FO summons Indian diplomat, conveys concerns on statement of accidental firing of missile
The Charge d’ Affaires (Cd’A) of the Republic of India in Islamabad was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday and conveyed the government of Pakistan’s serious concerns on the press statement issued by the Indian Press Information Bureau’s Defence Wing regarding the “accidental firing” of an Indian missile into Pakistani territory on 9 March 2022 due to ‘technical malfunction’ and the decision to hold an internal court of inquiry. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the Indian diplomat was asked to convey to the government of India that such serious matters could not be addressed with simplistic explanations as offered by the Indian authorities. The Charge d’ Affaires was further told that Pakistan expects a satisfactory response to and clarification of several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against the accidental or unauthorized launch of missiles in a nuclearized environment. The diplomat was informed that the Indian decision to hold an internal court of inquiry was not sufficient since the missile ended up in Pakistani territory. He was told to convey to the Government of India Pakistan’s demand of a joint probe in order to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident.
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2022 22:59 UTC
Multi-role J-10C fighter jets inducted into PAF fleet
The prime minister said that Pakistan had full confidence in its armed forces that possessed the capabilities of the highest degree to defend the country. Developed by China’s state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the J-10C is an all-weather, single-engine, single-seat, multi-role, fourth-plus generation fighter jet. Earlier, the prime minister reviewed the guard of honour from a PAF contingent. Flanked by three services chiefs, he also inspected the J-10C aircraft and sat in the cockpit where he was given a briefing about the jet. After the flypast, the prime minister witnessed the landing of five J-10C aircraft that have been inducted in the 15 Squadron.
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2022 19:55 UTC
Impasse with IMF over PM’s tax amnesty
Pakistan on Friday could not break its impasse with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tax amnesty scheme and his Rs246 billion relief package. “The 7th review talks will now continue on Monday [March 14],” said Finance Secretary Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh. “Both sides are holding the 7th review of the IMF programme.” According to the original schedule agreed between Pakistan and the IMF, the review talks were planned to be held between March 3 and March 11. Under the IMF conditions, Pakistan can neither give any more tax amnesty scheme nor was it entitled to hand over tax breaks to industrialists. Two days ago, the finance minister had said Pakistan conversed with the IMF about the PM’s relief package only to the extent of what was necessary.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 12, 2022 12:40 UTC
Young Pak cueist Ahsan crowned IBSF World Snooker champion
LAHORE – Pakistan’s 16-year-old Ahsan Ramzan has clinched the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World (Men) Snooker Championship 2022 trophy after beating Iran’s Amir Sarkosh in the final held at Doha, Qatar on Friday. Ahsan has also earned the honour of winning the world snooker championship as the third youngest cueist. The young Pakistan snooker sensation faced tough resistance from other finalist – Amir Sarkosh from Iran – before winning the coveted trophy by 6-5. Before winning the final, Ahsan had also struggle hard to beat defending champion Muhammad Asif in the semifinals. He beat snooker champion Muhammad Asif by 5-4 with the score being 63-71, 21-60, 76-50, 75-51, 64-65, 63-46, 39-68, 69-62, 62-60.
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2022 06:57 UTC
No need to block roads as all workers released: JUI-F chief
After police released Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) workers, who were detained the night before for entering the Parliament Lodges, party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday called off plans to block major throughfares across the country. The government described the uniformed volunteer force of the JUI-F, Ansarul Islam, as a “private militia” and backed the police on storming the Parliament Lodges and arresting JUI-F MNA Salahuddin Ayubi, MNA Maulana Jamaluddin and 19 others. Read More: JUI-F supporters block three main highwaysWhilst addressing the workers today, Fazal said that there was no need to block roads since all the workers and the MNAs had been released before dawn. He further congratulated the people and said he was grateful to the workers of JUI-F and other parties for the "victory and for responding to the call, giving an immediate response and shutting down the country in less than an hour". The JUI-F chief added that Islamabad Police was violating all laws and ethics by raiding Parliament violating and ‘unjustifiably torturing, dragging elected representatives of the nation and arresting them and their guests’.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 12, 2022 02:56 UTC
A Look at Jay Woodcroft’s First Month with the Oilers
The Oilers are 8-5-1 since Jay Woodcroft made his NHL head coaching debut one month ago today. So far the Oilers have fewer shots, rebound and forecheck chances under Woodcroft, but they’ve slightly increased their rush chances. The Oilers’ rush chances have dropped from 6.2 to 3.9 and their slots shots against have gone from 11.0 to 8.7. It is interesting to note how the expected goals against has only dropped slightly from 2.06 to 1.97, despite the actual goals going from 2.27 down to 1.50. Edmonton’s recent uptick in power play chances further outlines why improved power play efficiency is a must.
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2022 02:01 UTC
Eleven Colorado schools comply with state law banning American Indian mascots
The Sanford School District, 25 miles south of Alamosa, is changing its mascot to the Thundering Mustangs from the Indians. Frederick High School, north of Denver, changed the name of its mascot from the Warriors to the Golden Eagles last fall. That leaves 12 schools in the state, including Lamar High School (Savages) and Arickaree Elementary School (Indians), still out of compliance with SB21-116, which was signed into law last summer. Strasburg School District did the same with representatives of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. The schools remaining on the list are: Arickaree Elementary School, Arickaree Undivided High School, Kiowa Elementary School, Kiowa Middle School, Kiowa High School, Lamar High School, Montrose’s Johnson Elementary School and Montrose High School, Mountain Valley School in Saguache, and Yuma’s Kenneth P. Morris Elementary School, Yuma Middle School and Yuma High School.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 11, 2022 22:38 UTC
Pakistan reports 723 new Covid cases, 7 deaths in 24 hours
Pakistan reported as many as 723 new Covid cases and seven fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to the government’s database. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said a total of 39,540 samples were tested, out of which 723 or 1.83 per cent turned out to be positive. The nationwide tally of confirmed Covid cases stands at 1,517,512 while the death toll is 30,298. The number of critical Covid patients in various hospitals across the country has come down to 677. The NCOC said 956 additional recoveries from the coronavirus were also reported, taking the country’s total recoveries to 1,469,405.
Source:The Nation
March 11, 2022 07:25 UTC
Weekly Rumours – Oilers in the market for a defenseman?
The Oilers might not be very active ahead of March 21st, but there has still been a lot of talk about the goaltending market and who could move. One name that the Oilers had been connected to recently was Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders. The goaltending market could very well be a buyers market though. I would fully expect the Oilers to be in the market for a defenseman ahead of the deadline and it sounds like it could very well be a bit of a buyers market too, which should help Ken Holland. There’s more from Frank in Ice Breakers here:That’s a wrap on another edition of Weekly Rumours.
Source:The Nation
March 11, 2022 05:34 UTC
Fawad wants NA session convened soon
“I challenge the opposition parties to show their people in the media if they have enough numbers.”The minister also ruled out engaging in talks with the opposition. At the outset of the news conference, the minister recapped the 1989 political episode when a no-confidence motion was moved against the then prime minister Benazir Bhutto. “Imran Khan is the second prime minister of Pakistan who has voluntarily taken a vote of confidence from the National Assembly,” he added. He added the achievements were difficult for opposition parties to digest, and they wanted to dent the national economy and the country’s image at the international level. “We will give the opposition a surprise [in the no-confidence motion], following which we will emerge as a stronger government for the remaining term.”(With input from APP)
Source:The Express Tribune
March 11, 2022 03:23 UTC
Pakistan’s Ashraf to miss second Australia Test due to Covid
Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf will miss the second Test against Australia after testing positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Wednesday. “Ashraf has tested positive for Covid-19 in his on-arrival test at the Karachi team hotel,” the PCB said in a statement. “He will now undergo a five-day isolation.”The second Test starts on Saturday in Karachi. Ashraf has blossomed as a Test all-rounder in the past two years, giving Pakistan much-needed balance in both batting and bowling. Ashraf is the second Pakistan player to test positive for the virus after fast bowler Haris Rauf missed the first Test for the same reason.
Source:The Nation
March 10, 2022 22:23 UTC
GDB 58.0 Wrap Up: Oilers grind out a massive 4-3 OT win over the Capitals, sweep season series
And let’s be honest, if the Oilers didn’t get goalie’d by Samsonov then we’d probably be celebrating the best first period this team has had in months. Per Reid Wilkins on Twitter, Brad Malone’s assist on Ceci’s goal was his first NHL point since February 28, 2016. It was the kind of goofy goal that we never have go our way but that’s the way our luck has gone these days. I mean, how did Ovechkin not get a penalty for the waterskiing he did on Hyman with the empty net? I miss Nuge and I miss Jesse, but I don’t know that I can say the same about Barrie.
Source:The Nation
March 10, 2022 20:08 UTC
Pakistan reports 639 fresh Covid cases in one day
Pakistan reported as many as 639 fresh cases of the Covid-19 pandemic in the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Thursday. It said four more Covid-related fatalities were reported, taking the death toll to 30,291. A total of 36,241 samples were tested, out of which 639 turned out to be positive, taking the country’s caseload to 1,516,789. There are 707 Covid patients in critical care in various hospitals across the country. 581 more people recuperated from the viral disease in the past 24, taking the country’s total recoveries to 1,468,449.
Source:The Nation
March 10, 2022 18:16 UTC
Trinamool will renew contract with Prashant Kishor, clip wings of latter as advisor- The New Indian Express
Pranab Mondal ByExpress News ServiceKOLKATA: Trinamool Congress has decided to continue its contract with poll strategist Prashant Kishor but in a limited role as advisor. West Bengal’s ruling party has told Kishor to forward recommendations of his team, I-PAC, directly to CM Mamata Banerjee. “She (Mamata) was disturbed with I-PAC’s act and she expressed her desire to terminate the contract with Kishor and his team. Sources in the TMC said, Kishor was directed not to intervene in the party’s reshuffle. Kishor’s team worked on it and prepared a list of candidates accordingly.
Source:The Nation
March 10, 2022 02:30 UTC