Amid rising incidents of cross-border firing, the Foreign Office (FO) on Friday urged the Taliban-led interim government in Kabul to exercise restraint and avoid unprovoked acts against the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch made the remarks while responding to a question about a recent clash between the border forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan near the Torkham border crossing. Earlier this week, security forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire after the former objected to the construction of a controversial checkpost near the border by the Afghans.…
Year: 2024
‘Second trial of firewall with DPI capability’ completed in Pakistan
Pakistan completed a second trial run of firewall to block and filter unwanted content on Thursday, according to telecom sources, amid criticism over the internet slowdown in the country. The firewall was installed on internet service providers (ISPs) possessing deep packet inspection (DPI) capability, the sources said adding that the firewall has been installed in view of national security concerns. The telco sources also confirmed that mobile signals and internet services slowed down due to the installation of a new firewall. They claimed that all social media services would return…
Ukraine opens military office in occupied Kursk region
KYIV: Ukraine’s top commander said on Thursday Kyiv had set up a military commandant’s office in the occupied part of Russia’s Kursk region where he said his forces were still advancing, even as Moscow’s troops stepped up its offensives in Ukraine’s east. The remarks by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi were the strongest sign yet that Kyiv’s forces plan to dig in after launching a lightning cross-border assault on Russia last week that has opened a new front in the 2-1/2 year-old all-out war. “We are moving forward in Kursk region.…
‘Corruption, bad governance’: KP Minister for Communication and Works Shakeel Ahmad resigns
In an unexpected development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Communication and Works Shakeel Ahmad Khan stepped down from his post while levelling allegations of corruption and bad governance against the PTI-backed provincial government. Shakeel said that he had sent his resignation to KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The development came days after incarcerated PTI founder Iman Khan, in a stern message from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, warned members of his party’s government in KP that they would be held accountable for corruption and governance issues in their departments. In line…
Turkey restores Instagram after nine days
Turkey, on Saturday, announced that it had restored access to Instagram after the platform agreed to cooperate with authorities to address the government’s concern, Reuters reported. Turkey had blocked Instagram on August 2 for not adhering to the country’s “laws and rules” and public sensitivities. A high-ranking Turkish official had accused Instagram of blocking posts expressing condolences for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas.
Islamabad bans toy horns for 10 days as nation preps for 14th Aug celebrations
and disrupt flow of traffic ByAyaz Akbar Yousafzai August 11, 2024 ISLAMABAD: The city administration in the Islamabad Capital Territory has prohibited the sale, purchase and use of honking toy horns in the federal capital ahead of the Independence Day as the nation gears up for celebrations. A notification issued by Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Usman Ashraf Sunday stated that the ban comes into immediate effect and will remain imposed for the ten days. It further stated that the ban has been imposed under Section 144 as local traders sell…
Daily Metro Times-12 August 2024
Bashir Memon ‘likely to replace’ Kamran Tessori as Sindh governor
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly stepped up its efforts to replace incumbent MQM-P-backed Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori with party leader Bashir Memon, sources told Geo News on Friday. The ruling PML-N contacted its key coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), earlier today and the top leadership of the two parties agreed on changing the Sindh governor, according to the sources. The sources said that the change in the governor’s office is likely to take place in the coming days, adding that leaders from the two political parties earlier…
Daily Metro Times-9 August 2024
US elections: Trump and Harris to debate on September 10
In a major development, US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Kamala Harris will debate on September 10 on ABC, setting up the first face-to-face matchup between the rivals in what polls show is an extremely close race. In a rambling news conference at his Palm Beach, Florida, residence, Trump said he wanted additional debates on September 4 and 25 that would air on Fox and NBC. Harris said in a post on X that she was looking forward to the September 10 debate after Trump “finally committed.” She told reporters…