VIENNA: Austrian Airlines will resume flights to the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday, the carrier said, after a near five-month suspension triggered by the Israel-Iran war.&nbsp;German airline Lufthansa also said it intends to resume flights to Tehran from December but added that a precise restart date would be announced closer to the time.&nbsp;Austrian Airlines said its first flight to Tehran would depart Sunday at 7:35 pm.&nbsp;The carrier&#39;s security team is continuing to &quot;closely assess developments throughout the region&quot;, it said in a statement.&nbsp;Both Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa suspended their flights in June after the outbreak of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran.&nbsp;They were among a host of carriers who put services to Iran on hold due to the conflict.&nbsp;Austrian Airlines is part of the wider Lufthansa Group, which also includes Euro wings, Swiss and Brussels Airlines.

Europe

Middle East

Austrian Airlines will resume flights to Tehran Sunday after nearly five months, following the Israel-Iran war, while German airline Lufthansa also said it intends to resume flights to Tehran from December.

Austrian Airlines to resume Iran flights

WEST PALM BEACH: President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to send US forces into Nigeria with &quot;guns-a-blazing&quot; if Africa&#39;s most populous country does not stem what he described as the killing of Christians by Islamists. &quot;If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, &#39;guns-a-blazing,&#39; to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,&quot; he said on Truth Social. &quot;I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.&quot;

Americas

President Donald Trump threatened action against Nigeria, saying the U.S. may halt all aid and send forces "guns-a-blazing" to target Islamist perpetrators if the government fails to stop killings of Christians, posting on Truth Social.

Trump threatens military action in Nigeria over 'killing of Christians'

Simran Siraj

KARACHI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a new round of cash assistance for flood-affected families, confirming that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will release Rs25,000 [$89] per eligible household as part of the 2025 flood-relief strategy.&nbsp;Meanwhile, experts say the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP), operating under BISP, is demonstrating strong impact in Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to combat chronic malnutrition. Launched in 2020, the programme provides conditional cash transfers to pregnant and lactating women and to children under two years of age.&nbsp;The payments are linked to regular antenatal and postnatal check-ups, immunisation, and nutrition counselling, aiming to improve maternal health and reduce stunting in infants.&nbsp;According to Dr. Mazhar Abbasi, National Project Manager at Nutrition International, Benazir Nashonuma has grown into &ldquo;one of Pakistan&rsquo;s largest nutrition interventions,&rdquo; with operations now spanning 156 districts and 3.5 million mothers and children enrolled.&nbsp;&ldquo;Supplements worth nearly Rs21 billion [$74 million] have been disbursed to over 850,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, as verified by the Aga Khan University&rsquo;s 2023&ndash;24 midline evaluation,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;The evaluation found that children in programme areas showed a 10-percentage-point lower prevalence of stunting at 24 months compared to similar districts without the programme.&nbsp;The study also documented a drop in low birth weight from 31.4 percent to 20 percent in Nashonuma districts, compared to 17.6 percent in non-programme areas. Improvements were also recorded in antenatal care coverage, dietary diversity among mothers, skilled birth attendance, postnatal care, and maternal anaemia.&nbsp;&ldquo;These numbers demonstrate how a well-designed, nutrition-sensitive social protection model can deliver measurable improvements in maternal and child health within a relatively short timeframe,&rdquo; Dr. Abbasi said. He added that the programme&rsquo;s combination of supplements, counselling, and conditional cash transfers &ldquo;is yielding results at scale.&rdquo;&nbsp;Officials at BISP describe Nashonuma as a core pillar of Pakistan&rsquo;s broader social protection framework, one that strengthens household resilience by integrating nutrition support with income assistance.&nbsp;Dr. Ali Turab, public health and nutrition expert, said conditional cash transfers played a stabilising role in flood-affected areas by helping families maintain access to nutrient-dense foods, avoid skipping meals, and continue seeking routine healthcare.&nbsp;&ldquo;By easing immediate financial pressure, CCTs reduced stress and shock-related vulnerabilities,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Families became more willing to prioritise girls&rsquo; health, which is often neglected during emergencies.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the programme is effective because it focuses on the first 1,000 days of life, a critical period for preventing stunting, while being anchored in BISP&rsquo;s national platform, ensuring coverage, targeting, and sustainability.&nbsp;He added that Nashonuma functions both as a nutrition intervention and a shock-responsive safety net, especially valuable when food prices rise or services become harder to access during crises.&nbsp;As Pakistan continues recovery from the 2025 floods, experts note that integrating cash assistance with health and nutrition services, as Nashonuma does, could support a more resilient and nutritionally secure recovery for vulnerable households.

Health

The Benazir Nashonuma Programme, part of Pakistan’s social protection system, is showing measurable reductions in child stunting and improved maternal health outcomes through conditional cash transfers, nutrition supplements and counselling, experts told Pakistan TV Digital.

Cash, supplements and counseling reduce stunting in Pakistan, experts say

LAHORE: Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed three wickets and star batter Babar Azam hit a half-century to guide Pakistan to four-wicket win over South Africa in the second Twenty20 international on Sunday. Shaheen took 3-26 to restrict South Africa to 139-9 before Azam&#39;s 47-ball 68 helped Pakistan cross the target for the loss of six wickets in 19 overs for a 2-1 series win in Lahore. South Africa won the first match by 55 runs in Rawalpindi while Pakistan took the second by nine wickets, also in Lahore. A full house of 32,000 at Gaddafi Stadium cheered the home boy Azam when he cracked three successive boundaries off Ottneil Baartman to reach 37th half-century -- his first after 13 T20I innings. Azam and Salman Agha (33) lifted Pakistan during a solid 76-run stand for the third wicket after Saim Ayub (nought) and Sahibzada Farhan (19) fell by seventh over. Azam smashed nine boundaries but his dismissal to pacer Corbin Bosch put Pakistan in a spot of bother with Hasan Nawaz (five) and Mohammad Nawaz (nought) falling in quick succession. But Usman Khan, six not out, hit the winning single. Skipper Agha showed delight at series win. &quot;I am happy at the come from behind series win,&quot; said Agha. &quot;We were 1-0 down so it was a great effort by the players to win the next two.&quot;South African skipper Donovan Ferreira rued batting failure. &quot;We lost wickets in cluster and didn&#39;t score much but credit to the bowlers to keep it tight,&quot; said Ferreira. &quot;It was a great learning for us.&quot; South Africa, sent in to bat, slipped to two down without a run as Shaheen dismissed Quinton de Kock and Luhan-dre Pretorius - both without scoring - off the second and third ball of the match. It became three down without a run, but Dewald Brevis overturned a leg-before decision off the fifth ball. The reprieve helped him add 38 for the third wicket with Reeza Hendricks to revive the innings, before debutant Usman Tariq broke the stand, getting Brevis caught off his second ball. Brevis hit two sixes in his 22-ball 21. Hendricks and Ferreira (14-ball 29 with three sixes) added 34 for the fifth wicket. Hendricks, top-scorer with a 36-ball 34 with two boundaries, holed out in the 15th over off Tariq who finished with 2-26. It was left to Bosch to help South Africa reach a fighting total with 30 not out.

Cricket

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three wickets restricted South Africa to 139-9, while Babar Azam’s 68 led Pakistan to a four-wicket win in Lahore, securing a 2-1 series victory.

Shaheen, Azam star in Pakistan's series-clinching win over South Africa

LONDON: Joao Pedro finally brought a halt to his Chelsea goal drought as the Brazilian striker sealed a 1-0 win to extend Tottenham&rsquo;s dismal record on their home turf on Saturday. Enzo Maresca&rsquo;s side took the lead when Joao Pedro netted late in the first half of the London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It was his first goal in nine games in all competitions dating back to his last strike against Fulham on August 30. The 24-year-old has netted only three times for the Blues since signing from Brighton in a &pound;60 million ($78 million) move in the close-season. Chelsea&rsquo;s third win in their last four Premier League games lifted them into fourth place, behind third-placed Tottenham on goal difference. Tottenham haven&rsquo;t won at home in the league since beating Burnley on the opening weekend of the season in August. Their wretched home league form in 2025 started under Frank&rsquo;s predecessor Ange Postecoglou and the former Brentford boss is yet to find a cure. Although they lost in the League Cup fourth round at Newcastle in midweek, Tottenham have fared much better on the road this season, with an emphatic 3-0 win at Everton in their previous top-flight game. But Tottenham fans are beginning to show signs of discontent at Frank&rsquo;s prosaic tactics, which stand in stark contrast to the club&rsquo;s &lsquo;to dare is to do&rsquo; ethos. Frank was hit by an early injury blow when Lucas Bergvall suffered a head injury and was replaced by concussion substitute Xavi Simons. Bergvall appeared to plead with Tottenham&rsquo;s medical staff to let him stay on and when they refused, he angrily pushed one of the medics before Frank intervened to diffuse the situation. Sloppy SpursAlejandro Garnacho carried Chelsea&rsquo;s main threat in the first half as the Argentine forward tested Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario from distance. Vicario went down with an knee injury midway through the half, but he was able to continue after treatment and immediately came to Tottenham&rsquo;s rescue. Pedro Porro&rsquo;s clearance rebounded off Garnacho to Joao Pedro inside the area and Vicario stood tall to repel his low strike. But Joao Pedro wasn&rsquo;t to be denied and he made amends for that miss with Chelsea&rsquo;s opener in the 34th minute. Moises Caicedo tenaciously harried Simons and Micky van de Ven on the edge of the Tottenham area, winning possession and poking the ball toward Joao Pedro, who lashed into the roof of the net from six yards. Frank was furious with Tottenham&rsquo;s sloppy defending, kicking a water bottle in disgust on the touchline. Having ended his barren run, Joao Pedro nearly struck again when he took Malo Gusto&rsquo;s pass and unleashed a powerful effort that Vicario tipped over. Rodrigo Bentancur could consider himself fortunate to escape with a booking after the Tottenham midfielder&rsquo;s ugly challenge on Reece James was deemed &ldquo;not serious foul play.&rdquo; Tottenham finally forced Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez into action on the stroke of half-time with a Mohammed Kudus blast, but the Spaniard was equal to it. Enzo Fernandez, unmarked 10 yards from goal, headed wastefully over from James&rsquo; cross soon after the interval. Frank&rsquo;s side were guilty of conceding possession far too easily, with their lack of attacking impetus leaving their supporters increasingly frustrated. The fans&rsquo; angst mounted as Vicario had to tip over from Pedro Neto&rsquo;s fierce strike and Tottenham never seriously threatened a late escape.

Football

Joao Pedro ended his nine-game goal drought to give Chelsea a 1-0 win over Tottenham, lifting them to fourth. Spurs’ poor home run continued amid fan frustration and ineffective attacking play under manager Frank.

Joao Pedro strikes at last as Chelsea edge past Spurs

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Successful kinetic operations by Pakistan security forces made October the deadliest month for militants &nbsp;with over 350 militants killed, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).&nbsp;According to a recent report by the Islamabad-based security think tank PICSS, the month of October remained the lethal for militants across the country, with intensified operations by the security forces.&nbsp;Estimates show that 355 militants were killed across the country, marking the highest losses in a decade from the militants.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the month, 69 attacks were recorded, a 52 percent decline compared to August, according to the report.&nbsp;Amid clearance operations, 92 security personnel and 48 civilians also lost their lives.&nbsp;The security forces also apprehended 22 suspected militants, the report stated.&nbsp;The report database recorded a 29 percent rise in militant attacks&mdash;from 69 in September to 89 in October&mdash;though overall human losses in these attacks declined by 19 percent.&nbsp;In the southwestern province of Balochistan, 23 militant attacks were recorded, while casualties dropped sharply from 79 to 27, the report added.&nbsp;During counter-terrorism operations, 67 militants were killed, marking notable improvement in the province&rsquo;s security situation. This represented a 92 percent decline in civilian deaths and a 52 percent drop in security personnel fatalities, the report added.&nbsp;In the former tribal districts, now merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the 25th Amendment of the constitution, and mainland KP, 55 militants were killed in kinetic operations led by the security forces.&nbsp;Collectively, between January and October 2025, a total of 1,734 militants were killed by the security forces, while 601 security personnel were martyred, the report concluded.&nbsp;

Security

October was the deadliest month with 355 militants killed nationwide. Security forces saw fewer attacks and casualties, with significant improvements in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's security situation

Pakistan records highest militant killings in October amid intensified security operations

PARIS: A woman arrested this week along with four other suspects over the unprecedented jewel heist at the Louvre was charged and remanded in custody on Saturday.&nbsp;The 38-year-old was in tears as she appeared at a Paris court, saying she feared for &quot;her children&quot; and for herself, according to AFP.&nbsp;She has been charged with complicity in organized theft and criminal conspiracy with a view to committing a crime.&nbsp;The magistrate justified the detention of the woman who lives in the French capital&#39;s northern suburb of La Courneuve on the grounds of a &quot;risk of collusion&quot; and &quot;disturbance of public order&quot;.&nbsp;In total, two of the five people arrested this week were charged on Saturday, while the other three have been released without charge, police sources and sources close to the case.&nbsp;Last month, thieves wielding power tools raided the Louvre, the world&#39;s most visited art museum, in broad daylight, taking just seven minutes to steal jewellery worth an estimated $102 million.&nbsp;French authorities initially announced the arrest of two male suspects over the Louvre robbery, and this week prosecutors said that police had arrested five more people.&nbsp;Adrien Sorrentino, a lawyer for the woman who was remanded in custody, said his client &quot;vehemently&quot; denied the charges against her.

A 38-year-old woman was jailed over the Louvre jewelry theft, while two other suspects were charged and three were released. Thieves stole $102 million worth of jewelry using power tools in just seven minutes.



Woman charged over Louvre heist tears up in court

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Fierce clashes among rival Taliban factions in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Badakhshan province over the control of lucrative gold mines are exposing widening internal divisions within the group, according to officials and local reports. The ongoing disputes underscore how competition for valuable mineral resources continues to drive instability, corruption, and armed conflict in the region. The mines, which once served as a significant source of revenue for the Taliban during their insurgency, have now become the center of violent power struggles among different Taliban-aligned groups. On Wednesday, Afghan interim security officer Abdul Halim Hamidi was killed in a confrontation with an armed group linked to a businessman in Badakhshan, according to local media. Spokesperson for the Taliban-run Badakhshan Police Headquarters, Ehsanullah Kamgar, said the group involved was made up of &ldquo;10 to 12 armed men associated with a businessman active in the mining sector.&rdquo; Kamgar said the men had been the subject of multiple complaints before security forces were deployed. This incident followed several recent confrontations in the Shahr-e Buzurg district. Earlier this week, at least five Taliban members were killed and three wounded when clashes broke out between local and non-local Taliban fighters over mining control. Local reports named Shafiqullah Hafizi, current Taliban director of mines in Badakhshan, and Abdul Rahman Ammar, the former head of the department, as key rivals in the dispute. During the fighting, Abdul Hamid, operations chief of the Taliban&rsquo;s Border Brigade, was among those killed, according to local media. Earlier this month, at least 10 Taliban members were also killed in heavy clashes in Yalor village, Yaftal district, involving Taliban members from Helmand and local Taliban fighters from Badakhshan. Local Taliban members accused fighters from Helmand of &ldquo;seizing the gold mines&rdquo; and cutting them off from revenue. Reports in Badakhshan suggest that Taliban members from the southern provinces were supported by the provincial Taliban governor and police chief, further deepening internal resentments. Strategic and economic ImportanceBadakhshan has long served as a key corridor for armed groups operating in northeastern Afghanistan. The Shahr-e Bozorg district borders Chah Ab in Takhar, providing access to Dasht-e Archi in Kunduz. A route historically used by insurgents. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has noted that natural resources in Badakhshan are a major driver of conflict, stating that competition for the mines has &ldquo;created conditions of lawlessness and conflict and a hollowed-out state.&rdquo; Estimates suggest Afghanistan holds nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral reserves. Tolo News, citing a security chief in Badakhshan, reported that the Taliban earn approximately $0.4 to $0.7 million per month from the Raghistan gold mine alone. Historical precedentThe struggle for control of Badakhshan&rsquo;s gold mines predates the Taliban takeover in 2021. In 2014, a local commander named Abdul Malek seized the mines, claiming that local MP Zulmai Mujadidi had personally profited from exploiting them for over a decade. By 2016, the Taliban were reportedly receiving around 50% of mine revenue, allowing them to expand influence in the region prior to their return to power. Regional spilloverThe conflict has also taken on a cross-border dimension. On August 24, 2025, Taliban fighters and Tajik border forces exchanged fire near the Panj River in Badakhshan, after mining activities altered the river&rsquo;s flow and threatened farmland on the Tajik side, according to reports. This was the first direct armed encounter between Tajik forces and the Taliban since 2021. While the Taliban have largely suppressed rival insurgent groups, such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), internal conflicts driven by competition for natural resources are emerging as a significant and escalating challenge to their authority.

Afghanistan

Deadly clashes among Taliban factions in Badakhshan over lucrative gold mines highlight growing internal fractures within the group, with local and non-local forces competing for revenue in a region critical to Afghanistan’s mineral wealth and strategic routes

Gold mine power struggle exposes widening rifts inside Taliban ranks

WELLINGTON: Blair Tickner and Zakary Foulkes made decisive contributions with bat and ball to secure a tense two-wicket win for New Zealand over England on Saturday and a clean sweep of the three-match ODI series.&nbsp;The two tail enders put on an unbroken stand of 30 for the ninth wicket to lift the home side to 226-8 in the 45th over after England had once again struggled with the bat to be dismissed for 222.&nbsp;Seamers Tickner and Foulkes took six wickets between them after England collapsed to 44-5, the visitors&#39; top-order failing once again.&nbsp;England&#39;s top four made a total of 84 runs across the three matches, the fewest by any team in a comparable men&#39;s ODI series or tournament.&nbsp;England were dismissed for 223 in the opening match and 175 in the second.&nbsp;Tickner (4-64) claimed four wickets for the second successive game, while Foulkes (2-27) removed Jamie Smith and Root inside the first four overs.&nbsp;Foulkes&#39; new-ball partner Jacob Duffy (3-56) then accounted for Duckett, Brook and Jacob Bethell.&nbsp;Jamie Overton&#39;s maiden ODI half-century was the foundation of an England recovery, with the all-rounder the last man out for 68 in the 41st over.&nbsp;Brydon Carse also achieved a career-best score in the format, blasting four sixes on his way to 36.&nbsp;New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra scored a bright 46 and Daryl Mitchell continued his fine form with 44, but a steady loss of wickets set up an exciting finish.&nbsp;Overton and Sam Curran took two wickets each, while the home side lost two batsmen to the same unfortunate means of dismissal.&nbsp;Devon Conway and Tom Latham were both run out, caught short of their crease at the bowler&#39;s end following the deflection of straight drives from another batsman.&nbsp;Foulkes was unbeaten on 14 and Tickner not out 18, with their late heroics extending New Zealand&#39;s exceptional run of ODI results on home soil.&nbsp;New Zealand have won 25 of 29 ODI matches on home turf since February 2019, with two losses and two no-results.&nbsp;

New Zealand beat England by two wickets to win the ODI series 3-0. Blair Tickner and Zakary Foulkes shone with bat and ball, while England’s top-order struggles continued throughout the series.

England's batting exposed as New Zealand seal ODI series sweep

PARIS:&nbsp;A 20-year-old man from Afghanistan suspected of having links to an offshoot of the Islamic State group has been arrested in France, anti-terrorism prosecutors said on Saturday. The man was charged with participating in a criminal terrorist organization and financing a terrorist enterprise, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor&#39;s Office (PNAT) said. The suspect, who was arrested in Lyon last week, was placed in pre-trial detention. &quot;Clearly adhering to jihadist ideology, he is suspected of having been in contact with IS-K (Islamic State in Khorasan),&quot; the anti-terrorism unit said. The man is suspected of &quot;sending funds&quot; and helping translate and relay &quot;the propaganda of this terrorist organization,&quot; PNAT added. The Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), the jihadist group&#39;s branch in Afghanistan, also operates in Pakistan and former Soviet countries in Central Asia including Uzbekistan. The group has been responsible for deadly attacks in Afghanistan and Russia, including an attack on a Moscow concert hall in March 2024 that killed 150 people. According to French daily Le Parisien, the Afghan, who arrived in France several years ago, was arrested by officers from the DGSI domestic intelligence agency when he was already in an administrative detention center in Lyon. Le Parisien said that the suspect, already under investigation for glorifying terrorism, was editing and disseminating jihadist propaganda on TikTok and Snapchat social networks. France has been repeatedly targeted by Islamist attackers over the past decade, often by individuals inspired by Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.&nbsp;

A 20-year-old man from Afghanistan suspected of having links to an offshoot of the Islamic State group has been arrested in France