Lizzo, Live Nation pledge $1 million to Planned Parenthood and Abortion Funds after SC's decision
Lizzo and Live Nation have pledged $1 million to abortion nonprofits following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn 1973's Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion. "God put me here to do good," Lizzo said at Friday's Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards, announcing her and Live Nation's $1 million donation to Planned Parenthood and Abortion FundsThe Grammy Award winner, 34, has pledged $1 million from her upcoming Special Tour to Planned Parenthood and Abortion Funds. "I'm pledging $500k from my upcoming tour to Planned Parenthood and Abortion Rights. Live Nation agreed to match— to make it 1 MILLION dollars," Lizzo wrote Friday on Twitter. She later opened up about her philanthropic contribution Friday night as she accepted the Fearlessness Award at the 2nd Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards in Beverly Hills.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 22:00 UTC
Royals to republics: Commonwealth talks unity as relevance under scrutiny
Royals to republics: Commonwealth talks unity as relevance under scrutinyKigali: Prince Charles says Commonwealth nations are free to farewell the monarchy and become republics, acknowledging changes well under way in a colonial-era organisation trying to define its modern profile and purpose. Murphy said Commonwealth membership had become "almost a mark of international respectability" for countries with reputation problems or a desire to pivot away from France. Despite its shared history of colonialism, Commonwealth nations were not rushing to pore over the painful past or broach uncomfortable topics such as reparations from Britain. Some say the Commonwealth could find new relevance by asking these difficult questions. "It is a logical framework for discussing colonial legacy issues, because that´s the thing that pretty much all Commonwealth members have in common," said Murphy.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 20:36 UTC
COAS Gen Bajwa visits ailing Musharraf in Dubai
According to the sources, the COAS spent some time with Gen Musharraf and his family at their apartment. PHOTO: FILEChief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and his wife have recently visited the ailing former president and army chief Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in Dubai, according to sources close to the former military ruler’s family. “Gen Qamar and his wife were accompanied by top physicians of Pakistan Army,” one source told The Express Tribune. “Gen Musharraf and his family greeted the COAS and his wife with great delight,” added the source, who was also present in the meeting. Gen Musharraf was the first army chief to be charged with high treason and the security establishment had watched the case carefully.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 25, 2022 20:35 UTC
‘ Tough but unpopular decisions
Even after ‘the breaking news,’ the finance minister didn’t appear wavering. Not only his own family, but the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, a former prime minister, would also be paying the ‘super tax,’ he had introduced. It wouldn’t yield to the demand of earliest possible elections as the former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, had zealously been pressing since removed. They prefer to believe that the US had not been feeling comfortable with ‘nationalist policies’ of Imran Khan. The story, which the former prime minister keeps drumming relentlessly, appears to have ominously deepened divisions in an already polarized society.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 16:56 UTC
Getting to Know New Blackhawks Head Coach Luke Richardson
With news on Friday that the Blackhawks are hiring Luke Richardson as their new permanent head coach, we did some digging to get to know more about the man who will be calling the shots behind the bench in Chicago moving forward. He was also the head coach of the Senators’ AHL affiliate from 2012-13 through 2015-16 and led Canada to the Spengler Cup in 2016-17. Richardson was pressed into action as the acting head coach for Game Three of the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinal against the Vegas Golden Knights when then-Canadiens head coach Dom Ducharme tested positive for COVID. Personal lifeThe most significant and important thing to know about Luke Richardson — as a player, coach or person — is that he’s dedicated. You hear it from the players he’s worked and played with, and you see it in his tireless work in support of mental health initiatives.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 16:37 UTC
Imran announces anti-govt rallies in all major cities on July 2
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday announced holding anti-government public gatherings in all major cities across the country on July 2 with him addressing the main event at Islamabad's Parade Ground. He said he has issued directives to all party workers in all major cities to hold the rallies the same day. Commenting on the “super tax” introduced by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government, Imran said it would add to already rising inflation in the country. The former premier further stated that the super tax would hike the corporate tax to 40 per cent, which is at 25 per cent in India and Bangladesh at present. Imran further commented that the tax was perturbing the salaried class, saying the wise thing to do was to instead broaden the tax net.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 25, 2022 14:42 UTC
PCB to challenge IPL’s proposed extended window at next ICC meet
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) potentially getting a two-and-a-half-month window in the next International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP), the PCB will raise the issue at the ICC AGM in July. That is mostly due to poor political relations between the two countries, as a result of which the IPL window arguably impacts Pakistan s international season more than other members. “There hasn t been any announcement on increasing the [IPL] window,” Ramiz Raja, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, said during a press conference in Lahore after the PCB’s 69th board of governors (BoG) meet. But this will be the only cricket board that will challenge any platform where it believes Pakistan is being short-changed. “I’ve spoken on the sidelines to Sourav Ganguly, and I told him now three former cricketers [including Martin Snedden] are on the [ICC] board.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 14:41 UTC
Nation proud of its armed forces for making country's defence impregnable: PM
Nation proud of its armed forces for making country's defence impregnable: PMPrime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif says the nation is proud of its armed forces for making the country's defence impregnable and playing a key role in the fight against terrorism. Shehbaz Sharif said we believe in peace and peaceful coexistence, but this must not be taken as our weakness. He said Pakistan Armed Forces are fully capable to take on any challenge. The Prime Minister also reviewed the Guard of Honour and distributed prizes among the passing out cadets for their distinctive performance. Meanwhile, in a tweet, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his government is committed to provide all resources necessary to strengthen Pakistan Navy.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 11:55 UTC
Mainly hot, dry weather expected in most parts of country
Mainly hot, dry weather expected in most parts of countryMainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next twelve hours. Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning:Islamabad and Muzaffarabad twenty-one degree centigrade, Murree sixteen, Lahore twenty-eight, Karachi thirty, Peshawar twenty-six, Quetta twenty-five and Gilgit fifteen degree centigrade. According to Met Office forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, partly cloudy and hot weather is expected in Srinagar, Pulwama and Baramulla, dry in Leh, while hot and dry in Jammu, Anantnag and Shopian. Temperature recorded this morning:Srinagar fifteen degree centigrade, Jammu twenty-seven, Leh nine, Pulwama and Anantnag fourteen, Shopian thirteen and Baramulla seventeen degree centigrade.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 08:39 UTC
Pakistan dispatches second tranche of relief goods to earthquake-hit Afghanistan
Pakistan on Friday dispatched the second tranche of humanitarian assistance for the earthquake affectees in a C-30 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force to Afghanistan. NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Akhter Nawaz and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Afghan Embassy in Pakistan were present on the occasion, an NDMA press release said. This second consignment arranged by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) consisted of family tents and essential food items. The Afghan charge d’affaires thanked the Pakistani government for sending humanitarian assistance promptly for the Afghan people in the hour of need. The NDMA sent its first consignment of relief goods on June 23 via road.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 04:37 UTC
Super Tax Announced
Continuing the trend of taking tough decisions at the expense of political capital, PM Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the government will be imposing a 10 percent “super tax” on large-scale industries in order to control surging inflation. The intention to tax high earners so that more funds can be diverted towards education, health, infrastructure, skills education, and other important sectors should be applauded. The markets too have reacted negatively to this news as the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crashed minutes after the taxes were announced. As the government has explained, this is a one-time tax on large-scale industry for one year which will help raise crucial revenue. At the same time, however, the government must pursue serious measures to broaden the tax net, regardless of the political cost and friction in question.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 02:59 UTC
Hina Khar leads Pakistan delegation at CFAMM in Rwanda
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has called for recognizing democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights as bedrocks of peace and stability within and among the nations. She was addressing the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. Issues of common concern including sustainable and inclusive development, post-Covid recovery and democracy, peace and governance came under discussion. On the sidelines, the Minister of State held useful bilateral meetings with the UK Minister for South Asia, Commonwealth and the UN Lord Tariq Ahmad, Foreign Minister of Jamaica Kamina Johnson Smith, Foreign Minister of Dominica Dr Kenneth Darroux and Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone, Professor David J Francis. The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is taking place after four years, making it the first such Commonwealth gathering in the post Pandemic period.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 23:57 UTC
Sanaullah says TTP’s FATA demand against Constitution
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has termed the demands of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pertaining to the reversal of Fata merger and military withdrawal from tribal areas bordering Afghanistan as against the Constitution, saying that “talks are possible with only those who are willing to surrender their arms”. In May, 2018, the National Assembly had paved the way for the merger of Fata with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Shedding light on the strength of the TTP fighters, Sanaullah said the proscribed terrorist group comprised at least 4,000 to 5,000 members. Sanaullah maintained that the military leadership had given assurance on possessing the capacity and power to sort out the prevailing issues with the TTP effectively. He concluded that interference of foreign elements could not be ruled out in terrorist attacks across the country.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 24, 2022 19:34 UTC
‘Four-nation T20I series idea is still alive’: Ramiz Raja
LAHORE, Jun 24: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has said that the idea of an annual quadrangular T20I series involving Pakistan, India, Australia and England was still alive with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and it has not been shelved. He said the audiences have started to own Pakistan cricket and this filled the coffers which is a good omen for cricket. He urged the media to highlight the achievements of the cricketers and cricket board instead falling for the negativity. He said Pakistan Junior League (PJL) will also attract money for the PCB, adding that the board has been envisaging new ideas and properties. He said the cricket pitches against Australia were dead, and that is all pitches have been replaced in 107 centers in the country and a Dubai-based company will stitch artificial grass on these pitches.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 18:59 UTC
Prince Charles says Commonwealth nations free to chart own course
KIGALI: Prince Charles told Commonwealth leaders Friday that the choice to become a republic or abandon the queen as head of state was theirs alone, and expressed “personal sorrow” at Britain’s legacy of slavery. Republican movements are taking root in a number of Commonwealth nations and some are seeking reparations for colonial-era injustices like slavery. Charles acknowledged the change underfoot and said the Commonwealth — which represents one-third of humanity — would always be “a free association of independent, self-governing nations”. “The Commonwealth contains within it countries that have had constitutional relationships with my family, some that continue to do so, and increasingly those that have had none,” he told an audience of presidents and prime ministers. “I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact,” he said.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 17:55 UTC