ISLAMABAD, Aug 15 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday paid tribute to the courage and professionalism of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police for successfully thwarting attacks by India-backed terrorists.
In a statement issued by the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President saluted the sacrifices of KP Police personnel who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty, saying the nation would never forget the bravery of its fallen heroes.
“KP Police have once again demonstrated exceptional courage and professional skill in defeating India-sponsored terrorist plots,” President Zardari said, adding that their unwavering resolve makes them a source of pride for the entire nation.
He emphasized that the valiant KP Police stand on the front line in the fight against terrorism and reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve to eradicate the menace completely. “This war will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated,” he affirmed.
The President extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured personnel.
Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 triggered a prolonged geopolitical confrontation with Ukraine, significantly altering regional security dynamics. However, on February 24, 2022, the conflict escalated dramatically when Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. This conflict marked the most significant military engagement in Europe since World War II.[1] Many analysts interpret Russia’s actions as an attempt to reassert its influence in Eastern Europe and prevent further NATO expansion, particularly Ukraine’s potential membership. In contrast, Ukraine has increasingly sought closer integration with the European Union and NATO, viewing this alignment as essential to ensuring its national security. The United States and its Western allies viewed the escalation as a threat to global peace and international law. [2]
Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Russia, targeting banks, energy exports, and individuals associated with President Putin.[3] At the same time, Ukraine received billions of dollars in economic and military support from the U.S., including humanitarian aid, weapons, and ammunition. To support Ukraine and increase international pressure on Russia, the U.S. coordinated efforts within the United Nations (UN) and worked closely with NATO allies.[4] This issue brief critically examines the U.S. involvement in the ongoing crises between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting how its support has evolved, shifting from short-term assistance to long-term security guarantees. The strategic impacts of these changes under the current U.S. administration are also evaluated.
A tiny tick crawls across your skin, potentially carrying a virus so lethal it kills up to four out of every ten people it infects. Yet that same tick shows no signs of illness whatsoever – it feeds, moves and reproduces as if nothing is wrong.
Scientists studying severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) have long wondered why this happens. The pathogen, first identified in China in 2009, causes high fevers, bleeding and organ failure in humans, but leaves ticks completely unharmed.
Alongside colleagues, I conducted research into how ticks can carry deadly viruses without becoming ill themselves. Understanding these resistance mechanisms could help scientists develop new ways to block or weaken tick-borne diseases before they spill over into humans or animals.
The findings come as climate change pushes ticks into new territories around the world. The Asian longhorned tick that carries SFTSV has been identified in Australia, New Zealand and the eastern US, raising concerns the disease could spread to regions that have never seen it before.
Unlike mice, humans or even mosquitoes, ticks pose a unique scientific challenge: most of the molecular tools researchers use to study infection simply don’t work in ticks.
Instead, we turned to data analysis. We captured detailed molecular snapshots of infected tick cells, tracking thousands of genes and more than 17,000 proteins simultaneously. This allowed the team to study the cellular response comprehensively, at different time post-infection.
We found that while human cells respond to viral invasion by mounting aggressive immune responses, mobilising multiple defence systems to fight the infection, tick cells take a fundamentally different approach.
Survival strategy
Ticks do have immune systems but they operate very differently from ours. Like humans, ticks have cellular signalling pathways that help detect and respond to infection. Known as Toll, IMD and JAK-STAT, these pathways coordinate defensive responses and trigger the production of antimicrobial proteins.
But when infected with SFTSV, the tick’s immune system showed only minimal activity. Instead of launching full-scale defensive responses, these pathways remained largely quiet. The virus appears to have evolved ways to avoid triggering the tick’s immune alarm bells.
Instead, the tick cells made major changes to their stress response systems, their production of RNA and proteins, and the pathways that control cell death. (RNA is a molecule that carries genetic instructions – like a working copy of DNA – used by cells to make proteins.) Rather than attacking the virus head-on, tick cells seem to tolerate the infection, reorganising their internal machinery to manage the damage while continuing to function.
This approach makes evolutionary sense when you consider the constraints these tiny creatures face. Mounting a full-blown immune response is energetically expensive – it requires lots of resources and can harm the host’s own tissues.
For ticks, which feed only a few times in their life and live off limited energy reserves, a gentler response may be more sustainable. And because this virus has likely been infecting ticks for millions of years, the two have had time to adapt to each other.
Rather than killing the host, the virus may have evolved to fly under the radar, while the tick evolved ways to tolerate it – allowing both to survive and reproduce.
Unexpected antiviral guardians
We identified two key proteins that act as molecular RNA quality controllers. These proteins, called UPF1 and DHX9, are ancient guardians found in all complex life forms, from plants to humans. One of their normal functions involves monitoring and controlling the quality of RNA, the molecular messenger that carries genetic instructions around cells. Think of them as cellular proofreaders, constantly checking that genetic messages are accurate and functional.
My research team first identified these proteins when they appeared as cellular partners that directly interact with viral proteins inside infected cells. This discovery intrigued us because UPF1 and DHX9 were unexpected candidates – they aren’t typically associated with antiviral defence – yet they seemed perfectly positioned to detect or process viral RNA, likely because these proteins normally scan RNA for errors, making them well-suited to spot the unusual structures often found in viral genetic material.
To test whether these proteins fight the virus, we used genetic techniques to silence the expression of UPF1 and DHX9 in tick cells, essentially removing these molecular guardians. We found that SFTSV viral growth increased significantly when these proteins were absent, demonstrating their antiviral function.
This suggests that ticks may have evolved a different kind of immune defence known as non-canonical immunity. Instead of attacking viruses head-on using traditional immune systems, ticks seem to use more subtle strategies. In this case, their RNA quality-control proteins act as internal monitors. Because viral RNA often looks different from normal cellular RNA, these proteins may recognise it as unusual. Once detected, they can trigger internal control systems that slow down or block the virus from multiplying – helping the tick stay healthy without a full-blown immune response.
Our research has important implications because UPF1 and DHX9 proteins exist in human cells too. Understanding how they work in ticks could reveal new ways to strengthen human antiviral defences or develop treatments that enhance these natural quality-control mechanisms.
The research also opens possibilities for using these tolerance mechanisms to stop disease – either by strengthening similar defences in humans and animals, or by targeting them in ticks to break the chain of transmission. Future strategies might involve boosting antiviral proteins in wild tick populations or developing treatments that specifically target virus-tick interactions.
Traditional approaches to disease control are struggling to keep up, especially as climate change helps ticks expand into new regions. To prevent future outbreaks, we need a deeper understanding of how ticks, and the viruses they carry, interact with both humans and animals.
Learning how these tiny creatures tolerate deadly pathogens could be key to developing new tools that make people and animals less vulnerable to these diseases – or prevent ticks from passing them on in the first place.
LUANDA – MOÇÂMEDES (Angola) – On the day that Senegal fell to Egypt, South Sudan set the bar high and Angola sent a statement out, five players grabbed the limelight with astonishing individual performances.
This article highlights five individual performances that caught the eye of the most distracted fan.
In his second AfroBasket game, Olympian Nuni Omot led the Bright Stars of South Sudan to a 115-52 victory over Libya with an astonishing performance.
The 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Most Valuable Player led by example, shooting 12-for-15, including 2-for-3 from deep, and finishing with 16 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to complete his double-double.
Omot had the highest efficiency rating of the day (30).
This display came just 48 hours after he shot 8-for-8 from the field and made all 11 of his free throws, finishing with 27 points in an 88-80 loss to Guinea.
On Thursday, Omot dominated against Libya in the opening three quarters. Due to their large lead, Coach Luol Deng rested most of his starters, including Omot, for the final ten minutes.
Amin has been one of Egypt’s most impactful players for years. Two games into the 2025 AfroBasket, the former U16 and U18 AfroBasket MVP continues to lead the way for the Pharaohs.
On Thursday, facing a very familiar Senegal team, Amin dominated on both ends of the floor.
He finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, his first double-double in the championship, and he created shooting opportunities for others, finishing with a game-high five assists.
Amin scored his first bucket on a fast break that gave Egypt a 10–9 lead five minutes into the game. He followed it up with a sky hook for a 15-13 Egypt lead later in the opening quarter.
Amin received an unsportsmanlike foul for fouling Ibrahim Faye, but his performance remained strong, finishing with an efficiency rating of 26, the second highest of the day.
Mohamed Taha Abdelraham (EGYPT)
Mohamed Taha Abdelraham ‘Mido’ was unstoppable for Egypt in a crucial win vs Senegal.
Mido, as he is commonly known, exposed Senegal’s vulnerable perimeter defense. He shot 4-for-8 from deep and finished with 22 points.
He exemplified how a strong start can inspire a player to greatness, opening the scoring with a drive. The Al Ittihad Alexandria shooting guard opened the scoring with a layup and finished the opening quarter with 11 points.
Despite Senegal’s defensive adjustments, Mido found ways to score.
After a two-point performance against Mali 48 hours earlier, Mido punished Senegal in a number of ways. He had an efficiency rating of 22.
Fernando, the first Angolan to play in the NBA, was immense for the 2025 AfroBasket hosts in a game they described as a must-win.
Despite picking up his third foul in the third quarter, the Real Madrid power forward stepped up when Angola needed him most, and they prevailed 84-68.
He did it all on both ends of the floor, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He made up for his poor free-throw shooting (6 for 12) with his physicality, which doesn’t show up in game stats.
The 2016 U18 AfroBasket champion had a 17 efficiency rating, and the Angolans improved to 2–0 with one Group C game left.
Kuath made the most of his 22 minutes on the floor, registering his first double-double in the tournament as South Sudan overpowered Libya 115-52.
The 6-foot-10-inch center, who turned 27 two days earlier, entered the game replacing Wenyen Gabriel when South Sudan was on a scoring spree, leading 18-2 midway through the first quarter.
In his first action, he made one of two free throws before embarking on a dominant performance.
Libya’s defense could not contain Kuath, who shot 5-for-5 and finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Kuath had the second-highest efficiency rating on the team, at 27.
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15 (APP): Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari Friday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and discussed matters pertaining to the power division.
Overall political situation of the country also came under discussion during the meeting, a press statement issued by the PM Office said.
Comedian Milton Jones has revealed he is cancer free after being treated for prostate cancer.
In April, the 61-year-old, who is known for his appearances on Mock The Week, announced he was cancelling a number of UK tour dates to undergo surgery.
Jones said in a statement: “A few months ago, I had to stop my tour HA!MILTON because I needed treatment for prostate cancer. I’m glad to say I’ve had that treatment and am now cancer-free!
“So, many thanks to all the doctors and nurses who helped me get better – I couldn’t do their job (I tried, but apparently you have to be qualified).”
Thanking his family, friends and fans, he went on to joke: “I have to admit there were a few dark moments when I wondered if anyone would ever see me again, but then I realised that I was leaning against the light switch.
“Thankfully, I’m now in a completely different place, and if you look at my website, you’ll see that very soon I’ll be in lots of other different places on tour too”.
Jones picks up his tour on 15 September in Stafford, touring until the end of November 2025.
The show, whose name is a play on the title of the hit musical Hamilton, promises laughter and unforgettable comedy moments, as well as jokes about giraffes and tomatoes.
The Richmond-born comedian has been hailed as the king of the one-liner, basing his jokes on clever wordplay and surreal humour.
He has performed on Live At The Apollo, Lee Mack’s All Star Cast, and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.
Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will lead India’s charge at the Asian Shooting Championship 2025, which starts at the Shymkent Shooting Plaza in Kazakhstan from Saturday and runs till August 30.
Live streaming of the Asian Shooting Championship 2025 will be available in India.
Organised by the Asian Shooting Confederation, the 2025 Asian Shooting Championship is the 16th edition of the continental showpiece.
As many as 734 shooters from 28 countries will compete in Kazakhstan. India has sent the largest contingent, comprising 164 shooters across senior and junior events.
The Indian senior shooting squad for the Asian competition comprise 35 members competing for medals in 15 events. Indian shooters will also compete in the junior events.
Manu Bhaker will compete in both the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events. She was a part of the women’s 25m pistol team that won silver in the last Asian Shooting Championship in the Republic of Korea in 2023.
The Indian shooter, following up after an incredible Paris 2024 campaign which saw her bag two Olympic medals, has had a muted 2025 season with a 10m pistol silver medal at the Lima leg of the ISSF World Cup as her best accomplishment this year.
Olympians Raiza Dhillon (women’s skeet), Anjum Moudgil (women’s 50m rifle 3 positions), Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions), Sift Kaur Samra (women’s 50m rifle 3 positions), Rudrankksh Patil (men’s 10m air rifle) and Kynan Chenai (men’s Trap) will also be seen in action.
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event in the last edition of the Asian Shooting Championships.
Kynan Chenai also bagged a medal in the last continental shooting showpiece after winning silver in the trap team event.
India finished third after securing a total of 19 medals, including six gold, eight silver and five bronze at the Asian Shooting Championships in 2023.
Where to watch Asian Shooting Championship 2025 live in India
Live streaming of the Asian Shooting Championship 2025 will be available on the ISSF YouTube channel. Only finals will be live streamed. There will be no live telecast of the event on any TV channel in India.
Asian Shooting Championship 2025: Indian shooting squad
Cardi B has released her latest single, “Imaginary Playerz,” on August 15, 2025, as the second track from her upcoming sophomore album Am I the Drama?, due September 19. The song channels ’90s Hip-Hop, sampling JAY-Z’s 1997 classic “Imaginary Players,” with the rap icon personally approving the clearance.
Speaking in an X Spaces conversation earlier this week, Cardi explained that Jay-Z himself signed off on the sample. “If he didn’t approve it, I probably wouldn’t even feel a certain type of way neither,” she said. “But I’m glad that I came hard and he loved it.” She later revealed the approval text from her manager arrived at exactly 4:44 p.m., a nod to both his 4:44 album and her personal angel number.
Determined to honor the iconic beat, Cardi delivered sharp-edged verses, declaring her dominance with lines like: “Cardi B, every song platinum, I’m not the other b####… Whatever you was gon’ pay hеr, you gotta double it.”
The accompanying music video doubles down on the luxury vibe, featuring scenes aboard a private jet and yacht—imagery that helped fuel fan excitement. Within hours of release, “Imaginary Playerz” trended at No. 1 on X (formerly Twitter), with praise for bringing back a raw, classic rap energy reminiscent of Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown. One fan wrote, “This type of hip hop is missing in today’s music… Cardi bringing some of that real rap energy back,” while another declared, “OH CARDI B CHEWED THIS UP — SHE’S SO BACK OMFG.”
bWith Am I the Drama? set for release on September 19, “Imaginary Playerz” is positioning Cardi B’s return as both a nod to Hip-Hop history and a bold statement of her place in its present.
Arsenal Women will take on Chelsea Women in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Saturday, November 8 at Emirates Stadium with kick off at 12:30pm (subject to change due to broadcast selections)
If you would like to join us at Emirates Stadium ticket information is avaliable below.
Tickets for this match are included in the Arsenal Women Season Ticket and Six Game Bundle.
Sales Phases & Pricing
This match will be a Category A fixture – pricing
Early Bird: Tuesday, August 26 at 2pm – Monday, September 1 at 11:59pm General Sale: Tuesday, September 2 at 12am – 7 days prior to kick-off Last Chance to Buy: 7 days prior to kick off through to half-time
There is a transaction limit of 15 tickets for this fixture.
Ticket Exchange & Ticket Transfer
The Ticket Exchange and Ticket Transfer services will be live for this fixture once the fixture has been confirmed. Please be reminded of the seat utilisation policy for our seasonal members:
Season Ticket Holders must utilise their seat 8/11 fixtures
Six Game Bundle Members must utilise their seat 4/6 fixtures
Getting your tickets
Arsenal Women Season Ticket Holders and Six Game Bundle Members will be able to access their digital ticket via our Ticket Hub once the match has been confirmed.
Match-by-match ticket purchasers will receive their digital tickets via email from noreply@boxoffice.arsenal.co.uk closer to the date of the fixture.
All confirmation emails will be sent from noreply@boxoffice.arsenal.co.uk once your transaction is complete.
Supporters will be able to view and download their tickets in our Ticket Hub once tickets have been fulfilled – more information.
Club Level +
We’re excited to introduce Club Level+, a new premium experience for Arsenal Women matches at Emirates Stadium. Designed to elevate your matchday, Club Level+ tickets are available in Blocks 41, 62, 63 & 84 and include:
Fan Choice
We are pleased to announce that we will participate in the Barclays Women’s Super League’s Fan Choice pilot for the 2025/26 season, which enables clubs to allow supporters to consume alcoholic beverages within view of the pitch during matches, including at their seats inside the stadium bowl.
Our participation applies only to our WSL games at Emirates Stadium – WSL Alcohol Fan Choice Pilot FAQs
Alcohol Zones are listed below for our involvement in the pilot:
Lower Tier: Blocks 4-19 Club Level: All Blocks excluding 50 & 51 Box Level: All Boxes
All other sections of the stadium are alcohol-free zones.
View our stadium map
Visiting Supporters
Chelsea Women supporters have been offered an away allocation in Blocks 20-23. Further information on away tickets will be provided.
Booking Information
Single Sign-On: Please note you do not need to be a paying member to access our sale windows. However, you will need to ensure you have set up a free ticketing account.
Group Discount: Supporters can purchase up to 15 tickets per transaction and a 15% discount is available for general admission and club level group bookings of six tickets or more. To take up this offer, use GROUP6 in the promotional code box when checking out.
Disability Access Supporters with disability access requirements can purchase tickets to this fixture by contacting our Disability Liaison Team on +44 (0)20 7619 5000 (option 2).
Concessionary tickets Supporters under 24 years old, seniors aged 66 or over on the day of the game and supporters with disability access requirements are eligible for concessionary tickets. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and children must have their own ticket.
Booking with Children Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and all babies and children are required to have their own ticket. Furthermore, children aged 3 and under are not permitted to sit in the following rows: • Lower Tier – Rows 1-20 • Club Level – Row 1 • Upper Tier – Row 1
We recommend that young children do not sit in the first two rows due to restricted views and buggies are not permitted at Emirates Stadium.
Should you have any queries, please contact our Supporter Services team on 020 7619 5000 or fill in our enquiry form.
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Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
In addition to his Premier League contribution last season, Colwill played a major role as a substitute in the Conference League final and during the Club World Cup as the Blues won their first two major trophies under the current ownership.
His presence is key tactically, more than defensively but, crucially, Maresca believes that Colwill is his best central defender at build-up play from the back.
“When we build, we build with Levi in the middle,” said Maresca.
“Last year we played 64 games and we played all 64 games with either Levi or Tosin [Adarabioyo in the middle].
“Now Levi is out. The only other one that he can do that job well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League, with these kind of players.
“The rest, they can adapt. [Jorrel] Hato is a new one, he never played as the guy in the middle last season [with Ajax], so it’s not about being a central defender.
“Yes, [he is a] central defender but can he do that? It’s different. Also we have players that unfortunately, like Wes [Fofana] or Benoit [Badiashile], they have in this moment some [injury] problems.
“And this is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders.”
Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah having been trialled in Colwill’s role in wins over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan during a short two-week pre-season.
Chelsea are known to admire Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi – who is is a target for champions Liverpool – but they are currently planning to strengthen their attacking options in the final two weeks of the transfer window, amid talks with Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons.
