On Qatar visit, Pakistan minister says 'well-equipped' to meet Gulf nation's expanding IT needs
Pakistan's first-ever IT delegation to Qatar arrived in Doha on Saturday for a five-day visit, aiming to attract investment and explore opportunities for Pakistani software houses and freelance developers. The minister said he highlighted Pakistan’s IT potential at the conference in Doha, which included "exciting meetings" with businesses in Qatar to establish collaboration with Pakistani IT firms. “This time, 30 Pakistani firms are taking part in this conference, but in the near future, Pakistan will be showcasing 300 IT firms in Qatar,” he said. “This collaboration aims to create a secure technological ecosystem, aligning with Qatar's remarkable strides in automating various business sectors,” he said. “Qatari companies exhibited significant interest in fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital transformation,” he told Arab News over the phone.
Source:The Nation
December 03, 2023 17:28 UTC
Security forces foil TTP terror plan for Peshawar
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani security forces yesterday foiled a major terror attack planed for Peshawar by arresting the most wanted terrorist affiliated with the banned organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), after a high profile successful operation. According to sources, during the investigation, the arrested terrorist disclosed that the TTP was planning to carry out major terrorist activities in Peshawar for which he was the key planner. After getting information from the arrested terrorist, the security forces conducted a raid in Khyber district, in which huge a cache of weapons, ammunition, detonators, and explosive materials used in suicide jackets were recovered from an underground place. The sources further said that the arrested terrorist made huge revelations about TTP terror planning and the network in KP which has been timely dismantled by the security forces.
Source:The Nation
December 03, 2023 09:23 UTC
COP28: Rich nations turn to shifting goalposts, once again
For over 15 years, the rich nations have committed to paying $100 billion each year to help the developing nations deal with climate change. While for long, there were only two categories in this discussion — the developed and developing — in the past few years, the rich nations have split the developing nations further into emerging economies and least developed countries. For over 15 years, the rich nations have committed to paying $100 billion each year to help the developing nations deal with climate change. If there’s a top priority, it’s for emerging countries to phase out carbon,” he said in his speech. Drastically cut their own emissions by 2030 and dramatically enhance funding with real money for the developing nations.
Source:The Nation
December 03, 2023 08:43 UTC
Cancer treatment
The rather backward Balochistan province has no cancer treatment facility, and patients have to be taken to Karachi and other cities when hospitalisation is needed. The province that has been neglected in multiple areas over the last decades needs a cancer facility rather urgently. LIAQUAT K BKHUZDAR
Source:Pakistan Today
December 03, 2023 01:58 UTC
Bilawal tells Nawaz to rely on his own strength
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday asked PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to rely on his own strength and popularity in the next elections instead of backing the ‘powerful circles’ to ensure his party’s victory. Bilawal urged Nawaz as well as his party to respect the voters and avoid playing what he described as “old games”. The PPP chairman said political parties could deliver even after the elections and regain their lost space. He added that he wanted a system where all decisions were made and implemented with the consensus of all political parties and institutions. Bilawal demanded a level playing field for all political parties in the country, rather than a specific one.
Source:The Express Tribune
December 03, 2023 01:43 UTC
Kabul gives ‘certain assurances’ on TTP
The Afghan Taliban government had given “certain assurances” to neutralise the threat of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Foreign Office said here on Friday, following Islamabad’s latest demands, seeking a decisive action against terrorist sanctuaries. “We are obviously very disappointed that we have not seen the kind of results that we have expected from the Afghan authorities,” spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters at her weekly news briefing. “We will continue to impress on Afghan authorities to take effective action against these terrorist groups,” Baloch said. “We have been given certain assurances with reference to our demands of the Afghan authorities. “However, our position has been clear that there should be effective, meaningful action against these terrorist groups and we should see concrete results of the action that Afghanistan takes against these terrorist groups,” she added.
Source:The Express Tribune
December 02, 2023 13:41 UTC
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Indian critics compare 'Animal' to 'The Legend of Maula Jatt'
The much-anticipated release day of Animal has led to the film quickly becoming the talk of the town. Travelled 45 KM in winter and that too on bike, 8 AM to just experience #RanbirKapoor𓃵 's BLOCKBUSTER film #Animal at its best in terms of Sound & Vision. One X user shared a small clip of Deepika Padukone celebrating, captioning the same, "Animal getting trashed left and right. Film Companion shared how the film seems like an "offensive" against Kabir Singh critics. Anupama Chopra, in her review, called the film "cheerfully misogynistic," while also stating, "It's Oldboy meets The Legend of Maula Jatt."
Source:The Express Tribune
December 02, 2023 12:39 UTC
Armed Forces focused on defending frontiers of motherland with nation’s support: COAS
The Army Chief appreciated the training standards, operational preparedness, and high morale of officers and troops. COAS directed troops to keep serving the nation with traditional zeal and passion under all circumstances. “We are cognizant of the challenges, and with the support of the nation, we are prepared to thwart any nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan,” COAS emphasized. “The Pakistan Army is fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against all odds. Armed Forces will defeat the enemies of Pakistan, InshaAllah,” the COAS concluded.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 12:20 UTC
African nations seek fair climate financing at COP28
He mentioned that he is aware of one of the problems associated with past meetings on climate change: there is rarely any follow-up to the lofty statements made during these gatherings. He added that the EU was very deeply engaged with climate change, not just internally but also at a global level. These are the three main things that we have to resolve in order to advance in the (fight against) climate change,” he said. Smith said that there was a direct connection between climate change and conflicts, a hypothesis that his institute has been studying for decades. Little of what is said is implemented and ultimately, it is for the common people around the world to deal with the aftereffects of climate change.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 10:40 UTC
Army fully prepared to defend motherland from any threat: Gen Asim Munir
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir Saturday emphasised that the armed forces were aware of the challenges faced by Pakistan and fully prepared to thwart any nefarious designs against the motherland. “We are cognisant of the challenges and with the support of the nation we are prepared to thwart any nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan”, COAS emphasised. “Pakistan Army is fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against all odds. Pakistan Armed Forces are focused on defending the frontiers of the motherland against the full spectrum of threats and with the support of the nation, Armed Forces will defeat the enemies of Pakistan, InshaAllah," said the army chief during his visit. The army chief witnessed integrated fire and battle manoeuvres of various elements, including armour, mechanised infantry, artillery, air defence, and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) duly supported by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Combat Aviation.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 10:21 UTC
Protests in Srinagar as Modi govt protects Hindutva man accused of blasphemy
ISLAMABAD - The protest demonstrations have erupted in Srinagar seeking the arrest of a Hindutva supporter Prathamesh Shinde who made blasphemous remarks against Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A 20-year-old student from Maharashtra at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar had posted derogatory content on the social media which triggered protests. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has also booked the student but the Indian authorities are avoiding to arrest the accused. The Islamophobia is growing in the Indian society and Hindutva supporters are using it as a political tool. The sane elements on the social media urged the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the international community to pressure the Modi government for taking action against the Hindutva supporter for committing blasphemy.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 09:15 UTC
Pakistan demands probe into attacks on Gaza hospitals, residential areas
The spokesperson’s comment comes as Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar is in the UAE to represent Pakistan. On the other hand during weekly briefing here, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch expressed concern over the Palestine situation. She said that Pakistan demanded an investigation into the attacks on hospitals, mosques and residential areas in Gaza by the Israeli forces. The spokesperson said that Pakistan was delivering aid to Gaza through Rafah crossing. “We hope that the Afghan authorities will take action against the TTP, the banned outfit involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan,” Ms Baloch concluded.
Source:Pakistan Today
December 02, 2023 06:47 UTC
​​UN official urges strategic plans for climate-vulnerable nations at COP28
US should participate in carbon pricing rather than oppose it: IMF directorDUBAI: The US should participate, rather than being a “loud opponent,” in carbon pricing, urged the director of the International Monetary Fund. The director deemed carbon pricing a “wonderful instrument” due to its dual role in revenue generation and addressing inequality. According to Georgieva, revenues generated from carbon pricing can be strategically directed to compensate the most vulnerable parts of the global population. Despite the current average carbon price standing at $20 per ton in areas covered by carbon pricing, when amalgamating this figure with 75 percent of the world without carbon pricing, the average carbon price would fall to $5, she noted. The director expressed concerns that geopolitical tensions might exacerbate economic fragmentation amid a global climate crisis.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 06:44 UTC
Bhutan commences primary polls as nation gears up for fourth-ever General Election
Bhutan witnessed a significant democratic exercise on Thursday as voters cast their ballots in primary polls, determining the top two political parties poised to engage in the upcoming fourth-ever general election in the nation’s history. Residents from remote corners of the mountainous kingdom embarked on journeys to partake in this crucial process, choosing from five participating parties. The leading two parties emerging from these primaries will contend in the general election scheduled for January 9. Since the initiation of political reforms under the present king’s reign, Bhutanese citizens first exercised their voting rights in 2008. The reigning monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, remains widely popular among the nearly 800,000 people in the predominantly Buddhist nation.
Source:The Nation
December 01, 2023 04:39 UTC
Nation expresses gratitude to key middle eastern allies for substantial support for Pakistan’s economic development: Ashrafi
Ashrafi said the UAE, recognizing the shared economic interests, had engaged in groundbreaking multi-billion dollar deals across diverse sectors. He said these agreements, facilitated under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), marked a strategic collaboration to foster economic stability and growth in Pakistan. He said the UAE’s commitment to these initiatives underscored its confidence in Pakistan’s potential as a key partner in the region. Ashrafi said Kuwait, another key player in the Middle East, had joined the collective effort to support Pakistan’s economic uplift. He said the army chief had been instrumental in bolstering fraternal and commercial bonds with key middle eastern nations, including KSA, UAE, and Kuwait.
Source:The Nation
December 01, 2023 01:43 UTC