Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against the West Indies after suffering an injury to his hand. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper was struck on the hand by the ball, requiring stitches. As a result, he will not be available for the two-Test series against the West Indies. Haseebullah, who has played one ODI and three T20Is for Pakistan, was the second wicketkeeper in the 15-member squad alongside Mohammad Rizwan during the South Africa tour. The left-handed batter is a promising young player. He made his T20I debut on January 21, 2024, in Christchurch, playing…
Author: Web Desk
A pair of massive wildfires threatening Los Angeles from the east and west remained uncontained on Thursday, two days after igniting, though firefighters managed to gain control of the fire scorching the Hollywood Hills. The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city’s western flank and the Eaton fire in the east near Pasadena have become the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, burning nearly 28,000 acres, an area larger than Disney World, and reducing entire neighborhoods to ash. At least five people have been killed, thousands of structures incinerated, and nearly 180,000 people have been ordered…
Elon Musk will host the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on X on Thursday, sparking concerns in Berlin and Brussels about possible interference by the US billionaire in Germany’s upcoming national election on February 23. Last year, Musk used X and his vast wealth to help get Republican Donald Trump re-elected as US President. Now, he is becoming vocal in his support for far-right and anti-establishment parties across Europe. The world’s richest man has shown particular interest in Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, where he opened Tesla’s first European plant in 2022. Last month, Musk endorsed AfD, an…
A Sri Lankan court jailed a politically influential, firebrand Buddhist monk on Thursday, sentencing him to prison for a second time for insulting Islam and inciting religious hatred in the island nation. Galagodaatte Gnanasara was sentenced to nine months for his anti-Muslim remarks dating back to 2016. He had been previously jailed last year on a similar charge for disparaging Sri Lanka’s minority Muslims, who make up just over 10% of the country’s 22 million population. He had been out on bail while appealing the four-year sentence. The monk is a close associate of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who appointed…
The Henley Passport Index for 2025 has revealed the global passport rankings for every country, differing from the data of the previous year. Henley ranks all the world’s 199 passports based on the number of destinations they allow visa-free access to. This index is based on exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In 2025, Singapore and Japan break away from the group of six countries that shared the top spot last year, securing gold and silver positions, respectively. Several European Union member states, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, drop two places to third position. They…
The Taliban has recognized India as a “significant regional and economic partner” following a key meeting between senior officials of both sides. The meeting, which took place on January 8, 2025, in Dubai, was between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. According to a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions centered on expanding relations with Afghanistan and enhancing trade through the Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has developed to allow goods to bypass Pakistan’s ports in Karachi and Gwadar. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “In line with Afghanistan’s balanced…
At least six people have died after being crushed in a stampede during a Hindu religious gathering at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, with several others injured. Officials confirmed the incident on Thursday, stating that a large crowd had gathered to collect entry tokens for the temple visit when the stampede occurred on Wednesday. Prem Kumar Jain, a spokesperson for the state’s ruling Telugu Desam Party, said, “This unfortunate incident has claimed the lives of six devotees. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra…
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that he will accept the decision of the Constitutional Court, even if it leads to his removal from office. Yoon has previously defied the court’s repeated summons, particularly concerning allegations that he planned an insurrection with a martial law bid. His lawyer confirmed that Yoon is currently at his official residence and in good health.
Wildfires surrounding Los Angeles spread to Hollywood Hills, causing the deaths of at least five people, destroying hundreds of homes, and prompting the evacuation of 100,000 people. The city is being hit from both sides as strong winds and dry conditions exacerbate the fires, depleting firefighting resources and causing water shortages. A new fire broke out in Hollywood Hills, scorching 50 acres (20 hectares) of land. On the west side of Los Angeles, the Palisades Fire has burned 15,832 acres (6,406 hectares), destroying hundreds of structures in the hills between Santa Monica and Malibu.
Gunmen launched an attack on Chad’s presidential complex in the capital, N’Djamena, on Wednesday, leading to a fierce gun battle that resulted in the deaths of 18 attackers and one security personnel. According to the government statement, a commando unit of 24 members launched the assault, with 18 attackers killed and six injured. The government spokesman later appeared in a video stating, “The situation is completely under control… the destabilization attempt was suppressed.” The attackers were easily overpowered by the security forces, and while some sources identified them as Boko Haram militants, the spokesman later dismissed this, describing them as…
