Tag: India

  • Finance Minister Dar assures no global sanctions for Russian oil purchase

    Finance Minister Dar assures no global sanctions for Russian oil purchase

    Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, has provided reassurances that Pakistan will not be subjected to global sanctions for its purchase of Russian oil. Dar made these remarks during a briefing to the Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance, highlighting that both India and China continue to purchase crude oil from Russia despite existing global sanctions.

    Dar emphasised that significant progress had been made in November of the previous year regarding the procurement of Russian oil, and the government had diligently completed all necessary preparations before proceeding with the purchase. He further explained that Pakistan adhered to an approved procedure established by a committee comprising G7 countries for oil production from Russia.

    Dar acknowledged the instrumental role played by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in consulting and obtaining approval from the G7 countries prior to the procurement of Russian oil.

    In terms of payment, the finance minister disclosed that the Chinese currency Yuan would be used for settling the payment for the Russian crude oil. He expressed Russia’s satisfaction with this arrangement, noting that it would not only reduce shipping costs but also lead to a decline in crude oil prices.

    When questioned about border trade with Iran, Dar confirmed that the government intended to enhance such trade but clarified that petroleum products were not included in these border trade activities.

    On Sunday, Pakistan successfully unloaded over 45,000 metric tons of oil from a Russian vessel that arrived at the Karachi port. Another Russian oil carrier is expected to reach the port of Karachi in the coming week.

    It is worth mentioning that earlier this week, the first ship carrying Russian oil had already docked at the Karachi port.

    During a press briefing on June 15, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted that every country has the right to make decisions based on its energy requirements. He further acknowledged that Russian oil was being sold at significantly lower prices compared to global market rates.

    Miller attributed this decrease in price to the limitations imposed by the US and its allies, resulting in Russia losing an estimated $100 billion in revenue that could have been used in the Ukraine conflict. Miller clarified that the US had not imposed any restrictions on Russian oil exports.

  • Clear roadmap for Pakistan’s World Cup journey to India

    Clear roadmap for Pakistan’s World Cup journey to India

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to the hybrid model for Asia Cup 2023. Now, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), in a meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other cricketing boards, has approved the model with slight amendments.

    Asia Cup 2023 is all set to be played with PCB’s hybrid model, while Pakistan retains the hosting rights.

    The PCB favors the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue, considering it a smart and effective revenue gateway for Pakistan. However, other boards, including the Indian Cricket Board, argued for an alternative venue. Consequently, the ACC has finalized Sri Lanka as the neutral venue for the tournament. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will now co-host the Asia Cup 2023.

    According to the proposed hybrid model, the first four or five matches will be played in Pakistan, with the remainder of the tournament moving to Sri Lanka, where India will have the opportunity to play their group matches.

    The PCB had been ready to show flexibility over a tit-for-tat stance for the World Cup had the Indian board rejected the hybrid model. The former had also expected the Pakistan government to grant approval for the country’s team to travel to India for the 50-over showpiece “much easily” if the proposed model was accepted.

    It is, therefore, understood that Pakistan will feature in India for the first time since 2016. Whether they take on the hosts, their arch-rivals, in Ahmedabad as proposed in a draft schedule sent by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to the boards of the participating sides is also to be decided by the country’s government.

    As per media reports, the PCB, having received the draft schedule as well, has started it’s consultations with the government over the fixture list and a decision is expected to be made in the coming week.

    That would also mean that the official schedule of the World Cup will be released just over three months ahead of the first game of the tournament on October 5.

    According to the draft schedule, Pakistan will kick off their campaign on October 6 against one of the teams coming through from the preceding qualifying round in Hyderabad before taking on another qualifier at the same venue on October 12.

    The Babar Azam-led unit is scheduled to fly out to Ahmedabad for the high-octane clash against India on October 15 before playing Australia five days later in Bengaluru and Afghanistan and South Africa in Chennai on October 23 and 27.

    After locking horns with Bangladesh in Kolkata four days later, Pakistan will return to Bengaluru for their match against New Zealand on November 5 before concluding the league stage with their fixture against England in Kolkata on November 12.

    The dates and venues for the tournament’s semi-finals and final have not been included in the draft schedule

  • Documentary on Modi’s role in Gujarat riots to be screened in US

    Documentary on Modi’s role in Gujarat riots to be screened in US

    A documentary focused on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s time as Chief Minister of Indian state Gujarat, during the 2012 riots will be screened in the United States.

    “India: the Modi question,” is a two party documentary, based on Modi’s role as the CM during the riots which killed at least 1,000 people, most of them Muslims.

    The private screening has been scheduled for June 20 by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, two days before Modi’s official state visit, where he will be hosted by US President Joe Biden. Human Rights Watch said it wanted the screening to serve as a reminder that the documentary had been banned in India.

    The Indian government has termed the documentary as a “propaganda piece”.

  • Video: Former Twitter CEO says Modi Govt threatened to shut down platform in India

    Video: Former Twitter CEO says Modi Govt threatened to shut down platform in India

    Twitter’s co-founder and former boss Jack Dorsey in an interview with YouTube channel Breaking Points talked about censorship requests he received from the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Jack said that Twitter received “many requests” from the Indian government to block accounts covering farmers’ protests. The former CEO of Twitter further said that the platform also received multiple requests to block those accounts that were critical of the government.
    He has also said that the Indian government threatened to shut down Twitter in the country.

    “India is a country that had many requests of us around the farmers protest, around particular journalists that were critical of the government, and it manifested in ways such as ‘we will shut Twitter down in India,’ which is a very large market for us; ‘we will raid the homes of your employees,’ which they did; ‘we will shut down your offices, if you don’t follow suit,’ and this is India, a democratic country,’” Dorsey said.

    Dorsey said that Turkey also has similar requests like India. He noted that Twitter, which frequently engaged in legal battles with the government and prevailed, was also threatened with closure by the Turkish government.

  • Indian model crushed to death by falling iron pillar at fashion show

    Indian model crushed to death by falling iron pillar at fashion show

    Indian model Vanshika Chopra was crushed to death by an iron pillar while walking down the fashion runway in Noida on Sunday.

    According to NDTV, the iron pillar, which was erected for lightning purposes, fell on stage during the show, killing the model instantly. Another man, Bobby Raj, was also gravely injured at the scene and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

    The police informed the media that the organisers of the show, along with four other people, have been arrested. He added that the deceased’s brother has filed a complaint against the management of the studio.

    “Vanshika’s death has been informed to her family members. The body has been sent for postmortem. In this regard, the police have arrested the fashion show organiser and 4 people involved in the lighting work,” said Mohan Awasthi, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Police, Noida.

  • Australia crowned World Test Champions after thrashing India by 209 runs

    Australia crowned World Test Champions after thrashing India by 209 runs

    Australia thrashed India in the World Test Championship (WTC) in England, galloping to victory with a huge margin of 209 runs to bag the WTC mace.

    On day four at the Oval, the Indian team was unable to chase down the target of 444 runs, scoring only 243 runs, losing seven wickets on only 77 runs.
    Virat Kohli remains on top from the Indian side, scored 49 runs. Ajinkya Rahane scored 46 and captain Rohit Sharma managed to ass 43 runs to the total.

    For Australia, Nathan Lyon took four catches in the second innings while Scott Boland took 3 wickets, Mitchell Starc took two and Pat Cummins dismissed one.

    Australia had scored 469 runs in the first innings while the second innings was declared at 270 runs for 8 wickets after the Indian team was out by scoring 296 runs in the first innings.

  • This resurfaced advertisement about partition from Google India is moving Twitter to tears

    This resurfaced advertisement about partition from Google India is moving Twitter to tears

    An advertisement titled ‘Reunion’ made by Google India in 2013 has resurfaced on Twitter. The ad was about two long lost friends from India and Pakistan who are reunited with the help of their grandchildren.

    The advertisement revolves around two grandchildren who listen to their grandfathers recall being friends and living in Lahore, until partition took place, driving them apart. The grand daughter from India then tries hard to connect with the friend from Pakistan, and books tickets to get the two to unite.

    A twitter thread by an Indian twitter user asked followers about the best advertisements they had ever seen. In reply, a user shared the ad, moving Twitter to tears.

    The partition between India and Pakistan is still like an open wound. It is nice to remember that despite political tensions between the two countries, people remain united by love.

    “This never fails to bring a lump in my throat and moisten the eyes,” wrote a user.

    “Actual tears rolling down my eyes.” wrote another user.

    “Now why is Google making me tear up on a Friday afternoon”.

  • Indian boy killed by friends in dispute over birthday party bill

    Indian boy killed by friends in dispute over birthday party bill

    A boy in India has been killed by four of his friends in a dispute over paying a restaurant bill for a birthday celebration.

    On May 31, 20-years-old Sabir Ansari, a resident of Mumbai, invited four of his friends to a restaurant to celebrate his birthday. When the INR 10,000 bill arrived, the friends told Sabir to pay, promising that they will return the money by night.

    However, upon asking for the money later in the day, the friends threatened Sabir, refusing to pay.

    That night, the victim was attacked with a sharp weapon in Mumbai’s Shivaji Nagar area by his friends. He died later at a hospital.

    Police have arrested two of his friends while the other two are minors and therefore not in custody.

  • PM Shehbaz, FM Bilawal express sorrow on Indian train accident

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in Friday’s horrific train accident in Odisha, India.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also sent condolences to the families of the victims.

    “Saddened to learn of the high death toll in the tragic train accident in Odisha, India. Our condolences for the families of the victims. Wish speedy recovery to the injured,” the foreign minister tweeted.

    At least 233 people have been killed as the result of the train accident, while scores more are injured.

    As per local authorities, the death toll is expected to rise.

    “Officials said several carriages from the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed in Balasore district, hit a stationary goods train and several of its coaches ended up on the opposite track”, BBC has reported.

    “Another train – the Howrah Superfast Express travelling from Yesvantpur to Howrah – then hit the overturned carriages.”

    The exact reason for the accident is still unclear.

  • Here are all the winners from the IIFA awards

    Here are all the winners from the IIFA awards

    The most anticipated awards in Bollywood. the IIFA awards, took place in Dubai with a lot of celebration and joy. The creme de la creme of the Indian entertainment industry showed up dressed to the nines, including celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan and Farah Khan.

    There were entertaining performances with Hrithik Roshan shaking a leg with Vicky Kaushal on his 90’s hit ‘Ek Pal Ka Jeena’, Anil Kapoor’s captivating opening speech, Abhishek Bachchan and Kaushal driving audiences to hysterics with their infectious energy and charisma.

    Among the films that won accolades at the festive night, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ reined as the star of the evening as Alia Bhatt walked home with the Best Actress award while Hrithik Roshan was awarded Best Actor for his performance in ‘Vikram Vedha’.

    Here is a complete list of the winners from last night:

    Best Actor: Hrithik Roshan for ‘Vikram Vedha’

    Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’

    Best Actress In Supporting Role: Mouni Roy in ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’

    Best Actor In Supporting Role: Anil Kapoor in ‘JugJugg Jiyo’

    Best Director: R Madhavan in ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’

    Best Original Story: Jasmeet K Reen and Parveez Sheikh for ‘Darlings’