MR News

When U.S. President Donald Trump called Norway’s finance minister last month to discuss tariffs, he also told him he wanted the Nobel Peace Prize, Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv reported on Thursday. Several countries including Israel, Pakistan and Cambodia have nominated Trump for brokering peace agreements or ceasefires, and he has said he deserves the Norwegian-bestowed accolade that four White House predecessors received. “Out of the blue, while Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg was walking down the street in Oslo, Donald Trump called,” Dagens Naeringsliv reported, citing unnamed sources. “He wanted the Nobel Prize – and to discuss tariffs.” In a comment to Reuters, Stoltenberg said the call was to discuss tariffs and economic cooperation ahead of Trump’s call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stoere. “I will not go into further detail about the content of the conversation,” he added. Several White House officials, including U....

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy marked 78th Independence Day of Pakistan with national spirit and military tradition. A dignified Change of Guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. A smartly turned-out contingent of cadets from Pakistan Naval Academy and sailors, dressed in ceremonial uniforms, assumed guard duties at Mazar-e-Quaid with traditional enthusiasm and decorum, a press statement issued here read. Commodore Tasawar Iqbal, Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and reviewed the guard. The Chief Guest, along with cadets of Pakistan Naval Academy, presented Qaumi Salam to Father of the Nation, followed by ceremonial laying of a floral wreath at Mazar-e-Quaid on behalf of Chief of the Naval Staff, officers, and men of Pakistan Navy. Read More: No compromise on independence, sovereignty, says Field Marshal Munir The day dawned with gun salutes and special prayers in all mosques located in naval areas, seeking national...

KARACHI: Inspector General (IG) Railways Rao Tahir led a high-level meeting, convened by Pakistan Railways, to control the rising incidents of theft and fare-jumping in Karachi, ARY News reported. The meeting focused on theft prevention in the railway industry, reviewed the recent violations in security and highlighted strong countermeasures. Officials got directives from IG Rao Tahir to evaluate the criminal records of suspects involved in theft and conduct surveillance on their movements. He stressed the importance of monitoring across railway yards, indicating that staff should remain proactive and vigilant. IG Rao Tahir ordered SPs to educate their teams on protecting railway assets, especially signal equipment. To support theft prevention in railway, Rao Tahir stressed the use of security cameras to obtain video recordings permissible in court. He also called for stringent monitoring against pickpockets in trains and urged legal follow-up. At the same time, Karachi Division ...

KARACHI: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) welcome applications under the Omani Scholarship Program 2025–26, which offers fully funded scholarships to Pakistani students for undergraduate studies in specified Omani universities. This initiative is part of Oman’s effort to help international students learn about international education within Oman, backed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and will enhance academic cooperation and exchange of culture between Pakistan and Oman. Pakistani students can apply to Engineering, Humanities, Information Technology, and other sciences (excluding medicine)  bachelor’s degree programs. Students who avail the Omani Scholarship Program 2025–26 will have a 100 percent tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend of OMR 200 (without housing) or OMR 140 (with housing), one round-trip air ticket per academic year, and the option to choose up to 3 universities and 2 academic majors as the key benefits. Students can apply to any of the Univers...

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) has upheld the order of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) against the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) for fixing wheat flour prices in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010. The Tribunal directed the Association to deposit a fine of Rs35 million into the national exchequer, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. The CCP had launched an inquiry into PFMA after multiple news reports highlighted an unusual hike in wheat flour prices across Pakistan. The inquiry found that PFMA had engaged in anti-competitive conduct. PFMA later challenged the CCP’s decision before the Tribunal. During the hearing, CCP’s counsel argued that Sections 4(1) and 4(2)(a) of the Competition Act prohibit any agreement or decision between undertakings, including associations, to fix prices. The Commission maintained that PFMA’s repeated, structured issuance of price instructions undermined the commercial independence...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their intention to work closely in multilateral fora, including the United Nations, to promote effective and enduring approaches to counterterrorism. The joint statement came a day after the United States designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliate, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), citing their continued involvement in deadly attacks across Pakistan. According to a joint press statement, Pakistan and the United States held the latest round of the Pakistan-U.S. Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday, reaffirming their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The dialogue was co-chaired by Special Secretary for the United Nations, Nabeel Munir and U.S. Department of State Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory D. LoGerfo. Both delegations underscored the critical importance of developing effective approaches to terror...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday warned India that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty would be met with a decisive response. “You threaten to stop our water. If you attempt such a move, Pakistan will teach you a lesson you will never forget,” the Prime Minister said while addressing an event in Islamabad marking International Youth Day. He stressed that water was Pakistan’s lifeline and that the country would make no compromise on its rights under international agreements. The Prime Minister said a “new Pakistan” had emerged after the armed forces defeated India on May 10. He claimed India’s pride was “sunk” that day when the Pakistan Air Force downed six Indian fighter jets — calling it a historic moment for the nation. PM Shehbaz also announced the distribution of 100,000 interest-free laptops to students strictly on merit. “This government believes in transparency and merit, and we will ensure both in the distributio...