225 articles found
Movie Week saw Lewis Cope score this year’s first perfect 10 for his swashbuckling Zorro paso doble. Thunderbird puppet Ross King was bottom of the standings. But which box office flops would be doomed for the dance-off?
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KARACHI: Three women lost their lives and a young man was injured after a speeding car overturned near Star Gate on Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal on Sunday morning, police reported. According to initial findings, the driver of the car, registered as BGQ-469, lost control of the steering wheel due to overspeeding. The vehicle struck the footpath, flipped over, and landed on the opposite side of the road, leaving all four occupants critically injured. Airport Police Section Officer Rehan Zeb said the accident was caused by reckless driving. “The car was moving at high speed when the driver lost control. One woman died at the scene, while two others and a man were taken to the hospital in critical condition,” he stated. The victims were shifted to Jinnah Hospital, where two more women succumbed to their injuries. The deceased were identified as 50-year-old Asma, her 19-year-old daughter Muntaha, and 22-year-old niece Faryal Shayan. The injured, Owais, is a relative of the victims. All were residents of Liaquat Market in Malir and were traveling from Drigh Road toward Malir when the accident occurred. Police said the car was completely destroyed in the crash. After completing legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to the family. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
By Tim Lister, Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN (CNN) — Almost 900 miles from Ukraine’s borders, a fire erupted at a Russian oil refinery on Saturday. The blaze – a result of a strike by Ukrainian long-range drones, according to sources in the country’s security services – was the third at the facility in the last month alone. It was just the latest episode in an intensifying energy war between Ukraine and Russia. Video from the area around the Ufa refinery in Bashkortostan, a Russian region in the southern Ural Mountains, showed a column of dark smoke rising from the plant following the attack. The refinery is one of the country’s largest. This was at least the fourth Ukrainian attack on Russian oil facilities in the last week, continuing a campaign that accelerated over the summer and has led to gasoline shortages in parts of Russia. Overnight on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military, a gas processing facility and pumping station in the Volgograd region of southern Russia were also hit. Ukraine’s special forces claimed that the pumping station has an annual capacity of 50 million tons. The latest Russian strikes on Ukraine left more than 240,000 homes in the southwestern Odesa region without power on Saturday, according to officials. Ukraine’s energy ministry said more than 800,000 customers in Kyiv lost power for a time. Ukraine’s extended reach Kyiv’s growing ability to strike refineries well over 1,000 kilometers inside Russian territory is down to an increasing arsenal of locally-made drones and missiles. Ukraine struck Russia 70 times in September, according to Ukrainian commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. “We are destroying the aggressor country’s production of fuel and lubricants, explosives, and other components of the Russian military-industrial complex,” Syrskyi said in a Telegram post on Friday . Winter shortages Ukrainian officials acknowledge, however, that Ukraine’s gas and other infrastructure is itself under heavy pressure from Russian attacks. “There are 203 key facilities in Ukraine that we need to protect with air defense systems,” Zelensky said, while renewing his appeal for more Western systems. The Ukrainian leader said he had discussed the Russian attacks in a call with US President Donald Trump Saturday as well as “opportunities to bolster our air defense.” According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian air defenses are “about 74% effective,” but further efforts are needed to protect energy facilities. Friday’s attack was “one of the largest concentrated strikes specifically against energy facilities,” according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. “Unfortunately, there is significant damage to the energy infrastructure.” Russia’s mounting assault on Ukraine’s gas production means Kyiv will have to seek higher imports than previously anticipated. Ukraine is currently negotiating with its international partners to increase natural gas imports by about 30% as the winter approaches, according to energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk. Domestic demand for gas in Ukraine usually spikes sharply from November. Ukraine had already arranged credits from European institutions for €800 million ($930 million), Grynchuk said, and had discussed expanding these loans. Most of those extra imports will come from Europe. The European Union disclosed last week that its storage facilities were at 83% capacity ahead of peak winter demand. For now, the price of natural gas remains steady on European markets. The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
The African Democratic Congress has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardons to dozens of convicted drug traffickers and smugglers. In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the action as “pathetic and a national disgrace.” It warned that the move undermines Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts, encourages crime, and further tarnishes Nigeria’s image in the eyes of the world. The full statement read: The African Democratic Congress (ADC) finds as pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace the recent presidential pardon and clemency granted to several convicted criminals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It amounts to a most irresponsible abuse of the presidential power of prerogative of mercy to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking, smuggling, and related offences, especially when most of these convicts have barely served two years in jail for offences that carry a penalty of life imprisonment. ADC: Tinubu’s mass pardon for drug traffickers a national disgrace, encourages crime Tinubu’s list of pardoned individuals mockery of criminal justice system, says Atiku How Amupitan can be successful as INEC chair –Cleric What Oyo NDLEA boss can do to stop secondary school students from abusing drugs, Jimoh Mumin President Tinubu eulogises son, Seyi, as he clocks 40 According to official media statements, it appears that all it takes to get presidential clemency for even the worst of crimes in Nigeria, including drug trafficking, gun running, and murder, is to “show remorse and learn skills.” Pardons and clemency are granted for their social utility and to correct perceived miscarriages of justice, and to convicts who have paid their debts to society. But we wonder what Nigeria stands to benefit from this act of clemency to convicts serving life sentences who have barely served two years. For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria is still regarded as a major transit point for illicit drugs while we face a serious national pandemic of drug use, especially among our youths. Several reports have it that Nigeria’s drug use stands at an estimated 14.4%, almost three times the global average of 5.5%. For years, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies have risked life and limb to combat this problem, dismantle illicit drug networks, intercept consignments, prosecute offenders, and secure convictions. The men and women in these agencies have laboured under enormous risk and pressure to protect the public from the scourge of addiction, trafficking, and related crimes that carry some of the harshest penalties in Nigerian law, precisely because of their devastating impact on public health, youth development, and national security. Granting clemency to individuals convicted under such laws therefore strikes at the very foundation of Nigeria’s legal and moral stance against narcotics and makes a mockery of the gallant efforts of officers fighting the battle against narcotics and illicit drugs. These pardons also send reverberations beyond Nigeria’s borders. They undercut our standing among global partners in the fight against drug trafficking and give the unfortunate impression to the rest of the world that our country, under President Tinubu, has particular sympathy for drug dealers and that Nigeria is a risk-free jurisdiction for traffickers in narcotics. Make no mistake, with this mass clemency for drug dealers, President Tinubu and the APC are redefining the standard of morality in our country. They are gradually transforming Nigeria into a country where anything goes, where even the worst of crimes attract no punishment beyond a few months of inconvenience for the criminal to, by their assessment, “show remorse.” The mission of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) remains clear: to rescue our country from this ruling party, the APC, to whom public opinion or accountability means nothing, and power and impunity mean everything.
KARACHI: Dozens of people from across Karachi have been flocking to the Korangi causeway after rumors spread on social media that the area’s soil contains gold particles. The frenzy has drawn residents from various parts of the city, including Surjani, New Karachi, Sher Shah, Nagan, and Korangi, all hoping to strike it rich. Armed with spades, sieves, and muslin cloths, men, women, and even children have been seen digging small and large pits near the causeway. Many arrived on motorcycles, rickshaws, and taxis, collecting soil which they then sieve and wash in search of traces of precious metals. According to some individuals at the site, the soil appears to contain specks of gold, brass, and iron. One participant said he and his family had been searching for three days. “We don’t know whose fortune will shine in gold and whose will turn out to be brass,” he remarked with a hopeful smile. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but the unusual rush—sparked entirely by social media speculation—has turned the Korangi causeway into an unexpected hub of gold fever in Karachi
For the first two years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China presented itself as an independent arbiter. In 2023 it even proposed a 12-point peace plan that was mainly commerce-orientated. Practical goals such as protecting civilians and prisoners of war were included, although notably it does not criticize Russia’s unreasonable rationale for the invasion. Now that plan is missing from official Chinese government websites and China unequivocally supports Russia economically, and with millions of dollars of military aid. One example is Silva a Russian shell company, headquartered in Buryatia, Siberia. According to Politico it filed declarations in January 2025 detailing orders for 100,000 bulletproof vests and 100,000 helmets from manufacturer Shanghai H Win. Chinese manufacturers providing Russia with dual-use (military and commercial) components has been critical in boosting Russia’s military capabilities. In 2024, dual-use shipments from China to Russia surpassed US$4 billion according to Dr Daniel Balazs of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). These included optics, transmitters, engines, microcircuits, antennas, control boards, software and navigation systems. While there are no examples of China supplying heavy weaponry like artillery, they have certainly provided essential laser guidance systems, ball bearings, and gunpowder. More significantly, drones are critical on the Ukraine battlefield. China is the major supplier to Russia of military surveillance and attack drones, initially the Mavic series from DJI. From 2022 to 2023 Chinese firms sold $12 million (U.S.) worth of drones and spare parts to Russia. Currently, the Russian V2U strike drones, which have artificial intelligence capabilities, are entirely made up of Chinese components. In return, Russia shares its expertise with China in submarine technology, missile systems, and advanced radar. Ironically, China takes these systems, reverse-engineers them and produces jets and jet engines that are superior to their Russian counterparts. As Russian military equipment losses grow, and they no longer have the technology to replace them, they will be forced to buy more military materiel from China. Moreover, as the Russian economy collapses, they increasingly rely on China to prop it up. In July 2025, Russia sold China 8.71 million tonnes of crude oil, representing nearly a fifth of China’s total crude imports. Nevertheless, Chinese industrial demand is declining, and they are wary of further U.S. sanctions. Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries are affecting Russian production and domestic supply. The war in Ukraine has also resulted in severe manpower shortages. In 2024, Russia’s industrial sector hired approximately 47,000 foreign workers, many from China. Furthermore, according to the BBC, over13,000 North Koreans are forced to work on construction sites in Russia in substandard conditions. Everyday consumer items in Russia are now Chinese. Chinese cars accounted for nearly 60% of the new car market in 2024. China’s total exports to Russia reached a record $240 billion, with clothing being a significant component. Even their essential down jackets and fur coats are provided by Chinese companies. China dominates the Russian market in cell phones, refrigerators, televisions, furniture and bedding. Russia is trying to limit this dependence and seeks to set up factories in Russia, with limited success to date. In many ways the Russia-Chinese relationship is symbiotic – Russia provides natural resources like minerals, oil and gas, and China, the world’s largest manufacturer, turns these resources into sophisticated modern products. Of course, the finished product is much more valuable than the raw materials. So, what does China get out of this uneven relationship? Some pundits believe that China wants to take territory from Russia, in the Far-East when the Putin regime ends. This is highly unlikely. Whoever gains power in Russia also inherits their nuclear arsenal. China has no territorial ambitions in Siberia. Nevertheless, both China and Russia explore new economic opportunities in the Arctic. China defiantly buys liquefied natural gas from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project in northern Siberia. China really needs Russia, and its new ally North Korea, to confront its great economic and political rival, the United States. In part America’s increasing isolationism, and trade war against China, exacerbates this divide. China’s focus is to the East and the Pacific. It wants to retake Taiwan and a recent leaked report indicates that Russia is allegedly training China’s airborne troops for this purpose. China wants to construct a military base in the South Pacific where France and America have long-established bases – hence the one-sided financial agreements with the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the Cook Islands. When Australia attempted to seek a security deal with its closest neighbour Papua New Guinea, China objected to its exclusivity. The small Melanesian nation is over 3,400 miles (6300 kilometers) from China. China also seeks to separate America from its traditional allies, South Korea, The Philippines and Japan. As a result of American tariffs, Japan, China and South Korea are laying the basis for free trade deals, something that was previously inconceivable. In 2023, China obtained the use of the Russian port of Vladivostok for its domestic commercial traffic. On the other hand, Russia wants unfettered sea access for its covert (and hazardous) oil tankers through the Indian Ocean and along the Chinese Coast. In the end China will support Russia for as long as it can leverage these advantages The traditional Chinese parable of The Fight between Snipe and the Clam, teaches that when two parties are locked in a prolonged conflict, a third party will often exploit their weakened state to their own advantage. So, China is playing a long game. Millions of Ukrainians and Russians are suffering as China seeks one-upmanship in a geo-political game. Patrick Drennan is a journalist based in New Zealand, with a degree in American history and economics.
PM Shehbaz will attend Sharm El-Sheikh Summit co-chaired by Trump, El-Sisi to finalise Gaza peace accord tomorrow PM to be accompanied by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and senior ministers MoFA says participation reaffirms Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestine’s just cause ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit—also known as the Gaza peace accords signing ceremony—in Egypt on Monday (tomorrow), where US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will co-chair the historic gathering aimed at finalizing an agreement to end the war in Gaza. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the prime minister has been formally invited by both President Trump and President El-Sisi to participate in the high-level peace conference. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with several senior cabinet members, will accompany the premier on the visit, the ministry confirmed in a statement on Sunday. The Sharm El-Sheikh Summit follows Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement alongside other Muslim nations on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session last month, pushing for a comprehensive ceasefire and humanitarian relief in Gaza. Prime Minister Shehbaz, together with leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia, and Turkiye, had attended a summit-level meeting on Gaza with President Trump on September 23. Following that meeting, the Arab-Islamic bloc issued a joint communiqué welcoming the US-led peace initiative and reaffirming their commitment to work with Washington for a sustainable ceasefire and reconstruction of Gaza. In its statement, MoFA said: “The Prime Minister’s participation in the summit reflects Pakistan’s historic, consistent, and unwavering support for the just cause of the Palestinian people — for their right to self-determination and lasting peace and stability in the region.” The ministry further expressed hope that the upcoming summit would pave the way for a complete Israeli withdrawal, ensure protection of Palestinian civilians, end their forced displacement, and facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza. “Pakistan also hopes that such efforts will contribute to a credible political process aimed at achieving an independent, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital — based on pre-1967 borders, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative,” the MoFA statement added. The gathering in the Red Sea resort town will bring together “leaders from more than 20 countries”, Sisi’s office said. It will seek “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and Pedro Sanchez of Spain will also attend the summit. French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, according to their offices. The European Council will be represented by its president, Antonio Costa, a spokesperson said. Jordan’s King Abdullah II is also expected to attend, according to state media. Israel and Hamas, however, will not attend the summit.
Në një moment historik për Lindjen e Mesme, Ministrja e Punëve të Jashtme të Shqipërisë, Elisa Spiropali, përcolli një mesazh të fuqishëm shprese, humanizmi dhe solidariteti ndërkombëtar. Në prag të lirimit të shumëpritur të pengjeve, Ministrja Spiropali zhvilloi një bisedë të rëndësishme me homologun e saj izraelit, Gidon Saar, ku u diskutua mbi Fazën e Parë të Planit të Paqes, një hap i domosdoshëm drejt stabilitetit dhe një fitore për vlerat e jetës, dinjitetit dhe humanitetit njerëzor. Gjatë komunikimit, ministrja shqiptare theksoi se ky zhvillim ringjall shpresën se edhe pas dhimbjes dhe pasigurisë, mund të mbizotërojë drita e bashkëjetesës dhe respektit për jetën njerëzore. Ajo po ashtu pranoi me mirënjohje ftesën e homologut izraelit për të vizituar Izraelin javën e ardhshme, në një vizitë që pritet të thellojë marrëdhëniet e shkëlqyera midis Shqipërisë dhe Izraelit, dhe të hapë rrugë të reja bashkëpunimi ekonomik, politik dhe kulturor midis dy vendeve mike. “Ky është një çast që na kujton se edhe në orët më të errëta, shpresa dhe njerëzimi mund të triumfojnë. Shqipëria qëndron në anën e paqes, dinjitetit dhe jetës,” u shpreh Elisa Spiropali, duke nënvizuar se Faza e parë e Planit të Paqes, e mbështetur nga përpjekjet ndërkombëtare të filluara dhe udhehequra nga Presidenti Donald J. Trump, përfaqëson një moment kyç për gjithë rajonin. Mesazhi i saj është pritur me vlerësime të larta në qarqet diplomatike si shenjë e rolit të Shqipërisë në promovimin e paqes dhe solidaritetit ndërkombëtar, duke e pozicionuar vendin tonë si një urë miqësie dhe bashkëpunimi midis popujve.
Tom Aspinall won’t fight his ‘friend’ Ante Delija in the UFC Before focusing on his upcoming return to action, Aspinall was supporting a teammate at UFC Paris. Former PFL title winner Ante Delija announced his arrival in style, tearing through Marcin Tybura in just over two minutes. That debut result immediately put the Croatian into the top 10 of the UFC heavyweight rankings, meaning he may only be a few wins away from a title shot. Should that come to fruition, Aspinall has no plans of facing off against him. “My friend and training partner (Delija) has just got to the UFC and he just got his first win, and now he’s in the top 10,” Aspinall said on the ShxtsnGigs Podcast. “He’s potentially like two or three wins away from a title shot. If I’d never won a title…I would feel like we would have to fight because that’s my dream. But now I’ve done it, I would be like, I’ll vacate it and he can have his time. “I wouldn’t fight him, no chance, no chance…that’s my guy.” he continued. “There’s some stuff to me that’s more important than money and titles. I’ve won the title, I’ve done that, and I’ve got a few more in me before he’s gonna be up there anyway.”
Ross King has become the latest celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing . The 63-year-old Lorraine presenter and his dance partner Jowita Pryzstal f ound themselves in the dance-off during tonight's results show, following their Paso Doble performance to the Thunderbirds Are Go theme tune. Despite a second attempt at their routine, the judges opted to save Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon after their Foxtrot to Swing Time's The Way You Look Tonight. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas - who held the deciding vote if needed - all chose to save EastEnders actress Balvinder and Julian, resulting in Ross and Jowita's departure. When Tess Daly asked about their experience on the show, an emotional Ross King said: "I have loved every single minute of it," reports Glasgow Live . "I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us, all the people who voted – they've been amazing. I want to thank everyone here in this room, backstage, the judges, the crew – every single person here has made me so, so welcome. "And, I want to thank a very special lady who has been with me through it all and has been absolutely everything: she's been a mentor, teacher, carer." As Jowita chimed in with "barista", Ross went on: "I could not have wished for a better partner, and I could not have wished to be on a better show. Thank you judges for all your remarks." Tess then turned to Jowita and said "Jowita, you called Ross 'Your King,'" to which Jowita replied: "And I still stand by it! Thank you so much for all of your work. For everything you have done during rehearsals. "We laugh a lot – but we also cried! Thank you so much, and I hope I'm going to be a little part in your life forever." Ross previously spoke about how difficult he'd found training, saying: "We've all chatted to people that have done the show and they've said it's hard, I don't think we really realised how hard it is... It really is eight hours [of training] a day. "But to get the opportunity to dance with the best dancers in the world, to have them coach you and prep you, there's amazing medical staff behind the scenes, to have that team... "And at the stage of my career, to be offered something like this, to learn a brand new skill and a skill I could take forward - I'd love to go back and do musicals again and to go in with a bit of dance knowledge." Sunday's results show also featured a routine from Strictly's Professional Dancers in tribute to the Minecraft movie, plus Nancy Xu and Kai Widdrington dancing to a performance from Lang Lang of Reflection from the film Mulan. Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden were the first pair to have been voted out last week, and the remaining 13 couples will take to the dancefloor next week with Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell hoping to make a comeback after missing last night's show due to illness. Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 18 October at 6:30pm, with the results show on Sunday 19 October at 7:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Both episodes from this weekend are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Israeli prime minister says there are ‘very great security challenges ahead of us’ but expects hostages will be released tomorrow
The women were embroiled in one of the most famous feuds of the 2000s. Now, decades on, the Laguna Beach stars have put the drama behind them. The two women reunited on Saturday and shared a snap on Instagram
Many complaints about garbage issues and bad roads have also been reported by residents on 1913, social media and Namma Chennai mobile App of Chennai Corporation after October 1
Lee Gaze and his fellow bandmates condemned Watkins upon his arrest and conviction
BJP launches counter-attack and says Congress leaders are unnerved
Trump announced that the government would move funds to pay troops, but many are still worried about the uncertainty caused by the shutdown.
The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will bear the brunt of the storm, which will usher in beach erosion and flooding, Monday into Tuesday, forecasters said.
Ladd McConkey’s wife, Sydney, channeled her excitement for the LA Chargers Week 6 game into a workout.
LA Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua gave fans a scare during Sunday’s clash with the Baltimore Ravens. He left in the second quarter after landing awkwardly on his left leg.