Live: Pak Oppn to level treason charges against Imran Khan, says TV report
Live news updates: Opposition parties say cancellation of the no-confidence vote is illegal, accuse Khan of throwing the country into a constitutional crisis.
 "Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan")
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
Ban on girls' education damaging entire Afghanistan, says UN chief
Expressing concern at the Taliban's decision to ban girls' education in Afghanistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that this is an unjustifiable violation of equal rights and it will damage the entire country.
"I deeply regret that girls' education above 6th grade remains suspended - an unjustifiable violation of equal rights that damages the entire country," Guterres said, according to Khaama Press.
The UN chief further said that support for Afghan women and girls is the support that lifts children out of hunger and communities out of poverty.
Earlier, the Taliban regime issued a decree banning female students above grade six from attending classes. The girls were further told to stay home until the Islamic Emirate announces its next decision.
The decision by the Islamic Emirate has drawn severe backlash across the world with the Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America condemning the Taliban's decision to deny so many Afghan girls the opportunity to finally go back to school.
All orders and actions by PM, president subject to court order: Pak chief justice
Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said on Sunday that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and the president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order as he adjourned for one day the hearing of the high-profile case.
Pakistan President Arif Alvi earlier dissolved the National Assembly (NA) on advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, minutes after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri blocked a no-confidence motion against the embattled premier.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took notice of the situation and a three member bench held the initial hearing despite the weekend and issued notices to all the respondents, including President Alvi and deputy Speaker of the NA.
The court ordered all parties to avoid taking any unconstitutional measures and adjourned the hearing until Monday.
Chief Justice Bandial said that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and the president regarding the dissolution of the NA will be subject to the court's order.
Earlier, the Opposition had demanded the top court to intervene and Shehbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, announced his party's decision to challenge the dissolution of the NA.
We are going to challenge the ruling by the deputy speaker and advice by the prime minister to dissolve parliament in the Supreme Court, he said.
Bureaucrats express concern over unviable populist schemes by states in meeting with PM Modi
In a marathon meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with senior bureaucrats, a few officials raised concern over populist schemes announced by several states, claiming they are economically unsustainable and could take them down the same path as Sri Lanka, sources said on Sunday.
Modi held the four-hour-long meeting with secretaries of all departments at his camp office at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, on Saturday.
The meeting was also attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba along with other top bureaucrats of the Union government.
During the meeting, Modi categorically told bureaucrats to come out of the mentality of managing shortages to the new challenge of managing surplus. He told them to give up the old story of citing "poverty" as an excuse for not taking up major development projects and asked them to adopt a bigger perspective, the sources said.
Citing the teamwork shown by the secretaries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi said they should act as secretaries of the government of India and not merely as secretaries of their respective departments and should work as one team.
He also asked secretaries to give feedback and suggest loopholes in policies of the government, including those which are not related to their respective ministries.
More than two dozen secretaries expressed their views and shared their feedback with Prime Minister Modi, who heard them with an open mind, the sources said.
This was the ninth such meeting of the prime minister with secretaries since 2014.
Two secretaries while citing a populist scheme announced in recent assembly polls in a state, which is in financially bad shape, and similar schemes in other states said they are economically unsustainable and could take the states down the same path as Sri Lanka, the sources said.
Across US, faith groups mobilise to aid Ukrainian refugees
As US refugee resettlement agencies and nonprofits nationwide gear up to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion and war that has raged for nearly six weeks, members of faith communities have been leading the charge to welcome the displaced.
In Southern California, pastors and lay individuals are stationing themselves at the Mexico border waving Ukrainian flags and offering food, water and prayer. Around the country, other religious groups are getting ready to provide longer-term support for refugees who will have to find housing, work, health care and schooling.
Aaron Szloboda, an assistant pastor at the Christian church Calvary San Diego, recently spent 50 hours straight at the Mexican border handing out food and water to Ukrainians lined up to enter the United States.
Just 10 minutes from the frontier, Calvary San Diego has become something of a hub for newly arrived refugees, a place where they can recuperate after a harrowing journey and plan their next steps.
On Friday its walls were lined with snacks, beverages, dolls and stuffed animals as families arrived clutching duffel bags, suitcases and the hands of small children. They were welcomed inside to rest, eat a meal and check their phones.
Volunteers helped them navigate their immediate individual needs: information on flights to New York; how to change euros to dollars; a ride for a friend who had just walked across the border.
Szloboda, whose Hungarian Jewish grandfather survived the Holocaust and lost family members to Nazi genocide, believes he is being called to serve those in dire need: They're exhausted physically and mentally.
The U.S. has agreed to accept up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine, which has experienced a flight of more than 4 million people since late February. The Biden administration is also expected to end pandemic-related asylum limits at the U.S.-Mexico border on May 23, caps that have drawn criticism from immigration advocates.
Imran Khan might remain in power for 15 more days: Former Interior Minister
"I met the PM and I think Imran Khan will remain PM for 15 more days," said Rasheed, adding that he (Rasheed) was constantly saying that elections were the right way forward, reported Geo News.
The development comes after reports of more than 140 legislators of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resigning earlier today.
The former interior minister also said that the general elections in the country would not be held via electronic voting machines adding that the Opposition should be happy that technology is not being used in the next general elections, the report said.
Earlier today, Pakistan President Arif Alvi approved the dissolution of the National Assembly on Prime Imran Khan's advice in a surprise move.
In a televised address to the nation after the no-confidence motion against his government was rejected by the Deputy Speaker on "constitutional" grounds, Imran Khan said that he has advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly and called upon the people of Pakistan to prepare for elections.
Khan said that he was given three options ahead of the no-trust vote by the "establishment" -- resignation, holding early elections or facing the no-confidence motion.
The military establishment, however, had denied the claim and said that it did not give any options to the Opposition, and rather it was the federal Government that telephoned the top brass while asking for a meeting to discuss the ongoing political scenario, The News International reported.
Today, the Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) denied Pakistan Army's role in the events that transpired in the National Assembly today.
Iran FM says ball in US court as agreement close in Vienna talks
The Iranian foreign minister said Sunday that the talks in Vienna on the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal are close to an agreement, noting that Tehran has put forward its proposals and now the ball is in the US court.
Making the remarks in a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Iran has submitted its proposals concerning the remaining unresolved issues to the United States through Enrique Mora, the European Union (EU) coordinator for the Iran nuclear talks, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website.
Guterres described the nuclear talks held so far in the Austrian capital of Vienna as important, expressing hope that the sides would reach an agreement as soon as possible.
Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015. However, former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the Islamic Republic to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement in retaliation.
Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, to revive the deal.
Over the past weeks, reports from Vienna suggested that the negotiators were "close" to an agreement with few key issues remaining which required "political decisions" of the parties.
Oppn MLA warns Adityanath: SP guns will now fire bullets, not emit smoke
Newly elected Samajwadi Party MLA Shazil Islam has targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying if he makes any noise now, the SP guns will not emit smoke, but fire bullets.
As a video of his remark went viral on social media, the MLA from Bhojipura in Bareillysaid his comment had been edited by a news channel.
What he had said, Islam told PTI, was that the opposition now is much stronger than before in Uttar Pradesh and will reply strongly to Adityanath in the assembly, just as guns fire bullets and not smoke.
Addressing a party meeting in his constituency on Friday, Islam had said, "Earlier, we had fewer MLAs in Uttar Pradesh and so Chief Minister Adityanath used to attack us in his speeches. He only stopped short of hurling abuses at us.
"Party workers need not to feel worried anymore. Days of his dictatorship have gone. Now, there is a strong opposition in the House. Aagar unke mooh se awaaz nikalegi toh hamari bhi banduko se dhuaan nahi nikalegaa, goliyaan nikalegi (If he makes noises, then guns of the Samajwadi Party will fire bullets and not emit smoke)," he said.
The MLA told his party workers that there was no need to worry and if the BJP tried to have its own way, the SP will protest and block the streets.
Speaking to PTI, Islam said, "A news channel has edited my video, and it went viral. In the programme, I had only said, 'Majboot vipaksh hone ke kaaran, har baat kaa jawaab majbooti se denge jis tarike se banduk se dhuaan nahi, goliyaan nikaltee hai (Owing to a strong opposition in the assembly, we will give strong answers similar to the way guns fire bullets and not smoke)'."
Hit by pandemic, Goa tourism needs revival, reforms; state to focus on quality: Minister
Goa's tourism sector needs to be revived as the pandemic has left a bad impact on it, state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Sunday, adding that the government will focus on development of non-conventional verticals, like hinterland and backwater tourism, for the growth of this industry.
Khaunte was allotted Tourism portfolio along with Information and Technology (IT) by chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant. A notification allotting portfolios to the eight MLAs of BJP, who took oath on Mach 28 along with Sawant, was issued on Sunday.
Talking to reporters, Khaunte said the chief minister has tabled a budget which has levied no extra taxes on citizens.
"In this scenario, the department like tourism plays a major role in collecting revenue," he said.
Khaunte said that the department will have to create a roadmap for tourism for the future with thrust on hinterland and backwater tourism activities.
The clear stress would be on "quality tourism" and not "quantity tourism", Khaunte said, adding that this sector was severely impacted due to COVID-19, which needs to be revived now.
This industry needs reforms, which can be done after amending the Tourism Act, he said.
According to him, the state government will work in coordination with the Centre to develop the tourism sector. "We will sit with the chief minister and mark the priorities," Khaunte added.
'Imran Khan will save Pakistan,' shout supporters as President dissolves National Assembly
After Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday, supporters of PM Imran Khan started sloganeering outside Pakistan Parliament shouting
"Imran Khan will save Pakistan...Whoever is America's friend is a traitor," the supporters could be heard shouting. They were also raising "Imran Khan Zindabad" slogans.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who was chairing Sunday's session, dismissed the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government, terming it a contradiction of Article 5 of the Constitution.
Pakistan Opposition has decided to stage a dharna in National Assembly till the no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan is held.
After Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against Khan, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said that the Opposition members have decided to protest against the "unconstitutional" move in the National Assembly and have decided to not leave the floor till their Constitutional rights are not given to them. Lashing out at the Deputy Speaker, he said, "He has done unconstitutional thing at the last moment. He violated the Constitution of Pakistan. The no-trust vote had to take place today as per the Constitution."
He also lashed out at Imran Khan and advised him to stop behaving like a child and running away from fights and appealed to Pakistani citizens to side with the Constitution and believe in democratic values, adding "do not allow puppet or non-democratic person to rob your rights".
This comes after Imran Khan surprised the Opposition to announce in his televised address to the nation that he has advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the national assembly.
However, the Supreme Court has taken a suo moto notice of the dissolution of the National Assembly by Alvi on Sunday.
Noted personalities write to Mamata over Bogtui massacre, other killings
Voicing concern over the recent spate of clashes and attacks in West Bengal, a group of prominent personalities has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking her intervention for putting an end to the "long despicable tradition of political violence" in the state.
In the letter written in Bengali, several actors, directors and poets said the CM, "who had been able to counter the threat of majoritarian divisive politics in 2021 assembly polls and raised hope and expectation among people" should be able to find a solution to stop the recurrence of such incidents.
West Bengal has seen a surge in violent crimes of late, with a student leader getting killed in February, two councillors dying of bullet injuries in early March and Bogtui violence that claimed nine lives two weeks ago.
The signatories to the letter, sent to the CM on Friday, included director-activist Aparna Sen, national award-winning actor Riddhi Sen, director Suman Mukhopadhyay, actor-director Parambrata Chatterjee, poet-lyricist Srijato Bandopadhyay and singer-composer Anupam Roy among others.
"While the administration has been prompt in giving compensation to the affected and taking remedial steps in this (Bogtui) incident, the question remains unanswered about how such an incident could have happened, and whether such ghastly and brutal demonstration of political violence could have been avoided," said an extract from the letter.
"We believe you are aware that the signatories of this letter don't have any political or partisan interest. As panchayat polls are due in 2023, it is the duty of the ruling party and administration to avert repeat of such incidents," the signatories stated
Aparna Sen later told reporters that that the letter was written to the CM on behalf of those who believe in democracy.
"We believe it is our duty to voice our anguish, worry and concern over some of the recent incidents in the state, including the brutal violence in Bogtui. We are speaking on behalf of the people of the state on behalf of the members of civil society who believe in democracy and peaceful political atmosphere."
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, on his part, said that he was happy to see the "intellectuals finally waking up to the situation" in Bengal.
India, Aus set up panel to start talks for expanding interim pact into CECA
After the signing of the interim trade agreement between India and Australia, a committee formed the two nations will start talks within two-and-a-half months for transforming the early pact into a full-fledged comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA), according to official documents.
The interim pact or India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) was inked by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan on April 2.
According to the text of ECTA, both the countries have established a negotiation sub-committee which shall be composed of government representatives of both the sides.
"Within 75 days after the date of signature of this (ECTA) agreement, the negotiation sub-committee shall commence negotiations on amendments to this agreement, on a without prejudice basis, on areas including inter alia market access for goods and services, a complete product-specific rules schedule, a digital trade chapter, and a government procurement chapter, to transform this agreement into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement," the text said.
Following those negotiations, the two countries "may make amendments to this agreement...to transform this agreement" into a CECA.
Russia has pulled back from the north, claims Ukraine
The Ukrainian military says Russian troops have completed their pullback from the country's north.
The military's General Staff said in Sunday's statement that Russian units have withdrawn from areas in the country's north to neighbouring Belarus, which served as a staging ground for the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian military said its airborne forces have taken full control of the town of Pripyat just outside the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the section of the border with Belarus.
It posted a picture of the Ukrainian soldier putting up the country's flag with a shelter containing the Chernobyl reactor that exploded in 1986 seen in the background.
Covid infection raised risk of heart problems more than vax: US CDC
The risk for cardiac complications was significantly higher after Covid-19 infection than after mRNA vaccination developed by Pfizer or Moderna against the deadly infectious disease, according to an analysis by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These findings, which were for both males and females in all age groups, supported the continued use of recommended mRNA Covid-19 vaccines among all eligible persons aged over 5 years, the CDC said in its latest weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Cardiac complications, particularly myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscle - and pericarditis - swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart - as well as the multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) - a rare but serious complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection with frequent cardiac involvement and majorly affecting children - have been associated with Covid infection and mRNA vaccination.
Using electronic health record (EHR) data of 15,215,178 persons aged over 5 years from 40 US health care systems during January 1, 2021-January 31, 2022, the investigators calculated incidences of all these cardiac outcomes among all persons.
The results showed that the incidence of cardiac outcomes after mRNA Covid-19 vaccination was highest for boys aged 12-17 years after the second vaccine dose.
However, within this demographic group, the risk for cardiac outcomes was 1.8-5.6 times as high after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after the second vaccine dose.
Baku nightclub gas leak explosion leaves 1 dead, 31 injured
An explosion caused by a gas leak hit a nightclub in the capital of Azerbaijan and set off a fire early Sunday, killing one person and injuring 31 others, officials said.
The gas provider Azerigas said the explosion at the LocationBaku nightclub was caused by a leaky gas canister.
Officials said a club employee was killed by the explosion and 31 people suffered various injuries.
Health Ministry spokesman Parviz Abubekirov told the AP that 24 people had been hospitalized, most of them with burns.
Firefighters quickly arrived at the club in central Baku at 3 am and extinguished the fire before it could spread.
Video posted on social media showed dozens of people in a panic, some of them injured, outside the club, which appeared to have been heavily damaged by the explosion.
Defence expert feels coup possible in Pak if political situation worsens
The Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) might carry out a coup d'etat if the political situation in the country becomes more unstable, a defence expert has said.
"In the coming days if we see a political or constitutional upheaval in Pakistan, or an increase in instability, then we cannot rule out the possibility of another coup in the country," said defence expert Sanjeev Srivastava.
Talking about the events that transpired in Pakistan's National Assembly today, including the rejection of the no-confidence motion followed by the dissolution of the country's National Assembly, Srivastava said, "We have to see how the real rulers of Pakistan, that is the Army and the ISI respond to the events that transpired."
"We have seen that whenever there has been political instability in Pakistan or there is any other kind of trouble, the Pakistan Army and the ISI project themselves as the saviour of the people," Srivastava said.
Referring to the worsening economic situation in Pakistan, Srivastava said, "The real rulers of Pakistan want to maintain their control over the political system of the country, and in a worsening situation, they may not be able to maintain it, and hence, they might consider ruling the country directly, rather than from the sidelines like now. Therefore, we cannot deny the possibility of a fourth coup d'etat in Pakistan."
In a televised address to the nation after the no-confidence motion against him was rejected in the National Assembly on "constitutional grounds", Imran Khan sought to take the Opposition by surprise by stating that he has advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly on a day when he was slated to face the no-confidence motion.
Khan had said that he was given three options ahead of the no-trust vote by the "establishment" -- resignation, holding early elections or facing the no-confidence motion.
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First Published: Apr 03 2022 | 6:22 AM IST
