LAHORE-Pakistan will take on arch-rival India in the finals of the ITF Asia 12&Under Team Competition-South Asia Zone at Kathmandu, Nepal on Friday. In the first boys’ singles, Hamza Ali Rizwan outsmarted MD Rajib by 6-2, 6-0 while the second boys’ singles match saw Abubakar Talha outclassing Kabbo Gayen by 6-1, 6-1. In the boys’ doubles, Pakistani pair of Omar Jawad and Abubakar Talha overwhelmed the Bangladeshi duo of MD Rajib and Kabbo Gayen by 6-1, 6-1. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, hosts Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and India are participating in the event. Muhammad Abid is the captain of Pakistan team while the team members are Abubakar Talha, Hamza Ali Rizwan and Omar Jawad.

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has announced a countrywide protest on Sunday against rising inflation and hike in prices of petroleum products. In a video message on Thursday, he called on the masses to hold a countrywide protest on Sunday at 9 pm against the ‘rising inflation’ and petrol price hike. Regarding inflation, Imran Khan remarked that all political parties staged protests during his tenure against inflation to criticise us [PTI government] for rising inflation and incompetence. “During our three-and-a-half-year tenure, the petrol price increased by Rs50 only and was being sold at Rs150 per litre. “International Monetary Fund (IMF) had asked us to end subsidies, but we provided relief to the people from rising inflation.”

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In a recorded video message, Imran warned that inflation would soar even higher in days to come if the nation "kept sitting idly". "I am inviting the entire nation for a peaceful protest against inflation. I invite trade unions, professionals, doctors, engineers, clerks, and government workers to take to the streets," appealed the ex-PM. Imran said the nation remembers the narrative of the incumbent government leaders when they were in the opposition and used to critique inflation. The former premier warned that a further hike in diesel prices would wreak an "economic havoc" in the country.

The 13-member delegation would comprise religious scholars from renowned seminaries of country and it would be travelling to the Afghan capital within a few days, according to sources. The Ulema delegation would have a face-to-face meeting with the TTP leadership in Kabul. Also read: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Pakistani TalibanThe Ulema would also seek to enlist the help of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interim interior minister of Afghanistan, to make the truce more effective. However, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his party say parliament should be taken into confidence on this new initiative. A spokesperson for the TTP has also confirmed to The Express Tribune that a delegation of Pakistani religious scholars would be travelling to Kabul soon for a meeting with the TTP leaders.

The panel's recommendations will now go to the FDA, which is expected to approve the use of the vaccines this week. Read moreStorms cause delay in reopening of Abbott baby formula plant. From 2010 to 2018, the price of brand-name epilepsy drugs, including meds like Vimpat (lacosamide), rose 277% overall, researchers found. Rates are rising more slowly in states that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new study finds. More Americans in mental health crisis may be getting the care they need, researchers suggest.

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has given a call for a countrywide protest against the exorbitant hike in fuel prices. In a video message on Thursday, he called upon the people belonging to all walks of life to stage peaceful protest at 9pm on Sunday across the country against the “imported government”. Speaking about the performance of his government, Imran said the incumbent rulers have now realised that the major cause of the price hike was global inflation. The ousted premier also asked the PML-N-led government why it hatched a “conspiracy” and derail the country which was moving in the right direction. "I am also inviting political parties and women to join the protest against the imported government which is our democratic and constitutional right.”

REUTERSAngry crowds in India set an office of the country's ruling party on fire, attacked railway infrastructure and blocked roads on Thursday, in widening protests against a new military recruitment system, police officials said. In eastern India's Bihar state, where protests have flared in around a dozen locations, thousands gathered in Nawada city to demonstrate against the new recruitment system, police official Gaurav Mangla said. Just IN:— Violent Protests erupt in India against army's new recruitment policy Agnipath. The new recruitment system, called Agnipath or "path of fire" in Hindi, will bring in men and women between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 for a four-year tenure, with only a quarter retained for longer periods. Bihar and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh saw protests over the recruitment process for railway jobs in January this year, underlining India's persistent unemployment problem.

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has given a call for a countrywide protest against the exorbitant hike in fuel prices. In a video message on Thursday, he called upon the people belonging to all walks of life to stage peaceful protest at 9pm on Sunday across the country against the “imported government”. Speaking about the performance of his government, Imran said the incumbent rulers have now realised that the major cause of the price hike was global inflation. The ousted premier also asked the PML-N-led government why it hatched a “conspiracy” and derail the country which was moving in the right direction. "I am also inviting political parties and women to join the protest against the imported government which is our democratic and constitutional right.”

Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Thursday said the nation, especially the traders’ community, should adopt austerity measures as a cultural norm to reduce wastage of fuel and electricity amid soaring economic challenges. However, at the national level neither the previous governments nor the societal factions adopted austerity to control unnecessary expenses”, he added. The Minister beseeched the masses to adopt austerity as it was the only solution at the moment amid limited available resources. He assured the media that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the coalition government was taking the responsibility to reduce inflation and impacts of the economic issues. The Defence Minister pointed out that if Ukraine-Russia war ended then the fuel prices would nose down and which would benefit our economy.

Defence Minister urges nation for reducing fuel, electricity wasteMinister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif has asked nation, especially traders’ community, to adopt austerity measures as a cultural norm to reduce wastage of fuel and electricity amid soaring economic challenges. Defence Minister urged the nation to support the government for achieving normalcy through hard economic decisions. Defence Minister said due to Ukraine war fuel prices have been risen at global level and countries with fewer resources are directly affected due to global inflation. Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira said the country may head towards default in case government did not increase the fuel prices. He said government is providing targeted subsidy to save poor segment of the society from the impact of rising fuel prices.

HYDERABAD – With the efforts of the representatives of the business community, the divisional and district administrations have granted exemption to medical stores as well bakeries from scheduled business hours. A joint delegation of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry and Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by President HCSTSI Muhammad Altaf Memon and President HCCI Adeel Siddiqui Wednesday held meeting with the Commissioner Hyderabad Nadeem ur Rehman Memon and apprised his about the issues being faced by the business community during the closure of business activities at 8pm. The delegation also informed the meeting which also attended by the DIG Hyderabad Pir Muhammad Shah, Chief Executive Officer HESCO Noor Ahmed Soomro and Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro that the Police have been engaged in forcibly closing the business activities at 8pm while loadshedding duration remained same during the business hours. According to the HCSTSI spokesman, the Commissioner assured the delegation that all genuine issues of the business community would be resolved while the HESCO Chief also assured that no load shedding would be conducted from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.On demand of the delegation, the meeting decided that medical stores and bakeries would remain open till midnight. It also decided that the medical stores, situated in the premises of the hospital will carry out functioning round the clock.

ISLAMABAD: According to a Gallup survey, Pakistanis are ahead of the people of 24 countries of the world in patriotism. As many as 90 percent Pakistanis expressed their deep association with the country and 96 percent Pakistanis are ready to defend their country in the wake of a war and 70 percent Pakistanis do not want to leave the country despite having good opportunities abroad. As per Gallup survey, 70 percent Pakistanis say that they will not leave the country despite better opportunities abroad while 26 percent Pakistanis show their willingness to go abroad. In survey, 96 percent Pakistanis express their readiness for the defence of the country while three percent refused to do so. Among 24 countries, 45 percent people showed their readiness for defence of the country while 36 percent refused to do so.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif addresses the nation. The prime minister issued that statement a day after the government raised fuel prices, with petrol reaching Rs233.89 — unprecedented in the country's history. Taking to his Twitter handle, PM Shahbaz said, "Acutely aware of the impact that a fuel price hike causes. Govt is left with no choice but to raise the prices due to the IMF deal that the PTI govt signed. Will take the nation into confidence on the specifics of the IMF-PTI deal soon."

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged party workers to go door-to-door and ‘preach’ people about the party's upcoming long march. Imran Khan directed the party workers to remain prepared for the long march to Islamabad as he will give the call to come to the capital ‘soon’. "One of our workers was thrown from Ravi bridge and he died [during the last long march]," he added. Imran Khan said that there were three long marches during the tenure of PTI government but they did not stop them. Claiming that Pakistan was rapidly moving forward during PTI's tenure, he said that the country witnessed record remittances and exports.