RAFAH / UNITED NATIONS: Birds sang and planes rumbled overhead as Abdeljabbar al-Arja dug the remains of his dead neighbours from the rubble in Gaza. An overnight Israeli strike hit the home where a displaced Palestinian family was sheltering in the southern city Rafah, relatives and neighbours told AFP as they scraped at the soil with their hands. “We retrieved the …

NEW DELHI: Journalists investigating the exploitation of natural resources by the sand mafias or other networks involved in mining have been the victims of violent reprisals during the past 10 years, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) media watchdog said on Thursday. Filing its report to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10 years in office and on the eve of India’s five-yearly general …

Countries around the world urged for de-escalation on Friday as US media reported Israeli strikes on Iran in the latest tit-for-tat exchange between the two arch-foes, whose decades of shadow war has broken out into the open and threatened to drag the region deeper into conflict. Israel had previously warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and …

India began voting on Friday in the world’s largest election as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a historic third term in office on the back of growth, welfare, his personal popularity and Hindu nationalism. The vote pits Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties which is challenging him with promises of increased affirmative action, more handouts …

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has questioned the efficacy of the National Accountability Bureau, adding that his trial in the Nooriabad reference is of no consequence. Mr Shah made the remarks after his appearance before an accountability court in connection with the Nooriabad reference on Thursday. The Sindh CM is accused of misusing his authority as provincial adviser …

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday nominated Shibli Faraz as the new opposition leader in the Senate, and Mr Faraz is set to take the role with the endorsement of 21 senators. The announcement came after a meeting of Mr Faraz and other leaders with Mr Khan in Adiala Jail. “Today I met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, …

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday expressed his wish for the Supreme Cou­rt to perform with its full constitutional capacity. “Filling the vacant positions of the judges in the Supreme Court and high courts is a priority,” he said at a select gathering of the Supreme Court lawyers at the Lahore Registry. Senior puisne judge Ju­­stice …

ISLAMABAD / WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday reached out to Pakistan regarding escalating conflict between Teh­ran and Tel Aviv, even as Islam­abad stayed away from condemning the Iranian attack on Israel. “US Ambassador Donald Blome met today with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss recent events in the region,” the US Embassy said in a statement. FM Dar said he discussed …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistani airlines, including PIA, are awaiting the restoration of facilities at Du­bai airport, and PIA will promptly resume its air operations once the situation improves, the flag carrier’s spokesperson said on Thursday. The torrential rains in the Uni­ted Arab Emirates over the past three days have flooded runways, severely affecting flight operations at Dubai International Airport. The PIA spokesperson said that …

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the authorities to ensure security of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan and all other prisoners in accordance with law. A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi disposed of the petition seeking safety and security of the PTI founder at the Adiala Jail. A federal law officer filed a reply …