Entertainment
President Zardari signs amendment bills for Army, Air Force and Navy
- President signs bills on PM Shehbaz’s advice.
- All three bills passed by parliament this week.
- COAS will concurrently serve as CDF.
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday signed the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy Amendment Bills 2025 into law following their approval by parliament.
According to notifications shared by the PPP on the social media platform X, the president gave his assent to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The bills, presented by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, were passed by both the lower and upper houses of parliament — the National Assembly and the Senate — this week.
What are the key changes?
Under the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, the COAS will concurrently serve as Chief of the Defence Forces for five years. Field Marshal Munir’s tenure will restart from the date the new notification is issued.
Article 243 provisions applicable to a Field Marshal will also apply to a General promoted to the rank. The federal government may authorise the Vice Chief of Army Staff or Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise powers of the COAS, under written orders issued on the CDF’s recommendation.
The legislation further clarifies that once the first notification for the dual office is issued, the incumbent COAS’ tenure will be deemed to have recommenced from the date of that notification.
The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the CDF, including multi-domain integration, restructuring and ensuring jointness across the armed forces.
A major structural change approved in the bill is the abolition of the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), to be replaced by the Commander of the National Strategic Command. The prime minister may appoint the commander from among serving Pakistan Army generals for a three-year term, on the COAS/CDF’s recommendation.
The terms and conditions of the appointment will be set by the prime minister, who may also grant a three-year extension in the national security interest. The bill states that any appointment, reappointment or extension for the Commander shall not be challenged before any court.
The Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2025, removes sections 10D, 10E and 10F of the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, which previously dealt with the appointment of the PAF chief as CJCSC, his tenure, extension and retirement.
All references to the CJCSC have been omitted across the Act. Similarly, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, deletes sections 14D, 14E and 14F concerning the appointment and tenure of the Naval Chief as CJCSC, also removing the term from other provisions of the law.
Entertainment
Chinese ‘Year of Fire Horse’ to bring luck for Mamdani, challenges for Trump
China has welcomed its Lunar New Year with nationwide celebrations of fireworks, lanterns, and festivities.
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, which symbolises power and speed.
A feng shui expert Raymond Lo has made predictions on how the new year will be for prominent American personalities, including the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Hollywood sensation Timothee Chalamet.
For context, a Feng Shui Master is a professional, often rooted in traditional Chinese metaphysics, who interprets and manipulates environmental energy (Qi) to enhance harmony, health, and prosperity in homes and businesses.
In an interview with CNN, Master Lo said, “The horse represents a powerful fire element. So it’s a pure fire year. Fire is very strong and very energetic.”
He added that it will bring protests and anti-government demonstrations in the U.S. that could not be so peaceful, adding, “Fire is not a favourable element for President Trump, so it will stimulate his enemies.”
Master Lo said Trump will likely face fierce opposition and significant obstacles in the year of the fire horse.
The year is predicted to be favourable for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was sworn-in last year after winning the election against political heavyweights.
Master Lo said, “Mamdani has a strong metal element in his chart, and fire is a power to metal people. He will gain power. It’s a very favourable year for him.”
The predictions don’t always come true as Master Lo’s prediction about then-President Biden having a good year in 2024 and Trump having a bad year did not come true, as Trump went on to win the 2024 presidential election despite Lo’s forecast.
Entertainment
Police identify shooter Robert Dorgan, say attack tied to family dispute
Police have identified the shooter in the Pawtucket ice rink shooting that left three dead. Officials said the suspect, Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name of Roberta Esposito, has allegedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Monday afternoon, February 16, 2026, at around 2:30 p.m., a lone shooter opened fire on people in a local skating rink, Dennis M. Lynch Arena, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and killed three people while leaving three others in critical condition.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated the said authorities have not yet released the victims’ identities. She said that the shooting appears to be targeted, adding, “It may have been a family dispute.”
The unfortunate incident occurred during a high school hockey game between Coventry/Johnston and Blackstone Valley Co-op.
Witnesses described the horrific scenes and confusion after the tragic shooting as the spectators and players ran to seek shelter and flee towards the exit.
Melissa Dunn, the mother of one of the players, said, “It was supposed to be a special day for the team, and it’s really sad.”
A sophomore goalkeeper from Coventry High School, Olin Lawrence, described the situation as complete chaos, saying, “We ran to the locker room and just tried to be safe. We pressed against the door and just tried to stay safe down there. It was very scary. We were very nervous. There were a lot of shots.”
Entertainment
At least two killed in Northeastern US ice rink shooting
- Police chief says shooting appears targeted.
- Social media video shows teenagers fleeing as shots ring out.
- Three are in hospital, all listed critical condition.
At least two people were killed and three wounded in a shooting at an ice rink in the northeastern US town of Pawtucket on Monday, authorities said, with social media footage showing frightened teenagers fleeing the sound of gunshots.
“We have three deceased. The suspect, and then we have two victims, and then we have three at the hospital,” said Tina Goncalves, police chief in the Rhode Island community.
She added that initial investigations suggested the shooting was targeted and “may be a family dispute.”
No details were immediately shared on the identities of the victims, but Goncalves said the wounded were in “critical condition.”
Mass shootings are common in the United States, where lax gun control laws mean that access to weapons is relatively easy.
In 2025, there were more than 400 mass shootings in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which counts incidents where four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
Gun violence as a whole claimed at least 14,703 lives last year, not including suicides.
Monday’s shooting, which occurred at a high school ice hockey game, came two months after a mass shooting at Brown University, located just 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres) away.
Footage shared on social media, which has not been verified by AFP, showed players, students and spectators at Pawtucket’s Dennis M Lynch Arena fleeing for cover as shots rang out over the indoor ice rink.
“After the gunshots me and my teammates ran right to the locker room,” one eyewitness, who was on the ice when the shots were fired, told local news station WJAR.
“We pressed against the door and tried to stay safe down in there.”
At least 12 shots can be heard on the social media footage, which appears to have been taken from a livestream of the game.
The teams initially continued playing, but as the staccato burst of gunfire continued, players fled to the edges of the rink or made a break for the exits, with spectators seen ducking for cover.
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