Soldier embraces martyrdom in cross-fire with terrorists in N Waziristan

A soldier embraced martyrdom during crossfire between security forces and terrorists in Mir Ali’s general area in North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday. A brief statement issued by the military’s media wing said that an exchange of fire took place during an intelligence based operation by Pakistani troops.  “During conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists. Own troops effectively engaged terrorists’ location,” the statement read.  ISPR further stated that Sepoy Shakeel Shafqat, 21, who was a resident of District Khanewal, embraced…

Blinken urges India to cooperate in Canada’s probe of Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appealed to India to cooperate with Canada in the investigation of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist.  Canada has accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing, which took place near Vancouver in June.  Blinken stressed the importance of accountability and allowing the investigation to run its course during a press briefing at the UN General Assembly. “We want to see accountability. And it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” Blinken said, underscoring…

Jeremie Boga’s late strike leads Nice to top of Ligue 1 after Monaco rout

Jeremie Boga’s 90th-minute goal secured a 1-0 victory for Nice against Monaco, elevating them to the summit of Ligue 1 in a thrilling showdown between two undefeated teams. Nice’s Jeremie Boga proved to be the hero of the night as his late strike clinched a dramatic 1-0 victory for his team against AS Monaco on Friday. With this win, Nice soared to the top of the Ligue 1 standings. The match remained a tight affair, with both teams displaying solid defensive ability. However, the defining moment came in the 90th…

Tropical Storm Ophelia approaches East Coast, prompts warnings in North Carolina and Virginia

Tropical Storm Ophelia is making its presence felt off the East Coast, with the latest data from Hurricane Hunters indicating increased strength.  As North Carolina and parts of the mid-Atlantic gear up for a damp and blustery weekend, the storm’s landfall looms on the horizon. With maximum sustained winds reaching 70 mph and higher gusts, Ophelia is poised to affect areas well beyond its centre, unleashing several inches of rainfall as it tracks up the coastline. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for portions of eastern North…

Nawaz Sharif to present ‘agenda of progress’ at Minar-e-Pakistan on Oct 21: Shehbaz

LONDON: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Friday clarified that there was no change in the party’s supremo Nawaz Sharif’s plan for returning homeland. The PML-N president said he had arrived in London to discuss his brother’s legal and political steps ahead of his arrival in Pakistan on October 21. The former prime minister spoke to the media after holding important talks, attended by Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Talal Chaudhary and others at the Stanhope House in the British capital. Both Maryam…

Silent Killer Alert: Fatty liver disease sweeping the UK, says TV doctor

You’ve heard about high blood pressure being referred to as the “silent killer.” But there’s a new health concern on the rise in the UK that’s just as stealthy and potentially deadly.  Renowned TV doctor Michael Mosley is sounding the alarm about a disease that often goes undetected for years but can have devastating consequences on your health.  It’s called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). It’s fast becoming one of the nation’s most significant health challenges. The Hidden Danger Unlike many illnesses that make their presence known through symptoms, NAFLD…

US home sales decline as prices rise, interest rates increase

Sales of US homes have been steadily declining since August as supply remained constrained and mortgage rates remained high, the industry figures released on Thursday revealed. Sales of existing homes have cooled in the world´s top economy as interest rates surged, lifting costs for new buyers and making it less attractive for homeowners to reenter the market after having locked in lower rates previously. Existing home sales hit an annual rate of 4.04 million last month, seasonally adjusted, slipping 0.7 per cent from July according to the National Association of…

PCB names 15-member squad for ICC World Cup 2023

As the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 approaches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday announced the team’s participating squad featuring star players in the line-up. Babar Azam will captain the team, while Shadab Khan remains the team’s vice-captain. Hasan Ali has been called in to replace injured pacer Naseem Shah. Ali, however, will be returning to one-day international (ODI) cricket after a year-long hiatus following his last appearance against West Indies in Multan in 2022. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq unveiled the squad at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Three…

Direct peace talks yield fragile truce in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

A fragile ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh remains in place after Armenian separatists capitulated to Azerbaijan’s swift offensive.  The two parties engaged in their initial direct peace discussions on Thursday, following Azerbaijan’s claim of control over the contested region. As part of a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement, the separatists agreed to disarm on Wednesday, which halted Azerbaijan’s 24-hour offensive to reclaim territory at the heart of a long-standing conflict.  The two-hour meeting between the parties, held in the presence of Russian peacekeepers, was described by Azerbaijan’s presidency as “constructive and peaceful.” Both sides…