Pakistanis stranded in Syria arrive in Islamabad on board chartered plane

A special chartered flight carrying 318 Pakistanis stranded in Syria, that departed from Beirut, Lebanon earlier today, has arrived in Pakistan on Thursday. Upon their arrival in Pakistan, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, along with representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), welcomed the returning Pakistani citizens. Speaking to the passengers at the airport, Ahsan said that Lebanon had issued visas to them at PM Shehbaz’s request. He thanked the Lebanese Prime…

Hush money conviction: Prosecutors say Trump deserves ‘temporary accommodations’

NEW YORK: Prosecutors have suggested to a New York judge that Donald Trump could avoid prison time after being convicted on charges related to hush money payments to a porn star, citing his recent US presidential election victory. However, they have rejected the idea of dismissing the case. In a court filing made public on Tuesday, prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office urged Justice Juan Merchan to deny the Republican businessman-turned-politicians’ request to throw out the case so it does not hang over him and impede his ability…

Asif calls Imran, Hamid ‘partners in crime’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hamid are “partners in crime”, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged on Tuesday. Asif — whose party leadership has time again accused the former spy master of being involved in their previous government’s downfall — said: [Faiz’s] personal benefits aside, his and PTI founder’s interests had converged”. His remarks came in the backdrop of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announcement revealing that Faiz was formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official…

Prague Opens Its First Glass-Enclosed Space in the Negrelli Viaduct: A Two-Year Trial

A new cultural and social space has opened in Prague’s Karlín district, tucked within one of the arches of the historic Negrelli Viaduct. The first of its kind, the space is designed primarily for non-commercial events and will be tested for two years before any further decisions are made about its future. If the trial proves successful, the city plans to eventually enclose up to 40 arches along the viaduct, creating spaces for galleries, events, and potentially even commercial tenants. The creation of this glass-enclosed area, which includes a wooden…

Minister Lipavský will speak at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Minister Jan Lipavský will participate in the important Doha Forum conference, which is being held in the Qatari capital, Doha. At the conference, he will speak in a discussion dedicated to new trends in connection with Russian aggression in Ukraine. In addition to participation in the conference, negotiations are planned with Qatari representatives and the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen.

PML-N emerges victorious in PP-139 by-election in Sheikhupura

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday emerged victorious in a by-election held in Punjab Assembly seat PP-139 in Sheikhupura, according to unofficial results compiled.   The seat had fallen vacant following the death of PML-N-backed MPA Rana Afzal Hussain, who had won the seat in a previous by-election after Rana Tanveer Hussain vacated it. Rana Tahir secured 44,537 votes against Ijaz Hussain’s 20,133, the unofficial result shows. There were a total of 124 polling stations in the provincial constituency. Following the victory, the PML-N workers started celebrations at the…

Earthquake jolts Lahore, other parts of Punjab

People in Lahore were jolted by earthquake tremors, which were also felt across other parts of Punjab on Thursday. The tremors — which prompted residents to rush out of their homes and buildings in panic — were felt in areas including Jhelum, Kamalia, and their surroundings.  No immediate reports of casualties or significant damage have been received so far. Seismological details about the magnitude and epicentre of the quake are awaited from relevant authorities.