Sunday, October 19th, 2025
PIDE study calls for gender-sensitive criminal justice reforms in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, OCT 19 /DNA/ – A new Knowledge Brief published by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) emphasizes the urgent need for gender-sensitive reforms in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. Authored by Dr. Fida Muhammad Khan, Assistant Professor at PIDE, and Zainab Fatima, Researcher Women Aid Trust, the study titled “Gendered Pathways to Crime” challenges the assumption that men and women engage in criminal behavior under similar circumstances. It argues that the pathways leading to crime are profoundly shaped by gender, social expectations, and structural inequalities that disadvantage women fromRead More
Pak-Afghan ceasefire a step towards lasting peace
Ansar Mahmood Bhatti ISLAMABAD: In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire following a week of fierce border clashes that left dozens dead and many injured on both sides. The landmark accord was reached in Doha, Qatar, on October 18, 2025, in negotiations mediated by the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiya, with China and Iran serving as guarantor states. The Doha ceasefire represents a significant evolution from the earlier 48-hour temporary truce, which came into effect following intense cross-border hostilities earlierRead More
New deal puts Takaichi on track to be Japan’s first woman PM: reports
TOKYO, OCT 19 (AFP/APP): Japan’s ruling party is set to sign a new coalition deal on Monday, paving the way for Sanae Takaichi to become the country’s first woman prime minister, media reports said. Takaichi became leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) earlier this month, but her bid to become premier was derailed by the collapse of her ruling coalition. Since then, the LDP has been working to cobble together a different alliance, putting her chances back on track. Takaichi and her counterpart Hirofumi Yoshimura from the reformist,Read More
France’s ex-president Sarkozy goes to jail
PARIS, OCT 19 (AFP/APP): France’s ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy is to be jailed Tuesday over a scheme to acquire Libyan funding for his 2007 presidential run, becoming the first former head of an EU country to serve time behind bars. Sarkozy, France’s right-wing leader from 2007 to 2012, was convicted in late September of criminal conspiracy over a plan for late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his electoral campaign. The former state leader, who has appealed the verdict and denounced an “injustice”, is to be incarcerated in the Parisian prisonRead More
OGRA clarifies its legal mandate on solvent oil oversight
DNA ISLAMABAD, OCT 19: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has reaffirmed that it is acting strictly within its legal mandate as assigned by the Federal Government to ensure the elimination of solvent mixing in petroleum products. Under Section 30 of the OGRA Ordinance, 2002, all licensees are required to furnish information relating to their licensed operations and products. The Authority’s recent data requisition from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) regarding solvent oil is part of a broader effort to ensure that products meant for industrial use are not divertedRead More
US diplomat dines with Governor Kundi at Islamabad dinner
ISLAMABAD, OCT 19 /DNA/ – In a gathering that blended politics, diplomacy, and society, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi and the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Natalie A. Baker, were among the prominent figures at a dinner hosted in the federal capital on Thursday. The event, held at the residence of renowned dentist Dr. Abrar ul Hasnain, was attended by a large number of guests from various walks of life and was hosted in honour of the KP Governor, who attended the event along with his family. The social dinnerRead More