Author: News Desk

Lebanon made the demands after the seventh round of direct talks with Israel in Rome, saying it would stay away until progress was achieved on all three issues News Desk ROME: Lebanon has set three conditions for returning to direct negotiations with Israel, saying it will not return to the negotiating table until there is clear progress on the key issues. Sources close to the Lebanese delegation said Beirut was demanding a complete ceasefire across Lebanese territory, the establishment of a new pilot zone covering Bint Jbeil and Khiam, and an end to the demolition of homes, residential areas, orchards…

News Desk SRINAGAR: Indian forces and investigating agencies intensified raids, surveillance and restrictions across Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, with searches and detentions reported in several areas. According to the Kashmir Media Service, Indian forces and investigating agencies conducted searches at 26 locations in Sopore and adjoining areas of Baramulla district. The searches were reportedly carried out in cases registered under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against activists associated with Jamaat-e-Islami. Heavy deployments of Indian forces were made around the locations where the searches took place. The latest action came amid continued security operations and restrictions in the disputed territory. All…

News Desk VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA: A Porter Airlines flight from Victoria to Toronto was cancelled after a young child refused to sit in their seat and fasten their seat belt before take-off. Flight PD444 had left the terminal and was preparing for departure when cabin crew noticed the child standing on their seat. Flight attendants and the child’s parents spent considerable time trying to persuade the child to sit down and fasten the seat belt, but the child continued to resist. Under aviation safety rules, passengers must remain seated and properly secured when required, meaning the aircraft could not safely…

Indian Air Force wing commander arrested over alleged leak of sensitive defence information News Desk NEW DELHI: An Indian Air Force wing commander has been arrested by Delhi police on allegations of sharing sensitive defence information with a woman he befriended on social media, according to Indian media reports. The serving officer was arrested on May 30 after police accused him of installing data-stealing software on the mobile phone of the woman and using it to share sensitive defence-related information. The 44-year-old wing commander is currently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail in New Delhi. His name has not been…

News Desk LONDON: Scientists at the University of Delaware are studying whether sharks could help improve forecasts of hurricane intensity by serving as mobile ocean-observing systems. Researchers are fitting sharks with sensors that measure ocean temperature, electrical conductivity and depth. Conductivity provides an indication of the amount of salt in seawater, giving scientists a broader picture of conditions beneath the surface. Aaron Carlisle, a professor at the university’s School of Marine Science and Policy and the study’s lead researcher, said animal-borne sensors had already been used successfully in marine research, particularly in areas where conventional scientific observations were limited. Sharks…

News Desk ROSARIO: The father of Argentina football star Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi, has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness, according to international media reports. Jorge Messi died on Friday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, where he had been receiving treatment. Lionel Messi spent time with his father following the 2026 Fifa World Cup before returning to his club, Inter Miami. He was back in action for the club about a week ago. Messi has spoken in the past about the important role his father played in his football career, particularly during his childhood. “I…

News Desk ANKARA: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the defence agreement between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was based on the principle of collective defence outlined in Article 5 of the Nato treaty, while stressing that the arrangement was not aimed at Iran. Speaking in Ankara, Fidan said the proposed framework was intended to strengthen security cooperation and contribute to stability across the region. He said the agreement should not be interpreted as an effort to target any particular country. Fidan said the three countries were working towards a security framework based on mutual defence commitments. Under the principle,…

News Desk LUCKNOW: An Indian woman has been accused of using dating apps and social media to befriend men, secretly obtain their private photographs and videos, and allegedly extort more than Rs600m from them in a blackmail scheme in Uttar Pradesh. According to Indian media reports, the alleged network came to light after a complaint was filed by a High Court lawyer. The woman was identified in the complaint as Palvi Singh Rajput. Police were told that Rajput allegedly contacted people through dating apps and social media, developed friendships with them and arranged meetings. During these encounters, she allegedly obtained…

News Desk BAGH: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has said those calling for a “countdown” will eventually be “set right” and their countdown will also be put back on track. Addressing a public gathering in Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said the people were the true owners of Pakistan and stressed the close relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir. He said Kashmiris were working across Pakistan and enjoying their rights, adding that Pakistan could not be considered complete without Kashmir. Rana Sanaullah said no power could weaken the bond between Pakistan…

News Desk TOKYO: A 32-year-old Japanese woman has been arrested after allegedly placing more than 2,000 online orders worth billions of yen and repeatedly cancelling them, reportedly as a way of relieving stress. Tokyo police arrested the woman, identified by Japanese media as Mayo Yoshida, after she allegedly used fake names and around 230 fictitious accounts to place orders through the online store of Japanese anime and publishing company Shueisha. According to Japanese media reports, Yoshida ordered merchandise linked to popular anime series including Naruto and One Piece, with the total value of the orders reportedly reaching about 4.3bn yen,…