The minister of state for climate change has blamed neighboring India for sending a toxic haze of smog to Pakistan’s Punjab province. In a video message on Thursday, Zartaj Wazir Gul, the junior minister, first applauded the province’s environment protection agency (EPA) for a job well done. “Till now, the government has shut down 261 units of furnace oil in …

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities have charged a man with murder in the deaths of his mother, stepfather and two brothers, including a 6-year-old. Acting Philadelphia Police Commissioner Christine Coulter says Thursday that 29-year-old Maurice Louis has confessed to killing members of his family in a Philadelphia home. Officers were sent Wednesday to check on Louis’ mother and stepfather when they …

The loan fund aims to address female entrepreneurs’ decreased access to capital from banks and other financial institutions.

Yes Prep Public Schools, a Houston-based system of public charter schools, is opening its first elementary schools in fall 2020. Yes Prep will open two elementary schools adjacent to its North Central and Southeast campuses, at 1900 Strawn Road and 507 Crenshaw Road, respectively. Michelle LaFlure, a principal at North Central’s secondary school, will lead North Central Elementary School, and Diana Rios will …

One of Houston’s largest public companies appears ready to begin construction on a new 13-story building along Interstate 10.

Houston’s luxury housing market — defined as homes priced from $750,000 and up — experienced a 2.6 percent decrease in sales in September, but the area still saw several multimillion-dollar homes sold. Among the top 10 most expensive home sold in the Houston area in September, the average list price was more than $3.52 million, according to the Houston Association of …

Southwest Airlines has extended its booking schedule through June 6 of next year, including adding new routes and expanding others.

Hundreds of supporters of Bangladesh’s cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan protested on Wednesday after he was banned for two years by the sport’s governing body for not declaring attempts to bribe him. The ban on the 32-year-old superstar was announced on Tuesday by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which suspended one year of the punishment after Shakib “accepted three charges …

CHRISTCHURCH: England wicket-keeper/batsman Jonny Bairstow believes New Zealand will be intent on exacting World Cup revenge in the Twenty20 International series that begins at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday. The Black Caps suffered the cruellest of defeats in the final of the one-day showpiece, when the scores were tied after a Super Over but England won because they had hit …

The first pick of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 could reportedly be decided via methods used in street crickets such as pugam pugai — a selection method involving hands similar to rock-paper-scissors. As things currently stand, the franchise that finished last in the prior season is allowed to make the first pick. As a result, Lahore Qalandars had enjoyed the first …