irans revolutionary guards
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim Trump suffered…

TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that international media outlets are increasingly portraying US President Donald Trump as having suffered a defeat in the conflict with Iran.

In a statement, the IRGC said reports from various parts of the world were highlighting what it described as the failure of the United States to achieve its objectives against Iran.

The Guards further claimed that the war had placed the Trump administration in a situation of its own making, with international coverage allegedly pointing to Washington’s difficulties in achieving its declared goals.

According to the IRGC, recent agreements between the parties should not be viewed simply as diplomatic arrangements but as evidence of what it described as an American retreat in the face of Iran’s military capabilities and negotiating position.

The Iranian force also maintained that the United States and Israel had failed to accomplish their stated objectives despite extensive military operations and accompanying media campaigns.

The IRGC characterized the latest agreements as reflecting Iran’s ability to withstand military pressure and secure a stronger position at the negotiating table.

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    Hezbollah signals major u-turn, seeks talks with S…

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    Pakistani Mountaineer Sohail Sakhi’s body shifte…

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    Doctors reject FBR POS system, warn of public prot…

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Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh also warned that doctors were already leaving Pakistan and that healthcare establishments in some areas were closing rather than opening. He said further administrative pressure could make the situation worse. The PMA leadership said it had already held two meetings with the FBR and had also sent written communications explaining its position. According to Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh, the discussions had not produced the result the doctors wanted. He said the medical community was prepared to keep all legal and democratic options open. “We will fight legal battles, go to court and protest,” Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh said during the briefing. He also warned that doctors could come onto the streets and consider withdrawal of services if the issue was not resolved. Dr Maqsood Zahid, President Elect of PMA Punjab, also questioned whether POS technology was suitable for medical services. He argued that healthcare was different from selling ordinary products because doctors provide services that can be required at any time, including emergencies during the night. He said doctors could not stop treating an emergency patient simply because a machine was not working or an internet connection had failed. Dr Maqsood Zahid said many patients also receive treatment without paying the full amount. Some patients receive services at half rates, while others are treated free of charge. He questioned how such cases would be properly reflected through a system designed mainly around payment records. He gave the example of a hospital in Mian Channu, Khanewal, where doctors reportedly deal with many patients without charging them. He said that out of 100 patients, around 60 could be treated without receiving even a single penny, making a simple payment based system difficult to apply to real medical practice. The doctors also argued that medical treatment cannot be measured in the same way as the sale of a retail product because the cost and complexity of treatment can change from patient to patient. Dr Maqsood Zahid said the medical community was willing to discuss a suitable tax formula with the government if a system could be designed according to the realities of medical practice. The PMA representatives said doctors across the country were being represented in discussions on the issue. They said representatives from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Karachi, Islamabad and Punjab had participated in consultations. The PMA also raised the problem of smaller clinics in remote areas. Doctors argued that poor internet services, electricity problems, shortage of technical workers and maintenance costs could create serious difficulties for clinics outside major cities. Dr Muzaffar Niazi said doctors would not accept a situation in which the medical profession was treated like a normal retail business. He said doctors were prepared to pursue legal action, demonstrations, public awareness campaigns and other forms of protest. The PMA leadership also stressed that it was not against taxation itself. Dr Maqsood Zahid said doctors were law abiding citizens and accepted that taxes were necessary to run the country. The main demand was for the government to develop a system that recognised the special nature of healthcare and did not place unnecessary financial and administrative pressure on doctors or patients. The PMA Punjab had already formally raised the issue with the FBR. In a letter dated January 20, 2025, Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh, President PMA Punjab, asked the FBR Chairman to defer the installation of POS systems in private healthcare establishments. The letter warned that additional administrative, technical and financial requirements could increase the cost of healthcare and reduce the time available for doctors to provide medical treatment. It also pointed to problems such as unreliable electricity and internet services, shortage of technical staff and difficulties faced by small and medium sized clinics. PMA Punjab also warned in the letter that additional pressure on private healthcare could discourage young doctors and female doctors from starting private practices in remote and less developed areas and could contribute to further brain drain from Pakistan. The letter was also copied to the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Governor Punjab, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Chief Minister Punjab, Speaker Punjab Assembly, provincial health ministers and the Chairman Punjab Health Care Commission. The PMA leadership has now made clear that the dispute is no longer limited to a technical discussion over a machine. Doctors say the issue involves taxation, patient privacy, the cost of healthcare and the ability of small clinics to continue providing services. If the disagreement remains unresolved,

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    India approves first dengue vaccine

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    153mm rain puts Gujrat on high alert as new drainage interventions help avert major urban flooding

    GUJRAT: Torrential monsoon rain measuring 153 millimetres battered Gujrat, triggering a district-wide rain emergency and keeping the civil administration, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and other civic departments on high alert. Despite the intense downpour, officials claimed that newly completed drainage interventions and a coordinated emergency response helped prevent widespread urban flooding in the city. Deputy Commissioner Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi remained in the field throughout the operation, inspecting drainage arrangements and monitoring the performance of five newly completed interventions executed by the Irrigation Department under the Punjab Development Programme. The projects, completed in a record five months, were designed to protect Gujrat from sheet flow entering the city from the Bhimber and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) side during heavy monsoon rains. According to the district administration, each of the five newly constructed drains has the capacity to carry 200 cusecs of water, diverting the incoming sheet flow towards Bhinder Nullah and Halsi Nullah. Officials described the projects as a significant step towards improving Gujrat’s flood resilience, saying they played an important role in reducing pressure on the city’s drainage network during the latest spell of heavy rain. Meanwhile, Managing Director WASA Gujrat Kashan Hafeez Butt supervised rain emergency operations across the city, with 20 emergency teams deployed in the agency’s three operational zones. Dewatering sets, suction machines and heavy machinery remained operational throughout the day to remove accumulated rainwater from roads, markets and residential areas. Among the worst-hit locations was Madina Bazaar Staff Gali, where rainwater accumulated to nearly one foot. WASA teams carried out continuous pumping operations before clearing the area. Water also collected at Dhakki Chowk, where approximately six inches of standing water was removed after several hours of drainage work. Officials said traffic on Rehman Shaheed Road, Shadman Colony and other major arteries remained largely uninterrupted due to the timely deployment of emergency teams. Field staff continued monitoring low-lying areas to ensure rainwater did not accumulate again as intermittent showers continued. Residents acknowledged that several streets experienced temporary waterlogging during the peak of the rainfall but said conditions improved as emergency crews reached affected areas. Commuters reported slow-moving traffic in parts of the city during the morning because of reduced visibility and rainwater on roads. The district administration maintained close coordination with WASA, the Irrigation Department, Rescue 1122 and other relevant agencies throughout the operation. Officials said emergency personnel would remain on alert as further monsoon rains are forecast, with machinery stationed at vulnerable locations for immediate deployment if required. Authorities also appealed to residents to cooperate by avoiding the disposal of garbage into storm-water drains, warning that blocked drainage channels significantly reduce the efficiency of the drainage system during heavy rainfall. The latest monsoon spell once again tested Gujrat’s urban drainage infrastructure. However, officials maintained that the combination of newly completed irrigation works, continuous field monitoring by the deputy commissioner and round-the-clock WASA operations enabled the city to withstand the 153mm rainfall without any major disruption to traffic or public life. The district administration said all departments would continue monitoring weather conditions and remain prepared to respond swiftly to any further rain-related emergencies.

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