PNS ship participates in joint drill in Turkiye
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Navy’s MILGEM Class Ship BABUR participated in the PN-TN Bilateral Exercise TURGUTREIS-IX at Naval Base AKSAZ, Türkiye. During harbour phase of the exercise, briefings, tabletop discussions and exercise coordination meetings were held onboard PNS BABUR. Earlier, upon arrival at Naval Base AKSAZ, Rear Admiral Yusuf Akyuz, Commander Turkish Navy Southern Task Group welcomed the ship. During interaction with Commanding officer of PNS BABUR matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation were discussed. Regular conduct of PN-TNF Bilateral Exercise TURGUTREIS demonstrates the strong bond and cooperation between the Pakistan Navy and the Turkish Naval Forces, promoting regional maritime security and stability, according to the Pakistan Navy.
Source:The Nation
June 16, 2024 11:39 UTC
UN genocide prevention official warns of hate speech’s sweeping threat to individuals, societies
UNITED NATIONS - The UN’s top genocide prevention official has warned that hate speech remains a significant threat to global peace and security, often targeting society’s most vulnerable. In ongoing crises or conflict situations, hate speech intensifies existing tensions and vulnerabilities, she said. Combined with disinformation, hate speech entrenches divisions and poses direct threats to civilians In addition, the proliferation of social media use has exacerbated the reach and impact of hate speech, she added. Such divisive, misleading and hateful narratives enable hate speech to spread rapidly and reach distant audiences, thus increasing the potential for offline harm. At the same time, tackling hate speech should never be used to stifle freedom of expression, she stressed.
Source:The Nation
June 16, 2024 11:11 UTC
Nation celebrates Eid-ul-Azha on Monday
Nation celebrates Eid-ul-Azha on MondayThe Nation celebrates Eid-ul-Azha on Monday with religious fervour to commemorate the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismael (AS). The day will dawn with special prayers in mosques for well-being of the Ummah and progress, prosperity and security of the country. Eid prayers' congregations will be held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages. Ulema, in their sermons of Eid, will highlight the significance of the philosophy of great sacrifice offered by Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismael (AS). People will offer sacrifice of animals to act upon the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).
Source:The Nation
June 16, 2024 03:13 UTC
Hot, dry weather for city
LAHORE - The city experienced hot and dry weather on Saturday with the MET office predicting similar conditions for the next 24 hours. In the city, the maximum temperature was 43°C with a minimum of 29.5°C. The MET officials say that continental air is prevailing over most of the country while a shallow westerly wave is affecting the northern regions. They forecast that most parts of the country will see mainly hot and dry weather, with very hot conditions expected in central and southern areas. The highest temperature on Saturday was recorded in Sibbi where the mercury reached 47°C.
Source:The Nation
June 16, 2024 02:01 UTC
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Mark Hamill protests X (formerly Twitter) Removing Likes tab on profiles
On June 12, 2024, Twitter/X removed the user’s ability to see posts liked by users, stating that while individuals can still see who liked their own posts, they can no longer view the likes of random users. This change has sparked significant backlash, notably from Mark Hamill, renowned for his role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Hamill expressed his dissatisfaction with the update on his X account, initiating the hashtag "#BringBackLIKES," which quickly went viral. 🤬#BringBackLIKES https://t.co/ogkBs8O1aS — Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) June 12, 2024To protest, Hamill began commenting the word "like" under hundreds of posts, a move that attracted considerable attention from his 5.1 million followers. His actions were noted by many, with one user commenting, “Mark Hamill definitely has better things to do with his time than this, Elon Musk,” accompanied by a screenshot of Hamill’s numerous comments.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 15, 2024 21:27 UTC
PM Shehbaz addresses nation following completion of 100 days in office
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has addressed the nation, marking the completion of the federal government’s first 100 days in office and highlighting significant milestones achieved during this period. “We have also successfully lowered interest rates on loans from 22 percent to 20 percent, increased domestic investment, and provided relief to the public by reducing petrol prices by Rs 10.50 per liter,” the prime minister stated. Regarding the reduction in petroleum prices, PM Shehbaz highlighted its positive impact on alleviating the financial burden on ordinary citizens amidst ongoing inflationary pressures. “Lowering petrol and diesel prices aims to ease the economic challenges faced by our people,” he added. PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with the government’s performance over the past three months, characterizing it as commendable.
Source:The Nation
June 15, 2024 20:56 UTC
Literacy in world 5th most populous country
A country with 240 million people having only literacy rate of 56% is striving to become a better country in the comity of nations, although half of its people are unable to write their own name. Education plays an important role in the development of any nation or a country. Illiteracy is not only hazardous for the country economic condition but its people’s well-being, both physically and mentally. To sum-up, education is the panacea for all ills of a society as without it, no nation can prosper. Islam as religion lay strong emphasise on acquiring knowledge and binds its followers to acquire education for the common good of society.
Source:The Nation
June 15, 2024 20:31 UTC
Both parties ‘reconcile’ as accused chops off camel’s leg
SANGHAR: Police in a suburban village of Sanghar arrested the man on suspicion of severing the legs of a camel who entered his fields, reported on Saturday. However, PPP MNA Shazia Marri later told that both the parties had reconciled over the matter. Police said that the incident took place in village Nando Khan Shar in the jurisdiction of Mangli police station. Later, Shazia Marri took to social media blogging site, X, and told that both parties had reconciled. However, people strongly reacted to Marri’s post, blaming Sindh government and Pakistan Peoples Party for remaining silent over the criminal act against the poor animal.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 15, 2024 18:12 UTC
PM hopes current bailout package will be Pakistan’s last IMF programme
“Inshallah, this will be the last IMF programme in Pakistan's history. The prime minister announced that China will train 300,000 Pakistanis annually to help spread IT throughout Pakistan, enabling the country to join the global race. The prime minister also highlighted the need to combat corruption and inefficiency, particularly in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which is being 100% digitalised. He pointed out that Pakistan's Public Distribution Programme (PDP) is part of ministries entangled in corruption cycles. Inshallah, this will be the last IMF programme in Pakistan's history.
Source:The Nation
June 15, 2024 16:55 UTC
Govt projected to enhance area under major crop production
Meanwhile, the maize crop is to be grown over 1.512 million acres to produce 9.254 million tonnes for the commodity during the period under review, whereas sugarcane 1.241million acres for producing about 7.667 million tonnes of the crop. According to the Annual Plan 2024-25, the cotton second major crop the country to be grown over 3.118 million acres, whereas the output of cotton output was set at 10.873 million bales during the crop season 2024-25. For minor crops, the area and production for gram for 2024-25 have been projected at 865.0 thousand hectares and 410.0 thousand tonnes, potato at 335.0 thousand hectares to produce 8,100.0 thousand tonnes and onion crop would be cultivated over 123.0 thousand hectares for producing 1,920.0 thousand tonnes of onions. The other minor crops including lentil cultivation was projected at 6.64 thousand hectares to achieve 4.56 thousand tonnes, for mung bean 214.8 thousand hectares and 178.8 thousand tonnes and for mash 11.05 thousand hectares and 8.60 thousand tones, respectively. The plan for 2024-25 will focus on improving crop productivity per unit area, addressing the country’s low productivity compared to the region.
Source:The Nation
June 15, 2024 10:48 UTC
WATCH: 4 doctors arrested following the death of 11 children at Sahiwal hospital
Tensions escalated at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital as confrontations broke out between doctors and police. Authorities detained Principal Medical College Imran Hasan, MS Teaching Hospital Akhtar Mehboob, Dr. Umar, and Dr. Usman, encountering resistance from the medical staff. The fire at Shiwal teaching hospitalOn June 9 a devastating fire broke out in the pediatric medicine ward of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital (STH) on Saturday morning due to a short circuit in the air conditioning system. 11 infants who were in critical condition due to the blaze, died over a period of a week while 74 were rescued by parents, hospital staff, security personnel, and Rescue 1122 teams. The building’s condition was being assessed, and an estimated millions of rupees worth of pediatric medical equipment were destroyed in the fire.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 15, 2024 03:16 UTC
Modi’s election victory undermines Indian democracy and secular status
Since Modi, the leader of the extremist ruling party BJP, became Indian prime minister, he started implementing the ideology of Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism). Modi’s BJP party launched its large-scale, state-funded election campaign long before the date for the elections of the Lok Sabha held between April 19 and June 1, this year. World media entities, like Al Jazeera pointed out: “Most of the Indian media is openly promoting BJP and Narendra Modi. This can be judged from the verdict of the Indian Supreme Court which upheld the Modi-led government’s decision on Kashmir’s special status. So, Mondi’s election victory undermined Indian democracy and secular status.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 15, 2024 00:23 UTC
PFA discards substandard spices
ATTOCK - Punjab Food Authority Attock has discarded sub standard and unhygienic spices. As per the press release issued by PFA Attock, a raid was carried out on a herbal shop in Civil Bazar Attock where 53 kg substandard spices of different kinds not fit for human consumption were discarded. A fine worth Rs 25000 was also imposed on the owner of the shop.
Source:The Nation
June 14, 2024 17:43 UTC
Weather to remain hot in most parts of country: PMD
ISLAMABAD - The hot weather conditions will continue to prevail across the country with chances of rain at isolated places in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern areas during the next 24 hours as per Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast. The PMD has said that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very hot in central/southern parts. Partly cloudy weather with windstorm/thunderstorm-rain is expected at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and upper Punjab during evening/night. A shallow westerly wave was affecting upper parts of the country. During the last 24 hours, hot and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country, while very hot in southern/central parts.
Source:The Nation
June 14, 2024 15:08 UTC
Punjab approves historic tax-free surplus budget
Punjab's cabinet has approved the province's largest tax-free surplus budget in history, subsequently presented to the Punjab Assembly on Thursday. According to Express News, Punjab's budget was presented in the assembly by Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. For the first time, Punjab has closed Rs530 billion worth of dead schemes from the development budget and included new schemes. The budget includes Rs842 billion for development expenses and a surplus budget of Rs630 billion. The cabinet approved a record Rs842 billion development budget.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 14, 2024 11:42 UTC