On Monday, the Supreme Court suspended the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) orders in the audio leaks case involving Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Najam Saqib, son of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar. During the hearing, a two-judge bench consisting of Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan restrained the IHC from taking further action on the case and declared that the orders issued on May 29 and June 25 exceeded its jurisdiction. On May 29, IHC Justice Babar Sattar had prohibited telecom companies from recording phone calls and data for surveillance purposes.…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s government is reportedly throttling the internet and social media while implementing new controls aimed at suppressing dissent, according to activists and business leaders, a move that may jeopardize the country’s economic recovery. Since July, internet speeds have slowed by up to 40 percent, according to an IT association, with disruptions affecting documents, images, and voice notes on WhatsApp, a platform used by millions in Pakistan. Digital rights experts suspect the state is testing a ‘firewall’—a security system that can both monitor network traffic and control online spaces. Usama Khilji, a digital rights activist, told AFP that the…
WASHINGTON — US Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has asserted that America is prepared to elect its first Black woman president. Reflecting on her 2019 presidential bid, Harris recalled the skepticism she faced: “In my entire career, I’ve heard people say when I ran… people aren’t ready, it’s not your time, nobody like you has done that before. I haven’t listened, and I would suggest that nobody should listen to that kind of conversation.” Despite her initial campaign struggles, Harris’s journey continued as she was later selected by Joe Biden as his running mate. If Harris, 59,…
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is set to begin on Monday and will run until August 22 in Chicago. This follows the Republican Party’s convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Donald Trump was officially nominated as their presidential candidate and JD Vance was named as his running mate. For the Democratic Party, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates were finalized ahead of their convention. Kamala Harris secured a majority of delegates in the virtual voting process that took place from August 1 to August 5. She clinched the nomination on the first day of voting and was officially confirmed on August 5.…
HYDERABAD: Nearly 12% of spice samples tested by Indian authorities did not meet quality and safety standards, according to data obtained by Reuters. This testing was conducted after several countries raised concerns about contamination risks in two major spice brands. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India carried out inspections and testing of mixed spice blends following Hong Kong’s suspension of some MDH and Everest brand products in April due to high pesticide levels. Subsequently, Britain imposed stricter controls on all spice imports from India, while New Zealand, the United States, and Australia also began reviewing issues related to…
On Sunday, Russia rejected a report claiming that Ukraine’s recent attack on the Kursk region had disrupted indirect negotiations with Kyiv aimed at halting strikes on energy and power infrastructure. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, denied the Washington Post’s claim, asserting that no talks on civilian infrastructure had taken place. The Washington Post reported on Saturday that Ukraine and Russia were scheduled to send delegations to Qatar this month to discuss a significant agreement to cease attacks on energy and power infrastructure on both sides. The report suggested that these talks, which would have represented a partial ceasefire, were…
On Monday, the UK government implemented emergency measures to address overcrowding in prisons in northern England, a response to the rising number of convictions related to recent riots. The government has activated “Operation Early Dawn,” which permits holding defendants in police cells instead of court appearances until prison space becomes available. This decision comes amid a surge in convictions for those involved in the disturbances earlier this month. The Labour government has warned of a potential “collapse” in the prison system due to the current capacity crisis, AFP reports. England and Wales have the highest per capita prison population in…
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Malawi has selected former President Peter Mutharika as its candidate for the 2025 presidential election. Mutharika, who served as president from 2014 to 2020, has promised to revive the struggling economy and address shortages of foreign currency, fuel, and medicines. According to Reuters, Mutharika will challenge President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party, who is running for re-election on September 16, 2025. At a recent DPP convention in Blantyre, Mutharika expressed confidence in his chances of winning and pledged to implement economic reforms. During his previous term, Mutharika, a former law professor, made…
The United Nations (UN) has reported a significant increase in acute malnutrition in government-controlled areas of Yemen, with the most severe cases occurring along the Red Sea coast. According to Reuters, the UN’s food security group attributes this rise to ongoing conflict, economic decline, and the spread of diseases such as cholera and measles. The report highlights a 34% increase in malnutrition rates among children under five in government-controlled regions compared to the previous year. This affects approximately 600,000 children, with 120,000 facing severe malnutrition. For the first time, “extremely critical” levels of malnutrition have been recorded in the southern…
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in the Middle East with the goal of securing a ceasefire in Gaza. Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Sunday, August 18, as part of a diplomatic mission aimed at negotiating a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. The visit follows recent discussions in Doha, which have led to cautious optimism from both the US and Israel. However, Hamas has dismissed these hopes, calling any progress an “illusion” and demanding a full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. Earlier on Sunday, Al-Aqsa hospital reported that an airstrike in Deir al-Balah resulted in…
