Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister, has likened the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) iconic bat symbol to an “attack” on the commission's authority. On Tuesday, the PHC had suspended the ECP decision to nullify the PTI's intra-party polls and revoke its popular 'cricket bat' symbol. Addressing party workers during a ceremony at a private hotel in Karachi, Shehbaz said that the ECP’s decision was based on facts and PHC’s decision was tantamount to challenging the commission's authority. Regarding the upcoming elections on February 8, he expressed full preparedness, stating, "The outcome is in Allah's hands. Through the ladla, the country suffered destruction, and now efforts are underway to recreate such an environment."

The tail end of 2023 witnessed an onslaught of increased barbarity by Israel on Palestine. "This is the killing of innocent human beings - men, women and children (majority children). Since 1948 to now, everything Israel has done to the people of Palestine and their land has been wrong and unjustified," penned the star on Instagram. “We are told there are two sides to what is happening in Israel and Palestine," he said. Speaking in favour of Palestine, she shared, “Since when did the oppressor become the oppressed?

Florida State, after slowly climbing back from a period fans designated as the “Lost Decade,” had finally found itself back on top of the college football world. 2013 saw FSU put together a third-ever undefeated season (and first-ever 14-0 one) in not just successful, but dominant fashion. 2013 Florida State Seminoles football championship seasonSchedule09/02/13: at Pittsburgh PanthersScore: 41-13Attendance: 65,50009/14/13: vs. Nevada WolfpackScore: 62-7Attendance: 73,84709/21/13: vs. Bethune-Cookman WildcatsScore: 54-6Attendance: 74,84109/28/13: at Boston College EaglesScore: 48-34Attendance: 40,12910/05/13: vs. Maryland TerrapinsScore: 63-0Attendance: 74,90910/19/13: at No. It marked the first time FSU had won 14 games in a season and was only the sixth time a team had gone 14-0 in college football history. FSU had a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since Warrick Dunn in 1996 as Devonta Freeman amassed 1,016 yards on the ground.

It is encouraging to observe that there are more female candidates submitting candidature papers for the next elections than there were in 2018 and 2013. This disparity demonstrates how political parties failed to seize the chance to advocate for more equitable representation. Furthermore, the ECP and political parties need to collaborate to remove obstacles that prevent women from participating in politics. This entails combating cultural biases, guaranteeing the security of female candidates, and giving aspiring female lawmakers the tools and instruction they require. It is the duty of political parties, civic society, and governmental organisations to create an atmosphere in which women’s political participation goes beyond token participation and becomes an essential feature of our democratic system.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office recovered the victim’s remains; the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy that revealed the victim had been shot. On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Birmingham Police Detectives presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. The suspect was booked into the Jefferson County Jail with a $250,000 bond. On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, Jefferson County Coroner Bill Yates notified BPD detectives the human remains were identified as: Donald Cash, 52, of Birmingham. BPD homicide detectives have obtained a murder warrant on the victim’s son Ledarius Cash; he remains in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail without bond.

I am writing to draw your atten­tion to a matter of great concern regarding water contamination in our community. Over the past few weeks, numer­ous reports and complaints from residents have surfaced about the quality of our drinking water. Many individuals have suffered serious health issues, including gastroin­testinal problems and skin irrita­tions, either through consumption or direct contact with the water. It is crucial to take immediate action to investigate the source of this contamination and imple­ment effective measures to ensure the safety and purity of our water. I kindly request that you initiate a thorough investigation into this matter to identify the root cause of the contamination.

LAHORE, Dec 27 (APP):Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the nation on successful test of the Fateh-2 missile. In his message, the CM said that the Pak Army, scientists and engineers deserve praise for successful experiment, adding that Pakistan had achieved another milestone in its defense capabilities. Fateh-2 missile incorporates the latest technology and it would further strengthen Pakistan’s defence capabilities, he added.

MOSCOW-Russia and India have made tangible progress in talks on plans to jointly produce military equipment, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, after talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Moscow. He said Moscow respected India’s desire to diversify its military hardware suppliers and was ready too to support New Delhi’s desire to manufacture things needed by India in India. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet Jaishankar later on Wednesday. Jaishankar said he and Lavrov had discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as bilateral trade and investment. India has become one of Russia’s core economic partners since the West in 2022 imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

Israeli forces pounded central Gaza by land, sea and air on Wednesday and Palestinian authorities reported dozens more deaths, including 20 in one attack. A Gaza health ministry statement said an Israeli air strike killed 20 Palestinians on Wednesday near the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. PHOTO: REUTERSIn central Gaza's Al-Maghazi district, five Palestinians were killed in one air strike, medics said, while to the north in Gaza City health officials said the bodies of seven Palestinians killed overnight arrived at Al Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military said on Wednesday its warplanes had also targeted Hezbollah military sites and other locations in Lebanon. An Israeli military statement said Israeli forces on a counter-terrorism operation came under attack by fighters who threw explosive devices at them.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 14th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on December 27, 2023. The PPP stands strong today," Bilawal stated, addressing the gathering commemorating the anniversary of his mother's martyrdom. Read more: Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, a historical symbol of bravery"We are not those who run away from elections, snatch nomination papers, or shy away from the electoral process. The former president expressed commitment to fulfilling promises made by Bilawal, saying, "Together, we will fulfil all the promises made by Bilawal. Many have come and gone, but today, we only remember Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto."

North Andover, MA (01845)TodayRain likely. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..TonightRain likely. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.

ISLAMABAD - Following recommendation of the In­ternational Monetary Fund (IMF), the federal government is planning to prepare multi-year indicative budget ceilings on the overall development budget, starting from the Fiscal Year 2024-25 (PSDP), instead of the existing annual based development budget ceil­ing strategy. It was recommended to set multi-year indicative budget ceil­ings by the ministry. It has been planned to prepare mul­ti-year indicative budget ceilings on the overall development (PSDP) budget. Use multi-year indicative budget ceilings to prepare multi-year ceilings. Now the Planning Commission will review powers to obtain information on investment projects across funding sources and identify any needed legis­lative amendment.

Khunjarab Pass, the Pakistan-China trade corridor closed due to winter, was opened for commercial activities on Tuesday. In November, the China-Pakistan trade corridor was closed for 5 months due to winter. Customs sources told Geo News that the government had decided to open the Khanjarab Pass for commercial activities for 10 days from Tuesday on an experimental basis. According to the officials, freight trains from Khanjrab Pass will depart from Pakistan to China via Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries under the International Transit Trade Agreement, while vehicles from China will depart for Afghanistan via the Karakoram Highway.

On December 25, the nation celebrated the 147th birth anniversary of the nation’s father, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah with traditional zeal and fervour. Quaid's birthday is celebrated annually on December 25, the day he was born in 1876 in Karachi. Read Quaid’s birthday celebrated with exhibitionIn Karachi, a change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam. "Today, we celebrate the 147th birthday of our great leader, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah," he said in a statement. The Punjab government celebrated his birth anniversary in an unprecedented manner at the Chief Minister's office.

Only a few weeks ago, there was a state of uncertainty around the possibility of general elections. Sunday night’s nominations for the federal and provincial legislatures came to an end with prominent members of the major political parties submitting their candidatures. Parties are expected to transition to election mode from this point on, which necessitates them telling voters about their platform for Pakistan’s advancement. The fact that the majority of mainstream parties—apart from Jamaat-i-Islami—have not yet made their electoral manifestos public raises concerns in this regard. In the meanwhile, the legitimacy of the voting process is crucial, as these writers have discussed.