WASHINGTON: Two US researchers have identified a potential deployment site in Russia for the 9M370 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile that President Vladimir Putin has claimed is “invincible.” The missile, known as SSC-X-9 Skyfall to NATO, is touted for its nearly unlimited range and ability to evade US missile defenses, although some Western experts question its strategic value and the validity of Putin’s claims. Using satellite images from July 26 provided by Planet Labs, researchers Decker Eveleth and Jeffery Lewis pinpointed a construction project near the Vologda-20 and Chebsara nuclear warhead storage facility, located 295 miles north of Moscow.…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISTANBUL: Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Istanbul on Sunday to oppose a new law aimed at addressing the issue of stray dogs in Turkey. Animal rights activists fear the legislation could lead to mass culling and the creation of overcrowded, unsanitary shelters. Passed last month, the law mandates the removal of millions of stray dogs from Turkish streets, citing public safety concerns. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended the law as necessary for managing the country’s stray dog population. Protesters, carrying signs that read “Shelters are death camps” and “Withdraw the bloody law,” argued that the legislation could…
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Monday that Russian forces are advancing rapidly in eastern Ukraine, capturing several square kilometers per day as they attempt to breach Ukrainian defensive lines. Putin noted the increased pace of Russian advances in the Donbas region, stating that Russian troops are now controlling territory in larger increments than previously. He made these remarks during a visit to Secondary School No. 20 in Kyzyl, Tuva. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged the challenges faced by Ukrainian forces, especially near Pokrovsk, but reported no further Russian progress in the past two days. Despite the Ukrainian counter-offensive…
US authorities have seized a $13 million Dassault Falcon 900EX jet, allegedly bought for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in violation of US sanctions. The plane was confiscated in the Dominican Republic and flown to Florida. The Department of Justice reported that the aircraft was purchased through a shell company to evade sanctions. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the plane was illegally acquired and smuggled out of the US, violating sanctions imposed in 2019 that restrict dealings with Maduro’s government. Matthew Axelrod of the Department of Commerce emphasized the US commitment to recovering smuggled assets. The jet, bought from a…
US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, in coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have captured Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal, a key leader of Da’esh, on September 1. Al-Dandal is accused of supporting Da’esh terrorists, including those who recently escaped from the Raqqah Detention Facility in Syria. On August 29, five detainees — two Russians, two Afghans, and one Libyan — escaped from the facility. The US-backed SDF has since recaptured two of them: Russian Imam Abdulwahed Akhwan and Libyan Muhammad Noh Muhammad. The search for the remaining three escapees is ongoing. The SDF currently holds over 9,000 Da’esh detainees across 20…
WASHINGTON/LONDON: The U.S. military has condemned attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on two crude oil tankers in the Red Sea on Monday, describing them as “reckless acts of terrorism.” The Saudi-flagged Amjad and Panama-flagged Blue Lagoon I were targeted, according to U.S. Central Command. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking the Blue Lagoon with missiles and drones but did not mention the Saudi tanker. U.S. Central Command reported that the Houthis struck both vessels with two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack drone. Both ships were laden with crude oil, with the Amjad carrying about two million barrels. Sources…
Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has emerged as a significant diplomatic challenge for India, four weeks after fleeing her country amid a student-led revolution. Her departure ended a 15-year rule marked by heavy-handed governance, including human rights abuses and crackdowns on the opposition. Now hosting the 76-year-old leader, India faces a delicate situation. Extraditing Hasina could damage its standing with other South Asian countries, where New Delhi is engaged in a strategic contest with Beijing for influence. The situation is further complicated by India’s historical ties with Hasina’s government, which was perceived as more protective of Bangladesh’s…
A suicide bombing in Kabul’s southern Qala-e-Bakhtiar district resulted in at least six deaths and left 13 others injured, Afghan authorities confirmed on Monday. The attack occurred in the afternoon when an individual detonated explosives, causing significant casualties among civilians. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran shared details of the incident on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating, “Unfortunately, six civilians, including a woman, were killed and 13 others were injured.” He added that an investigation is currently underway. The Ministry of Interior Affairs has also launched a separate probe to identify the perpetrators and circumstances surrounding the attack. No group…
ISLAMABAD: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is planning to provide smartphones to women who receive cash transfers under the scheme. According to the head of the social safety programme, the move is aimed at ensuring that BISP beneficiaries receive payments with complete transparency and respect. BISP chairperson Rubina Khalid had a meeting with a delegation from JazzCash mobile wallet on Monday to discuss different aspects of the initiative. During the meeting, the JazzCash team gave a presentation about potential initiatives for collaboration. The BISP officials urged the JazzCash team to develop a detailed implementation plan for the digital empowerment…
ROME: Italy manager Luciano Spalletti pledged to rebuild his team after their disappointing performance in the recent European Championship. The reigning champions exited the tournament in Germany in the last 16 following a 2-0 defeat by Switzerland with the side only winning once in the group stage. “When we talk about failure at the Euros, we need to be more precise in our analysis, because in my opinion, it only relates to the game against Switzerland, which was very bad,” Spalletti told reporters on Monday. “Now, we turn a new page and from now on, we have to think more about our…
