In the culmination of one of Italy’s largest-ever mafia trials targeting the ‘Ndrangheta crime group in Calabria, a court delivered extensive jail sentences on Monday. Over 330 suspected mobsters, including white-collar professionals, faced charges ranging from extortion to drug trafficking in a nearly three-year trial. Saverio Razionale and Domenico Bonavota, local Calabrian mafia leaders, received the heaviest penalties with 30-year sentences. Among those convicted was Giancarlo Pittelli, a former politician with the Forza Italia party, sentenced to 11 years for mafia collusion. Giorgio Naselli, a former police chief, received a two-year and six-month sentence. However, the prosecution fell short of…
Author: Saifullah
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NOWSHERA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari advised seasoned politicians against relying on administrative influence for election contests. Stressing the need for politicians with decades of experience to run on their manifestos, he expressed the PPP’s readiness to address issues like poverty and unemployment if allowed to serve. Bilawal highlighted the steadfast support of PPP’s dedicated supporters, particularly in Nowshera, where activists are actively demanding elections rather than shying away from them. He underscored the challenges facing Pakistan, including terrorism and economic issues, emphasizing that the PPP prioritizes national interests over personal ones in resolving these issues. Asserting…
Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken a significant step towards ensuring a fair and respectful electoral process in the upcoming general elections of 2024. On Monday, it was revealed that the ECP has finalized the Code of Conduct for political parties. Having collaborated closely with them in its formulation. Sources indicate that the Code of Conduct draft incorporates valuable input from political parties. Reflecting a collective commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. Notably, political parties are expected to refrain from making statements that undermine the sovereignty of Pakistan during the election campaign. Additionally, they…
Peshawar: The Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, presided over a meeting focused on reforms in the higher education sector. The meeting included the caretaker provincial minister of higher education, the provincial minister of information technology, the chief secretary, the secretary of higher education, and other relevant officials. During the meeting, a crucial decision was made to urgently activate the search committee responsible for appointing vice-chancellors in universities. Additionally, plans were discussed to ensure financial self-reliance for the universities. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to swiftly finalize the committee’s membership within a week. He specifically…
Islamabad: A recent revelation in the country exposes a significant scam involving the overbilling of electricity consumers, amounting to billions of rupees. This scandal, described as the largest of its kind in Pakistan, indicates that consumers were charged excessively despite the already high cost of electricity. In August, distribution companies amassed billions more from consumers, leading the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to initiate an inquiry into the matter. According to Nepra sources, the subsequent inquiry report confirmed the occurrence of overbilling in the August electricity bills. Numerous distribution companies were implicated in the fraudulent practice, particularly affecting the…
The Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal, faced a critical decline in 1994, prompting the intervention of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which designated it as an endangered species. Subsequent conservation efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the implementation of hunting licenses and strict supervision, have played a pivotal role in reversing this trend. Over the past 38 years, wildlife department data highlights a remarkable surge in the Markhor population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, escalating from 961 to over 5,600. This positive trajectory extends beyond Chitral, encompassing notable increases in Swat and Kohistan as well. As of 2019, the Markhor population…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stands as one of the most susceptible nations to the impacts of climate change. Facing an annual loss of $2 billion since 2000 due to the consequences of climate change. A report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlights that four million individuals are affected by climate change annually. The devastating 2022 flash floods impacting 30 million people and resulting in 1,700 casualties. Furthermore, there are concerns that by 2050, the country’s economy could witness a significant downturn of up to 9% as a result of natural disasters. In addition to climate-related challenges, the IMF expresses apprehensions regarding…
Lahore: The City Traffic Police in Lahore is actively intensifying its efforts to address the issue of underage and unlicensed drivers on the city’s roads. Over the past five days, a total of 1060 cases involving underage drivers and 210 cases related to driving without a license have been officially recorded. Mustansar Feroze, the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) of Lahore, reported that the crackdown yielded 210 cases on the very first day, targeting individuals who were operating vehicles without a valid license. In response to this ongoing concern, he announced comprehensive measures, stating that 30 license offices, 10 mobile vans,…
Israeli authorities have once again implemented strict measures, preventing Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for Friday prayers for the sixth consecutive week. The mosque remains nearly deserted, with only around 4,000 Palestinians, mostly elderly individuals, managing to reach it amid heightened control by Israeli forces over the surrounding streets. The increased Israeli security presence, particularly in the Old City and entrances leading to the mosque, has led hundreds of Palestinians to perform Friday prayers on the streets. Despite the significant impact on religious practices, Israeli authorities have not provided official reasons for restricting Muslim access to Al-Aqsa.…
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar has announced that the government plans to increase gas prices once again to address the circular debt issue. During a media briefing, she emphasized the priority of achieving a tax target of Rs9415 billion by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). In the event of a tax revenue shortfall, additional measures will be implemented. Akhtar informed the IMF about tariff revisions in the energy sector and the intention to impose extra taxes on various sectors, including real estate. The decision on taxes for retailers is yet to be determined. The postponement of issuing…
