From Tribune staff reportsTRUSSVILLE — Trussville City Schools named the Bus Drivers of the Year on Tuesday, according to TTCS Transportation Coordinator Dale Posey. This year’s winner are Paine Elementary School bus 23-01C driver Paul Guthrie and aide Jay Segers and Hewitt-Trussville Middle School bus 09-08 driver Lisa Crumley. “To say we appreciate all of our drivers and aides would be an understatement,” Posey said. “The job they do each day is pretty extraordinary when you consider all of the obstacles they face. From a bus load of loud students to roads full of distracted drivers, they do their best to take care of each and every one on the bus.”

Former foreign minister and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Sartaj Aziz passed away on Tuesday. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Sartaj Aziz. A stalwart, a true icon and a towering figure,” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wrote on its official X handle. It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Sartaj Aziz. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَMr Sartaj Aziz has passed away.

KARACHI – The Pakistan Navy launches its international exercise focusing on oil spill response in Karachi, welcoming participants from various nations including Saudi Arabia and China. The 12th Barracuda exercise aims to showcase Pakistan’s expertise in addressing the adverse impacts of oil spills and sea pollution. Spanning from January 2 to 4, this year’s exercise involves Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, China, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and representatives from oil-importing companies in Pakistan. Naval exercises between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are frequent occurrences, contributing to the training and readiness of naval personnel, fostering coordination among diverse navies, testing equipment, and experimenting with innovative tactics. The enduring bond between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia spans various sectors, encompassing defense, economy, finance, trade, and media.

The inflation rate surged both in urban and rural areas, according to the PBS. There was a massive increase in non-food inflation in urban areas that surged to 32.4%, while it jumped to 26.4% in rural areas. The food inflation decelerated in cities but marginally increased in rural areas. The inflation rate for the transport consumer price group was up by 28.6% despite a reduction in fuel prices. The average inflation rate for the first six months in rural areas was 30%, whereas it was 28% in urban areas.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali has said that the Caretaker Government is going to do a great job in which the price of electricity for industries will be reduced. In a special conversation with Geo News, Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali said that we are going to do two or three things in the Caretaker Government, electricity prices will be reduced for industries, due to which industries will be able to provide affordable things for homes. Also read thisWorking on power tariff reduction to be completed by next month: Caretaker Energy MinisterIncrease in gas prices necessary to end country’s loss: Caretaker Energy MinisterHe said that apart from this, reduction in revolving debt and reduction in urea fertilizer price are also included in this. Regarding capacity payments, the caretaker minister said that the caretaker government will not be able to solve the issue of capacity payments completely, but it will give a road map to solve it.

Islamabad: NAB could not get immediate relief from the court on the issue of 10-year disqualification of persons convicted by NAB. NAB has filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against the decision to reduce the 10-year disqualification of convicted persons to 5 years, which the court has fixed for hearing on January 4. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Taman Rifat of Islamabad High Court heard the main appeal of NAB, in which Senior Special Prosecutor NAB Muhammad Rafi appeared before the court and held that the decision against Faiq Ali Jamali in 9 references in Balochistan. 10-year disqualification of NAB convict should be restored, NAB reached Islamabad High CourtThe court asked why did you file a separate application. On this, the NAB prosecutor said that tomorrow is the last date to file an appeal on the nomination papers for the election.

Balochistan’s fisheries sector faces multiple challenges like over-fishing, depleting stocks of fish, illegal fishing by big trawlers and lack of infrastructure to fetch the high price of fish catch, according to WealthPK. About 80% of the total fish catch from Balochistan’s cost is dried up for export to the Middle East. However, Balochistan’s fisheries sector is not operating in an ideal environment and faces multiple challenges. “The challenges are immense and are affecting us badly”, Ramzan Rind, a representative of the fisheries sector association of the province, told WealthPK. The Balochistan government plans to improve the fisheries sector with new technologies and support for fishermen, said Fayyaz Moosa, Director Fisheries Department.

The resolution was presented by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Bahramand Tangi during the session chaired by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani. The resolution gained unanimous approval, reflecting cross-party consensus on the need for stringent measures against those spreading anti-military narratives on social media platforms. The resolution acknowledged the significant sacrifices made by the armed forces in the war against terrorism. The resolution underlined the Senate’s concern over derogatory content targeting the Pakistan Army on social media and urged the government to take strict action against those involved in spreading anti-military propaganda. Shahadat Awan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Samina Mumtaz Zahri and Kuhda Babar proposed, as private members, the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, and a constitutional amendment bill to increase seats of minorities in the National Assembly.

The convoy was fired upon near the Yarik interchange on the Islamabad-DI Khan motorway on Sunday, according to Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party. However, police said Rehman was not accompanying the convoy at the time of the incident in the Dera Ismail Khan district. “For a peaceful environment, there is no harm if the elections are moved forward by a few days,” he urged. Months later, Hafiz Hamdullah, a senior JUI-F figure, was injured along with several others in a blast in Balochistan’s Mastung area. He said a level playing field was not only a matter of one party, but a peaceful environment should be provided to all, including those in KP and Balochistan.

FAISALABAD - January 4 (Thurs­day) is the last date for admission to the second phase programmes of Government College Uni­versity Faisalabad (GCUF). A spokesperson for the university said here on Monday that GCUF offered admission to various BS degree programmes (4 years), BS degree pro­grammes (5 years), BEd (1.5 year), BS (Bridging), MS/MPhil degree pro­grammes (2 years), asso­ciate degree programmes (2 years) and PhD degree programmes. The eligible candidates should apply online at university web­site http://gcuf.edu.pk/admission till January 4. The entrance test would be held on January 6-7, whereas more informa­tion in this regard could be obtained through telephone numbers 041-9201552 and 041-9200886, he added.

Islamabad: The Election Commission has released the details of approval and rejection of papers in connection with general elections. According to the Election Commission, 7,473 candidates submitted their nomination papers for the National Assembly, out of which the papers of 1,024 candidates were rejected, while the nomination papers of 6,449 candidates were declared valid, including the papers of 1,094 men and 355 women. Details released by the Election CommissionAccording to the Election Commission, 7,20 men and 445 women submitted papers for the National Assembly, out of which 934 men and 90 women were rejected. According to the Election Commission, 18 thousand 478 candidates submitted papers for the four provincial assemblies, including 17 thousand 670 men and 808 women. And 135 women’s papers were rejected while 16 thousand 262 papers were approved for the four provincial assemblies, in which 15 thousand 590 men’s and 671 women’s papers were approved.

I’ve always been a big fan of trivia games and trivia TV shows, and the holy grail of trivia shows is Jeopardy. Since that perfectly describes me, I was inspired to come up with my own Jeopardy category and questions. Trussville Life for $200: It often divides our neighborhoods and unites them at the same time. Trussville Life for $600: Everybody looks forward to it, but it only occurs about every ten years. Trussville Life for $800: Drive carefully because one may unexpectedly show up on the street.

The First Information Report (FIR) was filed under Section 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 25-D of the Telegraph Act against alleged members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) based on a complaint by Prof. Dr. Hassan Ul Amin. In his complaint, the NDU professor stated that he has been receiving threats from the banned militant group TTP via WhatsApp messages and letters for an extended period. Additionally, he reported that unknown motorcyclists have been harassing and terrorizing his daughter, a student at Quaid e Azam International University, Islamabad. The applicant informed the police that he previously faced life threats from the TTP when he organized multiple training camps for seminary teachers. Expressing concern for his safety, Dr Hassan Ul Amin urged the police to take action by registering a case against the militants from the banned outfit and apprehending them.

2023 proved to be a genocidal year for Palestinians under Israeli attack, with every day and every moment of the last three months of the year being bombarded by Israeli bombardment and missiles. The number of Palestinian martyrs in the ongoing attacks since October 7 has increased to 21,800. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the total number of injured in Israeli attacks has reached 56 thousand 451. 506 Palestinians were martyred in the year 2023 due to Israeli attacks in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Authority of Statistics, the year 2023 was the worst year for Palestinians since the Nakba in 1948.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir vowed on new year’s eve on Sunday that the Pakistan Army as a national army would leave no stone unturned to contribute to the cause of national security and development. “The Pakistan army as a national army will leave no stone unturned to contribute to the cause of national security and development. “Pakistan army and the nation are one. “Pakistan armed forces wish a happy new year to the proud and honourable people of Pakistan. “The Pakistan armed forces reinforce the patriotic spirit of serving the motherland, a land of immeasurable bounties and countless opportunities.