Pakistani politician and businessman, prime minister since 2024
The Oversight Project has released roughly three hours of audio and 117 pages of heavily redacted transcripts of Joe Biden’s 2016–17 interviews with his ghostwriter for Promise Me, Dad. The recordings, obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s documents probe, show Biden discussing retained notes and at times struggling with dates and details; Republicans say the tapes prove decline, Biden calls the release political.
Iran has launched fresh attacks across the Gulf and Jordan as US-led strikes continue; Kuwait is hit for a fifth day running; two tankers back away from Bab al‑Mandeb after Houthis warn of Red Sea disruption. Lebanon deploys troops in pilot zones; France summons Iran’s envoy over a diplomatic spat. Israeli strikes kill a family in Gaza amid broader regional strain.
Polling is under way in four PK-administered Kashmir constituencies as security is tightened. The JAAC boycott persists, while PML-N is expected to lead the regional government after securing a majority in earlier phases; violence and protests have marked the campaign.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a mutual defence framework. The pact treats an armed attack on any member as an attack on all, while stopping short of detailing automatic troop deployment. It builds on prior defense ties and signals a move toward a more regionally driven security order amid heightened Gulf tensions and Iran-Israel dynamics.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, offering mutual-attack deterrence and deeper military cooperation. Officials say negotiations anticipate expansion to more partners, with Egypt flagged as a natural partner; the pact mirrors NATO-style defence but remains non-binding if a signatory is not attacked.
Pakistan has warned that threats to its sovereignty will be met with a strong response, as protests mark independence commemorations and a new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey surfaces. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasizes Pakistan’s aim for peace but confirms a firm stance on water and security amid ongoing regional tensions.
Former captains from around the world have urged Pakistan’s government to permit an independent health assessment of Imran Khan, reinstate weekly family visits, and ensure timely medical treatment following a Supreme Court order transferring him to a private hospital. The move follows concerns over his health and treatment since his imprisonment.
Twenty-one former international cricket captains have appealed to Pakistan’s leadership to ensure an independent medical assessment for Imran Khan, allow weekly family visits, and provide treatment as ordered by the Supreme Court. The calls come after Khan’s brief hospital visit and ongoing questions about his health while in custody.
A fire has killed 14 newborn babies at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. The blaze has started in the third-floor mother-and-child unit, where 15 infants were present; hospital staff rescued one. Authorities have launched inquiries, suspended senior health officials and ordered urgent safety reviews across hospitals.
A fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad has killed at least 14 newborns, with emergency responders clearing the remaining danger as investigations begin. Officials say the blaze started around 6:45 a.m. in the nursery, with initial reports pointing to an air-conditioning compressor explosion; later inquiries cite a nebulizer blast as a possible trigger. Prime Minister Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation and promised accountability for those found responsible.
US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after they detected efforts to deploy rockets with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at US bases in Jordan and the UAE in response. Both sides are signalling readiness to hit back again while diplomatic and economic pressure continues.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being translated into an operational framework. Ministers and chiefs of staff are meeting in Istanbul to discuss interoperability, defence cooperation and potential expansion, including a possible role for Egypt. Observers say the pact aims to deter aggression and coordinate military planning in a volatile region.
A fire at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has killed newborns in a third‑floor nursery. Razia Noreen rescued a baby and is receiving a national honour; eight officials are suspended as an official inquiry blames inadequate fire safety measures and delayed emergency response. Investigations continue into the blaze’s cause amid broader hospital‑fire safety reviews.
The International Court of Arbitration has ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty remains fully in force, obliging India to limit construction on the Ratle hydroelectric project in Kashmir. Both sides remain locked in a long-running dispute over water-sharing between India and Pakistan, with a neutral expert due by mid-2027 to assess project compliance.
A nurse at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences shielded a baby from a spreading blaze, saving the sole survivor while 14 others perished. The incident prompted a government inquiry, suspensions, and a national hero’s recognition.
England has sealed a 2-0 series win after a commanding performance at Lord’s, with Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer spearheading a ruthless pace attack that dismantled Pakistan. Abbas earns Lord’s honours board with a five-wicket haul, while Saud Shakeel’s 97 proves valiant but ultimately in vain.
Pakistan has announced a major overhaul of its Test squad ahead of the third match in the England series, replacing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and seven players with Mike Hesson leading a mix of uncapped and new faces. The move follows heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord’s and signals a bid to re-balance the side amid criticism of the former regime.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek has leaders from China, Russia and India attending as partners discuss regional cooperation. Talks point to China and Russia strengthening ties and expanding influence, with India hedging its position amid competing regional interests. Turkiye seeks a more permanent role while maintaining ties with the West.
Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani chiefs of staff have met in Riyadh to begin turning the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement into operational cooperation after a recent surge in Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory and shipping. Officials have agreed to deepen military and intelligence ties and to integrate defensive capabilities under the pact.
Kabul reports civilian casualties as airstrikes near the border feed cross-border tensions. Islamabad says militants were targeted inside Afghanistan, while Afghan authorities warn of retaliation. Several incidents have intensified a long-running border dispute amid regional mediation efforts.
A formal inquiry into the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences fire has found systemic and institutional failures that allowed a spark from an air-conditioning unit to become a catastrophe, with 14 newborns dying. The report cites locked or obstructed exits, absent nursery fire procedures, and delayed external rescue despite rapid frontline response.
Pakistan has sealed Islamabad with thousands of security personnel, more than 1,000 shipping containers and roadblocks as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presses for a nationwide march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Authorities have detained Khan’s three sisters and dozens of PTI leaders; the party has delayed but kept pressure on the government.
Saudi Arabia has faced an intensified campaign of drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis since July, and the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed in August has prompted Pakistan and Turkiye to discuss defensive support. Britain has approved time-limited refuelling for Saudi jets and the three allies are meeting to decide collective steps as attacks continue.
Pakistan has sealed major approaches to Islamabad with more than 1,500 shipping containers and deployed tens of thousands of police ahead of a planned march by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Authorities have detained PTI figures, banned public gatherings and closed key highways as the party threatens a mass protest to demand Khan's release.
Pakistan has expanded a nationwide fuel-subsidy program to more than 9 million low-income motorists, including motorcycles, rickshaws and small-car owners. The government has allocated 75 billion rupees for discounts and says the digitally delivered subsidies aim to ease inflationary pressures amid higher global energy prices. IMF staff have reached a deal that could unlock $1.2 billion, pending board approval.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay for her decades-long work enforcing international law, including leadership at the Rwanda tribunal, service on multiple international courts and chairing a UN inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Pillay received the news while attending a legal forum in Nuremberg.
Pakistan has imposed emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, suspending the provincial PTI government and placing the province under a federally appointed governor and advisory council. Authorities have deployed security forces, restricted internet and closed schools; the federal government says the step responds to rising militant attacks while PTI calls it a political takeover ahead of planned protests for Imran Khan’s release.
A series of Houthi missile and drone strikes has struck Saudi airports this week, including a deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International that has killed and wounded dozens and forced prolonged airport closures. Saudi and allied forces are mounting counter‑operations in Yemen while global leaders have condemned the assaults and airlines have suspended flights.
Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, suspending the provincial government and installing a governor, amid a standoff with PTI. The federal government says the move targets terrorism, while PTI rejects the measure and calls for Khan’s release. The situation includes detention of the former chief minister and deployment of troops.
A three-story Al-Khair Education Center in central Peshawar collapses, killing a teacher and dozens of students aged 4–14. Authorities blame weak infrastructure and are investigating building safety, with more casualties feared as rescue teams search the rubble.