Skip to main content

Posts

Bangladesh President Shahabuddin, 76, resigns citing health concerns

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, a former ally of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned citing serious health issues, his office said on Friday. Shahabuddin, 76, has held the largely ceremonial post of president since April 2023, a period that included volatile months after Hasina’s flight to India following a student-led uprising against her rule in 2024. “Recent medical examinations have diagnosed me with a condition known as autonomic neuropathy. Due to this condition, I occasionally experience momentary loss of consciousness,” Shahabuddin said in a statement released by his press secretary. The speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, the national parliament, will perform the duties of the president until a new one is elected, the statement said. Shahabuddin also cited his deteriorating health in a resignation letter to the speaker of parliament, seen by AFP . “Due to worsening physical and mental incapacity… it is no longer possible for me to properly discharge t...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

Gen Raza's appointment as CNSC completes military overhaul under 27th Amendment, signals impending reshuffle

The government on Friday took another step towards completing the higher military command’s restructuring initiated last year under the 27th Constitutional Amendment by appointing Gen Syed Aamer Raza as the country’s first commander of the National Strategic Command (NSC). The four-star post was created under last year’s constitutional tweak to oversee the operational integration of Pakistan’s strategic forces — a role previously exercised by the Chai­rman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, which was abolished under the 27th Amendment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted Gen Raza from the rank of lieutenant general to the rank of a general and simultaneously appointed him as the CNSC. Apart from the CNSC, the 27th Amendment also resulted in the creation of the post of the chief of defence forces (CDF), which is concurrently held by the army chief. Field Marshal Munir became the country’s first CDF after changes to the Army Act. Under the Army Act, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

India, Pakistan among teams handed direct Asian Games men's cricket knockout berths

India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka secured direct entry into the men’s cricket knockout stage at the 2026 Asian Games after the draw was announced on Thursday. The 10-team men’s competition, starting from September 24 in Nagoya, will begin with a preliminary round featuring Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman competing for the remaining quarter-final berths. Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal were drawn in Group A, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman were placed in Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage to join the four seeded sides. The women’s tournament, scheduled from September 17-22, features eight teams and will begin at the quarter-final stage. Defending champions India will face hosts Japan, Bangladesh will take on China, Sri Lanka will meet Malaysia, and Pakistan will play Thailand. All matches in both competitions will be played in the Twenty20 format. India swept ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Pickaxe Mountain, the Iranian nuclear-linked site threatened by Trump?

United States President Donald Trump has threatened to attack a site linked to Iran’s nuclear programme known as Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified facility buried deep underground near one of Tehran’s main nuclear sites . The threat reflects escalating tensions as Tehran and Washington trade fire in the ​Gulf, setting back efforts to end the conflict. Here is what we know about Pickaxe Mountain: What is Pickaxe Mountain? Pickaxe Mountain is located 220 kilometres (140 ‌miles) south of Tehran and 2km (1.2 miles) from the Natanz nuclear complex. The Natanz site, where two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants were located, was bombed during the war started by the United States and Israel on February 28, and during last year’s 12-day war . The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain was not targeted in either of those wars, according to the Institute for Science ​and International Security (ISIS), a US-based think-tank focused on nuclear non-p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pakistan to tour England next year for 5-match ODI series

The Green Shirts are set to tour England in May 2027 for a five-match one-day international (ODI) series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday. In a press release, it said that the opening match is scheduled for May 15, 2027 in Southampton, with the series ending on May 26, 2027. The second ODI will be played in Manchester on May 19, while Leeds will host the third match on May 21. The fourth and fifth ODIs will be played in Chester-le-Street and Cardiff on May 23 and 26, respectively, the board said. Pakistan’s men team is currently touring the West Indies for a two-match Test series. Following the series, Pakistan will travel to England for a three-match Test series from August 19 to September 13, the PCB said. The PCB statement added that next year’s five-match ODI series with England will provide both sides an opportunity to prepare for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 , which will be held in October and Novembe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Newly sworn-in GB CM picks 8 PPP, 4 IPP assembly members to join his cabinet as ministers

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan’s newly sworn-in Chief Minister Amjad Hussain has selected 12 members to join his cabinet as ministers, it emerged on Wednesday, following the issuance of a notification for the cabinet members’ appointment. According to the notification, seen by Dawn , 12 individuals from Hussain’s own party, the PPP, and four from the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) have been named as members of the new cabinet. The notification, issued by the Services and General Administration Department and Cabinet Department, stated that on the advice of the chief minister, the GB governor “has been pleased to appoint the following members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly as ministers to the government of Gilgit-Baltistan”. The notification then lists the members, who include: Zulfiqar Ali Murad (PPP) Syed Jalal Shah (PPP) Muhammad Ali Akhtar (PPP) Naiknam Karim (PPP) Iqbal Hassan (PPP) Raja Nasir Khan (PPP) Muhammad Naseem (PPP) Syed Tauqeer Mehdi (PPP) Aman Ali (IPP) Asad ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PM Shehbaz hails Pakistan's 'remarkable progress' in indigenous autonomous capabilities in defence, security fields

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan has made “remarkable progress” in developing indigenous defence capabilities. He made the remarks at the Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Expo 2026 being held today and tomorrow at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad. Addressing the event, PM Shehbaz noted that Pakistan has “made remarkable progress in developing indigenous autonomous capabilities in the field of defence and security under the dynamic leadership” of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. “Our armed forces have adopted cutting-edge technologies, some of which I just witnessed on display outside this hall. Remarkable achievement,” the premier said. He added that he also took a look at simulators which were “100 per cent manufactured and assembled in Pakistan”. He noted that drones had achieved 60pc indigenisation and “many other important machines” have been made in Pakistan. The prime ...
Post a Comment
Read more