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  • Joe Biden quits the US presidential race, endorses Kamala Harris

    Joe Biden quits the US presidential race, endorses Kamala Harris

    Joe Biden on Sunday dropped out of the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee, in a move that upends the 2024 race for the White House.

    The 81-year-old Biden stepped aside after weeks of pressure from Demo­crats following a disastrous debate performance, throwing the election battle against Republican Donald Trump into unprecedented turmoil.

    “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a letter on X while recovering from Covid at his beach house in Delaware.

    Biden said he would “speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision”. He later added that he was backing Harris, who is the first female, Black and South Asian vice president in US history, and will now be aiming to become its first female commander-in-chief.

    “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” Biden said on X. “Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.” Biden is the first president in US history to pull out so late in an election race, and the first to bow out because of concerns over his mental acuity and health.

    Biden spent more than three weeks resisting calls to step down following the shock of the June 27 debate, at one point insisting that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to back out.

    In a bid to show he was up to the job, he gave a number of interviews and what was billed as a “big boy” press conference in which he took numerous questions, but made further gaffes including calling Harris “Vice President Trump”. A tide of voices within his own party calling on him to go, starting with donor and actor George Clooney and ending with former president Barack Obama, sealed his fate.

    Chaotic period for US

    The end finally came shortly after Biden had been diagnosed with Covid, forcing him off the campaign trail and into isolation in Rehoboth Beach.

    Biden’s decision to pull out also caps a tense and chaotic period in the US election, with Trump having survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13.

    Biden joins a small club of US presidents who have decided to throw in the towel after just one term, with the last being Lyndon Johnson in 1968 — a year also marked by political turmoil and violence.

    Johnson’s replacement as nominee, then-vice president Hubert Humphrey, went on to lose heavily to Richard Nixon. But Democrats are counting on Harris to fare better, and hoping that she can prevent convicted felon Trump from making a sensational comeback to the Oval Office.

    In recent weeks, the Biden campaign has reportedly been quietly carrying out a head-to-head survey of voters measuring how she matched up against Trump.

    While Harris struggled to make an impact in her first years in the White House, she has emerged in the last year as a strong performer on the campaign trail on key messages such as abortion rights. She has also made much of her life story as the first woman in US history to hold the vice presidency, as well as the first person of Black and South Asian origin.

    Barring opposition from her party, Harris is now set to be nominated at the Democratic National Conven­tion in Chicago on August 19 in what promises to be a dramatic moment — and a heartrending one for Biden.

    Biden took office in January 2021 pledging to heal the “soul of America” after four turbulent years under Trump and the shock of the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault by his supporters.

    Overcoming a reputation for verbal flubs, Obama’s former vice president pushed through a massive Covid recovery plan and a green industry scheme.

    US allies welcomed his pledge that “America is back” following Trump’s trampling on international alliances, and his strong support for Ukraine as it battled Russia’s 2022 invasion. But he faced criticism over the catastrophic US withdrawal from Afgha­nistan and inflation that meant overstretched Americans ignored otherwise positive economic numbers.

    Behind it all were the ongoing concerns about his age with a series of senior moments, including tripping up the stairs to Air Force One and falling off his bike, contributing to the doddery image played up by Republicans.

    Biden’s Letter

  • Pakistan’s Asim Khan wins Jones Creek Open Squash Championship

    Pakistan’s Asim Khan wins Jones Creek Open Squash Championship

    Pakistan’s Asim Khan won the Jones Creek Open Squash Championship in USA defeating compatriot Ashab Irfan by 3-1 in the final.

    Asim’s win over Ashab was 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 and 11-4, marking Asim Khan’s third PSA title of the year and 10th of his career.

    Earlier in 2024, Asim won the Wild Card Challenger in Washington and the Squash Inspire Challenger in March.

  • Khalil ur Rehman Qamar kidnapped and beaten up 

    Khalil ur Rehman Qamar kidnapped and beaten up 


    Controversial writer Khalil UR Rehman Qamar was abducted and robbed in Lahore, as confirmed by the police.
     
    The incident happened when a woman named Amna contacted Qamar, inviting him to her home to discuss a drama project. When he arrived, armed men kidnapped him and carried out the robbery.
     
     
    The First Information Report (FIR) states that the suspects assaulted Qamar and moved him to various locations. The scriptwriter alleged that the kidnappers threatened to kill him and demanded money from his relatives. The FIR also states that the suspects took Rs. 250,000 from Qamar’s ATM card and took his watch, cell phone, and cash.
     
    Qamar is widely criticised for his misogynistic statements while remaining unapologetic and unwavering in his opinions in the face of controversy.
     
    Qamar is safe now and has reported the incident to the police. The police have started investigating.
    the case.

  • ‘Barzakh’ gets high praise from Indian media

    ‘Barzakh’ gets high praise from Indian media

    Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed’s Barzakh, produced for India’s Zee Zindagi, debuted on July 19 online.

    The show has garnered rave reviews from Indian media, with reviews praising the performances, cinematography and story.

    The Quint’s Pratikshiya Mishra called the series “profound and arresting.” Praising the performances, the review concludes, “Barzakh isn’t a perfect show by any means but it’s a show that stays with you long after you stop watching. It’s a show that forces you to think and it’s one you will need to sit with for a while.”

    Shubra Gupta terms the series “powerful” on The Indian Express. Praising nearly all the main actors, she writes: “Fawad Khan, whose heart-throb quotient hasn’t dropped an inch for his fans in India, is every bit as dishy as he has been; Sanam Saeed is as gorgeous.Fawad M Khan’s older sibling Saifu is terrific, too, as is the handsome Italian chef played by Franco Giusti, who adds succulence in his dishes and his demeanour. Salman Shahid’s patriarch towers over all else: even his unravelling has power.”

    Over on India Today, Bhavna Agarwal says the story might not be everyone’s cup of tea. For those that do like it, she praises Asim Abbasi’s helming of the project. “There’s more to every character than what meets the eye. This is probably what makes ‘Barzakh’ such an enjoyable watch,” she contends.

    The Hindu’s Shilajit Mishra has penned a mixed review, praising some aspects as bewitching and others as overblown,: “Abbasi is on song when exploring his favoured themes of guilt and generational trauma. The heavier stuff — allegories about female oppression, religious fanaticism and the erasure of ethnic communities — mostly land with a thud.”

    We can’t wait for the next episode drop to see where the story goes next.

  • Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal wins Tasmanian Open Squash title

    Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal wins Tasmanian Open Squash title

    Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal won the Tasmanian Open squash tournament in Australia, defeating Switzerland’s David Barnett by 3-1 in the final.

    The score of Nasir Iqbal’s victory in the final was 11-8, 12-10, 6-11 and 11-5. This is Nasir’s third title in Australia in the last few days.

    Nasir has also recently won the Bendigo and Shepperton Open in Australia.

  • K-Electric seeks NEPRA approval for Rs5.45 per unit tariff hike following petrol price surge

    K-Electric seeks NEPRA approval for Rs5.45 per unit tariff hike following petrol price surge

    Karachi’s power provider, K-Electric, has submitted a request to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) seeking approval for a Rs5.45 per unit increase in electricity tariffs under the Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) mechanism for May and June.

    If NEPRA approves this request, it will significantly intensify the financial burden on consumers already struggling with high inflation and declining incomes. Citing rising fuel costs, K-Electric has requested a tariff increase of Rs2.53 per unit for May and Rs2.92 per unit for June.

    This proposed hike, if sanctioned during NEPRA’s hearing on 30th July, would impose an additional Rs10 billion burden on consumers.

    This request follows the government’s recent decision to raise the base tariff for domestic consumers by up to Rs48.84 per unit, coupled with increases in the petroleum levy and new taxes on agricultural income.

    According to a Power Division notification, the hike in electricity prices will also affect Karachi consumers. However, those consuming up to 200 units per month will be exempt from the increase for three months.

    NEPRA recently approved the federal government’s application to raise electricity tariffs for domestic, commercial, general services, bulk, and agricultural consumers.

    On 5th July, NEPRA had sanctioned an Rs3.3287 per unit increase in electricity prices for May 2024 due to the monthly FCA, although this did not apply to K-Electric consumers.

    Additionally, the federal cabinet has approved increases in the base tariff by Rs8.04 for commercial consumers, Rs6.62 for agricultural consumers, Rs6.96 for general services, and Rs5.96 for bulk consumers.

    As a result, the base tariff has risen to Rs46.83 per unit for agricultural consumers and Rs61.03 per unit for general services. Bulk consumers will now pay Rs59.96 per unit following an increase of Rs5.51 per unit. The base tariff for industrial consumers remains unchanged.

  • Canada gets first ever female army chief

    Canada gets first ever female army chief

    General Jennie Carignan on Thursday took charge as Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), becoming the first woman to lead the country’s armed forces.

    She is a military engineer by training, has led troops in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Syria during her 35 years in the Canadian Army.


    Speaking at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, General Carnignan said, “I feel ready, poised and supported to take on this manifold challenge.”


    Carignan takes over from General Wayne Eyre, who served as the top military commander since 2021.


    “We’re facing many internal challenges such as recruitment and retention,” Carignan said. “We know the challenges we face and what we need to do to address them.”


    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Carignan “a role model for all Canadians and for the world”.


    Canada’s defence spending is expected to be 1.39 percent of GDP in the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to government projections, reported by Reuters.

  • Prime Minister directs swift implementation of China-Pakistan industrial agreements

    Prime Minister directs swift implementation of China-Pakistan industrial agreements

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a detailed roadmap for the relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan on Saturday.

    During a review meeting to assess the progress of Pakistan-China cooperation agreements following his visit to China, the Prime Minister was briefed on the planned collaboration with Chinese companies.

    This collaboration aims to transfer Chinese textile, medical and surgical equipment, and plastic and leather industries to Pakistan.

    It was noted that 78 Pakistani companies have initially expressed interest in this industrial transfer.

    Facilitating Chinese industry relocation

    The Board of Investment (BOI) presented a comprehensive report detailing the progress and action plan for this initiative. Prime Minister Sharif directed relevant institutions and officials to ensure all necessary facilities are provided to Pakistani companies collaborating with Chinese firms.

    He emphasised that any delays in implementing the memorandums of understanding with China would not be tolerated. The Prime Minister highlighted China’s steadfast support during challenging times and noted the Chinese leadership’s commitment to increasing investment in Pakistan.

    Sharif underscored that the relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan would bolster the national economy, create new job opportunities, and enhance exports.

    During the meeting, the Prime Minister was also briefed on various projects. The Minister for Planning shared details of his recent visit to China. It was reported that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway would be completed through a Public-Private Partnership.

    Additionally, a plan to send 1,000 students to China for modern agricultural vocational training at government expense has been finalised, with the first batch scheduled to depart at the start of the academic year.

    Subsequent batches will attend modern agricultural universities in China after completing Chinese language courses in Pakistan.

    The meeting was also informed about plans to convert power plants from imported coal to local coal. Moreover, a roadshow is being organised in Beijing to promote business and investment opportunities in Pakistan, in collaboration with Chinese partners.

  • Pakistan’s rice exports surge 74.8% to record $3.68 billion in FY24

    Pakistan’s rice exports surge 74.8% to record $3.68 billion in FY24

    Pakistan’s rice exports soared by 74.8 per cent year-on-year, reaching a record $3.68 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24, according to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released on Friday.

    This significant increase was attributed to India’s stringent export restrictions during the same period.

    In comparison, Pakistan’s rice exports stood at $2.11 billion in the previous fiscal year, with an average of $2.31 billion annually over the past five years.

    India’s measures to curb rice exports in 2023, which continued into 2024 to stabilise domestic prices ahead of the general elections in April-May, played a crucial role in this surge.

    As a result of New Delhi’s export limitations, Pakistan emerged as the primary beneficiary, achieving record rice exports this year. Overall, Pakistan’s total goods exports for FY24 reached $31.09 billion, marking an 11.5 per cent increase from $27.88 billion in FY23.

    The food sector, notably rice, was the second-largest contributor to total exports, with the food group’s export value rising by 49.5 per cent year-on-year to $7.08 billion.

    India is now considering easing its export restrictions, which may include lowering the floor price for basmati rice exports and replacing the 20 per cent export tax on parboiled rice with a fixed duty, according to government sources cited by Reuters. This adjustment aims to help India maintain its market share against Pakistan.

    India initially banned non-basmati white rice exports in July 2023 due to concerns over reduced output from the El Niño weather pattern and imposed restrictions on other rice grades.

    “With rice supplies significantly exceeding local demand, it’s crucial to reduce stockpiles to prevent spoilage. The most effective solution is to lift export restrictions,” stated B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA).

    As of July 1, India’s rice stocks at state warehouses reached an all-time high of 48.51 million metric tons, nearly 19 per cent more than the previous year, according to the Food Corporation of India.

    Additionally, the Indian government is reviewing the export ban on non-basmati white rice after assessing the progress of rice planting, with farmers having planted 11.6 million hectares of rice paddy so far this season, up 20.7 per cent from the same period last year.

  • Barzakh: A mystical journey through family ties, hidden secrets

    Barzakh: A mystical journey through family ties, hidden secrets

    Barzakh, is a drama that combines elements of myth and reality. The show follows a stranged family’s journey as they uncover old resentments and buried secrets. The web series reunites Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, who previously starred together in the iconic drama ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai.’

    It has a talented cast, including Salman Shahid, Syed Arham, Khushhal Khan,and Franco Giusti. The story begins with three siblings reuniting for their father’s third wedding. Their father, Aaqa, is an old man who still has his wits about him. His daughter, Scheherezade looks after him and the family hotel, Mehtab Mahal, which was built in memory of his first love. The two sons from his first marriage, Shehryar (played by Fawad Khan) and Saifullah, seem distant from their father.

    Barzakh touches on controversial topics like homosexuality and unusual family relationships. Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed play half-siblings instead of romantic interests, which might surprise some viewers, but these elements add depth to the story.

    The web series is visually beautiful, with a great set in the beautiful mountainous locations in Hunza valley.The first episode leaves viewers eager to see more, hinting at hidden family secrets and interesting possibilities.