecture, &quot;Listening to the Universe Above the Quantum Din&quot;, in collaboration with the Department of Physics and the Institute of Space Science and Technology. Three days later, she will deliver Habib University&#39;s 10th Yohsin Lecture, &quot;The Joy of Discovery: Curiosity, Science, and the Pivotal Role of Universities&quot;.

Since both lectures are yet to take place, their precise arguments remain to be heard. Nevertheless, their titles illuminate two complementary dimensions of Mavalvala&#39;s career: the experimental physicist attempting to measure some of nature&#39;s faintest signals, and the academic leader concerned with creating institutions in which curiosity can flourish.

Mavalvala&#39;s scientific work forms part of the extraordinary collective endeavour that transformed gravitational waves from a prediction of Einstein&#39;s general theory of relativity into observable signals. These waves are minute disturbances in space-time produced by violent cosmic events, such as colliding black holes. By the time they reach Earth, their effects are almost unimaginably small.

Detecting them required LIGO to measure changes in distance far smaller than an atomic nucleus. Scientists had to control seismic vibrations, thermal motion, laser instability, environmental disturbances and even quantum fluctuations in light. Mavalvala contributed to this effort through research in precision measurement and techniques involving &quot;squeezed&quot; light, which help reduce quantum noise and improve detector sensitivity.

In 2015, LIGO detected gravitational waves from two merging black holes. Humanity had acquired an entirely new means of observing the cosmos. We were no longer dependent solely upon light; we had learned, metaphorically, to listen to the universe.

That achievement offers a powerful lesson for Pakistan. Breakthroughs rarely emerge from impatience. They grow through decades of sustained inquiry, institutional support, collaboration and repeated failure. Fundamental science may not always promise immediate commercial returns, yet it frequently produces technologies and insights that could never have been predicted at the beginning.

Our universities must therefore become more than degree-awarding institutions. They should be places where questions are encouraged, laboratories function, merit is protected, mentors inspire, and young researchers are permitted to fail intelligently.

Mavalvala&#39;s visit should inspire celebration, but it should also provoke reflection. Pakistan must not be content merely to honour its talented people after other countries have provided them with the ecosystems necessary to succeed. We must create those conditions at home.

For every young person who has dismantled a machine, repaired a bicycle, stared at the night sky or asked one question too many, Mavalvala&#39;s journey carries a hopeful message: curiosity is not a distraction from achievement. It is where achievement begins. Karachi will soon listen to a scientist who helped humanity hear the universe. Our greater responsibility is to ensure that the curious minds listening to her are given every opportunity to discover their own worlds.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Dr-Intikhab-Ulfat1721332256-0/Dr-Intikhab-Ulfat1721332256-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Beyond brick and mortar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630638/beyond-brick-and-mortar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630638/beyond-brick-and-mortar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630638</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[It&#39;s indeed good news. The Sindh government, per the Chief Minister, has almost completed the construction, rehabilitation or upgradation of as many as 838 schools with plans underway to launch a massive enrollment drive targeting 250,000 students. This offers a rare glimmer of hope for the province&#39;s embattled education sector. As the CM himself noted, while brick-and-mortar investments are commendable, the true gauge of educational progress lies not in the concrete poured, but in the children enrolled and retained.

The scale of the challenge ahead cannot be overemphasised: out of Pakistan&#39;s 26.2 million out-of-school children, a staggering 7.4 million reside in Sindh alone. If these new structures are to become beacons of actual learning, the government must ensure an enabling environment for learning. Introducing 250,000 students to these classrooms requires a dual approach: a targeted, urgent enrollment campaign and an aggressive retention strategy. First, the enrollment drive must go straight to the doorstep. The government should partner with local lady health workers, civil society groups and community leaders to find and register out-of-school children. To incentivise poor families, the government must expand targeted conditional cash transfers and provide free school transport. Second, getting children through the door is only half the battle; keeping them there is the real measure of success. The government must recruit qualified teachers and ensure basic facilities like toilets, clean drinking water and electricity.

While this infrastructure is a vital first step, much more remains to be done. Only by cultivating community trust, offering financial incentives and ensuring strict institutional accountability can Sindh hope to bring 250,000 children back to school.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-New1131222/Editorial-New1131222.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Online predators</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630637/online-predators</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630637/online-predators#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630637</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The internet has become another hunting ground for sexual predators, and Pakistan&#39;s children are paying a heavy price for the failure to protect them. A recent Unicef report estimates that 1.5 million children in the country experienced online sexual abuse in a single year. More disturbing is the finding that 71% of victims never disclosed their ordeal, while none of the children surveyed who experienced abuse approached formal reporting channels.

Children are being exploited in an environment where perpetrators can operate with relative impunity, while victims are silenced by the fear of social condemnation. Nearly three-quarters of children aged between 12 and 17 now use the internet, and methods employed by predators are becoming increasingly sophisticated. What begins as an innocent conversation or an interaction on a gaming platform can develop into months of calculated manipulation, culminating in sexual extortion and blackmail. Yet, the greater tragedy is that children often have more to fear from the reaction to their abuse than from reporting the crime itself. Girls, in particular, risk being withdrawn from school or subjected to restrictions on their freedom if their ordeal becomes public. Such attitudes punish the victim while allowing the offender to escape scrutiny. The growing menace has prompted governments across the world to reconsider children&#39;s access to social media. However, a blanket ban is neither a comprehensive solution nor a substitute for effective regulation.

Pakistan must therefore avoid the temptation to substitute prohibition for protection. The responsibility for ensuring children&#39;s safety cannot rest solely with parents or young internet users. Technology companies must be compelled to introduce stronger safeguards against predatory contact and age-appropriate protections. At the same time, the state must ensure that such measures do not become a pretext for indiscriminate surveillance or restrictions on legitimate digital access.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-New1131222/Editorial-New1131222.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>The capital at a standstill</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630636/the-capital-at-a-standstill</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630636/the-capital-at-a-standstill#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630636</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The political stakes are hitting a fever pitch as the government and the opposition engage in a fierce war of narratives. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued a stern warning against letting the PTI besiege the federal capital - a stance backed up by the preemptive arrest of Imran Khan&#39;s three sisters in Lahore under the MPO Ordinance. The upcoming September 27 march has triggered a massive security clampdown. Entry routes to Islamabad are heavily sealed, while security forces have been placed on high alert with 22,000 additional personnel requested from Punjab, AJK and Sindh.

Compounding these tensions, the federal government says it is mulling Governor&#39;s rule in K-P. Such a drastic measure will undoubtedly invite further trouble, pushing political instability to a new high. It is also a given that political parties on the fringes - and even some within the ruling coalition, including the PPP - will take exception to it, forcing the government into a challenging new zone of discomfort.

Outlawing the PTI is an equally unworkable option for a party that has already been pushed to the wall and is operating in full agitating mode. The crisis necessitates a middle ground, where the PTI can display political foresight by stepping back from the brink. Postponing the protest in favour of a meaningful dialogue represents the only viable way forward. Crucially, TTAP, the six-party opposition alliance, already holds a mandate from the PTI chief to negotiate with the power wielders. This opens a window to strike a deal centred on restructuring the governance framework and resolving constitutional lacunas in the larger national interest.

The residents of twin cities find themselves in a nail-biting predicament, waiting to see how three overlapping protest campaigns - by Jamaat-e-Islami, farmers and the PTI - will unfold within the span of a single week. This prolonged standstill is dealing a severe blow to the local economy, as recurring threats to hold the federal capital hostage fly in the face of acceptable norms for the freedom of association.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-New1131222/Editorial-New1131222.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>The joy in the journey</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630635/the-joy-in-the-journey</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630635/the-joy-in-the-journey#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Muhammad Hamid Zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630635</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As a graduate student, nearly a quarter century ago, one of my projects focused on developing computational models to study protein design. At one point, our lab had a visiting scientist who knew several professional software developers. He told my adviser that he could get one of his contacts to quickly develop software for us, something that I was struggling with. This professionally made software would not cost much (because of the contacts of the visiting scientist) and quickly get us the answers we were looking for through my research.

I still remember that conversation in my adviser&#39;s office. My adviser told the visiting scientist that while the offer was most generous and kind, he wanted me to learn myself &ndash; to struggle, figure out, make mistakes and come up with a solution. It would take time, sure, but it would give me as a young graduate student valuable knowledge, train me, and in doing so would open new worlds for me, and chart out new paths for others.

My adviser was right &ndash; the process of struggle, failure, missteps, and ultimately something meaningful was long, at times painful and uncertain, but critical for my own intellectual development. Among the research papers that came out of that journey, one was on the cover of a prestigious journal, highlighted as a major discovery in my field, and indeed opened up new worlds of research for me. Among the many things that I owe to my research adviser, recognising the value of the journey, and not just the destination, remains a cherished one.

A few weeks ago, when AI companies announced solving some of the most high-profile problems in mathematics, over two dozen Fields Medal winning mathematicians raised alarm in an eloquently written piece. The point of mathematics, they argued, is not to simply solve a problem, instead they argued &quot;solving problems is only a tool and proxy for achieving the primary goal of conceptual understanding and insight&quot;.

Like other colleagues in research professions all across the world (including my own adviser who lived by this ideal), they recognised something precious in training, thinking, navigating and debating ideas and solutions. &quot;The most precious resources of our profession are students and ideas and these we nurture with great care. We feel responsible to let them grow to their full potential until they can live a life of their own in the mathematical world. For students we often suggest problems with the core intention of developing skills making them well-positioned for advances in research and elsewhere. Our ideas we disseminate in talks private discussions and careful writeups connecting them to the previous ideas of others. These processes invariably take time and are based on human interaction.&quot;

I believe that the issue here is not just about the brute force approach of AI to solving problems and claiming the prize, but also asking how we view research and training in the current moment. In a research world so fixated on the next grant, and where ideas are increasingly undervalued and the entire emphasis is on &#39;results&#39; (even those that do not stand up to serious intellectual scrutiny) &ndash; the world of research has become one permanent race, where &#39;winning&#39; (whatever that may mean) is everything. This notion on winning means that students are told to do specific experiments, to expect certain results, and in most cases to write those results in a pre-existing format with little room for thought, doubt or curiosity. A lot is lost on this path that has no room for wonder or wander.

Sometimes modern research journey feels very much like ordering books online through one&#39;s favourite retailer. It is indeed efficient, but offers something very different from going to a bookstore. Online, you can quickly click on a button and order what you wanted to get, but in a bookstore, it may take you a little while to get what you were looking for, but while browsing the shelves there is a finite chance you may come across something that you had never expected, and that may change your life. A world where that chance disappears completely seems awfully unpleasant to me.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1082801-MuhammadHamidZamanNew-1460394018/1082801-MuhammadHamidZamanNew-1460394018.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PM Shehbaz arrives in New York to attend 81st UNGA session amid Middle East crisis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630616/pm-shehbaz-arrives-in-new-york-to-attend-81st-unga-session-amid-middle-east-crisis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630616/pm-shehbaz-arrives-in-new-york-to-attend-81st-unga-session-amid-middle-east-crisis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 19:01:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630616</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Premier to address UNGA on September 25, will present Pak's stance on evolving regional, global security landscape]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in New York on Monday&nbsp;to represent Pakistan at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), amid the Middle East crisis that threatens to embroil more countries.

The high-level segment of the 81st UNGA will be held from September 22 to 26 and on September 28, with this year&#39;s general debate theme set by the newly elected president as &#39;Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all&#39;.

The PM Office&nbsp;said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi would also accompany the premier during the visit.

Read: FM Dar arrives in New York for United Nations General Assembly session

The prime minister will&nbsp;address the UNGA on September 25.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrives in New York to attend the 81st session of United Nations General Assembly. New York, 21 September, 2026. pic.twitter.com/6Z8t111KEf
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) September 21, 2026


In his address, the premier will&nbsp;present Pakistan&#39;s stance on the evolving regional and global security landscape, emphasising the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

PM Shehbaz will&nbsp;highlight Pakistan&#39;s active diplomatic and mediation efforts to de-escalate regional tensions and promote peace and stability, while also outlining the country&#39;s priorities regarding key global issues such as sustainable development, climate change, the fight against terrorism, Islamophobia, and global economic challenges.

Read More: PM trims UN delegation under austerity

The premier will also draw the international community&#39;s attention to the issues of long-standing occupation and the denial of the right to self-determination in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.



Prime Minister @CMShehbaz arrives in New York to attend the 81st session of United Nations General Assembly@ForeignOfficePk @PakPMO@UN#UNGA #RadioPakistan pic.twitter.com/WpDzFIeFMM
&mdash; Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 21, 2026


On the sidelines of the UNGA session, the prime minister will&nbsp;participate in various high-level meetings concerning development, climate action, and other significant matters, where he will present Pakistan&#39;s position.

He will also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and the UN secretary-general.

The Pakistani delegation&nbsp;was significantly streamlined as part of the government&#39;s austerity measures, and several federal ministers who had initially been expected to travel had been dropped from the trip, according to sources at the country&#39;s UN mission.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Climate Change and Environment Dr Musadik Malik and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal were among those not attending, the sources added.

US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani are among the leaders set to address the General Assembly on the opening day.

According to the UN&#39;s programme, the opening session will&nbsp;begin at 9am on September 22. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will&nbsp;be the first speaker, followed by President Trump.

Nearly 130 heads of state will meet in New York as the post-World War Two order comes under strain, and the UN struggles to remain relevant while weathering attacks from Trump, who has long expressed disdain ​for the institution and has slashed US funding for many of its agencies.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/hswwxj8xkaardch1790018024-0/hswwxj8xkaardch1790018024-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>LHC orders NCCIA not to harass Rizwan amid online betting inquiry</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630614/lhc-orders-nccia-not-to-harass-rizwan-amid-online-betting-inquiry</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630614/lhc-orders-nccia-not-to-harass-rizwan-amid-online-betting-inquiry#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 18:21:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rana Yasif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630614</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says NCCIA may proceed with the inquiry but must not harass or unnecessarily inconvenience the cricketer]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court on Monday&nbsp;dismissed&nbsp;cricketer Muhammad Rizwan&rsquo;s petition challenging an inquiry by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) into alleged online betting and gambling relating to cricket, holding that the probe could not be stopped at its initial stage.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, in a five-page order issued on Monday, ruled that the inquiry concerning allegations falling within Section 14 (Wrongful Gain) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, was neither without jurisdiction nor tainted with malice or mala fide intent.

However, the court directed Rizwan to join and cooperate with the proceedings, while ordering the agency not to harass or unnecessarily inconvenience him.

Rizwan had challenged the NCCIA call-up notice and the inquiry proceedings, seeking their annulment and an order restraining the authorities from taking any coercive action against him.

The record showed that the agency had issued him a notice on September 8, requiring him to appear on September 10 to record his version and clarify the allegations.

The court noted that Rizwan appeared before the agency on the specified date and subsequently submitted a written statement on September 14.

Read More: LHC refuses to hear Rizwan&rsquo;s plea against NCCIA proceedings

According to the order, the NCCIA is investigating allegations of online betting and gambling relating to cricket in Pakistan. The law officer submitted that the inquiry concerned alleged electronic fraud under Section 14 of PECA and had originated from information purportedly obtained through cyber patrolling, which allegedly connected Rizwan with the matter.

Rizwan&rsquo;s counsel argued that the International Cricket Council&rsquo;s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) was the relevant authority for dealing with such allegations and that the matter had not been reported to it.

The court, however, observed that the ICC Anti-Corruption Code itself did not bar criminal proceedings by state authorities. Referring to Section 1.11 of the Code, it held that the disciplinary framework was intended to supplement, rather than undermine, applicable laws and regulations.

The judgment further noted that the ICC Code requires participants, upon request, to cooperate with the prosecuting authority, the ICC and any criminal or regulatory authority investigating matters covered by the Code.

The court held that the existence of the ICC&rsquo;s disciplinary mechanism therefore did not prevent a competent state agency from conducting an inquiry under Pakistani law.

Explaining the legal nature of the call-up notice, the court said such a notice was a procedural mechanism for gathering information and did not, by itself, constitute an accusation of wrongdoing.

The court observed that the inquiry was still at an initial stage and the competent authority had yet to complete the process or determine whether any further action was warranted. It therefore declined to interfere with the proceedings.

Rizwan was given liberty to avail himself of an appropriate legal remedy if he had any grievance with the final outcome of the inquiry.

Regarding his request for the return of articles seized or confiscated from him, the court directed him to seek an appropriate remedy before the competent court.

The petition was dismissed with no order as to costs.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rizwan-tri-series1738951873-0/rizwan-tri-series1738951873-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Govt increases petrol price by Rs4.61, cuts diesel by Rs1.96 for Sept 22</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630613/govt-increases-petrol-price-by-rs461-cuts-diesel-by-rs196-for-sept-22</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630613/govt-increases-petrol-price-by-rs461-cuts-diesel-by-rs196-for-sept-22#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 17:58:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630613</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petrol price increases to Rs393.75 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs422.08]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The federal government on Monday&nbsp;increased&nbsp;the price of petrol by&nbsp;Rs4.61&nbsp;per litre&nbsp;while reducing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.96&nbsp;per litre&nbsp;for September 22.

According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, the price of petrol was fixed at Rs393.75&nbsp;per litre, while HSD would cost Rs422.08&nbsp;per litre for Tuesday.

The latest revision comes&nbsp;after the government&nbsp;decreased the price of petrol and HSD&nbsp;by Rs1.65 and 88 paisas per litre, respectively,&nbsp;from Sept 19 to Sept 21.

Read:&nbsp;Govt decreases petrol price by Rs1.65, HSD by 88 paisas till Sept 21

On July 17, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified daily, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies.

On September 18, in a bid to provide relief to the public,&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the immediate inclusion of 20-year-old motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws in the Prime Minister Fuel Relief Scheme, the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO) said.

The statement further added that all motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws registered after January 1, 2006, would be eligible for registration in the Prime Minister Fuel Relief Scheme.

On Sept 17, the government reintroduced austerity and fuel conservation measures amid rising fuel prices, tightening business operating hours and restricting public events.

Under the measures, notified with immediate effect, shops, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery stores, general stores and kiryana shops would&nbsp;close by 9pm throughout the week, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Marriage halls, marquees and other commercial venues hosting festive events would close by 10pm, while restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets and standalone fruit and vegetable shops would be allowed to operate until 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services would remain exempt from the timing restrictions.

On September 13, PM Shehbaz&nbsp;announced a special relief scheme offering Rs100 per litre off petrol for motorcycles, three-wheeler rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800cc, in an attempt to shield lower-income consumers from the impact of rising petroleum prices.

Under the proposal, an estimated 11.8 million beneficiaries would be covered. Around 10 million two-wheeler users and 800,000 three-wheeler users would be entitled to relief on 20 litres of fuel per month, translating into a maximum monthly benefit of Rs2,000 per beneficiary.

Another one million users of cars up to 800cc would receive relief on 30 litres per month, providing them with a maximum benefit of Rs3,000 each.

Global geopolitical developments continue to pose significant risks. International oil prices are influenced by decisions taken by OPEC+, conflicts in the Middle East, sanctions on oil-producing nations, and disruptions in critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Any interruption in these supply chains can immediately increase crude oil prices and freight costs. Since Pakistan imports the majority of its petroleum requirements, these developments quickly translate into higher domestic fuel prices.

Oil prices eased on Monday to their lowest level in 12 days, &zwnj;as investors hoped for diplomatic progress on the Iran war due to this week&#39;s United Nations meeting and eyed a partial recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia.

The Brent crude futures November contract fell to its lowest since September 9 at $99.51 a barrel at 1:16 pm&nbsp;ET (1716 ​GMT), down $4.36, or 4.2%.

On Sunday, Iran and the US exchanged new threats, although President Donald Trump&nbsp;said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was expected to be in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly.

Investors are pinning their hopes on ​a breakthrough in peace talks this week, said Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil Associates.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/fuel-r1789660033-0/fuel-r1789660033-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Trump administration prepares sanctions against International Criminal Court, sources say</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630612/trump-administration-prepares-sanctions-against-international-criminal-court-sources-say</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630612/trump-administration-prepares-sanctions-against-international-criminal-court-sources-say#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 17:58:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630612</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Exact timing of announcement remains unclear]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[President Donald &zwnj;Trump&#39;s administration has prepared sanctions against the entire International Criminal Court and plans to announce them soon, two sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday, a move that would step up its attack on the global tribunal that prosecutes war crimes and genocide worldwide.

The Trump administration ​has made no secret of its disdain for the court and has worked to undermine it. US officials ​want the court to drop its arrest warrants against Israeli leaders as well as a past ⁠probe into American troops in Afghanistan.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July announced a campaign to isolate the court, calling ​on other countries to withdraw from the tribunal. Washington has imposed sanctions on several ICC judges and ​prosecutors but has so far held off from imposing sanctions on the court itself, although the move has long been considered as one of the options.

The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Sanctions against the court have been prepared, the sources said, ​even though the exact timing of an announcement remained unclear. The Wall Street Journal cited officials who said the ​decision could be finalised as soon as this week during the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Targeting the entire organisation directly, as well &zwnj;as entities ⁠that cooperate with it, could severely undermine the court&#39;s work.

Read More: &#39;Trump administration prepares ICC sanctions&#39;

Any entity-wide sanctions imposed by the US Treasury would prohibit US citizens and companies from providing funds, goods, or services to the court without a licence from the US Treasury&#39;s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Banks often over-comply with such US sanctions because they depend on access to the American ​financial system.

Among the court&#39;s operations ​that could be affected ⁠by sanctions against the entire organisation are the purchasing of IT services and insurance, the hiring of investigators and conducting everyday financial transactions, such as paying dozens of American ​employees, the ICC&#39;s registrar and president have warned.

Trump&#39;s opposition to the court goes back to ​his first term. ⁠It surfaced again with a plan to penalise ICC officials, an idea developed in November 2024 when Trump was reelected and the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

The ⁠ICC was ​established in 2002 by the international community to prosecute war crimes, genocide ​and crimes against humanity. It asserts jurisdiction only if a member state is unable or unwilling to prosecute atrocities itself.

The United States has never ​been a member.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/icc-r1790014642-0/icc-r1790014642-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>IT minister formally inaugurates ‘The Innovation Hive’ established by USEFP</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630611/it-minister-formally-inaugurates-the-innovation-hive-established-by-usefp</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630611/it-minister-formally-inaugurates-the-innovation-hive-established-by-usefp#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 17:25:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630611</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA['Innovation Hive' is a bridge that will provide entrepreneurs from Pak with direct access to US market, investors]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Monday formally inaugurated &quot;The Innovation Hive&quot;, established by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).

The ceremony was attended by US Embassy Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker, STEPI Pakistan CEO Dr Mazhar H Qureshi, USEFP Alumni Affairs Director Mazhar Awan&nbsp;and other prominent personalities.

&ldquo;Talent exists everywhere in Pakistan; it just needs a place where opportunity can find it. That&#39;s what the Innovation Hive is for. This partnership reflects President Trump&#39;s vision that America&#39;s relationships abroad should deliver real results, more trade, more investment, and more prosperity for both our countries,&quot; Baker said.

Read: Federal IT minister highlights youth-led digital growth

Baker added that over its first year, the Innovation Hive would connect over 250 American mentors with entrepreneurs at every stage, and the US government would invest to support top Pakistani entrepreneurs.



https://t.co/yTJzUWwYhs
&mdash; U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) September 21, 2026


Addressing the ceremony, Shaza thanked the US Embassy and USEFP, saying that &lsquo;The Innovation Hive&rsquo; was not merely a building or an office, but a strong bridge that would provide Pakistani entrepreneurs with direct access to the US market and investors without having to leave the country, while also creating broader opportunities for young people to advance.

Highlighting the historical ties and economic cooperation between the two countries, the minister said that the US was Pakistan&rsquo;s largest export market, accounting for around 20 per cent of Pakistan&rsquo;s total exports during fiscal year 2025-26.

Shaza said that bilateral trade exceeded eight billion dollars in 2025, while under the Pakistan-US trade agreement reached in July 2025, US import duties on IT services, textiles and other sectors were reduced.

She added that Pakistan had, as a goodwill gesture, abolished the five per cent Digital Services Tax.

The minister also said that the combined enterprise value of Pakistan&rsquo;s VC-funded startups had exceeded four billion dollars.

She said startups raised 74.2 million dollars in funding in 2025, while funding for startups founded or co-founded by women increased from 5.5 million dollars in 2024 to 10.1 million dollars in 2025.

&lsquo;The Innovation Hive&rsquo; would serve as a permanent platform connecting Pakistani talent directly with the US market, mentorship opportunities and the alumni network.



From ideas in Islamabad to ambitions in Silicon Valley, a new opportunity opens for Pakistani entrepreneurs. The US Embassy has launched Innovation Hive at USEFP in Islamabad, offering practical training, mentorship from American experts and connections to technology and&hellip; pic.twitter.com/tX8c2isb9q
&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 21, 2026


Referring to key institutions and initiatives of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the minister said that through nine National Incubation Centres, Ignite had supported more than 2,350 startups and created over 185,000 employment opportunities.

She said the Pakistan Startup Fund&nbsp;had restored the confidence of US investors by providing funding of up to 30 per cent without taking any government equity.

The Special Technology Zones Authority&nbsp;provided technology and AI companies with 10-year tax and customs incentives.

Read More: Iqbal sets $1tr digital goal for 2035

Concluding her address, Shaza told entrepreneurs: &ldquo;The US market you want to reach is no longer across the ocean; its address is now in Islamabad. This bridge reflects the shared commitment of both countries.&rdquo;

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the minister also visited various sections of the USEFP, where she was briefed on the organisation and its activities.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/hsv2ddpacaafago1790012614-0/hsv2ddpacaafago1790012614-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>KU professor assault case ends in apology, settlement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630610/ku-professor-assault-case-ends-in-apology-settlement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630610/ku-professor-assault-case-ends-in-apology-settlement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 17:22:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630610</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Prof Saqi says he accepted the apology and forgave Konain, adding that the two sides reached an understanding]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A University of Karachi professor and the man accused of assaulting him and his nephew have settled after the suspect apologised to the professor.

Professor Dr Arif Khan Saqi, chairman of KU&rsquo;s Islamic Learning Department, told The Express Tribune that Konain Ali Shah visited his residence on Sunday night along with his father-in-law, relatives and family elders and apologised for the incident.

Prof Saqi said he accepted the apology and forgave Konain, adding that the two sides had reached an understanding.

He said Konain&rsquo;s father had also been visiting his residence from time to time to meet him. &ldquo;They came to my home on Sunday night and I forgave Konain Ali Shah,&rdquo; he said.

Read More: Karachi court sends main suspect on three-day remand over alleged threats to KU professor

The professor added that compensation had also been paid for damage caused to his nephew&rsquo;s vehicle during the incident.

On September 8, Prof Saqi and his nephew were subjected to physical assault after Konain&rsquo;s SUV hit their car near Safoora Chowrangi in the Sachal Police Station area. According to police, two cases were registered against Konain over the assault and alleged threats of serious consequences. He is currently out on bail in both cases.

The latest development comes after the suspect&rsquo;s family approached Prof Saqi and sought his forgiveness, resulting in a settlement between the two sides.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/whatsapp-image-2026-09-08-at-5-11-52-pm1788869558-0/whatsapp-image-2026-09-08-at-5-11-52-pm1788869558-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Karachi city sizzles past nine-year September heat record</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630608/karachi-city-sizzles-past-nine-year-september-heat-record</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630608/karachi-city-sizzles-past-nine-year-september-heat-record#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 17:04:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Aftab Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630608</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mercury hits 40.7°C as humidity makes the city feel even hotter; relief expected from Wednesday]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[September has turned into a furnace for Karachi, with the metropolis enduring its hottest September day in nine years as the mercury soared to 40.7&deg;C on Monday.

The sweltering heat, compounded by rising humidity, pushed the heat index several degrees above the actual temperature, leaving Karachiites to endure conditions far hotter than the thermometer suggested.

The temperature recorded at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)&rsquo;s Pehlwan Goth weather station surpassed the previous September high of 40.5&deg;C recorded in 2017, while Karachi&rsquo;s all-time September record remains 43&deg;C, recorded on September 30, 1951.

According to PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir Zaigham, the city had experienced a steady rise in temperatures over the past several days after relatively moderate weather at the beginning of September.

He told the Express Tribune that Monday&rsquo;s temperature was the highest recorded in September since 2017, when the maximum temperature had reached 40.5&deg;C. However, Karachi&rsquo;s all-time September heat record remains 43&deg;C, recorded on September 30, 1951, Zaigham said.

Read More: Talk climate in rupees, not rainfall

Temperatures varied across the city&rsquo;s weather stations, with Jinnah Terminal recording 41.2&deg;C, Gulistan-e-Jauhar 41&deg;C, Sharae Faisal 39.5&deg;C and Maripur 39&deg;C. The lowest maximum temperature of 34.5&deg;C was recorded at the Bin Qasim weather station.

Zaigham attributed the recent spell of intense heat to a circulation that had developed over the Arabian Sea, which altered wind patterns. He said weak southwesterly sea breezes had also contributed to the rise in temperatures.

The PMD forecast that temperatures could reach 38&deg;C on Tuesday, while the intensity of the heat is expected to ease from Wednesday, when the maximum temperature could fall to around 35&deg;C.

According to the PMD&rsquo;s Early Warning Centre, Karachi&rsquo;s weather is expected to remain hot and humid on Tuesday and Wednesday. Humidity could rise to 55%, making temperatures feel several degrees higher than the actual readings. Sea breezes are expected to continue, accompanied by winds from the west.

Other parts of Sindh will also remain in the grip of hot weather. Maximum temperatures of 42&deg;C were recorded in Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur and Hyderabad city, while Chhor recorded 41.5&deg;C.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/karachi-heat-express1717002582-0/karachi-heat-express1717002582-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Mir Raza commission warns businessman over media interviews</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630604/mir-raza-commission-warns-businessman-over-media-interviews</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630604/mir-raza-commission-warns-businessman-over-media-interviews#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 16:38:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630604</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission calls interviews an attempt to derail proceedings; five witnesses summoned]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The judicial commission probing the Mir Raza Ali murder case warned businessman Ahmed on Monday over his media interviews, terming them an apparent attempt to undermine the commission&rsquo;s proceedings, while the doctor who conducted the first post-mortem stood by his findings that the bullet entered the body from the front and exited through the back.

The commission issued its written order for Monday&rsquo;s proceedings, stating that the statements of Umer Khan, Ali Shaz, Kazim Hussain, Ahmed Hassan Sheikh and Health Services&nbsp;Director General Pervez Ahmed Sheikh were recorded. DG Sheikh also submitted documents relating to the formation and replacement of the medical board.

According to the order, Ahmed was allowed to answer questions raised by Mir Raza&rsquo;s family and provide relevant information. However, he could not provide anything beyond the statements he had already made before the commission.

The commission observed that Ahmed&rsquo;s social media interviews apparently appeared aimed at undermining its proceedings and warned him against such conduct in future. It also noted that he had failed to use an opportunity to provide information through an affidavit.

During the proceedings, a lawyer who had taken a journalist&rsquo;s mobile phone apologised, which was accepted by the journalist.

Read More: Mir Raza commission summons first IO

Mir Raza&rsquo;s fianc&eacute;e also contacted the commission and informed it about the confiscation of the mobile phone and the alleged transfer of data by the investigating officer. The commission said it would question DSP Siraj Lashari when his statement is recorded.

Dr Usama also appeared before the commission and later spoke to the media. &ldquo;I stand by my first post-mortem report,&rdquo; he said, adding that the bullet had entered from the front and exited through the back.

Dr Usama said he personally conducted the post-mortem on July 29 and that no other person had performed the examination. He said he had not known Mir Raza and had shared his findings with Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, adding that he had acted on her instructions.

He said the physical copy of the report was submitted on August 3 and had been prepared to the best of his professional ability based on his findings from July 29.

Dr Usama also clarified that he did not intend to declare Mir Raza&rsquo;s death a suicide, saying he wanted to explain his position regarding the bullet wound to the chest.

Regarding his observations about hydrochloric acid and decomposition, he said acid could cause certain changes to a body, including reddening of the face, while decomposition could appear differently on different parts of the body.

He said he had informed Dr Summaiya about the matter at around 5 pm and maintained that if acid had been used, its effects would not necessarily have appeared uniformly across the entire body.

However, the commission observed that Dr Usama&rsquo;s further statement appeared aimed at levelling allegations against Dr Summaiya and the Sindh chief minister. It said the commission should not become a forum for allegations and that it had sufficient information to establish the facts of the case and determine whether any negligence had occurred.

Dr Usama said he had brought all his July 29 findings before the commission and remained satisfied with his original report. He added that doctors generally had 24 hours to submit a post-mortem report and that he had not anticipated the matter would become such a major controversy.

He said photographs taken during the autopsy were kept for his professional record, adding that Dr Summaiya was the signing authority for the first report. &ldquo;My family has been worried since the first day,&rdquo; he said, adding that his clinic had also remained closed for a month.

The commission has issued notices to ASP Nida, Asif, Abid, Faizur Rehman and Sarim to appear during proceedings scheduled for September 22.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/wafflix1785356322-0/wafflix1785356322-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rahim Yar Khan's Khwaja Fareed University forms inquiry committee over harassment allegations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630602/rahim-yar-khans-khwaja-fareed-university-forms-inquiry-committee-over-harassment-allegations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630602/rahim-yar-khans-khwaja-fareed-university-forms-inquiry-committee-over-harassment-allegations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 16:22:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Farooq Sindhu]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630602</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[University says no formal complaint has been received and committee will examine screenshots and records]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Rahim Yar Khan&#39;s Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT) has constituted an inquiry committee after screenshots and allegations concerning the alleged harassment of a female student by a university lecturer surfaced on social media.

According to the claims circulating online, the student accused the lecturer of sending inappropriate messages, allegedly pressuring her to meet him and threatening academic consequences if she refused.

The university, however, said no formal written complaint had so far been received from any student and that the committee would examine the screenshots, available information and other relevant records to establish the facts.

The student further claimed that she was allegedly offered better marks and grades and was repeatedly contacted through WhatsApp messages, SMS and phone calls.

She said she had retained records of the alleged communications and claimed that the matter had also been brought to the attention of the vice chancellor through email.

The allegations have not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, the KFUEIT administration said that some negative reports and claims concerning students and faculty members were circulating on social media. However, it said no formal written complaint had so far been received from any student in this regard.

Read More: &#39;I live in fear&#39;: 1.5 million Pakistani children sexually exploited online

The administration said it had constituted an inquiry committee to establish the facts surrounding the claims circulating online.

The committee would examine the available information, screenshots and other relevant records before submitting its recommendations to the university administration.

The university said that if a formal written complaint was submitted by a student or any other relevant person, the matter would be investigated in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures.

It added that necessary action would be taken if any violation was established.

The administration reiterated that providing students with a safe, healthy and conducive academic environment was among the university&rsquo;s priorities.

It said matters relating to academic standards and student safety would be dealt with according to university rules and regulations.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/693018-harassmentx-1397024626/693018-harassmentx-1397024626.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Naqvi assures Iranian president of Pakistan's determination to expand multisector cooperation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630599/tehran-praises-pakistans-peace-efforts-as-interior-minister-naqvi-meets-iranian-counterpart</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630599/tehran-praises-pakistans-peace-efforts-as-interior-minister-naqvi-meets-iranian-counterpart#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 16:05:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630599</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tehran praises Pakistan's peace efforts]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday assured&nbsp;Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Pakistan was determined to expand multisector cooperation&nbsp;during his visit to Tehran.

Iranian media outlet&nbsp;Press TV reported that Pezeshkian stated that Pakistan and Iran could meet many of their needs by tapping their &quot;domestic and regional capabilities&rdquo;.

Pezeshkian further noted that continued engagement between the two countries could further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all areas, adding that &quot;US pressure on the region had contributed to greater convergence and interaction among Muslim countries&quot;.

&ldquo;Pakistan is determined to further expand bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, tourism, politics, culture, and science,&rdquo; Naqvi was in turn quoted as saying by Press TV.



🔴 Pakistan&#39;s Interior Minister Naqvi meets with Iran&#39;s President Pezeshkian in Tehran:

🔸 Pezeshkian:

🔺 Iran and Pakistan could meet many of their needs by tapping their domestic and regional capacities. pic.twitter.com/npmxpm8bq6
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) September 21, 2026


Naqvi earlier met Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni&nbsp;and exchanged views on bilateral relations and the latest situation in the region.

In a post on X, the interior ministry noted that progress was reviewed in the meeting on the ongoing cooperation between the interior ministries of both countries in various sectors.



وفاقی وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی کی ایرانی وزات داخلہ آمد، ایرانی ہم منصب اسکندر مومنی سے ملاقات
پاک ایران دوطرفہ تعلقات اور خطے کی تازہ ترین صورتحال پر تبادلہ خیال

ملاقات میں دونوں ممالک کی وزارت داخلہ کے درمیان مختلف شعبوں میں جاری تعاون پر پیش رفت کا جائزہ لیا گیا pic.twitter.com/bEjeAaTKj5
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) September 21, 2026


According to the ministry, Momeni stated that Naqvi&#39;s recent visit was &quot;very beneficial&quot; and thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts towards regional peace and stability.

He further added that Iran was grateful for Pakistan&#39;s &quot;continuous efforts&quot; to establish peace in the region.

Read: Naqvi to visit Tehran today for bilateral discussions: Iranian foreign ministry

The statement added that Naqvi said that &quot;in the coming times, bilateral relations would become even stronger&quot;.



Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran to discuss bilateral ties, regional developments and cooperation between their ministries. Momeni thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their efforts&hellip; pic.twitter.com/bA4xR7O1qo
&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 21, 2026


&nbsp;

Pakistani government sources earlier told Anadolu that Naqvi, who has been actively involved in the mediation process alongside CDF Munir, would discuss matters related to attacks by the Yemeni Houthi group on Saudi Arabia&#39;s oil and economic infrastructure, and how to revive the stalled peace talks with the US.

Islamabad had already warned that the recent escalation in Yemen would further complicate the already complex regional scenario.

This was Naqvi&#39;s sixth visit to Tehran since the US and Israel launched war against Iran in February.

Read More: Pakistan plans fresh diplomatic push

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Saturday said Naqvi&rsquo;s visit to Tehran would focus on bilateral relations, and there was no plan to exchange any specific messages regarding mediation.

Pakistan has remained the primary mediator between Iran and the US throughout the war, and has maintained close contact with both sides.

The US and Iran signed the Islamabad memorandum of understanding in June and launched negotiations toward a final agreement. However, the talks later collapsed over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world&#39;s most strategic routes for global energy supplies and trade.

The US and Iran then exchanged military strikes in July.

Trump on Sunday said he was contemplating three possible paths for Iran: continue targeting it economically, destroy the regime or make a deal.

After securing a ceasefire in April, Pakistan hosted the first high-level direct talks between the US and Iran since they broke diplomatic ties in 1979.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/hswggmkxqaaicgq1790014600-0/hswggmkxqaaicgq1790014600-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PHC stays deportation of Afghan medical students</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630598/phc-stays-deportation-of-afghan-medical-students</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630598/phc-stays-deportation-of-afghan-medical-students#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 15:58:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yasir Ali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630598</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Issues notices, seeks replies in 14 days; directs petitioners to continue studies till next hearing]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday halted the forced deportation of Afghan students enrolled in various medical and dental colleges across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, issued notices to the concerned parties and sought their written replies within 14 days.

A division bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Farah Jamshed was hearing a writ petition filed by 14 Afghan students. Advocate Waseemuddin Khattak appeared for the petitioners, while Assistant Attorney General Ishaq Khalil and National Database &amp; Registration Authority Law Officer Muhammad Mubarak Jan represented the respondents.

Counsel for the petitioners informed the court that the students, all Afghan nationals, had been granted admission under the Afghan quota in different medical and dental colleges through the prescribed legal process. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) had also issued them no objection certificates (NOCs) to facilitate the grant of visas.

Read More: LHC extends stay for Afghan medics

The students are currently pursuing education in various disciplines. However, following the launch of the government&rsquo;s repatriation plan for Afghan refugees, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)&nbsp;issued notices on 31 July and 1 September cancelling the admissions of all Afghan students and directing them to return to their country.

Advocate Khattak argued that the cancellations were ordered without any show-cause notice, in clear violation of Article 25 of the Constitution as well as other constitutional provisions and international law. He further contended that the PMDC notices and letters contradicted the NOCs earlier issued by the HEC and that the Council lacked the authority to take such action.

The counsel also drew the court&rsquo;s attention to a similar case in which the Lahore High Court, on&nbsp;September 11, had suspended the PMDC&rsquo;s orders and directed Afghan students to continue their studies. He prayed that the authorities be restrained from harassing or pressuring the petitioners.

The bench stayed the forced deportation of the 14 students, issued notices to the respondents seeking replies within 14 days, and adjourned the matter to October 12. The court also directed that the petitioner Afghan students be allowed to continue their education in the meantime.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/peshawar-highcourt1790007449-0/peshawar-highcourt1790007449-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>OGDCL conquer Kingsmen Academy in President’s Trophy Grade-1</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630595/OGDCL-conquer-Kingsmen-Academy-in-President%E2%80%99s-Trophy-Grade-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630595/OGDCL-conquer-Kingsmen-Academy-in-President%E2%80%99s-Trophy-Grade-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 15:27:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630595</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The match between KRL and IT Solutions ends in a draw; PTV hold SBP as second round concludes]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) romped to a nine-wicket win over Kingsmen Academy while the match between Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Markhor IT Solutions and that of PTV and State Bank of Pakistan ended in a draw at the President&rsquo;s Trophy on Monday.

Earlier on Sunday, Ghani whipped Sui Northern Gas Pipelines by an innings and 14 runs to go top of the table with 35 points from two matches. OGDCL&rsquo;s win means they are now second with 31 points. 

OGDCL reached the 121-run target after resuming their second innings from overnight score of 85-1 in 23 overs against Kingsmen Academy. 

It took them 5.1 overs on day four to scale the target with opener Waqar Ahmed scoring&nbsp; unbeaten 75 off 94 balls striking six fours and one six. He also shared a 116-run unbeaten stand with Umar Siddiq (40 not out, 74b, 7x4s). 

At Shoaib Akhtar Stadium in Rawalpindi, KRL resumed their first innings from overnight score of 423-5 in 133 overs and were bowled out on 490 in 158 overs. Faheem Ashraf converted his 28 not out from previous day to 69 off 135 balls hitting tne fours in total to register his 16th first-class half-century. 

MIT pacers Mohammad Imran Junior, Mohammad Ismail, Mohammad Nabeel and Samama Riaz toiled for 34, 32, 25 and 22 overs, respectively, accounting for seven wickets together as KRL managed a first innings lead of 170. 

In reply, MIT decided to bat out the remaining overs as they faced 50 overs for 167 runs losing nine wickets. Skipper Hasnain Nadeem (62, 103b, 8x4s) scored his maiden first-class fifty. KRL captain Iftikhar Ahmed employed his off-spin to bag third first-class five-for returning figures of 8-2-18-5.

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, PTV were set an improbable target of 293 runs in 27 remaining overs in the day by SBP. The two teams shook hands when PTV were 64-1 in 12 overs with Waqar Hussain (26 not out, 31b, 4x4s) and Muhammad Shahzad (16 not out, 12b, 2x4s) unbeaten on the crease while Yasir Khan fell for 20 to Faham-ul-Haq. 

Earlier, SBP began the day from overnight score of 84-4 in 23 overs with only a 48-run second innings lead. PTV came in sensing their chances of a close win especially after Haris Rauf claimed SBP captain Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (58, 55b, 9x4s, 1x6) and Shahzad got rid of Rameez Aziz (41, 84b, 6x4s) with the score at 162-6 and a lead of 126 with four wickets left. 

At this juncture, Abid Ali (67, 157b, 8x4s) and Kashif Bhatti (64, 75b, 11x4) summoned their vast experience putting up a 110-run stand to take the game away from PTV. Sirajuddin was on 29 and Naqeebullah on 12 when SBP declared at 328-8 in 83 overs. 

Haris Rauf backed up his five wickets in the first match with four in the second as he sent down 32 overs across two innings against SBP. Amad Butt, Musa Khan, Shahzad, Sharoon Siraj and Mohammad Taha picked up one wicket each. 

Scores in brief 

Khan Research Laboratories v Markhor IT Solutions at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

MIT Solutions 660 all out, 126.1 overs (Salman Khan Jnr 181, Mohammad Farooq 163, Atiq-ur-Rehman 142, Samama Riaz 50, Hasnain Nadeem 36, Mohammad Ismail 29; Ahmed Bashir 5-100, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-108, Mohammad Hamza Sohail 2-112) and 167-9, 50 overs (Hasnain Nadeem 62, Atiq-ur-Rehman 34; Iftikhar Ahmed 5-18, Mohammad Junaid 2-48) ;

KRL 490 all out, 158 overs (Imran Rafiq 122, Asim Ali Nasir 110 not out, Shahzaib Khan 75, Faheem Ashraf 69, Mohammad Faiq 47, Iftikhar Ahmed 24; Mohammad Nabeel 3-77, Ali Asfand 2-56, Mohammad Ismail 2-117), Result: drawn; 

PTV v SBP at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium

Target for PTV - 293

SBP 433 all out, 95.1 overs (Rameez Aziz 120, Hasan Raza 75, Naqeebullah 74, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 66, Sirajuddin 25, Faham-ul-Haq 23; Amad Butt 4-101, Musa Khan 3-79, Haris Rauf 2-88) and 328-8 dec, 83 overs (Abid Ali 67, Kashif Bhatti 64, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 58, Rameez Aziz 41, Sirajuddin 29 not out, Kamran Ghulam 25; Haris Rauf 2-28); PTV 469 all out, 122.3 overs (Mohammad Taha 225, Yasir Khan 73, Muhammad Shahzad 48, Sharoon Siraj 23; Kashif Bhatti 4-104, Sirajuddin 3-92, Naqeebullah 2-70) , Result drawn;

OGDCL beat Kingsmen Academy by nine wickets at Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar 

Target for OGDCL &ndash; 121 

Kingsmen Academy 215 all out, 57.3 overs (Mohammad Tayyab Arif 105, Mohammad Suleman 33, Salman Ali Agha 25; Mohammad Amir Khan 5-51, Mohammad Hasnain 3-36) and 203 all out, 61.5 overs (Mohammad Tayyab Arif 56, Mohammad Arshad 41, Azan Tariq 30, Mohammad Huraira 26, Mohammad Shayan 22; Danish Aziz 4-7, Mohammad Salman 4-48); 

OGDCL 298 all out, 89 overs (Danish Aziz 93 not out, Rohail Nazir 81, Mohammad Irfan 21; Mohammad Ilyas 4-57, Mehran Mumtaz 2-27, Salman Ali Agha 2-58) and 121-1, 28.1 overs (Waqar Ahmed 75 not out, Umar Siddiq 40 not out) 

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/iftikhar1790004574-0/iftikhar1790004574-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630593/humanoid-robot-sales-tally-hit-7000-globally-last-year</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630593/humanoid-robot-sales-tally-hit-7000-globally-last-year#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 15:23:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630593</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bank of America sees humanoid robot shipments reaching 90,000 this year and 1.2 million by 2030]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Around 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide last year for industrial and professional service use, figures compiled by the International Federation of Robotics showed.

The relatively small number contrasts with forecasts for a boom in the coming years, particularly in China, the world&#39;s largest market for industrial robots, which last month showcased humanoid running and boxing at its robot games.

To qualify as humanoid under the IFR&#39;s criteria, a robot must have a human-like appearance and operate autonomously in an environment designed for humans. Legs are not required.

The IFR data, reviewed by Reuters ahead of publication, offer one of the first industry-wide measures of a technology that is attracting billions of dollars in investments and producing impressive demonstrations.

However, the numbers of humanoids remain &quot;a fraction&quot; of the overall robot population globally, Susanne Bieller, secretary general of Frankfurt-based IFR, told Reuters.

&nbsp;Read More: Founder of Chinese startup Spirit AI says robot brains set for 2027 breakthrough

This compares with around 542,000 regular industrial robots installed in 2024 and another estimated 199,000 service robots sold that year for use in transport, hospitality and cleaning.



FILE PHOTO: An engineer works on a Tiangong Omni humanoid robot in the research and testing area of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, also known as X-Humanoid, in Beijing, China, September 4, 2026. REUTERS

The 2025 data for industrial and service robots will be published September 24.

Bieller said that among humanoids sold in 2025, many were not doing productive work but were bought by research institutions or companies using them to generate data for improving AI models.

Carmakers, key early adopters, are running pilots with &quot;single-digit or sometimes double-digit numbers of robots in their plants,&quot; Bieller said.

IFR has compiled robotics statistics for three decades, and has begun collecting humanoid data alongside its much larger industrial robot and service robot figures for the first time.

Bank of America Global Research estimates that 90,000 humanoid robots will be shipped this year and 1.2 million by 2030.

The IFR&#39;s tally is based on supplier and national industry association data, and excludes consumer and military humanoid robots, while medical robots are classified separately.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/robot-r1790005546-0/robot-r1790005546-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pope Leo calls for AI systems that don't foster divisions</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630592/pope-leo-calls-for-ai-systems-that-dont-foster-divisions</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630592/pope-leo-calls-for-ai-systems-that-dont-foster-divisions#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 15:03:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630592</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US-born Pope Leo makes AI risks a major theme of his papacy, first raising the issue on his third day]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pope Leo, who has warned of the risk that AI could lead the world ​down a path of unending war, on Monday &zwnj;urged the development of AI systems that do not foster divisions in society but strengthen peace initiatives.

&quot;In a world ​marked by conflict and division, the development of ​artificial intelligence calls for a vision inspired by ⁠wisdom and charity,&quot; the pontiff said in a ​message to a conference on AI issues held in ​Rome.

The pope called for development of AI systems that &quot;serve the dignity of every person and strengthen the bonds that unite the ​human family&quot;.

Leo, the first US-born pope, has made ​addressing the possible dangers of AI development a major theme of &zwnj;his ⁠16-month-old papacy, first discussing the issue publicly on his third day as pope.

Read More: US Treasury&#39;s Bessent, China&#39;s He to launch talks on AI, trade, critical minerals

In his first major document, issued in May, Leo warned that AI systems spread misinformation ​and prioritise conflict. ​He urged ⁠international regulation of the industry.

Monday&#39;s conference, hosted at Rome&#39;s Pontifical Lateran University, was ​titled &quot;AI4Peace.&quot; Speakers included US economist Jeffrey Sachs, ​Rome city ⁠council president Svetlana Celli and Francisco Rojas Aravena, rector of the UN&#39;s University for Peace, based in Costa ⁠Rica.

Leo&#39;s ​brief message was read aloud ​to attendees by Rev. Andrea Ciucci, chancellor of the Vatican&#39;s Pontifical Academy ​for Life.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/pope-r1790004012-0/pope-r1790004012-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Kinza Hashmi bids farewell to Rubab as 'Leader' comes to an end</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630591/kinza-hashmi-bids-farewell-to-rubab-as-leader-comes-to-an-end</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630591/kinza-hashmi-bids-farewell-to-rubab-as-leader-comes-to-an-end#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 14:59:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630591</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Actor shares an emotional tribute to her character and thanks viewers, co-stars and the drama's team for their support]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Actor&nbsp;Kinza Hashmi has said goodbye to her Leader character, Rubab Agha, in an Instagram post marking the end of the political drama&#39;s run.

Hashmi shared a carousel of behind-the-scenes pictures and production clips featuring her character, alongside a farewell note reflecting on her time as Rubab. &quot;What a rollercoaster this journey has been. It feels strange knowing I won&rsquo;t be stepping into Rubab&rsquo;s world again,&quot; she wrote.

Reflecting on the experience, Hashmi said the character had become a meaningful part of her journey.

&quot;I lived her, felt her, and somewhere along the way, a little part of her stayed with me,&quot; she wrote, before thanking viewers for their support. &quot;The way you all loved and supported LEADER means more than I can put into words. Thank you for being a part of this beautiful journey with us.&quot;

Hashmi also thanked the director, her co-stars and the entire Leader team, signing off with, &quot;Yeh safar hamesha yaad rahega.&quot;





&nbsp;


&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;




View this post on Instagram


&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;




&nbsp;

&nbsp;





Leader premiered on March 28&nbsp;and revolved around politics, love and resilience, with a story centred on standing against injustice.

Hashmi played Rubab, a woman of strength and pride whose heart was tested by political turmoil and love, while Ali Raza played Mansoor, a determined voice who stood against every challenge.

The drama also marked the first on-screen pairing of Hashmi and Raza, whose chemistry drew praise from fans following the release of the trailer.

Hashmi is known for Ishq Tamasha (2018) and Ruposh (2022), while Raza has earned praise for Meesni (2023) and Dastak (2025).]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-2026-09-21t201846-3671790003948-0/untitled-design-2026-09-21t201846-3671790003948-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>'I live in fear': 1.5 million Pakistani children sexually exploited online</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630589/i-live-in-fear-15-million-pakistani-children-sexually-exploited-online</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630589/i-live-in-fear-15-million-pakistani-children-sexually-exploited-online#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 14:39:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630589</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[In Pakistan, 71% of victims told no one, while none reported abuse through formal channels, UNICEF says]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Zara Shah was targeted by a stranger while playing a computer game, drawn into a conversation that would expose her to terrifying online sexual exploitation.

Zara, whose name has been changed by AFP for safety reasons, is one of an estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan who experienced online sexual abuse in one year, according to a report published by the UN children&#39;s agency this month.

&quot;We started chatting while playing an online game, and he began acting like a friend. Later, he wanted to meet and, after, started asking me for nudes,&quot; 17-year-old Zara said.

&quot;When I refused, he threatened to find my family online and tell them that we had been talking,&quot; she added.

According to the UNICEF report, around 85%&nbsp;of perpetrators were known to the victims, aged between 12 and 17.

&quot;The abuse may start with a friendly conversation, a gaming interaction, a promise of gifts, money or romance,&quot; Daniel Kardefelt, lead author of the global UNICEF report, told AFP.

&quot;Perpetrators may spend months building trust using information that they find on social media,&quot; Kardefelt said.

In Pakistan, 71%&nbsp;of victims did not tell anyone, according to the UNICEF report, while no child surveyed reported the abuse through formal channels,&nbsp;including police, helplines or social workers.

Their silence was mostly because of stigma, shame and fears over how their families or society may react.

&quot;Around 44%&nbsp;of reported abuse was entirely online, with Snapchat and WhatsApp among the most common settings,&quot; said Mehek Naeem, director of PAHCHAAN, a children&#39;s rights organisation based in the eastern city of Lahore.

Girls can face heightened risks of sexual extortion in society, which can lead to restrictions on their mobility or withdrawal from school.

For Zara, the threat of being exposed to her family was enough to keep her silent.

&quot;I could have been stopped from going to school or leaving the house altogether,&quot; she said.

&quot;Staying quiet felt like the better option than speaking up. But anxiety kills me every day.&quot;

With around 74% of children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan estimated by UNICEF to be internet users, concerns over online safety are growing as their access to digital platforms expands.

Echoing other policies around the world, the Punjab government this month passed a resolution to bar children under 16 from using social media.

Read More: Aidaah Sheikh calls out &lsquo;cyber-bully casters&rsquo; over body-shaming

However, it has faced opposition.

&quot;I disagree with the ban,&quot; said Usama Khilji, a digital rights activist.

&quot;It will be a challenge to implement, and children can circumvent the ban through VPNs. Children have the right of freedom of expression, and a ban takes that away,&quot; he said.

Pakistan has a legal framework addressing tech-facilitated offences against children, but &quot;there is no implementation&quot;, said Tahira Afrasiyab, a spokesperson for non-profit organisation Muslim Hands.

And, according to experts, there are loopholes in existing laws.

Human rights lawyer Salman Afridi said this issue shows how &quot;economic vulnerability can be weaponised&quot; for amounts as small as Rs10,000&nbsp;in exchange for the production of sexual content.

&quot;What we are seeing is the use of technology to facilitate an entire chain of grooming, inducement, coercion, blackmail, production, distribution and commercialisation,&quot; he said.

&quot;There is a strong basis for describing this as a commercial ecosystem of exploitation,&quot; Afridi added.

For Zara and many others like her, the consequences of an encounter that began with an online game remain difficult to escape.

&quot;I was, and am, scared,&quot; she said. &quot;I live in fear.&quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/child-online-pex1790002297-0/child-online-pex1790002297-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rule of law, supremacy of Constitution to prevail during PTI long march to Islamabad: Gohar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630587/rule-of-law-supremacy-of-constitution-to-prevail-during-pti-long-march-to-islamabad-gohar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630587/rule-of-law-supremacy-of-constitution-to-prevail-during-pti-long-march-to-islamabad-gohar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 14:35:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630587</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Afridi says PTI has raised its voice through provincial, national assemblies, but has received no positive response]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Monday that the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution would prevail during the party&#39;s long march to Islamabad on September 27, further stating that it would never take &quot;law and order&quot; into its own hands.

The PTI had announced&nbsp;last month that it would march to Islamabad on September 27 to press for the release of party founder Imran Khan. The party has been preparing a central convoy from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with caravans from other parts of the country expected to join before proceeding towards the federal capital. The federal government has warned the party against going ahead with the march.

In a press conference today at the Chief Minister&#39;s House in Peshawar, Gohar emphasised that the party was not going to Islamabad to conquer it or turn it into &ldquo;Somnath&rdquo;, adding that &ldquo;when we go to Islamabad, the supremacy of the Constitution and the law will prevail&rdquo; and there would&nbsp;be an environment of festivity.

He stressed that PTI would never take &quot;law and order&quot; into its own hands, adding that Pakistan would always come first and peace and order&nbsp;would always come first. &ldquo;Are we terrorists? We are being told that we will be dealt with like terrorists. We are political figures, and we will not arrive like terrorists&rdquo;.



وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا @SohailAfridiISF کی 27 ستمبر لانگ مارچ کے حوالے سے وزیراعلیٰ ہاؤس پشاور میں اہم پریس کانفرنس۔#LongMarchOnSeptember27th pic.twitter.com/f9Pf8eRSHs
&mdash; PTI (@PTIofficial) September 21, 2026


Gohar said Imran was the country&#39;s most &ldquo;popular leader,&rdquo; and questioned what crime the four women from Imran&rsquo;s house were jailed for. &quot;PTI is being punished for being peaceful&quot;.

He underlined that the PTI&rsquo;s voice was not being heard, despite approaching the high court 25 times and the Supreme Court 19 times. &ldquo;We have raised our voice in both Parliament and Senate, and what are we asking for? We are only asking for justice. Provide medical treatment to Imran and give him justice in his cases&rdquo;.



&rdquo;ہمیں پرامن رہنے کی سزا مل رہی ہے، عمران خان کے گھر کی 4 خواتین جیل میں ہیں، ہم پرامن تھے، پرامن ہیں اور پرامن رہیں گے، ایک دوسرے کو للکارنے سے حالات بہتر نہیں ہوں گے، ریاست اپنا طرز عمل تبدیل کرنا ہو گا.&ldquo;-@BarristerGohar pic.twitter.com/NhSdLmIABk
&mdash; PTI (@PTIofficial) September 21, 2026


Read: Gohar seeks talks as backchannel cools

The party chairman said the situation would improve only when both sides listened to each other and stopped threatening one another. &ldquo;The state will have to change its approach and think of the country&rdquo;.

While talking about the planned long march to Islamabad, Gohar enquired whether protesting was not the PTI&rsquo;s democratic and constitutional right.

Gohar added that during PTI&#39;s tenure, 14 long marches were allowed to take place in three years and their paths were not blocked. &ldquo;We have not been allowed to hold a long march for four years since our government ended.

&ldquo;Our 1500 workers have been arrested, and lists have been made for the rest. Five MNAs, a senator, our MPAs, including one from Islamabad and ministers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are currently under arrest,&rdquo; he said.



This is #FascismUnderAsimLaw.

KP Provincial Minister, Fazal Shakoor, has been abducted by Pakistan&rsquo;s intelligence agency. Masked men ambushed his car and opened fire at Peshawar Motorway toll plaza.

Yesterday, an attempt to abduct another Provincial Minister, Shakeel Khan, was&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Q7NoZ2dDNC
&mdash; PTI (@PTIofficial) September 21, 2026


Gohar underlined that this had been done to show that while PTI held&nbsp;the government in K-P, someone else called&nbsp;the shots in the province. &ldquo;The people of the province should call the shots&rdquo;.

He added that PTI had not severed ties and communication channels remained open, noting that the party&rsquo;s demands were medical treatment for Imran, hearings for his cases, and permission for meetings.

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that PTI had faced persistent injustice, coercion and oppression not only in the aftermath of November 26 2024, but ever since April 9 2022.

Read More: Do not &#39;desire&#39; any confrontation, long march to remain peaceful: CM Afridi

&ldquo;This oppressive government is responsible for the killing of every party worker, but despite that, we have not submitted, and Imran Khan has not bowed down, even though his wife and family have been targeted. Yesterday, all three of his sisters were abducted,&rdquo; Afridi remarked.

The chief minister noted that the PTI remained the most &ldquo;popular party&rdquo; in the country and Imran remained the most &ldquo;popular political leader&rdquo;, adding that in the last two years, since November 26, 2024, PTI had not held any long march or protest rally outside of K-P.



ستائیس کا لانگ مارچ ہر صورت ہوگا اگر یہ لوگ سمجھتے ہیں کہ عمران خان کی بہنوں کو اغواء کرکہ ہم پیچھے ہٹ جائیں گے یا شکیل خان کو اغواء کرنے سے ہم پیچھے ہٹ جائیں گے یا فضل شکور کو اغواء کرنے سے ہم پیچھے ہٹ جائیں گے تو یہ انکی بھول ہے ہم مزید زور سے آئیں گے !!!

وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی&hellip; pic.twitter.com/5xMVD6HAup
&mdash; PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) September 21, 2026


Afridi further underlined that he and his party had raised their democratic voice through the provincial and national assemblies, but had received no positive response. &ldquo;I spoke to the fake prime minister, and he said he would consult others before giving an answer&rdquo;.

He also stated that the Adiala jail superintendent had &ldquo;tossed court orders into the trash bin&rdquo;, while noting that there was a ruling by three judges that Imran should be transferred to a hospital.

&ldquo;It has been nine months since I became chief minister; what protests have I staged?&rdquo; Afridi asked.

The chief minister underscored that &ldquo;we are people of the masses and follow democratic paths&rdquo;, adding that&nbsp;protesting remained&nbsp;their&nbsp;right.

&ldquo;Those who come to power through the back door resort to oppression and coercion. When they get caught, they play the woman card,&rdquo; he said.

Afridi stated that it was decided in today&rsquo;s meeting that the PTI would set out in September and would mobilise peacefully&nbsp;with full force, adding that detaining its&nbsp;ministers would not halt the movement.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/image-241790002849-0/image-241790002849-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Katrina Kaif on how motherhood changed her approach to beauty and wellbeing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630583/katrina-kaif-on-how-motherhood-changed-her-approach-to-beauty-and-wellbeing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630583/katrina-kaif-on-how-motherhood-changed-her-approach-to-beauty-and-wellbeing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 13:56:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630583</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Indian actor says pregnancy made her more attentive to her skin, health and daily habits that help her feel her best]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif says motherhood has changed the way she approaches beauty, skincare and her overall wellbeing, with the actor now paying closer attention to what her body and skin actually need.

In an interview&nbsp;with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kaif discussed her experience following pregnancy, her evolving skincare routine and the thinking behind Kay Beauty&#39;s entry into the skincare market. Gulf News later reported on those comments, placing them in the context of the online scrutiny Kaif faced following a recent public appearance.

Kaif said her skin had become more sensitive after pregnancy and that she had to reconsider which products worked for her. &quot;Post-pregnancy, my skin became even more sensitive, so it was a really tricky time because I had to understand what products were working for me. I found myself looking for products that felt soothing, calming and restorative,&quot;&nbsp;she said.

Her approach to skincare has since become more responsive to the condition of her skin, with factors such as stress, inflammation, travel and long working hours influencing what she feels she needs.

Kaif also emphasised that her understanding of beauty has evolved over the course of her career. Having started out as a model before moving into films, she said beauty expectations were accompanied by numerous stereotypes when she was beginning her career.

&quot;It&#39;s changed a lot. When I started out early through my modelling and acting career, there were a lot of stereotypes about what the beauty standards were. Now for me, looking my best is really about feeling my best, and that comes from taking care of myself as a whole.&quot;

Rather than focusing simply on maintaining a particular appearance, Kaif said she now connects looking her best with feeling well and taking care of herself more broadly.

She identified several everyday habits that she believes make a difference to how she feels and, consequently, how her skin behaves.

&quot;A healthy diet, keeping the inflammation in your body under control, staying active, meditation, a phone-free daily hour of your morning and getting natural light first thing in the morning. It all makes a huge difference to how I feel, and ultimately how my skin behaves. I think when you feel healthy, that confidence naturally reflects on the outside.&quot;

Beyond skincare, Kaif spoke about the difficulty of stepping away from work and the importance of making time to disconnect.

&quot;Having downtime with your family and friends always helps you find your centre. For me, I have to discipline myself to switch off sometimes. It&#39;s ingrained in me to constantly be working and creating something, whether with films or with Kay Beauty, so learning to have moments where you disconnect is important to recharge and reset,&quot;&nbsp;she added.

For Kaif, creating periods of quiet has become particularly important in an environment where digital entertainment and information are constantly available. &quot;In today&#39;s fast-paced world where there is limitless information and entertainment available through digital mediums, creating moments of stillness and quiet for the mind to be calm is important.&quot;

Gulf News reported that Kaif&#39;s interview came days after photographs from her appearance with husband Vicky Kaushal at the Ambani family&#39;s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai prompted online comments about her postpartum appearance. The couple welcomed their son, Vihaan, in November 2025.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/katrina1790005007-0/katrina1790005007-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>CNN, MS NOW and Politico suing Trump over White House ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630582/cnn-ms-now-and-politico-suing-trump-over-white-house-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630582/cnn-ms-now-and-politico-suing-trump-over-white-house-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 13:53:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630582</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Trump defends media ban, calls news outlets a security threat without providing evidence after lawsuit is announced.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[CNN, MS NOW and Politico said on Monday they are suing President Donald Trump and other ​members of his administration to protect their rights under the US Constitution&#39;s First Amendment after he banned the news outlets from the White House building grounds.

The three news &zwnj;organizations said they have notified the government that they were filing their lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia and could see emergency hearings in the case as soon as this week.

&quot;Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists&#39; credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public&#39;s right to independent journalism free from government interference,&quot; they wrote in a joint statement.

The ​lawsuit aims &quot;to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,&quot; they added.

The First Amendment protects the ​freedom of the press and speech.

Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump first announced his action on ⁠Friday in a social media post. The Republican president defended the ban in another social media post on Monday after the lawsuit was announced, calling the news media a security threat, without ​providing any evidence.

&quot;The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS,&quot; Trump wrote. &quot;It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, ​fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!&quot;

Read More: Trump says CNN, Politico, MS NOW banned from White House

His administration has upended decades of tradition in dealings between the White House and press, denying the access many major news organizations have had to the president while elevating new media outlets seen as more sympathetic to the administration. He has also filed a number of lawsuits against news organizations.

CNN had been scheduled to cover ​Monday&#39;s White House events for the broader press corps, including Trump&#39;s trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. It was not immediately clear what television footage of the president ​would be provided to the public.

&quot;The ban is unconstitutional and should be immediately restrained,&quot; the news outlets said in a copy of their lawsuit, adding that the ban was already impeding coverage that could have wider &zwnj;impact.

&quot;The ban ⁠inflicts an injury on all news media organisations &mdash; who now risk a similar fate if they engage in reporting the President deems insufficiently favorable,&quot; the three wrote in their complaint, which seeks a temporary restraining order to block Trump&#39;s action.

&#39;A free and independent press&#39;

Trump&#39;s latest move comes as his fellow Republicans seek to defend their narrow majorities in Congress in the November midterm elections as polls show the public souring on Republicans and Trump&#39;s own approval ratings stand near historic lows.

On Saturday, all three outlets said their journalists were turned away from the White House grounds and their press credentials confiscated, ​a day after Trump initially announced his ban ​in a social media post and threatened ⁠to block other outlets.

Also Read: CNN, MSNOW journalists denied access to White House after Trump announces ban

MS NOW and CNN over the weekend instead set up their journalists across the street from the White House and continued to broadcast coverage.

Trump on Friday addressed what he called his &quot;ban on the free press&quot; with reporters at an event in the Oval Office and said ​there was no particular incident that provoked the move. Asked what other news organizations could be targeted, Trump cited The New York Times ​and The Washington Post as &quot;fake ⁠news&quot; but said they had not been removed yet.

The Associated Press, the White House Correspondents&#39; Association and others have criticized Trump&#39;s ban, citing the fundamental American right to free speech and calling for access to be immediately restored.

&quot;The American people, through a free and independent press, must be able to scrutinize those elected to power, regardless of whether government officials view it favorably,&quot; the correspondents&#39; association said in a ⁠statement.

The AP filed ​its own lawsuit after being barred along with Reuters last year from the group of reporters that cover the president&#39;s ​daily movements.

During his first term in office, Trump sought to revoke or suspend White House credentials of two correspondents for CNN and Playboy magazine but federal judges ordered their press passes restored.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/msnow-r1790000734-0/msnow-r1790000734-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Fact check: Gohram Bugti has not announced any long march; viral video is from April 2025</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630581/fact-check-gohram-bugti-has-not-announced-any-long-march-viral-video-is-from-april-2025</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630581/fact-check-gohram-bugti-has-not-announced-any-long-march-viral-video-is-from-april-2025#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 13:15:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630581</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Keyword searches yielded no recent announcement of any such march]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Multiple&nbsp;social media users, who appear to be pro-PTI based on past posts,&nbsp;shared a video on Sunday showing Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti&rsquo;s grandson, Gohram Bugti, announcing a long march demanding the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and others. However, the video is old from April&nbsp;2025.

Dr Mahrang Baloch, chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was arrested in Quetta on March 22, 2025, along with other activists during a crackdown on a BYC protest. She was initially detained under the Maintenance of Public Order law and was subsequently booked in cases carrying terrorism and other charges.&nbsp;

Last month, the PTI announced a long march to Islamabad for September 27, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi saying the party leadership and allied Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) had agreed on the date. PTI has said the march is aimed at securing Imran Khan&rsquo;s release and pressing for constitutional supremacy and rule of law.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami has kicked off its own long march to Islamabad to protest against the high petroleum levy.

How it started

On September 20, an account that appears to be pro-PTI based on its past posts&nbsp;shared a video on X of Gohram&nbsp;announcing a long march for the release of Dr Mahrang and others.

The post was captioned: &ldquo;Gohram Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, has too announced a long march for the release of Mahrang Baloch and others.&rdquo;

The post gained 45,500 views.

Another X user who describes himself as a journalist and appears to post pro-PTI content shared the same clip on the same date with the following caption: &ldquo;From Balochistan, Nawab Akbar Bugti&rsquo;s grandson has announced a long march for Dr Mahrang&rsquo;s release. This has become the fifth long march.&rdquo;

The post garnered more than 63,100 views.

On the same date, the video was also shared by multiple pro-PTI accounts on Facebook and X with the same or similar captions,&nbsp;as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here&nbsp;and here.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the political situation amid the multiple long marches.

A reverse image search to trace the origin of the video led to a YouTube video published on April 1, 2025, showing the same footage.





A keyword search led to Gohram&rsquo;s official Facebook page, where he had posted the same video on April 1, 2025. He had&nbsp;stated that a long march would be launched if the detained women were not released within 72 hours.&nbsp;

It also led&nbsp;to the official Facebook page of his political&nbsp;party, the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), which also shared the same video and announcement on April 1, 2025.&nbsp;

A subsequent Dawn report published on April 4, 2025, referred to his 72-hour ultimatum and the JWP&rsquo;s plan to launch a long march from Dera Bugti to Quetta for the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and other detained women.

A further keyword search&nbsp;to determine whether any credible domestic media outlets had reported any such similar recent remarks&nbsp;yielded no recent announcement of such a march from Balochistan.

Fact-check&nbsp;status: misleading

The claim that a viral video shows Gohram Bugti&nbsp;announcing a new long march for the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and others is misleading.

The video is old from&nbsp;April 1, 2025, when he&nbsp;announced plans for a long march if the detained women were not released.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/unnamed1790000179-0/unnamed1790000179-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>US refusal to issue visas to Palestinian delegation violates international agreements: Hamas</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630580/us-refusal-to-issue-visas-to-palestinian-delegation-violates-international-agreements-hamas</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630580/us-refusal-to-issue-visas-to-palestinian-delegation-violates-international-agreements-hamas#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 13:12:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630580</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[UN General Assembly allows Palestine to address its 81st session's general debate through a prerecorded speech]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Hamas on Monday condemned the US refusal to grant visas to a Palestinian delegation seeking to attend UN General Assembly meetings.

&ldquo;The decision constitutes a flagrant violation of the international conventions and agreements governing the work of the UN headquarters and a continuation of the policy of complete US bias toward the Zionist occupation,&rdquo; Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement.

The restriction has continued for a second year. In 2025, Washington denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials to attend the meetings, forcing Abbas to participate by video link.

On Thursday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution allowing the State of Palestine to participate in the general debate of its 81st session through a prerecorded address by its president to be shown in the Assembly Hall.

The resolution was backed by 152 countries, opposed by three, with four abstentions.

Read More: US extends visa sanctions on Palestinian officials ahead of UN General Assembly in New York

On Thursday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry rejected Washington&rsquo;s decision to extend visa restrictions on Palestinian officials over alleged failures to meet commitments toward the US, calling for the measure to be halted and for direct Palestinian-US dialogue to begin.

Under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement between the organisation and the US, Washington, as the host country, is required to facilitate access to the UN headquarters in New York for representatives of states and entities participating in UN activities.

Palestine has held the status of a non-member observer state at the UN since 2012.

Of the UN&rsquo;s 193 member states, 160 recognise the State of Palestine, which is also a member of more than 100 international organisations and treaties, according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

Israel and the US oppose such recognition, while Washington has used its veto power at the UN Security Council to block Palestine from obtaining full UN membership instead of its current status.

Since October. 8, 2023, Israel has killed more than&nbsp;73,000 Palestinians&nbsp;and injured over 174,000 others in its genocide in Gaza, most of them women and children.

Successive US administrations have provided Israel with military, financial and diplomatic support, including protection from accountability at the UN Security Council through the use of the veto.

In 1948, Israel was established on lands seized by armed Zionist groups that carried out massacres and displaced at least 750,000 Palestinians. Israel later occupied the remaining Palestinian territories and continues to reject withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state as stipulated in UN resolutions.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/abbas-r1789998578-0/abbas-r1789998578-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Gaza students return to in-person schooling for first time in three years</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630579/gaza-students-return-to-in-person-schooling-for-first-time-in-three-years</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630579/gaza-students-return-to-in-person-schooling-for-first-time-in-three-years#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 12:46:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630579</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Children celebrate return to class as 98% of Gaza schools are damaged or destroyed, UNICEF says]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza returned to in-person teaching on Saturday for the first time in nearly three years, albeit in damaged or makeshift school buildings and tents, and with uniforms, notebooks and pens unaffordable for many families.

The United Nations Children&#39;s Fund (UNICEF) says 98% of schools in Gaza were either destroyed or damaged during the war, and Gaza education officials say about 660,000 students have been deprived of in-person learning and regular participation in education.

The reopening is a fragile milestone for Gaza after a conflict that has killed around 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, including 532 teachers, according to Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for East Khan Younis.



And they&#39;re back, finally!

Some hope for more than 330,000 children across the #Gaza Strip on the first day of term at 200 learning centres supported by @UNICEF.

Routine, stability &amp; social connection - being in class restores some sense of childhood.#GenerationHope pic.twitter.com/TwA0g5BvCj
&mdash; UNICEF Palestine (@UNICEFpalestine) September 19, 2026



&quot;The last time I have been to school was three years ago. Now, we are starting the school year, it is year of joy, happiness and success,&quot; said Moayed Abu Mustafa in Khan Younis.

Mustafa said he was determined to learn even though he will sit on the floor in a tent lacking ventilation, has no decent shoes, notebook or pen, and lost friends during the war.

&quot;Despite all of this we will learn, we will learn even in a tent.&quot;



A displaced Palestinian child lies inside a classroom-turned-shelter in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, September 10, 2026. REUTERS

Fifteen-year-old displaced student Samar Abu Salmi, who lives with her family in a tent, is also returning to class.

&quot;We studied on phones and we haven&#39;t seen our teachers... now, we are back pursuing our dream... from one tent to another,&quot; she said, speaking in the yard of her new makeshift school.

She also lacks much of the essential equipment, which has become unaffordable for her family.



Displaced Palestinian student Samar Abu Salmi, 15, sits with other female students inside a tent classroom in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, September 20, 2026. REUTERS

&quot;Before the war, everything was available for us - notebooks, pens, goods, clothes, outings, things that we could get cheaply,&quot; Salmi said.

Mattresses and blackboard

Despite the devastation in the enclave, the Ministry of Education, backed by international and local organisations, has moved ahead with the 2026-27 academic year, establishing dozens of temporary schools made of tents, tarpaulins, sheet metal and wood to accommodate pupils.

Some are built on sandy ground, while others have classrooms with only some mattresses and a blackboard, into which students cram. Others are still housing dozens of displaced families.

Attending another school was 14-year-old Yamen Abu Samra.

&quot;We used to wake up happy to go to school... Now, when we come to school, we&#39;re afraid of stray bullets, rockets, strikes, everything,&quot; he said.

&quot;Now, I&#39;m sitting in a tent that has absolutely nothing, just the sun and the heat,&quot; he added.

At least 540,000 students are expected to attend in-person classes this year in makeshift private schools, temporary learning centres and educational points, with UNICEF support, according to education officials. Online learning will continue for those who cannot attend classes or who left Gaza during the war.

Israeli forces remain in control of more than 60% of Gaza despite last year&#39;s ceasefire, which halted major fighting but failed to end the conflict.



Palestinian students attend their first day of the new school year at an UNRWA school in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, September 19, 2026.PHOTO: REUTERS

Palestinian authorities say more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel&#39;s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023.

Stationery trader Khaled Aliyan, 30, said Israeli import restrictions have reduced supplies and hiked prices.

&quot;This notebook, which used to cost 3 shekels ($1), now costs 15 (shekels). All stationery items are expensive,&quot; he said.

Israel&#39;s COGAT military agency, which controls access to Gaza, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on restrictions on supplies and strikes on schools. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using schools for military purposes, which Hamas denies.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/school01-r1789995816-3/school01-r1789995816-3.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Tarar visits families of Kohat attack victims, vows to eliminate terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630575/tarar-visits-families-of-kohat-attack-victims-vows-to-eliminate-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630575/tarar-visits-families-of-kohat-attack-victims-vows-to-eliminate-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:52:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630575</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Criticises PTI's government over shortcomings in policing, governance and development]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday visited the families of police personnel martyred in last week&rsquo;s deadly attack in Kohat, offering condolences to the bereaved and vowing that the government would not rest until terrorism was eliminated.

At least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians, were killed when an explosion struck a mosque at Kohat&rsquo;s Police Lines during Friday prayers, followed by an attack involving several armed terrorists, according to an initial incident report issued by the DHQ Hospital Kohat medical superintendent and district health officer. More than 100 people were injured in the attack.

Tarar visited the residence of policeman Faheemullah, the only brother of three sisters, who was among those killed. He met his father, Ikramullah, and offered Fateha for the departed soul, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.



Minister for Information and Broadcasting @TararAttaullah visited the residence of policeman Faheemullah, the only brother of three sisters, who was martyred in Kohat incident. He met with Faheemullah Shaheed&rsquo;s father, Ikramullah, and offered Fateha for the departed soul #News&hellip; pic.twitter.com/0kie4EPKVX
&mdash; Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 21, 2026


Speaking at a press conference later, Tarar said the victims had sacrificed their lives for the safety of the country and that their families would not be left alone. &ldquo;They sacrificed their lives so that this province and this country could remain safe,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;They orphaned their children but saved hundreds of children from being martyred.&rdquo;

The minister also visited the injured at CMH Kohat, where he said he was impressed by the morale of the injured personnel. &ldquo;I cannot describe how high their morale was,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The young men of our army and police who took part in this operation fought the terrorists bravely. Even personnel who were on leave put on their uniforms and joined the operation,&rdquo; he added.

Read: 15 police personnel among 21 martyred in Kohat Police Lines terrorist attack; over 100 injured

Tarar said the attack would not weaken the resolve of the security forces or the public. &ldquo;These terrorists are cowards. They strike from behind,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He stated that the government would continue the fight until terrorism was eliminated &ldquo;from its roots&rdquo;.

&ldquo;On behalf of the prime minister, I say that until and unless we defeat terrorism from its root, we will not rest,&rdquo; he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said the time was not far when the terrorists would be defeated.

Tarar then criticised Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over his response to the attack, asking where he had been when the incident occurred.

&ldquo;You have time for the politics of chaos, but not for the people of your province,&rdquo; he said, adding,&nbsp;&ldquo;What have you done for education, health and public welfare?&rdquo;



Minister for Information and Broadcasting @TararAttaullah is talking to media in Kohathttps://t.co/2q2bQIL9hf
&mdash; Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 21, 2026


Tarar also criticised the PTI-led provincial government over shortcomings in policing, governance and development, saying that the province did not even have a forensic laboratory to facilitate police investigations.

The minister said that contracts were being awarded to favoured individuals in return for payments and that new records of corruption were being set in the province. He also questioned who had been awarded gold-mining contracts and where the province&rsquo;s development funds were being spent.

Turning to PTI&rsquo;s planned September 27 protest in Islamabad, Tarar said, &ldquo;No one will be allowed to shut down Islamabad. Armed groups will not be allowed to come towards Islamabad.&rdquo;

Read More: Captain, lieutenant among six martyred as eight terrorists killed in Hangu fire exchange: ISPR

Tarar rejected PTI&rsquo;s claims that its protests were peaceful, saying, &ldquo;Peaceful people do not leave their homes carrying sticks fitted with nails.&rdquo; He also said PTI members would be held accountable and would not be allowed to &ldquo;hide behind excuses&rdquo; involving funds.

He said projects such as the Kohat Tunnel and motorway had been built during the government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while alleging that forests were being cut down and factories producing counterfeit cigarettes had been found in the province.

Attack on Kohat Police Lines

At least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians, were killed in the blast at a mosque in Kohat&rsquo;s Police Lines during Friday prayers, according to an initial incident report issued by DHQ Hospital Kohat medical superintendent and the district health officer.

The report said the blast occurred at approximately 1:20pm during Friday prayers at a mosque located at Police Lines on Hangu Road in Kohat, followed by a terrorist attack involving around five to seven terrorists.

Of the 21 people killed, 15 were police personnel and six were civilians. The report identified one of the deceased civilians as Dr Israel Khan Aurakzai, Chief District Specialist (Paediatrics) at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat.

It further said 103 injured people had been received at the two hospitals, including 13 at Liaqat Memorial Hospital and 90 at DHQ Hospital Kohat. The injured comprised 73 police personnel and 30 civilians.

Also read: Pakistan carries out &#39;calibrated&#39; air strikes against terrorist hideouts near Afghan border after K-P attacks

Of the total injured, 34 were admitted for treatment, while five patients underwent laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision into the abdomen. The report said four of the patients who underwent laparotomy had been referred to tertiary care facilities in Peshawar for further treatment.

It added that the situation was being closely monitored and all possible medical assistance was being provided to the injured at the relevant health facilities.

According to the police, seven armed terrorists infiltrated the police lines following the explosion at the mosque. The police said six terrorists, including the suicide bomber, had been killed so far. Initially, a suicide attacker blew himself up near the Special Branch building after the explosion, it added.

Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers. Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to deny the use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. However, the de facto rulers in Kabul have been reluctant to take action against terrorist groups operating from their territory.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-2026-09-21t170941-4031789992735-0/untitled-design-2026-09-21t170941-4031789992735-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>MQM-P chief calls for new administrative units, says time to end dynastic politics</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630571/mqm-p-chief-calls-for-new-administrative-units-says-time-to-end-dynastic-politics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630571/mqm-p-chief-calls-for-new-administrative-units-says-time-to-end-dynastic-politics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:37:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Naeem Khanzada]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Karachi]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630571</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Khalid Maqbool calls for fresh census, six administrative units in Sindh while Farooq Sattar reaffirms party's call]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Monday called for the creation of new administrative units in Pakistan, saying the time had come to end hereditary and dynastic politics and that the issue would not be resolved through parliament.

Speaking at a press conference at the party&rsquo;s temporary headquarters, Siddiqui described a large rally held in Karachi a day earlier as a referendum by the city&rsquo;s people. &ldquo;Yesterday, the people of Karachi came out onto the streets and gave their verdict,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;feudal democracy cannot be Pakistan&rsquo;s future.&rdquo;

Siddiqui said administrative units were needed in Pakistan and called for an end to what he described as the practice of &ldquo;enslaving the people&rdquo;. &ldquo;This rally was held for Pakistan&rsquo;s survival,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have seen the way of the streets. This will not pass through the assemblies.&rdquo;

He also called for a fresh census and urged the courts to take notice of what he described as the manner in which Sindh had been governed since 1917.

The MQM-P chairman said the party had faced pressure over its demand for new administrative units for decades, alleging that &ldquo;taking MQM&rsquo;s name has been turned into a crime&rdquo;. &ldquo;Even after 40 years, MQM is being made a means for [pressuring on] the matter of administrative units,&rdquo; he said, adding that several senior party leaders had served jail terms.

Also Read: Palijo warns against &#39;playing with fire&#39; over Sindh division

Siddiqui said the party had consistently declared its allegiance to Pakistan since August 22, despite which, he said, its offices had been shut down.

The chairman also said the party was being threatened in an attempt to intimidate it, while stressing that its demand was not merely for the MQM-P. &ldquo;This is not our need, it is Pakistan&rsquo;s need,&rdquo; he said.

Siddiqui further said that some people within the party&rsquo;s ranks needed to separate themselves from the organisation.

Meanwhile, senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said six administrative units would eventually be created in Sindh. &ldquo;You snatched one governor from us; now we will have six governors,&rdquo; Sattar said.

The press conference was attended by senior MQM-P leaders, including Sattar, Waseem Akhtar, Nasreen Jalil, Ali Khursheedi, Muhammad Hussain and Waseem Aftab. Siddiqui also announced that the party&rsquo;s convention would be held on October 4 in District West.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/khalid-maqbool1790001025-0/khalid-maqbool1790001025-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Houthis push for control of Yemen highlands as Trump reported to have called off airstrikes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630570/houthis-push-for-control-of-yemen-highlands-as-trump-reported-to-have-called-off-airstrikes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630570/houthis-push-for-control-of-yemen-highlands-as-trump-reported-to-have-called-off-airstrikes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:34:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630570</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A lightning advance by the group this month has extended the wider Middle East conflict to a new theatre]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Houthi fighters were pushing to seize strategic heights in Yemen on Monday to cut off the Red Sea coast from remaining areas held by Saudi-backed forces, after a report that President Donald Trump had called off US strikes on the group at the last minute.

A lightning advance by the group this month has extended the wider Middle East conflict to a new theatre and further threatened global energy supplies.

Washington has so far rebuffed repeated pleas from Saudi Arabia&#39;s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to join the fight in Yemen. The Houthis said on Saturday they had fired on Riyadh, where loud booms were followed by columns of smoke visible near the airport.

Saudi Arabia has not commented on the first apparent strikes on the capital since the escalation began.

The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had prepared on Sunday to launch airstrikes against the Houthis after fresh pleas from the Saudi crown prince. But the newspaper said Trump called off the airstrikes at the last minute, even as troops were loading bombs onto aircraft.

Read:&nbsp;Mohsin Naqvi received by Iranian interior minister on arrival in Iran: Iranian media

Reuters could not immediately verify the report, and the US military&#39;s Central Command did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Fighting in Highlands

The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen&#39;s capital since 2014, seized the country&#39;s Red Sea coast this month in a lightning advance that routed forces of an internationally recognised Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and based in the south.

Saudi Arabia has launched hundreds of strikes in recent days on the fighters&#39; positions in the highlands, according to the Houthis. But the air power advantage has so far done little to slow the advance of the fighters as Saudi-backed government forces have melted away.

According to the United Nations, nearly 700 people have been killed and thousands injured in the flare-up in fighting. More than 120,000 Yemenis have fled homes within Yemen, and thousands more have fled by boat across the Red Sea to Africa.

Five Yemeni military sources told Reuters the Houthis were now seeking to seize strategic heights, known as the Kahboub Mountains, in two provinces, Taiz and Lahij, which separate the Red Sea coast from the government-held south.

Fighting has centred on the outskirts of the remote mountain Al-Wazi&#39;iyah district in Taiz province, and Ras al-Ara along the Indian Ocean coast between the mouth of the Red Sea that the fighters captured last week and the government&#39;s base in Aden.

Read more:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia warns of &#39;firm&#39; response after Houthi missile, drone attacks injure 13 civilians

The Houthis aim to secure the rear of their forces around the Bab al-Mandab Strait leading into the Red Sea by taking control of the heights, which would allow them to open new fronts, according to the sources. That would help protect exposed positions the Houthis captured during their advance around Dhubab on the Red Sea and on Perim Island in the strait.

Saudi oil exports

The surge in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis creates a new dilemma for Trump, under pressure to help defend Washington&#39;s close Saudi allies but anxious not to further expand the deeply unpopular war he launched in February against Iran.

The United States bombed the Houthis for two months in early 2025, but Trump called off those strikes after reaching a ceasefire with the group and has kept out of the conflict since.

The Houthis&#39; newfound control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait risks cutting off the main alternative route that Saudi Arabia has used for oil exports that bypass disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia has responded by increasing shipments through Hormuz, where a small number of tankers are increasingly shuttling back and forth to bring out oil with their transponders off, charging record fees of as much as a quarter of the value of the cargo to brave the wartime risk. They then transfer the oil to other ships in the Indian Ocean, bound for customers in Asia or elsewhere.

Satellite data shows Saudi exports through Hormuz reaching 2.9 million barrels per day in recent days, up from just 700,000 in August, partially making up for a halt to Saudi loadings at its Red Sea port of Yanbu.

Also read:&nbsp;Oil prices slide on hopes of diplomacy in Iran war

That has helped put a cap on the global price of crude oil, which has retreated closer to $100 a barrel after approaching $110 last week. But consumers and industry are still paying record prices for refined fuels.

The US retail price of diesel, politically sensitive for Trump with midterm elections in six weeks, hit another all-time high on Monday above $6.51 a gallon. It was around $3.75 before Trump launched the war alongside Israel in February.

In the latest reported attack in Hormuz, Britain&#39;s UKMTO maritime security agency said a ship sailing into the strait had been hit with a projectile, causing minor injuries to crew.

Diplomacy in the wider conflict has largely been stalled since a June interim agreement between the United States and Iran collapsed within weeks. Iran&#39;s President Masoud Pezeshkian is due to fly on Tuesday to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the first such visit since Trump launched &quot;Operation Epic Fury&quot; against his country alongside Israel in February.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-31789993403-0/untitled-design-31789993403-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Michael Jackson's bedazzled glove, 'Bad' jacket heading to Abu Dhabi auction</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630568/michael-jacksons-bedazzled-glove-bad-jacket-heading-to-abu-dhabi-auction</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630568/michael-jacksons-bedazzled-glove-bad-jacket-heading-to-abu-dhabi-auction#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:24:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630568</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Julien’s Auctions bring music, fashion and pop culture artefacts with 11 highlights estimated at up to Dh3.86m]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A collection of memorabilia linked to some of the world&#39;s most recognisable cultural figures, including Michael Jackson and Princess Diana, is set to go under the hammer in Abu Dhabi this December, with the currently announced highlights carrying combined estimates of up to Dh3.86 million.

According to Gulf News, Julien&#39;s Auctions will host its inaugural regional Celebrity &amp; Culture Week at Rosewood Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island from December 5 to 10. The event will feature three separate auctions bringing together fashion, music, film and other pieces associated with major international figures.

Among the most closely watched items is a crystal-covered glove worn by Michael Jackson during a 2002 Vibe magazine cover shoot. The glove carries an estimated value of between $40,000 and $60,000, or approximately Dh147,000 to Dh220,000.

The auction will also offer the loafers Jackson wore in the iconic Thriller&nbsp;music video. They are expected to fetch between $20,000 and $40,000 and are accompanied by a personal letter to choreographer Michael Peters.

Two jackets associated with Jackson&#39;s Bad era will also be offered. One, designed by his longtime costume designers Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins, was signed and donated by Jackson to the TJ&nbsp;Martell Foundation. It is estimated at between $60,000 and $80,000.

Another is one of only six light-up Thriller performance jackets produced and carries an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000, according to Gulf News.

Princess Diana&#39;s memorabilia forms another major part of the Abu Dhabi auction programme, with the standout piece being a midnight-blue Catherine Walker gown she wore at the 1995 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York, where she presented fashion editor Liz Tilberis with an award.

According to Gulf News, the gown is expected to command between $200,000 and $400,000, making it the most valuable individual lot among the highlights announced so far. At the upper end, that translates to roughly Dh1.47 million.

Other Diana items are linked to some of her most significant public appearances during the final years of her life.

A pair of suede Selfridges driving loafers worn during her 1997 visit to a landmine field in Angola carries an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. A Ralph Lauren shirt worn by Diana while visiting landmine survivors in Bosnia that same year is expected to bring between $10,000 and $20,000.

The auction house&#39;s own announcement describes the Diana collection as its largest Diana-focused auction to date, highlighting the links between the garments and the late princess&#39;s public life and humanitarian work.

The third sale, titled Pop Culture Legends, broadens the collection beyond Jackson and Diana.

According to Gulf News, the auction will include memorabilia connected to figures including Bruce Lee, Banksy, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Madonna, Eddie Van Halen and Sabrina Carpenter.

A guitar once owned by American author Mark Twain is currently the most highly valued highlight in this section, with an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.

Kurt Cobain memorabilia includes a guitar played by the Nirvana frontman, estimated at $60,000 to $80,000, along with a stage-worn jacket valued at $20,000 to $40,000.

Meanwhile, the yellow nunchaku used by Bruce Lee in the 1978 film Game of Death are estimated at between $30,000 and $50,000.





&nbsp;


&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;




View this post on Instagram


&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;




&nbsp;

&nbsp;





Julien&#39;s Auctions has also promoted the Abu Dhabi event on its official Instagram account, announcing &quot;Celebrity &amp; Culture Week&quot; in Abu Dhabi as &quot;a new international platform celebrating the people, stories, and artifacts that have shaped global popular culture&quot;.

The event will combine the live sales with a museum-style exhibition, allowing visitors to view selected memorabilia before the pieces are offered to bidders.

Julien&#39;s has not yet released the complete catalogues for all three auctions, meaning the final value of the entire collection remains unknown.

Gulf News reports that the 11 highlight lots announced so far have combined estimates ranging from $590,000 to $1.05 million, equivalent to approximately Dh2.17 million to Dh3.86 million.

Julien&#39;s Auctions co-founder and executive director Martin Nolan told Artnet that the choice of Jackson and Diana reflected their international appeal, while also pointing to their connections with the UAE.

Both stars visited the country during their lifetimes, and Nolan said their presence at Julien&#39;s inaugural regional auction was particularly significant because of their popularity in the region.

The auction house is also looking to Abu Dhabi&#39;s expanding collector community. Nolan said the Middle Eastern collector base was becoming younger and more diverse, with interest extending beyond traditional Western pop culture.

The event will take place alongside a growing calendar of cultural and luxury events in Abu Dhabi. Gulf News noted that it follows the debut of Frieze Abu Dhabi in November and comes just before the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on December 11.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Annotation-2024-06-26-130848-michael-jackson1719389602-0/Annotation-2024-06-26-130848-michael-jackson1719389602-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Brigitte Bardot's personal belongings to go under hammer in Paris</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630564/brigitte-bardots-personal-belongings-to-go-under-hammer-in-paris</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630564/brigitte-bardots-personal-belongings-to-go-under-hammer-in-paris#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:21:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630564</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sale includes Repetto ballet flats, jewelry, furniture, photographs and everyday objects]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Personal belongings of late French actress and singer Brigitte Bardot, including the ballet flats that inspired an iconic Repetto shoe and a diamond-set ring, will go under the hammer on Monday in Paris.

French auction house Millon will offer 285 lots from Bardot&#39;s homes in Paris and the southern French resort town of Saint-Tropez at Hotel Drouot, one of France&#39;s best-known auction venues.

The collection includes clothing, furniture, photographs, jewelry, musical instruments and everyday objects, as well as memorabilia from Bardot&#39;s career and her later life devoted to animal protection.

Among the highlights are Repetto ballet flats. Millon said Bardot asked French shoemaker Rose Repetto in 1956 to create a flat, flexible shoe inspired by ballet footwear but suitable for everyday wear. The resulting Cendrillon model became associated with Bardot after she wore it in the 1956 film &quot;And God Created Woman.&quot;

Jewelry in the sale includes a Mellerio ring set with a 3.67-carat diamond, while other lots include guitars, an Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter, hats, perfume bottles and furniture from Bardot&#39;s homes.

The sale also features objects from La Madrague, Bardot&#39;s famous seaside home in Saint-Tropez, which she acquired in 1958 and that became closely associated with her public image.

Bardot became an international film star in the 1950s, particularly after &quot;And God Created Woman,&quot; directed by Roger Vadim. She retired from acting at 38 and increasingly used her public profile to promote animal protection.

She founded the Fondation Brigitte Bardot in 1986. The French animal protection organization says it now operates in 70 countries.

Bardot died December&nbsp;28, 2025, at 91.

Millon said the proceeds from Monday&#39;s auction will go to the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and Bardot&#39;s only son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/bardot1789989793-0/bardot1789989793-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Safety first as mixed martial arts grapples for recognition at Asian Games</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630563/safety-first-as-mixed-martial-arts-grapples-for-recognition-at-asian-games</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630563/safety-first-as-mixed-martial-arts-grapples-for-recognition-at-asian-games#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:20:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630563</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mixed martial arts makes Asian Games debut in Nagoya]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[With no cage, no elbows and no appetite for blood on the mat, the Asian Games&#39; mixed &zwnj;martial arts competition is not quite the visceral experience of a UFC fight night.

The athletes battle in traditional martial arts uniforms, wear shin guards for protection and dropping knees &zwnj;onto prone opponents is very much ⁠out of ​bounds.

The only octagon at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre is a ​grey one marked on the open &zwnj;mat. The competition&#39;s organisers know the modifications ​may not be to the liking of hard-core fans of a sport once dubbed &quot;human cockfighting&quot; but they are part of an attempt to make it more palatable for a longer-term tilt at Olympic inclusion.

&quot;It&#39;s ⁠a sport, a rule-set that we believe is more suitable for the Olympic programme,&quot; Galastein Tan, director &zwnj;general of the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA), told Reuters.

&quot;A rule-set that we think is very athlete safety-centric.&quot;

Heavy takedown

Modifications aside, the fighting at the sport&#39;s Asian Games debut remains intense and bruising.

South Korea&#39;s Lee Bo-mi was in tears ⁠and clutching her shoulder after a heavy takedown from Bahrain&#39;s Russian-born fighter ⁠Diana Pogosian in the ​women&#39;s 54kg semi-final. Off the &zwnj;mat, there is a bigger fight in the background as the sport&#39;s rival governing bodies grapple for influence and global supremacy.

FIMMA, established last year, was born out of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association set up by Chinese billionaire Gordon Tang.

With Tang a vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, FIMMA&#39;s brand of MMA was endorsed for Nagoya and will be retained on the programme of sports for subsequent Asian Games, FIMMA officials told Reuters.

Getting ⁠MMA to the Olympics will be a far more complex journey. FIMMA has another rival shooting for Olympic recognition in the Global Association of ⁠Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), which describes itself as the sport&#39;s international federation and organises its own championships.

&quot;When you talk about governing bodies, anybody can set up an association or international association,&quot; said Tan.

&quot;The ultimate one is who gets the recognition by the International Olympic Committee.&quot;

There were banks of empty seats at the venue and no visible sponsor logos on day two of the Asian Games competition.

But FIMMA is hopeful IOC officials will take notice of the tournament and see the potential of including a ⁠sport with a massive global following on the Olympic programme. With no universally accepted ​rule-set for the sport, it may be some time before MMA can be looked at as a serious option, though.

Until then, FIMMA will look to build momentum and influence by staging more regional and continental competitions, pushing a format they say is more accessible than cage fighting. &quot;There is always ​a judo mat or a karate mat you can use -- it&#39;s &zwnj;more easy for training and to set up competition,&quot; said FIMMA Executive Vice-President Alexander Engelhardt.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/11789989693-0/11789989693-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Jannat Mirza speaks out against misuse of women’s faces in fake videos</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630562/jannat-mirza-speaks-out-against-misuse-of-womens-faces-in-fake-videos</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630562/jannat-mirza-speaks-out-against-misuse-of-womens-faces-in-fake-videos#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 11:17:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630562</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Influencer calls for stronger measures against those responsible after her face was used without her consent]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Influencer Jannat Mirza has taken to social media to demand strict action against individuals misusing people&rsquo;s faces to create fake and misleading content.

Mirza shared a video of herself and a male friend joking around and holding hands, calling out creators for allegedly using her face to make a fake video without her permission and putting her dignity at risk.

&ldquo;This video is not funny at all. Using someone&rsquo;s face and creating videos like this is extremely concerning. Today, it may be my face being used, but tomorrow it could be any girl&rsquo;s face and her dignity could be put at risk,&rdquo; she said.





&nbsp;


&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;




View this post on Instagram


&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;




&nbsp;

&nbsp;





The influencer added, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m someone who is active on social media, and even I felt extremely uncomfortable seeing this. Imagine girls who aren&rsquo;t on social media at all &mdash; their pictures can also be misused in ways they may never even know about.&rdquo;

Mirza&rsquo;s comments about the misuse of AI and people&rsquo;s identities were applauded by fans online, with many also calling for stronger laws to address the issue.



&ldquo;She is absolutely right in this matter. There should be proper laws on this. AI is dangerous, especially in a society like Pakistan where respect is important. It is a place where people can be subjected to violence in the name of tradition,&rdquo; one user wrote.

Another added, &ldquo;There must be strict rules to punish people who make such videos using AI.&rdquo;



&nbsp;

As a public figure, Mirza has repeatedly raised concerns about online harassment and personal attacks, urging authorities to take stronger action against individuals who target women on social media.

With her latest remarks, she has once again highlighted concerns surrounding AI-generated content, privacy and the misuse of women&rsquo;s identities online.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/jannat-mirza1789989574-0/jannat-mirza1789989574-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Merz clings on after German election 'disaster'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630558/merz-clings-on-after-german-election-disaster</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630558/merz-clings-on-after-german-election-disaster#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 10:48:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630558</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[AfD tops state election for second time in a month as chancellor's coalition partners clash over unpopular reforms]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chancellor Friedrich&nbsp;Merz&nbsp;was clinging to power on Monday&nbsp;after&nbsp;his conservative party tumbled&nbsp;to its worst regional&nbsp;election&nbsp;defeat in postwar&nbsp;Germany and members of his coalition clashed over his unpopular reform agenda.

Merz&nbsp;himself described Sunday&#39;s loss in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a &quot;disaster&quot; as his party for the first time missed the 5% threshold for entering a state parliament.

The far-right Alternative for&nbsp;Germany (AfD) took first place. While it fell well short of a majority, it was the second time the party had topped a state&nbsp;election&nbsp;within a month, which it sees as building momentum towards national power.

Merz&#39;s party also bled votes in a second&nbsp;election&nbsp;in the state of Berlin, which could see the far-left Die Linke party, the descendants of the Communist party that once ran East&nbsp;Germany, take power in a coalition&nbsp;after&nbsp;winning most seats.

German chancellor&#39;s future in the balance

Sunday&#39;s results may not prove a knock-out blow for&nbsp;Merz, but his low approval ratings, unpopular reforms and the AfD&#39;s surge have left his future in the balance.

Several conservative state premiers met on Sunday to take stock&nbsp;after&nbsp;having publicly backed&nbsp;Merz&nbsp;in an open letter last week. &quot;The meeting was not about a revolt or a plot against Chancellor&nbsp;Merz,&quot; one of the participants of the meeting told Reuters. &quot;However, there was agreement that the chancellor needs to deliver more following the CDU&#39;s difficult results in the state&nbsp;elections.&quot;

Read:&nbsp;Thousands protest in Germany as far-right AfD sets sights on power

Within minutes of the results coming in on Sunday,&nbsp;Merz&nbsp;in televised remarks vowed to press on with his reform agenda that he says is vital to revive sluggish growth in Europe&#39;s largest economy and keep it globally competitive.

But members of his centre-left coalition partner, the Social Democrats, pushed back. That includes Manuela Schwesig, the popular incumbent state premier of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who has sharply criticised the federal government&#39;s pension reforms.

Schwesig said she was &quot;very irritated&quot; by&nbsp;Merz&#39;s remarks. &quot;I think more humility is actually called for on the part of the chancellor,&quot; she told the ARD broadcaster.

Bitter pill for Germany&#39;s immigrant communities

The AfD party leads in national opinion polls but has been kept from power by the other main parties&#39; refusal to work with it, in a policy known as the &quot;firewall&quot; that has been increasingly scrutinised as the AfD gained strength. Its hardline stance on immigration has left some in&nbsp;Germany of migrant background questioning their future.

&quot;The fact that the AfD is in the lead is quite a bitter pill to swallow,&quot; said Yasmin Goudarzi, an educational scientist who attended an&nbsp;election&nbsp;event hosted by a migrant organisation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania&#39;s capital Schwerin.

In Berlin, Die Linke topped the polls in a state&nbsp;election&nbsp;for the first time on a campaign to nationalise housing from corporate landlords and put a cap on rents, echoing the rise of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. &quot;From today, we&#39;re changing Berlin together,&quot; said Die Linke&#39;s lead candidate Elif Eralp, the 45-year-old daughter of left-wing Turkish parents who fled a coup in Turkey in 1980.

Read More:&nbsp;As history returns, Germany sees echoes of its past

Elected last year on a promise of reforms to return&nbsp;Germany&#39;s stagnant economy to growth,&nbsp;Merz&nbsp;has struggled to win over voters, as a stream of communication missteps served to compound resentment over unpopular pension, tax and healthcare reforms. Disillusionment with his government has hung over the campaigns in both Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, where voters have focused on soaring energy and housing costs.

Schwesig, sometimes seen as a potential next SPD national leader, is likely to remain in power in her state.

&quot;Yes, I would have imagined a different outcome as well because, let&#39;s say, the troublemakers who voted for the AfD clearly weren&#39;t paying attention in history class,&quot; said Detlef Spelker, a passerby in Schwerin. &quot;We&#39;ve been in a similar situation before, almost 100 years ago. Inflation, problems with jobs, nobody had any money. We&#39;ll see what this brings now. I don&#39;t know whether they&#39;ll deliver.&quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/merz1789989249-0/merz1789989249-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Syrian duo chase dreams with Asian Games refugee team</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630557/syrian-duo-chase-dreams-with-asian-games-refugee-team</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630557/syrian-duo-chase-dreams-with-asian-games-refugee-team#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 10:14:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630557</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Muhammad and Hunaidi make history as the OCA’s first dedicated refugee athletes]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Living in exile at Jordan&#39;s Azraq refugee camp was never the life Mahmoud Jasem Muhammad or &zwnj;Tala Hasan Hunaidi chose for themselves.

So when taekwondo offered an escape from the trauma of fleeing war-torn Syria &mdash; and the chance to compete alongside the continent&#39;s elite fighters at the Asian Games &mdash; the pair seized the opportunity.

For the first time in the history of its flagship event, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is fielding a dedicated refugee team containing the two Syrian taekwondo athletes

&quot;Being here today isn&#39;t just about competing in ⁠another tournament,&quot; Muhammad, who is set to compete in the men&#39;s 80- kg kyorugi, told reporters on Monday.

&quot;I&#39;m carrying a story with me &mdash; a story that, God willing, will become a success story. I carry that story with me into every fight.

&quot;We didn&#39;t leave our country by choice. It was because of the difficult living conditions and the wars that took place, so we were forced to leave and move to another country to build a life there.&quot;

The 24-year-old said he is not at the Games merely to make up the numbers.

&quot;The preparations were really intense, and our goal isn&#39;t just to participate &mdash; we&#39;re hoping to achieve something, God willing.&quot;

HUNAIDI THANKS IOC

Hunaidi &zwnj;also expressed ⁠gratitude to the International Olympic Committee, the OCA, and World Taekwondo for helping her live out this dream.

&quot;Sport has changed me for the better. I&#39;ve become a different person. I have hope now, and I have dreams and ambitions for the future,&quot; the 18-year-old said.

&quot;We&#39;ve seen a different side of life, and we now have hope. We&#39;ve learned that nothing is ⁠impossible. Things can be difficult sometimes, but with time, you can overcome them and move forward.&quot;

Shiva Kesavan, vice chair of the OCA Athletes&#39; Committee, praised the pair as role models, who have been integrated into the wider Asian Games community.

&quot;It can be ⁠overwhelming for them to come straight into the Asian Games and see the top continental talents here,&quot; Kesavan told Reuters.

&quot;They have their personal goals, but more importantly, they&#39;re now part of a community. They will make friends, ⁠who&#39;d support them and this is the human connection that sport is all about.

&quot;So I tell them &#39;No pressure, you are already role models. We all look up to you. So just go there, have a good time, and express yourself through your sport.&#39; &quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-29621789985723-0/img-29621789985723-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan begin training for Asian Games men’s cricket</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630555/pakistan-begin-training-for-asian-games-mens-cricket</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630555/pakistan-begin-training-for-asian-games-mens-cricket#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:52:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ZUBAIR NAZEER KHAN]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630555</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[White-ball squad to depart for Japan on September 24; Salman Mirza rules out with thumb fracture]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s white-ball cricket squad began a four-day training camp on Monday here at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre National Bank Stadium ahead of the men&rsquo;s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

The players worked on batting, bowling and fielding.

The camp will run through Thursday, with a practice Twenty20 match scheduled at the Oval Ground on Wednesday and a centre-wicket scenario game on Thursday. Local cricketers have also been called in to assist with the training sessions.

Five players including Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz and Sufiyan Muqeem will join soon as they have now completed their CPL stint in the West Indies.

Fast bowler Mohammad Salman Mirza has been ruled out after suffering a fracture to his left thumb. Mohammad Wasim Junior has been called up as his replacement in the 15-member squad.

Pakistan are scheduled to leave for Japan around midnight on September 24, with a 21-member travelling party.

The squad is led by Sahibzada Farhan, with Abdul Samad as vice-captain. Other members include Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Khan.

Head coach Mike Hesson leads a support staff that includes bowling coach Ashley Noffke, fielding coach Shane McDermott, physiotherapist Mohammad Tahir, trainer Imranullah and analyst Usman Hashmi.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-29611789984564-0/img-29611789984564-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PSG beat 10-man Marseille in Ligue 1</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630554/psg-beat-10-man-marseille-in-ligue-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630554/psg-beat-10-man-marseille-in-ligue-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:43:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630554</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Torres and Marquinhos score in a 2-1 victory]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Ferran Torres continued the impressive start to his Paris Saint-Germain career by scoring the opener as the French and European champions won 2-1 at bitter rivals Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Spain World Cup final hero Torres came off the bench to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia just before the hour mark and headed in a Desire Doue cross to give PSG the lead in the 66th minute at the Velodrome.

That brought the game to life, with England midfielder Angel Gomes scoring an excellent equaliser for Marseille on 72 minutes only for PSG captain Marquinhos to win the game for the visitors three minutes later.

The Brazilian defender met a Nuno Mendes cross and had his initial effort saved by Marseille goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange before bundling in the rebound.

United States star Timothy Weah, a former PSG player, was then sent off for a second booking as Marseille finished the game a man down.

Torres scored PSG&#39;s winning goal in Brest last weekend and now has seven goals in six appearances in all competitions since joining the reigning European champions from Barcelona. He has only started three times.

&quot;We knew that for us it was one of the most important matches of the season. We knew it wouldn&#39;t be easy but we managed to get the victory,&quot; Torres said at full-time, with PSG now up to sixth in the table, five points behind leaders Monaco after five fixtures.

&quot;Now we can go away and play for our countries and disconnect from club football for a bit.&quot;

Torres, whose extra-time goal gave Spain victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in the United States in July, is in the squad as La Roja play their first game since that tournament away to England in the UEFA Nations League next weekend.

Struggling Marseille have now suffered four straight Ligue 1 defeats, and five losses in a row in all competitions. They therefore find themselves in the relegation zone as club football takes a three-week break.

Monaco extended their unbeaten start to the campaign by beating Lens 2-1 on Friday, and the principality side are two points clear at the top of Ligue 1 from both Lyon and Paris FC.

Lyon hammered Rennes 4-0 on Saturday, while Paris FC won 2-1 against Strasbourg.&nbsp;

Lille missed the opportunity to move level on points again with Monaco as they lost 2-1 at Nice on Sunday.

Algerian international Mohamed Amoura got what proved to be the winner for Nice, with Japan&#39;s Ayase Ueda scoring for Lille, his third goal in four games since signing from Feyenoord.

Former Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer scored in a third straight game for Auxerre as Will Still&#39;s team defeated Brest 2-1.

Genesio rules out resignation

Marseille head coach Bruno Genesio dismissed speculation over his future on Monday after Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 at the V&eacute;lodrome to inflict a fourth consecutive defeat on his side.

&quot;There is no question of resigning,&quot; said Genesio after Sunday night&#39;s match in front of 62,000 spectators.

&quot;I&#39;ll take stock with the management, with my staff, and with the players, because for now what matters to me is helping the team improve.&quot;

Genesio, who took over at Marseille in July following two years at Ligue 1 rivals Lille, added: &quot;On the team&#39;s spirit and commitment, I don&#39;t have much to criticise since the start of the season.&quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-29601789983905-0/img-29601789983905-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan carries out 'calibrated' air strikes against terrorist hideouts near Afghan border after K-P attacks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630553/pakistan-carries-out-calibrated-air-strikes-against-terrorist-hideouts-near-afghan-border-after-k-p</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630553/pakistan-carries-out-calibrated-air-strikes-against-terrorist-hideouts-near-afghan-border-after-k-p#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:30:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630553</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Over 30 terrorists killed, including suicide bombers, in operations: MoIB]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan carried out &ldquo;calibrated&rdquo; air strikes against terrorist hideouts near the Afghan border and conducted intelligence-based ground operations that killed a total of 37 terrorists following a series of deadly attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) said on Monday.

&quot;In the aftermath of recent multiple terrorist incidents inside Pakistan against the innocent people of K-P, a well-planned intelligence-based ground operation was carried out by security forces around Kohat, Hangu and Thal, followed by calibrated Air Strikes against the hideouts and safe havens of terrorist organisations responsible for these attacks, said MoIB in a statement.

The development emerged after 23 people, including 15 police personnel, were martyred in the blast at a mosque in Kohat&rsquo;s Police Lines during Friday prayers. Eight terrorists were also killed during a subsequent search and clearance operation. Later, Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers.

The ministry, in a statement, further said that on September 20, security forces conducted an intelligence-based ground operation against a group of terrorists in Kohat and Hangu districts. &quot;As a result of precise and skilful engagement, nine khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij were sent to hell, while several were injured.&quot;

&quot;Moreover, based on credible intelligence, selective targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al-khwarij and its affiliates has also been carried out in the border region with Afghanistan with precision and accuracy,&quot; it added.

The statement said three targets were destroyed in precision strikes, including a training centre for suicide bombers. It said 28 terrorists, along with several suicide bombers, were killed, while large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at the centres and hideouts were also destroyed.



In the aftermath of recent multiple terrorist incidents inside Pakistan against the innocent people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, a well planned intelligence based ground operation was carried out by security forces around Kohat, Hangu and Thal, followed by calibrated Air Strikes&hellip;
&mdash; Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) September 21, 2026


The ministry said Pakistan had always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region, but the safety and security of its citizens remained its foremost priority.

&ldquo;It is a matter of grave concern that Afghanistan continues to remain a hub of terrorism. The threat to Pakistan emanates from Afghanistan. In this context, our action precisely targeted the terrorist hubs. Maximum precautions were taken, and it was ensured that no collateral damage occurred,&rdquo; the MoIB said.

It further stated that the counterterrorism campaign, Ghazab lil Haq, being carried out by Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces and law enforcement agencies under the &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam&rdquo; framework, would continue at full pace to eliminate what it described as the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was launched in February following renewed clashes along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan.

Pakistan earlier in the year also carried out air strikes targeting camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province inside Afghanistan after a wave of attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad.

A day earlier, two officers among six security personnel were martyred in an exchange of fire between a security forces convoy and terrorists in K-P&#39;s Hangu district. Eight terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Khawarij were also killed during the exchange.

Read: No change in Pakistan&#39;s Afghan policy

In response to continued attacks across the province, Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, warned that Islamabad would respond in self-defence to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan &ldquo;as and when needed.&rdquo;

The Pakistani envoy, while addressing the UN Security Council, stated that Islamabad would not sit idle in the face of this terrorist onslaught, saying that Pakistan had made sustained efforts to alleviate the suffering of Afghans despite reservations over certain policies of the Taliban.

&ldquo;Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for numerous terrorist groups operating with impunity from its soil,&rdquo; Ahmad had said, linking Pakistan&rsquo;s security concerns to what he described as ties between the Taliban and terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). &ldquo;Over the last three years alone, more than 4,700 innocent Pakistanis have lost their lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan,&rdquo; the envoy had said.

Read More: Five years of Taliban rule defined by failures, broken promises, security risks: report

In a separate warning following the terrorist attack in Kohat, Pakistan said it had the &ldquo;will and capability&rdquo; to eliminate terror threats &ldquo;wherever they are&rdquo; and urged the international community to press the Afghan Taliban regime to take decisive action against terrorism.

Attributing the attack to &ldquo;the vilest of Khwarij with roots in Afghanistan&rdquo; the Information Ministry noted that the attack was a reminder that &ldquo;terrorism has no religion and no justification&rdquo;. It added that Islamabad had repeatedly raised &ldquo;grave concerns&rdquo; over the alleged use of Afghan territory by the banned TTP and other terrorist groups to plan and launch attacks inside the country.

&ldquo;The presence of terrorist sanctuaries, alongside their recruitment and support infrastructure in Afghanistan, poses a direct threat to Pakistan&rsquo;s security,&rdquo; the ministry had said. It added that these concerns had repeatedly been conveyed to the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors. &ldquo;They must dismantle these networks rather than deflect responsibility,&rdquo; Pakistan said.

United Nations Security Council report formally implicated the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and terrorist entities operating from Afghanistan, highlighting tactical collaboration and shared operational logistics between the groups.

Member-state reporting confirmed that BLA militants were trained alongside TTP members at facilities in Afghanistan, according to the report, which also described growing operational links among various militant groups operating across the border.

This was not the first time a UN report pointed to the threat posed by militant groups operating from Afghanistan. In 2023, a UN report also revealed that the TTP had established a new base in K-P in mid-2023, shedding light on close ties between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban, as well as between the TTP and anti-Pakistani groups and Al Qaeda.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/paf1789984334-0/paf1789984334-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PCB introduces first-ever central contracts for Pakistan U19 players</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630552/pcb-introduces-first-ever-central-contracts-for-pakistan-u19-players</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630552/pcb-introduces-first-ever-central-contracts-for-pakistan-u19-players#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:25:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630552</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Young cricketers thank PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi for rewarding England tour performance]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan U19 head coach Shahid Anwar and players have expressed their gratitude to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for introducing central contracts at the U19 level for the first time.

Anwar said Naqvi invited the U19 players after their impressive performance in England and held individual meetings with them, providing encouragement and motivation.

&ldquo;The introduction of central contracts for U19 players for the first time is a welcome step,&rdquo; Anwar said. &ldquo;It will encourage young players to improve their performances.&rdquo;

He added that rewarding good performances would boost the confidence of young cricketers, while Naqvi&rsquo;s encouragement had provided a source of strength for both the players and coaching staff.

Pakistan U19 captain Farhan Yousuf also praised the development camps held in Multan, saying they had benefited the players greatly.

&ldquo;The U19 camps in Multan have produced positive results over the past two years,&rdquo; Yousuf said, adding that meeting Naqvi had been an encouraging experience.

Aalyan Salman said the central contracts would boost players&rsquo; confidence and allow them to focus more on their cricket.

Jahangir Bilal said the contracts would also enable young players to provide financial support to their families.

Rizwanullah thanked Naqvi and the PCB for what he described as a historic initiative, adding that the announcement of rewards and central contracts had provided significant encouragement to the young cricketers.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-29551789982852-0/img-29551789982852-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>China's Xi to visit the US this week, with bilateral ties, trade, world peace on agenda</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630551/chinas-xi-to-pay-state-visit-to-us-this-week-with-world-peace-on-agenda</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630551/chinas-xi-to-pay-state-visit-to-us-this-week-with-world-peace-on-agenda#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:25:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630551</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Xi's first visit to Washington since 2015 comes as two countries seek to ease tensions over tech, strategic issues]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, Beijing confirmed on Monday, in the latest high-level effort to manage tensions between the world&rsquo;s two largest economies.

&ldquo;At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25,&rdquo; the Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement without elaborating.



At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25. pic.twitter.com/Gq3hDql3pa
&mdash; CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) September 21, 2026


The visit will be Xi&rsquo;s first state visit to the US since September 2015, when he travelled to Washington at the invitation of then-president Barack Obama. Xi later met Trump during his first term in 2017 and visited the US in 2023 for talks with then-president Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Xi has visited the United States five times since becoming China&rsquo;s president in 2013. The upcoming trip follows Trump&rsquo;s state visit to China in May, with Beijing describing the exchange of visits by the two leaders within six months as having &ldquo;historic significance&rdquo;.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Xi and Trump would hold an &ldquo;in-depth exchange of views&rdquo; on major issues concerning bilateral ties, as well as peace and development.

&ldquo;Head of state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-US relations,&rdquo; Guo said, adding that Beijing would work with Washington to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, manage differences and contribute to global peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi is expected to be received by Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to US media reports. He is also expected to be accompanied by senior Chinese business executives, including representatives of electric vehicle maker BYD and smart manufacturing company Xiaomi.

President Xi has repeatedly spoken about the importance of the relationship between China and the United States. &nbsp;&ldquo;Recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-US relations requires us to take the helm and set the right course. It is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions,&rdquo; he said during talks over the phone with&nbsp;President Trump in June 2025.

Again, during his meeting with President Trump in Busan, South Korea, in Oct 2025, he said: &ldquo;You and I are at the helm of China-US relations. In the face of winds, waves and challenges, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations.&rdquo;

The upcoming summit comes as the two countries seek to ease tensions over trade, technology and other strategic issues.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday described an eight-hour meeting with Chinese officials on trade and artificial intelligence as &ldquo;very successful&rdquo;. The talks, held in New York, involved Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Bessent said Washington had proposed a notification mechanism to address security incidents involving artificial intelligence. The two sides agreed to establish a &ldquo;US-China AI dialogue&rdquo; and meet again, he said. Greer said it was &ldquo;imperative&rdquo; for the two countries to work together.

The discussions could pave the way for agreements on trade and AI ahead of the leaders&rsquo; summit. Washington is also seeking arrangements to ensure the continued supply of rare-earth magnets and other critical minerals essential to US manufacturers.

The two sides are additionally considering an extension of their trade truce and possible guardrails for artificial intelligence development. The economic relationship gives the summit significance beyond government-to-government diplomacy. According to the US-China Business Council&rsquo;s 2025 report, US exports to China support more than 530,000 jobs across the country.

Despite years of trade tensions and talk of &ldquo;decoupling&rdquo;, economic links between the two countries remain substantial. China-US trade exceeded $570 billion in 2025, while the two economies together account for more than 40% of global GDP.

A 2026 survey of 175 US companies by the US-China Business Council found that 95% considered their operations in China somewhat or very important to maintaining their global competitiveness. The companies cited China not only as a major market but also as a manufacturing and innovation base.

The economic relationship also extends to Chinese consumers, where American brands, restaurants, films and music have become increasingly familiar parts of everyday life.

The scale of interdependence means that changes in trade and technology policy can affect manufacturers, retailers, workers and consumers in both countries. Any disruption, therefore, can have consequences extending well beyond negotiating tables and official statements.

With competing interests and persistent disagreements on trade, technology and security, Xi&rsquo;s visit is expected to test whether high-level diplomacy can keep communication open and manage differences between the two economic powers.

(With additional input from Agencies)]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/trump-xi-leaving-r1778853926-0/trump-xi-leaving-r1778853926-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Islamabad MoU opened path towards de-escalation, settlement: President Zardari</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630550/islamabad-mou-opened-path-towards-de-escalation-settlement-president-zardari</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630550/islamabad-mou-opened-path-towards-de-escalation-settlement-president-zardari#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:20:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630550</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says there can be no durable peace where the right of peoples to self-determination is denied]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[President Asif Ali Zardari said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had opened a path towards de-escalation and a negotiated settlement of the conflict between Iran and the United States, as the world community observed the International Day of Peace on Monday.

In his message on the day, observed annually on September 21, Zardari said Pakistan remained engaged in efforts to sustain dialogue and achieve durable peace for the people of the region and the wider world. He said the subsequent high-level talks at B&uuml;rgenstock, Switzerland, had carried the diplomatic effort forward by focusing on implementation of the Islamabad MoU.



Message of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the International Day of Peace (21 September 2026)

The International Day of Peace reminds us that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy, justice and full respect for international law and&hellip; pic.twitter.com/a6E0K0FxsM
&mdash; The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 20, 2026


The president said lasting peace could only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy, justice and full respect for international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

&ldquo;Pakistan remains firmly committed to international peace and security and to a strong, effective and inclusive multilateral system with the UN at its core,&rdquo; he said, reiterating that the country supported the peaceful settlement of disputes and a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention and resolution based on dialogue, diplomacy and collective action.

He highlighted that for decades, Pakistani peacekeepers had served in UN missions across the globe, helping protect civilians, support communities affected by conflict and create conditions in which peace could take root.

&ldquo;Their service, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances, reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s enduring commitment to international peace. We honour those who have given their lives in this cause and remain committed to supporting UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts,&rdquo; he added.

President Zardari said Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Iran and the United States had been acknowledged internationally.

Read: Leaders stress dialogue for lasting peace

The president said the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2788, sponsored by Pakistan during its presidency of the Council last year, had been a significant reaffirmation of the Security Council&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

He reaffirmed that Pakistan believed there could be no durable peace where the right of peoples to self-determination was denied, and Security Council resolutions remained unimplemented, including in situations of foreign occupation such as Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The president said this year&rsquo;s International Day of Peace theme, &ldquo;Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day&rdquo;, reminded the world that peace required sustained efforts at every level.

On the Day of Peace, he called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibility by upholding the UN Charter, respecting international law and promoting just and durable resolutions of disputes through peaceful means.

&ldquo;We call for continued support for de-escalation in West Asia and beyond. Pakistan stands ready as a trusted partner in this collective endeavour for a more peaceful and prosperous world,&rdquo; President Zardari remarked.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/zardari1762619063-0/zardari1762619063-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid passes away at 76, Dubai declares 10-day mourning</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630549/sheikh-ahmed-bin-rashid-passes-away-at-76-dubai-declares-10-day-mourning</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630549/sheikh-ahmed-bin-rashid-passes-away-at-76-dubai-declares-10-day-mourning#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:17:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630549</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Flags to be flown at half-mast across the Emirate beginning on Monday for the duration of mourning]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a senior member of Dubai&rsquo;s ruling family and a prominent figure in the emirate&rsquo;s military, sporting and maritime history, has died at the age of 76, according to Khaleej Times, citing the Dubai Media Office.

Dubai declared an official 10-day mourning period beginning on Monday, with flags to be flown at half-mast across the emirate.



BREAKING: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum passes away; 10-day mourning declared in Dubaihttps://t.co/VUoT29VJeL pic.twitter.com/YDXJczEQwV
&mdash; Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) September 21, 2026


Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, mourned his brother and paid tribute to him in a message shared on social media.

&ldquo;May God have mercy on Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. May God have mercy on you, my brother. You have settled with a Generous and Great Lord. You are absent from our eyes but not from our prayers and hearts, O Ahmed.



رحم الله الشيخ أحمد بن راشد آل مكتوم..

رحمك الله يا أخي &hellip; حللت عند رب كريم عظيم .. تغيب عن أعيننا ولا تغيب عن دعائنا وقلوبنا يا أحمد.

أسكنك الله فسيح جنانه .. وألهمنا وأحبابك الصبر والسلوان.. وإنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون . pic.twitter.com/asvSZAb4BL
&mdash; HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 21, 2026


&ldquo;May God make you dwell in the vast expanses of His Paradise and inspire us and your loved ones with patience and solace. And to God we belong, and to Him we shall return.&rdquo;

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed offered his condolences to the Dubai Ruler on the passing of his brother.



I extend my sincere condolences to Mohammed bin Rashid on the passing of his brother Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose longstanding contributions to the development of the UAE since its founding continue to inspire our nation&rsquo;s journey of progress. May God rest his soul&hellip; pic.twitter.com/kR3ZqSHsnK
&mdash; محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) September 21, 2026


He said that Sheikh Ahmed&#39;s longstanding contributions to the UAE&rsquo;s development since the country&rsquo;s founding will &#39;continue to inspire the nation&rsquo;s journey of progress&#39;.

The late Sheikh Ahmed was the fourth and youngest son of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the former Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai. He served as Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Public Services and was president of Al Wasl Sports Club for around six decades, according to Khaleej Times.

A graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Sheikh Ahmed went on to serve in Dubai&rsquo;s Central Military Region, eventually becoming its commander-in-chief. He was also closely associated with the development of horse racing in the UAE, including the establishment of Jebel Ali Racecourse and the Dubai Horse Racing Centre.

His contribution extended to maritime sports. He was involved in establishing the Dubai International Marine Club and became its first chairman in 1988, later playing a role in the establishment of the Victory Team in 1989.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered condolences to Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, while Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum paid tribute to his late uncle. Sheikh Mohammed also mourned his brother in a message shared on social media.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-11789982985-0/untitled-design-11789982985-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi under investigation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630548/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630548/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:03:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630548</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[French prosecutors examine his role in a TV rights deal]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Nasser al-Khelaifi, the Qatari president of French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is under investigation in France on suspicion of an illegal conflict of interest, prosecutors in Paris said on Sunday.

The preliminary probe is linked to his twin stewardship of the Champions League title holders and the beIN Media Group and involves a meeting on broadcasting rights with the French football league&#39;s representatives in July 2024, the prosecutor&#39;s office said, confirming a report in L&#39;Equipe sports newspaper.

The meeting was held the day after beIN Sports made a 100-million-euro ($115-million) offer for rights to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per week. France&#39;s professional football league later accepted the beIN offer.

The latest investigation into al-Khelaifi was launched in April after a tip-off from the anti-graft Anticor association, with proceedings entrusted to the anti-corruption and finance police.

According to a source close to the case, Anticor alleges that al-Khelaifi took part in discussions on the validation of beIN Sports&#39; bid despite also serving as chairman of beIN Media Group, creating a conflict of interest.

Anticor also alleges that al-Khelaifi exerted pressure on other Ligue 1 club presidents to support the beIN Sports proposal, the source said.

Al-Khelaifi&#39;s lawyer, Renaud Semerdjian, rejected the claims.

&quot;The allegations made against Mr Nasser al-Khelaifi are without basis, neither legally nor factually,&quot; he told AFP.

The lawyer said his client had &quot;always acted in an independent, impartial and objective manner&quot;.

The PSG chief, who has led the French Ligue 1 champions since its 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments with the dream of making the team Europe&#39;s best, has faced several legal cases in recent years.

In February 2025, he was charged with complicity in abuse of power concerning shareholder voting at a company.

Previous charges against Al-Khelaifi for alleged corruption over Qatar&#39;s bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships were definitively annulled in mid-February 2023 by France&#39;s Court of Cassation, which ruled the French justice system did not have the right to prosecute him.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-29541789981494-0/img-29541789981494-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>US has deported 25,000 to third countries under secretive deals: report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630547/us-has-deported-25000-to-third-countries-under-secretive-deals-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630547/us-has-deported-25000-to-third-countries-under-secretive-deals-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 09:00:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630547</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Trump administration strikes agreements with 35 countries, with at least $410m earmarked to support deportation deals]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The United States has deported more than 25,000 people under secretive agreements with 35 countries to take migrants with no ties to those nations, according to an investigation published Monday.

Since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Washington has been signing deals with developing countries to take migrants who cannot legally be sent home. The investigation by Forbidden Stories found the administration has earmarked $410 million to be paid directly to the receiving countries, or to United Nations agencies to facilitate the returns.

At least 25,447 people had already been deported to third countries by August 31, 2026, according to data compiled by Forbidden Stories with a consortium of international journalists. The vast majority &ndash;&nbsp;around 20,000 &ndash; were sent to Mexico, but the rest were dispersed to 27 other countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, and agreements have been finalised with seven more.

The deals vary, including over which nationalities can be deported and whether people with criminal records can be accepted.

An AFP investigation earlier this year found Washington is using visa bans and restrictions on African countries to strongarm them into accepting deportees. Lawyers told AFP that deportees were being thrown into a &quot;legal black hole&quot;, held without charge in countries where they have no ties and few if any rights.

Read:&nbsp;Afghan woman deported from US in first use of secretive terrorism court

Forbidden Stories said 49 of Africa&#39;s 54 countries had been approached about accepting third-country deportees.

A little-known State Department division called the Office of Remigration, created in May 2025, has handled most of the negotiations and payments, according to Forbidden Stories. The office is headed by Christian Jove Ehrhardt, a 41-year-old diplomat who previously worked as a security officer.

The report details his visits to Cameroon, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the US in December on accepting deportees. A week later, it also signed a five-year health assistance programme worth nearly $400 million.

The following month, the State Department said it would provide a further $30 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cameroon to &quot;facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and combat illegal immigration.&quot; The first plane carrying deportees arrived in Cameroon on January 14.

Read More:&nbsp;Far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos deported to UK

Other agreements have involved direct payments to governments.

Palau, a small Pacific island nation with a population of under 18,000, signed an agreement in December 2025 to accept up to 75 third-country nationals in return for $7.5 million. However, only three people have so far been sent under the agreement.

In Eswatini, 32 people have arrived since July 2025 out of a possible 160 under an agreement worth more than $5 million. It has accepted deportees with criminal records, the investigation found.

Of the $410 million planned for the agreements, internal State Department records showed that $81 million was earmarked for signatory governments. The rest was intended for aid organisations, including more than $178 million for the UN&#39;s International Organisation for Migration, and $123 million for UNHCR.

The agencies have faced criticism over their involvement, although UNHCR told Forbidden Stories that it was not party to the bilateral agreements and that US funding was being used in line with its mandate to strengthen asylum systems.

An IOM spokesperson told Forbidden Stories that the agency&#39;s decisions to accept funding rested &quot;on a single question: whether our engagement will improve the lives of the migrants affected. In these instances, we believe strongly it does.&quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/us-migrants1789981536-0/us-migrants1789981536-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan crush Malaysia 65-22 in Asian Games men’s kabaddi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630545/pakistan-crush-malaysia-65-22-in-asian-games-mens-kabaddi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630545/pakistan-crush-malaysia-65-22-in-asian-games-mens-kabaddi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 08:47:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630545</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Green-shirts dominate opening Group B match in Nagoya]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan opened their men&rsquo;s team campaign at the Asian Games kabaddi in Nagoya with a commanding 65-22 victory over Malaysia on Monday.

Pakistan led 38-11 at halftime before extending their advantage in the second half to complete a 43-point win at Tokai Citizen Gymnasium.

Pakistan&rsquo;s defence and attacking play kept Malaysia under sustained pressure. . Malaysia managed four bonus points, while Pakistan also recorded one super-tackle point.

The result gives Pakistan a strong start in Group B, with their next match against Nepal scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Pakistan will face Nepal at 9:30 am on Tuesday before meeting Thailand on September 23 and Iran on September 24. Malaysia, meanwhile, will play Thailand on Tuesday before facing Iran and Nepal later in the group stage.&nbsp;

The Group A carries India, South Korea, japan and Bangladesh. Top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals.

India will defend the title.

India had defeated Iran 42-32 in the final of the 2023 Asian Games held in Hangzhou. Pakistan had clinched bronze medal in the previous edition.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/9384437a-c220-4d02-98ef-2c69c0c003a11789980555-0/9384437a-c220-4d02-98ef-2c69c0c003a11789980555-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Falcons clinch maiden CPL title</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630544/falcons-clinch-maiden-cpl-title</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630544/falcons-clinch-maiden-cpl-title#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 08:42:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630544</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sufyan Moqim’s four-wicket haul and an unbeaten 89-run stand guide the Falcons to an eight-wicket final victory]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Antigua and Barbuda Falcons claimed their maiden Caribbean Premier League title in just their third season after beating tournament debutants Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets in Sunday&rsquo;s final in Bridgetown.

Sufyan Moqim took 4-14 to restrict the Kingsmen to 170-9 despite a sensational 114 from Maaz Sadaqat, before Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz completed a comfortable chase with 20 balls to spare.

Sadaqat&rsquo;s 58-ball assault featured nine sixes and eight fours, accounting for more than half of the Kingsmen&rsquo;s total. Saim Ayub&rsquo;s 29 was the only other significant contribution, with three of the top six dismissed for ducks.

The Kingsmen appeared set for a much bigger total after losing Kirk McKenzie for a four-ball duck in the opening over and Keacy Carty for nine in the fourth.

Sadaqat and Ayub then put on 80 for the third wicket, taking the Kingsmen from 30-2 to 110-2 as the scoring rate hovered around 10 an over.

But Moqim turned the innings on its head in the 12th over, removing Ayub and Rovman Powell in quick succession. The Kingsmen collapsed from 110-2 to 113-6 over three overs.

Sadaqat continued attacking until he fell off the penultimate ball, but the damage was done as the Kingsmen finished on 170-9.

The Falcons made light work of the target from the outset. Rahkeem Cornwall smashed two fours and two sixes in a 20-run opening over from Ayub before being bowled by the final delivery.

Evin Lewis and Jangoo then added 64 for the second wicket to put the chase firmly in control. Lewis departed for 38 with the Falcons already close to halfway to their target and more than 12 overs remaining.

Jangoo and Nawaz finished the job in style, combining for an unbeaten 89-run partnership featuring seven fours and six sixes.

Jangoo ended on 57 not out and Nawaz 47 not out, with the result beyond doubt with four overs remaining. Nawaz then sealed the title with two sixes in the 17th over.

Falcons allrounder Shadab Khan was named tournament MVP after scoring 132 runs and taking 11 wickets.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-29511789980247-0/img-29511789980247-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Bodies of two missing FC personnel recovered in Bannu</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630543/bodies-of-two-missing-fc-personnel-recovered-in-bannu</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2630543/bodies-of-two-missing-fc-personnel-recovered-in-bannu#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 26 08:42:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Nasruminallah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2630543</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The deceased personnel were identified as Havaldar Ishaq and Sepoy Umar Hayat, both belonging to Platoon No 59]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The bodies of two Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel who went missing from the Saifan Kozi Khel area of Kuram Garhi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Sunday evening were recovered from the Kamali graveyard in Palosi, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Nahid Khan said on Monday.

The deceased personnel were identified as Havaldar Ishaq and Sepoy Umar Hayat, both belonging to Platoon No 59.

Police confirmed that the two FC personnel, identified as Havaldar Ishaq and Sepoy Umar Hayat, had gone missing from Saifan Kozi Khel within the jurisdiction of Cantt police station, and that an investigation into the incident was initiated.

Later, the bodies of the two personnel were recovered from the Komali graveyard in Palosi. Rescue 1122 teams shifted the bodies for identification and completion of legal formalities, the spokesperson said.

Following the incident, security was tightened in the area, while a search for the unidentified assailants involved in the abduction and killing of the two personnel was launched.

According to sources, the two FC personnel were allegedly taken away by unidentified armed men from Saifan Kozi Khel in the Karam Garhi area on Sunday evening, following which a search operation was launched for them.

Read: 15 police personnel among 21 martyred in Kohat Police Lines terrorist attack; over 100 injured

The security situation in Bannu has remained under considerable pressure in recent weeks, with police, FC and other security personnel coming under attack in different parts of the district.

Earlier this month, an Elite Force constable, Ahmadullah, was killed in a firing incident within the jurisdiction of Cantt police station. In another incident in the Paing area of Domel, a civilian was killed during an exchange of fire between members of a peace committee and armed men.

Similarly, a recent alleged quadcopter attack in the Hathi Khel area of Wazir subdivision left a woman and another civilian dead and two others injured. Police and security personnel, including the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Elite Force and members of a local peace committee, subsequently conducted an operation in the area. Police claimed that a suspected militant was also killed during the operation.

Meanwhile, authorities have also been considering additional security arrangements for the protection of vital installations in Bannu and Lakki Marwat. The provincial government had recently sought additional FC platoons for the protection of important installations in the two districts.

The latest incident once again highlighted security challenges in rural and sensitive areas of Bannu, particularly the movement and protection of security personnel and the need for effective measures to counter militant activity.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rescue-1122-ambulance1724302683-0/rescue-1122-ambulance1724302683-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item>	</channel>
                </rss>
