US, South Korea to end key joint military exercises

The US and South Korea announced Sunday an end to key annual large-scale military exercises in support of diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

The decision comes days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking.

There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

While Trump has ruled out withdrawing the troops, he has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises, describing them at a press conference in Hanoi as "very, very expensive".

During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement.

Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies.

In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers.

It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days.

The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, Seoul's defence ministry said Sunday.

Washington and Seoul will instead conduct "modified" drills starting Monday through to March 12, a joint military statement announced Sunday.

The nine-day exercise, officially named "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance", will largely focus on joint defence manoeuvres rather than the offensive posture of the Key Resolve drill, a South Korean military official who requested anonymity told AFP.

There was no indication of how many US and South Korean troops will be mobilised for the new exercise.

South Korea's foreign ministry said that Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, will also leave for Washington to hold talks with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun.

"Lee will fly sometime this week," ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP.

Lee and Biegun are expected to discuss the Hanoi summit, which failed to build on the vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearise the Korean peninsula signed by Kim and Trump during their meeting in Singapore last year.

Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could impact the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated.

"Suspending or downgrading the US-South Korean drills may hurt the readiness of the two militaries, but I don't think it's going to be a serious security threat to South Korea," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP.

"The South's conventional forces outclass the North's, and given the current situation (with the US and the existing sanctions), it's highly unlikely that Pyongyang will do anything with its nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future," he added.

Retired General Vincent Brooks, a former commander of US forces in South Korea who helped organise Trump's first meeting with Kim in Singapore, said last year that any end to joint training would not hinder the Pentagon's combat-readiness on the peninsula.

"Perhaps we've been told for now to put our sword back into its sheath, but we have not been told to forget how to use it," he said.

Washington has sought to end long-running tensions on the peninsula and encourage North Korea to scrap its nuclear programme.

Since the Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint military drills, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea.

"Not downgrading or suspending the drills at this point ... would mean the involved countries are not serious" about reaching a denuclearisation accord, said University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin.

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Estonia votes as far-right surge challenges mainstream

Estonians vote Sunday in a general election with the centre-left coalition duelling its traditional liberal rivals and a surging far-right party buoyed by a backlash from mostly rural voters in the Baltic eurozone state.

The lacklustre campaign has focused on bread and butter issues like taxation and public spending, as well as tensions over Russian language education for Estonia's sizeable Russian minority and the rural-urban divide.

Nearly 40 percent of the 880,690 eligible voters have used e-voting in advanced polling, with officials confident the online system can withstand any attempted meddling.

A poll collating e-voters and those intent on using paper ballots on Sunday suggests a tight race.

Promising to slash income and excise taxes and pushing anti-immigration rhetoric, the far-right EKRE stands to more than double its support to 17.3 percent, but could struggle to find coalition partners.

With 5-6 parties expected to enter the 101-seat parliament, the splintered outcome will make for tricky coalition building.

Traditional rivals, Centre and Reform have alternated in government and even governed together over the nearly three decades since Estonia broke free from the crumbling Soviet Union.

Centre has vowed to hike pensions by 8.4 percent and to replace Estonia's 20 percent flat income tax and 21 percent corporate tax with a progressive system to boost state revenue.

Nixing a progressive tax, business-friendly Reform instead wants to raise the tax-free monthly minimum and lower unemployment insurance premiums to aid job creation.

Joblessness hovers at just under five percent while economic growth is expected to slow to 2.7 percent this year, from the 3.9 percent in 2018.

Calling existing taxes "difficult to cope with", Marilyn, a small business owner from Tallinn who declined to give her surname, told AFP that Reform's proposed tax breaks get her vote.

Alexander, a Russian-speaking factory worker, wants pension and salary hikes.

"It's impossible to survive with the minimum wage," he told AFP in Tallinn, referring to Estonia's 540 euro ($615) monthly minimum.

While it won just seven seats in the 2015 election, the EKRE is set to capture a close third spot behind established parties.

Staunchly eurosceptic, it called for an "Estxit" referendum on Estonia's EU membership, although the move would fail in the overwhelmingly pro-EU country.

The party's deep suspicion towards Moscow means it strongly supports NATO membership and the multinational battalion the alliance installed in Estonia in 2017 as a tripwire against possible Russian adventurism.

Tonis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, draws comparisons to the rise of far-right parties across Europe that oppose immigration and multiculturalism while offering generous social spending.

He describes the EKRE's position on liberal democracy, including civic and human rights, rule of law and the separation of powers as "very ambiguous".

The party's surging popularity is largely rooted in the misgivings of rural Estonians who feel left behind after years of austerity under Centre and Reform.

"These people see few economic prospects and feel the mainstream parties don't care much about their problems," Saarts told AFP.

The Centre party has long been favoured by the Russian minority, comprising around a quarter of the Baltic state's population of 1.3 million.

The party signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party in 2004.

To avoid losing voters suspicious of Soviet-era master Russia, Ratas insists the deal is "frozen" but also wary of losing the Russian vote, he has refused to rip it up.

The minority is counting on Centre to save the existing education system comprising Estonian and Russian-language schools set up in Soviet times, while Reform and EKRE want to scrap Russian-language teaching.

Polling stations open from 0700 to 1800 GMT on Sunday. No exit polls will be issued, with initial official results due by midnight.

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Kyrgios beats Zverev to win Acapulco ATP crown

Australian Nick Kyrgios capped a scintillating run in Acapulco with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over world number three Alexander Zverev Saturday to claim his first ATP title in more than a year.

Kyrgios defeated three top-10 players on the way to the title, saving three match points in a second-round victory over second-ranked Rafael Nadal -- owner of 17 Grand Slam titles -- and beating No. 9 John Isner in the semis.

He also beat three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of a drama-filled week that saw him shake off hostile crowds, illness, injuries and moments of malaise -- not to mention a post-match scolding from Nadal.

His win over Zverev was a remarkably straightforward affair.

"I just chucked in a lot of drop shots, tried to keep him guessing, that's all you can do," said Kyrgios, a former world number 13 who has slipped to 72nd in the world.

"He's super-fit, so he's going to grind you down so I tried to keep the points short when I could," added Kyrgios, who spent more than nine hours on court over his four prior matches but needed just an hour and a half to dispatch Zverev.

"You know, I lack on the physical side a little bit," Kyrgios admitted with a smile. "But today I served well and just played the clutch points pretty well."

Indeed it was Zverev whose nerves were frayed after Kyrgios broke him at love in the fourth game of the opening set then held for a 4-1 lead, prompting the German to smash his racquet in frustration.

Kyrgios broke again to open the second set, but double-faulted on break point in the next game.

He broke Zverev again in the fifth game and held with confidence the rest of the way to capture his first title since Brisbane in January of 2018.

While Kyrgios had come to embrace the role of tournament villain in which pro-Nadal fans had cast him, Zverev said fans should appreciate what they had seen from him.

"Really, he's the one who deserves to win it," Zverev said. "He's the real champion this week," and the fans, finally won over, cheered.

In women's action China's Wang Yafan rallied from a set and a break down to capture her first WTA title, defeating American Sofia Kenin 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The 24-year-old from Nanjing seized a 2-1 lead in the final set by taking advantage of her third break-point chance in the game.

Wang held on her first ace of the match for a 3-1 lead, but surrendered a break on her fourth double fault to allow Kenin to equalize at 3-3.

After Wang held at love to 5-5, she reeled off the last four points of the 11th game to break Kenin and then held serve for the triumph.

The 20-year-old American was denied her second career WTA title and second crown of the year after taking her first at Hobart in January.

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Galaxy honour David Beckham on MLS opening day

Major League Soccer kicked off a new season on Saturday with 10 games and a tribute to football great David Beckham whose arrival in 2007 helped usher in a new era for the then upstart league.

A statue of the former England captain was unveiled by the LA Galaxy outside their stadium in an emotional ceremony prior to their 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire.

Beckham's former Galaxy coach Bruce Arena and teammate Robbie Keane, as well as Beckham's wife, Victoria, attended the ceremony.

"From day one when myself, Victoria, and the kids arrived in this city we felt at home and for that we will be forever grateful," said Beckham, who is set to become an MLS club owner when expansion side Inter Miami joins the league.

"This city has always felt like home for me. My wife, my kids, my parents, and my friends, I couldn't have had the career I had without the support from you guys."

Beckham made headlines around the world when he moved to the United States in 2007 after an illustrious career at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

His Galaxy deal was widely reported to be for $250 million over five years, but in reality the $250 million figure was his potential earnings from salary, endorsements and club revenue. His base salary was $6.5 million a year but he was promised a percentage of Galaxy revenues.

Beckham played for the Galaxy until 2012, taking league titles in his final two campaigns, during a career that also featured a stop with England's national team.

"He wasn't one of the fastest players on the field, nor did he score many goals," Arena said. "He was an outstanding passer and a great free-kick specialist.

"He was an intelligent and skillful player. He was simply a great leader and a winner."

Said former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, "the impact he had on the sport here in America can't be overstated. He was the first true big name to come to the States."

Beckham helped pave the way for European star players to follow and so it was fitting that Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored on a late header Saturday to lift the Galaxy to a season-opening win over the Fire.

Ibrahimovic, who was second in MLS last season with 22 goals in his debut campaign, rushed in to put his header past Fire goalkeeper David Ousted in the 80th minute.

"We are not 100 percent but we worked to get our first three points," said Ibrahimovic.

Elsewhere, Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley's brace lifted the Canadian side to a 3-1 victory at Philadelphia in the opening game of the season.

The 31-year-old US midfielder found the goal three minutes into first half stoppage time and again in the 62nd to put Toronto on top.

Mexico's Marco Fabian answered for the Union in the 73rd minute but US midfielder Nick DeLeon sealed Toronto's victory three minutes into stoppage time.

Opening day also featured the debut of expansion squad FC Cincinnati, who lost their inaugural game 4-1 to the Seattle Sounders.

It is the second straight season that Seattle has hosted an expansion team in the season opener. Last year they faced Los Angeles FC and suffered a 1-0 loss.

There was no repeat performance as Cincinnati were no match for the Sounders.

Three other early matches ended in draws with FC Dallas and the New England Revolution deadlocked 1-1, Orlando City and New York City level 2-2 and the New York Red Bulls finishing 1-1 with the Columbus Crew.

MLS Cup champions Atlanta, with a new manager and without star Miguel Almiron who decamped to Newcastle United in January, open their campaign on Sunday against Wayne Rooney and D.C. United.

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Pakistan Army‘s behaviour was quite professional and impressive: Abhinandan

Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was released by Pakistan as a "gesture of peace" after his aircraft was shot down, has praised the Pakistan Army and their treatment of him during the two days in capture.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured on Wednesday when his MiG-21 was among two Indian military aircraft shot down by Pakistan Air Force after they ventured into the Pakistani airspace. He was handed over to Indian officials at Wagah border crossing on Friday night, as a gesture of peace and goodwill by Pakistan aimed at defusing tensions with India.

According to Indian media reports, Abhinandan during his meeting with the Indian defence minister disclosed that the Pakistan Army personnel did not physically torture him during the nearly 60 hours he spent in their custody.

The pilot had also praised the Pakistan Army's treatment of him while he was in custody.

He was seen speaking in a video clip that the Pakistan Army personnel "were thorough gentlemen" and that he wanted "to bring this on record" that he was being treated well.

The Pakistan Army‘s behaviour was quite professional and impressive, Abhinandan had said.

His release was announced Thursday by Prime Minister Imran Khan at a joint session of Parliament.

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Martyred soldier Abdul Rub laid to rest in DG Khan with full military honours

Havaldar Abdul Rub, who was among the two soldiers martyred in unprovoked firing by Indian forces along the Line of Control, was laid to rest with full military honours in Dera Ghazi Khan on Sunday.

Two Pakistan Army soldiers, Havaldar Abdul Rub, 31, and Naik Khurram, also 31, and two civilians were martyred when Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing at Nakiyal Sector along the LoC on Saturday.

Naik Khurram will be laid to rest later in the day.

A large number of army officials and the general public attended the funeral prayers of the martyred soldier.

Tensions between India and Pakistan are at an all-time high following Indian incursions into Pakistani airspace and subsequent downing of two Indian aircraft by Pakistan Air Force.

Indian warplanes intruded into Pakistani airspace in the dark of night on February 26, however, they turned back soon after Pakistan Air Force scrambled its fighter jets.

In order to make their escape, fleeing Indian jets dropped their payload in a hilly forested area near the northern Pakistani town of Balakot, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Line of Control (LoC).

The Indian government was quick to take credit for a “successful attack" and put the death toll to over 300.

Pakistani officials, as well as the locals, rejected the claims, inviting local and international media to visit the site of the so-called attack where around a dozen trees were the only “casualty”.

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Balakot strike 'did not cause much damage', admits BJP leader

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Union Minister of State Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia has admitted that the Indian Air Force’s “airstrikes” inside Pakistan to destroy alleged terrorist camps “did not cause much damage.”

Exposing the lies perpetrated by the war-mongering Indian media, the politician said, “I have read in the national as well as in the international media. I have also heard PM Modi in his first speech in Churu after the airstrike. He had not said that 300 were killed.

“Has any spokesperson of BJP or party president Amit Shah claimed that?” S.S. Ahluwalia asked.

New Delhi’s claim of 300 casualties in the so-called air strikes in Balakot, Pakistan has been questioned not only worldwide but even by political leaders and analysts within India.

Indian newspaper ‘Indian Express’ recently debunked the claim by quoting top Indian government sources who said the assessment of casualties was "purely speculative". It further said that India lacked ground intelligence, while there were limitations of technical intelligence as well.

Tensions between India and Pakistan are at an all-time high following Indian incursions into Pakistani airspace and subsequent downing of two Indian aircraft by Pakistan Air Force.

Indian warplanes intruded into Pakistani airspace in the dark of night on February 26, however, they turned back soon after Pakistan Air Force scrambled its fighter jets.

In order to make their escape, fleeing Indian jets dropped their payload in a hilly forested area near the northern Pakistani town of Balakot, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Line of Control (LoC).

The Indian government was quick to take credit for a “successful attack" and put the death toll to over 300. Pakistani officials, as well as the locals, rejected the claims, inviting local and international media to visit the site of the so-called attack where around a dozen trees were the only “casualty”.

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North Korea has no economic future if it has nuclear weapons: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises.

“North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don’t have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons,” Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference.

He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be “very, very strong.”

According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs.

The two “made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training programme reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner,” the Pentagon said.

South Korea’s military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning on visiting the United States in the coming week to meet with US officials to discuss the second US-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official.

The Pentagon said the US and South Korea had agreed to “newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs.” US officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced.

Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place.

To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump.

In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear programme.

Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbier’s death.

Trump said he was trying to maintain “a delicate balance” to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear programme.

The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when.

Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kim’s leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbier’s treatment.

Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the US mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017.

Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as “gangster like.”

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We have not seen a bigger liar than Narendra Modi: Congress leader Digvijaya

A senior leader of the Indian National Congress has said “he has not seen a bigger liar” than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to reporters in west-central city of Indore, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh demanded the Modi government to present evidence of the Indian Air Force's “air strike” on alleged terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan.

"I am not questioning the recent IAF action against Pakistan-based terrorist camps. But pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence of Osama bin Laden's killing before the world," NDTV quoted him as saying.

Singh also congratulated Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for releasing IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

"I also congratulate the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan for showing us a new way of being a good neighbour and returning the brave Indian Air Force officer to us," the Congress leader said.

The politician also refuted Modi's claim that after the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the Indian Air Force wanted to conduct a “surgical strike” against Pakistan, but the Congress-led UPA government nixed the idea.

"I can only say that we have not seen a bigger liar than Narendra Modi," he said.

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Flight operations resume at Lahore airport

Flight operations resumed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Sunday after over 72 hours as Pakistan's airspace was closed following escalating tensions with neighbouring India.

According to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) domestic and international flight operations resumed at the Lahore airport at 6am on Sunday morning.

All airlines have been notified about the resumption of flight operations, the aviation authority added.

However, the Multan airport is yet to open for open for commercial flights. Sources had informed, that the airport will remain closed till March 4.

A day earlier, flight operations resumed at Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta airports. Airport officials at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport said, normal flight operations have resumed at the airport.

On Friday, Pakistan's aviation authority partially resumed operations for some international and domestic flights as thousands of passengers were left stranded worldwide after Islamabad shut down air travel following escalating tensions with India.

A CAA spokesperson had said the airspace was "partially re-opened", adding that it would be fully restored by Monday.

The spokesperson said flights would be allowed in and out of Pakistan's major airports at Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta starting Friday, with the rest of the airspace to be re-opened "gradually"

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Finally Modi admitted Pakistan Air Force's superiority in air warfare

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday admitted air superiority of Pakistan Air Force compared to Indian Air Force, which recently suffered downing of two of its warplanes and capture of a pilot by Pakistan.

"Today, we badly felt the absence of Rafale fighter jets," the Indian premier said, taking advantage of the recent air skirmishes between the two countries, at the India Today Conclave 2019 in New Delhi.

"If we had Rafale, the scenario would have been different."

Indian political parties have been gunning for Modi over the 2016 purchase of 36 Rafale planes from Dassault Aviation estimated to be worth $8.7 billion, saying he had overpaid for the planes and had not been transparent. The deal was aimed at to overhauling the outdated IAF fleet.

The Indian premier further said the country suffered due to "vested interest" over the Rafale jets in the past.

"We continue to suffer due to the politicisation of the Rafale deal. The vested interests and politicisation has caused great harm to the nation's interest," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was quick to shame Modi for the alleged corruption in Rafale deal.

"Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Cr and gave it to your friend Anil," Rahul said in a tweet.

"YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets."

Dear PM,

Have you no shame at all?

YOU stole 30,000 Cr and gave it to your friend Anil.

YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets.

YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets. https://t.co/BrzAuFTlFu

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 2, 2019

Tensions between India and Pakistan are at an all-time high following Indian incursions into Pakistani airspace and subsequent downing of two Indian aircraft by Pakistan Air Force.

Indian warplanes intruded into Pakistani airspace in the dark of night on February 26, however, they turned back swiftly soon after Pakistan Air Force scrambled its fighter jets.

In order make the escape, fleeing Indian jets dropped their payload in a hilly forest area near the northern Pakistani town of Balakot, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Line of Control (LoC).

The Indian government was quick to take credit for a successful "attack" and putting the death toll to over 300. Pakistani officials, as well as the locals, rejected the silly claims, inviting local and international media to visit the site of the so-called attack with around a dozen trees downed.

On February 27, Pakistan Air Force downed two Indian jets and captured an Indian Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, as Indian Air Force once again ventured into Pakistani air territory.

Pakistan, however, released the captured pilot on Friday as a "gesture of peace

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Former Chelsea, Real Madrid star Nicolas Anelka expected in Pakistan on Tuesday

Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and France striker Nicolas Anelka will visit Islamabad on Tuesday to meet the president of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Syed Ashfaq Shah, and to "reinforce the development of a 20-point agenda to uplift football in Pakistan".

Anelka's visit to the capital comes as part of the World Soccer Stars 2019 initiative of the TouchSky Group. The group also brought legendary footballers Ricardo Kaka and Luis Figo to Pakistan in January, and plans on holding exhibition matches in Karachi and Lahore in April.

"Salam Pakistan, it's Nicolas Anelka so get ready," he says in a promotional video before explaining in a press release that his "participation is to help boost football in Pakistan."

Anelka, who also visited Pakistan in 2017 to play two matches headlined by Ronaldinho, further adds: "Having embraced Islam [in 2004], I have a special connection with Pakistan. I have forged a special relationship with World Soccer Stars tour. I am confident of this tour being one of its kind. I look forward to exciting my fans in Pakistan on April 26 and 29 in Karachi and Lahore."

"The expert knowledge of Anelka is based on the offensive coaching style, which he currently offers at Lille OSC Youth in France Ligue 1," said the press release. "The visit is designed to help grow technical understanding for PFF through a partnership with TouchSky Group-World Soccer Stars."

TouchSky Group CEO Ahmer Kunwar said "our vision hails from top down and bottom up approach to drive appropriate structures across core levels of football in Pakistan. Anelka's visit is to discuss a deep-dive discussion with PFF on supporting the domestic league structure. The presence of Anelka reinforces our intent. He has taken a time-out before the tour to discuss a structured gateway to European football for Pakistani players."

"I am delighted to discuss the real development needs for football and unearth a realistic football grass-roots structure for PFF," said Robert Lewis, the head of TSG-World Soccer Stars. "I am committed to sustainable growth in football and really impressed with the appetite for football there is in the market."

Anelka's visit of Islamabad will end at the Centauras Mall, where he will be unveiled to football fans so he could "energise, motivate, inspire and help grow their confidence in football".

World Soccer Stars is a set of showcase football matches scheduled to be held in Karachi and Lahore on aforementioned dates. The matches will also see American singer Akon do a live concert for the first time in Pakistan.

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Experts Solve Mystery Of Bizarre 7ft Fish Washed Up On US Beach

A bizarre giant fish creature washed up on a Californian beach had experts stumped.

Researchers from the University of California in Santa Barbara had to carry out tests on tissue samples to determine the species, which turned out to be something called a hoodwinker sunfish, (or mola tecta).

The weird-looking creature has never been spotted in the northern hemisphere again - in fact, it was only discovered in 2017, by Marianne Nyegaard, from Murdoch University in Australia, who gave it the name 'hoodwinker' as it has been so elusive for so long.

The 7ft-long fish washed up on Coal Oil Point Reserve last month and photos of the find were shared on social media, with experts from the University of California and staff at the reserve worked together to get to the bottom of the mystery.

A spokesperson from the University said: "There are rare finds, and then there are out-of-nowhere, first-ever discoveries that send scientists' hearts aflutter."

Thomas Turner, an evolutionary biologist who snapped the pics, said: "It's the most unusual fish you've ever seen.

"It has no tail. All of its teeth are fused, so it doesn't have any teeth. It's just got this big round opening for a mouth."

Nyegaard was sent a photo of the 'mysterious fish' by fellow expert Ralph Forster and says she was instantly curious.

She said: "I thought that the fish surely looked an awful lot like a hoodwinker, but frustratingly, none of the photos showed the clavus (a rounded rudder) clearly.

"And with a fish so far out of range, I was extremely reluctant to call it a hoodwinker without clear and unambiguous evidence of its identity.

"I just couldn't be sure due to pixellation and kept thinking I was totally being hoodwinked by this stranded sunfish."

Speaking to CNN she said this was the first time the fish had been spotted in the northern hemisphere - with previous sightings near to New Zealand, Australia, Chile and South Africa.

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Protests Grow in Algeria as Aging Leader Eyes 5th Term

Algeria is facing its biggest demonstrations in years, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to protest another re-election bid by ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. For the moment, Boutelika is expected to formally present his candidacy by Sunday’s deadline.

The protests have been largely peaceful, but on Friday there were reports of violence that left at least one person dead. Citing health officials, the state-run Algerian Press Service reported Saturday that 183 people were wounded. Several dozen protesters were arrested. Other media described witness accounts of police hitting demonstrators with batons and lobbing tear gas at them.

The anti-government protests that erupted in several cities and towns after Friday prayers are the biggest in years. Protesters oppose Bouteflika running for a fifth term in office, but there is also anger at the country’s high joblessness and alleged government corruption. Bouteflika turned 82 on Saturday, and is reportedly undergoing medical tests in Geneva. Rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, he is paralyzed and in a wheelchair.

Sorbonne University North Africa expert Rhadija Mohsen-Finan says Algerians feel both humiliated and infantilized by being expected to vote for Bouteflika once again — regardless of the true state of his health. The political structure is aging, she said, noting the president has been part of Algeria’s power system since its independence from France in 1962.

Since taking office in 1999, Bouteflika is credited for restoring peace in Algeria following a brutal civil war that killed upwards of 100,000 people. The so-called Arab Spring that began in neighboring Tunisia in 2011, and swept across the region, left little mark on Algeria. Oil dollars helped the government maintain stability and few Algerians wanted to revisit their violent past. This past week, Algeria’s prime minister recalled the chaos that followed the Arab Spring uprising in Syria.

Oil prices have plummeted since 2011, however, and Algeria’s economy is struggling. Today, nearly one-third of Algerians under 30 are jobless — and the country’s largely young population has little memory of the civil war.

Analyst Mohsen-Finan, who co-authored a new book on dissent in North Africa, says the country’s ruling elite is divided on a way forward, while demonstrations driven by social media are unified in opposing Bouteflika’s re-election bid. She says Algeria’s regime might still present an alternative candidate to the president. The big question is whether the public will accept it.

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Milan Anti-Racism Rally Draws Tens of Thousands

Tens of thousands of people have marched in Italy's financial capital against policies by the populist government that they say promote racism.

The Milan city official in charge of migrant policy, Pierfrancesco Majorino, put the number of marchers under the banner “People First” at 200,000.

He wrote on Twitter: “Salvini, count us” aimed at League leader Matteo Salvini, who as interior minister has blocked the arrival in Italy of humanitarian ships that have rescued migrants fleeing Libya.

The demonstration, which finished in front of the Duomo cathedral, had a festival mood with bongo drums, trumpets and DJ music.

The head of the CGIL labor confederation, Maurizio Landini, said Italy's government “is promoting the wrong policies, and is not fighting inequalities.”

AP

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Terror Attacks on Ebola Centers Raise Fears of Contagion in DRC

The charity Doctors Without Borders has suspended its Ebola virus-fighting operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo after attacks on two of its treatment centers this week, raising the risk that Ebola infections in the area will increase.

The World Health Organization has called the Feb. 24 attack in Katwa and the Feb. 27 attack in Butembo “deplorable.” In Butembo, where the center housed 12 confirmed Ebola patients and 38 with suspected Ebola, four patients with the highly contagious virus fled for their lives. One is still missing.

The attackers set fire to the treatment centers and engaged in gunfire with security forces.

Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medicins Sans Frontieres, or MSF, announced Friday it had halted treatment in Butembo, in the eastern RDC province of North Kivu. It had done the same earlier in the week in Katwa, the latest hot spot in the outbreak first reported last August.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters that experts must now track possible paths of infection.

“It is highly important to find those people, that last patient, and then, of course, immediately start the contact tracing and monitor the contacts these patients might have been in touch with,” Lindmeier said.

DRC health minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga told VOA French to Africa that the problem with the Ebola situation lies in Katwa and Butembo, where “communities are not fully engaged.” He also said armed groups and unidentified gunmen are common in the area.

A spokeswoman for DRC’s health ministry, Jessica Ilunga, said the government will examine options over the next few days to protect health agents and stop any spread of the disease resulting from the attacks.

Michel Yao, incident manager for the WHO, said of the attackers: “It looks like an organized group that wants to target treatment centers.” He said the loss is great because the centers that were damaged had been testing experimental treatments with some success.

Whitney Elmer of the group Mercy Corps told The New York Times that the loss of two treatment centers at the midst of the outbreak is “crippling.”

The Health Ministry reported that at least 885 have contracted the disease, and 550 have died of it, since the outbreak began.

The Ebola outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, declared in August, is the second largest in history, after the 2014 epidemic in West Africa that killed more than 11,000 people. The WHO says the risk remains “very high” for the outbreak to spread across the borders into Rwanda, Uganda or South Sudan — or to spread nationally across the DRC.

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Thai Lawmakers Approve Controversial Cyber security Act

Thailand's legislature has passed a cyber security bill that would allow authorities access to people's personal information without a court order.

The Cybersecurity Act addresses computer hacking crimes, but activists fear it will allow the government sweeping access to people's personal information.

The National Legislative Assembly, which passed the bill in its final reading Thursday by a vote of 133-0, was appointed by the junta that came to power after a 2014 coup. It becomes law when published in the Royal Gazette.

The cybersecurity bill allows state officials to seize, search, infiltrate, and make copies of computers, computer systems and information in computers without a court warrant if an appointed committee sees it as a high-level security threat, and relevant courts can later be informed of such actions.

AP

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Experts: 'Experience Matters' in Negotiating With North Korea

The American team’s lack of experience in negotiating with North Koreans, as well as a lack of preparation, may have contributed to the collapse of this week’s Hanoi summit between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, who favors top-down diplomacy, according to experts.

The two-day summit that began Wednesday ended when Trump walked out on Thursday without a denuclearization deal or a declaration of peace to end the Korean War, a move met with approval in Washington, even though the summit began with hope of concrete agreements on denuclearization.

“Sometimes, you have to walk, and this was just one of those times,” Trump said at a press conference Thursday.

The talks broke down because, according to Trump, North Korea demanded all sanctions imposed on the country be lifted in exchange for its offer to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear facility.

Later, at a separate press briefing in Hanoi, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said North Korea had asked for partial sanctions relief in exchange for continuing to halt its nuclear and missile testing.

The Hanoi summit was the leaders’ second, taking place eight months after their first summit in Singapore last June, which produced a widely criticized vague agreement.

Experts agree that Trump did the right thing. “I think sometimes the best deals are the ones you walk away from,” said Christopher Hill, a chief negotiator with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration.

Joseph DeTrani, a former special envoy for nuclear talks with North Korea, said, “The president made the correct decision.”

Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council said, “Trump … deserves credit for that moment of realism.”

But according to experts, the summit collapsed in part because Trump’s top-down style left little room for U.S. negotiators to reach agreements during working-level meetings with their North Korean counterparts who have much more experience in denuclearization talks.

Sung-yoon Lee, a professor of Korean studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, emphasized that North Korea’s “chief full-time America-handlers” average three decades of on-the-job experience, while the current U.S. negotiators have logged about 2½ years of dealing with North Korea.

“Who has the advantage?” Lee asked. Many of the State Department’s most experienced North Korea experts have retired recently from government.

The final agreement on denuclearization was left for the two leaders, who failed because “both Trump and Kim overestimated their respective ability to take the other side into a deal they wanted,” Manning said.

“This was the risk you take when you do a top-down approach to negotiating,” said Dennis Wilder, the National Security Council’s senior director for East Asia affairs during the George W. Bush administration. “In other words, clearly, an agreement hadn’t been made before the men got to Hanoi.”

Wilder said Kim misjudged Trump and “overplayed his hand” and “overreached in the negotiations,” thinking that he could “get something big for putting very little on the table,” which was based on his previous experience in dealing with Trump, who was “quite easy on the North Korean leader and did not demand a great deal of him” at the first summit.

“The failure of the Hanoi summit shows the downside of top-down diplomacy,” Manning said. “I would have insisted on having the basic framework and some minimal nuclear-for-benefit trade-off agreed to before I agreed to a summit.”

Hill said, “I think it kind of speaks to some of the preparation, which I thought was inadequate.”

He added, “There needs to be a clearer understanding about [reaching agreements prior to talks] before they ask the president, before the president gets involved.”

Wilder said U.S. negotiators probably “knew perfectly well what North Korea’s position was,” but think Trump felt his chemistry with Kim would enable him to strike a deal that perhaps he thought Special Representative for North Korea Steve Biegun and lower-level North Korean negotiators “wouldn’t have [had] the latitude” to strike.

“I think [the Trump administration] decided to somewhat gamble, to roll the dice to see what they could get,” Wilder said.

Manning, of the Atlantic Council, thinks Biegun tried to make an agreement before the summit, but that the North Korean side probably refused because Kim wanted to deal directly with Trump at the summit.

“Steve Biegun did make a major effort to learn from past Korea diplomacy, meeting with dozens of those previously involved in the diplomacy, and tried to build on the lessons,” Manning said. “But North Korea would not negotiate a minimal nuclear deal at that level because they thought Trump was a soft target.”

Hill said, “To have it just fall apart” signifies that the diplomacy was not quite ready “to be brought out of the diplomatic oven, if you will.”

In dealing with North Korea, Manning said, “Experience matters.”

Wilder said, “On the North Korean side, you have people very, very, very expert in negotiating with the United States.” He continued, “They’ve spent their entire career doing this, whereas on the American side, they’re relatively less steeped in all of this.”

According to Korean studies professor Lee, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has two years of dealing with North Korea, and Biegun, has half a year and National Security Adviser John Bolton had five years of dealing with North Korea, including time in the George W. Bush administration. Former South Carolina Congressman Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s current acting White House chief of staff and director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, has little foreign experience.

On the North Korean side, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri has 35 years of dealing with the U.S., while Kim Yong Chol, head negotiator on nuclear talks, has dealt with the U.S. for 30 years. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui has 25 years of experience with the U.S. And Kim Kye Gwan, a leading negotiator during the Six-Party talks who is also believed to be working behind the scenes advising current negotiators, has 30 years of experience with the U.S.

Going forward, Wilder thinks Trump “is going to be “a little more wary” of having another summit with Kim “without some understanding beforehand.”

He added, “So I would guess that he is now going to give Mr. Pompeo and Steve Biegun more authority to negotiate.”

As for North Korea, Lee thinks “Kim was taken aback” and is likely to “regroup and dangle another sweet carrot to Trump.”

Lee said Trump will most likely “take the bait and settle for only a partial freeze of Kim’s vast nuclear and missile programs while bomb-making goes on in other undisclosed locations.”

“For Kim, two steps forward and one step back is still progress,” Lee said.

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Future Vision for cities to allow buildings to rise vertically, more green spaces: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government is in the process of making laws to ensure construction of buildings as per international safety standards.

In a tweet today, he said these laws will also allow the buildings to go as high as in other cities across the world. Imran Khan said his future vision for cities is to allow buildings to rise vertically and allow for more green spaces.

He said it is important because Pakistan is one of the most environmentally threatened countries. He said our arable land is being eaten up by housing societies and has grave consequences for our food security in the future.

The Prime Minister said avoiding large sprawling built-up areas will also allow easier provision of amenties to the urban dwellers.

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Future Vision for cities to allow buildings to rise vertically, more green spaces: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government is in the process of making laws to ensure construction of buildings as per international safety standards.

In a tweet today, he said these laws will also allow the buildings to go as high as in other cities across the world. Imran Khan said his future vision for cities is to allow buildings to rise vertically and allow for more green spaces.

He said it is important because Pakistan is one of the most environmentally threatened countries. He said our arable land is being eaten up by housing societies and has grave consequences for our food security in the future.

The Prime Minister said avoiding large sprawling built-up areas will also allow easier provision of amenties to the urban dwellers.

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Envoy slams UK 'smear campaign' against US agriculture

The US ambassador to Britain on Saturday denounced a "smear campaign" against American agriculture as Washington and London try to pave the way to a post-Brexit trade deal.

Woody Johnson said Britons were being fed "inflammatory and misleading terms" such as chlorinated chicken and hormone beef to cast US agriculture in "the worst possible light".

Britain is due to leave the European Union on March 29 and will be free to strike its own trade deals afterwards.

"We Americans are now ready to negotiate the most ambitious and comprehensive trade deal in the history of our special relationship," Johnson wrote in The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"And, of course, we want agriculture to be part of those negotiations -- it is a great opportunity for both of us. "But the British public has been led to believe otherwise."

He said Britons were being presented with a false choice between sticking with European Union directives or being flooded with US food "of the lowest quality".

"It's time the myths are called out for what they really are: a smear campaign from people with their own protectionist agenda."

He accused the EU of following a "museum of agriculture" approach, while US farmers were using new scientific and technological tools to become more productive.

A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office said: "We have always been very clear that we will not lower our food standards as part of a future trading agreement."

Meanwhile Minette Batters, president of Britain's National Farmers' Union, said: "It is imperative that any future trade deals, including a possible deal with the USA, do not allow the imports of food produced to lower standards than those required of British farmers.

"British people value and demand the high standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety that our own farmers adhere to.

"These world-leading standards must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of reaching rushed trade deals. We should not accept trade deals which allow food to be imported into this country produced in ways which would be illegal here."

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Turkey Rejects US Patriot Offer Amid Row Over Russian S-400: Reports

The United States has been pressing Turkey, its NATO ally, to reject a plan to purchase Russia's cutting-edge S-400 missile systems, which Turkey estimates to be three times cheaper than a $3.5 billion order for US anti-aircraft weapons.

Turkey has rejected the offer by the United States on the sale of US long-range surface-to-air Patriot missile systems until the end of 2019 providing that Ankara refuses to purchase Russia's S-400 air defence system, Bloomberg reported citing official Turkish sources.

The statement comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on 16 February that Ankara was not satisfied with the United States' reluctance to give Turkey a loan needed to buy Patriot air defence systems or organise joint production of the weapon.

Earlier, Ismail Demir, head of the main state body dealing with arms procurement and production told NTV television that "it is not possible for us to accept the content and details of the proposal as it is at the moment. The conditions must be discussed, there are a series of issues that must be clarified and a compromise must be reached".

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Anadolu news agency on 1 March that the United States had offered to sell the Patriots and that "the delegations are negotiating".

The United States has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey if it purchases missile systems from Russia.

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Former BJP worker claims party behind Pulwama attack

A former party worker Avi Dandiya has claimed that BJP was behind the Pulwama attack.

In a video which has gone viral, Dandiya plays an audio recording allegedly of two BJP leaders and a woman. The three are heard discussing war and how it is necessary for the elections.

“There won’t be war just because you are saying it Amit Ji,” the woman says in the recording. “How will you cause war without a reason,” she adds.

“The nation is very emotional on the issue of soldiers, this is where the situation needs to be worsened,” responds an alleged BJP leader.

The woman asks, “Do you want to martyr soldiers? Nothing will happen with one of two. We did Uri and nothing happened.”

“Our politics is based on the security of forces,” responds an alleged BJP leader.

The woman then tells them about targeting Indian paramilitary forces in occupied Kashmir. “If I don’t do it someone else will. If you want a bomb blast, there will be a bomb blast. What you want will be done,” she says.

The woman questions why this is being done and the impact it would have on the family of the soldiers, to which the alleged BJP leader says there is no other way.

“There are many other ways Amit ji… I don’t understand getting soldiers killed. I don’t understand this but if you want we will get the blast done. 50-100 soldiers will be killed. Soldiers join the army to be martyred, but by the enemy. What can anyone do if you are the enemy of the soldiers,” the woman says.

“It will happen like this. How can we change it” the alleged BJP leader responds.

“I don’t want to argue with you. We will do the work, you send the money. After doing the work on 12-13 February I will call you. Send the money,” the woman says.

Prior to the call ending, the alleged BJP leader tells the woman he will let her know.

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Canada launches extradition of top Chinese executive to US

Canada on Friday launched the extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to the United States — the latest move in a case that has roiled relations between the North American neighbors and China.

The 47-year-old businesswoman was changing planes in Vancouver in December 2018, when she was detained at Washington's request on suspicion of violating US sanctions on Iran — sparking arrests of Canadians in China that were seen as retaliatory.

"Today, Department of Justice Canada officials issued an Authority to Proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms. Meng Wanzhou," the government said in a statement.

Meng, Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of the company's founder Ren Zhengfei, is due in court on March 6, when prosecutors will present the evidence against her and lay out detailed arguments for her extradition.

The decision, the statement said, followed a "thorough and diligent" review which found sufficient evidence to warrant putting the matter before a judge.

At the end of the process — which could last months, or even years — Canada's attorney general will have the final say on whether or not to hand Meng over.

China's embassy in Canada said it was "utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes" the decision to proceed with the extradition, calling it "political persecution" and asking for Meng's unconditional release.

Meng has been released on bail pending the outcome of the hearings.

China is furious over the US charges against Meng, saying they are the product of "strong political motivations" and an attempt to undermine its flagship telecoms company.

Huawei has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Nine days after Meng's arrest, Chinese authorities detained two Canadians — former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor — in what was widely seen as an act of retaliation.

A third Canadian, meanwhile, had his sentence for drug trafficking upped from 15 years in prison to death row.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has insisted on a strict hands-off approach to the issue, with his justice department stressing on Friday that "Canada is a country governed by the rule of law."

Trudeau sacked his ambassador to China for undermining that position by saying Meng had a "strong" case against extradition, and later adding that it would be "great for Canada" if the US dropped the case.

In January, the US announced 13 charges against Meng, Huawei and two affiliates.

Officials separately filed 10 charges against two Huawei affiliates for allegedly stealing technology from T-Mobile.

Prosecutors say that between 2007 and 2017, Meng, Huawei and subsidiaries sought to mask their business with Iran in violation of US and UN sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Meng in particular "repeatedly lied" to bankers about the relationships between the companies, especially with Skycom, a Huawei affiliate in Iran, according to the charges.

That broke the law, justice officials in Washington said, because the Iran business involved US dollar transactions processed by banks through the United States.

Huawei and the affiliates lied to US authorities and obstructed the investigation, court documents say.

The company is also accused of a concerted effort to steal technology related to a phone-testing robot dubbed Tappy from a T-Mobile USA lab in Washington state, and of rewarding staff for stealing competitors' technology secrets.

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India is playing with the fire; says Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday announced that Pakistan is going to write to the parliamentarians of Britain and the European Union, asking them to play their part in de-escalation of the ongoing conflict with India.

Qureshi made the announcement during a joint press conference with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar.

"Governor Punjab and I have taken an initiative, which is to write letters to the House of Common's members as well as the European parliament and engage them [for de-escalation and peace]," Qureshi said.

"Through this press conference and the letters I ask them to play their roles. The world needs to differentiate between those who want peace and those who want war. The world is seeing that the Taliban and the US are negotiating. At this hour would we want to start a war?"

The foreign minister said that he had an inkling that India would initiate a conflict ahead of their elections, due to which his ministry had started working well in advance.

"As far as the diplomatic front is concerned, the Foreign Office had been activated before even the Pulwama attack," he said. "This was because we had an idea that elections are coming in India and the Modi government was losing its popularity, a clear indication of which was their losses in five states.

"Their performance compelled them to do something to boost their popularity. In India, an easy way to do so is Pakistan bashing. So we knew that a misadventure could happen, through which they could try and regain their lost goodwill.

"Pulwama was not even on the radar when we started briefings. I contacted many foreign ministers and told them. When I went to Moscow, I told them I'm fearing this, and my fears kept on proving true, which resonated with them."

Qureshi negated the notion that international powers are not taking interest in the Pakista-India conflict, saying: "The US has started playing its role. I have talked to Mike Pompeo and the British foreign minister. But understand India's dilemma. There are question marks on them in their own country. How can they change their attitude at once?"

The minister said that the decision to release the captured Indian pilot was not a sign of weakness but a gesture of goodwill. "The people in power know that to return the Indian pilot was not a weakness but a gesture of goodwill and a peace initiative. This was a message for those millions of Indians who want peace. Only a segment is creating this frenzy," he said.

Qureshi said that the decision to release the captured Indian pilot was was "Imran Khan's own initiative and a product of his vision. "There was no international pressure and we did not affix any conditions," he said.

The minister expressed his disappointment of Pakistani inmate Shakirullah's murder in an Indian jail. His body was handed to Pakistan at the time of Qureshi's press conference.

"I am disappointed at what happened with Shakirullah," he said. "It was India's responsibility to protect him. They failed to fulfill that responsibility. When their pilot was caught, you saw what the mob's mentality was. But Pakistan Army went there at once, rescued him, gave him a bath and new clothes, served him tea, gave him first aid, which was our responsibility because these are human and Islamic values."

Qureshi highlight that the resolution passed by a joint sitting on the entire had urged Indians parliamentarians to raise their voice for peace.

"The parliament passed a joint resolution on this issue," he said. "We have given a united front on several issues, but the most important part was the last clause. We, as the joint parliament, told our Indian counterparts that we're playing our part and you should to. There is a large constituency for peace in India that wants peace and not war.

Regarding the Palwama dossier sent by India, Qureshi said: "It is being examined by the Foreign Office. After that, we will send them a message that come and sit on the basis of that dossier."

Qureshi also paid a tribute to the Pakistani media, whose role throughout the conflict was "exemplary and responsible". "Indian media on the other hand added fuel to fire, and created frenzy and hype," he said.

The foreign minister rejected having insinuated in a TV interview that Pakistan will have to put its house in order.

"What does "putting your house in order" mean?" he asked. "It's about making policies that show that we are a peace loving notion, which we have already done. What hadn't been done, has been done. Our house is already in order."

Furthermore, he rubbished reports that the entire parliament was not in agreement at his decision to not attend the Council of Foreign Ministers at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit.

"There were no disagreements in the parliament. The resolution passed was unanimous and it has the signatures of Asif Zardari and Raja Zafarul Haq. Listen to Zardari sahab again, he said it's my opinion but I accept the parliament's decision. The PPP, more than all, talks about parliament's supremacy so when parliament decides something, accept it.

"When Zardari sahab said you must have seen that I stood up and told him that 'your senior leadership is saying this. He replied that 'you should have contacted me'."

"If anyone wants to do politics, they should. What we did was right," Qureshi added.

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Russia: Nobel Prize winner for physics Alferov dies aged 88

Zhores Alferov, the 2000 Nobel prize winner in physics and a member of Russia’s parliament, has died aged 88 in St Petersburg, the Russian Communist party said on Saturday.

Alferov shared the nearly $1 million award, which recognized his research work in the 1970s in information technology which paved the way for computers, CD players and mobile telephones, with two U.S. scientists Herbert Kroemer and Jack Kilby.

A staunch believer in communism, Alferov was born in 1930 in Belarus, then part of the Soviet Union. He was a member of the party faction in the Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.

His work won him many scientific awards and he was an honorary member of research institutions including the American National Academy of Sciences.

He was the first Russian to win a Nobel Prize since Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev won the peace prize in 1990.

Alferov was named after a French socialist, Jean Jaurès, while his older brother was named Marx after Karl Marx, a German philosopher and socialist revolutionary. Marx Alferov was killed during World War Two.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Alferov noted that physics had brought both benefits and disasters to mankind in the 20th century and warned that the mass media could be abused in the wrong hands.

“Knowledge is power, but power must be based on knowledge,” he said.

Alferov recalled his years of research into lasers in St Petersburg on a light-hearted note in verse:

“Our purpose was both great and bright no more the dark! Let there be light!

So to release eternal light

we did the work all day and night.

And when we could neither work nor think

we had the Russian vodka drink...”

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Renowned Pakistani intellectual Javed Bhutto murdered in US

Javed Bhutto, renowned Pakistani intellectual and husband of journalist Nafisa Hoodbhoy, has been murdered in the United States, according to unconfirmed reports.

According to Washington Post, Javed Bhutto was fatally shot Friday morning outside a convenience store in Southeast Washington, and an arrest was made.

The post reported that Police identified the victim as Jawaid Bhutto, 64, of Southeast. They said Hilman Jordan, 45, also of Southeast, was arrested and charged with murder.

Hailing from Shikarpur in Sindh, Bhutto had served as head of Philosophy Department at Sindh University before moving to US.A user wrote that there has been a shooting outside the couple s house in Washington DC.

He said Bhutto became victim of the shooting carried out by a neighbor upset at being reported to police for drug dealing.

Social media users are paying tribute to Javed Bhutto and mourning the loss of the intellectual, demanding the US government take action.

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Spider silk could be used as artificial muscles for robots: Research Finds

Researchers previously discovered that spider silk is stronger than steel and more elastic than rubber, and now a new research suggests that it could also be used to make artificial muscles for robotic actuators.

A team from MIT and Huazhong University of Science and Technology has showed that spider silk could contract and twist in humidity that can be used to make artificial muscle or robotic actuators.

The demonstrated that slender spider fibers could suddenly shrink in response to changes in moisture, hence portraying a strong torsional force, a process known as ‘supercontraction’.

As per the study published in Science Advances, the team suspended a weight from the spider silk to make a type of pendulum. They then enclosed it in a chamber where they could control the relative humidity inside, reported Chinese news agency Xinhua.

“When we increased the humidity, the pendulum started to rotate. It was out of our expectation,” said the co-author Liu Dabiao.

The team identified a protein building block known as ‘proline’ in the spider’s dragline silk, which is vital to the twisting reaction and makes it happen.

When water molecules interact with the proline, the proline’s hydrogen bonds are disrupted in an asymmetrical way that leads to the rotation.

The rotation goes only in one direction, taking place at a threshold of about 70% relative humidity.

Researchers claimed that this property has many applications such as being explored as actuators, devices that move to perform some activity such as controlling a valve.

Also, it can be used as humidity-driven soft robots, humidity sensors and smart textiles, reported Earth.com.

“This could be very interesting for the robotics community,” said researcher Markus Buehler. “It’s very precise in how you can control these motions by controlling the humidity.”

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Donald Trump request China to dissolve tariffs on US farm production

The US president says it is ‘very important for our farmers’ while adding that trade talks are ‘moving along nicely’. Donald Trump has urged China to abolish tariffs on agricultural products imported from the United States – adding that trade talks between the rival powers were going well.

“I have asked China to immediately remove all Tariffs on our agricultural products (including beef, pork, etc.),” the US president wrote on Twitter.

He said his request was based on the fact that negotiations with China were “moving along nicely” – and his delay last week of a planned tariff increase on Chinese exports.“This is very important for our great farmers - and me!” he added.

I have asked China to immediately remove all Tariffs on our agricultural products (including beef, pork, etc.) based on the fact that we are moving along nicely with Trade discussions....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2019

 

After months of trade war, the US and China agreed to a 90-day truce to work out their differences. It was scheduled to end on Friday, but Trump lifted the ultimatum to increase tariffs after he was satisfied by progress made in several rounds of talks in Beijing and Washington.

A White House economic official, Larry Kudlow, said on Thursday the two countries were on the brink of a “historic” trade agreement. A meeting between Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was also expected this month.

After the latest round of talks in February, US agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue tweeted that China had committed to buying “an additional” 10m tonnes of soybeans as a “show of good faith”.

US farmers rely greatly on such trade with China: in 2017, around a third of US soybean production – worth $14bn -– was exported there, where it is used to feed pigs.
Those exports plummeted last summer, when China imposed tariffs on US soybeans and other agricultural products.

Previously, in a gesture of goodwill at the start of the countries’ truce, China in December resumed soybean purchases.

But Chinese tariffs had already hit America’s farming regions hard –areas where Trump has enjoyed plentiful support.

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Canada: Huawei extradition process approved, sparking ire from China

Canada has approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, prompting a furious reaction from China. Meng will appear in a Vancouver court on 6 March, when a date will be set for her extradition hearing.

Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, was detained in Vancouver last December and is under house arrest. In late January, the US justice department charged Meng and Huawei with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran.

Meng will appear in a Vancouver court on 6 March, when a date will be set for her extradition hearing.

“Today, department of Justice Canada officials issued an authority to proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms Meng Wanzhou,” the government said in a statement.

China, whose relations with Canada have deteriorated badly over the affair, denounced the decision and repeated previous demands for Meng’s release.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement on Saturday that Beijing “deplores and firmly opposes the Canadian side’s obstinately moving forward the so-called judicial process”.

He said: “This is a severe political incident. We once again urge the US side to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant and extradition request for Ms Meng Wanzhou and urge the Canadian side to immediately release Ms Meng Wanzhou and ensure that she returns to China safe and sound.”Legal experts had predicted the government of prime minister Justin Trudeau would give the go-ahead for extradition proceedings, given the close judicial relationship between Canada and the United States.

It could be years, though, before Meng is sent to the United States, since Canada’s slow-moving justice system allows many decisions to be appealed.

A final decision will probably come down to the federal justice minister, who will face the choice of angering the United States by rejecting the extradition bid, or China by accepting it.

Professor Wesley Wark of the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs said “the Canadians will take a beating throughout this whole process” from China.

“I suspect the Trudeau government is desperately hoping that the Americans reach a deal with the Chinese,” he said by phone.

Donald Trump told Reuters in December he would intervene if it served national security interests or helped close a trade deal with China, prompting Ottawa to stress the extradition process should not be politicized. Last week, Trump played down the idea of dropping the charges.

After Meng’s detention, China arrested two Canadians on national security grounds, and a Chinese court later sentenced to death a Canadian man who previously had only been jailed for drug smuggling.

Brock University professor Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat who had served two postings in China, said Beijing was likely to retaliate further.

“They’re not going to take this lying down ... one shudders to think what the consequences could be,” he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, saying Beijing might crack down on Canadian canola shipments or stop Chinese students from going to Canada.

Ottawa rejects Chinese calls to release Meng, saying it cannot interfere with the judiciary.

“The Chinese side is utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the issuance of [the] authority to proceed,” the embassy in Ottawa said in a statement.

Beijing had earlier questioned the state of judicial independence in Canada, noting the government faced accusations it had tried to intervene to stop a corruption trial.
The Canadian justice minister, David Lametti, declined to comment. Huawei was not immediately available for comment.

Meng’s lawyers said they were disappointed and described the US charges as politically motivated.

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Pakistan's future cities to allow buildings for more green spaces: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday shared that his vision for Pakistan's future cities is to allow buildings to rise vertically so there are more green spaces.

The premier tweeted, "My vision for our future cities: to allow buildings to rise vertically and allow for more green spaces as Pak is one of the the most environmentally-threatened countries."

"Avoiding large sprawling built-up areas will also allow easier provision of amenities to our urban dwellers," he added.

My vision for our future cities: to allow buildings to rise vertically & allow for more green spaces as Pak is one of the the most environmentally-threatened countries. Avoiding large sprawling built-up areas will also allow easier provision of amenities to our urban dwellers. pic.twitter.com/pYLgjpeHMc

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 2, 2019

In another tweet, the premier said, "Our arable land is being eaten up by housing societies and has grave consequences for our food security in the future. Also, we are in the process of making laws to allow buildings, built to international safety standards, to go as high as in other cities across the world."

A day earlier, PM Imran while chairing a meeting of the Punjab cabinet had ordered to halt construction of housing schemes on agriculture department’s land across all major cities of the province.

Our arable land is being eaten up by housing societies and has grave consequences for our food security in the future. Also, we are in the process of making laws to allow buildings, built to international safety standards, to go as high as in other cities across the world. https://t.co/bvKcFpmF1U

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 2, 2019

The prime minister directed officials to not approve any housing project on land owned by the agriculture department. High-rises will be constructed instead of expanded projects on the land, the premier was quoted as saying. The meeting described the rationale of the decision as minimizing the use of land.

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