Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Chinese astronauts return to Earth after six months in space

    Three Chinese astronauts landed in northern China on Saturday after 183 days in space, state broadcaster CCTV said, ending the country’s longest crewed space mission to date.

    The two men and one woman – Zhai Zhigang, Ye Guangfu and Wang Yaping – landed safely in a small capsule shortly before 10am Beijing time (02:00 GMT) after spending six months on the Tianhe core module of China’s Tiangong space station.

    “Shenzhou 13’s re-entry capsule successfully landed,” state broadcaster CCTV said.

    Barred by the United States from participating in the International Space Station (ISS), China has spent the past 10 years developing technologies to build the Tiangong, the only space station other than the ISS.

    The country aims to become a major space power by 2030 and rival the US and Russia. It has already landed a rover on Mars and sent probes to the Moon, and the country’s National Space Administration said it aims to launch a crewed lunar mission by 2029.

    Live footage from CCTV showed the capsule landing in a cloud of dust, with ground crew who had kept clear of the landing site rushing in helicopters to reach it.

    There was applause as the astronauts each took turns to report that they were “feeling good”.

    The Shenzhou-13 was the second of four crewed missions to assemble the Tiangong, which means “heavenly palace”.

    Wang became the first Chinese woman to walk in space last November, as she and her colleague Zhai installed space station equipment during a six-hour stint.

    Mission commander Zhai, 55, is a former fighter pilot who performed China’s first spacewalk in 2008, while Ye is a People’s Liberation Army pilot.

    The trio have completed two spacewalks, carried out numerous scientific experiments, set up equipment and tested technologies for future construction during their time in orbit.

    The incoming Shenzhou-14 is expected to be launched in the coming months.

    Astronauts will spend six months on the Chinese space station in future missions, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

  • ‘The kindest face of humanity’: Tributes pour in for Bilquis Edhi

    ‘The kindest face of humanity’: Tributes pour in for Bilquis Edhi

    Bilquis Bano Edhi passed away on Friday (April 15) at the age of 74. She was the wife of renowned humanitarian and philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi. Politicians, journalists, cricketers and celebrities paid rich tributes to Bilquis Edhi.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted that the passing of Bilquis Edhi “is a huge loss for the nation”.

    First Lady Tehmina Durrani tweeted, “Today I lost the woman who became my mother when I most needed one. The entire world lost one of its most valuable assets.”

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto shared a picture of his late mother Benazir Bhutto with Bilquis Edhi and Abdul Sattar Edhi.

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan tweeted: “Her quiet, selfless work for the poor, the homeless, especially the orphans & abandoned children, made her a role model and a symbol of hope.”

    Apart from politicians, several cricketers and celebrities also paid rich tributes to Bilquis Edhi.

    Shahid Afridi said Bilquis Edhi was a “mother to so many orphans, a sister to many grieving hearts; the kindest face of humanity”.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1514979525230305280

    Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam tweeted: “May her unmatched legacy lives on and the hope to thousands remain as in her lifetime. Salute and respect.”

    Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi tweeted that Bilquis Edhi was one of a kind hope to many.

    Singer and actor Hadiqa Kiani tweeted, “She trusted me with being a mother and I, like so many others touched by Mrs. Edhi’s grace and kind soul, will forever be grateful. I pray for her peace and I pray her legacy carries on.”

    Actor, Osman Khalid Butt tweeted, “Rest in peace and power, Bilquis Ji. We will never forget your contributions to Pakistan.”

    Adnan Siddiqui wrote: “We have lost a great philanthropist and an ever greater human being. It takes rare selflessness to dedicate your entire life to serving humanity. Bilquis Edhi, your humanitarian work will inspire generations.”

  • LG polls as per schedule in Balochistan: CM Bizenjo

    LG polls as per schedule in Balochistan: CM Bizenjo

    Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo on Friday said that his government is fully prepared to hold local government (LG) elections in the province as scheduled by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), reports Dawn News.

    The chief minister pointed out that due to the preparations for the next year’s budget and some other reasons, the provincial government had sought to the postponement of the LG elections for some time.

    The ECP, however, rejected the Balochistan government’s request for a six months delay in the LG elections in the province. The commission reiterated that elections will be held as per schedule on May 29 in the 32 districts of the province with the exception of Quetta and Lasbella districts.

    In a statement, CM Bizenjo said that all institutions concerned have been tasked with foolproof preparations for the timely conduct of the LG elections in a transparent and peaceful manner.

    He further added that his government would provide all resources for the elections and expressed hope that all political parties would fully participate in the local bodies’ elections.

    It is to be noted that the development has come on the heel of a change in the federal government where PTI Chairman Imran Khan was ousted from power through a successful no-confidence motion.

  • SriLankan Airlines plan to lease 21 aircraft draws criticism

    SriLankan Airlines plan to lease 21 aircraft draws criticism

    A plan by Sri Lanka’s state-owned national airline to lease nearly two dozen aircraft has sparked public criticism and opposition condemnation as the country struggles with its worst financial crisis in decades.

    Sri Lanka is struggling with low reserves that have declined more than 70% over the past two years to $1.93 billion at the end of March.

    The dollar crunch has caused acute shortages of fuel, food and medicines, with rolling power cuts for hours a day for more than a month.

    On Tuesday, Sri Lanka suspended some external debt repayments and said it would instead use meagre dollar cache to focus on essential imports.

    Protesters demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resignation have been staging daily sit-ins outside his office.

    Tender notices for the lease of 42 aircraft were published on the airline’s website on Thursday.

    SriLankan Airlines has been struggling with a fall in tourism because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

    In 2019/20, SriLankan Airlines reported a loss of 44.14 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($140.90 million) against 41.70 billion Sri Lankan rupees in the previous year.

    “This must be a joke?!,” a member of parliament from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) alliance, Harsha de Silva, said in a post on Twitter.

    “Sri Lanka is bankrupt; no fuel, gas or medicine. Where the hell is money for this nonsense?! Better immediately clarify.”

    Another opposition party, the United National Party (UNP), demanded that the carrier cancel the proposal while numerous Sri Lankans expressed their disapproval online.

    “What good is new aircraft when you won’t have fuel to fly,” said Twitter user Shiv Theyagamurti.

    The airline’s chairman, Asoka Pathirage, said the carrier was looking for 21 planes to lease in an initial round as part of its 2022-2025 business plan to replace aircraft that would be phased out of its existing fleet.

    “We are only looking at availability in the market. SriLankan Airlines will finance these leases and we will not depend on funds from the government,” he told Reuters.

    “The airline has been making profits. We do have debt but we have to make money to repay them.”

    The government will begin talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme on Monday.

  • Pakistan condemns Israel’s raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque

    Pakistan condemns Israel’s raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces and termed it blatant aggression against innocent people.

    “Condemnable raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque & escalation of violence by Israel in gross violation of HR & humanitarian laws. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinians. Time for the international community to protect innocent Palestinian lives, and uphold international law & UN Charter,” he tweeted.

    Read more- Fact check: Did Shehbaz Sharif meet singer Farhan NTF at PM House?

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has also expressed its grave concern over the latest developments in various parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.

    “This highly condemnable assault on worshippers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is an egregious violation of all humanitarian norms and human rights laws,” read a statement issued from the ministry.

    “In recent weeks, Israeli forces have killed dozens and injured countless Palestinians in the occupied East Jerusalem and other areas. This escalation of violence by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territories is deplorable,” it added.

  • No-confidence vote: Qasim Suri resigns as NA deputy speaker

    No-confidence vote: Qasim Suri resigns as NA deputy speaker

    Qasim Suri resigned as deputy speaker of the National Assembly on Saturday, less than an hour before a session of the house where voting on a no-trust motion against him was to take place.

    Sharing a copy of his resignation on Twitter, Suri said his move signified his association with the vision of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and democracy.

    “We will never compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity. We will fight for the country’s interests and independence. We will go to any length to protect Pakistan,” he tweeted.

    Suri, who had also been functioning as the acting speaker following the resignation of Asad Qaiser, faced severe criticism in recent days over a contentious April 3 ruling to dismiss a no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan and his decision to defer the session scheduled for the NA speaker’s election from April 16 to April 22.

  • Another hike of Rs4.9 per unit approved in power tariff

    Another hike of Rs4.9 per unit approved in power tariff

    Owing to the monthly Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) for February, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on April 15 increased the price of electricity by Rs4.85 per unit.

    It has also announced an increase in the price of power, stating that the power output in February was more expensive than the previously set fuel price.

    According to the notice, the power distribution companies (DISCOs) will collect the amount from electricity consumers in the April bill. In addition, consumers will be hit with a charge of Rs37.7 billion, excluding general sales tax (GST). However, K-Electric and lifeline customers will be exempt from the hike.

    On March 31, the NEPRA held a hearing to determine the FCA but did not make a decision. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) requested that the cost per unit be increased to Rs4.94 by the NEPRA.

    Following the monthly FCA, which only operates for one month, the administration had already hiked the power price to Rs5.95 per unit for the month of January.

    As per NEPRA’s data, the most expensive energy production sources, including High-Speed Diesel (HSD) and Residual Fuel Oil (RFO), were used more than average in the prior months, raising the overall cost of production.

  • North Korea marks founder’s birth without military parade

    North Korea marks founder’s birth without military parade

    North Korea celebrated the 110th anniversary of the birth of late founder Kim Il Sung on Friday with fireworks, a procession, and an evening gala in Pyongyang’s main square, with thousands of people in colourful traditional dress singing and dancing.

    Nuclear-armed Pyongyang usually uses the holiday – known as the Day of the Sun – to show off its latest weaponry.

    But while this year’s event follows a flurry of weapons testing – three weeks ago the country carried out its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test since 2017 – there was no sign of the usual military parade.

    Leader Kim Jong Un visited his grandfather’s mausoleum and attended a “national meeting and a public procession” in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square but gave no reported public remarks. A senior official spoke at the meeting, saying that North Korea would overcome all difficulties and always emerge victorious, state news agency KCNA reported.

    State media aired live footage of an evening gala in the square after sunset on Friday, following concerts, art exhibitions, and ideological seminars.

    There was also a light festival in the centre of Pyongyang, with dancing fountains and decorated boats on the Taedong River, KCNA said.

    The festival “artistically depicted” Kim Il Sung’s native home and “the sacred mountain of revolution, Mt Paektu,” KCNA said. Residents could take photos in front of arches lit with phrases such as ‘Pyongyang Is Best’ and ‘We Are the Happiest in the World’.

    “I came to see the lighting festival with my daughter. Looking at it today, it’s really cool. The most impressive thing in particular is this one that says ‘self-reliance’,” Ri Bom Chol, a 40-year-old doctor, told an AFP news agency reporter in Pyongyang.

    ‘Love is forever’

    Analysts, along with South Korean and US officials, had widely expected North Korea to mark the occasion with new weaponry, or even a test of the country’s banned nuclear weapons.

    Seoul-based specialist site NK News said analysis of satellite imagery suggested that training was taking place at the Mirim military parade training base, with a few thousand troops marching in formation. Images from Planet Labs had also shown an increasing number of tyre marks around a secure garage area for heavy weapons at the site, suggesting practice drives were taking place, it added.

    Experts say April 25 – the anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army – is the next most likely date for the parade.

  • Fact check: Shehbaz Sharif did not meet singer Farhan NTF at PM House

    Fact check: Shehbaz Sharif did not meet singer Farhan NTF at PM House

    Claim: PM Shehbaz Sharif invited singer Farhan NTF to the PM House

    Fact: Shehbaz Sharif met Farhan NTF at his private residence in November 2021, almost 5 months before becoming Prime Minister.

    A video of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif meeting singer, composer and writer Farhan NTF went viral on Friday in which the singer can be seen sitting with Sharif and singing “Mian De Naray“, which is a political song.

    Political analyst Raheeq Abbasi tweeted the video and wrote: “These days, PM House looks like a circus. If in doubt, watch this video.” His tweet was retweeted more than 12,000 times and had almost three thousand quote-tweets.

    Former federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry quoted Raheeq Abbasi and tweeted: “Pakistan’s dummy prime minister in an important meeting discussing people’s issues in PM House.”

    Anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan also quote-tweeted the same video and wrote that the King can be seeing enjoying himself.

    However, the video is not recent. Farhan tweeted about meeting Shehbaz Sharif on November 3, 2021. At that time, Imran Khan was the prime minister of Pakistan and the video was not shot inside the Prime Minister House.

    In a YouTube video, Farhan explains how hurt he was that his old video went viral and is being misused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He clarifies that he met PM Shehbaz last year in November at Sharif’s private residence. He said that it seems that the video is being used as if PM Shehbaz is listening to a political song that was written for him instead of working.

    “I am a singer. I don’t have any political affiliations. I have sung songs for PTI also but my song ‘Mian De Naray’ became very popular. Did Khan not meet Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and Shaan Shahid when he was prime minister? Why can Shehbaz Sharif not meet any artist? I hope that people do not misuse our videos for their political interests.”

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elected as NA speaker unopposed

    Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elected as NA speaker unopposed

    Former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Raja Pervez Ashraf was elected Speaker of the National Assembly unopposed on Friday following the en masse resignations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members from the lower house of the parliament after the success of a no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan.

    It is to be noted that the seat of the National Assembly speaker fell vacant after Asad Qaiser resigned in accordance with the PTI’s decision minutes before voting on the no-confidence motion against then-Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 9.

    Who is Raja Pervaiz Ashraf?

    On Saturday, a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri is set to be introduced in the House. On Saturday, the National Assembly was scheduled to assemble to pick a new speaker. Suri, on the other hand, has adjourned the house on April 22.