Dawn
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Dawn - 09:44 May 01, 2026
MIRANSHAH: An intense exchange of fire erupted on Friday between members of the Darpa Khel tribe and militants in Miranshah, the district headquarters of North Waziristan, following the killing of tribal elder Malik Saifullah Khan Dawar, police said. According to details, unidentified gunmen shot Saifullah outside his residence, triggering a fierce clash as armed tribesmen confronted the militants. Both sides reportedly used automatic weapons, and the exchange of fire continued for several hours. Sources said that a day earlier, suspected militants had allegedly occupied a local mosque, but Saifullah, along with other tribal elders, intervened and forced them to vacate the premises. On Friday morning, a large group of militants reportedly returned to the area, called Saifullah out of his house and opened fire on him, killing him on the spot, the sources added. During the clash, four local residents — identified as Yaqoob, Fazal Karim, Mujahid, and one unidentified person — were injured. The injured were shift... -
Dawn - 09:33 May 01, 2026
Japanese police arrested a man for allegedly incinerating his dead wife at the zoo where he worked, officials and local media said Friday, following the discovery of human remains. Police arrested Tatsuya Suzuki on Thursday evening on suspicion that he “transported the victim’s body to a tourist facility” in the northern island of Hokkaido and “destroyed it through incineration there,” a local police official told AFP. The victim, 33-year-old Yui Suzuki, was identified by local media as his wife. Police have not said how she died. While held in voluntary police questioning, Suzuki said he used his zoo’s incinerator —meant to dispose of waste and dead animals —to burn the woman’s body “for a few hours,” local media reported. His confession sent police scouring the incinerator for her remains, whose partial discovery paved the way for Suzuki’s arrest, local media said. While alive, the wife once told her relatives that her husband was threatening to “burn you until no trace of you will be left”, public broadcas... -
Dawn - 08:53 May 01, 2026
• Pakistani, Israeli, Cambodian leaders claim to have nominated US president; secrecy rules leave bids unconfirmed • 208 individuals, 79 organisations make up diverse list; winner to be announced on Oct 9, with award ceremony in December • Committee raises alarm over jailed Iranian laureate’s health OSLO: The Norwegian Nobel Committee is considering 287 candidates for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, with US President Donald Trump likely among those on the confidential list, the committee’s secretary said on Thursday. Of the nominations submitted by the Jan 31 deadline, 208 are for individuals and 79 are for organisations, said Kristian Berg Harpviken. He noted that the list features a significant number of new names compared to the previous year. “Since I am new in the job, one of the things that has to some extent surprised me is how much renewal there is from year to year on the list,” Harpviken, who has held the position since January 2025, said in an interview. Despite a rise in global conflicts and mounting ... -
Dawn - 08:45 May 01, 2026
El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season in South Asia, alongside higher-than-normal minimum and maximum temperatures across most of the region, according to a statement by Pakistan’s meteorological office on Friday. El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It brings changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns. Conditions oscillate between El Nino and its opposite La Nina, with neutral conditions in between. The last El Nino contributed to making 2023 the second-hottest year on record and 2024 the all-time high. The climate outlook for the 2026 southwest monsoon season (June to September) was finalised during the 34th session of the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (Sascof-34) held in Malé, Maldives on Tuesday. According to the spokesperson of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Anjum Nazir Zaighum, and a statement issued by the PMD, below normal rainfall is most likel... -
Dawn - 08:42 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Reports of online violence against women journalists have doubled since 2020, with serious impacts on their health and well-being, according to a study published ahead of ‘World Press Freedom Day,’ which is marked annually on May 3. The report by UN Women and partners highlights how online violence targeting women in public life is becoming increasingly technologically sophisticated, invasive, and damaging in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). The survey findings indicate that these forms of abuse, which were considered relatively rare just a few years ago, now account for a significant portion of the broader ecosystem of online violence. Overall, 12 per cent of the women surveyed reported experiencing the non-consensual sharing of personal images, including sexually explicit or intimate image-based material, and 6pc reported being targeted by deepfakes or other manipulated imagery. “AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, and this is fueling the erosion of hard-won rights in a context m... -
Dawn - 07:49 May 01, 2026
Across much of India, an energy crunch caused by the Iran war has prompted long queues for cooking gas cylinders. That’s not a problem for Gauri Devi. On a stove with blue flames, she flips a chapati flatbread, burning biogas produced from cow dung — an alternative fuel helping ease pressure on supplies. This photograph taken on April 24, 2026 shows villager Gauri Devi cooking using biogas at her residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district. —AFP “It cooks everything,” the 25-year-old said in her courtyard kitchen in Nekpur, a village in Uttar Pradesh, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) from New Delhi. “If the pressure goes down, we let it rest for half an hour and it works again.” India consumes more than 30 million tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) annually, importing over half its needs. The government insists there is no shortage of cooking gas, but supply delays, panic buying and black marketeers have created long queues for cylinders. This photograph taken on April 24, 2026 shows people waiting w... -
Dawn - 06:22 May 01, 2026
President Donald Trump faces a critical legal deadline on Friday that could determine the future of US military operations against Iran, even as his administration signals it may rely on a controversial legal interpretation to bypass congressional approval. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a US president must terminate military action within 60 days of notifying Congress unless lawmakers authorise the operation. The Trump administration formally notified Congress on March 2 following joint US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28, setting up a May 1 deadline. But administration officials now argue that the deadline may not apply, claiming that a ceasefire with Iran — in place since April 7 — effectively ended “hostilities” under the law. A senior official told reporters the conflict had “terminated” for War Powers purposes, allowing the White House to continue operations without seeking congressional approval. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced that position during congressional testimony ... -
Dawn - 06:20 May 01, 2026
PESHAWAR: A police constable was martyred on Friday when militants targeted an armoured police vehicle with a rocket and sniper attack at Kingar Jan Bahadar, within the jurisdiction of Mandan Police Station near the Fatah Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district. The attack occurred while the vehicle was on a routine patrol. According to the police, the assault was sudden, causing severe damage to the vehicle and leaving driver, a constable, critically injured. He later succumbed to his injuries. A civilian present at the scene was also injured and was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that the injured civilian is out of danger. Following the incident, police and security agencies cordoned off the area and launched a large-scale search and combing operation. Police officials stated that all available resources are being utilised to arrest the militants, while security in the area has been placed on high ale... -
Dawn - 04:08 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) said on Thursday that its managing shareholder ‘e&’ (formerly Etisalat) remains closely engaged with it, with a shared focus on delivering long-term value and advancing Pakistan’s digital ecosystem. Referring to a Dawn report, titled ‘Emirati telecom giant mulling exit’, published on Apr 30, regarding a potential change in e&’s investment position in Pakistan, the company said it was not aware of the sources referenced in the reports. “PTCL’s shareholders remain fully committed to the company’s long-term strategy and growth trajectory. This is reflected in key strategic initiatives, including the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers, Ufone’s 5G spectrum acquisition, and the continued expansion of the company’s fibre network across the country,” it said in a statement. When contacted for response prior to the publication of the report, PTCL had simply stated that a long-term business plan had recently been approved by its board, and ... -
Dawn - 02:54 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday upheld the Capital Development Authority (CDA) decision, canceling lease of iconic skyscraper One Constitution Avenue owing to the multi-billion rupees default. IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar announced the decision on the appeals filed by M/s BNP (Private) Limited and the occupants of flats in the skyscraper. The court in February this year had reserved its verdict in the high-profile case concerning the cancellation of the lease of Grand Hyatt building located in the Red Zone near Constitution Avenue. Counsel for the CDA Kashif Ali Malik advanced arguments on behalf of the civic agency. IHC in February this year had reserved the verdict in the high-profile case The case pertains to the controversial five-star hotel project, which was awarded to BNP Group nearly two decades ago. However, instead of functioning as a five-star hotel, it was converted into residential apartments and commercial areas. Apartments in the building were also repor... -
Dawn - 02:20 May 01, 2026
• Rs6.59 rise in petrol, Rs19.39 hike in diesel prices implemented with IMF concurrence • PM extends fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, transport sector by a month • Pakistan on track to meet Rs1.47tr petroleum levy target • May face $10-68bn fallout from ME crisis, NA panel told ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday raised petrol and diesel prices while simultaneously extending fuel subsidies for motorcyclists and the transport sector, seeking to cushion the impact of rising global oil costs on vulnerable consumers. With the concurrence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Shehbaz Sharif government has increased the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs6.51 and Rs19.39 per litre, respectively, with immediate effect for the week ending May 8. During a virtual meeting on Thursday, the IMF was informed that Pakistan was well placed to achieve its petroleum levy target of Rs1.468 trillion, as collections over 10 months had already exceeded the target for 11 months. The two sides agreed to keep the primary bala... -
Dawn - 20:41 Apr 30, 2026
Pakistan and 10 other countries condemned on Friday in “strongest terms” the Israeli assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which they said was as a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Brazil, Jordan, Spain, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Colombia, Maldives, South Africa and Libya said the Israeli attacks against the vessels and the unlawful detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constituted “flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law”. “The ministers are deeply concerned about the safety of the civilian activists and urge the Israeli authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure their immediate release. “The ministers also call on the international community to fulfil their moral and legal obligations to uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for th... -
Dawn - 18:52 Apr 30, 2026
The government raised on Thursday the price of petrol by Rs6.51 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs19.39. Following the increase, the price of petrol stands at Rs399.86 per litre and HSD’s at Rs399.58. The Petroleum Division’s press release notifying the increase said the new prices would be effective from May 1. Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and has a direct bearing on the budget of the middle and lower-middle class. High-speed diesel is mainly used in the heavy transport sector and for large generators. Petrol and high-speed diesel are the major revenue spinners with their monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene. The latest price hike came after the a virtual meeting between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan’s representatives, during which the IMF was told that Pakistan was well placed to achieve the petroleum levy target of Rs1.468 trillion, source... -
Dawn - 18:11 Apr 30, 2026
The military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday that 13 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed in two foiled infiltration attempts along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the 13 Fitna al Khawarij terrorists were killed last night. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. ISPR said that in KP’s Mohmand district, the movement of a group of terrorists trying to infiltrate the Pak-Afghan border was picked up by security forces. “Own troops effectively engaged this group of khawarij. As a result of precise and skillful engagement, eight khwarij belonging to the Indian-sponsored, Fitna al Khawarij were sent to hell,” it said. It added that troops also foiled another infiltration attempt by a group of khawarij along the Pak-Afghan border in KP’s North Waziristan district. It added that after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed. “These engagements on... -
Dawn - 17:47 Apr 30, 2026
PESHAWAR: Following public outcry from his own constituency over drone attacks, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday hinted at introducing legislation to criminalise collateral damage in such incidents. The development comes after a meeting of lawmakers from the respective districts decided that the issue would be taken up in the provincial assembly, while vowing to put up a joint front to protect civilians. “We held a meeting on bringing a law against drone attacks, but ‘they’ have protected themselves in the Constitution against drone attacks … However, we can legislate against collateral damage,” Afridi said on Thursday without specifying further. He made the remarks while speaking during a session of the KP Assembly summoned to discuss the issue. CM Afridi alleged that whenever he protested against a drone strike, he received a message that “they” understood the situation and were sorry. The chief minister questioned why such incidents never targeted sensitive installations and only... -
Dawn - 16:26 Apr 30, 2026
Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Pakistan remained actively engaged with Iran and the United States to “achieve a resolution” of the conflict between the two sides. “As such, the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he said during a weekly FO briefing. The conflict, which is now almost two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has now been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences. It has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply used to pass in peacetime, re... -
Dawn - 15:49 Apr 30, 2026
ISLAMABAD: After skipping Adiala jail visits for two consecutive weeks, PTI leaders on Thursday managed to reach the prison for a meeting with incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, which was once again denied. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed Imran twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite court orders, Imran’s meetings with the family and the party leaders have been largely restricted. While Imran’s sisters continue to show up at the jail on Tuesdays, party leaders were nowhere to be seen the past two weeks, prompting criticism of the leadership. On Wednesday, a list of PTI leaders’ names was sent to the Adiala jail superintendent for a meeting with Imran. The initial list sent to the jail administration included the names of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Advocate Hamid Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar. However, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja — who has been authorised by the IHC to share the names of leaders who intend ... -
Dawn - 15:22 Apr 30, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission announced on Thursday that the consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation Limited has notified it of its intent to acquire the remaining 25 per cent equity stake in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL), paving the way for full private-sector ownership of the national carrier. It said that the total private-sector investment in the transaction was expected to amount to approximately Rs180 billion, comprising a minimum of Rs55 billion payable to the government as divestment proceeds and Rs125bn to be injected as fresh equity into PIACL to support the airline’s recapitalisation. “The planned equity injection will support fleet expansion and modernisation, route development, and improvements in customer service and operational systems,” the commission said. It said that management control was expected to be transferred on or before May 25, the first closing date announced by the Privatisation Commission, subject to the fulfilment of conditions set out i... -
Dawn - 14:56 Apr 30, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday decided to extend the fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, and public and goods transport by one month. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier decided to continue providing relief to the economically vulnerable sections of society during the current situation. It said that the prime minister “had decided to extend fuel subsidy given last month to motorcyclists, public and goods transporters by one more month”. He also directed transporters not to increase travel and freight fares. He further issued instructions to maintain “effective monitoring” of relief measures. According to the statement, PM Shehbaz vowed to continue the government’s relief efforts, stressing that “providing relief to the common man remained the government’s top priority”. “The people will not be left alone under any circumstances,” the premier asserted, hoping that the “regional situation will improve soon so that fuel prices can stabilise”. The subsidies wer... -
Dawn - 14:54 Apr 30, 2026
PESHAWAR/ LAHORE: Justices Babar Sattar and Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will begin presiding over proceedings at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and Lahore High Court (LHC), respectively, in the coming week following their recent transfers from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Their transfers, along with that of IHC judge Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court, were approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on April 28 and notified by the law ministry on April 29 amid criticism from lawyers’ bodies. On Thursday, the names of Justices Sattar and Kayani were included in the rosters of the high court courts to which they have been transferred. The LHC’s revised roster for May 4 to July 4 shows that Justice Kayani will be presiding over proceedings as judge on a single bench at the court’s principal seat. The roster, notified by Additional Registrar (Judicial) Shabbir Hussain Shah, shows that 27 single benches and nine division benches have been constituted at the principal seat for this period. Meanwhile, ...
10418 items