WASHINGTON: The United States has cautioned the Taliban that the world will not accept a government imposed by force in Afghanistan as an intelligence report warned that the current setup in Kabul could collapse within six months after the American withdrawal. At a Tuesday afternoon news briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Ned Price also indicated that US financial assistance …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is going to decide whether it should reject former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s appeals against conviction or rehear him upon his surrender or arrest. IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani reserved the decision in his appeals after hearing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) additional prosecutor general Jahanzeb Khan …

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily announced on Wednesday it would print its final edition after authorities arrested staff and froze its assets using a sweeping new national security law, silencing the independent media outlet. The decision is the latest blow to Hong Kong’s freedoms and deepens unease over whether the international finance centre can remain a media hub as …

TOKYO: A panda at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo gave birth to twins on Wednesday, weeks after news of Shin Shin’s pregnancy sent stocks in nearby restaurants soaring. They were born in the early hours of Wednesday, the zoo said in a statement, adding that it had not yet confirmed the sex of the pair. Zoo director Yutaka Fukuda said the twin …

PARIS: Climate change will fundamentally reshape life on the planet in the coming decades, even if humans can tame planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to a landmark draft report from the UN’s climate science advisers. Species extinction, more widespread disease, extreme heat, ecosystem collapse, cities menaced by rising seas — these and other devastating climate impacts are accelerating and bound …

Despite the escalating feud, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still considered part of the royal fold by Queen Elizabeth II. Following the 94-year-old  Queen’s meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, royal fans were quick to notice a subtle nod she paid to Prince Harry and Meghan. The shot released of her private audience with the premiere, …

Loki officially become the first ever character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be bisexual. Director of the Disney+ series, Kate Herron, made the announcement on Twitter, confirming  that the God of mischief was part of the LGBTQ+ community. In the latest episode of the series, female timeline-hopping variant Sylvie discusses romantic partners with Loki. “How about you? You’re a …

MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday said it fired warning shots at a British navy destroyer in the Black Sea after it violated the country’s territorial waters, but the UK denied the incident had occurred. Incidents involving Western aircraft and ships are not uncommon at Russia’s borders, especially during heightened tensions with Washington, Brussels and London, but rarely result in open fire. …

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Wednesday witnessed a war of words between the treasury and the opposition members over the ‘plan to conditionally give up nuclear deterrence’. As Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan sought the House’s nod to take up for consideration at once the Pakistan arms amendment bill seeking to empower the federal government to delegate …

ISLAMABAD: Rangers will be deployed during the general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to be held on July 25. Sources said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had accepted a request of AJK Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Abdul Rashid Sulehria for deployment of Rangers. Elections will be held in 33 constituencies of AJK and 12 constituencies of Kashmiri refugees …