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Army fully prepared to defend motherland from any threat: Gen Asim Munir
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir Saturday emphasised that the armed forces were aware of the challenges faced by Pakistan and fully prepared to thwart any nefarious designs against the motherland. “We are cognisant of the challenges and with the support of the nation we are prepared to thwart any nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan”, COAS emphasised. “Pakistan Army is fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against all odds. Pakistan Armed Forces are focused on defending the frontiers of the motherland against the full spectrum of threats and with the support of the nation, Armed Forces will defeat the enemies of Pakistan, InshaAllah," said the army chief during his visit. The army chief witnessed integrated fire and battle manoeuvres of various elements, including armour, mechanised infantry, artillery, air defence, and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) duly supported by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Combat Aviation.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 10:21 UTC
Protests in Srinagar as Modi govt protects Hindutva man accused of blasphemy
ISLAMABAD - The protest demonstrations have erupted in Srinagar seeking the arrest of a Hindutva supporter Prathamesh Shinde who made blasphemous remarks against Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A 20-year-old student from Maharashtra at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar had posted derogatory content on the social media which triggered protests. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has also booked the student but the Indian authorities are avoiding to arrest the accused. The Islamophobia is growing in the Indian society and Hindutva supporters are using it as a political tool. The sane elements on the social media urged the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the international community to pressure the Modi government for taking action against the Hindutva supporter for committing blasphemy.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 09:15 UTC
Pakistan demands probe into attacks on Gaza hospitals, residential areas
The spokesperson’s comment comes as Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar is in the UAE to represent Pakistan. On the other hand during weekly briefing here, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch expressed concern over the Palestine situation. She said that Pakistan demanded an investigation into the attacks on hospitals, mosques and residential areas in Gaza by the Israeli forces. The spokesperson said that Pakistan was delivering aid to Gaza through Rafah crossing. “We hope that the Afghan authorities will take action against the TTP, the banned outfit involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan,” Ms Baloch concluded.
Source:Pakistan Today
December 02, 2023 06:47 UTC
UN official urges strategic plans for climate-vulnerable nations at COP28
US should participate in carbon pricing rather than oppose it: IMF directorDUBAI: The US should participate, rather than being a “loud opponent,” in carbon pricing, urged the director of the International Monetary Fund. The director deemed carbon pricing a “wonderful instrument” due to its dual role in revenue generation and addressing inequality. According to Georgieva, revenues generated from carbon pricing can be strategically directed to compensate the most vulnerable parts of the global population. Despite the current average carbon price standing at $20 per ton in areas covered by carbon pricing, when amalgamating this figure with 75 percent of the world without carbon pricing, the average carbon price would fall to $5, she noted. The director expressed concerns that geopolitical tensions might exacerbate economic fragmentation amid a global climate crisis.
Source:The Nation
December 02, 2023 06:44 UTC
Bhutan commences primary polls as nation gears up for fourth-ever General Election
Bhutan witnessed a significant democratic exercise on Thursday as voters cast their ballots in primary polls, determining the top two political parties poised to engage in the upcoming fourth-ever general election in the nation’s history. Residents from remote corners of the mountainous kingdom embarked on journeys to partake in this crucial process, choosing from five participating parties. The leading two parties emerging from these primaries will contend in the general election scheduled for January 9. Since the initiation of political reforms under the present king’s reign, Bhutanese citizens first exercised their voting rights in 2008. The reigning monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, remains widely popular among the nearly 800,000 people in the predominantly Buddhist nation.
Source:The Nation
December 01, 2023 04:39 UTC
Nation expresses gratitude to key middle eastern allies for substantial support for Pakistan’s economic development: Ashrafi
Ashrafi said the UAE, recognizing the shared economic interests, had engaged in groundbreaking multi-billion dollar deals across diverse sectors. He said these agreements, facilitated under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), marked a strategic collaboration to foster economic stability and growth in Pakistan. He said the UAE’s commitment to these initiatives underscored its confidence in Pakistan’s potential as a key partner in the region. Ashrafi said Kuwait, another key player in the Middle East, had joined the collective effort to support Pakistan’s economic uplift. He said the army chief had been instrumental in bolstering fraternal and commercial bonds with key middle eastern nations, including KSA, UAE, and Kuwait.
Source:The Nation
December 01, 2023 01:43 UTC
Indonesian embassy launches exhibition on Indonesia-Pakistan brotherhood
ISLAMABAD-Indonesian embassy in Pakistan yesterday inaugurated a week-long exhibition of “Soekarno’s Legacy in Building Stringer Bonds of Indonesia-Pakistan Brotherhood” at the National Library of Pakistan. The event is being organized in collaboration with the National Archives of Indonesia, the National Library of Pakistan, and National Archives of Pakistan. The main objective of the exhibition is to generate more awareness among the people of Pakistan about the historic multi-dimensional Indonesia-Pakistan relationship. The exhibition showcases a compelling collection of photographs, videos, and letters between the founding fathers of Indonesia Soekarno and Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It offers a unique glimpse into the visits of President Soekarno to Pakistan in 1960s, underlining the shared history that binds the two nations.
Source:The Nation
November 30, 2023 12:06 UTC
UE hosts 4th Int’l conference on ‘Advances in Materials Science’
LAHORE: The two-day 4th International Conference titled: “Advances in Materials Science (AIMS2023),” started at University of Education here on Wednesday. More than 120 presentations will be delivered by eminent scientists from all over the world in-person and through Zoom meetings during the conference. 0S9A8536On the occasion, Director Division of Science and Technology Prof Dr Rana Abrar Hussain shed light on objectives of the conference and expressed gratitude to the participants for their attendance. In his speech, Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam congratulated the University of Education, Lahore on holding an international conference on this important topic. Advances in materials science have made human life easier, which shows its importance.
Source:Pakistan Today
November 30, 2023 10:29 UTC
Talks with IMF on petroleum development levy tomorrow
Islamabad: Talks between tax policy diagnostic mission of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Energy Ministry to review the initiatives under the Petroleum Development Levy on petroleum products will be held tomorrow(Thursday). During discussion, the IMF team decided to review the initiatives under the Petroleum Development Levy on petroleum products. Beside Petroleum levy, the mission will also discuss other revenue measures related to petroleum division, the source said. The consecutive governments of the PDM and Caretaker government have jacked up the petroleum Levy on Petrol and High Speed Diesel(HSD) to the maximum level. During the first quarter of 2023-24 (July to September), the collection of petroleum levy has recorded an increase of 368% on an annual basis.
Source:The Nation
November 29, 2023 15:06 UTC
Blackhawks 4, Kraken 3 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways
Blackhawks 4, Kraken 3 — Three Stars, Key TakeawaysAfter a dramatic, emotional day at the United Center, a game finally had to be played. Chicago stormed back to a two-goal lead in the second period and… actually held onto it through the end of the 20 minutes. Seattle scored an ugly goal seven minutes into the third to make it a little less comfortable. He scored the Blackhawks’ second goal of the night on an absolute howitzer from the point. Phillips had an assist on the Dickinson goal and was on the ice for seven Blackhawks’ shot attempts to four for Seattle.
Source:The Nation
November 29, 2023 07:44 UTC
Oil rises over 2% with focus on OPEC+ cuts
PHOTO: REUTERSOil prices jumped nearly 3% on Tuesday on the possibility OPEC+ will extend or deepen supply cuts, a storm-related drop in Kazakh oil output and a weaker US dollar. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $2.02, or 2.7%, to $76.88. Read: Little prospect of Russia oil dealOPEC+, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, is due to hold an online ministerial meeting on Thursday to discuss 2024 production targets. The talks will be difficult and a rollover of the previous agreement is possible rather than deeper production cuts, four OPEC+ sources said. The market tumbled last week when OPEC+ pushed back the original date for its meeting to iron out differences on production targets for African producers.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 29, 2023 05:20 UTC
Aztecs shut out from first-team All-Mountain West honors
San Diego State tight end Mark Redman was a second-team all-Mountain West pick for the second straight season. The Mountain West all-conference football teams were announced Tuesday, and — for the first time in 14 years — no San Diego State players earned first-team honors. UNLV will host Boise State on Saturday in the Mountain West championship game. The all-conference teams were selected in a vote of Mountain West head coaches and media. Browning, who was the 2022 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, averaged 45.4 yards per punt.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 29, 2023 04:38 UTC
Attacks must stop
That Mr Akbar’s party, the PTI, introduced this culture does not justify the attack on him. The heightened tempers created on the social media leads to an atmosphere in which attacks like the one on Mr Akbar seem justified. It starts with toxicity in cyberspace, moves on to making scenes in public, and then progresses to physical attacks. The attack on Mr Akbar was preceded by the crowd which hooted Mrs Imran Khan when she visited him in jail recently. Only if political leaders stop giving tacit approval to keyboard warriors, easily done by some disciplinary proceedings, and dial down their rhetoric themselves, can this new phenomenon be stopped.
Source:Pakistan Today
November 29, 2023 00:00 UTC
Ending exploitation
The complex factors contributing to child labour, such as poverty, lack of access to education, and weak enforcement of labour laws, as mentioned in your report, are worrying. The consequences of child labour are equally complex, leading to a perpetuation of the cycle of poverty, unfulfilled potential, and long-term societal issues. The government must bolster its efforts to enforce child labour laws and regulations, with a particular focus on industries where child labour is most prevalent. It is high time that we collectively address the grave issue of child labour in Pakistan. Every child deserves a childhood free from exploitation and an opportunity to build a brighter future.
Source:The Nation
November 28, 2023 20:04 UTC
Pakistan’s economy stuck in ‘low-growth trap’: WB
Martin Raiser, the World Bank’s Regional Vice-President for South Asia, has warned that Pakistan’s economy is stuck in a “low-growth trap” with poor human development outcomes and increasing poverty. "Pakistan’s economy is stuck in a low-growth trap with poor human development outcomes and increasing poverty. Economic conditions leave Pakistan highly vulnerable to climate shocks, with insufficient public resources to finance development and climate adaptation," warned Raiser. They are intended to help inform the public policy dialogue in the context of the upcoming elections. During his visit, Raiser will meet government officials at the federal and provincial levels, and representatives from the private sector and academia.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 28, 2023 17:29 UTC