MR News

MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Monday rejected Turkish media reports which suggested that Asma al-Assad, the British-born wife of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, wanted a divorce and to leave Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also rejected Turkish media reports which suggested that Assad had been confined to Moscow and had his property assets frozen. Asked on a conference call if the reports corresponded to reality, Peskov said: “No they do not correspond to reality.” Turkish and Arabic media reported on Sunday that Asma al-Assad had filed for divorce in Russia, where the Assad family were granted asylum this month after rebels took control of Damascus following a lightning advance. Read More: Bashar al-Assad’s wife files for divorce Earlier, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad had issued his first statement since being toppled from power, saying he was evacuated to Russia from the Hmeimim base on Dec. 8 as it came under drone attack, after leaving Damascus that morning with rebel ...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan claimed that the establishment is indirectly engaging in negotiations with PTI, says Raoof Hasan on Monday. The negotiations between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) commenced today. While Speaking to the ARY News programme “KHABAR Muhammad Malick Kay Saath”, Raoof Hasan shared some details about the talks. He said that PTI has presented two key demands – the release of all the political prisoners including founder PTI Imran Khan and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents. Hasan clarified that these talks are not with the government, but rather with the establishment, which he believes holds the actual power. Raoof Hasan stressed that the establishment is behind the scenes in talks with PTI. The PTI spokesperson expressed scepticism about the government’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue, saying that it neither wants to hold ...

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has broken his silence on his post in support of Babar Azam when he was dropped from the squad for the England Test series. Reports said that the left-handed batter was dropped from the squads for the Australia and Zimbabwe tours after he criticised the exclusion of Babar Azam from the Pakistan squad for the last two games against England in the Test home series. Fakhar Zaman was also left out of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contracts list for the 2024-25 international season. Several including former Pakistan cricketers slammed the PCB’s decision to exclude the batter from the squad for the South Africa tour as Abdullah Shafique had a poor run in the recently concluded PAK v SA ODI series. Now, Fakhar Zaman has issued a clarification about his snub from the Pakistan squads for recent tours which was attributed to his fitness. Read more: Fakhar Zaman responds to PCB’s show-cause notice over Babar Azam remarks During an interview with a...

ANKARA: Turkey’s foreign minister said after meeting Syria’s de facto leader in Damascus on Sunday that there was no room for Kurdish militants in Syria’s future, calling for the YPG militia to disband. Turkey regards the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought an insurgency against the Turkish state for 40 years and are deemed terrorists by Ankara, Washington and the European Union. Sunday’s visit to Damascus by Hakan Fidan, the first foreign minister to visit Damascus since Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow two weeks ago, came amid hostilities in northeast Syria between Turkish-backed Syrian fighters and the YPG, which spearheads the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast. Speaking alongside Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Fidan said he had discussed the YPG presence with the new Syrian administration and believed Damascus would take steps to ensure Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. “In the coming pe...

KARACHI: A major fire has engulfed a clothing warehouse near Jamshed Road in Karachi, causing significant damage, ARY News reported. According to reports, the fire has spread to the ground and first floors of the building, and tin sheets from the first floor have also collapsed. Six fire tenders and water bowsers have been dispatched to the scene and are currently battling the blaze. However, due to the intensity of the fire, it is taking time to bring it under control. Initial reports indicate that no one was present inside the building at the time of the fire. However, firefighters are conducting a thorough search of the premises as a precautionary measure. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed concerned authorities to submit a report on the incident. He has also instructed them to take immediate action to contain the fire and prevent further damage. The Chief Minister has further emphasized the importance of implementing safety measures to prevent such incidents in ...

NEW DEHLI: Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan revealed a heart-breaking story of Indian batter Virat Kohli crying over the defeat of his team. Virat Kohli nowadays going through difficult times in his career with an average of only 25.06 in red-ball cricket this season. In an appearance on a podcast, actor Varun Dhawan revealed how sensitive and responsible Virat Kohli is. He gave an example of Virat Kohli’s emotional state during India’s 2018 tour of England. In an appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, “The Ranveer Show”, Dhawan recounted a conversation with Anushka Sharma about Kohli’s mindset during tough times. Dhawan said that Anushka had shared with him an incident where Kohli cried after India’s loss in the first Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham, feeling responsible for the team’s defeat. While quoting Anushka’s account of the incident Varun said “Virat, I mean, everything he’s been through, the times he’s not been in good form, some insights that Anushka shared with me, a...

KARACHI: The roads from Lasbela Chowk leading towards Gurumandir are temporarily closed for traffic due to an ongoing protest, ARY News reported. Residents of Patel Para in Karachi are protesting over the prolonged water and power shortage, now gathered at Lasbela Chowk after moving from the initial demonstration site. The protest has caused severe traffic congestion in the surrounding areas, including major roads leading to Gurumandir. Traffic police are rerouting vehicles to maintain some flow. Commuters are being diverted from Nazimabad towards Jahangirabad, while traffic from Teen Hatti is being redirected to Shah Najaf Cut, and vehicles from Jamia Shah Bukhari Mazaar Chowk are being sent towards Iqbal Market. The situation has left traffic paralyzed in the affected areas, causing significant disruption to daily activities. Read More: THIS Karachi road is temporarily closed for traffic The blockage of roads have been frequent in Karachi as on December 15, a protest near Teen...