Rajapaksa’s son arrested on corruption charges
Colombo, Jan 25: Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa was arrested by police on Saturday on corruption charges in a property purchase case. Ex-navy officer Yoshitha was arrested from their home territory of Beliatta over the investigation of alleged misconduct in the purchase of the property during the term of his father’s presidency prior to 2015. Yoshitha is the second among Mahinda Rajapaksa’s three sons. The arrest came as Mahinda Rajapaksa filed a fundamental rights petition on Friday in the Supreme Court seeking its intervention to reinstate his security, which was significantly reduced by the government last month. (PTI)
Man arrested on charges he threatened Trump on TikTok
Washington, Jan 25: An Indiana man accused of using TikTok to urge attacks on the government and death to Trump has been arrested. The FBI said 23-year-old Douglas Thrams of Goshen made a series of threats in videos posted to the social media site this week. In one TikTok video, Thrams said Trump needed to be killed “and this time don’t … miss,” an FBI agent wrote in a court filing. He is charged with using interstate commerce to make threats. (AP)
One killed after apartment building collapses
Istanbul, Jan 25: Rescuers pulled the body of a 23-year-old woman from under a collapsed apartment building in central Turkiye on Saturday, state-run media said, as efforts continued to find a final person, believed to be her husband. Three others were retrieved from the wreckage and being treated in a hospital, Anadolu Agency reported. The collapse comes amid renewed focus on building safety following the deaths of 78 people in a fire on Tuesday that ripped through a 12-story hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkiye. Investigators are examining whether proper fire prevention measures were in place. (AP)
4 get death sentence over blasphemous post on FB
Lahore, Jan 25: A Pakistani court has awarded the death sentence to four men for uploading blasphemous content on Facebook, an official said on Saturday. Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Tariq Ayub on Friday convicted Wajid Ali, Ahfaq Ali Saqib, Rana Usman and Suleman Sajid for insulting the Prophet. The court official said the convicts uploaded blasphemous content on Facebook from four different IDs. They were also slapped with a fine of PKR 5.2 million. (PTI)
Pakistan detects year’s first Mpox case
Islamabad, Jan 25: Pakistan has reported its first Mpox case this year during the screening of incoming passengers at one of its airports in Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A health ministry spokesperson said that Border Health Services staff detected the patient at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar. (PTI)
The patient reportedly had a travel history visiting the Gulf countries.
“We are ensuring effective measures to protect the public from Mpox. All airports have robust screening systems and compliance with international health regulations is being ensured. Both federal and provincial governments are committed to combating Mpox,” Health Coordinator Dr. Mukhtar Bharth said.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali confirmed that Peshawar Airport had reported the first Mpox case in 2025.
He said that upon detection, the public health monitoring team immediately reached the airport.
“The team transferred the patient to the Police Services Hospital, where the patient’s samples were sent to the Public Health Reference Lab. Mpox was confirmed in the 35-year-old individual who arrived from Dubai,” he said.
The provincial health advisor also mentioned that a letter has been sent to the Peshawar Airport Manager requesting passenger details of those near the patient.
“Once passenger information is received, respective district health officers (DHOs) will be notified for contact tracing,” he added.
He revealed that 10 Mpox cases have been reported in the province so far, with two in 2023, seven in 2024, and one in 2025, according to The Express Tribune.
However, there is confusion about the total number of Mpox cases as the health ministry in December last year reported eight cases linked with the virus.