May 9 riots cases: Asad Umar, Aleema, Uzma Khan’s bail extended

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore extended the interim bail plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Asad Umar, Aleema and Uzma Khan, in May 9 attack cases.

Sisters of the PTI chairman, Aleema, Uzma Khan and former minister Asad Umar are accused of attacking state properties on May 9, following the arrest of the former prime minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The ATC Judge subsequently scheduled further arguments on the pre-arrest bails for November 22.

Protests had broken out across Pakistan after the PTI chairman was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on May 9.

The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers were agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.

Army installations and the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore came under attack during a protest by PTI workers.

Deadline for illegal immigrants expires today

Repatriation of illegal foreign nationals including Afghans to their country is continuing and today is the last day for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.

The government has asked all undocumented foreign nationals including Afghans to leave Pakistan by Wednesday.

Yesterday, about 3000 Afghans arrived at the Pakistan-Afghan border at Bab-e-Dosti to return to Afghanistan, out of which 800 Afghans who arrived late could not enter Afghanistan due to the closing of the gate at the scheduled time.

The district administration have been making announcements in local mosques of remote areas, neighborhoods and villages of the district to vacate the houses. They have been warned that action will be taken against Afghans and landlords who do not vacate their homes before November 01.

Food was also provided to these Afghan families by setting up a residential camp at Bab-e-Dosti Gate.

According to Deputy Commissioner Chaman Raja Athar Abbas, there has been an extraordinary increase in voluntary repatriation of Afghan citizens.

Pakistan has always played its role as an empathetic and responsible neighbor and has been giving refuge to Afghans for decades.

 

Cipher case: FIA producess five witnesses to record their statements

A special court began hearing the cipher case in Adiala Jail on Tuesday where witness statements are likely to be recorded.

Special Court Judge Abu Alhasnaat Zulqurnain arrived at the Adiala Jail early on Tuesday morning. Federal Investigation Agency’s prosecutor Khawar Shah also came to the jail for the hearing.

The FIA team also brought along five witnesses for the prosecution to record their statements. The witnesses have been identified as Nadir Khan, Imran Sajid, Muhammad Nauman Shamoon Qaiser and Farrukh Abbas.

A total of 28 witnesses had been identified by the FIA in the case who will all appear in turn to record their statements.

Unknown gunmen killed five people in Balochistan’s Turbat

Five people, including a policeman, were killed in an attack by armed men on a police station in Turbat district of Balochistan.

According to the police, four laborers are among those killed in the attack. Police say that the four were deceased laborers.

Law enforcement agencies have started an investigation into the incident. It should be noted that this month six laborers were killed in the Turbat district of Balochistan.

Among the dead were four members of the same family including two siblings. Caretaker Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Ali Mardan Domki expressed regret over the killing of four laborers and a policeman in Turbat.

He said, ’’The incident of terrorism is condemnable and intolerable. The killing of unemployed laborers is a sad incident, the involved elements will be brought to justice.“

England coach Mott blasts dressing room unrest claims

England coach Matthew Mott on Sunday said the team remains an “incredibly tight-knit unit” despite a 100-run thrashing by India which condemned the defending champions to a fifth defeat at the ICC World Cup 2023.

Mott’s claims came after former England captain Eoin Morgan insisted that there were splits in the camp which were causing the champions to underperform during the ICC World Cup 2023.

“I’ve never come across a sports team that has underperformed like this, given the level of expectation,” 2019 World Cup winning skipper Morgan said.

“There’s something within the team that is definitely unsettled. I think there’s something else going on – there has to be.”

However, Mott was quick to refute the claims.

“I don’t think that at all. I think anyone that’s inside our tent at the moment would say that despite our results, we’re an incredibly tight-knit unit,” he said.

“I can only say from my opinion the group’s been incredibly strong in that part. If you see our training sessions, they’re full of fun. People are putting their arm around each other, trying to help them.”

Pressed on the topic and Mott said: “Eoin’s entitled to his opinion. He’s obviously been away for a couple of weeks with the birth of his child.

“He hasn’t been in and around the rooms, but I’ll certainly take that up with him and have a chat to him.”

Jos Buttler’s England suffered a fifth loss in six games at the ICC World Cup 2023 to all but slip out of the semi-final race.

 

Rupee sees minor improvement against US dollar

The Pakistani rupee saw marginal improvement against the US dollar as it appreciated 0.02% during the opening hours of trading in the inter-bank market on Monday.

At 9:50am, the rupee was hovering at 280.50, an increase of Re0.07 in the inter-bank market.

During the previous week, the rupee declined against the US dollar as it closed 0.63% or Rs1.77 lower in the inter-bank market.

The local currency started the week at 278.80 level, but closed on Friday at 280.57.

In a related development, remittances inflows are likely to be back on track with a decent growth from Gulf countries as the local currency marked a significant comeback against the US dollar in the inter-bank and open markets in the last few weeks, experts told Business Recorder.

Additionally, the caretaker government has announced an incentive scheme of Rs80 billion for encouraging overseas Pakistanis to send remittances to their relatives in their homeland without any charges.

Internationally, the US dollar inched broadly higher in cautious trade on Monday and held near 150 yen as traders looked to a policy decision by the Bank of Japan later in the week, alongside other major central bank meetings and a slew of economic data releases globally.

Data on Friday showed US consumer spending surged in September as households boosted purchases of motor vehicles and travelled, keeping spending on a higher growth path heading into the fourth quarter.

The dollar index edged 0.03% higher to 106.63, as investors assessed what the recent run of resilient US economic data would mean for the Fed’s rate outlook.

Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, slipped more than 1% on Monday as investors adopted caution ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting and China’s manufacturing data due this week, offsetting support from tension in the Middle East.

Brent crude futures dropped 1.6%, or $1.11, to $89.37 a barrel by 0350 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 1.2%, or $1.34, at $84.20 a barrel.

Largest convoy of aid trucks enters Gaza via Egypt border crossing

The UN humanitarian office said at least 33 trucks were allowed into Gaza on Sunday, the largest convoy to have entered so far. The Central Council of Jews in Germany has warned of hatred against Jews.

At least 33 trucks carrying water, food and medical supplies entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Sunday, the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

The UN humanitarian office said early on Monday morning that the aid convoy was the largest since October 21, when the first trucks carrying vital aid entered the besieged enclave.

Israel ordered a complete siege of the region to root out Hamas militants, considered a terror group by the EU, the US and others, following the militants' terror attack on Israeli soil on October 7.

“Our teams in Gaza received 24 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing this evening, containing food supplies and medical necessities," the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said.

The organization said it had received 118 trucks containing food and medical supplies in total. But trucks containing fuel are still not allowed to cross into Gaza, the PRCS added.

The aid allowed into Gaza has not been nearly enough to meet the needs of the 2.3 million residents in Gaza, aid groups and the UN have said.

Telecommunication in Gaza, including cellular lines and internet services, were also largely restored by the morning of October 29, after being shut down on the evening of October 27 following Israeli bombardment, the UN office said.

India train collision death toll rises to 13

The death toll from a train crash in India has risen to 13, with 39 injured, an official said on Monday, with investigators suspecting human error was the cause of the crash in the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The accident occurred when the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train stopped on Sunday because of a break in an overhead cable and the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Express service rammed into it from the rear, derailing two carriages of the stationary train.

Nagalakshmi S., a senior government official in the district where the accident happened, told Reuters that more than 90 people were in the two coaches that got rammed by the second train and the toll of dead had risen to 13 with 39 people hurt.

The railway ministry said a preliminary investigation found that “human error” that led to “overshooting of signal” by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train.

An Andhra Pradesh fire services officer said early on Monday that no passengers were left at the site.

The accident came months after India’s state-run railway system suffered its worst crash in two decades when 292 people were killed.

Indian Railways, the fourth largest rain network in the world, is undergoing a $30 billion transformation with new train and modern stations in the pipeline. 

Catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, warns UN secretary general

“A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes,” UN Secretary General António Guterres warned on Saturday as another night of heavy bombing flattened Gaza and virtually cut it off from the outside world.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by 120 to 14 votes calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” in Gaza. But even this overwhelming support for a pause in fighting had little impact on the situation in Gaza, where the Israeli military action seems to have entered a decisive phase.

“Gaza is in complete blackout and isolation while heavy shelling continues,” warned Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for foreign affairs.

In a tweet posted on Saturday, he described the situation in Gaza as ‘desperate’, where people live “without electricity, food, water”.

Noting that “far too many civilians, including children, have been killed,” Mr Borrell said: “This is against International Humanitarian Law.”

The UNGA resolution, on Friday, besides calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza, also underlined the hope that it would lead to a cessation of hostilities.

But the only power that could make it happen, voted against the resolution. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US envoy to the UN, said her country voted against the resolution because it did not condemn Hamas and did not call for the release of prisoners.

Besides the US and Israel, 12 other countries voted against the resolution. They included five island nations in the Pacific and four European countries — Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Hungary.

Eight EU members voted in favour of the resolution. Three of the five permanent members of UN Security Council also voted for the resolution — China, France and Russia.

The US voted against it while the the UK and Ukraine abstained.

Arab and OIC nations, who moved the resolution with support from 40 other states, were confident China and Russia would vote in favour, but the French vote was a pleasant surprise for them.

UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, the Arab representative on the Security Council, expressed delight at the result. “Yes, 120 votes in this kind of geopolitical environment is a very, very high signal of support for international law, for proportionate use of force,” she said after the vote.

Mr Guterres urged the world to go beyond the status quo. “We cannot lose sight of the only realistic foundation for peace and stability in the Middle East — a two-state solution,” he said in his speech.

France’s UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said his country supported the resolution “because nothing could justify the suffering of civilians”. He urged collective efforts to establish a humanitarian truce.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, said the European votes indicate they can be “very helpful” in pursuing a Security Council resolution “or in maximising pressure on Israel to stop this war”.

He called the General Assembly “more courageous, more principled” than the divided Security Council, which failed in four attempts during the past two weeks to reach agreement on a resolution. Two were vetoed and two failed to get the minimum votes required for approval.

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram drew loud applause when he said the Arab-drafted resolution deliberately didn’t condemn or mention Israel or name any other party. “If Canada (which moved an amendment) was really equitable, it would agree either to name everybody — both sides who are guilty of having committed crimes — or it would not name either as we chose,” he said.

The amendment failed to get a two-thirds majority of those voting for or against. In a first, India also abstained from voting in the UN on a resolution on Palestine. The Indian envoy said India did so because the resolution failed to condemn Hamas.

As Israel escalates war on Gaza, Red Cross urges halt to 'intolerable' human suffering

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has demanded a halt to the "intolerable" human suffering in the besieged Gaza Strip, as the Israeli regime escalates its now 22-day-old bloody war of aggression against the coastal territory.

"This is a catastrophic failing that the world must not tolerate," president of the ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric, said on Saturday.

"I am shocked by the intolerable level of human suffering and urge the parties to the conflict to de-escalate now," she said, adding, "The tragic loss of so many civilian lives is deplorable."

The Israeli regime has been bombarding Gaza since October 7, when fighters from the Gaza Strip-based resistance groups launched a large-scale operation against the occupying entity in response to its intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.

The death toll in Gaza has since exceeded 8,000, including more than 3,000 children, with more than 20,500 wounded.

Despite the unconscionable toll, Tel Aviv has declared that the war has "entered a new phase." The regime is, meanwhile, imposing a complete siege on Gaza, preventing the flow of water, gas, medicines, and electricity into the territory.

"It is unacceptable that civilians have no safe place to go in Gaza amid the massive bombardments, and with a military siege in place there is also no adequate humanitarian response currently possible," Spoljaric said.

She was speaking hours after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sharply criticized the "unprecedented escalation" of bombardments on Gaza, calling for an "immediate" ceasefire.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also warned on Saturday that there was the potential for thousands more civilians to die if Israel pressed ahead with a ground offensive in Gaza.

Tel Aviv has been threatening to launch a ground invasion against Gaza while rejecting all calls for a ceasefire, claiming it would benefit the resistance movement of Hamas.

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution on Friday, calling for the implementation of an immediate "humanitarian truce" in Gaza.

The vote at the General Assembly came after the United Nations Security Council failed four times in the past two weeks to take action due to the US' recurrently casting its veto against relevant resolutions.

The assembly stressed the "importance of preventing further destabilization and escalation of violence in the region," calling on "all parties to exercise maximum restraint and upon all those with influence on them to work toward this objective."

Ahsan Iqbal foresees PML-N victory in election

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday that his party will win the majority in the elections.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, the former planning minister recalled the ouster of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, saying, ‘’Nawaz Sharif was ousted as the premier through a conspiracy in 2017.’’

He asserted: ‘’Nawaz Sharif was not given the level playing field in 2018’’.

Expressing his views about the elections, he said, ‘’The elections in the country should be held on time to bring economic stability to the country.’’

He lavished praise on Nawaz Sharif, saying, ‘’It was Nawaz Sharif who addressed the problems in line with the power outages''.

– Iqbal all praise for Nawaz Sharif –

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday praised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking to media outside the judicial complex, the former planning minister said, ‘’Nawaz Sharif has said that the institutions should play their role to take the country out of the economic quagmire.’’

He went on to recount the development projects initiated during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif. ‘’Nawaz Sharif has completed the developmental projects in the country,’’ he added.

In line with holding the elections, Nawaz Sharif stated, ‘’The elections should be held immediately after the finalisation of the delimitation.’’

World Cup: Australia set 389-run target for New Zealand

Australia set a target of 389 runs for New Zealand. Travis Head scored 109 runs off 67 balls, while Josh Inglis contributed 38, Pat Cummins 37, and Mitchell Marsh 36 runs. David Warner added 81 runs, and Glenn Maxwell scored 41 runs in a thrilling match.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands are currently batting against Bangladesh. They won the toss and chose to bat first. The match is taking place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

In this World Cup, both Bangladesh and Netherlands have won one match each out of the five they have played so far.

Bangladesh is currently eighth on the points table, while the Netherlands is at the bottom, in tenth place.

 

CTD arrests 10 terrorists in raids across Punjab

The Counter-Terrorism of Punjab has arrested 10 alleged terrorists in operations conducted in various cities of the province.

According to officials, a commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was arrested along with four associates. They further said that the arrested commander, identified as Qasim Afghani, had hatched a plan to carry out a terrorist activity.

Moreover, five other terrorists were arrested in Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha.

The officials further said that explosive material, hand grenades, weapons, mobile phones and cash were seized from the possession of the arrested men.

These terrorists were planning to target sensitive installations, the officials added. This past week, the CTD said, 225 suspects were arrested in 359 combing operations.

US dollar sees fluctuations against Pakistani Rupee

On Saturday, the current rate for US Dollar stands at Rs280.57, as the interbank exchange rate saw a notable Rs1.77 rise during the past week.

After a continuous decline in the value of the US dollar against the Pakistani currency for five weeks, there has been a trend of increasing over the past two weeks.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, on Friday, the dollar closed at 280.57 rupees in the interbank market. During the past week, the dollar saw an overall increase of Rs1.77.

The value of the US dollar had been on a downward trend against the Pakistani rupee for 28 consecutive business days, dipping below 277 rupees at one point.

However, the decline in the value of the dollar stopped during the last week. Currency market analysts suggest that the dollar's value had significantly dropped, and a recovery was expected.

However, pressure on income payments in the interbank market emerged last Wednesday.

The increase in the value of the dollar in the world market due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza also had an impact on the Pakistani currency.

Venus' secret past may have implications for Earth's future

Venus may have once been more dynamic and Earth-like than previously thought. A study led by researchers at Brown University reveals evidence suggesting that Venus exhibited Earth-like plate tectonics billions of years ago.

Tectonic movements

The findings are based on simulations using atmospheric data from Venus. These simulations indicate that the existing composition of Venus’ atmosphere and its surface pressure could have evolved due to early plate tectonic activities. This geologic process, vital for life, consists of continental plates that move, collide, and slide beneath one another.

Such tectonic movements on Earth, intensified over billions of years, sculpted continents, mountain ranges, and triggered chemical reactions.

A sharp detour

These reactions played a pivotal role in stabilizing Earth’s temperature, paving the way for life’s development. However, Venus’ fate took a sharp detour, leading to its present-day hostile conditions, with temperatures soaring high enough to melt lead.

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The new study challenges the idea that Venus has always had a static single plate known as a “stagnant lid.” The study suggests that Venus, around 4.5 billion to 3.5 billion years ago, underwent tectonic movements comparable to those on early Earth, but on a much more limited scale.

Similar sister planets

Study lead author Matt Weller completed the work while he was a postdoctoral researcher at Brown and is now at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.

“One of the big picture takeaways is that we very likely had two planets at the same time in the same solar system operating in a plate tectonic regime – the same mode of tectonics that allowed for the life that we see on Earth today,” said Weller.

This revelation highlights the potential of microbial life existing on ancient Venus, hinting that these sister planets were more similar in their early histories than previously assumed.

Plate tectonics and habitability

The research not only reshapes our understanding of Venus but also underscores the temporality of plate tectonics and planetary habitability. Study co-author Professor Alexander Evans noted that planets might transit between various tectonic states.

“We’ve so far thought about tectonic state in terms of a binary: it’s either true or it’s false, and it’s either true or false for the duration of the planet,” said Professor Evans.

“This shows that planets may transition in and out of different tectonic states and that this may actually be fairly common. Earth may be the outlier. This also means we might have planets that transition in and out of habitability rather than just being continuously habitable.”

Looking beyond the surface

The study began with a broader objective to discern how exoplanetary atmospheres could be markers of their early histories.

By using Venus as a reference, the team soon realized the mismatch between simulations based on the stagnant lid assumption and the actual atmospheric composition of Venus. A breakthrough came when the model incorporated limited early tectonic movement, mirroring Venus’ current state.

“We’re still in this paradigm where we use the surfaces of planets to understand their history,” said Professor Evans. “We really show for the first time that the atmosphere may actually be the best way to understand some of the very ancient history of planets that is often not preserved on the surface.”

Study implications

The implications of this research extend beyond Venus. Upcoming NASA DAVINCI missions will measure Venusian atmospheric gases, which might further support these findings. But a lingering question remains: What caused Venus’ plate tectonics to cease?

“Venus basically ran out of juice to some extent, and that put the brakes on the process,” said study co-author Daniel Ibarra, a professor in Brown’s Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences.

The researchers said that the details of how this happened may hold important implications for Earth.

“That’s going to be the next critical step in understanding Venus, its evolution and ultimately the fate of the Earth,” said Weller. “What conditions will force us to move in a Venus-like trajectory, and what conditions could allow the Earth to remain habitable?”

World Cup: Pakistan win toss and choose to bat first against South Africa

Pakistan win toss and choose to bat first against South Africa. Pakistan made two changes for the crucial ICC World Cup 2023 against South Africa today in Chennai.

All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr have replaced the injured Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Usama Mir.

Pakistan's lineup

1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Mohammad Wasim Jnr, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf

Due to rain early morning in Chennai, there were questions marks over the possibility of the match today. However, the good news is that chances of rain are low during the rest of the day which is why the match is unlikely to be affected.

According to The Weather Channel, cloudy weather is likely to persist throughout the day. There is only two percent chance of rain during the afternoon and four percent in the evening.

Pakistan, the 1992 champions, have hit a roadblock at the World Cup with their opening two wins followed by three one-sided defeats to arch-rivals India, Australia and then to neighbours Afghanistan.

South Africa, on the other hand, have shaken off a shock loss to the Netherlands and have four wins to put them in sight of the semi-finals.

Pakistan have won six of the last 10 meetings with South Africa including by 49 runs when they met at Lord's in the 2019 World Cup.

South Africa have been making runs for fun at the World Cup -- three times they have passed 350. They have also scored 137, 143 and 144 in the last 10 overs of three matches.

 

Kashmiris on both sides of LoC, across world observe Black Day

Every year on October 27, Kashmiris solemnly observed Black Day to protest the Indian occupation that began on this date in 1947—an occupation that lacked constitutional and moral justification.

At the time of India's partition, local leaders in Kashmir had opted to join Pakistan, but Maharaja Hari Singh, the then-ruler of the region, sought military assistance from India in exchange for accession. Subsequently, India deployed nearly one million troops to only Muslim-majority regions.

For 76 years, the people of Occupied Kashmir have endured persecution, with their situation worsening on August 5, 2019, when India unilaterally revoked the region's special status.

The Kashmir conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of over 250,000 Kashmiri lives, with more than 7,000 extrajudicial killings. Moreover, the conflict has left over 100,000 children orphaned, and more than 11,000 women have been subjected to sexual violence.

Occupied Kashmir has seen a staggering 1.6 million arrests, and over 1,100 properties have been set ablaze. Since 2019, the region has faced the longest internet blackout in history, further isolating its residents from the world.

Apathy of UN resolutions on Kashmir

Despite five United Nations (UN) resolutions passed on the issue, not a single one has been effectively implemented. Various human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Genocide Watch, have raised alarms about the brutal atrocities committed against the Muslim population in Occupied Kashmir.

In February 2023, India was widely criticized for demolishing Muslim-majority areas in the Occupied Valley, drawing condemnation from Amnesty International. The suffering of Kashmir due to India's brutality has been well-documented by international media outlets.

The annual observance of Black Day in Pakistan serves as a stark reminder to the world about the ongoing atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, perpetrated by Indian forces, and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to this long-standing conflict.

Oct 27 is darkest day in Kashmir’s recent history: AJK PM

Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, while terming 27 October 27 as the darkest day in Kashmir’s recent history, has said that on this day, in 1947, India occupied Kashmir illegally by flouting international laws and norms of justice and fair play.

In his statement issued on Thursday on the eve of Black Day falling on Friday, the PM said that the Indian invasion of Kashmir had led to death and destruction in the region.

Bloodshed and violence, oppression and suppression have been a hallmark of India’s neo colonial rule in the region, the PM said, adding that India’s belligerent occupation opened the floodgates to violence and human rights violations against the Kashmiris.

He said that the so called champions of democracy deprived Kashmiris of their basic political and human rights.

He said that Kashmiris living on both sides of the bloody line (LoC) and the world over were celebrating Black Day as a mark of protest against India’s occupation of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that the Kashmiri people had never accepted the illegal occupation of India.

Terming India as a usurper, he said, “The Indian government approached the UN Security Council on January 1, 1948 and promised to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination at the UN”. He said that India later on backtracked from its commitments and refused to implement the UN resolutions that guaranteed the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir.

He said that the so called largest democracy was using its repressive state apparatus to crush the Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle for the right of self-determination.

He, however, maintained that despite using its military might, the Indian government has miserably failed to dent the Kashmiris resolve and their spirit of freedom.

“Kashmiri youths are being martyred in fake encounters and strict restrictions have been imposed on the media to hide the ground reality situation in Occupied Kashmir”, he said.

The PM demanded the United Nations to take practical steps to implement its resolutions on Kashmiri and help stop the ongoing oppression in Occupied Kashmir.

Rupee records marginal decline against US dollar

The value of the dollar recorded a marginal decrease as trading began on Friday.

The dollar lost Rs.0.09 to fall to Rs280 in the interbank. On Thursday the dollar had gained Rs0.27 to go from Rs279.88 to Rs280.09.

Meanwhile the Pakistan Stock Exchange lost 45 points to fall to 51,100 points.

Bugti says illegal foreigners to be shifted to ‘temporary camps’ after deadline

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said that the plan to expel illegal afghan has been completed and they will be shifted to centers in respective provinces, upon completion of the Nov 1 deadline.

Bugti addressing a press conference said that illegal foreigners' families—children and women—will be treated with utmost respect.

“There will be no compromise on the issue of return of foreigners,” he clarified.

Bugti said after Nov 1, the arrested persons will be kept in the centers. He also announced that returnees could carry a maximum of Rs50,000 with them.

“Punishment will also be given to those who make fake CNCs,” he said.

Illegal properties will also be confiscated

Sarfraz Bugti said illegal properties will also be confiscated of illegal foreigners including illegal Afghan refugees and announced action will also be taken against Pakistanis who provide facilities to illegal.

 

 

Complaints against judges: CJP Faez Isa convenes SJC meeting

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa will convene a meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) tomorrow to discuss various complaints filed against superior court judges.

Justice Isa will chair the SJC while other members are Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Afghan.

The SJC is the only constitutional forum that can examine the conduct of superior courts judges and recommend their removal under Article 209 of the Constitution.

Sources revealed that the meeting scheduled to be held at 11:30am will consider all pending complaints of misconduct moved against superior courts’ judges.

It is pertinent to mention here that the complaint was filed against Supreme Court Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi in the Supreme Judicial Council.

The complaint was filed against the apex court judge in the judicial council, by Mian Dawood Advocate.

The complaint included charges of misconduct, illegal assets and amassing money with frontmen. The complainant has pleaded to the judicial council to remove Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi from the august office of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In April, Justice Isa and Justice Masood had written a judicial letter to Justice Bandial, then the CJP, to convene a SJC meeting to review these allegations.

In May, Justice Bandial had referred the matter to Justice Tariq Masood for legal opinion.

‘Super rare’ creature with ‘leopard’ spots seen in Australia coral reef

A "super rare" creature that roams in the depths of ocean has been spotted off the coast of Australia. The small white fish with leopard-like spots came into the view of a deep-sea diver who was swimming in the Coral Sea Marine Park.

The beautiful photo of the Leopard Toby Puffer has been shared by Master Reef Guides, an organisation affiliated with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. In an Instagram post, the organisation said the diver so far made 1,100 dives, but never saw a fish like this.

"Once back on the boat Catherine and Michelle headed to the books, consulted with other experts and discovered this Leopard Toby might be the first recorded sighting in the Coral Sea," Master Reef Guides further said on Instagram.

It explained that the Leopard Toby is usually found in the waters of the Philippines, Indonesia, Guam and Micronesia, no but this is the first time it has been spotted in Australia.

"It's not every day you see an animal so out of the ordinary that you pause on your dive. The ocean has the power to surprise us every day, it's full of wonderful animals we have yet to discover. It's an environment that I am lucky to spend my time in getting these little surprises" the diver Catherine Logan said.

What is a Leopard Toby Puffer?

According to Rock N Critters, it is a deep water reef species that is relatively new to the aquarium trade. The fish has both stripes on its anterior and spots along its sides, with touches of iridescent blue highlighting the eyes and tail.

Members of the Canthigaster genus are called Sharp-nosed Puffers or Tobies. It lacks pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium.

The Leopard Toby Puffer eats a variety of food, including squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever-growing teeth, said Rock N Critters.

Shahid Afridi wants Iftikhar to play like Maxwell

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was in awe of Australia's Glenn Maxwell, who smashed the fastest-ever World Cup century against the Netherlands at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Boom Boom is expecting middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed to play the same way Maxwell did as he has those skills similar to Australian all-rounder.

"What an innings by Glenn Maxwell today, its a showcase of top class power hitting, well deserved win for Australia," Afridi posted on X.

"I expect Iftikhar Ahmad to play a similar role for our team, he definitely has the capability to do so and the pitches are curated for power hitting, we all need you to fire up now," he added.

Remember, Glenn Maxwell showed no mercy to the Netherlands bowlers and hit them to all parts of the ground. He completed his ton in just 40 balls.

The 35-year-old came to bat when the Aussies were 266-4 in 38 overs after they had just lost the wicket of Josh Inglis.

Maxwell came in and started hitting the Dutch bowlers and scored 106 runs in total off just 44 deliveries courtesy of 17 boundaries, nine fours and eight sixes.

The fastest World Cup century's record belonged to South Africa's Aidan Markram who scored a ton on 49 balls against Sri Lanka in the Proteas' first match of the mega event at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Australia continued their fantastic form and beat the Netherlands by 309 runs. The massive 309-run — the largest in the history of the mega event — win helped the Aussies improve their net run rate (NRR) considerably and strengthened their position on the road to the semi-final.

Chasing the colossal target of 400 runs, not a single Dutch batter could hold their nerves and stood against the bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa and Mitchell Marsh.

The Netherlands kept losing wickets quickly and were soon all out for just 90 runs.

UN chief says ‘clear violations of international humanitarian law’ in Gaza

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has renewed his demand for a ceasefire in Gaza and said that international law was being violated in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel has bombarded the besieged Gaza Strip relentlessly since October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killling at least 1,400 people according to Israeli authorities.

After the attack, Israel cut off supplies of water, food, fuel and electricity to the enclave’s 2.3 million residents, an act the UN has called a form of collective punishment. It also launched an assault on the territory, killing at least 5,791 people, according to authorities in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas.

More than one million people have been displaced, as Israel ordered residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to the south, but Israeli air raids have continued throughout the territory.

Speaking before the 15-member UN Security Council on Tuesday, Guterres pleaded for civilians to be protected and warned that the fighting risked a wider conflagration in the region.

“It is important to also recognise the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,” Guterres said.

“But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he said.

Guterres also criticised Israel without naming it, saying “protecting civilians does not mean ordering more than one million people to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, no food, no water, no medicine and no fuel, and then continuing to bomb the south itself.”

 

Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli airstrikes, military action in Gaza

At the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Middle East, Pakistan has reiterated its strong condemnation of Israeli airstrikes and military action in Gaza.

In his remarks, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram said the Israeli attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructure, blockade of water, food and fuel as well as the forced transfer of people from the occupied territory, are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes. He said those responsible for these atrocity crimes must be held accountable.

Munir Akram said any attempt to create a false equivalence between Israel, the occupying power, and the Palestinians, the victims of this occupation is untenable legally, morally and politically.

He called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. He said the perpetuation of Israeli occupation will not bring peace to the Holy Land, stressing durable peace will emerge from the internationally agreed two-State solution and from the creation of a secure, viable, contiguous, and sovereign state of Palestine on the basis of the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

How to treat headaches with traditional chinese medicine

Headaches can occur in a variety of disease patterns in traditional Chinese medicine. Some headaches are associated with external pernicious influences, such as wind cold, wind heat, or wind damp.

Others occur as a symptom of internal imbalances, such as liver fire, phlegm, blood stagnation, qi deficiency, or blood deficiency. It is especially important to have an accurate diagnosis when treating a headache, since the wrong treatment can actually make the condition worse.

Treating Headaches Caused by External Influences with Traditional Chinese Medicine

When a headache is caused by an external pernicious influence, it can occur suddenly, often along with other symptoms of wind. When it is due to wind cold, the pain is typically in the back or the top of the head. Other symptoms could be an aversion to cold, tight and sore shoulders and neck, and nasal congestion. The classic formula for this pattern is Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao Wan taken along with green tea.

When wind heat is the culprit, the headache can be quite severe. Other symptoms may be fever, sore throat, thirst, and a floating, rapid pulse. In this case, the appropriate formula is Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian or Gan Mao Ling.

When the external pathogen is dampness, the pain is dull and the head feels heavy -- as if it is wrapped in a wet blanket. There can also be fever or chills, nasal congestion, foggy thinking, and fatigue. An effective patent remedy for this type of headache is Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan, which is also appropriate for headaches due to internal dampness.

In all the above types of acute, externally contracted headaches, the pain may be due, in part, to pressure in the sinuses. If any nasal or sinus congestion accompanies the headache, it is a good idea to take Bi Yan Pian also.

Treating Headaches Caused by Internal Influences with Traditional Chinese Medicine

A common internal cause of headache is liver yang rising up to the head, which may occur when a person experiences anger or frustration, or it can be a result of long-term deficiency of liver yin. Symptoms are dizziness, irritability, and nausea; the headache is a throbbing pain on the sides of the head or behind the eyes.

The classic formula for this condition is Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, which is also quite effective in relieving tight neck and shoulders that can accompany the headache. It contains two herbs specific for headaches due to liver imbalances.

In the condition known as liver fire, a condition of extreme heat, the symptoms are the same as for liver yang headaches, with the addition of red face and eyes, more severe anger, and a red tongue with a yellow coat. The standard formula for this pattern is Long Dan Xie Gan Wan, which purges heat from the liver.

Symptoms of blood stagnation headaches are a sharp, fixed, stabbing pain in a specific location, a wiry, choppy pulse, and a purple tongue. Usually, previous traumatic injury caused the blood stagnation. Herbs are selected that move the blood and help to relieve pain, such as Yan Hu Suo Zhi Tong Pian.

A headache due to qi deficiency typically begins or gets worse after physical exertion, and it tends to feel better in the morning or after rest. A dull pain, it can be accompanied by fatigue and a poor appetite. The treatment principle in this case is to tonify qi. Some appropriate patent remedies are Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan or Shen Qi Da Bu Wan.

If blood deficiency is the cause, the pain is dull but a little more severe than the pain of qi deficiency. A pale face and tongue, dizziness, blurry vision, and a small, thin pulse are typical symptoms. The pain begins or gets worse when the person is hungry or after the menstrual period. The classic formula, Nu Ke Ba Zhen Wan, tonifies qi and blood. Also, Tang Kwei Gin or Shou Wu Chih are effective blood tonics in a convenient, good-tasting liquid form.

Traditional Chinese Medical Treatment Planning for Headaches

In all types of headaches, acupuncture is a powerful tool, frequently relieving the pain within minutes. A point used for all types of headaches is Large Intestine 4 ("Adjoining Valleys"), since it relieves pain in general and is a specific point for conditions affecting the head. Other points are selected according to the location of the pain, such as the back of the head (Gallbladder 20), the temples (Taiyang), or the forehead (Stomach 8).

Following the treatment, it is important to incorporate some lifestyle and dietary modifications to eliminate the underlying cause of the headaches. For example, when the cause is liver heat, spicy and greasy foods should be avoided, and stress reduction should be a high priority.

If the underlying pattern is qi or blood deficiency, the diet should be modified to incorporate more whole grains and beans, nuts, dark greens, and fresh, organic vegetables.

Animal products tonify qi and blood, but they should be eaten in smaller quantities than the other foods.

The protein, fats, and other nutrients they contain make them useful in rebuilding the body in cases of deficiency, but these same qualities make them factors in heart disease and cancer when eaten in excess.

 

Hardik Pandya likely to miss India’s World Cup clash against England

Hardik Pandya is likely to miss India’s next World Cup match vs England in Lucknow on October 29.

The all-rounder, recovering from an ankle injury he picked up during the match vs Bangladesh in Pune, wasn’t available for the team’s next match vs New Zealand in Dharamsala too.

It is learnt that the injury is not serious but the management is not keen to rush Pandya.

“Yes, Hardik is likely to miss the next match vs England in Lucknow. It is more of a precaution at this stage and nothing serious,” a BCCI official told reporters.

The 30-year-old didn’t travel with the side to Dharamsala and was advised to rest by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. It is now likely that he will link-up with the team before the match vs Sri Lanka in Mumbai.

India won their last fixture vs New Zealand to maintain their winning streak and then enjoyed a two-day break in the picturesque hilly city. As CricketNext had reported on October 23, the Indian cricket team will spend two more days in the city before resuming their World Cup campaign. 

ICC World Cup: South Africa opt to bat first against Bangladesh

South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat first against Bangladesh in the 23rd match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium.

South Africa
Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

Bangladesh
Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:
Overall ODIs: Matches 24, South Africa 18, Bangladesh 6

ODI World Cup: Matches 4, South Africa 2, Bangladesh 2

WhatsApp reportedly testing 'View Once' feature for voice notes

Meta’s instant messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly planning to expand the “View Once” feature for voice messages. It essentially means the voice message would delete automatically after the recipient hears them.

According to a report by an international news website, this feature is under beta testing and is currently only available to a limited number of Android and iOS users.

According to the report, the feature is accessible by tapping a small ‘1’ icon that appears while recording a voice note. After sending the voice note with the view once option enabled, the sender would not be able to listen to it and the recipient will not have the option to return to the message after dismissing it once.

WhatsApp already has the “View Once” feature available for sharing Photos and Video since 2021, and it is expected to roll out for voice notes soon.

Earlier this month, WhatsApp announced that it would allow Android users to access their accounts using Passkeys. In a post published on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), it announced that the new security option would allow users on Android devices to login using biometrics such as fingerprints and facial scan or a security pin.

Passkey authentication is an opt-in feature and replaces SMS based one-time-password login method with user’s permission. The authentication method has started to roll out for Android users but Meta has not released any details on Passkey for iOS devices.

15 tips to prevent mosquito bites

It is a misconception that mosquitoes thrive only in tropical, warm environments. They can also survive in temperate and colder regions during summer and spring. It is challenging to avoid mosquito bites.

Here are some 15 tips to prevent mosquito bites while sleeping. Mosquito bites are frequent during the warm monsoon season, they also make their presence felt during winter. Mosquito bites cause red, itchy bumps on the skin and can even cause life-threatening diseases like dengue, malaria, chikungunya and zika. Therefore, knowing how to prevent mosquito bites effectively is vital.

1. Steer Clear of Mosquito Habitats
Mosquitoes require still, stagnant water to lay their eggs. Young mosquitoes can hatch and grow in anything that holds even a small amount of water. Therefore, clearing stagnant water and trash is necessary, especially during monsoon season.

Remove old tyres as they are considered prime mosquito nurseries. Drill holes in them to let water drain out. Do not pile up on cups, cans, empty bottles and other forms of trash. Discard trash responsibly.

Empty children’s buckets and pools after use. Eliminate still water in plastic covers, gutters, toys and other containers that are great mosquito havens.

Change and empty water in fountains, bird baths, rain barrels, wading pools and potted plant trays at least once during the week, thus destroying potential mosquito breeding grounds. Fill temporary water pools with dirt. Treat and circulate water in swimming pools.

2. Dress Wisely
Deep-coloured clothing, like deep blue, red and black, stands out and attracts bugs. Therefore, wear light-coloured clothes, especially when you head outdoors.

When mosquitoes are overly active in the evening, wear full-sleeve shirts, socks and long, preferably loose pants. Always tuck the pants under the socks or shoes so that no surface area on the body remains open.

3. Opt for Woven Clothing
Breathable fabrics with tight weaves, like nylon, cotton, and denim, are difficult for mosquitoes to penetrate. On the other hand, they can easily bite through lighter and thinner fabrics like spandex. So, always choose tightly woven fabrics.

Also, choose clothes pretreated with the insecticide permethrin if you reside in a mosquito-prone region. Mosquitoes that land on this kind of clothing fly off and eventually die.

4. Use Mosquito Repellents
You can use different mosquito repellent lotions, sprays and creams that effectively ward off mosquitoes. These are infused with chemicals and herbal oils that keep mosquitoes at bay with their fragrance.

However, choosing the right repellent is very important here. AAP or the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends DEET repellents that protect against West Nile virus, Zika virus and Lyme disease. Other effective mosquito repellents contain PMD, IR3535 insecticide or picaridin, which are considered safe when used as instructed.

Check for skin irritations when choosing mosquito repellents, especially for children and pregnant women. Avoid spraying the content around the mouth and eyes. Use them on the feet, ankles, wrists and lower legs- these are the thin-skinned areas of the body where mosquitoes usually bite.

5. Use Mosquito Nets
How do we prevent mosquito bites while sleeping? By using mosquito nets! They are specifically useful in humid and warm places throughout the year and create a physical barrier that protects from mosquito bites while sleeping.

Well-fitted screens on windows and doors are also good to keep mosquitoes away from entering your home or other premises. But then you must ensure they are repaired from time to time.

Check for holes large enough for insects to come through. Patch up all such holes on your window or door screen.

6. Safeguard the Backyard
Use a mosquito lantern with a permethrin release function in your backyard, especially if it is semi-enclosed or features a pool with two to three walls. Do not choose torches, lanterns and citronella candles, as even the slightest breeze can blow away the active ingredients in these products.

You can depend on wind power to ward off mosquitoes from open areas surrounding your premises. Another option is to set up a big box fan in the yard. Once the air speed of the fan reaches more than 1 mile per hour, mosquitoes will find it challenging to fly.

Also, fill up your home and garden with mosquito-repellent plants like citronella, feverfew and lavender.

7. Always Have Mosquito Dunks Handy
Mosquito dunks are small, doughnut-shaped tablets that release bacteria known to kill mosquito larvae. The bacteria do not harm plants, animals and humans and are thus the perfect solution for homeowners who want to know how to prevent mosquito bites.

These small dunks are also effective in potentially infected regions like rain barrels, fish ponds and bird baths. Therefore, you must always have them handy.

8. Stay Indoors During Dawn and Dusk
Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes that cause dangerous infections are most prevalent during dusk and dawn, primarily dusk. Therefore, you must avoid the outdoors as much as possible during these times of the day.

9. Keep the Surrounding Landscape Clean
Well-trimmed shrubs and trees improve the air circulation of a property. Increased airflow pushes the mosquitoes out of the area.

10. Use Bug Zappers
Bug zappers or mosquito traps use UV light and carbon dioxide to attract and kill mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to the blue glow of these traps. Just one of these electronic mosquito killers from a good brand offers half an acre of coverage.

11. Burn Neem Leaves and Repellent Oils
Looking for a budget-friendly way to prevent mosquito bites? Get some neem leaves from the backyard and burn them safely at the entrance of your house or other mosquito-prone areas. This effectively purifies the surroundings as mosquitoes cannot bear the smell of burning neem leaves.

You can also use affordable repellent coils that burn for seven hours and release a smoke-containing pyrethroid. This serves as a spatial repellent for mosquitoes and even other insects.

12. Say No to Scented Products
Research has proved that scented products, like lotions, shampoos, soaps, aromatic oils or perfumes, attract mosquitoes more. Thus, try to use such products less, or opt for products with a very light scent or no scent.

13. Use Yellow Lights in the Outdoors
Replace outdoor illuminators with bright, yellow lights. These do not repel mosquitoes but usually attract fewer of them.

14. Limit Your Movement
Activity and movement make you more apparent to the mosquitoes. When these bugs get closer to land, they sense body heat, indicating where blood is the closest to the surface. Hence, they know where to feed. More activity and movement will raise your skin temperature, thus making you stand out easily.

15. Avoid Alcohol
Studies show that consuming alcohol also makes people attractive to mosquitoes. This is because alcohol increases the blood flow to the skin and the metabolic rate. The latter boosts CO2 production, which helps the mosquitoes find their food sources faster and make you the centre of their attacks.

Conclusion
Mosquito bites do not cause any harm and resolve themselves after a few hours. Nevertheless, they can be annoying, itchy and sore in their appearance. Follow the tips above to eliminate those red, swollen bumps on your skin faster and more effectively.

Gas prices increased by more than 190pc

The government on Monday finally okayed a massive hike in gas tariff, giving a massive blow to the inflation-weary masses that is likely to add to their miseries.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, which met in the federal capital with Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar in the chair, gave approval for the hike in the gas tariff up to 193% starting from November 1, 2023.

The development comes ahead of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) review scheduled later this month that had asked Pakistan to cut the ballooning circular debt in the energy sector.

As per the approved summary, the fixed monthly charges for protected consumers were revised upward from Rs10 to Rs400 and for non-protected from Rs460 to Rs1000 and for higher slabs up to Rs2000.

The government has hiked the local gas tariff up to 173% for non-protected domestic consumers, 136.4% for commercial, 86.4% for export, and 117% for the non-export industry.

The exporters have managed to get maximum benefit as their tariff will go up by 86% with effect from November 1, 2023.

Earlier, it was proposed to hike the average tariff from October 1, 2023, but the ECC granted its approval with effect from November 2023.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the meeting considered various agenda points and summaries submitted by different ministries.

The Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a summary regarding the measures to meet the requirements of urea for Rabi season 2023-24. The ECC discussed the proposal in detail and approved the immediate import of 200,000 tonnes of urea fertilizers.

It also directed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas for the fertilizer industry. It was also decided that the provinces would be asked to act more proactively to bear the importation cost.

The meeting also deliberated over a summary submitted by the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) for approval of the Technical supplementary Grant of Rs484 million to meet critical expenditure on pay and allowances of 415 contract and project employees from July 2023 onwards.

The ECC directed the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to identify the savings to finance the salaries of the ERRA employees.

A summary of the Ministry of Finance regarding the establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited to support the credit enhancement of the Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was also considered and approved by the forum.

World Cup 2023: Pakistan opts to bat first against Afghanistan

The live scorecard and ball-by-ball updates of the 22nd match of the ICC World Cup 2023 between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be available below from 1:30pm (PST).

The PAK vs AFG is being played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Year passes to Arshad Sharif's murder, family awaits justice

The journalists’ organisations believe that the government has failed to arrest the killers of Sharif.

A year has passed since the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif who was killed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

Kenyan police first said that Arshad Sharif was killed in a case of “mistaken identity” but since the seasoned journalist’s post-mortem and his body’s transfer to his home country, several Kenyan news outlets have not only questioned the police’s conduct but have raised questions over the manner in which he was killed.

At the time of his murder, he was working for the private news channel.

Salman Iqbal, CEO of the platform posted on X (formally Twitter), said: “Having been in the news business for over 23 years this was a story which was the most difficult one to break, should I tell the world first or his family.”

He applauded the journalistic qualities of Sharif and prayed for him.

However, the case proceeding is underway in the Supreme Court after suo-moto was taken. The caretaker prime minister of Pakistan Anwaarul Haq Kakkar on October 17 met the Kenyan president and asserted to facilitate the joint investigation team to conclude its report.

The journalists’ organisations believe that the government has failed to arrest the killers of Sharif. The President of the Pakistan Union of Journalists has announced a protest until the arrest of Arshad Sharif’s assailants.

‘Deadliest night yet’: Israeli air strikes kill at least 400 in Gaza in last 24 hours

At least 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, Palestinian health officials have said, with journalists on the ground describing Israel’s latest bombardment as “the deadliest night” yet.

As Israeli violence on the Gaza Strip entered its third week, Israel launched dozens of air strikes across the besieged city in the early hours of Monday.

Israel bombarded residential areas in Gaza, including the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia in the north, the al-Rimal neighborhood, the Al Shati camp in the west, as well as Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south, the Palestinian News Agency reported.

The overnight Israeli bombings have further exacerbated the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where its residents have been left with dwindling food and medical supplies.

On Sunday, the United Nations warned that the lives of at least 120 newborn babies on incubators were at risk as hospitals are on the verge of running out of fuel due to Israel’s complete siege.

More than 1,750 children have already been killed by Israeli strikes launched against the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks, according to the Palestinian territory’s health ministry.

Hospitals face a dire lack of medicines, fuel and water not only for the thousands wounded in more than two weeks of the war but also for routine patients.

“We have currently 120 neonates who are in incubators, out of which we have 70 neonates with mechanical ventilation, and of course this is where we are extremely concerned,” said UNICEF spokesman Jonathan Crickx.

Power is one of the main worries for the seven specialist wards across Gaza treating premature babies to help with breathing and provide critical support, for example when their organs are not developed enough.

Amid widespread electricity cuts, the World Health Organization warned on Thursday that hospitals had already run out of fuel for generators.

The WHO said that about 1,000 people needing dialysis will also be at risk if the generators stop.

Twenty aid trucks crossed from Egypt into Gaza on Saturday but there was no fuel in the consignment.

UN agencies push for ceasefire as supplies finally enter Gaza

After the overnight killing of dozens of Palestinians by Israeli bombardment, 20 trucks carrying aid — the first convoy of humanitarian supplies since Israel began a devastating siege 12 days ago — entered Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday.

Meanwhile, UN agencies have called for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access for aid throughout Gaza.

“We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian acc­ess throughout Gaza to allow hum­anitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further human suffering,” the joint statement from the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO said. “Flows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity.”

The flatbed trucks, flying white flags and honking their horns, exited the crossing after checks and headed into Gaza’s southern area, which includes the major towns of Rafah and Khan Yunis, where hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by Israel’s unrelenting air war are sheltering.

However, Palestinians appeared disappointed with the item provided, as they did not include essential fuel supplies to power generators and emergency vehicles.

“Excluding the fuel from the humanitarian aid means the lives of patients and injured will remain at risk. Gaza hospitals requirements to pursue medical interventions,” the Gaza health ministry said.

The United Nations said the convoy carrying life-saving supplies would be received and distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent.

But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while welcoming the opening, echoed a warning from Israel that no aid should end up in Hamas hands. “We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza,” he stated.

“We have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance.”

The Israeli military earlier announced that humanitarian aid entering Gaza would go to southern areas only, making it clear that there is “no fuel going in”.

Meanwhile, Israel kept up heavy bombardment of targets throughout Gaza in Saturday’s early hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “fight until victory”.

Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin “soon”.

On Saturday Gaza’s health ministry said Israel’s air and missile strikes had killed at least 4,385 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while over a million of the besieged territory’s people have been displaced.

Almost half of Gaza’s residents have been displaced, and at least 30pc of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the UN says.

‘Drop in the ocean’

Most of Gaza’s inhabitants depend on humanitarian aid. The heavily urbanised and widely impoverished territory has been under Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2005.

Israel has told all Palestinians to evacuate the northern half of Gaza, which includes Gaza City. Many people have yet to leave, saying they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go given that southern areas have also been bombarded.

Some said the aid arriving on Saturday was too little to make a difference. “This is a drop in the ocean. You are trying to show the world that you are bringing aid. This is throwing dust in the eyes,” said Nabil El-Dhaba, a resident of the Shejaia district in Gaza City who has been displaced to Deir Al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Terrified Palestinians who were forced to evacuate their homes after Israel’s deadly overnight bombings lashed out at the reports of aid trucks about to enter Gaza, saying it was a ceasefire and not food that they needed.

“They were asleep when the missile was dropped on them, innocent children, their father, their grandfather, what did they do? Did they fire rockets? Carried bullets? They are innocent children who did nothing!” cried one tearful woman.

“We have been fighting and the Arab nations are just watching. Canned food, is that the price of the Palestinian people who are offering sacrifices everywhere?”

At UN: Pakistan calls for resuscitate two-State solution to end Palestinian crisis

At the United Nations, Pakistan has stressed the need to resuscitate the two-State solution of Palestinian crisis for durable peace in the region.

Speaking in a debate on the contributions of regional mechanisms for peace and security in the Security Council, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the world body, Munir Akram said the two-state solution is the only option for a durable peace in the Holy Land.

He expressed the hope that after the Security Council’s failure, the General Assembly will take action and demand an immediate ceasefire; full, unhindered, and sustainable humanitarian access to the suffering people in Gaza, and ensure that they are not displaced within or outside Gaza.

Speaking about the Security Council’s shortcomings, Munir Akram said these arise mainly due to the veto power of the five permanent members.

He said the Security Council, which has the primary responsibility to promote world peace, has failed to “stop the slaughter in Gaza”, as it also failed in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistani envoy said the Security Council’s failures can be addressed by making it more representative and democratic, by enlarging the voice of the majority of small and medium sized states, and more accountable through the democratic method of periodic elections.

World Cup 2023: Netherlands opt to bat against Sri Lanka

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards won the toss and chose to bat first in the World Cup game with Sri Lanka at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday.

The Dutch, who stunned South Africa last time out for their first win over a Test-playing nation at the 50-over showpiece, are unchanged.

Sri Lanka, the only team in the 10-nation tournament yet to win a game after three successive defeats, made two changes with Dusan Hemantha and Kasun Rajitha replacing Dunith Wellalage and Lahiru Kumara.

Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (capt/wkt), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt/wkt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

US dollar gains strength against Pakistani rupee

On Saturday, the current rate for US Dollar stands at Rs278.80, as the interbank exchange rate saw a notable Rs1.19 rise during the past week.

Conversely, over the past five weeks, the dollar had been consistently losing value in comparison to the Pakistani rupee.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, on Friday, the dollar closed at 278.80 rupees in the interbank market, up from 276.83 rupees on Monday.

During the past week, the dollar saw an overall increase of Rs1.19.

For 28 consecutive business days, the dollar's value had been decreasing against the rupee in Pakistan, dropping below 277 rupees at one point.

However, on Tuesday, the dollar's value went up again, increasing by 20 paisas, by Wednesday the rate increased by Rs3.26.

Currency market analysts had expected the dollar to rebound after its significant drop.

However, Wednesday's interbank income payments caused pressure on the dollar.

Additionally, the dollar's value was affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which also had an impact on the Pakistani currency.

At the end of the business week, the dollar closed at Rs278.80 in the interbank market. In the open market, the dollar remained stable at 280 rupees.

Former Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) predicts that the dollar's value will reach 250 rupees soon.

Shabbar Zaidi mentioned on Twitter that the economy is gradually improving, and he expects the US dollar's value to be around 250 by the end of the next year.

Hamas attack aimed to disrupt Saudi-Israel normalization: Biden

The potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states was a top priority for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his June trip to Riyadh, although he acknowledged no progress should be expected imminently.

Palestinian group Hamas' 7 Oct attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, US President Joe Biden said on Friday.

Saudi Arabia, a Middle East powerhouse and home to Islam's two holiest shrines, gave its blessing to Gulf neighbors United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establishing relations with Israel in 2020 under the previous US administration of Donald Trump.

Riyadh has not followed suit, saying Palestinian statehood goals should be addressed first.

 "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said at a campaign fundraiser.

The potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states was a top priority for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his June trip to Riyadh, although he acknowledged no progress should be expected imminently.

Blinken told an international news channel that "it wouldn't be a surprise that part of the motivation (for the attack) may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together."

Biden told an international news channel in an interview that aired last Sunday that the prospect of normalization was "still alive, it's going to take time."

Israel responded to the 7 Oct attack by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free hostages taken by Hamas while wiping out the group.

Hardik Pandya's ankle injury forces him out of India vs. New Zealand clash

Indian cricket team’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the World Cup match against New Zealand due to injury.

As per reports in Indian media, Hardik Pandya needs a week to get rid of ankle pain and Surya Kumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan will be included in the playing XI, while Mohammad Shami can be replaced by Shirdal Thakur in the upcoming match.

According to the Indian media, Hardik Pandya suffered an injury in the match against Bangladesh yesterday, he has also been scanned and a formal decision will be made after the review report.

It should be noted that the match between India and New Zealand is scheduled in Dharamsala on Sunday.

SC to take up military court trial cases on October 23

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court will take up petitions against the trials of civilians in military courts on October 23. Meanwhile a three-member bench will also take up petitions asking for elections within 90 days on the same date.

According to cause lists issued on Friday, the bench hearing the military courts case will be led by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and will include Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Mazahar Naqvi.

On the other hand, Justice Qazi Faez Isa will lead a bench including Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah that will hear petitions asking for elections to be held within 90 days.

The case was fixed a day after Justice Qazi Faez Isa hinted that the military court case and the general election could be fixed ‘soon’.

The military courts case was last heard on August 3 by a bench led by then Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. The attorney general had assured the court that no civilians would be tried without letting the SC know beforehand.

All five judges in the new bench were part of the bench with Justice Bandial as well.

The bench led by Justice Bandial was dissolved and reconstituted twice after judges recused themselves from hearing the case.

The petitions have asked the court to order that civilians cannot be tried by military court since fair trial is not guaranteed. The issue began when people accused of involvement in the May 9 riots were handed over to military courts for attacking state institutions.

Martyrdom toll in Gaza rises to 3,785 in Israeli attacks

Israel's Zionist regime is continuously targeting innocent civilians and infrastracture across Gaza strip and West Bank.

According to Palestinian news agency WAFA, the martyrdom toll in Gaza stands at 3,785 while 13,500 others have been wounded.

In the occupied West Bank, 74 people have been martyred and 1,300 wounded.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has said 21 media workers have been killed since the beginning Israeli air strikes on Gaza on October 7.

Meanwhile, at least 8 people have been killed and many other civilians wounded in a recent Israeli attack on an Orthodox Church in besieged Gaza where some 200 Palestinian had taken refugee.

Biden declares support for Israel and Ukraine is ‘vital’ for US security

President Joe Biden declared it is “vital for America’s national security” for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening US involvement in a rare Oval Office address as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries.

If international aggression is allowed to continue, Biden said, “conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world.”

“Hamas and Putin represent different threats,” Biden said. “But they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy.”

He said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be roughly $100 billion over the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled on Friday, includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management.

“It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations,” Biden said.

Biden hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. His speech comes the day after his high-stakes trip to Israel, where he showed solidarity with the country in its battle against Hamas and pushed for more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Ahead of his address, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stress that the US remained committed to backing Kyiv, the White House said. And a senior White House official said Biden continued to develop his remarks on Thursday after working with close aides throughout the week, including on his flight home from Israel. The official declined to be identified ahead of the president’s speech.

Biden faces an array of steep challenges as he tries to secure the money. The House remains in chaos because the Republican majority has been unable to select a speaker to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted more than two weeks ago.

In addition, conservative Republicans oppose sending more weapons to Ukraine as its battle against the Russian invasion approaches the two-year mark. Biden’s previous request for funding, which included $24 billion to help with the next few months of fighting, was stripped out of budget legislation last month despite a personal plea from Zelensky.

The White House has warned that time is running out to prevent Ukraine, which recently struggled to make progress in a grueling counteroffensive, from losing ground to Russia because of dwindling supplies of weapons.

There will be resistance on the other side of the political spectrum when it comes to military assistance for Israel, which has been bombarding the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians and committing war crimes by cutting off essential supplies like food, water and fuel.

Bipartisan support for Israel has already eroded in recent years as progressive Democrats have become more outspoken in their opposition to the country’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory, which is widely viewed as illegal by the international community.

There are rumbles of disagreement within Biden’s administration as well. Josh Paul, a State Department official who oversaw the congressional liaison office dealing with foreign arms sales, resigned over US policy on weapons transfers to Israel.

“I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse,” he wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account.

Paul is believed to be the first official to have resigned in opposition to the administration’s decision to step up military assistance to Israel after the Oct. 7 attack.

While visiting Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden told Israel that “we will not let you ever be alone.” However, he cautioned Israelis against being “consumed” by rage as he said the United States was after the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001.

Wartime decision-making, Biden said, “requires asking very hard questions” and “clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path you are on will achieve those objectives.”

A speech from the Oval Office is one of the most prestigious platforms that a president can command, an opportunity to try to seize the country’s attention at a moment of crisis. 

Biden has delivered only one other such speech during his presidency, after Congress passed bipartisan budget legislation to avert a default on the country’s debt.

The White House and other senior administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, have quietly briefed key lawmakers in recent days about the contours of the planned supplemental funding request.

The Senate plans to move quickly on Biden’s proposal, hoping that it creates pressure on the Republican-controlled House to resolve its leadership drama and return to legislating.

However, there are disagreements within the Senate on how to move forward. Eight Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, said they did not want to combine assistance for Ukraine and Israel in the same legislation.

“These are two separate and unrelated conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in an attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line,” they wrote in a letter.

North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said he was fine with the proposal as long as there is also a fresh effort to address border issues. But he said “it’s got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border.”

Although there was a lull in migrant arrivals to the US after the start of new asylum restrictions in May, illegal crossings topped a daily average of more than 8,000 last month.

“There’s a huge need to reimburse for the costs of processing,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security. “So it’s personnel costs, it’s soft-sided facilities, it’s transportation costs.”

He was wary, however, of any effort to overhaul border policy — a historically intractable issue — during a debate over spending.

“How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks?” Murphy said. “This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail.”

Biden’s decision to include funding for Taiwan in his proposal is a nod toward the potential for another international conflict. China wants to reunify the self-governing island with the mainland, a goal that could be carried out through force.

Although wars in Europe and the Middle East have been the most immediate concerns for US foreign policy, Biden views Asia as the key arena in the struggle for global influence.

The administration’s national security strategy, released last year, describes China as “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge.”