Pakistan’s Parliament unanimously adopts resolution against Indian aggression

Pakistan Parliament on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution against Indian aggression tabled by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

The joint session of the Parliament strongly condemns the blatant Indian aggression on February 26 and 27, 2019 which is completely in violation of the United Nations charter, international law and inter-state laws, the resolution read.

It rejects India’s self-serving and fictitious claims of having destroyed alleged terrorist camps and caused heavy casualties. The facts on the ground clearly contradict India’s false claims and have been testified by independent observers, it pointed out.

The resolution condemned India’s baseless allegations in the aftermath of Pulwama attack which were politically motivated, and recalled the statements of all political parties and the prime minister offering Pakistan’s assistance to India after the incident.

It emphasised that India’s reckless actions impaired the peace and stability of the region, while endorsing the National Security Committee's decision to respond to Indian aggression at the "timing and place of its own choice".

Further recalling the statement issued after a special meeting of the National Command Authority where Pakistan made clear that India had committed aggression, the resolution reaffirmed that the entire Pakistani nation stands united behind its armed forces.

It reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to respond effectively in a befitting manner to India’s aggression as illustrated by the Pakistan Air Force on February 27, and called upon the international community especially the UNSC to condemn in unambiguous terms India’s highly irresponsible act endangering peace and stability in the region.

The resolution welcomed strong condemnation by the OIC’s Kashmir Contact Group of the brutal killings, LoC violation by Indian military on February 26, but noted with deep disapprobation that after India attacked Pakistan, a founding member of OIC, Indian foreign minister was invited as a guest of honour at the OIC meeting.

The resolution also strongly condemned the attacks on Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir and the mass arrests of Kashmiris and Hurriyat leaders, and rejected India’s attempts to project Kashmiris’ right to self-determination as terror.

In conclusion, it echoed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call to avoid further escalation and urged the Parliament of India to hold a joint session for de-escalation and dialogue between Pakistan and India.

NHL roundup: Tavares jeered in return to face Isles

The New York Islanders scored six unanswered goals Thursday night as they spoiled the return of their former captain John Tavares with a 6-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at a raucous Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

Anthony Beauvillier, Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas, Valtteri Filppula, Nick Leddy and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders. New York goalie Robin Lehner recorded 34 saves.

Zach Hyman scored in the first period for the Maple Leafs, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Goalie Garret Sparks made 31 saves.

Tavares, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Islanders before signing as a free agent with his hometown Maple Leafs in July, was held off the scoresheet. He was booed from the moment he took the ice for warmups — one fan threw a jersey at him — and every time he stepped on the ice during the game.

Brad Richardson scored four goals as Arizona defeated Vancouver in Glendale, Ariz. Richardson, who scored three goals last season, netted his first hat trick since October 2010. It was the first four-goal game by a Coyotes player since Keith Tkachuk had one in 1997.

Alex Galchenyuk also scored, and Vinnie Hinostroza and Richard Panik each had three assists for the Coyotes, who have won five consecutive games. Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves to beat the Canucks for the fourth time in as many meetings this season.

Tanner Pearson and Antoine Roussel scored for Vancouver, which lost for the second time in as many nights and dropped to 3-7-3 in its past 13 games. Thatcher Demko, playing in the third game of his NHL career, stopped 19 of 24 shots.

Boston scored three goals in a span of 88 seconds in the third period to snap Tampa Bay’s 10-game winning streak.

Noel Acciari had a goal and an assist, and Jake DeBrusk, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand also tallied for the Bruins, who have a 15-game point streak. The Bruins completed a full month (11-0-2) without a loss in regulation for the first time since November 2011.

Anthony Cirelli scored for Tampa Bay, which lost for the first time in regulation since Jan. 30. Louis Domingue, who stopped 37 of 41 shots, had his 11-game winning streak broken.

Josh Currie’s first two career assists helped visiting Edmonton past Ottawa. The Oilers have won three of their past five games (3-1-1). The Senators lost their sixth straight game and are 3-13-0 over their past 16 games.

Playing in his just sixth career NHL game, Currie recorded assists on both the Oilers’ first goal of the night, by Connor McDavid, and then on Colby Cave’s game-winner. Sam Gagner and Zack Kassian also scored for Edmonton.

Ottawa’s Chris Tierney snapped his 18-game goal drought and Mark Borowiecki ended his 61-game goal-less stretch.

Seth Jones scored 4:27 into overtime as host Columbus completed a season sweep of Philadelphia.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, Artemi Panarin and Scott Harrington also tallied for the Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 28 saves to win all four encounters against the Flyers this season and improve to 14-3-1 against the team with which he began his NHL career.

Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim scored two goals against Columbus for the second time this season. Jakub Voracek tallied in his third straight contest, and Brian Elliott turned aside 36 shots for the Flyers, who have lost 14 in a row at Columbus dating to Dec. 13, 2005.

Roope Hintz scored at 3:19 of overtime, and visiting Dallas handed Los Angeles its 10th consecutive loss.

Tyler Seguin, Mattias Janmark and Radek Faksa also scored goals, Blake Comeau and Ben Lovejoy had two assists each, and Anton Khudobin made 27 saves for the Stars, who moved back into the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference standings.

Anze Kopitar had two goals and an assist for the Kings, who are one loss away from their longest losing streak in franchise history. Brendan Leipsic also scored, and Jonathan Quick made 29 saves for Los Angeles.

Shea Theodore scored the only goal in a shootout, giving Vegas a win over Florida in Las Vegas.

Reilly Smith tallied two goals, Paul Stastny and Jon Merrill had a goal and an assist apiece, and Colin Miller also scored for the Golden Knights. Theodore and Jonathan Marchessault each had two helpers, and Malcolm Subban made 32 saves.

Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and three assists, Mike Hoffman netted two markers, and Aleksander Barkov had a goal and a helper for the Panthers. Aaron Ekblad also scored. Florida’s Keith Yandle added two assists, and Roberto Luongo stopped 41 shots.

Britain's Labour Party leader backs Brexit referendum

Britain’s opposition Labour Party will back a new referendum on Brexit after parliament defeated its alternative plan for leaving the European Union, its eurosceptic leader Jeremy Corbyn said.

With 29 days left until the United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union, both Prime Minister Theresa May and Corbyn have been forced into making changes to their approaches to the divorce.

Corbyn, who voted against membership in 1975 and gave only reluctant backing to the 2016 campaign to remain in the EU, on Wednesday gave ambiguous backing for another referendum, saying he would push for one alongside a British parliamentary election.

It is the first time since Britons voted in 2016 to leave the EU that one of its two major political parties has thrown its weight behind giving voters a chance to change

“After tonight’s votes in parliament, we’ll continue to push for a close economic relationship based on our credible alternative plan or a general election,” Corbyn said.

“We’ll also back a public vote in order to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit or disastrous no deal.”

John McDonnell, the second most powerful man in the Labour Party, said it would put down an amendment calling for a second referendum as soon as May brought a deal back to parliament.

Britain’s Brexit minister, Steve Barclay, said there was no consensus in parliament for another referendum or even on what question might be asked.

After months of saying that Britain must leave the EU on time on March 29, May opened up the possibility on Tuesday of a short extension to the exit date.

Anti-Brexit protesters shout slogans outside Downing Street in London, Britain, February 27, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
She is hoping to bring back a tweaked divorce accord for a parliamentary vote, which could come as early as next week but may not take place until March 12.

Talks with the EU have moved forward in the last week, but there is a significant amount of work to do, May’s spokesman said.

If her deal is voted down, May has promised that lawmakers will get a chance to vote the day after on whether to leave with no deal and then on March 14 to vote on asking the EU to delay the deadline.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday the EU would agree to extend the Brexit deadline beyond March 29 only if Britain justified such a request with a clear objective.

Lawmakers on Wednesday voted 502-20 in support of an amendment proposed by opposition Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper that spelled out May’s proposed timetable.

The government backed the amendment though 20 lawmakers in May’s Conservative Party voted against and 80 abstained.

After enduring more than 2-1/2 years of uncertainty since the 2016 referendum, some business chiefs are relieved the threat of a no-deal exit has been pushed back to June though others said the delay merely prolonged the lack of clarity.

“I would categorize it as a further annoyance,” Aston Martin Chief Executive Andy Palmer told Reuters. “You’re holding that contingency stock for longer which means that your working capital is tied up for longer.”

Aston Martin, which has authorized up to 30 million pounds ($40 million) worth of contingencies, is stocking more components and could fly in parts if ports are clogged up.

British business confidence slid in February to its lowest level since June 2016, adding to other signs that Brexit uncertainty is hurting companies. Net migration to Britain from the European Union fell to the lowest since 2009.

Goldman Sachs said it expected many Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers to accept a revised deal, partly because the Labour Party was tilting toward a second referendum.

“We continue to see the most likely outcome of the current impasse as eventual ratification of the prime minister’s Brexit deal, with a three-month extension of Article 50,” Goldman said.

Goldman Sachs raised the probability of that outcome to 55 percent from 50 percent while cutting its view of no-deal Brexit to 10 percent from 15. It kept the probability of no Brexit at 35 percent.

One Brexit-supporting lawmaker in May’s party said May would have to achieve legally binding treaty change to get support for her deal.

“If the prime minister brings back something different then of course we will look at that very seriously,” Theresa Villiers told the BBC. “But it would have to be legally binding, treaty change.”

May has a serious chance of getting a deal approved by parliament in the next few weeks, Conservative Party lawmaker Oliver Letwin said.

“She might just squeak it,” Letwin told Sky.

Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Additional reporting by Costas Pitas and William James; Editing by Alistair Smout and Kate Holton; Editing by Janet Lawrence

Israeli attorney-general plans to charge Netanyahu in corruption cases

Israel’s attorney-general announced on Thursday he intends to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, a decision coming just six weeks before a closely contested national election.

It was the first time a serving Israeli prime minister has been put on official notice of planned prosecution, and deepened uncertainty over how Netanyahu, a veteran right-wing leader, will fare against a coalition of upstart centrist rivals.

An actual filing of the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust would depend on the outcome of a required hearing, the Justice Ministry said. That could take months to complete.

At that hearing - which could take place after the April 9 election - Netanyahu can try to persuade the attorney-general, Avichai Mandelblit, not to indict him.

His voice brimming with indignation as he addressed the nation during prime-time TV news, Netanyahu dismissed the three criminal cases as a political “witch-hunt” designed to oust him.

“I intend to serve you and the country as prime minister for many more years. But it’s up to you,” he said, referring to his hopes of winning a fourth consecutive term in April.

“It’s not up to the civil servants. It’s not up to the television studios. It’s not up to the pundits and journalists.”

Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully accepting $264,000-worth of gifts, which prosecutors said included cigars and champagne, from tycoons and dispensing favors in alleged bids for improved coverage by an Israeli newspaper and a website.

He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of bribery and a maximum 3-year term for fraud and breach of trust.

Israel’s shekel weakened against the dollar on the news. It was trading at 3.63 per dollar at 1620 GMT, from 3.6240 before the announcement and down 0.4 percent versus the U.S. currency from Wednesday.

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to the media in his residency in Jerusalem February 28, 2019 REUTERS/ Ronen Zvulun
Opinion polls show a tight race for Netanyahu’s Likud party, with sharp gains for a center-left alliance led by Benny Gantz, a former armed forces chief who has pledged clean government.

At the hearing with Mandelblit, the 69-year-old Netanyahu can cite the public interest in arguing against an indictment. In his statement on Thursday, the prime minister touted what he has achieved for the country: noting the strong economy and ties with world powers that he has cultivated over the last decade.

Netanyahu would be under no legal requirement to resign, even if indicted. But if he were re-elected it would likely be to lead a coalition, as he does now, and if he were indicted, public pressure could buckle the necessary alliances.

Gantz said on Thursday he would not join Netanyahu in any future coalition government given the possible corruption indictment, and called on the prime minister to step down.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute, said he did not expect a dramatic shift in public opinion against Netanyahu.

“However, since the elections are such a close call, even a movement of few percentage points in either direction can make the difference between Netanyahu winning as prime minister - or his main challenger, Mr. Benny Gantz,” said Plesner.

Netanyahu’s supporters generally back his hawkish stands on Iran and the Palestinians, credit him for the strong economy and greatly admire his command of English and international standing.

Many of his opponents see him as a divisive leader whose alliance with the far-right has harmed democracy and made any prospect of peace with the Palestinians even more remote.

Anshel Pfeffer, author of a recent Netanyahu biography, said on Twitter that Israel was entering “uncharted waters” in which “no one has any idea how being a prime minister under notice of indictment will effect Netanyahu and his government”.

U.S. President Donald Trump, asked at a news conference earlier on Thursday about Netanyahu’s legal troubles, voiced support for the Israeli leader. Trump and Netanyahu have been in lockstep over policy toward Iran and the Palestinians.

“Well, I just think he has been a great prime minister,” said Trump.

U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in 2014 and the Trump administration is expected to unveil a new peace plan after the Israeli election.

The Palestinian leadership did not immediately comment on the news of Netanyahu’s pending indictment.

Sitting in a cafe in the city of Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, 28-year-old Palestinian student Abdallah al-Razem said Netanyahu’s legal predicament was in the interest of the Palestinian people.

But he added: “There is also corruption within our government ... I hope such a decision gets implemented here too.”

Roy Slor, a 47-year-old Israeli who works with people with disabilities, watched the news on television in a Tel Aviv cafe.

“I think it’s a very sad day for us in Israel. I was upset hearing the news,” he said. “It’s not an easy day when the prime minister is accused of these allegations.”

Nokia launches world’s first smartphone with a unique five camera array in Barcelona

HMD Global, home to Nokia phones, announced four new Android smartphones in MWC '19 that took place in Barcelona on February 24. This includes the world’s first smartphone with a unique five camera array, the Nokia 9 PureView.

From Nokia 9 PureView to the Nokia 210, the company’s most affordable internet enabled feature phone, the brand believes consumers will now have a wider range of Nokia devices taking up different price tags.

Phones launched at the event

1. Nokia 9 PureView: Nokia 9 PureView features a distinct five camera array with ZEISS Optics to put next generation computational imaging technology into the hands of advanced photography enthusiasts.

2. Nokia 4.2: The phone brings flagship imaging features like multi-camera imaging to a new price point, with a dual depth-sensing rear camera ready to capture memories.

3. Nokia 3.2: The Nokia 3.2 features an impressive 6.26” HD+ display for a great viewing experience.

4. Nokia 1 Plus: The Nokia 1 Plus’s auto focus rear camera capture minute details and the front camera comes enhanced with the ‘beautify feature’.

5. Nokia 210: The Nokia 210 has a crucial role in the Nokia phone line-up as an affordable internet device and comes in a durable, inherently coloured polycarbonate shell to reduce appearance of finger marks.

New accessories' line-up

Nokia also introduced two wireless charging solutions in its portfolio: the Nokia Wireless Charger and Nokia Portable Wireless Charger. Both devices support the universal Qi charging standard, and can work with compatible wireless charging devices, including the Nokia 9 PureView and Nokia 8 Sirocco.

The Nokia Wireless Charger supports fast 10-watt wireless charging, making it perfect for a quick top up when at home or in the office.

Availability in Pakistan

Nokia 3.2 will be available in Pakistan from May at a retail price of Rs27,000.

Nokia 1 Plus will be available in Pakistan from March at a retail price of Rs15,300.

Nokia 210 will be available in Pakistan from March at a retail price of Rs5,500.

Prices of the other two devices will be revealed at a later stage.

Commenting on the unveiling of this line-up of devices, Florian Seiche, Chief Executive Officer, HMD Global, said, “We’ve had a phenomenal response from consumers to our entire portfolio, thanks to our unique approach to Android, delivering a pure, secure and always up-to-date experience. We have delivered on this commitment, changing the smartphone ownership paradigm by offering an experience that only gets better over time. Today, with these new phones, we are taking a leap forward by delivering the very latest innovations from Google across our entire portfolio.”

 

BMW and Daimler deepened their alliance for similar reasons

The enormous cost of designing and building computer-powered vehicles has already prompted Honda to pool its efforts with General Motors, while Volkswagen is pursuing talks with Ford about an alliance on autonomous cars.

BMW and Daimler deepened their alliance for similar reasons, said Michael Hafner, head of automated driving at Mercedes-Benz research and development said in a blog post which accompanied a joint press release by the companies on Thursday.

“We have learned that the development of these systems is a bit like climbing a mountain,” he said.

“Taking the first few meters from the base station to the summit seems easy. But the closer you come to the goal, the thinner the air around you becomes, the more strength is required for each further step, and the more complex become the challenges you have to resolve.”

It made sense to distribute the technological and financial challenges of automated driving, Hafner said, so BMW and Daimler will jointly develop technology to enable automated driving on highways.
“Initially, the focus will be on advancing the development of next-generation technologies for driver assistance systems, automated driving on highways and parking features,” the companies said in the statement.

“In addition, the two partners plan to discuss the possibility of extending their collaboration to cover higher levels of automation, both on highways and in urban areas.”

BMW and Daimler’s move comes as even deep pocketed technology companies struggle to gain traction in autonomous driving. Apple Inc said on Wednesday it planned to lay off 190 employees in its self-driving car program, Project Titan.

The market for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles is expected to grow to $96 billion in 2025 and $290 billion in 2035 from about $3 billion in 2015, according to Goldman Sachs.

BMW and Daimler already cooperate in high-definition mapping with HERE and in the area of procurement, and earlier this month unveiled a joint ride-hailing, parking and electric car charging business.

They said on Thursday their new partnership will center on so-called level 3 and level 4 automated driving technologies, including cars that still require steering wheels and drivers.
Daimler will pursue a separate development alliance for level 5 robotaxis between its luxury brand Mercedes-Benz and supplier Robert Bosch. Level 5 cars require no driver.

BMW, for its part, continues its development alliance for robotaxis with Israeli autonomous vehicle tech company Mobileye and chip maker Intel, with the aim of putting autonomous cars on the road by 2021.

UNSC: Venezuelan FM Praises Victory of Peace After US Resolution Failure

Peace and preservation of national sovereignty have won at the UN Security Council session, dedicated to the Venezuelan crisis, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said, as the US-drafted UNSC resolution, calling for new elections in the Latin American country, got vetoed.

On Thursday, Russia and China vetoed the US-sponsored draft. South Africa voted against the resolution, too, three countries abstained, while nine other states supported it. Ahead of the vote, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that the US draft had "no chance" of being adopted.

"Today, peace, the protection of sovereignty and self-determination of peoples won in the Security Council. Multilateralism will not fall to the feet of the United States (and countries following them) in order to attack the free people of Venezuela," Arreaza wrote on Twitter.

Hoy en el Consejo de Seguridad ONU, triunfaron la Paz, la defensa de la soberanía y la autodeterminación de los Pueblos. El multilateralismo no se pondrá a los pies del gobierno de EEUU (y sus países subalternos) para agredir al Pueblo libre de #Venezuela. #HandsOffVenezuela pic.twitter.com/lr09Bk5jT7

— Jorge Arreaza M (@jaarreaza) February 28, 2019

 

However, also on Thursday, the United Nations Security Council rejected a draft resolution put forward by Russia to reaffirm the right of President Nicolas Maduro's government to coordinate aid deliveries to the Latin American country, too.

Four countries voted in favor of the resolution, while four others abstained and seven other council members rejected it.

Tensions in Venezuela escalated on 23 January, when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president. Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro called Guaido's move an attempt to stage a coup.

The US and around 50 other countries have recognized Guaido. Russia and a number of other states have voiced their support for constitutionally elected Maduro.