RUSSIA ACCUSES UKRAINE OF NEW DRONE ATTACK ON MOSCOW

MOSCOW R E U T E R S

RU S S I A s Defence Ministry said it had brought down three Ukrainian drones early on Sunday that had been trying to attack Moscow

Nobody was hurt and there was only minor damage to the facade of two office buildings in the Moskva-Citi business district Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said

The area several miles from the Kremlin, is known for its modern highrise towers and one of the buildings damaged was home to three Russian government ministries as well as residential apartments Russian media reported

The fact that hostile drones have begun reaching the heart of the Russian capital in recent months even if they do not inflict serious damage, is uncomfortable for the authorities who have told the public that Russia is in full control of what they call its “special military operation” against Ukraine

The incident followed what Russia said was a similar Ukrainian attempt to attack Moscow with two drones last Monday, one of which was brought down close to the headquarters of the de- fence ministry

It spoke at the time of taking harsh retaliatory measures against Ukraine

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said after Monday’s attempted attack that there would be more drone strikes There was no immediate reaction from Kyiv to the latest incident

There were no casualties or injuries,” Sobyanin, the mayor, said in a short statement on the incident

Flights to and from Moscow’s

India using ever y brutal tactic to muz zle Kashmiris’ voice for freedom

SRINAGAR: India is using every brutal tactic to muzzle the Kashmiris’ voice for freedom in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir According to Kashmir Media Service the political experts and analysts in their interviews and statements in Srinagar said fascist Modi regime is stifling the Kashmiris voice of freedom by using all draconian measures They said Indian troops are conducting widespread raids in the occupied territory to arrest innocent people and stop them from demanding freedom from India They deplored that Kashmiris were being mercilessly killed tortured and humiliated for demanding their right to self-determination The Modi regime is using its probe agencies like National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Investigation Agency (SIA) as a weapon to silence Kashmiris demanding their birthright to self-determination, they added The political experts and analysts said the world’s so-called largest democracy is denying basic rights to IIOJK people but India must remember that popular movements could not be defeated by oppression

They urged the world community and international human rights organizations to take notice of the Kashmiris’ plight as India is subjecting the IIOJK people to collective punishment for demanding the UNmandated plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir

They said India cannot stop the Kashmiris march for freedom by using its military might and the global community must put pressure on India to let the Kashmiris speak what they

At least 9 killed as firecrackers explode at warehouse in Thailand

BANGKOK: At least nine people were killed and more than 100 others injured when firecrackers kept in a warehouse exploded in southern Thailand on Saturday officials said The firecrackers exploded and set off a fire at the unauthorised warehouse at the Muno market in Sungai Kolok district in the southern province of Narathiwat bordering Malaysia, Narathiwat s governor Sanan Phongaksorn told Reuters

Joining China’s Belt and Road was an ‘atrocious’ decision: Italy minister

regime using unmanned aerial vehicles against targets in the city of Moscow was foiled,” the ministry said in its statement Separately it said it had also successfully thwarted an overnight attack on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 by 25 Ukrainian drones which it said it had either shot down or forced to crash Nobody had been hurt and no damage done in the Crimea episode it said u s ” d e c i s i o n

Vnukovo airport were briefly suspended due to the incident, the TASS news agency reported The Defence Ministry said two drones had crashed in the Moskva-Citi district after being brought down using radio-electronic equipment Air defences had shot down one more in the air over the Odintsovo area in the Moscow region, it said “On the morning of 30th July, an attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv young woman who gave her name only as Liya described the Moscow incident My friends and I rented an apartment to come here and unwind, and at some point, we heard an explosion and it was like a wave, everyone jumped,” she told Reuters And then there was a lot of smoke and you couldn t see anything From above you could see fire Some glass panels in one high-rise building were blown out and glass and debris littered part of the pavement below according to a Reuters reporter on the scene which had been cordoned off by police and emergency services

Two drones reached the Kremlin in May in the most high-profile incident of its kind

China says US military aid to Taiwan will not deter its will to unify the island

TAIPEI

A G E N C I E S

China accused the United States of turning Taiwan into an ammunition depot after the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taipei, and the self-ruled island said Sunday it tracked six Chinese navy ships in waters off its shores

China s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement late Saturday opposing the military aid to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory

“No matter how much of the ordinary people s taxpayer money the Taiwanese separatist forces spend, no matter how many U S weapons, it will not shake our resolve to solve the Taiwan prob- lem Or shake our firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland ” said Chen Binhua a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office Their actions are turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the Taiwan Strait ” the statement said

China s People s Liberation Army has increased its military maneuvers in recent years aimed at Taiwan, sending fighter jets and warships to circle the island

On Sunday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it tracked six Chinese navy ships near the island Taiwan s ruling administration, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, has stepped up its weapons purchases from the U S as part of a deterrence strategy against a Chinese invasion

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949 and Taiwan has never been governed by China s ruling Communist Party

Unlike previous military purchases, the latest batch of aid is part of a presidential authority approved by the U S Congress last year to draw weapons from current U S military stockpiles so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales

While Taiwan has purchased $19 billion worth of weaponry much of it has yet to be delivered to Taiwan Washington will send manportable air defense systems intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles to Taiwan

Denmark to look for ‘ legal tool ’ to prevent Holy Q uran burnings

COPENHAGEN

A G E N C I E S

The Danish government will seek to find a legal tool that would enable authorities to prevent the b u r n i n g o f c o p i e s o f t h e H o l y Q u r a n i n f r o n t o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s e m b a s s i e s i n D e n m a r k , F o r e i g n

Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told the national broadcaster DR on Sunday

“The burnings are deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals These few individuals do not represent the values the Danish society is built on Rasmussen said separately in a statement

“ T h e D a n i s h g o v e r n m e n t w i l l t h e r e f o r e e xplore the possibility of intervening in special situa t i o n s w h e r e f o r i n s t a n c e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s c u l t u r e s a n d r e l i g i o n s a r e b e i n g i n s u l t e d a n d where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least with regard to security,” he said Denmark and Sweden have found themselves in the international spotlight in recent weeks following anti-Islam protests where the Holy Quran has been damaged or burned offending Muslims around the world h e n i t j o i n e d C h i n a ’s B e l t a n d R o a d I n i t i a t i v e ( B R I ) f o u r y e a r s a g o a s i t d i d l i t t l e t o b o o s t e x p o r t s I t a l i a n D e f e n c e M i n i s t e r G u i d o C r o s e t t o s a i d i n a n i n t e r v i e w p u b l i s h e d o n S u n d a y I t a l y s i g n e d u p t o t h e B R I u n d e r a p r e v i o u s g o v e r n m e n t , b e c o m i n g t h e o n l y m a j o r We s t e r n c o u n t r y t o h a v e t a k e n s u c h a s t e p C r o s e t t o i s p a r t o f a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h a t i s c o n s i d e r i n g h o w t o b r e a k f r e e o f t h e a g r e e m e n t T h e B R I s c h e m e e n v i s i o n s r e b u i l d i n g t h e o l d S i l k R o a d t o c o n n e c t C h i n a w i t h A s i a E u r o p e a n d b e y o n d w i t h l a rg e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s p e n d i n g C r i t i c s s e e i t a s a t o o l f o r C h i n a t o s p r e a d i t s g e o p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c i n f l u e n c e “ T h e d e c i s i o n t o j o i n t h e ( n e w ) S i l k R o a d w a s a n i m p r o v i s e d a n d a t r o c i o u s a c t ” t h a t m u l t i p l i e d C h i n a s e x p o r t s t o I t a l y b u t d i d n o t h a v e t h e s a m e e ff e c t o n I t a l i a n e x p o r t s t o C h i n a C r o s e t t o t o l d t h e C o r r i e r e d e l l a S e r a n e w s p a p e r T h e i s s u e t o d a y i s : h o w t o w a l k b a c k ( f r o m t h e B R I ) w i t h o u t d a m a g i n g r e l a t i o n s ( w i t h B e i j i n g ) B e c a u s e i t i s t r u e t h a t C h i n a i s a c o m p e t i t o r, b u t i t i s a l s o a p a r t n e r ” t h e d e f e n c e m i n i s t e r a d d e d A f t e r a W h i t e H o u s e m e e t i n g U S P r e s i d e n t J o e B i d e n o n T h u r s d a y I t a l i a n P r i m e M i n i s t e r G i o rg i a M e l o n i s a i d h e r g o v e r n m e n t h a d u n t i l D e c e m b e r t o m a k e a d e c i s i o n o n t h e B R I , a n d a l s o a n n o u n c e d s h e w o u l d s o o n t r a v e l t o B e i j i n g I n a n i n t e r v i e w o n S a t u r d a y w i t h t h e T G 5 I t a l i a n n e w s p r o g r a m m e M e l o n i s a i d i t w a s a “ p a r a d o x ” t h a t e v e n i f I t a l y i s p a r t o f t h e B R I i t i s n o t t h e G 7 c o u n t r y w i t h t h e s t r o n g e s t t r a d i n g l i n k s t o C h i n a T h i s s h o w s t h a t y o u c a n h a v e g o o d r e l a t i o n s a n d t r a d i n g p a r t n e r s h i p s e v e n o u t s i d e o f t h e B R I , s h e a d d e d

F r e n c h e m b a s s y i n

N i g e r a t t a c k e d a s p r o t e s t e r s w a v i n g

R u s s i a n f l a g s m a r c h t h r o u g h c a p i t a l

N I A M E Y

AGENCIES

Thousands of supporters of the junta that took over Niger in a coup this week marched through the streets of the capital on Sunday denouncing the country’s former colonial power and lighting a door at the French Embassy ablaze before the army broke up the crowd Black smoke could be seen across the city from the burning of the door, which was captured on video by The Associated Press

The Russian mercenary group Wagner is operating in neighboring Mali and President Vladimir Putin would like to expand his country’s influence in the region The new junta s leaders have not said whether they would move toward Moscow or stick with Niger s Western partners French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that attacks on France and its interests would not be tolerated Anyone who attacked French nationals, the army diplomats and French authorities would see an immediate response he said Niger a French colony until 1960 had been seen as the West s last reliable partner battling jihadists in Africa s Sahel region France has 1,500 soldiers in the country who conduct joint operations with the Nigeriens The United States and other European countries have helped train the nation’s troops At an emergency meeting Sunday in Abuja Nigeria the West African bloc known as ECOWAS said that it was suspending relations with Niger and authorized the use of force if President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week

The African Union has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the democratically elected government Bazoum was democratically elected two years ago in Niger s first peaceful transfer of power since independence from France in 1960

Members of the Niger military announced on Wednesday they had deposed Bazoum and on Friday named Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani as the country’s new leader adding Niger to a growing list of military regimes in West Africa’s Sahel region

Some leaders of the mutiny said they overthrew Bazoum because he wasn t able to secure the nation against growing jihadi violence But some analysts and Nigeriens say that was a pretext for a takeover driven by internal power struggles “We couldn’t expect a coup in Niger because there s no social political or security situation that would justify that the military take the power Prof Amad Hassane Boubacar who teaches at the University of Niamey, told The Associated Press

He said Bazoum wanted to replace the head of the presidential guard, Tchiani Tchiani, who also goes by Omar was loyal to Bazoum’s predecessor and that sparked the problems Boubacar said Niger s dire security situation is not as bad as that in neighboring Burkina Faso or Mali which have also been battling an Islamic insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group Last year, Niger was the only one of the three to see a decline in violence, according to the Armed Conflict

Location & Event Data Project

Some taking part in Sunday s rally warned outside bodies to stay away

Corporate Corner

IESCO notifies power suspension programme

to 12:00 Noon, Islamabad Circle, Highway, Zia Masjid, Service Road East, Iqbal Town Feeders Rawalpindi City Circle Fazahia Nogzi Bajnyal Azizabad People's Colony Feeders Rawalpindi Cantt Circle Rahmatabad-1feeder Chakwal Circle Chakaral

Sarkal Latifal Feeders Jhelum Circle Express Mangala, Madu Kals Feeder, Attock Circle, Pind Pran, Valley, Gulshan Sehat, Sangjani, Shahullah Dutta, AWT 4, MVCHS, MPCHS B-17, Paswal, Sarai Kharboza Feeders and surrounding areas

AIOU commences final examinations from S ept 1

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is conducting examinations of open courses, certificate courses, Matriculation, FA, and ICom programs offered in the spring 2023 semester from September 1 2023 to October 5 2023 throughout the country

The date sheet is available on the university website www aiou edu pk, said the press release issued by the AIOU Roll number slips are being uploaded to students' CMS portal and will be dispatched to the students at their addresses as well

AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood has instructed the examinations department to ensure transparency and provide all facilities to the students during the conduct of examinations

Examination centers are being established across the country in nearby and easily approachable vicinities of the students for their convenience

Special teams will make surprise visits to the exam centers to eradicate the element of cheating and will check the identities of students PR

Pakistan faces another crisis to deal with human trafficking: sharmila

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh MPA Ms

Sharmila Farooqui said on Sunday that besides the challenges of economic and political uncertainty

Pakistan also has another crisis to deal with human trafficking

"We must also enhance cooperation and coordination among law-enforcement agencies, non-government organizations and relevant stakeholders to combat human trafficking effectively Such collaboration can ensure a comprehensive response to the issue " she said in a statement on the eve of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 being observed today

Provincial governments must train police, labour inspectors, and social services to systematically and proactively identify trafficking victims, she maintained Sharmila said that the time to act against human trafficking is now so that the people could be to rescued protected and empowered By uniting against human trafficking we can pave the way for a brighter and more better future Let us stand as one against this scourge, dismantling the shadows and illuminating a path towards freedom, she added Sharmila said: "As the country grapples with one challenge after another its vulnerable citizens find themselves at the mercy of ruthless traffickers

Unstable economies and corrupt systems turn these vulnerable people into defenceless prey

She said that with rising poverty, unemployment, and inequalities, Pakistan has become a breeding ground for modern-day slavery People’s desperation urges them to conceal the horrors they face and continue to live a life of exploitation

This is especially so for women and children

She said that the escalating risks of trafficking in Pakistan are evident from an increase in trafficking victims In 2022, the government of Pakistan reported a staggering 35,309 trafficking victims, compared to 21 253 victims in 2021 – a significant increase of over 14 000 victims Traffickers continue to thrive here due to corruption and lax enforcement by lawenforcement agencies Sharmila added