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ISLAMABAD : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the date for local government elections in Islamabad. According to the Election Commission, local government elections in Islamabad will be held on 15 February. Polling will take place from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Election Commission stated that Returning Officers will display the public notice for nomination papers on 19 December, while nomination papers can be submitted from 22 December to 27 December. Under the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from 30 December to 3 January 2026. Appeals may be filed from 5 to 8…

SHIKARPUR : In a major police encounter in Shikarpur, nine armed dacoits were killed, while four police officers, including two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), were injured. According to the Shikarpur SSP, the clash took place in the Manchar Sheikh area on Tuesday. During the operation, DSP Garhi Yasin, Zahoor Soomro sustained injuries, and DSP City Pars Bakrani was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. Police officials stated that the encounter is still ongoing, and a large contingent of police personnel remains deployed at the scene. Armored vehicles have also been deployed as part of the operation to ensure…

ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar reaffirmed the enduring “iron brotherhood” between Pakistan and China at a donation ceremony organized by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK) in Islamabad. He praised Chinese enterprises and individuals for contributing over Rs 34 million in flood-relief assistance and highlighted China’s consistent support during Pakistan’s crises, including major aid during the 2025 floods. Emphasizing Pakistan’s climate vulnerability despite its minimal carbon footprint, Tarar called for greater international cooperation. Chinese Minister Counsellor Yang Guangyuan noted China’s swift relief response and said the donations reflected the deep people-to-people bond. With…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, Information Technology, science, and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine. In a joint presser along with President Subiato at the PM House, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Indonesia were committed to boosting bilateral trade, which currently stood at US$4.5 billion, noting that over 90 percent of the total trade comprised of palm oil import from Indonesia to Pakistan. He assured the Indonesian president that Pakistan would work closely with Indonesia to achieve the decided…

BRUSSELS: This year is set to be the world’s second or third-warmest on record, potentially surpassed only by 2024’S record-breaking heat, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Tuesday. The data is the latest from C3S following last month’s COP30 climate summit, where governments failed to agree to substantial new measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting strained geopolitics as the US rolls back its efforts, and some countries seek to weaken CO2-cutting measures. This year will also likely round out the first three-year period in which the average global temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees…

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday said that Pakistan’s successful completion of key reviews under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme reflects the country’s strengthened economic position and resilience, despite challenges posed by recent devastating floods. In a statement released by the Finance Division, Aurangzeb acknowledged the cooperation of federal ministries, government bodies, county offices, senior secretaries, and provincial governments in advancing the government’s structural reform agenda and cooperation that contributed to the successful completion of the IMF’s second review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Opening today’s meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the minister noted that this…

LOS ANGELES: Nominations for the 2026 Golden Globe awards for film and television were announced on Monday for a ceremony that will take place on Jan. 11. Film Best drama “Frankenstein” “Hamnet” “It Was Just an Accident“ “The Secret Agent” “Sentimental Value” “Sinners” Best comedy or musical “Blue Moon” “Bugonia” “Marty Supreme” “No Other Choice” “Nouvelle Vague” “One Battle After Another” Best male actor, drama Joel Edgerton, “Train Dreams” Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked: For Good” Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue” Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another” Amanda Seyfried, “The Testament of Ann…

The most corrupt sectors in the country are perceived to be the police, judicial system, and tender/procurement. Furthermore, public opinion suggests that provincial governments demonstrate higher levels of corruption than local governments. This conclusion is drawn from the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025, which was released by the Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) on Tuesday. TIP Chairman Justice (retd) Zia Perwez said the survey explores a wide range of themes, including sectors perceived as more corrupt, factors contributing to corruption, and public views on accountability of anti-corruption institutions. “It also gauges perceptions of government efforts to combat corruption, economic stability,…

The Karachi University (KU) has declared the degree of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri to be forged, Aaj News reported on Tuesday. The Controller of Examinations for the university stated that not only were the enrollment numbers fabricated on the degree and mark-sheet, but other documents were also tampered. In a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by the Karachi University, it was stated that enrollment number 5968/87 was originally allotted to a student named Imtiaz Ahmed. Jahangiri allegedly used the LLB Part II number 7184/87 through forgery. During this process, names and enrollment numbers were repeatedly changed to obtain mark-sheets…

SYDNEY: Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was on Tuesday ruled out of the rest of the Ashes against England following an injury setback. Coach Andrew McDonald told reporters that Hazlewood, who missed the first two Tests, had suffered problems in recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries and would sit out the remaining three matches. “Really flat for him. A couple of setbacks that we didn’t see coming,” McDonald said. “We thought he’d play a huge part in the series. But really feel for him that he won’t get that opportunity.” Hazlewood will now aim to be fully fit for the…