Faisalabad News

Man kills neighbour for ‘complaining about his loud snoring’

2024-01-23T00:23:00.001+05:00

A 55-year-old man in US state of Pennsylvania allegedly killed his neighbour when the latter went to his home to complain about his persistent “loud snoring” – which the victim had complained he could hear through the walls connecting their homes.

The man – identified as Christopher Casey – was arrested for fatally stabbing 62-year-old Robert Wallace on Sunday evening when an argument over the incessant and loud snoring turned deadly, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

The two men lived next to each other in Borough of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, sharing a common bedroom wall.

Prosecutors noted that the conflict had been ongoing for the past 18 months, with Upper Moreland Police responding to multiple calls related to disputes between the two men over Casey’s disruptive snoring.

On that night, Wallace showed up at Casey’s residence in Hatboro and knocked on his window while threatening to kill him due to the snoring disturbance.

The situation escalated when Wallace forcibly pushed open Casey’s first-floor window, leading to a heated argument that lasted around 20 minutes.

Casey then walked outside and stabbed Wallace at least three times in the chest, while also accidentally injuring himself in the leg during the altercation.

Wallace, who was found lying on the ground 50 feet from his home, was taken to Abington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Casey was also taken to the same hospital and treated for a self-inflicted stab wound to his right thigh, prosecutors added.

Police found blood both inside and outside of the residence. Police also found the knife and a phone on the front porch of Mr Casey’s home.

Casey was arrested on Thursday, after a forensic pathologist determined Wallace’s cause of death to be multiple stab wounds, and ruled that the death was homicide.

He was charged with Third-Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter and Possessing an Instrument of Crime. He was arraigned by the Court of Common Pleas Judge Wendy Rothstein, who set bail at $1m, according to the DA’s office.

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MQM-P blames PPP for beating party workers in Karachi’s Hyderi

2024-01-22T01:23:00.001+05:00

KARACHI: In a tit-for-tat action, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also got a first information report (FIR) registered against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers, alleging the latter of taking away its workers and beating them, ARY News reported.

As per reports, the workers of the MQM-P and the PPP came face to face in Hyderi area with both the parties holding each other responsible.

According to the FIR registered on complaint of one Kiran Masood, the MQM-P workers were distributing pamphlets near Hyderi market when they were abducted.

“The PPP men took the MQM-P workers to their election office and tortured them,” the complainant said. In the FIR, eight People’s Party workers and 40 unknown persons have been nominated

The MQM-P asked the police to take action against the ‘attackers’.

Earlier, the PPP also registered the FIR against MQM-P at Hyderi police station.

Earlier on Sunday, People’s Party Karachi President Saeed Ghani demanded of the authorities to arrest the people involved in attack on the PPP’s election office and launch an inquiry about those who orchestrated the attack.

“They could not tolerate the PPP’s election office in their stronghold after eyeing a clear defeat in the elections,” he said

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Watch: Strange-shaped lemon takes social media by storm

2024-01-22T00:24:00.001+05:00

A video of a strange-shaped and giant lemon went viral on the internet in no time, getting approximately 32 million views so far and has sparked a range of reactions online.

An Instagram reel posted by @maxiskitchen became a sensation soon after it was uploaded. In the reel, a woman Maxine Sharf (@maxiskitchen) can be seen cutting irregular-sized lemon and showing the users what it looks like from the inside. The unique lemon was produced from her own tree.

Take a look at the viral reel.

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A post shared by Maxine Sharf (@maxiskitchen)

The social media users cannot help themselves reacting, commenting and sharing as the reel so far got 1.7 million likes. Around 14,000 users commented on the video which has so far been shared for 347, 000 times.

Here are the top comments.

A woman commented “Why does it give me anxiety and literal physical chills?”

Another user came up with a comment “When the recipe says “one lemon”.”

Another user wrote “Wow wow! You should take a really nice artsy photograph and hang it up in your kitchen! That way you can “preserve” this lemon forever!”

“This makes me greatly uncomfortable.”, a comment posed by Instagram user.

While many were seen delighted in the comments section a woman said , “This frightens me’

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Watch: Shahzaib Khan’s brilliant century against Afghanistan in U19 World Cup

2024-01-21T00:23:00.003+05:00

The video of Pakistan opener Shahzaib Khan’s brilliant century against Afghanistan in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024 is going viral on social media.

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The viral video showed him hitting Afghanistan bowlers to all parts of East London’s Buffalo Park.

His knock helped Pakistan beat Afghanistan by a resounding 181-run margin.

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A post shared by Pakistan Cricket (@therealpcb)

Pakistan, electing to bat, scored 284-9 in their 50 overs with Shahzaib Khan scoring 106 off 126 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes to his name.

Captain Saad Baig scored a fifty. His 52-ball 55 included three fours and four sixes.

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A post shared by ICC (@icc)

Riaz Ullah struck five boundaries and two maximums on his way to 49-ball 46.

Khalil Ahmed bagged four wickets for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan were dismissed for 103 in chase of 285-run target in 26.2 overs. Ubaid Shah, brother of star pacer Naseem Shah, took four wickets whereas Mohammed Zeeshan dismissed three batters.

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Election delay would be detrimental for Pakistan: Shehbaz

2024-01-21T00:23:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said that if elections are delayed it would be detrimental to Pakistan.

In an interview with a private news channel, the Ex-pm said that PML-N has kicked off its election campaign if elections are delayed now it would be detrimental for Pakistan and democracy, hence PML-N would resist if any efforts were made to delay elections.

He said the 13-parties coalition government rescued the country from economic default in the 16-month tenure.

Shehbaz claimed if the May 9 incidents had not occurred the PTI founder and former prime minister would have not been jailed.

Last week, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif asserted that the ‘all-important’ Feb 8 general elections would decide the fate of Pakistan, urging voters to draw the ‘map of future’ after examining the past.

Shehbaz Sharif pointed out that the PML-N has launched its election campaign, which will be carried out by party’s top leadership, including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz.

He also regretted the ouster of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif – which according to him – halted the country’s growth. “The country was on the path of prosperity with Nawaz Sharif’s commitment,” he said, adding that everyone knows what happened in 2017.

The former premier also pointed out the “achievements” of PMLN-led government, which also included end to loadsheding and development of agriculture sector and

Terming former chief justice Saqib Nisar ‘a pawn’, Shehbaz regretted that the former was used to overthrow Nawaz Sharif-led government – which halted the country’s progress. “The country would have reached many milestones if Nawaz Sharif wasn’t ousted,” he added.

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WATCH: Smartphones captivate dogs after humans

2024-01-20T00:23:00.001+05:00

A video showing a Golden Retriever puppy on a comfy bed enjoying a show on a smartphone is going viral on social media, highlighting mobile phones’ impact on humans and animals.

Golden Retrievers, known for their love and loyalty, are delightful companions. Their love for comfort makes them happiest in cozy, connected spaces.

Recently, a cute video went viral, showing a Golden Retriever puppy on a comfy bed, enjoying a show on a phone. The relaxed puppy, fixated on the screen, looks so content.

The video was shared by an Instagram page Animals Lover with a caption asking, “Is this how everyone spends their weekends?”

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A post shared by Animals Lover (@adore_pankaj)

The viral video has gained immense popularity, garnering over 9 million views and attracting more than 27,000 comments on Instagram.

“Mobile phones first ruined humans, and now dogs,” commented a user.

Another social media user wrote, “So this is what reincarnation looks like if you come back as a puppy”.

“Every day, I think more and more that dogs know everything, but they pretend they don’t know how to work,” commented a third user.

Just like this Instagram page, many platforms have a lot of interesting dog videos. These videos are especially popular on websites and apps like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Woman allegedly kills husband by running truck over him

2024-01-19T01:23:00.001+05:00

In a horrific incident that made rounds on social media, a woman ran over her husband with her pickup truck and killed him.

Mary Terry, 49, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. A just found probable cause for the case to move forward.

Terry’s husband, Donald Britten Jr, was struck and killed on October 19 in the town of Laona. A neighbor called 911 after seeing brake lights outside a window and then hearing a prolonged “thud” and seeing a person lying in the street.

Terry told two stories about the night, both of them ending with her husband taking her truck and somehow being struck and killed by someone unknown.

In both of those stories, she walked up the street and drove her truck back to their house, first because she didn’t see her husband and then because she did.

But deputies found drag marks 48 feet long leading to Britten’s body and found damage to Terry’s vehicle consistent with the injuries he suffered.

They also found her blood alcohol level at nearly 0.3 and said she showed 17 out of 18 intoxication clues on a field sobriety test.

Terry has denied running over her husband but has yet to enter a plea. She’ll formally enter a plea next month.

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‘CAA directs Pakistani airlines to not use Iranian airspace’

2024-01-19T00:24:00.003+05:00

KARACHI: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has directed Pakistani airlines to not use Iranian airspace, ARY News reported citing sources.

According to sources, the Civil Aviation Authority has asked the Pakistan-bound airlines to use the Muscat (Oman) route.

However, the CAA sources said that strict monitoring of the flights from the western direction including Iran has been initiated.

Sources said that the Iranian airspace has not been closed for commercial flights yet and no ban has been imposed on flights coming to Pakistan from any side.

Earlier today, the Foreign Office said on Thursday Pakistan struck terrorist hideouts inside the Iranian border a day after Tehran violated the country’s airspace and launched strikes in Balochistan.

“This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. A number of terrorists were killed during the Intelligence-based operation – codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.

Yesterday, following Iran’s violation of Pakistani airspace, the Foreign Office (FO) said Islamabad has announced to expel Iranian ambassador while recalling its envoy from Tehran.

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch said in a post.

“Last night’s unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Office (FO) after midnight, strikes in Pakistani territory resulted in “deaths of two innocent children while injuring of three girls”.

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Horrific: Man’s suicide note led to his ex-lover’s body who he killed

2024-01-19T00:24:00.001+05:00

NAVI MUMBAI: The police kept searching for a 19-year-old girl for 34 days and finally found her dead and that too with the help of her former and dead boyfriend in Navi Mumbai, the city of India’s state Maharashtra.

It might sound strange but officials of the Navi Mumbai police said that the jilted boyfriend of the woman allegedly killed her before committing a suicide.

On December 12, the woman namely Vaishnavi Babar went missing as she did not return to her residence from college. The missing woman case was registered at Kalamboli police station. On the same day, the police came to know that a man namely Vaibhav Burungale must be in his early 20s committed a suicide by jumping in front of a local train at Juinagar railway station.

The investigators however found a suicide note from the man’s mobile phone which also had a “Code”. The code was “L01-501” and initially, the police had no clue whatsoever despite trying to decode the same.

Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe formed a special committee to investigate the matter. The investigators tried their best to decode the ‘code’ and finally found that the man had murdered his former girlfriend and later killed himself.

On 17^th January, the “L01-501” code which is actually the number of a tree marked by the forest department helped the police to trace out the place where the dead body of the woman was dumped in the bushes of the Owe camp area in Khargha.

The murdered woman was identified from her college dress, ID card and the wristwatch.

According to the police the man was unhappy with his ex-girlfriend after the breakup and apparently strangled her to death before dumping the body.

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Elections 2024: MQM-P reviews preparations for public gathering on Jan 21

2024-01-18T00:23:00.001+05:00

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Deputy Convener Anees Qaim Khani along with Rabita Committee members visited Bagh-e-Jinnah and reviewed the party public gathering’s preparations in connection with the Elections 2024.

The MQM-P had announced to hold public gathering on January 21 at Bagh-e-Jinnah Bagh, adjacent to Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum.

Talking to the workers present on the occasion, Anees Qaim Khani said that this is important in the political scenario of the country.

The meeting to be held on January 21 will determine the rights of the poor and oppressed people of Sindh, including the Muhajirs.

He said that MQM-P has broken its own records by holding several large public gathering at Baghe Jinnah in the past.

Read More: MQM-P to hold power show on Jan 21

Anees Qaim Khani instructed the workers to do door-to-door campaign and invite as many people of Karachi as possible to participate in the public gathering on 21st January.

Earlier in December last year, the MQM-P decided to hold the public gathering Bagh-e-Jinnah ahead of the General Elections 2024.

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Barrister Gohar rules out possibility of ‘ban’ on PTI

2024-01-17T00:23:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday ruled out possibility of a ‘potential ban’ on party following Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict that upheld the Dec 22 decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) depriving PTI of its iconic symbol — ‘bat’, ARY News reported.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa-led three-member bench announced the verdict, dealing a huge blow to Imran Khan-led PTI’s hopes of retaining its symbol.

As a result, the PTI candidates will now be contesting the elections independently with different electoral symbols while the party no longer has the right to reserved seats for women and minorities.

Speaking at ARY News programme ‘Khabbar’, the senior lawyer said that now the PTI has been stripped of its iconic symbol – bat, it doesn’t mean that the party has been dissolved, reiterating to file review petition in Supreme Court against its verdict.

Barrister Gohar noted that the PTI would not hold immediate intra-party elections, but first file a review appeal in the Supreme Court. Moreover, he said, they will not object to changing the bench of the Supreme Court or to the chief justice.

He maintained that the PTI’s intra-party elections were in accordance with the Constitution and were conducted in a ‘transparent manner’.

The PTI chairman pointed out that they did not criticise or express distrust of anyone in the judiciary. “We do not attack judges or conduct campaigns against them,” he said, citing example of PML-N senior vice president Maryam Nawaz and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The remarks came hours after the caretaker government on Tuesday constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate a campaign reportedly launched against the judiciary.

Additional Director General (Cyber Crime Wing) FIA would be the Convener of the committee, which comprises representatives of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and DIG Islamabad Police.

The JIT would ascertain facts behind “malicious social media campaign” attempting to malign the image of Judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar ruled out possibility of a ‘potential ban’ on party, vowing to resist strongly if such development occurs. “When it comes to ban on PTI, a full court should hear the matter,” he added.

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Nawaz Sharif meets economic experts ahead of elections 2024

2024-01-16T00:23:00.001+05:00

LAHORE: Ahead of the General Elections 2024, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif held an important consultation meeting with economic experts, ARY News reported.

According to details, reforms and various proposals to resolve the country’s economic problems were discussed during the meeting – which was also attended by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

The meeting also finalised an economic plan to “save” the people from inflation and recover economy.

During the ‘consultative’ meeting, the points of increasing the growth rate, tax reforms and ending the energy crisis were decided. The matters related to reduction in electricity and gas prices were also discussed.

In the briefing, Nawaz Sharif was told that the packages based on incentives for agriculture, industry and IT development have been prepared. Subsidy for domestic electricity consumers and provision of solar energy at special discount for agriculture sector has been prioritised.

Apart from this, a strategy has also been formulated to provide employment to deserving people on an annual basis as well as to make the youth skilled.

In the meeting, the priorities of major projects for education, health and infrastructure have been decided.

Earlier it was reported that the PML-N’s manifesto would be focusing on creating jobs and improving life standards. The party has focused over health, education, economy, livestock, agriculture and other sectors of the economy.

The PML-N in its manifesto has given special attention to the education sector, party sources said.

Party sources said that the PML-N government will emphasize over promotion of the public private partnership and Danish School System.

The PML-N has planned to enhance higher education from existing 13 percent to 30 percent, sources said.

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‘Top Gun 3’ in the works with Tom Cruise returning in iconic rule

2024-01-15T00:23:00.001+05:00

Hollywood Actor Tom Cruise is returning to play Navy pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell once again as Paramount has greenlighted the third installment of Top Gun: Maverick.

The 61-year-old action star first played the character in 1986’s Top Gun and returned in 2022 for Top Gun: Maverick, which was a massively successful box office hit grossing $1.496bn worldwide.

According to an international media outlet, Paramount has now commissioned “Top Gun: Maverick” co-writer Ehren Kruger to work on a script for a sequel to the action blockbuster.

The studio is also hoping that director Joseph Kosinski will get back into the cockpit for another installment in the series, which would potentially see Cruise’s younger co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell return for more high-altitude excitement.

The development comes days after Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Tom Cruise had signed a non-exclusive deal to develop franchises and original movies for Warner Bros., the studio where he made “Interview With the Vampire,” “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Magnolia” and “Edge of Tomorrow.”

That non-exclusive pact still allows Cruise to work for other companies like Paramount and Universal, where he’s working on a pricey film that will shoot at the International Space Station. It also gives Cruise’s company offices on Warner’s Burbank lot.

“Top Gun: Maverick” was a massive overperformer at the box office in 2022, earning $1.5 billion globally and sparking Steven Spielberg to credit Cruise with saving the theatrical business, which had been beleagured by the coronavirus pandemic.

The feature followed decades after Tony Scott’s 1986 Top Gun, which helped cement Cruise as a rising movie star. As well as being a commercial hit, the movie was also nominated for Best Picture at last year’s Oscars.

Cruise also guides the “Mission: Impossible” franchise at Paramount. He’s currently working on the eighth installment in the spy series.

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Pakistan Army guarding ballot papers transportation in sensitive areas: ECP

2024-01-14T01:23:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army is ensuring the secure transportation of ballot papers to the respective offices of district returning officers in certain vulnerable regions, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson said.

Brushing aside some media reports about delivery of ballot papers, the ECP spokesperson emphasized in a statement that the secure delivery responsibility rests with relevant DROs and their designated officers following ballot paper publication.

They oversee the secure transportation of ballot papers and ensure the safekeeping of the papers with the supervision of local police officials.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) assured smooth operations for the upcoming general elections 2024, saying that all its operational and IT systems were working “satisfactorily”.

In a statement, the electoral watchdog said that it wasn’t facing any difficulty in conducting the upcoming general election.

The ECP further said that it has developed an automated and modern Election Management System (EMS) that would be used to “transform and compile election results from Presiding to Returning officers”.

It added that the system had been tasted several times for the mentioned purpose. ‘Besides, some additional functions and features had been included to the EMS to facilitate the Returning Officers (ROs) so that the data can be used in future even during the initial phases of the polling process,” it noted.

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Three more cases of Covid-19 JN.1 variant reported in Karachi

2024-01-14T00:23:00.001+05:00

KARACHI: Three passengers who arrived at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi coming from abroad tested positive for the new Covid-19 variant “JN.1 Omicron”, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to Sindh Health Department, the rapid antigen tests of three passengers conducted at Jinnah International Airport came back positive.

The three passengers found positive for JN.1 variant, currently a cause of concern in several countries, are residents of Qamber Shahdadkot, North Waziristan, and Mohmand Agency.

The health department said that the affected passengers were tested for possible symptoms of Covid-19.

The number of JN.1 variant cases in Karachi has now risen to five after the detection of fresh patients.

Earlier, Sindh Health Department confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in passengers who had arrived at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.

The health officials suspect the cases to be of the highly transmissible JN.1 variant, which is currently a cause of concern across the world.

The two passengers, between the ages of 50 and 60, arrived from Bangkok and Jeddah on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

It is pertinent to mention here that the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) decided to conduct COVID testing of passengers coming from abroad.The NCOC meeting discussed the situation in the country about the new variant of Covid JN-1.

The forum okayed COVID testing at the airports and borders.Meanwhile, caretaker federal Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan said that the government is continuously monitoring the situation as this subvirus of Omicron was found in some countries.

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‘Top Gun 3’ gets major updates

2024-01-13T01:23:00.001+05:00

Tom Cruise starrer Hollywood franchise ‘Top Gun‘ continues to grow as the filming of its third film, reportedly titled ‘Top Gun 3‘, is reportedly starting soon.

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‘Top Gun‘ franchise started in 1986 with the release of the first film. It followed Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and fellow students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school competing to be best in the class.

A sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ was released in 2022. In the second film, Maverick becomes a trainer and leads his team in a dangerous mission.

A report by the US showbiz website Fandomwire reported ‘Top Gun 3‘ is in the works with Tom Cruise returning to play the leading role.

He is not the only star returning as Miles Teller and Glen Powell will reprise their respective roles of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw and Jake “Hangman” Seresin from the second film.

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Ehren Kruger, co-writer of ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ script, is returning as the screenplay writer. Joseph Kosinski is expected to return as director or producer.

David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer are also reportedly involved in the planned project.

It is expected to be Tom Cruise’s next film after ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part Two‘. Paramount Pictures, which produces ‘Top Gun‘ films, has not confirmed the development.

Joseph Kosinski had talked about ‘Top Gun 3‘ in an interview with entertainment news agency Comicbook. According to him, it was not the end for Maverick and the character wants to continue doing his stuff.

“Is there another story that is compelling enough that we need to go back?” he said. “It seems to me at the end of this film that Maverick has some gas left in the tank. He’s not settling down.”

There hasn’t been much revealed about the plot but, similar to the previous two films, it will involve fighter pilots taking flight and completing another dangerous and treacherous mission.

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Two terrorists gunned down in North Waziristan IBO: ISPR

2024-01-13T00:23:00.001+05:00

RAWALPINDI: Two terrorists were gunned down in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan as the country battles rising terrorism, ARY News reported on Friday, quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to the military’s media wing, the security forces conducted the intelligence-based operation (IBO) on reports of terrorists’ presence.

During the operation, two terrorists identified as Abdullah Khadri and Khalid alias “Janan” were gunned down.

“The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area including target killing of innocent civilians,” the ISPR stated.

Meanwhile, security forces are carrying out a sanitisation operation to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.

“The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country”, the military’s media wing noted.

The operation comes amid a surge in terrorist activities across the country, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the outlawed militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.

Earlier on Jan 10, two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Lakki Marwat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

According to ISPR, the intense exchange of fire took place in Lakki Marwat, where Pakistan Army troops killed two terrorists identified as Aftab aka Malang and Masood Shah.

Whereas, two soldiers Sepoy Muhammad Afzal (resident of district Bhimber, Azad Kashmir) and Sepoy Ibrar Hussain (27 years old, resident of district Mansehra) fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom.

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Pakistan supports South Africa’s application against Israel in ICJ: FO

2024-01-12T00:24:00.003+05:00

ISLAMABAD: “Pakistan supports the application filed by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning Israel’s violations of its obligations under the 1951 Genocide Convention in relation to the Palestinian people in Gaza,” ARY News reported quoting MoFA.

“We consider this legal action timely and an important step towards holding Israel to account for its well-documented atrocities unleashed against Palestinian people since 7th October 2023,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson said during her weekly press briefing.

“Pakistan shares the concerns raised in the application by South Africa. Israel’s ongoing military aggression and actions against the Palestinian people constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity and amount to genocidal act,” she remarked.

She said, “We reiterate our call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; an end to Israel’s unabated massacre of the Palestinian people; an uplifting of an inhumane siege; and expeditious delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.”

“Pakistan firmly believes that the only just solution to the Palestinian question is the creation of an independent, viable, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian State along the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as its capital,” she added.

It is pertinent to mention here that South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of engaging in “genocidal acts” in Gaza and asking the court to order the Israeli government to halt its attacks.

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Barbecue off the menu!

2024-01-12T00:24:00.001+05:00

BUENOS AIRES: Argentine retiree Susana Barrio says she no longer invites her friends over for the traditional asado barbecue, long a key part of social life in the South American farming nation. Fast-rising meat and vegetable prices have made the meals hard to afford.

Inflation in the country likely topped 200% last year, one of the highest levels in the world. Grocery costs rose particularly fast, hitting people’s wallets as salaries and pensions have failed to keep pace.

“We’ve had to eliminate things that made life a little brighter,” Barrio, 79, said. “That joy it gave me to invite my friends for a barbecue, which is typical here, now that’s impossible.”

Inflation was likely around 28% in December, with food prices up even more after a sharp devaluation of the peso currency, a Reuters poll of analysts showed. Official data will be released later on Thursday.

While high inflation has dogged Argentina for years, the rate of price increases is now at the highest level since the start of the 1990s, when the country was emerging from a period of hyperinflation.

“You totally lose track of prices,” said Guillermo Cabral, a 60-year-old owner of a butcher shop in Buenos Aires, who said he had once mistakenly told a customer the price for some meat was 35,000 pesos ($43) instead of 15,000 pesos.

“The customer took out the money to pay it all the same.”

President Javier Milei, a political outsider who rode to power on the back of voter anger at the worsening economic situation, is looking to employ tough austerity measures to bring down inflation, reduce a deep fiscal deficit and rebuild government coffers.

But Milei, who has been in office a month, has warned it will take time and that things could get worse before they get better. Many Argentines are further tightening their belts, with two-fifths already in poverty.

“Nothing is cheap,” said Graciela Bravo, a 65-year-old retiree, who said she now carefully counted how many potatoes she bought.

“Before you would purchase by the kilo, now I get three potatoes or four potatoes so they don’t spoil.”

Alejandro Grossi, 49, a lawyer, said he was wearily used to rising prices after years of inflation.

“I buy fewer things for myself than I would like, you adapt,” he said. “It’s like we’re used to it, it’s already something so natural here: inflation and changing prices.”

($1 = 814.9000 Argentine pesos)

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Onion prices surge to Rs240 per kg on massive exports

2024-01-11T00:25:00.001+05:00

KARACHI: Good quality onion prices have swelled to Rs240 per kg in the domestic markets as retailers blame massive exports for the price spiral, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

The already inflation-hit consumers are forced to pay heavy prices for the most sought-after commodity compared to other vegetables.

Speaking at ARY News programme ‘Ba Khabar Sawera’, Wholesale Vegetable Association President Sheikh Muhammad Shah Jahan linked the rise in onion prices to Indian ban on onion exports.

India – the world’s biggest exporter of onions – had banned shipments from Dec 8, 2023 till March 2024 after domestic prices more than doubled in three months following a drop in production.

Following India’s move, Pakistani exporters started cashing in on the situation with local rates suddenly crawling up to Rs160-180 from Rs120-140 on intense buying. Since then, the rates have continued to swell on thriving exports.

The association president, while talking to ARY News, said that many inflation-hit consumers were facing the brunt of the commodity’s high prices. “Consumers have restricted their purchases to less than one kg to manage their daily expenses of other items,” he added.

Shah Jahan also ruled out the shortage of onions in the country, noting that this year the country witnessed abundant production of the vegetable. “Our country is in dire need of foreign exchange but, unfortunately, the citizens were being sacrificed in this regard.”

The association president further said that he had always asked to constitute a board which includes government representatives along with importers and exporters. “In this regard, a policy should be formulated in the meeting after every 15 days,” he added.

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Pakistan, Saudi reaffirm desire to enhance defence cooperation

2024-01-10T00:23:00.001+05:00

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their desire to enhance defence cooperation in all domains to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of defence production.

This came at the third meeting of Pakistan-KSA Defence Collaboration at GHQ in Rawalpindi.

The forum reiterated the need to explore further avenues for defence cooperation and enhancing the pace of collaboration.

The meeting underscored the significance of historical relations between the two brotherly states.

The participants discussed issues of bilateral interest and evolving security environment.

The two sides deliberated upon rapid advancements in military technologies and the need for defence industrial cooperation between the two states towards the fulfillment of shared objectives.

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PTI founder fooled the nation on cypher issue: Bilawal

2024-01-09T00:23:00.001+05:00

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan fooled the nation on cypher issue, ARY News reported.

In an exclusive interview with ARY News programme “Off the Record”, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the former prime minister Imran Khan waved the alleged cypher in a public gathering and tried to fool the nation.

When asked about the PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s speech in Rawalpindi, if it was also an attempted security breach or not, Bilawal stated that Bhutto had said “he will take the state’s secret with him to grave” and never waved a cypher in public meetings.

“Former prime minister Imran Khan should confess his wrong doings” the PPP chairman said. He added that “election date was already decided in talks with PTI” but Imran Khan stubbornness ended up the talks with no result.

As political parties gear up for February 8 general elections, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari fired a fresh salvo at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, saying that the former prime minister was unable to show his face in public.

Ever since the announcement of the general election date, the PPP and the PML-N have witnessed an intensifying verbal showdown with the former accusing the latter of getting ‘special treatment’.

The cypher case

The cypher case was registered after former prime minister Imran Khan’s then-principal secretary, Azam Khan claimed that the former PM used US cypher for ‘political gains’ and to avert a no-confidence motion against him.

Azam Khan, who had earlier been “missing” since months, suddenly appeared before the scene and made startling claims about US cypher, while recording his statement under the CrPC 164 before a magistrate.

The statement said that upon seeing the cypher, Imran Khan was euphoric and termed the language “the US’s blunder”. Imran Khan was also accused of telling Azam Khan that cypher can be used to divert the general public’s attention towards foreign involvement in a no-confidence motion by the opposition, it says, adding that thereafter, Imran Khan asked Azam Khan to hand over the cypher to him, which he did.

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ANF seized 618 metric tons of drugs in 2023

2024-01-08T00:24:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Narcotics Forces (ANF) has seized 618 metric tons of drugs and prohibited chemicals with street value of billions of rupees by conducting over nineteen hundred operations in 2023, ARY News reported.

According to the details, eighteen hundred sixty people involved in smuggling, including sixty-four foreign nationals were arrested during different operations.

Besides, over fifteen thousand events have been arranged to spread awareness regarding menace of drugs.

ANF also participated in thirty-two international events for counter-narcotics during the last year. Anti-Narcotics Forces is committed to eradicate scourge of drugs from the country.

It is pertinent to mention here that the then Caretaker Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Sarfraz Bugti, inaugurated the ANF Forensic Lab at the Anti-Narcotics Force Academy (ANFA).

He emphasized the lab’s crucial role in expediting prosecutions, easing the burden on other forensic facilities, and improving drug detection efficiency through advanced equipment

The minister stressed the importance of maintaining the highest standards of credibility in forensic processes.

The establishment of this lab will facilitate the issuance of various tests and reports regarding anti-narcotics, said the minister adding that this will help bring the criminals to the conclusion, and along with this, valuable time will be saved and data will be collected.

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Aneeq Ahmed leaves for Saudi Arabia to finalise Hajj 2024 arrangements

2024-01-07T00:23:00.003+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed on Saturday departed for Saudi Arabia to finalise the arrangements for Hajj, ARY News reported.

During the visit, the minister is scheduled to hold significant meetings with Saudi officials and evaluate the arrangements for Hajj.

Aneeq Ahmed will also visit Jeddah to attend the International Hajj Conference organized by Saudi Arabia.

Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Dr. Attaur Rahman, along with Joint Secretary Hajj, Sajjad Haider Yaldram, is also accompanying the minister on this visit.

Earlier on Dec 29, Pakistan’s Religious Ministry announced balloting for the upcoming Hajj 2024.

According to detail, 69, 438 applications were received under the Regular Hajj Scheme and 63,805 of them remained successful in the balloting.

The ministry said that the government’s endeavors to reduce the cost of Hajj package also brought results and as it succeeded in reducing Rs100,000 from the total expense of the Hajj package.

A waiting list of unsuccessful 5,633 applicants has been prepared as per their cities of departure. Applicants on the waiting list will be selected if intending pilgrims belonging to that city withdraw their Hajj application.

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ECP unveils constituency-wise polling station lists

2024-01-07T00:23:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Returning officers (ROs), in line with the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), have published the constituency-wise preliminary lists of polling stations, ARY News reported.

Candidates and voters have the opportunity to submit their suggestions or objections regarding polling stations to the District Returning Officers (DROs) until January 11, 2024.

DROs are set to declare their decisions on these objections or suggestions from January 12 to 17, with the final list of polling stations to be revealed 15 days before the elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) yesterday completed priority-based training for election supervisory staff appointed for the smooth conduct of the 2024 general elections.

According to the electoral body, the training of 579,191 people has been completed, while the remaining 406,222 people will complete training by February 1.

ECP spokesman said on Thursday that the Commission had initiated training for nearly one million election staff during the last week of November, 2023, which would conclude by February 1, 2024.

The remaining 406,222 election supervisory staff, including District Returning Officers, Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, and others would be imparted training before the deadline, he added. Strict disciplinary action was being taken against the staff who remained absent during the training programme, the ECP spokesman said.

He said in compliance with the ECP’s special directives, the central control room had been fully operational since December 26, 2023, addressing and resolving complaints promptly.

To date, the central control room had received 45 complaints, all of which had been resolved, he added.

The spokesperson said the central complaint cell at the Election Commission Secretariat also handled 165 complaints, promptly processing and issuing necessary instructions to the relevant authorities.

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