YES READS NEWS

2020-10-31T16:17:00.000+05:00

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said Pakistan wants "even-handed treatment" from the United States with respect to India, especially on the Kashmir issue.

In an interview with German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, he cautioned that the area turned into a hotspot and may flare up at any moment.

"That is the reason why we anticipate the US, since the most powerful nation on earth, to be even-handed, whoever becomes president. The US believes India will include China, which will be a totally faulty assumption.

"India is a danger to its allies, to China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well as people. It's got the most extremist, racist government on the subcontinent. It's a fascist state, motivated by the Nazis from the 1920s and 30s," he explained.

During a trip to New Delhi, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo explained that the two nations had to work together to face the danger China posed to safety and liberty.

Similarities with Trump

With the US elections only a couple of days away, Imran refrained from stating that which candidate had a much better chance at winning.

"Joe Biden is leading in opinion polls, but Donald Trump is quite unpredictable because he is not like ordinary politicians. He plays with his own principles," he explained.

Imran said when he began his own party he needed to do a great deal of"out-of-the-box thinking"." [PTI] was the first to rely on social networking and also the very first to pull the youth into our political rallies."

Wondering if he noticed similarities between the US president, Imran said: "We [PTI] needed to be quite unorthodox and, in certain ways, Donald Trump does also."

Afghan war

Following 9/11, we shouldn't have let our military to become involved in the war. I opposed it in the very beginning. The US put pressure on us and the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf succumbed to this pressure."

When the interviewer pointed out, at that moment, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the only nations encouraging the Taliban, he responded: "Do not forget, Osama bin Laden was a hero in the 1980s. He encouraged the Mujahideen from the Soviets in Afghanistan, and he was endorsed by the CIA and Pakistan.

"It had been Pakistan's right to recognise the Taliban but Pakistan had no control over the Taliban".

Asked how Pakistan managed to bring the Taliban to the bargaining table, '' the premier said that the nation had leverage because of 2.7 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan".

But he added that nobody can predict how things will proceed in Afghanistan. "What I could say is that after Afghanistan, the nation that needs peace the most is Pakistan.

"We've lost 70,000 individuals in this battle, and our tribal regions adjacent to the Afghan border have been ruined during the previous 15 years. Half of those in these regions are now internally displaced."

Imran was asked concerning the recent trip of Afghan politician and Hizb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to Islamabad.

"We don't have any favourites in Afghanistan. Our sole interest is the future government in Kabul doesn't allow India to operate against Pakistan," he stated, adding that Hekmatyar participated in the elections also accepts the constitution of Afghanistan.

Also, he loathed the"double image" awarded to Pakistan. "It all began in the 1980s, following the Iranian revolution. Many in the West started looking at Muslim nations like there was a split between liberals and fundamentalists -- a very artificial evaluation.

"Muslim nations are no different from other communities. All communities are split into moderates, which comprise the bulk, and the extremists."

Freedom of speech

"Pakistan has more freedom of speech compared to just about any Western nation," the primer maintained when asked concerning the execution of a potential new law forbidding criticism of the Pakistan Army.

There was a defamation case involving an English cricket celebrity which I won since defamation laws are extremely powerful there. However, such slander laws do not exist in Pakistan.

"I've been wrongly slandered as prime minister and gone to court but even as prime minister, I have not managed to find justice."

Also read: Thousands in Muslim-majority countries protest blasphemous sketches

"Every day, our security forces lose men and women in battle. Every nation protects its institutions, not when they do anything wrong, but if they are being assaulted."

When the interviewer pointed out that the law might make it impossible for journalists to report against the Pakistan Army at the long run, he explained: "There will probably be an additional method of managing the security forces -- not through the press, but the government.

"I will talk to the military chief if I believe there is something wrong. There are human rights violations in military operations and occasionally we talk about it as it occurs. But this shouldn't be carried out in public.

"When soldiers are risking their own lives, you cannot demoralise them in public."

Yemen conflict

Calling the battle in Yemen a"colossal human rights tragedy", Imran said that he instantly offered to mediate after coming to power.

However, you can not force anyone to agree on peace talks when they do not need to."

Commenting on a possible war between Riyadh and Tehran, he explained: "It could be a tragedy. It would be catastrophic for countries all around the planet, particularly the poor, and the price of oil would shoot up"

Discussing the normalisation of ties between Israel and many nations in the Middle East, the premier reiterated that Pakistan wouldn't recognise Israel before the Palestinian struggle is settled.

Every country has its own foreign policy. They must consider their own people and it is their choice. In terms of Pakistan, the creator of the Country, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, talked from the 1940s about the situation as a Massive breach of human rights.

"Pakistan still takes this opinion. Unless there is a mere settlement, we can't recognise Israel."

Admiration of China

The prime minister lauded China decreasing poverty and voiced his desire to replicate the same in Pakistan. I respect China since they've taken 700 million people out of poverty in a brief span of 40 years.

Despite not having electoral politics, they're great at bringing the top people to the very best inside their nation. It is a method based on meritocracy.

"I have seen the way the Communist Party brings talent

to the very top. Further, in the previous seven years, China has put 450 ministerial-level officials in jail on corruption charges."

He added that states aren't poor due to a scarcity of resources but due to corruption among the leadership.

"As we all know in the Panama Papers, the same goes for Pakistani politicians. Millions of dollars went to lands at the most expensive places in London, siphoned away from this nation."

When asked regarding the 11-party resistance alliance which has pledged lately to oust his administration, the premier said:"They wish to blackmail me to get themselves from corruption cases. But there is no way that I could relent.

"We're facing the largest trade difference in our background. The rupee is falling and there is inflation since we import gas. Everything is becoming more and more costly, even power.

"We need to boost our earnings so we must improve our tax base. We are going through those painful reforms and most of these men from the resistance get together. They're worried that after we stabilise things, they'll all wind up in prison due to corruption cases"

Pakistan's handling of the pandemic

Commenting on the country's comparatively low number of coronavirus deaths and cases, the primer stated that'smart lockdowns' would be the key to controlling the spread of this virus.

"Nearly half of the populace survives on a weekly and daily salary. We did not stop distribution lines.

"We did not halt the agriculture sector and immediately reopened the construction industry since that is what employs the many people in metropolitan cities. He added that India, on the other hand, restricted individuals to their houses in poor places.

"They have an abundance of poverty currently, same in Iran."

Wondering if the government has a very clear image of this pandemic in Pakistan, the prime minister responded: "About 180,000 to 200,000 individuals are examined every week and also our nationwide coordination team appears at multiple numbers and has an extremely clear composite image of the outbreak.

"From peak numbers in June, we found a steady decrease in cases, deaths and positivity throughout the nation until late August. Now, we are expecting to survive the next wave."

His 'soulmate'

On a lighter note, the premier expressed his wife, Bushra Bibi, was his"soulmate".

"Only a fool does not speak about everything with his wife. She has great wisdom. I talk everything with her," he said. "She is my soulmate. She is my companion. I would never have survived without her."

Thousands in Muslim-majority countries protest blasphemous sketches

2020-10-30T19:05:00.000+05:00

Countless protesters at Pakistan pumped in the streets to join anti-France protests on Friday, whilst the French president is determined never to"stop animations" depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been agitating the Muslim universe.

Crowds headed by Islamic functions chanted anti-France slogans, increased banner ads and obstructed big roads en route into Sufi shrine. A large number of individuals stomped on French flags and yelled to its boycott of products.

Read:

IIOJK, Ladakh excluded from Indian map on new Saudi Arabia banknote

More gatherings were expected after on Friday at Pakistan, for example, Islamabad, wherever authorities had been out in effect to stop potential demonstrations beyond the French Embassy. The air was stressed as authorities placed sending containers to obstruct those roadways.

Additional protests are anticipated from the other side of the area, for example in Lebanon as well as the Gaza Strip.

Back in Afghanistan, members of the Hezb-i- Islami place the French flag on fire. Its leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, cautioned Macron that should he still does not "restrain, the circumstance will let us enter a third world war and Europe is going to be responsible for it.

The protests appear amid soaring tensions among France and also Muslim-majority states, that rallied earlier this month when a young gentleman beheaded a French school teacher who had blasphemous sketches of Prophet (PBUH).

The pictures, supplied from the publication Charlie Hebdo to symbolise the start of this trial to its mortal 2015 assault, also have awakened the ire of all Muslims around the whole world.

A succession of strikes that French governments have imputed to Muslim extremism ensued. On Thursday, a knife-wielding Tunisian male transporting out a duplicate of this Holy Quran murdered about three people in a church from the southern metropolis of pleasant.

During the last week, both protests and phone calls for boycott French goods have now propagated fast from Bangladesh into Pakistan into Kuwait.

Social networking marketing was fraught with anti-France Hash-tags. Muslim leaders,'' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan particularly, loudly criticised France for what they see as the government’s provocative and anti-Muslim stance.

Strong earthquake strikes Aegean Sea, shaking Turkey, Greece

2020-10-30T18:26:00.001+05:00

A solid earthquake with a size of approximately 7.0 hit the Aegean Sea on Friday and has been sensed in Turkey and Greece, nearby as global observatories claimed.

Individuals bombarded towards the roads at the northwestern coastal town of Izmir following the earthquake,'' witnesses explained.

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Turkey's catastrophe and Emergency administration Presidency (AFAD) place the size of the earthquake in 6.6, whereas America Geological Survey claimed that it had been 7.0. It struck around 1150 GMT and has been observed across Turkey's Aegean shore and also the northeast Marmara location, press explained.

#LIVE Magnitude 6.6 #earthquake jolts #Turkey's Aegean region https://t.co/baLQeuD2Bc
— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) October 30, 2020

The epicentre was 17 kilometres from the shore of the Izmir state, in a thickness of 16 kilometres, AFAD stated. The US Geological Survey reported the thickness was 10 kilometres whereas the epicentre had been 33.5kilometers away Turkey's shore.

Facebook is launching a free cloud gaming service

2020-10-30T17:25:00.004+05:00

Facebook's cloud Gambling Agency Demands no Distinctive hardware or Controls and price of Playing Matches Will Be £ 0.

Facebook starts its cloud gambling assistance with different matches to select from in the program. It is believed to work on on the internet web browser quickly, without the downloads demanded.

The social media giant’s gaming service is limited to mobile games.

“Cloud gaming is about expanding the types of games we already offer, so we’ll start with the format people enjoy playing on Facebook: free-to-play games.

That’s one of the reasons why we’re starting with games typically played on mobile devices,” says Facebook on its blog.

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IIOJK, Ladakh excluded from Indian map on new Saudi Arabia banknote

No exceptional gear or controls will be necessary and also the price for the computer matches will be £0.

The agency is currently found about the net and on Android, nonetheless, it is unavailable on iOS. Face-book blamed Apple's AppStore provisions and requirements for it.

Facebook's Jason Rubin told TechCrunch that Apple's rules for cloud gambling agency present "a lot of obstacles which results in a terrible consumer encounter"

Microsoft also launched its Xbox cloud gaming service priced at $1 for new users' first month, in a major drive to attract casual gamers with the promise of cutting ties to the living room and as competition with Sony heats up.

Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, priced at $14.99 monthly, will be able to play more than 150 games via the cloud on Xbox consoles, Android devices, and PCs.

Likewise, Amazon introduced the Luna streaming video-game assistance, to challenge the ambitious Microsoft, and Google in the fast-growing segment

Luna apps for mobile devices are to be released soon, according to Amazon, which is pricing the new service at a $6 monthly introductory price.

IIOJK, Ladakh excluded from Indian map on new Saudi Arabia banknote

2020-10-30T16:58:00.002+05:00

The worldwide map published on the new 20 Riyal banknote, released to indicate Saudi Arabia's Presidency of the G20 group, does not comprise Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Ladakh within the Indian land.

In accordance with Arab News, the money view has been issued on October 24 and put in circulation the next day.

The banknote comes with an image of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz along with the G-20 Saudi summit logo on one side and a world-map emphasizing G-20 states in a darker colour on the opposite side.

As stated by Hindustan Times, India has lodged a demonstration to KSA against the published bank-note, advocating it to take urgent corrective measures'.

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Armenia and Azerbaijan War 2020

"We've conveyed our serious considerations to Saudi Arabia both equally to the ambassador and Riyadh.

"We've observed bank-notes and also these bank-notes possess a wrong depiction of India's outside rough borders," Srivastava stated.

"I'd like to emphasise that marriage lands of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are essential sections of India," the MEA spokesperson added.

The G20 summit has been planned to be held from November 21 to 2-2 at Riyadh.

Navalny accuses Putin of poisoning him, promises to return to Russia

2020-10-01T21:25:00.002+05:00

PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

Russian opposition leader, Navalny says Putin is behind the crime of poisoning him and that he doesn’t have any other versions of what happened.

BERLIN:

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny while giving an interview to a German magazine clearly said that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind his suspected poisoning. He added and said he is not afraid and will return to Russia to continue campaigning.

Navalny is Russian opposition leader and a strong critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he while flying from Russia to Berlin in August fell ill on a domestic flight. Navalny received emergency treatment in the Charite hospital. Germany believes Russian opposition leader, Navalny, was potentially poisoned by a deadly nerve agent. He was later discharged from the hospital in September.

Navalny is reported to have told Der Spiegel that he believes that Putin is behind the crime and he doesn’t have any other versions of what happened.

The West on the other hand has demanded an explanation from the Kremlin, which denies any involvement in the incident and says it has yet to see evidence of a crime.

While describing the unfortunate moment of his life when he was poisoned Navalny said “You don’t feel any pain but you know you’re dying,” He said he was in the process of recovery and was now relearning how to balance on one leg.

Navalny was accompanied by security guards, on his visit to the magazine’s office, who asserted they should choose which bottle of water from the fridge he should drink. His partners have said that before taking the flight he drank water from the bottle in the hotel room on which traces of Novichok had been found.

Navalny is reported to have told Der Spiegel that soon he would return to Russia, adding that his task was now to remain fearless. He said he has no fear. If his hands are shaking, it’s because of the poison and because of fear. He will not give Putin the gift of not returning. His statement gives a clear message to Putin that his critic is firm in his goals and will not move away from the challenges.

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He along with his family is currently living in a rented flat in Berlin, but he said that he would continue posting on his popular online video channel once he was back home to Russia. He said that he does not want to be the opposition leader in exile.

Beside other politicians, Chancellor Angela Merkel visited him at the hospital beside. He said that he feels a personal bond to Germany and has been impressed by Merkel's knowledge of Russia.

He said that according to his opinion Merkel does not needs any advice from him. He also added saying, "any Russia strategy must account for the depth of madness that Putin has now reached,” adding that the times were past when “Putin would not risk a conflict with Berlin”.

A new cybersecurity chief hired by Twitter after a high profile security breach

2020-09-30T20:46:00.001+05:00

A new cybersecurity chief hired by Twitter

Rinki Sethi has been hired as twitter new chief security officer after a high profile security breach was reported in July.

Sethi has extensive experience in cybersecurity as she has previously served as a chief information security officer at data management Rubrik, and has also worked in cybersecurity roles at IBM, Palo Alto Networks and Intuit. Sethi former experience makes her a suitable candidate for the job.

Rinki has also played a lead role in developing cutting edge online security infrastructure at numerous Fortune 500 companies. Hence she will bring a wealth of valuable industry expertise to twitter. Her ability and experience in cybersecurity will help twitter protect its system more efficiently.

Sethi at her new job is given the role of overseeing the company's information security practice and policies. Sethi will report to platform lead, Nick Tornow, she tweeted announcing the job move.

So excited to be a part of the team @twitter working alongside @nicktornow @michaelmontano @paraga and more! https://t.co/SGoBLr5957
— Rinki Sethi (@rinkisethi) September 28, 2020

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Sethi is currently serving as an advisor to many startups which includes LevelOps and Authomize, and many cybersecurity organizations like Women in Cybersecurity.

Information security officer role had been left vacant by Twitter since Mike Convertino, twitter previous security chief, left in December to join cyber resilience firm Arceo.

Twitter, a social media platform was hit by very public cyberattack in July. Hacker hit the company's internal admin tools. The hackers hijacked high profile twitter accounts to spread a cryptocurrency scam. They successfully used a social engineering technique called voice phishing which involves tricking someone on the phone to let them hand over passwords or access to the internal system.

How to apply and renew your driving license online in Pakistan

2020-09-29T20:19:00.001+05:00

Renew your driving license online in Pakistan

We all need a driving license by law to drive any vehicle. Therefore one must always have a driving licence to drive any vehicle. In Pakistan, applying for a driving licence was always a tedious job for most of the people. This problem has been solved as Pakistan has introduced a state of the art online application system for the issuance of driving license, things seem a bit easier and more relaxing now.

Pakistan Information Technology Board (PITB) has now empowered you to apply for a driving license through the digital system DLIMS. The process of driver license issuance through DLIMS has been spread out to 36 districts of Punjab.

Let’s discuss the application procedure for the application of a Driving License online:

First, Login to the DLIMS Website.
In the download section, download the required form.
Fill the form carefully with all the required detail.
Submit the required documents to the licensing centre.
A candidate must pass the initial theoretical test after a licensing period of 42 days.
Finally, take the driving test.

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Documents required for the renewal of driving license:

Important note to mention:

It is important to mention here that if you want to renew your license, you are not required to give the theoretical and Driving test, you just need to submit the required documents to the licensing centre in person.

Required Documents:

The application form E enclosed in a cover.
2 Passport-sized Photos
2 copies of your CNIC
Your original driving license
Fee ticket as mentioned in License Document
Medical reports
Ticket of the relevant license

All licenses are renewed for 5 years period, below are the detail of different issuance fees for different vehicles:

Other important information which is worth mentioning here is the fact that the renewal of a license does not cost anything if renewed within a month but if the license is renewed in a period of 1 to 3 months, a fine of 50%l be imposed, and if the renewal is done within 3 months to 1 year, a fine of 100% will be charged on the applicant.

Armenia and Azerbaijan War 2020

2020-09-29T16:53:00.002+05:00

Armenia and Azerbaijan War 2020

Background of the war

Armenia and Azerbaijan are neighbours. These states share the border with Iran, Turkey, Russia and Georgia. Both these states got independence from the former Soviet Union. Since independence, both Armenia and Azerbaijan are in conflict over a disputed region known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is ethnical dominated by Armenian but is also home to Muslim Turks. Nagorno-Karabakh is recognised as part of Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenian since the end 1994 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The ethnic Armenian majority in the region fought a bloody war of secession from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union fell apart three decades ago. Thousand of people died in the war and a million others were displaced from their home.

Beginning of the war

Authorities have reported on Sunday that a war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both sides reported heavy losses and blame each other for escalating the war. Both countries have mobilized their soldiers and declared martial law in some areas.

Other countries are concerned that the fight may spill out to the neighbouring countries which include Turkey, Iran and Russian. All of the three powers have competed for dominance in the region. Another reason for concern is that major gas and oil pipeline pass through the area. If the tensions escalate, the region may witness the energy crisis.

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Other countries response to Armenia and Azerbaijan War

Turkey and Pakistan have declared their support to Azerbaijan while Russia has a military base in Armenia but also have friendly relation with Azerbaijan. Russian has called upon both sides to immediately declare a ceasefire and solve the problem through dialogue.

Turkey is accused by Aremina of providing military support to Azerbaijan to help it control the territory. This claim is denied by Azerbaijan.

President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called upon Aremina to immediately withdraw from the region and end the occupation of the territory which he said is the only way of securing peace.

Armenia and Azerbaijan perspective of the conflict

Armenia foreign minister accused Azerbaijan of sabotaging the peaceful settlement of the dispute and said Armenia will defend the region. While the officials of Azerbaijan, says they are taking countermeasures against the provocation of Armenia.

Latest updates from the battleground

The authorities on Monday reported 16 people death in Nagorno-Karabakh and said that more than 100 people are wounded.

Armenian officials said that 200 Armenians were wounded during the recent war with Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan reported two Azeri civilians were killed on Monday, following the deaths of five people from the same family died on Sunday. It also added that 30 civilians were wounded during the ongoing war.

Nagorno-Karabakh officials claimed that their forces had recaptured some territory taken by Azeri troops on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's government announced on Monday that it had seized strategically important locations in the disputed region.

International Reaction to Aremina Azerbaijan War

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "extremely concerned", pushing both parties to end fighting
Russia's foreign minister held crucial talks both with the Armenian and Azeri leadership and encouraged both the parties to hold ceasefire and start peace negotiations.
France also called for an immediate ceasefire and urge both the States to start the dialogue.
Iran bordering both Azerbaijan and Armenia proposed to broker peace talks
President Donald Trump said the US was endeavouring to halt the violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

How to check and pay traffic E-Challan online?

2020-09-29T03:28:00.001+05:00

How to check and pay traffic E-Challan online?

E-Challan is an electronic traffic violation Ticket system which is recently launched by Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) in the city of Lahore in collaboration with the City Traffic Police. The project has received a welcoming response from the citizen of Lahore.

The system uses most advance Automatic Vehicle Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to identify the violators of the traffic rules. The system is installed across different roads of the city. The violators receive E-Challan on the addresses which are registered against their vehicle IDs. The E-Challan contains information regarding how the driver violated the traffic rules. The picture of the vehicle is also posted on the Challan paper.

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The major problem faced by people is that the violators remain unaware of the fact that they have been fined. Because in some case the violated had changed their address registered against their vehicle IDs and have not officially changed it in the documents due to which the E-Challan never reaches their home. The other reason which is why people do not receive E-Challan at their residence address is because of a technical problem in the system. Therefore, if you want to know, either you have violated the traffic rules or not, we have given some instructions that you can follow which will help you know about your traffic rule violation status and how can you pay your E-Challan online.

How to check E-Challan online:

First, visit the PSCA website and check your traffic violation status online.
After the PSCA website is open, you will notice two blocks which will appear in front of you, one will be for your vehicle number and the other for your CNIC.
In these blocks, you will enter the detail of your vehicle registration and CNIC number to check if you have been charged with a fine or not. You also have the option of printing the E-Challan document.

How to pay your E-Challan:

You can pay your E-Challan through two ways which are mentioned below.

The first method to pay your challan is to manually download and printing the E-Challan document from the PSCA website and submit the required amount in National Bank of Punjab (NBP).
The second method to pay your challan is to use NBP’s ATM machines.

The PSCA is in the process of developing a mobile app which will help citizen to check and pay their E-challans without leaving the comfort of their house.

The Electronic Ticketing Center (ETC) of Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has been a success as it has issued over 75,000 e-challans since the launch of the Electronic Challan system on September 23. These 75,000 E-Challans have consequently added PKR 7 million to the national treasury so far.

PM Imran’s 9-Point Agenda Could End Money Laundering From Across the Globe

2020-09-28T00:55:00.030+05:00

PM Imran’s 9-Point Agenda

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan while addressing the Financial Accountability, Transparency, and Integrity (FACTI) on the sidelines of the 75th virtual session of the United Nations General Assembly, has proposed a 9-point formula to curb the flow of money laundering from emerging nations.

PM Khan told that each year more than $7 trillion is transferred out of developing countries through illegal channels. He further added that these countries lose around $500 to $600 billion annually on account of tax evasion.

PM Imran Khan said," All over the world about $7 trillion is stolen and parked in safe tax heaven destination"

The premier urged the meeting participants to put an end to the bleeding developing economies and strengthen international cooperation to hold the financial criminals accountable.

The detailed about PM Imran Khan 9-point agenda tabled during the meeting of FACTI is as follow.

Tax haven countries must immediately return the stolen wealth to developing countries.
Criminal and monetary penalties must be enforced on all those financial institutions which are involved in receiving and utilizing the dirty money.
The accountants, lawyers, and other intermediaries which facilitate the transferring of dirty money from developing countries must be regulated and monitored.
The beneficial ownership of foreign companies must be disclosed by the tax heaven when any country makes an official request.
To prevent multinational companies from tax evasion global minimum corporate tax must be introduced by profit shifting to low tax countries.
Digital transactions which generate Revenue should be taxed at origin rather than anywhere else.
Unequal investment treaties must be revised or repeal and a fair arbitration system to address international investment disputes must be introduced.
The flow of illegal money, monitored by all official and nonofficial organisation must include all developing countries.
The coherence and consistency in the functioning of the official and non-official bodies must be supervised through a mechanism notified by UN

Image Source: trendinginsocial

Is it the end of the oil age?

2020-09-27T23:31:00.016+05:00

Is it the end of the oil age?

20 Century was fuelled by oil everything from cars to wars to the economy and even the geopolitics was driven by oil. But the situation is changing very rapidly as the world is in the middle of an energy shock which will consequently pave a way for a new order. Earlier this year, COVID 19 devasted the global economy as a result, oil demand dropped by more than a fifth and prices fell. Since then recovery is very slow and a return to the old world is near to impossible. The situation has put Fossil-fuel producers at very vulnerabilities position. ExxonMobil has been ousted from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, having been a member since 1928. Petrostates economies are driven by oil, Saudi Arabia for instance need an oil price of $70-80 a barrel to balance their budgets. Today it is selling its oil for just $40.

The oil prices have fallen before, but the situation is different this time. The clean-energy industry is gaining momentum as the public, governments and investors getting concerned for climate change. Capital markets have also shifted as clean-power stocks are up by 45% this year. Politicians are backing green energy infrastructure plans as the government provides funds with interest rates near zero. Joe Biden, America’s Democratic presidential contender, wants to spend $2trn to help to decarbonise America’s economy. The European Union has allocated 30% of its $880bn COVID-19 recovery plan for climate measures, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, confirm that she wants the EU to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 55% over 1990 levels in the next decade.

Energy system indicators of the 21st century seem to be promising a better future than the oil age—better for human health, more politically stable and less economically volatile. There is also a big risk in energy shift. If it occurs in disorder manner, it could create political and economic instability in countries which economies depend on oil and give control of the green-supply chain to China. Even more dangerous, it could happen too slowly.

Fossil fuels account for 85% of the energy source in the world. But this system is not clean as Energy from oil accounts for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions; the pollution due fossil fuels is responsible for killing over 4m people a year. Oil has also created political instability. For decades petrostates which include Venezuela and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the politics of handouts and cronyism. The world’s big powers have always competed to influence these states. Fossil fuels cause economic volatility, too. Oil markets are struck by an unpredictable cartel. The concentration of the world’s oil reserves makes supply unsafe to geopolitical shocks. It is hardly surprising that the price has swung by over 30% in a sixth-month period 62 times since 1970.

A new energy system is arising. Renewable electricity such as solar and wind power could grow from 5% of supply today to 25% in 2035, and almost 50% by 2050. The use of Oil and coal will sharply drop, while cleaner natural gas will remain central. This change will eventually bring enormous advantages. Most important, clean energy will produce good results in terms of climate change, as it will help avoid devastating droughts, famine, floods and mass dislocation. Once ready, it must be politically stable too, because supply will be diversified, geographically and technologically. Petrostates will have to strive to bring reform and as their governments start to depend on taxing their citizens, some will become more representative. Consuming countries will more likely be interested in sensible regulation of their power industry which previously sought to interfere in the politics of the oil-producing countries. The 21st-century system should also be less economically volatile. Electricity prices will be determined by competition and gradual efficiency gains.

While a more reliable energy system is developing, the threat of a poorly managed shift looms. There seem to be two risks. Autocratic China could briefly gain clout over the global power system due to its dominance in making essential components and developing new technologies. Today Chinese firms are producing 72% of the world’s solar modules, 69% of its lithium-ion batteries and 45% of its wind turbines. They also control much of the refining of minerals critical to clean energy, such as cobalt and lithium. Instead of a petrostate, the People’s Republic may become an “electrostate”. In the past six months, it has announced investments in electric-car infrastructure and transmission, tested a nuclear plant in Pakistan and considered stockpiling cobalt.

The leverage of China depends on how quick other economies move. Europe is has been a place where giant developers of wind and solar farms Orsted, Enel and Iberdrola are building such projects throughout the world. European firms are leading the race to cut their emissions, too. America’s potential to lead the race of clean energy has been affected by the rise of shale oil and gas, which has made it the world’s largest oil producer, and by Republican resistance to decarbonisation measures. If America were to act on climate change with, say, a carbon tax and new infrastructure its capital markets, national energy laboratories and universities would make it a formidable green power.

The other big risk is the transition of petrostates, which account for 8% of world GDP and nearly 900m citizens. As oil demand decreases, they will face a vicious fight for market share which will be won by the countries with the cheapest and cleanest crude. Even as they struggle with the growing importance of economic and political reform, the public resources to pay for it may lessen. This year Saudi Arabia’s government revenue fell by 49% in the second quarter. An uncertain few decades lie ahead.

Faced with these dangers, the sensible step will be to ease the adjustment, by making the transition more slowly. However, that would bring about a different, even more, destabilising set of climate-related consequences. Instead, as our special report in this issue explains, the investments being contemplated fall drastically short of what is needed to keep temperatures within 2°C of pre-industrial levels, let alone the 1.5°C required to limit the environmental, economic and political turmoil of climate change. For example, annual investment in wind and solar capacity needs to be about $750bn, triple recent levels. And if the shift towards fossil-fuel-free renewable energy accelerates, as it must, it will cause even more geopolitical turbulence. The move to a new energy order is vital, but it will be messy.

Five injured,13 killed after a van crashed on Super Highway close to Karachi

2020-09-27T01:22:00.001+05:00

Image source: Geo News

At least 13 people have been killed and five of them injured after a passenger van crashed close to Super Highway on the outskirts of Karachi.

The ill-fated van was coming from Hyderabad to Karachi when its tie rod broke as a result of which the van overturned and then caught fire.

The Motorway Police reported the accident took place near Nooriabad. The van carried 20 people during the accident, out of which 13 are said to have died on spot.

Motorway Police said a one-year-old girl survived in a miraculous way and the van driver also survived the crash.

Saad Edhi a member of Edhi Foundation stated that rescue efforts have been completed. He is reported to have said that thirteen bodies have been recovered and five people have been rescued who are in a dangerous condition.

In a statement to Motorway Police, the van driver said that the bonnet of an approaching vehicle came out and shattered the windscreen of the van. "After the bonnet hit the windscreen, I could not control the car," he responded.

Pakistan, China special diplomat review the latest status of the Afghan peace process

2020-09-27T00:48:00.007+05:00

Image Source: orfonline.org

ISLAMABAD: China’s Special diplomat for Afghanistan Affairs Ambassador Liu Jian visited Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq and examined the latest standing of the Afghan peace process.

Ambassador Sadiq briefed the visiting notable on Pakistan’s decisive role in the Afghan peace process, a press release issued here by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Ambassador Sadiq restated Pakistan’s continued support to Afghan-led and Afghan-owned intra-Afghan negotiations.

He noted that the start of Intra-Afghan Negotiations was a historic juncture for the Afghan leadership to deliver an inclusive, broad-based and extensive political arrangement in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Jian thanked Pakistan for playing a leading and constructive role in the Afghan peace process. He further added that Pakistan will continue its efforts of peace and stability in Afghanistan. Both Pakistan and China shared a similar goal of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

China’s special envoy for Afghanistan Affairs, Mr Jian, is on his first visit to Pakistan after assuming office earlier this year.

Ertugrul’ star Engin Altan Duzyatan looks stunning in latest photo

2020-09-26T20:55:00.003+05:00

Turkish star Engin Altan Duzyatan, who rose to fame after his titular role in historical drama series Dirilis: Ertugrul, looked stunning in his latest photo he shared on social media.

Engin Altan Duzyatan Ertugrul shared his charming photo in a black three-piece suit on Instagram. The picture shows, the actor holding a black mask in his hands.

The Dirilis: Ertugrul star looked handsome in the latest photo, which has gone viral on the internet soon after the picture was shared in his Instagram story.

Earlier, Engin Altan's wife Neslisah Alkoclar also had used the photo-video sharing platform and posted her magnificent photos with her old friends.

The charming post has amassed thousands of hearts within no time.

How is the world entering a new Cold War?

2020-09-24T23:50:00.005+05:00

The United Nations is observing its 75th anniversary as the post-World War Two global order which created it is on unstable grounds. The former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has observed that multilateralism is in serious chaos.

President Donald Trump's America First foreign policy has seen the US pulling itself from multilateral agreements which include the Paris Climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal. China on the other hand is positioning itself as the new supporter of the United Nations.

Beijing is devoting more money to fund UN agencies like the World Health Organization and many more as a result China would desire more say in the organisation.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talked of a foundational moment facing the UN. He said that those who established the United Nations understood the importance of unity as they had lived through war and an earlier pandemic.

Concerns about what the US-China rivalry means for global stability is given much importance at this remote gathering of world leaders.

The French President Emmanuel Macron said in his pre-recorded remarks that today's world can't be left to the rivalry between China and the US.

That rivalry, which has seen the two countries lock horns on everything from trade to technology, is becoming increasingly bitter - and President Trump twisted up the rhetoric, using his platform on the world stage to criticize China by calling Corona Virus as the China virus.

As the US election date gets closer, Bejing bashing becomes central to the Trump campaign. It appears that Trump through Bejing bashing attempt to divert criticism from his failure to handle the outbreak of Virus.

Would a bi-polar world in which the US and China compete for supremacy eventually lead to military conflict? The UN Secretary-General has warned the world of another Cold War as he addressed his concerns.

Mr Guterres said," We are moving towards a dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two biggest economies divide the globe in a Great Fracture, each with its trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities. A technological and economic divide risks unavoidably turning into a geostrategic and military split. We must not travel in that direction".

This open conversation about the outcomes of a "great fracture " confirms how swiftly the world is changing, and how statesmen are struggling to keep up.

China's President Xi Jinping declared at the virtual general debate that China has no plan to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any nation.

The presidency of Donald Trump has elevated tensions with China which have put the world in great danger.

According to some experienced diplomat, the general debate at the UN was seen as creative chaos. The pandemic has exploited the injustices of the world, witnessed the UN secretary-general. People are in troubling, our planet is on fire, he said, urging world leaders to see Covid-19 as a wake-up call and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Yet within an hour of Mr Guterres saying solidarity is self-interest, President Trump announced that all world leaders should follow his example and put their countries first.

If Donald Trump is re-elected, his unilateralism will become more pronounced, and the United Nations will probably be further marginalised by the US.

Would the US commitment to NATO weaken too? If Joe Biden is elected as president instead of Trump, the tension between US and China might be declined, but the fundamental US-China rivalry would remain.

The world is realigning, and the question now is how the old multilateral order adapts - and who will lead it.

US to partially lift 33 years old arms embargo on Cyprus

2020-09-24T22:32:00.003+05:00

Image Source: flickr.com

The United States has decided to lift a 33-year arms embargo on Cyprus and extend its security alliance with Nicosia, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Tuesday, inciting an angry response from Turkey.

Turkey invaded the Island in 1974 which let to the division of the island into Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It must be noted that Turkey recognises the northern part of Cyprus as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not recognised by other States. Several peacemaking efforts have failed in the past.

Washington in its efforts to encourage reunification of Cyprus and avoid arms race on the Island placed restrictions on the transfer of arms in 1987.

Mike Pompeo further added that Cyprus is US key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean and that they will suspend restrictions on the sale of non-lethal defence articles and services to the Republic of Cyprus for the upcoming fiscal year.

US decision to lifting arms embargo comes at a time of escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Greece over claims to potential natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean sea.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter that he welcomed the move after a phone call with Mike Pompeo.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said the decision “neglects the equality and balance” on the island and that Turkey expects its NATO partner to “reconsider” its decision.

He further added that if the decision was not reconsidered, Turkey will take all the steps required in line with its legal and historical responsibility to guarantee the security of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Turkey and Greece both agree to solve their dispute through dialogue. They each held military exercises in the region, underlining the potential for the dispute to escalate.

Tesla’s latest big unveiling is the battery tech that could power its future

2020-09-23T21:13:00.001+05:00

Tesla has focused on squeezing as much power as possible out of its batteries, with industry-leading range figures that have surpassed its opponents by dozens of kilometre per charge. Now it has its eyes set on a distinct goal which is building batteries that cannot only beat competitors’ range or how far their cars can travel on a single charge but to outlast the life span of a single-vehicle.

It’s the most advanced innovation prompted by the Silicon Valley car builder that has strived to rewrite the rules on electric vehicles and make them performance-oriented, aspirational in a way that has eluded competitors. Electric car vehicles constitute a small slice of the overall car market therefore for Tesla to expand, it will need to reign supreme over not only the manufacturing of vehicles but also their lifeblood which are batteries.

Image Source: The Economic Times

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans for tackling that issue at a widely awaited event called Battery Day event. Tesla rather sought to set its future agenda and set its goal to build a $25,000 mass-market electric car.

The yet-unnamed offering would see its cheaper price tag supported by battery technology improvements and efficiency such as the capacity to more densely pack battery cells into Tesla’s vehicles. Tesla would exert control over the entire battery supply chain, from base battery materials to the building of battery cells, to their installation directly into Tesla’s cars.Tesla aims to recycle old battery materials.

In an interview, Elon Musk stated that we must produce more EVs which need to be affordable and [have] a lot more energy storage while building factories faster and with very less investment.

He also announced Tesla’s objective to build 20 million cars per year which is far greater compared to its current output of mere hundreds of thousands. How to achieve that?

Musk also added that we thought through every element of the battery. For example, Musk stated Tesla would build its cathode plant to supply a crucial component for electric vehicle batteries that includes some of the more resource-intense mining. It would base its future fleet around a new cell which it calls the 4680 that would give 16 percent more range, along with power and energy outputs that are multiples times higher than today’s batteries are capable of providing. It would pack the new components more densely into its vehicles which will making the battery itself a dual use part of Tesla vehicles’ frame rather than a supplemental component adding weight.

Musk stated that they aim to build afforable electric car which will be availabe for the public in three years with a price tag of $25000 that will be fully autonomous too.

Musk also announced one new offering which he called the Model S Plaid, that would carry the longest range of any Tesla to date. The variant, which comes in at $140,000, is expected to carry a 520-mile range and travel from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds. It wouldn’t be ready until late 2021.

Telenor Microfinance Bank receives US$45 million Equity Injection to continue its Growth on Digital Strategy

2020-09-23T17:04:00.001+05:00

The Telenor Microfinance Bank which is the country first scheduled microfinance bank and the operator of the country’s leading digital payments platform Easypaisa has received an investment of US$45 million from its shareholders Telenor Group and Ant Group Co., Ltd. (Ant Group). The Bank’s capital position has further been bolstered by the investment from the shareholders and placed the organization on an upward trajectory to maintain its growth in the mobile payment area of Pakistan.

To address the low-level financial incorporation in the country, Telenor Microfinance Bank concentrates on innovative technology and thorough research and development, and these areas will see a notable rise after the investment from the shareholders.

Telenor Microfinance Bank, Being the leader of the fintech revolution in Pakistan, is rendering the best services to millions of consumers in the country. The Bank continues and struggles to work towards financially enabling Pakistanis through a robust portfolio of credit solutions and its unprecedented digital payment platform, Easypaisa.

The COVID-19 pandemic has come as a strong signalled to businesses and individuals not just in Pakistan but around the world that a digitally-enabled landscape for payments is a necessity. The Bank has been working on improving financial inclusion ratios within the country through the introduction of excellent services and a range of innovative financial solutions that are easily accessible to the masses.

Irfan Wahab Khan, Chairman, Board of Directors, while comment on the development Telenor Microfinance Bank, stated that a significant shift is being witnessed in the way people transact and conduct business. The world is shifting towards digitalization and access to suitable financial services is what customers wants. As pioneers of mobile banking in Pakistan, Telenor Microfinance Bank strives to make a permanent impact in the financial landscape of the country. The Bank is fast moving towards building a digitally enabled economy for Pakistan where the benefits reach everyone at all levels.

CEO, Telenor Microfinance Bank/Easypaisa, M. Mudassar Aqil, said that since its inception, Telenor Microfinance Bank has achieved significant breakthroughs and has played a major role in serving the un-banked and the under-banked segments of the society. Our ambitions have been clear ever since. We are dedicated to transforming the lives of Pakistanis by the power of digital finance. In this respect, we are very gratified to have the support from our shareholders through another sizable equity injection that cements our commitment to contributing towards Pakistan’s financial sector and places us for continued growth in the future.

Telenor Microfinance Bank remains committed through the power of collaboration and technology, to allow individuals and businesses over Pakistan to adopt the digital way of life.

Instagram is in the process of developing tools that will let brands manage their DMs with users

2020-09-22T15:02:00.003+05:00

Image source: Fortune

Instagram is in the process of developing tools that will let brands manage their DMs with users.

Instagram is set to build out software tools that will help brands manage their direct messages with the app’s users.

The Facebook-owned photo-sharing social media app is in the process of building an API (application programming interface) that will enable companies and mega brands to access their messages through third-party services, a feature long-demanded by brands and other accounts, that will enable brands and companies better manage their interactions with its customers.

The exact launch date of the tool is yet unknown neither the information as who will initially have access to it. An Instagram spokesperson in a statement stated that they are always working on new ways for businesses to connect with their customers. He further added to stay tuned for more details.

APIs are tools for enabling various pieces of software to interact each one another, and in the context on social media APIs often enable third-party companies to build software tools to assist brands and organisations communicate with other users more efficiently.

They offer a wide range of advantages: Mega brand might have a lot of interactions and messages with users every day, which would be impossible to track or engage using only the default, user apps. Instead, developers can develop dashboards and tools for interacting with these users most effectively.

Instagram, photo sharing media app, already runs an API which enables brands to respond to comments, view the posts they’re tagged in, and other functionality. There are also APIs for the core Facebook social network, WhatsApp and messaging app Messenger.

The new API will assist huge accounts to handle their Instagram direct messages with other accounts. It’s something that many brands and marketers have desired for a long time. It is yet unclear as what functionality the new API will offer.

Currently, brands have only three options for managing their DMs with users. They can use the consumer app, or the Instagram.com website, both of which have only primary functionality. Or they can use Creator Studio, a Facebook-built tool for managing social media accounts that offer greater functionality, but not API access.

Deployment of energy efficiency solution for 5G network by China Mobile Pakistan

2020-09-22T00:49:00.003+05:00

China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak) has unfolded a state-of-the-art Energy Efficient Digital Management Platform to set a new benchmark for energy efficiency innovation and build its network ready for forthcoming technologies including 5G.

The solution will concentrate on network development while proceeding to build and optimize energy networks with augmentations and upgrades and to smoothly grow to 5G.

CMPak’s penetration is regarded as the best in the country besides the company being known for its innovative technical solutions that solve the bottlenecks of power supply.

Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure faces hurdles like high power cost, low site availability, and challenging site maintenance and management, making the upgrades to prospective technologies like 5G very tough. CMPak’s Energy Efficiency Digital Management Platform intends to solve these challenges by installing an effective, digital, and smart energy network.

“We’re the chief provider of excellent cellular and digital services in the country and are constantly on the lookout for high-level solutions to make our network future-ready,” stated a CMPak 4G spokesperson. The installation of the futuristic Energy Efficient Digital Management Platform is in line with our aim and focus on network advancement as we expand and enhance energy networks to smoothly unfold to 5G and other future technologies.

CMPak is utilising leading industry technologies to energy solutions, which includes high-efficiency module, wireless sensing and one site one cabinet solution. It further improves energy capability through digital technology, along with power business synergy, synergy and site synergy, so that all sites save energy efficiently. Lastly, it combines digital sites with big data & Artificial Intelligence to execute networks manageable, visible, optimized and controllable to achieve intelligent network O&M and management.

Lately, CMPak’s network perfection was acknowledged yet again by Opensignal – an independent global standard for analysing consumer mobile experience – which ranked CMPak best in top five service areas that include Download Speed Experience, Upload Speed Experience, Video Experience, 4G Availability, and 4G Coverage Experience.

Facebook is in trouble as it is accused of spying on Instagram Users Through Cameras

2020-09-21T21:27:00.021+05:00

Facebook Inc., a social media company, is facing a lawsuit for purportedly spying on Instagram users through their phone’s camera. Facebook while defending itself has denied allegations against it and claimed that it was a bug in the app which has caused the problem and the company is in the process of correcting it. This lawsuit comes after a range of media reports which alleged that Instagram accessed the iPhone users camera even when the user was not active on the app.

The complaint has been filed against Facebook at a federal court in Sans Francisco, the Instagram user stated that Facebook spied on the users to get access to lucrative and valuable data on its users which the Facebook, a social media giant, would not otherwise have access to. Facebook by using the cameras can observe the users at their houses and as per the Instagram user, the Facebook is obtaining extremely private and intimate personal data on their users that includes the privacy of their own homes and also using the same for valuable insights and market research, the complaint stated.

Facebook has denied commenting on the subject matter.

A lawsuit which was filed last month, Facebook was accused of using facial-recognition technology to illegally collect the biometric data of its more than 100 million Instagram users. Facebook has denied the claim and stated that Instagram doesn’t use face recognition technology.

In a world where privacy of the users is given utmost importance by social media companies, Facebook seems to be failing in obtaining that goals. It is up to users now, how much do they trust social media when it comes to their privacy.

All opposition political parties collectively demand ‘immediate’ resignation of PM Imran

2020-09-21T01:44:00.003+05:00

Pakistan Democratic Movement has announced countrywide rallies and demonstrations to dismiss PTI govt.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, JUI-F chief announced on Sunday night, all opposition parties have demanded of Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign immediately and urged the government to hold free and fair elections in the country.

Moulana Fazal ur Rehman was addressing a joint press conference where he announced future action plan and a 26-point resolution which was passed during an all-parties conference (APC) held in Islamabad to devise a collective policy to sack Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

Image Source: DW

Fazl also announced that it was decided in the meeting to name the opposition alliance as Pakistan Democratic Movement, which will organise a countrywide demonstration to get rid of IK government.

During this meeting, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and other opposition leaders were also present.

Moulana said, the joint resolution, has rejected any effort to introduce a presidential form of government in the country and promised to further strengthen the parliamentary system of the country.

Fazal also said the option of resignation from assemblies is also on the table and can be taken if the need arises.

He held the PTI government responsible for the current crises in the country. Moulana stated that a weak economy is a threat for the country's survival and sovereignty.

He also urged the government to reduce the prices of essential goods and give relief to the people of the country.

Fazal while discussing foreign policy held PTI government responsible for the abrogation of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He blamed the government for failing to formulate Afghan policy.

On behalf of all opposition parties, JUI Cheif demanded of the government to guarantee the immediate release of all political prisoners and journalists, who he said were detained on fake charges.

The Parliament was termed as “rubber stamp” by all opposition parties and announced in the resolution that they will not cooperate with the government in any legislation in the future.

The resolution adopted by the opposition parties also alleged that incompetent rulers have endangered the multi-billion dollar CPEC initiative and stalled the momentum of its projects.

The opposition has also shown their concerns over the rising incident of terrorism, accusing the government of not implementing the National Action Plan (NAP), which was formulated following the deadly APS attack in 2014.

The joint opposition statement also called upon the government to guarantee free and fair elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Taiwan move fighters jets as Chinese jets fly near island

2020-09-20T01:33:00.002+05:00

Taiwan’s air force moved and positioned its jets in the air for a second consecutive day on Saturday as various Chinese aircraft advanced the island and traversed the sensitive midline of the Taiwan Strait. The island’s government pressed Beijing to “pull back from the edge”.

The Defence Ministry of Tawain claimed that 19 Chinese aircraft were involved in the incident with some crossing the Taiwan Strait midline and others flying into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone off its southwest coast.

It said China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its territory, sent two J-10 fighters, 12 J-16 fighters, two H-6 bombers, two J-11 fighters and one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft. The map provided by the ministry shows that none got close to mainland Taiwan itself or flew over it.

The ministry said in a tweet that ROCAF (Republic of China Air Force), the formal name of Taiwan air force, moved fighters jets, and stationed air defence missile system to observe the activities.

Taiwan has repeatedly complained of incidents of Chinese aircraft near the island this year and has regularly had to scramble its F-16s and other jets to prevent them.

China had announced on Friday, about combat drills near the Taiwan Strait at a news conference in Beijing about China’s UN peacekeeping efforts and condemned what it called conspiracy between the island and the United States.

China was offended when Keith Krach, the US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs arrived in Taipei on Thursday for a three-day visit. This was an unprecedented visit in four decades by most senior State Department official in Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, Keith Krach left Saturday afternoon.

'Pull back from the edge'

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said that China was carrying out provocative activities which are a great threat to peace and stability

The Defence Ministry of Taiwan condemns these activities and urge China to control themselves and pull back from the edge.

China’s state-backed newspaper the Global Times said in a Saturday editorial that Friday’s drills were an exercise to take over Taiwan.

It warned that the US and Taiwan must not underestimate the situation nor should they assume the exercise as a bluff. If they continue to make provocations, war will unavoidably break out.

Johnny Chiang, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party the Kuomintang took to Facebook and said that both sides need to resume dialogue to reduce the risk of war.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry along with others will make it to 'Time's 100 most influential people' list

2020-09-19T01:05:00.003+05:00

“Image by [Mark Jones] via [ https://www.flickr.com/photos/rambomuscles/27537241539].”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are all set and will be named in the coveted 'Time's 100 most influential people' list in the world.

The list will be broadcast on (ABC channel) for the first time this year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be seen on the list beside renowned figures like Sandra Oh, Trevor Noah, John Legend and Kumail Nanjiani just to name a some.

The special list will be announced including all of 100 prominent people in what ABC calls "an entertainment-filled inside look at the leaders, creators and everyday heroes comprising the 2020 list ahead of its TIME print debut."

"In the year 2020 within which we are sadly not capable of gathering the TIME100 community together personally, we are keen to acknowledge the remarkable accomplishments of the members of this year's list with a fresh experience on ABC that will enable more people to engage than ever before," TIME studios president Ian Orefice asserted in a statement.

ABC's senior vice president of alternative series, specials, and late-night, announced that the network is "overjoyed" to bring the list to primetime for the first time.

He further added, "In the middle of this unusual year, we hope that spectators at home will not only be entertained but feel motivated by the impression that the honorees of the 2020 TIME100 list have made on the globe,".

The list will televise on Tuesday, September 22, and will also have interesting shows from Halsey, Jennifer Hudson and The Weeknd.