At least five killed in Hindu-Muslim clashes south of New Delhi
Policemen patrol in a riot affected area after clashes erupted between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, February 25, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILEAt least five people, including two police personnel, were killed in clashes between Hindus and Muslims that erupted on Monday around 50 km (30 miles) south of the capital New Delhi, police officials told Reuters. The violence erupted after a Hindu religious procession passed through the Muslim dominated Nuh region, in Haryana state, the officials said. Local government officials from Nuh and Gurugram met with representatives of the Hindu and Muslim communities on Tuesday to appeal for calm. Another 60 people, including 10 police personnel, were injured in the clashes, local government officials said.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 01, 2023 19:00 UTC
Recrudescence of TTP violence
TTP violence has staged a comeback after assumption of power by the Afghan Taliban regime in Afghanistan. According to a think tank’s report, the TTP attacks had increased by 27% in 2022 compared to 2021, and 70 attacks have been witnessed since May 23 alone. Hard targets like Brigade Headquarters Zhob have also not been spared signifying desperation and rashness in TTP terrorism. The sanctuaries once provided by TTP to TTA inside Pakistan are being reoccupied by TTP as their staging posts for attacks on Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies. Development in NMDS, better border control, strengthening of civilian counterterrorism and administrative apparatus along with a lead civilian role in governance and stabilisation of NMDs is the key to arrest the recrudescence of TTP violence.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 01, 2023 12:21 UTC
Bajaur suicide attack unites Muslim world in condemnation
Security personnel examine the site of a bomb blast in Bajaur district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on July 31, 2023. PHOTO: AFPThe suicide attack that took place in Bajaur on Sunday, which killed at least 46 people and left over 200 injured, has drawn strong condemnations from across the Muslim world. The leadership of the Muslim nations as well as the heads of the Muslim world bodies condemned the heinous crime and sympathised with the bereaved families. At least 46 people were killed in a suicide blast at a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) Bajaur district on Sunday. #Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation and denunciation of the attack that took place in #Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which resulted in deaths and injuries.
Source:The Express Tribune
August 01, 2023 11:53 UTC
Beyond colonial legacies
However, it is, by all merits, unfair to attribute all of Pakistan’s woes solely to a predatory colonial legacy. As a result, the British Crown established a colonial system that operated in conjunction with the local elite rather than seeking to eliminate them. The colonial legacy undoubtedly plays a role in Pakistan’s challenges, exacerbating economic and political instability. Given the context, it is pertinent to question the extent to which the colonial system is accountable for Pakistan’s current challenges. To understand the real problem plaguing Pakistan, we must look beyond the colonial legacy.
Source:The Nation
August 01, 2023 11:47 UTC
Toxic waste
Plastic bags have become a necessity in our lives and provide us with ease and convenience. They break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain. One of the main reasons why sewage channels get jammed is because of plastic bags. When burned, they release toxic gases like nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide. The government needs to take stringent steps to improve plastic waste management to prevent it from poisoning the ecosystem.
Source:The Nation
August 01, 2023 05:49 UTC
Preventing brain drain
The emigration of skilled professionals and talented individuals in search of better opportunities abroad, known as the brain drain, is now a major concern in Pakistan. The curse of brain drain could cast a perpetual shadow on our future if we don’t act now. Raising awareness, advocating for policy reforms, and supporting the youth are some ways civil society organisations can contribute to addressing the brain drain. The multifaceted challenge of the brain drain in Pakistan necessitates a comprehensive and collaborative approach. Brain drain can be turned into brain gain if the government, private sector, civil society, and youth work together.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2023 21:09 UTC
Demanding Solutions
The recent tragic suicide blast at a political gathering in Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), has laid bare the persistent threat of terrorism in Pakistan’s northwestern regions. Despite the government’s claims of initiating investigations, there are growing concerns that such actions may fall short of delivering justice and accountability. However, their concerns were brushed aside, leaving the regions vulnerable to the spillover of extremism through porous borders. A lack of proactivity in addressing the escalating situation in KP and Balochistan is deeply concerning. By heeding the warnings of political actors and involving them in crafting solutions, the government can take decisive steps towards dismantling terrorist networks and fostering peace in KPK and Balochistan.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2023 21:00 UTC
Fisher-Price® Introduces New Sensory Bright™ Line—Inspiring Kids 3 and Up to Custom-Create Their Own Sensory Experience That’s as Unique as They Are
North Andover, MA (01845)TodayPartly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..TonightPartly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 31, 2023 18:17 UTC
Calgary Stampeders open as 8.5-point home underdogs to Toronto Argonauts
The Calgary Stampeders were once considered unbeatable at home but have opened as heavy underdogs to the Toronto Argonauts this week. Calgary had a remarkable run at home from 2012 to 2019, posting a combined record of 60-12. The Stampeders were mere mortals at McMahon Stadium coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, going 8-8 during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Calgary dominated their matchup against the Argos at McMahon Stadium in 2022, earning a 29-2 victory. Friday’s game between Toronto and Calgary is schedule for Aug. 4 with kickoff slated for 9:00 p.m. EDT.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2023 15:44 UTC
Pak-China to enhance technical collaboration producing hybrid chilli
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China will soon sign a deal to have technical collaboration on hybrid chilli and subsequent export of chilli to China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Chairman of Pakistan Hitech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Shahzad Ali Malik has said that besides ongoing hybrid rice collaboration between Pakistan’s Guard Agri and China’s Longping, another agreement is going to be signed for the cultivation of hybrid chilli and subsequent export of chilli to China. “Hybrid chilli seed will be provided by Peppara Seeds along with technical support for commercial cultivation and buyback of dried chilli for export to China will be through Litong Food,” he added. Hybrid seed development in Pakistan has a significant impact on food security by increasing crop productivity, resilience, and nutritional value. To ensure its effectiveness, there must be continued investment in research, infrastructure, and extension services to facilitate the adoption of hybrid seed technology by farmers across the country.
Source:Pakistan Today
July 31, 2023 14:52 UTC
Punjab govt revises property, motor tax rates
LAHORE - Caretaker Punjab government has approved several amendments in the property tax and motor vehicle tax rates across the province. Punjab caretaker cabinet approved these proposals sent by the Secretary Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department (ET&NC) in the recent meeting. The cabinet permitted the department to conduct a fresh survey for assessment of property tax in Punjab. He hoped that from January 1, 2024, property tax would be assessed according to the new survey. Earlier, the survey of immoveable properties for property tax was conducted in 2014.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2023 13:11 UTC
The UAE: The Middle East’s Teflon Nation
The United Arab Emirates resembles US ‘Teflon President’ Ronald Reagan. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed doesn’t need to worry about performance ratings. The UAE’s Teflon coating has long dampened the effect of allegations of loose money laundering and sanction compliance controls and human rights abuses, and repeated revelations about covert surveillance and monitoring operations beyond the country’s borders. However, the Teflon shield, the product of one of the Middle East’s most successful nation branding campaigns, may be fraying at the edges. The Fortress deal scrutiny does not mean the UAE’s Teflon is irreparably damaged.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2023 12:17 UTC
Will this IMF lifeline be any different from the others?
Last year in August, I wrote about “IMF Deals Sans Political Stability.” After a year of painful struggle, we have finally secured a Standby program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but political chaos continues to loom large. In our longstanding relationship with the IMF dating back to the 1950s, we have engaged in 12 standby agreements (SBA) and 10 extended fund facilities (EFF) programmes. Therefore, the IMF has now become more prescriptive, introducing a band of a maximum ±1.25% average between the interbank and open market rates during any consecutive 5-business day period. It will be interesting to observe whether remittances are restored post-market-based exchange rate mechanism or if there is a more insidious factor contributing to the continuous fall. The writer is a financial market enthusiast and is attached to Pakistan’s stocks, commodities and emerging technologyPublished in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2023.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 31, 2023 08:21 UTC
PM inaugurates 1263MW thermal power plant project in Punjab
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated on Sunday various development projects across Punjab, including a 1,263 megawatts (MW) thermal power plant in Jhang with a capacity of generating 10 billion inexpensive units annually. The PM launched various projects, including Rs50 billion Medical City, Rs52b National Health Support Programme and Rs30b Population Welfare Programme. Besides, he broke ground for SL-3 Lahore Ring Road project, Shadara to Kala Shah Kaku Metro Bus extension project and inaugurated a 1263 MW Punjab Thermal power plant in Jhang with a capacity of generating 10 billion inexpensive units annually. He said that under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the PML-N government had initiated Haveli and Baloki power plants with power generation of 1,200MW each, besides, a 1150MW Bhikki project in Punjab. The prime minister also regretted that due to PTI’s sit-ins at D-Chowk in 2014, President Xi’s visit to Pakistan was postponed.
Source:The Express Tribune
July 31, 2023 00:06 UTC
Hot, humid weather forecast for Sindh
KARACHI - Pakistan Meteorological Department on Sunday predicted hot and humid weather for most parts of the Sindh province during the next 24 hours. However, light rain is forecast for coastal areas of the province at isolated places during the period. The Minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded in Karachi 32-34 degrees Centigrade, Hyderabad 33-35 degrees Centigrade, Sukkur 36-38 degrees Centigrade, Thatta 32-34 degrees Centigrade, Mohenjodaro 36-38 degrees Centigrade, Dadu is 39-41 degrees Centigrade, Mithi 34-36 degrees Centigrade, and in Nawabshah 37-39 degrees Centigrade. Mainly, hot and humid weather is likely to prevail in the province.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2023 00:00 UTC