Oops Facts: January 2018

Wednesday, 31 January 2018

Holding of jirgas in Karachi not a good move, says Murad Shah

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said that the provincial government was serious to arrest former SSP Malir Rao Anwar to investigate the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case.

This he said while talking to media at Hindu Gymkhana where he attended NAPA Convocation 2015-17 as chief guest. He was accompanied by Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah.

This should be noted here that people of Waziristan’s Mehsud tribe have been holding a jirga in Karachi since the last several days demanding immediate justice in alleged encounter killing of Naqeebullah.

Glamorous premiere of ‘Allahyar & Legend of Markhor’ held in Karachi

A star-studded premiere ceremony of ‘Gluco Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor’ was held in Karachi at Nueplax Cinemas on January 31.

A number of celebrities along with their kids graced the premiere of the latest animation treat by 3rd World Studios in association with ARY Films including Adnan Siddiqui, Faysal Quraishi, Sarwat Gilani, Zhalay Sarhadi, Aamina Sheikh, Hareem Farooq, Ejaz Aslam and Ali Rehman Khan, amongst others, and revealed their kids’ excitement about the movie.

The celebrity kids also took pictures with the Gluco Allahyar and the legend of Markhor movie character cut-outs.

The story revolves around, Allahyar (Anum Zaidi) and his animal companions Mehru (Natasha Humera Ajaz), Hero (Azfar Jafri) and Chakku (Abdul Nabi Jamali) as they gather courage and strength to embark on a journey to fight the evil hunter Mani (Ali Noor), and save the endangered species. Written, produced and directed by the talented Uzair Zaheer Khan, the brains behind this exceptional venture.

The rest of the voice-overs are done by celebrities including Ali Rehman Khan, Hareem Farooq, Arshad Mehmood, Nadia Jamil, Amjad Chandhry, Arieb Azhar and Ahmed Ali.

On this occasion, CEO ARY Digital Network Jerjees Seja said, “Gluco Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor is the best locally produced animated movie in Pakistan so far, and we are thrilled to be associated with it. It has a strong theme, fun and laughter as well as catchy music that makes it a perfect movie for adults and children alike.”

Managing Director and CEO of English Bicuit Manufacturers (EBM) Dr Zeelaf Munir said, “We are proud to be the official sponsors of the movie that has such a powerful narrative that depicts the importance of wild life conservation, a cause EBM has always believed in an supported.”

Head of Marketing of EBM Ayesha Janjua said, “Gluco Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor is not only a visual treat, but also has a meaningful story-line and a strong lesson for children and adults alike. We are sure the audiences would be able to connect to the movie.”

“It

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Youth arrested for ‘trying to rape’ five-year old in Lahore

LAHORE: Punjab police have arrested an 18-year old boy for trying to abduct and rape a five-year old girl in Nishtar Colony area of Lahore, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

According to ARY News correspondent, police in Lahore took into custody an 18-year old after area residents brought him to police station accusing him of trying to kidnap and sexually assault a minor girl.

The First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the girl’s father states that the minor girl was coming back from madressa (religious seminary) when the suspect forcibly took her to an under construction building and tried to rape her but her cries alerted the area residents who foiled the attempt and handed him over to police.

It is pertinent to mention here that a similar incident was reported earlier in the day, when a man allegedly tried to abduct a girl in Kasur city of Punjab.

Earlier this month, the brutal rape and murder of Kasur’s Zainab Ansari shook whole Pakistan with activists and general public demanding justice for the seven-year old.

Zainab was kidnapped on January 4 and her dead body was found from a garbage heap on January 9.

Amid mounting media and public pressure, Punjab government, on January 23 announced that a “serial killer” has been arrested after his DNA sample matched the one collected from the crime scene.

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Angelina Jolie urges NATO to tackle sexual violence in war

BRUSSELS: U.N. refugee agency special envoy Angelina Jolie called on NATO on Wednesday to help stop the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, as the Hollywood star broadened her international efforts to protect women’s rights.

Jolie, who earlier this week visited a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, made her appeal to the U.S.-led alliance’s top decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, in Brussels, and later met NATO military commanders.

“Violence against women and children, particularly sexual violence, is an increasing feature of conflict,” Jolie told a news conference at NATO headquarters alongside the alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

“This is rape used as a weapon to achieve military or political goals. It affects men and boys as well as women and girls,” Jolie said.

NATO, which counts 29 members and has missions from Kosovo to Afghanistan, has agreed to help report on sexual violence in war to help bring perpetrators to justice and challenge the idea that rape is an unavoidable aspect of conflict.

Jolie, a mother of six who last year released her film “First They Killed My Father” about Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, said she had met victims of sexual violence in conflict and was trying to be a voice for them.

Expressing frustration at the lack of assistance available to victims, Jolie said she hoped that NATO could help by raising standards in other militaries through its training programmes abroad, as well as promoting the role of women in the military.

Jolie singled out the plight of Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar and what she said was the inadequate response of many governments around the world.

“I‘m very concerned about the Rohingya, I‘m very angry at the response … I‘m very concerned about the stories of the 10-year old girls being raped,” she said.

“We should all hang our head on how little we have been able to do,” she added.

With some 65 million people forced from their homes by conflict as of the end of 2016, Jolie said the sheer scale of the refugee crisis worldwide felt overwhelming.

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Women of Grammys strike back after controversy

NEW YORK: New Zealand pop prodigy Lorde has thanked her fans for supporting female musicians, as artists hit back amid controversy that the Grammy Awards neglected women — a spat fueled by comments from the Recording Academy’s president seen as disparaging.

The 21-year-old’s “Melodrama” was the only work by a woman nominated for the most prestigious prize of Album of the Year on the music industry’s biggest night Sunday.

She not only was bested by Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” but she was not given a spot to perform at the televised show in New York. The Recording Academy, which administers the awards, said the roster was full.

Lorde took out a full-page advertisement in The New Zealand Herald with doodlings about the Grammys and a handwritten note that thanked readers “for loving and embracing ‘Melodrama’ the way you did.”

“Thank you, also, for believing in female musicians. You set a beautiful precedent!” she wrote.

The Grammy winners slanted overwhelmingly male at a time of mounting activism by women against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

The Grammy show’s most memorable performer may have been Kesha, who fiercely sang her track “Praying” about a producer she says raped and psychologically tormented her — allegations he denies.

The Recording Academy president Neil Portnow (right) after the ceremony told reporters that women who want to rise in the music industry need to “step up.”

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow told reporters that the music industry needed to show a “welcome mat” to women, but drew controversy as he explained how female artists could win more awards.

“I think it has to begin with women who have the creativity in their hearts and their souls who want to be musicians… to step up, because I think they would be welcome,” he said.

MUST READ: Bruno Mars surprises with Grammy sweep

Pop singer P!nk struck back without naming Portnow: “Women in music don’t need to ‘step up’ — women have been stepping since the beginning of time.”

Honoring women would show “the next generation of women and girls and boys and men what it means to be equal, and what it looks like to be fair,” she wrote in a handwritten note on Twitter.

Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara, winner of the Best New Artist Grammy, hit back over allegations that she should not have won the award.

Alessia Cara dismisses backlash

Before this year’s controversy, the last two winners of Album of the Year were both women — Adele and Taylor Swift. And on Sunday, Canadian soul-pop singer Alessia Cara won one of the top awards, Best New Artist.

But Cara also faced criticism on social media with users saying the 21-year-old singer, whose breakthrough hit “Here” came out in early 2015, did not qualify as new.

Cara — whose socially conscious lyricism wrestles with issues such as poor self-image — responded on Instagram that she had not sought the award and added: “I am not going to be upset about something I’ve wanted since I was a kid.”

“I will not let everything I’ve worked for be diminished by people taking offense to my accomplishments and feeling the need to tell me how much I suck,” she wrote.

“Here’s something fun! I’ve been thinking I suck since I was old enough to know what sucking meant.”

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Earthquake helps girl escape rape bid in KP

CHARSADDA: A 16-year old girl in Charsadda district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province managed to escape an alleged gang-rape attempt during the earthquake which jolted parts of India and Pakistan on Wednesday morning, ARY News reported.

According to ARY News correspondent Sartaj Khan, the 16-year old girl named Ayesha claimed that she was alone at her house when four armed men from her locality barged into her house and tried to rape her after tearing her clothes. The criminals escaped in fear after tremors jolted the area.

The girl’s family reported the incident to area police and maintained that the four armed men entered their house after climbing walls, held the teenager hostage on gun point and tried to rape her before tremors forced them to flee in fear.

More to follow………….

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Will Deepika do another Padmaavat like film again?

Basking in the success of recently released film Padmaavat, Deepika Padukone has said that she would certainly work in a similar film if given the opportunity.

In her first post-Padmaavat interview with India Today, Deepika was asked if she would be ever sign for another such film, biopic or one based on a historical character.

“I will most definitely do it, absolutely,” she said when asked if she would for a Padmaavat sequel if asked by Sanjay Leela Bhansali or anyone else.

When asked the reason for the risk despite everyone the film has gone through and why she would jump from one landmine to another, she said:

“Because I think it is important to be able to make, create and express (yourself).”

The film which opened to cinemas in India since January 25 has already seen business worth 150 crores rupees despite being banned in four Indian states.

However, Deepika said that the film should not be compared with other films. “I don’t think it should be success in comparison to anything. I think this film has found its success in so many ways.”

The film has received rave reviews and is banned in Malaysia but has been successful and is being appreciated in Pakistan.

When asked about the ‘weaponisation of culture’ in which any fringe group can take offense and hold the filmmaker or artist hostage, Deepika said:

“I feel strongly about this, but I don’t think this is the time for me to take away the glory the film has seen.”

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Petrol price hiked by Rs2.98 for month of february

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday increased the price of different petroleum products for the month of February, said a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

The price of Motor Spirit (MS) 92 RON Petrol has been increased by Rs2.98 per litre. Petrol will now be available for Rs84.51 from its earlier price of Rs81.53 per litre.

The price of diesel (HSD) has been increased by Rs5.92 per litre, and will now be available for Rs 95.83 as compared to earlier price of to Rs 89.91.

Light Diesel Oil (LDO) has been increased by Rs 5.93 from Rs 58.37 and will now be available for Rs64.30 per litre. Furthermore, the price of kerosene has been increased by Rs5.94 from Rs64.32 and will now be available for Rs70.26 per litre.

Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended double-digit increase in the rates of HSD (Rs. 10.25 per litre), SKO (Rs. 12.74 per litre) and LDO (Rs. 11.72 per litre) on the basis of increase in prices in the international market.

The government decided to reduce the impact on the consumers through adjustment in the applicable levies. The new prices will be effective from February 1 until midnight of February 28, 2018.

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Russia to create sports competition for banned Olympic athletes

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to organise a sports competition for Russian athletes banned from the upcoming Winter Games in Pyeongchang over a doping scandal, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

Putin “reminded the cabinet of the decision to organise a competition for those of our athletes who had not been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games,” Russian news agencies quoted Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

He added that winning athletes would receive compensation equal to what Moscow normally awards Olympic medallists.

The International Olympic Committee banned Russia from next month’s event in South Korea after a report on a vast Moscow-backed doping scheme in previous Games.

Olympic officials have cleared 169 Russian athletes for competition in Pyeongchang.

They will compete under a neutral flag as “Olympic Athletes from Russia.”

Peskov spoke to reporters after Putin earlier Wednesday met with Russian athletes set to join Pyeongchang Games and said he was sorry “for not having been able to shield” them from the doping scandal.

Pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestiya reported this week that the alternative competition for banned athletes would take place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Speaking to athletes set to take part in the Pyeongchang Games, the Kremlin leader also denounced as “strange” the exclusion of many Russian athletes from the upcoming Winter Olympics over doping.

“Forgive us for not having been able to shield you from this,” Putin said, adding that the scandal had contributed to “very difficult conditions” for athletes.

“For us certain things are truly strange,” Putin said in televised remarks. “I wish you luck,” Putin said, adding he wanted them to be “courageous”.

“Hundreds of thousands, millions of fans who love you are watching you,” he added. He reiterated his pledge to support those who could not take part in next month’s Games.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

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Marvel releases trailer for ‘Ant-Man’ sequel

Marvel Studios has released the first trailer of “Ant-Man and the Wasp”, an new chapter featuring super heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp” once again sees Paul Rudd playing Ant-Man with Evangeline Lilly joining him as Wasp, a partner he can trust.

Michael Douglas returns as Hank Pym, the inventor of the shrinking technology that gives both Ant-Man and the Wasp their powers.

WHAT THE TRAILER SHOWS

In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War”, Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a super hero and a father.

As he struggles to re-balance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission.

Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside the Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

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Ending North Korea oil supplies would be seen as act of war, says Russia

MOSCOW: The delivery of oil and oil products to North Korea should not be reduced, Moscow’s ambassador to Pyongyang was cited as saying by RIA news agency on Wednesday, adding that a total end to deliveries would be interpreted by North Korea as an act of war.

The U.N. and United States have introduced a wave of sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons, including by seeking to reduce its access to crude oil and refined petroleum products.

“We can’t lower deliveries any further,” Russia’s envoy to Pyongyang, Alexander Matzegora, was quoted by RIA as saying in an interview.

Quotas set by the U.N. allow for around 540,000 tonnes of crude oil a year to be delivered to North Korea from China, and over 60,000 tonnes of oil products from Russia, China and other countries, he was quoted as saying.

“[This] is a drop in the ocean for a country of 25 million people,” Matzegora said.

Shortages would lead to serious humanitarian problems, he said, adding: “Official representatives of Pyongyang have made it clear that a blockade would be interpreted by North Korea as a declaration of war, with all the subsequent consequences.”

ALSO READ: Despite sanctions, North Korea exported coal to South and Japan via Russia

Last week, the United States imposed further sanctions on North Korea, including on its crude oil ministry.

In his first annual State of the Union speech to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, President Donald Trump vowed to keep up the pressure on North Korea it from developing missiles which could threaten the United States.

North Korea on Saturday condemned the latest U.S. sanctions. and Russian deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov said Russia had no obligation to carry out sanctions produced by the U.S.

The ambassador also denied charges by Washington that Moscow, in contravention of U.N. sanctions, was allowing Pyongyang to use Russian ports for transporting coal.

“We double-checked [U.S.] evidence. We found that the ships mentioned did not enter our ports, or if they did, then they were carrying cargo that had nothing to do with North Korea,” he is cited as saying.

Reuters reported earlier that North Korea had shipped coal to Russia last year which was then delivered to South Korea and Japan in a likely violation of U.N. sanctions.

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Khalid Latif’s appeal against spot-fixing ban rejected

KARACHI: Former Pakistan opener Khalid Latif Wednesday lost an appeal against a five-year ban for spot-fixing but had his one million rupee ($10,000) fine waived.

Adjudicator Justice Faqir Khokhar upheld the ban, saying there was “overwhelming” evidence against Latif, but waived the fine as his career was almost over, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lawyer Taffazul Rizvi told reporters in Lahore.

Latif, who had shown tremendous early promise as a cricketer but failed to make an impact at international level, played five one-day internationals and 13 T20Is, the last of which was against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi in September 2016.

The scandal surfaced during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League in February last year when Latif was playing for Islamabad United.

Latif, 32, was charged with orchestrating a deal with a bookie that would see his fellow opener Sharjeel Khan deliberately playing two dot balls — deliveries off which no run is scored — in the opening match against Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai.

Spot-fixing involves determining the outcome of a specific part of a match rather than the overall result, and is therefore harder to detect than match-fixing.

Sharjeel was also banned for five years — two and a half years suspended — and his appeal was rejected last November.

Paceman Mohammad Irfan and spinner Mohammad Nawaz were banned for one year and two months respectively for not reporting fixing offers.

Another former opener Nasir Jamshed — alleged to have played a role as coordinator in the PSL fixing deal — was banned for one year for not cooperating with the inquiry.

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Sindh cabinet opposes draft bill on dowry ban; offers building to Footpath School

KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday opposed a draft bill calling for ban on dowry in the province.

The Women Development Department brought Sindh Dowry Act 2017 draft for discussion. Under the proposed law, extravagant dowry, presents and bridal gifts in marriage have been fixed at Rs50,000.

The draft law said that no person shall give or take or abet the giving of taking of dowry exceeding rupees fifty thousand. No person shall demand directly or indirectly from the family or other relatives of bride any dowry.

However, CM Sindh said that the law proposed law would be difficult to implement if passed by the assembly, and they have to pass laws which could be implemented in true letter and spirit.

He added that dowry or extravagance in marriage is a social problem which requires to educate people of society. The proposal was also opposed by Industries Minister Manzoor Wassan and Planning and Development Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani. The matter was referred to a committee to make it workable.

Amendment for pre-qualification exemption in BRT Blue Line Project

The Sindh cabinet approved amendment in the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) Rule 47(3) to undertake the solicitation process of BRT Blue Line Infrastructure Component in an expeditious manner.

Secretary Transport Naveed Awan said that the provincial government has started some BRT projects and work on Abdul Sattar Edhi Orange Line was in progress

He added that the Transport & Mass Transit Department has received an unsolicited proposal from a consortium of EA Consulting to design, build, finance, operate and transfer 10.1 km long Blue Line BRT project. There would be a 27-year concession period which includes two years of construction and 25 years of operation and maintenance.

The cabinet discussed the project and in order to undertake the solicitation process in expeditious manner, the cabinet approved an amendment in the SPPRA Rule 47(3) under which pre-qualification exemption has been made, and now any firm can directly participate in the bidding process.

Karachi has shortfall of 4143 public buses

Briefing the cabinet about traffic issues of the city, Transport Minister Syed Nasir Shah said that there were 4.137 million vehicles registered in Karachi, and currently 6,457 buses of various size are plying on 192 routes as against the requirement of 10,600 buses.

CM Sindh said that it shows a shortfall of 4,143 buses. He added that in Karachi there are 45 persons for one bus seat, while in Mumbai the ratio is 12 persons per seat and in Hong Kong is eight persons per seat. He stressed on the need to reduce this gap by providing efficient, comfortable and affordable transport facilities to the people of Karachi.

The transport minister said that the number of contract buses is 2715 and 80 percent buses are more than twenty years old.

CM Sindh pointed that 5400 vehicles are two decades old and are not only causing travelling problems but contributing in the environmental problems. Therefore, he said that special focus is being given to resolve the transport issues.

The cabinet was told that 6,078 private vehicles and 22,476 motorcycles are being registered every month leading to more traffic congestion, causing more pollution, increasing traffic density and vehicle operating cost.

Footpath School offered separate building

Later, talking to media Information Minister Syed Nasir Shah said that the government does not want to close down the Footpath School, and are offering them to partner with the Sindh government.

However, he said that through Sindh Education Foundation Managing Director Nafisa Shah, the chief minister has offered to give a school building to the management of Footpath School.

He added that the chief minister was worried about the street children receiving education under the open skies on the pavement. Therefore, he said that CM Sindh has offered to give lunch to footpath school students through Selani Trust, stipend/pocket money, textbooks and copies, uniform, including shoes and socks and a school building under adoption policy so they could be secure.

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KP police is independent, should not be pressurised: CM Pervez Khattak

ISLAMABAD: Dogged by a recent spate of unresolved cases, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak dispelled the impression of any lacklustre performance and said that the police was without any political influence and should not be pressurised.

The chief minister while addressing a press conference said that the police in KP performs much better than other provinces, and cannot be judged on just a few cases.

“KP Police is independent and should not be compared with other provinces,” he said adding that a handfull of cases are being flouted and cannot determine the performance of the police force.

“One or two cases are being flouted. This reduces the morale of the police force. Such cases does not mean that the police is not performing.”

CM KP detailed the progress and measures which the provincial government has undertaken to reform the police force.

He said that new sophisticated weapons have been provided to the police force. “We have five-star police stations in the province.”

He said the KP Police fought bravely during the terrorist attack at the agricultural university in Shabqadar, district Charsadda, and they expect that the police should be supported.

He further said the the culture of favouritism and nepotism in the police has been eliminated, and all postings are done purely on merit, and the KP govt has not influence over them.

“Police postings based on favouritism have been eliminated. Now all jobs are provided after passing the NTS,” he said adding that competent and educated officers have been inducted in the police force.

CM KP the provincial has passed through the worst situation and has witnessed several incidents of terrorism, and therefore the police should not be pressurised.

“KP has passed through a lot and seen incidents of terrorism, so I request everyone not be pressurise them,” he said.

He said there was no intelligence department in the province when he took over as chief minister, and a joint team for was formed for intelligence sharing and gathering.

He said that KP was the first province to set up a counter-terrorism department. He announced that a forensic laboratory will be set up in the province within a few weeks.

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WATCH LIVE: Super Blue Blood Moon

Stargazers in North America, Hawaii, the Middle East, Russia, India, and Australia are witnessing a rare “super blue blood Moon” Wednesday.

The celestial show is the result of the sun, Earth, and Moon lining up perfectly for a lunar eclipse just as the Moon is near its closest orbit point to Earth, making it appear “super” large.

It is the second full Moon within the same month, a phenomenon called a “blue” Moon which has nothing to do with its color.

Today’s full moon is special for three reasons: it’s the third in a series of “supermoons,” when the Moon is closer to Earth in its orbit — known as perigee — and about 14 percent brighter than usual. It’s also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a “blue moon.”

If you live in North America, Alaska, or Hawaii, a lunar eclipse will be visible before sunrise on Jan. 31.

For those in the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand, the “super blue blood moon” can be seen during moonrise in the morning on the 31st.

Amazing #SuperBlueBloodMoon witnessed in UK. pic.twitter.com/YTyIYqxZiD

— Raza Mehdi (@SyedRezaMehdi) January 31, 2018

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Baby girl raped in Delhi has internal injuries

NEW DELHI: A eight-month-old girl raped in Delhi has suffered internal injuries, a leading rights campaigner said Wednesday, as she launched a 30-day protest to demand the death penalty for child rapists.

Swati Maliwal, who heads the Delhi Commission for Women, visited the infant in hospital after the attack and has urged a change in the law to deter such attacks in the city known as India’s rape capital.

Media reports say the victim had to be fitted with a colostomy bag after the attack, which occurred while her mother was out at work.

“She has gone through immense pain, her internal organs have been damaged. They will take a long time to heal,” said Maliwal.

“She’s just so small. It’s horrific what she’s gone through.”

India’s Supreme Court dispatched two doctors to check on the child’s welfare on Wednesday after a lawyer filed a public interest petition asking it to intervene in her case.

Maliwal announced a month-long protest to urge tougher laws in India, which has some of the world’s highest rates of sexual violence against children.

“People are just fed up with the system, they feel there’s no hope. They don’t know how to express their anger any more,” she said.

“I will work day and night to ensure a safer environment for women and to force the government to listen to our demand for death penalty at least for all child rapists.”

ALSO READ: Outrage after 8-month-old raped by 28-year-old man in India

Police investigating the latest attack say they have charged the girl’s 27-year-old cousin after he confessed to the crime.

But Maliwal said delays in delivering justice was a key reason why high levels of sexual violence against women persisted.

“The fact is that an eight-month old baby has been raped. The doctors have given that testimony,” she said, demanding the death penalty.

“There is no other way of creating a deterrence in the society because currently there is no fear of the law.”

The victim’s parents, impoverished daily wage labourers, have also called for the death penalty. Under Indian law the maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment.

India has a horrifying record of sexual crimes against women, with nearly 39,000 rape cases reported in 2016, according to government data.

ALSO READ: Indian court sentences man to death for brutal rape, murder

A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2014 said one in three rape victims in India was a minor and expressed alarm over the widespread sexual abuse of children.

Nearly 11,000 cases of child rape were reported in India in 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s latest figures.

It said three children were raped every day in Delhi alone.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Indian capital in 2012 to demand government action after the fatal gang-rape of a young student.

The government responded by introducing tougher laws and setting up fast-track courts to try rape cases, but rights campaigners say implementation is patchy.

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China urges Trump to drop ‘Cold War mentality’

BEIJING: Beijing criticised the “outdated Cold War mentality” of the United States Wednesday after President Donald Trump named China among threats to American values in his State of the Union address.

In recent weeks, US officials have laid the groundwork for a strategic pivot that envisions a world of renewed great power competition with the likes of Russia and China.

In his State of the Union address to Congress and the nation on Tuesday, Trump described Moscow and Beijing as challenging “our interests, our economy, and our values”.

In Beijing Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the common interests of the US and China “far outweigh our differences and disagreements”.

A steady relationship with the United States is “also in the interest of the whole world,” Li said after meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

“China hopes that the United States will work with us and continue to view this relationship in a positive overall perspective,” he said.

But Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying had more critical words.

“We hope the US side can abandon the outdated Cold War mentality to work for the shared goal with China of properly managing our differences and upholding the steady development of China-US relations,” she told a regular press briefing.

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40,000 displaced Yemenis stranded without aid in Aden: UN

ADEN, YEMEN: The UN expressed concern on Wednesday for more than 40,000 displaced Yemenis who had sought refuge in second city Aden, only to find themselves caught in deadly fighting between troops and separatist militia.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said it had been unable to distribute aid since the southern separatists overran most of the city at the weekend opening up a new front in Yemen’s devastating three-year civil war.

“UNHCR emergency aid distributions and humanitarian assessments planned this week for vulnerable, displaced Yemenis have now been postponed and UNHCR humanitarian cargo remains at Aden port unable to be released,” the agency said on Twitter.

“We are also particularly concerned for those newly displaced in Aden who have fled other areas in Yemen. More than 40,000 people fled to Aden and nearby governorates since December and we anticipate more displacement as people continue to flee from hostilities in the west coast.”

ALSO READ: Yemen separatists surround Aden presidential palace: military source

The separatists, who had been in an uneasy alliance with the beleaguered government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, launched their assault in Aden on Sunday and swiftly overran his troops, laying siege to the presidential palace.

Aden has been the headquarters of Hadi’s ministers since 2015, when rebels overran the capital Sanaa and much of the north.

Hadi himself is based in exile in Saudi Arabia, which has led a military intervention in support of his forces since 2015.

International charity Save the Children said on Tuesday that it too had been forced to suspend its work in Aden out of fear for the safety of its staff.

Even before the latest fighting, Yemen already faced the world’s most serious humanitarian crisis, with some 8.4 million of its 22.2 million population at risk of famine, according to the UN.

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Afghan delegation in Pakistan to discuss cooperation: FO

ISLAMABAD: A high-level Afghan delegation comprising the country’s Interior Minister and the chief of National Directorate of Security (NDS) is visiting Pakistan to hold talks on bilateral cooperation between the countries, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said on Wednesday.

The delegates include NDS chief Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai and Afghan Interior Minister Wais Barmak.

Afghan government had requested that a high level delegation comprising Interior Minister and NDS chief would like to visit Pakistan with a message from Afghan President and for discussions about cooperation between the two countries. Delegation is here and will have talks today.

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) January 31, 2018

Afghanistan’s envoy to Pakistan Dr Oman Zakhilwal shared the picture of visiting delegation on his official Twitter account.

The visit came on the heels of a fresh wave of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan in last few weeks after the Taliban and Daesh apparently seemed escalating their insurgency against US-backed Kabul government.

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Brexit dogs May as she eyes ‘golden era’ with China

BEIJING: Prime Minister Theresa May touted on Wednesday a “golden era” of Sino-British relations with deeper trade ties after Britain leaves the European Union, but her visit to Beijing was dogged by a Brexit row at home.

As she embarked on a three-day visit to the Asian giant, May batted away critics of her leadership on Brexit and domestic issues, including within her Conservative party.

“First and foremost, I’m serving my country and my party. I’m not a quitter and there’s a long-term job to be done,” she told reporters travelling with her.

The House of Lords is scrutinising a key piece of legislation on quitting the EU as a leaked government report shows only economic downsides to leaving the bloc.

May discussed Brexit with Premier Li Keqiang when they met at the imposing Great Hall of the People, where both leaders boasted about their “golden era” of relations and the potential for trade ties.

“We are determined to deepen our trading relationship even further and we are ambitious for what our future trade relationship will be,” May said.

The British leader said more than nine billion pounds ($12.7 billion) in business deals will be signed during her visit.

The two countries also launched a joint trade and investment review to “identify priorities” on goods, services and investment, she said.

ALSO READ: Trump says he would negotiate Brexit with ‘tougher’ attitude than Theresa May

The two sides also agreed new measures to improve access to the Chinese market and remove trade barriers, including making progress on allowing British beef exports.

In a nod to her hosts, May said “we welcome the opportunities” provided by China’s cherished Belt and Road initiative, a massive infrastructure project aimed at reviving ancient Silk Road trade routes between the East and West and creating greater market access for Chinese companies.

But she threw in a caveat, saying the two countries would continue to work together on how to ensure that the endeavour “meets international standards”.

Touting that Sino-British relations “don’t have winter, only spring”, Li said their ties would not be affected by Brexit.

“Brexit is a situation that both our countries face,” he said. “Our bilateral relationship will not change with the changes of UK relations. We will have assessment and discussion on our trade relationship to make our economic and trade relationship move forward.”

Rights and Hong Kong

May, who will hold talks with President Xi Jinping on Thursday and finish her visit Friday in the eastern business hub of Shanghai, was under pressure to address thorny issues with China.

Before her trip, the former British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, urged May to address concerns about the political situation in the semi-autonomous city, which London handed back to Beijing in 1997.

In a letter to May’s Downing Street office, Patten said Hong Kong was facing “increasing threats to the basic freedoms, human rights and autonomy” which its people were promised after the handover.

Human Rights Watch also urged the British leader to “get tough with China” on rights.

But business is the focus of her trip.

“The UK and China will not always see eye-to-eye,” she wrote in a Financial Times column.

“But as partners committed to global free trade we can work together to confront and tackle challenges that affect all of our economies.”

Britain has said it will leave the EU’s single market and customs union so that it can strike its own trade deals with countries outside the bloc, making China’s huge market an attractive target.

In preparation, a number of British officials have travelled to China in recent months. Trade minister Liam Fox discussed market access for British exports, including its key financial services sector.

Finance minister Philip Hammond worked on final preparations for a “stock connect” between the London and Shanghai exchanges, and mulled the possibility of linking their bond markets as well.

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KP complains federal govt’s reluctance to sanction energy project deal with Russia

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday complained that the PML-N led federal government has been erecting unnecessary hurdles for the oil refinery project between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government and a Russian oil and gas consortium.

Addressing a press conference alongside PTI chairman Imran Khan here, Khattak said the centre has been denying a no-objection certificate to the province for several energy projects.

“We have signed a deal with the Russian group of investors but the centre has been showing reluctance to sanction the pact,” he said.

Russian consortium representing Inter Rao Engineering and Himmash Apparat, has joined hands with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL) as they plan to set up a medium-sized refinery in Kohat district.

Throwing light on the energy pact, Khattak said the province would get 10 percent share in the revenue profit without making an investment.

Calling it an unprecedented move, Khattak said the KP government has made an exception after signing this deal, as what he claimed, the province would get its share in profit rather receiving commission.

He said the federal government wanted to promote use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the province, adding, the province has previously struck deals with FWO and other Chinese companies.

On the occasion, PTI chairman Imran Khan said the federal government shying away from purchasing cheap electricity from the province, relying on coal and gas power generators instead. “No country in the world relies on coal power generators,” he noted.

Referring to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s question, Khan said the province has been generating 74,000MW of power and not relying on the federal government.

He said the smog and pollution in Punjab is outcome of excessive use of coal in these power plants.

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SC questions civil society’s right to file appeal in Shahzeb murder case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the locus standi of members of civil society to file appeals challenging the Sindh High Court November 28 verdict that paved the way for the release of Shahrukh Jatoi and other accused on bail.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who headed the three-judge bench, questioned how civil society or NGOs could file appeals when neither the aggrieved party nor the state wanted to question the verdict.

He observed that if everyone was given the right to file cases, this would lead to exploitation.

The bench issued notice to Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf to appear in person or depute deputy attorney general on next hearing on Thursday (tomorrow) to assist court in the matter.

Members of civil society have filed appeals in the apex court challenging the Sindh High Court’s November 28 verdict that set aside the sentences awarded to Shahrukh Jatoi and other accused in Shahzeb murder case.

The appellants stated that the Sindh High Court erred while overturning an anti-terrorism court’s guilty verdict and ordering retrial of the suspects by an ordinary court.

Since the murder had triggered fear and panic among the people, it fell under the anti-terrorism law, they said while pleading with the court to declare the high court’s judgment null and void.

On December 23, Shahrukh Jatoi and other accused were released after a local court granted them bail when the father of the deceased filed an affidavit in support of their bail applications.

Aurangzeb Khan, the victim’s father, submitted an affidavit in the court, confirming that he and members of his family had pardoned the suspects without any pressure or duress in the name of Allah. He added that an out-of-court settlement was reached with the suspects back in 2013.

Twenty-year-old Shahzeb Khan, son of a DSP, was gunned down on the night of December 24, 2012 in Karachi’s Defence Housing Society.

The incident had sparked widespread outrage across the country and attracted much media attention, prompting the then Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the murder.

Jatoi, and his friend Siraj Talpur were sentenced to death while his younger brother Sajjad Talpur and their cook Ghulam Murtaza Lashari were awarded life in prison by an anti-terrorism court.

Subsequently, the convicts challenged their sentences in the high court, requesting it to set the sentences aside.

The SHC appellate bench overturned their sentences and sent the case back to a sessions court to conduct the trial of the suspects afresh.

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Govt releases funds for development projects under PSDP

ISLAMABAD: The government has released over Rs 357.5 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2017-18 for various ongoing and new schemes against the total allocations of Rs1,001 billion.

The released funds include Rs 104 billion for federal ministries and Rs 32.97 billion for special areas, according to data released by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform on Tuesday.

The commission releases 20% of funds in first quarter (July September), 20% in second quarter (October December), 25% third quarter (January March) and 35% in fourth quarter (April June).

Out of these allocations, the government, according to the state run wire service, has released Rs 116.39 billion for National Highway Authority for which Rs 326.25 billion have been allocated for the year 2017-18, whereas for WAPDA (Power) an amount of Rs 19.68 billion has been released out of total allocation of Rs 64.55 billion.

Similarly, Rs 5.276 billion have been released for Communication Division (other than National Highway Authority) for which the government has earmarked Rs 21.6 billion under PSDP 2017-18.

Railways Division received Rs 15.247 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 42.9 billion whereas Aviation Division received Rs 964.8 million out of its total allocation of Rs 4.348 billion.

The government also released an amount of Rs 11.628 billion for various development projects of Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs 35.662 billion, while Rs 3.99 billion have been released for Atomic Energy Commission.

An amount of Rs 9.199 billion have been released for Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand Programme out of its total allocations of Rs 20 billion, according to the data.

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Best friends’ brains light up the same way, says study

PARIS: Dating sites would be well-advised to add “brain activity” as a compatability criterion, according to a study released Tuesday showing that close friends have eerily comparable neural responses to life experiences.

“Our results suggest that friends process the world around them in exceptionally similar ways,” said lead author Carolyn Parkinson, director of the Computational Social Neuroscience Lab at the University of California in Los Angeles.

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare which regions of the brain lit up as 42 volunteers watched short clips from news reports, music videos, comedy skits and documentaries, researchers were able to identify who among them were friends.

The closer the relationship, the more alike the neural patterns in parts of the brain governing emotional response, high-level reasoning, and the capacity to focus one’s attention.

“Friends had the most similar neural activity patterns, followed by friends-of-friends,” the authors said in a statement.

“You can predict who people are friends with just by looking at how their brains respond to the video clips.”

The 14 brief excerpts included journalists debating whether then US President Barack Obama should use humour in his speeches; a sentimental music video about a social outcast with a facial deformity; a documentary about baby sloths in Costa Rica; and scenes from a gay wedding.

Scientists long ago understood that “birds of a feather flock together” when it comes to human social networks, with people attracted more easily to those of the same age, physical appearance and ethnic background, as well as other demographic categories.

– Online echo chambers –

This tendency extends to social networks too, according to the study, published in the journal Nature Communications.

From an Darwinian perspective, evolutionary psychologists argue, the “like-with-like” principle favour social cohesion, empathy and frictionless collective action.

The relationships we forge with individuals who are clearly different from us — not of our “tribe” — tend to be practical, task-oriented and short-lived, research has shown.

But seeking out peas from the same pod has a downside that is amplified in the digital age, said senior author Thalia Wheatley, a professor of psychology and brain science at Dartmouth University in Massachusetts.

“The cost of surrounding ourselves with only like-minded people is the creation of echo-chambers and polarisation,” she told AFP.

“This can be exacerbated by online communities that offer a constant diet of information that only confirms what people already believe.”

One question not answered by the study is whether we naturally gravitate toward people who see the world the same way we do, or whether similarity — including the way our brains light up — springs from shared experience.

Most likely, it is a combination of the two.

“We are a social species and live our lives connected to everybody else,” said Wheatley.

“If we want to understand how the human brain works, then we need to understand how brains work in combination — how minds shape each other.”

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Weight-loss surgery tied to slight increased risk of suicide: study

STOCKHOLM: Obese people who get surgery to lose weight are slightly more likely to attempt suicide than their counterparts who try other approaches to shed excess pounds, a Swedish study suggests.

The findings reinforce a need for thorough pre-surgery mental health assessments of bariatric patients, as well as for providing them with information about the risk of self-harm associated with the procedure and long term follow-up, the study team writes in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

The researchers examined data from two patient registries of obese individuals who either got bariatric surgery or tried other types of treatment or intensive lifestyle changes to lose weight. In one registry, surgical patients were roughly three times more likely to commit suicide or try to harm themselves than people who used other weight loss approaches, while the risk was 78 percent higher with surgery in the other registry.

The absolute risk of suicide was less than 1 percent for both surgical and non-surgical patients in both registries. And the risk of non-fatal self-harm was also low, ranging from less than 1 percent to almost 4 percent.

“We believe that the benefits of bariatric surgery, including lower mortality, outweigh our finding of an increased risk of suicide and self-harm,” lead study author Martin Neovius, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said by email.

Globally, 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, according to the World Health Organization. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, joint disorders and certain cancers.

Previous research has found obese people often struggle to shed excess pounds or keep weight off when they do lose it. Lifestyle changes such as following a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can often help in the short-term but fail to produce lasting results, particularly among people who have more than 100 pounds to lose before reaching a healthy weight.

In the current study, one registry included 2,101 obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery and a control group of 2,037 obese people who received only usual care, such as education on healthy eating and exercise habits.

In this registry, half of the patients were followed for at least 18 years. During follow-up, 87 people who had surgery died by suicide or tried to harm themselves, compared with 49 individuals who didn’t get bariatric procedures.

A second registry in the study included 20,256 obese patients who had bariatric surgery and a control group of 16,162 people who were treated with intensive lifestyle modifications.

The second registry followed half of the patients for almost four years or more. During follow-up, 341 people who had surgery and 84 people who didn’t died by suicide or tried to harm themselves.

Patients were more likely to kill or harm themselves if they misused drugs or alcohol, researchers found. But in the first registry, surgery patients were also more likely to have a history of self-harm than people who didn’t receive surgery.

The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how bariatric surgery might directly impact the odds that patients attempt suicide or try to harm themselves.

Another limitation of the study is that none of the patients in the registries had a newer and increasingly more common type of bariatric surgery known as a sleeve gastrectomy, which is less invasive, the authors note. This makes it possible that the results might not reflect what would happen with people getting surgery today.

Even so, the findings suggest that patients should be followed for several years after surgery to monitor for any potential mental health issues, said Matthew Spittal, co-author of an accompanying editorial and a researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

While the study didn’t explore why surgery might lead to an increased risk of suicide, it’s possible that some people might have dissatisfaction with their amount of weight loss or the appearance of loose flaps of skin that accompany dramatic weight loss, Spittal said by email.

It’s also possible that the surgical weight loss might lead to changes in the way the body absorbs nutrients and medications that might in turn make people more likely to contemplate suicide or self-harm, Spittal added.

But the benefits of surgery still outweigh this risk.

“The take-home message from this research is that bariatric surgery remains the most effective way of treating severe obesity,” Spittal said.

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Policeman among two killed in session court firing in Lahore

LAHORE: Two people, a policeman among them, were killed when armed men opened fire on them on the premises of a sessions court in Lahore on Wednesday.

According to the police, the victim policeman and a suspect facing murder charges were coming out of a courtroom when the latter’s rivals opened fire on them, leaving them with fatal firearm wounds.

The accused died on the spot while the policeman succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

The deceased were identified as Constable Asif and suspect Amjad Malik.

Following the incident of firing, a heavy contingent of police personnel arrived at the spot of the crime scene and cordoned it off.

A number of lawyers gathered on the premises of the court to protest against security lapse, demanding stringent security measures for the court.

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Indonesian family lived with dead relatives to ‘bring them back to life’

BANDUNG: An Indonesian family lived with the bodies of two dead relatives in the hope that keeping their corpses could bring them back to life, police said Wednesday.

The bizarre discovery came after a medical officer on a routine visit tipped off authorities after 77-year-old Neneng Hatidjah refused to let the officer inside the house, which was emitting a strange smell.

When local authorities forced their way into the home in Cimahi, West Java, they found the nearly skeletal bodies of Hatidjah’s deceased husband and daughter covered with cloth and laid out in a bedroom.

Villagers dig up bodies of dead relatives and give them makeover in bizarre ritual

She had sprinkled powdered coffee around the remains and police said they also found dozens of perfume bottles in the home, about a three-hour drive from the capital Jakarta.

The remains were identified as Hatidjah’s husband, who died in December at the age of 85, and her 50-year-old daughter, who had been dead for two years.

Hatidjah, whose two other children were living in the home, told police that the pair both died of illness, but she did not bury them in the hopes they could be resurrected.

“She said she heard whispers that if she took care of the dead bodies, they would come back to life,” local police spokesman Hari Suprapto told a French wire service Wednesday.

The septuagenarian was not charged but police said they’re investigating whether foul play may have been involved.

Black magic, which is outlawed, and faith healing are common in Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation in Southeast Asia where many people remain deeply superstitious.

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Sheikh Rashid retracts resignation from parliament

ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday has retracted his decision to resign from the National Assembly (NA).

Rashid had previously announced his resignation during a political gathering on Jan 17 in Lahore’s Mall Road over the Model Town incident. The protest led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) saw participation of several opposition parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP).

Responding to a journalist’s question outside the parliament today, Rashid said the resignation time has passed, hence he feels the move to resign from the parliament is not necessary now.

The AML chief also attended the Public Accounts Committee meeting at NA Secretariat.

Speaking to ARY News during a fundraising event in Dubai on January 20 for the Shaukat Khanam Memorial Hospital, the AML chief had refused to back down from his decision.

He then said he would address a political gathering from his constituency soon and bow out from parliament gracefully.

“I will hold a historic political gathering from both constituencies in Raja Bazaar (Rawalpindi) within ten to twelve days… and then with full grace and honour I will resign from this assembly of looters and plunderers.”

Responding to criticism over his ‘laanat’ remark about parliament, he then showed no remorse over his comments and said that such a parliament should be cursed a million times.

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Witnesses identify suspects in Naqeebullah murder case

KARACHI: Two eye witnesses on Wednesday identified accused persons during an identification parade in a case pertaining to the death of 27-year-old Naqeebullah in a staged encounter.

Judicial Magistrate (Malir) conducted the identification parade. The suspects were lined up among dummies and the magistrate asked the witnesses – Hazrat Ali and Qasim – to identify the suspects.

Both the witnesses were picked up along with Naqeebullah on January 03 by police personnel in plain clothes, but they both were later released while Naqeeb was killed in a fake encounter.

The witnesses told the magistrate that ASI Allahyar, and other policemen were in plain clothes when they had come to pick them up.

In the 15-page report, an inquiry committee investigating Naqeebullah Mehsud’s ‘extrajudicial killing’ had declared Naqeebullah innocent and rejected the claims made by suspended SSP Malir Rao Anwar in light of the evidences that he had criminal background.

The report asserted that Naqeebullah alongside two other men named Qasim and Hazrat Ali were picked up by policemen in plain clothes on January 3.

The other two men were set free after three days on January 6 after giving bribes for their safe release.

Throwing light on the encounter site, the committee in its report has said that as many as 26 bullet casings of sub-machine guns have been recovered from the site and no evidence has been found of firing from the victims [alleged terrorists].

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ATC summons Imran Khan on Feb 15 in Islamabad 2014 sit-in cases

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on February 15 in cases related to the attack on the public owned properties and then SSP Islamabad (Operations) Asmatullah Junejo during the 2014 sit-in in the capital city.

The PTI chief has been booked in four cases for inciting the crowd to violence, inflicting damages to the public properties including Pakistan Television (PTV) and parliament buildings in Islamabad.

Earlier today, the court had granted interim bail to PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi against a surety bond worth Rs100,00.

Previously, the court had approved the bail for Khan against a surety of Rs200,000 in each case.

Imran Khan had been skipping the court proceedings for last over three years until he surrendered before the court in November last year.

Cases against political cousins

Police had booked Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr Tahirul Qadri along with their supporters in a number of cases during the 2014 sit-in calling for the resignation of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

In a case, 70 people were booked after a mob of protesters belonging to the PTI and PAT stormed PTV headquarters and forced its staff to take two of the state broadcaster’s flagship channels — PTV News and PTV World — off the air on Sept 1, 2014.

The protesters were also charged with attacking government properties including the Parliament House building.

Another case related to the attack on then-Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Asmatullah Junejo.

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PML-N leader slams PTI over top court’s remarks about KP police

LAHORE: Minister for Pakistan Railway Khawaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday slammed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over failure to nab the culprit behind the rape and murder of four-year-old Asma in Mardan.

In a series of tweets, the PML-N leader launched a bitter diatribe on political opponents, particularly PTI, which has been in power in KP for more than four years, for not conceding what he said its incompetence to bring the perpetrator in the Asma murder case to justice.

He said PTI chief Imran Khan’s association with the province remained only to the extent of using provincial government’s resources. The KP had been burning while Imran was busy telling lies, he added.The PTI, which, according to him, had always slandered others, had never conceded its incompetence and negligence, he added.

Rafique said the KP police’s failure to arrest the perpetrators behind the murder of Mashal Khan, Asma, and Aasma was bad governance.“Why PTI has been tight-lipped over the Supreme Court’s remarks about KP police’s incompetence,” the minister asked, adding that those chiding others over court remarks should concede their incompetence.

The KP police lately received a lot of flak from the apex court over failure to bring the murderer of Asma to justice.

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Earthquake safety: 9 things to do during and after quake

Earthquakes are just too common these days. What can a person do against such a natural disaster, which wields damage to epic proportions? Seems like people can’t survive it, right?

WRONG. Earthquakes are a difficult situation to tackle, but you can escape without injury or hurting yourself much if you implement a couple of safety procedures. Humans still are vulnerable to natural disasters and calamities however, we can take steps to minimize the damages. Just today, an earthquake jolted India, Afghanistan and Pakistan which was recorded at 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale. Here are a couple of steps which you can use to hopefully escape unharmed and unhurt, when an earthquake strikes

What to do during an earthquake

Here’s what you do when the tremors hit you and you feel the ground beneath you shake:-

1. Take cover underneath a table or heavy item

Earthquake

If it’s a mild earthquake, throw yourself down on the floor. Most likely the building won’t collapse but items such as heavy furniture or the ceiling fan could come crashing down. In this case, it is always advised to throw yourself on the ground and obtain cover underneath a table or heavy piece of furniture. Protection first!

2. Do not use the elevator!

Earthquake

By any means necessary! Elevators are the worst passages you can take when an earthquake strikes. The main reason being, if it tends to get worse, th elevator will shut down. Then truly, will you be trapped! Take the stairs quickly and avoid the lifts, at all costs!

3. Stay away from the kitchen

Earthquake

Kitchens can be dangerous places, owing to gas stoves. A small crash and gas leakage could result in the whole house going up in flames. During an earthquake, you do NOT want that to happen! Make a run for the exit door and avoid stopping by the kitchen for anything at all!

4. If you live near the ocean

Earthquake

It’s best to take care to your car and flee to an area that is far away from the sea! Yes, earthquakes are often associated with tsunamis, which are caused by the ground’s convulsions. If a tsunami strikes and God forbid you’re nearby, an earthquake would be the least of your worries!

5. Be at a safe location

Earthquake

What could be a safe location? When you are far away from buildings, flyovers and bridges. Ensure it’s just you and the open sky above your head. That way, the shaking ground won’t be able to do much damage.

What to do when an earthquake has taken place?

Okay, now comes the important part. What to do when an earthquake has taken place?

1. Expect aftershocks

Earthquake

Yup, expect ’em. Aftershocks can also be deadly after an earthquake has taken place hence return to your households but stay vigilant.

2. Turn on the radio or listen to the news, any way you can

Earthquake

Yes, this is important due to the fact that you need to be aware of the situation at hand. If there is a tsunami warning or any such evacuation orders of the government, radio or communication devices are the only way for you to connect with the authorities or others.

3. At a school or any other place of work

Earthquake

If you’re in a school or somewhere else, always make sure that you listen to those who are in a commanding position such as teachers, instructors, principal or councillors.

4. If stuck beneath the rubble

Earthquake

I know this might be one of the most mundane and cliched tips ever, but stay calm! Only a calm brain is able to think and adapt to survive. If trapped, wait for the authorities to remove the debris and rubble and set you free. You can whistle or throw an object around to pinpoint your location. Stay near edible items, so as to survive for a longer duration.

So here’s how you can avoid getting injured or being helpless when an earthquake strikes. Make sure you practice the above steps stay safe and secure. Remember, as humans we cannot guarantee we’ll survive a natural disaster. However, we can stack the odds a little bit in our favour.

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Afghanistan opium cultivation was all-time high in 2017 despite US efforts: report

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) government’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, in its latest report, has revealed that Afghanistan recorded more poppy cultivation in 2017, despite US counter-narcotics efforts in the country.

According to the report, the opium production and total area under opium cultivation in Afghanistan have reached an all-time, up 87% and 63% respectively from the previous year.

“The total area under opium cultivation in Afghanistan approaches the area of Rhode Island [a state in US’s New England region],” the report stated.

The report asserts that Americans have less information about the ongoing intensifying insurgency in Afghanistan.

In its January report, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), John F. Sopko, wrote that the US Department of Defense instructed SIGAR to hold back data on the number of districts controlled or influenced by the Afghan government or insurgents, as well as the number of contested districts.

It says the changes reflect US President Donald Trump’s preference for secrecy over transparency and serve to mask a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

The report dubbed the development ‘troubling’ as Pentagon instructed the body not to release information marked ‘unclassified’ to the public.

The unclassified information is mainly comprises details of Taliban controlled districts in Afghanistan, the report revealed.

The SIGAR report noted that the number of districts controlled or influenced by the Afghan government has been falling since its initial inclusion in the quarterly reports in January 2016.

SIGAR’s October 2017 quarterly report stated that in population terms, according to U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), 63.7 percent of Afghanistan’s population lived in areas controlled or influenced by the government, with an additional 24.9 percent living in contested areas; 11.4 percent of the population, then, was living as of August 2017 in areas controlled or contested by insurgents.

In terms of districts, in the October 2017 report SIGAR said the Afghan government controlled or influenced 56.8 percent of Afghanistan’s 407 districts and the insurgents controlled or influenced 13.3 percent of districts.

The Pentagon now says the coalition controls 56 percent of Afghanistan’s districts and the insurgents control 14 percent, both numbers continue the trend of declining control.

Here are other key points of the SIGAR report:

Despite Afghanistan’s large and well-documented resources, mining revenues in 2016 supplied only 0.3% of the country’s $6.5 billion national budget. Among other obstacles, plans to develop the country’s mineral resources have been stymied by insecurity, corruption, weak governance, and a lack of infrastructure.
There has been a significant uptick in U.S. air strikes and special operations, with the U.S. dropping 653 munitions in October 2017. While this is a record high since 2012 and a more than three-fold increase from October 2016, these actions have yet to increase the Afghan government’s control over its population.
In its annual survey, the Asia Foundation found that only half of the Afghan respondents (52.3%) believed that reconciliation with the Taliban is possible. Additionally, approximately 15.7% of respondents expressed either “a lot” or “a little” sympathy for the Taliban.
RS reported 4,474 civilian casualties from June 1 to November 27, 2017-a 13% increase compared to the same period last year.
According to NAI, an organization supporting open media in Afghanistan, of 167 incidents of violence against journalists in 2017, the Afghan government was involved in 37%, whereas insurgents were involved in 40%.
From January 1 through November 26, 2017, 11 U.S. military personnel were killed in Afghanistan, and 99 were wounded. This is double the personnel killed in action compared to the same periods in 2015 and 2016.
According to DOD, airstrikes destroying 25 drug labs in November in December equated to nearly $80 million of drug money eliminated and $16 million of direct revenue being denied to the Taliban. Based on DOD’s valuation, SIGAR questions the accuracy of these figures.

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Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Turkey assures support for health reform in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Turkey’s Health Minister Dr Ahmet Demircan on Tuesday on behalf of his government assured technical support and technology transfer for health reform in Pakistan.

This assurance was given during a meeting between Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir and Ahmet Demircan in Ankara.

Both the ministers also discussed ongoing collaboration in the health sector and expressed satisfaction at the fast-paced partnership in this area.

Facebook to ban cryptocurrency-related ads

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it will ban ads promoting financial products and services tied to cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings.

We’ve created a new policy that prohibits ads that promote financial products and services that are frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices, such as binary options, initial coin offerings and cryptocurrency,” Facebook’s product management director, Rob Leathern, said.

The new policy will be implemented across its platforms, including Facebook, Audience Network and Instagram, the company said.

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