K-Electric chief walks out of chaotic NEPRA hearing

K-Electric chief executive on Monday left a hearing on public complaints against the metropolis' sole power supplier when the event turned chaotic as angry citizens raised chants over not being allowed to speak and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (NEPRA) boss momentarily adjourning the discussions.

Organised by the NEPRA at a local hotel in Karachi, the hearing was attended by many, including people associated with different industries, various stakeholders, and officials of the K-Electric. Industrialist Siraj Qasim Teli was also spotted in the audience.

According to activist Jibran Nasir, the hearing's focus was to decide on "whether to end K-Electric's exclusive rights to distribute electricity to Karachi and allow other players to compete in the market given KE's failure to ensure safe and uninterrupted supply of electricity to Karachi".

When a participant raised a question, NEPRA Chairperson Tauseef H. Farooqi said the K-Electric would be given a chance to speak first and present the company's position, which exacerbated the resentment among the Karachiites who were present at the hearing to speak about their power woes.

Chants against the K-Electric rang out loud in the hearing, which Farooqi subsequently adjourned hearing for 30 minutes, while K-Electric CEO Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi left in a hurry after the NEPRA boss warned anyone not speaking in an orderly manner be kicked out of the hall.

The public outcry was strong, turning the hearing bitter and leading to harsh exchange of words between those at the panel and the aggrieved participants.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2RL9j8h

K-Electric chief walks out of chaotic NEPRA hearing

K-Electric chief executive on Monday left a hearing on public complaints against the metropolis' sole power supplier when the event turned chaotic as angry citizens raised chants over not being allowed to speak and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (NEPRA) boss momentarily adjourning the discussions.

Organised by the NEPRA at a local hotel in Karachi, the hearing was attended by many, including people associated with different industries, various stakeholders, and officials of the K-Electric. Industrialist Siraj Qasim Teli was also spotted in the audience.

According to activist Jibran Nasir, the hearing's focus was to decide on "whether to end K-Electric's exclusive rights to distribute electricity to Karachi and allow other players to compete in the market given KE's failure to ensure safe and uninterrupted supply of electricity to Karachi".

When a participant raised a question, NEPRA Chairperson Tauseef H. Farooqi said the K-Electric would be given a chance to speak first and present the company's position, which exacerbated the resentment among the Karachiites who were present at the hearing to speak about their power woes.

Chants against the K-Electric rang out loud in the hearing, which Farooqi subsequently adjourned hearing for 30 minutes, while K-Electric CEO Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi left in a hurry after the NEPRA boss warned anyone not speaking in an orderly manner be kicked out of the hall.

The public outcry was strong, turning the hearing bitter and leading to harsh exchange of words between those at the panel and the aggrieved participants.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2RL9j8h

China air force video appears to show simulated attack on U.S. air base on Guam

China’s air force has released a video showing nuclear-capable H-6 bombers carrying out a simulated attack on what appears to be Andersen Air Force Base on the U.S. Pacific island of Guam, as regional tensions continue to rise.

The video, released on Saturday on People’s Liberation Army Air Force Weibo account, came as China carried out a second day of drills near Chinese-claimed Taiwan, to express Beijing’s anger at the visit of a senior U.S. State Department official to Taipei.

Guam is home to major U.S. military facilities, including the air base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia Pacific region.

The Chinese air force’s two minute and 15 second video, set to solemn, dramatic music like a trailer for a Hollywood movie, shows H-6 bombers taking off from a desert base. The video is called “The god of war H-6K goes on the attack!”

Halfway through, a pilot presses a button and looses off a missile at an unnamed seaside runway.

The missile homes in on the runway, a satellite image of which is shown that looks exactly like the layout of Andersen, though it is not named.

The music suddenly stops as images of the ground shaking appear, following by aerial views of an explosion.

“We are the defenders of the motherland’s aerial security; we have the confidence and ability to always defend the security of the motherland’s skies,” the PLAAF wrote in a brief description for the video.

Neither China’s Defence Ministry nor U.S. Indo-Pacific Command immediately responded to a request for comment on the video.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, said the video was aimed at highlighting China’s growing prowess in long-range power projection.

“The video is meant to warn the Americans that even supposedly safe, rearward positions such as Guam may come under threat when conflicts over regional flashpoints, be it Taiwan or South China Sea, erupt,” he said.

The H-6 has been involved in multiple Chinese flights around and near Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s air force, including those last week.

The H-6K is the latest model of the bomber, which is based on the 1950s vintage Soviet Tu-16.

from World News: International Headlines, Breaking News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2Hj7BsW

China air force video appears to show simulated attack on U.S. air base on Guam

China’s air force has released a video showing nuclear-capable H-6 bombers carrying out a simulated attack on what appears to be Andersen Air Force Base on the U.S. Pacific island of Guam, as regional tensions continue to rise.

The video, released on Saturday on People’s Liberation Army Air Force Weibo account, came as China carried out a second day of drills near Chinese-claimed Taiwan, to express Beijing’s anger at the visit of a senior U.S. State Department official to Taipei.

Guam is home to major U.S. military facilities, including the air base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia Pacific region.

The Chinese air force’s two minute and 15 second video, set to solemn, dramatic music like a trailer for a Hollywood movie, shows H-6 bombers taking off from a desert base. The video is called “The god of war H-6K goes on the attack!”

Halfway through, a pilot presses a button and looses off a missile at an unnamed seaside runway.

The missile homes in on the runway, a satellite image of which is shown that looks exactly like the layout of Andersen, though it is not named.

The music suddenly stops as images of the ground shaking appear, following by aerial views of an explosion.

“We are the defenders of the motherland’s aerial security; we have the confidence and ability to always defend the security of the motherland’s skies,” the PLAAF wrote in a brief description for the video.

Neither China’s Defence Ministry nor U.S. Indo-Pacific Command immediately responded to a request for comment on the video.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, said the video was aimed at highlighting China’s growing prowess in long-range power projection.

“The video is meant to warn the Americans that even supposedly safe, rearward positions such as Guam may come under threat when conflicts over regional flashpoints, be it Taiwan or South China Sea, erupt,” he said.

The H-6 has been involved in multiple Chinese flights around and near Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s air force, including those last week.

The H-6K is the latest model of the bomber, which is based on the 1950s vintage Soviet Tu-16.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2Hj7BsW

SBP to announce monetary policy today

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will announce its decision on the monetary policy today with the analysts forecasting that there will be no change in the current policy rate.

The central bank announced on Twitter that the SBP’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is meeting today to discuss the country's monetary policy for the next two months.

“Governor SBP Dr Reza Baqir will announce the decision today at 5pm and SBP will tweet the decision at the same time,” said the SBP.

#SBP’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is meeting today to discuss #monetarypolicy #MP. Governor SBP Dr. Reza Baqir @rezabaqir will announce the decision today at 5pm and SBP will tweet the decision at the same time. Follow the State Bank @StateBank_Pak and be the first to know.

— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) September 21, 2020

The committee, in its last meeting, had reduced interest rates by 625 basis points to 7% between March and June to support the economic growth in response to COVID-19 challenges.

The announcement on a new rate was expected in August but was deferred till September.

Analysts forecast no changes in policy

Last week, analysts told Media that the central bank may keep the interest rate unchanged in the upcoming monetary policy after delivering 625 basis points in a rate cut in a short span as inflation has crossed its lower range of 7%.

A study by Topline Research showed that more than 70% of respondents in a survey expected the rate to remain unchanged. It also said that only 20% of market participants voted for a rate cut.

“We anticipate the central bank to maintain a status quo and keep interest rates unchanged at 7%,” Topline Research said in a report. “Our stance is based on the initial phase of economic recovery incentivising low-interest rates, controlled external accounts, and benign near-term inflation outlook.”

“I believe SBP will take a back seat for now,” said Atif Zafar, an analyst at Topline Securities told the English daily.

“Given the current negative real interest rate, and higher than projected inflation, we expect the SBP to adopt the wait and watch approach,” said Muzzammil Aslam, the CEO of Tangent Capital Advisors told Media.

“SBP will keep its focus on growth and will work on reviving the economy to its potential.”

Saad Hashemy, executive director at BMA Capital said some are expecting a cut of up to 50 basis points.

They are expecting downward inflation in the coming few months, stable rupee and likelihood of international oil prices to remain stable at the current low levels for the foreseeable future.

KASB Research expected monetary tightening to begin from March next year onwards once Pakistan’s economy stabilises and economic activity normalises to pre-COVID levels.

“Inflationary pressures are expected to pick pace from March and Pakistan,” the brokerage said. “We believe interest rates will peak around 8.5% by the end of FY2020.”

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2FDZiHO

Four more die of coronavirus, death toll to 6,420

The coronavirus claimed four more lives across the country during the last 24 hours, lifting the death toll from the highly contagious disease to 6,420.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 633 more people tested positive for the infection during this period, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 306,304.

As many as 292,869 Covid-19 patients have recuperated from the disease as the number of active cases stands at 7,015. 33,393 samples were tested during the previous 24 hours, out of which 566 turned out to be positive. Thus far, more than 3 million tests have been conducted across the country.

Thus far, Sindh has reported 133,947 cases of the coronavirus, Punjab 98,428, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 37,357, Balochistan 14,394, Islamabad 16,162, Gilgit Baltistan 3,483, and Azad Jammu and Kahsmir 2,533.

Cases cross thirty-one million

The number of coronavirus cases across the world has crossed 31 million while the pandemic has claimed more than 962,188 lives so far.

The United States is the worst hit country, with over six point nine million cases and 203,851 deaths, followed by India with over five point four million cases and over 86,893 deaths. More than twenty two million patients stand recovered.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2RMHT1X

Four more die of coronavirus, death toll to 6,420

The coronavirus claimed four more lives across the country during the last 24 hours, lifting the death toll from the highly contagious disease to 6,420.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 633 more people tested positive for the infection during this period, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 306,304.

As many as 292,869 Covid-19 patients have recuperated from the disease as the number of active cases stands at 7,015. 33,393 samples were tested during the previous 24 hours, out of which 566 turned out to be positive. Thus far, more than 3 million tests have been conducted across the country.

Thus far, Sindh has reported 133,947 cases of the coronavirus, Punjab 98,428, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 37,357, Balochistan 14,394, Islamabad 16,162, Gilgit Baltistan 3,483, and Azad Jammu and Kahsmir 2,533.

Cases cross thirty-one million

The number of coronavirus cases across the world has crossed 31 million while the pandemic has claimed more than 962,188 lives so far.

The United States is the worst hit country, with over six point nine million cases and 203,851 deaths, followed by India with over five point four million cases and over 86,893 deaths. More than twenty two million patients stand recovered.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2RMHT1X