South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested late Tuesday on a range of charges including stock manipulation and corruption, according to prosecutors. The arrest followed a review by the Seoul Central District Court of the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant against the 52-year-old. The court granted the warrant, citing the risk of evidence tampering, after prosecutors submitted an 848-page document detailing Kim’s alleged “unlawful acts.” This marks the first time in the nation’s history that both a former president and first lady are behind bars simultaneously. The charges against Kim include violations of capital market and…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin, stating the Russian leader will face “severe consequences” if he obstructs a peace deal for Ukraine. Speaking before their meeting in Alaska on Friday, Trump said he hopes the talks will be productive but made it clear he is prepared to act if they fail. Trump also mentioned on Wednesday that a meeting between the two could be followed swiftly by a second one that includes the leader of Ukraine. While he did not specify what the consequences would be, he had previously warned of economic sanctions if the…
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designed to ease regulations for the private space industry, a move that includes eliminating some environmental reviews. The decision is likely to be welcomed by Elon Musk, his former adviser. The executive order, which aims to “substantially” increase the number of space launches in the United States, was labeled “reckless” by an environmental group. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has been a vocal supporter of several space missions, including sending humans to the Moon and Mars. These missions are planned to use Musk’s private firm SpaceX’s massive…
Foreign ministry officials from both India and China have confirmed that they are in discussions to resume border trade, five years after it was halted. This move comes as U.S. tariffs disrupt the global trade order. Historically, the volume of trade across the icy, high-altitude Himalayan passes between the two neighbors was small, but its potential resumption is highly symbolic. The two economic powers have long competed for strategic influence in South Asia. However, amid the global trade and geopolitical turmoil triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, both countries have sought to mend ties. According to Indian media,…
Millions of Pakistanis are celebrating the country’s 75th Independence Day today. This year’s festivities hold special significance with the inclusion of ‘Marka-e-Haq’ celebrations, honoring the nation’s recent military triumph against India. The day commenced with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in provincial headquarters. Special prayers for peace, solidarity, and prosperity were held in mosques nationwide. Across cities and towns, vendors are selling flags, caps, and green-and-white clothing, while vehicles and buildings proudly display the national flag. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoisted the national flag to commemorate the occasion. The main flag-hoisting ceremony took place at…
The Met Office has forecasted moderate to heavy rainfall in Karachi next week, as a monsoon system is expected to enter Sindh from India’s Gujarat on the night of August 17. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) stated that rain is anticipated in various parts of Sindh from August 18 to 23. The department predicts that Karachi will likely experience one or two spells of rain during this period. Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a weather alert for heavy monsoon rains across several cities, including Lahore, during the Independence Day celebrations. According to PDMA Director General…
In a significant political development, representatives from the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met at the National Assembly Speaker’s Office on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of dialogue. As a gesture of goodwill, the speaker postponed a disciplinary vote against PTI’s Waqas Akram Shaikh. According to sources, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, joined by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, accommodated the PTI delegation by holding back a resolution that would have penalized Shaikh for his absence of over 40 days from the House. This move was seen as an effort to ease tensions…
Following a significant diplomatic win in Washington, Pakistan is set to formally request the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, the Majeed Brigade, as terrorist organizations. This move follows the U.S. designation of the Majeed Brigade as a terror group, building on the BLA’s prior listing in 2019. This diplomatic achievement is expected to boost the morale of Pakistan’s security forces as they prepare to intensify operations against these groups. The Majeed Brigade, the BLA’s most lethal faction, is infamous for its use of suicide bombings—a rare tactic for a…
In commemoration of the 78th Independence Day, with a special emphasis on the recent armed conflict with India known as Marka-e-Haq, a unique investiture ceremony took place at the President House. The event honored top civil and military officials with national awards for their distinguished services. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir was awarded the Hilal-i-Jurat by President Asif Ali Zardari for his leadership during a particularly challenging period. Similarly, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu also received the Hilal-i-Jurat at the ceremony. These awards were presented against the backdrop of…
Happy Independence Day — But Where is Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan? Echoes of a Question in the Free Skies! By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada It is the evening of Independence Day. The streets of our cities are adorned with green crescent-and-star flags, buildings glimmer with electric lights, national songs echo from public gatherings, and children run joyfully with little flags in their hands. Yet, amid all these scenes, one question relentlessly stirs within me: Is this the same Pakistan that was won on August 14, 1947? Is this the very dream Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned for us with his wisdom and leadership?…
