Pakistan gains from global ‘Big Catch-Up’ vaccination drive – Newspaper
• Around 18.3 million vaccinated across 36 countries• Participating nations account for 60 per cent of zero-dose children worldwide ISLAMABAD: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, and Unicef announced on Friday that the “Big Catch-Up” (BCU), a historic multi-year, multi-country effort to address vaccination declines driven largely by the Covid-19 pandemic, has reached an estimated 18.3 […]
Karachi’s collective trauma – Pakistan
WITH the veneer of tarmac stripped away, University Road is a real gauntlet for commuters. But spare a thought for pedestrians, such as students, who have to cross the road on foot.—Photo by the writer THERE are roads that are inconvenient, and then there is University Road — a legendary stretch of mostly dirt, rocks […]
Hezbollah says ceasefire ‘meaningless’ as fighting continues – World
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah said a US-mediated ceasefire in the war with Israel was meaningless a day after it was extended for three weeks, as Lebanese authorities reported two people killed by an Israeli strike and Hezbollah downed an Israeli drone. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed its forces killed six Hezbollah fighters in a southern Lebanese […]
Pakistan among top 10 countries facing acute food crisis – Newspaper
Source: The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises • Multi-agency report says over 9m Pakistanis face ‘crisis’ conditions; another 1.7 million in the more severe ‘emergency’ category• Notes devastating monsoon rains, severe flooding wiped out crucial cropland, livelihoods• Warns global hunger remains at critical levels amid conflict, drought, aid cuts; outlook for 2026 remains ‘bleak’ […]
Lessons in mediation – World
OVER most of the past year, Pakistan’s role in US-Iran diplomacy remained quiet, familiar and carefully limited; functioning as a channel passing messages and keeping lines of open when direct contact between two global adversaries was politically difficult. For the larger part, Islamabad was not setting the agenda, only facilitating communication. That changed at the […]
Surprise fuel hike adds to burden on consumers – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: In a surprise move, the Shehbaz Sharif government on Friday increased the prices of both petrol and diesel by Rs26.77 per litre with immediate effect for the week ending May 1, passing on the impact of global prices during the last fortnight while also seeking to raise revenues in the final months of the […]
US Democrats look to rein in Trump’s war powers, this time on Cuba
Trump has since said ‘Cuba is next,’ while touting US military action in Venezuela and Iran The presidential motorcade is seen at the US Capitol ahead of the departure of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after their inauguration ceremony, in Washington, US, January 20, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS The US Senate will vote […]
Over 250 Indians claiming descent from biblical tribe land in Israel
The community claims to descend from Manasseh, the forefather of one of the biblical ‘lost tribes’ of Israel More than 250 Indians claiming descent from a biblical tribe landed at Tel Aviv airport on Thursday, as part of a government operation to relocate them to Israel. They are the first “Bnei Menashe” (“Sons of Manasseh“) […]
PM Shehbaz permits spectators for PSL 11 final in Lahore
PCB chairman thanks the prime minister for this decision and for facilitating the fans PSL trophy symbolises cricket’s enduring values as discipline and respect remain central to success. Photo: PSL/FILE Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday took a major decision to allow cricket fans to attend the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 […]
US negotiators to go to Islamabad, but Iran says no direct talks
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says Tehran’s concerns would be conveyed to mediator Pakistan Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir during a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF INFORMATION US negotiators are scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Saturday, but Iran […]