houthis clash yemeni
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Houthis clash with Yemeni government forces as regional tensions escalate

ByJustpaste.in

Fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government troops intensified in Taiz province, claiming the life of at least one government soldier and critically injuring another amid fears of a renewed civil war.

Yemeni military officials reported that the recent flare-up is part of a broader wave of Houthi assaults across multiple provinces that have killed dozens of government troops over the past week. Concurrently, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Jazan, marking the second reported strike on the facility following an incident last weekend that caused a localized fire.

The military escalation coincides with a Houthi-announced blockade on Saudi maritime shipping, further threatening crucial red sea trade corridors. In response to regional instability, the US Navy directed the USS George Washington to deploy toward the Middle East, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln following reported operational strains and crew welfare concerns aboard the long-deployed carrier.

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    Trump backs Infantino as FIFA power struggle intensifies

    ByJustpaste.in

    WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning that removing the football chief would be a “terrible mistake” as opposition to Infantino grows within several major football confederations. Trump’s intervention came after UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly criticised Infantino in an unusually strong open letter, accusing him of damaging trust and placing his authority above the wider football community. “If, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said on Truth Social, “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake.” The US president described Infantino as “fantastic” and praised his leadership of the expanded 2026 World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Trump also argued that the tournament had been the most successful World Cup ever and warned that FIFA could struggle to maintain the same level of success and profitability without Infantino. The public backing is significant because Infantino is facing growing resistance over a controversial proposal to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The plan was eventually withdrawn after fierce opposition from European football authorities. UEFA had threatened to boycott future World Cups if the investment proposal went ahead, describing the arrangement as an opaque and questionable deal. The pressure ultimately played a major role in Infantino abandoning the plan. The FIFA president received renewed support from senior officials during an emergency meeting in Morocco last week. However, UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC dismissed that backing, arguing that the meeting did not address the concerns raised by the confederations. The three bodies accused Infantino of failing to uphold the principles of accountability and collective leadership. They stressed that football’s governing structure should not revolve around one individual. The dispute could have major consequences ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Infantino, who has led FIFA for a decade, is seeking a fourth and final term. Candidates must declare their intentions by November 18. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is regarded as a potential challenger, although Infantino continues to enjoy support from several influential football bodies. The Confederation of African Football has backed him, while South American governing body CONMEBOL remains broadly supportive. Several individual national associations have also expressed support. However, FIFA’s voting system means individual member associations—not confederations—will ultimately decide the election. Infantino’s position had appeared secure after the successful 48-team World Cup, but the private investment controversy has dramatically changed the political landscape. The latest confrontation has therefore turned the road to the 2027 FIFA election into an increasingly intense power struggle, with Trump now openly backing Infantino while several major football authorities demand greater accountability and collective decision-making.

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    Cooper Hoffman breaks silence on Nico Parker dating rumors

    ByJustpaste.in

    Cooper Hoffman has officially confirmed his relationship with actress Nico Parker, ending months of speculation surrounding the pair’s romance. The 23-year-old actor opened up about his relationship during a recent interview, revealing that the couple first met while working together on Poetic License, the directorial debut of filmmaker Maude Apatow. Although they quickly developed a close connection on set, Hoffman explained that they did not begin dating until after filming had wrapped. According to the actor, the relationship became official when Parker visited New York to meet his mother, renowned costume designer Mimi O’Donnell. It was during that trip that Hoffman asked Parker to be his girlfriend, describing the moment as heartfelt and memorable. The actor shared that while filming helped them get to know each other, they intentionally waited until production had ended before taking their friendship to the next level. Their decision allowed them to separate work from their personal lives and build a relationship naturally. Following Hoffman’s confirmation, fans flooded social media with supportive messages celebrating the couple. Many admired their chemistry and expressed happiness that the actors had finally made their romance public. One fan commented that the pair appeared genuinely happy together and praised Hoffman for seeming kind and sincere. Another wrote that they loved seeing the two together, while a third jokingly referred to them as “two nepo babies,” acknowledging their famous Hollywood family backgrounds. Although their relationship has only now been publicly confirmed, rumors linking Hoffman and Parker have circulated since 2025. The pair first met in November 2024 while filming Poetic License, where they formed a close friendship. Despite their growing bond during production, they chose not to pursue a romantic relationship until several weeks after filming concluded. Speculation about their romance intensified in June 2025 when Parker hinted during an interview that she was seeing someone she described as “sweet.” Although she did not reveal the person’s identity, fans quickly began connecting the dots after noticing her frequent appearances with Hoffman. The rumors gained further momentum as the two were spotted together on multiple occasions, including social media posts that showcased their time together away from the spotlight. Interest in their relationship continued to grow in September 2025 when Hoffman and Parker attended the Toronto International Film Festival to promote Poetic License. During the event, the actors were photographed sharing a lighthearted moment while playing with a puppy, fueling even more speculation that they were more than just co-stars. Despite increasing public attention, both actors largely kept their private lives out of the spotlight, avoiding public discussion about their relationship for more than a year. Now, with Hoffman openly confirming their romance, fans finally have official confirmation that the pair are indeed together. His candid comments have been warmly received by supporters, many of whom have followed the couple’s journey from co-stars to partners. As both actors continue to build successful careers in Hollywood, their relationship has become one of the entertainment industry’s most talked-about young romances, with fans eager to see what lies ahead for the couple both on and off the screen.

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    Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day celebrated at H…

    ByJustpaste.in

    LONDON:  Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm and national spirit at the Pakistan High Commission in London, with Chairman Kashmir Committee Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon attending as the chief guest. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Tipu Usman, hoisted the national flag to the national anthem at a ceremony attended by a large number of members of the Pakistani community, media representatives, diplomats and High Commission officials with their families. The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the reading of special messages from the President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Tipu Usman paid tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the founders of Pakistan, as well as the sacrifices made by millions of men and women during the struggle for independence. He said Pakistanis living in Britain were the country’s “true ambassadors”, playing an important role in strengthening relations between Pakistan and the UK and building bridges between the two countries. The High Commissioner also reaffirmed Pakistan’s moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, saying they were entitled to this right under the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The celebrations featured national songs, while British-Pakistani soprano singer Saira Peter delivered a special performance. The enthusiastic participation of children added to the festive atmosphere. The ceremony concluded with High Commissioner Tipu Usman, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon and other distinguished guests cutting a cake to mark Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day.

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    NAB clarifies Rs500 million jurisdiction threshold

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    ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has internally clarified that inflation-based adjustments to the value of liabilities cannot be used retrospectively to bring older, lower-value corruption cases under its jurisdiction. The clarification follows the enforcement of the National Accountability (Amendment) Act 2026 on March 5. NAB has issued internal guidance for prosecutors and investigators to ensure a uniform legal position on the revised Rs500 million threshold. Under the amended law, an offence falls within NAB’s jurisdiction when it involves corruption or misconduct involving at least Rs500 million. The law also links the financial threshold to annual inflation indicators issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, with the adjustment taking effect from July 1, 2026. However, NAB’s internal interpretation distinguishes between the statutory jurisdictional threshold and the inflation-adjusted value of liabilities. The Rs500 million figure remains the basic test for determining jurisdiction. Inflation adjustment is applied only after the actual liability involved in a case has been finally determined. The guidance identifies three situations based on when the alleged offence occurred. For offences committed before July 2022, the original amount involved will be assessed according to the year in which the offence took place. No inflation adjustment will be applied retrospectively. If the final liability is Rs500 million or more, NAB will retain jurisdiction. If it is below Rs500 million, the case will fall outside NAB’s jurisdiction and may be transferred to the ordinary courts. For offences committed after July 2022, the Rs500 million threshold will initially determine NAB’s jurisdiction. Once an inquiry or investigation establishes the final amount involved, the relevant inflation index for the year in which the case reaches its final stage will be applied if the original liability is at least Rs500 million. The final reference will therefore contain both the original liability and its inflation-adjusted value. If the original liability is below Rs500 million, no inflation adjustment will be made and NAB’s jurisdiction will cease. The third category concerns continuing offences that began before July 2022 but continued after that date. Such cases will be treated in the same manner as offences committed after July 2022. The guidance further states that once the original liability has been finally established and the inflation-adjusted amount has been calculated, the resulting figure will be considered final. It will not be repeatedly revised on the basis of inflation increases in subsequent years. According to the internal legal position, linking the financial threshold to inflation was intended to keep the threshold realistic and relevant over time and prevent inflation from reducing its practical value. NAB has also clarified that the amendment was not intended to retrospectively expand the bureau’s jurisdiction or disadvantage accused persons. The 2026 amendments made another significant change by expanding provisions concerning the transfer of cases falling outside NAB’s jurisdiction. The relevant provision now extends to pending appeals as well, whereas the earlier framework was primarily limited to inquiries, investigations and trials.

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    Pakistan rejects Afghan claim over alleged weapons…

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    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan, calling the allegation baseless and contrary to established facts. In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the allegation appeared to be an attempt to divert international attention from the more serious security concerns emerging from Afghan territory. The ministry said Afghanistan already possesses a large quantity of modern weapons and military equipment left behind after the withdrawal of US and allied forces. According to the ministry, the value of the abandoned military equipment has been estimated at around $7.2 billion. Pakistan also pointed to Afghanistan’s large stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons. These weapons, it said, accumulated during decades of conflict in the country and remain another major source of arms available on Afghan soil. The ministry argued that attributing such weapons to Pakistan was misleading. It said the claim could shift attention away from the presence of militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over militant activity originating from Afghan territory. Islamabad maintains that terrorist groups continue to find shelter and operational space there. The ministry said these groups were allegedly using Afghan territory to plan, support and carry out attacks against Pakistan. It urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to focus on addressing militant safe havens instead of making what Pakistan described as unsupported allegations against Islamabad. “Afghan Taliban” authorities, according to the statement, should take effective measures against terrorist groups operating from their territory. Pakistan also called on Afghan authorities to honour their commitments and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country. The latest statement comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security and cross-border militancy. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded concrete action against groups that it says are involved in attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has also stressed that the issue should be addressed through practical measures rather than accusations. The ministry maintained that Afghanistan’s existing weapons stockpiles and the continued presence of militant groups are important factors in the regional security situation. It said efforts to blame Pakistan for the presence of weapons in Afghanistan should not distract the international community from addressing terrorism and militant activity based in the region.

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    Emilio Gay boosts England ahead of Pakistan Tests

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    BECKENHAM: England have received a timely boost ahead of their Test series against Pakistan, with opener Emilio Gay included in the Professional County Club Select XI squad for a three-day warm-up match. Gay’s participation is encouraging news after the left-handed batter suffered a right shoulder injury while representing Durham against Middlesex in the One-Day Cup last week. He experienced discomfort early in his innings before aggravating the problem while playing a straight drive against Toby Roland-Jones. The 26-year-old was forced to leave the field after scoring nine runs from 17 deliveries, raising concerns over his availability for England’s upcoming Test assignment. However, medical scans reportedly showed no serious damage, allowing Gay to return to competitive action as England assess his fitness. The warm-up fixture at Beckenham was initially scheduled for four days but has been shortened to three following an agreement between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Gay will feature alongside England Test squad members Shoaib Bashir and Matthew Fisher in the PCC Select XI. The match could provide England with an important opportunity to monitor Gay’s shoulder before the first Test. Gay earned his place in England’s Test plans after an impressive run of form and made his international debut earlier this summer. His availability is particularly significant as England reshape their batting line-up following Ben Stokes’ retirement. Bashir, meanwhile, remains highly regarded by England’s selectors despite limited recent county appearances. The young spinner may not feature in the Test XI, with England considering a four-seamer attack and relying on Dan Lawrence and Joe Root for occasional off-spin. The PCC Select XI will be coached by England Under-19 head coach Mike Yardy, with the England Lions head-coach position currently vacant. For England, Gay’s return offers a welcome sense of relief — but the warm-up match will reveal whether the opener is truly ready for the pressure of Test cricket against Pakistan. PCC Select XI squad Tom Haines (c), Shoaib Bashir, Luc Benkenstein, Caleb Falconer, Matt Fisher, Emilio Gay, Nathan Gilchrist, Josh Hull, Manny Lumsden, James Rew, James Sales, Charlie Tear, Noah Thain, Saif Zaib.

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