TOKYO A G E N C

Japanese police on Friday detained a suspect who had holed up in a building after allegedly killing four people, including two police officers in a gun and knife attack scene and later pronounced dead Another woman and two police officers were earlier confirmed dead in the attack

Police told that the 31-year-old suspect had been detained at about 4:30 am (1930 GMT on Thursday), and later confirmed he had been formally arrested on suspicion of murder using a suspected hunting rifle The rampage in a rural area of the western region was a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the world s toughest gun laws

No motive has yet emerged in the killings nor has the suspect been formally identified though several local media reported he is the son of the speaker of Nakano s city assembly

“We pray for the souls of the deceased and express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families ” top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters Police are investigating to uncover the whole picture of the incident, in- cluding how the crime developed and its background ”

The attack started on Thursday afternoon when a local man working on a farm saw a woman running from the road saying, help me , he told national broadcaster NHK “Behind her came a man wearing camouflage and carrying a large knife who stabbed her in the back the 72-year-old witness said He said he called emergency services while neighbours tried to resuscitate the woman

Far-right militia leader receives 18-year prison term for Jan 6 c apitol riots

Stewart Rhodes the founder of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the US Capitol riot Rhodes was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and other crimes, making his sentence the longest given to a Capitol rioter thus far Prosecutors had initially sought a 25-year prison term for Rhodes

Kelly Meggs the leader of the Oath Keepers Florida chapter, received a 12-year prison sentence

Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building but coordinated with Meggs and other members who stormed the premises Both Rhodes and Meggs were also convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents The trial was one of the most high-profile cases related to the Capitol riot Rhodes showed little remorse during the hearing claiming to be a political prisoner and asserting that the Oath Keepers were opposing those who are destroying our country However, Judge Amit Mehta dismissed these claims and expressed concern over

Rhodes violent rhetoric including a threat to hang former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi The judge deemed Rhodes to be an ongoing threat to the country and its democracy Prosecutors had requested a 25-year sentence for Rhodes and 21 years for Meggs, while defence lawyers argued for significantly lighter sentences of less than three years each Rhodes a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer founded the Oath Keepers in 2009 The group, consisting of armed anti-government members, gained prominence as staunch supporters of forcibly entered Prosecutors

Donald Trump The Oath Keepers actions leading up to the January 6 riot included Rhodes initiating a campaign to reject the election results just days after the November 2020 vote He messaged supporters, urging them to prepare for a civil war The group spent thousands of dollars on weapons and equipment storing them in a hotel room in Virginia near the Capitol During the riot Rhodes remained outside the building, coordinating activities while other Oath Keepers, including those led by Meggs, described Rhodes as a battlefield general during the chaotic events Rhodes and Meggs were convicted of seditious conspiracy, a rarely used law from the Civil War era carrying a maximum prison sentence of 20 years Defence lawyers intend to appeal the convictions To date over 1 000 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Capitol riot with more than half pleading guilty to various charges The US Justice Department has reported approximately 80 guilty verdicts following trials A G E N C I E S

PSO provides grant of Rs6m for Thalassemia Centre

T I N G for Dawn author Nasir Jamal explains that Pakistan s poor tax revenues, which are below 10 percent of GDP and among the lowest globally, are a major factor contributing to the country s persistent fiscal deficits and overall economic crisis a 10 percent Federal Excise Duty (FED) on the packaged juice industry including juices nectars and juice drinks This decision was made in response to the International Monetary Fund's demand to cover revenue gaps

Muhammad, Acting Chairman of BOG MTI-Swabi

The meeting was attended by the administration of Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC-MTI) and Gajju Khan Medical College (GKMC-MTI) The performance of the Thalassemia Centre was thoroughly discussed P R

The author believes that successive governments have failed to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio primarily due to a lack of political will to bring powerful interest groups, such as retailers, wholesalers real estate owners and large farmers into the tax net

When the government requires funds to finance its growing budget deficit it often resorts to imposing more taxes or raising tax rates on the easier target: organized industries and businesses Unfortunately, these changes in tax policies negatively impact businesses and their entire supply chains A recent example is the government s decision to reintroduce lives with several injuries The report indicates that the catastrophic incident could have been prevented if proper safety measures had been taken in place According to the investigation findings the incident was primarily attributed to a lack of awareness and negligence on the part of the restaurant staff The absence of hooters/smoke alarms or gas detectors, improper ventilation in the kitchen where the LPG cylinders were installed, and the non-availability of a special fire extinguisher (DCP) were key contributing factors PR

The Big-Rethink - LEADERS in Islamabad Business S ummit 6th Edition from May 31

i s l a m a b a d:

May 9 tragedy will be remembered as dark chapter in countr y ’s histor y: K auk ab

K a r a c h i: Consumers Association of Pakistan organized the Eid Millan Party which was held on the occasion of Pakistan Martyrs Day to express solidarity with the Pakistan Army Additional IG

Javed Alam Odhu was the Chief Guest of the ceremony While the guests of honor Consul General Malaysia 4 Mr Herman Hardynata Bin

Ahmad, Consul General Indonesia Dr June Koncoro

Hadingrat Consul General Turkey Mr Cemal Sangu

Brigadier (R) Malik Waqar Awan Members

Organizing Committee Abdul Salam Farqan Bilal

Rafia Mamujee, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Junaid Abdul

Qadir, Abdul Jabbar Rathore, Maulana Azad Jameel, Jinnah University Chancellor Wajih Uddin, Sabir

Ahmed, Ikram Rajput PR

K a r a c h i: School of Business Studies (SBS), Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, organized an International Conference 2023 on ‘Sustainability: Global & Local Challenges’ at Main Campus, IBA Esteemed local and international academicians researchers practitioners students and speakers participated in the conference Executive Director IBA Karachi Dr S Akbar Zaidi welcomed the scholars and researchers to the conference and anticipated a comprehensive conference where research papers will be presented and intellectual discourses will ensue on different aspects of business entrepreneurship and innovation PR

The imposition of the FED this year has resulted in a significant 45 percent decline in the sales volumes of the formal packaged juice industry in March and April This decline has substantial consequences The shrinking business size not only adversely affects the government's sales tax revenue but also projects a plummet in the industry's sales from around Rs 60 billion to Rs 43 billion in 2023 This decline is contrary to earlier industry projections which anticipated an increase to over Rs71 billion based on recent industry growth rates The decrease in sales will significantly impact the government's tax revenue from the industry which was expected to contribute almost Rs 14 billion in taxes Surprisingly the government did not learn from the impact of its previous decision to impose a 5 percent FED on the packaged fruit-based juice

Vice C hancellor chairs 16th meeting of ASRB

K a r a c h i: The Vice-Chancellor University of Turbat (UoT) Prof Dr Jan Muhammad has said that we are committed to fostering an environment that encourages our faculty members and students to conduct quality research on prevailing issues, which can help in addressing the challenges of the contemporary era He expressed these views while presiding 16th meeting of the Advanced Studies & Research Board (ASRB) of UoT which was held here on Friday the 26th of May 2023 in the video conference room of the University of Turbat Vice Chancellor said that we are utilizing all resources to facilitate our researchers to explore new ideas and collaborate with scholars of prominent national and international institutions PR

Largest Chinese delegation attends International Textile Exhibition

K a r a c h i: A largest Chinese delegation ever seen in the Textile exhibition kicked off here on FridayPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the exhibition noting that textile is the backbone of Pakistan s export and Pakistani manufacturing industry is growing rapidly which counts 60% of Pakistan export Muhammad Irfan, commercial councilor Guangzhou, Consulate General of Pakistan said that the event is a huge success with both Pakistani and Chinese businesses coming together to explore new opportunities and partnerships The Chinese delegation was particularly impressed with Pakistan s potential as a hub for trade and investment in the region, and expressed their commitment to furthering economic ties between the two nations “Pakistan is quickly becoming a hotbed for foreign investment with its strategic location skilled workforce and growing consumer market making it an attractive destination for businesses looking to expand their operations With events like TEXPO bringing together PR

D un & Bradstreet empowers fight against financial crime

K a r a c h i: Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Pakistan Private Limited concluded its first event series titled Pakistan Assemble- United Against Financial Crime at the Pearl Continental Karachi The event served as a platform to emphasize the significance and sensitivity of compliance and risk management in the ongoing battle against financial crime D&B the world s oldest database and risk management company organized the event as a knowledgesharing initiative to raise awareness and foster collaboration among key stakeholders in the fight against financial crime With a legacy spanning over 180 years, D&B has been delivering business, credit, and compliance Information globally, including in Pakista PR

4th edition of TEXPO Pakistan 2023 begins

K a r a c h i: The 4th edition of TEXPO Pakistan

2023 a flagship event of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Ministry of Commerce & Textile was inaugurated by Mr Shahbaz Sharif, the Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan accompanied by Mr Kamran Khan Tessori, Governor of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah Chief Minister Sindh Mr Naveed Qamar Federal Minister for Commerce Mr Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary Minister for Planning, Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Tariq Bajwa, SAPM, Dr Aisha Ghaus, Minister of State for Finance, at Expo Center (Karachi) PR industry in July 2019 That decision resulted in a sharp 22 percent decline in sales causing revenue loss for the government and an increase in the market share of the informal juice industry

The increase in excise tax not only reduces sales but also leads to significant job losses for workers involved in the manufacturing distribution and sale of these products Furthermore the industry s connections to the rural economy help fruit growers receive fair prices for their produce and minimize wastage

Due to the drop in sales of fruit-based beverages, manufacturers will reduce their purchases from farmers In 2022 the industry procured an estimated 100 000 tonnes of mangoes in addition to other fruits like oranges and peaches for pulp production However, a drastic reduction in fruit pulp purchase (from 61,000 tonnes to approximately 31,500 tonnes) is expected in 2023 following the FED imposition which will adversely affect the rural economy and its formalization

The organized packaged juice industry, with an investment of Rs 40 billion and over 5,000 direct employees,

NIMA delagation visits

Ministr y of Foreign Affairs i s l a m a b a d: A four-member delegation of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) led by Director General NIMA Vice Admiral (Retd) Ahmed Saeed HI(M) visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on 25 May 2023 Secretary MoFA Dr Asad Majeed welcomed NIMA team and appreciated the vibrant role of the institution on important maritime issues A productive series of discussions on various maritime avenues took place with specific focus on geo-strategic imperatives in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and integration of blue economy endeavours into the National Economy DG NIMA emphasized on compliance of international governing instruments for maritime sectoral economy including ratification of Hong Kong Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and aspects of high seas treaty under UNCLOS PR

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission celebrates 52nd Independence and National Day

K a r a c h i: Bangladesh High Commissioner in Pakistan Mr Md Ruhul Alam Siddiqui, Consuls General of different countries including Bahrain, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka Thailand Türkiye United Arab Emirates British Deputy High Commissioner and other diplomats participated at the reception Senators Members of National and Provincial Assemblies, Special Assistants to Chief Minister Sindh, Senior Government Officials of Pakistan and Sindh Province, Vice Chancellors & Professors of different Universities President and Secretary General and other office Bearers of FPCCI KCCI and other Chambers and Associations in Sindh PR provides consumers with safe and healthy fruit-based juices and drinks

However the imposition of the 10 percent FED negatively affects the affordability of these products produced by legitimate players As a result, a significant proportion of consumers are shifting to low-priced low-quality and potentially unsafe alternatives offered by the undocumented sector

This situation will not only lead to a loss of tax revenue for the government, as the undocumented sector constitutes 20 percent of the industry's total size and is expected to grow further if the FED is not reversed but also result in unemployment within the industry The contraction of the industry will also discourage planned investments for 2023-24

In a time when people s purchasing power is severely impacted by skyrocketing prices and job losses are rampant due to economic stagnation the government should reconsider the FED on juice-based drinks and beverages and remove it

To read the full article visit www dawn com

Chairman PARC

i s l a m a b a d: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) recently organized a three-day workshop at the National Institute of Genomics and Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Islamabad The workshop, led by the Animal Biotechnology Program (ABP) at NIGAB, focused on advanced molecular tools including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Bioinformatics Participants from various institutions attended the workshop, gaining valuable insights and skills in these cutting-edge research techniques

The ABP at NIGAB, NARC actively works on developing innovative solutions to enhance animal productivity, health, and welfare, including the creation of animal vaccines advancements in breeding techniques improvements in animal nutrition and the development of diagnostic tools for animal diseases PR

NBP taking advantage of extensive network in assisting c ustomers with D igital Banking

Karachi: The National Bank of Pakistan has unequivocally recognized and commended the ground-breaking accomplishments of its Digital Champion campaign The bank deeply appreciates its esteemed digital ambassadors whose unwavering commitment and outstanding efforts were instrumental in successfully directing NBP customers toward adopting digital banking The campaign's resounding success is evidenced by the activation of over 250 000 debit cards through the mobile app in 8 months which was made possible by a massive effort of 7500 NBP staff from 98% of the branches PR

FBL, NIFT collaborate to revolutionize paper cheque with digital cheque solution

K a r a c h i : Fa y s a l B a n k L t d ( F B L ) a n d N a t i o n a l

I n s t i t u t i o n a l Fa c i l i t a t i o n Te c h n o l o g i e s ( P v t ) L t d

( N I F T ) h a v e a g r e e d o n a d i g i t a l c o l l a b o ra t i o n r o a d m a p s t a r t i n g w i t h t h e D i g i t i z a t i o n o f C h e q u e D e p o s i t s a s i g n i f i c a n t s t e p t o w a r d s p a p e r l e s s b a n k i n g W i t h a s i g n i n g c e r e m o n y h e l d b o t h t h e e n t i t i e s w i l l b e j o i n i n g h a n d s t o o f f e r c u s t o m e r s a s e c u r e , c o n v e n i e n t , a n d d i g i t a l a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e t ra d i t i o n a l p a p e r - b a s e d c h e q u e s T h i s p l a n n e d i n i t i a t i v e o f d i g i t a l c h e q u e d e p o s i t s p o w e r e d b y N I F T w i l l e m p o w e r Fa y s a l B a n k c u s t o m e r s t o d i g i t i z e p a p e r c h e q u e s v i a Fa y s a l B a n k s m o b i l e - a p p p r o v i d i n g c u s t o m e r s w i t h f a s t e r p r o c e s s i n g t i m e s , i m p r o v e d e x p e r i e n c e P R