Cost of debt servicing up to Rs3.18tr
This equals 81% of the original annual debt servicing budget. There was also an increase of 70% in the cost of interest payments on the federal government’s debt stock in just eight months. The more alarming fact, however, was that debt servicing was Rs9 billion more than the federal government’s net income during the same period. Now though, the income does not to be sufficient even to meet debt servicing costs – a fact that exhibits how the country is stuck in a trap and cannot make an exit without restructuring, both its domestic and external, debt. Pakistan has informed the IMF that the cost of debt servicing may rise to nearly Rs5.2 trillion in this fiscal year, equalling more than half of this year’s total budget of Rs9.6 trillion.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 19:50 UTC
Bassi’s PK goal sparks Houston to 2-0 victory over Austin
Amine Bassi scored on a penalty kick in the 71st minute to break a scoreless tie and lead the Houston Dynamo to a 2-0 victory over Austin FC on Saturday night. Bassi’s goal came after Austin’s Adam Lundkvist was charged with a hand-ball foul. Héctor Herrera took a pass from Griffin Dorsey and added an insurance goal in the 86th minute. Houston has managed at least two points through its first three matches in every season but 2009, when it started 0-2-1. The Dynamo outshot Austin 15-13 with a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 16:46 UTC
Pageau, Sorokin lead Islanders to 4-1 win over Sharks
Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a goal and an assist, Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots for his 25th win of the season, and the New York Islanders beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 Saturday night. Labanc gave the Sharks the lead 7:31 into the first period beating Sorokin over the blocker. He beat San Jose defenseman Erik Karlsson to the front of the net and cut to his forehand to beat Kahkonen. “But, unfortunately, we weren’t able to get that.”PRIDE NIGHT AT THE TANKSharks goalie James Reimer declined to participate in warm-ups as San Jose hosted its annual pride night. The San Jose Sharks stated that they will continue to support the LGBTQIA+ community but accepts the right for every player to express their beliefs.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 12:39 UTC
Zags, Saint Mary’s keep West Coast Conference front & center
That team is Saint Mary’s, which is a No. Saint Mary’s, meanwhile, is a 3 1/2-point underdog according to FanDuel Sportsbook against the Huskies, who have three national titles to their credit since 1999. Saint Mary’s has been in four of the last five March Madness brackets. Saint Mary’s scheduled Houston, San Diego State and Vanderbilt this year. “They push us for sure, but we push them, too,” Saint Mary’s guard Logan Johnson said.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 10:24 UTC
Tennessee beats up Duke, wins 65-52 to advance to Sweet 16
Olivier Nkamhoua was a little hesitant to enter Tennessee’s postgame locker room after a career performance against powerhouse Duke in the NCAA Tournament. Nkamhoua tied his career high with 27 points, including 13 straight for Tennessee during a decisive stretch in the second half, and the fourth-seeded Volunteers bullied Duke 65-52 on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. Advertisement“We’re a tough, hard-nosed team,” Nkamhoua said. It prompted Vols fans to start chanting and sent Duke fans scrambling for the the exits. “We prepare for a dogfight every game,” Nkamhoua said.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 09:24 UTC
Imran's warrants in Toshakhana case cancelled
Intense clashes broke out between the police and PTI activists as Imran’s convoy reached the judicial complex ahead of his appearance before the district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case. The PTI chief left for Lahore without stepping out of his bullet-proof vehicle at the gate of the judicial complex. “I am at the gate of the judicial complex and I’m being denied entry,” read the application. The venue of the hearing was changed to the G-11 Judicial Complex instead of the F-8 Katcheri because of the security concerns raised by the former premier. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while addressing a news conference, maintained that after the former premier appeared outside the judicial complex in the Toshakhana case and his arrest warrants were cancelled, the courts should dispel the “false” impression that justice was the same for all.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 05:12 UTC
Bassi's PK goal sparks Houston to 2-0 victory over Austin
North Andover, MA (01845)TodayPartly cloudy. Gusty winds in the afternoon. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..TonightSome clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 05:05 UTC
San Diego State dominates Furman 75-52 to reach Sweet 16
San Diego State had little trouble ending the run of March Madness darling Furman, getting 16 points from Micah Parrish to pace a balanced scoring attack and pulling away for a 75-52 win on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Darrion Trammell had 13 points, Lamont Butler added 12 and leading scorer Matt Bradley finished with 10 for San Diego State (29-6), which is heading to its first Sweet 16 since 2004. But some of that you have to give credit to (San Diego State). The super senior stomped the floor in frustration, drawing a technical foul that gave San Diego State a pair of free throws that put the Aztecs up 60-37. “This has to push us every day to want to get back here and continue to show that we belong in the NCAA Tournament.”San Diego State: The Aztecs are 0-2 in Sweet 16 games.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 19, 2023 05:01 UTC
Thirsty nation
Pakistan is currently facing a severe water crisis that threatens the country’s socio-economic development and ecological sustainability. The situation has been exacerbated by a combination of factors, including climate change, population growth, poor water management practices and political inertia. Pakistan’s water infrastructure is outdated and inadequate, with little investment in new dams, reservoirs, and canals over the past few decades. The country also lacks a comprehensive water management policy that can regulate water use and allocation in an equitable and sustainable manner. Another factor is the effects of climate change, which has led to changes in rainfall patterns and increased evaporation rates.
Source:The Nation
March 19, 2023 03:46 UTC
Toshakhana: Imran’s warrants canceled after day-long chaos
Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal has cancelled the arrest warrants issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. The PTI chief left for Lahore without stepping out of his bullet-proof vehicle at the gate of Judicial Complex. “I am at the gate of the judicial complex and I’m being denied entry,” stated the application. The venue of the hearing was changed to the G-11 Judicial Complex instead of the F-8 Katcheri due to security concerns raised by the former premier. A day earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Imran’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana criminal proceedings case.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 18, 2023 23:11 UTC
India says situation with China fragile, dangerous
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks during a Quad Ministers' panel at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, India on March 3, 2023. Photo: OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoThe situation between India and China in the western Himalayan region of Ladakh is fragile and dangerous, with military forces deployed very close to each other in some parts, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. "The situation to my mind still remains very fragile because there are places where our deployments are very close up and in military assessment therefore quite dangerous," Jaishankar said at an India Today conclave. Jaishankar said he discussed the situation with China's new foreign minister, Qin Gang, on the sidelines of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the G20 nations hosted by India this month. Two G20 ministerial meetings in India in the last three weeks have been overshadowed by Russia's 13-month invasion of Ukraine.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 18, 2023 22:25 UTC
Zohaib/Amir win silver medals in 2nd leg of ATF Cup U-14 doubles
Share:Lahore - Pakistan’s rising tennis stars Zohaib afzal Malik and amir Mazari won the silver medals in the 2nd leg of aTF Cup U-14 doubles that concluded in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Pakistani pair of Zohaib and Amir lost their U-14 doubles final by top seed Akmal Abdullaev (UZB) and AbdulhodiyHosilov (UZB) in straight sets. Amir Mazari is a student of Aitchison and is coached by renowned coach rashid Malik. Sharing his views from Tajikistan, Zohaib said: “It’s the first time that I am out of my homeland for around two months to play six ATF in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. “Tajikistan is a wonderful country to play tennis and we invite juniors from across the world to come and enjoy tennis here.”
Source:The Nation
March 18, 2023 07:48 UTC
Beijing asks bankrupt Pak to release dues for CPEC power firms and allow import of coal
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2406105/beijing-asks-for-15b-paymentPang reportedly told Fatemi that overdue payments to the Chinese power companies are close to $1.5 billion, causing concern among Chinese businesses. Many problems haunting Chinese power plants are due to policy decisions. Chinese power plants cannot import coal due to low forex with Pakistani banks. But the power plants cannot compare the prices due to exchange rate fluctuation and rupee devaluation. The worst affected coal-fired power plants are located at Hub in Balochistan, Sahiwal in Punjab and Port Qasim in Karachi.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 18, 2023 05:23 UTC
On conspiracy theories
Why couldn’t there be a Paris conspiracy, Berlin or Moscow conspiracy or ooh Denver airport conspiracy? Mr Khan has been flooding the town square with as many conspiracy theories as you can count since his final days in power. It was in Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum that I first came across an operationalised example of how conspiracy theories work. Together these authors recommend the following remedies for conspiracy theories and people affected by them: (1) Promote critical thinking. As someone who succumbed to conspiracy theories in his youth and had to struggle to find his way back I can testify that they work.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 18, 2023 04:40 UTC
Maryam ups the ante with call for banning PTI
Stepping up attacks on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) just weeks before the Punjab Assembly elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz demanded banning the Imran Khan-led party, equating it with a terrorist organisation. “Imran Khan launched a similar attack on the country’s economy in 2018 when he laid ‘landmines’,” she said about the economic policy of the then PTI government. “Imran Khan is responsible for the economic down turn in the country,” she added. “Imran Khan is giving interviews to the foreign media and spreading lies about the government. She alleged that “even terrorists were kept at Zaman Park” to attack the state.
Source:The Express Tribune
March 18, 2023 03:54 UTC