SYDNEY – A 60-year-old man is in Australian police custody after allegedly firing approximately 50 bullets onto a busy street in Sydney’s Inner West on Sunday evening, resulting in injuries to more than a dozen people. The incident is a rare occurrence in a country with strict gun control laws. Police were called to the scene after the suspected gunman began randomly firing from his property at passing cars and police. A large police contingent quickly swarmed the area and locked down the street before arresting the man inside his property, which was situated above a business. Authorities seized a…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) announced on Monday that it is engaged in intense diplomatic efforts for the safe evacuation of former Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was detained by Israeli forces last week after the interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza. The FO stated that its embassy in Amman is “working tirelessly to secure the safe evacuation of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan.” Highlighting the critical role of an ally, the statement added, “With the invaluable assistance of the Jordanian government, we are hopeful that the process can be successfully concluded…
WASHINGTON – In an unusual blend of political spectacle and combat sport, US President Donald Trump announced that a planned Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House will take place next year on his 80th birthday, June 14, overriding the event’s previous tentative date of July 4. Addressing Navy sailors at the vast Norfolk naval base in Virginia, Trump stated, “On June 14 next year, we’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House—right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House.” He did not publicly mention that the date marks his…
JAIPUR – A devastating fire at the trauma centre of the largest state-run hospital in Jaipur, the capital of India’s northwestern Rajasthan state, has killed at least six patients and injured five others. Officials stated on Monday that a short-circuit is the suspected cause of the blaze, which highlights recurring safety vulnerabilities in the country’s healthcare infrastructure. The fire originated late on Sunday in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital (SMS). Hospital official Anurag Dhakad told the ANI news agency that the blaze released “toxic gases.” He confirmed that five patients remain in critical condition,…
GENEVA – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is scheduled to vote on Monday on a pivotal European Union (EU) proposal to establish a comprehensive UN investigation into abuses in Afghanistan. Should the motion pass, it would create a mechanism capable of preparing evidence for future criminal investigations targeting suspected violations by both the Taliban authorities and past actions of foreign troops. The EU motion calls for investigators to gather and preserve evidence for eventual court proceedings, marking one of the strongest forms of UN rights scrutiny. It is comparable to existing high-level probes into crimes committed in Syria…
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia has announced a major liberalisation of its pilgrimage regulations, confirming that visitors and residents holding any type of visa will now be permitted to perform Umrah during their stay in the Kingdom. This move is set to dramatically broaden access for Muslims globally. In a statement released by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that individuals holding “personal and family visit visas, electronic tourist visas, transit visas, work visas, and other types of visas” are included in this expanded access. Streamlining Access Under Vision 2030 The…
PARIS – France’s profound political instability intensified dramatically on Monday as the newly appointed Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, submitted his resignation, barely 14 hours after announcing his cabinet. The unprecedented, swift departure came after both allies and opponents threatened to topple his government, sending immediate ripples through financial markets and driving French stocks and the Euro sharply lower. Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, had finalized his ministerial appointments on Sunday after weeks of cross-party consultations, with the first cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon. However, the new lineup immediately alienated factions across the political spectrum—some deeming it…
QUETTA – An armed clash between local tribesmen and alleged militants in the Korki area of Mangochar in Balochistan’s Kalat division has left four suspected terrorists dead and claimed the life of one local. The confrontation, which began on Sunday, highlights growing civilian resistance to militant groups in the volatile province. Security officials confirmed that the slain militants belonged to banned Baloch separatist groups and had reportedly attacked the people of Korki, a locality on the outskirts of Mangochar. However, the locals “did not surrender and offered stiff resistance.” Hours-Long Gun Battle The gun battle, which officials described…
QUETTA – Security forces, aided by local communities, successfully rescued more than a dozen fishing boats and their crews trapped in the Arabian Sea by high tides triggered by Cyclone Shakhti. The cyclone’s effects have placed coastal areas, including Karachi and the Makran coast, on high alert. The 13 fishing boats were stranded in deep waters off the coast of Ormara when they were caught by the severe weather conditions. Officials from the fisheries department confirmed the success of the operation, stating, “All the 13 boats and the stranded fishermen were rescued,” with no casualties reported. High Alert and…
WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is forging a new phase in its strategic and economic engagement with the United States as the two allies move closer to implementing a deal for the export of rare earth minerals. The development comes amid strong political opposition demands for the government to disclose the full details of all agreements struck with Washington. US Strategic Metals (USSM), which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan in September to invest roughly $500 million in mineral processing facilities, recently dispatched its first consignment of mineral samples to the US to advance the deal. Sources in Washington anticipate…
