By Ansar Mahmood Bhatti
Pakistan and Russia, after being at odds for a while seem to have realized that straining of relations and disengagement is not a solution when it comes to building bridges and developing new linkages. That is exactly what a Russian think-tank Dr. Vladimir Kozin expressed on February 27, 2018 during a seminar on SCO held under the aegis of Centre for Global and Strategic Studies (GSS) at the Islamabad Serena Hotel.
WASHINGTON, MAR 03 (DNA) – The International Monetary Fund warned Friday that the steel and aluminum tariffs announced by President Donald Trump will harm the US and global economies. “The import restrictions announced by the US President are likely to cause damage not only outside the US, but also to the US economy itself,” IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said in a statement.
LAHORE, MAR 03 (DNA) – A three-member special bench of the Supreme Court is hearing several cases of public interest at the Lahore registry on Saturday. At the outset of court proceedings today, the bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard a suo motu case pertaining to sale of contaminated chicken meat.
BEIJING, FEB 27 (DNA) – : China’s Communist Party has handed President Xi Jinping an open path to indefinite rule a move analysts warn carries enormous risks by abandoning a succession model that brought stability after turbulent decades under Mao. Xi, who has concentrated power, accumulated titles and purged potential rivals since becoming head of state in 2013, could remain president for life after the party proposed abolishing a rule limiting the top leader to two five-year terms.
BARCELONA, FEB 26 (DNA) – Finnish brand HMD Global added four new additions to its portfolio of Android smartphones by launching the Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, new Nokia 6 and Nokia 1 at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.The company also brought back a revamped version of the late 90’s popular phone — Nokia 8100.The revamped slider phone, Nokia 8110, is preloaded with popular apps including Google Assistant, Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter while delivering 4G connectivity.
WASHINGTON, FEB 24 (DNA) – Pakistan need not kill or capture militants such as members of the Haqqani network that use its territory to launch attacks in Afghanistan but could push them across the border instead, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.Evicting the militants would put them at risk of attack from Afghan and U.S. forces trying to keep Afghanistan from becoming a launching pad for strikes on the West more than 16 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.
ISLAMABAD, FEB 23 (DNA) – Loadshedding may return to haunt consumers as losses have tripled from 2013 to reach Rs 360 billion, said Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, in a statement on Thursday. According to a press release issued by the minister, losses have decreased but a significant increase in the supply of electricity has resulted in electricity losses to rise to Rs 360 billion this year.
RAMALLAH, FEB 20 (DNA) – Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will call for an alternative to US-mediated negotiations with Israel during a rare address to the United Nations Security Council, Palestinian officials said Monday. Addressing the council Tuesday for the first time since 2009, the longtime Palestinian leader is expected to call for multiple international powers to facilitate peace negotiations and again criticise the United States controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel s capital.
GAZA CITY (DNA) – More than 50 Palestinians died waiting for Israeli visas to travel for medical treatment last year, with only around half of all applications granted, new figures showed Tuesday. A total of 54 Palestinians died awaiting permits in 2017, the World Health Organization said, in what rights activists called an overly bureaucratic system which deprives Palestinians of their right to healthcare. The WHO said it did not have a directly comparable figure for 2016, but Al Mezan Center for Human Rights said it had recorded only a couple per annum in previous years.
DNA
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called for a firm commitment to democracy as it is the only way to serve interests of the people. He was addressing the joint session of the Parliament in Islamabad soon after his arrival on January 26. The Indonesian President said democracy provides space for people in decision-making process, helps maintain political stability and achieve growth. Joko Widodo said economy of a country or a region can grow if there is political stability and security. He said economic activities will never take place if there is conflict or war. He said conflicts and wars benefit no one and people mainly women and children become most impacted in such situations.
