National
The trophy hunting auction in Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday attracted record bids, with foreign hunters paying unprecedented sums for endangered species. A permit to hunt the prized Astore markhor in the Nanaga Parbat conservancy was sold for $370,000, the highest ever bid recorded in the region. Other markhor permits
National
Sindh has declared September 5 and 6 as public holidays in connection with Eid Milad un Nabi (PBUH), extending the federal government’s one-day holiday to two days. A notification issued on Wednesday confirmed that all government offices and educational institutions across the province will remain closed. Nationwide, September
World
The United Arab Emirates has warned Israel that annexing the West Bank would mark a breaking point for the Abraham Accords, deepening Arab frustration with Israel’s settlement drive. In a sharp statement, Emirati envoy Lana Nusseibeh said annexation “would constitute a red line” and betray the vision of peace
World
The Taliban government has tightened its control over Afghanistan’s cultural landscape with a new law governing poetry and literary gatherings. Signed by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the “Code of Conduct for Poetry and Mushairas” forbids Afghan poets from writing on themes such as love, friendship, or freedom of expression.
Business
A fresh wave of buying frenzy has gripped Pakistan’s bullion market, with gold prices soaring to never-seen-before levels. On Wednesday, the price of gold jumped by Rs6,000 per tola, touching Rs376,700. Meanwhile, the rate for 10 grams climbed by Rs5,144, hitting Rs322,959. The
entertainment
In a significant achievement for Pakistani filmmakers, Shehrezad Maher’s short film The Curfew will premiere at the Venice Biennale on September 4, marking Pakistan’s sole entry at the festival this year. The Venice Biennale is among the world’s most prestigious film festivals, running alongside Cannes and Berlin
Business
Pakistan’s urea sales climbed 46% year-on-year to 816,000 tons in August 2025, driven by lower rainfall and dealer restocking after subdued demand earlier in the year. Provisional data shows a strong rebound in fertilizer demand during August, with monthly urea sales rising 34% from July, reflecting
education
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department has formally ended BS programs in its government colleges, citing persistently low enrollment and a surge in student dropouts as the main reasons. A notification issued this week confirmed that 230 BS programs across 128 colleges have been shifted to Associate Degree (AD) programs. The
Technology
OpenAI is preparing to introduce parental controls for ChatGPT, a move that comes as the company faces legal pressure following a lawsuit linking the chatbot to the suicide of a teenager. The California-based firm said the tools will allow parents to set rules for their child’s use of
Business
The Pakistani rupee inched higher against the US dollar on Wednesday, reflecting positive momentum in the inter-bank market, while the Indian rupee showed signs of recovery despite global headwinds. By 10am, the rupee was trading at 281.47, gaining Re0.25 or 0.09% compared to the previous day’
Business
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recorded another strong session on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 900 points in early trade. The rally comes even as global markets remain under pressure from bond yield spikes, weak US manufacturing data, and tariff uncertainties. At 10:15am, the index
World
What started as a playful interaction between a pet parrot and his owner has now made international headlines. Xiaogui, a parrot in China, has officially been recognized by Guinness World Records for the fastest color recognition by a bird. Xiaogui completed the challenge of identifying and sorting 10 colors in