World News Headlines

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was leading in the second phase of the local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as 22 of its candidates were all set to win the slots of mayor and chairman of the city and tehsil councils. On the other hand, two persons were killed and several others injured in various incidents of poll-related violence. Polling was held for the slots of chairmen and mayors of 65 tehsil councils. According to early results of 50 tehsil councils that were available by late Thursday night, PTI appeared to be leading on a number of seats. However, results of the remaining 15 councils could not be obtained due to communication issues as these areas were mostly far-flung and mountainous. According to unofficial results, the Jamiat Ulemae Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) candidates were leading in seven and six tehsils, respectively. Similarly, independent candidates were ahead in five of the tehsil councils, followed by three candidates of Paki...

Turkish prosecutor seeks transfer of Khashoggi case to Saudi Arabia

A Turkish prosecutor on Thursday asked an Istanbul court to dismiss a case into the gruesome murder of Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi and transfer it to Saudi Arabia, his Turkish fiancée confirmed. The development comes as Turkey is seeking a thaw in relations with Saudi Arabia, which worsened after the 2018 killing of Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post, inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. “The prosecutor asked, accordingly to the Saudi demand, for the transfer of the file to #SaudiArabia and the finalisation of it in #Turkey,” Hatice Cengiz tweeted after the hearing on Thursday in Istanbul’s main court. “The court will ask the view of Turkish Justice Ministry. #Khashoggi #JusticeForJamal,” she commented. The prosecutor said, according to the private DHA news agency, that the case “has been dragging because the court orders cannot be executed on the grounds that the suspects are foreign nationals”. The next hearing is scheduled for April 7. On October 2, 2018, 59...

Pakistan registers strong protest to US government over 'threat letter'

Pakistan summoned the US acting deputy chief of mission in Islamabad over a ‘threat letter’ and registered strong protest for the undiplomatic language used against Pakistan in the memo. The development came after the National Security Committee (NSC) Thursday decided to issue a strong demarche to the country whose official communicated the "threat" as a day earlier Premier Imran Khan shared the 'threat letter' with military leadership and the federal cabinet. Later, the PM in his address to the nation Thursday said that he would not resign at any cost and would "never allow this conspiracy" to succeed. In an apparent slip of the tongue, he named "the United States..." but quickly moved on and stated that "a foreign country" had sent a "threatening memo" which was against the Pakistani nation. However, in line with the decision of the NSC, the foreign office has handed over the requisite demarches through diplomatic channe...

Pak vs Aus: Babar Azam and co chase team's highest ODI target to level series

Pakistan Thursday defeated Australia by six wickets in the second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium to level the three-match series. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq's sensational centuries were key to help Pakistan trump Australia. The first ODI was won by Australia and the final ODI will be on Saturday — also in Lahore. Australia had set a 349-run target for Pakistan and the Green Shirts chased the score in the 49th over to level the three-match series. This was Pakistan's highest run chase in their ODI history. Teams: Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-Ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Saud Shakeel Australia: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/dMS8oTb

Covid-19: Pakistan reports 244 cases, 6 deaths

Islamabad: Pakistan has reported 6 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has risen to 1,524,793. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,355 on Thursday. According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 244 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Read more: Corona claims 2 more deaths across the country Province-wise Details Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Till now 13,556 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 0 in Sindh, 6,319 in KP, 1,023 in Islamabad, 792 in Azad Kashmir, 378 in Balochistan and 191 in GB. Furthermore 575,257 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 505,003 in Punjab, 219,026 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 135,072 in Islamabad, 43,261 in Azad Kashmir, 35,472 in Balochistan and 11,702 in Gilgit-Baltistan. Tests and Recoveries Pakistan has so far conducted 27,4...

PM summons NSC meeting ahead of vote on no-confidence motion

Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) today afternoon, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday. The meeting will be held at the Prime Minister's House in the afternoon, he shared in a tweet. Read more: Letter carrying threat from foreign power was written by Pakistani envoy: PM The development comes a day after the premier decided to present a 'secret letter' — that he brandished at the PTI's March 27 rally — in the hope that his party dissidents, as well as disgruntled PTI allies, would change their minds after becoming aware of its content and reject the opposition's motion of no-confidence against him. The premier shared the letter with the cabinet members in a hurriedly called meeting, which was not attended by its two major allies — Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — despite being invited, on Wednesday. It has been learnt that the letter was show...

'Threat letter': US denies involvement in no-trust move

The US government has strongly denied any involvement in the no-trust motion, tabled by opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying the allegations were baseless, a private TV channel reported. The US government reacted strongly as Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday brandished a letter during a power show at D-chowk saying that it contains evidence of a foreign plot hatched against him and the Opposition’s no-trust motion is also a part of this foreign conspiracy to topple his government. On Wednesday, the premier's gist of the "threat letter" was also shared with senior journalists. Meanwhile, PTI leader Faisal Vawda had claimed that a "plot is being hatched to assassinate Prime Minister Imran Khan." A private TV channel qouted the US State Department as saying that '[The US ]categorically rejects any kind of involvement in the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan'. “Allegations of US involvement in the no-trust motion and ‘threat ...

KP LG elections: Voting for second phase underway

Voting for the second phase of Local Government (LG) elections in 18 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is underway. Polling started at 8:00am and will continue till 5:00pm without any break. Elections are being held for the posts of mayor and chairman of tehsil and city councils and different categories of members in the village and neighbourhood councils in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Lower and Upper Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Kurram, Orakzai, and North and South Waziristan districts. Read more: Local Body Elections, ECP announce date in Balochistan A total of 6,176 polling stations have been set up for the second phase of the local bodies elections in 18 districts of the province out of which 1,609 polling stations have been declared most sensitive. A total of 8.057 million voters will cast their vote in the second phase. More than 54,000 officials have been deployed for the security inclu...

Hackers got user data from Meta with forged request

Facebook owner Meta gave user information to hackers who pretended to be law enforcement officials last year, a company source said Wednesday, highlighting the risks of a measure used in urgent cases. Imposters were able to get details like physical addresses or phone numbers in response to falsified "emergency data requests," which can slip past privacy barriers, said the source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Read more: Blue Origin's 4th astro-tourism flight set to launch without big names Criminal hackers have been compromising email accounts or websites tied to police or government and claiming they can’t wait for a judge’s order for information because it’s an "urgent matter of life and death," cyber expert Brian Krebs wrote Tuesday. Bloomberg news agency, which originally reported Meta being targeted, also reported that Apple had provided customer data in response to forged data requests. Apple and Meta did not officia...

'Genius' Shane Warne Bid Farewell At State Memorial Service

Shane Warne was remembered as "mesmerising" and a "genius" at a state memorial service in Melbourne Wednesday attended by tens of thousands of spectators and legendary players, with music superstars Elton John and Chris Martin performing by video link. The well-loved Australian cricketer died at a luxury resort in Thailand this month from a suspected heart attack, aged 52, eliciting shock and grief from his millions of fans as well as prime ministers, rock stars and fellow players. Read more: Fans, family, famous to bid Shane Warne farewell at state memorial The larger-than-life "king of spin" was honoured at a two-hour service at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with more than 50,000 free tickets handed out. It was beamed live to cricket grounds across Australia and watched around the world. "Looking forward to a future without Shane is inconceivable," his heartbroken father Keith said after batting great Donald Bradman s granddaughter Greta ...

Oil prices sink as US considers tapping reserves, stocks struggle

Oil prices tumbled Thursday on reports that the United States is considering tapping its reserves to combat a supply crisis sparked by the Ukraine war. However, equities struggled to build on the week’s rally after Russia poured cold water on hopes that ceasefire talks were progressing, leaving the prospect of a protracted war in eastern Europe that has already sent shockwaves through the world economy. Read more: Saudi oil chief says energy security imperiled by attacks WTI tumbled more than five percent and Brent more than four percent as reports said President Joe Biden was looking at releasing a million barrels a day for several months as he tries to temper a surge in the market to more than $100. Concerns about demand in China owing to a lockdown in Shanghai was adding to downward pressure. The White House this month put an embargo on oil from Russia as part of a series of wide-ranging sanctions against the country for its invasion. However, that sent prices soaring f...

Ukraine's Zelensky dismisses Russian claims of scaleback

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday dismissed Russia s vows to de-escalate fighting against its neighbour, saying his army was getting ready for further fighting in the east. "We don t believe anyone, not a single beautiful phrase," Zelensky said in a video address to the nation, adding that Russian troops were regrouping to strike the eastern Donbass region. Read more: China, Russia 'more determined' to boost ties, Beijing says "We will not give anything away. We will fight for every meter of our territory," he added. After another round of peace talks in Istanbul on Tuesday, a Russian negotiator said Moscow would "radically" scale back its attacks around the capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernigiv. However, shelling continued during the night. On Wednesday, US military officials said Russian forces did begin to pull out of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power site north of Kyiv. "We think that they are leavin...

Local Body Elections, ECP announce date in Balochistan

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced date to hold LB elections in Balochistan. According to details, the LB elections in all districts of Balochistan, except Quetta land Lasbela, will be held on May 29. The schedule for the election has also been annoned. Read more: IHC bars ECP from taking action against PM Imran The Election Commission of Pakistan said that the date for LB elections in Quetta land Lasbela will be announced later. from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/6lbj2Xy

Corona claims 2 more deaths across the country

Pakistan has reported 2 more deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,524,549. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,349 on wednesday. According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 194persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Read more: PM Imran Khan 'strictly' directs PTI MNAs to abstain from voting on no-confidence motion Pakistan has conducted 27,492 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 194 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 0.70 percent. from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/7cLng3O

Blue Origin's 4th astro-tourism flight set to launch without big names

The fourth commercial flight of Jeff Bezos space tourism venture Blue Origin, offering short suborbital joyrides to well-heeled thrill-seekers and celebrity guests, has been delayed by two days because of poor weather conditions, the company said. Blue Origin s New Shepard spacecraft was scheduled for liftoff on Tuesday from the company s launch site in rural west Texas at 8:30 a.m. CDT (1330 GMT) with six would-be citizen astronauts strapped into the crew cabin atop the fully autonomous launch vehicle, standing nearly six stories tall. Read more: Former aircraft designer Shimada may find silver lining in Toshiba gloom The company said on Monday it had postponed the launch of the NS-20 mission to March 31 due to forecasts of high winds during the launch and recovery of the spacecraft. Blue Origin said the vehicle has met all mission requirements for flight and weather is the only factor stalling launch. Unlike Blue Origin s first three commercial flights, with passenger ros...

Fans, family, famous to bid Shane Warne farewell at state memorial

Shane Warne’s son said there is no better place to bid farewell to his late father than the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where more than 50,000 people are to attend a state memorial service Wednesday featuring stars such as Elton John and Ed Sheeran. The legendary cricketer died at a luxury resort in Thailand this month from a suspected heart attack, aged 52, eliciting shock and grief around the world from his millions of fans as well as prime ministers, rock stars and fellow players. Read more: First ODI: Australia defeated Pakistan by 88 runs The larger-than-life "king of spin" will be honoured in a state service that will be beamed live to cricket grounds around the country and watched by millions in Australia and around the world. More than 50,000 free tickets have been snapped up for the two-hour service, which is due to start at 7:00pm (0800 GMT) after a minute’s silence. His son, Jackson, said there was "no other better place in the whole world" to hold ...

Saudi oil chief says energy security imperiled by attacks

Saudi Arabia’s oil chief said markets are going through a “jittery period” and reiterated Tuesday that the kingdom’s ability to ensure energy security is no longer guaranteed. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said cross-border attacks have put to question “our ability to supply the world with the necessary energy requirements.” The attacks have been carried out by Yemen’s rebel Houthis, who are supported by Iran. Read more: Mastercard expands its Business Intelligence Platform for Financial Institutions “It goes without saying that if this security supply is impacted, it will impact us ... but more fundamentally, I think it also will affect the world economy,” he said. Prince Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could once rely on a collective effort to ensure their energy security. “These pillars are no longer there,” he added. The prince spoke at the World Government Summit, an event sponsored by the government of Dubai in the UAE. Oil price...

Russia pledge to deescalate in Ukraine leaves West cold

Russia pledged to scale down fighting around Kyiv and a second major city following peace talks on Tuesday that Ukraine s leader said showed "positive" signs, but Western allies made clear their doubts over Moscow s intentions. Details filtering from the talks in Istanbul raised hopes after more than a month of war that has left thousands dead and millions displaced. Read more: PM Imran Khan ready to share 'threat letter' with CJP: Asad Umar Kyiv s negotiator David Arakhamia said there were "sufficient" conditions for President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to meet in a push to end Europe s worst conflict in decades. On the Russian side, chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky called the talks "meaningful," while the country s deputy defence minister, Alexander Fomin, reported progress on "the neutrality and non-nuclear status" of Ukraine -- two central Russian concerns. Russia, Fomin said, had decided t...

Australia blow for W.Indies semi, England-S.Africa square up again

Tournament favourites Australia suffered a major setback Tuesday on the eve of their Women’s World Cup semi-final against the West Indies, losing all-rounder Ellyse Perry to injury. Captain Meg Lanning confirmed the six-time champion Australians would be without Perry, who suffered back spasms during the group stage win over South Africa last week. Read more: Joint opposition meets MQM-P leaders Twenty-year-old all-rounder Annabel Sutherland is likely to replace the accomplished Perry, 31, in Wednesday’s semi-final, as she did against Bangladesh last Friday, when Australia completed a seven-from-seven record in the group stage. Lanning would not rule Perry out of contention if they qualify for Sunday’s final in Christchurch against either South Africa or England, who clash on Thursday. "She batted a little bit in the nets and felt okay, but she certainly just wasn’t in a position, unfortunately, to be able to perform at the level needed," Lanning said. "We will ...

Joint opposition meets MQM-P leaders

A delegation comprising leaders of joint opposition held a meeting with Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders to win their support ahead of voting for no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan. According to sources, the meeting was held at the Parliament Lodges on late Monday night. Khawaja Safdar, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Ahsan Iqbal from PML-N, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal and others held consultations with MQM-P leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Aamir Khan, Wasim Akhtar, Aminul Haq. Read more: FM Qureshi set to embark on China trip today Sources further informed that the situation arising out of the no-confidence motion filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan was discussed during thed meeting. The joint opposition assured MQM-P leaders of immediate fulfilment of their demands. Speking after the meeting, the MQM-P leaders said that they will take their final decision after consultations with Rabita Committee members regarding t...

Former aircraft designer Shimada may find silver lining in Toshiba gloom

The crisis at Toshiba Corp may have a silver lining for new boss Taro Shimada, allowing him to keep - at least for now - businesses pivotal to his digital strategy that predecessors had planned to sell. Investors last week voted down management s plan to spin off Toshiba s devices unit with nearly 60% opposition, as well as a rival shareholder proposal to solicit buyout offers. That left the troubled 146-year-old conglomerate without a clear immediate direction. Read more: Elon Musk giving 'serious thought' to building new social media platform But it could give Shimada, a former aircraft designer and Siemens AG executive, leeway for his plan to boost subscription revenue by tying software to hardware. It also allows him to hang onto equipment maker Toshiba Tec Corp, which was considered "non core" in the now-rejected spin-off. Shimada has praised some businesses at Toshiba Tec for marrying digital to hardware and sources say he didn t want to sell it. It s un...

Mastercard expands its Business Intelligence Platform for Financial Institutions

Mastercard has announced the expansion of its new interactive business intelligence platform Mastercard Market Trends in the Middle East and Africa. The new platform provides a comprehensive view of payments insights, competitive intelligence and industry trends for banks and financial institutions across the world and now within the Middle East and Africa. In the Middle East and Africa (MEA), the platform enables a comparison of over 300 cards from five key markets, access to market reports, analysis of global and regional leading fintechs and thought leadership on key payment industry and technology trends, such as Open Banking and Blockchain. Mastercard Market Trends provides a simple, curated view of reliable research – all in one place. Read more: Business community playing effective role to enhance exports: President “Access to relevant insights, data, and analytics to inform smart decisions is critical to business success. Mastercard Market Trends offers a one-stop sho...

Almost 5,000 killed in Mariupol since Russian siege began, mayor's office

Ukraine said Monday that at least 5,000 people have died in the "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis gripping pulverized Mariupol, as fighting raged around Kyiv including in a strategic suburb where defenders claim to have driven out Russian invaders. Multiple cities in Ukraine remained under crushing Russian bombardment on the eve of new face-to-face peace negotiations Tuesday in Turkey, as Kyiv -- and its allies in the West -- seek to end the month-long war. Read more: Abbas slams West's 'double standards' on Ukraine, Palestinians In the besieged southern port of Mariupol at least 5,000 people have already been buried, according to a senior Ukrainian official who said as many as 10,000 may have died -- appearing to confirm the darkest scenarios of devastation in the city. "The burials stopped 10 days ago because of continued shelling," Tetyana Lomakina, a presidential adviser now in charge of humanitarian corridors, told AFP by phone Monday. Russ...

FM Qureshi set to embark on China trip today

Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi will leave for an important visit to China today (Tuesday). According to sources, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will hold important meetings with the Chinese officials and other foreign ministers in Beijing during his visit. Sources said that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also visit Russia after China and his important meetings are also scheduled there. Read more: MNA Aslam Bhootani likely to part ways with PTI led govt Qureshi’s visit is believed to be crucial in light of the current political crisis in the country and Russia’s war with Ukraine, while Sino-Pak officials will also exchange views on bilateral cooperation. from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/F5fQxgP

PML-Q, MQM-P to hold consultative meeting today regarding no-confidence motion

The ruling coalition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) and Mutahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) will hold a decisive consultative meeting today (Monday) regarding no-confidence motion. According to sources, the PML-Q delegation comprising Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Moonis Elahi, Salik Hussain, Hussain Elahi and Kamil Ali Agha will meet the leaders of MQM-P at 1:00pm today. Read more: Money from abroad being poured in to oust my govt, PM Imran addresses Amr Bil Maroof rally Sources further said that the PML-Q and MQM-P leadership during the meeting will consult to make a final decision on the no-confidence motion. The PML-Q leaders will also hold a meeting with Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leadership today. from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/neJVaus

Abbas slams West's 'double standards' on Ukraine, Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas criticised Sunday the West s "double standards" that he said penalised Russia over its invasion of Ukraine while ignoring Israel s "crimes" against the Palestinians. Abbas voiced his frustration to visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a press briefing with reporters at the Palestinian presidential residence in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Read more: Russia signals less ambitious goals in Ukraine war "The current events in Europe have shown blatant double standards," he told Blinken. "Despite the crimes of the Israeli occupation that amounted to ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination... we find no one who is holding Israel responsible for behaving as a state above the law," he said. Blinken held talks with Abbas on the first full day of a trip that includes a meeting with the foreign ministers of Israel and four Arab countries that have normalised relations with the Jewish stat...

Business community playing effective role to enhance exports: President

President, Dr. Arif Alvi has lauded the business and traders’ community for playing an effective role in enhancing exports of the country and economic stability. Addressing the 9th Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Achievements Awards in Karachi, he said it is a prime responsibility of the government to provide facilitates to the traders and implement business-friendly policies. Read more: US, EU announce new partnership to undercut Russian energy The President said remittances can also be increased by stopping money laundering. Dr. Arif Alvi stressed on digitalization of economy saying that can it can improve and bring transparency in the trade and business activities. from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/T6uRmI5

Root's future as England captain in doubt after West Indies rout

Joe Root may be "passionate" about remaining as England's Test captain but should he stay in the post after the West Indies inflicted the latest damaging defeat of his tenure? In January, the 31-year-old star batsman insisted he wanted to begin the process of helping rebuild England's red-ball fortunes by continuing to lead the team in the Caribbean following their humiliating 4-0 Ashes series loss in Australia. Read more: ICC: Pakistan bowl first in New Zealand showdown But a thumping 10-wicket defeat in the third and final Test against the West Indies in Grenada on Sunday condemned England to a 1-0 series loss after two draws. Root has now overseen just one win in 17 Tests and has failed to lead England to a series victory in his last five attempts. Nevertheless, he insisted Sunday: "I am very passionate about taking this team forward. "I feel like the group are very much behind me. I know this is a results-based business but it does not feel like...

Without Russia, science going solo on world's woes, dreams

Without Russian help, climate scientists worry how they’ll keep up their important work of documenting warming in the Arctic. Europe’s space agency is wrestling with how its planned Mars rover might survive freezing nights on the Red Planet without its Russian heating unit. In scientific fields with profound implications for mankind’s future and knowledge, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is causing a swift and broad decaying of relationships and projects that bound together Moscow and the West. Post-Cold War bridge-building through science is unraveling as Western nations seek to punish and isolate the Kremlin by drying up support for scientific programs involving Russia. Read more: Digital Markets Act: EU Negotiators Agree To Landmark Law to Curb US Big Tech Dominance The costs of this decoupling, scientists say, could be high on both sides. Tackling climate change and other problems will be tougher without collaboration and time will be lost. Russian and W...

No-trust motion: PML-Q to engage in major political meetings in Islamabad

The top leadership of one of the key allies of the government, PML-Q, has decided to engage in major political meetings in Islamabad from today (Sunday), as the vote on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan nears. Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and federal ministers Moonis Elahi and Tariq Basheer Cheema will go to the federal capital, where PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is already present. The party leaders will hold another meeting with the government’s negotiation team in the next 24 hours. In an effort to reinforce trust and ensure PML-Q's support in the no-confidence motion, government's two-member delegation, comprising Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak had met the allied party's senior leader Pervez Elahi at his residence on Saturday. Sources privy to the matter said that PML-Q will separately meet the other government allies, MQM-P and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), in the fede...

We are going to Islamabad to say goodbye to PM Imran Khan: Maryam

As PML-N’s “Mehngai Mukao March” kick-started on Saturday from Lahore's Model Town, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that the government has "already been ousted" and the Opposition was heading to Islamabad to say "goodbye" to PM Imran Khan. “[Prime Minister] Imran Khan‘s government has gone he is shouting every day. The government has gone we are going to say goodbye to it,” Maryam said. The PML-N leader said that the “people are echoing” the name of party supremo Nawaz Sharif due to the “incompetent government and inflation”. “The government has gone a goodbye is left only. He’s (Imran Khan) is pleading but nothing will happen now,” said the PML-N leader. She added that move to oust PM Imran was taken by the government and not the Opposition. Talking about the government allies who are yet to make a decision, Maryam said that no one will stand with the premier as his own party members were ditching him. “Imran Khan is the nation’s culprit, not Naw...

Russia signals less ambitious goals in Ukraine war

Russia has signalled it may dial back its war aims to focus on eastern Ukraine after failing to break the nation’s resistance in a month of fighting and attacks on civilians, including up to 300 feared killed in the bombing of a theatre. Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the February invasion to destroy Ukraine’s military and topple pro-Western President Volodymyr Zelensky, bringing the country under Russia’s sway. But Sergei Rudskoi, a senior general, suggested a considerably reduced “main goal” of controlling Donbas, an eastern region already partly held by Russian proxies. His surprise statement came as a Western official reported that a seventh Russian general, Lieutenant General Yakov Rezanstev, had died in Ukraine and that a colonel had been “deliberately” killed by his own demoralised men. Complicating Moscow’s challenges, invasion troops were facing a counteroffensive in Kherson, the only major Ukrainian city under Russian control. Zelenskyy at Doha Forum Ukr...

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