Israeli military admits ‘total failure’ on Oct 7 – World
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military drastically underestimated the capabilities of Hamas before the raids on Oct 7, 2023, and “totally failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians”, a summary of a military investigation published on Thursday said. The perception that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict and that Israel would have ample warning […]
Ocalan calls upon PKK to drop weapons, disband in Turkiye – World
• Iraqi Kurdistan president welcomes appeal• SDF says group’s disarmament call ‘not related to us in Syria’ ISTANBUL: Jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan on Thursday called for his Kurdish fighter group to lay down its weapons and dissolve itself in a landmark declaration read out in Istanbul. “All groups must lay down their arms and […]
UN nature talks in ‘end game’ to break funding deadlock – World
ROME: Brazil spearheaded a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock at UN nature talks in Rome on Thursday, as nations struggled against the clock to agree a deal over money to halt rapid global species loss. Rich and developing countries broadly agree over the scale of the crisis that threatens the ecosystems and wildlife that […]
FBR proposes stringent steps to prevent Export Finance Scheme misuse – Business
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed drastic changes to the Export Finance Scheme (EFS) to prevent misuse of the facility and tighten tax enforcement. At the outset, the FBR proposed withdrawing the facility for iron and steel scrap importers. The amendments were introduced through SRO204 of 2025 in the Customs Rules 2001. […]
Pakistan reports two new polio cases – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been confirmed in Pakistan. The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of cases in Kambar, Sindh, and Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab. “This is the third polio case from Sindh and the first from Punjab this […]
Parliament’s first year – Newspaper
WHILE reviewing the performance of the current National Assembly (NA) — the 16th legislature since independence — during its first parliamentary year, one is struck by the fact that the House has decisively changed the equation between parliament and the judiciary that had existed for a long time. The key instrument of this profound change […]
No remorse – Newspaper – DAWN.COM
THE Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Azam Nazeer Tarar, sang a strange tune at the UN. As the country continues sliding in corruption perceptions, democratic standards, and political and civil liberties, as evidenced by the recent deterioration in its ranking in various global indices that track these social indicators, Mr Tarar on Wednesday […]
NA passed more laws in fewer sittings – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The current National Assembly passed more laws in its first year than its predecessor, despite meeting for fewer hours, a clear indication that legislation was rushed through parliament. Some of the laws passed during the first year of the 16th National Assembly have far-reaching implications, like the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the Prevention of […]
Leaked audio reveals Greek complacency in 2023 shipwreck – World
GREEK authorities were complicit in their efforts to rescue a migrant boat that sank along with over 700 people onboard, many of them Pakistanis, according to a BBC News report. Around 350 Pakistanis were onboard the Adriana, which capsized on June 14, 2023, in international waters, but within Greece’s rescue zone. Only 82 bodies were […]
Israel frees 643 Palestinians after Hamas delivers – World
• Netanyahu dispatches negotiators to Cairo• FM says delegation will look into extending truce JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched negotiators to Cairo on Thursday after Hamas handed over the remains of four prisoners in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The overnight swap was the final stage of an initial […]