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                        <title>Latest News, Breaking News &amp; Top News Stories | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Petroleum dealers announce closure of pumps nationwide from Aug 15</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623291/petroleum-dealers-announce-closure-of-pumps-nationwide-from-aug-15</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623291/petroleum-dealers-announce-closure-of-pumps-nationwide-from-aug-15#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 10:11:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Ehtesham Mufti]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623291</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has given the government 72-hour ultimatum to solve their issues]]>
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				<![CDATA[Petroleum dealers in Pakistan on Tuesday announced a shutdown of petrol pumps nationwide from Aug 15 for an indefinite period, following a wheel-jam strike by goods transporters across the country.

A day earlier, negotiations between the government and goods transporters failed to yield a breakthrough, with the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance announcing that the ongoing strike would continue.&nbsp;Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said that despite detailed talks with representatives of the federal and Sindh governments, a deadlock persists and no concrete progress has been made on the transporters&#39; demands.&nbsp;

Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Chairman Malik Khuda Baksh, during a press conference today alongside other association office-bearers, said the decision was taken after a meeting of dealers from across the country.

The chairman said, &quot;The association has given the government a 72-hour ultimatum and warned that dealers will not be able to continue operating petrol pumps if their demands are not accepted&quot;.

Read: Petrol pump owners announce nationwide shutdown after talks with govt fail

&quot;The dealers are demanding an 8% margin on petrol.&nbsp;Our patience has run out,&rdquo; Baksh said, adding that the association was under pressure from its 14,000 members.

He said petrol pumps would remain closed until the dealers&rsquo; demands were met. The chairman said the government had been given two weeks to address their demands and that the deadline had expired.

He said the association had subsequently informed the government through a letter that it was facing pressure from 14,000 dealers.

&ldquo;We withdrew the strike 15 days ago on ethical grounds because we believed the government was serious,&rdquo; he said.

Read More: Dealers seek 8% margin amid daily fuel pricing

On July 22, All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) postponed its planned nationwide shutdown for two weeks following successful negotiations with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who assured dealers that their long-pending concerns would be addressed.

&nbsp;APPPOA&nbsp;had also urged the Ministry of Petroleum to review the existing mechanism for determining fuel prices, expressing concern over delays in&nbsp;implementing decisions agreed&nbsp;between the government and petrol pump owners.&nbsp;In a letter to the petroleum minister sent on August 7, the association&rsquo;s vice chairman called for a review of the policy under which fuel prices are determined on a daily basis.]]>
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			<title>'This regime does not want educated people': Afghan fathers grieve daughters' lost education</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623290/this-regime-does-not-want-educated-people-afghan-fathers-grieve-daughters-lost-education</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623290/this-regime-does-not-want-educated-people-afghan-fathers-grieve-daughters-lost-education#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 10:10:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623290</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[UN estimates one million girls affected by restrictions as fathers seek underground schools, computer courses]]>
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				<![CDATA[Father after father AFP spoke to in Afghanistan about the education ban that stops their daughters going beyond primary school choked up in despair.

The pain and anguish it is causing behind closed doors is clear from interviews AFP conducted across the country, with even deeply religious fathers questioning the ruling.

The Taliban authorities justify the ban - the only one of its kind in the world - on their interpretation of Islamic law.

But &quot;you will never find in the Quran that education is only for men,&quot; said one devout father, while another - who praised the Taliban government for restoring security and reducing corruption - said he couldn&#39;t &quot;find any proper justification for this&quot;.

All the men - whose identities AFP is protecting - described the emotional turmoil the bar is causing, with fathers losing sleep over what to do to help their bright and frustrated daughters.

Read:&nbsp;Afghanistan female dress-code crackdown hits trade

Nine out of 10 Afghan men questioned in a United Nations survey last year said it was important for girls to go to secondary school, with nearly two thirds considering it &quot;pious&quot; for a father to support his daughter&#39;s education. Some men have gone to prison for protesting the ban.

Girls were barred from secondary schools in March 2022 after the Taliban authorities returned to power, with universities closed to young women later that year. The Taliban government did not respond to AFP questions about the ban.

Officials insist the ban is temporary. But after more than four years, the UN reckons &quot;at least one million girls have been directly affected by the restrictions on secondary education&quot;.

Dreaded day approaches

Engineer Ahmad -&nbsp;whose wife is a secondary school maths professor who is no longer allowed to teach -&nbsp;said he never imagined that &quot;one day my daughters would be illiterate&quot;.

The father of four girls said &quot;stopping at the sixth grade&quot; will leave them effectively &quot;illiterate&quot; for the demands of &quot;the 21st century&quot;.

&quot;Every day and every night, my wife and I...are getting closer to the moment when our daughters will have to stay home,&quot; he said.

With his eldest nearing the end of her time in primary school - and clandestine courses in their northern city costing more than half his salary -&nbsp;he sees no option but to leave.

As an ex-employee of an international organisation, he was well on track to get his family to the United States before President Donald Trump slammed that door shut. Despite European countries regularly denouncing the restrictions Afghanistan puts on women, Sweden, Denmark and Germany have also refused them visas.

The children &quot;do not know that we are losing our hope,&quot; Ahmad, 40, told AFP, adding that leaving illegally was &quot;too risky&quot;.

&quot;Every day&quot; the children ask, &quot;&#39;When do we leave?&#39;&quot; They try to keep their spirits up whatever way they can. Their eldest might fail her final year after breaking a bone during her exams. &quot;She was sad, but I said to her: &#39;If you have to repeat, you&#39;ll have an extra year at school.&#39;&quot;

They can&#39;t go abroad

Mohammad, a doctor in a small town in Kabul province, said he always dreamed of sending his two daughters to one of the best universities.

&quot;For the development of Afghanistan we need women, not only for the home,&quot; he said.

His two daughters - aged 12 and 14 - are in their last year of primary, the older one having started school later.

For the last four years he has been trying to come up with ways around the ban -&nbsp;including sending them to school in neighbouring Pakistan, now impossible since the land border was sealed after hostilities intensified between the two countries.

Then he was told about a school that secretly teaches general subjects alongside its religious curriculum. &quot;It&#39;s a private school&quot; that charges higher fees of &quot;around 10,000 Afghanis ($153)&quot; a month for the two girls because &quot;they are taking more risk&quot;. And there is no graduation certificate.

But Mohammad is afraid officials might inspect the school and &quot;take my daughters into custody&quot;.

&quot;The most important...is that they go on learning,&quot; the 42-year-old told AFP, adding that he told his daughters: &quot;&#39;While I&#39;m alive, I will find a solution for your education.&#39;&quot;

&#39;How can I learn?&#39;

N -&nbsp;who only wanted to be identified by an initial -&nbsp;is from Kandahar province in the south, a bastion of the Taliban movement, where he said girls can be excluded from school even before the end of primary if they are tall.

He has three sons and a 12-year-old daughter. She &quot;is very interested in astronomy. The other day, she did a collage of the solar system. She asked me a lot of questions, on gravity for example, and I told her that...&#39;You will learn.&#39;

&quot;&#39;How can I learn...if I cannot go beyond grade six,&#39; she told me.&quot;

Read More:&nbsp;Taliban&#39;s new marriage separation decree draws UN criticism

He moved his family to Kabul to find work and told AFP that &quot;we have to be patient&quot; and explore ways around the &quot;poison&quot; of the ban, like underground schools and online design or computer courses. &quot;Now I am working, I can afford the education of my children. But the opportunities are decreasing day by day and I may not be able to support that,&quot; with international aid also dwindling, he said.

In the meantime, he tries to shield his daughter, with her school days already numbered. &quot;She does not know that there is this other stress on us,&quot; he said.

&#39;I hide to cry&#39;

It was a feast day and everyone was celebrating, but M&#39;s daughter stayed in her room crying. At 13 she could no longer go to school.

&quot;Beside the school (ban), girls are not allowed to go to parks for sightseeing or refreshments, it&#39;s really stressful,&quot; M told AFP, clearly shaken by his child&#39;s plight. He tries to take her to a restaurant once a week just to get her out.

A devout logistics manager from a poor background, he worked hard to educate and improve himself, and praises the Taliban authorities for restoring security and fighting corruption. But &quot;I cannot find any proper justification for&quot; barring girls from secondary education, he said.

&quot;Sometimes when she gets so disappointed at home,&quot; he cannot bear it, he admitted. &quot;I go to another room and...I hide to cry.&quot;

M wants his daughter to go to university, and saved every cent so they could move to Iran so she could study there. But the war put an end to that.

So she could have some &quot;social interactions&quot;, he enrolled her in a Quranic school, &quot;because staying at home all the time is stressful.&quot; However, recently she has refused to go. &quot;Even if I continue, there will be no future for me,&quot; she told him.

Home schooling

&quot;My daughter and her classmates were in a very bad mood&quot; on the last day of primary school. &quot;It was tragic,&quot; said Nasir, who had already witnessed the pain his 15-year-old went through when her education was cut short.

The trophies the girls won for excellence at school sit alongside the books on the shelves of the home library he and his wife, a teacher, have proudly put together for them. They tutor their daughters at home with secondhand high school textbooks they salvaged, making them stick to a strict weekday routine going &quot;early to bed, wake up at the same time as if you were going to school.&quot;

But alone in the living room, Nasir, 47, confided that his younger daughter &quot;is depressed and does not always have strong morale to continue learning on her own at home.&quot; He gives her novels to soften the blow, as she loves to read.

The girls - who help others in their building with their homework - have recently started going to classes outside in secret.

&quot;We have sleepless nights&quot; about it all, Nasir admitted. &quot;This regime does not want educated people,&quot; he sighed. &quot;When will we go back to a normal life?&quot;]]>
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			<title>Syria sentences absent Bashar al-Assad to death over killings, torture</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623288/syria-sentences-absent-bashar-al-assad-to-death-over-killings-torture</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623288/syria-sentences-absent-bashar-al-assad-to-death-over-killings-torture#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 09:59:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623288</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court hands down first conviction against ousted leader as security official Atef Najib also sentenced to death]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death on Tuesday after a trial in absentia, convicting him of crimes&nbsp;including killings, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country&#39;s nearly 14-year war.

It was the first conviction against Assad, who was ousted in a rebel offensive in December 2024 that ended decades of his family&#39;s iron-fisted rule over Syria, and the brutal war that killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

Assad fled the capital Damascus as rebel fighters approached nearly two years ago, and is currently in Moscow.

In a trial of former government officials on Tuesday, a judge handed down a death sentence to Assad over the crimes of &quot;premeditated and intentional murder of more than one person and of children, torture, arbitrary arrest and crimes against humanity&quot;.

Read:&nbsp;Trump removes Syria from terror list

Atef Najib, a security official under Assad, was also sentenced to death.

Assad, who was born in 1965, became president in 2000 after his father Hafez died. He maintained the family&#39;s rule and the dominance of their Alawite sect in the Sunni Muslim-majority country and Syria&#39;s status as an Iranian ally hostile to Israel and the United States.

Shaped in its early years by the Iraq war and crisis in Lebanon, Assad&#39;s rule was defined by civil war, which spiralled out of the 2011 Arab Spring, when Syrians demanding democracy took to the streets, to be met with deadly force.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan women whip South Korea in Asian netball</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623284/pakistan-women-whip-south-korea-in-asian-netball</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623284/pakistan-women-whip-south-korea-in-asian-netball#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 08:58:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623284</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Green-shirts seal 72-23 victory in Hong Kong]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan women&rsquo;s netball team produced an impressive performance in Hong Kong, whipping South Korea 72-23, their second win from three matches in the plate division of the Asian Women&rsquo;s Netball Championship.

Pakistan dominated proceedings from the outset, displaying excellent teamwork, discipline and determination throughout the match. Pakistan maintained control of the contest with a well-organised attacking approach and a solid defensive effort, eventually securing a comprehensive 49-point victory.

Lia Raza Shah, Farah, Noor-ul-Ain and Samaya were among the standout performers for Pakistan, making valuable contributions to the team&rsquo;s commanding display.

Pakistan&rsquo;s players showed strong coordination and composure as they built their lead, while their defensive organisation kept South Korea under sustained pressure. Despite attempts by the South Korean side to fight back, Pakistan remained firmly in control and continued to extend their advantage until the final whistle.

The emphatic victory will provide a significant boost to Pakistan&rsquo;s confidence as the team continues its campaign in the tournament. The Green-shirts will now look to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures.

Pakistan had downed Japan in their first show. The brigade will now face Chinese Taipei in their next encounter on Wednesday and if they win it the it would help them secure a final spot in the plate division, featuring five teams.

The winners of the plate division will promote to the Cup Division in the next year&rsquo;s edition as the side which will finish sixth in the Cup division in this event will demote to the plate division.]]>
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			<title>Cambridge announces AS, A-Level results for June 2026 examinations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623283/cambridge-announces-as-a-level-results-for-june-2026-examinations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623283/cambridge-announces-as-a-level-results-for-june-2026-examinations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 08:30:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AYESHA KHAN]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623283</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lauds students for sitting exams amid regional tensions, uncertainty and disruption]]>
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				<![CDATA[More than 100,000 students from over 850 schools across Pakistan received their Cambridge International results on Tuesday, with the June 2026 examination series results being released worldwide, according to a press release issued by Cambridge International Education.

Cambridge said almost 368,000 students worldwide received their International AS &amp; A Level results, while more than 100,000 students in Pakistan had appeared for the June examination series for Cambridge International AS &amp; A Level, O Level and IGCSE. Physics, Mathematics, Business, Chemistry and Computer Science were among the most popular subjects in Pakistan, the press release said.

&ldquo;Congratulations to all our students receiving results today and next week,&rdquo; Rod Smith, Group Managing Director for International Education at Cambridge, said in the press release.

Smith said more students were turning to AS &amp; A Levels because they combined &ldquo;deep subject knowledge&rdquo; with skills valued by universities and employers.

&ldquo;This year&#39;s continued growth shows just how clearly that combination resonates in a world being reshaped by AI,&rdquo; he said, adding that Cambridge International AS &amp; A Levels would become &ldquo;increasingly important&rdquo; in the years ahead.

{{pdf}}

Cambridge&rsquo;s Country Director for Pakistan, Uzma Yousuf, said the results were particularly significant given the circumstances in which some students had prepared for their examinations. &ldquo;Congratulations to all our learners receiving their results this week. This has not been an ordinary year,&rdquo; Yousuf said.

&ldquo;Some students prepared for their examinations against a backdrop of regional tensions, uncertainty and disruption, which makes today&#39;s achievement even more meaningful,&rdquo; she added.

Read: Govt takes notice after another Cambridge Maths paper allegedly leaks

Yousuf encouraged students to celebrate their achievements and thanked &ldquo;the teachers, parents and school communities across Pakistan&rdquo; for supporting learners throughout the examination process.

&ldquo;At Cambridge, we believe education is about more than examination results,&rdquo; Yousuf said. &ldquo;It&#39;s about helping young people build the knowledge, confidence and skills to thrive at university, in their careers, and in life.&rdquo;

She said Cambridge would continue to support students through changes in assessment, including its digital exams pilot and modular assessment options at A Level, while offering greater &ldquo;inclusivity and flexibility&rdquo; in learning and assessment.

According to the press release, Cambridge International AS &amp; A Levels were recognised by universities, organisations and government stakeholders worldwide. It cited new UCAS application data showing that 98% of Cambridge International A Level students who applied to UK universities in the 2025 cycle received at least one offer of a place.

Smith said Cambridge qualifications could also allow students to remain in their home countries while pursuing an internationally recognised route to higher education.

&ldquo;International education with Cambridge is as international as necessary, but as local as possible,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Whether students choose to study at home or abroad, Cambridge international qualifications open doors to opportunity and prepare learners for success in a rapidly changing world.&rdquo;

Cambridge said results for the June 2026 IGCSE and O Level examinations would be released to more than 315,000 students worldwide on August 18.

The release of the results came against the backdrop of repeated concerns over the security of Cambridge examinations in Pakistan during the 2026 examination session. In April, a Cambridge A-Level Mathematics paper was reportedly leaked ahead of its scheduled examination, prompting Cambridge to cancel the paper and announce a retake.

Another AS Level Mathematics paper was subsequently cancelled after it was also leaked, while students later reported that a further Mathematics paper had circulated online before the examination. The incidents prompted the federal education ministry to call for an investigation and stronger measures to protect the integrity of the examination system. Cambridge had said it investigated all allegations of leaks and advised students and parents to rely on its official statements.]]>
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			<title>Colombia rescue efforts press on after quake, death toll expected to rise</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623281/colombia-rescue-efforts-press-on-after-quake-death-toll-expected-to-rise</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623281/colombia-rescue-efforts-press-on-after-quake-death-toll-expected-to-rise#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 08:20:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623281</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Cali hospital collapse traps patients, forces 600 onto rubble-strewn street as 164 dead, 1,000 troops deployed]]>
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				<![CDATA[Rescue&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;across western&nbsp;Colombia&nbsp;carried into a second day on Tuesday as emergency workers dug through collapsed buildings and flattened homes, amid expectations that the&nbsp;death&nbsp;toll&nbsp;from the country&#39;s most powerful earthquake&nbsp;in decades could&nbsp;rise.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake&nbsp;tore through&nbsp;Colombia&#39;s coffee-growing heartland early on Monday,&nbsp;killing at least 164 people. The&nbsp;quake&nbsp;reduced multi-story buildings to rubble in cities such as Pereira and Cali, and cracked apart one of the towers of a historic cathedral in the city of Manizales.

Emergency teams aided by police, soldiers and volunteers worked through the night with excavators and, at times, their bare hands, hunting for survivors beneath debris.

In Cali, home to about 2.2 million people,&nbsp;at least 85 people were killed. Dozens of buildings were left leaning precariously or destroyed outright, forcing residents into the streets.

Several of the top floors of one of the city&#39;s hospitals - some dedicated to pediatric care - collapsed upon themselves, leaving some patients trapped and forcing some 600 others to be tended to on a street strewn with rubble, hospital director Irne Torres Castro told Caracol television.

Carmen Yasmin Garcia, 43, a Cali resident volunteering with&nbsp;rescue&nbsp;teams, said on Monday&nbsp;afternoon that her group had freed seven people from a collapsed building, but four others and a dog remained trapped.

Read:&nbsp;Death toll from earthquake in southwestern Japan rises to 35

&quot;A moment ago there was scratching but now we can&#39;t hear anything, we still have faith that the dog is alive and we can get these people out,&quot; Garcia said.

&quot;We need people with sticks and spades, the more people lending a hand the better.&quot;

In Pereira, capital of the hard-hit state of Risaralda, authorities reported&nbsp;66 dead. The city also bore some of the most visible destruction, with entire residential blocks reduced to piles of concrete and twisted steel.

Video posted on social media and verified by Reuters showed the city&#39;s airport violently swaying during the&nbsp;quake, with large chunks of the ceiling collapsing as people sheltered.

Another 13 people died in Choco, the rural province closest to the&nbsp;quake&#39;s epicenter.

Security forces headed to Cali

President Abelardo De La Espriella, who assumed power just days ago, said 35 people died in Cali alone, while 188 were missing. He said 1,000 members of the security forces would be deployed to the city by dawn, following reports of looting. Cali, as well as Pereira, implemented curfews on Monday night.

&quot;Our intention is to cooperate in any way necessary. Here, there are no distinctions or ideological divisions when it comes to defending our people or showing solidarity,&quot; De La Espriella told journalists on Monday evening.

The disaster has drawn comparisons to a deadly 1999 earthquake&nbsp;that devastated the same coffee-growing region, killing more than 1,000 people, as well as to catastrophic&nbsp;quakes that killed more than 6,300 in neighbouring&nbsp;Venezuela in June.]]>
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			<title>Trump jumps in support of Infantino</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623280/trump-jumps-in-support-of-infantino</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623280/trump-jumps-in-support-of-infantino#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 08:14:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623280</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He says it would be &quot;a terrible mistake&quot; to replace the FIFA president]]>
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				<![CDATA[US President Donald Trump said on Monday it would be &quot;a terrible mistake&quot; to replace Gianni&nbsp;Infantino, the embattled FIFA president who tried, and failed, to sell off part of the World Cup to private investors.

Infantino&nbsp;came under renewed fire in an open letter signed by three confederations -- Europe&#39;s UEFA, North and Central America&#39;s CONCACAF and Asia&#39;s AFC -- accusing the world football boss of breaking trust &quot;through deception&quot;.

But Trump backed&nbsp;Infantino, who awarded the US president a &quot;FIFA Peace Prize&quot; at the World Cup draw ceremony last year.

&quot;FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni&nbsp;Infantino,&quot; Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump called&nbsp;Infantino&nbsp;&quot;fantastic&quot; and said he &quot;presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented&quot;.

&quot;If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!&quot; added Trump, who attended the World Cup final with&nbsp;Infantinolast month.

Trump&#39;s backing of&nbsp;Infantino&nbsp;is at odds with US Soccer, who joined the voices lining up against the FIFA president.

Infantino&nbsp;launched, and then withdrew in the face of scathing criticism, a plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including World Cups.

FIFA hit back on Saturday at efforts &quot;to undermine&quot; football&#39;s governing body and&nbsp;Infantino.

However, Monday&#39;s joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC retorted: &quot;Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held.

&quot;When trust is broken through deception, when an individual&nbsp;places&nbsp;himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.&quot;

UEFA boycott threat&nbsp;

CONCACAF president Victor&nbsp;Montagliani&nbsp;is viewed as a potential challenger to&nbsp;Infantino, who will be up for re-election for a fourth and final term at the FIFA Congress in March, 2027. Candidates have to be declared by November 18.

Infantino&nbsp;had looked certain to be unopposed for a fourth term after overseeing a successful World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada until his plans were revealed.

The 56-year-old Swiss, who has been in situ for 10 years, has received the backing of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) while South American governing body CONMEBOL is largely supportive.

Individual member associations, not confederations, vote in the FIFA election,

Infantino&nbsp;has received support from CONCACAF&#39;s Mexico and two AFC members -- Kuwait and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, where he has a house.

&#39;Shabby, backroom deal&#39;&nbsp;

UEFA&#39;s threat to boycott World Cups if the private investment plan went ahead proved pivotal in&nbsp;Infantino&nbsp;withdrawing his sell-off plan.

UEFA had called it &quot;a shabby, opaque, backroom deal&quot; and lashed out at&nbsp;Infantino&nbsp;again on Monday for a &quot;failure of judgment&quot;.

After the&nbsp;furore,&nbsp;Infantino&nbsp;received &quot;full support&quot; of senior FIFA directors in an emergency meeting in Morocco last week, but the three confederations said that was meaningless.

The recent meeting, where &quot;a select number of members of the FIFA Management Committee&quot; were present, they said, &quot;represents a continuation of the very pattern of conduct that brought us to this moment&quot;.

&quot;It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him.&quot;

Infantino&nbsp;had been basking in the afterglow of the largest ever World Cup involving 48 teams until his plans divided the sport.

&quot;The growth over the past decade has been real. But that progress was never the work of one individual,&quot; declared the letter.

&quot;It was the product of FIFA, the Confederations, the Member Associations, and the thousands of people who dedicate their lives to the game.

&quot;The expanded tournaments... were shared achievements, agreed together, delivered together.&quot;

Under&nbsp;Infantino&#39;s&nbsp;leadership &quot;there is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness&quot;, they said.

&quot;That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.

&quot;Football&#39;s strength has always been its unity.&quot;&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>West Indies face World Cup qualifier again</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623279/west-indies-face-world-cup-qualifier-again</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623279/west-indies-face-world-cup-qualifier-again#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 08:10:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623279</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Caribbean side missed automatic spot for 2027 showpiece]]>
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				<![CDATA[Two-time champions West Indies will have to fight their way into the 2027 ODI World Cup through the Qualifier after failing to secure automatic qualification for the third&nbsp;consecutive edition.

The Caribbean side, currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings, are unable to break into the automatic qualification places before the Sept. 30 cut-off, despite having two matches against India still to play.

Under the revised qualification system, the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings as of Sept. 30, excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup.

Afghanistan secured the final automatic qualification berth after defeating Ireland in Belfast, joining defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh in the main tournament.

South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify automatically as co-hosts.

For West Indies, however, the route to the World Cup will once again be more complicated.

Even two victories over India in their remaining ODIs would not be enough to move the Caribbean side into the top eight, leaving them with no option but to enter the World Cup Qualifier scheduled for February.

The situation will bring back difficult memories for West Indies, who were forced to take the qualifying route for the 2023 World Cup as well. Their campaign in Zimbabwe ended in disappointment when they finished fifth in the Super Six stage and failed to secure a place in the tournament.

It marked the first time in their history that West Indies failed to qualify for an ODI World Cup.

The decline in their 50-over fortunes also cost them a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Their last appearance in that tournament came in 2013.

West Indies will now have another chance to revive their World Cup hopes through the expanded qualification pathway.

The winner of the 2027 World Cup Qualifier, whose host is yet to be announced, will secure direct passage to the second round of the World Cup. The teams finishing second, third and fourth will then compete in a Super Series, with the winner of the tri-series also advancing to the second round.

The revised system, however, has attracted criticism from Associate-member nations, with concerns that the pathway provides limited opportunities for emerging teams to reach the global stage.

The World Cup Qualifier will feature 10 teams: the two lowest-ranked non-host Full Members as of Sept. 30, currently Ireland and West Indies; the top four teams from Cricket World Cup League 2; and the top four sides emerging from the World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

The playoff itself will feature the bottom four teams from League 2 and four teams from the Challenge League, the third tier of the qualification structure. Its exact format is yet to be confirmed, but four teams will advance from the playoff to the World Cup Qualifier.

The Challenge League features 12 teams divided into two groups of six. Each group will play three round-robin tournaments during the qualification cycle, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

For West Indies, the route may be longer than expected for a side with two World Cup titles and a rich history in international cricket.

But after missing the 2023 World Cup, the Caribbean team will know that another failure in the qualifying tournament could deepen concerns about their standing in the modern ODI game.

The February Qualifier will therefore represent more than just another hurdle. It will be another test of whether West Indies can reclaim their place among the world&rsquo;s leading 50-over teams.]]>
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			<title>Scotland, Netherlands criticise ICC's World Cup format changes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623278/scotland-netherlands-criticise-iccs-world-cup-format-changes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623278/scotland-netherlands-criticise-iccs-world-cup-format-changes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 08:01:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623278</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Associate nations warn the new format could hinder cricket’s global growth]]>
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				<![CDATA[Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for changing the format of the 2027 &zwnj;Men&#39;s ODI World Cup less than 18 months before the tournament.

The ICC introduced a new Super Series phase under which the teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th in the qualification process will ⁠contest a tri-series, with only one progressing to the second round, where 12 teams will be split into two groups.

The two Associate Member boards described the lack of communication as &quot;disappointing and disrespectful&quot;.

&quot;These changes represent a setback to Associate Member cricket and risk undermining the progress made in recent years to grow &zwnj;the ⁠global game,&quot; they said in a joint statement on Monday.

&quot;At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on ⁠the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message.&quot;

Associate Members are nations that ⁠belong to the ICC but do not hold Full Member status, which is reserved for the ⁠game&#39;s leading countries.

The 2027 World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.]]>
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			<title>NCCIA summons four over 'false, fabricated' allegations against Sharjeel Memon</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623277/nccia-summons-four-over-false-fabricated-allegations-against-sharjeel-memon</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623277/nccia-summons-four-over-false-fabricated-allegations-against-sharjeel-memon#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:56:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623277</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The individuals directed to appear in person before the investigating officer at the NCCIA Karachi office on August 13]]>
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				<![CDATA[The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Karachi on Tuesday issued notices to four individuals over &quot;false, fabricated and malicious propaganda&quot; against Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and his son in connection with the murder case of Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali.

The notices, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), were served on Syed Abdullah, Amin Qureshi, Bilal Warsi and Obaid Qureshi,&nbsp;directing them to appear before the agency on August 13.

According to the notices, the four individuals were directed to appear in person before the investigating officer at the NCCIA Karachi office at 11:30am on August 13. They were also asked to bring their original CNICs, relevant evidence and documents in their defence, record their statements and submit their digital devices.

The notices warned that failure to comply could lead the agency to initiate legal proceedings before the competent court.

Read: Sharjeel moves NCCIA over online &lsquo;malicious&rsquo; propaganda against him

Memon files complaint in NCCIA

Memon had approached the NCCIA on August 9 through his lawyer, Advocate Syeda Malaika Naqvi, after a series of social media posts allegedly linked him and his son to the death of young Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali.

The complaint specifically referred to four Facebook accounts and pages &mdash; Muhajir Community, Khan Zada in ALTAFI LUSHKAR Group, Karachi Beauty and Karachi Stories &mdash; and included screenshots of the material as annexures.

According to the complaint, posts, videos and statements began circulating on August 9 containing allegations that a guesthouse in Gulistan-e-Johar, where Mir Raza was allegedly tortured and killed, was owned by Memon.

Other posts allegedly claimed that Memon&rsquo;s son, Rawal, had left for London immediately after the incident and was subsequently seen moving around with a bodyguard.

The complaint also alleged that social media users had sought to create the impression that the medical board investigating the case had been changed &ldquo;overnight&rdquo;. It said Memon and his political party had further been accused of protecting individuals allegedly involved in the incident and obstructing the police investigation.

Read More: Murder charge added to Mir Raza case after re-postmortem report

Memon rejected the allegations as baseless and contrary to the facts.

The complaint also alleged that similar claims had appeared across different social media platforms in almost identical wording and around similar posting times. According to Memon&rsquo;s application, allegations concerning ownership of the guesthouse and Rawal&rsquo;s alleged departure for London had appeared in substantially similar language on at least four pages.

The complainant argued that the pattern suggested that the material was not merely the work of isolated social media users but could form part of a coordinated online campaign.

The application also called for an investigation into the possible involvement of elements associated with certain political parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, while expressing the apprehension that those behind the accounts could be using fake identities, bot networks or proxy handlers to conceal their identities.

Memon&rsquo;s complaint sought a technical and forensic investigation to identify the people operating the accounts and determine the source and links behind the alleged campaign.

It called for a forensic audit of the social media pages and accounts, including examination of IP logs, device information and SIM registration data to trace the users behind the content.

The application also asked the NCCIA to investigate possible links between those allegedly involved, the source and funding of the material, and whether the activity formed part of an organised campaign.

Memon had also expressed concern that continued circulation of the alleged content could damage his and his son&rsquo;s reputation, mental peace and personal security.]]>
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			<title>Karan Johar reflects on 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' criticism as film marks two decades</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623275/karan-johar-reflects-on-kabhi-alvida-naa-kehna-criticism-as-film-marks-two-decades</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623275/karan-johar-reflects-on-kabhi-alvida-naa-kehna-criticism-as-film-marks-two-decades#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:33:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Filmmaker recalls couple walking out mid-screening, says movie's intention was not to endorse infidelity]]>
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				<![CDATA[On the 20th anniversary of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Indian filmmaker Karan Johar reflected on the concerns and criticism surrounding the film, emphasising that his intention was never to endorse infidelity but to explore the pursuit of love.

Johar shared a message on his Instagram account, recalling the film&rsquo;s premiere and the harsh reactions and comments he received from audiences who criticised his approach to the subject of infidelity within marriage.&nbsp;He acknowledged that the film&#39;s message had been interpreted differently, but expressed hope that viewers watching it today could find lessons in the film&#39;s exploration of the boundaries within marriage and the complexities of love.

&quot;On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna&hellip;penning down some unique encounters and realisations I had, thanks to this film!&quot;&nbsp;he captioned the post.

Addressing what he described as a misconception about the film, Johar emphasised: &quot;The film did not endorse infidelity (that was never my intention) but it did show that stepping out of the boundary of marriage to seek love or desire can destroy your foundation and family. A choice (with no judgement) only we need to make.&quot;

He added that the film &quot;perhaps did that and you can hate it or love it.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;It certainly didn&rsquo;t make you feel indifferent to it. 20 years later, I meet many people who tell me they couldn&rsquo;t relate to it then but understand it better today,&quot;&nbsp;Johar wrote.





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The filmmaker also acknowledged the film&rsquo;s flaws, admitting that it was &quot;over bloated&quot;&nbsp;in scale and featured opulent, and at times unnecessary, songs that reflected his understanding of mainstream cinema at the time. However, he maintained that the film was made with the right intentions.

According to Johar, he knew that the movie was &quot;touching a raw nerve, a fact of life we as a society like to brush under value-based carpets. A reality we don&rsquo;t want thrown at us by our beloved movie stars and icons.&quot;

He noted, &quot;I don&rsquo;t deny the flaws of the film,&quot; but added that he &quot;always felt it had its heart in the right place.&quot;

Further, the filmmaker recalled the night before the film&#39;s official premiere, when he attended a preview at a cinema and witnessed a strong reaction to the work.

Recalling the incident, Johar said he had quietly gone to watch the film with an audience and was sitting behind a middle-aged couple. The filmmaker shared that at one particular scene in the film, the woman looked at her husband in shock and dropped her popcorn. The man then turned back and said in Gujarati that it was a dream sequence, but upon realising that it wasn&#39;t, looked at his wife angrily and&nbsp;signalled an immediate exit.

&quot;They left the cinema and my heart sank,&quot;&nbsp;Johar recalled.

The filmmaker also shared another&nbsp;encounter in which a mother confronted him after her daughter&rsquo;s divorce, accusing him of promoting problematic values through his films.

Johar concluded his reflection with gratitude to the cast and crew, encouraging audiences to revisit the film with a more nuanced perspective.

&quot;We want life to give us black and white solutions to all our relationship traumas, but can we look at it with a grey lens? Maybe then we will understand ourselves better, just maybe,&quot;&nbsp;he wrote.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna&nbsp;follows Dev and Maya, played by Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. The story centres on two individuals trapped in unhappy marriages who develop an emotional connection that eventually leads to an extramarital affair.

As the movie marks two decades since its release, Johar&rsquo;s reflection suggested that it&#39;s controversial themes continued to resonate with audiences. While he acknowledged the movie&#39;s flaws and the criticism it received, the filmmaker remained firm that its intention was&nbsp;to explore the complexities of love, marriage, desire and the difficult choices people make when relationships begin to fall apart.]]>
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			<title>'Big Four' bowlers back as ageing Australia begin gruelling run</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623273/big-four-bowlers-back-as-ageing-australia-begin-gruelling-run</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623273/big-four-bowlers-back-as-ageing-australia-begin-gruelling-run#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:19:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623273</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bangladesh face Australia in the first of a packed Test schedule]]>
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				<![CDATA[Australia&#39;s ageing team begin a demanding run of potentially 21 Tests in 12 months when they face Bangladesh this week, with their injury-prone &quot;Big Four&quot; bowling attack reunited once again.

The two-Test series, starting in tropical Darwin on Thursday before moving to Mackay, will be the first red ball cricket the world&#39;s number one side have played since the Sydney Test against England in early January.

It is the start of an intense period that includes series against South Africa, New Zealand and India before culminating in what they hope will be the World Test Championship final and a return blockbuster Ashes showdown in England.

Captain Pat Cummins, veteran quick Josh Hazlewood and spin king Nathan Lyon return after serious injuries curtailed their part in Australia&#39;s dominant 4-1 home Ashes win last summer.

Cummins, 33, played only in the third Adelaide Test as he recovered from a back injury, while Hazlewood, 35, missed the entire five-match series with hamstring and Achilles issues.

The 38-year-old Lyon suffered a series-ending hamstring problem in Adelaide and is only now getting back up to speed, with Mitchell Starc, 36, and Scott Boland, 37, carrying the Ashes load.

With all back in the frame, rotation will be the name of the game to get them through the next year, with one of the five set to miss out in Darwin. Boland is typically the fall guy.

Chief selector George Bailey acknowledged it was &quot;an old group&quot; but stressed that &quot;everyone&#39;s body and mental capacities&quot; were different.

&quot;It&#39;s not a one size fits all,&quot; he said recently.

&quot;And as we&#39;ve seen, not just to cricket but across sport, it&#39;s an exciting time because players are playing older and are training smarter and are able to potentially perform at their best or at an international standard for longer.&quot;

Only Cameron Green at 27 is aged under 30 in the 13-man squad for Bangladesh, but Bailey said younger players were on the sidelines waiting for their chance.

Boxes to tick

Hazlewood, who needs five wickets to reach 300 in Tests, said the bowlers were excited for the year ahead.

&quot;This group&#39;s been together for quite a long time now, the majority of it, anyway,&quot; he told reporters.&nbsp;

&quot;The big series are obviously England and India. I haven&#39;t won in South Africa either, so there&#39;s three that are coming up that are a few boxes to tick off there for not just me but from this whole playing group.&quot;

Against Bangladesh, Jake Weatherald is expected to open the batting again with Travis Head as selectors continue to look for the right combination following the retirement of Usman Khawaja.

Either Marnus Labuschagne, who is searching for a first Test century since 2023, or Cameron Green should come in at three followed by Steve Smith, with Alex Carey and potentially Beau Webster to follow.

It is the first Test at Darwin&#39;s Marrara Stadium in 22 years and Bangladesh&#39;s first Test tour of Australia in 23 years.

The visitors, who lost their only warm-up game in Australia last week by an innings and 38 runs, are depleted by injury with first-choice quicks Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam out of the Darwin opener.

But experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das has given a boost to the squad by recovering earlier than expected from a calf strain.

&quot;I have complete faith in the team that is going to Australia and believe we can play good cricket,&quot; captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said, adding that their main goal was to &quot;earn respect.&quot;&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Israeli army destroys water pipelines, orders families from homes in occupied West Bank</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623272/israel-holds-remains-of-about-1700-palestinians-for-potential-future-exchanges-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623272/israel-holds-remains-of-about-1700-palestinians-for-potential-future-exchanges-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:15:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623272</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Israel also advances plan for 650 housing units, holds bodies of 1,700 Palestinians for potential future exchanges]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Israeli army destroyed water pipelines and detained two Palestinians in separate raids Monday across the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

Palestinian human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh said Israeli forces destroyed water pipelines in the Atouf and Ras al-Ahmar areas of Tubas governorate. The area has seen months of Israeli operations involving the clearing of agricultural land, damage to water networks and the filling in of artesian wells, causing heavy losses to local farmers, Daraghmeh said.

In the northern Jordan Valley, Israeli forces detained two Palestinian brothers in the Ein al-Hilweh area, local sources told Anadolu.

Separately, troops raided Tell village southwest of Nablus and ordered residents to leave several homes ahead of the planned demolition of a house belonging to Palestinian Farouq Ramadan.

Read:&nbsp;Israel has become world&rsquo;s most boycotted state: report

Ramadan was killed on July 24 during an attack by Israeli occupiers on the village. Local sources said he had disarmed and killed one of the attackers before being shot dead. Three other members of his family were also killed and four Palestinians injured during the attack, according to the sources.

Near Ramallah, Israeli occupiers set fire to agricultural land east of Jaljaliya village before Palestinian civil defence crews brought the blaze under control, the official news agency Wafa reported.

Village council head Osama Nazmi said Israeli occupiers established an outpost in the area about a year ago and seized homes belonging to Palestinians from the nearby town of Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya.

Israel advances illegal settlement plan for around 650 housing units: Jerusalem governorate

Israel has advanced plans for a new illegal settlement of around 650 housing units south of Jerusalem, the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said Monday.

The governorate said in a statement that Israel&rsquo;s District Planning and Building Committee had deposited the plan for the proposed &ldquo;Nofei Rachel&rdquo; settlement, which would cover some 27 dunams (6.7 acres) next to Palestinian homes.

The governorate warned that the project&rsquo;s impact would extend beyond the number of planned units, saying its location would directly affect the daily lives of Palestinians in the area.

It said the plan was part of an Israeli settlement policy aimed at restricting Palestinian presence and urban expansion while expanding illegal settlements and creating new facts on the ground.

Read More:&nbsp;Over 60,000 children orphaned in Gaza since October 2023: Palestinian ministry

Also Monday, the Israeli rights group Ir Amim said Israel had advanced three major settlement projects totaling more than 3,400 housing units in East Jerusalem in recent weeks.

The United Nations and most countries consider Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land illegal under international law and say they undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

The Israeli Peace Now movement estimates that about 500,000 occupiers live in the West Bank, in addition to about 250,000 in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem.

Israel holds remains of about 1,700 Palestinians for potential future exchanges: report

Israel is holding the bodies of around 1,700 Palestinians for possible use in future exchanges, despite no Israeli captives being held by Hamas, the Haaretz daily reported Monday.

The figure was raised during recent discussions within Israel&rsquo;s security establishment, the newspaper said, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Shin Bet chief David Zini supports retaining the bodies in case Israelis are taken captive or go missing in the future, a position also backed by the Israeli army, according to the report.

Haaretz said most of the bodies belong to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who took part in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel or subsequent fighting. Some, however, belong to Palestinians who were not involved in the fighting, it said.

Legal sources cited by Haaretz questioned Israel&rsquo;s authority to retain the bodies, saying the state lacks the power to hold the remains of Palestinians with no proven involvement in fighting unless the Security Cabinet first establishes a policy on the matter.

Also Read:&nbsp;Israel cancels entry permits for US activists supporting Palestinians in West Bank

In October 2025, the Palestinian National Campaign for the Retrieval of Martyrs&rsquo; Bodies and Disclosure of the Fate of the Missing said Israel was holding around 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza at the Sde Teiman military facility in southern Israel.

The Israeli army continues to target Palestinians in several areas of the Gaza Strip despite an Israel-Hamas ceasefire that went into effect on October 10, 2025, killing at least 1,258 Palestinians and injuring 4,139 others, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry.

Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 in a genocidal war since October 2023. The war has also caused widespread destruction, affecting 90% of the enclave&rsquo;s infrastructure.]]>
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			<title>Bahrain FM congratulates Dar on Makkah defence pact</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623271/bahrain-fm-congratulates-dar-on-makkah-defence-pact</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623271/bahrain-fm-congratulates-dar-on-makkah-defence-pact#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:12:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623271</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bahraini FM also expresses his intention to visit Pakistan in the near future]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bahrain&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani congratulated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye during a telephone call, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday, establishing a framework for collective security and defence cooperation under which an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all. The pact was built on a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, which contained a similar mutual-defence commitment.

According to a post on X by the FO, Al Zayani called Dar on Monday night and congratulated him on the agreement. He also expressed his intention to visit Pakistan in the near future.



Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a call from H.E. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, last night.

Foreign Minister Al Zayani congratulated the DPM/FM on the signing of the Makkah&hellip; pic.twitter.com/nrzaktm0Qj
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 11, 2026


Dar &ldquo;warmly welcomed&rdquo; Al Zayani&rsquo;s desire to visit Pakistan and thanked him for his &ldquo;kind sentiments&rdquo;, the FO&nbsp;said. The deputy prime minister also reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;firm commitment&rdquo; to promoting dialogue and diplomacy to achieve peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The call followed a series of conversations Dar held with regional and international leaders on Monday, during which he briefed them on the newly signed defence agreement.

Dar shared &ldquo;the contours&rdquo; of the pact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who thanked him for outlining its key aspects. The two also discussed regional and international developments and agreed to remain in close contact. Iran cautiously welcomed the agreement.

Dar also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Democratic Republic of the Congo President F&eacute;lix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and former Guinea-Bissau president General Umaro Sissoco Embal&oacute;.

The discussions focused on the Makkah agreement, regional developments and bilateral ties. Dar emphasised the pact&rsquo;s role in &ldquo;strengthening strategic cooperation&rdquo; and contributing to &ldquo;regional peace, stability and security&rdquo;.

Dar had also reiterated on Monday that the Makkah agreement was &ldquo;defensive in nature&rdquo; and &ldquo;not directed against any country&rdquo;. He said its purpose was to strengthen &ldquo;collective deterrence against external aggression&rdquo; and reinforce the three countries&rsquo; capacity to defend their &ldquo;sovereignty, territorial integrity and peoples&rdquo;.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or T&uuml;rkiye would be regarded as an attack against all three, consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Dar had stressed that the accord was &ldquo;not an instrument of confrontation&rdquo; but an &ldquo;expression of our collective commitment to peace through strength, solidarity and mutual respect&rdquo;.

Speaking at a meeting of the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday also sought to reassure that the Makkah accord is not an act of aggression but meant to promote peace and stability.

Significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was the latest step in longstanding military and strategic cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and T&uuml;rkiye. Signed in Makkah, the pact established a framework for collective deterrence and stipulated that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three, while providing for wider cooperation across defence.

The agreement followed nearly a year of negotiations and came amid heightened instability across the Middle East. T&uuml;rkiye and Pakistan had sought closer regional security cooperation, while Saudi Arabia had faced growing security concerns as conflicts spread across the region, threatening its territory, energy infrastructure and ambitious economic development plans.

Read More: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign joint defence pact in Makkah

For Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the trilateral pact built on their Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in September 2025. That agreement stated that &ldquo;any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both&rdquo; and committed the two sides to strengthening defence cooperation and joint deterrence.

The three countries already had extensive military links. Pakistan had provided training and technical assistance to Saudi forces for decades, while Islamabad and Ankara had maintained close defence ties through military training, naval cooperation and defence equipment. In 2023, Saudi Arabia agreed to purchase Turkish drones in what Ankara described as its largest defence export contract.

Pakistan had also expanded its military and security cooperation with the kingdom, deploying about 8,000 troops, fighter jets, drones and an air-defence system to Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters. Pakistan deploys troops to Saudi air base under defence pact Islamabad had also been pursuing wider security and economic ties in the Gulf, including negotiations with Kuwait on an expanded cooperation pact linked to energy and investment. Pakistan-Kuwait agree to boost cooperation across key sectors

The signing in Makkah, Islam&rsquo;s holiest city, added symbolic weight to an agreement that brought together three countries with significant military and strategic capabilities. It also came as Pakistan sought to avoid becoming directly involved in the Iran conflict, instead pursuing diplomatic efforts to mediate, while strengthening its broader regional security partnerships.]]>
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			<title>Palestinian club football to restart in September after Gaza war suspension</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623269/palestinian-club-football-to-restart-in-september-after-gaza-war-suspension</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623269/palestinian-club-football-to-restart-in-september-after-gaza-war-suspension#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:03:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623269</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tournament honours 1,014 fallen Palestinian athletes]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Palestinian football association announced on Monday that it would resume activity in September after a nearly three-year pause due to the Gaza war.

&quot;We announce the resumption of sports activities and the football association&#39;s league beginning September 4,&quot; association president Jibril Rajoub said at a Ramallah press conference on Monday.&nbsp;

Palestinian sports leagues, including professional football, came to a halt with the war, which was sparked by Hamas&#39;s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.&nbsp;

The association has named the first tournament back the &quot;Thousand Martyrs&#39; Cup&quot;, to honor the 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during the war according to the association&#39;s data.&nbsp;

More than 200 clubs will compete in the tournament, including 146 from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.&nbsp;

The tournament will kick off simultaneously in the three locations.&nbsp;

Rajoub said the war &quot;created difficult conditions for all Palestinians that led to the suspension of our competitions and activities&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life.&quot;&nbsp;

Rajoub said the association and Palestinian clubs faced tough financial circumstances.&nbsp;

During the press conference, he called on FIFA and other federations to stand by Palestinian sports and to protect the rights of players, clubs and children to enjoy sports in &quot;freedom and dignity&quot;.&nbsp;

The association previously issued a statement regarding FIFA president Gianni Infantino&#39;s now-withdrawn plan to open tournaments to private investors, saying &quot;many today are questioning FIFA&#39;s commercial direction&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;But for Palestine, the issue is more fundamental... Our question is whether FIFA still has the courage to apply its regulations to everyone equally... without succumbing to political pressures.&quot;&nbsp;

The association has called on FIFA to impose sanctions on Israeli clubs that operate in West Bank settlements and to suspend Israel&#39;s FIFA membership over the country&#39;s conduct in Gaza.&nbsp;

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.&nbsp;

&quot;We are not asking for privileges; we are demanding legitimate rights guaranteed by international sporting laws and charters,&quot; Rajoub said.]]>
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			<title>PSX falls over 1,100 points as fading hopes of US-Iran deal weigh on investors</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623268/psx-falls-over-1100-points-as-fading-hopes-of-us-iran-deal-weigh-on-investors</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623268/psx-falls-over-1100-points-as-fading-hopes-of-us-iran-deal-weigh-on-investors#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 07:01:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623268</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Benchmark Index traded between an intraday high of 181,017.29 and a low of 180,076.22]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) turned lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index shedding more than 1,100 points by midday as a jump in oil prices and diminishing hopes of a US-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz rattled investors.

Oil prices climbed more than 1% after the US President Donald Trump demanded compensation from Tehran for damages, casting further doubt on prospects for a deal to end the conflict and restore traffic through the key oil-shipping route.

The KSE-100 Index was hovering at 180,177.68 points at 12.49pm, down 1,132.60 points, or -0.62%, from the previous close of 181,310.28.

The Index had earlier plunged 1,106.73 points, or 0.61%, to 180,203.55 at 10:14am, before recovering a substantial part of its losses.

Read: Profit-booking pulls PSX lower

The benchmark Index traded between an intraday high of 181,017.29 and a low of 180,076.22.

Market activity remained strong, with 218.25 million shares changing hands, while traded value stood at approximately Rs13.92 billion.

The rise in global oil prices is a key concern for Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported energy, particularly as prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could increase the country&rsquo;s import bill and add pressure to its external position.]]>
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			<title>Ukrainian prisoners recount torture, sexual abuse while in Russian detention</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623267/ukrainian-prisoners-recount-torture-sexual-abuse-while-in-russian-detention</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623267/ukrainian-prisoners-recount-torture-sexual-abuse-while-in-russian-detention#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:56:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623267</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[UN says over 95% of interviewed prisoners of war reported ill-treatment]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Former&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;detainees and&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;officials accused Russia on Monday of systematically torturing&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;of war and civilian detainees, holding captives incommunicado and subjecting them to beatings, electric shocks and&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;abuse, with thousands still in captivity.

Russia rejected the allegations made at an informal United Nations&nbsp;Security Council meeting, with its Deputy UN&nbsp;Representative Maria Zabolotskaya calling it &ldquo;a disinformation campaign&rdquo; and alleging that&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;in Ukraine were subjected to &ldquo;torture&nbsp;and degradation and moral and physical&nbsp;abuse.&rdquo;

Khuan Alberto Levya Garsiya, still an active member of the&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;military, said his&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;captors subjected him to every form of&nbsp;torture&nbsp;during 1,183 days in captivity.

&quot;Yes...I was&nbsp;tortured,&quot; he told reporters after the UN&nbsp;meeting. &quot;Anything you can think of that can be done hurtful, humiliating to a man, unwillingly. Anything that comes to your mind, not only verbal, physical&nbsp;abuse, daily beatings, electrocution, excessive, excessive exercises in freezing cold when it&#39;s minus degrees...sexual&nbsp;abuse. Everything that can be applied to a person into making a person break mentally. It was all applied to me and most of my comrades.&quot;

Garsiya said he was lucky to survive but two of his friends were beaten to death in&nbsp;detention&nbsp;centers in the Donetsk region.&nbsp;Prisoners&nbsp;were held in &ldquo;overcrowded barracks without adequate conditions,&rdquo; where &ldquo;almost all POWs were ill with dysentery&rdquo; and many were starving, he told the UN&nbsp;meeting.

Read:&nbsp;Ukraine warns of harsh winter as 4 die in Kyiv

A&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;with a Cuban father, he said guards targeted him particularly because of his Latino name, accusing him of being &quot;a mercenary and an American spy.&rdquo;

Crimean Tatar activist Leniie Umerova, released in a prisoner exchange in 2024, said she was detained&nbsp;while&nbsp;trying to visit her seriously ill father in Crimea. She described being moved through &ldquo;seven&nbsp;detention&nbsp;facilities&rdquo; in what she called &ldquo;a carousel of repression&rdquo; and accused Russia of using&nbsp;torture&nbsp;against&nbsp;Ukrainians in captivity.

Oleg Gushin of the&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;government&#39;s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of&nbsp;Prisoners&nbsp;of War said&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;were &ldquo;killed and&nbsp;tortured&rdquo; in&nbsp;detention. He said Kyiv had identified &ldquo;more than 300 places of&nbsp;detention&rdquo; in Russia and occupied&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;territory and that&nbsp;while&nbsp;more than 9,000&nbsp;Ukrainians had been returned through exchanges, &ldquo;thousands&rdquo; remained in&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;captivity.

Ukraine&#39;s Charg&eacute; d&#39;Affaires Volodymyr Pavlichenko called for greater international pressure and accountability for Russia&#39;s treatment of&nbsp;prisoners.

&#39;Widespread and systematic&#39;

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Claudia Fuentes Julio said UN monitoring showed that &quot;widespread and systematic&nbsp;torture&nbsp;and ill-treatment of Ukrainian&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;of war and civilian detainees by the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Federation authorities continues,&rdquo; including&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;violence.

Since February 2022, the UN Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had documented the execution of 129&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;of war at the beginning of their captivity and the deaths of 48 in custody, resulting from&nbsp;torture, denial of medical care, or other inhumane conditions of&nbsp;detention, she said.

Read More:&nbsp;Russia, Ukraine exchange overnight strikes, killing 3, injuring 10

She said more than 95% of&nbsp;Ukrainian&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;of war interviewed reported experiencing&nbsp;torture&nbsp;or ill-treatment. She said more than half also reported&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;violence, including &quot;rape, gang rape, beating&nbsp;while&nbsp;nude, beatings to the genitals, electric shocks to the genitals and nipples, and degrading treatment of a&nbsp;sexualised nature.&quot;

She said the UN had received &quot;consistent accounts of severe beatings with objects such as batons, heavy belts, and wood, electric shocks, dog attacks, mock executions, and other forms of&nbsp;torture.&quot;

Fuentes Julio said the OHCHR had also documented&nbsp;torture&nbsp;and ill-treatment of&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;and third-country national&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;of war held by Ukraine, but &quot;on a fundamentally different scale.&rdquo; She said about half of&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;and third-country&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;interviewed reported&nbsp;abuse&nbsp;during initial stages of captivity.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan lines up Korea, Russia tours</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623266/pakistan-lines-up-korea-russia-tours</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623266/pakistan-lines-up-korea-russia-tours#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:51:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Zulfiqar Baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623266</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PHF plans international exposure for senior and junior players]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&rsquo;s senior hockey team will play a four-match series in South Korea, while Pakistan Whites are set to participate in a bilateral series in Russia, the Pakistan Hockey Federation said.

The senior team will face South Korea in four international matches during its tour, providing another opportunity for the side to gain competitive experience ahead of major international events.

Meanwhile, the Russian Hockey Federation has invited Pakistan Whites for a series from August 26 to September 2, with three to four matches scheduled.

In the absence of the senior team, the Whites will be formed from players left in the senior training camp and emerging players from the junior camp.

The PHF said the international matches would provide much-needed exposure and help players prepare for future competitions.

The federation has also outlined international engagements for the Under-18, Under-21, women&rsquo;s and Under-18 girls&rsquo; teams, alongside major events including the World Cup and Asian Games.

The PHF said it aimed to ensure regular international opportunities for players across its men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s senior and junior programmes.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan, Japan sign $2.2m grant agreement to strengthen civil servants’ training</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623264/pakistan-japan-sign-22m-grant-agreement-to-strengthen-civil-servants-training</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623264/pakistan-japan-sign-22m-grant-agreement-to-strengthen-civil-servants-training#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:36:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623264</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Would provide scholarships for 17 federal civil servants to pursue postgraduate studies in Japan]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan and Japan on Tuesday signed a 350 million Japanese yen ($2.2 million) grant agreement to strengthen the Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme (JDS) and expand training opportunities for Pakistani civil servants, the Economic Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Ministry, the agreement, signed in Islamabad, would provide scholarships for 17 federal civil servants to pursue postgraduate studies in Japan, including 16 master&rsquo;s degrees and one PhD.

Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Hameer Karim and Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi signed the Record of Discussions, while Senior Joint Secretary Miran Mohiuddin Soomro and JICA Chief Representative Yusuke Shinazaki signed the grant agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Japanese Embassy, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The JDS programme, which aims to enhance the professional capacity of government officials, has benefited eight batches of Pakistani civil servants since its launch in 2018, according to the ministry.

Japan also regularly invites Pakistani government officials to participate in short-term training courses under its capacity-building initiatives.

Speaking at the ceremony, Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Hameer Karim thanked the Japanese government and people for their continued support and efforts to promote meaningful bilateral cooperation.

Read: PM Shehbaz seeks expanded JICA cooperation in skills, minerals and SME development

The Japanese ambassador and JICA chief representative reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

JICA cooperation

The grant agreement followed JICA&rsquo;s recent engagement with the government, during which both sides discussed expanding development cooperation in key sectors.

During a meeting with a nine-member JICA delegation led by its President, Dr Tanaka Akihiko, on August 5, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for greater cooperation in skills development, mineral exploration and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The prime minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s economic reforms had laid the foundation for sustainable growth and identified skills training, employment opportunities, women&rsquo;s empowerment and development of the minerals sector as key priorities.

Dr Akihiko said JICA was ready to expand cooperation in health, education, urban and rural development, technical and vocational training and industrial development.

Earlier, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema had held talks with Dr Akihiko on infrastructure, connectivity and technical assistance. Cheema invited JICA to participate in financing the Main Line-1 railway project alongside the Asian Development Bank and other development partners.

He also sought JICA&rsquo;s assistance in improving internet infrastructure in rural areas and conducting feasibility studies for major development projects.

Dr Akihiko said feasibility studies were among JICA&rsquo;s core strengths and expressed the agency&rsquo;s willingness to support such initiatives. The two sides also discussed cooperation in skills training and promoting tourism through the preservation of Gandhara heritage sites.]]>
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			<title>Britain's Amy Hunt wins European women's 100m gold</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623263/britains-amy-hunt-wins-european-womens-100m-gold</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623263/britains-amy-hunt-wins-european-womens-100m-gold#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:31:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623263</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[She clocked 11.00 seconds for victory ahead of Poland's Ewa Swoboda]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Britain&#39;s Amy Hunt scorched to victory in the 100m at the European athletics championships in Birmingham on Monday.

Hunt clocked 11.00 seconds for victory ahead of Poland&#39;s Ewa Swoboda, in 11.02, with Belgium&#39;s Delphine Nkansa taking bronze (11.06).

&quot;I had to upgrade this time. I was getting fed up with silver,&quot; said Hunt in reference to silver at last month&#39;s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

&quot;This is so special.&quot;

Switzerland&#39;s Geraldine di Tizio-Frey, who dubs herself as the &quot;world&#39;s fastest pharmacologist&quot; and is the fastest European on paper this season, had to be happy with fourth in 11.07sec.

Defending champion Dina Asher-Smith of Britain came in fifth.

The women&#39;s blue riband race had shaped up to be one of the most wide-open events, with no athlete establishing complete dominance.

And so it proved, Hunt&#39;s current form shining through at the end.

Hunt had broken 11 seconds for the first time this year and followed that up with a good performance at the Commonwealth Games.

Hunt, 24, was part of the British team that won European 4x100m relay gold in Rome in 2024, going on to claim Olympic silver in the relay in Paris later that year and then winning silver in the 200m at the Tokyo world championships a year later.

Still the world record holder for the women&#39;s under-18 200m, 22.42sec set in June 2019, the British champion is an English graduate from Cambridge University and only started training full time after graduating in 2023.

Hunt, currently based in Padua north of Venice with Italian coach Marco Airale, broke the 11sec barrier for the first time at the Stockholm Diamond League meet in June.]]>
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			<title>Lamichhane returns as Nepal ODI captain</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623262/lamichhane-returns-as-nepal-odi-captain</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623262/lamichhane-returns-as-nepal-odi-captain#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:27:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623262</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The 26-year-old has previously led Nepal in 14 ODIs]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Nepal have handed the ODI captaincy back to experienced leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane ahead of the ACC Men&rsquo;s Premier Cup in Malaysia, replacing Rohit Paudel.

The 26-year-old has previously led Nepal in 14 ODIs and returns to the role after Paudel took over in 2022.

Lamichhane has established himself as one of Nepal&rsquo;s leading bowlers, reaching 150 ODI wickets faster than any other Nepalese player. He also became the first Nepal player to claim 100 wickets in T20 internationals.

Paudel enjoyed a successful spell as captain, guiding Nepal to 11 victories in 12 matches during the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign and helping them secure a place in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

The Premier Cup will take place from August 30 to September 12, with Nepal aiming to make an impact under their returning captain.

Nepal&rsquo;s squad

Sandeep Lamichhane (captain), Rohit Paudel, Aasif Sheikh, Arjun Kumal, Dev Khanal, Dipendra Singh Airee, Basir Ahamad, Ishan Pandey, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Sher Malla, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Hemant Dhami and Sundeep Jora.]]>
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			<title>Rashid seals Afghanistan's spot in 2027 World Cup</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623260/rashid-khan-leads-afghanistan-to-series-win-over-ireland</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623260/rashid-khan-leads-afghanistan-to-series-win-over-ireland#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:23:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623260</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rashid’s unbeaten 37 and three wickets helped his side chase 207 to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series]]>
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				<![CDATA[Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan produced another influential all-round performance as his side beat Ireland by three wickets in Belfast on Monday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

Ireland were bowled out for 206 in 46.3 overs, with Rashid claiming 3-44 and Gavin Hoey top-scoring with 36.

Afghanistan reached 207-7 in 44.5 overs, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz leading the chase with 71 before Rashid finished unbeaten on 37 from 43 balls to guide his side home with 31 deliveries to spare.

The victory followed Rashid&rsquo;s six-wicket haul in the second ODI, which Afghanistan won by 92 runs, underlining his excellent form with the 2027 ICC Men&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup approaching.

Hoey made an impact with the ball as well, claiming a career-best 4-34 to give Ireland hope late in Afghanistan&rsquo;s chase.

The young spinner said Rashid had been an inspiration to him.

&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a serious competitor and he&rsquo;s somebody I&rsquo;ve looked at a lot and tried to emulate as much as I can, even though we&rsquo;re very different bowlers,&rdquo; Hoey said.

&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a very nice guy as well and I&rsquo;m sure we&rsquo;ll have a chat after the series.&rdquo;

The fourth ODI will be played at Stormont on Wednesday, with the fifth and final match scheduled for August 15.]]>
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			<title>Swiatek dominates Shnaider to set up Toronto semi with Svitolina</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623259/swiatek-dominates-shnaider-to-set-up-toronto-semi-with-svitolina</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623259/swiatek-dominates-shnaider-to-set-up-toronto-semi-with-svitolina#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:20:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Six-time Grand Slam champion beat Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 in 64 minutes]]>
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				<![CDATA[Former world number one Iga Swiatek cruised into the Toronto Masters semi-finals on Monday to set up a clash with Elina Svitolina who fought back from a set down to reach the last four.

Poland&#39;s Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, took just 64 minutes to sweep past Russia&#39;s Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1.

Ukraine&#39;s Svitolina, the ninth seed, beat Russia&#39;s Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Swiatek reached just her second WTA semi-final this year after Rome and is seeking her first final appearance since winning the Korea Open almost a year ago in Seoul.

&quot;From the beginning I went for it. I felt like I could dominate,&quot; Swiatek said after dropping just three points on her first serve.

&quot;I was quite happy with the way I played. It was a tricky match with the wind.

&quot;I thought I needed to adjust to that. I just wanted to be more solid,&quot; added the 25-year-old world number eight.

Svitolina won eight consecutive games after losing the first set on the way to dispatching Alexandrova in 93 minutes.

Swiatek leads Svitolina 4-3 in their WTA career rivalry, but lost both their meetings this year.

&quot;I&#39;m gonna talk with my team to adjust a little bit for Iga&#39;s game,&quot; said Svitolina.&nbsp;

&quot;Of course she&#39;s a great champion. She plays really well this tournament. I have to bring my best.&quot;

Swiatek established a 5-2 lead in the first set when she broke Shnaider a second time, courtesy of the Russian netting a backhand, and served out to take it in 31 minutes.

The Pole broke for a 2-1 lead in the second when Shnaider netted. A forehand winner gave Swiatek a 4-1 lead and a third break sealed victory.

Svitolina had more of a battle after sending a backhand long on serve to drop an evenly matched first set.

It fired up the Ukrainian who reeled off four breaks to blank Alexandrova in the second set and take a 2-0 lead in the third.

Svitolina served for the match in the eighth game of the final set only for a double fault to allow Alexandrova a lifeline.

But a pumped-up Svitolina roared back, broke to love and finished the match with a searing return winner.

&quot;Very pleased with my performance. With the fighting spirit,&quot; said Svitolina.

&quot;She was playing really well in the first set. I had to really step into like a fighting mode.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Oil rises as Iran and US trade demands for reopening Strait of Hormuz</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623257/oil-steadies-near-one-week-highs-as-us-iran-peace-deal-hopes-dim</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623257/oil-steadies-near-one-week-highs-as-us-iran-peace-deal-hopes-dim#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:11:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623257</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Brent crude futures rise $1.4, or 1.6%, to $89.12 a barrel]]>
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				<![CDATA[Oil prices rose more than 1% on Tuesday &zwnj;as hopes for a US-Iran deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz faded after President Donald Trump demanded compensation for damages from Tehran.

Brent crude futures rose $1.4, or 1.6%, to $89.12 a barrel, while US&nbsp;West Texas ​Intermediate crude futures were up $1.35, or 1.64%, to $83.48 a barrel.

Both benchmarks rose more than 5% on Monday to ​their highest since July 31, after Trump&nbsp;responded&nbsp;to Iran&#39;s conditions for a peace deal ⁠with his own demands that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, which is ​likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Later in the day, he added that the US&nbsp;had ​control of the strait and had swept the strategic oil waterway for Iranian mines.

&quot;There appears to be a gulf, no pun intended, between the US&nbsp;and Iran over what any agreement would actually look like,&quot; said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at ​KCM Trade.

Read: Oil storage guidelines revised

&quot;As a result, some of the optimism that built up last week is being unwound, giving oil ​prices a decidedly bid tone.&quot;

Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco has postponed the restart of its 400,000-barrel-per-day Jazan refinery to August 30 after the Houthis&nbsp;claimed &zwnj;two attacks&nbsp;on the plant on Sunday.

&quot;The chokehold risk around both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb remains highly significant. Even intermittent restrictions or the threat of further incidents keep insurance costs elevated and force longer shipping routes ... hence energy flows look likely to stay constrained near term,&quot; Waterer said.

In a note on Monday, analysts ​at Barclays said that in ​the week ending August ⁠7, crude oil and refined product net exports through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 3 million barrels per day, down from 4.4 million bpd the previous week.

Shipping data&nbsp;showed that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to six vessels on ​Monday, compared with ⁠a 10-day average of about 11 vessels.

In the meantime, oil continues to leak through both blockades via ship-to-ship transfers and overland bypasses. Presuming these flows continue, the market will likely remain in a state of morbid detachment, broadly ⁠contained between $75.00 ​and $95.00, said IG&#39;s analyst Tony Sycamore.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) ​is offering spot crude in a tender, its eighth issued since the start of June as the UAE state oil company works to move ​oil from inside the Strait of Hormuz.]]>
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			<title>Ingebrigtsen delivers masterclass for seventh European athletics gold</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623256/ingebrigtsen-delivers-masterclass-for-seventh-european-athletics-gold</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623256/ingebrigtsen-delivers-masterclass-for-seventh-european-athletics-gold#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:09:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The 25-year-old Norwegian timed 13min 15.29sec for victory]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jakob Ingebrigtsen consolidated his place as the most successful male athlete in European history on Monday when he won the 5,000m in Birmingham for his seventh individual continental gold.

The 25-year-old Norwegian timed 13min 15.29sec for victory ahead of Germany&#39;s Florian Bremm in 13:15.60. France&#39;s Etienne Daguinos took bronze (13:16.09).

&quot;I dreamt of this moment two weeks ago when I put my name on the list,&quot; said Ingebrigtsen. &quot;It was just enough.&quot;

Ingebrigtsen is now unbeaten at the European championships since he won the 1,500/5,000m double at the 2018 champs in Berlin when he was just 17.

He repeated that double at both the Munich championships in 2022 and Rome two years ago

Ingebrigtsen will only race the 5,000m in the English city, having not competed this season because of an achilles tendon injury that required surgery.

That followed a disappointing world championships in Tokyo in 2025 when he was knocked out in the heats of the 1,500m and could only finish 10th in the 5,000m -- his last competitive race before heading to Birmingham.

&quot;Hopefully it&#39;s not halfway,&quot; Ingebrigtsen said of his medal count.

&quot;I&#39;m still extremely young, so I think I&#39;ll be back in coming years.&quot;

Ingebrigtsen added: &quot;With 600 metres to go I knew I was going to win. I doubted myself every minute leading up to the last lap.

&quot;Being healthy again, back racing, feeling something like myself... I am happy.&quot;

The Norwegian showed no signs of rustiness as he took to the track at Alexander Stadium in his usual imperious form.

As is his wont, he was happy to spend the early laps at the back of the pack that included Belgium&#39;s Isaac Kimeli and Jimmy Gressier from France, the 5,000m silver and bronze medallists respectively behind Cole Hocker in Tokyo.

Fast finish

Lithuania&#39;s Simas Bertasius and Finland&#39;s Tuomas Heikkila took up the running before Swiss runner Dominic Lobalu, the 5,000m bronze medallist and 10,000m champion at the 2024 Euros in Rome, surged to the front.

Lobalu, fresh from an impressive victory over 5,000m at the Monaco Diamond League, split the pack into single file.

Gressier left Ingebrigtsen at the back, pulling alongside Lobalu at the front with five laps to run.

As the pace slowed, the pack bunched, at some points four runners wide.

Ingebrigtsen moved effortlessly into the top six, and at one stage exchanging words with Gressier as the pair took control.

With two laps to run, Gressier was out in front, Ingebrigtsen on his coattails and Lobalu hovering wide.

That trio surged again, surprise package Bremm joining the front runners at the bell.

With 200 metres to run, it was all still up for grabs.

Gressier went into the home straight in front, but faded as Bremm roared past him.

Ingebrigtsen, slightly boxed in, took one delicate step to his right and motored past the German in a perfectly-timed coup de grace.

&quot;When Jakob went in front I knew I couldn&#39;t stay with him,&quot; said bronze medallist Daguinos.

&quot;He&#39;s a legend of our sport. We knew if he&#39;s here tonight it was because he is good shape. He&#39;s so strong. He showed that tonight. I am so proud to share a podium with him.&quot;

Gressier, who finished fourth, added: &quot;Jakob is a champion. For me, the best runner of all time. He has humility, class.

&quot;Everything he has shown in athletics, everything he still continues to show while being maybe even at 75% of his abilities.&quot;]]>
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			<title>China missile test deepens Pacific divide over growing militarisation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623255/china-missile-test-deepens-pacific-divide-over-growing-militarisation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623255/china-missile-test-deepens-pacific-divide-over-growing-militarisation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:09:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Test exposes limits of Pacific leaders' ambition to make region 'Ocean of Peace']]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[China&#39;s&nbsp;test&nbsp;of a nuclear-capable&nbsp;missile&nbsp;last month has exposed the limits of&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;leaders&#39; ambition to make the region an &quot;Ocean of Peace&quot;, free from the crossfire of major-power rivalry.

The July launch,&nbsp;China&#39;s first known ballistic-missile&nbsp;test&nbsp;into the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;since September 2024, was fired into the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;just hours after Fiji and Australia signed a major defence treaty, marking Fiji&#39;s first ever alliance.

More than a month after the&nbsp;test,&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Islands foreign ministers were unable to agree on a collective statement condemning Beijing&#39;s&nbsp;missile&nbsp;test, despite individual leaders expressing alarm, publicly and privately, about&nbsp;militarisation&nbsp;of the region.

The&nbsp;test&nbsp;was &quot;totally inappropriate&quot;, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told Reuters on the sidelines of the foreign ministers&#39; meeting in Suva last week.

&quot;China&nbsp;is a very close friend and ally to Papua New Guinea, but we feel this doesn&#39;t help at all,&quot; he said, adding that Beijing had given PNG advance notice of the launch but no details on where the&nbsp;missile&nbsp;would land.

At the time of the launch, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said it was conducted &quot;safely&quot;, adding: &quot;We hope relevant countries will not&nbsp;over-interpret ​the matter.&quot;

Read:&nbsp;North Korea blames US-led alliance for &#39;new security crisis&#39; in Asia-Pacific

The&nbsp;missile&nbsp;launch capped a year of more visible military activity across the&nbsp;Pacific, which is fiercely contested between the United States&nbsp;and&nbsp;China&nbsp;for influence. That has included Chinese naval deployments and live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea, US-allied exercises around Guam and Hawaii, and a steady flow of warship visits linked to expanding security partnerships.

The US, meanwhile, retains a substantial military presence across the region, including in Hawaii, Guam and the Marshall Islands.

Tuvalu permanent foreign secretary Pasuna Tuaga, who was speaking in a personal capacity, was concerned about&nbsp;growing&nbsp;militarisation, not only because of the missile&nbsp;test&nbsp;but also security arrangements such as the AUKUS partnership between Australia, Britain and the US.

United, but divided

In September 2025,&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Leaders endorsed the Ocean of Peace Declaration, which committed to safeguard the region, recognised the right of the people to peace, and resolved to contribute to and strengthen international peace and security.

David Peebles of the Australian National University&#39;s&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Security College said&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;countries had long resisted having peace and security defined by outside powers and their competing Indo-Pacific&nbsp;strategies. The Ocean of Peace initiative was an attempt to reclaim that agenda, he said.

The regional declaration inspired the defence pact signed between Australia and Fiji last month, known as the Ocean of Peace Alliance.

Australia&#39;s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not immediately respond to a request for comment on concerns that the&nbsp;growing&nbsp;number of regional security pacts could further militarise the&nbsp;Pacific.

For many governments, security partnerships bring benefits: surveillance against illegal fishing, disaster response, policing support and access to equipment and training. But critics fear a proliferation of bilateral arrangements could leave&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;countries with little say&nbsp;over&nbsp;how their territory, waters and infrastructure are used.

Read More:&nbsp;Pentagon restores US Pacific Command name after removing &#39;Indo&#39; from title

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Rick Houenipwela, who chaired the talks in Suva, said the region&#39;s agenda must remain &quot;conceived by the&nbsp;Pacific, shaped by the Pacific&nbsp;and only by the&nbsp;Pacific.&quot;

Yet by the end of the one-day meeting, no unified statement in response to the&nbsp;missile&nbsp;test&nbsp;had emerged.

Kiribati and Nauru, which have deepened ties with Beijing since switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan in 2019 and 2024 respectively, did not support the statement&#39;s wording, according to an official familiar with the discussions.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters blamed foreign influence for the failure to reach consensus, without naming a country.

The impasse illustrates the central challenge facing these small island nations which have different economic, political and security interests.In the northern&nbsp;Pacific, where the US&nbsp;has maintained a military presence for decades, some governments want deeper security engagement with the US&nbsp;while others remain wary.

Fiji Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka said&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;governments faced an unavoidable tension. Countries wanted &quot;to be free of all these war-making paraphernalia,&quot; he said, but also recognised that some security capabilities helped keep them safe. &quot;I believe it&#39;s maintaining that balance.&quot;

Fiji for the first time participated last month in US-led war games in the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;known as RIMPAC.

Pacific&nbsp;leaders will meet in Palau in three weeks for the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Islands Forum leaders meeting, where the&nbsp;missile&nbsp;test&nbsp;and regional unity are expected to return to the agenda.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>PCB strengthens domestic cricket broadcast ecosystem through three-year production partnership</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623253/pcb-strengthens-domestic-cricket-broadcast-ecosystem-through-three-year-production-partnership</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623253/pcb-strengthens-domestic-cricket-broadcast-ecosystem-through-three-year-production-partnership#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 06:05:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623253</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Al Batal Productions to handle domestic cricket coverage through 2028-29]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as part of its continued efforts to enhance the quality, reach and commercial value of domestic cricket, has entered into a three-year partnership with Al Batal Productions &amp; Technologies / S.M. Textiles for the Domestic series Partnership rights for the 2026-29 seasons, including television production rights for PCB&rsquo;s domestic men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s cricket events.

The partnership forms part of the PCB&rsquo;s broader strategy to further strengthen the presentation and accessibility of domestic cricket while providing greater visibility to Pakistan&rsquo;s established and emerging cricketers across its premier domestic competitions.

Under the agreement, Al Batal Productions will provide television and live-streaming production services across PCB&rsquo;s extensive domestic cricket calendar during the 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons.

PCB are set to host their first domestic event of 2026-27 from Tuesday, 11 August with the commencement of four-team National Champions Cup in Multan.

The PCB remains committed to enhancing production standards across its domestic competitions and delivering a high-quality viewing experience to cricket fans.

The partnership further underlines the PCB&rsquo;s focus on developing a robust commercial and broadcast ecosystem around domestic cricket and creating sustainable opportunities for commercial partners to associate with Pakistan cricket.]]>
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			<title>President Zardari approves appointments of additional high court judges, ending weeks-long impasse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623252/president-zardari-approves-appointments-of-additional-high-court-judges-ending-weeks-long-impasse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623252/president-zardari-approves-appointments-of-additional-high-court-judges-ending-weeks-long-impasse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 05:25:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[JEHANZEB ABBASI]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[President approves appointment of 10 additional judges to LHC, three to SHC, three to IHC, three to BHC]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday approved the appointment of additional judges to five high courts, bringing an end to a weeks-long impasse over judicial appointments that had also prompted proceedings before the Islamabad High Court.

According to a post by the President of Pakistan on X, President Zardari approved the appointment of additional judges to the Lahore, Sindh, Islamabad and Balochistan High Courts, as well as the confirmation of additional judges in the Lahore and Peshawar High Courts.

The president approved the appointment of 10 additional judges to the Lahore High Court (LHC), three to the Sindh High Court (SHC), three to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and three to the Balochistan High Court (BHC).



صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے مختلف ہائی کورٹس میں ایڈیشنل ججز کی تقرری اور بعض ایڈیشنل ججز کی توثیق کی منظوری دے دی۔

صدرِ مملکت نے لاہور ہائی کورٹ، سندھ ہائی کورٹ، پشاور ہائی کورٹ، اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ اور بلوچستان ہائی کورٹ میں ایڈیشنل ججز کی تقرری کی منظوری دی۔

صدرِ مملکت نے&hellip;
&mdash; The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 11, 2026


He also approved the confirmation of four additional judges of the PHC and one additional judge of the LHC. The President&rsquo;s Office said Zardari had signed all the relevant summaries.

The development came a day after the IHC&nbsp;sought written reports from the federal government and the Ministry of Law on the status of the pending judges&rsquo; appointment summaries.

The court had been hearing a petition filed against the delay in approving the Judicial Commission of Pakistan&rsquo;s recommendations for appointments to the high courts. At Monday&rsquo;s hearing, the IHC had directed the government to explain when the summaries were forwarded to the president and what action had been taken on them.

Background

The latest legal challenge came against the backdrop of an increasingly contentious constitutional debate over the president&#39;s role in judicial appointments. President Zardari had neither approved the Judicial Commission&#39;s recommendations nor returned the summary with objections, prompting questions over whether the Constitution permitted an indefinite delay in acting on judicial appointments.

Read More: HC judges&#39; appointment matter may land in court

The federal government was also considering approaching the superior judiciary to seek a constitutional interpretation of the matter. While the Supreme Court (SC) had previously ruled that the president did not have the authority to reject nominations made by the Judicial Commission, Article 175A(8) of the Constitution did not prescribe a timeframe within which the president had to act on the recommendations.

In its meetings on July 20 and 21, the Judicial Commission had recommended the appointment of three additional judges to the IHC, 10 to the LHC, three to the SHC and three to the BHC. It had also recommended the confirmation of four additional judges of the PHC and a six-month extension in the tenure of SHC Additional Judge Justice Khalid Hussain Shahani.

However, Justice Shahani&#39;s tenure expired on July 28 before the recommended extension took effect.

Legal experts believed the impasse could ultimately require judicial intervention, particularly on the broader constitutional question of whether a statutory or constitutional deadline should govern presidential action on Judicial Commission recommendations.

Government officials had privately linked the delay to dissatisfaction within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over the outcome of the Judicial Commission&#39;s recent meetings. According to officials, the party&#39;s preferred nominees for the SHC had failed to secure the commission&#39;s backing, with both judicial and executive members reportedly agreeing that no candidate below the age of 45 should have been appointed.

PPP leader and Judicial Commission member Senator Farooq H Naek had proposed 33 candidates for appointments across the four high courts. However, commission members had said the party could have secured appointments for other candidates had it not insisted on two preferred nominees for the SHC.]]>
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			<title>US ‘begged' Iran for negotiations, says FM Araghchi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623251/trump-left-turkiye-on-secret-flight-amid-iranian-threat-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623251/trump-left-turkiye-on-secret-flight-amid-iranian-threat-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 05:12:41 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Insecurity in Hormuz solely result of US, Israeli aggression: Araghchi]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Iranian foreign minister, speaking in a televised news conference broadcast by Iranian state television, has said that the US &ldquo;begged&rdquo; Iran for negotiations, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday.

He recalled that US President Donald Trump demanded &ldquo;unconditional surrender&rdquo; from Iran at the beginning of the war.

&ldquo;The US President wrote two words [on social media] at the beginning of the war: &lsquo;Unconditional surrender&rsquo;,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;That was what they wanted from us and, 20 days later, the same enemy was begging for negotiations,&rdquo; the top diplomat added.

In the same press conference, Araghchi also said that Iran showed the world that it is &ldquo;a tough and invincible power,&rdquo; Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking at a televised press conference, he said: &ldquo;I have heard this many times from foreign ministers and officials from other countries: &lsquo;You Iranians created a miracle; you surprised the whole world.&rsquo;&rdquo;

&ldquo;No one thought that Iran could resist America like this,&rdquo; Araghchi said, adding that the US had the backing of Israel, the Western world and some other countries.

Abbas Araghchi and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul held a phone conversation earlier on Monday, where Araghchi said that insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz was solely the result of military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, according to IRNA.

Araghchi briefed Wadephul on ongoing consultations with Oman aimed at establishing a safe route for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian foreign minister said, and Wadephul also discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.

He called on the international community to hold the US administration accountable for the security and economic consequences of the Strait of Hormuz&rsquo;s closure.

Araghchi emphasised that restoring security in the waterway requires an end to US aggressive actions and unlawful interference, including a maritime blockade and other violations of US commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

Iran condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon, blames UNSC silence

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned recent Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, saying the silence of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has encouraged further Israeli aggression, according to IRNA.

Baghaei said on Tuesday that continued Israeli attacks had resulted in the martyrdom and injuries of Lebanese civilians and caused damage to homes and infrastructure.

The spokesperson criticised the international community&rsquo;s silence and inaction, particularly by the UNSC, saying they had emboldened the Israeli regime to continue violating Lebanon&rsquo;s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

He also condemned the US administration for being an accomplice in Israeli crimes across Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territories and the wider region because of its comprehensive support for the Israeli regime.

Baghaei praised the Lebanese people for their resistance and resilience against Israeli aggression and occupation, stressing Iran&rsquo;s full solidarity with Lebanon in defending its sovereignty, dignity and independence.

Israeli warplanes reportedly struck areas around Al-Mansouri Municipality in southern Lebanon&rsquo;s Tyre District, while Israeli artillery targeted the Ali al-Taher Hill in Nabatiyeh Governorate.

Israeli drone shells ambulance teams in southern Lebanon despite US deal

An Israeli drone targeted ambulance teams on Tuesday while they were evacuating an injured person in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, in the latest violation of a US-mediated framework agreement, Lebanese media said.

The drone shelled ambulance crews from the Islamic Health Authority, Bayt al-Talaba and the Islamic Risala Scout Association as they were transferring a person injured in an earlier strike on a car in the area, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Several ambulances were damaged in the attack, but there were no immediate reports of injuries among paramedics.

Earlier Tuesday, the agency reported that an Israeli drone dropped explosive and incendiary materials on the outskirts of Kfar Rumman, adjacent to Nabatieh, without giving details about casualties or damage.

The attack came despite the US-mediated framework agreement signed by Beirut and Tel Aviv in late June. The framework agreement calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of armed groups, referring to Hezbollah.

3 crew members killed after Houthi attack on commercial vessel in Bab al-Mandeb

Three crew members were killed after Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi group attacked a commercial vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a government-affiliated broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

Al-Jumhuriya TV said two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian were killed according to preliminary information.

The broadcaster did not identify the vessel or its owner.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthis.

Bab al-Mandeb is the gateway to the Red Sea on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran to restore 95 mcm/day of gas production by end-September

Iran will restore 95 million cubic metres (mcm) per day of gas production capacity by the end of September, the oil ministry said on Tuesday, as Tehran repairs energy infrastructure damaged during the war with Israel and the United States.

In July, a senior government official said Iran expected to restore about 100 mcm per day of natural gas production capacity &quot;within the coming months&quot;, after strikes cut output by about 230 mcm/day since the war started in late February.

Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad was quoted by the ministry&#39;s news outlet as saying 95 mcm/day of lost capacity would return following damage to gas-processing facilities in Assaluyeh.

He said the impact had largely been offset by using spare capacity at other gas-processing plants.

Reconstruction of four damaged gas-processing plants was advancing rapidly, Paknejad said, adding debris had been cleared, reconstruction systems were in place and contractors had begun work.

He said rebuilding was expected to finish ahead of schedule, allowing the full lost capacity to return to the production network.

Some of the restored capacity would nevertheless be unavailable during the winter, Paknejad said, meaning Iran would need to manage both gas supply and consumption carefully to avoid challenges in meeting demand.

Trump left Turkiye on secret flight amid Iranian threat: report

US President Donald Trump secretly departed T&uuml;rkiye on a military aircraft last month amid an alleged Iranian assassination threat against him while the White House publicly said he was aboard Air Force One, US media reported on Monday, citing a US official and other sources familiar with the operation.

According to The Washington Post, Trump boarded the older Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras in Ankara before being quietly transferred minutes later to a smaller Air Force C-32A using an airport catering truck.

The report described the manoeuvre as designed to conceal his location from the public, journalists and some White House staff members.

The operation came a night after US forces renewed strikes on Iran following a breakdown in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Trump visited Ankara for a NATO summit on July 7-8 with world leaders when the alleged threat emerged.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the measures, saying the Qatari-gifted aircraft, which is now used as Air Force One, has been &quot;fitted with high-level security protocols&quot; to ensure the president&#39;s safety.

&ldquo;As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,&rdquo; he added.

Oil prices jump 5% as Trump keeps Iran escalation option open

Oil prices jumped around 5% on Monday after US President Donald Trump said a &ldquo;massive escalation&rdquo; against Iran remained an option, deepening uncertainty over negotiations to end the conflict and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

International benchmark Brent crude rose 5% to $87.7 per barrel as of 2005GMT, its highest level in nearly two weeks, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 5.1% to $82.2.

Read: Trump demands compensation from Iran for alleged atrocities of past 50 years

Brent extended its gains for a fourth consecutive trading session as markets assessed the prospects of further military action and continued disruption to energy shipments through the strategic waterway.

Asked whether a major escalation against Iran remained under consideration, Trump said Washington could pursue that option.

&ldquo;Well, we have that certain ability if we want to do that,&rdquo; he told reporters at the White House.

Trump also said Iran should pay compensation for damage caused over the past 50 years, rejecting Tehran&rsquo;s demands for war compensation in negotiations.

While Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was open and &ldquo;100%&rdquo; controlled by the US, he acknowledged that Iran could still attempt to disrupt maritime traffic.

Tehran has said Washington must lift its blockade before Iran agrees to fully reopen the waterway, through which a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passes.

Prices were also supported by reports of attacks on Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Jazan refinery and a tanker operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. over the weekend.

Meanwhile, crude stocks in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell below 300 million barrels to about 298.7 million last week, their lowest level since 1983.

US continues withdrawing tanker aircraft from Israel&rsquo;s Ben Gurion airport: Israeli media

The number of US aerial refuelling aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel has declined, nearing levels seen during a previous ceasefire, Israeli Channel 12 reported on Monday.

&ldquo;The Americans continue to reduce the number of refuelling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport&rdquo; near Tel Aviv, the broadcaster said.

The number of tanker aircraft had &ldquo;already approached&rdquo; levels seen during the ceasefire, when about 20 such aircraft were stationed at the airport, it added.

The channel did not provide the number of aircraft at the height of tensions.

The report comes as reports have circulated in recent days that the US and Iran could be nearing an agreement on outstanding issues, particularly navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies and trade.

US aircraft have been stopping at Ben Gurion for aerial refuelling since the US-Israeli war on Iran began February 28.

Channel 12 reported Sunday that the US Air Force &ldquo;had begun withdrawing some of its refuelling aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport amid security developments.&rdquo;

The move came after Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev pressed security officials to remove the tanker aircraft to maintain normal airport operations during peak travel days, the channel added.

According to the channel, more than 2.6 million passengers are expected to pass through the airport in August, averaging about 100,000 passengers a day, making it the busiest month since October 7, 2023, as August is a popular vacation period for Israelis.

There was no immediate comment from Washington or Tel Aviv on the report.

Israel has previously debated the impact of US tanker aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion on civilian flight operations.

On July 14, Israel barred additional US aerial refuelling aircraft from landing at Ben Gurion after their number reached 33. Regev said the aircraft were occupying spaces needed for civilian planes.

The US Central Command, or CENTCOM, objected to the decision the same day. Israel reversed the decision on July 15 following US protests.

Trump demands compensation from Iran for alleged atrocities of past 50 years

President Donald Trump on Monday declined to say what would come next in talks with Iran, but indicated that the US retains the ability to pursue a major military escalation.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll find out, when asked what would follow the latest round of negotiations, which he had previously described as Iran&rsquo;s &ldquo;last chance&rdquo; before possible military action.

Read more: Trump says US taking &#39;low-key&#39; approach to Iran, stresses Tehran&#39;s economic pain

Asked whether a &ldquo;massive escalation&rdquo; remained on the table, Trump said the US can pursue such an option if he chooses to do so.

&ldquo;Well, we have that certain ability if we want to do that,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;Yeah, you&rsquo;ll find out.&rdquo;

The president said the US is going to ask for money for the damage Iran has done over 50 years.

&quot;If there&#39;s damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,&quot; he added.

&#39;We&#39;ve mine swept the entire strait&#39;

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the strategic waterway is &ldquo;open.&rdquo;

&quot;Well, it&#39;s open now ... The only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy. We have a blockade that&#39;s been infallible. It&#39;s a steel wall, and we let people in that we want to let in, and those people come in, and they&#39;ve been coming in and they&#39;re going out, so it&#39;s actually open now. We do not let them go into Iran. They&#39;re not admitted into the strait to go to Iran, but it&#39;s open for others now,&quot; Trump said.

He acknowledged that Iran could still attempt to disrupt shipping, saying Iranian forces could &ldquo;on occasion, drop a mine,&rdquo; but claimed US forces have located and cleared mines throughout the strait.

&quot;You know, we&#39;ve mine swept the entire strait, as you probably maybe heard, maybe you didn&#39;t hear. But we control the strait 100%. Now, can they make trouble? Yeah, they can make trouble, but they&#39;re broke. They have no money,&quot; Trump said.

Hopes for Hormuz deal fade as Trump demands Iranian reparations

US President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iran&#39;s conditions for a peace deal with his own demands ​that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, in a rhetorical escalation likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of &zwnj;Hormuz.

Trump&#39;s proposal, which had not been raised before, was a response to Tehran&#39;s demands for compensation and an end to sanctions. The Iranian demands were largely in line with the terms of a preliminary peace deal signed in June, which has since broken down.

Also read: Iran says framework agreed with Oman on Strait of Hormuz

Since the war began in February, Trump has repeatedly oscillated between threats of escalation and claims that a peace deal is imminent.

&quot;We&#39;re going to ask for money for the damage ​they&#39;ve done over a 50-year period,&quot; Trump said at the White House, saying payments would cover deaths among both civilian demonstrators and US forces in the region.

&quot;So if ​there&#39;s damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,&quot; Trump said.

Trump cites attack blamed on Al Qaeda, not Iran

Referring to Tehran&#39;s crackdown on foreign-funded and incited protests in late 2025 and 2026, Trump claimed with no evidence that Iran had ​killed some 52,000 protesters as of six weeks ago. While some Iranian opposition and exile groups have echoed the claims of tens of thousands killed, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) in February claimed ​around 7,000 deaths including 6,500 protesters.

Trump encouraged protesters to overthrow the Iranian government when the war began with US and Israeli airstrikes on civilian targets in February.

Trump also said Iran should compensate families of the 17 US sailors killed in an October 2000 attack in Yemen on the naval vessel USS Cole, which has been blamed on al Qaeda, not ​Iran.

&quot;Also, with respect to the Iran negotiations, Iran should be responsible for the damages and death caused to the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza!&quot; Trump wrote in a Truth ​Social post.

Iran earlier said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the US must meet conditions, including compensation and &zwnj;an end to ⁠sanctions and military threats before the key waterway is reopened.

The strait, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed prior to the conflict, has been effectively blocked since the war began, pushing up oil prices and inflation.

Trump under pressure

Ironically, the agreement with Oman would give Tehran more leverage over the key waterway than it had before the war began.

Trump is under pressure to end a war that is deeply unpopular at home ahead of midterm elections in November, and high fuel prices are a top issue in rural areas that have ​backed him in the past.

&quot;What you&#39;re seeing here ​is the beginning of a capitulation,&quot; ⁠Democratic US Representative Bill Keating said on CNN. &quot;This is reality. It&#39;s sinking in.&quot;

Earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with Oman were &quot;progressing smoothly and constructively&quot;, with an agreement reached on a shipping route map, while some technical issues remained unresolved.

Baghaei said the discussions ​also covered services which would normally involve payment, such as safe navigation, environmental protection, maritime services and combating crime.

US officials have repeatedly ruled ​out any deal that ⁠would allow Tehran to charge fees for access to the strait.

But months of US military efforts, including a two-week campaign of strikes in July, have not broken Iran&#39;s grip on the strait, despite Trump&#39;s misleading claim, repeated on Monday, that the strait was open and, &quot;The only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy.&quot;

Washington and Tehran agreed to a ⁠ceasefire in ​June, but the US reimposed a blockade on Iranian shipping in July, a move that Tehran said violated the truce.

Iran ​has been striking back with missiles and drones against Washington&#39;s allies in the region, while also targeting commercial ships transiting the strait without its permission.]]>
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			<title>Man held for allegedly poisoning woman's husband, daughters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623226/man-held-for-allegedly-poisoning-womans-husband-daughters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623226/man-held-for-allegedly-poisoning-womans-husband-daughters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Police claimed to have arrested a man accused of poisoning a woman&#39;s husband and three daughters in collusion with the woman over an alleged illicit relationship, officials said. Police said Asima Bibi allegedly conspired with her alleged paramour, Babar, a resident of Lahore, to poison her husband and three daughters on July 26 in Gulshan-e-Raheem, Sitara Park City, on Jaranwala Road.

Azhar Ali died from the poisoning while his three daughters survived after receiving timely medical treatment. Police had registered an FIR under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code at Saddar police station on the complaint of the deceased&#39;s brother, Rana Muhammad Tahir Javed. Asima was arrested shortly after the incident, while Babar went into hiding.

City Police Officer Tanveer Hussain formed special teams under Saddar SHO Muhammad Ali Khan and Khanowana police post in-charge ASI Muhammad Javed to arrest the suspect.

Using technical resources and conducting raids at different locations, the police traced and arrested Babar after about two weeks in hiding.]]>
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			<title>12 bakery workers hospitalised after food poisoning</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623225/12-bakery-workers-hospitalised-after-food-poisoning</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623225/12-bakery-workers-hospitalised-after-food-poisoning#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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				<![CDATA[Twelve workers of a bakery in the Millat Chowk area were hospitalised after allegedly suffering food poisoning, police said.

According to police, the workers, aged between 12 and 27, prepared chicken curry for their meal at the bakery.

Shortly after eating it, they developed symptoms of food poisoning and were shifted to Allied Hospital for medical treatment.

Doctors reportedly attributed their condition to improperly prepared food. All 12 workers were provided medical treatment and discharged from the hospital after their condition improved.]]>
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			<title>Sewage, delays plague Lahore Railway Station</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623224/sewage-delays-plague-lahore-railway-station</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623224/sewage-delays-plague-lahore-railway-station#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Talib Fareedi]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Travellers complain of foul smell, malfunctioning facilities, poor maintenance]]>
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				<![CDATA[Passengers travelling through Lahore Railway Station have complained of poor sanitation, foul-smelling sewage, delayed trains and malfunctioning facilities, saying the deteriorating conditions are causing serious inconvenience despite paying for rail travel.

Passengers said sewage water had accumulated along railway tracks due to an inadequate drainage system, creating an unbearable stench across several platforms.

The prolonged delays in train departures, coupled with hot and humid weather, have made waiting at the station increasingly difficult.

Travellers also complained that escalators remained out of order, forcing passengers to carry heavy luggage up and down staircases.

They alleged that the malfunctioning escalators had enabled porters to charge inflated rates for carrying baggage.

Although Pakistan Railways has outsourced sanitation services at the station to the Suthra Punjab programme, passengers alleged that both the cleanliness standards and official oversight remained unsatisfactory.

They claimed railway officials only visited limited sections of the station before reporting that conditions were satisfactory.

Platforms 2, 3, 4 and 5 were reported to be in particularly poor condition, with overflowing sewage, litter and overgrown vegetation. Passengers also pointed to the presence of large rodents and insects around the platforms and railway tracks.

Sanitation workers at the station said they had not received salaries for several months and lacked proper cleaning equipment, relying only on brooms and worn-out wipers that they said were insufficient to maintain hygiene.

Passengers further criticised the condition of train coaches, alleging that many were poorly maintained, with broken windows and unhygienic washrooms lacking running water despite trains being sent daily for washing.

&quot;We have to wait for hours because trains are delayed, and the foul smell from stagnant sewage makes it impossible to sit on the platforms,&quot; said passengers Aram Abbas, Tanveer Amjad, Kashif and Aqeel.

They also complained that air-conditioned waiting lounges were overcrowded and often not functioning properly, making it difficult to wait comfortably during the summer heat.

They alleged that food sold at the station was overpriced and of poor quality, while porters charged excessive rates for handling luggage.

Responding to the complaints, Suthra Punjab official Tayyaba denied any shortage of cleaning equipment or staff.

She said Lahore Railway Station, being more than a century old, occasionally experienced drainage blockages during heavy rains but maintained that such issues were resolved promptly.

&quot;Our teams remain deployed around the clock. As soon as trains depart, cleaning of the platforms and tracks begins immediately,&quot; she said.

Repeated attempts to contact Divisional Medical Officer (Railways) Dr Sameera for comment were unsuccessful.]]>
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			<title>WASA tube-well operator strangled to death</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623223/wasa-tube-well-operator-strangled-to-death</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623223/wasa-tube-well-operator-strangled-to-death#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[A Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) tube-well operator was allegedly strangled to death by a fellow employee in Chak Jhumra over suspicions that the victim had reported his frequent absence from duty to senior officials.

Police said a murder case was registered on the complaint of Qamar Hussain, brother of the deceased.

The complainant, who works for a security agency and was on leave, said his brother, Ehtisham Ashraf, was employed as a tube-well operator with WASA.

The suspect, identified as Rizwan alias Gullo, son of Gulfam and a resident of Chak 112-JB, was also working as a tube-well operator.

He also ran an egg-selling business and allegedly remained frequently absent from duty.

Police said the suspect suspected that Ehtisham had complained to senior officials about his absence. The alleged dispute reportedly led to an assault during which the suspect strangled Ehtisham and fled the scene.

Police shifted the body for post-mortem examination and later handed it over to the family.

A case was registered under murder charges and raids were being conducted to arrest the suspect.

Police said both the suspect and the deceased were WASA employees.]]>
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			<title>Civil defence drones, robots acquired</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623222/civil-defence-drones-robots-acquired</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623222/civil-defence-drones-robots-acquired#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Punjab government has spent Rs500 million on modernising the Civil Defence Resilience Corps, equipping it with advanced technology to improve its ability to respond to emergencies, natural disasters and security threats.

Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi announced this during his visit to the Civil Defence Headquarters, where he inspected a display of newly-acquired equipment and reviewed the department&#39;s preparedness.

Civil Defence Director Tasneem Ali Khan briefed him on the department&#39;s operations and equipment.

The new equipment includes airlift and improvised explosive device disposal drones, bomb disposal robots, bikes and suits, anti-drone guns, electric sirens, bomb blankets, mine detectors, snake cameras, hook-and-line kits and firefighting tools.

Dr Qazi said the airlift drones could be used to rescue people trapped in difficult-to-reach locations during emergencies. One drone has the capacity to carry up to 200 kilogrammes.

He said the government was transforming the Civil Defence Resilience Corps in line with modern requirements.

The home secretary said the importance of civil defence remained the same during peace and war as the first line of response for district administrations during emergencies.

He said the Punjab chief minister had also increased the honorarium for civil defence volunteers in recognition of their performance.

He urged citizens to join the civil defence as volunteers according to their abilities.]]>
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			<title>Court rejects minister's plea for video statement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623221/court-rejects-ministers-plea-for-video-statement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623221/court-rejects-ministers-plea-for-video-statement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[A sessions court has rejected Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari&#39;s request to record her statement in a case through video link, directing her to appear in the next hearing for the purpose.

Additional Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui announced the decision upholding the order of a judicial magistrate who had directed the minister to appear before the court in person for recording her statement.

Azma Bukhari had challenged the magistrate&#39;s decision, seeking permission to appear and record her statement through video link.]]>
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			<title>Missing child found dead</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623220/missing-child-found-dead-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623220/missing-child-found-dead-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623220</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A three-year-old boy who had gone missing from Kahna was found dead in a sewage pond in Bilal Town, Naseebabad.

The deceased Muhammad Hasnain&#39;s father, Sabir, had lodged a kidnapping case after he had gone missing. According to the family, the child was visiting his maternal uncle&#39;s home from where he had gone out at night and had not returned.

After being informed about the corpse, police and forensics teams collected evidence before shifting it to a hospital for post-mortem examination. An investigation was under way.

Meanwhile, Shahdara Town police rescued a four-month-old boy allegedly kidnapped from Qazi Park and arrested a woman and her accomplice.]]>
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			<title>Livestock dept gears up for possible floods</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623218/livestock-dept-gears-up-for-possible-floods</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623218/livestock-dept-gears-up-for-possible-floods#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623218</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Livestock director inspected key livestock facilities, development projects and diagnostic infrastructure]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The livestock department has expedited veterinary arrangements in Faisalabad to ensure timely care for animals in case of flooding.

Livestock Director Dr Haider Ali Khan said this during a visit to Chiniot, where he inspected key livestock facilities, development projects and diagnostic infrastructure.

He reviewed the department&#39;s preparedness for possible flood emergencies, with particular focus on the availability of medicines, vaccines, veterinary staff and other essential resources to ensure uninterrupted services for livestock farmers.

He also reviewed ongoing construction and renovation work, veterinary facilities, vaccine storage, medicine stores and facilitation services.]]>
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			<title>City turns green and white</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623217/city-turns-green-and-white</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623217/city-turns-green-and-white#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 03:23:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imran Adnan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623217</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Independence Day celebrations gather pace]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The metropolis is taking on shades of green and white as preparations for the 79th Independence Day gather pace, with markets crowded with national-themed merchandise, homes and public spaces decorated with flags and lights, and official events planned.

From Urdu Bazaar, Shah Alam and Liberty Market to neighbourhood markets, stalls selling flags, buntings, badges, caps, wristbands, sunglasses, toys and green-and-white clothing have sprung up. Children accompanied by their parents are among the most enthusiastic shoppers, picking out flags and accessories to decorate their homes, bicycles and cars.

Ahmed Raza, who runs a small bookshop and has put up an Independence Day stall in Township, said children were driving much of the demand. Flags are proving particularly popular, while badges, buntings and T-shirts carrying the national flag are also selling well.

&quot;Children are especially excited about the celebrations, and many parents are coming to the stall with them,&quot; he said.

Rafaqat Hussain, who was visiting the stall with his children, said the family was buying decorations for their home and clothes for the celebrations.

&quot;My children wanted flags and buntings for the house, so I brought them here to choose what they liked. I also bought a white shirt with green crescent and star and a green shirt for Independence Day,&quot; he said.

Kashif Ali, a garments shop owner in Karim Block Market, said he had opened his stall on Sunday evening and had already sold most of his merchandise.

&quot;The response has been very encouraging. People prepare for Independence Day much like they do for Eid, buying flags, decorations and other items for their homes. For small traders, these temporary stalls create an opportunity to earn additional income,&quot; he said.

Maria Imran, a teacher and mother of three, said Independence Day was an opportunity for parents to help children understand that freedom comes with responsibilities.

&quot;Parents should use this occasion to teach children about the struggle and sacrifices that led to the creation of Pakistan and encourage them to play a constructive role in its future,&quot; she said.

She said the significance of the day went beyond flags, green-and-white clothes and public ceremonies, adding that education, discipline, hard work and responsible citizenship were among the ways young people could contribute to the country.

The festive activity is also extending to commercial outlets and online platforms, with retailers promoting &#39;Azadi&#39; sales on summer clothes, footwear, gadgets and accessories. Restaurants and online platforms have also introduced special offers linked to the occasion.

The provincial government is marking the occasion with programmes across Punjab, while preparations for Lahore&#39;s official festivities are in full swing. The main Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony will be held at Hazuri Bagh, with the Parks and Horticulture Agency (PHA) organising a ceremony at Jilani Park.

Lahore will also host two fireworks displays at Minar-e-Pakistan and Liberty Market. The PHA reviewed arrangements at Greater Iqbal Park for the Minar-e-Pakistan celebrations, including fireworks and decorative lighting on the night between August 13 and 14. Green, white and crescent-themed lighting will be installed around the monument, while the park will also be decorated.

Major thoroughfares including Jail Road, Mall Road, Canal Road and Main Boulevard will also be illuminated.

The Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority is preparing special decorations, illuminations, cultural activities and awareness initiatives.

The National History Museum at Greater Iqbal Park is also scheduled to host cultural, educational and recreational activities for families, children and young people.

A poster competition among university students from across Pakistan to depict national unity, resilience, cultural heritage, progress and the achievements is also under way.]]>
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			<title>Two held for allegedly setting man on fire</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623216/two-held-for-allegedly-setting-man-on-fire</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623216/two-held-for-allegedly-setting-man-on-fire#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Saleh Mughal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623216</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victim allegedly beaten, stabbed after being chased down]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A dispute over a financial transaction between alleged drug addicts in the Bhabra Bazaar area of Waris Khan police station turned violent when two brothers, along with their associates, allegedly set their opponent on fire.

When the victim ran to save his life, they chased him, knocked him down and started beating him with knives, sticks, kicks and punches. The attackers fled after leaving him seriously injured. Police registered a case and arrested both brothers.

According to sources, a dispute over payment for a mobile phone had been continuing between the Zahid and Asad groups, both of whom were allegedly drug addicts.

A member of the Zahid group went to Bhabra Bazaar to demand payment from the two brothers. The brothers allegedly quarrelled with him and set him on fire during the argument.

The victim ran to save himself, but the suspects chased him, knocked him down and subjected him to severe violence.

They continued beating him despite the victim bleeding profusely. When the injured man fell in a street, an elderly woman also tried to pass through the area but was knocked down. A few people present there managed to rescue her and take her out.

Footage of the incident has also emerged, showing the victim being set on fire and then running away. The footage also shows the alleged drug addicts sharpening knives in the street and waving sticks.

Police said a case had been registered on the complaint of the victim&#39;s father, Ziaat Khan. He stated that his elder son, Zahid, 29, was a drug addict and often remained away from home.

He had sold a mobile phone to two brothers, Asad and Amjad, of Bhabra Bazaar, and went to collect the payment. The two allegedly quarrelled with him and subjected him to violence with knives and sticks. Local residents rescued his son and shifted him to hospital.

Police officials said a case had been registered against the suspects and both brothers arrested. They were subsequently sent to jail.]]>
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			<title>Parking issues persist at pedestrian-only street</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623215/parking-issues-persist-at-pedestrian-only-street</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623215/parking-issues-persist-at-pedestrian-only-street#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623215</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Traffic police struggle to enforce fine at newly renovated street in Raja Bazaar]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The district administration and traffic police have banned motorcycle parking at the entry and exit points of the newly renovated Raja Bazaar pedestrian street.

Banners, boards and panaflex signs have also been installed at both entrances and exits.

Despite the ban, however, it has become routine for large numbers of motorcycles to be parked near the barriers at both the entry and exit points of the Raja Bazaar pedestrian street.

Police and the district administration have found it difficult to remove the motorcycles, while issuing challans to motorcyclists often leads to arguments and protests between riders and the administration.

As a result, the traffic police have become virtually helpless, while the large-scale parking of motorcycles has begun to badly affect the traffic system at Fawara Chowk.

The motorcycles parked at the entry and exit gates of Raja Bazaar pedestrian street belong either to hawkers and helpers working at shops inside Raja Bazaar or to stall holders, according to the report.

The shopkeepers and helpers said bringing motorcycles inside Raja Bazaar was prohibited and asked where they should park them.

They said parking motorcycles near the gates had become a compulsion.

They alleged that police had turned the entry and exit points of Raja Bazaar into a source of income. They said that if motorcycles could not be parked there, an alternative nearby parking facility should be provided.

The traffic police and Municipal Corporation, however, said the large number of motorcycles parked at the entry and exit points of the new commercial centre was paralysing the traffic system and causing difficulties for citizens, shoppers, families and women visiting the area.

The central traders&#39; association of Raja Bazaar has therefore been asked to prevent its helpers and stall holders from parking motorcycles at the market&#39;s entry and exit points.

Otherwise, the authorities said, challans would be issued from this week and a fine of Rs2,000 would be imposed on each motorcycle. Motorcycles could also be impounded and air could be released from their tyres.]]>
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			<title>HFH medicine funds fall short</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623214/hfh-medicine-funds-fall-short</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623214/hfh-medicine-funds-fall-short#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623214</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Holy Family Hospital (HFH), the city&#39;s largest public-sector hospital, has received only Rs480 million in medicines funding for the current fiscal year against a demand of Rs1.5 billion, while outstanding payments of Rs1.15 billion for medicines purchased over the past two years remain unpaid.

The hospital, which has 1,052 beds and caters to a large number of patients through its inpatient, emergency and outpatient departments, had requested Rs1.5 billion from the Punjab Health Department for medicines for the fiscal year 2026-27. However, only Rs480 million has so far been released.

According to sources, the hospital also owes vendors Rs1.15 billion for medicines purchased during fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The shortfall in the current year&#39;s medicine budget has made it increasingly difficult for the hospital to maintain the supply of free medicines to patients.

However, HFH MS Dr Ijaz Butt said the hospital was fully implementing the Punjab government&#39;s policy of providing free medicines to patients.

He said the hospital was ensuring the availability of all medicines covered under the free-medicine schedule. Patients were being provided free medicines and laboratory tests in the emergency department, outpatient department and wards, he added.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan Post, CGA powers dispute intensifies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623213/pakistan-post-cga-powers-dispute-intensifies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623213/pakistan-post-cga-powers-dispute-intensifies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623213</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Conflicting orders over postings, transfers create uncertainty among accounts officers]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A dispute between Pakistan Post and the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) over administrative control of the departmental accounts cadre, transfers, postings and other employment-related matters has intensified.

Both sides have issued conflicting orders based on the same court decision.

On July 14, the Chief Accounts Officer, Pakistan Post, stated that the accounts cadre of Pakistan Post, comprising accounts officers, assistant accounts officers, junior accountants, senior auditors and junior auditors, was under the administrative control of the Chief Accounts Officer through the Controller General of Accounts.

The same authority was declared competent to deal with transfers, postings and other employment-related matters.

Two days later, Pakistan Post rejected this position, stating that administrative control of the departmental accounts cadre rested with the Director General Pakistan Post and that the Chief Accounts Officer had no authority to interfere in the department&#39;s internal administrative affairs.

In its latest order issued on August 6, Pakistan Post declared the orders issued by the Chief Accounts Officer on July 14 and 16 to be without legal authority and annulled them. The Controller General of Accounts&#39; order dated October 17, 2025 was also declared to be based on an incorrect interpretation of the court decision and relevant law.

Pakistan Post clarified that administrative control over BS-18 accounts officers had been restored to the Director General Pakistan Post.

The Chief Accounts Officer was directed to immediately hand over to Pakistan Post the personal files, salary and service records, details of transfers and postings and other relevant documents of these officers.

The Chief Accounts Officer had also been directed to return the records on May 18, 2026, but the instruction was not followed.

In the latest order, the Chief Accounts Officer was directed to refrain from interfering in Pakistan Post&#39;s internal administrative affairs. It stated that administrative matters concerning the accounts cadre would be handled by the Director General Pakistan Post or the relevant postmasters general.]]>
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			<title>I-Day stalls spring up across Pindi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623212/i-day-stalls-spring-up-across-pindi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623212/i-day-stalls-spring-up-across-pindi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623212</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Stalls selling flags have also appeared in markets, commercial centres and residential areas]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[With Pakistan&#39;s 79th Independence Day approaching, stalls selling national flags, badges, flag-themed children&#39;s garments, toys, horns and gifts have sprung up across the city.

Such stalls have been set up at all major commercial centres, small and large markets, streets and neighbourhoods.

The most popular items at these stalls are small and large horns. Children, youngsters and students are buying the large horns and creating loud &quot;pee-pee&quot; sounds in streets and neighbourhoods, disturbing the sleep, peace and comfort of citizens.

The Independence Day preparations have added colour and activity to markets. Children, adults and women can be seen purchasing national flags, flag-themed children&#39;s garments and dupattas from the stalls.

Stalls selling flags have also appeared in markets, commercial centres and residential areas.

Markets and commercial centres are witnessing a large number of Independence Day stalls. National flags, badges and flag-themed garments are being sold at these stalls. Flag-themed dupattas, ladies&#39; suits and children&#39;s garments are also available.

The loud horns have made life difficult for residents with their continuous &quot;pee-pee&quot; sounds in streets and neighbourhoods.

Firecrackers, including Chinese firecrackers, are also being set off by youngsters and children. Flag-themed badges, toys, caps and different types of gifts are available as well. Due to soaring inflation, prices of flags and flag-themed garments have also doubled.

Large horns producing frighteningly loud sounds are being sold for Rs150 to Rs200.]]>
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			<title>Trader alleges police harassment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623211/trader-alleges-police-harassment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623211/trader-alleges-police-harassment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623211</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says guards taken to Sihala Police Station, forced to travel home alone]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A businessman has alleged that Sihala police forcibly stopped him while he was travelling home from his office and arrested all the security guards accompanying him.

The police took the security guards to the police station along with their weapons. After stopping Hassan Nawaz Khokhar at a checkpoint for about an hour, searching him and checking the vehicles, the police allowed him to travel home alone late at night without security.

Talking to the media, Hassan Nawaz Khokhar said that this was the second time that he had been stopped at night while travelling home from his office with his company&#39;s security guards. He said he and his guards were stopped at a police checkpoint on GT Road within the jurisdiction of Sahala police station.

He said that despite all the weapons and vehicle documents being complete, he and his guards were harassed.

He was kept at the checkpoint for an hour for checking, after which police personnel took his security guards to Sahala police station in the name of further verification and forced him to go home alone, putting his security at risk.

Khokhar said he had property worth billions of rupees and a large business in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which required him to keep security guards with him. He said all his security guards belonged to a registered company and had complete documentation.

Despite this, he said, the police harassment was beyond his understanding. He added that this was not the first such incident and that similar incidents had occurred in the past.

He said he was a patriotic Pakistani and had always followed the Constitution and law of Pakistan.

He added that he faced a threat to his life and therefore needed to keep security guards with him.

Khokhar said he reserved the right to approach the court against the enforcement of Section 144 and its alleged misuse by police.

When contacted, the duty officer at Sahala police station said Section 144 was in force and no one could carry weapons.]]>
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			<title>RDA officials rebuked over plaza dispute</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623210/rda-officials-rebuked-over-plaza-dispute</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623210/rda-officials-rebuked-over-plaza-dispute#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Jamil Mirza]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623210</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Rawalpindi Commissioner and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Salman Ghani has expressed displeasure with the RDA administration over the Parking Plaza issue and taken notice of the Director State Management retaining her charge while attending a course.

The commissioner also directed the RDA administration to introduce biometric attendance for directors, in addition to other officers and employees.

According to sources, the commissioner visited the RDA office on Saturday and summoned the Additional Director General and other senior officers to his office. He expressed displeasure over the termination of the contract for the Parking Plaza at Fawara Chowk and the contractor&#39;s refusal to pay outstanding dues amounting to Rs48.2 million.

He also questioned why the authority had not accepted the contractor&#39;s offer to immediately pay Rs15 million against the outstanding amount.

The commissioner was informed that after remaining closed for 20 days, the Parking Plaza had been reopened and RDA staff were currently collecting parking fees. He was further told that the plaza&#39;s contract would be re-auctioned on August 17.

When asked about her absence, the Director State Management said she was attending a course and was also shifting her residence, due to which she could not report to the office. The commissioner expressed displeasure, saying that official work could not be managed in this manner.

He also reprimanded the Director Administration over her late arrival at the office. She explained that she had gone out after obtaining short leave from the Additional DG.

The commissioner directed all officers to ensure discipline, good governance and improved performance. He further ordered that, henceforth, RDA directors would also mark biometric attendance like other officers and employees.]]>
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			<title>Pindi loses key projects amid fiscal crunch</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623209/pindi-loses-key-projects-amid-fiscal-crunch</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623209/pindi-loses-key-projects-amid-fiscal-crunch#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:39:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Qaiser Shirazi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623209</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[360 divisional and 286 district schemes cancelled; project costs rise 4050% amid inflation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The District Development Plan (DDP) for Rawalpindi district for the new financial year 2026-27 has yet to be finalised, despite the second month of the fiscal year nearing its end, amid an acute financial crisis.

The plan is still at the finalisation stage and has undergone several changes because of severe financial constraints.

All major mega projects in the district have been dropped, while 360 development schemes in Rawalpindi Division and 286 schemes in Rawalpindi district have been cancelled. All development schemes of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and the District Council have also been cancelled.

The financial crisis has also led to the cancellation of several major projects, including the Murree Road Signal-Free Corridor, expansion and construction of service lanes from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk, underpasses at Chandni Chowk, Murree Road-Rawall Road and Murree Chowk, an underpass linking Double Road with Ninth Avenue, the Rs800 million Leh Expressway, and a multi-storey parking plaza at Liaquat Bagh.

The cancellation and deferment of these mega projects and development schemes is expected to substantially increase their estimated costs.

The provincial government has imposed a ban, until further orders, on all new development projects and the release of funds across Punjab owing to the financial crisis.

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had proposed mega projects worth Rs8 billion for the financial year 2026-27, including the Murree Road Signal-Free Corridor, expansion and service lanes from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk, underpasses at Chandni Chowk, Murree Road-Rawall Road and Murree Chowk, an underpass connecting Double Road with Ninth Avenue, the Rs800m Leh Expressway and a multi-storey parking plaza at Liaquat Bagh, estimated at Rs2.533b.

However, owing to the severe financial crisis and stringent requirements for PC-I approval and clearance, all these projects have been excluded from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and the DDP.

The estimated costs of the projects have also risen by 40 to 50% due to sharp increases in the prices of construction materials, including steel, cement, iron bars, sand and gravel, as well as higher labour costs. The steep rise in petroleum prices has also pushed up transportation costs to record levels.

As a result, if these projects are to be included in the ADP and DDP for the financial year 2027-28, new feasibility studies and PC-Is will have to be prepared at a cost of millions of rupees.]]>
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			<title>President, PM pledge equality for minorities</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623208/president-pm-pledge-equality-for-minorities</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623208/president-pm-pledge-equality-for-minorities#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:07:11 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[PM Shehbaz says minorities living in Pakistan were an integral part of the national fabric]]>
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				<![CDATA[President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on National Minorities Day reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to equality, religious freedom, tolerance and the protection of minority rights, while highlighting the contributions of minority communities to national development.

In separate messages issued on the occasion, President Zardari called for renewing the commitment to making Pakistan a country where justice, equality, tolerance and service to humanity were the defining features, while PM Shehbaz said the government was taking steps to strengthen constitutional and legal safeguards for minorities, including through the National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025, the Interfaith Harmony Policy 2025 and the National Action Plan for Human Rights 2026.

On the occasion of National Minorities Day, the president conveyed warm greetings to all Pakistanis, especially their ethnic and religious minorities, on the historic day.

He said religious minorities in Pakistan had contributed prominently in conflicts, wars, health, education and other domains of life and continued doing so even today alongside their fellow citizens.

&quot;The entire nation is proud of their national services, patriotism and significant contribution to the country&#39;s holistic progress and development,&quot; he added.

The president said the day reminded them that the foundation of a strong, peaceful and stable state rested not only on economic growth but also on justice, equality, mutual respect and the protection of human dignity.

&quot;Pakistan&#39;s true strength lies in its people who, setting their religious, cultural and traditional differences aside, stand united under one national flag. I firmly believe in the equality of every citizen, regardless of religion or faith, before the state,&quot; President Secretariat Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the president as saying.

Seventy-nine years ago on this day, he said, the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had explained his future vision of Pakistan while addressing the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

His words provided them guidance about the heart and soul of the republic even today, he said, adding that the Constituent Assembly created the first national consensus Constitution almost a quarter of a century later in 1973, effectively incorporating all major guidelines of the great Quaid, brilliantly narrated in this speech delivered 79 years ago on this day, barely three days before the formal Declaration of Independence.

Similarly, PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan commemorated National Minorities Day every year with a firm resolve to acknowledge the invaluable presence of minorities, their inclusion in the national mainstream and their significant contributions to national progress and prosperity.

In his message, the prime minister said minorities living in Pakistan were an integral part of the national fabric and reflected the true beauty of the country&#39;s diverse social and cultural landscape.

He recalled that on August 11, 1947, while addressing the historic inaugural session of the Constituent Assembly, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had unequivocally affirmed the rights of minorities in Pakistan, declaring that people were free to go to their temples, mosques or any other place of worship, and that religion, caste or creed had nothing to do with the business of the state.

The prime minister said these historic words of the Quaid-e-Azam held an enduring and unforgettable place in Pakistan&#39;s social order, system of governance and religious ethos.

He said the day also served as a reaffirmation of Pakistan&#39;s unwavering commitment to unity among different segments and communities of society, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and equal opportunities for progress for all, adding that Pakistan was a diverse society where people belonging to different faiths, cultures, nationalities and traditions lived together in harmony.

The prime minister noted that from the Pakistan Movement and the creation of Pakistan to the present day, minority communities had played a pivotal role in the country&#39;s progress and national development, rendering invaluable services in the economic, educational, social, cultural and political spheres.]]>
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			<title>Senate panel orders action on medical seats</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623207/senate-panel-orders-action-on-medical-seats</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623207/senate-panel-orders-action-on-medical-seats#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 02:07:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623207</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PMDC told to probe vacancies and fee disparities]]>
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				<![CDATA[A Senate panel on Monday directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to take immediate measures to address vacant seats in medical colleges, examine fee disparities and strengthen monitoring of medical education institutions.

The directives were issued by the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani.

The panel asserted that it will not allow long-standing issues in medical education to remain unresolved, adding that, &quot;every vacant seat, every fee increase and every regulatory gap must have a clear answer&quot;.

The committee reviewed PMDC&#39;s preparedness for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026. It was informed that PMDC had rescheduled the MDCAT 2026 examination to Sunday, Sept 20, 2026, to ensure a transparent, secure and well-organised process and provide relief to candidates.

The vice chancellors of universities conducting the MDCAT shared their input on various other matters, including vacant seats and the fee structure of medical colleges, particularly institutions charging higher fees.

The minister for health informed the committee that several colleges had sought an increase in fees and that universities could not independently increase their fees.

Of the 61 medical colleges considered, 35 had qualified on the prescribed criteria. The committee sought details justifying and scrutinising the fees, along with audited financial statements, for each of these 35 qualified institutions.

PMDC was also asked to share the status of institutions that had not qualified but were nevertheless charging higher fees and displaying those fees on their websites. PMDC informed the committee that notices had been issued to non-compliant institutions and that monitoring was under way.

The committee asked for details of the notices issued in this regard.

The committee emphasised that any increase in fees should be supported by clear criteria and credible evidence, including educational standards, faculty strength, infrastructure and audited financial information.

The issue of vacant seats in medical colleges was discussed at length. The minister stated that vacant seats were a genuine and broader concern and could not be attributed solely to fee levels or MDCAT eligibility percentages.

The committee was informed that the ministry had examined the issue in comparison with other professional fields and that the declining interest in medical education also required consideration.

The committee discussed increasing the number of seats in public-sector medical colleges as one possible measure. PMDC informed the committee that additional seats had already been allocated following inspections, including seats for Punjab, erstwhile FATA and Balochistan.

The committee also discussed the position in Sindh in this regard. Members of the committee and vice chancellors of admitting universities explained that an increase in public-sector seats would require additional infrastructure, registration capacity and physical space. The chairman decided that a separate meeting would be held with the Government of Sindh and relevant representatives to examine the matter in detail.

The committee stressed that vacant seats must be properly investigated before any further policy decision is taken. PMDC was directed to inspect private colleges having vacant seats and submit a report identifying the reasons for the vacancies.

The committee expressed grave concern over the delay in providing the information required during its previous meeting and directed that the report be submitted within one month.]]>
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			<title>At least 111 killed in Colombia earthquake</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623205/at-least-111-killed-in-colombia-earthquake-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623205/at-least-111-killed-in-colombia-earthquake-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 01:15:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Govt declares state of emergency]]>
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				<![CDATA[At least 111 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia early on Monday, knocking down buildings across several cities and leaving others trapped in the rubble.

The quake struck just days after Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as president, thrusting the new administration into its first major crisis, with memories still fresh of devastating twin earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela in June.

The 7.4 magnitude quake, according to the US Geological Survey, struck at a depth of 107 km (66 miles) near San Jose del Palmar, in Choco, a sparsely populated province on Colombia&#39;s Pacific Coast, but was felt in major cities nationwide.

&quot;Significant casualties and damage are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread,&quot; the agency warned.

The highest reported death toll was in the western province of Risaralda in Colombia&#39;s coffee-growing region, where Governor Juan Diego Patino, speaking by phone to Caracol Television, reported 42 fatalities.

In the province&#39;s capital of Pereira, social media images showed a building with a cracked facade crash to the ground, sending up a dark cloud of dust and debris as onlookers on the street darted away.

The impact also toppled one of the towers atop a Gothic-style cathedral in Manizales, and forced nurses in Cali to wheel patients outside in hospital beds, social media and television images showed.

In nearby Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said three people were killed.

One person died in Buenaventura, Colombia&#39;s main Pacific port, when a building collapsed, trapping several people, Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba said.

People remained trapped in Cali, one of Colombia&#39;s largest cities, after more than two dozen structures collapsed, Mayor Alejandro Eder said. He added that the city had asked authorities in Bogota and Medellin to send disaster teams to support rescue efforts.

&quot;At this point, two people have already been rescued alive, one elderly woman and one young girl. There are more people trapped,&quot; Eder told Blu Radio. &quot;We have at least 12 critical points and 25 collapsed structures that we are responding to.&quot;

Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said there were injuries and significant damage in Quibdo, the provincial capital, and warned residents about aftershocks.

Smaller earthquakes are not uncommon in Colombia, which is crisscrossed by three ranges of the Andean mountains. However, it is landslides which have historically been the deadliest natural disasters in the country, with the Armero disaster in 1985 killing some 25,000 people.]]>
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			<title>Over 175k visas revoked, State Dept says</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623201/over-175k-visas-revoked-state-dept-says</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2623201/over-175k-visas-revoked-state-dept-says#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 26 01:12:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2623201</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The US State Department said on Monday it has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals under President Donald Trump&#39;s administration, as it continues a sweeping immigration crackdown that has stripped travel and immigration privileges from tens of thousands more people.

The department said in a statement the revocations targeted foreigners who &quot;violated the terms of their visas, committed crimes, called for violence against US citizens, defrauded Americans, abused our immigration system, or endangered national security.&quot;

Most visas were revoked following &quot;law enforcement encounters,&quot; with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug crimes the leading causes, the department said.

Specific cases cited by the department include a person charged with felony rape and sexual battery, another charged with kidnapping and human trafficking, and a person facing more than a dozen counts of possessing child sexual abuse material.]]>
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