Pak Lawmakers Blame Imran Khan's Party For Rise In Terror Attacks

In the first meeting of the Pakistan cabinet since the deadly suicide blast at a mosque in Peshawar, lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) on Wednesday came down heavily on the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regime over its counter-terror policy, the Dawn reported.

The report further quoted the Pakistan lawmakers as saying that the National Assembly was never at one with the counter-terror policies and strategies of the previous Imran Khan-led government.
They regretted the decision to negotiate with militants and resettle them in the country during the PTI regime, calling it 'faulty', said the report.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of PMLN were quoted as being critical of the previous regime in the Dawn report.

The report quoted Asif as saying, "A message was given that talks could be held with them (terrorists)."

He claimed that the briefings during the PTI days had remained 'inconclusive' and Opposition leaders were only informed about the decisions already taken and the National Assembly never endorsed them.

"Decisions made some two years ago had not been endorsed by this house. We were only told in the briefings that this decision had already been made. Now, who will be held accountable for the bloodshed?" Asif is quoted as saying in the report.

"We sowed the seeds of terrorism when the Russian troops entered Afghanistan and we provided our services to the US on rent," he added.

According to the report, Sanaullah said PTI had said there were 8,000 terrorists who should be given the chance to surrender as some 25,000 family members, including the children, were also associated with them.

Citing the recent rise in terror attacks across Pakistan, Sanaullah said "this decision may have been made in good faith but this policy proved wrong".

The minister claimed the PTI government released thousands of the militants from jails, including those sentenced to death, said the report.

"There is a need for the prime minister and the military leadership should take this house into confidence. There should be a debate in parliament," he said, asking the lawmakers to suggest a way forward, according to the report.

PMLN Senators Mushahid Hussain Syed and Senator Tahir Bizenjo also sought revision of policies pertaining to terrorism and Afghanistan.

The death count from the mosque blast rose to 101 as the rescue operation to retrieve bodies from the debris of the mosque concluded on Tuesday.

According to Mohammad Asim, the spokesperson for the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, 100 bodies were taken to the facility and 53 patients were being treated.

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UK Says Sending Fighter Jets To Ukraine Not Right Approach "For Now"

Britain has not made a "solid decision" not to send its fighter jets to Ukraine but does not think it is the right approach at the moment, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Wednesday.

"I've been involved with this for a pretty long time. And I've learned two things; never rule anything in and never rule anything out," he told reporters when asked why Britain would not send Ukraine jets.

"This is not a solid decision," he added. "For now, I don't think that's the right approach. ... What's going to move on this conflict this year is going to be the ability for Ukrainians to deploy Western armour against Russia."

On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said it would not be practical to send jets to Ukraine because it would take months to learn to fly them.

Wallace said Britain's jets were very complex and might not be applicable in Ukraine.

"What they need right now is armour and tanks," he said. "I think we'd have to be pretty sure that (jets) is going to be the next battle winning requirement. But for now, I think we're focused on the tanks, the land battle."

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"Have A Simple Rule": Hardik Pandya's Mantra On 'Life And Captaincy'

Opening batter Shubman Gill, who played a major role in India's 168-run win over New Zealand to clinch the three-match T20I series with his maiden ton, on Wednesday said he did not do anything extra during his big knock. Gill remained not out on 126 to help India post a massive 234 for 4 after electing to bat. India then bowled New Zealand out for a meagre 66 in 12.1 overs to post their biggest win in terms of runs.

"It feels good when you practise and it pays off. Happy to get the big ones for the team. Everybody has a different technique to hit sixes," Gill said at the post-match presentation.

"Hardik bhai told me to bat the way I do, and that there is no need to do anything extra. When you are representing your country, I don't think there's any kind of fatigue, and I am happy to play all three formats."

Captain Hardik Pandya said he normally goes by his gut feeling while taking decisions on the field.

"I have always played the game like this, tried to read the situation and what's required at that moment, and not have pre-conceived ideas. A lot of time I back my guts," said Pandya, who was named player-of-the-series.

"I have got a very simple rule about my life and captaincy -- if I go down, I go down on my decisions. When I played the IPL final, I felt the second innings was spicier. We want to normalise these pressure games, and hopefully we can do better at bigger stages."

A disappointed New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner gave credit to India for playing "outstanding" cricket.

"Some of their guys are in great nick at the moment. It is tough to win when you lose five wickets in the powerplay. It can be challenging when the ball is swinging.

"If you look at the way India played, they took their time early on and when it got flat, they really had a go at us," Santner said.

Asked about the ODI World Cup in India later this year, Santner said, "I guess that time of the year there will be some dew around, most teams might bowl first.

"We've seen some great wickets, if it is like that in October it will be a great World Cup to be part of and to learn. I think 320 would be the score we'd want to restrict teams to then." 

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No Classified Documents Found During Search Of Biden's Home: Attorney

A search by US law enforcement of President Joe Biden's Delaware beach house turned up no classified documents, the president's lawyer said Wednesday.

"No documents with classified markings were found," attorney Bob Bauer said in a statement after the latest search of the president's belongings for improperly stored documents.

Agents did however take "for further review some materials and handwritten notes that appear to relate to his time as vice president."

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Indian-American Congresswoman To Serve In Top Post Of US Immigration Panel

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has been named Ranking Member of the powerful House Judiciary Committee's panel on Immigration, making her the first immigrant to serve in a leadership role for the subcommittee.

Ms Jayapal, 57, representing the 7th Congressional District of Washington State succeeds Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren to serve on the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, a media release said.

"As the first South Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives and one of only two dozen naturalised citizens in Congress, I am honoured and humbled to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement," said Ms Jayapal.

"I came to this country when I was 16, alone, and with nothing in my pockets. After 17 years on an alphabet soup of visas to become a US citizen, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to live the American Dream, a dream that is out of reach for too many immigrants today," she said.

"It is extremely meaningful to me that I will now be in this position to better move the needle and recenter our broken immigration system around dignity, humanity, and justice. As I step into this role, I would also like to thank Representative Lofgren for her years of dedicated leadership on the Subcommittee, and look forward to continuing to work with her," Ms Jayapal said.

As the House Judiciary Committee gets to work, it is, unfortunately, becoming clear that the Republican leadership of the committee has no intention of engaging in good faith solutions to reform our immigration laws, said the Indian American lawmaker from Washington State.

"In the minority, Democrats will have to be an opposition party that stands up to the most extreme ideas of the GOP and protects our values. However, in this role, I also see promise for bipartisan work with a number of more moderate Republicans who themselves understand the need to restore our country as a beacon of hope," she said.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement will be chaired by Tom McClintock (CA-05) and has jurisdiction over immigration law and policy, naturalization, border security, refugee admissions, non-border immigration enforcement, and other various issues.

"The fight to reform our immigration laws has been a core tenet of Jayapal's work in Congress. She has introduced multiple landmark bills and resolutions including her Roadmap to Freedom Resolution, Access to Counsel Act, Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, WISE Act, Protection of Kids in Immigrant Detention Act, and HEAL Act among others to outline a framework for what a fair, humane immigration system could look like," she said.

Before coming to Congress, Ms Jayapal was a longtime organizer and activist for immigrants' rights. Following the September 11th attacks, she started OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone), the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington State that successfully sued the Bush Administration to prevent the deportation of more than 4,000 Somalis and worked with the Governor to establish a New Americans Council on immigrant integration at the state level.

For her work at OneAmerica, she was recognized as a Champion of Change by the Obama White House. She was the founding co-chair of the We Belong Together campaign to mobilise women in support of common-sense immigration reform to keep families together and empower women. She was also arrested during a civil obedience demonstration protesting the Trump Administration's zero humanity family separation policy.

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India Ride On Gill's Ton To Secure Historic T20I Win, Secure Series 2-1

Shubman Gill smashed a whirlwind unbeaten maiden century in the shortest format as India thrashed New Zealand by 168 runs, their biggest ever win in terms of runs, in the third and final T20 International to pocket the hard-fought series 2-1 here on Wednesday. India's second highest margin of victory was 143-run win over Ireland in Dublin in 2018. Gill continued his fine form and showcased his array of shots, hitting the New Zealand bowlers to all parts of the Narendra Modi Stadium to score 126 not out off just 63 balls balls with the help of 12 fours and seven sixes. Riding on Gill's brilliance, India posted 234 for 4 after electing to bat.

New Zealand never got going in the huge chase as Indian bowlers performed in unison to bowl out the visitors for a mere 66 in 12.1 overs, the third lowest score for the Kiwis in this format.

Skipper Hardik Pandya led the bowling department with figures of 4/16, while Umran Malik (2/9), Shivam Mavi (2/12) and Arshdeep Singh (2/16) scalped two wickets each.

New Zealand lost Finn Allen in the fifth ball of the opening over bowled by Pandya, caught by Suryakumar Yadav.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep struck with his first delivery, as Devon Conway lobbed a fuller delivery to Pandya at mid-off.

New Zealand continued to lose wickets as Mark Champman got a faint inside edge which went straight to Ishan Kishan off Arshdeep's last delivery of the over.

Wickets kept on tumbling like of pack of cards for New Zealand with Glenn Phillips becoming the next victim, caught by Suryakumar at slips off Pandya.

Down at 13 for 4 after three overs, it was all but over for New Zealand.

The situation became even worst for New Zealand when Michael Bracewell was cleaned up up by a fast delivery from Umran Malik.

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner (13) and Daryl Mitchell (35) then added 32 runs for the sixth wicket before Shivam Mavi dismissed the former, caught by Suryakumar at deep midwicket fence as the left-hander tried to heave a short ball.

Mavi struck again a ball later, removing Ish Sodhi (0) caught by Tripathi at backward point as New Zealand slumped to 53 for seven in nine overs.

Thereafter, it was just a formality for India and the hosts romped home in style.

Earlier, the start was far from rosy for India after electing to bat as Mitchell Santner made a master-stroke decision by handing Michael Bracewell the second over and the off-spinner reposed his captain's faith by removing an out-of-form Ishan Kishan, who was adjudged LBW with the second ball of the over.

In-form Gill struck two boundaries off Lockie Ferguson in the next over.

Gill was at his ominous best, be it pick up hits, drives or pulls to continue his onslaught.

He hit Blair Tickner for three fours in the fifth over as India reached 44 for 1.

Young Rahul Tripathi (44 off 22), who has immense potential but yet to fire in the series, then struck Ferguson for a boundary and a six in consecutive balls to keep up the tempo.

Tripathi then pulled Santner over short-fine leg before coming down and lofting the left-arm spinner for a straight six.

Tripathi showed his attacking class and dispatched Ish Sodhi over extra cover for his third six of the innings but perished in the next ball in search of one too many, holing out at deep square leg to Ferguson.

Gill reached his maiden T20I fifty off 35 balls with a single off Santner.

While Gill held one end, Suryakumar Yadav (24 off 13) showed glimpses of his class but fell in the 13th over, brilliantly caught by Bracewell at mid-off as the batter mistimed his shot.

Gill brought up his century with a four over the mid-off fielder off the bowling of Ferguson in the first ball of the 18th over.

He broke free and clobbered Ferguson over mid-wicket for a huge six in the next ball.

It was mayhem as skipper Pandya (30 off 17) too went ballistic.

But it was Gill who stole the show as he continued with his attacking shots after the ton, finding the boundaries at will as New Zealand attack looked listless.

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Missing Radioactive Capsule Found In Australia's Vast Outback

A 'highly radioactive' capsule lost somewhere along a 1,400-kilometre highway through the Western Australian desert has been found, authorities said on Wednesday. The dangerous capsule fell off a truck on a remote Australian highway.

The capsule, smaller than a human fingernail, was recovered by the side of the road near the town of Newman, Western Australia, state emergency services said. It will be transported to a secure facility in Perth.

The capsule disappeared from a truck travelling along the Great Northern Highway from a remote mine operated by Rio Tinto to the southwestern city of Perth sometime in mid-January, reported AFP.

Its disappearance went unnoticed until later in the month.

For the last week, vehicles carrying radiation detection equipment have been scouring a strip of Australia larger than the distance between Madrid and Paris, or New York and Chicago.

The eight millimetres by six millimetres contains enough Caesium-137 to cause acute radiation sickness.

"It's a good result," minister Stephen Dawson told reporters. "It's certainly a needle in a haystack that has been found, and I think West Australians can sleep better tonight."

The capsule is part of a gauge used for measuring the density of iron ore.

It was part of a package picked up on January 12 from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri iron ore mine and delivered to the Perth suburb of Malaga on January 16.

But the package was not opened until January 25 when the gauge was found "broken apart" with the radioactive capsule missing. State police were informed the same day.

It was ultimately found a few hour drive from the mine.

The Australian defence force is now verifying the small radioactive device by its serial number, the Guardian reported.

WA's chief health officer, Andrew Robertson, said that an investigation had been launched to determine how the device was lost. If negligence is proved then charges may be laid.

"I have a responsibility as the chair of the radiological council to actually investigate and if required, prosecute offences under the act," he said.

He added, "We have a number of authorised officers who are doing that. Our radiation health branch, within the Department of Health, is conducting that investigation and they will be looking at all aspects of this event."

He added that he was not aware of any injuries or people exposed to radiation.

 

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