Pakistan’s internet speed set to ‘improve’ with new undersea cable

KARACHI: A cutting-edge undersea internet cable, currently being installed, is expected to increase speed and reliability in Pakistan, carrying as much as 24 terabytes of bandwidth, Geo News reported. A French firm is laying the cable which is over 45,000 kilometers long. At present, Pakistan relies on approximately 8 terabytes of bandwidth provided by seven existing cables. The new system, connecting the African region to Pakistan, aims to improve connectivity and address long-standing complaints of slow internet speeds. The enhanced bandwidth will also improve the performance of platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp,…

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Pakistan rules out compromise on nuclear programme despite US concerns

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday categorically ruled out any compromise on the country’s nuclear programme amid sanctions by the United States owing to Washington’s concerns regarding Islamabad’s strategic capabilities. Speaking at a federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz said: “There is no justification for the sanctions imposed on us [….] There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear programme”. His remarks come as President Joe Biden’s administration, last week, announced imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, targeting four entities that it said were…

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Family shaves Karachi woman’s hair for wishing to marry against their will

KARACHI: A young nurse faced a horrible reaction after expressing her wish to marry a colleague, as her family opposed the match and subjected her to violence by partially shaving her head as a form of punishment. The incident occurred in a locality near Quaidabad. The police have registered a case against the perpetrators and arrested five suspects, including the nurse’s father, mother, and grandmother. SHO Firasat Hussain told Geo News that the 22-year-old victim, who works as a paramedic at a local hospital in Karachi, filed an FIR (No 831/24) at…

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Pakistan’s polio tally hits 65 after another child diagnosed in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Poliovirus continues to cripple children in Pakistan as another child was diagnosed with the crippling disease in Balochistan taking the national tally to 65. According to the officials, a one-and-a-half-year-old child was affected with poliovirus in Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district. The latest case takes the total number of cases from the province to 27. Pakistan is one of the two polio-endemic countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, and the number of cases on a yearly basis had significantly dropped in the country, until the recent spike in cases.…

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PML-N senator says ‘govt committee accepts PTI’s demand to meet Imran Khan’

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s committee, said on Monday that they “accepted the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiation team’s demand to meet its jailed party founder Imran Khan” after the latter was asked to present a “charter of demand”. The PTI and government finally kick-started the much-awaited negotiation process at the Parliament House, Islamabad, today with “hopes of a positive outcome” in a bid to ease the country’s political tensions. Irfan, speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, said that people want peace and democratic norms instead of…

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US raises concern over military courts after sentencing of 25 May 9 rioters

The United States has voiced “deep concern” about the 25 civilians who were convicted by a Pakistani military tribunal, arguing that the military courts lacked due process guarantees, judicial independence and transparency. In a brief statement issued on Tuesday, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the Washington continued to call on Pakistani authorities to “respect” the right to a fair trial and due process, as enshrined in the country’s constitution. In a major development, the military court last week sentenced 25 individuals involved in the attacks on…

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France’s Macron appoints fourth PM to tackle political crisis

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new government on Monday, appointing his fourth prime minister this year, Francois Bayrou, to lead a team, aiming to steer the country, the EU’s second-largest economy, out of its political crisis and ensure the passage of the 2025 budget. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou, announced Elysee secretary-general Alexis Kohler. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, 62, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Both Defence…

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Bill Clinton admitted to hospital in Washington due to fever

WASHINGTON: Former US President Bill Clinton, who has dealt with various health challenges over the years, was hospitalised in Washington on Monday after coming down with a fever, according to his office. “President Clinton was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center this afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever,” the 78-year-old’s deputy chief of staff Angel Urena said on social media platform X, adding Clinton “remains in good spirits.” Clinton was previously hospitalised for five nights in October 2021 due to a blood infection. In 2004, at age…

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