Sharif, Zardari to join hands
PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif assured PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari that his party would provide support in forming a government without seeking a share in power.
By HT Correspondent | PTI, Lahore
UPDATED ON FEB 13, 2008 11:08 PM IST
In a major pre-poll political development, Pakistan’s two main opposition parties have decided to form a coalition government if they emerge as the largest groups in the February 18 general election to prevent the military from usurping power from elected lawmakers.
PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif assured Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari that his party would provide support to the PPP in forming a government without seeking a share in power.
Sharif told Zardari he would not seek any share in ministries for PML-N’s support in forming a government. Sharif also said he had been supporting the PPP despite the reservations of some leaders of his party, sources in the PML-N and PPP told the Dawn newspaper. Addressing reporters along with Sharif, Zardari said the PPP would invite the PML-N and “other democratic forces” to join a coalition even if the party won a majority.
Hearing for Hong Kong democracy activists resumes after marathon session
Reuters, Hong Kong
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 08:36 AM IST
The activists are accused of organising and participating in an unofficial primary poll last July aimed at selecting the strongest candidates for a legislative council election that the government later postponed, citing the coronavirus.
Two men extradited to Japan from US, charged in aiding Ghosn's escape
Reuters, Tokyo
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 08:23 AM IST
The development followed a months-long battle by lawyers for US Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, to avoid being sent to Japan to faces charges they helped Ghosn escape the country.
Twitter cracks down on Covid-19 vaccine misinformation
Posted by Shivani | PTI, San Francisco
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 08:18 AM IST
The company said Monday that it has started using human reviewers to assess whether tweets violate its policy against Covid vaccine misinformation. Eventually, the work will be done by a combination of humans and automation, it said.
Donald Trump again hints at a 2024 poll run
By Yashwant Raj, Washington
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:15 AM IST
Taking the stage for the first time since leaving office, Trump launched an attack on his successor, President Joe Biden, saying he has had the “most disastrous first month of any president in modern history”.
One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO
Posted by Prashasti Singh | AFP
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 08:07 AM IST
The first-ever global report on hearing said that the causes of many of the problems -- such as infections, diseases, birth defects, noise exposure and lifestyle choices -- could be prevented.
Donald Trump, Melania vaccinated against Covid-19 before leaving White House
Posted by Shivani | AFP, Washington
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 06:07 AM IST
- Joe Biden, who took over as president on January 20, was vaccinated publicly against the coronavirus on December 21 but the Trumps' vaccinations had not been revealed previously.
Khashoggi murder: US calls tougher Saudi stance a recalibration, not a rupture
Posted by Prashasti Singh | Bloomberg
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 05:53 AM IST
“We will never check our values at the door even when it comes to our closest security relationships,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing Monday.
Texas top utility regulator quits in fallout over blackouts
Posted by Shivani | AP, Austin
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 05:46 AM IST
- Texas was hit with historic snowfall and single-digit temperatures in an icy blast that cut across the Deep South for days starting Feb.
Pakistan may witness 3rd wave of Covid-19 amid dull vaccination drive: Experts
Posted by Prashasti Singh | ANI, Islamabad
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 05:43 AM IST
There has been a lukewarm response of even health workers to the government-run vaccination campaign.
Biden tries to reset relationship with Mexican president amid migration issue
Posted by Prashasti Singh | AP, Washington
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 05:40 AM IST
López Obrador, for his part, told Biden that he was thankful that the new president was “willing to maintain good relations for the good of our people in North America.”
China asks Australia to abandon its interference in Hong Kong's affairs
Posted by Shivani | ANI, Beijing
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 05:46 AM IST
Sino-Australian relations have been in a downward spiral since April last year, when Canberra infuriated Beijing by proposing an independent international inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
15-year-old boy shot, killed at Arkansas junior high school
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 03:40 AM IST
The shooting happened in a hallway at Watson Chapel Junior High School as students were switching classes at about 10 a.m., Pine Bluff Police Chief Kelvin Sergeant said. The school is in the city of Pine Bluff, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock.
US presses Saudis over Khashoggi's killing amid calls to punish prince
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 03:35 AM IST
President Joe Biden on Friday released an intelligence report that found that Prince Mohammed approved the 2018 killing of Khashoggi, a US-based contributor to The Washington Post who was lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was strangled to death and dismembered.
Coronavirus infections rise for first time in 7 weeks, says WHO
Reuters, Zurich
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 10:38 PM IST
Tedros said the rise was "disappointing but not surprising" and urged countries not to relax measures to fight the spread of the disease.
Italy PM Draghi fires Covid-19 commissioner, with vaccination drive in spotlight
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 10:31 PM IST
Domenico Arcuri, who was replaced with an army logistics expert, was sacked following complaints about hi's handling of the crisis and concern that the anti-Covid vaccine campaign was moving forward too slowly.