British police said several men were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after security was increased around RAF Fairford in southwest England. Authorities evacuated properties in nearby Whelford following a major incident. The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was examining several vehicles, while armed police restricted access to the base. The facility is used by US forces, which declined to discuss specific security measures.
Pakistan’s military said Sunday that more than 71 militants had been killed during security operations in Balochistan over the past 96 hours. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said forces acted on intelligence reports and targeted hideouts in Shaban and surrounding areas. According to the statement, troops also recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives during the operation. ISPR described those targeted as militants allegedly backed by India and Afghanistan.
Heavy rains triggered floods and landslides across northern India and Nepal, killing at least 68 people over three days, officials said Sunday. Uttar Pradesh reported 56 deaths and more than 1,000 damaged homes, while Nepal recorded 12 fatalities and seven people missing since Thursday. The disasters come weeks after catastrophic flooding in Nepal killed more than 1,400 people. Scientists have linked increasingly extreme South Asian weather to rising temperatures and changing climate patterns.
National coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will meet in Islamabad from September 28 to 30 under Pakistan’s 2026-27 chairmanship. The meeting will discuss the organisation’s upcoming activities, preparations for key events and broader cooperation. Pakistan plans to focus its chairmanship on connectivity, innovation, economic cooperation and people-to-people ties. Officials from member states and the SCO Secretariat will participate in the talks.
Pakistan began its Asian Games campaign strongly on Sunday, defeating Kazakhstan 3-1 in men’s volleyball. Murad Khan led the scoring with 21 points as Pakistan secured an early advantage in Pool A. In squash, Noor Zaman defeated compatriot Mohammad Ashab Irfan 3-0 in the men’s singles bronze-medal playoff. The result kept Pakistan’s medal tally at four bronze medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa narrowly missed the women’s marathon world record at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday after fading late despite running at record pace for much of the race. She finished in 2:11:04, setting a personal and course record, but crossed the line visibly struggling and received medical treatment. Bedatu Hirpa and Dera Dida completed an Ethiopian podium. Guye Adola won the men’s race in 2:02:50.
Swiss voters went to the polls Sunday on a proposal seeking to strengthen the country’s traditional neutrality by defining it more strictly in the constitution. The initiative, backed by the pro-sovereignty Pro Switzerland group, would require neutrality to remain armed and permanent while limiting military alliances. Supporters say it would protect Switzerland’s long-standing position, while opponents argue it could restrict foreign policy options and closer cooperation with NATO.
Pakistan’s first Hangor-class submarine successfully conducted its maiden live weapon firing in the Arabian Sea, the Inter-Services Public Relations said. The newly inducted PNS/M HANGOR accurately struck a designated long-range target with an anti-ship cruise missile. Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnessed the exercise and highlighted the importance of stronger underwater capabilities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Navy, praising the submarine’s operational readiness and combat capabilities.
China’s Vice President Han Zheng told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that “the world wants peace, not war,” urging respect for the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern countries, including Gulf states. Mr Han called for global trade and supply chains to remain “stable and unimpeded” as he warned against protectionism. “Protectionism produces no winners,” he said adding, “Building walls, erecting barriers, decoupling, and cutting off supply chains disrupt global industrial and supply chains and harm the interests of all parties.”
Bahrain said that the UN needs to follow through on its resolutions, highlighting those that have condemned Iranian attacks and threats to the freedom of navigation. “We reaffirm that what the United Nations needs today is not more resolutions, but greater capacity to implement them,” said Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. “A resolution adopted but not implemented has no value, and a right that is recognised but not protected has no value or meaning,” he added.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have discussed regional developments and efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the Omani Foreign Ministry said in a post on X this morning.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen co-operation in various fields, as well as the latest regional developments, according to a readout from the Saudi Foreign Ministry. Prince Faisal praised the Lebanese government’s efforts to preserve the state and its national institutions, saying they would contribute to regional security and stability.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the inaugural UAE Investment Majlis, jointly hosted by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Investment on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Inspired by the traditional Emirati majlis as a forum for open dialogue and consensus-building, the UAE Investment Majlis provided a setting for candid engagement on common economic interests.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the US of waging “economic terrorism” against Iran, saying Washington was deliberately seeking to inflict suffering on the Iranian population. Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York, Mr Araghchi said US economic pressure “is deliberately inflicting grave pain” on ordinary Iranians. “This is economic terrorism,” he said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has told the UN General Assembly that any attack on the holy cities of Makkah or Madinah would be a “red line”. Saudi Arabia’s air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city last week. Mr Sharif said any “threat to the safety and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain”, the two most sacred mosques in Islam, “is a red line that must never be crossed.”
More than 43,200 personnel will be deployed across the Rawalpindi division for the PTI long march on September 27, with around 120 blocking points identified. Police have also prepared a special security plan for additional forces arriving from other districts. Instead of reporting to Police Lines, personnel will proceed directly to designated residences, schools and marriage halls for accommodation.
An article has raised questions about Israeli soldiers travelling to popular Indian tourist destinations after serving in Gaza. It cites allegations by the Hind Rajab Foundation concerning Israeli soldier Eitan Gilboa and says he later travelled along India’s so-called “Hummus Trail”. The route includes destinations in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Goa that are popular among Israeli travellers.
Pakistan’s parliamentary system includes question hours but lacks a routine tradition of acknowledging security personnel killed or injured in service. The practice in Britain of paying tribute to fallen and wounded troops during weekly parliamentary proceedings highlights a possible model. Pakistani leaders and legislatures do issue statements and resolutions honouring those who serve, but such recognition is not formally incorporated into regular proceedings.
The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad has postponed its planned long march and sit-in towards Islamabad after the Balochistan government assured farmers that their concerns would be addressed. A government delegation met Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Baath, who accepted the assurances and agreed to delay the protest. The group had planned the march to highlight agricultural problems and demand action on farmers’ concerns.
Nearly 10,000 shopkeepers registered under the Asan Tax Scheme (ATS) during its first month, according to State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani. Officials said 1,929 participants entered the tax system for the first time, while hundreds had already filed returns. The minister directed the FBR to resolve technical issues and expedite tax registration plates for compliant shopkeepers.
The NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election is shaping up as a contest between PML-N’s Malik Munir Iqbal Channar and independent Wali Dad Cheema. Polling is scheduled for Sept 27, with the PML-N candidate receiving support from PPP after its withdrawal. PTI has boycotted the election, while the separate province debate and sympathy following the late MNA’s death remain key factors.
The long-awaited Government Degree College Salarzai in Bajaur was inaugurated after a delay of about 12 years. The college has begun operating in a temporary building and is preparing to offer first and second-year classes in pre-medical, pre-engineering, computer science and fine arts. Officials said around 200 students had applied for admission, while the college currently has 14 faculty members.
Residents of Bannu’s mountainous Hathikhel area have reported growing militant activity and repeated security operations, saying some families have relocated for safety. Local sources alleged militants demanded cash and portions of agricultural produce from residents, with some families facing pressure to leave. They also claimed houses belonging to families that refused the demands were demolished. Recent violence has heightened concerns among residents.
The family of PTI MPA Sardar Riaz from Kolai-Palas alleged that armed men intercepted his vehicle and abducted him and three companions on Friday. His vehicle was later found abandoned along the Karakoram Highway. Family members and PTI workers urged police to register a case and ensure the lawmaker’s recovery. Authorities had not provided further details about the alleged incident.
A security alert regarding a possible threat to mosques at the Civil Secretariat during Friday prayers triggered the evacuation of several government offices in Peshawar. Employees hurriedly left their workplaces after receiving the alert. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi later dismissed the threat as fake, saying the scare was intended to spread panic. Several departments reportedly remained largely deserted after the warning.
The Association for Asian Studies-in-Asia conference opened at LUMS on Friday, bringing around 1,200 speakers from 37 countries for a three-day event. Themed “Centering Asia: Refiguring Connections, Re-charting Futures,” the conference features 323 panels covering culture, politics, development, knowledge and Asia’s global connections, alongside exhibitions, cultural events and discussions on heritage and climate change.
Incomplete work on Rawalpindi’s Commercial Market pedestrian street is causing traffic, parking and access problems for visitors and traders. Construction was halted last month due to rains and has yet to resume. Traders say customers are avoiding the market because of dug-up roads and dust. RMC officials said over 75% of the project is complete and the remaining work should take another month.
An Okara sessions court has directed the University of Okara vice chancellor and public relations officer to furnish sureties in a private complaint filed by a woman teacher alleging harassment, defamation and misuse of authority. The officials appeared before the court following repeated summons. The complainant alleged her salary and benefits were withheld and promotion obstructed after she refused unwanted demands.
The Capital Development Authority has invited firms to prequalify for upgrading and expanding Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre ahead of next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. A new block is also planned, while the proposed NICEEC project near Malpur faces uncertainty due to time constraints. Officials said the project must begin soon to meet the expected August summit deadline.
An Islamabad civil court has issued bailable arrest warrants for the CDA chairman over alleged failure to implement a decree concerning affected residents seeking rehabilitation benefits. Civil Judge Naseerud Din noted that the decree remained partially unimplemented after nearly 28 years. The court also observed that the chairman had failed to appear despite repeated notices and warned of further legal action.