PPP wants democracy, not positions: Bilawal
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has revealed that he was offered to lead the next possible coalition government as the prime minister for two years. However, he declined the offer as his party only wants to ensure democracy and the survival of the federation. Talking with reference to these negotiations, Bilawal said the PPP does not want federal ministries in return for supporting the PML-N’s candidate for the position of the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif. This is why we have decided that [PPP Co-chairman] Asif Ali Zardari will be the party’s candidate for president," he added. Bilawal said his party is being accused of perpetrating violence during the polling but these claims run contrary to fact.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 19, 2024 05:40 UTC
Economic challenges ahead
The recently concluded election has left the public eagerly awaiting a clear strategy from political parties to address pressing economic concerns, including inflation, growth, debt, and investment. Meanwhile, our GDP lags behind global standards, public debt has hit record levels, and the investment budget remains insufficient to set the country toward a growth trajectory. To begin with, the State Bank’s attempts to control inflation through monetary tools have failed due to deep-seated structural issues. Despite celebrating the victories, political parties must recognize the gravity of the challenges facing the nation. Only through these measures can we uplift the lives of ordinary citizens and set our country on a prosperous economic path.
Source:The Nation
February 19, 2024 04:50 UTC
Full transcript of "Face the Nation," Feb. 18, 2024
(Begin VT)NIKKI HALEY (R-Presidential Candidate): He's going to spend most of this year in a courtroom, not on a campaign trail. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who opposed the bipartisan Senate legislation joins us now from Clemson, South Carolina. You stunned many of your colleagues and U.S. allies around the world when you opposed this recent…SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Yes. SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Yes, I'm saying that the House proposal – it depends on how it's written – makes perfect sense to me. I spoke to President Trump earlier in the week about making the aid to Ukraine a loan.
Source:The Nation
February 19, 2024 04:18 UTC
Transcript: Rep. Jim Clyburn on "Face the Nation," Feb. 18, 2024
The following is a transcript of an interview with Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina that aired on Feb. 18, 2024. What does President Biden need to do now to make sure black voters come out in the same way they did for him in 2020? No, I would say to him, keep doing what you're doing. So keep doing what you're doing. ROBERT COSTA: Congressman, you are running for reelection, but leaving the Democratic leadership, you're 83 years old, President Biden is 81.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2024 23:58 UTC
Life-saving medications
The federal cabinet’s recent decision to increase the cost of 146 life-saving medications is a big, if divisive, step towards solving the long-standing drug pricing problem. A careful balance must be struck between the pharmaceutical industry’s ability to make money and the public’s ability to afford necessary medications. Targeted government subsidies for life-saving medications must be taken into consideration. Novel approaches are required, such as levying taxes on pharmaceutical companies’ turnover to pay for the purchase of medications for public hospitals, ensuring that the most disadvantaged people have access to essential medications at no cost to them. A healthcare system where everyone, regardless of financial situation, has affordable and easy access to life-saving medications should be the ultimate goal.
Source:The Patriot
February 18, 2024 22:49 UTC
2/18: Face The Nation
2/18: Face The Nation This week on "Face the Nation," former President Donald Trump faces yet another legal setback, and with the South Carolina Republican primary less than a week away, Nikki Haley is fighting for her home state. We'll hear from both of South Carolina's Republican senators — Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham — about their recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, and how the death of Putin critic Alexey Navalny will impact the push to aid Ukraine.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2024 21:12 UTC
Darkening Path
Moody’s analysts have expressed “credit negativity” due to the divided public mandate and allegations of election fraud, which may cause more political instability. Furthermore, it is not surprising that the rating agency feels this way, considering the rebellious attitude of some key parties. Nonetheless, longer-term political and policy stability cannot be replaced by the SIFC. Due to political unpredictability, the Gulf countries—who have invested billions of dollars in Pakistan—have refrained from joining the market despite the SIFC. The country’s economic destiny will depend on how and when the new coalition handles the Fund notwithstanding the unstable political environment.
Source:The Patriot
February 18, 2024 20:38 UTC
Lady Mounties in Elite 8
By John Goolsby, Prep Sports EditorJACKSONVILLE – Shades Valley Girls Basketball head coach Gary Ferguson knew the start of the season was going to be a difficult one for his Lady Mounties. The Lady Mounties lost nine of their first twelve games. The Lady Mounties defeated Parker 62-45 and Oxford 71-52 on their way to the Elite 8. The Lady Mounties are getting good production from all five starters and quality minutes and points from their bench. The Lady Mounties face Huffman in the regional finals at 9:00 AM Tuesday at Jacksonville State.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2024 18:28 UTC
OpenAI’s text-to-video model Sora is driving internet insane
The future is cooked man — polytope enthusiast (@ThoronIsHere) February 16, 2024One user penned, “Sora by OpenAI is just amazing. Sora by OpenAI is just amazingHere was my prompt: Create a video of a politician drinking water when faced with tough questions during an interview on national television. Jordan Peterson assumed the scene from Singham as an AI prompt 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/cAIICb4kLo — Shilpak. According to OpenAI, Sora is a work-in-progress, can confuse the spatial details of a prompt and have difficulty in following a specific camera trajectory. OpenAI has just announced Sora, its text-to-video AI model.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2024 17:10 UTC
Transcript: Sen. Tim Scott on "Face the Nation," Feb. 18, 2024
The following is a transcript of an interview with Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina that aired on Feb. 18, 2024. ROBERT COSTA: We turn now to South Carolina's other Republican senator, Senator Tim Scott. And what many Americans--ROBERT COSTA: Senator-SEN. SCOTT: -- feel, Bob--ROBERT COSTA: -- Senator,SEN. SCOTT:-- is that what's happening to President Trump could happen to them just as well. ROBERT COSTA: Senator, that Hur report you speak of has been harshly criticized by the Biden White House. So what we should focus on is what will cause the former president, President Trump, to be the next president of the United States.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2024 16:11 UTC
Artwork of 20 Trussville students on exhibit in Montgomery
From Tribune staff reportsTRUSSVILLE — The artwork of ten students from Trussville City Schools is currently on display in the Old Supreme Court Library in the State Capitol building in Montgomery. Students from from Layken Rubin’s art classes at Hewitt-Trussville High School are sophomores Sawyer Henderson and Harper Ramadan; juniors Sydney Boggess, Raymie, Brechin and Aaralynn Gilles; and seniors Kathryn Henderson, Elly Morris and Kelsey Norris. Representing Hewitt-Trussville Middle School is the artwork of sixth graders Kinsley Halpin and Michelle Treese, and eight graders Sawyer Hancock and Eleanor Tucker. Kristin Meriam is the students’ art teacher. The eight artists are from Angela Santiago’s and Kelsi Andrews’s art classes.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2024 15:24 UTC
Empowered women – elevating nation, beaming with pride
In recent outgoing years the empowered Pakistani women have displayed their best potential in every sphere of life, achieving for the country, by breaking barriers and achieving numerous ‘firsts’ in their respective fields, APP observed. To a great surprise, Naila Kiani, renowned mountaineer and the first Pakistani woman, who climbed 10 peaks above 8,000 metres last year. Likewise, Samina Baig attained the feat of becoming the first Pakistani women to summit the world’s ninth-highest peak, the 8,125m-tall Nanga Parbat. Pakistani women in the walk of social or performing arts, did not shy away from exhibiting their love for modern arts and media either as they set new records. This was the fifth women police station of its kind that inaugurated aiming at empowering women in the province.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2024 13:24 UTC
Human trafficking
These perpetrators deceive the parents of these children, claiming they will take care of them, but instead, they are sold into different forms of trafficking. In other cases, children are stolen from their families and sold into human trafficking, never to be seen again by their parents. The worst part is that some children are stolen and sold as camel jockeys to Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates. Human rights organizations have been fighting to put an end to this for years, but unfortunately, the problem persists, and the numbers continue to increase. We should strive to bring an end to this madness in our country so that young and innocent children can be freed from such exploitation.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2024 05:34 UTC
Pakistan’s fashion goes global
LONDON - Coveted fashion label, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha, announces a major brand expansion, as the fashion house is set to launch a standalone design studio in the heart of London’s luxury district, just off Regent Street. Mohsin is the first Pakistani couture fashion designer to do so, taking the nations fashion footprint to new frontiers. Speaking on their expanding global footprint, MNR’s Managing Director, Abubakar Naveed Ranjha remarked, “Launching in the European market is an exciting prospect for us. Mohsin Naveed Ranjha’s flagship stores are housed in Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, with presence in New York and online at www.mohsinnaveedranjha.com. The MNR London Studio will open on the 08th of March 2024.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2024 01:17 UTC