Incarcerated former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged that he was offered the option of house arrest in exchange for agreeing to negotiations. However, Khan rejected the offer, saying that political prisoners must first be released. Speaking to lawyers and journalists at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Khan, described the year 2024 as a challenging year for Pakistan. In his post on X, Khan said, "The proposal I received for a deal was: "Negotiate with us, and we will give your party 'political space', but you will be placed under house arrest and moved to Bani Gala." My response was that all other political prisoners must first be released. I would rather stay in jail than accept any deal. I will neither go into house arrest nor to any jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. My message to my nation is to not lose heart; your captain is standing firm!" Khan also called on overseas Pakistanis to join a campaign to boycott remittances. He criticized the lack of attention to the rule of law in the country, which he said had led to investors withdrawing their capital and factories shutting down. Khan argued that had the rule of law been prioritized, Pakistan would have attracted investments, stabilising the country's economy. Speaking about the use of military courts in trials of citizens and the divergence of Pakistan's intelligence agencies towards "political engineering and dismantling PTI", Khan said, "A transparent trial is a fundamental constitutional right of citizens. Trying cases in military courts has violated the basic rights of citizens and has caused severe embarrassment for Pakistan at an international level." He added, "Intelligence agencies are meant to safeguard our borders and prevent terrorism. Who will guard our borders if their focus is on political engineering and dismantling PTI? They must rethink their policies. Afghanistan has been bombed twice. Earlier, it was claimed that forcibly repatriating refugees would reduce terrorism, but it only fueled hatred, which is detrimental to regional peace. Not once did Bilawal, when he was the Foreign Minister, visit Afghanistan although that should have been the priority. I had even told General (Rtd.) Bajwa to not replace General (Rtd.) Faiz because the situation in Afghanistan would be very different after the US forces exited. However, he was making decisions to enable his own extension rather than to benefit Pakistan. Which is why Pakistan suffered as there was an increase in terrorism." As per Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf, Imran Khan has been in jail for over 500 days now. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 03:04 PM IST | Rawalpindi | PTIUS President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a "political resolution" to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan 19 while the government emphasised its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. "President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case," said Trump's amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D John Sauer, Trump's choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and "seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office". In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on "alleged risks' that China could exercise control" over TikTok's US platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's US patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government "concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so," TikTok's legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok "is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China," its corporate structure carries with it risk. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 03:03 PM IST | Washington | PTIMourning the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President Joe Biden has called him "a true statesman" and credited his strategic vision and political courage for the unprecedented level of bilateral cooperation. Singh, who was India's prime minister for 10 years from 2004 to 2014 died in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92. "The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister's strategic vision and political courage," Biden said in a statement as he and the First Lady, Jill Biden, joined the people of India in grieving the loss of the former prime minister. "The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister's strategic vision and political courage. From forging the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted path-breaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations and the world for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person," Biden said. The outgoing US President said he had the chance to meet Prime Minister Singh as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2008 and as Vice President during his Official State Visit to the United States in 2009. "He also graciously hosted me in New Delhi in 2013. As we discussed then, the US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people," Biden said. "As we discussed then, the US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people," he continued, as per the statement. "During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life. And Jill and I send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and all the people of India," Biden said. Singh, who passed away on Thursday night due to age-related medical conditions, is remembered for his role in shaping India's modern economic landscape. His legacy includes the economic liberalisation reforms he introduced as Finance Minister in 1991, which opened India's economy to global markets. During his tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh worked to strengthen India's global standing, especially in its relationship with the United States, and foster regional cooperation through initiatives like BRICS.
28 December,2024 10:43 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentMoscow on Thursday declared a national state of emergency following an oil spill caused by two separate incidents involving Russian tankers in the Black Sea. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement that a severe storm hit the two tankers on December 15, causing one to split in half and the other to run aground. This resulted in an oil spill, polluting the shores of the Anapa resort and surrounding areas, as well as causing serious problems for wildlife. More than 10,000 people are working to contain the oil spill and clean the affected beaches. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:33 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesChina launched a new amphibious assault ship Friday, capable of launching fighter jets and designed to strengthen the navy’s combat ability in distant seas. The Sichuan, the first ship of the 076 type, is China’s largest such ship yet, displacing 40,000 tons and equipped with an electromagnetic catapult which will allow fighter jets to launch directly off its deck, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The ship is designed to launch ground troops in landing crafts and provide them with air support. Developed by Chinese researchers, it’s also equipped with an “arrestor technology” which allows fighter jets to land on its deck. Chinese military expert Song Zhongping compared the Sichuan to a “light aircraft carrier”, according to the Global Times. The ship will undergo further testing, including sea trials. China has the world’s largest navy and is consistently trying to upgrade its fleet. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:32 AM IST | Bangkok | AgenciesThe Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved a record 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defence budget for 2025 as Japan accelerates building up its strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles and starts deploying Tomahawks to fortify itself against growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia. The Cabinet-endorsed draft defence budget marks the third year of Japan’s ongoing five-year military buildup under the national security strategy adopted in 2022. The defense spending is part of the more than 115 trillion yen ($730 billion) national budget bill “also a record” that requires parliamentary approval by March to be enacted. Japan is preparing to deploy US-made Tomahawks late in the fiscal year 2025 as part of its ongoing effort to acquire strike-back capability with long-range missiles that can hit distant targets. The budget allocates 940 billion yen ($6 billion) for the so-called “standoff” defence system that also includes long-range missiles, satellite constellation and other arsenals. The cost includes 1.8 billion yen ($11.4 million) for the purchase and addition of equipment to launch Tomahawks from an Aegis-class destroyers. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:31 AM IST | Tokyo | AgenciesSouth Korea’s National Assembly voted on Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, less than two weeks after he took for President Yoon Suk Yeol who was impeached for declaring martial law. A motion to impeach Han Duck-soo passed unanimously in a 192-0 votes, marking the first time South Korea’s acting president was impeached by parliament. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds 170 out of 300 seats in the Assembly, introduced the impeachment motion against Han Duck-soo after he refused to appoint additional justices to the Constitutional Court that will adjudicate Yoon’s impeachment trial. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:30 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesMumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s brother-in-law and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa deputy chief Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki died of a heart attack here on Friday. According to the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)—better known as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT)—Abdul Rahman Makki had been ill for the past few days and was undergoing treatment following high diabetes at a private hospital in Lahore. “Makki suffered a cardiac arrest early this morning and he breathed his last in the hospital,” a JuD official told PTI. Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, was handed down six months-imprisonment in a terror financing case in 2020 by an anti-terrorism court. Makki, deputy chief of JuD, had been keeping a low profile after being sentenced in a terror financing. The Pakistan Mutahida Muslim League (PMML) in a statement said that Makki was an advocate of Pakistan ideology. In 2023, Makki was designated as a global terrorist by the UN, subjecting him to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:28 AM IST | Lahore | AgenciesThe Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday claimed they killed Islamic Jihad terrorists posing as journalists. The IDF stated that they found a key source, which was a list of Islamic Jihad operatives discovered during operations in Gaza. In a post on X, the IDF said, “Overnight, with the direction of IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF conducted a precise strike on an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside of a vehicle in the area of Nuseirat. A number of Islamic Jihad terrorists were eliminated in the strike. Intelligence from multiple sources confirmed that these individuals were Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists. One key source was a list of Islamic Jihad operatives discovered by the IDF during operations in Gaza. This list explicitly identified four of the eliminated individuals as members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.” A day earlier, CNN reported, citing a hospital and their news outlet statement that five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike that hit their vehicle in Gaza.According to the hospital, the vehicle, belonging to Al-Quds Today Television, was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital when it was hit. The television channel, based in Gaza, is affiliated with the Palestine Islamic Jihad group. Other journalists at the spot said Ayman Al-Jadi, Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Mohammed Al-Lada’a, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali, and Fadi Hassouna were all sleeping in the vehicle when the strike hit, the report said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:28 AM IST | Tel Aviv | AgenciesChina has recently approved the construction of the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in India and Bangladesh. The hydropower project will be built in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra River, an official statement here said. The dam will be built at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra River makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh. Defending its plan to build the dam, China said the project will not “negatively affect” lower riparian states and that safety issues have been addressed through decades of studies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning played down apprehensions about the massive project to dam the Brahmaputra River, which is called Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet. Concerns arose in India as the dam besides empowering China to control the water flow could enable Beijing to release large amounts of water flooding border areas. India too is building a dam over Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh. India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:25 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesLeaders from around the globe have expressed their condolences after former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. Known for his calm demeanor, economic acumen, and important role in shaping modern India's economic policies, Manmohan Singh's death has sent shockwaves across the political and diplomatic world. Condolences have poured in from across the globe, including from the US, Canada, France, Malasiya, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, etc. President of France Emmanuel Macron on Friday said "India has lost a great man". "India has lost a great man, and France a true friend, in the person of Dr. Manmohan Singh. He had devoted his life to his country. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of India," Macron posted on X. India has lost a great man, and France a true friend, in the person of Dr. Manmohan Singh. He had devoted his life to his country. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of India. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 27, 2024 Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was saddened to learn of the passing of his former colleague, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I am saddened to learn of the passing of my former colleague, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was an individual of exceptional intelligence, integrity, and wisdom. Laureen and I wish to convey our condolences to all his family and friends. — Stephen Harper (@stephenharper) December 26, 2024 Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed wrote X that he found the former Prime Minister as a "benevolent father figure" and a good friend of Maldives. So sad to hear Manmohan Singh has passed. I always found him a delight to work with, and like a benevolent father figure. He was a good friend of the Maldives. @HCIMaldives pic.twitter.com/I0vnfimKpl — Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) December 26, 2024 Manmohan Singh passes away: Follow LIVE Updates here Former President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa called him a "visionary economist and the architect of India's economic liberalisation." Deeply saddened by the passing of former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. A visionary economist and the architect of India’s economic liberalization, his contributions shaped a new era for India. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the people of India. pic.twitter.com/5n1DtCMyL9 — Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) December 26, 2024 Former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai in a post on X said that India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. #India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. #Dr_Manmohan_Singh was an unwavering ally and friend to the people of #Afghanistan. I profoundly mourn his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family, the government, and the people of India. May his soul find… pic.twitter.com/ZrY5bCFVIR — Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) December 26, 2024 Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim wrote a heartfelt message on X for his "honoured and cherished friend". The weight of grief bears down on me at the news of the passing of my honoured and cherished friend: Dr Manmohan Singh. Obituaries, essays and books a plenty there will surely be about this great man, celebrating him as the architect of India’s economic reforms. As Prime… pic.twitter.com/44bA3s7vst — Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) December 27, 2024
27 December,2024 05:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
