Russia strikes Kharkiv ahead of Erdogan, UN chief meeting with Zelensky

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Russia strikes Kharkiv ahead of Erdogan, UN chief meeting with Zelensky

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

Russian strikes battered the northeast Ukraine region of Kharkiv Thursday, killing at least five people, hours ahead of the first face-to-face meeting since the start of the war between the Turkish and Ukrainian leaders.
Moscow meanwhile denied it had deployed any heavy weapons at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine where a recent escalation in fighting has increased fears of a nuclear disaster.
The head of the Kharkiv region Oleg Synegubov said Moscow’s forces had launched eight missiles from Russian territory at around 0430 local time (0130 GMT) striking across the city.
“Three people died, including a child. Eight people, including two children, were rescued,” the emergency services said.
Synegubov posted images from the scene of one strike showing the smouldering remains of several burnt out buildings and twisted wreckage of destroyed vehicles nearby.
In separate strikes on the town of Krasnograd south west of Kharkiv, bombardments that damaged residential buildings left two dead and two more injured, he said.
“Kharkiv. 175 days of horror. Daily terror, missile strikes on residential areas and civilians,” a senior presidential aide, Mykhaylo Podolyak, wrote on social media.
The strikes in the war-scarred east of the country come a day after bombardments killed at least seven in the city and as the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN chief Antonio Guterres were convening in the western city of Lviv.
The two were key brokers of a deal last month with Moscow and Kyiv allowing the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine after Russia’s invasion blocked essential global supplies. A spokesman for Guterres said that the UN chief, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Erdogan will discuss the grain deal, as well as “the need for a political solution to this conflict”.
He added that he had “no doubt that the issue of the nuclear power plant” would be raised.
In his regular nightly address on Wednesday, Zelensky said he and Guterres would “work to get the necessary results for Ukraine”.
The UN chief is slated to travel on Friday to Odessa, one of three ports involved in the grain exports deal — hammered out in July under the aegis of the UN with Ankara’s mediation.
He will then head to Turkey to visit the Joint Coordination Centre, the body tasked with overseeing the accord.
According to the UN, the first half of August saw 21 freighters authorised to sail under the deal carrying more than 563,000 tonnes of agricultural products, including more than 451,000 tonnes of corn.
The first wartime shipment of UN food aid for Africa reached the Bosphorus Strait on Wednesday carrying 23,000 tonnes of wheat.
Russia’s defence ministry meanwhile said Thursday its forces had not deployed heavy weapons at the Zaporizhzhia plant, accusing Kyiv of preparing a “provocation” at the station. “Russian troops have no heavy weapons either on the territory of the station or in areas around it. There are only guard units,” the ministry said in a statement. AFP

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‘Tornado of fire’: Algeria forest blazes kill 38

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

Tornado of Fire

Algerian firefighters were Thursday battling a string of blazes, fanned by drought and a blistering heatwave, that have killed at least 38 people and left destruction in their wake.
Deadly forest fires have become an annual scourge in the North African country, where climate change is turning large areas into a tinderbox.
According to multiple sources including local journalists and the fire service, at least 38 people have been killed, mostly in the El Tarf region near Algeria’s eastern border with Tunisia which was baking in 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) heat.
At least 200 more people have suffered burns or respiratory problems from the smoke, according to various Algerian media. A journalist in El Tarf described “scenes of devastation” on the road to El Kala in the country’s far north-east.
“A tornado of fire swept everything away in seconds,” he told AFP by telephone. “Most of those who died were surrounded while visiting a wildlife park.”
Emergency services were still battling a blaze around Tonga lake, he said.
Local media reported that eight people had been burned to death in a bus near the city of 100,000 residents.
State television reported Thursday morning that Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrah-mane was visiting the area. Firefighters were also battling a large blaze in the mountainous area of Souk Ahras, a journalist in the area told AFP.
He described scenes of panic in the city of half a million, where nearly 100 women and 17 newborn babies had to be evacuated from a hospital near the forest. Algerian TV showed people fleeing their burning homes, women carrying children in their arms. Local media said 350 people had fled their homes.
Some 39 blazes were ravaging various parts of northern Algeria, according to the fire service, and there were fears that hot winds could spark new ones that authorities are ill-equipped to fight. The scenes sparked fears of a repeat of fires last year which killed at least 90 people and ravaged 100,000 hectares of forest and farmland in the country’s north. Last year’s catastrophe provoked bitter criticism of authorities over the lack of fire-fighting aircraft.
Authorities have rented a Russian Beriev BE 200 water bomber plane, but it has suffered a breakdown and is not expected to be operational again until Saturday, according to Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud.
The civil protection service and the army do have access to several firefighting helicopters.
Experts have called for a major effort to bolster the firefighting capacity of Africa’s biggest country, which has over four million hectares of forest. One specialist, who asked not to be named, told AFP that in the 1980s the country had 22 Grumman aircraft for battling forest fires but that they had been “sold on the cheap, without any alternative solution being proposed”. AFP

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Imran’s tenure a PM dark chapter of Pakistan media history: Marriyum

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Terming PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister as a dark chapter for media in Pakistan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Thursday that the media organizations and journalists should recall the anti-media track record of the PTI regime before attending his media seminar.

In a statement, she said that the enemy of media (Imran Khan) who was what she called “economic murderer” of the media should feel ashamed on conducting the media seminar.

Imran Khan indulged in media enmity while sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair.

She said that Imran Khan was a liar, corrupt, foreign agent, media enemy and a hypocrite and the media had to decide whether to attend the seminar of a person who used the National Accountability Bureau as a tool to suppress media freedom.

“The media has to decide whether or not to attend the media seminar of the founder of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority, which was established by the previous government to control the media.

She urged Imran to stop the farce of the media seminar as during his four years rule the media’s voice was muzzled and Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman was arrested by NAB to weaken the national media.

“PFUJ, CPNE and PBA will have to decide whether to attend the “media weakening seminar”, he media has to decide whether to go to the media seminar of the persons who strangulated journalism, during whose tenure firing was done on journalists, the one who imposed unprecedented restrictions on media.

The minister said that the media will have to decide whether to participate in the seminar of the person who had been given the title of “media predator by international organizations”.

The media will have to decide whether to believe the specter of their freedom and job-snapping seminar or not.

CPNE’s 2020 report, International Media Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2021 reports were testimony to Imran Khan’s media hostility, Maryam Aurangzeb said.

She pointed out that International Media Watch had called Imran Khan a fascist and in four years of Imran Khan rule, the ribs of journalists were broken, they were kidnapped, the freedom of the media was crushed and the parliament was locked.

She said that Imran Khan who controlled media through NAB also made media workers jobless.

The media has to decide whether to attend the seminar of the person who had snatched the pen from the journalists, ordered the removal of anchor persons from the screen, she maintained.

International News

Israel troops raid Palestinian rights group offices

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

Israeli security forces on Thursday raided the offices of multiple Palestinian human rights groups in the occupied West Bank, which the state has branded “terrorist organisations”.
The military said soldiers and police officers “closed seven institutions and confiscated property” in the overnight raids.
At the Ramallah offices of human rights group Al Haq, the front door had been welded shut and a Hebrew statement left saying it would remain closed for “security reasons”.
“Any activity in this place jeopardises the security of the area, of the security forces and of public order,” said a statement seen by AFP. A priest said an Anglican church on the building’s ground floor was damaged as troops sought to access the Al Haq offices.
“The soldiers came into the premises around 3:00 am and we started hearing shots and banging on the doors,” Father Fadi Diab of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church told AFP.
Al Haq is one of six Palestinian groups branded terrorist organisations by Israel in October for their alleged links to leftist militant group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Israel has not publicly shared any evidence of the alleged ties to the PFLP, which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by many Western governments. Staff from Al Haq removed the metal sheet covering their office door on Thursday and vowed to get back to work despite computers and other equipment being seized.
“We were established here not by Israel, not by their decision and we will continue our work,” Al Haq director Shawan Jabarin told a press conference.
On Thursday morning, tear gas canisters littered the street outside Al Haq’s office. The Israeli military said it responded to “rocks and Molotov cocktails” being thrown at soldiers during the overnight raids.
West Bank cities are nominally under the full control of the Palestinian Authority but the Israeli security forces carry out frequent incursions, which are often met with stones or petrol bombs. Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh vowed solidarity with Al Haq and the other non-governmental organisations raided overnight.
“This is not only an NGO, but this is also a State of Palestine institution –- therefore as long as they work within the law, we will stand solid with them,” Shtayyeh told AFP, as he visited the Al Haq offices.
Last month, nine European countries said they would continue to cooperate with the six groups. “Past allegations of misuse of EU funds in relation to certain Palestinian civil society organisations have not been substantiated,” EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell’s spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said Thursday, when asked about the Ramallah raids. “The EU will continue to stand by international law and support civil society organisations,” she added.
The raids come after Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz announced on Wednesday that the terror designation of three of the groups had passed into law.
The other three, which had challenged their terror designations, had their appeals rejected, a statement from Gantz’s office said. AFP

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New aircraft being inducted into PIA to improve performance: Senate told

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique says new aircraft are being inducted into the PIA to improve its performance.

Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, he said there is no proposal under consideration to sell out the assets of the national flag carrier.

Saad Rafique said it is our effort to operationalize this year about three hundred rooms of Hotel Roosevelt. He said we want to enter into a joint venture for the complete revival of this hotel which will help bring revenue to the country.

The Minister for Railways and Aviation said one hundred and thirty four kilometers rail track of the Sibi-Harnai-Khost section has been completed. He said we have to install a bridge on this section. However, operationalization of this section is linked with the security situation.

Minister of State for Law Shahadat Awan assured the house during question hour that the present government has initiated strict action against illegal housing societies.

He said those who hoodwinked the masses will not be spared and they will land in prisons.He said cases of illegal housing societies are before the NAB and FIA. He said a campaign has also been started to create awareness amongst masses about these illegal housing societies.

The Minister of State told the house that Pakistanis enjoy visa free access to forty six countries. He said efforts are afoot to further improve the image of Pakistan in the world.

Shahadat Awan further informed that the Korang Bridge project on Islamabad Expressway will be completed by the end of this year.

Minister of State for Law said the contract for the project was awarded in September 2020. However, the contractor slow down work on the project due to price escalation in construction material. He said the contract has now been assigned to Frontier Works Organization.

Responding to another question, the Minister of State for Law said beggary has been reduced to a great extent in the federal capital territory. He said two anti-beggary squads have been established to apprehend the beggars. He said the patrolling system within Islamabad has been revamped and SHOs of all the police stations have been strictly directed to utilize their mobiles as well as staff from Rescue 15 to curb this menace.

Shahadat Awan said action has also been taken against the gang leaders of beggars. Cases have been registered against them and they have also been sentenced.

The Minister of State said the government has also established shelter homes in the federal capital for the poor and needy people. He said there are also centers for rehabilitation of women and children.

Responding to points raised by the opposition leader Shahzad Wasim, Leader of House in the Senate Azam Nazeer Tarar said it was the PTI government which victimized political opponents during its tenure. He said a case was registered against Shehbaz Gill as per the law for inciting mutiny in a state institution.

Assuring there will be no custodial torture of the PTI leader, he, however said nobody can be allowed to escape investigation and that the law will take its course in the case.

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Relief operations by PAF in full swing in flood affected areas of South Punjab

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Relief Operations for the flood affectees by Pakistan Air Force in South Punjab Region are in full swing.

Food and medical facilities are being provided round the clock to the affected families by the relief teams of PAF. As a humanitarian gesture, 12155 pounds of basic food items and commodities were distributed amongst the needy families. Moreover, 939 patients were also attended by the paramedical team of Pakistan Air Force.

The recent floods have caused devastation in the low-lying areas of South Punjab Region, badly damaging the villages and infrastructure. Despite inclement weather conditions throughout the country, especially in flood stricken areas, PAF personnel are working hard to provide humanitarian assistance to flood affectees.

In Pakistan petrol prices are fixed in the light of average purchase price of PSO: Miftah Ismail

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr. Miftah Ismail Ahmed has said that in Pakistan petrol prices are fixed in the light of average purchase price of Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

Petrol prices in Pakistan

This was stated by Miftah Isamail during in an interview with a private TV channel. Miftah Ismail said his resignation can be taken just with one WhatsApp call, and continued that if Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif or his Principal Secretary Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Shah calls his to resign, he will go home after resigning from the current position. He said that prices of petroleum products were increased with the signatures of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif despite the fact that his recommendations are also included in it.

He said that tough decisions politically damaged to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui; however, all the allies agreed on a point that after coming into power they will save the country from being bankrupt, adding this duty has been assigned to him which he is fulfilling.

Miftah Ismail said that although petrol prices decreased during the previous week in the international market but the oil which will be sold during the coming two weeks that was not purchased during the last week as some was purchased three or four or six weeks ago, adding there is also stock of 15 to 20 days.

Importantly there is no increase of even a single penny of tax, he said, and continued he has been given the responsibility of Finance Minister as well as respect; hence, it is necessary to carry on its burden. He said he supports all those decisions taken by the incumbent government.

The minister for finance and revenue said that they will have to take prudent decisions in case they have to remain into the power otherwise “we should leave the power” as they were never forced to come into the power. He said, “We reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to not provide subsidy on the petroleum products and signed a schedule to impose tax with the IMF.”

He said when they came into power they had $10 billion reserves while they had to pay $21 billion wherein $ 3 billion had to be paid immediately. He said when they visited the friendly countries, all of them asked us to develop consensus with the IMF as no one wants Pakistan heads towards bankruptcy.

The minister said he is not taking decisions on his own as it is not possible to take decisions without bringing them into the knowledge of Shehbaz Sharif and continued that saying this is just like that Shehbaz Sharif takes decisions without approval of the Federal Cabinet.

Miftah Ismail said that encouraging investors to come to Pakistan for the purpose of investment is always a good thing. He said that if a company’s one of out seven or eight directors is a foreigner it affects performance of the company.

He said that the government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not work in its three years and nine month’s term either it is matter of laying a gas pipeline or installing power plant or bringing improvement in transmission lines. He said they know how to work, adding that they will show their work in the next one year. He said his major success was to save the country from being bankrupt under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif and took the country towards the stability.

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PM directs to prepare agricultural reforms plan on emergency basis

Capital Movement Aug 18, 2022 0

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all relevant ministries to prepare agricultural reforms plan on an emergency basis.

He said this while chairing a high-level meeting on agricultural sector reforms held in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said agricultural reforms will be implemented on an emergency basis. He said that the government will work on the construction of silos for storing wheat and agricultural commodities.

He said he would announce a comprehensive agricultural reforms plan very soon to achieve prosperity of the farmers, enhance agricultural poduction and reduce the input prices.

The recommendations presented to the prime minister included both short and long term plans.

The prime minister resolved that the government would provide facilities to the farmers on emergency basis including low-cost seed and fertilizers.

The meeting resolved that the companies selling substandard seeds and pesticides would be done away with and that the relevant institutions would be facilitated for introduction of quality seeds.

The prime minister said the government would also provide modern equipment and facilitate the processs of loans.

Moreover, the silos would be constructed to help the farmers store wheat and agricultural produces.

The prime minister also called for measures to enhance per acre yield before the cotton sowing season and ensure the provision of subsidy to the farmers on the agriculture inputs.

He asked the authorities concerned to keep into consideration the impacts of the climate change, during the formulation of agricultural reforms.

Moreover, he also called for running an awareness campaign to acquaint the farmers with modern agricultural methods.

The sub committees constituted on the subjects including wheat, cotton, edible oil, fertilizers, agricultural research, usage of water, climate change and agricultural equipment briefed the prime minister.

At the meeting, the recommendations were presented on the yield of wheat, cotton and edible oil, provision of modern machinery on reduced rates, subsidy on urea and DAP, expected production and import, quality seeds, better utility of water and timely provision of loans to the farmers.

Federal ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Miftah Ismail, Special Assistants to PM Ahad Cheema and Muhammad Jahanzeb and senior officers attended the meeting.

The secretaries of agriculture of all provinces also joined the meeting through video link.