According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a 31-year-old Pakistan Army soldier was killed during a gunfight with terrorists in the general vicinity of Draban in the Dera Ismail Khan District.
The Pakistani Army soldiers had successfully attacked the terrorist’s hiding place.However, during a fierce firefight, Lakki Marwat resident Lance Naik Mujeeb, 31, fought valiantly and chose martyrdom, according to the ISPR.
The ISPR further stated that the location is being sanitised in order to get rid of any terrorists discovered there.
On the first day of the second Test in Galle on Sunday, Dinesh Chandimal scored his fourth consecutive half-century to help Sri Lanka reach its goal before Pakistan rallied with late wickets.
Chandimal, who scored 80 runs, formed significant partnerships, such as a 75-run fourth-wicket stand with Angelo Mathews, who failed to reach fifty in his historic 100th Test.
Play was suspended for the day due to poor lighting after Sri Lanka reached 315 for 6, having chosen to bat first in an effort to avenge their series-opening defeat.After pace bowler Naseem Shah hit with the second new ball, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella (on 42) and debutant Dunith Wellalage (on 6) were still in the batting order.
TOKYO: The suspect in the alleged assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will undergo a mental health evaluation.Abe was shot and died while campaigning on July 8 in the western city of Nara, two days before the country’s upper house elections.
Tetsuya Yamagami, the suspect in Abe’s murder, is being held in custody and is alleged to have targeted the former leader because he believed the guy had connections to the Unification Church.
According to unnamed investigative sources quoted by the Asahi Shimbun and other local media, the Nara District Court on Friday authorised the neighbourhood public prosecutors office to ask that 41-year-old Yamagami undergo a psychiatric evaluation.Throughout the mental examination, the suspect won’t be asked any more questions.
WASHINGTON: According to Dr. Kevin O’Connor, President Joe Biden’s physician, his COVID-19 symptoms include now “less problematic” sore throat, runny nose, loose cough, and body aches.The doctor said that Biden’s oxygen saturation “continues to be excellent on room air” and that his lungs are still clear.
The day after the White House said that 79-year-old Biden was only displaying slight symptoms, the COVID test results for the man came back positive. His diagnosis comes at the same time as a recent rash of cases in the US brought on by a coronavirus subvariant that is extremely contagious.
O’Connor stated that Biden most definitely possesses that BA5 variant.O’Connor claims that Biden is not suffering any breathing issues. O’Connor claims that because the BA5 version is so contagious, he will continue to isolate himself.
Biden’s ability to beat his sickness has been emphasised by the White House. The president reassured Americans in a video released on Thursday, and on Friday he participated in virtual discussions with White House staff.
BERLIN: In an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel that was published on Saturday, the source of the Panama Papers, which exposed widespread tax evasion and fraud on a massive scale, expressed his fear of Russian retaliation.
He claimed to have proof of financial malfeasance by senior Russian officials and their friends, which helped finance the war in Ukraine, and the magazine cited him under the moniker John Doe.
When Spiegel questioned him about if he was concerned for his safety, he responded, Given that the Russian government has made it clear that it wants me dead, it is a risk I must accept. John Doe emphasised the alleged function they serve in Russia, where officials deny breaking the law, when Spiegel questioned him about the use of tax havens by “strongmen in autocratic administrations.”
He referred to the Russian leader as “Putin,” saying that he posed a greater threat to the United States than Hitler ever did.
ISLAMABAD: In order to request the creation of a full bench to hear the matter pertaining to the election of the Punjab chief minister, the coalition government and parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) decided to file a petition with the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Sunday.
The PTI’s appeal challenging Dost Mazari’s decision as Punjab’s deputy speaker during the CM election will be heard by the nation’s highest court. Mazari had already rejected 10 votes from PML-Q members by citing Article 63(A) of the Constitution at the time of the voting procedure.As a result of defeating PTI candidate Pervez Elahi by three votes, Hamza Shahbaz of the PML-N was able to keep his position as chief minister.
The PTI had petitioned the supreme court about Mazari’s decision because it was “unconstitutional and illegal” and they were unhappy with it.
The government and its allies will ask for the creation of a full bench to hear the case involving the election of the province’s chief minister, the SCBA’s revision petition, and related petitions all at once.
Following claims of racism, Cricket Scotland’s entire 14-member board announced their resignations on Sunday.The Board of Cricket Scotland has resigned, Cricket Scotland announced on its Twitter account.
The board declared, “With immediate effect, we will work in cooperation with Sport Scotland to ensure that proper governance, leadership, and support is in place for sport in the days ahead.
This morning, the board of directors sent the letter of resignation to the acting CEO.The journal revealed yesterday that a “devastating” inquiry into Scottish cricket had found it to be institutionally racist, and the resignations follow that news, according to its article.
“With immediate effect, Cricket Scotland will collaborate with Sportscotland to make sure the organisation and the sport have the proper governance, leadership, and support in the days to come, according to a statement from Cricket Scotland.
The spokesman continued, “These procedures will be revisited after the report on racism in Scottish cricket is published and updates given accordingly.”
KARACHI: Omar Khalid, ranked No. 1 in Pakistan, and Yashal Shah, ranked No. 3, will compete in the 74th US Junior Amateur Championship, one of the largest junior tournaments in golf history, at the renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, United States.
Omar and Yashal received exemptions to compete in the famous competition, which will take place from July 25 to 30. This is a unique opportunity for Pakistani golf.
The event will feature 264 players from all over the world. The World Amateur Golf Rankings positions of only 47 of them have allowed them to receive an exemption (WGAR).Omar reached a career-high position of No. 294 in the world rankings after becoming Pakistan’s youngest-ever National Amateur champion.
He was one of the top ten players under the age of 17 in the entire world. Omar, who won the 2021 National Amateurs at the age of 16, also won the Pakistan Open (amateur winner), the CAS Open, the DHA Open, the Governor’s Cup, and the Faldo Series Pakistan. He is also the youngest player to ever hold the No. 1 ranking in Pakistan.
A Chinese man was executed for burning his ex-wife, a vlogger, on fire during a livestream and killing her.
Lhamo, 30, was set ablaze by her husband in 2020 after he doused her in gasoline in front of a large audience as she was filming herself.
The vlogger passed away two weeks after being hospitalised because 90% of her body had been burned.Tang Lu’s husband was put to death by a Sichuan province court. The couple split in 2020 because he had a habit of mistreating his wife.
Before the murder, Tang repeatedly requested remarriage but was turned down, which ultimately resulted in Lhamo’s death.Lhamo, a mother of two, reportedly reported her husband’s assault to the police, but was informed that it was a family affair.
Sania Mirza, an Indian tennis player, recently published another update. Sania Mirza engages her Instagram followers with her fashion photos and entertaining Reels.
Sania, who is also the wife of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, released a reel in which she was heard asking the question “And why aren’t you in uniform?” before hopping onto a well-known transition fad.
The main character in the video was first seen with her hair in a messy bun while wearing a robe before changing into a lovely gown.The 35-year-old was seen sporting pastel blue pants and a white turtleneck.Sania added modest earrings and a low ponytail to finish off her ensemble.
More than 15,000 people liked the video, which earned a lot of views. Check out the feedback: Someone commented, “So cute.”
Before departing for Karachi, Dua Zahra is seen grinning in a photograph that has been doing the rounds online.
Dua caused national news when she inexplicably vanished from Karachi, but it was later revealed that she had fled her house in order to wed Zaheer Ahmed.
A Lahore court had already ordered that Dua be returned to Karachi, where she will be brought before the city’s District West judicial magistrate.
The ruling states that no one should be permitted to meet Dua before she appears in court.The photo shows the smiling adolescent standing next to law enforcement and security workers.
KARACHI: Since Friday night, Karachi has been experiencing sporadic monsoon rains that have submerged a number of the port city’s low-lying neighbourhoods. More intense storms are expected in the evening.
A new stretch of the monsoon system that entered Sindh from Rajasthan is predicted to cause the port city to receive 130 to 150mm of rain, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz.
After 10:30am, most areas of the city experienced heavy rain.Heavy monsoon rains were reported in a number of regions of the city, including Malir, the vicinity of the airport, Sharae Faisal, University Road, Gulberg, Sohrab Goth, and the Old City area.
According to chief meteorologist Sarfaraz, the rain’s heaviness is anticipated to worsen in the evening. He insisted that the majority of the port city’s areas will probably experience severe rain in the late evening or early morning.
The current period of monsoon rain is anticipated to last for the following three days, said Sardar Sarfaraz, adding that the sporadic showers are expected to last till 12pm tomorrow.
According to two sources close to the negotiations, French satellite company Eutelsat is set to acquire British rival OneWeb in a deal that could be announced as early as Monday.
According to one of the sources, OneWeb was valued at $3.4 billion in its most recent funding round. Eutelsat already owns 23% of OneWeb and is its second-largest shareholder.
The merger would strengthen the two companies’ position in the race to build a constellation of low-orbit satellites, competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon.com Inc’s Project Kuiper.
After recent sanctions crippled Russia’s space launch industry, demand for satellite launches is expected to rise, and giant satellite constellations could provide a new channel for beaming broadband internet from space.
The merger is politically sensitive because it would bring together Indian billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal, France, China, and the United Kingdom as shareholders in the combined entity. OneWeb’s largest shareholder is Bharti Global.
With a 20% stake, France’s state-owned investment bank Bpifrance is Eutelsat’s largest shareholder. According to Refinitiv data, China‘s sovereign fund China Investment Corporation is its fourth-largest shareholder.
The British government and India’s Bharti Global, for their part, saved OneWeb from bankruptcy. According to one of the sources, the takeover will leave the British government with a minority stake in the merged company.
On the Paris stock exchange, Eutelsat is worth 2.4 billion euros ($2.45 billion), with a net debt of 3 billion euros as of the end of 2021.
According to the second source, Britain will retain special rights over OneWeb following the transaction, including a veto over sales to clients deemed dangerous for security reasons and a veto over a change in headquarters location.
These special rights include a veto over business relationships that could jeopardise the so-called “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as a say in supply chain and launch decisions.
Eutelsat has refused to comment.
Bloomberg was the first to report on the transaction.
The terms of the agreement with California-based SpaceX, a direct rival of OneWeb in the rapidly growing broadband satellite market, were not made public.
OneWeb suspended its relationship with Russia’s space agency Roscosmos earlier this month and postponed the launch of 36 satellites from Baikonur that was scheduled for March 4 due to Moscow’s last-minute demands, which included a promise that OneWeb’s technology wouldn’t be used for military purposes.
The OneWeb launch was postponed amid rising hostilities between Russia and NATO members, including Britain, over the economic sanctions Washington imposed on Moscow in retaliation for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
In light of the Ukraine crisis, the British government, which owns a stake in OneWeb, also declared that it was reevaluating its involvement in future projects with Russia.
The British satellite company anticipates launching its first satellite with SpaceX later this year to expand its constellation, which already includes 428 satellites in low-Earth orbit.
With these launch plans in place, OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson said, “We’re on track to complete building out our full fleet of satellites.”
The British government and Indian telecoms giant Bharti Global saved OneWeb from bankruptcy in 2020. OneWeb intends to provide universal broadband through a network that will eventually consist of 650 satellites. Other investors in the company include SoftBank Group Corp. and Eutelsat Communications.
Around 1,500 satellites have been deployed as part of SpaceX’s Starlink, one of several projects in the quickly expanding satellite broadband market, including Amazon.com Inc. subsidiary Project Kuiper. This project offers internet access to areas that are underserved or difficult to reach for other services.
Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) admitted Friday that it covered up a 2016 data breach that affected 57 million passengers and drivers as part of a plea bargain with US prosecutors to avoid criminal charges.
Uber admitted in a non-prosecution agreement
Cab admitted in a non-prosecution agreement that its employees failed to report the November 2016 hacking to the US Federal Trade Commission, despite the fact that the agency was investigating the ride-sharing company’s data security.
cab waited about a year to report the breach, according to US Attorney Stephanie Hinds in San Francisco, after installing new executive leadership who “established a strong tone from the top” regarding ethics and compliance.
Hinds stated that the decision not to charge the cab criminally was influenced by the new management’s prompt investigation and disclosures and cab’s 2018 agreement with the FTC to maintain a comprehensive privacy program for the next 20 years.
The San Francisco-based company is also assisting in the prosecution of a former security chief, Joseph Sullivan, for his alleged role in the hacking cover-up.
Requests for comment were not immediately returned by Uber.
Sullivan was first charged in September 2020. According to prosecutors, Sullivan arranged for the hackers to be paid $100,000 in bitcoin and to sign nondisclosure agreements that falsely stated they had not stolen data.
Uber had a bounty programme intended to reward security researchers who report flaws, not to conceal data thefts.
Uber paid $148 million in September 2018 to settle claims by all 50 US states and Washington, DC that it was too slow to disclose the hacking.
On Friday, Uber shares fell 93 cents to $23.30. The non-prosecution agreement was revealed after the close of US markets.
COLOMBO: A rights group documenting alleged abuses in Sri Lankan has filed a criminal complaint with Singapore’s attorney general, requesting that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa be arrested for his role in the South Asian country’s decades-long civil war.
Sri Lankan President
According to a copy of the complaint seen by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), Rajapaksa committed grave violations of the Geneva Conventions while serving as the country’s defense chief during the civil war in 2009.Sri Lankan
The South Africa-based ITJP argued that based on universal jurisdiction the alleged abuses were subject to prosecution in Singapore, where he fled after months of unrest over his country’s economic crisis.
Rajapaksa submitted his resignation in Singapore, a day after fleeing on July 13. Anti-government protesters had stormed the offices and official residences of the president and the prime minister.Sri Lankan
“The criminal complaint that has been filed is (based on) verifiable information on both the crimes that have been committed, but also on evidence really linking the individual in question, who is now in Singapore,” Alexandra Lily Kather, one of the lawyers that drafted the complaint
“With this complaint, its own law, and its own policy, Singapore has a truly unique opportunity to speak truth to power.”Sri Lankan
Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Singapore was unable to reach Rajapaksa for comment. He has previously denied allegations that he was responsible for human rights violations during the war.
In response to Reuters questions, a spokesperson for the Attorney-Chambers General’s said the ITJP sent a letter on July 23.Sri Lankan
“We are unable to provide further comment on this matter,” the spokesperson said.
According to the country’s foreign ministry, Rajapaksa entered the Southeast Asian city-state on a private visit and did not seek or receive asylum.
According to Shubhankar Dam, a professor at the University of Portsmouth School of Law in the United Kingdom who has taught in Singapore, while its courts are capable of trying alleged war crimes, genocide, and torture, it has repeatedly stated that such jurisdiction should be invoked only as a last resort.
“While neutrality is not officially enshrined in Singapore’s foreign policy, the country has long cultivated a form of even-handedness,” Dam explained.
“Any decision to prosecute a former foreign head of state must be balanced against the country’s foreign policy goals.”
In 2009, Sri Lanka declared the end of a 25-year civil war between separatist insurgents from the ethnic Tamil minority and government forces. During the war, rights groups accused both sides of human rights violations.
The ITJP assisted in two civil lawsuits against Rajapaksa, one of which was served in a parking lot in California in 2019. At the time, Rajapaksa was a US citizen.
Both cases were dropped after Rajapaksa was granted diplomatic immunity after taking office later that year.
On Sunday, the PTI and PML-N engaged in a verbal brawl, with the PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry alleging that the PML-N “has begun to speak against the judiciary, and over the next few days, it will begin to speak against the army as well.” scheme
He also claimed that the PML-N “feels it has made a big mistake by siding with the establishment against Imran Khan,” and that the party’s vice president, Maryam Nawaz, will now “seek to push an anti-establishment narrative.”
the flaw in this scheme
“The flaw in this scheme is that the people are not from the 1990s, and the competition is with Imran Khan,” Chaudhry explained.
He claims that the PML-strategy N’s will see it “completely forced out” of the country’s politics, but that “the institutions will suffer” as a result.
The PML-N leader blamed the institutions’ “stuck in a vortex” on their leaders’ mistakes.
“Had they stayed within their limits, this would not have happened, but the PML-N will now target institutions,” he said.scheme
Chaudhry chastised the party for oscillating between two narratives depending on the situation.
“They were created by the establishment, and the brothers decided that one would do pro-establishment politics and the other would sell an anti-establishment narrative. When one narrative faltered, they attempted to push the other. This formula is also being passed down to the next generation “he claimed.scheme
It is worth noting that Maryam Nawaz had stated the day before that the PML-N will not accept “unilateral” decisions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan after it ruled that Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz will serve as a trustee CM until Monday (July 25).
The decision came during a hearing on PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition challenging Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the Punjab CM election.
“If the house of justice makes specific decisions via the same bench while under pressure from bullying, threats, misbehaviour, and abuse — and negates itself, negates its own decisions, and puts its weight behind one side — do not expect us to bow our heads before such one-sided decisions. Enough already! “the PML-leader N’s tweeted
‘Stop involving the army and the judiciary in politics.’ In response to Chaudhry, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, who also serves as information minister, stated that “he who abuses and threatens institutions should not represent them.”
She stated that Imran Khan “will not be allowed to return to power by playing the game of establishment and anti-establishment,” and that no one will be allowed to mess with the Constitution or the law.
According to Aurangzeb, Khan “admitted that he relied on institutions and agencies to run the government for four years.”
“With this bullying, threats, and insults, we will not allow the murder of justice. “The narrative of Nawaz Sharif and the Muslim League (N) is and will remain constitutional,” she added. “Stop dragging the army and judiciary into politics.””
She claimed Imran Khan is targeting the institutions and attempting to depose their leaders.
“Imran Khan’s narrative of a foreign conspiracy abroad has been buried,” Aurangzeb claimed, “and now a narrative of establishment and anti-establishment has begun.”
The PML-N leader urged the Election Commission to issue a decision on the foreign funding case, which was reserved last month.
“Imran Khan seeks an NRO in the foreign funding case by using bullying, intimidation, chaos, riots, and hooliganism,” she claimed.
The minister requested a full court bench to hear the case involving the election of Punjab’s chief minister.
“Justice on important national, political, and constitutional issues must not only be done, but also seen to be done,” she said.
“The economy is facing bankruptcy as a result of Imran Khan’s insecurity. Inflation, unemployment, and poverty are among the consequences of Imran Khan’s economic destruction.
“Imran sahib wishes to avoid accountability, conceal his corruption, and consolidate power through backdoor means. This war is now being waged against the fascism of the arrogant, anti-constitutional Imran.
The government, according to the minister, “will not allow the people and institutions of Pakistan to become slaves to Khan’s wishes.”
“We will not allow the democratic and constitutional system to fail,” Aurangzeb declared.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Sunday urged the federal and provincial governments to take special measures to ensure that these incidents did not recur in the wake of growing mob-led violence in the nation.
“HRCP is perturbed by the seeming rise in mob-led violence, with a suspected robber recently beaten by a crowd in Karachi and then shot dead,” the independent human rights watchdog wrote in a tweet.
This is a symptom of how brutal society is becoming and how readily available guns are, but it is also a result of how poor people are getting poorer and how disillusioned they are with the legal system.
The statement went on to say that in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again, the provincial, federal, and police should take special precautions, including the strategic deployment of trained personnel.
On June 28, a robber was apprehended by bystanders while stealing cellphones from a family at Karachi’s Jauhar Chowk in Orangi Town. They tortured him, and after receiving medical attention at a hospital, he passed away from his wounds.
Similar to this, a mob in the Qasba Colony injured another man while torturing and lynching a suspect.
in earlier June reports The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) called for a bipartisan consensus on significant issues facing the nation on Saturday, expressing concerns over the alarming polarisation in political discourse, resulting economic instability, rising inflation, and the threat of food insecurity.
HRCP’s governing council
The HRCP’s governing council brought up a number of serious human rights issues at the conclusion of its biannual meeting, including the impact of climate change as seen in the recent glacial flooding in Gilgit-Baltistan, the ongoing heatwave in Punjab, and the severe water shortages in Sindh and Balochistan that have resulted in provincial conflicts, evictions, and loss of livelihoods.
The meeting also noted that “Punjab, the largest province in the nation, continues to be in a political limbo.”
brutality by police
It was noted that arrests of activists and political workers on account of anti-state activity had become a common occurrence, with police brutality against peaceful protestors in Pakistan getting worse.
Press freedom
The HRCP released a statement that said, “Freedom of the press is continuously under stress and journalists have been repeatedly targeted.”
Instead of retaliating with unjustified violence, the commission urged the state to uphold people’s rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
The government was informed by HRCP that cases of enforced disappearances are continuing, particularly in Balochistan, Sindh, and KP.
the abuse of women
The meeting noted that violence against women and transgender people remained a problem. Religious and sectarian minorities are still at risk, and lynchings by mobs like those in Sialkot and Mian Channu are happening more frequently.
In light of the Tassaduq Jillani Supreme Court ruling from 2014, HRCP urged the government to rein in the tide of religious extremism and create a statutory position for the National Commission for Minorities to enable it to carry out its mandate.
It praised the decisions to suspend the PDMA’s operations and review PECA, as well as the passage of the Sindh Student Unions Bill.
However, since the vote of no confidence was passed, seats on several parliamentary committees have remained vacant, and the NCHR and NCSW are underfunded and thus not fully operational, it was noted.
Additionally, HRCP demanded that the state pass refugee rights legislation and ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
the HRCP referred to the enforced disappearance of Hafeez Baloch, a postgraduate student at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.
According to the statement, Baloch “allegedly vanished while in Khuzdar, where he volunteers at a local school.”
The HRCP denounced the claims that Hafeez was “abducted” in front of his students, citing reports.
It demanded the immediate recovery of Hafeez as well as the identification and accountability of the perpetrators, stating that “the sheer brazenness of this act underscores the increasing impunity accorded to perpetrators.”
Unfortunately, the government’s earlier promise to make forced disappearances illegal still sounds hollow. Despite an extended sit-in by students at the university, which was in response to the alleged disappearance of two students from Balochistan University last November, there was little response.
BEIJING: In one of the last missions required to complete the orbiting outpost by the end of the year, China launched the second of three modules to its permanent space station on Sunday.
The 23-ton Wentian (“Quest for the Heavens”) laboratory module lifted off at 2:22 p.m. (0622 GMT) from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan, according to a live feed on state television station CCTV.
Wentian separated from the rocket
About 10 minutes after the launch, the Wentian separated from the rocket to the cheers and applause of space agency personnel watching the launch from a control room on the live feed.
As soon as the launch was over, CCTV declared it “a complete success.”
In April 2021, the Tianhe module, which houses the primary living quarters, was launched by China as part of the project’s first of 11 crewed and uncrewed missions.
Along with the other lab module that has not yet been launched, Mengtian, the 17.9 metres (59 foot) long Wentian lab module will be where astronauts can conduct scientific experiments (“Dreaming of the Heavens”).
When the station is finished, an airlock cabin on Wentian will serve as the primary exit-entry point for extravehicular activities.
The space, which was built to house just three astronauts permanently, will also be used as temporary living quarters for astronauts during crew rotations.
Mengtian, like Wentian, will launch in October and dock with Tianhe to form a T-shaped structure.
President Xi Jinping’s ten years as head of the Communist Party of China will come to an end with the completion of the structure, which makes up about a fifth of the International Space Station (ISS) in terms of mass and is a source of pride for the average Chinese person.
Chen Dong, the leader of the Shenzhou-14 mission, is aboard the space stations along with teammates Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe. When the crew of Shenzhou-15 arrives in December, they are expected to return to Earth.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, a former interior minister and current leader of the Awami Muslim League, insulted the coalition government on Sunday by claiming that the PML-N is now going after the judiciary, which he described as the “last hope of Pakistanis.”
PML-N
Rasheed claimed on Twitter that Hamza Shahbaz has already taken the oath of office twice as the chief minister of Punjab in the past 1.5 months and is getting ready to do so once more.PML-N
He claimed that the dollar had increased by more than Rs20 in a week and that Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had also raised the LPG tax.
The former minister questioned, “What else could be a sign of a worsening economic crisis and political instability than this?”
Rasheed claimed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the JUI-F, and Asif Ali Zardari have both grown agitated in response to recent statements made by Fazl and political actions taken by Zardari.
The coalition government has been told to follow instructions or else a crisis will be created for them, according to Fazl’s remarks on Saturday. According to the PDM chief, if institutions are calm, a crisis won’t arise.
Contrary to the expectations of the PTI and its allies, Hamza retained the position of chief executive after Zardari’s meeting with PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on the eve of the CM election.
On July 22, after the votes had been counted, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari disallowed 10 votes cast by PML-Q members by citing Article 63(A) of the Constitution. As a result, Elahi garnered 176 votes, while Hamza received 179.
After Shujaat wrote a letter to the deputy speaker stating that he had instructed the party not to vote in anyone’s favour during the ruling on July 22, Article 63(A) was applied. Shujaat was persuaded, according to the PTI, by PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak is a global health emergency, the organization’s highest level of alert.
The WHO designation of a “public health emergency of international concern” is intended to raise awareness that a coordinated global response is required and may mobilise funding and international cooperation on the sharing of vaccines and treatments.
monkeypox outbreaks
Two sources who spoke to Reuters earlier on the condition of anonymity said that the members of an expert committee that met on Thursday to discuss the potential recommendation were divided on the issue, but the director-general of the UN agency has the final say.
Tedros acknowledged that the committee had been unable to come to an agreement, with nine voting against and six voting in favour of the declaration during a press conference in Geneva where he announced his decision to declare the health emergency.
Tedros has historically agreed with expert committee recommendations, but according to the sources, he likely chose to support the highest alert level because of worries about rising case rates and a lack of vaccines and treatments, despite the lack of a consensus.
Following the WHO, Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown Law in Washington, DC, said he admired the organization’s political fortitude.
“It only serves to enhance WHO’s reputation. Declaring an emergency at this time would be a historically significant missed opportunity.
More than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported so far this year in more than 75 different countries, with five fatalities occurring in Africa.
In the most recent outbreak, outside of Africa where it is endemic, the viral disease, which spreads through close contact and typically results in flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions, has been primarily affecting men who have sex with men.
June gathering The term had previously only been used to describe the ongoing fight against polio and the coronavirus pandemic.
Scientists and public health professionals have been heavily pressuring the WHO and national governments to do more to combat monkeypox.
Since the committee’s initial meeting at the end of June, when there were only about 3,000 cases, the number of cases of the viral disease has skyrocketed.
The expert group had previously agreed to reevaluate the emergency declaration if the outbreak got worse.
One of the main concerns that prompted a reevaluation was whether cases, which are almost exclusively spreading among men who have sex with men, would spread to other populations, particularly children or those who had previously been vulnerable to the virus in endemic countries.
The country’s first two child cases of monkeypox were discovered on Friday.
The committee had stated that any modifications to the virus itself might also cause a reconsideration.
The sources said that the group is now split between those who believe that a declaration of an emergency would speed up efforts to contain the disease and those who do not believe that the aforementioned conditions have been met because the disease has not yet spread to new populations or had a high fatality rate.
according to previous reports Alarming increases in monkeypox cases, a virus more prevalent in west and central Africa, have been reported in Europe and other places.
According to the World Health Organization, as of Friday, there were about 80 confirmed cases of monkeypox in 11 countries, and an additional 50 cases are being investigated (WHO).
Just how risky is it? At a press briefing on Friday, a US public health official assured reporters that the risk to the general public is currently low.
The virus that causes monkeypox can produce symptoms like fever, aches, and a recognisable bumpy rash.
It is related to smallpox but typically less severe, especially the West African strain of the virus that was discovered in a US case and has a 1-percent fatality rate. According to the official, most people recover fully in two to four weeks.
The virus is not as contagious as SARS-CoV-2, which caused the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.
According to experts, the current outbreak of monkeypox is being spread through close, personal skin-to-skin contact with a person who is sporting an active rash. That should make it simpler to control its spread once infections are discovered, according to experts.
“Covid is highly contagious and spreads through the respiratory system. This doesn’t seem to apply to the monkeypox, “said Massachusetts General Hospital’s Dr. Martin Hirsch.
Many of the diagnosed cases of the current monkeypox outbreak, though not all of them, are men who have sex with men, including cases in Spain connected to a sauna in the Madrid area.
Why are health professionals worried? According to the WHO, the recent outbreaks that have been reported thus far are unusual because they are taking place in nations where the virus does not typically spread. Researchers are trying to figure out where the recent cases came from and whether the virus itself has changed.
The majority of the cases that have been reported thus far were found in the UK, Spain, and Portugal. A single case of monkeypox was confirmed in Boston, and there have also been cases in Canada and Australia. According to public health officials, more cases are likely to emerge in the United States.
WHO officials are worried that more infections could spread as people congregate for celebrations, parties, and holidays in Europe during the upcoming summer.
How can people avoid getting sick? The UK has started immunising healthcare professionals with the smallpox vaccine, which can also protect against monkeypox, as they may be at risk while providing patient care.
According to the US government, its Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) contains enough smallpox vaccine to immunise the entire US populace.
In certain situations, smallpox antiviral medications may also be used to treat monkeypox, according to a statement from a representative of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Health officials advise against having close personal contact with anyone who is ill overall or who has a sudden illness. People who think they may have monkeypox should stay home and get medical attention.
This year, Shahroz Sabzwari made a comeback on television with a project that has since become well-known to fans of TV series. Shahroz plays the wise and practical Talal in Dil-e-Veeran, a character who struggles to navigate the dynamics of his family’s politics. The straightforward but compelling plot has generated a lot of discussion on Twitter due to the three main characters experiencing unexpected new events on a regular basis.
Shahroz spoke to a local news channel about his character and bond with co-stars on set, his glow-up, and the abundance of violent scenes in the drama. When asked why he thinks the serial has gotten so much attention, Shahroz attributed it to the new revelations in the script each day.
“The plot isn’t so disjointed that there aren’t any pillar characters.” The plot revolves around new developments in the lives of the show’s existing characters. This has kept the audience interested. They wait to be surprised by what happens to the character each day.”
“The most demanding part of the character was that it had to be as honest as an angel,” he said of the challenges of getting into the character. He never lies, never misleads anyone, and never betrays anyone. In this role, I channeled my father’s personality. In real life, he is Talal.”
Shahroz Sabzwari
Shahroz believes his character’s backstory made him a difficult character to begin with. “He’s carried the entire family on his shoulders since childhood.”
He enjoys having fun and laughing out loud, but when it comes to honesty, he is a very strict and principled individual. He can’t stand deception or dishonesty; it makes him angry and helpless. Talal expects strictness and a boisterous demeanour.”
Shahroz then discussed his private scenes with the young actor Nawal Saeed, revealing that their chemistry “automatically” developed because of how similar their off-screen approaches to their jobs are. “Nawal and I get along really well.
On sets, I don’t really talk any more than is necessary, and Nawal is the same way. We are totally devoted to our work. She would portray Minhal (her character) while at work and switch back to Nawal as soon as the director called cut. We are totally devoted to our work. We had such a cosy connection, I thought. before
The host inquired about whether it was strange to work with relatively unknown people when he was the only veteran actor present, especially given that the public generally prefers well-known actors in this field.
Whether it’s my brother, sister, or my heroine, I treat everyone I interact with on set as an equal. We are workers, in my opinion. Everyone of us is here for a 10- to 12-hour shift, and after that, whoever wants to resume their lives as superstars or whatever they want to do can do so.
He added that the group works together in a single room and referred to the group as his family. No one has ever requested a van, a separate room, or any other type of special treatment due to their seniority, experience,
In response to a question about the drama’s frequent slapping scenes, Shahroz said he had also read a comment on his post that raised the same issue. Every day, this drama is broadcast. Given that it airs every day instead of just once a week, the slaps feel excessive. Though they just seem to be paced differently, it also occurs in other dramas, he said.
He continued, “We used to have daily soaps, but with time, we’re seeing daily serials, further justifying the script and screenplay writers of daily serials. Now that we have 40 minutes of daily episodes, our writers are learning the craft as it is still relatively new.
Shahroz eventually acknowledged, however, that there are currently too many slap scenes in the serial. “I do feel that, too, but I am aware of the past. It was created with a weekly episode schedule in mind. Because the show is now broadcast every day, the slap that was scheduled to air in July and August actually took place in June.
The host questioned Shahroz about the significant changes to his appearance over the years, including his sense of style and hairstyles, and inquired as to the source of his glowing and “hot” appearance. Shahroz experienced Sadaf. The Nand actor exclaimed, “That’s what happened.
Since Sadaf entered my life, every drama or advertisement I choose to do—actually, all of the work, even if it’s an Instagram post, which, as you can see, is work for us—is taken care of by Sadaf. From my dialogue delivery to my clothes to the grid, Sadaf has a mood board for it, he said.
Pakistan’s $33.5 billion external financing needs are fully met for the fiscal year 2022/23, according to the central bank chief, who added that “unwarranted” market concerns about the country’s financial position will dissipate in the coming weeks.
Fears about Pakistan’s stuttering economy have grown as its currency fell nearly 8% against the US dollar in the last trading week, while the country’s forex reserves are below $10 billion and inflation is at its highest level in more than a decade.
financing requirements
“Our external financing needs over the next 12 months are fully met, supported by our ongoing IMF programme,” said Acting State Bank of Pakistan governor Murtaza Syed in an emailed response to questions.
Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff level agreement last week for the disbursement of $1.17 billion in critical funding under resumed payments of a bailout package.
“The recently secured staff-level agreement on the next IMF review is a very important anchor that clearly distinguishes Pakistan from vulnerable countries, the majority of which do not have IMF support,” he said.
However, the lender’s board must approve the agreement before disbursement, which is expected in August, and prior policy actions must be completed, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Despite IMF funding, some question Pakistan’s ability to meet external financing needs, including debt obligations.
IMF
The governor downplayed those concerns, claiming that Pakistan’s public debt profile, which is one of the “main flashpoints” for markets these days, is far superior to that of vulnerable countries with high public debt. The public debt-to-GDP ratio in the country is 71%.
“Pakistan’s external debt is low, has a relatively long maturity, and is on more favourable terms because it is heavily skewed toward concessional multilateral and official bilateral financing rather than expensive commercial borrowing,” he explained.
The governor stated in a recent presentation to international investors reviewed by Reuters that $33.5 billion in gross external financing needs would be “comfortably” met with $35.9 billion in available financing. The majority of the financing came from multilaterals, oil payment facilities, and rollovers of bilateral financing, with the most funding required in Q2.
In addition, the presentation compared Pakistan’s situation to that of Sri Lanka, which recently defaulted, and stated that “Pakistan tightened monetary policy and allowed the exchange rate to depreciate as soon as external pressures began.”
It went on to say that Sri Lanka’s fiscal situation was far worse than Pakistan’s, with primary deficits three to four times higher since the pandemic.
The governor claimed that Pakistan is being unfairly lumped in with more vulnerable countries amid global market panic caused by a commodity supercycle, Fed tightening, and geopolitical tensions.
“Markets are reacting to these shocks in an unfairly broad-brush manner, failing to take into account Pakistan’s relative strengths,” he said. “We anticipate that this reality will emerge in the coming weeks, as will the unfounded fears that have surrounded Pakistan.”
According to previous report of SBP
According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves fell by 4% on a weekly basis (SBP) The SBP’s foreign currency reserves were $9,328.6 million on July 15, down $389 million from the previous day’s total of $9,717.5 million.
The decrease was primarily due to external debt repayments, according to the central bank.
The country’s total liquid foreign currency reserves, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, were $15,241.5 million. Banks’ net reserves totaled $5,912.9 million.
The central bank’s foreign exchange reserves reached an all-time high of $20.15 billion in the week ending August 27, 2021, after Pakistan received a general allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) worth $2,751.8 million from the IMF on August 24.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders toughened their stance on Saturday and demanded action against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for “violating the Constitution and threatening state institutions” as the Supreme Court suspended the deputy speaker’s decision on the Punjab chief minister election.
Ahsan Iqbal, the federal minister for planning and development, asked during a press conference in Islamabad, “Why Imran Niazi is considered above the law despite disrespecting the Constitution and disobeying the court.”
Imran Khan
Iqbal argued that it was crucial to settle the case without delay and that the coalition government’s request for the creation of a full SC bench to hear the Punjab chief minister election case should be taken seriously. He claimed the coalition parties were committed to upholding the integrity of the legal system at all costs.
According to the minister, Qasim Suri violated the court’s order of stay for about two and a half years while continuing to serve as the deputy speaker of the National Assembly and as an MNA.
The former deputy speaker, according to Iqbal, “violated” the Constitution, but nothing was done about it. In his opinion, Punjab’s deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari deserves the same respect as any other assembly’s speaker.Imran Khan
He claimed that the PTI chairman was out to sow anarchy and instability in the country. “Imran used the same method in Pakistan to hijack the electoral process by using foreign funding that Donald Trump used in the United states
He went on to say that Imran employed 1,400 social activists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for Rs25,000 per month and that they were waging a campaign against national institutions.
He stated that the PML-N and its coalition partners were responsible for saving the country in the current situation.Imran Khan
When asked if efforts were being made to bring all political parties to the table to work out a political solution to the current crisis, Ahsan Iqbal stated that if Imran Khan was looking for an NRO [deal] in his foreign funding case under the guise of reconciliation, the coalition government would not accept it.
In a similar vein, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry claimed that PTI chief Imran Khan had been making disparaging remarks about national institutions and threatening them with decisions of his choosing.
“The PML-N believes in the supremacy of the rule of law and the Constitution, and has always respected court decisions.” “However, it seeks uniform decisions and equal justice standards,” the ruling party’s leader stated.Imran Khan
In his remarks to the press, he stated that everyone should be held accountable because no one is above the law. He stated that the parliament was the supreme institution because it had the authority to make or amend laws.
Talal claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan was found to be dishonest by a US court in his Banigala residence case, but no action was taken against him, whereas former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified in the Panama case for not paying his son’s salary.
The PML-N leader stated that foreign funding and Peshawar BRT cases had been pending for years despite the fact that ample evidence had emerged in these cases. He demanded that the verdicts in the cases be announced as soon as possible.Imran Khan
According to Talal Chaudhry, the PML-N has paid a high price for its loyalty and service to the people of Pakistan.
He stated that the coalition government led by the PML-N chose to take tough decisions to save the country from default rather than holding general elections and leaving the country to its fate.
He stated that the PML-N was always prepared for general elections, but it desired a level playing field in order to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
Similarly, former federal minister and PML-N central leader Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali claimed that PTI chief Imran was driving the country to civil war for political gain.
“The law is the same for everyone.” He told the presser that the constitutional institutions must function impartially and that everyone should be treated equally.
He stated that PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif served the country but was forced out of politics. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he not only defeated the threat of load-shedding, but also eliminated terrorism, built highways, and served the masses through massive development and infrastructure.
“On the other hand, Imran Khan’s cronies are only abusing the opposition on social media.” “Imran is deceiving the youth and instilling hatred among the people,” Abid added.
“We respect the courts, but those elements who are intimidating the constitutional institutions must be dealt with an iron hand,” he said, adding that he hoped the courts would now de-seat 10 members of the Punjab Assembly, similar to the 25 PTI members who had voted against the party leader’s directions.
‘Judicial slander campaign’
Meanwhile, as the Supreme Court heard the PML-petition Q’s regarding the contentious Punjab CM election, the ruling PML-N allegedly launched an organised smear campaign on social media in an attempt to influence the proceedings of the apex court.
Many PML-N leaders and supporters used hashtags and tweeted against the judiciary, casting doubt on the apex court judges’ integrity.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told the media in Lahore earlier today that judges who sentenced party supremo Nawaz Sharif should not hear PML-N cases.
He also asked the chief justice to convene full benches to hear cases involving the party. According to the minister, certain judges who sentenced Nawaz and other leaders are on the benches hearing new cases against the party, and such judges should not be included, or the cases should be heard by a full court so that justice can prevail.
ISLAMABAD: The establishment of a government that really represents the people of Pakistan should be supported by state institutions and the media, the president Dr. Arif Alvi emphasised on Saturday.
The president further explained: “Such a government will reflect people’s aspirations and hopes to ensure political and economic stability needed for promoting business, trade, and at the sixth Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI) Business Excellence Awards Ceremony, it was said that “investment in the nation.”
“Pakistan might rise within a decade,” the president remarked during the ceremony, “provided it strengthened its democracy, established a government that really represented the aspirations of its people, and its leadership took the right decisions, reduced corruption, and supported justice.”He asserted that commerce and investment, consultative institutions, and enthusiasm were essential elements for every country to achieve prosperity.
ISLAMABAD: In order to look into Tayyaba Gul’s charges of sexual harassment against former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and others, the federal government established an inquiry commission on Saturday.
According to the notification that was given, the commission should look into any allegations of sexual offences, such as harassment, assault, outraging and insulting modesty, misbehaviour, misconduct, misuse, and abuse of authority made by the complainant against the people who were the subject of the complaint.
The commission must follow the following Terms of Reference (TORS) in order to conduct the investigation and carry out its duties:to ascertain any violations of the security of the person, the right to a fair trial, the full inviolability of the person’s dignity, and the equality of citizens.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted Saturday that the city would experience heavy rain tomorrow morning.The monsoon system is reaching Sindh, and heavy rain is anticipated in Karachi tomorrow between 8 and 9 am. Heavy rain may also persist sporadically throughout the day, according to chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz.
According to Sarfaraz, Karachi could have 150 mm or more of rain.It should be mentioned that light rain has started in a few locations in Hyderabad and Karachi.The PMD had predicted another period of heavy rains in many districts of Sindh, including Karachi, last week after monsoon rains wrecked havoc in multiple parts of Pakistan over the previous two weeks and killed numerous people in Sindh and Balochistan.
The country will experience elements of the third monsoon system, according to the chief meteorologist. The strong system may affect Sindh from July 23 to July 26, and Karachi may get heavy rainfall from July 24 to July 26.
ISLAMABAD: On Saturday, hours after the cabinet adopted an ordinance to circumvent all the formalities for the process and also abolish regulatory inspections for selling state assets to foreign countries, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan got into a heated Twitter battle.
Khan questioned whether it was appropriate to entrust the sale of national assets to a “imported government.””How can the sale of national assets be trusted to an imported government that was installed through a US conspiracy, led by a crime minister whose family and [PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali] Zardari had volumes written about their corruption?”Khan continued by blaming them for the “current economic collapse” and for “plundering Pakistan for the last 30 years.”
“We must never permit these thieves to sell our national assets in the cunning way they are attempting. They will never be trusted with our national assets by the country, he wrote.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a complete bear market last week as a result of escalating political instability and uncertainty surrounding the final approval of a $6 billion IMF loan package. The market fell on three of the five trading days.
Market investors were observed taking a cautious approach following the by-elections and Punjab’s election of a new chief minister.Rupee started losing value against the US dollar in the week under review, reaching an all-time low of 228.37, as foreign reserves were being depleted and there was uncertainty regarding support from allies, which heightened investor concerns.
Before disbursing the $1.2 billion loan, the IMF is also determining which friendly nations are prepared to give financial assistance to Pakistan. The market was under pressure as a result of the situation, and on Thursday, the index fell below 40,000 points for the first time since November 2020.
According to Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Chairperson of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change has put sustainability at the forefront and underscored the necessity for firms to create, implement, and promote green financial reporting standards.
The Accounting Standards Board (ASB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) hosted a seminar on sustainability reporting, and Akhtar gave the keynote address. He said that both the public and private sectors should embrace sustainability reporting because it is essential for survival in the global marketplace.
Pakistan has laws governing enterprises and sustainable development objectives, however a strategy for a sustainable reporting system needs to be developed.The chairwoman further emphasised the necessity of seeking advice from international organisations in order to implement environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and create industry-specific road maps and guidelines.
She went on to say that the creation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) would contribute to the uniformity and comparability of sustainability reporting across sectors and legal frameworks.
The president of the World Health Organization is anticipated to announce on Saturday whether the organisation has determined to classify the epidemic as a global health emergency, the loudest alert it can sound in response to an uptick in monkeypox cases.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will address at a virtual press conference at 1300 GMT, the WHO announced late on Friday.According to a count released on July 20 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox has afflicted over 15,800 persons in 72 countries.
Since early May, Outside of the countries in West and Central Africa where the disease has long been common, there has been a rise in the number of cases of monkeypox.
