
By BY CHRIS BUCKLEY from NYT World https://ift.tt/3qDd6VU
The Pakistan International Airline will run two special flights to Doha, it announced Wednesday.
Two special flights will take off from the Islamabad International Airport on July 5 and July 12. According to the spokesperson of the national carrier, two flights will leave from Doha for Islamabad on July 6 and July 13.
“Tickets are being sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. People are advised to get their flights booked online immediately,” he added.
Earlier this week, UAE extended its travel ban on Pakistan till July 21.
A notice issued by UAE’s civil aviation authority stated that cargo flights, as well as business and charter flights, will be exempted from the restrictions.
On Sunday, Pakistan decided to increase the number of direct flights from the UK, Europe, Canada, China, and Malaysia by 40%. Passengers will have to undergo a mandatory COVID test before departing for Pakistan.
New travel restrictions will come into effect from July 1.
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Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the National Defence University, Islamabad on Wednesday and addressed the participants of the National Security and War Course.
The army chief spoke about the country’s evolving strategic and regional environment. Pakistan stands for peace within and all around, as it looks forward to acting as a bridge between regions, he remarked.
On Pakistan’s support to Afghan Peace Process, he said that spoilers of peace in Afghanistan risk regional instability. Expressing resolute support to the people of Indian-Administered Kashmir, COAS stressed upon a peaceful and durable solution of Kashmir issue in line with relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Sharing his vision of the Pakistan Army, he underscored the need for continuous evaluation of existing doctrine and corresponding strategy to effectively deal with the evolving threats in various domains.
The COAS termed professionalism, competence, and devotion to duty as hallmarks of the Pakistan Army and emphasised realistic and futuristic training for maintaining perpetual operational readiness. Force modernisation and induction of advanced technologies are imperative for maintaining a qualitative edge over the adversary, COAS remarked.
Congratulating the participants on the successful completion of their course, he advised them to stay focused on attaining professional excellence while remaining abreast with revolutionary advancements in warfare which are redefining national security.
Two people of Pakistani origin named Mashal Aamir and Hassan Ashraf have been honoured with the 2021 Diana Award Roll of Honour.
Mashal, who is Scottish and of Pashtun ethnicity, has been honoured for her services towards humanity.
She has studied law from Cambridge and Glasgow universities. She has worked on eradicating racial and socioeconomic barriers.
Mashal has raised funds to provide scholarships for young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds as well, along with mentoring children who face difficulties in getting enrolled in universities.
Speaking with Samaa TV, she said she is being rewarded for her hard work.
Hassan, who hails from Faisalabad, is the Chief Executive Officer of ‘UMEED’ school, which has 20 branches across Pakistan.
The institution educates more than 1,500 children. Their projects include leadership training and free internships.
Hassan has hosted fundraisers for families during the coronavirus pandemic as well.
The Diana Award recipients include individuals who are source of inspiration from around the world. They demonstrate their ability to mobilise new generations to serve their communities on a global scale.
England beat Germany 2-0 on Tuesday to reach the Euro 2020 quarterfinals and end decades of hurt against their bitter rivals as Sweden and Ukraine faced off to complete the last-eight line-up.
Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock at Wembley with a quarter of an hour remaining and Harry Kane finally opened his tournament account to end the contest.
England beat the Germans to win the 1966 World Cup final on home soil but their major tournament history has been littered with painful exits against them since.
The Three Lions were eliminated from the 1970, 1990 and 2010 World Cups by Germany, who also beat them in the Euro 96 semi-finals at Wembley.
The Germans, who have won the European Championship three times in their illustrious history, had chances to score, notably a first-half effort by Timo Werner and a golden late chance for Thomas Mueller, but lacked a cutting edge.
England, who themselves looked short of inspiration for much of the contest, finally broke the deadlock when Luke Shaw crossed for Sterling to finish from close range.
Mueller should have equalised when Kai Havertz’s pass sent him clean through, but the Bayern Munich star rolled his shot wide and fell to the turf in dismay.
Kane made Germany pay in the 86th minute as he finished off a lethal England counter-attack with a diving header past Manuel Neuer from substitute Jack Grealish’s cross.
That was the first goal of the tournament for the Tottenham man, who has been a shadow of the player who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“It’s a brilliant afternoon,” England boss Gareth Southgate told the BBC. “We talked about bringing enjoyment to the nation really and afternoons like this are what that’s about. The players were absolutely immense, right the way through the team and the fans were as well. Only 40,000, but it’s as good an atmosphere as I can remember at Wembley.
“We played extremely well. I think we deserved the win, but I’ve had to say to them (the players) straight away, look, ‘I’m the party-pooper because if we don’t capitalise on that on Saturday now, then it doesn’t count for anything’.”
England, World Cup semi-finalists three years ago, have been solid if unspectacular this tournament but they have yet to concede a goal and the draw is opening up invitingly for them.
They head to Rome on Saturday for a quarter-final against the winners of the Sweden v Ukraine match, which kicked off later Tuesday in Glasgow.
If they can win that game they would face the Czech Republic or Denmark for a place in the final, also being held at Wembley.
Pakistan won’t spoil its relations with China under any Western pressure, Prime Minister Imran Khan asserted.
“America pressurising Pakistan to cut ties with China is very unfair,” he said in an interview with the Chinese news channel China Global Television Network.
“China has stood by Pakistan in difficult times and we have a huge respect and love for the country.”
The premier pointed out that China always “stood with us” whenever Pakistan was in trouble politically, internationally, or was facing conflict from neighbouring countries.
“Our relations with China are strengthening with every passing day and we won’t do anything to sabotage this,” he said, adding that the countries always stand together on international forums.
The PM asked: “Why do we have to take sides? We should have good relations with everyone.”
You see the United States is wary of China. It has formed a regional alliance called the Quad, which includes US and India, and a couple of other countries, which has complicated things in the region, he said.
Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, PM Khan remarked that it was the “biggest thing happening in Pakistan”.
“Whatever happens in any international forum, Pakistan and China stand together.”
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By Soumya Karlamangla and Benjamin Mueller from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/DIC5l2A