Devotees gather for Pope Benedict XVI’s final general audience of his pontificate on St Peter's square, at the Vatican. On the eve of his historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, faithful offer their admiration, respect and loving act in honor to Pope Benedict XVI from all over the world. The pope has two days left before he takes the historic step of becoming the first pontiff in some six centuries to step down instead of ruling for life. —Photos and texts by Agencies

Editorial

31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

THE disclosure that the FBR collected nearly Rs1.9tr in sales and income taxes through electricity bills over the...
30 Jul, 2026

Debt that stays

THE power sector’s circular debt grew by Rs61bn in the last fiscal year, taking the total to roughly Rs1.67tr from...
30 Jul, 2026

HIV warning

THE HIV infections detected around two SESSI-run hospitals in Karachi demand far more than another hurried committee...
30 Jul, 2026

End trafficking

MODERN slavery, in the form of human trafficking, is among the state’s gravest failures. Scores of Pakistanis are...