Month: May 2024

Rumors around attacks on Russian Black Sea fleet warships

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There are rumours around the reported attacks on Russian Navy vessels in the Black Sea Fleet. The Ukraine Defence Ministry announced that the Project 266M Akvamarin class minesweeper Kovrovets was destroyed during the night between May 18-19, off the coast of Crimea. “Another bad day for the Russian Black Sea fleet,” the ministry wrote on social media. “Great job, warriors!” Multiple sources suggest that one or two Russian warships, including the missile corvette Tsiklon and minesweeper Kovrovets, have been damaged or destroyed in recent attacks by the Ukrainian forces. The…

Defamation Bill 2024 sails through Punjab Assembly amid opposition ruckus

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Amid the strong protest by the opposition, the PML-N-led government on Monday managed to bulldoze the controversial Defamation Bill 2024 in the Punjab Assembly. According to treasury benches, the bill is aimed at stopping fake news, while media bodies termed it “draconian” in its current form. Brushing aside the media bodies’ request to differ the proposed bill, Punjab’s Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Mian Shuja-ur-Rehman tabled the bill in the House. Earlier in the day, representatives of the media bodies met Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari and requested her…

Fifth phase of voting begins in India as Mumbai, Gandhi family bastions head to polls

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The fifth phase of general elections commenced in India on Monday, with seats in the financial hub Mumbai and the opposition’s Gandhi family bastions set to be decided in the last few legs of the seven-phase vote. The election started on April 19 and will culminate on June 1 while votes would be counted on June 4. Monday’s phase has the least number of seats being contested, with 89.5 million voters set to choose representatives for 49 seats. Several high-profile candidates are in the fray on Monday — including defence…

Pakistani politician charged with child sex offences in UK

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LONDON: Muhammad Khurram Khan, a senior Pakistani politician and scion of a well-known political family from Mansehra, Abbotabad, has gone on trial in the UK after being charged with child sex offences. Details have emerged of how Muhammad Khurram Khan, aged 60, arrived in the UK earlier this year to attend his son’s law graduation ceremony but engaged allegedly with a child for sexual purposes – and got caught by the detectives. The prosecution at the Kingston Crown Court told the judge that Khurram has been charged with two counts:…

Trump accepts debate challenge from Biden; date fixed

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President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set for a debate ahead of the 2024 election. Earlier this week, Biden proposed two debates with Trump. The former president eagerly accepted the proposal, saying he was “ready to rumble.” The two presidential candidates will have a face-off at 9pm ET on June 26 when they will be hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden said that he would not participate in the autumn presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission. He opted for news organisations…

SC to hear suo motu against Faisal Vawda for attack on IHC judges

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will take up the suo motu notice against Senator Faisal Vawda on Friday after he verbally attacked the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges in a presser. A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan will conduct the hearing. Vawda on Wednesday blasted the IHC judges over their letter alleging meddling by spy agencies in judicial affairs, saying that targeting of institutions should stop. Following his remarks, the top court took suo motu…

Donald Trump hush money case: ‘Cohen made $3.4m from books on ex-president’

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Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen made about $3.4 million – from two books he wrote about Trump.  This was revealed as the former president’s lawyers told the court during the hearing of the hush money case. Trump’s lawyers tried to show that Cohen was just trying to get money and revenge. Cohen had also insulted Trump on social media, calling him names like ‘dictator’ and ‘cartoon villain’. He made about $400,000 from his second book, ‘Revenge: How Donald Trump Used the US Justice Department Against His Critics’. His first…

Driving licence fees see major hike in Islamabad

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The driving licence, learner permit and renewal fees has been hiked for Islamabad residents by the city’s administration, Geo News reported on Wednesday.  A notification issued by the chief commissioner, that the staggering increase in the driving licence fees will be implemented on an immediate basis.  Those who want a driving licence permit for six months will have to pay more than double the amount as the fee has been increased from Rs349 to Rs1,000. Meanwhile, the non-professional licence fees has been hiked from Rs1,800 to Rs3,000. The fees for professional licence (LTV and…