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  • S&P Global improves Pakistan’s credit rating

    S&P Global improves Pakistan’s credit rating

    Following improvements in Pakistan’s credit rating from international credit rating agencies, Moody’s and Fitch, S&P Global has upgraded Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating from ‘CCC+’ to a more respectable ‘B-’. According to reports, S&P Global assigned Pakistan a ‘stable’ outlook, citing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program’s role in stabilising the country’s reserves and finances.

    In a statement, S&P Global noted that Pakistan is expected to continue its economic recovery and that Islamabad’s efforts to boost revenue could improve key macroeconomic indicators related to debt and the fiscal budget.

    The statement further suggests that, as per S&P Global, continued financing could help Pakistan meet its external repayments. Moreover, the country is likely to roll over “commercial credit lines over the next 12 months”.

    Pakistan has been rolling over debt held by China, with reports from June 2025 suggesting that China rolled over a staggering $3.4 billion in debt to Pakistan. According to these reports, two senior government officials revealed details surrounding the rollover agreement that helped boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

    These developments, primarily the upgrade in Pakistan’s credit rating by S&P Global, reportedly increased Pakistan’s international bonds with longer maturity dates. Data from reports suggests that bonds maturing in 2051 have gained 1.6 cents, causing bids to rise up to 84.85 cents on the dollar.

    Similarly, bonds maturing in 2031 and 2036 posted a gain of approximately one cent. Bonds maturing before 2031 witnessed gains too; however, these were reportedly not as large as longer-dated maturities.

    The federal government is in discussions with international credit rating agencies to find ways to improve Pakistan’s outlook. Reports reveal that just last week, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb requested Moody’s to upgrade Pakistan’s credit rating. If approved, it would help Pakistan borrow from international markets at more favourable conditions. 

    Earlier this year, Moody’s recognised improvements in the performance of Pakistan’s banking sector. The sector had displayed signs of progress over the previous year, after conditions in the wider economy weakened the sector.

    Moody’s promoted the banking outlook in Pakistan from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’ in May 2025. Fitch, yet another renowned credit rating agency, also upgraded Pakistan’s economic outlook by boosting the country’s credit rating from CCC+ to B- before the end of fiscal year (FY) 2024-25.

  • Husband confesses to sexually assaulting teen bride in Karachi

    Husband confesses to sexually assaulting teen bride in Karachi

    The husband of a 19-year-old from Lyari, who died after spending 20 days in a coma, has confessed to sexually assaulting her.

    The suspect, identified as Ashok, recorded his statement before a judicial magistrate for District South under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court has since sent him to jail on judicial remand.

    Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that the medical examination findings were consistent with sexual violence.

    Earlier this month, the girl was brought to Civil Hospital Karachi in critical condition after allegedly being sexually assaulted by her husband, who was later arrested by the police.

    Citing Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, a media report claimed that the victim was in a coma while her physical examination findings were consistent with sexual violence, adding, “The rape victim passed away at the trauma centre of the Civil Hospital Karachi at 10:45am Wednesday.”

    The report quoted Baghdadi police Station House Officer (SHO) Majid Alvi as claiming that two days after the girl got married, the husband subjected her to sodomy and assaulted her with a metal pipe, leading to internal injuries.

    The victim’s brother registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Baghdadi Police Station on July 5 under Sections 324 (attempt to commit murder) and 376-B (punishment for rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    “On the third day of her marriage, my sister was subjected to sexual violence allegedly by her husband. She remained admitted at a private hospital in the city and was later taken to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre of Civil Hospital Karachi in a critical condition the other day,” the FIR read.

    The FIR further read that the complainant’s sister married the suspect on June 15. Her health condition deteriorated on June 30, compelling the family to bring her back home. She informed the parents that on June 17, her husband subjected her to an unnatural sexual act.

    The complainant said that the suspect sexually assaulted her with a foreign object, adding subsequently, the husband also subjected her to sexual violence, leading to bleeding.

    As per the FIR, the suspect threatened his wife with “dire consequences” if she disclosed anything to anyone.

    According to a statement issued by Aurat March on social media platforms on Wednesday, the victim’s name was Shanti, and she had been raped and mutilated by her husband Ashok Kumar.

    The suspect’s family reportedly also tried to hide the rape and denied the victim medical care while also cutting her off from her parents.

    They watched her bleed and scream and chose silence,” the statement said, adding that the in-laws asked Shanti’s family for forgiveness and erased all evidence of rape.

    The statement also accused a private hospital and one Dr Rauf Shaikh of medical negligence, saying they “covered up rape and sent her home to die”.

    Aurat March, along with Minority Rights Watch, has also announced taking to streets after Shanti’s family returns following her last rites.

  • World lauds, US opposes France’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood

    World lauds, US opposes France’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood

    President Emmanuel Macron has said that France would formally recognise Palestinian statehood during a United Nations (UN) meeting in September, going on to become the most powerful European nation to announce such a move.

    The announcement comes as at least 142 countries recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood since Israel increased bombardments under the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza nearly two years ago.

    Macron’s announcement drew immediate anger from Israel and the United States (US) who continue to strongly oppose the decisions.

    While the US has France’s announcement a “reckless decision that only serves Hamas’ propaganda”, Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu said it “rewarded terror” and posed an existential threat to Israel.

    “It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X, alluding to Hamas’ attack on Israel in 2023.

    Netanyahu said the decision “risked creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became”, which would be “a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it”.

    Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the move, saying it “reflected France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state”.

    Hamas hailed Macron’s pledge as a “positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to oppressed Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination”.

    “We call on all countries of the world – especially European nations and those that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine – to follow France’s lead,” it added.

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the humanitarian situation in Gaza had become “unsustainable” and urged Israel to change course. He said the conflict had reached a stage where “people were dying of hunger, and that was indefensible”. Starmer repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire, saying it could “open the path towards recognising a Palestinian state” and stressed that Palestinians had an “inalienable right” to statehood.

    He confirmed he would hold talks with France and Germany to discuss “stopping the killing and getting food to people who desperately need it”. The UK, along with 27 other countries, recently signed a statement urging Israel to lift restrictions on aid deliveries, warning that its current policy “deprives Gazans of human dignity”.

    International concern is growing about the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and warnings of mass starvation.

    Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for Gaza’s deepening hunger crisis, which the World Health Organization has called “man-made” and France blamed on an Israeli blockade.

    Macron said the urgent priority today was to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population.

    “We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” he wrote on social media.

    On the streets of the occupied West Bank, Palestinians told AFP that they hoped other countries would now follow suit.

    Macron said he intended to make the announcement at the UN General Assembly in September.

    It merits a mention that Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced recognition following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, along with several other non-European countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country already recognises Palestinian statehood, welcomed Macron’s announcement.

    “Together, we must protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy. The two-state solution is the only solution,” the Socialist leader, an outspoken critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, wrote on X.

    Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry hailed Macron’s announcement as “historic” and urged other countries to follow suit.

    Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris in a post on X called France’s move “the only lasting basis for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike”.

    Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has so far killed 59,587 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

  • Bahawalnagar man tortures wife to death, disguises murder as suicide

    Bahawalnagar man tortures wife to death, disguises murder as suicide

    A man allegedly tortured his wife to death and then hanged her body from a ceiling fan to stage it as a suicide in Dunga Bunga, Bahawalnagar.

    According to the FIR, Waqas from Mauza Khemaywala married Gulnaz from Mauza Kamilpura eight years ago. The couple had two children.

    Over time, their relationship reportedly deteriorated. On July 19, Gulnaz’s in-laws handed over her body to her parents, claiming she had taken her own life. However, visible signs of violence raised suspicions, prompting her parents to confront the in-laws on July 21.

    The in-laws allegedly admitted that Waqas had tortured Gulnaz during an argument, which led to her death.

    Police have registered a case under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code against Waqas and his parents. An investigation is underway.

    In another incident, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted on the premises of the Bahawalnagar civil court. The victim, identified as “S,” was from Tibba Chishtian and had come to the court on July 18 to seek shelter at Darul Aman after an argument with her husband.

    The FIR claims that she was lured into a chamber and raped by a man identified “A,” who was allegedly a lawyer’s reader.

    She was taken to a house by the suspect after the assault, where she was held captive for three days. The woman managed to escape on July 22 and reported the incident to the police.

  • Starlink faces global outage after internal software failure

    Starlink faces global outage after internal software failure

    SpaceX’s Starlink experienced a major disruption on Thursday after an internal software malfunction caused a global outage, leaving many users without service.

    Outage monitoring site Downdetector reported that connectivity issues began around 3 p.m., primarily affecting users in the U.S. and Europe. During the incident, the platform recorded over 61,000 user complaints.

    In a statement on X, Starlink, which provides satellite internet services to more than 6 million customers across approximately 140 countries and territories, acknowledged the outage. The company stated that it was “actively implementing a solution.”

    According to Michael Nicolls, the vice president of Starlink Engineering, service began to resume after 2.5 hours. In an update on X, Nicolls explained that the disruption was due to a “failure of key internal software services that operate the core network” and expressed regret, adding that the team was working to identify the root cause.

    Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, also responded via X, apologising for the outage and promising that SpaceX would address the root cause to prevent future occurrences.

    Experts highlighted that such a widespread failure is rare for Starlink, a significant contributor to global internet connectivity. Doug Madory from the internet analysis firm Kentik referred to this incident as “likely the longest outage ever for Starlink, at least since it became a major service provider.”

    Some analysts proposed that the disruption could stem from a software bug or an update error, while others raised the possibility of a cyberattack. Gregory Falco, who heads a space and cybersecurity lab at Cornell University, likened this incident to last year’s CrowdStrike software glitch, which affected millions of Microsoft Windows devices and resulted in extensive flight delays.

    Starlink has rapidly expanded, launching new satellites to cater to the increasing demand for faster services. Additionally, SpaceX is collaborating with T-Mobile to create direct-to-cell text messaging aimed at ensuring emergency connectivity in remote areas.

    Since 2020, SpaceX has deployed over 8,000 Starlink satellites, establishing a low-Earth orbit network that serves military clients, the transportation sector, and rural communities with limited internet options.

    It remains unclear whether the outage impacted Starshield, SpaceX’s military satellite division, which has multibillion-dollar contracts with U.S. defence and intelligence agencies.

  • Man kills wife with cement block in front of children

    Man kills wife with cement block in front of children

    A man murdered his 45-year-old wife, a mother of five, in Frontier Colony, Orangi Town, Karachi.

    The suspect, identified as Shoaib, critically injured his wife by first hitting her on the head with a cement block and then attacking her with a knife, according to Pirabad SHO Anees ur Rehman Sheikh.

    The couple’s children, who were present at the time, witnessed the entire assault in shock and fear.

    The injured woman was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead due to excessive blood loss and severe head injuries.

    According to police, the suspect fled the scene immediately after the attack. Preliminary investigations suggest the murder was the result of ongoing domestic disputes and escalating tensions within the household.

  • Justice Ejaz’s commission to probe blasphemy allegations suspended

    Justice Ejaz’s commission to probe blasphemy allegations suspended

    A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended a single-member bench’s order to the federal government to constitute a commission to investigate blasphemy allegations.

    Last week, widespread concerns over alleged entrapment, custodial deaths, and grave investigative lapses, prompted the IHC to give the government 30 days to establish a commission to probe misuse of the blasphemy law, giving the order during the hearing of a case seeking such a commission’s formation. 

    BEWARE: Group ‘honey-trapping’ youngsters in blasphemy on social media

    IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan ordered the commission to complete its work within four months while allowing the possibility for an extension.

    A lawyer from the Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan, Rao Abdur Rahim, and others had filed an intra-court appeal against Justice Ejaz’s verdict. The case was heard on Thursday by Justices Khadim Hussain Soomro and Azam Khan.

    Advocates Kamran Murtaza, Adil Aziz Qazi, and others appeared before the court on behalf of Rahim. When Justice Soomro asked how petitioners were directly affected by the order, Murtaza argued that they had not been given a full hearing. 

    “There are four hundred cases and some cases are beyond the jurisdiction of this court,” Murtaza said. “Can a commission be formed in this case,” he questioned.

    The bench subsequently suspended Justice Ejaz’s order from last week and issued notices to the parties.

    During last week’s hearing, Justice Ejaz expressed concern over the disappearance of a woman named Komal Ismail, the elusive central figure linked to the blasphemy-related case.

    Ismail had been identified as ‘Imaan’, a shadowy figure who was allegedly involved in “trapping” a number of those accused of blasphemy.

    Earlier this month, over her failure to appear before the court, the judge had ordered her CNIC to be blocked.

    The IHC also expressed concern over the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) failure to conduct proper forensic analysis and procedural irregularities, including private arrests, unverified digital evidence, and the same Facebook IDs being reused in multiple FIRs.

    Most alarming were the reports of four custodial deaths of blasphemy suspects, with one video showing signs of torture, and no judicial or administrative inquiry conducted in these cases.

    Stressing that the issue was of “definite public interest,” the court had justified the formation of a commission as necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights.

  • Zahir Jaffar declared mentally fit amid claims surrounding presidential pardon

    Zahir Jaffar declared mentally fit amid claims surrounding presidential pardon

    Zahir Jaffer, convicted in the Noor Mukadam murder case, has been declared mentally and psychologically fit, with no signs of illness or brain disorder.

    A two-member medical board from PIMS Hospital, Islamabad, examined Zahir at the request of the Adiala Jail superintendent on July 21.

    According to reports, a psychiatrist and a neurologist from PIMS thoroughly evaluated and concluded that Zahir is mentally stable, psychologically healthy, and has a normal temperament. No evidence of any mental illness or neurological disorder was found.

    In 2021, Zahir Jaffer tortured and brutally murdered 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former ambassador Shaukat Mukadam, before beheading her. In May 2025, he was sentenced to death for the crime.

    In June, he filed a review petition in the Supreme Court.

    In his petition, the convict claimed that the court failed to assess his mental state. He also requested the formation of a medical board, but the Supreme Court has not ruled on that application yet.

    The petition further stated that the death sentence was based on video evidence that, according to the defence, was not verified during the trial. It also claimed that the accused was not provided access to the video recordings.

  • ‘Think ten times before you speak’: Rabeeca Khan shuts down critics after Umrah video backlash

    ‘Think ten times before you speak’: Rabeeca Khan shuts down critics after Umrah video backlash

    Famous TikToker Rabeeca Khan has hit back at critics after her Umrah photos and videos went viral, advising them to “think ten times before speaking against anyone.”

    Rabeeca is currently in Saudi Arabia with her husband, Hussain Tareen, to perform Umrah. She shared photos and videos from their spiritual journey on social media.

    In some clips, Rabeeca and Hussain were seen taking selfies and recording videos while performing Umrah. These visuals sparked criticism online, with many accusing the couple of being disrespectful.

    In response to the backlash, Rabeeca addressed the controversy in a short video posted to her Instagram Stories.

    She said, “Hussain and I have performed Umrah three times, and all our affairs are going well.”

    She continued, “Those who criticise our videos and photos should think about what they’re saying before speaking.”

    She further stated, “People who leave comments should reflect on where they are standing and what they are doing before judging others.”

    She also made it clear that she does not retaliate against those who speak ill of her, adding, “I’ve left everything to God. But those who speak against someone should think ten times before doing so, because they don’t know the other person’s intentions.”

    This is not the first time Rabeeca Khan has faced online backlash. Earlier, her extravagant wedding with Hussain Tareen also drew criticism, especially after her father, comedian Kashif Khan, claimed it would outshine the Ambani wedding. The comment went viral and sparked a wave of sarcastic reactions online.

  • Thailand warns of war with Cambodia as 138,000 flee fighting

    Thailand warns of war with Cambodia as 138,000 flee fighting

    Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned Friday that cross-border clashes with Cambodia that have uprooted more than 130,000 people “could develop into war”, as the countries traded deadly strikes for a second day.

    A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, and the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later Friday.

    A steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian — a 70-year-old man — had been killed and five more wounded.

    More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities — 14 civilians and a soldier — with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops.

    “We have tried to compromise as we are neighbours, but we have now instructed the Thai military to act immediately in case of urgency,” said Wechayachai.

    “If the situation escalates, it could develop into war, though for now, it remains limited to clashes,” he told reporters in Bangkok.

    In the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the border, AFP journalists saw families speeding away in vehicles with their children and belongings as gunfire erupted.

    “I live very close to the border. We are scared because they began shooting again at about 6:00 am,” Pro Bak, 41, told AFP.

    He was taking his wife and children to a Buddhist temple to seek refuge.

    “I don’t know when we could return home,” he said.

    AFP journalists also saw soldiers rushing to man rocket launchers and speeding off towards the frontier.

    Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently holds the chair of regional bloc ASEAN, said he held talks with both countries leaders on Thursday and called for a ceasefire and dialogue.

    “I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward,” he said in a Facebook post late on Thursday.

    But despite Anwar’s optimism, fighting resumed in three areas around 4:00 am on Friday (2100 GMT Thursday), the Thai army said.


    Cambodian forces carried out bombardments with heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems, the army said, and Thai troops responded “with appropriate supporting fire”.

    – Calls for calm –

    The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours — both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists — over their shared 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier.

    Dozens of kilometres in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.

    A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash.

    Fighting on Thursday was focused on six locations, according to the Thai army, including around two ancient temples.

    Ground troops backed up by tanks battled for control of territory, while Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand and the Thais scrambled F-16 jets to hit military targets across the border.

    Both sides blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket.

    Thursday’s clashes came hours after Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy after five members of a Thai military patrol were wounded by a landmine.

    Cambodia downgraded ties to “the lowest level” on Thursday, pulling out all but one of its diplomats and expelling their Thai equivalents from Phnom Penh.

    At the request of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the deadly clashes, diplomatic sources told AFP.

    The United States urged an “immediate” end to the conflict, while Cambodia’s former colonial ruler France made a similar call.

    The EU and China — a close ally of Phnom Penh — said they were “deeply concerned” about the clashes, calling for dialogue.