UK prosecutors urge US court to deny bail to Andrew and Tristan Tate ahead of extradition hearing

The Sindh government has announced that all public and private schools across the province will observe a six-day working week from August 1. The new schedule will remain in place until further orders. An official notification issued by the School Education and Literacy Department confirmed that schools will remain open from Monday to Saturday. The decision applies to all educational institutions operating under the department’s administrative control. The announcement comes as schools prepare to reopen after the end of summer vacations. Educational institutions remained closed for two months, with the holiday period running from June 1 to July 31. Students and teachers will now return to classrooms under the revised weekly schedule. Officials said the six-day week has been introduced to ensure smooth academic activities and improve the pace of teaching. The move is expected to help schools complete the academic calendar on time and make up for learning time lost due to previous disruptions. The decision applies equally to government and private schools throughout Sindh. School administrations have been instructed to implement the revised timetable immediately after reopening. Earlier this year, educational institutions in Sindh also experienced temporary closures because of regional security concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East. Schools remained closed for a brief period before normal academic activities resumed. Provincial authorities later restored regular operations while maintaining Saturday holidays. However, the latest notification has withdrawn that arrangement and introduced a six-day working week across the province. Education officials have advised parents, students and school administrations to follow the updated schedule. They said any future changes to school timings or working days will be communicated through official notifications.

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticised Pakistan’s bureaucracy. He described it as the country’s “real and permanent rulers.” Asif said bureaucrats had remained largely beyond effective accountability during Pakistan’s 78-year history. He said politicians had faced accountability on numerous occasions. Other powerful groups had also been held accountable at different times. However, he said it was difficult to find similar examples involving senior bureaucrats. The defence minister made the remarks while sharing a social media post about alleged financial corruption involving a senior bureaucrat. Asif said the bureaucracy had gradually become a powerful and largely untouchable class. He questioned why bureaucrats had not been subjected to the same level of scrutiny as politicians. According to Asif, politicians themselves were partly responsible for the situation. He said political leaders had failed to establish an effective system to hold the bureaucracy accountable. The minister also referred to a former bureaucratic ruler while discussing the influence of senior officials in Pakistan. He said the former official used highly inappropriate and insulting language against politicians. Despite this behaviour, politicians continued to tolerate him, according to Asif. Asif’s comments highlight his criticism of the imbalance in accountability among powerful sections of Pakistani society. His remarks also raise questions about the role of the bureaucracy in governance and decision-making. The minister maintained that stronger accountability was needed for all powerful groups. He suggested that politicians could not blame bureaucrats alone for the existing system because political leaders had also contributed to its continuation.

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Islamabad have finalised foolproof security arrangements for the peaceful observance of Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ. Security measures have been strengthened across the federal capital ahead of the religious occasion. Special arrangements have been made to protect citizens and ensure the smooth conduct of religious gatherings and processions. Law enforcement agencies have been directed to remain alert and closely monitor sensitive areas. Security personnel will be deployed at key locations, while additional measures will be taken around mosques, worship places and routes of Milad processions. Authorities have also stressed the need for effective coordination among the relevant departments. Police and other security officials will remain vigilant throughout the celebrations. The arrangements aim to prevent any untoward incident and provide a safe environment for people participating in Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ events. Officials have urged citizens to cooperate with security personnel and follow the instructions issued by the administration during the celebrations.