WATCH: Slovak PM Fico is shot five times, survives assassination attempt
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico’s condition has stabilized, and he is no longer in a “life-threatening condition” after surviving an assassination attempt on Wednesday, said the country’s Deputy PM and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba. Fico, 59, was left in critical condition and had to undergo surgery after being shot five times while leaving a government meeting a day earlier. According to the Deputy PM, one bullet went through Fico’s stomach and another hit a joint. After the attack, Fico was rushed to a hospital in Handlova where he had been chairing a government meeting. Describing the shooting as a “monstrous” crime, Putin said in a telegram sent to Slovakia’s President Zuzana Caputova: “I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-minded man.
Source:Pakistan Today
May 16, 2024 21:28 UTC
Experts scrutinise Bilawal's criticism of PTI
Experts are in overwhelming consensus that political parties are primarily engaged in advancing their own vested interests rather than prioritising the country’s interest. Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, voiced his criticism of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s political attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during the talk show "Experts" on Express News. Hussain, citing Bilawal's speech, pointed out that there is a clear assertion that the PTI does not adhere to democratic principles. He suggested that had the PTI accepted the offer and formed a joint government with the PPP, Bilawal's arguments would likely have been in favour of the PTI. Ilyas suggests that the survival strategy for PPP, PML-N, and other parties revolves around reducing the influence of PTI to the minimum.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 16, 2024 19:07 UTC
Pakistan team intensifies training ahead of FIH Nation’s Cup
The training camp of the national hockey team is in full swing here at the Nasir Banda Hockey Stadium as the players gear up for the FIH Nation’s Cup, scheduled to take place in Poland from May 31 to June 9 2024. According to national coach Usman Sheikh, the players are training rigorously to ensure they are in top form for the upcoming tournament. The team comprise a talented pool of players, including: two goalkeepers — Abdullah and Muneeb-ur-Rehman, six defenders — Usman Bashir, Athisham, Mohammad Abdullah, Sufiyan, Abu Bakar and captain Shakeel Butt. With just weeks to go before the Nations Hockey Cup, the team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparation, determined to make a mark on the international stage. It may be mentioned here that Pakistan team qualified for the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the first time in 13 years and bagged a silver medal in the mega event.
Source:The Nation
May 16, 2024 17:09 UTC
The Supreme Court started an investigation into Imran Khan’s photo going viral
Islamabad: The Supreme Court administration has started an investigation into Imran Khan’s photo going viral on social media. PTI founder Imran Khan appeared on a video link from Adiala Jail in the NAB amendments case, the picture of which appeared on social media. According to sources, the Supreme Court administration has started an investigation after the photo went viral and has been directed to identify the person who made the photo viral by looking at the CCTV cameras. Sources say that the photo has been taken in violation of courtroom rules and the police will take action against the person who made the photo viral. Sources said that the size of the video of the founder PTI in the court has been reduced after the picture went viral
Source:The Patriot
May 16, 2024 16:05 UTC
Iran-Pakistan pipeline to nowhere
The long-delayed Iran-Pakistan pipeline has put Pakistan in yet another bind of its own making. One of the items on the agenda during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s April 22-24 visit to Pakistan was the revival of the stalled Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. The Pakistan-Iran joint statement focuses on increasing trade between the two neighboring countries to $10 billion, and scaling up cooperation in the energy domain, including the cross-border Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. “Pakistan-Iran Relations: Economic and Political Dimensions”, Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara, March 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344831604_Pakistan-Iran_Relations_Economic_and_Political_Dimensions[3] “Pak, Iran formalise gas pipeline project”, Indian Express, 6 June 2009, https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/pak-iran-formalise-gas-pipeline-project/[4] “High pressure: President inaugurates historic Pak-Iran gas pipeline”, The Tribune, 11 March 2013, https://tribune.com.pk/story/519089/president-inaugurates-historic-gas-pipeline[5] Daniel Onyango. “Pakistan Ready to Begin Laying Gas Pipeline to Avoid Iran’s $18 Billion Arbitration Claim”, Pipeline Technology Journal, 7 February 2024, https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/pakistan-ready-begin-laying-gas-pipeline-avoid-irans-18-billion-arbitration-claim[6] “Reko Diq Project – Arbitration Award”, Antofagasta PLC, 12 July 2019, https://www.antofagasta.co.uk/investors/news/2019/reko-diq-project-arbitration-award/#:~:text=Damages%20include%20compensation%20of%20%244.087,incurred%20in%20enforcing%20its%20rights.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 16, 2024 15:22 UTC
Overhauling the tax system on the lines of Australia or India: IMF
The IMF has proposed two models of tax harmonization: Australia and India to implement the tax model and said that it should be overhauled. Sales tax suffers from many serious defects and structural inefficiencies, the tax is divided into federal and provincial, limited tax base of goods, preferential tax supplies and long generous lists of tax exemptions. Number three, the federal sales tax system for commodities is difficult to administer and enforce due to the large number of non-enforceable taxes. The IMF requires all other goods to be taxed at a general sales tax rate of 18 per cent. Yes, a reduced tax rate of 10% can be availed on certain essential food items and health and education items.
Source:The Patriot
May 16, 2024 10:36 UTC
Overcoming trust deficit in state-centrism
Niall Ferguson, a Scottish-American historian, said low trust societies do not prosper. It is only high trust societies that go on to build strong institutions, and an edifice of rule of law in evolving an organic social contract. It has alienated the nation by burdening them under debt, and denying them the capacity and opportunity of social mobility. There is a piece of truth that we all must say and confess in national character, and humbly submit to it. This is how trust deficit can be overcome and our survival as a nation-state assured.
Source:The Nation
May 16, 2024 05:20 UTC
Very hot weather predicted in Sindh in coming days
KARACHI - The upper and central parts of Sindh to bear extremely hot weather in coming days and the scorching temperature at the day times will keep the mercury soaring above 45 on Celsius scale. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), on Wednesday, forecast very hot and dry weather in most districts of the province and weather was likely to become hotter with day time Maximum Temperature ranging 45 to 47 C in Upper and Central districts of the province from Thursday, May 16. However, isolated dust-thunderstorm/rain may occur in Tharparker, Umerkot, Badin and parts of Thatta districts on Wednesday night. The weather remained very hot and dry in most parts of the province, however rain-thunderstorm occurred at isolated places in southeastern Sindh. The highest maximum temperature in Sindh was recorded 49 C at Dadu while in Jacobabad Mercury touched the 47 C mark.
Source:The Nation
May 16, 2024 04:38 UTC
Propaganda War
Elections in India mean heightened meddling and propaganda regarding Pakistan. For months now, Indian political leadership is throwing the burden of their inefficacies under the cover of Pakistan hatred. Using it as a political tool, the leadership carrying a visible tilt towards extremism, targets both Indian Muslims and Pakistan. The historic enemy is the most favourite subject in India’s political and especially election-time discourse. However, it is equally fair to put down this propaganda and call it out for what it is; fact-strained political rhetoric.
Source:The Nation
May 16, 2024 02:30 UTC
Biden hikes US tariffs on Chinese imports
Its commerce ministry said Beijing was opposed to the US tariff hikes and would take measures to defend its interests. The new measures affect $18 billion in imported Chinese goods including steel and aluminium, semiconductors, electric vehicles, critical minerals, solar cells and cranes, the White House said. It’s focused on a few key sectors where China has built enormous over-capacity.”US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the revised tariffs were justified because China was stealing US intellectual property. But Tai recommended tariff exclusions, opens new tab for hundreds of industrial machinery import categories from China, including 19 for solar product manufacturing equipment. Even as Biden’s steps fell in line with Trump’s premise that tougher trade measures are warranted, the Democrat took aim at his opponent in November’s election.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 15, 2024 22:24 UTC
Peace of Mind with a Seat
The results of the senatorial election were tainted by the 77 lawmakers who have been suspended from office. It is hoped that the supreme court won’t linger on the issue given the stakes and the effects on Pakistani democracy. A bench of at least five judges must determine how the Constitution intended for reserved seats to be distributed because the court has taken up the case as one that requires constitutional interpretation. For instance, it is incomprehensible why, after receiving nominations from the Lahore High Court, it refuses to notify additional election tribunals for Punjab. It is obvious that its actions and decisions must be evaluated in the context of the nation’s laws, and its contentious choice regarding reserved seats appears toStarting with the contentious reserved seat decision seems appropriate
Source:The Patriot
May 15, 2024 20:02 UTC
England have recalled their key players from IPL for the series against Pakistan
England has decided to recall its key players from IPL for the series against Pakistan before the World Cup and the players have started leaving their respective teams and leaving for home. Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain of the Indian team, got angry after the players returned home after leaving the IPL unfinished and demanded strict action against the players. England’s World Cup squad players Will Jack and Reece Topley have left after winning the match against Delhi Capitals in the IPL. England players Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Seaman Curran will also fly back from India this week, with all the players in England’s World Cup squad gathering in Leeds this week ahead of the first T20 match against Pakistan. On the departure of the players back home, former Indian captain Gavaskar demanded action against the English cricketers who left the IPL, saying that the Indian board should impose fines on the players and their boards who left the IPL incomplete.
Source:The Patriot
May 15, 2024 15:35 UTC
Proposal to increase tax on vehicles and luxury items in the upcoming budget
ISLAMABAD: Taxes on imported vehicles and luxury items are likely to increase in the new fiscal year budget. According to the sources, in the upcoming budget, there is a possibility of increasing the tax on imported vehicles of more than 1300 cc, while it is proposed to increase the withholding tax on all new vehicles of more than 850 cc. Sources said that in the upcoming budget, there is a proposal to impose more tax on cash withdrawals from banks by non-filers, it is also proposed to increase the advance tax from 0.6 to 0.9 per cent on withdrawals of more than 50,000 from banks by non-filers. It is estimated to collect more than 15 billion rupees from the increase in advance tax on cash withdrawals. Sources say that the budget also proposes to increase the tax on the import of non-essential and luxury items, in the upcoming budget, it is also being considered to eliminate or reduce the tax concessions in the sixth schedule.
Source:The Patriot
May 15, 2024 15:25 UTC
The nation state may soon be a thing of the past
What will be clear, with hindsight, is that the global order of nation states is now unraveling and is no longer viable. I was born in the second half of the 1950s, when the ideal of a homogeneous nation state was at its highest. The ideas behind the nation state germinated in the 19th century and reached their peak in the 1870s following the unification of Germany under Bismarck and Italy under Garibaldi. What we are seeing is the end of the nation state, not the beginning. A sovereign state with secure borders and a homogeneous national population and culture is a thing of the past.
Source:The Nation
May 15, 2024 14:47 UTC
Heat Alert
A strong heat wave was already expected and now the time has come. This will not be the only heat wave of this summer season. Predictions of high temperatures considered, it looks like the heat wave will persist and return throughout. So while Pakistan faces a heat wave so do Bangladesh and India. In addition, there are community-level mechanisms that help save people from the severity of the heat wave.
Source:The Nation
May 15, 2024 14:42 UTC