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The United States confirmed the sale to Taiwan of an advanced missile system worth almost $700 million which has been battle-tested in Ukraine, its second weapons package in a week bringing the total of $1 billion, and reaffirmed support for Taipei. In the Indo-Pacific region, only Australia and Indonesia now operate the system, three of which the United States said last year Taiwan would receive as part of a $2-billion weapons sale. The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) medium-range air defence solutions, as they are called, are made by RTX and are a new weapon for Taiwan. The Pentagon said the…

Pakistan has identified the Digital Silk Road as the key priority for CPEC’s next phase, proposing joint ventures with China in 5G/6G, hardware manufacturing, ICT components, AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity. During a meeting with China’s MIIT leadership, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized expanding CPEC beyond physical infrastructure into digital connectivity, smart manufacturing and skills development. Pakistan urged China to collaborate on overcoming global tech supply-chain barriers, adopt China’s “Intelligent Manufacturing” model for industrial upgrading, and strengthen fiber-optic and data-transit cooperation to position Pakistan as a regional digital hub.

Renowned Odia playback singer Humane Sagar, whose voice shaped a generation of music lovers, passed away on November 17 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. His untimely death at just 34 has left Odisha in deep mourning as tributes pour in from top leaders, artists, and fans. Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan issued heartfelt condolence messages. Governor Kambhampati wrote on X that he was “deeply saddened,” adding that Sagar’s contribution to Odia music and cinema “will always be remembered.” Chief Minister Majhi called the loss “irreparable” and prayed for peace for the…

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released an updated list of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for national players taking part in upcoming international cricket leagues. Several top and emerging cricketers have now been cleared to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10 League and the ILT20. The PCB confirmed that national players have been granted NOCs to participate in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi, with permissions valid until November 25. Players who received NOCs for the tournament include Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khawaja Nafi, Asif Ali, and Salman Irshad. Three players cleared for ILT20 The board…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced its latest player rankings, bringing significant shifts in both the ODI batting and bowling charts. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has surged to the top of the ODI batters’ rankings, displacing India’s Rohit Sharma from the No1 position. Mitchell is now only the second New Zealand batter to achieve this milestone, following in the footsteps of Glenn Turner, who last held the top spot in 1979. Pakistan’s Babar Azam has made upward movement, climbing one place to secure the sixth position. Salman Agha remains steady at 15th, while Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman have…

A 12-page minority judgement authored by Justice Jamal Mandokhel in the Supreme Court’s reserved seats case has challenged the majority ruling, declaring that the court overstepped its authority by declaring 41 candidates independent. The decision restores the disputed seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and reaffirms his original stance. Justice Mandokhel maintained his earlier decision regarding the reserved seats, stating that 41 seats must be returned to the SIC, consistent with his original finding. The judge emphasized that the majority verdict on these seats was “not in accordance with the Constitution and the facts.” He noted that the court…

A Levies officer was martyred after armed men attacked a checkpost near the Qila Abdullah cemetery on Wednesday, triggering widespread anger among local tribes. Residents later blocked the Quetta–Chaman highway in protest as authorities began an inquiry into the deadly assault. According to Levies sources, the incident unfolded when armed men targeted a Levies checkpost near the Qila Abdullah cemetery. Levies officer Saadullah was shot during the assault and embraced martyrdom on the spot. Officials said the attack occurred as Levies personnel were attempting to prevent a theft in the area. The assailants, belonging to the Sardar Faqir Muhammad dacoit…

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, offering a fierce defense of the visiting Saudi crown prince that contradicted a US intelligence assessment. The controversy over the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and US-based critic of the Saudi leadership, flared again in the Oval Office in front of cameras as the kingdom’s de facto ruler made his first White House visit in more than seven years, seeking to further rehabilitate his global image tarnished by the incident. Trump later announced that…

A fire has ripped through more than 170 buildings in a southern Japanese coastal city, burning overnight and still not fully extinguished, the national fire agency said on Wednesday. Around 175 residents of the Saganoseki district of Oita city, some 770km (478 miles) southwest of Tokyo, fled to an emergency shelter after the blaze broke out at approximately 5:40pm (0840 GMT) on Tuesday, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. One person was still missing while the cause of the fire was under investigation, it said. Aerial footage from local broadcasters showed houses reduced to rubble and thick plumes of…

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has highlighted critical water shortages in Balochistan, where only 7 percent of land is currently under cultivation. In response, a digital water and weather monitoring system has been launched to help farmers manage scarce resources more efficiently. ADB has set up automatic weather stations across the province to provide precise data on rainfall, temperature, and wind speed. This information allows farmers to plan irrigation schedules more effectively, reducing water loss and enhancing crop yields. With the digital system, Balochistan can now predict floods and droughts in advance. This early warning capability helps the government distribute…