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Experts shed light on what new PTI move would mean for economy KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plans to initiate a civil disobedience movement, encouraging overseas Pakistanis to limit their remittances, could hurt the economy, say experts. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges, has threatened to launch a nationwide civil disobedience campaign from December 14 if party demands are not met. As part of this movement, overseas Pakistanis will be encouraged to reduce their remittances and participate in a boycott campaign. “If the PTI launches a civil disobedience movement, it could have serious consequences for Pakistan’s economy. Remittances, which bring in over $30 billion annually, might drop if people are encouraged to use informal channels like hawala instead of official banking systems,” said Saad Hanif, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities. “Political instability might scare off investors, weaken the rupee further, and drive up inflation, making life harder for ordinary people. Overall, it could disrupt the government’s plans and push the economy deeper into crisis,” he added. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities Limited, does not believe that potential civil disobedience will significantly impact remittance flows, as people send this money to support their families and some flows are earnings of freelancers. Remittances to Pakistan have increased to $11.8 billion in July-October FY25, up 34.7 per cent from the same period last year, providing crucial support to the external account. Both the government and the central bank anticipate that remittances will reach historic levels of $35 billion in FY25, averaging $2.9 billion per month so far. These significant inflows will strengthen the reserves, offering a much-needed boost to the economy. A senior banker said that we need to observe how Pakistani expatriates respond to the planned call. In reality, Pakistan regularly receives significant remittance inflows from its migrants working abroad, most of whom belong to the lower and middle classes and typically engage in blue-collar jobs in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he said. However, the expatriates who may have acquired nationality in their host countries often send funds back home during occasions such as Eid festivals, for Hajj, for charity, and for making investments in Pakistan. Khan’s latest announcement comes at a time when the nation’s struggling economy is on the mend, largely thanks to a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. As a result, inflation has decreased, dropping to 4.9 per cent in November. The current account balance shifted to a surplus of $218 million in the first four months of the fiscal year 2025, compared to a deficit of $1.528 billion in the same period last year. As of November, the foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan amounted to $12 billion, which is sufficient to cover more than two months of imports. Interest rates have also fallen, decreasing by 700 basis points to 15 per cent since June. Moreover, Pakistan’s benchmark stock index has performed well, surpassing 100,000 points. If the economy suffers as a result of the political unrest, the IT industry, which is already suffering from slow speed, is likely to experience more difficulties. The consistent internet disruptions and its slow speed are detrimental to the national economy in general and IT sector in particular, which will further affect adversely the economic activities and damage the reputation of the country if the situation persists, said Saad Shah, an IT exporter. As far as the IT sector is concerned, various IT companies are facing challenges to complete their projects on time despite their multiple efforts of working extra hours due to the prevailing internet situation. Large IT companies having annual contracts with local and foreign clients may survive through managing their work from offshore offices, but medium and small players including freelancers could not have options but to lose projects and clients, Shah added Hanif also expressed that “[civil disobedience] would reduce the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The government could also struggle to collect taxes and utility bills, worsening its financial problems and delaying important projects,” Hanif said. In a message posted on X, Khan announced the formation of a five-member negotiation team. This team is tasked with discussing two key demands with the government: the release of under-trial prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents that occurred on May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024 -- dates that saw significant protests from Khan’s supporters, which were met with a crackdown from the government and security forces.
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Big Data in diplomacy: Transforming global relations through digital diplomacyPM Images Performance Review US equities collectively advanced during the third quarter of 2024. The S&P 500 ( SPY ) and Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DJI ) both reached new highs multiple times in September, while the NASDAQ Composite Index struggled to return to its record high posted in early July. After bouncing back from a rocky market environment in July, when many investors rotated away from large-capitalization technology-related stocks, US equities declined again in early August as investors worried about a potential recession with the releases of weaker-than-expected July employment and manufacturing reports. However, generally solid economic data and corporate earnings reports, along with continued cooling in the annual inflation rate, eased investor concerns. In September, a rate cut from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) further bolstered US stocks. Against this backdrop, 10 out of the 11 S&P 500 sectors traded higher, with energy the only decliner. Small- and mid-cap stocks outperformed large-cap equities. As it implemented its first rate cut in more than four years and reduced the federal funds target rate by 50 basis points (bps), the Fed noted in a statement that it believes inflation is proceeding sustainably toward its 2% target. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the core personal consumption expenditures price index, ticked higher in August after reaching the lowest rate in more than three years in June and July, while staying above the Fed’s target. The US labor market continued to soften but remained resilient; the unemployment rate edged lower in August after rising in July to the highest level since October 2021, job gains weakened in July but improved somewhat in August, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary annual revision substantially reduced the job gains for the 12 months through March 2024. US gross domestic product expanded in 2024’s second quarter at a significantly faster annualized rate than in the prior quarter, driven largely by growth in consumer spending, inventory investment, and business investment. Quarterly Key Performance Drivers Equity Holdings Equity Sectors Fixed Income Holdings Fixed Income Sectors/Industries HELPED Lockheed Martin ( LMT ) Utilities US Treasuries (USTs) USTs NextEra Energy ( NEE ) Health Care CommScope Holding ( COMM ) Health Care Home Depot ( HD ) Industrials Community Health Systems ( CYH ) Information Technology (IT) HURT Chevron ( CVX ) Energy — — Intel ( INTC ) — — — Merck & Co. ( MRK ) — — — Click to enlarge The 10-year UST note’s yield decreased 62 bps during the quarter, reaching 3.78% by period-end. The strategy’s fixed income allocation decreased to roughly 56% of the portfolio by quarter-end and contributed to absolute returns. During the period, fixed income returns were driven by USTs, along with the health care and IT sectors. Within these respective sectors, returns were led by Community Health Systems and CommScope Holding. No fixed income sectors or individual issuers detracted meaningfully from the strategy’s absolute returns for the quarter. The strategy’s equity allocation increased to 41% of the portfolio by the end of the quarter. Stocks contributed to absolute returns, driven by the utilities, health care and industrials sectors. NextEra Energy added value within utilities, while Lockheed Martin contributed within industrials. Home Depot also assisted returns within the consumer discretionary sector. In contrast, the energy sector detracted from the strategy’s absolute returns. On an individual issuer basis, Chevron hindered returns within energy, while Intel detracted within IT. Merck & Co. also weakened returns within the health care sector. Outlook & Strategy Economy: The economic growth outlook has been a major area of focus for the fund, as central banks around the world have pivoted toward easing monetary policy after two years of aggressive tightening to combat elevated inflation. The US economy remains resilient, largely driven by strong consumer spending on both goods and services, and while the labor market has incrementally cooled, unemployment levels are still low on a historical basis. With inflation viewed as anchored and following signs of some labor market softening, the Fed announced a 50-bp rate cut at its September 2024 meeting, which has been a positive catalyst for markets and has improved investor sentiment. We continue to monitor financial conditions as a leading indicator of future economic performance and Fed policy. Equities: Following two years of narrow market breadth, we have started to see a broadening out of market leadership over the last quarter. While index level valuations are still elevated, opportunities are starting to present themselves below the index levels, which we feel favors active management. We have found select opportunities within the consumer discretionary, industrials and materials sectors. We remain selective in engaging with equities, given current valuations in some sectors, as markets digest the effects of monetary policy, the shape of the yield curve and geopolitical risks. As income-focused investors, our asset allocation mix is driven primarily by bottom-up security selection, with a focus on company fundamentals as opposed to the direction of the broader equity market. While the capital return story differs by sector, our holdings are focused on businesses that show an ability to support attractive dividend yields and grow them over time. Treasuries/Government-Backed Bonds: With the Fed starting an interest-rate cutting cycle, the front end of the yield curve has declined. The intermediate part of the yield curve has seen less volatility as the outlook for deficit spending, as well as longer-term economic growth and inflation expectations, has had an impact on the belly of the yield curve. Government securities continue to provide an attractive investment opportunity, in our view, as yields remain elevated based on recent history. We believe they continue to offer good diversification potential and can serve as a ballast to help hedge portfolios during market volatility. Investment-Grade Corporate Bonds: We retain a balanced view of the corporate investment-grade sector as the attractiveness of higher-quality assets has increased over the past 18 months. While absolute yield levels are still attractive for an income-generating strategy, credit spreads have contracted materially over the past year, which has marginally decreased the attractiveness of investment-grade corporate bonds, in our assessment. High-Yield Corporate Bonds: While the high-yield market offers attractive yields, we remain balanced and selective due to the potential for higher refinancing costs impacting companies’ fundamentals. The potential for growth deceleration necessitates a vigilant approach to security selection within our high-yield portfolio, so our preference continues to be companies that have a greater degree of flexibility to deal with upcoming maturities. Product Details 1 Inception Date 06/30/2019 Benchmark Blended 50% MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index + 25% Bloomberg High Yield Very Liquid Index + 25% Bloomberg US Aggregate Index S&P 500 Index Click to enlarge Performance Data 2,3 Average Annual Total Returns (USD %) 3 Mths YTD 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Since Inception (06/30/2019) Franklin Income SMA - Pure GROSS 6.71 9.81 18.08 6.73 9.08 9.10 Franklin Income SMA - NET 5.94 7.42 14.68 3.63 5.91 5.94 Blended 50% MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index + 25% Bloomberg High Yield Very Liquid Index + 25% Bloomberg US Aggregate Index 7.39 11.22 19.84 5.22 5.95 6.18 S&P 500 Index 5.89 22.08 36.35 11.91 15.97 15.52 Click to enlarge Calendar Year Returns (USD %) 2023 2022 2021 2020 Franklin Income SMA - Pure GROSS 8.73 -4.33 18.62 9.01 Franklin Income SMA - NET 5.58 -7.14 15.21 5.85 Blended 50% MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index + 25% Bloomberg High Yield Very Liquid Index + 25% Bloomberg US Aggregate Index 8.28 -8.00 11.44 4.62 S&P 500 Index 26.29 -18.11 28.71 18.40 The strategy returns shown are preliminary composite returns, subject to future revision (downward or upward). Please visit Mutual Funds | ETFs | Insights for the latest performance figures. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. An investment in this strategy can lose value. Periods less than one year are not annualized. Performance results are for the Franklin Income SMA which includes all actual, fully discretionary accounts with substantially similar investment policies and objectives managed to the composite’s investment strategy. Composite returns are stated in U.S. dollars and assume reinvestment of any dividends, interest income, capital gains, or other earnings. The composite may include account(s) that are gross of fees and pure gross of fees. “Pure” gross-of-fee returns do not reflect the deduction of any expenses, including transaction costs. A traditional (or “true”) gross-of-fee return reflects performance after the reduction of transaction costs but before the reduction of the investment advisory fee. The gross-of-fee return may include a blend of “true” gross-of-fee returns for non-wrap accounts and “pure” gross-of-fee returns for wrap accounts. Net-of-fee returns is reduced by a model “wrap fee” which includes trading expenses as well as investment management, administrative and custodial fees. The model wrap fee used represents the highest anticipated wrap fee applicable to the strategy. Actual fees and account minimums may vary. Click to enlarge Footnotes : 1. A composite is an aggregation of one or more portfolios into a single group that represents a particular investment objective or strategy. The composite return is the asset-weighted average of the performance results of all the fully discretionary portfolios in the composite. The composite return information provided herein includes the returns of Franklin Separately Managed Accounts, high-net- worth individual and institutional client portfolios and with respect to any periods prior to the inception of Franklin Separately Managed Accounts, reflects the performance of any such other portfolios. 2. Blended 50% MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index + 25% Bloomberg High Yield Very Liquid Index +25% Bloomberg US Aggregate Index is equivalent to Custom Franklin Income Strategy Benchmark. 3. Source for Index: FactSet. Indexes are unmanaged, and one cannot invest directly in an index. They do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. Important Information The information contained in this piece is not a complete analysis of every material fact regarding the market and any industry, sector, security or portfolio. Statements of fact cited by the manager have been obtained from sources considered reliable but no representation is made as to their completeness or accuracy. Because market and economic conditions are subject to rapid change, opinions provided are valid only as of the date of the material, and are subject to change without notice. The manager’s opinions are intended solely to provide insight into how the manager analyzes securities, may differ from that of other affiliated managers, and are not a recommendation or individual investment advice for any particular security, strategy or investment product. Any securities discussed may not represent an account’s entire portfolio and in the aggregate may represent a small percentage of an account’s portfolio holdings. There is no assurance that any such securities will remain in an account’s portfolio, or that securities sold have not been repurchased. It should not be assumed that any securities transactions discussed were or will prove to be profitable. The information provided should not be considered a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any particular security. All indexes are unmanaged and cannot accommodate direct investment. Investors should review their investment objectives, risk tolerance and liquidity needs before choosing a manager. There is no guarantee that investment strategies will work under all market conditions, and investors should evaluate their ability to invest for the long term, especially during periods of market downturns. Past performance is not an indicator or guarantee of future performance. Franklin Separately Managed Accounts claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organisation, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. Franklin (the “Firm”) is a global investment management group that manages equity, fixed income, balanced accounts, REIT funds, private funds, multi- asset strategies, fund-of-fund portfolios, risk premia strategies, ETFs, GCC fixed income and Sukuk strategies for institutional, retail, and sub-advised clients. For multi-asset strategies and fund-of-fund portfolios, the Firm may invest in various investment strategies advised by registered investment advisory entities within Franklin Resources, Inc. or unaffiliated investment managers. The Firm includes Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions which integrates Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions and QS Investors, Franklin Mutual Advisers, Franklin ETF and Franklin Venture Partners in addition to Franklin Equity Group, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group, and Templeton Global Macro. The Firm is comprised of individuals representing various registered investment advisories of Franklin Resources, Inc., a global investment organization operating as Franklin Templeton. Separately Managed Accounts (SMAS) are investment services provided by Franklin Templeton Private Portfolio Group, LLC (FTPPG), a federally registered investment advisor. Client portfolios are managed based on investment instructions or advice provided by affiliated subadvisors of Franklin Templeton. Management is implemented by FTPPG, the designated subadvisor or, in the case of certain programs, the program sponsor or its designee. Franklin Income SMA Composite consists of all fully discretionary portfolios with an investment objective that seeks to maximize income while maintaining prospects for capital appreciation. The composite may include wrap fee accounts that pay a fully bundled fee (which includes trading expenses, administrative, custodial and investment management fees charged together as a percentage of the portfolio’s assets) and non-wrap accounts that only pay an investment management fee to Franklin. The portfolio will invest in equity and fixed income securities and Completion Portfolios (no-fee mutual funds) sub-advised by Franklin Advisers, Inc. The Equity Completion Portfolio may include common and preferred stock, equity linked notes, non- USD equities, equity derivatives. Through the Equity Completion Portfolio, the funds may purchase or write option contracts in order to manage equity price risk and may also invest in equity-linked securities. Equity-linked securities are hybrid financial instruments that generally combine both debt and equity characteristics into a single note form. The Fixed Income Completion Portfolio may include high yield bonds, bank loans, mortgage and asset backed securities, non-USD bonds, fixed income derivatives. Through the Fixed Income Completion Portfolio, the fund may invest in high yield corporate bonds that are below investment grade (rated lower than BBB). The Custom Franklin Income Strategy Benchmark is equivalent to the Blended 50% MSCI USD High Dividend Yield Index + 25% Bloomberg US High Yield Very Liquid Index + 25% Bloomberg US Aggregate Index. The primary benchmark for the composite is a custom benchmark of 50% MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index (USA High Div Yield) + 25% Bloomberg U.S. High Yield Very Liquid Index (High Yield Very Liquid) + 25% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index (US Agg Index). The MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index is designed to reflect the performance of mid- and large-cap equities (excluding REITs) with higher dividend income, which is sustainable and persistent, than average dividend yields of securities in the MSCI USA Index, its parent index. The Bloomberg U.S. High Yield Very Liquid Index is a component of the U.S. Corporate High Yield Index designed to track a more liquid component of the USD-denominated, high yield, fixed-rate corporate bond market. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index is a market value weighted fixed income index comprised of investment grade government, corporate, mortgage pass-through and asset-backed securities that are SEC registered, taxable, dollar denominated and fixed rate. The benchmark is rebalanced monthly. The secondary benchmark for the composite is the S&P 500 Index, which is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted equity index comprised of securities of large cap U.S. companies. All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. The allocation of assets among different strategies, asset classes and investments may not prove beneficial or produce the desired results. Fixed income securities involve interest rate, credit, inflation and reinvestment risks, and possible loss of principal. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities falls. Dividends may fluctuate and are not guaranteed, and a company may reduce or eliminate its dividend at any time. Equity securities are subject to price fluctuation and possible loss of principal. Investments in equity-linked notes often have risks similar to their underlying securities, which could include management risk, market risk and, as applicable, foreign securities and currency risks. Low-rated, high-yield bonds are subject to greater price volatility, illiquidity and possibility of default. Active management does not ensure gains or protect against market declines. International investments are subject to special risks, including currency fluctuations and social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. These risks are magnified in emerging markets . The investment style may become out of favor, which may have a negative impact on performance. The manager may consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in the research or investment process; however, ESG considerations may not be a determinative factor in security selection. In addition, the manager may not assess every investment for ESG criteria, and not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. For fee schedules, contact your financial professional, or if you enter into an agreement directly with Franklin Templeton Private Portfolio Group, LLC (“FTPPG”), refer to FTPPG’s Form ADV Part 2A disclosure document. Management and performance of individual accounts may vary for reasons that include the existence of different implementation practices and model requirements in different investment programs. To obtain specific information on available products and services or a GIPS Report, contact your Franklin Templeton separately managed account sales team at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236. Source: FactSet. MSCI makes no warranties and shall have no liability with respect to any MSCI data reproduced herein. No further redistribution or use is permitted. This report is not prepared or endorsed by MSCI. Indexes are unmanaged, and one cannot invest directly in an index. They do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute. Source: FactSet. Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com. These materials are being provided for illustrative and informational purposes only. The information contained herein is obtained from multiple sources that are believed to be reliable. However, such information has not been verified, and may be different from the information included in documents and materials created by the sponsor firm in whose investment program a client participates. Some sponsor firms may require that these materials be preceded or accompanied by investment profiles or other documents or materials prepared by such sponsor firms, which will be provided upon a client’s request. For additional information, documents and/or materials, please speak to your Financial Professional or contact your sponsor firm. Franklin Templeton (FT) is not undertaking to provide impartial advice. Nothing herein is intended to provide fiduciary advice. FT has a financial interest. Click to enlarge Original Post Editor's Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.
Overtime Baku talks fail to deliver on new climate finance targetThe following takes place between March 1980 and June 1981. Part One: a seventh-floor hotel room in Knightsbridge. Tom Petty is sitting at a table drinking Coke and wishing it was Jack Daniel’s. He’s wearing an American Confederate jacket with one white star on the epaulette. He’s got a bone structure, straw-blond hair and a smile like a Gainesville gator. He looks androgynous and he can be ruthless. Like he was on March 7 and 8 at the Hammersmith Odeon when he berated the audience after an hour of polite British reserve with the taunt: “Are you all on fucking Mandrax?” And then slays them with . It’s a riot now. His most recent album, is at No.2 in the US chart but he can’t shift Pink Floyd off that pesky Wall. He also has two singles in the Top 30: , written for J Geils Band – producer Jimmy Iovine would nix that – and , possibly his greatest song to that date. A third, , is in waiting, buoyed by the line So, damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead, as Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut ordered at the battle of Mobile Bay before scuppering the CSS Tennessee. In showbiz parlance, Tom Petty has arrived, with all that entails: the cover of , features in and what is euphemistically termed ‘heavy’ management. It wasn’t always like this. Petty and his boys languished at Shelter Records from 1974 to 1977 when they were critical darlings, especially in the UK. The label, co-owned by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell, incorrigible rogues both, had a funky backwoods image, a small roster of idiosyncratic artists and homely promotional values that suited but sank Dwight Twilley without trace. Petty liked the ambience but not the lack of ambition. He didn’t want shelter. He wanted the great wide open. The Heartbreakers tour their debut album in Britain during the height of the new wave and find themselves labelled in a similar category, with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe singing their praises. It’s a backhanded compliment that recognises Petty’s talents for offering something new by bracketing him with the punks like he’s spent his formative years in a mythical American garage, when his tastes are for classic LA rock, , Neil Young, Atlantic soul and Stax R&B. But hey, anything that’s rock’n’roll’s fine. The second album, , isn’t understood by the critics. More of the same, they moan. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Throughout 1979, Petty is involved in a career-threatening lawsuit when Shelter sell their distribution to ABC, who promptly leap into MCA’s bed. Petty goes on strike. “I wasn’t consulted: no one asked me.” There are no tours and – an album recorded at a cost of $500,000 with Jimmy Iovine, ’s favourite engineer – is put on ice by the American High Courts when the singer declares himself bankrupt. Prior to its release, Petty’s artistic life was shrouded in compromise. “Our first album didn’t break for a year. We’d renegotiated a contract that said if Shelter was sold, we’d the right to leave. That happened. ABC sold Shelter to MCA in one of those huge mergers that happen every day. We assumed we were free. MCA said, ‘You ain’t.’ [This overlooks the fact that MCA already owned Shelter; they were simply in re-acquisition.] “Well, being kinda stubborn, I agreed to deliver an album but wouldn’t take any money from them. I spent my own money making it and it was a very expensive record to make. Partly because of the lawsuits, it took ten months. Then in the middle of recording, MCA sued me, Shelter sued me, my publishing company sued me and so did a few other smaller people. MCA’s a big dog for an individual to fight. I had nine lawyers contesting each case. While that’s happening, I’ve got constant offers from other record companies that would make me blush to tell you here. [Columbia apparently offered to shred his MCA contract and give him a multimillion-dollar sweetener.] “It reached the stage where it was almost funny. If I sing a song, do I own it? Me, the band and Jimmy Iovine were midway through and US Marshals were coming to the studio to steal the tapes, confiscate everything. We had to hide all the boxes, smuggle things in and out. I had to go on the stand and evade issues like, ‘What songs have you written? Recite the lyrics. Where are the tapes?’ [Petty’s guitar tech Bugs took them home every night, allowing Tom to plead ignorance in court as to their whereabouts without perjury.] All they could do was beat me up mentally until I did it their way. “Eventually I convinced the judge to let me go on a Californian tour so I could make some money. MCA’s lawyers were telling him I couldn’t do it as I’d incur debts and I couldn’t show any security. So I said to the judge, ‘But judge, there is no security in rock’n’roll,’ and he laughed and let me do it.” The resulting dates – the ‘Lawsuit Tour’ (also known to posterity as the ‘Why MCA? Tour’) – culminated in two sold-out shows in the Universal Amphitheatre, a large hall owned by, whom else, MCA. The executive director was one Danny Bramson, who intervened between artist and company and persuaded them to create the offshoot Backstreet Records (named after Bruce Springsteen’s song ) for Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. “They didn’t realise how serious I was. I sold everything I had to get what was rightfully ours. It saved the group morale-wise because I never believed that record would make it.” But hits the target and goes double platinum. And after all, Tom is under the wing of the canniest Svengalis on the West Coast. He’s managed by Elliot Roberts (Joni Mitchell and Neil Young’s mentor since 1969) and his English partner, Tony Dimitriades, a former business manager/lawyer of The Kinks with ties to Claire Hamill. Such big hitters; MCA couldn’t be happier. Petty is their boy now (even if he is signed to a subsidiary label). He’s a 27-year-old whose first album has sold over one-and-a-half-million copies, and which will leave The Cars and The Knack in its wake. Any advance warnings regarding Petty’s tempestuous personality seem far-fetched now, alone together in a room. He’s on the wagon for the duration, having had his tonsils removed three weeks earlier, a nasty goodbye to useless nodules when you’re 28. In the US he’d thrown an almighty strop when shown his media schedule. “I fucked up a gig because I was out doing interviews,” he’d said. “All that talking cost me my fucking voice. That’s never going to happen again,” he told Dimitriades. “I should be all right for singing as long as I don’t have to do any fucking interviews in the next few days.” In London, he feels more secure. “I came here a bit before doc’s orders,” Petty drawls pleasantly. “Hospitals are dreadful places. I had three months of a really painful throat. I couldn’t smoke cigarettes, have a joint, nothing. I haven’t been that clear-headed for years. Some of my closest friends say it improved my character a great deal.” He chuckles and reaches for a Benson. “I can’t live like a boy scout. As Mark Twain said when they told him to give up cigarettes or die, ‘Life ain’t worth living without ’em.’” Close, but no cigar. I ask Petty if he has taken stock from the aftermath of the new bands. He professes a liking for Devo “in doses” and The Clash’s in its entirety. His tastes are orthodox but his reasoning is honest. “I’m out of touch, really. One of the bad things about this so-called success is if you go to see somebody, you can get bothered to the point where you don’t enjoy it... it’s an ordeal. I didn’t expect it to be quite as manic; people running after your car and crawling through your windows. It isn’t so bad; it’s what I always wanted, I guess. They don’t want to hurt you. “But if I go to a club, there’s so many music company types, so many LA scene makers, they can spoil your private life. If I see a new band, I find it hard to be objectively involved: it’s impossible to go somewhere and make up your own mind.” Generally he admits there is something in the air. “America’s come a long way. I’m proud. If I’m gonna wave the ole US banner, I admire Cheap Trick and for being loonier than anyone else. The main thing is you can go to towns which were dead three years ago, places like St Louis, and there’re hundreds of new bands all writing their own songs and all finding some kind of audience.” Petty shares Bruce Springsteen’s love for the romantic image and working-class sass. He’s smart enough to stay close to the street but not dumb enough to get stuck on it. “Well, we were the first American band who weren’t punk who were doing that stuff, three-minute songs that weren’t mush. Now the first album doesn’t sound weird at all. I said a lot of things then that I regret – I was always shooting my mouth off. I was a big fan of a lot of that though, I’ve always supported the lunatic fringe because that’s where it’s all gonna come from. When we were here, people always approached us as punk and we’d say, ‘No, we’re a rock’n’roll band’. We didn’t fit that category. Then all we heard was punk this, punk that and we said, ‘Fuck punk!’ “We decided to let our hair grow till it’s down to here and they’re starting to call us punks in America. It was absurd, these stupid labels. That’s the time when they don’t even know what a punk is in America, and one day I just said to a guy, as a joke, ‘If you call me a punk again, I’m gonna cut ya.’ So now I get kids comin’ up and asking me why I’m so down on new wave and I have to tell ’em: ‘Fuck, I invented that new wave here for all you know.’ I’ve always wanted that cleared up ’cos of the animosity it caused. The truth is that I’m glad we were here in ’77. I used to laugh myself sick at the Sex Pistols’ antics. Every day you could buy a paper and there was something outrageous going on.” Watching the gig in Hammersmith, it’s clear this is Petty’s show. “The others all have cliques of fans who come but I’d stand out if I was the bassist, being blond and all. I think they’re happy just to get the money. Benmont [Tench, keyboards] gets a much better shot on this album. “We’ve always been cast in the twelve-string sound; those comparisons. I know we sound like them at times, and God knows I’ve tried not to, but I get a bit tired of hearing them now. I don’t think Roger McGuinn can do all the things people say he can. We’re entirely different musicians really. Of course, I’d be interested to see how he did But he phoned me last year to ask if I had any songs for him and I couldn’t come up with one that was suitable.” One of the smartest things Petty ever did was to appear on the ‘No Nukes’ benefit on the same night as Springsteen. It was good for his credibility and it increased his drawing power on the East Coast. “While we were in limbo with the lawsuits, I’d read in the s about radiation creeping in. I’m not a very political guy but I’m getting worried. At least let the Russians bomb us – it would be so embarrassing to blow ourselves up. “Mike [Campbell, guitarist] and I discussed playing one of those benefits because we thought we’d draw a completely different crowd to the people Jackson Browne and Graham Nash get, the Woodstock types. When Bruce phoned me to play with him – and he doesn’t usually have other groups on his bill – we decided to do it. We don’t preach or send out leaflets. I haven’t heard the album anyway – it doesn’t look very interesting. I saw the show and that was enough. “I’ve changed my mind about a lot of things. I used to say, ‘Fuck the whales,’ but now I think we ought to save them too. Why not?” It’s possible to view this softening process with some cynicism, as part of the homogenised image that tends to accompany stardom, but Petty had no guarantee that would catch fire. “If those people had kept on suing me, I was going to be on a soup line. I’ve never got onto that channel about ‘what is life?’. This time I had a few sleepless nights. I wanted to write anthems for underdogs, songs like and . The theme of the album wasn’t self-conscious but when I put it together afterwards I could see it was about standing up for your rights, the ones that everyone has which can’t be fucked with or taken away. Rather than get really graphic – ‘They took me down to the court today and grilled me for eight hours’ – I wanted to keep the common denominator of them as love songs with other connotations. “They aren’t necessarily boy-girl songs, but I don’t think the kids want to hear a record about the evils of the music business. That’d be boring as hell. Meanwhile, he’s adept at accepting the plaudits while keeping one step ahead of the pundits. He takes his job seriously. He calls his songs ‘disposable’ yet he risked bankruptcy for them. He says of songwriting: “I refuse to think of it as work” – but his game plan looks like very hard work indeed. As for his philosophy, his attitude to the demands of the current lifestyle springs from an expression of naivety based on solid self-assurance. “I’ve proved everything to myself. One of my favourite Dylan lines is, and that’s what I feel. I don’t have to prove it to anyone else.” Part Two. July 1981. Los Angeles. Tom Petty is back in his adopted home and trying to adjust to two weeks off the treadmill. His new album is No.1 on the newly minted airwave-driven Rock Tracks chart but won’t eclipse . Yet again, he’s fallen out with MCA who want to charge record buyers $9.98 rather than the usual $8.98. Steely Dan don’t mind the extra dollar but Petty thinks they’re ripping the fans off and airs his disgust publicly. MCA back down after Petty threatens to call the album – although the working title of is , a reference to keyboard player Benmont Tench’s mild accusation that he wasn’t given enough to do. These are strange times for Petty. Success and fame are uneasy bedfellows and the Heartbreakers have fallen into the usual drugs and booze mess that goes with living in too many hotel rooms with too much money and nothing to spend it on. Bassist Ron Blair hated touring and was replaced on certain sessions by the veteran Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (Blair would leave thereafter), while Petty had personal and professional problems. His mother Kitty had passed away the day after his 30th birthday the previous October. Devastated as he was, Petty chose not to attend her funeral in his home town of Gainesville, Florida because he reasoned his presence would turn a sombre affair into a three-ring media circus. But he also had issues with his father Earl, who he would later admit had physically and mentally abused him as a child. When I spoke to him the day after the band had played three SRO concerts at th e 18,000-seater LA Forum, he mentioned this distressing episode but glossed over it. “Mum and dad had a car wreck [after which Kitty became epileptic]. She was dying of cancer anyway. My dad’s disabled so he does nothing except play High Life all day. That’s a gambling game, big in Florida. “I’d like my dad to see us play. He never has and we’ve never been back to Gainesville. But he has the fans come round and he chats to ’em and feeds ’em and stuff. He loves that.” And the Heartbreakers will return to their Gatorland stomping ground that October, at the O’Connell Centre with Stevie Nicks as special guest. The arrival of Nicks in Tom’s life proved fortunate. “She started hanging out at the sessions and asked me to write her a song. Me and Mike [Campbell] wrote for her but I decided to keep that so we gave her instead and she sang on my album and I’m producing her.” In fact, Nicks’s disc will outstrip , largely thanks to the heavy rotation of on the then brand new MTV playlist. Petty didn’t know that then. “I’m glad because finally the girl appears on the album and she’s happy because it’s a snaky thing and it ain’t a ballad. She told me, ‘Don’t give me another ballad. I write those all the time!’ So we’re doin’ a kind of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris thing. is in my all-time top five albums. Always wanted to meet Gram, but when I got to LA he’d been dead for four months. People always say, ‘Oh ,you’re like Roger McGuinn,’ but I prefer the Parsons’ Byrds. It’s hard to introduce country rock into what we do. People think it’s corny parents’ music but we’re southern country like Gram [who was from Georgia] and I still feel dislocated in LA.” In San Francisco a week earlier, Petty, Nicks and her choir of girlfriends, including new bosom buddy Sharon Celani, Tench and Campbell persuaded the hotel piano bar to let them play a few songs. They knocked out , , and the old Penguins doo-wop number . One of the businessmen at the bar gives them 10 bucks, which Petty pockets until Stevie grabs it off him after one of the businessman in the joint says, ‘That’s for the lady’. “I said, ‘Hey, where’s my share?’ So Stevie rips the bill in half, sticks her half down her cleavage and gives me mine.” Nicks will soon become a regular on Petty tours and is often heard admitting that she’d rather join the Heartbreakers than carry on with Fleetwood Mac. A glimpse into her superstar life proves salutary. There’s the feeling that Tom Petty is one step away from that rarefied world. His rival Bruce Springsteen is just of reach and Tom is forever playing catch-up. Springsteen is a year older and seemingly always one album ahead. goes platinum in 1981 but goes five times platinum. As I’d somewhat tactlessly pointed out in London, Springsteen can do no wrong with British critics. The sun shines from his fundament. Maybe there was an element of a fit of pique when Petty pulled the band’s live performance off the movie, and it must have galled him to support The Boss and Peter Tosh at Madison Square Garden. Six years later he’d sit down and write a song lampooning Springsteen called with fellow Traveling Wilbury Bob Dylan, who was equally irked at hearing Springsteen referred to as his replacement: ‘The new Bob Dylan.’ They’d laughed as they wrote: while George Harrison and Jeff Lynne looked on. Back in real time, Petty had enough on his plate. The stream of fans camped outside his house forced him to hire security and he wrote about his gate man. “Mike thinks it’s funny that I have a security guard ’cos we’re just as scummy as ever. Now I’ve got this guy directing traffic: ‘Just move on please.’ He [the nightwatchman] came to see us play last night and says, ‘Oh, so that’s what you do. Now I get why I have this job.’ But don’t make out I’m complaining. There aren’t so many kids any more. Maybe they got the message. Or maybe I’m fading out,” he laughs. Petty admits, “I was in a strange state of mind when I wrote this album. It’s been like an exorcism. Why ? Well, anything that’s worth working for is a hard promise to me. I put a lyric sheet in for the first time because it’s the first time the words were good enough to be printed. Funny thing is no one ever mentioned the lyrics until I did that, probably couldn’t understand a word I sang. Personally, I don’t have much time for lyric sheets. I don’t want to be reading when I’m listening.” The night before, there’d been a riot and a stage invasion at the Forum that infuriated Petty. He stomped off afterwards and refused to attend the obligatory après-gig party. “I was in a bad mood anyway ’cos I know how much the people at the front paid the scalpers and I wouldn’t want to be pushed out my seat. We played in New York recently and a lot of kids got seriously mashed and taken to hospital, but that was at a festival.” His biggest problem, he says, is, “I can’t unwind. I haven’t been to bed for three days. I don’t take sleeping pills any more – they put me in such a lousy mood – and other drugs don’t work. I’m so charged up by playing a big room, by the energy – sorry to be Californian – but it’s like you get zapped. I’m on an insane schedule.” On the plus side, his six-year-old daughter Adria gets to see him perform for the first time at the Forum, holding Stevie Nicks’s hand tight in the wings. “On the way home she says to me, ‘Why didn’t you call me out?’ I’m like, ‘To do what exactly?’ She wasn’t fazed one bit,” Petty sighs. “I haven’t spent enough time with her.” Nor will he, as the Heartbreakers gang rolls across America. “Thing is, if we ain’t playing, we all get bored so easy. I can’t switch off. I’m getting a little tired of recording in Los Angeles, tell you the truth. I want to record the next album in Memphis.” A solo album? “Nah, why the hell would I do that? I’d end up using the Heartbreakers anyway. It’s just time for us to go back to our roots. We’ve exhausted this place.” Tape recorder turned off, Petty pours a cup of tea and gets up to go. “Me and Mike have a song we’re working out called . It’s a B-side but I want to play it live when we hit the road.” You can take the man out of the south, but you can’t take the south out of the man. “The world had gone mad. The PMRC were trying to use all these great songs for their own agenda, which in the long run counted for nothing”: The story of Judas Priest’s Defenders Of The Faith, the album that Tipper Gore couldn’t silence “As a term, ‘prog’ only evolved in the 1990s. And I loathe it. As soon as someone sticks a label on to you, they stop listening”: How Robert Fripp brought King Crimson back for their final resurrection “Within my lifetime there could be some natural disaster or a third World War that could destroy everything. I sincerely believe that we live in the beginning of the end”: How Satyricon faced the darkness with The Age Of Nero Max Bell worked for the during the golden 70s era before running up and down London’s Fleet Street for and all the other hot-metal dailies. A long stint at the and mags like and kept him honest. Later, and called.
World leaders discussed the latest developments taking place in the Middle East and highlighted their implications at a session on the opening day of Doha Forum 2024 Saturday. The panellists at the session on *Conflict Resolution in a New Era included Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, and India's Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. HE Sheikh Mohammed spoke on the current state of negotiations between Israel and Palestine, saying that it has been going through ups and downs since the start of the war. “We have seen on November 23 (2023), the deal was concluded to release the first batch of hostages in exchange of 250 Palestinian prisoners,” he said. “And since that time, we have been back and forth within the same process, within the same framework that we are discussing today.” HE Sheikh Mohammed noted that the situation in Syria is evolving rapidly. “Our worry is that this will bring back the old cycles of internal violence, the civil war, and this is really threatening the integrity, the territorial integrity of Syria,” he stated. “It can damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency to start putting a political framework and trying to address the issue from a political perspective to find a sustainable solution.” Eide stressed that the establishment of the integrated Palestinian statehood is the only way to ensure peace and coexistence in the Middle East. “We need a two-state solution,” the Norwegian minister said. “We want an integrated Palestine, compromising the West Bank and Gaza, the relevant parts of Jerusalem, you know, as was envisaged in the Oslo Accords.” “And the drama, the horror is so deep now that we cannot go back to 6th of October last year,” Eide said, referring to the events of October 7, 2023. He also noted that the world would not be able to solve the problems in the Middle East region without solving the Palestinian question. Dr Jaishankar stated that what is happening in the Middle East region affects all countries, including India. “We have about 500,000 Indians who live in Mediterranean countries,” he said. “We have a trade of about $80bn with the Mediterranean,” Dr Jaishankar continued. “Looking at the Gulf, we have 10mn Indians here and maybe about $180bn of trade.” “I think what's happening in Syria, what's happening in the larger region, what's happening in Gaza and Lebanon, in Iran, the combination of all of this, there is a larger regional instability which is actually growing month on month,” he added. “It is impacting us. As a country on the other side of Asia, we are feeling the impact of this,” the minister said. “I mean, we are feeling it in shipping costs, we are feeling in trade disruptions.” “So today instability anywhere actually is a source of concern. There is no region you can say that is far away,” he added. The session was moderated by CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour. Related Story Qatar celebrates World Soil Day QU launches 4th World Congress on Engineering and Technology
Cos has taken an impressive journey over its 17 years. Starting as a supplier of low-key, well-designed clothes for your everyday wardrobe, Cos now shows its collections within the schedule of New York Fashion Week . Cos now makes much more than basic cotton tees, boasting a range full of impeccable outerwear and leather goods – often for drastically smaller costs than their luxury counterparts on the catwalk. Cos' output is used to getting high-end comparisons, with The Row, Celine and Our Legacy all sharing similar DNA with the sister brand of high street behemoth, H&M. Silhouette forms the backbone of why Cos is such a popular brand – not shying away from more daring shapes and trending silhouettes. Cos was one of the first high street brands to embrace the resurgence of wider-legged trousers and denim, and it now seems to be building on its well-developed reputation. The Cos Atelier collection, for example, showcases the brand’s ability to offer genuinely luxurious pieces of clothing (such as a £650 shearling-lined leather jacket), alongside its mainstay, affordable collection. Whether you’re needing some foolproof wardrobe essentials, looking to up your knitwear game, or want to invest a bit more money into a jacket this year – and want to go with a brand you’ve been able to trust for a long time – Cos certainly has you covered. And to save you the endless search through its very well-stocked collections, we’ve spent some time pulling together our choices for what Cos has to offer. Of the moment knitwear: Boiled-Cashmere Crew-Neck Cardigan , £200 Effortlessly good overcoat: Double-Faced Wool Coat , £250 A tee to feel good in every day: Oversized Cotton T-Shirt , £20 Normcore shirting that's far from boring: Wide Oversized Cotton Oxford Shirt , £75 The best '90s looking jeans: Rider Wide-Leg Jeans , £95 Modern-day suiting for modern day situations: Relaxed Double-Breasted Wool Blazer , £225 Finishing touches: Ribbed Alpaca-Blend Beanie , £35 One of Cos' most impressive categories is its knitwear – from simple crew neck sweaters to loud, patterned cardigans and polos, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something that wouldn’t fit into your autumn wardrobe. Sleek merino wool gives ample options for smarter-leaning requirements, and fuzzy mohair delivers on Marni-adjacent statements. There’s something for everything in between those ends of the spectrum, too. One thing Cos really has going for it is a focus on sustainable fabrication, and that focus really shines in its knitwear. Organic cotton, recycled fibres and responsibly-sourced wool are utilised all throughout the collection, ensuring that you get a good conscience to go along with your new jumper. If there’s one staple to get right when the weather gets colder, it’s nailing your outerwear choice (or choices, if you really can’t settle on just one). With Cos, you’re kind of spoilt for choice. There’s the usual fare of simple, solid overcoats in versatile colours that can be the hardworking final layer you need in the bleak winter months, along with coat-of-the-moment styles like leather-collared field jackets that can work in a cross-seasonal capacity and bring a bit of elevated workwear to your wardrobe. Then come the big hitters, the leathers, shearlings and punchier overcoats that showcase Cos' ability to really come out swinging with outerwear that competes with luxury brands' output. Any high street brand knows the power of being able to supply shoppers with a version of the ‘ perfect tee ’. A seemingly unending search that has people stepping up to bat for their preferred most essential of essentials. Cos is no different; it has a very good selection of base layers, that are available in a 3-pack for £55, or £18 per tee, which puts them a touch above the price of the Uniqlo Airism Cotton t-shirt, oft-cited as the ‘best tee’. Where Cos excels over its competition is the expanded range of cotton tees and vests it has to offer. Slim fit to oversized, printed or textured, colourful and bold to subtle and versatile, Cos does it all and does it well. The Regular Lightweight Brushed Cotton T-Shirt is a particular highlight, available in 12 colours, it’s hard to see how you could ever need to go elsewhere for your tee needs. Menswear is on a bit of a swing back to a slightly more grown-up attitude. While hoodies ’n’ tees will always have a place in your wardrobe, there is a distinct appetite for the classics these days. Shirting is something that can easily be neglected as a bit stuffy or overly foral, but Cos' prodigious collection is sure to have something that will float your boat. Revamps of classic styles, such as wider-cut oxford shirts and overshirts in a cosier boiled wool fabrication, are a great place to start if you want something a bit more contemporary. More tried and tested smarter styles are available in a slim fitting cotton poplin for those who need something to up their office wear game, and Cos will also, on occasion, deliver a shirt that is tricked out in some way, like having vintage-feeling 1950’s-inspired patch pockets or a drawstring at the waist. Not to mention the wide array of printed styles in short and long sleeves available, so you’re covered no matter the time of year. Is £100 for a pair of jeans expensive? There’s two ways to look at it really – yes, anything over £100 is an investment for most of us, but it's always worth considering how often you’ll need to replace the item in the long run. A bit of upfront cost to get something that will need replacing far less is often a better move than going for a cheaper pair you’ll need to replace time and time again. This approach is definitely worth considering for Cos' denim selection – most of which floats around the £100 mark, and offers any silhouette and wash you could want, really. We’re particular fans of the Dome Straight Leg jeans; they’re a really solid option for the baggier place that menswear finds itself in at the moment, without going overboard – more of a true homage to the silhouettes of the ‘90s. Whether you’re looking for a slimmer pair or want to go all out on the barrel leg or wider shapes, you really are catered for at Cos. A suit can be the most comfortable and flattering thing you can own, if you get the right one. Outside of going down the bespoke route – which gets staggeringly good results, but can be massively cost prohibitive – your best option is to shop ‘off the rack’. A basic suit can be easy to find at most high street shops as, for a lot of us, tailoring forms the backbone of what we have to wear daily. Finding a slightly more interesting or exciting style of suit that won’t cost an arm and leg can be trickier, however. This is where Cos can really be a helpful place to shop. You’ll be able to find suiting that is a touch more playful or trend-driven, such as a double breasted and flared-leg style that looks straight out of Harry Style’s wardrobe ( or Lennon Gallagher's, for that matter ), for sub £400, under the same roof as more traditional options like a regular-fitting twill suit that is perfect for a non-stuffy office wardrobe rotation. Cos runs the gamut in between, too, for weddings, more casual suiting and anything that requires a bit of a sartorial serve. So, you’ve successfully bought a whole new wardrobe of Cos clothes and are feeling good. Great stuff – but do you feel like you’re missing some of the little finishing touches? Don’t feel like you need to look elsewhere just yet, Cos also has your back with any and all accessorising needs. Cashmere scarves? Yep. Elegant small leather goods? Of course. Bags? Absolutely. Like any supplier of good garms, Cos also makes sure to lure you in with some really great everyday accessories that are hard to turn down. The selection of bags on offer is really something to pay attention to, whether you veer more on the nylon cross body bag side of things, or need a ludicrously capacious bag for your commute, the options all fall into a really low-key but well-designed category that is surprisingly affordable. Same goes for Cos' leather goods – a solid array of options that are a great place to look if you’re looking at upgrading from a well-worn wallet.ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.
‘I’m human, I make mistakes,’ Simon Harris says after encounter with Cork carerLANDOVER, Md. — The losing streak is done. Feel better? Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
CARSON, Calif. — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. MLS' most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing decade, even finishing 26th in the 29-team league last year. But the Galaxy turned everything around this season with a high-scoring new lineup that finished second in the Western Conference and then streaked through the playoffs with a whopping 18 goals in five games to win another crown. Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable charge through the playoffs ended one win shy of its first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win MLS' playoff tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons. He was the MVP of the 2022 MLS Cup Final for the Galaxy's crosstown rival, Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the Western Conference final. Puig watched the game in a suit, but his teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their fans during the celebration. Paintsil put the Galaxy ahead in the ninth minute when he ran onto that sublime pass from Brugman and pounded home his 14th MLS goal — including four in the playoffs — in the Ghanaian forward's outstanding first season. Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home the 21st goal of his outstanding year as the Galaxy's striker. Nealis got New York on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when he volleyed home a ball that got loose in LA's penalty area after a corner. The Galaxy's usually shaky defense gave up another handful of good chances before reaching halftime with a tenuous lead. The second half was lively, but scoreless. Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Gabriel Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose again in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. The Galaxy bench rushed onto the field and prematurely celebrated a victory in the seventh minute of injury time, only to be herded back off for another 30 seconds of play. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of traveling Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club's breakthrough on MLS' biggest stage. The Galaxy's Greg Vanney became the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two clubs. The former Galaxy player also won it all with Toronto in 2017. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández rebuilt itself this season with lesser-known young talents from around the world. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and the Ghanaian Paintsil out of Belgium, and the duo combined with incumbent Serbian striker Joveljic to form a potent attack that could outscore almost any MLS opponent. But the Galaxy also relied heavily on Puig, their Catalan catalyst and one of MLS' best players. Puig stayed in last week's game after injuring his knee, and he even delivered the decisive pass to Joveljic for the game's only goal. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
November 22 - While without another key performer, the Vancouver Canucks hope to have two others along for the ride when they open a six-game trip against the Ottawa Senators, who are mired in their longest slide of the season. The struggling Canucks will try to right the ship by handing the Senators a fifth straight loss Saturday night. Vancouver has lost two straight and four of six following a 7-1-1 stretch, and the team announced this week that star J.T. Miller will take a leave of absence for personal reasons. It's reported he likely won't be available through this road stretch. "We don't know when he'll be back," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said of Miller, who is second on the team with 16 points. Vancouver has also been without fellow All-Star Brock Boeser (upper-body injury), who has 11 points in 12 games, for the past six contests. But it's been reported Boeser is with the team for this trip and could be set for a return to the ice. Also, fellow star Thatcher Demko is expected to join the Canucks on this Eastern road trip. However, it's uncertain when he'll make his season debut following a knee injury suffered in the 2024 playoffs. "I definitely know that I'll be playing here," said Demko, who set career bests with 35 wins, a 2.45 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage last season. "I can't give you the timeline yet, but I'll definitely be back. (I'm) just enjoying being where I am today and keep making progress." In the meantime, veteran Kevin Lankinen has been solid in Vancouver's net with a 2.71 goals-against average in 13 starts. However, he's allowed four goals apiece in each of his last two. Backup Arturs Silovs, who made 29 saves in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers, is 1-3-1 with a 3.91 GAA in six games (five starts) this season. The Canucks have not suffered three consecutive regulation losses in 2024-25. The club has won four in a row amid a 5-0-1 stretch versus Ottawa. Quinn Hughes has a team-leading 19 points, and 18 in 17 career games against the Senators. Meanwhile, teammate Elias Pettersson, with five goals and four assists in the last eight games, has recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 13 games versus Ottawa. The Senators have struggled to win consistently. They've allowed 17 goals while mired in an 0-3-1 rut after winning two straight. That said, Ottawa battled Vegas hard during Thursday's 3-2 home loss. "We just need to keep working, keep believing in each other," said the Senators' Drake Batherson, who scored his eighth goal Thursday. "You can't get down. Just come to the rink positive and work hard." Former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark has allowed 13 goals during his current 0-2-1 starting stretch for the Senators, but made 29 saves against the Golden Knights. Teammate Anton Forsberg has yielded three goals apiece in losing his last two starts. Despite Ottawa's middling performance to begin the season, Tim Stutzle has recorded 17 of his team-leading 23 points at home. He has a goal and five assists spanning his last five games versus Vancouver. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabAidan Bouman, Quaron Adams rally South Dakota past Tarleton State 42-31 in FCS second-round duel
Waqf Board bill among 16 listed for Winter Session of ParliamentFrance celebrated the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday at a special church service that featured a standing ovation for the firefighters who saved the 12th-century landmark from destruction during a 2019 blaze. A two-hour service attended by incoming US president Donald Trump among other world leaders began with the archbishop of Paris knocking on the doors of the cathedral three times. "Notre Dame, model of faith, open your doors to bring together the far-flung children of God in joy," archbishop Laurent Ulrich commanded, banging with a wooden staff crafted from a roof beam that survived the inferno five years ago. Trump could be seen sitting on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lighting installed as part of the overhaul. In a short speech, Macron expressed the "gratitude of the French nation" for the restoration work, achieved at frenzied speed over the last five years. France had "rediscovered what great nations can do -- achieve the impossible", he said. One of the most moving moments came when firefighters in their protective gear walked through the congregation to thunderous applause as the word "Merci" ("Thank you") was beamed on the intricate facade and famous belltowers of the Gothic masterpiece. Small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds outside to witness the renaissance of a monument, which came close to collapsing due to the intensity of the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. "I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored," Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. Saturday's service featured classical music, the cathedral's choir as well as the "re-awakening" of the 8,000-pipe organ which is considered the voice and soul of the cathedral. A televised public concert planned outside featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame's renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity -- as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. He scored a major coup by attracting Trump along with around 40 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia's invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to end the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office on January 20, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people and weighed into a row about whether the place of worship and tourist attraction should remain free to enter. The "immense" numbers set to visit Notre Dame should be welcomed "generously and free of charge", he said, clearly opposing a proposition from the French culture ministry to charge for entry. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public. adp-sjw/jj Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.Utter the words ‘Trafford Centre’ during the festive period and you'll get a couple of different reactions. The first is more akin to a glint in the eye - the serious shoppers who are happy to take on the mammoth queues whether it’s Christmas Eve or the crack of dawn on Boxing Day. Then there’s those that would rather be tucked up in bed re-watching Gavin and Stacey and picking at the remnants of the Quality Street tin than heading out to the shops at this time of year. Each to their own, but this Boxing Day I was interested to see what would transpire as the Trafford Centre opened its doors for the annual sales event. In 2024, shoppers are expected to spend £3.7bn on Boxing Day. This is only up 1.3% on 2023, with many opting to snap up their bargains online. Here , many sales begin at midnight on Christmas Eve rather than 7am or 9am, so shoppers don’t even have to leave the comfort of the sofa to grab the latest smart watch or designer bag. It matches a trend for last year, where a rise in online shopping is offset by a fall in those heading out to the shops. And while for some families it may be a time-honoured tradition to go to the Trafford Centre for a day out following lots of food and drink on Christmas Day, there’s no denying that habits have changed over the last few years. Boxing Day Sales 2024 at the Trafford Centre (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) It comes just days after it was confirmed that the UK economy flatlined between July and September and may be on track to have stagnated over the entire second half of the year. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed growth in the third quarter was revised down to zero, after an initial estimate of 0.1%. Growth in April to June was also adjusted down from 0.5% to 0.4% with the ONS saying the downgrades were driven by bars and restaurants, as well as legal firms and advertising companies, performing less well than anticipated. It’s a word that I have never used to describe the Trafford Centre in all my years of visiting, but arriving just after seven thirty this morning, it was totally peaceful. Its marble aisles virtually empty except for a large queue forming outside the bath bomb store, Lush, it almost felt like somewhere I wanted to be. The Lush sale at the Trafford Centre, Boxing Day 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Give it a few hours, and the serene atmosphere would give way to the usual order of screaming children, shoppers packed like sardines and long queues for the biggest stores. But for a couple of hours, the Trafford Centre might just have been the calmest place in Greater Manchester. At the front of the queue for Lush was Julie who got up at 5am to make her way down to the shopping centre. Unlike other stores, Lush’s calling card is that it only does one big sale a year and offers 50%, which means it attracts big crowds. Someone savvy to this is Julie, who knows exactly how to work the sale. “I’ve come for the past three years specifically for Lush as it offers 50%,” she tells me as if letting me into a big secret. The Lush sale at the Trafford Centre, Boxing Day 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) It may be plastered on the window behind us, but she knows how to get in and out and back home before the masses arrive. “The Snow Fairy - it’s the scent they bring out from September to Christmas - and they sell it off half price after Christmas. “Yes I do stockpile it a bit, I buy enough for the year and I still have a little bit left. I never really do the sales really except maybe for NEXT when my children were younger. I can’t deal with all these people, you just grab what you need and get out.” While the majority of shops are open this year, there are a few exceptions. This year, M&S, NEXT and Beaverbrooks are all closed, while John Lewis is open for the first time in three years and is one of only two in the UK open today. Georgia and Katie were first in line for the Selfridges Boxing Day sale (Image: MEN) That said, there’s not a queue outside the retailer. Early doors, other than Lush, it’s Selfridges where we find people ready and waiting to grab a bargain. Front in the queue are Georgia and Katie who are here to try and get some handbags. From Ramsbottom and Macclesfield respectively, they've been coming down every Boxing Day for over a decade now. "There's no brand really in mind, it's just a free-for-all really," they tell me. Leon with his Boxing Day purchases (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) "It used to be heaving in here and it would say 'almost free' on the windows here because the discounts were so good but they're not as big anymore. It's still nice to get a discount though." Once done here, they'll head to the Selfridges in Manchester City Centre too, to see if they can grab anymore bargains. Meanwhile, Leon passes us on his way out of the shop full of beans with his purchases from the morning. He's bought himself some clothes from Zara, a tracksuit from JD Sports, and two pairs on trainers. "One thing about me is I love shopping on Boxing Day, Christmas Day is for kids, so this is my Christmas," he beams before skipping off to the next shop." Megan Bell bagged to bargains from Lush, Boots and Zara (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Also here to bag a bargain is Megan Bell and her mother-in-law who come every year. She's bagged a Men's Valentino set from Boots, which should have been £73 and was reduced to £43. "We got here at 7am and I've also spent £101 in Lush on the Snow Fairy stuff, set, shower gels and saved 50%." She admits that while they enjoyed it, the Boxing Day sales have changed a lot. "I think the shopping experience has changed since Covid really, people shop online a lot more now. "It's early but it's pretty quiet now, people can get deals before and after Christmas as well." Boxing Day Sales 2024 at the Trafford Centre (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Her views are shared by Sharon from Liverpool who is here visiting her daughters. "I love coming here but we've just been saying it's not the same as it used to be," she says. "It used to be hammered in here, rammed with people, but I got in really easily today." Some reckon it's a case of retailers launching sales earlier than before. As well as Black Friday deals, some shops are launching their sales on Christmas Eve. There's also lower consumer confidence and people spending less due to to the cost-of-living crisis. Sapna Kumar is shopping with a friend and tells me they've always come down to the sales since the Trafford Centre opened, but she's noticed a big shift over the last few years. Boxing Day Sales 2024 at the Trafford Centre (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) "Consumer buying is not happening, people do not have the money," she explains. "People do not have the disposable income so they're not splurging as much. The sales also started a lot earlier this year and a lot of people will have bought online. " I think people are scared to spend because things have become so much more expensive but also the quality had dropped." Her sentiments are echoed by Aashiyana and her daughter, who says they can't find 'good things to buy', and that she's surprised that there's not any 'good deals'. Aashiana and her daughter outside Selfridges (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) " I think it’s been better in previous years. I honestly think it’s the worst year I’ve seen. It used to be really good in previous years, but this year we can’t see anything." Despite it being quieter, it hasn't stopped shoppers from picking up some some bargains or simply spending the Christmas money burning a hole into their pockets. Tom and Tori are heading to Iceland tomorrow so needed coats. They picked up one from Patagonia inside Selfridges for full price, while over at Sephora Tori manages to get a perfume for £70 instead of £130 as a gift. Elsewhere, Nicole and her daughter Peyton have nabbed a very fine looking Moncler coat for £750, which was reduced by £500. Tom and Tori were out looking for coats ahead of a trip to Iceland (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) As the morning progresses, the shopping centre begins to take on a more familiar look and feel. The usual queues form with those who fancy a day out shopping rather than bagging a bargain. In fact, the biggest queues into the afternoon are for coffee shops like Blank Street and Starbucks, while the food court is packed out. There's no doubt some of the early worms will have bagged a bargain today, but the Boxing Day sales of today, are very different to the ones some of us will have been used to growing up. Now, with the early arrival of online sales - and the general move to online - it doesn't quite feel like you're getting the same bargain, especially when you can now access sales before Christmas Day. When I used to go to Kendals on Deansgate with my mum and gran growing up, it felt like a real sense of occasion. Yes, it could be a little mad, with people clambering over one another to grab the last designer bag or limited-edition fit, but with smaller stock and genuinely good deals to be had, it was all part of the fun. Today, with sales starting earlier, the migration to online retail and less disposable income all round, it feels a little flat. By midday, it's certainly busy inside the Trafford Centre, but it's no worse than a Saturday afternoon at any other time of year. It's left me wondering if the mad Boxing Day sales are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS ): Ahead of the Assembly elections, Delhi BJP on Sunday reached out to rural voters with city unit chief Virendra Sachdeva claiming that villagers who have been denied development in the last 10 years will teach a lesson by defeating the AAP and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the coming polls. Addressing a public meeting in Kanganheda Village in Matiala Assembly constituency, Sachdeva said during the last 10 years of AAP rule, villages in Delhi have badly suffered due to poor roads, lack of public transport, no new schools and health services. Delhi BJP co-incharge Alka Gurjar and MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also addressed the meeting, organised by the local councillor from Chhawla ward Shashi Yadav, and expressed hope that the rural belt of Delhi will herald the change of regime in Delhi in the Assembly election in February. The meeting was also attended by Delhi BJP General Secretary Vishnu Mittal, Najafgarh District BJP President Ramesh Saukhanda and Najafgarh Zone Chairman Amit Kharkhari along with thousands of local residents and party workers. Sachdeva said people from the rural belt know that the few development projects that have started in their areas were happening using a special fund of over Rs 523 crore provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under PM Gramodaya Abhiyan. He said that people of Matiala, who have suffered a lot at the hands of the water mafia, have made up their minds to get rid of the corrupt regime of Kejriwal’s party. Alka Gurjar said that Matiala and Najafgarh are areas very close to Haryana and people here are aware of the social welfare schemes reaching villages in the neighbouring state while villagers in Delhi are being denied even basic amenities. Gurjar said that women in rural belts of Delhi engaged in farming have suffered a lot due to the Kejriwal government's apathy and they will ensure a huge defeat for AAP candidates in elections. In another development, Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor urged the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Delhi to ensure that the MCD Budget for 2025-26 is presented only as per the provisions mandated under the DMC Act 1957 through the Standing Committee of the civic agency. BJP spokesperson, in a letter to the Commissioner, reminded him that as per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the annual Budget needs to be presented by him before the Standing Committee on or before December 15. Requesting not to allow a repeat of last year’s lapses, Kapoor said that in 2023 the Standing Committee and Ward Committees were not constituted and under pressure from the then Mayor the MCD Budget for 2024-25 was presented before the General House of the MCD which was bad in law and a violation the DMC Act.
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