President Alvi urges citizens to play their part in fight against corruption

President Arif Alvi in a message on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day on Sunday called upon all citizens to contribute towards eliminating corruption and paving the way for economic growth and prosperity.

Alvi recalled that International Anti-Corruption Day was observed due to the 2003 ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption which sought to raise public awareness about financial crimes.

"This day serves as a reminder not only to the people of Pakistan but also to the citizens of all nations around the globe about the harmful effects of corruption," he explained.

Describing corruption as "a major hindrance against development and prosperity", the president said that it hurt business and the economy, which "in turn sabotages the prosperity of the nation".

"Corrupted economies remain unable to function properly because corruption prevents free functioning of the natural laws of the economy. As a result, corruption in a nation's political and economic operations causes its entire society to suffer," he added.

Billions of rupees in public funds are lost annually to corruption, directly affecting "the ability of the government to provide even proper basic services to the public", the president said.

"NAB being the apex anti-corruption agency of Pakistan has been mandated to keep this menace in check as well as to create awareness among the public at large about corruption," Alvi said, noting that the "sheer scale of this challenge calls for combined efforts to confront it head on".

Although the government is committed to eradicating this menace, he said, NAB alone cannot win this fight.

He called upon and urged all segments of society to unite in bringing out changes in attitude and contribute towards efforts in putting an end to corruption to support economic growth in order to bring prosperity.

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NAB is an autonomous body: Javed Iqbal

National Accountability Bureau Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Sunday asserted that the accountability watchdog is an autonomous body and has no ties with any political party.

Speaking in Islamabad, the NAB chairman stated that the top anti-graft body is only loyal to the state. “We are moving towards our goal of eliminating corruption,” he said.

“Everyone wants accountability but everyone also wants to be exempted,” he maintained. He added that “it is a legitimate question to ask where the money is being spent but some take this question as an insult”.

Justice Iqbal further said that the accountability watchdog has the right to inquire. Bureaucracy is the backbone of any government, he said.

“Even a common man has the right to ask about where his money is being spent.”

On December 6, Justice Iqbal said that NAB is actively working for across the board accountability and as many as 400 references have been filed by the bureau.

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Iran's president urges unwavering, all-out battle against terrorism

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on all neighboring and regional countries to step up an all-out fight against terrorism and extremism, saying major powers have created and supported terrorist groups.

Rouhani made the remarks in a Saturday meeting with Pakistani Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser, who is in Tehran for the second Speakers' Conference on the challenge of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity.

He said the conference, attended by speakers from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey, was a "good and useful initiative" to improve security in the region and cooperation among regional countries, adding, "Those who have created terrorist groups in the past decades, had in fact committed high treason against regional nations."

"The US, the West and the Zionist regime (Israel) are supporters of terrorist groups’ activities in Iran," Rouhani pointed out.

He emphasized that Tehran and Islamabad must take serious steps to battle terrorism and stressed the importance of resisting US bullying and finding appropriate ways to expand relations among friendly countries.

The Pakistani National Assembly speaker, for his part, said Islamabad was prepared to cooperate with Tehran in the fight against terrorism and the promotion of regional security.

Qaiser expressed hope that Iran and Pakistan would strengthen trade and economic cooperation, saying no one would be allowed to harm mutual relations.

In a meeting with Turkey's Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Binali Yildirim, the Iranian president hailed the Turkish government's positive stance vis-à-vis illegal sanctions imposed by the US against Iran and said Tehran was keen to expand all-out relations with Ankara.

"Iran regards Turkey's security and stability as that of its own," Rouhani said, calling on the two countries to immediately implement their agreements in all sectors.

Back in May, US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the multilateral nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Under the deal, reached between Iran and six major powers - the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

Last month, the Trump administration announced the re-imposition of the “toughest” sanctions ever against Iran's banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off the country's oil sales and crucial exports.

A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector.

During the meeting, Rouhani also commended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's constructive stance on issues facing the Muslim world and said regional countries should not yield to "wrong decisions" which would harm their interests and affect cooperation among them.

The Iranian president also said Tehran and Ankara had been facing the challenge of terrorism for years but managed to maintain positive cooperation in the battle against the scourge across the region during the recent years.

Yildirim, for his part, slammed ineffective US sanctions against Iran and said Turkey would keep its relations with Tehran under any circumstances.

He added that regional solution were the only viable way to fight terrorism and warned that any interference by extra-regional powers would create more complications in this regard.

Afghan stability, security important to Iran: Rouhani

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Afghan Speaker of the House of the People Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, the Iranian president said the defeat of terrorism and the establishment of stability, security and economic development in Afghanistan were of high importance to Iran.

Rouhani said Iran was ready to boost cooperation with Afghanistan in the economic sector.

He noted that the cultivation and smuggling of narcotics had harmed both the Iranian and Afghan nations and expressed Tehran's readiness to cooperate with Kabul in this regard.

For his part, Ibrahimi said Iran and Afghanistan were among the main victims of terrorism in the region and across the world.

He added that bilateral cooperation in the campaign against terrorism would benefit both nations and the entire region and would improve stability and development in the region as well.

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Clashes as yellow vest protests grow in Belgium, Netherlands

Belgian police fired tear gas and water cannons at yellow-vested protesters calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Charles Michel after they tried to breach a riot barricade, as the movement that started in France made its mark on Saturday in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Protesters in Brussels threw paving stones, road signs, fireworks, flares and other objects at police blocking their entry to an area where Michel’s offices, other government buildings and the parliament are located.

Brussels police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere said that around 400 protesters were gathered in the area.

About 100 were detained, many for carrying dangerous objects like fireworks or clothing that could be used as protection in clashes with police.

The reasons for the protests are not entirely clear. Neither Belgium nor the Netherlands has proposed a hike in fuel tax the catalyst for the massive and destructive demonstrations in France in recent weeks.

Instead, protesters appeared to hail at least in part from a populist movement that is angry at government policy in general and what it sees as the widening gulf between mainstream politicians and the voters who put them in power. Some in Belgium appeared intent only on confronting police.

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‘No-surrender’: French rebels return to Paris for Act IV

Back they came to Paris, despite appeals by authorities for moderate members of the “yellow vest” anti-government rebellion to stay home on Saturday, to avoid giving cover to hooligans.

In by now familiar scenes, the provincial poor and struggling middle classes poured into the capital for a fourth round of protests over taxes and inequality.

As the slogan scrawled on one yellow vest summed it up: “No-surrender, change-resistant Gauls, Act IV”.

The slogan was a dig at a remark by President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Denmark this summer where he praised the Danes’ “flexisecurity’ labour model, contrasting it with the “Gauls who are resistant to change”.

But change is exactly what the protesters who piled onto the Champs-Elysees boulevard are demanding.

They want a change of government policies which they see as favouring the rich, a change in a government seen as too technocratic, and for some, a change at the very top.

“Macron, resign!” chanted the demonstrators, who also bellowed slogans comparing riot police to the Nazi SS and periodically erupted into renditions of the Marseillaise national anthem.

A giant French flag unfurled by a group of demonstrators summarised their aims.

“1789, 1968, 2018,” read three stars on the flag, putting the rebellion in the same vein as the French Revolution and May 1968 student uprising.

Xavier, a 30-year-old construction worker from the eastern Moselle region wearing a red Santa hat, was one of the many protesters who decamped from the countryside to Paris on Saturday for the first time since the revolt began.

“People are increasingly fed up,” he said, watching from a safe distance as police battled a small group of demonstrators on a street leading off the Champs-Elysees.

Citing what he saw as the extravagance of the president who ordered a new set of china for the Elysee Palace for a reported 500,000 euros ($569,000) and a new carpet worth a reported 300,000 euros, Xavier said: “We get our tableware from Emmaus (a charity)! They too be should making an effort.” But at the first sign of rioters smashing windows he intended to beat a retreat. “I have two kids to think of,” he said.

The government had appealed to “reasonable” protesters to stay away on Saturday, issuing dark warnings that extremist elements were preparing to “smash things and kill”.

The protesters arrived into a city on lockdown, with shops boarded up, tourist attractions closed, and many residents choosing to remain indoors for fears of a repeat of the previous week’s violence.

Late in the afternoon youths began setting fire to barricades and even a few cars.

Throughout the day, police responded to stones and bottles being thrown with stun grenades and copious amounts of tear gas. Yet the vast majority of the demonstrators were peaceful.

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Firefighters battle huge factory blaze in NorthKarachi

A fire erupted in a factory near Saba Cinema located in North Karachi area in the wee hours of Sunday.

As per details provided by the rescue officials, at least ten fire tenders reached the sport to participate in the operation to extinguish the fire.

The police and ambulances had also reached the spot to assist the operation. The fire had spread throughout the three-story building however, no casualty was reported, the official informed.

The official said that there were no adequate arrangements in the factory to extinguish the blaze therefore the fire spread to the other floors.

However, the fire will be extinguished within two to three hours, the officer added.

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Trump chooses new Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he was nominating Army chief of staff General Mark Milley as his next top military advisor — a new slap in the face for Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

Milley, a four-star general who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, would replace General Joseph Dunford as the military´s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dunford is scheduled to retire in October 2019 at the end of his second two-year term.

"I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to our Country!" Trump said on Twitter.

But in choosing the 60-year-old Milley, a graduate of Princeton University known for his combat command experience, Trump went against the wishes of Mattis, who reportedly favored Air Force General David Goldfein.

That choice would have been in keeping with a tradition of rotating the post among the services.

Dunford is a Marine Corps general. There has not been an Air Force officer in the chairman´s post since 2005.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of the heads of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and National Guard.

Dunford quickly offered his congratulations to Milley.

"He has served with General Milley in peacetime and in combat and has the highest regard for his leadership," said Dunford´s spokesman, Colonel Patrick Ryder.

Milley must be confirmed by the US Senate. He would take the position for a four-year term, after a new law was passed last year doubling the term length to better ensure continuity.

Trump said the transition date was "to be determined," in a sign that Dunford might go sooner rather than later, but Ryder noted: "All indications are that General Dunford will serve his full term."

Trump switches top aides

Trump announced his picks for a new attorney general and a new UN ambassador on Friday and initially suggested he might make the military announcement at Saturday´s annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

The game features cadets from the Naval Academy against their counterparts from the US Military Academy and is often attended by the president.

But he opted to announce the news on Twitter before heading to the game.

After meeting with both Milley and Goldfein, it seems that Trump preferred the army general, who was more outgoing than the cerebral Air Force chief, and laced his discussions with humor and historical references.

The Pentagon´s reaction to the announcement was somewhat frosty.

"We are aware of the president´s nomination and share his confidence for General Mark Milley," Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, said in a brief statement.

"The Department of Defense remains fully focused on defending our nation."

Mattis was once a favorite of Trump, but the two men have had increasing difficulties in recent months.

They haven´t seen eye to eye over the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from over Mattis´ objections; over the creation of a Space Force, which Mattis did not want; and over the crisis at the US-Mexico border, and the deployment of troops there.

Mattis and Dunford are expected to attend the Army-Navy game on Saturday along with Trump.

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Trump chooses new Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he was nominating Army chief of staff General Mark Milley as his next top military advisor — a new slap in the face for Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

Milley, a four-star general who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, would replace General Joseph Dunford as the military´s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dunford is scheduled to retire in October 2019 at the end of his second two-year term.

"I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to our Country!" Trump said on Twitter.

But in choosing the 60-year-old Milley, a graduate of Princeton University known for his combat command experience, Trump went against the wishes of Mattis, who reportedly favored Air Force General David Goldfein.

That choice would have been in keeping with a tradition of rotating the post among the services.

Dunford is a Marine Corps general. There has not been an Air Force officer in the chairman´s post since 2005.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of the heads of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and National Guard.

Dunford quickly offered his congratulations to Milley.

"He has served with General Milley in peacetime and in combat and has the highest regard for his leadership," said Dunford´s spokesman, Colonel Patrick Ryder.

Milley must be confirmed by the US Senate. He would take the position for a four-year term, after a new law was passed last year doubling the term length to better ensure continuity.

Trump said the transition date was "to be determined," in a sign that Dunford might go sooner rather than later, but Ryder noted: "All indications are that General Dunford will serve his full term."

Trump switches top aides

Trump announced his picks for a new attorney general and a new UN ambassador on Friday and initially suggested he might make the military announcement at Saturday´s annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

The game features cadets from the Naval Academy against their counterparts from the US Military Academy and is often attended by the president.

But he opted to announce the news on Twitter before heading to the game.

After meeting with both Milley and Goldfein, it seems that Trump preferred the army general, who was more outgoing than the cerebral Air Force chief, and laced his discussions with humor and historical references.

The Pentagon´s reaction to the announcement was somewhat frosty.

"We are aware of the president´s nomination and share his confidence for General Mark Milley," Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, said in a brief statement.

"The Department of Defense remains fully focused on defending our nation."

Mattis was once a favorite of Trump, but the two men have had increasing difficulties in recent months.

They haven´t seen eye to eye over the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from over Mattis´ objections; over the creation of a Space Force, which Mattis did not want; and over the crisis at the US-Mexico border, and the deployment of troops there.

Mattis and Dunford are expected to attend the Army-Navy game on Saturday along with Trump.

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Trump nominates Heather Nauert as UN envoy

US President Donald Trump on Friday nominated State Department spokeswoman and former Fox News anchor Heather Nauert as his next ambassador to the United Nations — a swift elevation for a supporter who had no diplomatic experience until last year.

Nauert, who has shown poise in front of the cameras and mostly avoided gaffes, would succeed Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor seen as entertaining ambitions for higher political office.

Trump said he was impressed by the 48-year-old Nauert, a former anchor of Fox and Friends, one of the television-loving president's favorite shows.

"She's very talented, very smart, very quick, and I think she´s going to be respected by all," Trump told reporters.

Nauert said on Twitter she was "humbled" by Trump's confidence in her and looked forward "to continuing the outstanding job Amb. Haley has done representing your administration and the American people."

Nauert, who had been rumored as the top pick for the job since Haley's resignation, become the spokeswoman of the State Department after Trump's election despite no previous background in foreign affairs.

Representative Eliot Engel, the incoming Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was "uneasy" about Nauert´s lack of experience, as the UN job "requires face-to-face negotiations with important allies and hardened adversaries."

But the Senate, which alone needs to confirm Nauert, is still under the control of Trump´s Republican Party.

'Bridge' between UN and Trump?

UN diplomats said privately they hoped that Nauert will be an advocate for the United Nations within the Trump administration, to counter the anti-UN views of national security adviser John Bolton.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre told AFP that he looked forward to working with Nauert.

He expressed hope that she will continue to be a "bridge between Washington and the UN at a time when we more than ever need an America that is engaged with the UN in world affairs and committed to our shared values, beginning with human rights."

In June, the United States quit the UN Human Rights Council, which it sees as biased against Israel.

It is widely expected that the position will lose its current cabinet status, meaning she would be clearly subordinate to Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, her current boss.

Pompeo said on Twitter that he had "great confidence" in Nauert and called for her quick confirmation.

Praise for the appointment came from Israel, which has long counted on the United States to veto unfriendly resolutions on the UN Security Council.

"Ms. Nauert has stood by the State of Israel in her previous positions, and I have no doubt that the cooperation between our two countries will continue to strengthen," Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said in a statement.

Haley, in what could be a final diplomatic push, on Thursday failed in a bid for the UN General Assembly to condemn the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas for firing rockets at Israel.

But for the United States, the vote also succeeded in reinforcing its stance that the world body is biased against the Jewish state.

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Iran blasts US ‘economic terrorism’ at major conference

President Hassan Rouhani hits out at US “economic terrorism” against Iran as an international conference opens in Tehran with the participation of China, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Rouhani said Saturday US economic terrorism is specifically evident after its withdrawal from a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran and its decision to reimpose sanctions on the country.

"America's oppressive and illegal sanctions against the honorable Iranian nation is a clear instance of terrorism," has told the second conference on "challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity" attended by parliament speakers of the six countries.

"Economic terrorism is designed to create panic in the economy of a country and fear in other countries in order to prevent investment in the target country," he added.

US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in May and later imposed the "toughest sanctions ever" against the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani said, "We are facing an all-out assault which is not only threatening our independence and identity but also is bent on breaking our longstanding ties."

"When they put pressure on China's trade, we are all harmed... By punishing Turkey, we are all punished. Any time they threaten Russia, we too consider our security to be endangered," he said.

"When they impose sanctions on Iran, they deprive all of us of the benefits of international trade, energy security and sustainable development. And in fact, they impose sanctions on everyone.

"We are here to say that we don't intend to tolerate such insolence."

The president issued a warning to Europe which is working on a payment system, known as the "special purpose vehicle", to keep money flowing into Iran, but has struggled to find a host since many countries fear repercussions from the Trump administration.

President Rouhani warned of a "deluge" of drugs, refugees and attacks on the West if reimposed sanctions by the United States weaken Iran's ability to contain these issues.

"I warn those who impose sanctions that if Iran's ability to fight drugs and terrorism are affected ... you will not be safe from a deluge of drugs, asylum seekers, bombs and terrorism."

Iran has long suffered from drug trafficking because of being located at the crossroad of international drug smuggling from Afghanistan, the world's top opium producer, to Europe.

Over the past decades, Iran's eastern and southeastern borders had seen clashes in which thousands of Iranian security forces have lost their lives in fighting heavily armed drug smugglers.

The president said Iran has been the biggest victim of terrorism and suffered heavy human and financial damage, citing the Thursday bombing in Chabahar as the latest terrorist attack which left two policemen said.

Such attacks, Rouhani said, will not deter the Iranian nation in its resolve to fight all forms of terrorism.

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Fawad Chaudhry says happy to leave info ministry for Sheikh Rasheed

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that he would be more than happy to step down from his position for Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.

Chaudhry's statement came in response to a video of Sheikh Rasheed on television channels and social media in which the railways minister could be heard commenting that he had been offered by Prime Minister Imran Khan to take over the information ministry.

"I had four meeting with the prime minister yesterday. He told me that you should take over the information ministry," Rasheed could be heard saying as he spoke to officials prior to a press conference in Lahore. Rasheed could be heard saying the information minister was "on a picnic in London and he has been asked to return."

But Chaudhry responded by saying he'd would not object to stepping down for Sheikh Rasheed.

"I will be more than happy to vacate my position for Sheikh Rasheed sb and serve as MNA," Chaudhry said in a tweet.

I will be more than happy to vacate my position for Sheikh Rasheed sb and serve as MNA, we all use trust powers bestowed by people of Pakistan and PM decides who is best fit in the role, However, till I am minister ll not bow to blackmailing of Advertisement lobby

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 8, 2018

"We all use trust powers bestowed by people of Pakistan and PM decides who is best fit in the role, However, till I am minister ll not bow to blackmailing of Advertisement lobby," the information minister added.

'No truth in news regarding change in info ministry'

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Media Iftikhar Durrani also rejected the claims made by Rasheed in the video clip.

"There is no truth to the news reports regarding any change in the information ministry," Durrani said in a statement.

"The prime minister is content with performance of both [information and railways] ministries," he said.

 

 

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PM asked me to join Ministry of Information: Sheikh Rashid

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed said on Saturday he was happy with Ministry of Railways and could not even think of becoming information minister.

The comments came after his earlier claims that Prime Minister Imran Khan offered him Ministry of Information.

"Fawad Chaudhry is the best information minister; I am his supporter and stand by him," Rasheed said. "I cannot even think of becoming the information minister."

He said his comments regarding the information minister being on a picnic in London were said in jest.

"I had a word with Fawad yesterday and I told him to return top country in view of the circumstances," the minister for railways said. "I told him via phone that he is greatly needed [here]."

He described the information minister as an "extremely hardworking person", saying that no one should consider that he was against Chaudhry.

"I am not eager to become information minister. I'm happy with the railways ministry and will deliver in the same," Rasheed said.

"Fawad is my brother and he will continue to be the information minister. I will never be a part of any conspiracy against him come what may."

He lamented that people even record private conversations, saying that may Almighty Allah guide the ones running fake stories to the right path.

Rasheed earlier claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had offered him to "come to the Ministry of Information."

The minister for railways was heard speaking so to officials prior to formally addressing a press conference in Lahore. He claimed he held four meetings with the prime minister on Friday.

Rasheed said the information minister "is on a picnic in London for the last eight days and I have asked him to return."

Questioned by a reporter later at the presser what his response would be, if asked by the premier for a change of portfolio.

"I'd say love you. Thank you very much," Rasheed replied.

Reacting to the development, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said he would be more than happy to vacate his position for Rasheed and serve as an MNA instead.

"We all use trust powers bestowed by people of Pakistan and PM decides who is best fit in the role," Chaudhry said in a tweet.

I will be more than happy to vacate my position for Sheikh Rasheed sb and serve as MNA, we all use trust powers bestowed by people of Pakistan and PM decides who is best fit in the role, However, till I am minister ll not bow to blackmailing of Advertisement lobby

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 8, 2018

He, however, vowed not to bow to the "blackmailing of advertisement lobby" as long as he was a minister.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said there was no truth in reports of replacement of information minister.

"Fawad Chaudhry is working efficiently and the prime minister is satisfied with his performance," he said. The PM's aide said Chaudhry has been in London for four days and he would return to country on Sunday.

Durrani said he had no idea of any changes with regard to Ministry of Information, adding that the prime minister would review performance of different ministries on Monday.

Asked about PM's meetings with Rasheed, he said the minister for railways could himself answer this.

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Six injured in blast at MQM-P milad gathering in Karachi

At least six people were injured including a woman on Saturday night in an explosion at a milad gathering organised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar area, officials said.

The incident took place near the Perfume Chowk locality where the MQM-Pakistan had organised a religious milad gathering. Senior MQM-P leaders, including MQM-P Convenor and Federal IT Minister Khalid Maqbool, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, and others were present at the location when the blast occurred.

MQM-P leader Faisal Subzwari took to Twitter shortly after the explosion, saying several workers of his party were injured. He said Khalid Maqbool, Khawaja Izharul Hassan and others narrowly escaped the attack.

“There are reports of between four to six people being injured. Thanks to God, there are no reports of any loss of life in the blast," MQM-P Rehan Hashmi said. He also confirmed that the party’s top leadership remained safe.

Police and rescue officials confirmed that all injured had been taken to the hospital for emergency medical treatment.

According to initial information from SSP East Azfar Mahesar, a ‘cracker bomb’ was thrown near the venue of the milad.

The area has been cordoned off by law enforcement authorities and an investigation into the incident has been initiated. The bomb disposal squad is trying to ascertain further details regarding the exact nature of the explosion.

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Foreign Services officer and her husband died due to gas leakage

Foreign Services officer Syeda Fatimi and her husband passed away due to gas leakage in a hotel room late on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Hunza Ali Asghar confirmed the death of Syeda Fatmi and her husband.

According to DC Hunza Asghar, the couple passed away due to gas leakage in the hotel room and the incident is of the previous night.

Syeda Fatmi was serving as Assistant Director in the foreign office and belonged to 42nd Common Training programme and she was deployed at the common diplomacy section.

She was also a position holder of Foreign Services Academy’s 35th specialised diplomatic course.

Fatmi returned to the country after completing her training from France and belonged to Attock. She got married on November 29.

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Fawad Chaudhry’s brother appointed as additional advocate general Punjab

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s brother, Chaudhry Faisal Hussain Farid, was appointed additional advocate general Punjab on Saturday.

A notification issued in this regard stated that 18 people have been appointed as additional advocate general Punjab.

Chaudhry Faisal Hussain Farid has in the past represented former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the treason case against him.

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Exploration of oil and gas will be given preference to strengthen economy: Petroleum Minister

Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan has said that exploration of oil and gas will be given preference in order to support and strengthen the national economy.

Addressing a function in Rawalpindi today (Saturday), he regretted that the exploration was not given preference in the past and that is why country is spending sixteen billion dollars annually on import of petroleum products.

 

He pointed out that we import eighty-five percent of petroleum products from abroad.

The Minister assured that any project in the petroleum sector will be executed with complete transparency and no compromise will be made on quality.

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Pakistan's foreign policy on positive trajectory based on national interest: FM

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan's foreign policy is on a positive trajectory based on national interest and self-reliance.

Addressing a ceremony in Multan on Saturday, he said it is the robustness of Pakistan's foreign policy that the US has requested for assistance in Afghan issue.

Foreign Minister said, he will visit Kabul on Saturday next to hold talks with Afghan leadership on political reconciliation and durable peace in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan is committed to Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

The Foreign Minister said Prime Minister has also expressed satisfaction over the performance of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the first hundred days of the government.

He said the government raised the issue of blasphemous caricatures at the United Nations and also with the Dutch government in a strong voice.

The controversial cartoon contest was cancelled in the Netherlands due to our vociferous efforts.

Foreign Minister said Pakistan made the decision of opening of Kartarpur Border to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims.This step gave a message of peace and love from Pakistan.

He said Sikh community in the whole world expressed pleasure over this initiative of Pakistan and appreciated the move.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the issue of Kashmir was effectively highlighted at the UN and other world forums and the human rights violations by Indian occupation forces in the territory were exposed.

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Pakistan's foreign policy on positive trajectory based on national interest: FM

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan's foreign policy is on a positive trajectory based on national interest and self-reliance.

Addressing a ceremony in Multan on Saturday, he said it is the robustness of Pakistan's foreign policy that the US has requested for assistance in Afghan issue.

Foreign Minister said, he will visit Kabul on Saturday next to hold talks with Afghan leadership on political reconciliation and durable peace in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan is committed to Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

The Foreign Minister said Prime Minister has also expressed satisfaction over the performance of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the first hundred days of the government.

He said the government raised the issue of blasphemous caricatures at the United Nations and also with the Dutch government in a strong voice.

The controversial cartoon contest was cancelled in the Netherlands due to our vociferous efforts.

Foreign Minister said Pakistan made the decision of opening of Kartarpur Border to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims.This step gave a message of peace and love from Pakistan.

He said Sikh community in the whole world expressed pleasure over this initiative of Pakistan and appreciated the move.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the issue of Kashmir was effectively highlighted at the UN and other world forums and the human rights violations by Indian occupation forces in the territory were exposed.

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Medical facilities are only available for wealthy people: Chief Justice

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday said that the poor condition of medical facilities in the country is a failure of state.

Addressing an event at the National Institute of Heart Diseases in Rawalpindi, the chief justice remarked, “Patients do not have access to better health facilities. The state of hospitals is such that there are three patients on one hospital bed.”

“There is a need to improve the state of hospitals and a lot of other things in the country,” the chief justice stressed.

The top judge lamented, “Medical facilities are only available for the wealthy. I have tried to play a role in improving medical facilities.”“It is the responsibility of the government to provide funds for health facilities and judges have also given advice repeatedly for the improvement of hospitals,” he added.

“I saw the critical condition of hospitals in Punjab and saw three people lying on a single hospital bed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The poor condition of medical facilities in the country is a failure of state and it is the government’s responsibility to improve them,” Justice Nisar further said.

Justice Nisar continued, “It is unfortunate that there is no facility in the country for the liver transplantation of children.”“Why can’t doctors be appointed as provincial health secretaries?” he questioned. “Such officers should be appointed who are aware of the issues. The culture of favours needs to end and all work should be done on the basis of merit,” the top judge stressed.

The chief justice further said, “Rs22 million were spent on Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) but it does not have basic facilities. For improvements in the healthy system, more work will need to be done.”

“We have issued guidelines for the machinery present in hospitals. Now, it is the executive’s responsibility to implement the law fully. The Supreme Court will fully cooperate for improvements in the health sector,” he added.

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Special forces contingent of People's Liberation Army China arrives in Pakistan

A special forces contingent of People's Liberation Army China arrived in Pakistan today to participate in Pak-China joint military exercise 'Warrior-VI 2018'.

According to ISPR, troops of Special Service Group from both armies will participate in three weeks long exercise.

Focus of the joint exercise is to share respective experiences in the field of counter terrorism operations and learn from each other.

This is sixth joint exercise of the series as part of bilateral military cooperation between the two friendly countries.

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The husband of a teacher who got arrested after being filmed forcibly cutting a student's hair

The husband of a California teacher who was filmed forcibly chopping off a student's hair while belting out the national anthem has expressed shock and confusion over the incident.

Margaret Gieszinger, a science teacher at University Preparatory High School in Visalia, was arrested on Wednesday after video of the incident was posted online.
She is now being held at the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility on $100,000 bail on suspicion of felony child endangerment, the Visalia Times Delta reported.

Her husband, who has not been publicly named, said Gieszinger's actions were totally out of character.

"It's a shock to me, that's out of her character. She doesn't do stuff like that," he told ABC 30. "It's not her. It's not who she is. So I don't know what was going on with her. I don't have any clue as to why she did that."

In videos of the incident, Gieszinger is first seen standing in front of a student, cutting portions of the student's hair off and throwing them behind her.

As the student attempted to get up, Gieszinger said, "You're not done."

She is then pictured trying to go after another student before children started to run out of the classroom.

People at the school had noticed Gieszinger acting strange earlier in the week, and had reportedly accused students of taking a test that went missing on Monday, according to the Visalia Times Delta.

One of Gieszinger's students, Lilli Gates, told the newspaper that the incidents this week were completely out of character.

"When everything was going on I was terrified, and I so badly wanted to blame her. I was scared she was going to come back," Gates said. "What she did to my classmates and I is inexcusable. I am not trying to make excuses for her, I simply ask everyone to reconsider how they view her. She is a loving and kind lady. She is usually all smiles and laughs. This is not the Miss G we know and love."

Tulare County Office of Education, which oversees the high school, is investigating the incident.

Jim Vidak, superintendent of Tulare County schools, said Gieszinger will not return to her classroom and a substitute will take over for the rest of the semester.

Visalia Times Delta reported that, according to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Gieszinger's teaching credential was suspended in 2007 and 2016, for two weeks each time.

The reasons behind the suspensions remain unclear.

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Bids opened for provision of Sehat Cards to 14 mln families across Pakistan

Financial bids of insurance companies were opened in the presence of media in Islamabad today for provision of Sehat Cards to 14 million families across Pakistan.

Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulation Aamir Mehmood Kiyani was also present at the bid opening ceremony.

Through these cards families living below poverty line of 2 dollars per day will be provided financial protection against extraordinary healthcare expenditures.

The Sehat Card provides its enrolled beneficiaries access to free quality indoor health care services, worth 720,000 rupees, from public and private hospitals of their choice across the country.

The services also include hearth surgeries, stents, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis, maternity and other medical and surgical services.

Minister for National Health Services Aamir Mehmood Kiani has said the scope of health card scheme has been expanded on the directions of the Prime Minister in order to provide better healthcare services to the poor segments of the society.

He was addressing a ceremony in connection with the opening of the financial bids of health card scheme in Islamabad today (Saturday).

The Minister said under this scheme, indoor services will also be ensured both at the public and private sector hospitals.

He said the card holders will be able to get medical treatment up to the tune of seven hundred and twenty thousand rupees.

Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister vowed to make all out efforts to provide the best possible healthcare facilities to the poor as envisioned by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

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Rare but conspicuous: Your photos of white reindeer

After a photo of an adorable white reindeer went viral this week, other people have shared their snaps of the animals.

Dr Nicholas Tyler, from the Centre for Saami Studies at the University of Tromso in Norway, told the BBC that white reindeer are rare.

However, he adds that they are "highly conspicuous", especially in the summer months, which may go some way to explain why people are able to get so many great photographs of them.

While some people refer to these animals as "albino", it is likely these animals have a different condition.

As can be seen in these photos, the reindeer have white fur but do not lack pigment in their eyes.

Glen Jeffery, from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London, explains that the the production of pigment in the skin and eyes are controlled independently.

This means that the animals do not suffer from the visual difficulties associated with albinism.

"For animals where pigment generation fails in the eye, the world becomes terribly bright... as light bounces around in the eye because it's not absorbed by pigment."

Jerry Haigh is a professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He has spent time studying the reindeer herds of Northern Mongolia.

He says that white reindeer are "quite common" among the herds cared for by the nomadic Dukha community.

Kristen Jayne took this photo of a group of reindeer while travelling from Jokkmokk to Ostersund in Sweden, in 2017.

On his first trip to Norway, Kevin Barta spotted this white reindeer which was part of a larger group.

"The reindeer herd saw us and started to run," he told the BBC, "the white reindeer came close so I got some good photos."

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The father of a murdered 13-year-old girl was denied a visa to enter the US for her funeral

The father of a 13-year-old girl has been denied a visa to enter the US to attend her funeral.

On November 5, 13-year-old Hania Aguilar was kidnapped outside of a relative's home in Lumberton, North Carolina, according to the Associated Press. Three weeks later, her body was found in a lake in Robeson County, about 10 miles south of the mobile home park where she was kidnapped.

Hania's funeral will be on Saturday, but her father, Noé Aguilar, won't be there. The Department of State has denied Noé a temporary visa, The New York Times reports.

On Monday, Noé visited the United States Embassy in Guatemala City to ask for an expedited visa. His request was rejected, as officials felt that Noé did not have strong ties to Guatemala and would not return after the funeral.

"To tell you the truth, with past administrations, we never had a problem like this," his lawyer, Naimeh Saleh told The Times. "With this administration, most everything that is discretionary is getting denied."

North Carolina government officials, including Gov. Roy Cooper, are attempting to appeal the Department of State's decision so that Noé can attend his daughter's funeral.

Read more: An unauthorized immigrant who makes Trump's bed at his Bedminster golf resort says 'we are tired of the abuse, the insults, the way he talks about us'

Speaking to The Times, Salem said Noé, who lived in the US when Hania was a baby before moving to Guatemala in 2005, intends to return to Guatemala after the funeral.

"He has no desire to come to the US," Salem said. "He wanted to kiss his daughter goodbye."

According to the FBI's website, Hania's kidnapping and murder remain unsolved at this time. The FBI and the state of North Carolina are offering a reward of up to $30,000 for information related to the case, per ABC News.

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Tiny Mummy’s ‘Alien’ Appearance Finally Explained

Researchers hope their new research will settle debate over the origins of Ata, a naturally mummified infant found in the Chilean desert.

Ata is just six inches tall, with a conical-shaped head and unusually hard bones for her size. Some have claimed that she’s an alien. But a new study published today in the journal Genome Research not only continues to disprove the alien theory, but also reveals a scientific explanation for her allegedly extraterrestrial appearance.

The debate started in 2003 when the naturally mummified remains of Ata were discovered near a ghost town in Chile’s Atacama Desert. A Spanish businessman, Ramón Navia-Osorio, purchased her mummy and in 2012 allowed a doctor named Steven Greer to use x-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging to analyze her skeleton.

Greer is the founder of The Disclosure Project, which is “working to fully disclose the facts about UFOs, extraterrestrial intelligence, and classified advanced energy and propulsion systems,” according to its Web site.

Ata is only as long as a human fetus. But a radiologist who analyzed the images said that Ata’s bones were about as mature as those of a human six-year-old.

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Were Chile's death-cult mummies inspired by desert conditions?

At the time, Greer also provided samples of Ata’s bone marrow to immunologist Garry Nolan at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. Nolan’s team sequenced Ata’s DNA and concluded that her genetic material was from a human being, not an alien. But he couldn’t explain how such a small person could exhibit her unusual physical appearance.

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Ayaz Khan, five others sent to jail ‎for seven years in NICL scam

An accountability court on Saturday has sentenced six people in the National ‎Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) land scam case to prison.

According to details, former Chairman of NICL Ayaz Khan Niazi and five others have been sent to jail ‎for seven years each. The court also declared all the accused disqualified for any public office for next ten years.

The convicts were involved in causing loses of Rs490 million to the national exchequer by purchasing ‎land at higher prices.

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Indonesian woman swallowed whole by 23-foot python

A missing Indonesian woman has been found dead inside the belly of a 23-foot-long python, village officials said.

Wa Tiba, 54, was last heard from on Thursday before she went to check on her vegetable garden near her village on Muna Island in central Indonesia, reported The Associated Press.

A search party on Friday discovered a reticulated python with a swollen belly about 50 yards from the garden where Tiba’s family found a few of her belongings earlier in the day, according to The Jakarta Post.

The villagers killed the snake and sliced it open to reveal Tiba’s dead body.

“When they cut open the snake’s belly they found Tiba’s body still intact with all her clothes,” said the village chief, Faris. “She was swallowed first from her head.”

To kill their prey, reticulated pythons wrap themselves around an animal and crush it, causing it to suffocate or go into cardiac arrest, according to the BBC.

This specific species of snake is common in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, though it is extremely rare for the animal to attack humans. In March 2017, a 25-year-old man was found dead inside a python’s belly in central Indonesia. He had been working on his family’s palm oil plantation.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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Govt creating environment for overseas Pakistanis to make investment: Fawad

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary has said the PTI government is creating an enabling environment for the expatriate Pakistanis to make investment in the country.

Addressing the Pakistani community in London, he said we are giving special importance to the overseas Pakistanis in our policies.

The Information Minister said the PTI government faces no political challenge in the country.

He said PTI assumed the office in difficult economic situation but now the immediate balance of payment crisis has been overcome.

He said foreign exchange reserves and exports are increasing as a result of prudent policies.

Fawad Chaudhary said PTI in its first one hundred days in government faced no corruption scandal.

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Germany: 10yo blows up school toilet with illegal firecracker

The explosion destroyed the toilet, demolished the stall and shattered windows. Police do not know where the boy got the explosives and say he's lucky to have escaped without seriously injuring himself or others.

A 10-year-old student in the western German city of Duisburg caused serious damage at his elementary school on Friday morning when he used an extremely powerful firecracker to blow up a toilet.

The result of what may have been a child's prank ended with massive property damage and the risk of serious injury. Police say the boy placed an illegal Polish firecracker next to the toilet, lit the fuse and then ran out of the boy's bathroom.

The explosion utterly destroyed the toilet as well as blasting tiles and tile fragments off the walls, collapsing the ceiling and shattering windows — sending shards of glass flying more than 15 meters (50 feet) into the schoolyard.

Lucky no one was seriously injured

Duisburg police say they do not yet know where the boy acquired the explosive but say he is very lucky that neither he nor anyone else was seriously injured in the incident.

Police say the case illustrates the serious danger presented by such illegal explosives, which are much more powerful than those legally attainable in Germany. The purchase and possession of such firecrackers is illegal in Germany and punishable with fines and up to three years in jail under the country's explosives law.

'Absolutely life-threatening'

Separately, state prosecutors in Cologne also announced that raids had taken place across the country on Friday, in which customs authorities arrested a number of people for the illegal import of explosives similar to those used in Duisburg.

Authorities searched 54 apartments and numerous fireworks warehouses and confiscated 74 packages of Polish firecrackers en route to customers via parcel services. Prosecutors said customers had no idea how "absolutely life-threatening" the contents of those packages were.

Starting the New Year with a deadly bang

The Duisburg police posted a clear warning on their homepage Friday about the threat posed by the Polish explosives and urged parents to speak to their children about them before the coming New Year. Fatalities and serious injuries are a regular part of German New Year celebrations, as fireworks are permitted for private use around the country.

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More passenger trains will be launched in near future: Sheikh Rashid

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad says efforts are being made to expedite work on ML-I project in collaboration with China to improve train journey.

Talking to newsmen in Lahore on Saturday afternoon, he said new freight trains as well as more passenger trains will be launched in near future.

The Minister said that pharmacies will be opened at different railway stations to provide medicines to the sick passengers.

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Asad Qaiser, Iranian counterpart discuss bilateral relations

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani in Tehran and discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interests.

Asad Qaiser said Pak-Iran relations are deep rooted in common faith and culture.

He said the regional countries will have to take concrete steps for peace and security in the region as it is vital to achieve the objectives of progress and development.

Describing terrorism and extremism as the biggest hurdle in the way of economic development, the speaker said all regional countries will have to take collective steps to curb this menace.

Ali Larijani said Iran desires to continue cooperation with Pakistan in all sectors.

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$37b trade potential can reduce inequalities in Pakistan, India: Dr Ishrat

Prime Minister’s Adviser for Institutional Reforms and Austerity Ishrat Husain has said both India and Pakistan have the trade potential of $37 billion which, if unlocked, could prove a powerful engine for shared prosperity and to reduce inequalities in the region.

He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of 21st Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) followed by 11th South Asia Economic Summit organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Friday.

“We need to invest in science and technology to tap potential of fourth industrial revolution, otherwise, we will lag behind,” he suggested, adding the challenge today is to invest in labour productivity in services and agriculture sector.

“Inequalities, such as gender, income, and social, coupled with poverty are hindering development and growth of regional countries,” said Husain stressing the need for improving quality of education in Pakistan so as to create job opportunities.

Also speaking at the conference, former interior minister and Member of the National Assembly Ahsan Iqbal said, “We are passing through the age of digital revolution where artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of this world.”

“At the moment, when inequality is growing at an alarming level, we have to ensure every single person of the society has access to information and communication technology to fight inequalities,” said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader urging to not be myopic but to adapt to changes.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will impact the lives of most vulnerable people and to further harness the potential of regional connectivity, we need stronger connections on trade, culture and technologies among regional countries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman said peace within and peace without should be our objective while moving towards regional cooperation and connectivity, which would help Pakistan and other countries of the region to grow and develop.

“India and Pakistan have no option but to talk on all unresolved issues including Kashmir,” she said adding that there is consensus among all the political parties in Pakistan to have peace talks with India.

“We have history of starting and stopping talks, and walk-out from peace talks would not help any country,” said Rehman adding visa free corridors like Kartarpur Corridor can help bring peace in the region despite political differences.

Executive Director SDPI Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said during the four-day long event around 40 different session were organised, where issues such as trade, peace, climate change, poverty, left politics, SDGs, health, education, fiscal decentralisation, charter of economy, agriculture and role of media were discussed in detail. He also called upon the political parties to reduce the political tensions and evolve consensus on issue of public interest.

Earlier, speaking at a session titled: Fiscal Decentralisation: Gaps and Challenges, former finance minister Dr Hafiz A Pasha stressed the need for showing political maturity saying that is what “we all require as a nation”. He added that federal front needs to have high degree of rationalisation for fiscal decentralisation.

Chairman of Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) Dr Kaiser Bengali, discussing the NFC Award, 18th Constitutional Amendment and imbalance between federal and provincial governments said federal government didn’t get much out of the seventh NFC Award.

Similarly, speaking at a concurrent session titled: Rightsising the Health Warning Tobacco Control Initiative Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh said, “While making policies we forget we need to take on board the real stakeholders; in this case the tobacco producers should implement laws regarding limited use of tobacco in the country.”

He argued the newly-levied ‘sin tax’ has caused a lot of social backlash and he is personally of the opinion that in Pakistan the main hurdle has been ineffectiveness to implement policies because of the strong position these entities hold because of the leverage they get by paying heavy taxes.

Speaking at another concurrent penal titled: Oil based energy generation plants to shut off after this year, Chairperson of PM’s Task Force on Energy Reforms Nadeem Babar, highlighted few problems regarding energy generation in Pakistan. Starting with what we have to achieve in future with a focus on what we have to overcome from past.

“Pakistan is facing huge energy leakages due to various reasons,” he said adding the government is carrying out a massive crackdown on theft and non-recovery.

Speaking at a session titled: Poverty reduction through social mobilisation in South Asia, Chairman of Rural Support Programme Network (NRSP) Shoaib Sultan Khan, said social mobilisation is the key to poverty reduction since we can reach poorest of the poor through this approach.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Higher Education Commission Dr Tariq Banuri, stressed the need for introducing a rural support programme approach in the education system to bridge the gap between academic research and field communities.

Speaking at a concurrent session titled: Role of Private Sector in Climate Action, former federal minister Nisar A Memon discussed harmful human impacts on climate as he focused on bringing awareness in the society which would lead to better socioeconomic conditions of the country.

Meanwhile, former finance minister Rana Mohammad Afzal Khan while speaking at a concurrent session on Intra-regional Investment Cooperation in South Asia for SMEs Development, said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economy, which require strengthening entrepreneurial skills, trade associations and skill development at micro level to strengthen the role of SMEs in South Asia.

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Joint committee on CPEC to ink industrial framework agreement on Dec 20

The Joint Coordin­ation Committee (JCC) of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will meet on December 20 in Beijing to sign a framework agreement on industrial cooperation and pave the way for development of special economic zones starting with Rashakai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to an official announcement, the Cabinet Committee on CPEC met on Friday and gave the go-ahead to sign industrial cooperation framework with China and encourage Chinese investors to relocate their industries.

The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar.

An official said a final version of the framework agreement on industrial cooperation had been shared with the Chinese side.

He said all the four provincial chief ministers, prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and chief executive of Gilgit-Baltistan would be part of the Pakistani delegation. The Pakistani side will attend the 8th JCC led by federal planning minister.

The committee also issued instructions to relevant agencies to finalise a schedule for the groundbreaking of Rashakai Economic Zone at the earliest by removing all bottlenecks.

The KP government has already entered into an agreement with the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) for the development of Rashakai Industrial Zone in two years.

The two sides, he said, would formally launch the Rashakai development project under which the Chinese firm would simultaneously launch a marketing campaign to attract investors.

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DG Khan: Two dead, 1 critically injured in attack on cement factory van

Unidentified motorcyclists in Dera Ghazi Khan opened fire on a cement factory's security van on Friday, killing two and critically injuring another, according to police.

The incident, which took place in the vicinity of Kot Mubarik police station, saw armed gunmen on motorcycles open indiscriminate firing on the security van of DGK Cement.

The victims were transferred to the D.G Khan Medical College, where two of them succumbed to their injuries.

District police officer (DPO) Atif Nazir told that the attack was carried out when the van was carrying the cement company's employees to its factory.

The DPO told that he was confident of nabbing the assailants soon, adding that police teams have been constituted in the wake of the deadly attack.

 

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Careem’s co-founder only Pakistani on Bloomberg Top 50

With ride-hailing giant Careem’s instant success in Pakistan, it comes as no surprise that the people behind the company are receiving global recognition.

Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of the company is the only Pakistani to make Bloomberg’s top 50 list for 2018.Bloomberg released the annual list of people who are shaping the modern culture and redefining global business landscape.

Ride-hailing giant, Careem has proven to be tough competition for Uber which was reportedly in a discussion of being acquired by the former in a deal of $2.5 billion.

The company has more than 1 million drivers in the Middle East and Northern Africa allowing customers to book not just cars but also bikes, rickshaws, and boats.

“Technology is enabling regional economies to leapfrog traditional infrastructure challenges around transportation, banking, and communication,” says Sheikha to Bloomberg.

Careem’s estimated valuation has gone over $2 billion amid the ride-hailing boom.

“Internet-enabled services are having a profound and positive impact on our region, where the consumer internet opportunity is huge and untapped,” Sheikha said in a statement.

Launched in 2012 as a web-based interface developed by engineers in Sindh’s provincial capital, Careem was an online booking service that handled corporate orders. Vehicles were dispatched manually not unlike the way Metro Radio Cab handles its orders.

Sheikha is also using his influence to support the One Million Arab Coders initiative that offers online courses on its website. He also began Hackathon in Ramallah and an AI-oriented summer camp in UAE very recently.

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CJP Nisar does not have any social media account: SC

The Supreme Court on Saturday rejected reports regarding the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar having any social media account.

According to a notification by the SC, the chief justice of Pakistan does not have any social media account and that the Twitter account under his name is fake.

The Federal Investigation Agency has been directed to take action against fake accounts floating on social media, the notification further said.

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Karachi Mayor, others indicted in 2 more cases regarding May 12 mayhem

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi on Saturday indicted city mayor Waseem Akhtar and others in two more cases pertaining to the May 12, 2007 riots.

Of the total accused in the cases, 21, including Akhtar, appeared before the court today to be indicted. All 21 pleaded 'not guilty' to the charges, which include clauses related to attempted murder, creating unrest and spreading terror.

Fifteen others nominated in the cases had already been declared absconders by the court.

The court ordered the witnesses to be summoned in the case's next hearing.

Read: Memories of May 12

It is pertinent to mention here that the ATC had already indicted Akhtar and the other accused this year in two separate cases pertaining to the May 12 carnage.

Around 50 people were killed and over 100 wounded in attacks on rallies by different political parties and the legal fraternity who had attempted to receive the then deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the Karachi airport ahead of a lawyers’ gathering on May 12, 2007.

Chaudhry was forced to fly back to Islamabad after nine hours of being restricted to the airport.

Akhtar was the provincial home adviser to the chief minister at the time.

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First Ever International Student Convention to Be held in Islamabad This Month

The International student convention (ISC) will be attended by participants from 30 countries. The ISC is being organized with collaboration of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) and several other educational institutes of Pakistan.

It will start from December 10, alongside a two days Global Expo under the theme of ‘Securing our future’, aiming at revitalizing the role of youth in development, construction of productive goals, peace sustainability and promotion of enterprises.

The organizers have designed 30 competitions and interactive sessions for students with leading experts and personalities belonging from various fields with the aim to encourage maximum participation of students.

Dr Nasser Ali Khan, IUCPSS chairperson has supervised all the arrangements and final presentations have been tendered in a meeting this week.

The ISC and Expo 2018 will be consisted of International conference on Youth and Parliament, visit to Parliament House, diplomatic Forum & corner, university pavilion, books pavilion, tourism and culture pavilion, career counseling sessions, model UN and National Assembly sessions, talent hunt, ideas corner, workshops, seminars, sports activities, competitions and several other interesting and productive activities.

The organizing of such conventions has an aim to involve youth in productive discussions and make them realize the importance of their role in building of future of the world.

Interactive sessions of youth with experts of certain fields give the students an insight of professional and practical challenges they are going to face in future. It becomes source of future preparation to embark a highly competitive world out there.

Gathering students from foreign countries and Pakistani students under same roof provides a platform to share their experiences, knowledge and talents.

The organizers are charging no entry fee and visitors and participants will accommodated with on-spot facilities.

The collaborative partners of IUCPSS for organizing this event are Comsats, Paigham-e-Pakistan, Punjab Higher Education Commission, United National Information Centre Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services, University of Lahore, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, National Book Foundation, Asian Peace Film Festival and several other high- ranked Pakistani universities/ partner universities of Inter University Consortium.

Pakistan is a country which has been subject of much negative bigotry from western world.

International sports have been put on hold due terrorist activities and domestically Pakistan is facing numerous religious, financial, political and social crises. Amidst, multitude of odds, participation of international students in an international convention being held at Pakistan’s capital city, will send positive message to the world and inspire Pakistani students to work hard despite crises.

The students will get exposure to share their talents before international professionals and subject experts and they can get information about various academic courses and programmes from them in ISC and Expo 2018. The event is organized on a grand scale; the organizers are working around the clock to make it a mega success as it is first ever in Pakistan.

It is certainly an appreciable initiative of Pakistan’s Higher education commission; they are setting a high ranked example for other educational institutes to follow.

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Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Cardi B and Lady Gaga among biggest nominees

Women dominate in the best album category, with Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, HER, Janelle Monae and Kacey Musgraves up for the award.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake lead the nominations for next year's Grammy Awards, with seven nods each.

Cardi B, Lady Gaga, HER, Maren Morris, Childish Gambino, producer Sounwave and engineer Mike Bozzi all have five nominations each.

While male acts dominated the nominations in the main categories last year, five of this year's best album nominees are women, with Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, HER, Janelle Monae and Kacey Musgraves competing against Drake,

 Post Malone and the Black Panther soundtrack.In the best new artist category, six of the eight nominees are also women, with British stars Dua Lipa and Jorja Smith nominated alongside HER, Chloe x Halle, Margo Price and Bebe Rexha, as well as Luke Combs and rock band Greta Van Fleet.

Six songs are up for both record and song of the year: Lamar and SZA's All the Stars; Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's Shallow, from the A Star Is Born soundtrack; Childish Gambino's This Is America; Drake's God's Plan; Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey's The Middle; and Carlile's The Joke.

Stars have been tweeting about their excitement at being nominated, with Dua Lipa, who is also nominated for best dance recording, for Electricity (with Mark Ronson and Diplo as Silk City), writing: "TWO NOMINATIONS TWO GRAMMY NOMINATIONS IM SO HAPPY BUT I CANT STOP CRYING I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!"

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Giraffes were just added to the list of species facing the threat of extinction

The world's tallest land mammal might be facing extinction. Two subspecies of giraffes (out of the nine in existence) have just been added to the "critically endangered" list for the first time, according to the latest report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Kordofan and Nubian giraffe subspecies — found mainly across East, Central, and West Africa— are now classified as "critically endangered," while the reticulated giraffe — native to the Horn of Africa — is listed as "endangered."

Since giraffes are widely overlooked when it comes to research and conservation efforts, the new classifications came as a surprise, even to some conservationists.

Dr. Julian Fennessey, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group, said in a statement that giraffes are "under severe pressure in some of its core ranges across East, Central, and West Africa…we have been sounding the alarm for a few years now."

And like most problems facing our natural world, humans are at the root of it all. In addition to illegal hunting and civil unrest in those parts of the African continent, loss of habitat due to agriculture and mining is one of the biggest threats to the species.

Although things are looking grim for the Kordofan and Nubian giraffes, two other giraffe subspecies — the West African and the Rothschild's — have had their conservation status upgraded.

Arthur Muenza, East Africa coordinator of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, said in a statement, "This is a conservation success story and highlights the value of making proactive giraffe conservation and management efforts in critical populations across the continent."

He implores conservationists to step up their efforts, especially when it comes to these newly "critically endangered" subspecies.

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Drake and Lamar lead but women shine through in Grammy nods

Rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake led Grammy Award nominations on Friday, but Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Brandi Carlile and American newcomer H.E.R helped make it a female-dominated line-up for the year’s top prizes in the music industry.

Ten-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Ariana Grande and Camila Cabello were among the biggest snubs in top categories that were dominated by hip-hop and R&B.

Canada’s Drake, the most-streamed artist of 2018, won eight nominations, including album of the year for Scorpion, and both song and record of the year for his single God’s Plan.

Five of the expanded eight nominees in the album of the year race were women — Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer, folk singer Brandi Carlile’s By the Way, I Forgive You, country singer Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour and newcomer H.E.R.’s self-titled H.E.R.

Rapper Post Malone’s Beerbongs & Bentleys and the soundtrack to hit movie Black Panther, which was produced by Lamar, round out the album of the year field.

Lamar, the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize for music, Drake, Cardi B and Carlile also garnered nominations for record of the year.

The Recording Academy, whose members choose the Grammys, this year expanded to eight from five the number of nominees in the top four categories — record, song and album of the year, and best new artist — to allow a more diverse line-up.

The Academy also expanded its membership and set up a diversity task force after an uproar over the low number of female nominees, winners and performers on the televised ceremony in January.

Six of the eight best new artist nominees on Friday were women, including H.E.R., Chloe x Halle, British pop star Dua Lipa, and Bebe Rexha.

Cardi B, coming off a phenomenal year, Lady Gaga, actor Donald Glover’s music moniker Childish Gambino, and country-pop star Maren Morris each had five nominations overall

Lady Gaga’s nominations came mostly from her single Shallow with actor-director Bradley Cooper from their movie A Star is Born, which won five Golden Globe nods on Thursday.

In the biggest snub, Swift, one of the world’s most successful singers, was shut out of the major awards, getting just one nomination in the pop category for her best-selling album Reputation.

Grande, who on Thursday won Billboard’s Woman of the Year accolade, and Cuban-born Cabello were relegated to two apiece in the pop album and pop single categories. Beyonce had to make do with just three, all of which she shared with husband Jay-Z — music video Apeshit, R&B performance Summer and urban contemporary album Everything is Love.

The Grammy Awards will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Feburary 10.

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