Monday, February 9th, 2026
Epstein Files and the Moral Crisis in the U.S.
Qamar Bashir When the U.S. Department of Justice released additional troves of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the reaction was immediate and visceral. The shock was not about Epstein himself. His criminality had already been established in court. What unsettled the public was something else entirely: proximity. From former British royal Prince Andrew to former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump; from tech billionaire Elon Musk to Virgin Group founder Richard Branson; from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, the newly releasedRead More
Pakistan to ‘play’ T20 World Cup match against India as per schedule
ISLAMABAD, FEB 9: Pakistan has decided to play its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, revisiting its boycott decision, at the request of Sri Lanka, sources confirmed on Monday. Sources privy to the matter revealed that the decision came during a telephonic contact between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India during the telephone call. The Sri Lankan president requestedRead More
PM Shehbaz, Sri Lankan president discuss T20 World Cup venue change
ISLAMABAD, FEB 9 /DNA/ – In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday. A key topic of discussion was the possibility of the high-profile Pakistan-India match in the upcoming T20 World Cup being played in Sri Lanka. President Dissanayake formally extended an invitation for the marquee clash to be hosted on Sri Lankan soil. He recalled the strong support Pakistan provided to Sri Lankan cricket by continuing bilateral tours during the island nation’s challenging periodRead More
China rejects US claims of secret nuclear tests
BEIJING, FEB 9: China on Monday denied US allegations it had conducted secret nuclear explosive tests, calling them “outright lies” and accusing Washington of making excuses to start up its own trials. At the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Friday, Thomas DiNanno, US under secretary of state for arms control accused China of conducting the tests, including one on 22nd June 2020, and of preparing for more tests with massive yields. “The US allegations are completely groundless and are outright lies. China firmly opposes the US attempt toRead More
Pakistan announces minimum Fitrana, Fidyah rates for 2026
ISLAMABAD, FEB 9: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has announced the minimum rates for Fitrana and Fidyah for this year, setting the base amount at Rs300 per person while encouraging those who can afford more to contribute generously. According to the council, the official syllabus for Fitrana and Fidyah has been issued ahead of Ramazan-related obligations. The announcement aims to guide the public on the correct and permissible amounts under Islamic principles. The council emphasized that these rates are set to ensure ease for the general public while maintainingRead More
Russian ambassador outlines vision for deeper Pakistan ties
ISLAMABAD, FEB 9 /DNA/ – In a comprehensive address on the eve of Russia’s Diplomats’ Day, Ambassador Albert P. Khorev underscored the deep historical roots of Russian statecraft and outlined a robust vision for the future of Russia-Pakistan relations during a seminar at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). The event, titled “Legacy of Russian Diplomacy. Current State and Prospects of Russia-Pakistan Relations,” was attended by IPRI President Lt General Majid Ehsan and other distinguished guests. A Millennium of Diplomacy Ambassador Khorev began by tracing the origins of Russian diplomacyRead More