KATHMANDU / NEW DELHI – Torrential monsoon downpours have triggered devastating landslides and floods across Nepal and neighboring India, claiming the lives of more than 60 people as rescue workers struggle to reach cut-off communities in the remote, rugged mountainous terrain. The relentless rains, which have lashed Nepal since Friday, have left rivers in spate and vast areas of the Himalayan nation submerged. Shanti Mahat, spokeswoman for Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, confirmed to AFP that rain-triggered disasters have resulted in at least 44 deaths and five people are reported missing. The eastern district of Ilam has…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
NEW YORK – Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese has reflected on a pivotal moment in his youth—his early departure from a Catholic seminary school—stating the experience fundamentally redirected his life. These candid reflections emerged in Rebecca Miller’s new documentary, ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ which premiered on October 4 at the New York Film Festival, exploring the director’s lifelong, obsessive relationship with faith and morality. The Taxi Driver director recalled in the documentary’s first episode how deeply affected he was by attending Catholic mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral around the age of seven, a spiritual pursuit that continued into his teenage years. “There was…
LONDON – British singer and songwriter Paloma Faith has opened up about the unexpected and intense psychological impact of participating in the BBC reality show ‘The Celebrity Traitors,’ revealing that she frequently required professional mental health support throughout the filming process. The 44-year-old artist confirmed to The Sun on Sunday that she was surprised by how much the show affected her personal well-being. “It is not on camera – I went to see them [welfare] all the time. Yeah, it was a therapist,” she stated. The singer admitted that the high-stakes game uncovered deeper emotional issues. “I definitely learned some…
LONDON – Actress Lucy Fallon, known for her role as Bethany Platt on the popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street, has declared her commitment to the series, stating she has no plans to depart the show again. The 29-year-old, who first joined the cast in 2015 before leaving in 2020 to pursue external projects like the drama Tom Jones, returned in 2023 and now finds the consistency and familiar environment too appealing to leave. In an interview with Fabulous magazine, Fallon explained her decision: “I don’t plan on leaving Corrie to do other things. In the past, I wanted to…
LONDON – The metal music world is celebrating a poignant and historic collaboration between two iconic figures, the late Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. The partnership, a cover of the beloved Black Sabbath track “War Pigs,” incorporated existing vocals from Osbourne and received his joyous approval just weeks before his death. Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford revealed to Billboard that Osbourne had the opportunity to hear the final, mixed version of the track. Halford shared the immense relief and happiness of the band upon receiving the news. “The absolute thrill for us all is he, with Sharon,…
LOS ANGELES – Pop music titan Taylor Swift has revealed a surprising behind-the-scenes strategy for her latest release, ‘Life of a Showgirl,’ confirming that she kept the album a secret from her record label until the entire project was complete, choosing instead to share the music with her trusted inner circle first. Appearing on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, the Lover crooner, who released her new record just under two months after its announcement, gushed about the loyalty of her friends. When asked how she maintains such extraordinary secrecy, Swift replied simply: “My friends don’t rat. They do not…
LAHORE – Just a day before embarking on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a crucial meeting with his elder brother and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif, on Saturday. The primary objective of the meeting was to address the “growing tensions” between their party and coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), with the Prime Minister requesting his brother’s personal intervention to de-escalate the acrimony. The discussion, held at the family’s Jati Umra residence, focused heavily on governance stability, particularly the public feud with the PPP-led Sindh government over contentious flood relief and water rights issues…
LAHORE – The highly anticipated arrival of Apple’s latest devices has officially concluded in Pakistan with GNEXT, the Apple Authorised Distributor, launching the iPhone 17 Family and iPhone Air. The launch is being distinguished not just by the introduction of new hardware but by a significant push towards enhancing the consumer experience through unmatched protection and accessibility initiatives. GNEXT is raising the bar in a fiercely competitive market by introducing Shield+, an expansion of its original warranty program. This new protection plan is a significant differentiator in Pakistan’s technology sector, adding accidental coverage that is not offered by any other…
QUETTA – Security forces in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan killed 14 alleged terrorists of the state-designated Indian proxy group Fitna al-Hindustan during an extensive operation in the Khuzdar district on Saturday. The action underscores the escalating security campaign targeting groups responsible for recent deadly attacks in the region. The term Fitna al-Hindustan is used by the state to denote Balochistan-based militant groups and highlight India’s alleged role in financing and directing terrorism across Pakistan. Security officials reported that the operation was launched based on intelligence indicating the presence of militants in the mountainous Zehri area of Khuzdar. Following an…
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, on Sunday vehemently rejected recent aggressive statements from India’s military and political establishment, terming them a “failed attempt” to restore their “lost reputation.” His remarks are the latest salvo in a spiralling cycle of cross-border rhetoric between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Writing on X, Asif claimed that the Indian statements came under pressure following a “decisive defeat with a score of 6-0” during a four-day military escalation in May, an incident in which Islamabad claims to have shot down at least six Indian jets. “The statements made by the Indian army and its political…
