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PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 11:04 am

A masked teenager who was captured on CCTV stabbing a schoolgirl has been found guilty of attempted murder following a trial at King's Lynn Crown Court.

Armed police were called to Thorpe St Andrew School, near Norwich, on Wednesday 11 March after reports that a 15-year-old girl had been stabbed in the back.

The court heard that the defendant, who is 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, brought a kitchen knife to the school grounds while dressed in black and wearing a face mask.

Prosecutors told the court that the teenager had written notes expressing a hatred for women, stating that he "went to school not to learn, but to kill."

During the incident, CCTV footage captured the moment the girl was stabbed in the back before the attacker fled while being pursued by a school teacher.

Following the stabbing, the school was placed into lockdown and emergency responders rushed to the scene. The victim was transported to a hospital with a minor injury.

Jurors deliberated for three hours and 54 minutes before delivering a majority guilty verdict at the conclusion of the two-week trial.

The 16-year-old defendant is scheduled to be sentenced for the crime on 18 December.

PothikTV News Desk: 22 October 2026, 10:34 am

The government of Pakistan has issued fresh directives requiring civil servants across all ministries and divisions to declare their foreign nationality status within 90 days. The mandate was formally communicated through an office memorandum released by the Establishment Division regarding the enforcement of the Foreign Nationality Rules 2026.

Under the newly issued regulations, public servants are required to submit comprehensive declarations regarding their citizenship status, travel documents, and dual nationality. The official order extends to the dependents of civil servants, demanding full disclosure of their foreign citizenship and travel records.

A standardized proforma has been provided to facilitate the submission of these declarations. According to the memorandum, officials must also submit formal declarations if they are married to foreign citizens.

All federal ministries and administrative divisions have been directed to ensure that their staff comply with the reporting process. The government aims to collect full details regarding dual citizenship, foreign spouses, and dependent status across the civil service workforce.

The latest directive follows earlier instructions issued by the government regarding dual citizenship and foreign nationality rules. In a previous warning, the Establishment Division alerted all departments that failure to comply with these orders or providing false information would trigger formal disciplinary proceedings.

The memorandum explicitly states that submitting a false declaration will be treated as official misconduct. Officers who fail to comply with the order or provide inaccurate details will face departmental action under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.

Furthermore, the government has signaled that non-compliant officials could face additional legal action beyond internal disciplinary proceedings as the enforcement of foreign nationality rules moves forward.

PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 9:35 am

France is standing on the brink of a severe fiscal crisis as it struggles to handle debt accumulated well beyond its financial capacity. Repayment deadlines are fast approaching alongside rising energy prices and surging bond yields, leaving the nation with limited options to balance its books.

Raising taxes and cutting public expenditures represent the most likely remedies, but both measures carry heavy political risks. These steps threaten to trigger public discontent and face resistance within France's current coalition government comprising centrist and right-wing political factions.

The fiscal pressure is not limited to France. Similar challenges involving rapid debt expansion, elevated debt-servicing costs, and tough governance choices have become defining characteristics across Western economies, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

Key structural differences set the French economy apart from the American model. A massive social security system absorbs the bulk of public spending in France, whereas the distinct dynamics of the US economy currently reduce the risk of Washington experiencing a similar immediate fallout.

Economists and political analysts have long warned about the vulnerability of European social safety nets, noting that sustained spending inevitably creates severe repayment burdens. The crisis in the Middle East involving Iran has further exacerbated fiscal pressure on Western governments.

The International Monetary Fund reported last week that average returns on 10-year government bonds for G7 nations have risen by more than 1 percentage point since February, reaching a 20-year high. By the end of this decade, total public debt across the G7—comprising the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada—is projected to exceed their combined economic output for the first time since World War II.

France's public debt stands at nearly 119 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, nearly double the target set by the European Union. Its annual budget deficit has reached 5.4 percent of GDP. Peter Taylor-Gooby, a professor of social policy at the University of Kent, noted growing concerns in Europe over bond markets and government borrowing costs, stressing that the situation can no longer be ignored.

The United States also faces significant fiscal figures on paper, with public debt reaching $32 trillion—nearly equal to its annual GDP. Its budget deficit for the recently ended fiscal year stood at $2 trillion, exceeding 6 percent of GDP, while annual interest payments on government debt recently topped $1 trillion, consuming one out of every seven dollars collected in taxes.

Despite these numbers, the US avoids an immediate crisis of French proportions due to the global demand for the US dollar, which serves as the primary reserve currency and standard for international transactions, including oil and gold. Strong demand for US Treasury bonds keeps borrowing rates lower compared to other Western peers.

The US economy also benefits from its scale, diversity, and significant growth in sectors such as artificial intelligence, which helps dilute the impact of budget deficits by maintaining overall economic expansion. Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi noted that while France and the UK face similar circumstances, AI-driven growth in the US enhances its ability to manage debt easily.

However, analysts caution against complacency in Washington. Political dynamics, including upcoming midterm elections and potential shifts in congressional control, could turn the debt ceiling into a major point of political bargaining in the future.

PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 10:05 am

The Pakistan government has proposed imposing an Automotive Development Levy on locally manufactured and imported vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 1,000cc. According to official sources, the proposal comes as part of the country's new auto policy, which is being finalized in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Sources revealed that the initial approved draft of the auto policy will be sent to the IMF for approval. The multilateral lender had previously demanded the imposition of an 18 percent sales tax on electric vehicles. However, the government has suggested alternative revenue-generating measures to compensate for the potential tax losses while attempting to protect lower-priced electric vehicles.

Under the proposed alternatives, a 10 percent Federal Excise Duty (FED) is recommended for electric vehicles valued above $75,000. Officials believe this measure could help maintain a reduced sales tax of 1 percent on lower-priced electric vehicles.

Consultations with the IMF will also cover the imposition of an additional Federal Excise Duty on luxury vehicles valued at over 20 million Pakistani rupees.

According to relevant documents, the proposed Automotive Development Levy on locally produced vehicles over 1,000cc includes a 2 percent levy on vehicles above 1,000cc and up to 10 percent on vehicles with engine capacities reaching 2,001cc.

Projections suggest that revenue generated from the automotive levy on light vehicles could increase from 37 billion rupees to 188 billion rupees over the next five years. Similarly, collections from buses and trucks under the same levy are expected to grow from 45 billion rupees to 232 billion rupees over the five-year period.

PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 10:04 am

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted final approval for Boeing's long-delayed 737 Max 10 passenger aircraft, paving the way for the plane manufacturer to begin customer deliveries. According to Reuters, Boeing expects the first delivery of the model to be handed over to Canadian carrier WestJet early next year.

Boeing had been seeking certification for the Max 10 model since the early 2020s. Designed to accommodate up to 230 passengers, the variant represents the largest member of the 737 Max family. To date, Boeing has secured over 1,550 orders for the Max 10, accounting for approximately 31 percent of its total pending 737 order book. The manufacturer anticipates that deliveries of the model will play an important role in its ongoing financial recovery.

During the protracted certification delays, European competitor Airbus expanded its market share in the large single-aisle aircraft segment with its A321neo model. Major airlines that have placed orders for the Max 10 include United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Ryanair, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines.

The regulatory scrutiny and certification procedures for Boeing aircraft were significantly intensified following two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max 8 in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in 346 deaths. Oversight of the manufacturer's production and safety systems was further tightened after a January 2024 incident in which a cabin panel detached mid-flight from an Alaska Airlines Max 9 jet.

As part of the certification process, the FAA mandated critical technical upgrades for the Max 10, including enhancements to flight systems and angle-of-attack sensors. These modifications are set to be retrofitted into aircraft already in operation over the coming years. Issues concerning engine anti-icing systems and navigation software also contributed to the approval delays, though the FAA determined that a recent software issue did not pose a threat to the aircraft's safety.

Boeing expects to secure regulatory approvals from aviation authorities in Canada and the European Union, a process the company estimates could be completed within a few months. Meanwhile, members of Boeing's team will focus on securing certification for the 777-9 aircraft, a program currently running six years behind schedule. The company hopes to gain approval and begin deliveries for the 777-9 in 2027.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy welcomed the certification milestone during a visit to a Boeing facility, stating that accelerating the approval process is essential to maintaining the competitiveness of the American aerospace manufacturing sector.

PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 10:04 am

Punjab Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has announced the launch of a Rs 300 billion business financing program this year, aimed at accelerating industrial and commercial growth across the province.

The announcement was made during an important meeting of the Board of Directors of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), presided over by Chaudhry Shafay Hussain at PSIC House on Davis Road in Lahore. The board reviewed a focused agenda and approved key measures to strengthen local industry.

Under the Chief Minister Aasan Karobar Finance Scheme, the program will provide interest-free loans of up to Rs 100 million to eligible businesses. For higher loan amounts, concessionary markup rates will apply to support business scaling.

According to Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, loans ranging between Rs 100 million and Rs 1 billion will carry a reduced markup rate of 3 percent. Meanwhile, larger loans ranging from Rs 1 billion to Rs 5 billion will be offered at a 5 percent markup rate.

The board also approved a decision to file an appeal in the Federal Constitutional Court against a Lahore High Court Division Bench ruling concerning employee pensions within the corporation.

In addition to financial schemes, the minister instructed officials to speed up infrastructure improvement works across 24 small industrial estates situated throughout Punjab.

It was highlighted during the meeting that Mandi Bahauddin has established its first small industrial estate. Plot allotments for this estate will be processed entirely online, with a 20 percent quota specifically allocated for overseas Pakistanis.

PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 9:34 am

Devotees across Naogaon district bade farewell to Goddess Durga on Bijoya Dashami, blending the joy of the annual festival with the sorrow of her departure. Puja pandals resonated with the beat of dhak drums, the blowing of conch shells, and ululation as rituals concluded.

From Wednesday morning, crowds of devotees gathered at various puja venues to seek final blessings and catch a last glimpse of the goddess. Following the conclusion of formal worship rituals at town pandals, married women participated in the traditional 'Devi Boron' and 'Sindoor Khela' ceremonies.

Dressed in traditional red and white sarees, women touched vermilion to the feet of Goddess Durga before applying it to each other's foreheads and cheeks. The temple premises buzzed with festive energy as women celebrated the bond, looking forward to gathering again the following year.

Sneha Sarkar, a devotee participating in the Sindoor Khela at the Sri Sri Anandamoyi Kali Temple in the town, shared that while the departure brings sadness, it is accompanied by joy. She noted that they had celebrated the festival over six days and eagerly await the goddess's return next year.

Another devotee at the same temple, Aarti Sarkar, highlighted the significance of the ritual, describing Sindoor Khela not merely as a custom but as a way to strengthen harmony and bonds among women. She added that while applying the vermilion, devotees prayed to the goddess for the health and longevity of their families.

As part of the immersion tradition, a colorful boat procession was organized on the Chhota Jamuna River in Naogaon city. Decked-out boats began receiving idols in the afternoon before setting off for the scheduled water rally, leading up to the evening immersion that marks the end of the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival.

According to the District Puja Udjapan Parishad, Durga Puja was celebrated this year across 836 pandals in Naogaon district in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.

PothikTV News Desk: 21 October 2026, 9:04 am

The local administration in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram has seized 450 kilograms of government food-friendly program rice from a grocery shop, according to officials.

The operation was conducted on Tuesday afternoon in the Puichhari Union area of the upazila by the local administration team.

Acting on specific information, local officials carried out a raid at the grocery store and recovered nine sacks containing the subsidized rice meant for welfare distribution.

Authorities stated that each of the confiscated sacks contained 50 kilograms of government rice, totaling 450 kilograms.

Local administration representatives confirmed that the seized rice has been taken into official custody following the raid.

An investigation is underway to determine how the government relief rice reached a commercial grocery shop, and legal actions will be taken against those involved, officials added.