LOS ANGELES: Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, unexpectedly pleaded guilty to federal tax charges on Thursday, avoiding a trial that could have caused embarrassment ahead of the US presidential election. Hunter was originally scheduled to be tried in a Los Angeles federal court for criminal charges, which included failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending heavily on drugs, sex workers, and luxury items. Instead, he admitted guilt to all nine counts. Judge Mark Scarsi informed Biden that he could face up to 17 years in prison and fines amounting to $450,000, with sentencing set…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
NAIROBI: A fire swept through a boarding school dormitory for young children in central Kenya early Friday, killing 17 boys who were asleep, according to police. Citizen Television reported that the victims were burned beyond recognition. Their footage revealed collapsed iron roofing and charred metal storage boxes on top of bunk beds. The fire took place at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, a primary boarding school for young students. “We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident while 14 are injured,” police spokesperson Resila Onyango said. “Our team is at the scene at the moment.” Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura…
Hamas has called on the United States to “exert real pressure” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza. This comes as Netanyahu denied any ongoing negotiations. Hamas blames stalled talks and the recent deaths of six Gaza captives on Netanyahu’s reluctance to reach a deal. Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s lead negotiator, criticized the US for its perceived bias towards Israel and urged it to press Netanyahu to abandon his current stance. Netanyahu, however, insists that no deal is imminent, citing security concerns over the Philadelphi Corridor, which Hamas wants Israel to fully withdraw from. The…
The UN Security Council issued a strong condemnation on Thursday of the recent terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, which took place on Monday. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State’s Afghanistan branch, Da’esh-K, resulted in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries. In a press statement, the Security Council denounced the “heinous” nature of the attack and expressed its deep concern over terrorism’s ongoing threat to peace and security, not only in Afghanistan but globally. The council emphasised the importance of bringing the perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of these acts to justice, calling for cooperation from all UN member states in…
Elon Musk and the social media platform X are intensifying their opposition to a recent suspension by the Brazilian Supreme Court, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The suspension was implemented after X failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, necessary for handling content moderation requests under Brazilian law. Musk has resisted complying with de Moraes’ orders to remove disinformation, leading to the platform’s ban. Musk and X have mobilised their resources to criticise de Moraes, alleging that his actions undermine democratic principles and free speech. This includes the creation of the “Alexandre Files” account on X, which has…
LAS VEGAS: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told Jewish donors on Thursday that if elected, he would take action against US universities propagating what he described as “antisemitic content.” He warned that such universities could lose their accreditation and federal funding if they failed to stop promoting this type of propaganda. Trump delivered these remarks remotely to over 1,000 Republican Jewish Coalition donors in Las Vegas. Protests had recently spread across college campuses, with students opposing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and urging universities to cut ties with companies supporting Israel. Republicans argue that these protests demonstrate antisemitic sentiments among…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, came under fire in both houses of parliament following Pakistan’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in a two-match Test series in Rawalpindi, with lawmakers demanding his resignation from the board. They said there was no justification for making Mohsin Naqvi the head of the cricket board and after the ‘annihilation’ at the hands of Bangladesh, his removal had become imperative. The lawmakers chanted slogans of shame in the Senate, asking the premier to appoint a competent person as the PCB chairman. PTI leader Barrister Syed Ali…
NEW YORK: Jannik Sinner closed in on his second Grand Slam title of 2024 on Wednesday when he reached his maiden US Open semi-final while Jessica Pegula ousted top seed Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals to continue the rich vein of American success at Flushing Meadows. Top seed Sinner defeated 2021 US Open champion and two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. He will face Jack Draper for a spot in a second Grand Slam final after the British surprise package earlier stunned hobbled Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 to become the first British man to reach…
PARIS: For the first time since 2003 neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo have been included in the nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or award, which were announced on Wednesday, with stars of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team and Real Madrid’s Champions League victors featuring heavily. Messi claimed the eighth Ballon d’Or of his glittering career last year and has been nominated 16 times. Now aged 37, he is not among the 30 contenders this time despite winning another title with Argentina at the Copa America in July. Portugal’s five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, now 39, also failed to receive a nomination…
MAESTU: Spain’s Urko Berrade won the 18th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday with a late breakaway in the Basque hills as Australian Ben O’Connor kept the leader’s red jersey. The northern Spanish terrain proved challenging, with a leading group of 13 riders still together up the final serious ascent before the last 40km to the finish line just outside the village of Maestu. Most of the leading group stuck together as they waited for an opportunity to make a late breakaway and Berrade seized his chance on the last climb with less than 5km to go. For…
