Author: Sajjad Ali

FENI: At least 13 people have died, and 4.5 million have been affected by floods in Bangladesh, triggered by heavy rains, according to the country’s disaster management and relief ministry on Friday. The South Asian nation, home to 170 million people and intersected by hundreds of rivers, has experienced frequent flooding in recent decades and is one of the most disaster-prone countries globally, as highlighted by the Global Climate Risk Index. A bulletin from the disaster ministry reported that 13 fatalities have occurred, and 4.5 million people have been impacted by the floods. Nearly 190,000 individuals have been evacuated to…

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to shut down utility stores and 16 more departments. The departments being shut down include the Pakistan Engineering Council, National Fertilizer Samsad, and others. The relevant departments have been given a timeline of 1 week to 3 months to close down. Subsidies on utility stores across the country have been eliminated. On the other hand, over 18,000 employees of the utility stores have started considering protests against the store closures.

BEIJING: China has retained its position as the world’s largest market for industrial robots for the 11th consecutive year. Speaking at the ongoing 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing, Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said that in 2023, China produced 430,000 industrial robots, with new installations in the country representing over half of the global market over the past three years. China’s decade-long rapid growth has significantly contributed to the global robot industry’s expansion. China’s robot sector has advanced considerably, with breakthroughs in bionic perception, cognition, planning, and control technologies. By July…

WASHINGTON: A spokesperson for the US Department of Defense has clarified that the Taliban is not part of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). During a press briefing, Sabrina Singh said that the US collaborates with a global coalition of partners and allies to combat ISIS, stating clearly, “The Taliban is not part of that.” This clarification comes in response to an NBC report suggesting that Washington might be considering cooperation with the Taliban to address the ISIS threat. Despite the Taliban’s claims of having suppressed ISIS activities in Afghanistan, there remain significant regional and international concerns about…

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs was briefed on Pakistan’s financial dealings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), revealing that the country had secured a loan under a Standby Arrangement (SBA) in 2023 at a high interest rate of 5.09%. Officials from the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) provided a comprehensive overview of the IMF funds received by Pakistan, from the first IMF program to June 2024, during a committee meeting. Committee Chairman Senator Saifullah Abro raised concerns about the expenditure of Rs90 billion on political schemes following the receipt of the IMF…

The bodies of four members of a family were discovered in a car on the motorway near Bhalwal, Punjab, while the driver was found in a semi-conscious state. The deceased have been identified as 25-year-old Samar, 55-year-old Romila, 30-year-old Mehr, and six-year-old Aoun Ali. The driver, Amir Qasim, was found unconscious and has been transported to the hospital for treatment. An investigation into the incident is currently underway. The family, residents of McLeod Road in Lahore, was traveling from Lahore to Islamabad in a car bearing the registration number LEF 7339. The bodies have been moved to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital…

LAHORE: The Punjab government has vowed to launch a swift and decisive crackdown on Kacha bandits following the brutal attack on police vehicles in the Kacha Machhka area of Rahim Yar Khan. During a telephonic conversation with the Home Secretary, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz underscored the need for a strong response. She directed the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab to spearhead the operation against the robbers. Maryam Nawaz instructed the Home Secretary to supervise the operation and collaborate with the Sindh government for support. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of utilizing all available resources to restore state authority in…

LAHORE: Eleven policemen were killed and seven others injured in a coordinated rocket attack by bandits on police vans in Rahim Yar Khan’s Machka area on Thursday, local media reports. The assault took place in Punjab’s riverine region, known for its difficult terrain and high criminal activity. Two police vans, carrying more than 20 officers, were immobilized in rainwater when bandits targeted them with rockets. The ambush resulted in the death of 11 officers, with seven others injured and four still missing. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and expressed profound sorrow for the loss of the police personnel.…

KABUL: The Afghan Taliban on Thursday publicly flogged a man in the eastern province of Khost after he was convicted of “insulting religious sanctities,” according to a statement from the Taliban’s Supreme Court. The man was subjected to 39 lashes in front of a gathered crowd. This incident comes just a day after a similar public flogging in Kabul, where a woman was lashed for alleged adultery and sentenced to two years in prison. Despite persistent condemnation from the United Nations and global human rights organizations, the Taliban continue to carry out corporal punishments, including public floggings. Marking the third…

LAHORE: Anchorperson Orya Maqbool Jan was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore on Thursday for his social media posts related to the Mubarak Sani case, according to his lawyer. Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq confirmed that Jan was detained by the FIA’s cybercrime wing at their Gulberg office and is scheduled to appear before a judicial magistrate today. “The FIA has no jurisdiction in this matter, and we will present strong arguments,” said Advocate Ashfaq, who also noted that they have not been provided with details of the first information report (FIR). Supreme Court Hears Mubarak Sani Case Today…