Blaze News - Pakistan

Green marine turtles’ breeding season came to end at the Hawke's Bay with the advent of early summer in the city on the shore of the Arabian Sea. However, the Sindh Wildlife Department Marine Turtle Conservation Unit helped 14,960 hatchlings embark on a new journey of life. At least 16 female turtles visiting the coastal areas of Karachi were also tagged. After hatching, the baby turtles that survive the perilous journey to reach the ocean are called "Great Survivors", said SWD Chief Conservator Javed Mehr talking to The Express Tribune. The breeding season of marine turtles on the coast of Hawke's Bay is from September to February every year, he said. It is feared that future generations may read about these turtles only in books. PHOTO: EXPRESS According to Mehr, a total number of turtles visiting the shores of Hawke's Bay in 2023-24 was 530. Among them, 270 green turtles went back to the sea, while 260 females stayed to choose a place, dig a hole and lay eggs. ...

As the spotlight falls on ex-CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, the central question looms large: can the seasoned adjudicator, with a storied career behind him, steer a fair and impartial investigation into the explosive allegations levelled by the six Islamabad High Court judges. The 75-year-old Jillani finds himself at the helm of the inquiry commission tasked with navigating the murky waters of judicial integrity in a heated political climate. However, the decision has stirred up a heated debate, with many questioning whether the former top judge can ensure a fair investigation. Weighing on the matter, Abdul Moiz Jaferii expressed about the commission's ability to achieve anything substantial. He believed that the commission could achieve only one thing: to lower the reputation of the judges who have complained of influence, as well as diminishing the reputation of the judge heading the commission. He went on to say that the move was an invitation to destroy ex-CJP Jilani's lega...

PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari withdrew his nomination for the upcoming Senate elections on Saturday, citing legal obstacles surrounding the confirmation of his nomination papers. Bukhari claimed his nomination faced "false and illegal hurdles," despite possessing the required legal documentation. While his lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, expressed optimism about a legal victory, Bukhari opted to withdraw his nomination to avoid potential repercussions of challenging the confirmations of fellow PTI nominees, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Hamid Khan. In a statement posted on X, Bukhari stated, "Challenging their notifications could create internal friction within the party," emphasising his unwavering loyalty to PTI and prioritising party unity. Read also: Court orders to freeze accounts, assets of Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari A longstanding PTI member, Bukhari emphasised that personal ambitions pale in comparison to the party’s success. He declared, "Senate seats or any pos...

The federal government is likely to raise petrol prices by up to Rs10/litre, effective from April 1, 2024, which could have a serious inflationary impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. The recent increase in petrol prices is attributed to a rise in the premium from $12.15/barrel to $13.507/barrel, marking a $1.45/barrel increment. If the government passes on the full impact to the general public before Eidul Azha, the price of petrol will exceed that of high-speed diesel, rising from Rs279.75 to Rs289.75/litre. Additionally, the Inland Freight Equalisation Margin on petrol is expected to be Rs5.01/litre. There might be a slight decrease of Rs1.30/litre in the price of HSD, as the premium on HSD remains at $6.50/barrel, as in the last two reviews of petroleum products. IFEM on HSD is expected to be Rs3.76/litre. Read IMF proposes reviving 18% GST on petrol The prices of kerosene oil and light diesel oil are expected to remain unchanged at Rs188.66/litre and Rs168.18/litre, respe...

An independent think tank has criticised the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for its role in implementing fiscal expansionary policies by indirectly providing loans to the federal government, a move that has rendered the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-guided changes in the central bank law ineffective. In its report titled “Pakistan Economic Freedom Audit: The Sound Money,” the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) has underscored the adverse implications of the central bank-finance ministry nexus, which has led to high inflation and contributed to debt accumulation. While the amended SBP Act has curtailed the government’s capacity to issue debt directly to the SBP, monetary expansion has persisted. The PRIME report indicates that the SBP has supplied liquidity to banks, which subsequently lend it to the government. The report was authored by Dr Wasim Shahid Malik. The PRIME stated that the SBP has mainly supplied liquidity to scheduled banks through Open Market Operation...

The government has planned to set up a new dedicated Mines and Minerals Division as part of efforts to accelerate mining activities to give a big push to Pakistan’s economy. This is in line with the attempts made in the previous tenure of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, which strived to establish the Mines and Minerals Division to ramp up efforts for the exploitation of minerals in the country. Balochistan is rich in mineral resources where all-out efforts are being made to expedite mining activities after an out-of-court settlement with a foreign firm in relation to the Reko Diq copper and gold mining project. The chief of Barrick Gold, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, has been seen active over the past few days after Shehbaz Sharif took over as the prime minister. He recently held a meeting with the prime minister in Lahore where the premier assured him of fool-proof security arrangements for kicking off mining under the Reko Diq project, officials say. At present, Ba...

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) bounced back in the first quarter after a downbeat 2023, thanks to the return of mega deals, cheering investment bankers and lawyers waiting for a pick-up. Total M&A volumes globally climbed 30% to about $755.1 billion, according to the most recent data from Dealogic. The number of transactions worth more than $10 billion jumped to 14, compared with five during the same period last year. Investment bankers said boardroom confidence for dealmaking has improved on the back of strong earnings, potential interest rate cuts this year, and an ebullient market. “When you see larger deals happening, it’s a much more direct sign of the returning health of the market, because boards and CEOs, due to the nature of large deals, are going to be more conservative when they approach them,” said Blair Effron, co-founder of investment bank Centerview Partners. “We do think that the activity that we see today is heading in the right direction.” US M&A volumes s...

Pakistan and Afghanistan reported progress in trade talks on Thursday, as the Afghan Taliban government claimed Islamabad agreed to reverse some recent decisions amid tensions between the two estranged neighbours. The two-day talks took place in Kabul, with the Pakistani delegation led by its Commerce Secretary and the Afghan government represented by its commerce minister. These talks unfolded against the backdrop of simmering tensions over continued cross-border terrorist attacks, which Pakistan insists mostly originate from Afghanistan. Despite these tensions, both sides deemed the talks in Kabul a success. Read more: Pakistan, Afghanistan impasse While the Pakistani side didn't delve into specifics, the Afghan interim government issued a statement claiming agreement on several issues. A statement from the foreign office stated that Secretary of Commerce Khurrum Agha visited Afghanistan from the 24th to the 27th to discuss bilateral and transit trade matters with Afghanistan...

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mahmood on Wednesday emphasised the role of academia in promoting the nation's economy. He was addressing a seminar organised by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences to mark the Pakistan Day and tree plantation campaign. Speaking at the event, attended by MNA Shaista Parvez Malik, MPA Kanwal Liaqat, faculty members and students on Wednesday, Dr Mahmood stressed the importance of highlighting the country's economic strengths and positive attributes. He underscored that sacrifices were not limited to warfare but necessary in all aspects of life to overcome crises, urging the academic community to contribute through impactful research. MNA Shaista Pervez commended the vital role of teachers in societal development and emphasised collective efforts to address Pakistan's challenges. Stressing the significance of fostering positive thinking to counter growing societal divisions, she urged the youth to engage constructively in questionin...

For vendors desperately hoping to sell their leftover stock of fruit from the day, the vicinity of busy highways, roads and bridges is a prudent yet illegal option for setting up a cart however, the profit maximizing gimmick used by businessmen has now become an amplified nuisance for regular commuters stuck in incessantly choked avenues. With Karachi continuing to attract a large population of migrant workers for commercial purposes, vendors selling fresh produce including vegetables and fruits at every nook and corner of the city is a pretty common sight. However, in recent times, the worsening state of the economy has led to a burgeoning in the number of fruit vendors, who have now expanded their business activity and are continuing trade after sunset alongside bustling road junctions, leading to incessant gridlocks, which block the flow of traffic for hours. “Fruit vendors come in the middle of the roads and highways during the evening and night hours. Due to such encroachments, tr...

27-year-old model Rumy Alqahtani is set to make history by representing Saudi Arabia at the prestigious Miss Universe pageant for the very first time, the Khaleej Times reported. Alqahtani, a seasoned beauty pageant contestant and influencer boasting a million-strong following on Instagram, took to social media platform on Monday to share her exhilarating news. "I am honoured to participate in the Miss Universe 2024 competition. This is the debut of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the competition," she declared in Arabic on her Instagram account.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by rumy alqahtani | رومي القحطاني 🇸🇦 (@rumy_alqahtani) Accompanying her announcement were images of Alqahtani bedecked in regal attire, embodying the epitome of a beauty queen. Adorned in a strapless, sequined gown, a tiara gracing her head, and draped in the Saudi flag. Read also: First Miss Univer...

Ramazan drummers, who have long been an integral part of the sehri waking rituals in Rawalpindi, are gradually fading into obscurity as more and more people turn to digital alarms for their morning calls. For centuries, the rhythmic beat of drums at sehri time has awakened the populace from their slumber during the holy month of Ramazan. However, this age-old tradition is now facing a decline as mobile phone alarms take precedence. The traditional practice of drummers circling neighbourhoods to wake people for sehri not only served as a wake-up call but also provided a source of income and employment for many. On Eid, these drummers would receive “Eidi” or festive cash from each household they woke up throughout the month. In addition to cash, families would also give them essential items like sugar, flour, and rice, reflecting a time of communal support and generosity. In the past, the absence of loudspeakers in mosques and poor timekeeping made it challenging for people in the Indian...

A retired policeman, initially thought to have died by self-immolation in Soldier Bazaar area, was, in fact, strangled to death by his own sons. The suspected culprits were arrested by police after the post-mortem examination exposed the grim truth. The burnt body of Saleem Ansari, a 65-year-old retired police officer, was discovered in a residence in the Gul Rana Colony of Soldier Bazaar on Saturday. Identified through forensic procedures, Ansari's demise raised suspicions due to the circumstances surrounding his death. Preliminary investigations by Asad Elahi, SHO Soldier Bazaar police station, suggested that Ansari had retired while serving at Soldier Bazaar police station and was living alone on the first floor of the house following separation from his wife. His married son resided on the ground floor of the same house. Further scrutiny revealed that Ansari had a small retail shop. While early assumptions leaned towards self-immolation, evidence collected by the Crime Scene Un...

In a significant development, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday expressed intentions to reconsider trade relations with India, suspended since India's controversial move to revoke the special autonomous status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in August 2019. Dar made these remarks during a press conference in London, following his participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels. He highlighted the eagerness of Pakistan's business community to resume trade activities with India, indicating a potential shift in diplomatic stance towards its neighbouring nation. The strained relations between Pakistan and India ensued after India's unilateral action in August 2019, prompting then-prime minister Imran Khan's government to downgrade diplomatic ties with India. Read more: Pakistan suspended trade: India “We will seriously look into matters of trade with India,” he said while responding to a question. The foreign minister mentioned that the re...

A top US General on Saturday said the Afghan Taliban were harbouring the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other violent extremist organisations days after Pakistan conducted rare cross border strikes inside Afghanistan. "In a classified session I can give you great detail but I would tell you that we do see the Taliban as harbouring al-Qaeda, they're also harbouring Tereek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other violent extremist organisations," General Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM Chief told the US Senate Arms Services Committee. "The only one that they are actively fighting is ISIS Khorasan," the US General added. The CENTCOM chief informed the committee that he spoke to Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir on Friday and discussed the renewed terror threat. "Congressman so I literally talked to the chief of the army staff from Pakistan this morning in a regular scheduled call. They have tremendous insight into the violent extremist organisations...

Funeral prayers of two soldiers of Pakistan Army, who were martyred while foiling the terrorist attack in Gwadar Port Authority Colony on Wednesday, were offered in Gwadar on Thursday, the military’s media wing said. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Sepoy Bahar Khan (35 years old, resident of district DG Khan) and Sepoy Imran Ali (28 years old, resident of district Khairpur) will be laid to rest with full military honours in their respective areas. Representatives of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Balochistan Police and civil society participated in the funeral prayer, the statement said. “The Armed Forces of Pakistan stand by the nation and are committed to defeating terrorist attempts to sabotage the peace and stability of Balochistan,” the ISPR further added. “These sacrifices of our brave sons strengthen our resolve to fight against the scourge of terrorism,” the military’s media wing stated. Read also: 8 terrorists killed as army repuls...

China has started revising the industry catalogue of sectors encouraging foreign investment, the country's top economic planner said on Wednesday. During the revision process, the National Development and Reform Commission will engage in extensive communication with foreign chambers of commerce and enterprises through field investigations and seminars, said Hua Zhong, an official of the commission. Read also: ‘China’s opening conducive to foreign businesses’ The revision will maintain a focus on the manufacturing sector as one of the priorities for attracting foreign investment, Hua said, adding that China will step up support to advanced manufacturing, modern services, advanced technology, energy conservation and environmental protection to attract more foreign investment in these areas. The revision will be tailored according to local resources and industrial foundations in central and western regions to encourage multinationals to develop businesses there, Hua said. from Lates...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the disqualification of former MPA Samina Khawar Hayat in the fake degree case. The court said that a seven-member larger bench has already declared that one couldn’t be disqualified in a suo motu case. This case would also be seen in light of the judgment of seven-member bench. Petitioner’s lawyer Tariq Mehmood Advocate adopted the stance that the top court disqualified his client in a suo motu case. Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, during hearing, questioned that whether the ECP has any objection over the abolishing of disqualification of the petitioner. Read also: SC orders re-election for PB-50 Qila Abdullah Director General Law Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the electoral body has no objection on it. He said that the disqualification period is now five year which had already passed. It may be mentioned here that the top court has disqualified Samina Khawar Hayat on July 25, 2013 on charges of having a fake degree. T...

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a written order in a suo motu case regarding the felling of trees in F-9 Park. The apex court, while expressing reservations about cutting other trees with pepper mulberry, restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from cutting the trees for the time being. The top court has also decided to take the assistance of two former IG Forests on the matter while maintaining the ban on felling of trees till the next hearing of the case. The court issued notice to former IG Forests Mahmood Nasir and Ghulam Qadir for assistance. The court order further said, according to the CDA, pepper mulberry trees causing pollination were cut down whereas all other trees were cut down according to the report and photos of the court-appointed commission. According to CDA, the contract for felling trees was given to a contractor. CDA also has 4,500 gardeners of its own. The court was told that the CDA did not have the tools to cut trees. The court said the CDA c...

The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has approved the project of installing seven new state-of-the-art eco-friendly technology rainwater harvesting systems and building water tanks at seven locations of the city. The project, aimed at storing rainwater and making it reusable through filtration, has been approved with an estimated cost of Rs26.8 million under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). The largest system will be installed at the WASA office at an estimated cost of Rs2.78m. On the other hand, the second contemporary system, which is expected to cost Rs1.99m, will be installed in the mosque situated in Liaquat Bagh. The third system will be installed at the Government Girls Associate College Sir Syed Road for Rs5 million. An approval has also been given to install the system in the office of the District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer with an estimated cost of Rs2.62m. The rainwater harvesting plant will also be installed at the Government Shehbaz Sharif Boys Degr...

Authorities have started taking action against illegal cylinder agencies as five cases of cylinder explosion took place on March 12 and March 13 in Rawalpindi. On Saturday, the Social Defense Department sealed 21 shops and agencies for filling gas cylinders and selling illegal petrol. They also sealed three big shops and 28 factories for not installing fire extinguishers. Action was taken on the orders issued by Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema on Saturday. The order was issued after five fire cases of cylinder explosions took place in only two days. As per the order, the shops, workshops, factories and agencies will be sealed and an FIR will be registered against them if they fail to adhere to the order. District Officer Civil Defense Talib Hussain confirmed with The Express Tribune that they have formed five teams to carry out operation under the supervision of senior instructors Sadaf Zahoor, Nasir Kayani and Halima Sadia. The operation will continue till Eidul Fitr...

Terming the finance minister as an outsider and admitting the presence of establishment-recommended souls in the federal cabinet, PML-N's Dr Asif Kirmani has joined the chorus of senior party leaders urging the incumbent leadership to engage in introspection to mitigate further political losses. Outgoing Senator Dr Asif Kirmani, who once was seen as a close aide to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, talking to a private TV channel said that there were unelected people in cabinet, alluding to, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Chema and establishment-backed former caretaker Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi. Kirmani specifically highlighted his lack of knowledge regarding Aurangzeb's credentials to hold the position of financial czar. Expressing regret over such appointments, Dr Kirmani drew parallels with past instances where individuals like Shaukat Aziz and Moeen Qureshi were brought in. Alluding to Aurangzeb, he said that reportedly Aurangzeb took the oath of his ministry first and later had his ...

Pakistan's Cricket Board said on Friday it will host South Africa and New Zealand in a one-day international tri-series, the country's first tournament involving three nations after a gap of 20 years. The series was greenlit on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai, according to Pakistan's board. International cricket only fully returned to Pakistan in 2020, following attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. Pakistan was stripped of its right to co-host the World Cup two years later, with security concerns lingering in the aftermath of those attacks. Read more: Tapping cricket talent The country last hosted a tri-series in 2004, which involved Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Newly elected PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the tri-series will serve as a build-up to the eight-nation Champions Trophy, the first ICC event in the country since the 1996 World Cup. "The tri-series between Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand will be an e...

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Friday rejected the news circulating on media regarding the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation to Pakistan. The statement comes a day after notable figures within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) US chapter, alongside numerous users whose online activity indicated support for the party, shared a video excerpt sourced from an Indian news broadcast by Zee News. The segment featured a meeting between IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Stories regarding the visit of a high-level IAEA delegation to Pakistan are fake news,” Baloch said in a post shared on X. Stories regarding the visit of a high-level IAEA delegation to Pakistan are fake news! No IAEA official is currently visiting Pakistan; Nor are any policy talks planned in near future with IAEA. DG IAEA visited Pakistan in Feb 2023. We had briefed the media on the occasion. — Mumtaz Baloch (@Mumtazzb) March 15,...

How long can Nvidia (NVDA.O) and its CEO, Jensen Huang, wear the crown as the tech world's dominant supplier of artificial-intelligence chips? Whether it is months, years or decades, the question will be key when Huang - who co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has been CEO ever since - sets foot on the stage of a Silicon Valley hockey arena on Monday to unveil new flagship products. The occasion is the company's annual developer conference, the first to be held in person since the pandemic. Nvidia expects 16,000 people to attend its GTC event live, roughly double the number who went to the 2019 show in person. Nvidia's market capitalisation topped $2 trillion in late February, and it is now a "mere" $400 billion away from eclipsing Apple (AAPL.O) as Wall Street's second-most valuable company, behind stock market leader Microsoft (MSFT.O). Analysts expect Nvidia's revenue to soar 81% this year to $110 billion as companies snap up its top-of-the-line chips by the ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Ankara and Islamabad need to work together to achieve the annual target of $5 billion in bilateral trade. In a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Pacaci at the prime minister's office in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz called upon the two sides to enhance their bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including trade, defence, connectivity and culture, according to an official statement. Pakistan and Turkiye, he said, have consistently supported each other on core issues and would continue to do so in the future. Read also: Hard work needed to boost trade: Turkiye CG Appreciating the congratulatory telephone call and message of felicitations from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately after his re-election, PM Shehbaz congratulated Turkiye on the successful flight of homegrown 5th generation fighter aircraft KAAN. Reiterating his invitation to Erdogan to visit Islamabad, he said the people of Pakistan look forward to ...

A ship carrying 200 tonnes of aid for Gaza left Cyprus on Tuesday in a pilot project to open a sea route to deliver supplies to a population which aid agencies say is on the brink of famine. The charity ship Open Arms was seen sailing out of Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge containing flour, rice and protein. The mission was funded mostly by the UAE and organised by US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK). The journey to Gaza takes about 15 hours but a heavy tow barge could make the trip take considerably longer, possibly up to two days. Cyprus is just over 200 miles (320 km) north-west of Gaza. The US military said its vessel, the General Frank S. Besson, was also en route to provide humanitarian relief to Gaza by sea. With aid agencies saying deliveries into Gaza have been held up by bureaucratic obstacles and insecurity since the start of the war on Oct. 7, and even Israel's allies demanding easier aid access to the enclave, attention has shifted towards alternative r...

The scenic Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) region is world-famous for its snow-capped peaks, glistening lakes and glaciers, and plucky climbers. Located on the confluence of the world’s three greatest mountain ranges, G-B has long been one of the favourite destinations of international climbers and trekkers, but the country is yet to exploit the region’s untapped tourism potential to its maximum advantage, mainly because of poor infrastructure and other facilities. Yet the region has produced several internationally recognised mountaineers and high-altitude porters, including Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to scale the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, Nazir Sabir, the first Pakistani to scale the world's second highest mountain, K2, the iconic high-altitude mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara, and Sirbaz Khan, the first local climber to ascend 13 out of a total 14 peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) high. A new addition to this long list is five-year-old Mohammad Shiraz, who has...

A top US General has said the Afghan Taliban government has shown little interest in acting against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and is unlikely to change that approach in the latest assessment shared with the US Senate Arms Services Committee. General Michael E Kurilla, Commander, US CENTRAL Command said the TTP was presenting a "significant threat" to stability in Pakistan’s border regions. The top general also told the Senate panel that there were no signs the Afghan Taliban would change that policy. "The Taliban has shown little interest in applying counter-terrorism pressure against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), presenting a significant threat to stability in Pakistan’s border regions," General Kurilla said. "We do not expect that dynamic to change," he added. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained tense for many months as the Taliban regime has refused to act against the TTP. There has been an upsurge in terro...

With a new president and prime minister now heading the federation, all attention has turned towards the upcoming Senate elections, with forty-eight members set to be elected in the first week of April. As per details provided by the Senate Secretariat, among the members retiring this week, 12 are from Sindh, 11 are from Punjab, 10 members are from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), each; 4 members are from the former federally administered tribal areas (FATA), and 2 are from the federal capital, Islamabad. It is pertinent to mention that the 4 members of erstwhile FATA will be the last members who were elected on the quota for FATA and now after the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, FATA will not have separate seats in the Senate. Therefore, the Senate will now consist of 96 members, in which each province is represented equally with 23 seats, while 4 seats are for Islamabad. Be that as it may, both the Sindh and Punjab Assemblies will elect 12 Senators each, Balochistan and ...

Palestinians prepared for Ramazan in a sombre mood with heightened security measures by Israeli police and the spectre of war and hunger in Gaza overshadowing the normally festive Muslim holy month as talks to secure a ceasefire stalled. Thousands of police have been deployed around the narrow streets of the Old City in Jerusalem, where tens of thousands of worshippers are expected every day at the Al Aqsa mosque compound, one of the holiest sites in Islam. The area, considered the most sacred place by Jews who know it as Temple Mount, has been a longstanding flashpoint for trouble and was one of the starting points of the last war in 2021 between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza. That 10-day conflict has been dwarfed by the current war, which is now in its sixth month. It began on Oct. 7 when thousands of Hamas fighters stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, by Israeli tallies. A man spins a homemade sparkler as displaced Palestinians prepare their t...

As the holy month of Ramazan is just around the corner, people are bracing themselves for the customary hike in food prices -- this is over and above the two-digit inflationary spiral that the country has been facing for almost four years. The prices of essential kitchen items including vegetables, sugar, edible oil, ghee, meat, eggs, and pulses have been substantially increased across the board by unscrupulous traders to make quick money, adding to the economic sufferings of the low- to middle-income consumers. The prices tend to escalate during the holy month, with a general surge of 31.5% in recent months, and several food items witnessing up to 60% increase in their rates from their pre-Ramazan levels. The price of onions, for instance, has shot up from Rs150 per kg to as much as Rs300, with some retailers offering a slight relief at Rs250 per kg. Fruit and vegetable rates have surged in the absence of an effective price monitoring system. Other essential items have seen similar pr...