12 security men martyred in Balochistan
The security forces have mounted search operations across the country in the wake of the recent series of terror attacks across the country. PHOTO: REUTERSAt least 12 security personnel were martyred by terrorists in an early morning attack on the Zhob Garrison in northern Balochistan and another attack in the Sui district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. In Sui district, according to the military’s media wing, an exchange of fire took place between the security forces and heavily armed terrorists. He said that the martyred soldiers were the “pride of the nation”. In the latest terrorist attacks to take place in Balochistan, six security personnel were martyred in two separate attacks on the same day earlier this month.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 16:44 UTC
Will hand over to caretaker govt in August: PM Shehbaz
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the federal government led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement will hand over to an interim setup in August, paving the way for general elections in the country. The prime minister further reiterated that the coalition government would hand over matters to a caretaker setup in August this year. “I assure you that our government will end on August 14, and whenever elections happen, the ECP will announce it," the prime minister had said on Wednesday. Under Article 224 of the Constitution, if any assembly is dissolved before the completion of its term, elections will be held within 90 days. If the assembly is dissolved on the completion of its term, the Election Commission has to conduct the polls within a 60-day period.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 16:17 UTC
Pakistan receives first tranche of $1.2bn from IMF
Pakistan on Thursday received first tranche of $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the SBA programme. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday night approved a $3 billion loan for Pakistan after signing the staff-level agreement last month. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had transferred an amount of $1.2 billion to the State Bank of Pakistan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed in a televised statement here in Islamabad. Noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif played a pivotal role in the reaching the deal with the IMF, Ishaq Dar said the economic team had extended full support to him during the complicated process. The country was gain on the move towards development, said the finance minister who stressed that everyone would have to contribute for continuing the journey.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2023 15:49 UTC
Govt to complete tenure on Aug 14, PM clears mist
Explaining about the Pakistan Endowment Fund for Education, the PM said that funding for this programme should be enhanced up to Rs140 billion for next 10 years. He recalled that he, as Chief Minister Punjab, had launched the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) in 2008 with an annual allocation of Rs 2 billion. The prime minister said over 400,000 students benefited from this Fund who were now serving the country in different professions. The event, organized by Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA), gathered corporate heads of national and multinational pharmaceutical companies and pharma experts. The prime minister said the country’s pharmaceutical industry was playing an important role in meeting the demands of medicine.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2023 15:14 UTC
Power Dynamics within the TTP
Baitullah Mehsud, Hakimullah Mehsud, and Maulvi Nazir have their own interpretations of what the larger vision is. After Pakistan’s military operations, a majority of the TTP militants fled to Afghanistan where some of them joined the Islamic State, while others remained part of the TTP. The TTP also wanted Pakistan’s laws and courts to be replaced by Sharia laws enforced by Sharia courts in Malakand, followed by other tribal areas, and allowing the TTP group to keep their arms. The TTP on November 28 last year ended the ceasefire and ordered its militants to stage attacks across Pakistan. Therefore, Islamabad warned the Afghan Taliban administration that if TTP involved in cross-border attacks are not eliminated, Islamabad would take action against them within Afghanistan.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2023 14:44 UTC
Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women’s World Cup as New Zealand sales lag
New Zealand’ players celebrate their first goal during the New Zealand and Vietnam warm up match ahead of the women’s World Cup in Napier, New Zealand, Monday, July 10, 2023. (AP Photo/John Cowpland)A sponsor is giving away 20,000 tickets to Women’s World Cup matches in New Zealand as ticket sales remain sluggish in a country in which rugby dominates as the national sport. According to FIFA, 1.25 million tickets have been sold for matches across co-hosts Australia and New Zealand. AdvertisementWomen’s World Cup chief executive Dave Beeche told the New Zealand Herald that FIFA is “comfortable” with the current rate of ticket sales in New Zealand. ___More AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 12:35 UTC
Arooj Aftab calls out US magazine for its racist review
Grammy wining vocalist Arooj Aftab has called out an American magazine and a music critic for publishing a racist review of her latest album. Music magazine PitchFork praised the album by noting how Aftab and her collaborators crafted emotional depth through the repetition of couplets. However, a review in jazz and blues magazine DownBeat by contributing editor and music critic John McDonough took a different stance. Aftab, rightfully disappointed, took to social media to call out the writer and magazine for “racism and Islamophobia”. — DownBeat Magazine (@DownBeatMag) July 12, 2023In response, Aftab maintained, “Frank, we appreciate all the love for this record, but these lines you printed are racist.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 10:14 UTC
Gazdag’s two PK goals spark Union to 2-0 win over Nashville
He added an insurance goal in the 84th minute after a second yellow card on Lovitz — forcing Nashville (11-7-5) to play a man down. Nashville’s Shaq Moore and Philadelphia’s Julián Carranza both received red cards in the fifth minute of stoppage time for violent conduct. AdvertisementJoe Bendik did not have to make a save to earn the clean sheet for the Union. The Union snap a two-match losing streak with their first shutout since a 3-0 victory over CF Montreal to begin June. The Union pulled to within a point of third-place Nashville in the Eastern Conference with the win.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 09:34 UTC
NA farewell session likely next week, says Abbasi
ISLAMABAD - Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi has said that the government has planned to summon the farewell session of the current National Assembly in a week. “The last session of 15th national assembly will be summoned in a week to pass some pending legislation,” said Abbasi while talking to The Nation here yesterday. He said that this last session of the National Assembly will be in two parts. In the first part, he said, the treasury benches will pass pending legislation and the second session will be specified as farewell sittings, said the minister. Abbasi said that the government would also discuss the matter related to the electoral reforms in the upcoming session.
Source:The Nation
July 13, 2023 06:19 UTC
Gazdag's two PK goals spark Union to 2-0 win over Nashville
North Andover, MA (01845)TodayOvercast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..TonightA few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 03:51 UTC
FIA probes suicide of man blackmailed by predatory loan app
In it, he mentioned the pressure to pay the interest and loan amount as he was being threatened and blackmailed by personnel of the online loan app. The three-member FIA team also took the mobile phone of the victim and also reviewed his emails, including the correspondence with the digital lender. Read more: Man driven to suicide by predatory lending app, says familyThe team also obtained details of the representatives of the online loan apps. They also took details of payments received from and delivered to the digital lender. Masood had initially taken a loan from an online app, which was offered without a markup.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 13, 2023 02:07 UTC
Reflections: It Was On Fire
Fulghum reported that firefighters rescued a man from a burning bed. The new pastor learned that the previous split happened after a business meeting. Someone in “new business” claimed that a family had stolen one of the church’s Christmas trees. It all made sense when the church secretary told the new pastor he best not mention Christmas trees or copy machines. -30-“Reflections” is a weekly faith column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster, Alabama.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 12, 2023 23:45 UTC
Venue for India vs Pakistan clash in Asia Cup finalised
The schedule for the Asia Cup has been finalised, said Arun Dhumal, a member of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and the current chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Asia Cup will be played from August 31 to September 17, a major event, before the ICC Men’s World Cup, later this year. The decision was taken after BCCI secretary Jay Shah met Pakistan Cricket Board’s representative head Zaka Ashraf. According to Dhumal, four matches of the Asia Cup will take place in Pakistan with the rest being scheduled in Sri Lanka. “Our secretary met PCB head Zaka Ashraf and the Asia Cup schedule was finalised and it is on course as it was discussed earlier.
Source:The Nation
July 12, 2023 20:29 UTC
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More subs, jets for India on cards as Modi visits France
Modi has been invited as the guest of honour at the Bastille Day celebrations by French President Emmanuel Macron. Units from India's army, navy and air force will also participate in the parade, including two of the 36 Rafale fighter jets India bought in 2015 for nearly $9 billion. Much before buying Dassault Aviation's (AM.PA) Rafale in 2015, India bought Mirage jets in 1980s, which still comprise two squadrons of the air force. India is also expected to agree to buy 26 Rafale jets, the sources said, without giving the deal's expected value. Modi will also meet other political leaders, selected French personalities and business leaders, and interact with the Indian diaspora.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 12, 2023 18:55 UTC
Incumbent govt's tenure to end on Aug 14, says PM Shehbaz
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing a ceremony regarding "Pakistan Education Endowment Fund and reforms in National Curriculum" in Islamabad on July 12, 2023. SCREENGRABThe tenure of the present government is ending on August 14 said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, adding that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will then announce the dates for the next general election. Whoever forms the next government should make education the top priority to make this nation great, he said, addressing the launch event of Rs14 billion Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) in Islamabad. Read Education ministry seeks Rs62b in upcoming budgetShehbaz recalled that the Punjab Education Endowment Fund was established back in 2008 and has provided scholarships to 450,000 students. Meanwhile, Federal Education Minister Rana Tanveer said that scholarships under PEEF will be given in various disciplines, including nursing, engineering and social sciences.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 12, 2023 18:04 UTC