RAWALPINDI: Torrential rain battered Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday, causing widespread urban flooding, disrupting traffic and forcing authorities to place emergency services on high alert. Around 200 millimetres of rain was recorded in Rawalpindi, while Islamabad’s E-11 sector received about 150mm within a short period. Shamsabad recorded around 201mm, while New Katarian received 186mm. The intense rainfall caused the water level in Nullah Lai to rise sharply, forcing authorities to issue evacuation alerts for residents living along the watercourse and in low-lying areas. The situation later began to improve as water levels started falling. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Nadeem…
Author: Web Desk
Tehran: Iran’s senior armed forces spokesman, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, has claimed that around 1,000 Israeli personnel were killed and thousands more wounded during the recent war. In an interview, Shekarchi also claimed that hundreds of American military personnel were killed in the conflict. According to the Iranian military spokesman, the United States and Israel are concealing the true number of casualties suffered by their forces. He compared the situation to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, claiming that the actual number of American military deaths in those conflicts was disclosed only later. Shekarchi further alleged that the remains of…
Buenos Aires: LIONEL MESSI has officially closed the chapter on his international career, announcing his retirement from Argentina duty at the age of 39 after more than two decades of extraordinary service to the national team. For Argentina, it is the end of an era. Messi leaves the international stage as the country’s most-capped player and its all-time leading scorer, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for the national team. His career began in 2005, when a teenage Messi first pulled on the Argentina shirt, and ended with a legacy few footballers could ever hope to match. His…
Ayaz Khan Lohani The diplomatic spotlight is turning toward Eurasia as leaders gather in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at precisely the moment when the United States and Iran have returned to exchanging military strikes, regional security arrangements are being reshaped, and traditional alliances are facing growing uncertainty. What makes this moment particularly significant is that two major diplomatic and security developments are unfolding almost simultaneously: the SCO gathering in Bishkek and the first institutional meeting of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in Istanbul. The two events are not formally connected. But together, they provide a revealing…
ISLAMABAD: A demonstration of an experimental driverless car in Islamabad took an unexpected turn when the vehicle crashed into a parked police van during a demo by a reporter. The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, with viewers reacting to the dramatic end to what was presented as a showcase of technological innovation. During the demonstration, the reporter praised Pakistan’s technological talent, saying, “There is certainly no shortage of talent in Pakistan,” before the vehicle was set in motion without a visible driver. Moments later, the vehicle appeared to lose control and moved…
BISHKEK: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Bishkek on Monday for a three-day official visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he is set to participate in key meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The prime minister was received upon arrival by Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev. During his visit, PM Shehbaz Sharif will attend the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State as well as the SCO Plus Summit. Pakistan is also set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the next year. On the sidelines of the…
ISTANBUL: Leaders and senior defence officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on Monday attended the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA). Pakistan was represented by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. The meeting was held at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, where foreign and defence ministers and senior military officials from the three countries gathered for the inaugural session and a group photograph. Türkiye was represented by Foreign Minister…
MUZAFFARABAD: Newly elected Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gillani has announced that internet services across the region will begin to be restored within the next two days, along with the reopening of major entry and exit routes. Speaking to journalists during his first visit to the Central Press Club after assuming office, Gillani said the routes connecting Azad Kashmir with other parts of the country would be restored within two days. He also announced a phased restoration of internet services. As part of the first phase, internet connectivity for educational institutions is expected to be restored…
SLAMABAD: Reports claiming that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is engaged and preparing to marry have sparked speculation, with unverified claims linking the alleged development to Liechtenstein. According to the reports, Bilawal’s alleged fiancée is said to be from Vaduz, the capital of the European microstate. The reports further claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari had travelled to Liechtenstein with other family members to discuss arrangements and finalize a date for his son’s wedding. The reports suggested that the wedding could take place by the end of this year. However, the claims have been rejected by the…
ZAFARWAL: The water level in Nullah Dek in Zafarwal continues to rise, with irrigation authorities reporting a moderate flood as a large volume of water moves through the watercourse. According to the Irrigation Department, around 16,000 cusecs of water is currently passing through Nullah Dek. The watercourse has an overall carrying capacity of approximately 30,000 cusecs. The rising water level has prompted the district administration to remain on high alert, with authorities closely monitoring the situation and keeping track of changes in the water flow. Residents living near Nullah Dek have been advised to avoid unnecessary movement around the watercourse…
