Indian officials reported on Monday that more than 60 people have died across three states due to severe flooding caused by heavy rains over the past several days. The states affected include Gujarat in the west and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the south. Gujarat has reported the highest number of fatalities, with over 45 deaths. Telangana has seen nine deaths, while Andhra Pradesh has reported 10. The Indian Army has been deployed in Gujarat, where floods have devastated large areas since August 27. Troops with specialised equipment are working around the clock to assist with rescue operations. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
KABUL: A Taliban government spokesman has said the Afghan authorities were committed to engagement with the international community after a new morality law sparked tense exchanges over women’s rights. The United Nations and the European Union have warned that the law — requiring women to cover up completely and not raise their voices in public — could damage prospects for engagement with foreign nations and international organisations. Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat was responding to comments by a spokesman for the UN secretary-general assuring continued engagement with the Taliban authorities after Afghanistan’s morality ministry said it would no longer cooperate with the UN mission…
ISLAMABAD: Highlighting that plastic pollution is a regional problem in South Asia, a newly released World Bank report blames six countries of the region for facilitating the transport of pollution across borders such as solid waste including plastics, industrial effluents, domestic wastewater and microplastics through 20 major rivers. Besides rivers and other cross-border environmental issues like air pollution, these countries share similar socioeconomic and solid waste sectoral challenges. The two major transboundary river basins, Ganges-Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM, that includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) and the Indus River basin (including Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan) are highlighted due to their high leakage rates.…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected India’s claims on Jammu and Kashmir, terming them “misleading” and “dangerously delusional”. In response to media queries regarding the recent statement of India’s minister for external affairs on held Kashmir, the Foreign Office spokesperson emphasised that the Kashmir dispute was an “internationally recognised” issue. It must be resolved through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, the FO spokesperson said on Sunday. The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy and dialogue but warned that any hostile actions would be met with “unyielding resolve”. The statement urged India to…
GAZA STRIP: Israel’s main union on Sunday ordered a nationwide general strike after soldiers recovered the bodies of six prisoners from the Gaza Strip. The remains of the six were recovered on Saturday “from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area” in southern Gaza, the military said. They were among 251 hostages seized during Hamas’s Oct 7 raid on Israel, 97 of whom remain captive, including 33 the army says are dead. Scores were released during a negotiated one-week truce in November, but relatives of those still held believe not enough is being done to free them. Campaign group the…
Gunfire was reported near the home of Punjabi singer and rapper AP Dhillon in Canada’s Vancouver on Monday, reported India Today. An official confirmation from local authorities is still awaited, the news has sparked considerable concern. The infamous Lawrence Bishnoi-Rohit Godara gang has claimed responsibility for the incident. The gang, which has a history of criminal activities, allegedly circulated a threatening message on social media following the incident. In the message, they claimed to have orchestrated shootings at two locations in Canada on the night of September 1 — one in Victoria Island where Dhillon’s home is located, and another in…
WABetaInfo announced that Whatsapp’s latest update includes a GIPHY sticker search feature which will allow users to find the perfect sticker to convey their feelings more accurately and efficiently The latest update which will be available for iOS on version 24.17.78 will allow users to quickly search for the ideal sticker, even if it’s not part of their collection. “A quick search through GIPHY might reveal just the right animated sticker to convey their message,” WABetaInfo revealed. The announcement added that the latest improvement will let users find “the perfect sticker to convey emotions in chats.” The update also introduces the ability to rearrange…
Apple CEO Tim Cook made a significant splash at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where he was spotted rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s finest. The tech mogul, who is often associated with the latest iPhone launches rather than red carpets, made waves as he joined the glittering event in Italy. Alongside Apple executives, Cook was there to promote the highly anticipated Apple TV+ limited series, Disclaimer. The psychological thriller, directed by the Oscar-winning Alfonso Cuarón and starring the ever-talented Cate Blanchett, is set to be one of Apple TV+’s standout releases of the year. Scheduled to premiere globally on October…
Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have unearthed a 2,700-year-old stone seal near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The ancient artifact, dating back to the First Temple period, bears a name inscribed in ancient Hebrew script and depicts a winged figure, possibly a king. The seal, crafted from black stone, is considered one of the most beautifully executed discoveries from ancient Jerusalem. Dr. Yuval Baruch and Dr. Navot Rom, who directed the excavation, noted that the seal was used both as an amulet and for legally signing documents. The seal’s engraving includes the name “Yehoʼezer ben…
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to conclude a ceasefire deal with Hamas to bring the remaining hostages home from Gaza, as the bodies of six of those taken on Oct. 7 were brought home. “It’s too late for the abductees who were murdered in cold blood. The abductees who remain in the captivity of Hamas must be returned home,” he said on the social media platform X. “The political-security cabinet must convene immediately and reverse the decision made on Thursday,” he said, referring to a decision by the cabinet to insist on keeping…
