Why China’s A.I. Models Could Threaten the Communist Party
China’s A.I. rise is creating a new dilemma for Beijing. The open models that win influence abroad may pose risks to the country’s security and geopolitical strategy.
Wildfires in Greece Kill 3 Firefighters as Blazes Still Burn in France and Spain
Greece also worked to contain blazes on Lesbos and in the Peloponnese, where another firefighter died, in the midst of a brutal wildfire season for Europe.
Nims Dai among 10 climbers missing after Broad Peak avalanche
KARACHI: Approximately ten climbers—including well-known Nepali mountaineer Nims Dai and Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi from Hunza—have been reported missing after an avalanche hit their expedition on Broad Peak (8,047 meters) in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range on Thursday.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) first learned that the avalanche struck the group at noon, after which communication with all expedition members was lost.
The team consists of five Nepali climbers, including Nims Dai, alongside Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Omani mountaineer Nadhira, American climber Mallory Geis, Chinese climber Mr. Wang, and one additional international climber.
The ACP reported receiving extremely disturbing accounts of the incident and confirmed that contact with all team members appears to have been lost following the avalanche.
According to the club, its president, Major General Irfan Arshad, and senior leadership are in continuous communication with government authorities and relevant agencies to facilitate a prompt search and rescue operation.
“Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilized at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions,” the ACP statement read.
After communication with the climbers remained cut off for several hours, sources at the Broad Peak base camp also called for an immediate helicopter rescue operation.
Situated in the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan, Broad Peak—the 12th-highest mountain in the world at 8,047 meters—is considered one of the country’s most challenging peaks for high-altitude adventures.
The ACP stated that it is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with all relevant parties and that further updates will be released as information becomes available.
U.S. Government Mislabels Map of African Countries at AIDS Conference
Nigeria, a coastal country in western Africa, was landlocked in the Sahara, among other errors. The department said it had been “hastily altered.”
Trump Says He May Drop Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination, for Now
President Trump’s threat followed a day of fruitless negotiations with two Republican holdouts, Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis.
DC reviews arrangements for UHS MDCAT to be held on August 16
RAWALPINDI – Deputy Commissioner Captain (R) Nadeem Nasir here on Wednesday chaired a meeting at the DC complex conference hall to review arrangements for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT-2026), which will be conducted by the University of Health Sciences (UHS).
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Maliha Sehar, Assistant Commissioner City Iman Zafar, representatives of the Education Department, Directorate of Colleges, police, traffic police, Rescue 1122, and other relevant departments.
The meeting was informed that a total of 6,240 candidates will appear in the MDCAT examination at three examination centres in Rawalpindi – PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Government Postgraduate College, and Siddique Public School. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Maliha Sehar has been designated as the focal person to oversee and coordinate all examination arrangements.
Addressing the participants, the DC said that the MDCAT was one of the most important examinations for aspiring medical and dental students, and therefore all arrangements must be made to ensure transparency, fairness, and the highest standards of security.
He directed all concerned departments to make comprehensive arrangements for the secure transportation and custody of examination papers and other confidential material.
He further instructed that all examination centers must provide a conducive environment for candidates, including proper seating arrangements, uninterrupted electricity, clean drinking water, emergency medical assistance, and effective coordination among all departments.
Adequate parking facilities, traffic management plans, and comfortable waiting areas for parents accompanying the candidates should also be ensured.
The head of the district management emphasized that there should be zero compromise on security.
He directed the police, traffic police, Rescue 1122, and district administration to remain on high alert and work in close coordination to ensure the peaceful, transparent, and smooth conduct of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) MDCAT examination scheduled for 16 August 2026.
It may here be mentioned that the examination has come under close watch following results protests by aspiring medical students in India after National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), menat for admission in MBBS, question papers were leaked.
ECP refuses to recognise Achakzai as PkMAP chief over failure to hold intra-party polls
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday refused to recognise National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai as chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) over the party’s failure to hold intra-party elections.
A full five-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter.
Two other cases related to the party were also fixed for hearing. It was learnt that not only Achakzai’s leadership but also certain “controversial” amendments made to the party’s constitution and PkMAP’s account details were under question.
At the initial hearing last week, the ECP bench had observed that a decision would first be made regarding the party’s counsel, Aimal Mandokhail. On Thursday, the chief election commissioner said an order would be issued regarding the power of attorney.
Raja made the remarks after asking the lawyer who had signed the power of attorney submitted to the commission.
Mandokhail replied that party chairman Achakzai had signed the document, but the chief election commissioner pointed out that there was currently no party head, as no intra-party election had been conducted so far.
He added that the power of attorney would be placed on record, but an order would be issued on whether or not it was acceptable.
Mandokhail has sought to represent the party in the three cases, but this is now subject to the ECP’s order on the power of attorney.
It was learnt that PkMAP had conducted intra-party elections on December 21, 2022, and since the term of office-bearers was fixed at three years, new elections were mandatory by December 21, 2025.
Raja said the commission had reminded the party to hold elections on October 1, 2025, and issued a show-cause notice on January 15, 2026. In response, the party sought a 180-day extension, which was granted.
However, a subsequent request for another 180-day extension was rejected, with the commission clarifying that intra-party elections must be completed by June 19, 2026, in any case. The party neither held the elections nor submitted a proper response to the ECP.
Govt increases petrol price by Rs1.09, HSD price by Rs2.42
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The government on Thursday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.09 and Rs2.42 per litre, respectively.
Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs336.15 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs393.04 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 per litre on diesel.
The Petroleum Division’s notification said the new prices would be applicable for July 31 (Friday).
The diesel price has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3. Its price had started rising from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war broke out on February 28.
The petrol price had peaked at Rs458.41 on April 3 after beginning its upward trajectory from Rs266 in the first week of March.
Earlier, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US.
The government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel prices since early March, alongside measures for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The federal government in April also announced targeted relief measures to provide subsidised fuel.
The petroleum minister stated that the cabinet and the prime minister had decided to give the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) the responsibility of deciding fuel prices on a daily basis based on international market trends.
The daily pricing decision was rejected by the All Pakistan Dealers Association, which said it would consider a protest plan this week.
Petrol is mainly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers, and changes in its price affect the middle and lower-middle classes.
Similarly, changes in diesel prices also impact the public at large, as it is mainly used in the heavy transport sector, power plants and large generators.
Petrol and HSD are the major revenue earners, with monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene.
Gangster Uzair Baloch’s brother shot, critically injured in Karachi’s Lyari: police
KARACHI: The brother of imprisoned Uzair Baloch, chief of the defunct People’s Amn Committee, was shot and critically wounded in Karachi’s Lyari area on Thursday evening, according to police.
Chakiwara police, in a statement, said that Zubair Baloch, 40, was shot and injured on main Chakiwara Road, while two passersby were also injured. They were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi.
South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that Zubair had been arrested in seven criminal cases in 2012 and was released in January 2025.
He added that Zubair was sitting outside his residence in Singu Lane when armed suspects on a motorcycle opened fire on him and fled the scene.
Zubair sustained multiple injuries, including to his chest and abdomen, and was undergoing surgery. DIG Raza noted that one of the injured passersby was also in serious condition.
The DIG added that the police were investigating the incident from different angles, including gang rivalry and personal enmity.
A social activist from the area told Dawn, on the condition of anonymity, that Zubair had joined a “political party” a few months ago and had raised its flags in his area.
The activist also mentioned rumours in Lyari that some gangsters who had fled to Dubai and Iran after the Karachi operation had returned following the US-Iran war, and that residents were fearful of a possible resurgence of the past gang war in the area.
They added that the attackers had covered their faces and fled when a nearby shopkeeper returned fire.
Earlier in March, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected bail applications of Uzair Baloch in seven cases pertaining to murder, police encounter and possession of explosives.
Uzair, along with others, had been charged with attacking law enforcers with firearms and explosives in 2012 within the jurisdiction of the Kalakot police station.
In April 2020, a military court had convicted Uzair Baloch of espionage and sentenced him to 12 years in jail.
Mistaken Username Sent Man to Prison for 18 Months, Court Finds
An appeals court in Canada acquitted Brandon Klayme of charges related to child sexual abuse imagery. His Kik username had one less underscore than another account that was involved.
