PTI has no intention of returning to National Assembly: Fawad Chaudhry

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that the party did not have any intention of returning to the National Assembly, asserting that the incumbent speaker did not have the authority to review the resignations of party members after they had been accepted by the previous speaker.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Hammad Azhar, he said that the party considered parliament to be "occupied".

"They have taken possession of the assembly and we don't have any intention of returning.

"We are of the opinion that the NA speaker has accepted the resignations of our lawmakers and this speaker does not have the authority to review [the decision]."

Meanwhile, party leader Farrukh Habib reiterated that PTI lawmakers had resigned from the lower house of parliament. "At the time, Qasim Suri had issued a notification accepting the resignations," he said.

"There is no need for further action," Habib said, alleging that the resignations were illegally being postponed.

PTI lawmakers had resigned en masse from NA on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the top office after the no-confidence motion moved by the joint opposition in the parliament against him succeeded. The resignations were accepted by the former acting speaker, Qasim Suri, and a notification to this effect was also issued by the NA secretariat.

However, a few days later on April 16, newly elected NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf directed the NA secretariat to de-seal the resignations and present them to him so that he could verify these personally and deal with them in "accordance with the law". Subsequently, according to a senior official of the NA secretariat, the previous notification of approving the resignations should be taken “as it has not been issued at all”.

Finally, on Monday, NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf summoned a group of PTI lawmakers to confirm the "voluntary character and genuineness" of their resignation letters.

According to a spokesman for the NA Secretariat, the speaker had decided to meet 30 MNAs to complete the process by June 10 — the day the new coalition government is set to present the budget for the next fiscal year. The speaker has allocated five minutes for each member.

During today's press conference, Fawad also lashed out at the government for the thuggery against PTI protesters leading up to and during its May 25 Azadi March. He maintained that the party was compiling a video of the brutality and would raise the issue at the international level.

"We are also filing criminal complaints in Pakistan," he said, adding that such violence was not even carried out in dictatorships. Fawad said that the videos would then be sent to international human rights commissions.

He also took exception to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's press conference from earlier today, saying: "If you close your eyes and listen to him, it seems as though Altaf Hussain is speaking."

He alleged that the government fired at unarmed protesters, including women, and was now trying to manipulate the narrative. He maintained that the PTI allowed political parties to stage protests during their tenure, adding that Imran directed authorities to provide the protesters with facilities.

He also questioned why the Supreme Court was not constituting a commission to probe the "regime change conspiracy", noting that President Dr Arif Alvi had also written to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial in this regard.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113605-pti-has-no-intention-of-returning-to-national-assembly-fawad-chaudhry.html

PTI denies contacting Malik Riaz for reconciliation with Asif Zardari

PTI Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday denied contacting real estate tycoon Malik Riaz for a patch-up with the ex-president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

The PTI chairman's response comes after an audio of a conversation between Riaz and Zardari was leaked, where the businessman could be heard giving the PPP co-chairman a message reportedly from the PTI chairman.

The audio's date and time have not been confirmed as of yet, but Riaz could be heard saying that Khan has requested him to mediate between the two political leaders.

But while speaking to digital journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's capital today, Khan — who became the first prime minister to be voted out through a no-confidence motion in April — refuted claims of him wanting to patch up with Zardari.

In response to a question, the ex-premier said whilst in power, there was "a lot of pressure" on his government to accept Isreal as a sovereign state — amid the Abraham Accords.

"We were sent a message that you should think about your country [...] but at this time, I cannot reveal who had sent the message to us," the ousted prime minister said.

Although he refrained from disclosing the names of the people, Khan told journalists that a United States "influenced lobby" wants Muslim states to accept Israel.

The ex-premier's comments come as Israel President Isaac Herzog said that he had had an "amazing experience" while meeting a delegation, mainly comprised of Pakistani expatriates, living in the United States.

But while responding to media queries, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejected the notion of any delegation from Pakistan visiting Israel, stressing that Pakistan's position on the Palestinian issue is clear and there is no change in it.

Moving on, the PTI chairman reiterated that he had not made a deal with anyone and that he had called off the long march on May 26 to avoid bloodshed — as chaos gripped Islamabad.

"I am saying this from the last 26 years: Zardari and PML-N are the same."

On the matter of PTI members of the National Assembly's (MNAs) resignations, Khan said they have resigned from their posts, and there was no need for them to verify their resignations.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had a day earlier summoned PTI lawmakers to verify their resignations from the lower house.

"We had announced in front of the National Assembly's speaker that we have resigned. There is no need for a member to verify their resignation individually [...] the day we come back to the assembly, it will mean that we have accepted this imported government."

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113604-pti-denies-contacting-malik-riaz-for-reconciliation-with-asif-zardari.html

Sindh CM inaugurated long-awaited Rescue 1122 service in the province

Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday inaugurated the long-awaited Rescue 1122 service in the province, a collaboration between the provincial government and the World Bank, and handed over 50 ambulances to authorities.

The service would be a "complete package of rescue, relief and rehabilitation" and would be connected to fire brigades and trauma centres across the province, he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony at the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) Sports Complex.

The ceremony was also attended by World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, provincial ministers Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Saeed Ghani, Bari Pitafi, Shehla Raza, Advisers Murtaza Wahab and Haji Rasool Bux, Special Assistants Waqar Mehdi and Qasim Siraj Soomro and Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Salman Shah.

Shah said that the government aimed to procure 230 ambulances, of which 50 are being put to service in Karachi from today.

He added that the ambulance service would be expanded to other divisions and districts of the province later.

"I believe, by October, the fleet of 230 ambulances will be completed," Shah said, adding that the service will add 40 new ambulances to its fleet every month.

The ambulances were the first step towards establishing a full-fledged Rescue 1122 service in Sindh, the chief minister said.

He added that the service was needed because of "unprecedented trends of urban expansion and recurring natural as well as human-induced disasters experienced by the province in the last decade, especially the Covid-19 pandemic".

According to a press release from the Chief Minister House, Shah said it was the government's responsibility to ensure public safety and healthcare by addressing different emergencies.

"My government's top priority is to provide an emergency rescue, relief and rehabilitation service to the people whenever any disaster strikes ... a service which provides aid efficiently and as quickly as possible, a service which deals with the catastrophe as the first responder and tries to mitigate the consequences of it."

A central command and control centre would be set up in the project's next phase, while work was also being done to make divisional headquarters operational, the chief minister said.

In addition, the provincial government was holding negotiations with the World Bank to improve rescue centres across the province, he added.

Shah thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his support in launching the rescue service with technical help from Punjab.

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, while addressing the ceremony, said 85 ambulances were already in use in Thatta, Sajawal and Karachi while the 50 new ones being added to the fleet would have advanced trauma, cardiac and obstetric life support facilities.

The ambulances would have drivers and paramedics who would both be trained, she added.

"Aside from the ambulance services, there will also be rapid response centres from Mirpur Mathelo to Gambat, Moro, Hyderabad, Nooriabad and Malir in Karachi. These rapid response centres will be satellites of the Shaheed Benazirabad Trauma Centre. There will also be a rescue centre every 50 kilometres along the highway so as to respond as quickly as possible to any roadside emergencies."

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/113603-sindh-cm-inaugurated-long-awaited-rescue-1122-service-in-the-province.html

Interior minister warns of ‘strict’ action against PTI in case of long march

Rana Sanaullah warned of "strict action" against the PTI in case they initiate their long march again as committed by former prime minister Imran Khan.

Addressing a press conference, the interior minister termed the incidents that took place on May 25 an "attack on the Centre".

“The lawmakers deviated from their oath, law and Constitution in order to fulfil the criminal agenda of their political leader Imran Khan,” he said, terming May 25’s “Azadi March” an “anti-state conspiracy” instead of a political activity in which resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government were used.

Sanaullah claimed that contrary to the claims of PTI leaders regarding the number of people present, there were only a few thousand people at D-Chowk. “We have video proof from the Swabi jalsa where armed people attended the public gathering,” he added.

“This is was a ‘fitna and fasad march’ and PTI supporters came intending to spread chaos,” the interior minister said, adding that a recommendation was made during the federal cabinet meeting that cases should be registered against these people.

Regarding speculations that Imran Khan will announce another long march, the interior minister warned that party members will be arrested on the same day they begin their preparations, “let them come and I’ll see how they cross barriers this time.”

The federal government has formed a committee to review the recent threatening statements of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in a bid to chalk out the future course of action.

A day earlier, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that he will use his province’s force when Imran Khan calls another march towards Islamabad. He made these remarks at a lawyers' convention in Peshawar.

"When Imran Khan will again give a call for the long march after the six-day ultimatum ends, I am telling you that I will use Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's force," warned the chief minister.

Earlier, in an interview with a private TV channel about the PTI's "Azadi March" and the clashes between the party members and the police, Imran Khan admitted that the protesters that accompanied him during the march were carrying weapons with them.

Imran Khan said he felt that the country would have gone towards anarchy had the march continued.

"There was already hatred among the people due to raids carried out by the Punjab Police on PTI lawmakers' houses a day before the march," the PTI chairman said, adding that he was 100% sure that the situation would lead to "chaos."

During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a committee headed by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to review the statements of Imran Khan and CM Mahmood Khan.

The committee comprises Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq, PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira, Azam Nazeer Tarar and JUI-F’s Asad Mehmood.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113602-interior-minister-warns-of-strict-action-against-pti-in-case-of-long-march.html

Prime Minister announces Canada handgun 'freeze'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a proposed freeze on handgun ownership in Canada that would effectively ban their importation and sale, following recent mass shootings in the United States.

The bill must still be passed by Parliament, with the ruling Liberals holding only a minority of seats.

“We're introducing legislation to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership,” Trudeau told a news conference on Monday, joined by dozens of families and friends of victims of gun violence.

“What this means is that it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada,” he said. “In other words, we're capping the market for handguns.”
Days after Canada's worst mass shooting left 23 dead in rural Nova Scotia in April 2020, the government banned 1,500 types of military-grade or assault-style firearms.

But Trudeau acknowledged on Monday that gun violence continues to rise.

The government statistical agency reported last week that firearms-related violent crimes account for less than three per cent of all violent crimes in Canada.

But since 2009, the per capita rate of guns being pointed at someone has nearly tripled, while the rate at which a gun was fired with an intent to kill or wound is up five-fold.

Almost two-thirds of gun crimes in urban areas involved handguns.

Police often point to smuggling from the US — which is reeling from recent shootings at a school in Texas and at a supermarket in New York state — as the main source of handguns.e

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino estimated there are about one million handguns in this country — up significantly from a decade ago.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/113601-prime-minister-announces-canada-handgun-freeze.html

NEPRA approvs an increase of Rs3.99 per unit in the power tariff

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday approved an increase of Rs3.99 per unit in the power tariff on account of fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for the month of April 2022.

According to the facts, this move will impose an additional cost of Rs51 billion on electricity consumers, but K-electric and lifeline users will be exempt from the price hike.

The proposal to raise the price of power tarrif by Rs 4.5 per unit was the subject of a hearing before NEPRA. When requesting for the April fuel price adjustment, the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) said that 12.55 billion units of energy were generated last month.

According to sources Pakistan's electricity shortages have worsened, with power outages reaching 7000 MW.

According to official figures, the country's electricity generation capacity is 21,200 MW, while demand is 28,200 MW.

According to reports, all of the main cities are without power.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/113600-nepra-has-increased-the-power-tariff.html

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close collaboration on multilateral forums.

 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close collaboration on bilateral, regional and multilateral forums.

In an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu, he said both Pakistan and Turkey have a similarity of views on regional and international issues.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Turkey support each other on all issues of core national interest including Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Cyprus.
The Prime Minister said this year both countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

He said in these seven and a half decades, the two sides have always stood by each other in the face of all changes.

Shehbaz Sharif said we are now focusing on economic cooperation. He vowed to boost Pak-Turkey bilateral ties in trade.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113599-pakistan-and-turkey-enjoy-close-collaboration-on-multilateral-forums.html

President Alvi approves Baligh Ur Rehman’s appointment as Punjab governor

After rejecting the summary twice, President Arif Alvi Monday approved the appointment of Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman as the governor of Punjab.

President Alvi approved the summary on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Article 101(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

On May 21, President Alvi had urged PM Shehbaz to reconsider his advice about the appointment of the new governor as there was no occasion to propose a new appointment.

In response to the premier’s summary about appointing a new governor, the president had reiterated that "the Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President”, as envisaged by Article 101 (2) of the Constitution.

However, sources had said that the premier has asserted that Baligh Ur Rehman will be the governor of Punjab.

According to sources, the premier had maintained that if the president does not respond within 10 days, Rehman will take oath as governor of Punjab as the summary has been sent to the president for the second time.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/113591-president-alvi-approves-baligh-ur-rehman-s-appointment-as-punjab-governor.html

Pakistan doesn't want handouts, but investments: PM

Pakistan doesn't want handouts, but investments from its Chinese friends, says Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He was addressing a meeting of Chinese investor companies on Monday.

The premier said that the friendship between Pakistan and China's unwavering friendship has weathered storms and strengthened over time.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/113587-pakistan-doesn-t-want-handouts-but-investments-pm.html

Prime Minister to leave for Turkey on a 3 days visit on 31st May

On the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for Turkey on a three-day official visit on Tuesday (tomorrow).

The premier will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including key members of the cabinet, on his first visit to Ankara after assuming office last month.

During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Turkish leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade and investment ties.

It is pertinent to note that the last interaction between the leaders of the two countries came when the Turkish president called the Pakistani premier to congratulate him on his election as the prime minister.

In the phone call, Erdoğan "wished that the election results would be beneficial for the friendly and brotherly people of Pakistan," according to the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.

Erdoğan had said they closely follow developments in Pakistan, and Turkey is bound by a deep-rooted history, friendship and brotherhood.

PM Shehbaz has held two foreign trips this month to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), respectively, after assuming office on April 12, as he sought to strengthen bilateral ties with the oil-rich states.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113586-prime-minister-to-leave-for-turkey-on-a-3-days-visit-on-31st-may.html

Prime Minister to leave for Turkey on a 3 days visit on 31st May

On the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for Turkey on a three-day official visit on Tuesday (tomorrow).

The premier will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including key members of the cabinet, on his first visit to Ankara after assuming office last month.

During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Turkish leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade and investment ties.

It is pertinent to note that the last interaction between the leaders of the two countries came when the Turkish president called the Pakistani premier to congratulate him on his election as the prime minister.

In the phone call, Erdoğan "wished that the election results would be beneficial for the friendly and brotherly people of Pakistan," according to the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.

Erdoğan had said they closely follow developments in Pakistan, and Turkey is bound by a deep-rooted history, friendship and brotherhood.

PM Shehbaz has held two foreign trips this month to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), respectively, after assuming office on April 12, as he sought to strengthen bilateral ties with the oil-rich states.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113586-prime-minister-to-leave-for-turkey-on-a-2-days-visit-on-31st-may.html

Abdul Mueed Baloch wins silver medal in 400m race

Abdul Mueed Baloch, dubbed Baloch Bolt, bagged a Silver Medal in the 400m category of the second Imam Reza International Athletics Tournament here on Sunday.

Mueed clocked 46.73 seconds — setting a national record — to claim the second position in the tournament.

Athletes from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and other nations competed in the tournament.

After winning the medal, Mueed took to Twitter and wrote "Alhumdulillah" on his sprint video.

Alhamdullilah https://t.co/JWfMGmLlZB

— Abdul Mueed Baloch(Baloch Bolt). (@Balochbolt) May 29, 2022

Mueed will now compete in the 200m contest tomorrow at 10:30am local time. It should be mentioned here that Mueed has won several national and international championships.

In the SAF Junior in 2018, he won silver in 100m while he claimed bronze in the 400m category.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/113585-abdul-mueed-baloch-wins-silver-medal-in-400m-race.html

Pakistan's rank improved in tourism index

Pakistan has made a big jump in the International Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by moving up six places, as per the latest report released by the World Economic Forum.The 2021 edition of the TTDI includes 117 countries.

The index ranks the countries based on the set of factors and policies that help the travel and tourism industry in each country grow in a way that is stable and sustainable.

The managing director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Aftab ur Rehman Rana, said Pakistan has been ranked 83rd, which is up from 89th place in the index’s previous edition of 2019.

He stated that a six-point increase in Pakistan's ranking on the global travel and tourism index is significant progress.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113584-pakistan-s-rank-impoved-in-tourism-index.html

Saudi Arab appoints its 1st climate envoy

Saudi Arabia announced Sunday it had named a senior diplomat as its first climate envoy, as officials vow to ramp up oil production while pursuing ambitious goals for emission cuts.

The appointment of Adel al-Jubeir, the minister of state for foreign affairs, to the envoy role was announced as part of a series of royal orders decreed by King Salman.

The announcement did not include details about the envoy's mandate.

Jubeir, who previously served as foreign minister and ambassador to Washington, will continue in his role at the foreign ministry.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has been cashing in on the spike in energy prices resulting from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

In early May, the kingdom announced that economic growth in the first quarter had risen 9.6% compared to the same period in 2021, which the statistics authority said represented "the highest growth rate in (the) last 10 years".

It has resisted US entreaties to raise oil output in an attempt to bring prices down in the wake of the Ukraine war, instead of stressing its commitment to the OPEC+ oil alliance, which Riyadh and Moscow lead.

Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said earlier this month that the country expected to ramp up its daily oil production capacity by more than one million barrels to exceed 13 million barrels by 2027.

Yet last year, Saudi Arabia pledged ahead of the COP26 climate change summit to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, sparking scepticism from environmental campaign group Greenpeace.

With increasing urgency to limit global warming, experts warn of the need to reduce fossil fuel use.

Speaking on a panel last week at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Saudi economy minister Faisal Al-Ibrahim disputed the notion that his country´s policies were in conflict.

"We will continue to advocate increased capacity. We will also continue to advocate... reducing emissions," he said.

"These two points do not contradict each other. The last thing we want is focusing on climate change without focusing on energy security."

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/113583-saudi-arab-appoints-its-1st-climate-envoy.html

Independents lead in Balochistan LG polls

According to unofficial results, the independent candidates are leading in the local government (LG) elections held in 32 districts of Balochistan on Sunday.

As per unofficial results of 1,426 wards out of total 5,345 wards, independents candidates have secured 1,058 seats. Jamiat Ulema-e -Islam (JUI) was second with 122 seats and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) was third by securing 77 seats.

Balochistan National Party has bagged 77 seats and National Party (NP) has secured 26 seats.

Earlier, polling for the local body elections started at 8 am and continued till 5 pm without any break and the election schedule in the remaining two districts of Quetta and Lasbela will be announced later as the provincial government has increased the number of constituencies while constituencies are being demarcated there.

According to the ECP, there are 5,226 polling stations in 32 districts out of which 2,054 polling stations were declared as highly sensitive and 1,974 as sensitive. There are 16,195 candidates in the election out of which 102 candidates have been elected unopposed while police, Levies and FC personnel were deployed at the polling stations.

Polling was also held in Surab including Sibi, Dera Bugti, Pishin, Barkhan, Chaghi, Kalat and Zhob. According to DC Sorab, the total number of voters in the area is 57,339. Strict security arrangements were made throughout the district.

On the other hand, polling stopped at the Government Girls High School Bhag polling station in Bolan in the protest of a PPP candidate against the registration of fake votes. However, the polling process was resumed shortly after.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja had warned of strict action in case of violations during the polling process.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113582-independents-lead-in-balochistan-lg-polls.html

Russia opens cases against Google, other foreign tech over data storage

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on Friday it had opened administrative cases against Alphabet Inc's Google and six other foreign technology companies for alleged violations of personal data legislation.

Moscow has clashed with Big Tech over content, censorship, data and local representation in a simmering dispute that has erupted into a full-on information battle since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Russia fined Google 3 million roubles ($46,540) last year for not storing the personal data of Russian users in databases on Russian territory, and on Friday said it had opened a new case over what it called Google's repeated failure to comply with Russian legislation.

Google, which declined to comment, could be fined between 6-18 million roubles, Roskomnadzor said.

The regulator also said it had opened cases against six other companies - Airbnb, Pinterest, Likeme, Twitch, Apple and United Parcel Service - for alleged first-time offences carrying a potential fine of 1-6 million roubles.

Likeme could not be reached, while the other five companies had no immediate comment.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/technology/item/113564-russia-opens-cases-against-google-other-foreign-tech-over-data-storage.html

Japanese Red Army founder walks free after 20 years in prison

Fusako Shige­nobu, the 76-year-old female founder of the once-feared Japanese Red Army, wal­ked free from prison on Saturday after completing a 20-year sentence for a 1974 embassy siege.

Shigenobu was one of the world’s most notorious wom­en during the 1970s and 1980s, when her radical leftist group carried out armed attacks worldwide in support of the Palestinian cause.

She left the prison in Tokyo in a black car with her daughter as several supporters held a banner saying: “We love Fusako”.

“I apologise for the inconvenience my arrest has cau­sed to so many people,” Shig­e­nobu told reporters after the release. “It’s half a century ago... but we caused dam­age to innocent people who were strangers to us by prioritising our battle, such as by hostage-taking,” she said.

The former soy-sauce company worker is believed to have masterminded the 1972 machine gun and grenade attack on Tel Aviv’s Lod Airport, which left 26 people dead and injured about 80. She was arrested in Japan in 2000 and sentenced to two decades behind bars six years later for her part in a siege of the French embassy in the Netherlands. She had lived as a fugitive in the Middle East for around 30 years before resurfacing in Japan.

Her daughter, May, born in 1973 to a father from the militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), hailed her mother’s release on social media.

Shigenobu maintained her innocence over the siege, in which three Red Army militants stormed into the French embassy, taking the ambassador and 10 other staff hostage for 100 hours. Two police officers were shot and seriously wounded. France ended the standoff by freeing a jailed Red Army guerilla, who flew off with the hostage-takers in a plane to Syria.

She did not take part in the attack personally but the court said she coordinated the operation with the PFLP.

Shigenobu was the daughter of a World War II major who became a grocer after Japan’s defeat. Her odyssey into extremism began by accident when she pas­s­ed a sit-in protest at a Tokyo university when she was 20.

As Japan was in the midst of campus tumult in the 1960s and 70s to protest the Viet­nam War, she quickly became involved in the leftist movement and left Japan at the age of 25.

She announced the Red Army’s disbanding from pri­son in April 2001, and in 2008 was diagnosed with colon and intestinal cancer, undergoing several operations.

On Saturday, Shigenobu said she would first focus on her treatment and explai­ned she would not be able to “contribute to the society” given her frail condition. But she added: “I want to continue to reflect (on my past) and live more and more with curiosity.”

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/113563-japanese-red-army-founder-walks-free-after-20-years-in-prison.html

Vinicius strikes as Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Champions League final

Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the game as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Saturday's Champions League final in Paris to become kings of Europe for a record-extending 14th time after a night marred by problems outside the ground that led to the kick-off being delayed by over half-an-hour.

Brazilian winger Vinicius turned in Fede Valverde's low cross in the 59th minute at the Stade de France and Liverpool could not find an equaliser as Jurgen Klopp's side lost to the Spanish giants in a Champions League final for the second time in five seasons.

Liverpool will wonder what might have been had the outstanding Thibaut Courtois not pushed Sadio Mane's shot onto the inside of a post when they were on top in the first half, as they fell short of a trophy treble.

Winners of the English League Cup and FA Cup this season, they just missed out to Manchester City for the Premier League title and were denied a victory here which would have put them level with AC Milan on seven European Cups.

“These boys played an outstanding season. The two competitions we couldn't win, we didn't win for the smallest possible margin,” said Klopp.

Instead Real have a fifth Champions League in nine seasons to go with their Spanish title, as Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first coach to win European club football's greatest prize for a fourth time.

Ancelotti was also in charge of Real when they won the 2014 final having triumphed with AC Milan in 2003 and in 2007, the latter victory coming against Liverpool.

“We managed the game very well,” said Ancelotti, who called himself “a record man”.

“I had luck to come here last year and have a fantastic season. A fantastic club, a really good squad with a lot of quality and mental character,” he said.

Delayed kick-off

The match kicked off 35 minutes later than the planned 9:00pm (1900 GMT) start in the French capital after chaos at entrances to the stadium led to thousands of Liverpool fans being unable to get to their seats.

UEFA blamed the build-ups of supporters at the gates of the stadium on “thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles”.

Police also fired tear gas as a handful of younger fans could be seen trying to scale fences around the perimeter of the stadium.

The final was only moved to the French capital after Saint-Petersburg was stripped of the game following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The delayed kick-off may have been responsible for the slow start to the game, as it was 16 minutes before there was an incident of note, Mohamed Salah turning a low Trent Alexander-Arnold cross towards goal only for Courtois to save.

Liverpool were seen as favourites to avenge their loss to the Spanish giants in the 2018 final in Kyiv and they began to take control of the game.

Mane came agonisingly close in the 21st minute as he skipped his way into a shooting position inside the box only for Courtois to tip his net-bound shot onto his right-hand post.

Klopp's side, with Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara starting in midfield after overcoming fitness worries, were in control but could not turn their superiority into a lead.

Outstanding Courtois

Real, meanwhile, created almost nothing in the first half with Karim Benzema quiet, but their captain briefly thought he had got the breakthrough two minutes before the interval.

The Frenchman prodded home after the ball broke back to him inside the area but the offside flag was raised. The decision to disallow the goal was upheld after a lengthy VAR check, despite Fabinho deflecting Valverde's touch through to Benzema.

Yet Ancelotti's side kept their nerve and were rewarded with the goal as the hour mark approached.

Valverde drove forward down the right before firing a low ball across the face of goal for Vinicius to turn it in at the far post past his Brazilian national team colleague Alisson.

Just like in 2018, Real had drawn first blood, but this time there was no need for them to send on Gareth Bale in order to ensure victory.

Courtois was superb, flying to his right to keep out a curling Salah shot before two saves in quick succession late on.

First the Belgian got down low when substitute Diogo Jota deflected Salah's effort towards goal, and then he produced a strong arm to turn a Salah strike behind.

It was Real Madrid's night.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/113562-vinicius-strikes-as-real-madrid-beat-liverpool-in-champions-league-final.html

Monkeypox can be contained if we act now: WHO

Countries should take quick steps to contain the spread of monkeypox and share data about their vaccine stockpiles, a senior World Health Organisation official said on Friday.

"We think that if we put in place the right measures now we probably can contain this easily," Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, told the UN agency's annual assembly.

Monkeypox is a usually mild viral infection that is endemic in parts of the west and central Africa.

It spreads chiefly through close contact and until the recent outbreak, was rarely seen in other parts of the world, which is why the recent emergence of cases in Europe, the United States and other areas has raised alarms.

So far, there are about 300 confirmed or suspected cases in around 20 countries where the virus was not previously circulating. read more

"For us, we think that the key priority currently is trying to contain this transmission in non-endemic countries," Briand told a technical briefing for member states.

Needed measures included the early detection and isolation of cases and contact tracing, she added.

Member states should also share information about first-generation stockpiles of smallpox vaccines which can also be effective against monkeypox, Briand said. read more

"We don't know exactly the number of doses available in the world and so that’s why we encourage countries to come to WHO and tell us what are their stockpiles," she said. A slide of her presentation described global supplies as "very constrained".

Currently, WHO officials are advising against mass vaccination, instead suggesting targeted vaccination where available for close contact of people infected.

"Case investigation, contact tracing, isolation at home will be your best bets," said Rosamund Lewis, WHO head of the smallpox secretariat which is part of the WHO Emergencies Programme.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/health/item/113561-monkeypox-can-be-contained-if-we-act-now-who.html

Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar front-runner for NAB chairman slot: sources

The name of Justice (retired) Maqbool Baqar is on top of the candidates' list that the government is considering for the position of the next National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, it emerged on Saturday.

According to sources, Justice Baqar's name was acknowledged during the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, while all parties of the coalition government have also agreed that he was the most suitable candidate for the position.

In addition, opposition leader Raja Riaz has expressed no objection to Justice Baqar's proposed appointment as the NAB chairman.

If there are no impediments, coalition parties have stated that Justice Baqar will be appointed as the next NAB chairman, sources added.

Justice Baqar had been promoted from the Sindh High Court to the Supreme Court and retired as a judge of the SC on Monday, April 4, 2022.

According to government sources, the judicial record of Justice Maqbool is immaculate.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, on the other hand, told the reporters outside the Islamabad High Court that a "puppet had been appointed as a dummy opposition leader," adding that the nominations for the NAB chairman were being finalised".

"Justice (r) Maqbool Baqir is a reasonable man, hopefully, he will not be a part of this process," said Fawad.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113560-justice-retd-maqbool-baqar-front-runner-for-nab-chairman-slot-sources.html

local Bodies Elections in thirty two districts of Balochistan

Polling is underway for local Bodies Elections in thirty two districts of Balochistan under strict security arrangements.

According to details, polling will continue till 5:00 in Sunday evening without any break.

As per Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), over 3.5 million voters are eligible to cast their votes in the local bodies elections while 5,226 polling stations including 1,974 highly sensitive stations have been established for the Balochistan LB polls.

Tight security measures have been taken to avoid any kind of untoward incident during the elections across the province.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/balochistan/item/113559-local-bodies-elections-in-thirty-two-districts-of-balochistan.html

OIC expresses concerns over life sentence to Yasin Malik

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Friday expressed its deep concern over the pronouncement of life sentence for one of the most prominent Kashmiri leaders Yasin Malik, who had been leading a peaceful freedom struggle for many decades.

Reiterating its solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for their rights including their right for self-determination, the General Secretariat urged the international community to ensure that the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiris for the realization of their rights must not be equated with terrorism.

The General Secretariat called on the Government of India to release all Kashmiri leaders unfairly incarcerated, halt forthwith the gross and systematic persecution of Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK); and respect the right of the people of IIOJK to determine their own future through a free and impartial plebiscite as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113542-oic-expresses-concerns-over-life-sentence-to-yasin-malik.html

40 injured due to roof and wall collapse incidents in Sargodha

At least 40 persons sustained injuries due to roof and wall collapse incidents in different area of Sargodha as rain and windstorm hit the city on Friday night.

The roof and wall collapse incidents were reported in Chak 79 Shumali, Chak 47, Chak 91, Factory Area, Block No 17, Block No 24, Sarwar Colony, Eidgah, Jameel Park, Ghani Park, Jat Colony and other areas.

Rescue operations area underway to provide relief to the people in different areas of Sargodha. Rescue sources said that a large number women and children are among the injured.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/113541-40-injured-due-to-roof-and-wall-collapse-incidents-in-sargodha.html

Live; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing nation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is addressing nation

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113536-live-prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif-addressing-nation.html

PM Shehbaz Sharif to announce 'relief package' today

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will announce a relief package for the poor in an address to the nation today (Friday). Sources privy to the matter said that the premier will take the nation into confidence over the prevailing economic situation of the country and shed light on the government's decision to remove subsidies on petroleum products.

Apart from announcing the relief package for the poor sections of society, PM Shehbaz Sharif will also apprise the nation of the government's next plan of action.

Last night, the government announced a massive hike of up to Rs30 in the prices of petroleum products for the revival of the $6 billion IMF loan programme.

Pakistan and the IMF failed to strike a staff-level agreement after holding week-long negotiations because the government was reluctant to withdraw unfunded fuel and energy subsidies.

The IMF had asked the government to move “urgently” and after his return from Doha, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail took the approval of the premier and announced an increase in POL prices.

Announcing the decision on Thursday, Miftah said increasing the price of petroleum products by Rs30 was not an easy decision for the premier, but vowed that the incumbent government would take steps to safeguard the economy.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113530-pm-shehbaz-sharif-to-announce-relief-package-today.html

Senate passes NAB law amendment bill, Election Act amendment

The Senate on Friday passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022, making certain amendments in some sections of the previous Elections Act, 2017. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Javed Murtaza Abbasi presented the bill before the house to amend the Elections Act, 2017, which was unanimously passed by the Senate.

The house was informed that Sections 94 and 103 of Elections Act 2017 were amended vide Act No.LV of 2021 for using I-voting and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the next General Elections.

Read more: Hike in fuel prices challenged in LHC

Defining the reason, the house was informed that “The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) faces technical difficulties to embark upon conducting elections as per amended provisions ibid.”

“Since Article 218(3) of the Constitution obligates the ECP to conduct free, fair and transparent elections, the instant bill proposes to restore the amendments of Act No. LV of 2021 to their original contents for conducting more pilot projects before using I-Voting and EVMs in general elections.”

The house passed the insertion of new section 72B, Act XXXIII of 2017. Now in the said act, after 72A, the new section 72B will be inserted namely ‘72B.Effects of section 72A’.

As per amendment in section 94, Act XXXIII of 2017, “The Commission may conduct pilot projects for voting by Overseas Pakistanis in bye-elections to ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security and financial feasibility of such voting and shall share the results with the government, which shall, within fifteen days from the commencement of a session of House after the receipt of the report, lay the same before both Houses of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).”

As per amendment in section 103, Act XXXIII of 2017 namely Electronic voting and biometric verification, “The Commission may conduct pilot projects for utilization of electronic voting machines and biometric verification, casting and counting of votes to assess the technical efficacy, secrecy, security and financial feasibility of the electronic voting machines and biometric verification system and shall share the results with the Government, which shall, within fifteen days from the commencement of a session of a House after the receipt of the report, lay the same before both Houses of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).”

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113529-senate-passes-nab-law-amendment-bill-election-act-amendment.html

Hike in fuel prices challenged in LHC

Hike in the prices of petroleum products has been challenged in Lahore High Court. Along with OGRA, federal government and other concerned authorities have been made party in the petition.

In the plea submitted by advocate Azhar Siddique, it has been prayed that the prices of the petroleum products has been increased without the approval of cabinet.

The petitioner further said that the action taken by government is illegal while he prayed to the court to nullify the increase in the prices of petroleum products.

On the other hand, government is planning to increase the fuel prices in the same ratio in next 15 days in a bid to achieve the IMF program.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113524-hike-in-fuel-prices-challenged-in-lhc.html

An ocean first: Underwater drone tracks CO2 in Alaska gulf

In the cold, choppy waters of Alaska’s Resurrection Bay, all eyes were on the gray water, looking for one thing only. It wasn’t a spout from humpback whales that power through this scenic fjord, or a sea otter lazing on its back, munching a king crab.

Instead, everyone aboard the Nanuq, a University of Alaska Fairbanks research vessel, was looking where a 5-foot (1.52-meter) long, bright pink underwater sea glider surfaced.

The glider — believed to be the first configured with a large sensor to measure carbon dioxide levels in the ocean — had just completed its first overnight mission.

Designed to dive 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) and roam remote parts of the ocean, the autonomous vehicle was deployed in the Gulf of Alaska this spring to provide a deeper understanding of the ocean’s chemistry in the era of climate change. The research could be a major step forward in ocean greenhouse gas monitoring, because until now, measuring CO2 concentrations — a quantifier of ocean acidification — was mostly done from ships, buoys and moorings tethered to the ocean floor.

“Ocean acidification is a process by which humans are emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through their activities of burning fossil fuels and changing land use,” said Andrew McDonnell, an oceanographer with the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks

Oceans have done humans a huge favor by taking in some of the C02. Otherwise, there would be much more in the atmosphere, trapping the sun’s heat and warming the Earth.

“But the problem is now that the ocean is changing its chemistry because of this uptake,” said Claudine Hauri, an oceanographer with the International Arctic Research Center at the university.

The enormous amount of data collected is being used to study ocean acidification that can harm and kill certain marine life.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/technology/item/113523-an-ocean-first-underwater-drone-tracks-co2-in-alaska-gulf.html

Govt increases petrol price by Rs 30 per litre

The government on Thursday jacked up the price of petrol by Rs 30 per litre with immediate effect.Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail told a press conference that the IMF program could not move forward without raising the prices of petroleum products.

Following Rs 30 per liter increase in price of Petrol the new price will be Rs 179.86.

The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was also increased by Rs 30 per liter and will now cost Rs 174.15 per liter.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken this difficult decision in the larger interest of national economy. He said that it is a hard decision for the government to impose such kind of burden on general public.

He said the government is providing 56 rupees per liter subsidy on petroleum products as the previous government had fixed these prices which caused to increase inflation in the country.

Miftah Ismail said that IMF Program cannot be approved for Pakistan without increase in petroleum prices.

Earlier today, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged Pakistan to end subsidies on electricity and petroleum products to revive the program.

According to a statement issued by the IMF, the IMF mission, led by Nathan Porter, held virtual and direct talks with Pakistani officials on policies to ensure economic stability and sustainable growth in Pakistan from May 18 to May 25.

The statement stated that the mission held constructive talks with Pakistani officials to reach an agreement on policies and reforms to conclude the seventh review of the pending reform program, which is supported by the IMF Extended Fund Facility arrangements.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/113522-govt-increases-petrol-price-by-rs-30-per-litre.html

Russia commits 'all its forces' to take Ukraine's Lugansk, Kyiv says

Russia on Thursday made an all-out effort to capture the rest of the industrial region of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine, officials said, as President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of seeking to commit "genocide" across the eastern Donbas.

As the fighting intensified, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba aired Kyiv s increasing frustration with the West, accusing allies of dragging their feet on arms deliveries and telling his German counterpart that Ukraine needs heavy weapons "as soon as possible."

Russian forces are now closing in on several urban centres, including the strategically located Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. Lugansk is part of the Donbas, the industrial basin comprising that region and Donetsk.

"The situation remains difficult, because the Russian army has thrown all its forces at taking the Lugansk region," regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said in a video on Telegram.

"Extremely fierce fighting is taking place on the outskirts of Severodonetsk. They are simply destroying the city, they are shelling it every day, shelling without pause."

Russian forces also bombarded Ukraine s second city Kharkiv, killing nine people, and five civilians were killed Thursday in the Donetsk region to the south, according to the governor.

In his daily televised address, Zelensky said Moscow was pursuing an "obvious policy of genocide" in the Donbas -- after failing to take the capital Kyiv -- and its bombardments could leave the entire region "uninhabited".

Kyiv has been losing patience with what it views as the West s failure to quickly arm Ukraine and impose a ban on Russian oil exports on top of punishing economic sanctions already in place.

"We need more heavy weapons delivered as soon as possible, especially MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems) to repel Russian attacks," Kuleba wrote on Twitter after speaking with Germany s Annalena Baerbock.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/113521-russia-commits-all-its-forces-to-take-ukraine-s-lugansk-kyiv-says.html

Qureshi expresses concern over bill to bar overseas Pakistanis from voting

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday expressed concern over the passage of a bill in the National Assembly to abolish the former government election reforms giving expats the right to vote through I-Voting and the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the country.

The National Assembly on Thursday approved a bill to bar overseas Pakistanis from voting and stop the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the country.

Qureshi strongly criticised the move and termed it a "regressive and condemnable act" of the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted: "PTI gave over nine million Overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. Today, this band of thieves and thugs removed this, disenfranchising a staggering number of Pakistanis and barring the use of electronic voting machines."

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113520-qureshi-expresses-concern-over-bill-to-bar-overseas-pakistanis-from-voting.html

Truck motorcycle collision in Shujabad, Two killed

At least two persons were killed and one more was wounded when the motorcycle they were riding on was hit by a truck in Shujabad on Thursday night.

According to details, the accident occurred at the National Highway in Shujabad where a recklessly driven truck hit a motorcycle, killing a man and his wife on the spot while their daughter was injured.

Rescue teams reached the spot after being informed and shifted the dead and injured to Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, Shujabad.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/113519-truck-motorcycle-collision-in-shujabad-two-killed.html

Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara passed away

Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara passed away in the wee hours of Friday at the age of 55.

Ali Raza Sadpara had suffered critical injuries after falling from a mountain during a routine climbing practice near his village in Skardu. He met an accident while pre-expedition preparation of his K-2 summer expedition and got severe injuries.

He was under treatment at the RHQ Hospital Skardu, in Gilgit−Baltistan where he breathed his last on Friday.

During a career that started in 1986, Ali Raza Sadpara has summited 17 8,000m peaks, including each one in Pakistan except K2. He has climbed many signature Pakistani 8,000’ers multiple times, including Broad Peak (8,047m) and Gasherbrum I (8068m) four times, and Gasherbrum II (8,035m) five times, most recently last summer.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/113518-renowned-pakistani-mountaineer-ali-raza-sadpara-passed-away.html

SC disposes government's 'contempt of court' plea against Imran Khan

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday disposed of the federal government's contempt of court plea against PTI Chairman Imran Khan over his violation of the apex court's orders during PTI's 'Azadi March'.

The government had filed the plea this morning after the PTI openly defied the SC's directives, announcing to hold a rally at D-Chowk in Islamabad’s prohibited Red Zone. Accepting the plea, the SC formed a five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, to look into the matter.

The apex court on Wednesday had directed the government to provide the PTI with a ground between the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad to hold its public gathering. The directive came during a hearing of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association’s (IHCBA) plea against the government’s decision to block roads to stop PTI's "Azadi March" in the federal capital.

The court also disposed of IHCBA's plea.

CJP Bandial remarked that the court doesn't want to continue hearing on the case.

"We will issue the verdict in the case which will serve as an example in the future," CJP remarked.

At the outset of the hearing, Attorney-General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf read out the SC verdict before the court.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113506-sc-disposes-government-s-contempt-of-court-plea-against-imran-khan.html

People reject PTI's march of chaos, Interior Minister

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah says people have outrightly rejected PTI’s march of chaos and anarchy.

In a statement on Thursday, he said PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in complete violation of the Supreme Court’s orders, entered Islamabad’s D Chowk.

The Minister said PTI’s armed protesters kept on burning and destroying public properties the whole last night.

He said police did not even fired a single rubber bullet, but eighteen police and Rangers personnel got injured in the turmoil created by PTI hooligans.

Paying rich tribute to the police and Rangers, the Interior Minister said security forces will continue protecting the lives and properties of the people.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113505-people-reject-pti-s-march-of-chaos-interior-minister.html

Nation has completely rejected PTI's March: Marriyum Aurangzeb

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday said that the whole nation has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan after his call for long march towards Islamabad.

She said that the person who was giving ultimatum from yesterday has gone to Bani Gala to sleep.

"Elections will only be held whenever government and its coalition parties will decide," she said.

While talking about the number of people in PTI’s Azadi March, she said that only a few people came to his march.

Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan ended the march and gave deadline of 6 days to the government to dissolve the assemblies and announce fresh elections.

Former Prime Minister while addressing to the protestors of long march in Islamabad, warned the government that if announcement of elections will not be made till June, he will return to Islamabad.

Soon after Imran’s announcement, all protesters dispersed from Islamabad and Karachi.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113504-nation-has-completely-rejected-pti-s-march-marriyum-aurangzeb.html

US hits Twitter with $150 mn fine over privacy breach

Twitter agreed to pay $150 million to settle allegations the platform gave advertisers some user information that was supposed to be employed to strengthen account security, US authorities said Wednesday.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice accused Twitter of taking phone numbers or email addresses provided to tighten privacy and then letting advertisers use the details to make money.

"Twitter obtained data from users on the pretext of harnessing it for security purposes but then ended up also using the data to target users with ads," commission chair Lina Khan said in a release.

The personal information that users hand over to tech companies, and how that data gets used, is a front of repeated conflict between regulators and powerful firms like Facebook parent Meta, Twitter and others.

Clashes over privacy have resulted in periodic suits or settlements but critics have long called for a comprehensive updating of US national rules for how people’s data is handled online.

In a five-year period ending in 2019, more than 140 million Twitter users gave phone numbers or email addresses to the San Francisco-based service to help secure accounts with two-factor authentication, regulators said.

The security technique involves augmenting passwords with one-time codes sent by text or email messages.

Without telling users, Twitter let advertisers use the personal information to target ads, said the FTC, which worked with federal prosecutors to pursue a case against the tech firm.

"Consumers who share their private information have a right to know if that information is being used to help advertisers target customers," US Attorney Stephanie Hinds said in a release.

Along with agreeing to pay $150 million, Twitter will implement new measures including having its privacy program regular evaluated by an independent assessor, the settlement deal indicated.

"Keeping data secure and respecting privacy is something we take extremely seriously, and we have cooperated with the FTC every step of the way," Twitter chief privacy officer Damien Kieran said in a blog post.

"We have aligned with the agency on operational updates and program enhancements to ensure that people’s personal data remains secure and their privacy protected," he added, noting the penalty has already been paid.

The settlement, which will need to be approved by a judge, also requires Twitter to inform all of the people who joined Twitter prior to late 2019 about the deal and options for protecting their privacy.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/technology/item/113503-us-hits-twitter-with-150-mn-fine-over-privacy-breach.html

11 babies killed in Senegal hospital fire

Eleven newborn babies died in a hospital fire in the western Senegalese city of Tivaouane, the president of the country said late Wednesday.

Just before midnight in Senegal, Macky Sall announced on Twitter that 11 infants had died in the blaze.

"I have just learned with pain and dismay about the deaths of 11 newborn babies in the fire at the neonatal department of the public hospital," he tweeted.

"To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy," Sall added.

The tragedy occurred at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in the transport hub of Tivaouane, and was caused by "a short circuit", according to Senegalese politician Diop Sy.

"The fire spread very quickly," he said.

The city s mayor Demba Diop said "three babies were saved". According to local media, the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital was newly inaugurated.

Health minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who was in Geneva attending a meeting with the World Health Organization, said he would return to Senegal immediately.

"This situation is very unfortunate and extremely painful," he said on radio. "An investigation is under way to see what happened."

The tragedy in Tivaouane comes after several other incidents at public health facilities in Senegal, where there is great disparity between urban and rural areas in healthcare services.

In the northern town of Linguere in late April, a fire broke out at a hospital and four newborn babies were killed. The mayor of that town had cited an electrical malfunction in an air conditioning unit in the maternity ward.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/113502-11-babies-killed-in-senegal-hospital-fire.html

We will return if elections not announced within 6 days, Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday has given deadline of 6 days to the government to dissolve the assemblies and announce fresh elections.

Former Prime Minister while addressing to the protestors of long march in Islamabad, warned the government that if announcement of elections will not be made, he will return to Islamabad.

After Imran Khan s announcement, protesters of the sit-in also dispersed at the Numaish Churangi in Karachi.

Earlier, Imran Khan asked his party workers and supporters to reach D-Chowk, Dunya News reported.

The PTI chief Imran Khan while leading his party’s Haqeeqi Azadi March against the "Imported Government" reached Islamabad in the wee hours of Thursday where he delivered a short speech.

Imran Khan said that we are waging a "Jihad against this Imported Government" and asked the PTI workers that we will not move from here till the date for fresh election is not announced.

On the other hand, Interior Ministry had summoned the Pakistan Army for the security of the Red Zone in Islamabad after Pakistan PTI workers and supporters reached Islamabad to attend the march.

According to a notification issued in this regard, Pakistan Army was summoned under Article 245 of the Constitution.

All security arrangements in the Islamabad’s Red Zone was handed over to the Army. Pakistan Army personnel were stationed at PM House, PM Office, Supreme Court and other sensitive government buildings in the area.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113501-we-will-return-if-elections-not-announced-within-6-days-imran-khan.html

Pak Army Takes Control of Sensitive Buildings in Red Zone

Pakistan Army contingent reached Islamabad s Red Zone to take control of sensitive buildings after they were summoned by to Interior Ministry for the security of the area.

All security arrangements in the Islamabad s Red Zone have been handed over to the Army. Pakistan Army personnel have been stationed at the President House, PM House and PM Office, the Supreme Court and other sensitive government buildings in the area.

Earlier, Interior Ministry had summoned the Pakistan Army for the security of the Red Zone in Islamabad after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters reached Islamabad to attend the Haqeeqi Azadi March on the call of their party chief Imran Khan, Dunya News reported.

According to a notification issued in this regard, Pakistan Army has been summoned under Article 245 of the Constitution.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113500-pak-army-takes-control-of-sensitive-buildings-in-red-zone.html

PTI leaders, workers stage sit-in in Quetta

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers staged a sit-in protest on the call of PTI chief Imran Khan against the ‘Imported Government’ in the lawns of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation on Wednesday.

The PTI sit-in protest entered the second day on Thursday. The provincial leadership of the PTI including Syed Zahoor Agha and Khadam Hussain Wardak are leading the sit-in protest in which party workers from across the province are present.

The participants of the sit-in are of the view that our sit-in will continue till the overthrow of the ‘Imported Government’ and the announcement of date for the new elections.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113499-pti-leaders-workers-stage-sit-in-in-quetta.html

Asian markets swing as traders mull dark outlook

Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday, with little sign of any relief from recent dour performances as investors remain fearful about the economic outlook owing to the impact of inflation, higher interest rates, China’s slowdown and the Ukraine war.

A series of weak indicators around the world and downbeat forecasts from big firms have chilled trading floors in recent weeks as the surge in prices begins to drag on consumer confidence, with warnings now swirling of a possible global recession.

The tech sector was again in the firing line after Snap, the parent of social media app Snapchat, provided a gloomy economic outlook, sending its shares diving more than 40 percent.

Wall Street titans followed Snap down, with Facebook-parent Meta and Google-parent Alphabet tanking.

Tokyo, Hong Kong and Jakarta were down while Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Manila rose.

The mood was not helped by news that US new home sales tanked in April while the Richmond Fed manufacturing index also fell, with both at the lowest levels since the pandemic began in 2020.

"The market is moving its focus -- and has been for the last month or so -- from inflation concerns to growth concerns," said Ellen Hazen, of FL Putnam.

Investors are now wearily looking to the Fed’s next move on interest rates, with expectations for more half-point hikes to come as officials struggle to bring inflation down from four-decade highs.

There was a little hope after one policymaker, Atlanta Fed chief Raphael Bostic, suggested a break in the increases in September could make sense as the bank tries to avert a recession.

National Australia Bank’s Tapas Strickland said while it was not clear that the Fed was close to being more supportive of markets, "it is clear that growth headwinds are becoming more evident in the data, particularly stemming from the profit reporting season".

"The Fed of course remains focused on inflation, but if inflation reads were to start to moderate, then Bostic has opened up the possibility of a Fed pause."

Meanwhile, China continues to struggle with the fast-spreading Omicron variant, with leaders sticking to their zero-Covid strategy despite the dire impact on the economy of lockdowns.

And with no easing of that policy in sight, observers warned that a series of recent support measures would not be enough to lift optimism.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/113485-asian-markets-swing-as-traders-mull-dark-outlook.html

Fawad urges masses to 'come out for Pakistan'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry has urged the people of Pakistan to "come out for Pakistan" as PTI chairman Imran Khan called on Pakistanis for a long march towards Islamabad.

Taking to Twitter, former Minister Fawad said, "Today people of Pakistan will come out for rightful independence and it will be a day when sovereignty of people will be decided."

Fawad urged the people to come out for their future generations. He also insisted to join their voices with Imran Khan’s call which is for the revolution and for the people.

Earlier, the government sealed several cities of Punjab including provincial capital Lahore, Gujranwala, Bahawalnagar in an attempt to stop PTI long march, Dunya News reported on Tuesday.

According to sources, the government has sealed all entry and exit points of provincial capital of Punjab by placing containers on the roads.

The police have closed Ravi River Bridge with containers and and also closed GT Road with containers. Lahore-Islamabad Motorway has also been closed by placing containers.

Heavy contingent of police have been deployed at Thokar Niaz Baig and Babu Sabu interchanges of Motorway. Authorities have also closed Sagian Bridge with containers.

In Gujranwal, police have sealed all the entry and exit points of the city with containers in an attempt to stop PTI long march. Police have also conducted raids at PTI leaders and workers houses in the city and have arrested over 150 workers.

In Bahawalpur too, police in a bid to stop PTI workers from reached Islamabad have suspended all public transport. Police have also closed bus stands in the city.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/113484-fawad-urges-masses-to-come-out-for-pakistan.html

IG Punjab: Hammad Azhar moves LHC against CM Hamza,

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar on Wednesday filed a contempt of court petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) against Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz and Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab.

Hammad Azhar, in his petition, states that lawmakers are being harassed and arrested and government is violating fundamental rights of the people.

The PTI leader has prayed the court to start contempt of court proceeding against CM and IG Punjab.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/113483-ig-punjab-hammad-azhar-moves-lhc-against-cm-hamza.html

Russian troops aim to 'destroy everything' in Donbas: Zelensky

Russian troops advanced in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, pounding key cities and aiming "to destroy everything there," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as Moscow signalled it was digging in for a long war against its neighbor.

Three months to the day since Russia launched its invasion, Zelensky mourned the thousands of Ukrainian men and women who have perished and he renewed calls for heavy weapons from foreign partners saying arms for Kyiv were "the best investment in stability in the world."

Read more: From Missiles To Helicopters: US Says 20 Countries Offer New Arms For Ukraine

Sergiy Gaidai, governor of the eastern region of Lugansk, said Russian forces were bombarding the industrial city of Severodonetsk with air strikes, rockets, artillery and mortars in an effort to solidify control over the province and move further into Ukraine.

"The situation is very difficult and unfortunately it is only getting worse. It is getting worse with every day and even with every hour," Gaidai said in a video on Telegram. "The Russian army decided to completely destroy Severodonetsk."

He added: "They are simply erasing Severodonetsk from the face of the earth."

In Moscow, Russian Defence Minister Sergei made it clear Russia was bedding in for a long war in Ukraine.

"We will continue the special military operation until all the objectives have been achieved," Shoigu said, using Moscow s name for the war.

In his daily address to the nation late Tuesday, Zelensky called the situation in Donbas "extremely difficult," saying Russian forces were mounting a massive assault on Severodonetsk and several other cities.

Read more: Ukraine rejects concessions as Russians attack in east and south

"All the strength of the Russian army which they still have was thrown there for the offensive," Zelensky said. "The occupiers want to destroy everything there."

Supplying Ukraine with rocket-propelled grenades, tanks, anti-ship missiles and other weapons is "the best investment in maintaining stability in the world and in preventing many serious crises that Russia is planning or has already provoked," Zelensky said.

"The longer this war lasts, the greater will be the price of protecting freedom not only in Ukraine, but also in the whole free world."

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/113482-russian-troops-aim-to-destroy-everything-in-donbas-zelensky.html