Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s rising squash star Noor Zaman clinched the NASH Cup 2025 title in Canada, defeating Egypt&rsquo;s Moustafa Elsirty in the final. The 21-year-old from Peshawar &mdash; grandson of squash legend Qamar Zaman &mdash; overpowered the tournament&rsquo;s second seed in straight games, 19-17, 11-7, 11-9, after a tense 52-minute battle. Seeded fifth, Noor impressed throughout the $30,000 Copper-level event, highlighted by a semifinal win over Colombia&rsquo;s Matias Knudsen. The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) hailed his triumph as a &ldquo;remarkable achievement.&rdquo; Fellow Pakistani Muhammad Ashab Irfan also made the semifinals after defeating India&rsquo;s Veer Chotrani. Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Muhammad Yasir Pirzada, congratulated Noor, calling the victory a proud moment for the nation.

Athletics

Pakistani squash player Noor Zaman lifted the NASH Cup 2025 title in London, Canada, after defeating Egypt’s Moustafa Elsirty in the final on Saturday.

Pakistan’s Noor Zaman wins NASH Cup 2025

BEL&Eacute;M: The United Nations climate conference opened on Monday in the Brazilian Amazon with pleas for the world to keep up the fight against global warming, even as the United States turns its back. Feeble progress toward weaning off fossil fuels and cutting planet-warming emissions have opened fault lines between countries in Belem, the hot and sticky city on the edge of the rainforest hosting the two-week COP30 summit. &quot;It&#39;s time to inflict a new defeat on the deniers,&quot; Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva thundered in his opening address, which followed a traditional performance from Indigenous people in feathered headpieces. He pointedly slammed those who &quot;spread fear, attack institutions, science, and universities.&quot; Weighing on the talks is the absence of the United States, the world&#39;s top oil producer and second-largest polluter. But American state and local leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, are set to take the stage on Tuesday to show the country isn&#39;t entirely missing in action, highlighting their own climate policies and solidarity with global efforts. &quot;Make no mistake, humanity is still in this fight,&quot; said UN climate chief Simon Stiell. &quot;We have some tough opponents, no doubt, but we also have some heavyweights on our side.&quot; He pointed to &quot;the brute power of market forces&quot; beginning to tip in favor of renewables, which this year overtook coal as the world&#39;s top energy source: &quot;extraordinary progress that was unimaginable a decade ago.&quot; The summit opens in the wake of destructive storms in the Caribbean and Asia and a growing fear that geopolitical tensions &mdash; from wars to trade feuds &mdash; are distracting from the fight against climate change. In a stark reminder of what&#39;s at stake, the UN&#39;s top climate scientist reaffirmed that a temporary breach of the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) benchmark &mdash; the safer warming goal of the Paris Agreement &mdash; was now inevitable. Those challenges and more were compounded by logistical problems in Belem, including a dire shortage of hotel rooms. Organizers say just over 42,000 delegates have gathered, fewer than at recent editions, as sky-high accommodation costs appear to have kept many away. Lula has defended the choice of location, saying he wanted to bring the world&#39;s attention to the Amazon&#39;s role in combating climate change, a shift mainly driven by burning coal, oil and gas. Tough negotiations A tough two weeks lies ahead for diplomats meeting in a cavernous conference hall, where the din of negotiations are occasionally drowned out by tropical rainfall hammering the roof overhead. Rich nations and developing countries regularly clash at COPs over how to raise the money needed for poorer regions to adapt to climate change and shift to a low-carbon future. &quot;Our 44 countries did not light this fire, but we are bearing its heat,&quot; Evans Njewa, a Malawian diplomat who chairs the Least Developed Countries (LDC) bloc that represents more than one billion people, told reporters. Major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia have traditionally opposed efforts at COPs to focus on fossil fuels. At COP28 in 2023, nations historically agreed to transition away from fossil fuels for the first time. Lula has floated the idea of a &quot;roadmap&quot; on fossil fuels at COP30, but the proposal so far lacks details. For 30 years, the countries party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change &mdash; adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro &mdash; have met annually to strengthen the global climate regime. Those efforts culminated in the 2015 Paris Agreement, which commits the world to limiting global warming to well below 2C relative to pre-industrial levels, while striving for 1.5C. But Jim Skea, head of the UN&#39;s expert climate science body, warned on Monday it was &quot;almost inevitable&quot; that the world will cross the crucial warming threshold at least temporarily. The world&#39;s failure to rein in global temperature rises is the focus of an effort by small island nations to put this on the official agenda. A Western diplomat told AFP that such nations &quot;are ready to upend the COP&quot; if they don&#39;t see a stronger official response to these efforts assured at COP30. &quot;If they don&#39;t deliver on 1.5C, that spells our demise,&quot; Tuvalu minister for climate affairs and environment Maina Vakafua Talia told AFP.

Climate

Feeble progress toward weaning off fossil fuels, cutting planet-warming emissions have opened fault lines between countries in Belem, the hot and sticky city on the edge of the rainforest hosting the two-week COP30 summit.

Brazil's Silva urges 'defeat' of climate deniers as COP30 opens

WASHINGTON: Syria&#39;s President Ahmed al-Sharaa met President Donald Trump at the White House for unprecedented talks on Monday, capping a dramatic turnaround for a former fighter who once had a $10 million US bounty on his head. In remarkable scenes just days after he was removed from Washington&#39;s terrorism list, Sharaa climbed out of his motorcade to greet crowds of supporters outside the US presidential mansion. Sharaa, whose forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, is the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since the country&#39;s 1946 independence. The 43-year-old&#39;s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda but was itself removed from Washington&#39;s terrorism list in July. Syria&#39;s presidency said on X that Sharaa and Trump discussed the bilateral relationship, &quot;the ways to strengthen and develop it, as well as a number of regional and international issues of common interest.&quot; Unusually for the normally camera-friendly Trump, the meeting with the Syrian leader took place behind closed doors without the media present. But Syria&#39;s presidency published photos of Trump standing and shaking hands with a smiling Sharaa beside the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Other pictures showed the Syrian leader sitting opposite Trump with top US officials including Vice President JD Vance, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and top US military officer Dan Caine. There was no immediate reaction from the White House. Trump said last week that Sharaa was doing a &quot;very good job. It&#39;s a tough neighborhood. And he&#39;s a tough guy.&quot; &#39;Attractive guy&#39;Since taking power, Syria&#39;s new leaders have sought to break from their violent past and present a more moderate image to ordinary Syrians and foreign powers. Sharaa&#39;s White House visit is &quot;a hugely symbolic moment for the country&#39;s new leader, who thus marks another step in his astonishing transformation from militant leader to global statesman,&quot; said Michael Hanna, US program director at the International Crisis Group. The Syrian met Trump for the first time in Saudi Arabia during the US leader&#39;s regional tour in May. At the time the 79-year-old Trump dubbed Sharaa, 43, a &quot;a young, attractive guy.&quot; The US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said earlier this month that Sharaa may on Monday sign an agreement to join the international US-led alliance against the Islamic State (IS) group. The United States plans to establish a military base near Damascus &quot;to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel,&quot; a diplomatic source in Syria told AFP. Washington has also been pushing for some kind of pact to end decades of enmity between Syria and Israel, part of Trump&#39;s wider goal to shore up the fragile Gaza ceasefire with a broader Middle East peace settlement. For his part, Sharaa is expected to seek US funds for Syria, which faces significant challenges in rebuilding after 13 years of devastating civil war. After his arrival in Washington, Sharaa over the weekend met with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva over possible aid. Sharaa&#39;s past has caused controversy in some quarters but the State Department&#39;s decision on Friday to remove Sharaa from the blacklist was widely expected. The Syrian president has also been making diplomatic outreach towards Washington&#39;s rivals. He met Russian President Vladimir Putin in October in their first meeting since the removal of Assad, a key Kremlin ally.

Americas

Middle East

Sharaa is the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since the country's 1946 independence; Syria's presidency says Sharaa, Trump discussed the bilateral relationship, "the ways to strengthen and develop it, as well as a number of regional and international issues of common interest."

Syrian president meets Trump for historic talks

Muhammad Usman Amin

Nearly a month of political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries.&nbsp; As of Nov. 10, major border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, remain closed to commercial traffic. The recent collapse of talks in Istanbul has dashed hopes for a quick resolution, potentially shifting regional trade. The crisis, which began in early October following deadly border clashes, has escalated into an economic standoff. The recent third round of negotiations in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, also ended without any agreement. Islamabad maintains that Kabul must first address its concerns regarding militant groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and rein in terrorist elements operating against Pakistan on Afghan soil. With diplomacy on pause, the economic fallout is on full display. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Investment has confirmed that combined losses have exceeded $100 million. For reference, annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $2.3 billion.&nbsp; Junaid Altaf, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, said, &ldquo;Containers are still stranded at the Torkham border. Many perishable items had to be returned, resulting in significant financial losses. Nearby warehouses are filled to capacity; there is no space left.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Containers are also stuck on the Afghan side, unable to enter Pakistan. These containers are loaded with stone, coal, and fresh fruit. Traders estimate that these blockades are impacting more than just trade; they are affecting employment, supply chains, and people-to-people relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he added. For Pakistan, the closure has affected certain imports, leading to temporary domestic price increases. Prices for essentials like tomatoes had soared to many times the usual rate, but the recent harvest in Pakistan&#39;s Sindh has brought prices back down.&nbsp; Coal, another major import from Afghanistan, is in short supply. Pakistan has substantial coal reserves in the Thar region, but the quality does not meet the required standards, and it needs to import higher-quality coal from South Africa and other countries. &nbsp; In Afghanistan, on the other hand, the impact is quite severe. The crucial dried fruit market, a mainstay of its export economy, has come to a near standstill, with traders in provinces like Zabul and Kandahar reporting devastating price drops as their goods cannot reach Pakistani markets. The suspension of Afghan imports of grapes, apples, and pomegranates has raised prices in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, however, orchard owners are lamenting that prices need to be slashed by almost 50% compared to last year, as the fruit is piling up with no buyers in sight.&nbsp; Pakistan is also the largest exporter of cement to Afghanistan. The construction industry is one of the country&#39;s biggest employers, especially in a nation ravaged by decades of war. However, the border closure has brought construction to a halt and impacted the lives of millions of laborers. Afghanistan can turn to Iran for cement, as it is already the second-largest importer, but this transition will require time, resources, and infrastructure.&nbsp; According to the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority, 95% of the pharmaceuticals in Afghanistan are imported, with the majority being from Pakistan and India (imported via Pakistan). The border closure has put a significant strain on Afghanistan&#39;s fledgling healthcare sector.&nbsp; Khanjan Alokozay, Chairman of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber&mdash;Kabul Chapter, commenting on the ties between the two countries, said, &ldquo;Unless trade and social matters are separated from intelligence and security issues and addressed seriously, resolving this problem is impossible.&rdquo; Faced with a blocked eastern border, Afghanistan is actively seeking alternatives, but the necessary infrastructure isn&#39;t available, and the costs are significantly higher. The lack of easy access to a port makes Kabul&#39;s task even more difficult. Pakistan remains firm, linking trade to its security needs. The approach is part of a nationwide effort to repatriate undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghans. The belief is that the long-term security gains outweigh the short-term economic difficulties. For a landlocked and unrecognized government, the Taliban must now treat border diplomacy as an absolute necessity, not a political afterthought. Although Pakistan benefits from trade with its western neighbor, its overall reliance on it is limited. However, for Kabul, it could serve as a critical choke point with long-term economic consequences.

Asia

Political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries

Pakistan, Afghanistan border closure costs surpass $100M as talks remain stalled

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces after they successfully foiled a militant attack targeting Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO). The PM condemned the attack and lauded the swift action of security personnel, who eliminated two militants during the response. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attackers had rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the college, causing it to collapse and damaging nearby structures. After the blast, three militants entered the college premises but were cornered inside the administrative block, the ISPR said. &quot;The cowardly enemy once again attempted to target an educational institution, but their plan was successfully foiled,&quot; the PMO stated. The ISPR noted that the militants involved were in communication with handlers based in Afghanistan. &quot;Khwarij hiding inside the college premises are in contact with their masters and handlers in Afghanistan and are receiving instructions,&quot; the ISPR said, adding that the act was &quot;orchestrated by Khwarij from Afghanistan.&quot; Pakistan identifies Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as khwarij, invoking a historical label for a radical sect in early Islam that violently opposed established leadership, accused fellow Muslims of disbelief, and justified rebellion through extremist interpretation.&nbsp; The statement further said the incident contradicts claims by the Afghan Taliban authorities that such militants are not operating from Afghan soil. &quot;Pakistan reserves the right to respond against terrorists and their leadership present in Afghanistan,&quot; the ISPR warned. The militants, the statement continued, were linked to what it described as an &quot;Indian proxy group, Fitna al-Khwarij,&quot; and had attempted to emulate the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar. The objective of the attack, the ISPR noted, was to instill fear among students from the region who are pursuing education to build better futures. Security forces are currently conducting a clearance operation in the area. The PMO reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s counter-terrorism campaign under the &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam&rdquo; framework will continue, as endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. &quot;This campaign will continue at full pace to eliminate the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism,&quot; the statement said.

Security

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Cadet College Wana attack, praised security forces for killing two militants, and reaffirmed the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign against foreign-supported terrorism

PM Sharif hails Pakistani forces after foiled attack on cadet college

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Despite all odds, differently-abled squash player Sana Bahadur remains determined to chase her dream of becoming one of Pakistan&rsquo;s top players. Talking to Pakistan TV, Sher Bahadur, Sana&rsquo;s father, said his daughter&rsquo;s remarkable journey into squash began purely by chance. &ldquo;Sometimes, the most extraordinary journeys begin by accident,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;We had gone to visit a school, and there we met someone who took us to the Hashim Khan Squash Complex. Children were playing on the courts, and that&rsquo;s where Sana and her brother Saifullah saw the game for the first time. They immediately showed interest.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 316px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1987926525484876197&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2080%2F&sessionId=fc900c825f898943a61dbb113734b95e52d540cb&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Encouraged by squash legend Qamar Zaman, the family decided to bring the children to the complex. &ldquo;From day one, Sana showed an unusual passion. It felt natural as if she was born for this game,&rdquo; her father recalled proudly. That spark quickly turned into dedication. Through relentless practice and focus, Sana began to make her mark, showcasing a blend of talent, determination and discipline that set her apart. Sher Bahadur said competing with top players from Malaysia, Egypt, the US, and Australia has improved her game significantly. Since she began playing squash a decade ago, Sana has won nearly a dozen national titles while competing internationally in Australia and the United States, where she reached a career-high PSA world ranking of 212. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/08fb55ed-71f0-46de-944c-7e5139fbacfb-8dd8099e-ffbd-49f2-bbe6-3934f20ef123.jpg" alt="8dd8099e-ffbd-49f2-bbe6-3934f20ef123.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Pakistan&rsquo;s differently-abled squash player Sana Bahadur defies all odds while competing in the U-19 Squash Tournament in Islamabad on March 15, 2022.</figcaption> &ldquo;We are focusing on her physical training and planning to play more tournaments abroad; maybe in the US or England,&rdquo; Sher Bahadur said, adding that with continued effort, we will see her among the top 20 or 30 players in the world within the next couple of years. Behind Sana&rsquo;s journey lies a family&rsquo;s faith, sacrifice and belief in her potential.&nbsp; Her rise reflects not just personal success but the enduring spirit of Pakistan&rsquo;s squash legacy &mdash; one that still burns bright in the next generation of champions.

SAT News Desk

Since she began playing squash a decade ago, Sana Bahadur has won nearly a dozen national titles while competing internationally in Australia and the United States.

From chance to champion: Journey of Pakistan’s differently-abled squash prodigy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif rejected what he called &ldquo;baseless propaganda&rdquo; about the safety and operations of the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on Monday. In a statement on X (Twitter), the minister said flight safety is &ldquo;non-negotiable&rdquo; and regulated by Pakistani and international authorities. He said that &ldquo;unqualified people cannot dictate it.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 368px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1987825916165431715&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=41083d636fb3f2062963698455b96286b669c5c0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1987825916165431715"></iframe></div></div> The minister stated that PIA&rsquo;s average daily revenue over the past three days stood at Rs600 million ($2.1 million), achieved through uninterrupted domestic and international flight schedules. The minister said detractors were spreading malicious news to harm Pakistan&rsquo;s national interests and &ldquo;sabotage&rdquo; PIA&rsquo;s progress. He said the airline has been steadily improving after years of effort to restore profitability. According to the statement, PIA continues to operate flights as scheduled, serving destinations including Toronto, Manchester, Paris, Saudi Arabia, China, and the Far East. Plans to expand to Europe and North America are also in the works.

Politics

Pakistan’s defence minister rejected 'baseless propaganda' over PIA’s safety, saying flights meet international standards and recent revenues hit PKR600 million daily.

‘Propaganda in the air’: Pakistan rejects claims of PIA safety issues

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan security forces killed 20 terrorists affiliated with the Indian-backed group &lsquo;Fitna al Khwarij&rsquo; during two separate operations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Nov. 8-9, the military&#39;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Monday.&nbsp;According to the ISPR, an intelligence-led operation in Shawal, North Waziristan, targeted the reported presence of terrorists. Eight terrorists were killed during a precise engagement.&nbsp;A second operation in Dara Adam Khel District resulted in the neutralization of 12 more terrorists following an intense exchange of gunfire. Security forces are continuing sanitization operations to eliminate any remaining threats in the area.&nbsp;The ISPR emphasized that these actions are part of Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under the federal Azm-e-Istehkam strategy, aimed at eradicating foreign-supported terrorism from the country.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,&rdquo; the statement concluded.

Pakistan security forces killed 20 militants linked to Indian-backed ‘Fitna al Khwarij’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Nov. 8-9, during operations in Shawal and Dara Adam Khel under the federal counter-terrorism strategy.

Pakistan forces kill 20 Indian-backed terrorists in operations: military

ISLAMABAD: Conflicting accounts and rapid speculation by sections of the Indian media have followed an explosion in the heart of New Delhi, even as authorities stated that the cause remains under investigation.&nbsp;According to AFP, at least eight people were killed and 19 others injured when a vehicle exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station in the densely populated Old Delhi district on Tuesday. The blast occurred close to the historic 17th-century Mughal landmark, a major tourist attraction.&nbsp;Delhi Police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi confirmed that the explosion took place inside a vehicle, but said officials had not yet determined what triggered it.&nbsp;&ldquo;The exact cause is still under investigation,&rdquo; Tyagi said. &ldquo;We have teams on the ground gathering evidence.&rdquo;&nbsp;Local television networks reported footage showing multiple vehicles engulfed in flames and thick smoke rising in a crowded street near the metro station. According to the city&rsquo;s deputy fire chief, six vehicles and three autorickshaws caught fire before the blaze was brought under control.&nbsp;Statements from Indian leadershipPrime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sympathy in a message on X, saying he offered condolences to the families of those killed in the Delhi blast and wished a swift recovery for the injured. Home Minister Amit Shah told local media that the explosion involved a Hyundai i20 near a traffic signal close to the Red Fort. He said CCTV footage from the surrounding area will be reviewed as part of the inquiry.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account,&rdquo; Shah said. &ldquo;All options will be investigated immediately, and we will present the results to the public.&rdquo;&nbsp;Following the explosion, New Delhi&rsquo;s international airport, metro stations and government buildings were placed on high security alert, according to official statements.&nbsp;The US and French embassies in Delhi also issued security advisories to their citizens, urging them to avoid crowds and the areas surrounding the Red Fort, and to remain alert in places frequented by tourists.&nbsp;Eyewitness accounts differ from early reportsSome eyewitnesses at the scene described the vehicle involved as a compact Suzuki Maruti, based on what they saw immediately after the explosion. However, officials have referred to the vehicle as a Hyundai i20, and forensic teams remain deployed.&nbsp;Authorities have not yet released CCTV footage to clarify the discrepancy.&nbsp;Speculation over identity raises concerns&nbsp;Some Indian media channels circulated unverified claims linking the vehicle to a man named &ldquo;Salman,&rdquo; despite the absence of police confirmation. Other reports suggested different prior owners from Faridabad and Pulwama, though authorities have not confirmed any ownership chain.&nbsp;No official statement has identified a suspect or motive.&nbsp;Media observers in India have pointed to a pattern of speculation outpacing verified detail during breaking news events.&nbsp;Security questions raisedThe blast occurred near a high-security zone that houses several central government buildings, prompting renewed scrutiny over security measures in the capital.&nbsp;Police said forensic and anti-terror teams continue to examine the site, and further details will be released once initial findings are complete.&nbsp;Authorities continue to disperse crowds at the scene and maintain a security perimeter. With additional inputs from AFP

India

 Indian media begins blame game after Red Fort blast, shifting narratives and naming suspects without confirmation as police say cause remains under investigation

Speculation follows deadly New Delhi blast as investigators probe cause

ISLAMABAD: More than a million Syrians have returned home over the past year, but millions remain displaced within the country, according to a new United Nations report. Over 1.2 million Syrians crossed back into Syria from abroad since December 8, 2024, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported. Most returnees came from Turkey, followed by Lebanon and Jordan, with smaller numbers arriving from Iraq, Egypt and beyond the region. While more than 1.9 million internally displaced people have returned to their home areas or intended destinations within the country, including over one million who left camps and collective sites in the north, around seven million people remain displaced inside the country. UNHCR data show that return movements are taking place across multiple governorates, including Aleppo, Homs, Damascus and Hama. Meanwhile internal returns are concentrated in northern Syria. The report said the figures reflect continuing population shifts more than a decade after the start of the conflict. The number of people returning from neighboring countries is also continually rising. Turkey&rsquo;s interior minister reported that 550,000 Syrians have returned since December 2024, bringing total voluntary returns from Turkey to 1.29 million since 2016. From Lebanon, an estimated 362,027 Syrians have gone back, and from Jordan, about 167,000 refugees registered with UNHCR have returned since December 2024. Smaller numbers have also returned from Iraq and Egypt. The report said the total number of Syrians who have returned either from abroad or from internal displacement since December 2024 exceeds three million, even as millions remain uprooted throughout the country.

More than a million Syrians have returned home since late 2024, while about seven million remain displaced inside the country, according to a new UNHCR report.

Syria: Millions return home but millions still displaced

KATHMANDU: Nepal&#39;s police have arrested 423 people accused of crimes ranging from murder to vandalism during a deadly mass uprising in September that toppled the government, according to police data released on Monday. Suspects also face charges that include the illegal possession and use of weapons, as well as theft and indecent behavior, the data showed. &quot;A team is looking into the incidences and we are working to collect information,&quot; Nepal police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said. Youth-led protests that rallied under the loose umbrella title of &quot;Gen Z&quot;, referring to those aged under 28, erupted on September 8 after a government ban on social media. The movement was more broadly fuelled by economic hardship and growing anger over corruption. Protests then morphed into nationwide fury, culminating in the collapse of the government as crowds torched parliament and the Supreme Court. At least 76 people were killed in two days of violence, according to a new police toll, including 63 protesters, 10 escaped prisoners and three police officers. Thousands of activists used the group-chat app Discord in the aftermath of the uprising to nominate 73-year-old former chief justice Sushila Karki as their preferred interim leader. She was then appointed prime minister until elections due in March 2026. Arrests have taken place since the unrest but the police data issued on Monday gave the first indication of the scale of the detentions. More than 2,700 structures were attacked across Nepal, including government buildings, police stations, hotels, businesses, party offices and the houses of politicians. Supermarkets, stores and private residences were also looted. Some protesters were seen brandishing rifles on the second day of the unrest, weapons that were allegedly seized from the police. Around 14,500 detainees also escaped from prisons nationwide during the chaos. Authorities say 5,020 remain at large. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal said on Saturday a special operation would be launched to recapture the escapees and recover looted weapons. Representatives of Gen Z protest groups have demanded Aryal&#39;s resignation, accusing him of failing to hold accountable those responsible for the deadly crackdown on young demonstrators. The government has imposed travel bans on former prime minster KP Sharma Oli and four former senior officials as a commission investigates the unrest.

Suspects also face charges that include the illegal possession and use of weapons, as well as theft and indecent behavior, the data showed.

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