PATTAYA, Thailand – At 12:10 a.m. on August 13th, 2026, a 45-year-old motorcycle taxi driver known as Decha arrived at Pattaya City Police Station carrying a cardboard box and asking officers for assistance, leaving the on-duty police and other people at the station puzzled. When officers questioned him and opened the box, they found a […]
PATTAYA, Thailand An Australian tourist allegedly spent nearly 13 hours drinking at a beer bar in Pattaya, buying rounds for staff throughout the day, before refusing to settle a bill of more than 32,000 baht after a staff member allegedly refused to go out of the bar with him, causing the bar owner to take […]
BANGKOK, Thailand – A 53-year-old Malaysian passenger collapsed and later died of a heart attack during a transit at Suvarnabhumi Airport, according to a report by Bernama on Wednesday, the Bangkok Post reported. Saudi National Arrested At Phuket Airport For Attempting To Smuggle Ketamine The man, a native of Kedah state, was travelling with his […]
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – Six people were injured when a group of assailants attacked fairgoers with knives and a homemade shotgun in Dan Khun Thot district late on Wednesday, August 12, in an incident that police believe stemmed from an attempted motorcycle theft. Amulet Trader Arrested After Deadly Shooting at Nakhon Pathom Concert Restaurant The […]
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has announced that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August, saying she wants to spend more time with her young children. Trump praised the 28-year-old spokesperson as one of his most trusted aides and said he respected her decision to step away from one of the most demanding roles in the administration. In a social media post, Trump said Leavitt would continue to advise him from outside the White House and would remain an influential voice within the Republican Party. Leavitt confirmed her departure, describing her time as White House press secretary as an “honor and adventure of a lifetime.” She said balancing motherhood with one of the most demanding jobs in Washington had been both rewarding and challenging. After returning from maternity leave following the birth of her second child, Leavitt said she realised she could not give her two young children the time and attention they deserved while continuing to meet the demands of the press secretary’s role. Leavitt and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, welcomed a daughter in May. The couple also have a two-year-old son. She returned to the White House last month after taking maternity leave. Leavitt became White House press secretary last year and made history as the youngest person to hold the position. During her tenure, she became one of the administration’s most recognisable public figures and frequently defended Trump’s policies during tense exchanges with journalists. Her relationship with sections of the US media was often confrontational. Leavitt accused some journalists of political bias, while supporters of the Trump administration praised her for forcefully presenting the president’s position. Her tenure also included changes to the White House press-access system. Her office took greater control over the press pool and temporarily restricted access for the Associated Press after a dispute over the administration’s preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico. Before becoming press secretary, Leavitt had already established close ties with Trump. She worked in his first administration as an assistant press secretary and speechwriter. She later served as communications director for Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and launched an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022. Although she won a competitive Republican primary, she lost the general election to Democratic Representative Chris Pappas. Leavitt subsequently worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc, a pro-Trump fundraising organisation, before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign as national press secretary. She became one of the longest-serving press secretaries in Trump’s two administrations, behind former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The White House has yet to announce who will succeed Leavitt. During her maternity leave, several senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, took turns addressing reporters. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who described Leavitt as a close friend and role model, said her departure would not end their professional relationship. He said they would continue working together and expressed confidence that Leavitt’s career would continue to develop beyond her White House role.
MULTAN: Flight operations at Multan International Airport have increased, with the airport recording a new daily high of 37 flights on Wednesday. According to the flight schedule, 449 flights were operated across Pakistan during the past 24 hours, while 68 flights were cancelled and 112 flights faced delays of up to seven hours. Of the 37 flights operated at Multan airport, 18 arrived and 19 departed, marking the highest number of daily flight operations recorded at the airport. The schedule showed that 135 flights were operated from Karachi, 118 from Islamabad, 105 from Lahore, 17 from Peshawar, 15 from Sialkot and 12 from Faisalabad. Flight delays were also reported at several major airports. Karachi recorded delays involving nine flights, while Lahore and Islamabad each reported 33 delayed flights. Multan had eight delayed flights, Peshawar six, Sialkot eight, Faisalabad nine and Quetta six. A number of flights were also cancelled during the same period. Karachi recorded 20 cancellations, Lahore 21, Islamabad 12 and Multan three. Peshawar, Faisalabad and Sialkot each recorded two cancelled flights, while six flights were cancelled at Quetta airport. The latest figures indicate increased flight activity at Multan International Airport, with the 37-flight total setting a new daily record for the southern Punjab city’s airport.
Demi Moore has offered fans a touching look at the moments leading up to her daughter Tallulah Willis’ wedding, sharing intimate photographs from the bride’s dress fitting just days after the 32-year-old actress and musician Justin Acee exchanged vows in Sun Valley, Idaho. The 63-year-old Oscar-nominated actress took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a carousel of personal photographs capturing some of the special moments surrounding Tallulah’s wedding preparations. The images showed Moore closely involved in the emotional experience as her daughter prepared for one of the biggest days of her life. In one particularly tender photograph, Moore can be seen gently lifting a veil over Tallulah’s face as the bride-to-be admired her appearance. Another image captured Tallulah standing in front of a mirror and taking in the details of her wedding gown, with her mother nearby sharing the meaningful moment. Reflecting on the experience, Moore described the dress fitting as a precious memory that she would always cherish. She expressed gratitude for being able to experience the special occasion alongside her daughter and the rest of their family. Moore also gave special recognition to designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, Balenciaga’s creative director, for creating Tallulah’s wedding gown. She praised the designer for producing a dress that brought her daughter’s vision for her wedding day to life. The Instagram carousel also offered a glimpse into the close-knit family celebrations. One photograph showed Moore sitting alongside Tallulah’s father, Bruce Willis, and their daughters Rumer and Scout. The family appeared relaxed and joyful as they embraced and laughed together on a couch. Another heartwarming image featured Moore holding her granddaughter Louetta, Rumer Willis’ daughter, adding another family moment to the collection of memories from the wedding celebrations. Tallulah’s marriage to Justin Acee marks an important milestone for the Willis family, which has continued to remain close during a challenging period. Her father, Bruce Willis, has been living with frontotemporal dementia, a condition that affects the brain’s ability to control behaviour, language and other functions. The celebrated actor was initially diagnosed with aphasia in 2023 before his condition was later identified as frontotemporal dementia. Since then, his family members have regularly emphasized the importance of supporting one another and spending meaningful time together. Against that backdrop, Tallulah’s wedding became another significant occasion for the family to gather and celebrate together. Moore’s latest photographs provide a rare and emotional glimpse behind the scenes, highlighting not only the excitement surrounding Tallulah’s wedding dress but also the importance of family connection during a major life milestone. Through the intimate images, Moore captured the love, happiness and tenderness that surrounded her daughter’s special day, preserving memories that she described as being forever etched in her heart.
KARACHI: Buying activity dominated trading at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index rising more than 500 points during the early session. At around 9:45am, the benchmark index was trading at 180,864.26 points, recording an increase of 553.05 points, or 0.31%, from the previous close. The positive trend reflected renewed investor interest in several major sectors. Strong activity was witnessed in cement, commercial banking, fertiliser, oil marketing companies (OMCs) and power generation stocks. Several index-heavy companies also contributed to the upward movement. HUBCO, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), MCB Bank, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and United Bank Limited (UBL) were among the stocks trading in positive territory during the early hours. The latest gains come after the stock market staged a recovery in the previous session. On Wednesday, the PSX rebounded as investors returned to buying after two consecutive sessions of profit-taking. Market sentiment also improved toward the end of Wednesday’s trading session following reports regarding an extension of the US-Iran ceasefire, which helped ease some concerns among investors about geopolitical developments and their potential impact on regional markets. The KSE-100 Index ultimately closed Wednesday’s session at 180,311.22 points. Global markets provide positive cues The positive momentum at the domestic bourse was also supported by a broadly upbeat trend in Asian equity markets. Asian stocks advanced on Thursday after fresh US inflation data broadly matched market expectations. The figures reduced some expectations of an immediate tightening move by the US Federal Reserve and provided support to investor sentiment. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.97%, while South Korea’s benchmark market climbed sharply, gaining 4.4%. Japan’s Nikkei index also advanced 1.86%. US stock futures remained relatively stable, with S&P 500 E-mini futures up 0.02% during the Asian trading session. US inflation remains in focus According to data released on Wednesday, US consumer prices increased by 0.1% in July, broadly matching economists’ expectations. The modest increase in consumer prices has lowered expectations of an immediate interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Market participants are closely monitoring inflation figures as they assess the central bank’s next policy move. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, financial markets were pricing in around a 40% probability of a rate hike next month, down from approximately 54% a week earlier. Oil prices remain near $80 Meanwhile, international oil prices remained close to the $80-per-barrel level, as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remained unresolved. Developments in oil prices remain important for Pakistan’s economy and financial markets because changes in global crude prices can influence the country’s import bill, inflation outlook, exchange-rate pressures and corporate earnings. Investors at the PSX are expected to closely monitor both domestic economic developments and international market cues as trading progresses on Thursday.
The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is accelerating plans to establish Pakistan’s first luxury medical tourism model centre in Islamabad, with the aim of capturing a greater share of the rapidly growing global medical tourism market. Pakistan is seeking to benefit from the global medical tourism industry, estimated to be worth around $144 billion, while the country currently accounts for only about 0.5% of the market. The initiative gained momentum after plastic and cosmetic surgeon Dr Muhammad Salman Khan approached the SIFC Secretariat seeking up to 25,000 square feet of land or a built-up facility for a five-star luxury medical centre with room for future expansion. In his proposal, Dr Khan said cosmetic surgery and dentistry together account for around 35% of global medical tourism activity. He argued that Pakistani specialists can provide international-standard services at significantly lower costs than those charged in countries such as Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom. The SIFC subsequently convened a high-level meeting at its secretariat on August 5. Representatives from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Jinnah Medical Complex and medical professionals participated in the meeting. According to the meeting minutes, Dr Salman presented a phased plan for the project. The initiative would initially introduce premium “Med Suites” in Islamabad, followed by a dedicated medical tourism centre and eventually the development of a comprehensive Islamabad Medical City. Participants identified several advantages that could help Pakistan compete in the international medical tourism sector. These include significantly lower treatment costs, a large pool of qualified medical specialists and a sizeable overseas Pakistani community that could form an initial customer base for the proposed services. The meeting also highlighted the distinction between aesthetic tourism and broader medical tourism. Officials agreed that establishing a dedicated luxury aesthetic tourism centre in the federal capital could help create the foundation for a new high-value industry. The proposed facility could attract thousands of international patients to Pakistan and generate valuable foreign exchange for the country. Islamabad was considered a suitable location because of its relatively secure environment, scenic surroundings and high-quality residential infrastructure. The proposed model would combine specialised medical services with a five-star hospitality experience for patients and their accompanying family members. The meeting concluded with several directives to move the proposal forward. The CDA was asked to arrange a follow-up meeting within a week involving Dr Salman Khan, the CDA chairman and other relevant stakeholders to examine the proposal in detail. Medical experts were also directed to prepare a comprehensive investment, commercial and financial feasibility study for the proposed project at the Jinnah Medical Complex. Separately, the SIFC was asked to arrange meetings between leading medical specialists and representatives of major five-star hotels in Islamabad. The discussions will assess commercial interest and examine the practical feasibility of developing dedicated medical tourism facilities. The project has now entered an initial implementation phase, with several government institutions involved in evaluating the proposal.
The nationwide strike by goods transporters has entered its sixth consecutive day after negotiations with the federal and provincial governments failed to produce a breakthrough. President of the Goods Transporters Association Nabil Mahmood Tariq said the talks had reached a deadlock, with no agreement reached on the key demands of the transport sector. He warned that the strike would continue indefinitely unless the government addressed the concerns raised by transporters. Speaking to Geo News by telephone, Nabil Mahmood Tariq said the negotiations failed because of what he described as the government’s rigid stance. According to him, transporters are particularly concerned about frequent changes in diesel prices, which they say make it difficult to manage transportation costs and business operations. He said the government had also refused to reduce toll taxes or guarantee that existing toll rates would remain unchanged for at least one year. Transporters have maintained that rising operating expenses, including fuel and toll charges, are putting increasing pressure on the sector. The association president said the government had offered limited concessions on customs-related matters and axle-load restrictions, but the proposals were not sufficient to end the strike. He further alleged that authorities had not yet fully assessed the economic consequences of the ongoing shutdown. According to him, the impact would become more visible in the coming days if the dispute remained unresolved. The strike has already begun affecting the movement and supply of essential commodities in several parts of the country. Disruptions in the transportation of fruits and vegetables have raised concerns about shortages and further increases in prices. In Balochistan, the strike has reportedly contributed to higher prices of several food items. In Quetta, for instance, the price of chicken meat has increased from around Rs500 to Rs550 per kilogram amid supply disruptions. Meanwhile, efforts are continuing in Karachi to maintain the supply of vegetables through smaller vehicles. However, transport-sector representatives warn that such arrangements may not be sufficient to meet normal market demand if the strike continues for an extended period. The prolonged protest has raised concerns among traders, consumers and businesses that rely heavily on road transportation. Any further delay in resolving the dispute could increase pressure on supply chains and potentially push up the prices of essential goods.
