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Trump’s former lawyer Todd Blanche confirmed as US attorney general

ByJustpaste.in

Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the country’s attorney general after a closely contested Senate vote.

Blanche secured confirmation by 50 votes to 49, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy provided the crucial Republican vote in Blanche’s favour after saying he believed Blanche was the strongest candidate Trump was likely to nominate.

The vote ended a prolonged dispute between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans over Blanche’s appointment. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April, after Pam Bondi was removed from the position.

All Senate Democrats voted against Blanche’s confirmation.

Several Republican lawmakers had questioned Blanche’s record and raised concerns about his involvement in a number of controversial matters. Among them was his handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his role in developing Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

The proposed fund was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been politically targeted or persecuted by the government. However, critics, including Murkowski, warned that the scheme could potentially benefit people prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

During his confirmation process, Blanche promised to abandon the proposed fund following opposition from Republican senators. Questions remain over whether that commitment would prevent the administration from introducing a similar programme under a different structure in the future.

Murkowski said she opposed Blanche because she lacked confidence that he would be willing to challenge what she described as the administration’s worst impulses. She also expressed concern about the increasing politicisation of the Justice Department.

Collins raised separate concerns over Blanche’s involvement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Despite those reservations, she ultimately did not support his confirmation.

Cassidy, meanwhile, said he trusted Blanche to provide Trump with independent and candid legal advice. He acknowledged that the president ultimately determines the direction of the Justice Department but argued that Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater authority to advise the administration and push back when necessary.

Cassidy also said he did not want political disagreements to prevent the Justice Department from carrying out its responsibilities, particularly in combating violent crime.

Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant development for the Trump administration, given his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer. He was serving as deputy attorney general when he assumed the department’s temporary leadership in April.

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    ICCI awards in Istanbul highlight new opportunities for Pakistan-Turkiye economic partnership

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    ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has used a series of high-level engagements in Istanbul to promote Pakistan’s private sector, recognise leading entrepreneurs and strengthen commercial ties between Pakistan and Turkiye. The ICCI International Excellence Awards 2026 brought together Turkish government representatives, diplomats, business leaders and members of the Pakistani and Turkish business communities, providing a platform to highlight the contribution of Pakistani entrepreneurs while exploring opportunities for greater bilateral trade and investment. Around 40 Pakistani business leaders representing a range of sectors were honoured at the awards ceremony for their contributions to the country’s economy and private-sector development, according to a press release issued on Saturday. The event also provided an opportunity for business representatives from both countries to discuss the potential for expanded commercial cooperation, investment partnerships and joint ventures. Turkish officials stress stronger business links Addressing the ceremony, Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sulun said initiatives bringing together business communities from Pakistan and Turkiye could play an important role in expanding people-to-people and business-to-business contacts. He said stronger interaction between entrepreneurs could create fresh opportunities in trade, investment and joint ventures while contributing to deeper ties between the two countries. Sulun observed that business leaders played a role beyond commercial activity, describing them as important contributors to friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations. He expressed confidence that the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye would continue to develop and remain strong for future generations. Pakistan’s Consul General in Istanbul Khawaja Khurram Naeem also emphasised the importance of expanding direct links between the private sectors of the two countries. He said political and fraternal relations needed to be complemented by stronger commercial engagement if Pakistan and Turkiye were to significantly increase bilateral trade and investment. Naeem assured Pakistani business representatives that Pakistan’s diplomatic mission would continue supporting initiatives aimed at improving commercial cooperation and facilitating interaction between entrepreneurs from both countries. ICCI seeks expansion in trade and investment In his opening remarks, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood highlighted the longstanding historical, cultural and fraternal relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye. He said the two countries had strong political and people-to-people relations, but the economic relationship had considerable room for further expansion. Mehmood reaffirmed the ICCI’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at increasing bilateral trade and investment in line with the ambitions of the leadership of both countries. He said the chamber was working to establish itself as an international platform connecting Pakistani businesses with global markets and partners. According to Mehmood, the ICCI is focusing on promoting Pakistani exports, attracting investment and developing international business partnerships while coordinating with government departments and other relevant institutions to improve the business environment. He stressed that greater ease of doing business and stronger institutional support would help Pakistani companies compete more effectively in international markets. Turkish chamber backs institutional cooperation Munir Ustun, a member of the Executive Board of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, welcomed efforts to bring the Pakistani and Turkish business communities closer. He stressed the importance of stronger institutional relationships between chambers and private-sector organisations in both countries. Ustun said regular business delegations, business-to-business meetings and joint commercial initiatives could help identify areas where cooperation could be expanded. He noted that significant untapped potential existed in bilateral trade and investment and that closer engagement between businesses could help turn that potential into concrete commercial projects. Faisal Town Group Director Zohair Majeed said the international recognition given to Pakistani entrepreneurs demonstrated the capability and resilience of the country’s private sector. He said Pakistani companies had the potential to compete in international markets and argued that stronger partnerships with Turkish businesses could create opportunities in investment, technology transfer and exports. According to Majeed, greater cooperation between businesses could also contribute to sustainable economic growth and help Pakistani companies gain access to new markets and technologies. Pakistan-Turkiye economic ties discussed at Independence Day event The ICCI delegation also participated in a separate event in Istanbul to mark Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day, where Pakistani and Turkish business representatives reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. Speaking at the gathering, Mehmood said Pakistan’s independence had been achieved after enormous sacrifices by the country’s founding generation. He called on citizens and the business community to contribute to national development by promoting economic growth, investment and entrepreneurship. Mehmood said Pakistan and Turkiye shared decades of historical, cultural and fraternal ties, adding that the longstanding relationship should increasingly be reflected in stronger economic cooperation. He called for greater participation by the private sectors of both countries in trade, investment and joint ventures. The ICCI president said the chamber would continue to provide platforms where Pakistani and Turkish entrepreneurs could meet, explore commercial opportunities and develop long-term partnerships. Turkish business representatives also reiterated their commitment to deepening the relationship with Pakistan, particularly through increased trade, investment and direct business-to-business engagement. 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During an interactive session, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood, along with former ICCI presidents Aamir Waheed Sheikh and Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi, and Dr Adeel Sami, Founder and President of the Pakistan-Turkiye Investment & Development Council, responded to questions from Turkish entrepreneurs. The discussion focused on practical mechanisms for strengthening commercial links and identifying sectors where Pakistani and Turkish companies could work together. Focus shifts from friendship to economic partnership The events in Istanbul underscored a

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    PPP takes LA-15, PML-N wins LA-16

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    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have won one seat each in Bagh district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to unofficial and preliminary results. The results came after repolling was held at 23 polling stations in two constituencies. Voting was conducted on Saturday from 8am to 5pm. The repolling was ordered after voting could not take place at some polling stations during the earlier election process. In LA-16 Bagh, PML-N candidate Mir Akbar Khan emerged victorious. According to unofficial results from all 186 polling stations, he received 20,793 votes. His main rival, PPP candidate Qamar Zaman Khan, secured 16,964 votes. Akbar Khan defeated Qamar Zaman by 3,829 votes. The result gave the PML-N an important victory in the constituency. The party candidate maintained a clear lead after counting was completed at all polling stations. In the other constituency, LA-15 Bagh, the PPP secured victory. Its candidate Zia Qamar received 17,019 votes, according to unofficial results from all 213 polling stations. PML-N candidate Mushtaq Minhas stood second with 15,127 votes. Zia Qamar defeated Minhas by a margin of 1,892 votes. The two results mean that the PPP and PML-N have secured one constituency each in Bagh district. Repolling at the 23 polling stations continued for the full voting period. Voters were allowed to cast their ballots between 8am and 5pm. The polling stations had previously faced disruptions. In some areas, election material had not reached the polling stations on time. Voting was also suspended at some locations because of unrest and security concerns. The Election Commission arranged the fresh polling to complete the voting process at the affected stations. The exercise was conducted under heightened attention because of the importance of the two constituencies. The latest results are still unofficial and non-final. The relevant election authorities will formally verify the results before declaring the final outcome.

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    Canada vows dollar-for-dollar retaliation against US

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    Canada has announced plans to respond to new US tariffs with matching measures after last-minute trade negotiations between the two countries broke down. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the suspension of the talks shortly before a Friday deadline, saying Washington’s latest proposals did not meet Canada’s objectives. Carney said Canada would respond to US tariffs on a “dollar-for-dollar” basis. He argued that changes made to the proposed US terms at the final stage of negotiations were unfair and economically damaging. The talks had entered an intense phase in recent weeks as Canadian and US officials attempted to reach an agreement that could reduce tariffs affecting major industries. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump had temporarily delayed additional tariffs and indicated that Washington and Ottawa were close to reaching an agreement. Officials on both sides had expressed optimism that a deal could be concluded. However, negotiations ultimately failed to produce an agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer gave a different account of the breakdown. He said Canada had declined to finalise an agreement based on terms that had previously been discussed. Greer accused Ottawa of introducing new demands and withdrawing from some commitments, arguing that the changes had disrupted the balance reached during the negotiations. The disagreement marks a sharp change in tone between the two governments. Just days earlier, officials had indicated that progress was being made towards a mutually beneficial trade arrangement. Among the proposals reportedly under discussion was a reduction in US tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium from 50 per cent to 25 per cent. Tariffs on Canadian automobiles were also being considered for reduction from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. In return, Canada was facing pressure to provide greater access to US products. One issue involved the sale of American alcoholic beverages, with Ottawa being urged to remove provincial restrictions that had been introduced in response to earlier US trade measures. With negotiations suspended, a new round of US tariffs is now affecting a broad range of Canadian products. The measures include goods such as wine, dairy products, cement, clothing and hockey equipment. The latest tariffs come on top of existing US duties on Canadian steel, aluminium, automobiles and lumber. The escalating trade dispute has created growing uncertainty for businesses on both sides of the border. Canada and the United States have closely integrated economies, with large numbers of companies and workers dependent on cross-border trade. Ontario Premier Doug Ford backed the federal government’s decision to respond strongly. He called for a reciprocal approach in which Canadian tariffs would match US measures on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The dispute has been developing since Trump returned to the White House and introduced a broad tariff programme affecting major trading partners. The measures have strained the long-standing trade relationship between Canada and the United States. Canadian negotiators have spent more than a year seeking reductions or exemptions from US tariffs affecting key sectors. Washington, meanwhile, has demanded several concessions, including changes to Canadian dairy import quotas and the removal of retaliatory restrictions on American goods. US officials have also objected to restrictions placed on American alcohol products by several Canadian provinces. Business groups have urged both governments to reach an agreement, warning that higher tariffs could increase costs, disrupt supply chains and hurt companies and consumers in both countries. The US Chamber of Commerce has also warned that prolonged tariff disputes could threaten millions of jobs connected to trade under the US-Mexico-Canada trade framework. Public opinion in Canada remains divided over how the government should respond. Recent polling indicated that some Canadians support retaliatory tariffs, while others favour continuing negotiations with Washington.

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    Six members of one family killed in Israeli strike…

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    An Israeli airstrike killed a father, his wife and their four children in Gaza City on Tuesday, setting their home on fire, according to health officials, in the latest deadly incident since a US backed ceasefire took hold more than nine months ago. Medics said the strike hit the family’s house in the Sabra neighborhood, killing Firas Al Masri, his wife Salsabeel, their three daughters and their son. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, saying it had targeted a Hamas militant and that it was still assessing the outcome of the attack. A video obtained by a news agency showed rescue workers battling fires inside the house and carrying out bodies wrapped in white shrouds. Masri’s father, Abu Yusuf Al Masri, said the explosion occurred while the family slept, describing his grief over the loss of his son, daughter in law and grandchildren. He said rescuers could not save the children and grandchildren from the flames and destruction, and that around five or six people died, most of them women and children, without warning and without mercy. Standing outside the family home, he said no place in Gaza offers relative calm or safety anymore. Heavy toll since October The Israeli military said it carried out four separate strikes since Friday that killed four militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, three of whom it said had taken part in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war and involved the seizure of Israeli hostages. Later Tuesday, two additional Israeli airstrikes hit a vehicle in central Gaza and an association building in Gaza City, killing at least six more people and wounding others, according to Palestinian medics, bringing Tuesday’s overall death toll to 12. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on either of these later strikes. These latest deaths add to a toll exceeding 1,160 Palestinians, most of them civilians, killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October, according to health officials in Gaza. Hamas typically does not disclose its own casualty figures. The truce halted large scale fighting but has not stopped near daily Israeli strikes across the territory. Israel says these operations target militants. Four Israeli soldiers have died at the hands of militants in Gaza during the same period. Mediators including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States have continued working to advance a plan put forward by President Donald Trump aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, which calls for Hamas to disarm and for Israeli forces to withdraw, though little progress has emerged so far. The war began when Hamas led fighters attacked communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Nearly all of Gaza’s population of about two million people now lives crowded along a narrow strip of coastal land, largely in makeshift tents or damaged buildings, enduring severe conditions under continued Hamas control. The continued strikes highlight how the ceasefire, despite formally ending large scale combat, has failed to bring lasting safety to civilians in Gaza, with families like the Al Masris bearing the human cost of attacks that Israel says are aimed at militants but that have repeatedly killed women and children in residential areas. International mediators continue pressing for progress on disarmament and withdrawal terms, though the persistent violence has raised doubts about how quickly, if at all, conditions on the ground might meaningfully improve for Gaza’s remaining population.

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    Punjab University employees intensify protest over…

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    LAHORE: Thousands of teachers and employees of the University of the Punjab took to the streets on Wednesday in a major protest organized by the Joint Action Committee, demanding the resolution of their longstanding grievances and payment of outstanding dues. The demonstration was attended by office-bearers of the Punjab University Academic Staff Association and the Punjab University Administrative & Technical Staff Association, along with a large number of faculty members and university employees. Addressing the protesters, Joint Action Committee Chairman Prof. Dr. Sardar Asghar Iqbal accused the university administration of favouring a particular group, alleging that the practice had adversely affected the institution’s financial and administrative affairs. Other faculty members, including Prof. Dr. Abdul Rehman Khan Niazi, Prof. Dr. Muqeet Javed, Dr. Abrar Zafar and Prof. Dr. Kamran Mirza, also participated in the protest. Joint Action Committee President and President of the Punjab University Administrative & Technical Staff Association Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood said employees had been protesting peacefully for around one and a half years, but the administration had failed to address their concerns. He said the employees were now compelled to intensify their protest. According to the announced plan, university offices will observe a two-hour work suspension every day, with employees wearing black armbands as a sign of protest. A protest rally will also be organized every Wednesday. Mahmood warned that the protesters could block the Campus Bridge if the administration failed to take their demands seriously. He also announced plans for demonstrations outside the Punjab chief minister’s office and on the GT Road near the university’s Gujranwala and Jhelum campuses. The protesters called for the immediate resolution of teachers’ and employees’ issues and payment of all outstanding dues. They also demanded the removal of DG Rehan Sadiq Sheikh, alleging that his conduct toward employees and role in administrative matters had contributed to the university’s deteriorating financial and administrative situation. The Joint Action Committee further called on the Punjab government to conduct a forensic audit of the university’s financial and administrative affairs to ensure transparency and accountability. Tayyab Ijaz Khan Swati, Tanveer Awan, Hammad Butt, Azhar Iqbal Baloch and former association president Nasir Rehmat were among the other speakers who addressed the gathering. The Joint Action Committee said its protest campaign would continue until the administration accepts and addresses the protesters’ demands.

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    Pakistan’s Ehsanullah Mehsud wins Taekwondo gold at the Thailand International Taekwondo Championship

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    BANGKOK: Pakistan celebrated another proud moment on the international sporting stage as taekwondo athlete Ehsanullah Mehsud captured the gold medal at the Thailand International Taekwondo Championship after an impressive run through the competition. Mehsud sealed the title with a commanding victory over his Sri Lankan opponent in the final, completing an unbeaten campaign that showcased his skill, determination and consistency against top regional competitors. The Pakistani fighter began his journey with a confident win over a competitor from Kazakhstan in the opening round, setting the tone for an outstanding tournament. He then produced one of his best performances in the semi-finals by defeating an Indian opponent to secure a place in the championship match. Carrying that momentum into the final, Mehsud delivered another composed display to overcome the Sri Lankan contender and clinch the coveted gold medal for Pakistan. Speaking after his victory, Mehsud thanked the people of Pakistan for their prayers and unwavering support throughout the tournament. He dedicated his gold medal to the nation, saying the encouragement he received from fans inspired him to perform at his best on the international stage. “I am grateful for the love, prayers and motivation from the people of Pakistan. This gold medal belongs to the entire nation,” he said after the medal ceremony. The achievement drew widespread praise from across the country. Provincial Assembly member Asif Mehsud congratulated the athlete, saying his remarkable performance had brought pride to both Pakistan and Waziristan by raising the country’s flag on the international stage. Recognizing his success, Asif Mehsud also announced a job for the newly crowned champion, describing the gold medal as a reward for years of dedication and hard work. The latest triumph adds to Pakistan’s growing list of achievements in international taekwondo and highlights the emergence of talented athletes capable of competing successfully on the global stage. Sports enthusiasts hope Mehsud’s victory will inspire more young athletes to pursue martial arts and represent Pakistan with distinction in future international competitions.

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