Oak Hill, WV (25901)TodayA mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..TonightCloudy skies early with thunderstorms developing later at night. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb addresses a press conference on August 18, 2022 — PIDISLAMABAD: Accusing PTI Chairperson Imran Khan of "misleading the nation", Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb Thursday bashed him for talking about media freedom. "Khan talking about media freedom is no less than a joke," Aurangzeb said while addressing a press conference. The information minister said that Khan was the prime minister when Absar Alam, Asad Toor, Asma Sherazi, Gharida Farooqui, Nusrat Javed, and Matiullah Jan were attacked. “Khan is not appearing before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and he should be arrested,” Aurangzeb maintained. Shahbaz Gill's caseRegarding Shahbaz Gill’s case, she highlighted that during Khan’s tenure then Opposition members were arrested twice for every allegation.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday adjourned the hearing into disqualification reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan over the Toshakhana gifts scandal till August 22. He also said that Imran Khan is no longer a member of the National Assembly. The chief election commissioner said that in the eyes of the ECP, Imran Khan is still an MNA because the National Assembly Secretariat has not approved the resignation yet. “I thank God, that in three years (of rule), all they have got against me is this toshakhana gift scandal, which is already on record,” said Imran Khan. “My gifts, my choice,” the former prime minister responded to the criticism over the Toshakhana’s state gifts.
The people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been obliged to do so in their fight for self-determination for over seven decades,” he said. “History reveals that such popular struggles against colonial and foreign occupation have been often been suppressed by equating them with terrorism. Ambassador Akram also said that global counter-terrorism endeavour had failed to address “state terrorism”. “We must confront and defeat ISIS and al-Qaeda and their associated terrorist groups. But we must also confront the terrorism of hate and ambition which currently emanates from other sources.”
Under Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the 12th President, Turkey is ready to assume the leadership of the Islamic Ummah. In the 20th century, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the Turkish Republic. Once in the saddle Erdogan moved fast to rebuild Turkey from the ashes of repeated military interventions. While Ataturk is still revered as the father of the modern republic his supra constitutional role for his fellow soldiers has been down away with. Today, Erdogan of Turkey stands out as the most important leader of the Muslin World who is destined to play a major role in reviving the past glory of the Ummah.
MADRID – Spain and neighbouring Portugal fought against large wildfires, while three people were badly injured after their train hurtled into a smaller Spanish blaze. Some 300 firefighters spent a difficult night battling a huge wildfire in southeastern Spain that has burnt through nearly 10,000 hectares in an area notoriously difficult to access, officials said Tuesday. “Three people suffered bad burn injuries,” the regional health authorities said, adding one had to be evacuated by helicopter to hospital. Portugal has suffered 195 wildfires so far this year, which have ravaged 84,717 hectares of land, EFFIS figures show. Fires have blazed across Europe, particularly in France, Greece and Portugal, making 2022 a record year for wildfires on the continent.
LAHORE – About 285 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday in the province while no death was observed. The Punjab health department conducted 11,788,147 tests for the COVID-19 so far while 501,555 confirmed cases had been recovered in the province. The Punjab health department urged the masses to follow SOPs for their protection and cover their faces with masks. Contact 1033 immediately on symptoms of coronavirus, the healthcare department urged the citizens. Meanwhile, about 38 new cases of dengue virus were reported in Punjab on Wednesday while no loss of life occurred.
These include matches in the ACC 50-over Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy, which Pakistan will stage in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The number of matches may increase depending on where Pakistan finishes in the ICC and ACC events between 2023 and 2027, as well as in the 2025 and 2026 three-nation ODI series. Likewise, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan will play Australia in three home T20Is. Apart from Australia, three other sides – Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe – will also play white-ball matches in Pakistan between 2023 and 2027. Additionally, Afghanistan, Australia, Ireland and Zimbabwe will also tour Pakistan for the white-ball matches, which means 10 of the 12 ICC Full Members will play cricket in Pakistan during the four-year period.
Likewise, China has become an emergent world power, albeit it got independence in 1949, two years after Pakistan came into being. The tendency of the political elite for the centralisation of power has marginalised provinces, leading to a dysfunctional local government system, an essential facet of democracy. Third, the securitisation of the state, owing largely to the Indian hegemonic ambitions as well as the inability of our political elite to efficiently perform, has derailed democratic progression. Fourth, a grand national debate is urgently required to create a national identity. Last but not least, the willingness of the political elite to devise an all-inclusive reform agenda is badly needed.
ISLAMABAD – Askari Bank (AKBL) announced half year earnings (profit before tax) at Rs.12.157 billion depicting a YoY increase of 80% on the back of strong delivery by all business segments. Total revenues increased by 11% YoY to Rs.23 billion contributed by robust growth across key income streams. This trend reflects the effective implementation of various cost rationalization initiatives and has also placed AKBL’s cost to income ratio amongst the best in industry for the current period. Askari Bank has been pursuing a strategy to grow market share of retail business, particularly retail deposit and current accounts in the business hubs of central and south regions. Bank plans to grow market share in retail segment, particularly low-cost and saving deposits which aligns well with the branch network expansion.
These include matches in the ACC 50-over Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy, which Pakistan will stage in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The number of matches may increase depending on where Pakistan finishes in the ICC and ACC events between 2023 and 2027, as well as in the 2025 and 2026 three-nation ODI series. Likewise, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan will play Australia in three home T20Is. Apart from Australia, three other sides – Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe – will also play white-ball matches in Pakistan between 2023 and 2027. “We have also scheduled two tri-series in February 2025 and October/November 2026, involving New Zealand and South Africa, and England and Sri Lanka, respectively.
As the value of the rupee appreciates against the dollar, Pak Suzuki Motor Company has decided to reduce prices ranging from Rs75,000 to Rs199,000. “Pak Suzuki has reduced prices,” Head of Public Relations of the company, Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh, confirmed. AL Habib Capital Markets auto analyst Asad Ali said “following Toyota, Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) has also reduced its car prices by 5% to pass on the benefit of rupee appreciation against the dollar. Ravi and Bolan, the four-decade-old vehicles for the middle class, have seen their prices reduced by Rs75,000 and Rs79,000 respectively. “PSMC has reduced car prices after the appreciation of rupee but the price decrease is not equivalent to the earlier increase.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned on Wednesday against doing politics on the appointment of army chief, saying that the matter had not yet been taken up. Asif said that a “negative” social media campaign against the tragic helicopter crash in Lasbela, Balochistan during the flood relief operations earlier this month was a “joint project” of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and India against the Pakistan Army. The helicopter crash happened due to bad weather, but the PTI social media team, which had Indian support, launched a campaign against the Pakistan Army,” Asif told reporters. “All the [social media] accounts that came out are related to the PTI. Imran forgot his own statements against the army while sitting in the UK and in India in the 1990s.
People wishing to bid farewell to Ben Stelter, who grabbed this city by the heartstrings with his love of the Edmonton Oilers and his courageous fight against brain cancer before passing away on Aug. 9, will get that chance this Friday. Fittingly, it’ll come right outside Rogers Place. “I’m always going to think about him after a win,” said Connor McDavid, who first met Ben last fall. Ben would absolutely love this,” Ben’s dad Mike said of Friday’s public farewell via Twitter. Those that can’t make it to the passing of the procession outside Rogers Place can view the live-stream of his service.
Amid rifts within the PML-N over the recent increase in the price of petrol, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Tuesday announced that the petroleum levy would be further jacked up from next month. The price of petrol was raised to Rs233.91 from Rs227.19 per litre. After initial hesitation, the PML-N led coalition has been increasing petroleum prices since May 15 under the IMF deal. Miftah said that the country paid $8.5 per barrel premium on diesel and $17.5 per barrel on petrol. The finance minister maintained that tackling inflation was next on the government’s agenda.
