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Not enough

WHILE the tone of the participants of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on Monday was certainly hard towards Israel, unless there are tangible actions to back up the meeting’s proposals, the Arab and Muslim world’s reaction will remain limited to rhetoric. The conclave was convened after Israel’s reckless attack last week on the Qatari capital, in which it targeted Hamas members as well as a local security man. While Israel has been hitting Muslim states relentlessly since Oct 7, 2023 — mainly Iran and its regional allies — this time the target was different: a pro-US monarchy that also maintains ties with Hamas. Perhaps the newest choice of target explains why the Islamic world’s monarchs and rulers rushed to Doha to deliberate. Yet few actionable goals emerged from the summit. For instance, states were urged to review their economic and diplomatic relations with the Zionist state. One would have thought a definite line of action would have emerged in this regard, not wishy-washy ...
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Punjab’s wheat restrictions trigger domino effect

• Despite official denials, checkpoints set up at province’s exit points to curtail movement • Flour prices in KP jump 68pc; 20kg bag hits Rs2,800 • KP Assembly passes unanimous resolution against Punjab’s move LAHORE: Punjab’s unannounced ban on the interprovincial movement of wheat has ignited a new crisis, causing a severe flour shortage and soaring prices in other provinces. The move has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and flour millers who argue it violates constitutional rights and a recent deregulation agreement. While Punjab officials de­n­ied a formal ban, they acknowledged establishing checkpoints to curb what they termed “unusual” whe­at movement. Critics, however, argued that these mea­sures are against the spirit of a deregulated market. The ban has been met with strong condemnation from other provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtu­nkhwa and Sindh, which heavily depend on Punj­ab’s wheat supply. The All-Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has labelled t...
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Kabul’s choice

IT is apparently a very simple proposition. The Afghan Taliban can either cooperate with Pakistan and eliminate safe havens for the banned TTP and other terrorist outfits on their soil. Or they can continue to nurture an array of violent outfits and sour Afghanistan’s chances of regional integration and greater diplomatic recognition, along with torpedoing any chances of better ties with Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the offer to Kabul’s rulers while visiting Bannu on Saturday, asking the Afghan Taliban to “choose between Pakistan and TTP”. The PM’s comments reflect the frustration of the administration towards the Taliban. The current dispensation has tried both carrots and sticks with Kabul to help stop terrorist attacks from Afghanistan-based militants, but neither approach has delivered results. The frustration is understandable because terrorist attacks have resulted in high troop losses for Pakistan. Just last week, at least 19 troops were martyred during o...
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Dozens of terrorists killed in Bannu, Lakki Marwat operations

LAKKI MARWAT: Dozens of terrorists were killed in intelligence-based operations in Bannu and Lakki Marwat over the weekend, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued on Monday. Local sources claimed that fighter jets targeted militant hideouts in the Bakkakhel area of Bannu district, killing terrorists and injuring many others. They said that a community hall and a school being used by the terrorists as safe havens and for storing explosive devices, rocket launchers, ammunition and explosives, were destroyed in the strikes on Saturday and Sunday. The military’s media wing said that security forces killed 31 terrorists during the intelligence-based operations in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts. There was no mention of the aerial strikes in the official statement. Five security officials, including army captain, martyred in Kech blast The ISPR said that the operations were conducted by the security forces on the reported presence of Khawarij in the a...
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Trump blasts New York governor for backing Mamdani in Big Apple’s mayor race

United States President Donald Trump criticised New York’s Democratic governor on Monday for endorsing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani , whom he branded a “Liddle’ communist” in a social media post. Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York state assemblyman and self-declared socialist, rocked American politics and the Democratic Party establishment in June by winning the party’s mayoral primary. He remains the front-runner in polls ahead of the November 4 election to decide who will be the next mayor of America’s most populous city. “Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has endorsed the ‘Liddle’ Communist,” the US president wrote. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely.” Mamdani has campaigned on a platform of narrowing the wealth gap between rich and poor New Yorkers and providing affordable housing to low-income residents. On Sunday, Hochul gave her bac...
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Israel intensifies Gaza City bombing as Rubio arrives

• Israeli forces destroy 30 more residential buildings • 48 Palestinians killed • Netanyahu calls Rubio ‘extraordinary friend’, says his visit shows strength of US-Israel ties JERUSALEM: Israeli forces destroyed at least 30 more residential buildings in Gaza City and displaced thousands of residents, according to Palestinian officials, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the region on Sunday to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At least 48 more Palestinians were killed since Sunday dawn as artillery shelling and gunfire by Israeli forces reported in Gaza City, as well as shelling from boats, according to Al Jazeera. Israel has already announced its plan to seize the city, where more than a million Palestinians have been sheltering, and has intensified attacks on what it has called Hamas’ last bastion. The Israeli army issued a new forced evacuation order for another building in Gaza City. The military “will attack the building soon” due to ...
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World Athletics Championships: Seville, Jefferson-Wooden storm to maiden 100m world titles

TOKYO: Two new 100m world champions were crowned on Sunday night as Jamaica’s Oblique Seville led a double podium finish that rewrote men’s sprint history while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the US ran a championship record — all that happening as Usain Bolt watched from the stands of a sold-out Japan National Stadium. The 21-year-old Seville crossed the finish line in a 9.77 personal best ahead of Thompson in 9.82 and the USA’s reigning champion Noah Lyles, who won bronze with a season’s best 9.89. “It was a good run because these two actually pushed me to run a personal best,” Seville, the youngest 100m champion, said at the post-race press conference. He became the third Jamaican sprinter to win this title. “To come out here and run a 9.77 is something amazing, and in Japan is where I made my debut; to get a medal is something great for me.” Jefferson-Wooden came in as the world lead and left Tokyo with a gold medal, proving her superiority to round off a season unbeaten. Tin...
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