Protests grow in Pakistan as government refuses to slash power bills – Newstrends
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Protests grow in Pakistan as government refuses to slash power bills

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Protests grow in Pakistan as government refuses to slash power bills

Protest against high power bills in Pakistan grew on Wednesday after the government refused to slash energy prices without the nod by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A massive increase in the price of electricity triggered protests across major cities earlier, with angry people burning the bills, blocking highways and attacking the power companies’ offices.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Kakar has promised relief, but his Cabinet on Tuesday said slashing the bills would jeopardise a massive IMF loan.

The global lender had put Pakistan under tough conditions to end energy subsidies and meet revenue targets for a three billion U.S. dollars loan in July aimed at reviving the nuclear-armed nation’s crumbling economy.

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“We will talk to the IMF to provide relief,” Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said.

But the government’s inaction prompted more people to join rallies and protests all over the country, including in the capital Islamabad.

“We are drowned in the flood of inflation. These bills are unbearable. If I pay the bill this month, I cannot feed my three kids,” said Noorul Amin, a cab driver.

Mohamed Karamat, a barber in a middle-class neighbourhood, received a 60,000 rupee (200 U.S. dollars) bill for the month of August, which he said was beyond his means to pay.

Unions for traders and industrialists said they would not be able to run businesses at the current level of energy prices.

“It’s going to be very, very tough,” said Ajmal Baloch, a trade union leader in Islamabad.

The prices of electricity have doubled in the past year while the rates of fuel have gone up by more than 150 per cent in Pakistan.

Protests grow in Pakistan as government refuses to slash power bills

(dpa/NAN)

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American man arrested for beating tourist to death at Ireland hotel

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American man arrested for beating tourist to death at Ireland hotel

A 30 year old American man whose name was not given by security officials, has been arrested for beating up a 60 year old tourist to death at the Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Laois, Ireland.

The Irish police force commonly known as ‘Garda Síochána’ announced that the incident occurred in the late hours of Tuesday, November 12.

Ballyfin Demesne hotel, is a popular luxury five-star hotel located in Laois, Ireland and special guests such as Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, George Clooney e.t.c had made use of the hotel in times past.

The victim was discovered unconscious in the late hours of Tuesday, November 12 and was then rushed to the hospital were he died due to severe beating inflicted on him by the culprit.

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Independent local councilor James Kelly stated that nearby communities were ‘stunned’ upon learning about the incident at the renowned hotel.

He said, “There would be a lot of staff from the area and they’re totally shocked by what has happened here.

“It’s something we didn’t think we’d be waking up to this morning.”

The police also noted that a senior officer has been assigned to lead the investigation and an incident room has been set up at Portlaoise Garda Station, Ireland.

Furthermore, a family liaison officer will  be designated to assist the family of the deceased.

 

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FBI raids home of crypto platform Polymarket CEO, after accurate prediction of Trump win

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FBI raids home of crypto platform Polymarket CEO, after accurate prediction of Trump win

The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday carried out a raid at the home of Shayne Coplan, CEO of cryptocurrency prediction outlet Polymarket.

Authorities seized Mr Coplan’s phone during the raid, according to New York Post which first reported the incident.

Mr Coplan, 26, has been running the famous platform for bets throughout the 2024 presidential election in the United States.

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It wasn’t immediately clear why the search was conducted, but Polymarket promptly said it might be due to its activities during the election. Users on the platform had correctly predicted Donald Trump was going to defeat Kamala Harris. The company paid out a substantial amount to winners following the election.

“This is obvious political retribution by the outgoing administration against Polymarket for providing a market that correctly called the 2024 presidential election,” a spokesperson for Polymarket said in a statement from its headquarters in New York.  “Polymarket is a fully transparent prediction market that helps everyday people better understand the events that matter most to them, including elections.”

It was unclear whether or not the FBI would be filing charges after the raid.

 

FBI raids home of crypto platform Polymarket CEO, after accurate prediction of Trump win

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Two dead, buildings destroyed in American factory explosion

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Two dead, buildings destroyed in American factory explosion

Two employees of Givaudan sense colour, a factory known for making colourings for beverages, located in Louisville, Kentucky, United States (US) were killed in an explosion that took place at the company’s facility.

The factory reported that the incident which took place on Tuesday, November 12 in the afternoon have also destroyed buildings around the company.

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Louisville Mayor, Craig Greenberg stated that firefighters managed to rescue and evacuate numerous individuals from the site, including some who sustained life-threatening injuries.

He also confirmed that all employees present at the plant during the explosion have been accounted for.

Earlier reports indicated that at least 11 workers were hospitalized.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

 

Two dead, buildings destroyed in American factory explosion

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