Kane disappointed by England Nations League withdrawals
... He’s tough, he’s a fighter and he’s going to work,” Wright said. “We’re all here for him, but he’s doing OK.”Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has been the acting head coach in Popovich’s absence. The Spurs play at home Wednesday against Washington, and that will be the seventh straight game in which Johnson will be filling in for Popovich. Johnson took over for that night’s contest, which the Spurs won, after the team said Popovich was not feeling well. Johnson and Popovich spoke on Nov. 3, and on Nov. 4 Johnson said Popovich is “in good spirits ... he’ll be OK.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 20:10 UTC
Timely completion of all development projects stressed
Minister Bilal Yaseen expressed his appreciation for the IT reforms and the underground water tank projects, which, he described, as revolutionary steps towards improving public convenience. He emphasized the need for the timely completion of all development projects under the Wasa to ensure better facilities for the public. He underscored the importance of fully digitizing all revenue systems to enhance transparency and operational efficiency. Bilal Yaseen also signaled an immediate push for the implementation of solarization projects as part of efforts to reduce electricity bills and promote cost-saving measures. Additionally, MD Ghufran Ahmed highlighted the agency’s plans for in-house capacity building and cost-saving initiatives worth millions of rupees.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 19:57 UTC
Pakistanis, Turks like one nation, Turkish Ambassador, Irfan Neziroglu
- Advertisement -ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Irfan Neziroglu has said that Turkiye’s borders do not meet Pakistan, but Pakistanis and Turks are like one nation, their hearts beat together. The ambassador said on this occasion that Turks consider Pakistan as their second home and Pakistanis also consider Turkiye their second homeland as well. He said that Turkey is Pakistan and Pakistan is Turkey. He encouraged students to embrace Allama Iqbal’s philosophy of “Khudi” (selfhood) and focus on personal development to help lead the nation toward success. Professor Dr. Zafar Hussain Zafar reflected on Iqbal’s lifelong solidarity with Turkey, noting that Iqbal never missed an opportunity to express his affection.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 19:36 UTC
World’s top banks pledge $120 billion in climate finance to poor nations
BAKU: The world’s top multilateral banks pledged to ramp up climate finance to low- and middle-income countries to $120 billion a year by 2030 as part of efforts at global talks in Azerbaijan to agree on an ambitious annual target. The new figure includes $42 billion to help adapt to the impacts of extreme weather, a 70% increase over the 2023 number. “We can spend time just discussing issues, but I think it’s better to get on with it and … work as best as possible, together to mobilize green finance, public and private finance, and have maximum impact on the ground,” she said at the meeting. “Provision of climate finance at scale also depends on increased MDB internal resources; a larger pool of grant and concessional funds to support enhanced policy dialogue, finance public goods and mobilize private finance; and additional capital to unlock more MDB financing,” the statement said. “We welcome the ambition set out today by the multilateral development banks, which played a key role in scaling up climate finance to exceed the $100 billion goal,” a U.S. official, who declined to be named, said on the sidelines of the gathering.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 17:02 UTC
Punjab govt transfers four officers
LAHORE - The Punjab government has issued notification regarding transfer and posting of four officers on Tuesday. According to the notification, Syed Asim Raza Naqvi, Section Officer (SO) Agriculture Department, has been transferred and posted as Assistant Commissioner HR & Coordination Gujranwala; Muhammad Shahid Anwar, SO Specialized Healthcare Department, as SO Price Control; Muhammad Nadeem, SO Home Department, as SO Specialized Healthcare Department and Muhammad Asif Shehzad has been posted as SO Irrigation Department.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 16:56 UTC
Smog in 2025
The focus now must shift to immediate actions that individuals and authorities can take to reduce harm—such as closing schools, offices, and banning certain activities. Firstly, stubble burning should be criminalised and penalised, with alternative waste disposal methods implemented long before smog season. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the viability of remote and hybrid work arrangements; for the three months when smog is most severe, schools and government offices could also operate in hybrid mode. Finally, costly but effective methods like cloud seeding and artificial rainfall could be considered to temporarily alleviate smog when conditions are particularly severe. Otherwise, millions will face yet another year of hazardous smog, suffocating under dangerous air quality, with lives being lost every moment.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 13:46 UTC
Countering Ideology
Incidents of religious extremism within the police are increasingly common, creating scenarios where officers must guard against threats from within their own ranks. This internal threat undermines public trust and complicates counter-terrorism efforts nationwide, as the reliability of the force itself comes into question. Pakistan has sporadically engaged in counter-terrorism initiatives but has yet to launch a robust strategy to address the root causes of extremism. The government must revive and reinforce NAP’s counter-extremism measures as a long-term strategy to secure the nation. Addressing the ideological roots of extremism rather than focusing solely on short-term, reactionary measures is essential to building a more secure and cohesive society.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 13:46 UTC
COP29: Echoes from the Mountains
“Worsening Climate Impact will put inflation on steroids unless every country can take bolder climate actions,” UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, addressed world leaders at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. As COP29 kicks off on November 11, the developing nations are well prepared to present compelling cases for substantial funding. The Ministry of Climate Change has officially finalized a 35-member delegation for COP29, including the cabinet minister’s daughter, with an estimated cost of around $1 million. Fourth, a transparent system should be established to ensure accountability and equitable distribution of funds to the most vulnerable communities. Lastly, vulnerable communities should be actively involved in climate discussions and policymaking to ensure accurate data collection and implement effective strategies.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 13:41 UTC
At UN climate talks, nations like Pakistan get chance to bear witness to climate change
The UAE-Pakistan trade volume rose to $7.9 billion in 2023, up 12 percent from 2022. “Discussions were also held on the investment of UAE companies in various projects in Karachi,” the CM’s office said. In May this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the UAE had committed $10 billion to invest in promising economic sectors in Pakistan. Earlier this month, Pakistan signed four MoUs with the AD Ports Group, a major investor in Pakistan, to explore opportunities in the maritime, air and rail sectors as well as in logistics and digital services. With UAE partner Kaheel Terminals, AD Ports Group is already developing, operating, and managing container, bulk, and general cargo operations at the Port of Karachi, Pakistan’s major port, where it has agreed to invest almost $400 million over 15 years.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 12:15 UTC
PM calls for honouring financial pledges to deal with climate change issue
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the global community to honour its financial pledges to deal with the issue of climate change. Addressing Climate Action Summit COP-29 in Baku today, he regretted that the financial commitments made at previous summits were yet to be fulfilled. The Prime Minister emphasized that climate finance must be grant based and not add to the debt burden of vulnerable developing countries. Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is a resilient, hardworking and responsible nation and that it is fully committed to be part of global climate solutions. Last year, Pakistan presented a comprehensive national adaptation plan and this year, it has developed a national carbon market framework.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 11:38 UTC
Governor for tangible steps to fight smog
LAHORE - Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan on Tuesday said that smog had hampered life in Punjab and practical steps were needed on war footing to overcome the situation. The Governor Punjab said smog had turned into a big problem which had brought business and life to a stand-still, adding people were suffering from diseases. He said the Punjab government should ensure practical steps to resolve the smog issue. The Governor Punjab said that democracy was vital to the strengthening of institutions to bring stability in the country. The Punjab Governor assured the delegation to resolve the problems by talking to the NADRA Chairman and other officials.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 09:15 UTC
China Moves To Secure Its Nationals In Pakistan
China Moves To Secure Its Nationals In Pakistan Growing concerns over attacks lead Beijing to push for joint security measures with IslamabadBeijing has intensified its push for increased security cooperation with Islamabad, following recent attacks on Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan. A written proposal from China sought to formalize the presence of Chinese security forces, allowing them to engage directly in counter-terror operations. Pakistan’s security agencies have been cautious about accepting Beijing's demands for increased operational roles. Pakistan aims to strike a balance between ensuring the safety of foreign nationals, especially from China, and maintaining its autonomy over national security operations. Yet, diplomatic channels remain delicate, as any visible concession to Chinese security forces could be perceived unfavorably by the public and political factions within Pakistan.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 13, 2024 08:21 UTC
Lebanese artists struggle to keep creativity alive in a nation at war
For Lebanese civilians, the conflict has revived grim memories of the devastating 2006 war with Israel and the civil war years of 1975-90. For Syrians, though, the memories of conflict and displacement are even more raw, with the 13-year civil war in their home country still ongoing. “When we visited the municipality, they refused to register our names and said priority was given to displaced Lebanese families,” Rabab, who is originally from northwest Syria, told Arab News. Hector Hajjar, Lebanon’s caretaker minister of social affairs, has denied accusations of discrimination against displaced Syrians. In recent years, Lebanese politicians have characterized displaced Syrians as a burden on society and called for their deportation.
Source:The Nation
November 13, 2024 02:05 UTC
Oman to host inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2
- Advertisement -ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): The inaugural edition of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Nations Cup 2 (men) will be staged in Muscat, Oman from February 17 to 23 next year. This new event will give the opportunity for eight more nations – ie, the national teams ranked after those involved in the FIH Hockey Pro League and the FIH Hockey Nations Cup – to play an intercontinental FIH tournament, and compete for the chance to be promoted into the 2026 FIH Nations Cup, said a press release. “Hosting the inaugural FIH Nations Cup 2 in Oman is both an honor and a testament to our commitment to advancing hockey in the region. This tournament marks a significant milestone for Hockey Oman, and we look forward to an exciting display of talent and sportsmanship on our home ground”, said Hockey Oman Chairman Dr. Marwan Juma Al Juma. Hosting very successfully the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup and now the very first FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2!
Source:The Nation
November 12, 2024 22:26 UTC
Gillani urges nation to renew pledge to follow Iqbal’s teachings for better Pakistan
- Advertisement -ISLAMABAD, Nov 8 (APP):Acting President, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani urged the nation to renew its commitment to follow the teaching of Allama Iqbal, the ideological founder of Pakistan, and work for the unity, peace and prosperity of Pakistan. A philosopher of the East, Iqbal’s ideas paved the way for the creation of an independent country. Dr Iqbal’s work united the Muslims of the Subcontinent and his thoughts and speeches motivated them to wage a struggle to achieve a separate country for them, he said. His vision continues to resonate with youth, guiding and educating them to uphold Pakistan’s values and strive for progress, he added. His words continue to resonate, inspiring generations worldwide with a powerful blend of philosophical insight and poetic beauty,” the Acting President said.
Source:The Nation
November 08, 2024 22:01 UTC