"Unbelievable": Body Of Pak Man Missing For 28 Years Found In Glacier

The body of a man who went missing 28 years ago has been discovered remarkably well-preserved within a glacier in remote Pakistan. According to the BBC, Naseeruddin had been on a trip with his family to escape a violent feud when he disappeared. On July 31, locals in the Kohistan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province spotted the preserved body near the edge of the shrinking Lady Meadows glacier. An identity card found with the body confirmed his identity as Naseeruddin.

"What I saw was unbelievable. The body was intact. The clothes were not even torn," Omar Khan, a local shepherd who found the remains, told BBC Urdu.

After police confirmed the identity, locals came forward with more information about Naseeruddin's disappearance. According to police, Naseeruddin fell into a glacier crevice during a snowstorm in June 1997 and went missing.

Naseeruddin, a husband and father of two, was travelling on horseback with his brother Kathiruddin in 1997 when he fell into a crevasse. The brothers had fled to the mountains to escape a village dispute, and Kathiruddin survived the ordeal.

"Our family left no stone unturned to trace him over the years. Our uncles and cousins visited the glacier several times to see if his body could be retrieved, but they eventually gave up as it wasn't possible," Malik Ubaid, his nephew, told AFP over the phone.

The family expressed gratitude upon the discovery, with Mr Ubaid stating they finally found some relief after recovering his body. He was buried on Wednesday.

When a body falls into a glacier, the extreme cold rapidly freezes it, stopping the process of decomposition. The glacier's lack of moisture and oxygen then mummifies the body, preserving it, according to Prof. Muhammad Bilal, head of the Department of Environment at Comsats University Islamabad.

The Kohistan region in northern Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border, once experienced consistent snowfall. However, rising global temperatures linked to human-driven climate change have accelerated glacial melt. As per AFP,  Pakistan is home to more than 13,000 glaciers, more than anywhere else on Earth outside the poles.

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Pakistan Cricketer Arrested In UK Over Rape Allegations, Later Released On Bail

Pakistan cricket slumped to a new low with a young player, Haider Ali, who was on a tour of the United Kingdom with the country's 'A' team -- Pakistan Shaheen, was arrested by the Greater Manchester Police with sources confirming it was over a complaint by a girl, alleging rape. Haider Ali has been provisionally suspended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said a report. Haider was arrested by Greater Manchester Police at the Beckenham ground where Pakistan Shaheens was playing against MCSAC on August 3, reports Telecom Asia Sports. "It's apparently a rape case against a girl of Pakistani origin," a source was quoted as saying in the report.

The sources confirmed that the Greater Manchester Police had seized Haider's passport but released him on bail.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it will cooperate with the investigations and will give support to Haider to fight the case. In the meantime, the PCB has suspended Haider Ali till his name is cleared.

"We were told about this case and investigation. We have suspended Haider until the investigation is completed and will conduct our own inquiry in the UK," a PCB spokesman told www.telecomasia.net.

"Haider was in tears after he was arrested from the ground and pleaded not guilty during the investigation," said sources.

Pakistan Shaheens were on a tour of the UK from July 17 to August 6 and played two three-day games, which were both drawn, a three-match One-day series that they won 2-1.

Most of the players, except captain Saud Shakeel and Haider, returned from the UK on Wednesday. Shakeel stayed back in Dubai for personal reasons.

The 24-year-old Haider is a talented player who played two ODIs and 35 Twenty20 internationals for Pakistan, the last in the Asian Games two years ago. He played the Under-19 World Cup for Pakistan in 2020 in South Africa, from where India's Yashasvi Jaiswal also emerged.

Haider was also suspended by the PCB for breaching Covid restrictions during the 2021 Pakistan Super League in Abu Dhabi, and as a punishment withdrawn from the team to England and the West Indies in 2021.

Sources said Haider was in the good books of newly recruited Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who was about to include him in the Pakistan team for the T20 tri-series in Sharjah later this month.

Pakistan has a history of players' misbehaviour in the past. Three top players -- Salman Butt, the then test skipper, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Asif were arrested on charges of spot fixing on the team's tour of England in 2010. All three were jailed and banned for five years.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Saiyaara Casting Director On Ahaan Refusing To Meet Her At 19: "He Thought..."

Ahaan Panday's debut film Saiyaara continues to rock at the box office. The film crossed the Rs 300-crore mark at the domestic box office within three weeks of its release. 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Yash Raj Films' casting director Shanoo Sharma revealed that she first approached the actor when he was just 19.

“Ahaan's been alongside me for nearly nine years,” she mentioned.

Shanoo added, "He was 19 when we met, but he looked 15! I spotted a post of him doing something quirky online, found him intriguing and asked to meet. But he actually refused at first, he thought we'd reject him because he was tanned and didn't fit the usual mould but the day we finally met, I just knew that he and I are going to be working together.”

After the first meeting, Ahaan Panday became an unofficial member of the YRF family long before Saiyaara's release.

“He was so enthusiastic about learning, so unrefined yet so ambitious. He had this knack for achieving his desires in the most endearing manner. And he was passionate about YRF - he would often say, ‘I'm going to be here every single day,'” Shanoo recalled. 

In a previous interview with NDTV, Saiyaara director Mohit Suri shared Ahaan and Aneet Padda's reaction to their film's success. The filmmaker stated that he speaks to both the actors every day.

“Once in the morning, once at night. They keep sending me videos. They're so happy, they're getting recognised. For them, every day is new, and they want to share it with me. They keep asking, 'Why aren't you here?' It's very sweet,” Mohit Suri said.

"Ahaan and Aneet don't yet know what's coming next but they're soaking it all in," Mohit added. 

Ahaan Panday has turned out to be the most successful debutant in Bollywood in recent times.

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20-Year-Old Australian Forms New Country With 400 Citizens On Unclaimed Land

A 20-year-old Australian man has caught the internet's attention after he proclaimed himself president of the self-declared Free Republic of Verdis, a tiny nation nestled in a disputed 125-acre forest along the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. According to The New York Post, this micronation boasts its flag, cabinet, currency, and nearly 400 citizens, all established after Daniel Jackson discovered the land was unclaimed due to an ongoing border dispute between the two countries.

"Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14. It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates. We have all dreamed of creating something crazy," said Mr Jackson. 

Mr Jackson, a digital designer who creates virtual worlds on Roblox, started building Verdis' government when he was just 18. Notably, the Free Republic of Verdis is situated on a 0.5-square-kilometre forest patch known as "pocket three," a disputed area that neither Croatia nor Serbia claims due to an ongoing border dispute. Mr Jackson declared the independence of the Free Republic of Verdis on May 30, 2019.

"We started making Verdis a reality when I was 18 by forming some laws and a flag. We have now built up a government and have a great cabinet," he said.

Verdis' official languages are English, Croatian, and Serbian, and the nation uses the Euro as its currency. The tiny nation is only accessible by boat from Osijek, Croatia. However, attempts to settle there have faced significant resistance, including an incident in October 2023 when Croatian police detained and deported several settlers, including Mr Jackson, who was also given a lifetime ban from entering Croatia.

"They deported us but couldn't give a reason why. They said we were a threat to homeland security,'' he added.

Mr Jackson now claims to be running a "government in exile" and accuses Croatian authorities of setting up surveillance along Verdis' shoreline to block access from Serbia.

"We have had a lot of problems with the Croatian authorities, but we do want a good relationship with them in the future. They haven't taken to us kindly and have been aggressive," he claimed. 

Mr Jackson now frequently travels to Belgrade, Serbia, where he claims officials have been more receptive to his cause. Despite the ban from Croatia, he continues to advocate for access to Verdis and hopes to return one day. He has stated that if successful, he would step down from his position and call an election, as he's not interested in power.

Each citizen of Verdis receives a passport, though Mr Jackson cautions against attempting to use it for international travel. Nevertheless, some citizens have reportedly used their Verdisian passports to enter other countries. According to Mr Jackson, Verdis is selective about who it admits, prioritising individuals with in-demand skills such as medicine or law enforcement experience due to its small size.

Despite several setbacks, he remains optimistic and believes it's a matter of time before he and his citizens can reclaim the land. He asserts that since Croatia doesn't claim the land, Verdis has a rightful claim to it. 

 

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Passenger Occupies Man's Confirmed Seat In Sleeper Coach, Railways Responds

In recent days, several railway passengers have been taking to social media to show the dire condition of trains, which have been marred by overcrowding and ticketless passengers occupying seats. Now, an X user expressed frustration about his experience on the Gwalior-Barauni Express train. The user shared a video showing the overcrowded sleeper coach and complained that his reserved seat was occupied by another passenger. Despite requesting the Ticket Checker, no action was taken to resolve the situation, and his seat remained occupied by another passenger. 

He wrote, "My seat is occupied by another passenger. I requested the TTE, Sir, to get my seat vacated, but it still hasn't been cleared." 

Watch the video here:

11123 GWL BJU EXPRESS Sleeper Ka hal Genral Se Bhi Kharab Hai

01. Mera seat dusre passenger ke pas occupied hai maine TTE Sir ko request Kiya ki mera seat khali karva dijiye lekin abhi bhi mera seat khali nahi kiya gya hai. @RailMinIndia @narendramodi @RailwayNorthern pic.twitter.com/7zX0khnwBO

— sandipsingh kushwaha (@ksandip_09) August 5, 2025

RailwaySeva, the official customer service handle of Indian Railways, replied to the post and requested the passenger's PNR and mobile number to address the issue. 

"We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action. You may also raise your concern directly on https://ift.tt/wytPsRn or dial 139 for speedy redressal," the response read.

We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action.
You may also raise your concern directly on https://t.co/JNjgaq11Jl or dial 139 for speedy redressal. https://t.co/utEzIqAAkm

— RailwaySeva (@RailwaySeva) August 5, 2025

The incident highlights a recurring problem in Indian Railways where passengers with unreserved tickets often occupy reserved compartments, particularly sleepers and even AC coaches, due to overcrowding in general compartments. This leads to discomfort and inconvenience for passengers who have paid for reserved seats. 

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Gill To Become ODI Captain After England Test Heroics? Gavaskar's Clear Take

Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has urged the selectors to consider Shubman Gill as captain of India's ODI team. His remarks came after Gill led India to a 2-2 draw in the just-concluded five-match Test series against England. Gill led from the front in his debut series as captain of India as he smashed 754 runs across 10 innings, including three centuries and a double ton. While Rohit Sharma, who retired from Test cricket before the England tour, is the current ODI captain, Gavaskar feels that if the selectors are looking at a new leader, it is the perfect time for them to appoint Gill.

"Rohit and Kohli are available for ODIs. They haven't been selected as of yet. Those things will be up to the selection committee. When the ODI series against Australia or the West Indies gets underway, it will be the perfect time to go for the Gill if the selectors want," Gavaskar said after the match.

Gavaskar also praised Gill for the way he batted in the Edgbaston Test, and lauded his fighting spirit after he single-handedly won them the game.

"He is one of the most well-liked players in the team. He is getting those hundreds. If he is not happy with a hundred, he will go for the double hundred. He will then look to get a triple hundred if he is not happy with a double hundred. He got to 269 (at Edgbaston). He was showing that he can't give up. He just wanted to be there and make sure that every run mattered," he added.

India's win at The Oval Test on Monday was their narrowest ever in terms of runs. England began Day 5 needing only 35 runs with four wickets in hand. But Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna produced sensational bowling performances to script a dramatic turnaround. Siraj finished with 5 for 104, while Prasidh took 4 for 126 - the duo sharing all four wickets to fall on the final morning as India bowled England out for 354.

The result gave India 28 points and lifted them to third in the WTC standings, behind Australia and Sri Lanka. More importantly, it marked a powerful statement from a young Indian team - one that fought through setbacks and pressure to deliver when it mattered most.

(With IANS Inputs)

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'Lost Passport, Visa, Cash': Indian Man Recounts 48-Hour Ordeal In Spain

An Indian entrepreneur has documented his horrific experience after his passport, visa and cash were stolen abroad. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ayush Panchmiya revealed that he had gone to Spain, where he endured the worst 48 hours of his travel life and how he managed to come out of it.

The incident happened when Mr Panchmiya and his team were "editing content for a couple of clients" at a Starbucks outlet.

"We had just landed in Barcelona after a heavy week at Ethereum Community Conference & Workshop (ETHCC) Cannes. It was a chill morning for us. Our team was at Starbucks, editing content for a couple of clients," wrote Mr Panchmiya.

"I stepped outside for a quick call, left my small black bag under the table, something I'd done a hundred times on trips like these."

Having only been gone a few seconds, Mr Panchmiya returned to his bag being gone which had his passport, visa, credit cards and a "good chunk of cash".

Despite approaching the authorities and begging them to show the CCTV, Mr Panchmiya was left hapless. With the Indian embassy shut down over the weekend, he was left with no option but to wait till Monday.

"Walked in as soon as they [embassy] opened. And I cannot thank them enough, they issued me an emergency certificate (a temporary passport) in just 4 to 5 hours. That same evening, I was back on a flight to India."

The entrepreneur said he was sharing his experience not to rant but to help people understand their options if they find themselves in a similar situation.

"If you travel often, especially around Europe, this can happen to anyone," he said. "Ask for an emergency certificate. If your flight is close, they can issue one in hours."

See the viral post here:

I lost my passport, US visa, and all my cash… in Spain.
Let me walk you through the worst 48 hours of my travel life and how I got out of it.

We had just landed in Barcelona after a heavy week at ETHCC Cannes. It was a chill morning for us. Our team was at Starbucks, editing… pic.twitter.com/A26oV08Y00

— Ayush Panchmiya (@lets_ash) August 2, 2025

Also Read | Auto Driver Drops Woman Passenger Midway, Questions Her Life Choices: 'Why'd You Take The Job...'

'Not to be rude but...'

As the post went viral, a section of social media users empathised with Mr Panchmiya while others questioned why he had kept the bag out of his sight with the important items.

"Not to be rude but Barcelona is literally the most renowned city for pickpocketing. Leaving a bag unattended with your passport in it is insane," said one user, while another added: "In general avoid traveling day to day with your passport on you. It's infinitely safer in your hotel lock box."

A third commented: "Sorry to hear about the trouble and glad to hear all is okay."

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