Belarus delegation arrives, president due today: Clashes, arrests as PTI convoys enter Punjab One convoy being led by KPK CM Ali Amin Gandapur, along with Bushra Bibi, from Peshawar to Islamabad ISLAMABAD: Amidst clashes with law-enforcers in various cities of the country and arrests of hundreds of party activists, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf convoy, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI founder’s spouse Bushra Bibi, entered Punjab late Sunday night as it marched on the federal capital. Islamabad was put under a security lockdown ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former premier Imran Khan, who are demanding his release. Highways leading to the capital were blocked and trenches were dug at various points along inter-provincial major roads to prevent the party activists’ march on Islamabad. The Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa border was totally sealed by placing dozens of shipment containers at the Punjab’s entry points. One major convoy was being led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, along with Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, from Peshawar to Islamabad. Sheikh Waqas Akram also confirmed that Bushra Bibi was a part of the PTI protest convoy and she was traveling in a separate vehicle. Additional convoys from other regions are expected to join Gandapur in Swabi after which the combined convoys would head towards Islamabad under Gandapur’s leadership. In Punjab, protest rallies were held in various cities, including Lahore, Multan, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Pakpattan, Faisalabad and other cities. In Lahore, clashes broke out between the PTI workers and police on Lytton Road, resulting in detention of several activists. Among those arrested were Lahore PTI Information Secretary Hafiz Zeeshan, former MPA Nadeem Abbas Bara, Chairman UC Azam Yousuf and Advocate Zameer Ahmed Jhidu. Female workers were also among those detained. However, political analysts believe the PTI Lahore failed to put up any noticeable show on the call of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. The main rally was seen in PP-150, in which a thick attendance of party workers was seen. In the areas of Gulberg, Garden Town, Faisal Town, Johar Town, workers also gathered to chant slogans in favour of Imran Khan. However, in other parts of the city, not much crowd was seen and people mostly preferred to stay indoors to avoid any clash with the police. Near Azad Chowk, a group of PTI workers exchanged heated arguments with Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari. Scores of PTI workers were arrested in Multan and police foiled their attempt to organise a protest at Ghanta Ghar Chowk on Sunday. Police arrested MNA Aamir Dogar from Multan, when he was on his way to Islamabad. Zain Qureshi, MPA Moinuddin Qureshi and Rana Tufail Noon were also taken into custody in Multan. All the PTI leaders were shifted to undisclosed locations. A police official said on Sunday the number of arrests might cross 100 in Multan. A heavy blanket of security descended on Gujrat district as local authorities sealed all major entry and exit points to thwart the PTI march on Islamabad. Key routes connecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and neighbouring towns were blocked by placing containers. However, no major arrests were reported, as many workers went underground or joined convoys advancing toward Islamabad. In Gujranwala, the district administration and police sealed the entrance and exit points of the city. Dozens of PTI workers were arrested by the police to foil their attempt to join the protest in Islamabad. Sources said a list of more than 1,500 PTI workers and leaders in Gujranwala and Wazirabad had been prepared for their arrest. In Pakpattan, the police allegedly arrested PTI District President Riaz Arshad Niazi, Chaudhry Naeem, Ibrahim, Raja Talha, Saeed and Murad Bhatti. According to sources in the police, 94 PTI workers had been detained in the district. Under the leadership of Rao Umar Hashim, Tariq Shah Khaga, Mehr Moinuddin Chishti, the departure posts of caravans for Islamabad were also posted on social media. In Faisalabad, the PTI convoys could not leave for Islamabad due to the police action and closure of roads including Motorway Interchange and GT Road. The PTI workers and police came face to face on Sargodha Road, workers pelted the police vans with stones while the police fired tear gas. The police said more than 400 PTI workers were arrested. Meanwhile, a PTI spokesman declared Nov 24 as the dawn of a new era with the shackles of oppression and slavery starting to shatter and the walls of tyranny crumbling. He criticised the government for turning Islamabad into an ‘open prison’, blocking the peaceful protestors from entering the federal capital. He alleged that the ‘illegitimate’ government had unleashed a reign of terror and violated sanctity of four walls to silence the PTI founder chairman’s loyalists. Separately, former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said on Sunday the country had been pushed towards anarchy and the situation was getting worse day by day due to the wrong policies of the government. Addressing the PTI workers at the rest area of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, he said the country was facing many internal and external challenges. He was marching on Islamabad along with the party workers to attend the protest on the call of PTI founder Imran Khan. Also, former president Dr Arif Alvi Sunday accused the federal government of attempting to suppress political dissent by targeting the PTI supporters. Talking to Geo News here, the PTI leader criticised the government for its “crackdown” on the party. “PTI workers from Punjab are being prevented from joining us,” said Alvi, adding that the government was cracking down on PTI supporters. On the other hand, a high-level Belarusian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Maksim Ryazanov, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, with President Alexander Lukhshenko scheduled to reach the country on Monday (today), according to the Foreign Office. The delegation, comprising 68 members, included eight ministers and 43 business representatives. They were welcomed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Additional Secretary for Foreign Affairs Shafqat Ali Khan and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Belarus, Sajjad Haider Khan. During the visit, President Lukashenko would hold detailed talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields. Multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed. Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that those who would be found involved in breaching law, would not be spared and be arrested on the spot. “Strict action will be taken against troublemakers,” Naqvi warned, highlighting the administration’s readiness to handle any disruptions. Talking to the media on Sunday evening, he said that the purpose of PTI was to harm the country’s reputation, which was evident from the fact that when the Belarusian delegation had to pass through the highway, the PTI protesters suddenly appeared on the route and started stone pelting. However, Islamabad and Rawalpindi police foiled their attempt through a joint operation and arrested several protesters. He said that most of the protesters arrested were Afghans. In response to a question, he said the situation in Parachinar was deteriorating, but the provincial government’s first priority was to march towards Islamabad. He said the situation in the whole country was better but only KP was coming to disrupt the country’s peace. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached D-Chowk to boost the morale of police, FC and Rangers personnel. He met personnel on duty and commended their high morale. Mohsin Naqvi appreciated the personnel on duty for their dedication to duty and paid tribute to them. He praised the personnel on duty for the safety of citizens lives and property day and night. The minister conducted an aerial inspection of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock on Saturday to oversee security arrangements in light of potential political unrest. Following his tour, Naqvi expressed satisfaction with the measures in place, assuring citizens that the government was fully committed to ensuring their safety and maintaining public order. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Sunday said the PTI leaders were offering voluntary arrests. Talking to the media in Islamabad, he reiterated that the strictest legal action would be taken against those who spread chaos in the capital city. He claimed that many PTI people did not want their leader to come out of jail; similarly, many people contacted the administration and requested for their arrest. Separately, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said once again the PTI wanted to sabotage the country’s development journey through protests. “Courts are the only way out to get the PTI founder released. Pakistan will not be allowed to fall victim to the ego of any one person,” he said while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday. The federal minister made it clear that the government could not release the PTI founder through any administrative order; he would have to file his case in courts for his release. “The PTI founder is not in jail to fulfil any legal requirement but for theft, fraud and sedition,” he added. Also, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Sunday questioned PTI’s repeated calls for strikes, terming them a well-thought-out conspiracy against the country’s prestige. In a press statement, he expressed his regret over PTI’s protest announced for Nov 24 in Islamabad. He said the party announced its protests at a time when important personalities were on a visit to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musaddik Malik claimed that the PTI leaders did not want the release of Imran Khan. Speaking at a news conference in Karachi, he alleged KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was trying to attack Punjab and Islamabad. Also, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the situation in Kurram, Bannu and Bara was sensitive, but unfortunately KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was busy in making preparations to run over the federation. In a statement issued here on Sunday, she said Gandapur should focus on welfare of people, but regrettably he was acting as puppet of Adiala jail’s prisoner. Separately, the PPP said the nation had rejected rioting in the name of PTI’s protest. “PTI has no concern for the lives and property of people,” said PPP Secretary Information Shazia Marri in a statement on Sunday.
Anxiety about money, gun violence and hate crimes ranked high on list of American's concerns Limiting your news consumption may help ease stress and anxiety More than before, Americans surveyed say they'll make mental health resolutions for 2025 FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Should you cut back on doom scrolling in 2025? Worries about money, gun violence and hate crimes ranked high among many people's lists of worries at the end of 2024, according to a poll that is part of American Psychiatric Association (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly opinion poll series. The survey included 2200 U.S. adults. Reducing news consumption may be beneficial for your mental health , experts say. "If current events seem overwhelming it may be time to limit your news consumption,” Dr. Marketa Wills , medical director of the APA, said. “While we like to stay informed, the news can also impact our mental health, and being mindful of that impact is important," Wells said in a news release. According to the APA's research, American adults have remained most anxious about the economy and gun violence throughout 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, more than 1/3 of Americans surveyed (33%) say they will make mental health-related New Year’s resolutions, which is a 5% increase from last year. In fact, the increase is the highest result the APA has collected since it began asking the question in 2021. As usual, many people report that they will pledge to be more physically active in 2025; other resolutions focus on participating in mentally healthy activities. Spend more time in nature (46%) Meditation (44%) Focus on spirituality (37%) Take a social media break (30%) Journaling (29%) “A new year brings with it new opportunities but also renewed concerns about the very important issues that impact our lives,” Wills said, adding that “any time of the year, mental health matters. Staying mindful of how we’re doing while taking active steps to care for ourselves is a terrific resolution.” More information The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has more on stress and anxiety management. SOURCE: American Psychiatric Association (APA), news release, Dec. 13, 2024; APA, press release, Dec. 18, 2024 If you make resolutions, consider starting or re-starting a practice that will nurture your mental health, such as meditating or taking a break from social media.
By JILL COLVIN NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time. In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote. Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act , had proposed making daylight saving time permanent. The measure was sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department. Related Articles National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game National Politics | About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll “Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure. Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent. Some health groups , including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences. Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.Our HS sports photos like the ones above put you right up close with the action and the whole experience. Check them out by clicking anywhere in the collage above to open the photo gallery. Don’t forget to share the gallery with friends and relatives. These photos are also available for purchase in a variety of sizes and finishes – just click the “BUY IMAGE” link below any photo to see available options and make a purchase. NJ.com subscribers can also get free print-quality digital downloads of any images in this gallery. Note: Because we are trying to make these galleries available for viewing as quickly as possible, the gallery may not be in its final form. If you only see a few photos, you are probably seeing an early version and more photos will be added later. Please return and refresh the page to see additions. Mobile device users: For the best experience downloading high-resolution images (available free and to subscribers only) and making photo purchases, it’s best to visit this page from your desktop or laptop computer. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)
Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level Media– Nuvo Int'l Group Ltd. Selected as Winning Bidder in Court-Supervised Sale Process, Subject to Court Approval – – Deal Includes Acquisition of Substantially All of the Company's Assets, Ensuring Business Continuity for Customers, Partners and Employees – TEL AVIV, Israel , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvo Group Ltd. ("Nuvo"), the maker of Invu, a pregnancy monitoring device recently named as one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2024, has entered into a binding term sheet with Nuvo Int'l Group Ltd. ("Nuvo Int'l"), an acquisition company funded by Kips Bay Select LP., and selected Nuvo Int'l as the winning bidder at Nuvo's auction in its sale process under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Nuvo Int'l will acquire substantially all of the Company's assets and assume certain of its liabilities for cash and non-cash consideration. "The agreement with Nuvo Int'l marks a significant step in our financial restructuring, and when consummated will allow us to continue to deliver best-in-class pregnancy support to moms-to-be and their doctors," said Rice Powell, CEO of Nuvo. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing to approve the sale is currently scheduled for December 3, 2024 . With Court approval, the transaction is expected to close in the first week of December 2024 . Nuvo is advised in this matter by Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP as legal counsel, Teneo Capital LLC as financial advisor, and Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC as investment banker. About Nuvo Nuvo is leading a transformation in pregnancy care by providing clinicians and expectant mothers with access to medically necessary remote pregnancy monitoring anytime, anywhere. Nuvo's INVUTM platform is an FDA-cleared remote pregnancy monitoring and management system. It enables the delivery of remote non-stress tests (NSTs) and maternal and fetal heart rate monitoring, while pioneering new data-driven personalized pathways that Nuvo believes can improve future health outcomes. INVU is being used by leading health providers and research institutions across the US and Israel. Nuvo plans to continue to expand the footprint of sales in the US and Israel and plans to introduce its INVU platform in Europe in 2024, subject to granting of the CE mark it filed in Europe in March 2023, to provide remote access and insights not previously deemed possible. Nuvo is led by a diverse team of experienced business, medical and technology leaders, united in the mission of breaking down barriers to pregnancy care to give every life a better beginning. For more information and complete indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions, and instructions for use, visit www.nuvocares.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nuvo-group-enters-into-agreement-for-sale-of-pregnancy-support-business-302314626.html SOURCE Nuvo Group Ltd
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Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsRs190bn lost daily due to opposition’s protest call: finance minister There is a decrease in tax collections and disruption of business as protests affect exports, says Minister ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Rs190 billion are lost daily due to the opposition’s call for protest. In a conversation with Geo News on Sunday, the finance minister said that due to the lockdown and protests, there is a decrease in tax collections and disruption of business as protests affect exports. He said that Rs190 billion are lost daily due to the opposition’s call for protest while extra expenses are incurred on security to maintain peace due to protest. The losses in IT and telecom sector are apart from this. He said the shutdown of IT and telecom has a negative impact socially. The finance minister said the Ministry of Finance has prepared a report in this regard and according to a conservative estimate, the GDP is losing Rs144 billion a day due to the strike and there is a loss of Rs26 billion a day due to a decrease in exports. He further said that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is affected during the protest and there is a daily loss of Rs3 billion. The losses are different, the daily loss to the provinces in the agricultural sector is Rs26 billion and the loss to the provinces in the industrial sector is more than Rs20 billion.
CMO Anshul Khandelwal and CTPO Suvonil Chatterjee cited personal reasons for quitting their current roles at Ola Electric Earlier this month, Ola Electric’s group chief human resources officer, Balachandar N, left the company after a four-year long stint Ola Electric has been grappling with negative headlines over rising consumer complaints about its after-sales services and is also being probed by the CCPA Days after it announced the exit of its chief human resources officer (CHRO), listed electric vehicle (EV) maker Ola Electric has seen the departure of two more top executives. In an exchange filing, Ola Electric said that its chief marketing officer (CMO) Anshul Khandelwal and chief technology and product officer (CTPO) Suvonil Chatterjee tendered their resignation with immediate effect. Both Khandelwal and Chatterjee cited personal reasons for their decisions in their respective resignation emails. “It has been an incredible journey. I am grateful for the opportunities to contribute to Ola’s inspiring vision. However, due to personal reasons I request to be relieved of my duties effective today,” Khandelwal said in his resignation mail. An alumnus of IIM Kozhikode, Khandelwal served as the CMO of Ola Electric for close to three years. He joined Ola Cabs (now Ola Consumer) as the head of marketing and revenue for its food delivery arm Foodpanda in 2018. After Ola shut Foodpanda in 2019, Khandelwal transitioned to the role of marketing head at Ola Foods. Khandelwal, who has more than 15 years of experience under his belt, previously worked with startups such as upGrad and BlueStone. Meanwhile, Chatterjee joined Ola Electric as its chief product officer in 2021 and was elevated to the position of chief technology officer (CTO) in November 2022, as per his LinkedIn profile. Prior to joining Ola Electric, Chatterjee was the CTO at Ola Consumer. He joined the ride-hailing major in 2017 as the head of design. The development comes days after Ola Electric CHRO Balachandar N quit the company after a stint of almost four year. The EV maker is currently trying to douse fires on multiple fronts. It has been grappling with negative headlines over rising consumer complaints about its after-sales services and is also being probed by the Central Consumer Protection Authority. Amid these, the company opened 3,200 new stores earlier this week to take the count of its showrooms and service centres to 4,000. Shares of Ola Electric closed Friday’s (December 27) trading session 3.68% lower at INR 90.09 on the BSE.Trump brings back government by social media
