Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Lijian Zhao on Saturday called Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to offer help in getting the former chief minister Punjab treated for coronavirus.Â
According to PML-N, Lijian expressed concern for Shehbaz’s wellbeing and prayed for his early recovery.
“Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Chinese government, its leadership, and Zhao Lijian for offering treatment for COVID-19. Your concern and offer is a reflection of China’s love for Pakistan and its people.â€
“China’s affection, consideration and brotherly relations are a source of pride for me,†said the PML-N leader.
Ahsan Iqbal, who has also been diagnosed with COVID-19, said he too had received a phone call from Zhao, inquiring after his health.
Iqbal said he is “deeply touched” by Zhao’s concern for his illness, recognition of his contribution towards CPEC and over his “offer of medical support on behalf of Chinese government”.
The PML-N president on Thursday said that he is self-isolating after lab reports confirmed that he has contracted the virus.
He had appeared before a NAB investigation team in a corruption case where a large number of party workers had also gathered to show support to their party chief.
Besides the party president, a large number of senior PML-N leaders including former prime minster Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Tariq Fazal Chauhdry have tested positive for COVID-19.
Zhao Lijian has served in Pakistan as Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Islamabad during PML-N government and is considered a true friend of Pakistan.
The tension was accentuated by the president’s walk through Lafayette Square to St. John’s Church after peaceful protesters were forcibly pushed out by riot police, a photo op that both Mr. Esper and General Milley joined to their later regret amid vociferous criticism from retired military officers like Jim Mattis, the Marine general who served as Mr. Trump’s first defense secretary.
Mr. Trump wanted to fire Mr. Esper after he spoke out publicly against invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 to send active-duty troops into the streets but was advised against it by aides who feared it would be a political debacle. General Milley, for his part, considered resigning before opting against it for now but made a point of publicly apologizing for participating in the president’s church photo op because it inserted the military leadership into a partisan event.
The friction grew over the last few days as Mr. Esper, General Milley and other military leaders signaled that they were open to renaming Army installations named after Confederate generals, including Fort Bragg, Fort Hood and Fort Benning, as part of a broader effort to address the legacy of racism in the armed forces.
But Mr. Trump, who never served in the military and avoided the Vietnam War citing bone spurs in his foot, slapped down the Pentagon by rejecting the idea, suggesting it would be insulting to the troops who trained at those bases and then went off to fight in overseas wars.
The issue has resonance at West Point, where Gen. Robert E. Lee was both a cadet and later superintendent. The Confederate icon remains honored on campus, with a gate, a road and a barracks named after him and his portrait on display. Some critics, including veterans, have called for his name to be removed from the campus.
Mr. Trump made no mention of the issue during his speech, but did single out Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the Union commander, for praise, although mispronounced his first name as “Ulysseus.â€
The president’s desire to deliver a commencement address at West Point in person was already a contentious decision. Cadets were sent home in March because of the coronavirus but after Mr. Trump announced that he would go through with plans for a speech they were ordered back to campus and quarantined in their dorms for the past 14 days to safely stage the ceremony.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for! This is what we’ve been waiting for!†yells a young rugby fan as he plunges his shoulder into the stampede in front of him.
Rugby has returned to New Zealand – but unlike in other countries where professional sport has begun to be played inside empty stadiums, last night almost 20,000 fans packed into the Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin to watch local favourites the Otago Highlanders take on the Waikato Chiefs.
At the Forsyth Barr stadium there was a huge crush of people heading through a thin corridor to get to “the Zooâ€, a section of the stadium specifically catering to Dunedin’s raucous student population, where social distancing was officially off the cards.
“It’s all anyone was talking about all week,†said Zach Langbridge, a student at the city’s University of Otago. “Lots of my other mates finished our semesters yesterday so this is the first time for us to all get together and have fun.â€
New Zealand has taken Covid-19 from 1,366 active cases down to zero today, and with sport back on the agenda, Langbridge commemorated the occasion with an arm around his friend’s shoulder and triumphant finger pointed at the camera.
Fans put social distancing behind them at the Forsyth Barr stadium on Saturday. Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty
He and his friends shared their beers freely, two to a glass, apparently immune to the viral paranoia that’s been plaguing the country and the world for the last several months.
“I’m not too worried who wins. I’m just happy to not be stuck in my cold flat,†said Alana Nancarrow, an international student at Otago University.
For the more serious fans who made up the majority of the 19,100 people in the packed stadium, this was a chance to once again indulge in live sport after being deprived for months. Where reruns of old games were previously the only rugby entertainment available, the crowd clearly relished the joy of an uncertain outcome, audibly gasping at the slightest chance of a Highlander opportunity and rising quickly to their feet to celebrate every successful move.
“I’ve been a fan my whole life, so it’s been really weird not being able to tune in this time of year. It’s feeling like things are really coming right that I can be here watching this today,†said Tony Smith, a long time Highlanders fan.
The virtues of live sport were on full display in the waning moments of the clash, with visiting Chiefs taking the lead, only to have the advantage snatched back in epic fashion as the Highlanders’ Bryn Gatland scored a drop goal to win the match.
Fans wearing Chiefs and Highlanders shirts could be seen hugging in the stands. Loyalties were muddling after months uniting against a common enemy. As thousands of excited fans spilled into the frosty Dunedin night, normality – or some brand of it – was returning to New Zealand.
Media captionSome of the protesters in central London were seen attacking police
Police were pelted with bottles during confrontations with demonstrators in London, where hundreds gathered despite warnings to avoid protests.
Groups gathered in the centre of the capital, claiming they were protecting statues from anti-racism activists.
Home Secretary Priti Patel described the violence as “thoroughly unacceptable thuggery”.
Some anti-racism demonstrations have also taken place across the UK, including in central London.
The Met Police had placed restrictions on several groups intending to protest, including having to finish at 17:00 BST, following violent scenes last weekend.
However, several groups remained on the streets of central London after the cut-off.
As some protestors apparently moved towards Waterloo Station around 18:00 BST, both the underground and mainline station were temporarily closed due to the protests – but later reopened.
Various groups from around the country, including some far-right activists, said they had come to London to protect symbols of British history.
Hundreds of mostly white men gathered around the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall and the boarded-up statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.
There were a number of clashes with police in riot gear as crowds – chanting “England” and raising their arms – surged towards lines of officers.
Some protesters managed to break metal barriers around the Cenotaph on Whitehall while hurling flag poles, a smoke flare and a traffic cone towards police who were striking them back with batons.
Large groups of right-wing protesters then moved to Trafalgar Square, where fireworks were thrown across the crowds.
A statement from the London Ambulance Service said it had treated 15 patients, including two police officers, for injuries at the protests.
“Six of these patients – all members of the public – have now been taken to hospital.” The ambulance crews remain at the scene.
Image copyright PA Media
Image caption
Police are confronted by protestors in Whitehall near Parliament Square
Image copyright Reuters
Image caption
Flares and smoke bombs have been thrown in Trafalgar Square
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption
Police form a barrier in front of anti-racist protesters near Leicester Square
Police attempted to stop protesters getting to Hyde Park where an anti-racist demonstration, which had largely been peaceful, was taking place.
Organisers from the Black Lives Matter movement had urged people not to join any anti-racism rallies planned for the weekend over fears there could be clashes with far-right groups. One demonstration planned for Saturday in London was brought forward by a day.
Image copyright AFP
Image caption
Protesters take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as they march near Marble Arch in Central London
Sharing footage of the clashes with police on Twitter, Home Secretary Priti Patel described it as “unacceptable thuggery”.
“Any perpetrators of violence or vandalism should expect to face the full force of the law,” she wrote.
“Violence towards our police officers will not be tolerated.”
The Met Police Federation described it as “unacceptable”, tweeting that its officers “do not come to work to face this level of violence and abuse”.
At the scene in Parliament Square
By BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani
Image copyright EPA
Image caption
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament on Saturday
From mid-morning hundreds of men – most of whom were already drinking – headed into Parliament Square.
Some were members of football hooligan networks who had put aside their differences for the day. Others were from the far-right.
But despite claims that the day was about defending British heritage, it soon became violent.
Groups looked for opportunities to attack the police. Bottles and cans were thrown at their lines and horses – smoke bombs and fireworks set off. Journalists who came too close were threatened.
One bare-chested man kicked a police officer to the ground and there were repeated attempts by others to storm barriers as the police contained the trouble.
By late afternoon, some had left to find more beer – only to find their way back blocked by riot police.
Others tried to regroup on nearby streets as the police played cat and mouse – using their numbers to repeatedly contain and block attempts to take violence around the city.
Speaking before the clashes, the leader of the far-right group Britain First, Paul Golding – convicted last month of an offence under the Terrorism Act – said they had turned out to “guard our monuments”.
The statue of Churchill was boxed up to protect it from potential damage, after protesters daubed “was a racist” on it last weekend.
Hundreds of people also gathered in Glasgow, Bristol and Belfast as part of events organised to “protect” war memorials.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption
Activists congregated at the cenotaph in George Square in Glasgow
Many anti-racism protests have been held around the country, including in Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelmsford.
In Brighton, some anti-racism protesters clashed with right-wing groups gathered at the city’s War Memorial.
That came after more than 1,000 protesters had gathered, wearing black clothes and masks, to form a mile-long line along the seafront as they held a silent protest.
Image caption
Protesters take part in a silent vigil on Brighton Pier
Image copyright Reuters
Image caption
Protesters from Black Lives Matter gather in the centre of Newcastle
Denise Richards, who is involved in the Black Lives Matter movement in Derbyshire, said her chapter had decided not to protest in London on Saturday.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that peaceful protesters feared they would be caught up in violent clashes with far-right demonstrators and this could “tarnish” the work of Black Lives Matter.
Nick Lowles, chief executive of campaign group Hope Not Hate, said there was a “very serious” threat of trouble from far-right activists and commended Black Lives Matter for standing down their plans to protest in London on Saturday.
“There are some people who are genuinely concerned about the protection of their statues and monuments but many people are coming for a fight and they are talking openly about it on their social media accounts,” he told the programme.
A Black Lives Matter demonstration took place in central London on Friday evening with leaders of the march urging those in attendance to keep the demonstration “peaceful” and not to join any anti-racism rallies planned for the weekend.
The Met Police have imposed measures requiring all demonstrations to come to an end at 17:00 BST and giving officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals, after police learned some people were coming into London to cause harm and were likely to bring weapons with them.
PNB Housing Finance posted a pre-tax loss of Rs 351.18 crore on a standalone basis in the March quarter on a multi-fold rise in provisions for impairment on financial instruments and write-offs.
The firm had posted a pre-tax profit of Rs 547.05 crore in the quarter ended March 2019 (Q4FY19), according to BSE filings. It booked a net loss of Rs 263.12 crore in Q4 against a net profit of Rs 371.12 crore in the same period previous year.
For the entire financial year, its net profit fell to Rs 682.31 crore, from Rs 1,081.38 crore in FY19.
Net interest income declined by 19.9 per cent to Rs 488.1 crore, from Rs 609.7 crore in Q4FY19, while it had net interest margin of 2.61 per cent against 3.18 per cent in Q4FY19, the company said in a statement.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to volatility in the financial markets and slowed economic activities. Based on the current indicators of future economic conditions, the company has maintained an incremental expected credit loss (ECL) provision of Rs 471 crore for Covid-19. This is in addition to the normal ECL provision.
The firm kept aside Rs 754.83 crore for impairment on financial instruments and write-offs, against Rs 10.11 crore in Q4FY19. Its assets under management declined 2 per cent from Rs 84,722 crore as of March 31, 2019, to Rs 83,346 crore as of March 31, 2020. The loan assets shrank 9 per cent, from Rs 74,023 crore as of March 31, 2019, to Rs 67,571 crore as of March 31, 2020.
The firm’s asset quality profile came under pressure with a rise in bad loans. Gross non-performing assets rose to 2.75 per cent, from 0.48 per cent a year ago, while net NPAs rose to 1.75 per cent of the loan assets, from 0.38 per cent.
Capital adequacy was 17.98 per cent, of which Tier I capital was 15.18 per cent and Tier II capital was 2.80 per cent. The Board did not recommend a dividend for FY20.
It’s daybreak in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk on July 18, 2014.
On an empty highway, through a gap in some trees, a truck hauling a missile launcher can be seen flashing past on the way to Russia.
A pro-Russian rebel touches the MH17 wreckage at the 2014 crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine. (AP)
The moment is captured in a grainy video, which shows two white-tipped missiles on the weapon’s army-green rig and a missile-sized gap between them.
Prosecutors have never revealed the identity of the person who filmed the video. Whoever it was, they surely could not have known then how significant the footage would become to a six-year criminal investigation.
Accused tried in absentia
Australian victims of flight MH17.The trial of Russians Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Ukranian Leonid Kharchenko began earlier this year in the Netherlands over the fatal downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. (AP)
The four, accused of murder, were leaders of the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic during Ukraine’s War in Donbass between the eastern European nation and Russian-backed rebels.
The four allegedly organised the Russian-made Buk-TELAR missile launcher; those who actually pulled the trigger are still on run, supported by an apparent campaign to mislead and obstruct the international Joint Investigation Team (JIT) at every step.
Dutch Prosecutor Thijs Berger told the District Court of the Hague last week the JIT has meticulously analysed and ruled out Kremlin-pedalled explanations for the MH17 disaster.
Suggested theories included an onboard explosion, a fighter jet attack or a missile other than a Buk.
But the JIT concluded an onboard explosion or a fighter jet attack couldn’t have damaged the plane’s nose, cockpit, undercarriage and fuselage in the way it was.
There were also no surface-to-air missile launchers other than Buk-TELARs in the region at the time.
And claims by sole witnesses of up to four alternate launch sites could not be substantiated by the JIT, the court heard.
Investigators walk amongst the debris at the crash site of MH17, near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine. (AP/AAP)
How investigators were obstructed
Perhaps the most exasperating episode for investigators was when the Kremlin suggested a Ukrainian Buk-TELAR transferred from Russia in 1986 was the weapon used to down MH17.
Military documents were provided by Vladimir Putin’s government to back up the theory, but the badly faded files had fresh pen marks and were riddled with inconsistencies.
“We have to conclude that the Russian Federation did not act in good faith in this investigation,” Mr Berger said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova maintained this week the missile used to bring down MH17 was Ukrainian.
“Nevertheless, the prosecutors claim – they do it without evidence – that the Russian data ‘were manipulated and rigged’,” Ms Zakharova told Sputnik.
“It’s a lie. Another lie. After all, they were invited to visit Russia, to see the authenticity of the logbooks with their own eyes, but the investigators somehow cooled off right away.
“They neither expressed their desire to come, nor sent any additional requests.”
A woman grieves near a makeshift shrine. (Getty)
To prosecutors, it’s apparent that every single alternate theory was a ploy, designed to deceive and delay the investigation.
And new evidence suggests those who fired the missile may not have been bumbling rebels as was previously believed, but soldiers trained to operate a Russian Buk-TELAR.
A witness known only as X48 told of seeing four soldiers dressed in unusual khaki uniforms and helmets with ear flaps near the launcher the day MH17 was shot down; their outfits were different to the Russian-backed rebels’.
Berger has asked the court for a second interrogation of witness X48.
“The Public Prosecution Service still sees reason for further questions, at least about the four soldiers with the same, different uniforms and tank caps,” he said.
“The (witness) statement does not indicate whether the witness saw these four soldiers in or near the Buk-TELAR.”
The court has previously heard that Russian military and intelligence agents were seen at the launch site.
Investigators have also identified the missile launcher in question as number 3X2 from the 53rd Russian Anti-Aircraft Brigade.
Wreckage smoulders at the scene of the crash. (Getty)
The JIT could find no evidence of the weapon in Russia between June and July 2014.
In fact, Mr Berger says, all available photos, videos and satellite pictures place it in eastern Ukraine but Russia has refused or ignored repeated requests to account for the weapon over that period.
“We have reminded Russian authorities several times about our outstanding questions about TELAR 3X2,” Mr Berger said.
“The governments of the JIT countries have also called for an answer at diplomatic level without result.”
Dragnet closing in on culprits
Investigators have also unsuccessfully pressed Russia to reveal the identities of the missile launcher’s crew during that period, but are hopeful X48 may provide answers.
After six long years, the dragnet appears to be closing on the individuals who fired the missile that shot down MH17.
“We believe that this investigation has been nearly completed,” Mr Berger said in court last week.
Wreckage from the crash. (Getty)
If the culprits are found to be Russian soldiers it would explain the Kremlin’s campaign of obstruction and deception.
But for the families of those who were on board MH17, identifying those who shot down the plane will provide further answers, and some solace.
The JIT is determined not to leave them wondering.
PC Gaming is going the virtual route this year, with Sean Day 9 Plott and Frankie Ward returning as hosts. This year’s lineup is packed with new games, trailers and developer interview to pull apart analyse for clues.
More than 50 games will be included in tonight’s lineup, including showcases from developers such as 2K Games, Sega, Amazon Games and Tripwire Interactive. Watch the much-anticipated event below.
PC Gaming Show 2020: All the facts
PC Gaming Show: When and Where
There is no physical location this time around. The action kicks off at 20:00 SAST (South African Standard Time) on Saturday 13 June 2020. It can be watched on all PC Gamer’s social media accounts.
We’ve embedded the YouTube live stream below. It’s not the only event happening tonight thought. The Future Games show will also be going live tonight at 23:00; presented by GamesRadar and hosted by none other than Nolan North and Emily Rose.
Watch: PC Gaming Show 2020
PC Gaming Show 2020: What to expect
Do you want early looks? Of course you do. So get ready for the likes of Surgeon Simulator 2, Torchlight 3 and the latest game from New Blood Interactive. Developers ready to wow you with their AAA wares include:
2K Games
Amazon Games
Dontnod
Sega
Tripwire Interactive
Intel will also show off a custom PC build inspired by A Total War Saga: Troy. PC Gamer confirmed that we can also expect “celebrity cameos and a mystery co-hostâ€. Don’t look at us, we don’t know who it is either.
The 2020 PC Gaming Show is said to stay true to the typical E3 format, with “casual deep-dive interviews flanking the big game reveals. PC Gamer global editor-in-chief Evan Lahti in a statement
“We’re not going to just show people a Zoom call with some video games in it. We want this to be a unique and fun moment for PC gaming.â€
What is the Summer Games Fest
For those not in the know, Summer Games Fest is Geoff Keighley’s epic gaming festival, spanning from May to August this year. There’s an interesting lineup prepared for this week (we will share live streams closer to the time). The lineup including:
Star Wars: Squadrons Announcement – 15 June 2020
Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition – 16 June 2020
Shweta Tiwari has indirectly denied Abhinav Kohli’s claims on many occasions.
TV actress Shweta Tiwari came up with a cryptic message after husband Abhinav Kohli’s targetted her and her daughter Palak Tiwari with a Whatsapp screenshot. “As long as the people who matter most know the truth, I don’t care about the rest. Get some sleep,” Shweta highlighted the text from a Kindle screenshot in her Instagram story. This looks cryptic in response to Abhinav’s frequent posts trying to prove that he and Shweta are back in a relationship and living together.
Image Source : INSTAGRAM/SHWETA TIWARI
Shweta Tiwari shared a Kindle screenshot in her Instagram story.
All this began when Abhinav told a website that he and Shweta are back together but the TV actress denied the development. After this, Abhinav shared several posts on Instagram questioning the TV actress and her daughter. Sharing a screenshot of Palak Tiwari’s Instagram post, he wrote, “Lovu why would you delete this post from your Instagram?”
Last year, Shweta and Palak had filed a complaint of domestic abuse against Abhinav. However, Abhinav claimed in an interview that everything is normal. Recently, he shared a screenshot of his chat with Shweta where the two can be seen talking about the daily household chores just like husband and wife.
“I read a few news articles today it is not @shweta.tiwari who has made the complaint. She has not even one complaint of domestic violence against me nor a single complaint of me speaking badly to her daughter against me in the last 12 years that I know her. On the 11th August 2019 she did not complain and the complaint has been read out by DCP Sahab on the same day which is on the internet,” he wrote on Instagram earlier.
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