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Showing posts from October, 2024

KP govt allowed cutting of 6m cubic feet of timber, SC told

• Court regrets rapid deforestation, suggesting complicity or negligence of forest dept • Incomplete, undated report signed by Mardan official irks bench ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has informed the Supreme Court that the forest department allowed cutting of six million cubic feet of timber and confiscated a total of 130,255 cubic feet of timber, which was illegally chopped off during the last five years. However, the report remained a mystery for the court as it was undated, did not carry names of the officials who prepared and signed it, and did not explain whether the statistics were specific to one division of Mardan or the entire province of KP. A three-page judgement released by the SC recently recalled how the KP government had been directed to submit a five-year report outlining KP forest department’s annual budget, number of employees, timber permitted to be cut, the quantity of timber illegally cut, total forest cover of the KP province, reforestation an...

Canucks pile on mistakes in nightmarish shutout loss: ‘It was embarrassing’

VANCOUVER — Just like in most horror movies, there really is no place to hide for the Vancouver Canucks in this one. The mistakes the Canucks have been managing, holes in their game they’ve been spackling over with resourceful loser-points and goaltending, were haltingly exposed Wednesday in a 6-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Arena. Wearing something close to Halloween colours, the Canucks were a nightmare in their worst shutout loss on home ice since 2006. Too many outnumbered rushes allowed, too few saves. Carelessness with the puck, not enough determination without it. Not nearly good enough in front of either net.  The Canucks have been living with their mistakes since the National Hockey League season started, impressively building a 4-1-3 record through eight games even as coaches implored improvement and players acknowledged the need for it. But if Wednesday’s game isn’t motivation enough for the Canucks to start a serious search for their identity, they wo...

PTI leaders protest against ex-CJP Isa outside London’s Middle Temple

A large crowd of PTI supporters and leaders gathered near Chancery Lane outside London’s Middle Temple to protest against former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Tuesday evening. The former CJP was attending a prestigious event at Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court — lawyers’ associations in the United Kingdom that have the exclusive right to call students to the Bar. A dinner for Benchers , who are responsible for the Inn’s governance, and members of the Inn was held in London on Tuesday during which there was a ceremony to call elected members to the Bench. This year, Callees include retired Justice Isa, among others, who were called to the Bench before dinner and then asked to take their place at the High Table. After the dinner, each new Bencher made a short speech. Dozens of PTI supporters and party leaders such as Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, Sahibzada Jahangir and former MNA Maleeka Bokhari, made speeches outside the venue. Maleeka had resigned from the ...

Investors take cover in Asia ahead of US election

Investors are selling yen and taking shelter in cash, India, pockets of China’s markets and Singapore dollars ahead of a US election that could shake out global money and trade flows. Asia’s financial markets stand on the front line of what could be a wild ride when votes are tallied and in the months ahead since the region is an export powerhouse and shares and currencies are sensitive to changes in US trade policies. That has money managers shying away from outright wagers on the outcome and looking instead to reduce exposure to vulnerabilities from Japanese manufacturers to Hong Kong stocks and make bets in India or China that stand to gain regardless of the US leader. “We actually view China as a decent place to hide,” said Jon Withaar who manages an Asia special situations hedge fund at Pictet Asset Management, since the market has a lot of domestic drivers and lower correlation with global asset moves. “The best thing for us to do is just sit on the sidelines and wait,” h...

Firework explosion at temple in India’s Kerala injures over 150

Indian police detained two people on Tuesday after a temple fireworks show erupted into a ferocious explosion, leaving almost a hundred people in hospital, eight in a critical condition. Hundreds were crowded around a Hindu temple at Nileshwaram in the southern state of Kerala on Monday evening to watch the fireworks, videos posted by Indian newspapers showed. Then, from inside a building, a surge of crackles can be heard, before a powerful ball of flame surges high into the sky. View this post on Instagram “Around eight people are critical, and around 154 have been reported injured, out of which 97 people are admitted in hospital,” local police chief Shilpa Dyavaiah told AFP . “They burst firecrackers very close to the place where they have stored the firecrackers,” Dyavaiah said, adding that sparks from the burst crackers reached the cache. Indian media reports, citing officials, said the blaze caused burns to the faces and hand...

Canucks still looking for best self after overtime loss

VANCOUVER — Glass half full or half empty? How about pouring more into the glass so there’s no debate? Through the first eight games of their National Hockey League schedule, one of the Vancouver Canucks ’ most impressive traits has been their resourcefulness. They’re still striving for last season’s elite form and consistent execution, while mostly failing to put together complete games with start-to-finish urgency. And, yet, the Canucks are 4-1-3 despite their issues. Losing just once in regulation time while collecting 11 of 16 points is impressive by any measure, even if it has been accomplished amid a manageable pace of games and opponents and a lot of reliance on new goalie Kevin Lankinen . But 10 per cent into the season, and after players and coach Rick Tocchet spoke Monday morning about the growing need to execute for 60 minutes, the Canucks’ 4-3 loss Monday night to the Carolina Hurricanes was another glass only half-full. At best.  NHL on Sportsnet Livestream ...

Flames face first test as early momentum comes to grinding halt

LAS VEGAS — Less than a week after their hottest start in franchise history, the Calgary Flames have now lost three in a row. Outshot 38-16 in a 5-0 beatdown by the Golden Knights Monday, that thud you heard was the sound of the Flames early momentum this season coming to a grinding halt. They’re starting to look more like the team people expected them to be — hovering just above .500 at 5-3-1. It’s what the Flames do next that has Blake Coleman as curious as anyone. “It’s a long season and you’re going to have a lot of highs and lows, but I’m actually glad we’re getting this (skunking) early in the year,” said Coleman in the quietest of dressing rooms. “It’s one of those ‘see what you’re made of’ points in the season and we’ll see what kind of guys we have in the room.” On Monday it was a group devoid of much battle or pushback, a team on its heels from the start of the second period, allowing three goals in the third period by the host’s fourth line. Rubbing salt in the woun...

Salah helps Liverpool snatch draw at Arsenal, West Ham beat United

LONDON: Mohamed Salah rescued Liverpool as the Egypt star’s late equaliser earned a pulsating 2-2 draw against Premier League title rivals Arsenal while West Ham United piled more pressure on beleaguered Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag with a dramatic 2-1 win on Sunday. Elsewhere, Cole Palmer inspi­red Chelsea to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 1-0 at Crystal Palace, who picked up their first win of the season. Arne Slot’s side were on the brink of only their second defeat this season until Salah netted with nine minutes left at the Emirates Stadium. Liverpool had fallen behind to Bukayo Saka’s early opener and, although Virgil van Dijk equalised, Mikel Merino put Arsenal back in front before half-time. Salah’s eighth goal in 13 games in all competitions this season was aided by Arsenal’s latest rash of injuries, with defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber both forced off in the second half. Manchester City were the real winners on...