Singer-songwriter Bilal Maqsood released a second volume of nursery rhymes from children’s puppet show Pakkay Dost on YouTube on Tuesday. The first volume came out in 2023 and the show’s vibrant visuals and engaging narratives garnered widespread acclaim, fostering a love for Urdu and enriching the lives of countless young viewers. Actor Sajal Ali lauded … Read more

TURNBERRY: US President Donald Trump and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen Sunday announced they had reached a deal to end a transatlantic tariffs standoff and avert a full-blown trade war. The agreement came as the clock ticked down on an August 1 deadline for the European Union to strike a deal with Washington — or … Read more

HARIDWAR: At least six people were crushed to death at a popular Hindu temple in northern India’s Uttarakhand state on Sunday, officials said, after a massive crowd surge. The stampede occurred on the stairway leading to the Mansa Devi temple in the Hindu holy city of Haridwar, on the banks of the Ganges river, and … Read more

SINGAPORE: Teenage phenomenon Summer McIntosh captured gold in ominous fashion on the opening day of the world swimming championships on Sunday as Australia claimed a relay double in Singapore. The 18-year-old Canadian launched her packed programme with a dominant performance in the women’s 400m freestyle, romping home in 3min 56.26sec, nearly two seconds clear of … Read more

SAMRAONG: Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders will meet in Malaysia for peace talks on Monday, as the countries clashed for a fourth day in a deadly border dispute. At least 34 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced as the countries, both popular tourist destinations, fight over a smattering of contested border temples. Bangkok … Read more

BRUSSELS: Meta on Friday said it will be forced to ban political advertising on its platforms in the European Union from October because of rules the Facebook and Instagram owner called “unworkable”. The EU has a bolstered legal armoury to rein in Big Tech, against which Meta has hit out — with the support of US … Read more

GAZA CITY: Gaza civil defence agency said Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. However, Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited “tactical pause” in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. UN … Read more

MOSCOW: Russia on Sunday began direct commercial flights to North Korea, in a further sign of closer ties with its Asian ally helping its offensive in Ukraine. The first Moscow-Pyongyang flight, operated by Russia’s Nordwind Airlines, took off at 1625 GMT, according to the Sheremetyevo airport’s website. It is scheduled to land in the North … Read more