Author: Sajjad Ali

PESHWAR: A chartered helicopter carrying 14 people, including three Russian crew members, crashed in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, killing at least six people. Eight others were reported injured. The MI8 helicopter, chartered by the Pakistani oil exploration and production company Mari Petroleum, went down near the Shewa oil field due to a technical fault, sources indicated. They ruled out any possibility of sabotage. The helicopter experienced a technical issue shortly after takeoff. As it attempted an emergency landing, its tail rotor struck the ground. The injured individuals were transported to Combined Military Hospital Thal.…

WASHINGTON: Former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, announced that he would take legal action against Google if he wins the November 5 election, claiming the company consistently showcases “bad stories” about him. In a post on Truth Social, Trump provided no evidence to back his allegations, stating, “It has been determined that Google has illegally used a system to display only negative stories about Donald J. Trump, some fabricated for this purpose, while highlighting positive stories about” Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. “This is an illegal activity, and I hope the Justice Department will criminally prosecute them for…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, announced efforts to enhance the Ease of Doing Business to attract foreign investment, including the launch of the Pakistan Single Window initiative to streamline processes for investors. Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting businesses and highlighted policies that have reduced inflation and increased foreign reserves, resulting in lower interest rates and reduced power tariffs. Khan noted that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is actively addressing the challenges faced by the business community and that a high-profile board…

TEL AVIV: Hezbollah has confirmed that its chief, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli overnight strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs. “Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, has joined his great, immortal martyr comrades whom he led for about 30 years,” Hezbollah said in a statement. Earlier today, the Israeli military has claimed on Saturday that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a strike on Beirut. “Hassan Nasrallah is dead,” said Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani on the social media platform X. Channel 12 reported that Zainab Nasrallah, Hassan’s daughter, was also killed in the significant…

ISLAMABAD: The government has appointed Lt Gen Muhammad Ali as the new Defence Secretary, as announced in a notification from the Establishment Division. He will assume his role as the 33rd Defence Secretary on October 1. Currently serving as the Quarter Master General at General Headquarters, Lt Gen Ali is set to retire from military service soon. He will serve as Defence Secretary on a contract basis for two years, until December 31, 2026. Lt Gen Ali, who belongs to the Artillery Regiment, has been the QMG since December 2022 and previously commanded the Army Strategic Forces Command after his…

ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation rose to 12.80% year-on-year during the week ending September 26, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. This increase in inflation, as measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), marks a slight uptick of 0.05% compared to the previous week. The rise in weekly inflation was largely attributed to higher prices for perishable goods such as tomatoes, onions, and pulses, despite a decrease in diesel and petrol prices. While petroleum product prices have seen a marginal decline over the past month, the impact has been overshadowed by the surge in vegetable prices. Significant year-on-year price increases were…

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved an additional Rs1 billion to support the hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, set to take place in Pakistan on October 15-16, 2024, as reported by Business Recorder. On September 11, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed the ECC that Pakistan, as the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (SCO-CHG) for 2024, would host the summit. The MoFA highlighted that this significant event would underscore Pakistan’s pivotal role as a regional player dedicated to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy, while also enhancing the…

BAJAUR: A police vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in the Bhai Cheena area of Khar, Bajaur district. Following the explosion, local authorities launched a search operation in the vicinity. According to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for Bhai Cheena, three police personnel were injured in the incident, while the Station House Officer (SHO) and other officers were unharmed. Rescue teams promptly transported the injured officers to a nearby hospital for treatment. In response to the attack, police have initiated an operation to apprehend the individuals responsible for planting the bomb.

RAWALPINDI: To counteract planned protests by the PTI at Liaquat Bagh, the Punjab government has taken the step of sealing off roads leading to Rawalpindi on Saturday. . Despite the PTI’s plans, the administration has denied permission for the event. PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that the party would proceed with the protest regardless of this denial. In response, the Punjab government has implemented Section 144 across the Rawalpindi Division for two days, prohibiting all political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, and protests. This ban will be in effect on Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29, impacting the districts…

Former Bollywood actress Sana Khan recently shared in an interview that her husband, Mufti Anas, deeply moved her by asking for Junaid Jamshed’s forgiveness during his prayers. She described witnessing his sincerity and devotion, which made her reflect on the nature of her own friendships. Sana admitted that she couldn’t think of anyone among her friends who would offer such a heartfelt prayer for her, leading her to realize the importance of having a true prayer partner in her life. She was brought to tears by her husband’s compassion and dedication, which reinforced her choice to embrace a more spiritual…