Day: September 29, 2026

Important Meeting of Chaman District Coordination Committee Reviews Finalization of BSDI Phase-III Development Projects

Nadeem Ali
Chaman DCC meeting reviews BSDI Phase-III Projects

Chaman (Syed Sardar Mohammad Khondai) — An important meeting of the District Coordination Committee (DCC) was held at the Deputy Commissioner Office in Chaman to review the finalization of BSDI Phase-III Projects. Speaker Balochistan Assembly Captain (Retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai and Deputy Commissioner Chaman Habib Ahmed Bangulzai jointly chaired the meeting. The Commander Chaman Scouts also attended the meeting and provided special support. Officers from the district administration, police, law enforcement agencies and relevant government departments were also present. Officials reviewed the proposed development schemes under the Balochistan Sustainable Development…

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OpenAI Halts GPT-6.1 Astra Release Over Safety Concerns

Staff report

OpenAI Halts GPT-6.1 Astra Release Over Safety Concerns SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI has cancelled the planned release of its next-generation artificial intelligence model, GPT-6.1 Astra, after internal testing found that the system did not meet the company’s required safety and alignment standards. The model had been expected to launch in October and was designed to handle more complex tasks with greater independence, including interacting with websites and digital tools. According to OpenAI’s head of safety systems, Saachi Jain, the model did not meet the company’s required threshold for staying within authorised…

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Faisalabad Wheat Cultivation Target Set at 1.834 Million Acres

Kainat R
Farmer using a Super Seeder to sow wheat in a field in Faisalabad division, Punjab, as part of the wheat cultivation target

Authorities have set a Faisalabad wheat target of 1.834 million acres for the coming season. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Divisional Wheat Committee chaired by Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh. Officials were told to complete sowing by November 20, and to ensure that seed, fertiliser and canal water reach farmers on time. The plan aims to make Faisalabad the leading division for wheat farming in Punjab. Background: Why Faisalabad Wheat Cultivation Matters Wheat is Pakistan’s main staple crop, and Punjab grows most of it. Faisalabad division,…

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Kashmir Dispute: Pakistan Calls for Peaceful Settlement Under UN Resolutions

Kainat R
Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon and Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh addressing journalists at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on the Kashmir dispute

Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, have called for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute. They said lasting peace and stability in South Asia depend on a settlement in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The remarks came during a media session at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, as reported on Tuesday. Background: A Dispute That Dates Back to 1947 The Kashmir issue has been unresolved since the partition of British India…

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Bara Operation: Security Forces Kill Five Terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Kainat R
Pakistani security forces personnel during an intelligence-based operation against terrorists in Bara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Security forces on Tuesday killed five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bara area, according to security sources. The militants belonged to Fitna al-Khawarij, and the operation was reported by Radio Pakistan. Officials said a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered, and the militants’ hideouts were destroyed. The Bara operation is the latest in a run of counterterrorism actions by security forces in Pakistan this month.  Background: Rising Terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has faced repeated militant violence in recent years, especially in districts…

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Novak Djokovic Targets a Reset as Djokovic Return Headlines China Open 2026

Kainat R
Novak Djokovic preparing for his return at the China Open 2026 at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing

Summary Novak Djokovic says he is encouraged by how his body is responding ahead of the China Open 2026. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is back in action for the first time since his shock first-round exit at the US Open. The Djokovic return to Beijing comes after an 11-year absence and after recent fitness concerns. Background: A Difficult Season and a Rare Schedule Choice The Djokovic China Open story begins in New York. Novak Djokovic lost his US Open opening match to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, a result that stunned…

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Asghar Khan Achakzai Gets Bail in Chaman Cases

Syed Sardar Muhammad Khondai

False Cases Cannot Suppress the Public Voice, Asghar Khan Achakzai Chaman (Syed Sardar Mohammad Khondai): Provincial President of Awami National Party (ANP) Balochistan, Asghar Khan Achakzai, appeared before the Sessions Court Chaman today, where the honorable court approved his bail applications in all cases registered against him. Talking to the media outside the court, Asghar Khan Achakzai said that the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, especially in District Chaman, limited employment opportunities, and the basic problems faced by the public are extremely alarming. He said that baseless…

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LAAM Fashion Week Puts Spotlight on Karachi With a Kaleidoscopic Runway Night

Kainat R
Models walking the mirrored runway at the Kaleidoscopic Karachi fashion show during LAAM Fashion Week 2026 in Karachi

Summary LAAM Fashion Week puts spotlight on Karachi with a one-night showcase called Kaleidoscopic Karachi, held at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. Collections by Deepak Perwani, Wardha Saleem, Khaadi, The Pink Tree Company and Sana Safinaz shared a single runway. The evening blended eastern and western silhouettes and brought two well-known 1990s models back to the ramp. Background: How LAAM Fashion Week Reached Karachi LAAM Fashion Week began in Lahore, where its inaugural edition ran from January 31 to February 3, 2026. It was presented as Pakistan’s…

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Australia Steps Up Military Preparedness Amid Regional Tensions

Staff report

Australia Steps Up Military Preparedness Amid Growing Regional Tensions TOWNSVILLE: Military exercises in northern Australia have highlighted the country’s growing focus on defence preparedness as global conflicts and strategic competition reshape its security environment. In Townsville, soldiers recently conducted large-scale exercises involving a wide range of military equipment. Snipers, missiles, drones and helicopters were deployed during the drills, creating scenes designed to replicate the pressures of a potential conflict. The exercises are taking place in an area that has not experienced major fighting since the Second World War. Preparing for…

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Balochistan Assembly Speaker Inaugurates Markazi Eidgah Ground in Chaman

Nadeem Ali
Balochistan Assembly Speaker inaugurates Markazi Eidgah Ground in Chaman

Chaman (Syed Sardar Muhammad Khondai): Balochistan Assembly Speaker Capt (R) Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai visited Chaman and reviewed several development projects across the district. During his visit, the Balochistan Assembly Speaker inaugurated the newly completed Markazi Eidgah Ground in Chaman city. He also inspected ongoing development work and received briefings from officials about projects under construction. Deputy Commissioner Chaman Habib Ahmed Bangalzai, District Police Chief Aitezaz Arif and officers from several government departments accompanied the Speaker. PML-N District President Haji Ataullah Khan Achakzai and Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Matiullah Achakzai…

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