Interim setup picks pro-liberal policies duo
Akhtar, a former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has been appointed as the interim finance minister for the second time. Earlier, she was the finance minister during the 2018 caretaker setup and left behind an economic roadmap for the new government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Unlike the constitutional limit of three months, it seems the caretaker setup will continue for a longer period and the establishment will look for options to extend the term. The caretaker setup had suggested to the PTI government to take these “reform measures within three weeks”, if it wanted to avoid recourse to the IMF. The Ministry of Finance stated that Dr Shamshad Akhtar on Thursday officially took over the responsibility of caretaker finance minister.
Source:The Nation
August 18, 2023 18:37 UTC
Emergency alert issued for 2 missing teens who could be in danger
From The Tribune staff reportsOXFORD — The Oxford Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Chyann Elise Woodard and Isaiah Lathan Formby. Chyann is a 15 year old white female and may be in danger. She was last seen on August 18 at approximately 12 a.m. in the area of Ivy Place in Oxford. She is 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 160 pounds and may be in the company of Isaiah Formby. Isaiah Lathan Formby is a 15 year old white male.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 18, 2023 17:10 UTC
Praying for injustice to end: Shae Gill
Recently, the spotlight turned towards singer Shae Gill, who was yet to share a response regarding the tragic Faisalabad attacks on the Christian community. Responding to the mounting pressure, Shae has since taken to her Instagram to share her perspective on the attacks, shedding light on her feelings and advocating for change. "I found out about the hate crimes happening in Faisalabad this afternoon," wrote Shae. The Pasoori singer further shared, "I'm praying for this injustice to end. I am so sorry that the Christian community had to go through something so horrible in a Pakistan that Jinnah made.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 18, 2023 16:48 UTC
ALDI acquires Winn-Dixie parent company
From The Tribune staff reportsUS — German supermarket ALDI acquires Winn-Dixie parent company Southeastern Grocers. The deal includes over 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores across the southeast including Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana. ALDI will operate Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores with the same level of care and focus on quality and service. ALDI’s plan is to convert some Winn-Dixies and Harveys into ALDI but that won’t be the case for every store. “For those stores we do not convert, our intention is that these continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores.”ALDI expects the deal to close early 2024.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 18, 2023 13:18 UTC
Interim cabinet vows to stabilise economy
President Dr Arif Alvi administers oath to members of the caretaker cabinet at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. The cabinet division also did not know the names of the caretaker ministers. Even the computerised list of the caretaker ministers could not be prepared. Sarfraz Bugti took oath as the interior minister and is expected to oversee matters related to internal security and law enforcement. Three advisers – Air Marshal (retd) Farhat Hussain Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema and Waqar Masood Khan – were also notified.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 18, 2023 11:32 UTC
Arunachal: Panel formed to probe APPSC question paper leak cases
Itanagar, August 18: The Arunachal Pradesh government has constituted a one-man commission to probe into the alleged question paper leaks in various recruitment examinations conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). The Commission, led by retired Justice P K Deka will investigate the alleged question paper leaks in various exams conducted by the APPSC from April 2014 to August 2022, an official order said. The constitution of the commission came in the backdrop of hue and cry concerning transparency and fairness of the recruitment process due to suspected question paper leaks in various exams conducted in those years. Chief Secretary Dharmendra in the order issued on Wednesday stated that the panel was formed aiming at unearthing the truth behind alleged instances of question paper leaks and associated irregularities during the specified period of APPSC examinations. The question paper leak incident came to light after one Gyamar Padung, a candidate of the APPSC assistant engineer (civil) examination, filed a police complaint on August 29 last year, claiming that he suspected that the examination paper had been leaked.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 18, 2023 10:48 UTC
NASA’s Mars helicopter completes 55 flights on Mars
LOS ANGELES -NASA’s Mars helicopter has completed 55 flights on the Red Planet, the agency said on Thursday. The helicopter had its 55th flight on Aug 12, in which it reached an altitude of 10 meters and traveled 264 meters for 143 seconds, according to NASA. The helicopter, named Ingenuity, arrived at Mars’ Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, 2021, attached to the belly of NASA’s Perseverance rover. The helicopter is a technology demonstration to test powered flight on another planet for the first time. The helicopter was designed to fly for up to 90 seconds, to distances of almost 300 meters at a time and about 3 to 4.5 meters from the ground, according to NASA.
Source:The Nation
August 18, 2023 05:42 UTC
PTI team seeks US, other envoys’ help for Imran release
ISLAMABAD - Violating its own policy slogan “absolutely not”, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is asking powerful western ambassadors to intervene and get PTI chief Imran Khan out of the Attock prison. The meeting was also attended by High Commissioner of United Kingdom to Pakistan Jane Marriott, Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Leslie Scanlon, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Riina Kionka, Norwegian Ambassador to Pakistan Per Albert Iisaas and Indonesian Ambassador Adam Tugio. On the occasion, the diplomatic community was briefed about the conditions in which Imran Khan is being kept in Attock prison. The PTI team also discussed cipher issue with the US Ambassador and case registration against Imran Khan. The PTI team urged the ambassadors to play their role in saving Imran Khan.
Source:The Nation
August 18, 2023 02:47 UTC
Mangla, Tarbella, Chasma filled to their maximum conservation levels on same day for first time
ISLAMABAD-For the first time in country’s history, all the three major reservoirs, Mangla, Tarbella and Chasma, have filled to their maximum conservation levels of 13.443 Million Acre Feet (MAF) on the same day. Mangla Dam, the largest water reservoir in terms of water storage in the country, Tarbela and Chashma reservoirs have filled to its maximum conservation level. At present, 7.356 million acre feet (MAF) water is available in Mangla reservoir. The cumulative quantum of water available at present in Mangla, Tarbela and Chashma reservoirs stands at 13.443 MAF. For last time Mangla filled to the peak level was in 2020, he added.
Source:The Nation
August 17, 2023 23:13 UTC
The AI arms race
The call for ‘healthy competition’ hinges on a level playing field, where fairness and open market principles prevail. As both nations race to harness AI’s potential, it’s essential to navigate the delicate balance between innovation and escalation. While the CIA’s pursuit of AI supremacy echoes the broader sentiment of ‘healthy competition,’ the ramifications of this technological arms race transcend espionage. The interplay between AI, global challenges, and geopolitical rivalries presents a complex puzzle that requires thoughtful calibration. The very essence of ‘healthy competition’ demands an acute understanding of the fine balance between competition and cooperation.
Source:The Nation
August 17, 2023 20:06 UTC
As churches burn, celebs rally for Christians of Lahore
I strongly condemn this act of violence against minorities. I strongly condemn this act of violence against minorities. I strongly condemn this atrocity against the Christian community. Pakistani Christians are being persecuted, churches [are being] burnt down and the whole colony [set] ablaze, will you raise your voice for us?" I strongly condemn this atrocity against the Christian community.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 17, 2023 16:39 UTC
Punjab govt to restore churches, homes after Jaranwala violence
PHOTO REUTERSPunjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said that the provincial government would "restore" all the churches and the homes of the Christian community which were attacked and torched during the mob violence which targeted the minority community a day earlier. Addressing a meeting attended by religious leaders of the Christian community, Naqvi condemned the violence and said such actions are against the teachings of Islam and those of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He added that all buildings damaged in the mob violence would be restored in "three to four days" to their original state and vowed to prevent any such "conspiracy" in the future. The rioters were demanding that the two accused men, who had fled their homes, be handed over to them. The United States was "deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 17, 2023 15:23 UTC
Morales’ ‘second-chance’ PK lifts Saints past James Kenan
James Kenan players plead their case to midfield referee Adam Livengood, left, who explains the penalty kick ruling during first-half action against Southern Wayne. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)Southern Wayne’s duo of Jesus Giron Castillo (12) and Osbaldo Avila (4) collide on a slide tackle to knock the ball away from a James Kenan player Wednesday evening. Danilo Morales’ decisive PK conversion around the 73rd minute capped the Saints’ come-from-behind, 4-3 conquest of perennial 2A powerhouse James Kenan. James Kenan keeper David Kebert celebration turned into despair, however. “We didn’t match up with them real well in the second half,” Kenan head coach Mitchell Quinn said.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 17, 2023 14:45 UTC
Man, woman die after SUV collides with street sweeper on I-459
From The Tribune staff reportsBIRMINGHAM — A Rainsville man and Rainsville woman were killed when the SUV they were in collided with a street sweeper Tuesday, August 15. According to Carol Robinson, the 63-year-old man and 58-year-old woman were killed when the Jeep Cherokee they were in collided with a street sweeper on I-459 near U.S. 280 at around 8 p.m. They were pronounced dead at 8:43 p.m.Their names have not yet been released by the Jefferson County Coroner’s office. The cause of the wreck is still under investigation.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 17, 2023 09:27 UTC
Met office forecast hot, humid weather in Sindh
KARACHI - Pakistan Meteorological Department on Wednesday forecast hot and humid weather with dust raising winds in most districts of the province during next 24 hours. According to the met office, partly cloudy weather with chances of light rain or drizzle is expected in coastal areas including Karachi on Thursday. During the previous 24 hours weather remained dry in Sindh while the highest temperature was recorded in Sukkur and Nawabshah. The maximum temperature in Sukkur and Nawabshah was recorded 39 degree centigrade. The maximum temperature in Karachi was 31 C, in Hyderabad 35 C, Thatta 36 C, Moen jo Daro and Dadu 38 C and in Mithi 33 C.
Source:The Nation
August 16, 2023 22:12 UTC