Thailand Implements Strict New Regulations For Carrying Power Banks On Commercial Flights

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of eight mountaineers following the devastating avalanche on Broad Peak, while the search continues for two missing climbers. Another victim has been identified, but the body remains trapped in an area that rescuers have so far been unable to reach. Speaking to the media, the President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan described the incident as one of the deadliest accidents in the history of Broad Peak. He said a total of 11 climbers are believed to have been caught in the avalanche, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. He said the first phase of the operation began immediately after the incident. On the opening day, rescuers recovered the bodies of two climbers and also found partial human remains believed to belong to another victim. According to the Alpine Club, the first two recovered victims were a Nepalese mountaineer and a female climber from Oman. Rescue operations were carried out under extremely difficult weather and terrain conditions at high altitude. The Pakistan Army assisted the mission by providing helicopters to transport rescue teams and airlift the recovered bodies from the remote mountain. The aerial support played a key role in speeding up the recovery process. The Alpine Club president said that during the latest phase of the operation, the bodies of four Nepalese climbers and one Chinese mountaineer were successfully recovered and transported from the mountain. He added that rescuers have also identified another climber’s body. However, it is located in an inaccessible area, making immediate recovery impossible because of dangerous terrain and the continued risk of avalanches. Search teams are still looking for the remaining two missing climbers. Rescue officials said every effort is being made to locate them despite severe weather, snow-covered slopes and difficult mountain conditions. The tragedy has shocked Pakistan’s mountaineering community and highlighted the dangers faced by climbers attempting to scale some of the world’s highest peaks. Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range, is one of Pakistan’s tallest mountains and attracts climbers from around the world each year.

Security forces have killed 16 militants during intelligence-based operations in several areas of Balochistan, according to security sources. The operations are being carried out under Operation Al-Azm following a series of terrorist attacks in the province. Authorities said several militant hideouts and ambush positions were destroyed during the ongoing action. Security personnel also recovered weapons, ammunition and explosive material from the targeted locations. Operations are continuing in areas including Killi Kundi Umrani, Khad Kocha and Mastung, where security forces are targeting militant networks blamed for recent attacks. The latest operations followed an attack on the Mangi Dam Police Station, after which security forces launched a separate campaign named Operation Shaban. The security situation in Mastung also came under renewed focus after unidentified armed men attacked a vehicle on a national highway. A district and sessions judge and his security guard were killed in the attack, while an additional sessions judge and another person were seriously injured. Security sources said counterterrorism operations would continue across Balochistan until militant infrastructure is dismantled and law and order is restored. The state refers to militants linked to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other groups operating in the province as Fitna al-Hindustan. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir recently reiterated the military’s determination to eliminate militant networks in Balochistan. He said targeted operations against Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan would continue until terrorism and those supporting it were eliminated. The latest operation comes amid a broader rise in militant violence in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. A United Nations Security Council assessment has also highlighted continuing threats from militant groups in the region. The report pointed to attacks claimed by the BLA against Pakistani security forces and infrastructure linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The UN assessment also raised concerns about militant groups obtaining modern weapons and equipment through cross-border smuggling and illegal markets. It noted the reported use of advanced rifles, night-vision equipment, thermal imaging systems, sniper weapons and drones by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The report further cited assessments that the BLA and TTP have maintained coordination in some areas, including through shared resources and training networks.

LAHORE: Ten additional judges of the Lahore High Court took oath on Tuesday after President Asif Ali Zardari approved their appointments, bringing an end to a weeks-long delay over their induction. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum administered the oath to the newly appointed judges during a ceremony at the Lahore High Court. The judges who took oath were Ghulam Sarwar Nihung, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Zahid, Aamir Ajam Malik, Shireen Imran, Asad Ali Bajwa, Muhammad Amjad Pervez, Khalid Ibn-i-Aziz, Munawar Iqbal Duggal, Syed Farhad Ali Shah and Muhammad Usman Ghani Rashid Cheema. Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa also took oath as a permanent judge of the Lahore High Court after completing his probationary period. The newly appointed additional judges will serve for one year from the date they took oath. Despite the latest appointments, the Lahore High Court still has 10 vacant positions against its approved strength of 60 judges. The number of vacancies is expected to rise to 11 following the retirement of Justice Shahid Karim next week. Earlier on Tuesday, President Zardari approved the appointment of 19 additional judges to five high courts. He also confirmed five judges as permanent members of the superior judiciary. The appointments had remained pending since July after the Judicial Commission of Pakistan recommended the candidates for the positions. The delay had led to a dispute over the presidential approval process. The oath-taking ceremony had initially been scheduled for July 27 but was postponed indefinitely. The issue gained further attention after the president neither approved the appointment summary nor returned it for reconsideration within the expected period. The government had maintained that there was no legal basis for keeping the recommendations pending. At one stage, officials even considered constitutional options to address the delay. Meanwhile, legal teams representing the presidency and the federal government held discussions to resolve the matter. Sources said the talks between the two sides made progress and helped pave the way for the appointments to be approved. The president’s legal team had previously raised concerns about the proceedings of the Judicial Commission. Questions were also raised over the rejection of several nominees and the eligibility of some recommended candidates. The dispute had also raised concerns about delays in filling vacant judicial positions in the high courts.