Prime Minister announces Canada handgun 'freeze'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close collaboration on multilateral forums.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abdul Mueed Baloch wins silver medal in 400m race

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

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

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

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

Alhamdullilah https://t.co/JWfMGmLlZB

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

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

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

Pakistan's rank improved in tourism index

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

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

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

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

Saudi Arab appoints its 1st climate envoy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Independents lead in Balochistan LG polls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Japanese Red Army founder walks free after 20 years in prison

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vinicius strikes as Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Champions League final

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Delayed kick-off

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Outstanding Courtois

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was Real Madrid's night.

Monkeypox can be contained if we act now: WHO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

local Bodies Elections in thirty two districts of Balochistan

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

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

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

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

Youm-e-Takbeer being observed today with national zeal, fervour

Youm-e-Takbeer is being observed today (Saturday) with national zeal and fervour to commemorate historic nuclear tests at Chagai on May 28, 1998.

Pakistan joined the prestigious club of nuclear powers by conducting nuclear tests on May 28, 1998.

The government has announced the 10-day celebrations in this regard whereas this year, the theme of the day would be “Na Jhuky Thay Na Jhuken Gay (We never bowed nor will bend our heads down)”.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also released a national song in connection with the “Youm-e-Takbeer”. It was aimed at highlighting the importance of “Youm-e-Takbeer”.

Detonation of nuclear devices on May 28, 1998 was culmination of a daring journey took on by Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to make the nation’s defense invincible against the arch rival India.

The program was started though with limited resources but insurmountable will and passion to ensure that the country becomes a sovereign and strong state unable to be bullied by the hostile powers.

Dreams of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as well as the nation came true in 1998 when the then Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif stood firm against all threats to include Pakistan in the nuclear club by detonating device at Chagai.

It was the will and determination of our nation and the leadership that removed all hurdles on way to achieving this milestone.

PM Shehbaz Sharif to initiate Rs28 billion relief package after hiking petrol prices

Following the decision to increase the prices of petroleum products by Rs30, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that the government will initiate a Rs28 billion package to provide relief to the masses.

Addressing the nation, the prime minister said taking up the challenge of coming into power was not easy as the country's situation was gloomy, and the nation was plagued with hatred during the previous government's tenure.

"I would like to thank my leader Nawaz Sharif and the leaders of our allied parties for trusting me with this office," he said.

Criticising the former, PTI-led government and ex-prime minister Imran Khan, PM Shehbaz said that "it was the demand of the people of Pakistan to rid them of the previous incompetent and corrupt government."

PM Shehbaz said a diplomatic cable was used for political means and the nation was fed with lies despite the National Security Committee (NSC) and the ambassador to the United States both rubbishing the "foreign conspiracy" claims touted by ex-premier Imran Khan.

PM Shehbaz said if Khan thinks his "ego" is bigger than the state, then it is his misconception as Pakistan will function in line with the Constitution and not upon following the direction of one person.

Ex-prime minister Imran Khan has repeatedly blamed the US for backing the no-confidence motion — that lead to his ouster — and has refused to accept the newly-elected government.

He claimed that US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu had threatened Pakistan's ambassador for removing his government.

"This person, when Pakistan was progressing under prime minister Nawaz Sharif, staged dharnas. At that time, Chinese President Xi Jinping had to come to Pakistan, but due to his arrogance, the agreement that was scheduled to take place was delayed."

The premier stressed that the incumbent government was responsible for the nation's safety and security and would not compromise in this regard at any cost.

Reminding the PTI government of its tenure, PM Shehbaz said it was Khan that struck a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), not the current government.

"We did not agree to the strict conditions laid forth by the IMF; you burdened the masses with heavy inflation, not us; you buried the country under heavy debts, not us; international institutions said that corruption increased during your tenure, not ours; electricity load shedding was brought back during your tenure and you are responsible for the economy's suffering," he said.

He said that over the last four years, Pakistan incurred more than $20,000 billion worth of debt.

PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Turkey next week, confirms Foreign Office

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be visiting Turkey next week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday, embarking on his first visit to Ankara after assuming office last month.

"The prime minister would be visiting Turkey next week, and we would be sharing with you more details containing elements, specific elements and engagements envisaged during this visit," FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said in response to a question during his weekly press briefing.

Former prime minister Imran Khan went to Turkey on a two-day visit in January 2019, where he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara and other senior government officials.

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

Following the prime minister's visit, Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan told Reuters this week that the Kingdom was finalising the extension of the $3 billion deposit to Pakistan.

Pakistan is in dire need of external finances, hurt by high inflation, reserves declining to as low as less than two months of imports, and a fast-weakening currency.

On other foreign engagements, the spokesperson said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari visited Davos, Switzerland, to attend World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting from May 23-26, with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar accompanying him.

He said on the sidelines of the event, the foreign minister — accompanied by Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman and Khar held bilateral meetings with — Queen Máxima of The Netherlands, Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and others.

Read more: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari rejects Imran Khan's allegations, rebuilds ties with West at Davos

Prior to Davos, at the special invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Bilawal visited China — his first bilateral visit abroad since assuming office last month — on May 21-22, the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

Condemnation of Yasin Malik's conviction

While beginning his press conference, the spokesperson strongly condemned and rejected the mala fide conviction and sentencing of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik in a grossly suspicious and contrived case registered under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC) dating back to 2017.

The spokesperson noted that the Indian Charge d’Affaires (Cd’A) in Islamabad was called to the Foreign Office on 25 May and conveyed Pakistan’s strong indignation over the highly reprehensible sentencing of Malik.

Earlier in the week, in a strong statement, Foreign Minister Bilawal condemned the Indian court’s fallacious conviction of Yasin Malik and demanded his urgent and immediate release.

The foreign minister has also written letters to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bache let and OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, apprising them of the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK). In particular, the foreign minister expressed grave concern over the sham conviction of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik.

"India must harbour no delusions. Pakistan will continue to raise its voice to express its concerns and highlight the gross excesses that India continues to commit with unchecked impunity against the Kashmiri people and their political leadership in IIOJK," Iftikhar added.

Seven Indian troops killed in accident near disputed border with China

At least seven Indian soldiers were killed and 19 others injured in a road accident in the remote Ladakh region, close to the country's disputed border with China, police said Friday.

The world's two most populous nations redirected tens of thousands of additional troops into the high-altitude Himalayan region after a deadly hand-to-hand battle in June 2020 left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.

“Seven soldiers killed, 19 injured in the remote Nubra area,” a senior police officer in Ladakh told AFP.

The incident happened early Friday when a vehicle carrying the soldiers for deployment close to the contested frontier skidded off the road and plunged about 15 metres (50 feet) into the Shyok River, according to the official.

 

India and China, after fighting a full-scale border war in 1962, have long accused each other of trying to seize territory along their unofficial divide, which is known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Relations have soured dramatically since a June 2020 clash along one section between Ladakh and Tibet.

Both sides have since reinforced the region with extra soldiers, military hardware and new infrastructure as multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks have failed to de-escalate tensions.

Live; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing nation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is addressing nation

 

Govt increases petrol price by Rs 30 per litre

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Qureshi expresses concern over bill to bar overseas Pakistanis from voting

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

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

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

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

Truck motorcycle collision in Shujabad, Two killed

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

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

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

Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara passed away

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

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

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

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

People reject PTI's march of chaos, Interior Minister

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

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

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

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

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

Nation has completely rejected PTI's March: Marriyum Aurangzeb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US hits Twitter with $150 mn fine over privacy breach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 babies killed in Senegal hospital fire

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

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

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

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

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

"The fire spread very quickly," he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pak Army Takes Control of Sensitive Buildings in Red Zone

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

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

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

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

PTI leaders, workers stage sit-in in Quetta

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

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

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

IMF delays revival of much-needed programme for Pakistan

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) late Wednesday delayed the revival of the stalled $6-billion programme under the External Financing Facility (EFF) for Pakistan.

The revival was expected to bring stability to the financial markets, the fast-weakening Pakistani rupee, and the depleting foreign exchange reserves, as the government had pinned hopes on the programme's resumption.

Pakistan failed to convince the IMF, as both sides could not reach a staff-level agreement despite week-long negotiations in Doha, Qatar, from May 18-25.

The Fund, in a statement, has emphasised the abolition of subsidies on petroleum products and electricity, among other conditions, as a prerequisite for the programme's revival.

Following the conclusion of the talks, IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan, Nathan Porter, said the Fund held constructive discussions with the Pakistani officials, which aimed at reaching an agreement on policies and reforms.

“Mission has held highly constructive discussions with Pakistani authorities aimed at reaching an agreement on policies and reforms that would lead to the conclusion of the pending seventh review of the authorities’ reform program, which is supported by an IMF Extended Fund Facility arrangement."

Porter said considerable progress was made during the mission, including the need to continue to address high inflation and the elevated fiscal and current account deficits, while ensuring adequate protection for the most vulnerable.

The Fund also appreciated the State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) decision to hike the policy rate from 12.25% to 13.75% — a move made to control the increasing inflation.

But the mission chief noted that on the fiscal side, there were deviations from the policies agreed upon in the last review, partly reflecting the fuel and power subsidies announced by the authorities in February.

The PTI-led government had originally agreed on raising the price of electricity and petroleum products, but later in March, Imran Khan announced subsidies on both commodities — and the current government is continuing with the same arrangement.

"The IMF team emphasised the urgency of concrete policy actions, including in the context of removing fuel and energy subsidies and the FY2023 budget, to achieve program objectives," Porter said in the statement.

The mission chief added that the IMF team looks forward to continuing its dialogue and close engagement with Pakistan’s government on policies to ensure macroeconomic stability for the benefit of all of Pakistan’s citizens.

Fawad urges masses to 'come out for Pakistan'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IG Punjab: Hammad Azhar moves LHC against CM Hamza,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FM Bilawal, Romanian FM discuss areas of mutual cooperation

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu have discussed areas of mutual cooperation including in the areas of trade and investment, development and education as well as collaboration at multilateral forums.

They met on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release on Tuesday.

Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar was also present during the meeting.

The foreign minister underscored that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with Romania, both bilaterally and in the context of the European Union.

The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest

Police arrest PTI leaders Ijaz Chaudhry, Mehmood ur Rasheed

With the clock ticking on PTI’s ‘Azadi March’, the police on Tuesday arrested PTI’s Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Punjab senior leader Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed and other party workers.

The police continued to raid the houses of the PTI leaders and workers as the government has decided to stop PTI’s 'Azadi March' set to begin today (May 25).

Despite the government ban, ex-prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders have vowed to reach Islamabad for the sit-in till the announcement of new elections.

A day earlier, Punjab Police raided the houses of several PTI leaders, including former energy minister Hammad Azhar, Usman Dar, and Babar Awan, while a police constable was also shot dead during a raid in Lahore.

On Tuesday, police arrested senior PTI leader Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed in a late-night raid under section 16 of the Maintenance of the Public Order (MPO).

Earlier, police also raided former education minister Shafqat Mehmood's residence, however, he was not present at home.

PTI's long march: Govt seals Lahore, Gujranwala, Bahawalnagar

The government has sealed several cities of Punjab including provincial capital Lahore, Gujranwala, Bahawalnagar in an attempt to stop Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long marc.

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

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

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

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

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

TikTok lets creators charge monthly subscriptions

TikTok on Monday said it will start letting some popular accounts at the video-snippet streaming star charge subscriptions for live streams. Similar money-making tools have been added to rivals such as Instagram and Facebook as the social media platforms compete for online personalities that attract audiences.

"LIVE Subscription is an extension of our efforts to build diversified creator monetization opportunities that suit a range of creator needs," TikTok said in a blog post.

TikTok said the subscription feature being introduced this week will only be available to creators by invitation for now but will be expanded globally in coming months. The company did not disclose pricing.

Creators will be able to switch into a chat mode exclusive to subscribers, "enhancing an even more personal connection between creator and viewer," the company said.

To access the LIVE Subscription feature, creators will need to be at least 18 years old, while users will have to be at least the same age to subscribe, TikTok said in the post.

Subscriber perks will include digital badges and, in some cases, the ability to control camera angles during streamed sessions, according to video clips posts by TikTok creators invited to take part.

TikTok early this month announced an ad revenue-sharing program with the social media platform s most prominent creators, moving closer to a model already used by its competitors.

The short-video format app has become wildly popular in recent years with more than a billion active users globally, but has been criticized for not providing a way for creators to effectively monetize content.

Under a TikTok Pulse program to be rolled out in the United States next month, companies can place their ads next to user content in specific categories and creators will get a cut.

"We will begin exploring our first advertising revenue share program with creators, public figures and media publishers," the company, a subsidiary of Chinese tech firm ByteDance, said in a statement.

Asian markets fall on China growth concerns

Asian stocks retreated Tuesday on concerns over the impact of China’s Covid restrictions on the world’s second-largest economy as investment banks slashed their forecasts.

A strong rally on Wall Street, where the Dow closed 2.0 percent higher, did not carry over to Asia, and Beijing’s announcement of a fresh raft of measures to stimulate the economy did little to calm nerves.

The package announced on Monday includes more than 140 billion yuan ($21 billion) in additional tax rebates, bringing the total amount of tax relief this year to 2.64 trillion yuan, Xinhua news agency reported following a meeting of the State Council chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

China’s economy has taken a hit from Beijing’s zero-Covid approach to the pandemic, which has resulted in lengthy lockdowns of major cities and mass testing of millions of people.

Prolonged virus lockdowns have constricted supply chains, dampened demand and stalled manufacturing.

Investment banks UBS Group and JPMorgan Chase cut their China economic growth forecasts due to the impact of the coronavirus strategy.

UBS on Tuesday cut its 2022 GDP growth forecast to 3.0 percent from 4.2 percent while JPMorgan on Monday trimmed its forecast to 3.7 percent from 4.3 percent, Bloomberg News reported.

"The lingering restrictions and lack of clarity on an exit strategy from the current Covid policy will likely dampen corporate and consumer confidence and hinder the release of pent-up demand," UBS economists including Tao Wang wrote in a research note, according to Bloomberg.

China has targeted full-year growth of around 5.5 percent, but data published in April showed that first-quarter growth slowed to 4.8 percent after its economy lost steam in the latter half of last year.

Concerns over the economic fallout from China’s dogged pursuit of a zero-Covid approach and its knock-on impact on supply chains and the wider global economy spooked investors, with Asian markets well into the red on Tuesday.

Tokyo was off 0.5 percent while Hong Kong was down 1.5 percent after the city’s leader Carrie Lam said there would likely be no relaxation of quarantine travel restrictions for the remainder of her term, which ends on June 30.

Shanghai and Seoul were both down 0.8 percent, while Taiwan, Bangkok, Sydney and Manila also retreated. Singapore was one of the few markets to post gains.

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

Some 20 countries offered new security assistance packages for Ukraine to battle invading Russian forces in a meeting of allies on Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced.

In their second gathering, nearly four dozen countries and organizations forming the Ukraine Defense Contact Group met online to discuss helping Ukraine, and 20 nations pledged arms, ammunition and other supplies to support Kyiv.

The group was briefed by Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on the current situation of the three-month-old war, in which the two sides are fighting along a long front line over territory Russia has seized in Ukraine s east and south.

"Today, together with Minister Reznikov and his team, we ve gained a sharper and shared sense of Ukraine s priority requirements and the situation on the battlefield," Austin said.

"Many countries are donating critically needed artillery ammunition, coastal defence systems and tanks and other armoured vehicles," he said.

Others, he added, are offering training for Ukraine s military.

He said that Denmark committed to send a Harpoon anti-ship missile system, and the Czech Republic was offering attack helicopters, tanks and rocket systems.

Harpoons are cruise missiles that can skim the surface of the sea to target ships as far as 187 miles (300 kilometers) offshore, depending on the type.

Usually Harpoons are mounted aboard ships or aircraft, but Denmark is the only country that acquired land-based systems for coastal protection.

The Danish battery would add a layer of protection to Ukraine s Black Sea port of Odessa, which is believed to be under threat of Russian invasion from the sea.

They could also potentially reach the port of Sevastopol, where some of the Russian Black Sea fleet is based.

Punjab Police raid houses of several PTI leaders ahead of 'Azadi March'

A police constable embraced martyrdom during a raid at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker residence in Model Town area of Lahore on Monday night.

According to DIG Operations, police conducted a raid at 112-C Model Town, the residence of a PTI worker named Sajid, during which the police party came under fire from the roof of the house.

DIG Operations also informed that police constable Kamal Ahmed was hit by a bullet during the raid and was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

He said that police will take action against those who took law into their hands. He also informed that police are in search to arrest the culprit behind the incident.

It a pertinent to mention here that Punjab police have launched a crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers ahead of PTI long march during which one MAN and dozens of PTI workers were taken into custody.

Cheap tactics cannot stop Real Independence March: Farrukh Habib

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former minister Farrukh Habib on Monday said that PTI call for long march on May 25 has baffled the imported government.

He said that police have launched a crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers in Punjab and Islamabad ahead of PTI long march during during which dozens of PTI workers have been arrested.

Farrukh Habib has advised the police officers to refrain from obeying illegal orders of the government and added that PTI Real Independence March will reach Islamabad at any cost.

He said that government s cheap tactics cannot stop Real Independence March and we will reach Islamabad on May 25.

Sindh govt to impose section 144 across province

Sindh government has decided to impose Section 144 in Sindh in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the province.

According to sources, Sindh home department will issue a notification in this regard very soon. Sources further said that Section 144 will remain in force for 20 days.

Sources further said that meetings, processions, and public gatherings will be banned across Sindh after the issuance of the notification by the home department.

Oil climbs in tight market as US driving season looms

Oil prices rose in early trade on Monday with U.S. fuel demand, tight supply and a slightly weaker U.S. dollar supporting the market, as Shanghai prepares to reopen after a two-month lockdown fuelled worries about a sharp slowdown in growth.

Brent crude futures rose 82 cents to $113.37 a barrel at 0126 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 69 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $110.97 a barrel, adding to last week’s small gains for both contracts.

"Oil prices are supported as gasoline markets remain tight amid solid demand heading into the peak U.S. driving season," said SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes.

"Refineries are typically in ramp-up mode to feed U.S. drivers’ unquenching thirst at the pump."

The U.S. peak driving season traditionally begins on Memorial Day weekend at the end of May and ends on Labour Day in September.

Analysts said despite fears about soaring fuel prices potentially denting demand, mobility data from TomTom and Google had climbed in recent weeks, showing more people were on the roads in places like the United States.

"High frequency data suggests demand continues to grow," ANZ analysts said in a note.

A weaker U.S. dollar also sent oil higher on Monday, as that makes crude cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.

Market gains have been capped, however, by concerns about China’s efforts to crush COVID with lockdowns, even with Shanghai due to reopen on June 1.

Lockdowns in China, the world’s top oil importer, have hammered industrial output and construction, prompting moves to prop up the economy, including a bigger-than-expected mortgage rate cut last Friday.

The European Union’s inability to reach a final agreement on banning Russian oil for its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special operation", has also stopped oil prices from climbing much higher.

 

Ukraine rejects concessions as Russians attack in east and south

Ukraine ruled out a ceasefire or any territorial concessions to Moscow as Russia stepped up its attack in the eastern and southern parts of the country, pounding the Donbas and Mykolaiv regions with air strikes and artillery fire.

Kyiv s stance has become increasingly uncompromising in recent weeks as Russia experienced military setbacks while Ukrainian officials grew worried they might be pressured to sacrifice land for a peace deal.

"The war must end with the complete restoration of Ukraine s territorial integrity and sovereignty," Andriy Yermak, Ukraine s presidential chief of staff said in a Twitter post on Sunday (May 22).

Polish President Andrzej Duda offered Warsaw s backing, telling lawmakers in Kyiv on Sunday that the international community had to demand Russia s complete withdrawal and that sacrificing any territory would be a "huge blow" to the entire West.

"Worrying voices have appeared, saying that Ukraine should give in to (President Vladimir) Putin s demands," Duda said, the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament in person since Russia s Feb 24 invasion.

"Only Ukraine has the right to decide about its future," he said.

Speaking to the same parliamentary session, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed a plea for stronger economic sanctions against Moscow.

"Half-measures should not be used when aggression should be stopped," he said.

Shortly after both finished speaking, an air raid siren was heard in the capital, a reminder that the war raged on even if its front lines are now hundreds of kilometres away.

Zelenskyy said at a news conference with Duda that 50 to 100 Ukrainians are dying every day on the war s eastern front in what appeared to be a reference to military casualties.

Pakistan reports 49 corona cases in last 24 hours

Pakistan has reported no death in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has risen to 1,529,834. The nationwide tally of fatalities stands at 30,379 on Monday.

According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 49 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has conducted 13,078 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 49 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 0.37 percent.

PM Shahbaz took notice of the eruption of fire at the Margalla Hills

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday took notice of the eruption of fire at the Margalla Hills and directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other officials to immediately put out the blaze.

Shehbaz Sharif also directed that emergency steps should be taken to keep the citizens safe from fire.

The Prime Minister also asked the relevant institutions to seek help from disaster management authorities and take effective steps for protection of wildlife and trees.