SRINAGAR: The Indian army launched disciplinary proceedings against an unspecified number of soldiers following an inquiry into the killing of three suspected militants in held Kashmir, the army said on Friday. A defence spokesman said evidence showed soldiers had exceeded their powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants the army broad authority including shoot-to-kill powers. In …

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday ordered a ban on downloads of popular video app TikTok and effectively block the use of the Chinese super-app WeChat on US national security grounds, escalating a fight with Beijing over digital technology. The measures effectively disable the Tencent-owned WeChat app in the United States from Sunday, but are expected to allow TikTok users …

MADRID: At the epicentre of an explosion of new infections in Spain, the Madrid region on Friday imposed partial lockdown measures on nearly one million people to try to slow the spread of the virus. Residents of the areas, mainly in densely populated, low-income neighbourhoods in the south of Madrid, will as of Monday only be allowed to leave their …

WASHINGTON: A US aircraft carrier passed the Strait of Hormuz to enter the Gulf on Friday amid Washington threats to enforce “UN” sanctions without the backing of Security Council partners, the Navy announced. A strike group led by the USS Nimitz and including two guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer sailed into the Gulf to operate and train with US …

US Supreme Court Justice and liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday, opening a crucial vacancy on the high court expected to set off a pitched political battle at the peak of the presidential campaign. Affectionately known as the ‘Notorious RBG,’ the 87-year-old Ginsburg was the oldest of nine Supreme Court justices. She died after a fight with pancreatic …

Taiwan’s air force scrambled jets for a second consecutive day on Saturday as multiple Chinese aircraft approached the island and crossed the sensitive midline of the Taiwan Strait, with the island’s government urging Beijing to “pull back from the edge”. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said 19 Chinese aircraft were involved, one more than in the previous day, with some crossing the Taiwan …

• Former premier Abbasi emerged as highest taxpaying parliamentarian • CM Buzdar, Vawda, Zartaj Gul among non-taxpayers • 311 MNAs, 90 senators paid Rs800m ISLAMABAD: The tax payment by Prime Minister Imran Khan surged by 172 per cent to Rs282,449 in tax year ending on June 30, 2018 from Rs103,763 a year ago, while that of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan …

LAHORE: As many as 34 students got coronavirus in various schools in Punjab during the last three days after resuming the education activities. A spokesperson for the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department said that of them 24 children tested positive for Covid-19 in Gujranwala, seven in Nankana Sahib and others in Bhakkar and Lodhran. Two employees of the schools …

ISLAMABAD: The wife of Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa has refused to accept a tax liability of Rs35 million, as declared by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). In a statement issued on Friday in response to an FBR letter, she said she was being “condemned unheard” and therefore intended to file an appeal against the order. Sarena …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minis-ter Imran Khan on Friday gave a go-ahead for revival of the country’s crippling film industry and cinemas to promote culture and national heritage, besides ensuring jobs and economic activities in the sector. The prime minister made this decision at a meeting he chaired on the issue of revival of the film industry. Special Assistant to the Prime …