Month: October 2026

The leader of a key Israeli Arab party told AFP on Wednesday that he was willing to cooperate with an opposition-led government to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but was not open to joining such a coalition outright. “We do not see the possibility of being part of an Israeli government coalition under the current political circumstances, particularly given the ongoing war in Gaza, the settlements in the West Bank, and other issues,” the Joint List’s Yousef Jabareen said. “However, with the aim of bringing down this government, it would…

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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday dedicated her birthday to the province’s farmers, announcing a relief package and a series of measures for the agriculture sector. At a meeting with farmers’ representatives, she announced the establishment of the first Apna Kisan Bank, easier loans and expanded agricultural facilities. She said Pakistan’s economic progress cannot move forward without Punjab’s farmers. Under the package, loans of up to Rs10 million will carry no interest. Loans of up to Rs30 million will be charged two per cent, and loans of up…

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British anti-Islam activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, was convicted on Wednesday of harassing two journalists ​during nationwide rioting two years ago. Robinson said before his trial ‌began that billionaire X owner Elon Musk, who often reposts Robinson and allowed him to return to the social media platform, was supporting his ​defence. Musk also last year paid for Robinson’s defence when he ​was charged with failing to provide his phone PIN ⁠to police, for which he was cleared by a judge, and ​Musk virtually attended a rally in…

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The Sindh government on Wednesday notified a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the murder of Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali, acting on the recommendation of a judicial commission. The Sindh Home Department issued the notification after Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved the team’s formation. DIG West Irfan Ali Baloch has been named convener. The JIT includes representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Rangers and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). FIR 795/2026 has been handed to the team. It will investigate the charges…

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A ship carrying 51,000 metric tonnes of wheat has arrived at Karachi port, while a second vessel with more than 59,000 tonnes is expected on November 3. According to Karachi Port Trust (KPT), MV Gokova M reached the port at 12:25 pm on October 28. The port allocated berths 16 and 17 to the vessel. KPT said wheat bulk cargo is being handled at Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited. The port says the aim is to make the import of essential commodities and cargo operations more efficient. A second vessel,…

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Iran on Wednesday warned of a devastating economic impact from any new Israeli-led attack, as the votes were counted in an Israeli election that could determine the future of the regional war. Under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to topple Iran’s government, the two countries have directly fought a war for the first time in their history after decades of enmity. Tuesday’s pivotal election gave Israelis a chance to offer a verdict on Netanyahu’s right-wing government, amid mounting US and Israeli threats of renewed attacks against Iran…

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The US Federal Reserve will announce a decision on setting interest rates on Wednesday, with markets expecting the central bank to hold steady days ahead of crucial midterm elections, despite surging inflation. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) began its second day of deliberations on Wednesday morning, a Fed spokesperson said, with a decision due at 2:00 pm local time (1800 GMT), followed by a press conference by Chair Kevin Warsh. Policymakers voted at their last meeting in September to raise interest rates to a range between 3.75 and 4.00…

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The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has announced the results of the first annual examinations 2026 for Class 9 Science Group (regular candidates). The overall pass rate was 69.56 per cent. A total of 123,757 candidates cleared the exams. The board registered 180,054 candidates in the Science Group. Of these, 177,923 appeared, while 2,131 stayed absent. The number of failed candidates stood at 53,849. Thousands of candidates also cleared only some of their papers. The board said 21,999 candidates passed six papers, 11,006 passed five and 7,431 passed four.…

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Results from Israel’s hard-fought election pointed Wednesday to no clear winner as a leader of the Arab minority appealed to a hesitant opposition to join forces to end the divisive reign of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With more than three-quarters of the vote counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc was slightly ahead but still short of a majority in Tuesday’s election, the first since the October 7, 2023, attack, which has led Israel to wage war in Gaza and across the region. Both Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister who is allied with…

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