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Investigation into Ahmedabad plane crash gains momentum

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India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its preliminary report to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other relevant agencies as the investigation into the Ahmedabad plane crash has picked up pace. The report is based on initial findings related to the Air India Flight AI-171 crash. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the aircraft’s front black box was safely retrieved, with its memory module accessed and data downloaded at the AAIB laboratory in Delhi on June 25, 2025. Indian media reports citing sources indicated that the uniform black box, called ‘Golden Chassis’, was used to confirm the transparency of the data. The first ‘black box’ of the accident was recovered from the roof of a building on June 13 and the second on June 16. Read More: Air India Dreamliner crashes into Ahmedabad college hostel, kills over 290 AIIB Director General is leading the investigation. The investigative team includes expert...

Pakistan, Afghanistan discuss trade, security

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan held the inaugural session of the Additional Secretary-Level Mechanism of Foreign Ministries to discuss key bilateral issues, including trade, transit cooperation, security, and regional connectivity. The inaugural round of the Additional Secretary-Level Mechanism was a follow-up to decisions made during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan to Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 19, 2025. Pakistan side was led by Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia), Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani, while the Afghan side was led by Director General, First Political Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor. Discussions covered key areas of bilateral interest, including trade and transit cooperation, security, and connectivity. Both sides recognized terrorism as a serious threat to regional peace and security. The Pakistani side emphasized the need for concrete actions against terroris...

Etisalat Group reaffirms investment commitment to Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif greeted a top-tier delegation from UAE-based Etisalat Group, led by CEO Hatem Dowidar, to explore scaling investment prospects in Pakistan’s economy, ARY News reported. During the meeting, Shehbaz Shareef presented a formal proposal to the Etisalat Group to raise its investment in Pakistan, promising full easing and a business-friendly environment. Shahbaz Sharif highlighted that the top priority of the government is to lure foreign investment across various sectors, including telecommunications, ICT, and infrastructure. The prime minister emphasised the deep-rooted cultural and religious bonds between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, lauding that Emirati companies have played a vital role in Pakistan’s economic development over the years. CEO Hatem Dowidar appreciated the Pakistani government’s investor-friendly policies and reiterated the group’s commitment to long-term and sustainable investment in Pakistan. Hatem Dowidar...

Rs750 Prize Bond Draw Date, July 2025

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The Rs 750 Prize Bond draws for the third quarter of 2025 are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 15, in Rawalpindi, as announced by the National Savings Centre. The balloting will commence at 10:00 AM, and the results will be made public shortly after the draw concludes. This marks Draw No. 103 in the 2025 calendar, following previous draws held in Peshawar and Karachi earlier this year. The Rs 750 Prize Bond draw is part of Pakistan’s long-standing prize bond scheme, which offers citizens a secure investment option with the added benefit of winning substantial cash prizes. Rs 750 Prize Bond official prize structure: 1st Prize: Rs. 1,500,000 (1 winner) 2nd Prize: Rs. 500,000 (3 winners) 3rd Prize: Rs. 9,300 (1,696 winners) Prize Bond draws are managed by National Savings, and winners can claim their prizes by presenting the original bond and a copy of their CNIC at designated branches. This system provides a secure investment with the potential for significant rewards...

Indonesia volcano spews 18-kilometre ash tower: agency

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JAKARTA: A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted, spewing a colossal ash tower 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the sky on Monday, authorities said, just weeks after it caused dozens of flight cancellations to and from the popular resort island of Bali. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-metre-high twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted at 11:05 am local time (0305 GMT), the volcanology agency said in a statement. “An eruption of Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano occurred… with the observed ash column height reaching approximately 18,000 m above the summit,” the agency said. It warned of the possibility of hazardous lahar floods –- a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials –- if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near rivers. There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties. Last month dozens of flights to and from Bali were cancelled after the volcano erupted. Volcanic ash rained down on several communities around the volcano and forced th...

PM Shehbaz praises provinces for ensuring peaceful Ashura across Pakistan

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LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised the chief ministers of all provinces, along with the leaders of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, for ensuring strong and effective security during Ashura, ARY News reported. According to reports, Shehbaz Sharif made these comments during a meeting with Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi. The interior minister briefed him about the overall security situation in the country and the steps taken to ensure safety during Ashura. PM Shehbaz Sharif especially appreciated the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan for maintaining peace in their regions. Shehbaz Sharif also thanked the police, Rangers, security agencies, and provincial teams for their hard work and dedication. He said that Ashura was observ...

Supreme Court issues new Practice and Procedure rules for 2025

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Practice and Procedure Committee has released its new procedural framework for 2025, ARY News reported. According to reports, the rules were approved during a committee meeting chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, and are now in effect under the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, 2023. The committee overseeing these changes includes Justice Yahya Afridi as chair, along with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aminuddin Khan. According to the official notification , the Chief Justice of Pakistan can convene committee meetings either physically or virtually. A minimum of two members is required for the meeting to proceed. The Supreme Court committee will now form benches either monthly or every 15 days under the updated system. Once a bench is constituted, it cannot be altered unless the procedure specifically allows it. Additionally, any change in the chairman or a member of the committee does not invalidate the exi...