Residents in Amsterdam were evacuated from their homes after a huge fire ripped through the historic Vondelkerk church in the city on Thursday morning. Local media reports it is suspected that the structure, which dates back to 1880 and is a popular tourist attraction, was likely hit by fireworks. Footage shows flames rapidly spreading through…
ANKARA: Turkish security forces have successfully foiled a major terror plot planned for New Year’s Eve, arresting 357 members of the terrorist organization ISIS. The massive crackdown, titled “Operation Gurz,” was carried out simultaneously across 21 provinces. Provincial police, counter-terrorism units, and intelligence agencies participated in the joint operation to dismantle networks planning attacks during…
Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi Appointed Coordinator for Islamic & Gulf Countries and Interfaith Harmony ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister of Pakistan has appointed Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, as the Coordinator for Islamic and Gulf Countries and Interfaith Harmony. A formal notification has been issued in this regard. Given the current…
Matthew Tuckerand Lucy Talavera AFP via Getty Images Fireworks lit up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Day celebrations in Australia Countries around the world are welcoming the New Year as midnight strikes from time zone to time zone. The island of Kiritimati – an atoll in…
RAWALPINDI – Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has issued a stern warning against any attempts to undermine the country’s sovereignty, stating that any violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity will be met with a “harsh and decisive” response. Addressing the participants of the 18th National Workshop on Balochistan, the Field Marshal highlighted…
Israel is to revoke the licences of 37 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules. ActionAid, International Rescue Committee, Médecins Sans Frontières and Norwegian Refugee Council are among the aid agencies which will have their licences suspended on 1 January,…
Finnish police have detained a vessel sailing from Russia, which is suspected of damaging an undersea telecoms cable running from Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland. The cargo vessel, the Fitburg, was sailing from St Petersburg to the port of Haifa in Israel, under the flag of St Vincent and Grenadines. All 14…
Rozina Siniand Tom Bennett Reuters A train driver was killed and at least 40 others were injured in the crash on Tuesday A passenger has described “chaos” after two trains collided head-on near Peru’s most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu. Niels Honkoop, 33, told the BBC he had switched seats part-way through the journey from…
BERLIN: Voice of Germany In his inaugural New Year’s address, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has set a transformative tone for the nation, characterizing 2026 as a pivotal “year of new beginnings.” Speaking to the nation for the first time since taking office in May 2025, the Chancellor outlined a comprehensive roadmap to navigate Germany through…
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Amidst high tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq shared a surprising moment in Dhaka. The two leaders met and shook hands while attending the funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. According to sources, Minister Jaishankar approached…
