PM Modi breaks silence on Sikh leader assassination plot allegations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has for the first time responded to allegations of a Sikh leader’s assassination on US soil, saying he will look into “any evidence” in this regard. In an exclusive interview with Financial Times, Indian PM Modi sought to play down the diplomatic impact of a US indictment last month that claimed Indian government official was also involved in the planning. “If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it,” Modi said. “If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we…

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COAS Asim Munir says Pakistan ‘eschews bloc politics’

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has outlined Pakistan’s approach towards maintaining relations with friendly countries, saying that the country seeks balanced ties and eschews bloc politics, according to the military’s media wing. The army chief made these remarks in a candid discussion with members of prominent US think tanks and media during his official visit to Washington, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. The COAS said that Pakistan is a country of consequence both from geopolitical and geoeconomic perspectives and wishes to develop itself…

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Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin postpones space travel due to technical difficulties

Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin had to postpone its much-anticipated return to space on Monday due to technical difficulties, however, the company promised to try again later this week. Since an unmanned September 2022 crash put the company’s programme on hold while it made repairs and sought regulatory certification, Jeff Bezos’s space company has not launched a rocket, AFP reported. Finally, the business declared that it would launch on December 18 from its facility close to Van Horn, Texas. However, due to the frigid weather on the actual day, it first moved back…

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Pakistan can’t compromise its national security: PM

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that as Pakistan stood at the crossroads of history, it could no longer continue to compromise its national security by accommodating huge number of undocumented immigrants. “Our ultimate aim is to build a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Pakistan – with associated benefits for our own people, for the region, and the wider world,” the prime minister wrote in an article published in The Telegraph on Sunday. He said that the governments across the world were adapting to a new era of…

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US forms 10-nation coalition to tackle Huthi attacks in Red Sea

The United States has announced a coalition of ten nations as part of its efforts to put an end to the relentless missile and drone strikes by Huthi rebels targeting ships traversing the Red Sea.  The multinational security initiative saw countries like Britain, France, Bahrain, and Italy coming together to confront the threats posed by this non-state group. Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, highlighted the critical importance of nations upholding the principle of freedom of navigation. He highlighted the necessity for joint action against the challenges presented by the…

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US submarine arrival sparks North Korean missile launch and condemnation

North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday, condemning US-led military activities and characterising the arrival of a US submarine in South Korea as a precursor to “a preview of a nuclear war.” The missile, aimed towards North Korea’s east coast, covered approximately 570km (350 miles) before descending into the ocean, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This move follows warnings from Seoul and Tokyo about potential missile tests, including the possibility of testing one of its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) this month, heightening…

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PM to visit Kuwait to offer condolences on Sheikh Nawaf’s death

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will pay a one-day visit to Kuwait tomorrow (Monday) to convey his condolences over the sad demise of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Foreign Office (FO) said on Sunday. A brief statement issued by the FO spokesperson said that the premier would convey sympathies and condolences to the royal family, the government and the people of the Arab state on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan. Sheikh Nawaf passed away at the age of 86 on…

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Australia announce 13-player squad for second Test against Pakistan

Australia announced 13-player men’s squad for the second Test match as they are on track to play an unchanged XI in the second Test against Pakistan in Melbourne. The home side announced a trimmed-down squad Monday with back-up fast bowler Lance Morris omitted. The Aussies crushed the visitors by 360 runs inside four days at Perth on Sunday, with off-spinner Nathan Lyon taking his 500th wicket. Opener David Warner hit a battling 164 to ensure he retained his place for the Boxing Day Test in what is expected to be…

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Manchester City’s lead slips; Luton’s Premier League match abandoned as captain suffers heart attack

Luton’s Premier League match against Bournemouth was cut short due to a concerning incident involving their captain, Tom Lockyer.  Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during the game, prompting an abrupt stop to the match. The distressing situation saw Lockyer collapsing on the pitch, leading to immediate medical attention and the game being halted with a 1-1 score. Fortunately, Lockyer received swift medical aid and was stretchered off the field, receiving supportive applause from the audience. Luton later confirmed that Lockyer was stable and under care at the hospital.  The unfortunate…

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US watchdog recommends blacklisting of India over religious freedom

WASHINGTON: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reiterated its request to the Biden administration to designate India as a “country of particular concern” under the US Religious Freedom Act, citing its transnational repression against religious minorities. The US religious freedom watchdog, an independent federal government commission, said “recent efforts by the Indian government to silence activists, journalists, and lawyers abroad pose a serious threat to religious freedom”. “USCIRF implores the US Department of State to designate India a Country of Particular Concern due to India’s systematic, ongoing, and…

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