Category: English

A Saudi-led military coalition said on Thursday that it had intercepted and destroyed four drones in the airspace over Riyadh and the holy city of Madinah, as Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the four drones were destroyed before reaching their targets. He added that four more drones had been intercepted in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province earlier on Thursday. The developments came as the Houthis, also known as Ansarullah, confirmed attacks over the…

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Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have surged across Pakistan ahead of winter, with the fuel selling for between Rs450 and Rs750 per kilogram in different cities, far above the official rate set by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). OGRA has fixed the LPG price at Rs279.34 per kg for October, but consumers in several parts of the country are paying substantially higher rates as demand rises ahead of the colder months. In Karachi, LPG is being sold for Rs500 to Rs550 per kg in different areas. In Islamabad,…

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The Sindh government has decided to form another committee to introduce comprehensive police reforms in the wake of the Mir Raza case, with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Zulfiqar Larik set to lead the body. The committee will review the performance of the police investigation department, assess the functioning of the crime scene unit and recommend measures to improve the performance of other relevant departments. The move is part of the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to address shortcomings in the police system and restore public confidence following concerns raised during the…

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday defended the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing the worsening security situation and a resurgence of terrorism, while blaming the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for undermining counterterrorism efforts. The development comes weeks after the federal government imposed emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reportedly over disagreement between the centre and province over counterterrorism measures. Addressing a high-level meeting of the Apex Committee, the prime minister said the government had been compelled to take the measures in response to the deteriorating security…

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs160 billion package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with 70% of the funds allocated to the province’s merged districts and the remaining 30% earmarked for other districts, KP Information Adviser Samar Bilour said on Thursday. Speaking to the media in Peshawar after a meeting of the National Action Plan’s apex committee chaired by the prime minister, Bilour said the meeting also discussed the challenges facing the country and the future course of action. She said Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and…

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Saudi state oil company Aramco has told staff to evacuate its headquarters in Dhahran on the Gulf, six ‌people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday, as fighting between the world’s largest crude exporter and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis intensifies. Clashes between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government have raged since the group pushed towards Bab el-Mandeb, a shipping chokepoint at the Red Sea’s mouth. The instruction to staff to evacuate the building and work remotely follows a wave of Houthi attacks on…

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Pakistan has an estimated 33 million people living with diabetes, with more than one million relying on insulin, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to ensure uninterrupted access to the essential medicine. Amid concerns over insulin access, Novo Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting people living with diabetes by working with partners to help maintain continuity of treatment. In a statement issued on Thursday, the company said it recognised the importance of reliable insulin supplies for patients and their families and was working to support access to treatment. Mehtaz…

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Pakistan could triple its incomes by 2050 through faster structural reforms that boost private investment and sustain economic growth, the World Bank Group said on Thursday, urging the country to build on progress in macroeconomic stabilisation. In its latest Pakistan Development Update, titled Attaining Escape Velocity, the global lender said Pakistan had an opportunity to accelerate growth and job creation through ambitious reforms, following improvements in economic stability. Sound macroeconomic policies had helped stabilise the economy and preserve growth despite the impact of the Middle East conflict, the report said.…

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Gold prices in Pakistan decreased on Thursday in line with their loss in the international market. In the local market, the gold price per tola reached Rs431,536 after a decline of Rs3,000 during the day. Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs369,972 after it fell by Rs2,572, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). On Wednesday, gold price per tola reached Rs434,536 after a decline of Rs900 during the day. The international rate of gold declined by $30 to reach $4,090 per ounce. Meanwhile,…

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A neatly packed cardboard box of pasta, dry beans, canned goods and powdered milk made Tonya King cry. “I’ve been waiting for this,” said King, a 65-year-old Detroit ​grandmother, her voice cracking while tears streamed down her face. “Finally, my daughter called me and said, ‘he’s coming.’“ King had been waiting for Frank Kubik, a director at ‌the Focus: Hope nonprofit food program, who arrived with the box of food that will feed her household of six for two weeks. The food bank caters mostly to lower-income seniors on fixed…

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