Lakshmi Mittal gave £10,000 to Boris Johnson's Tory leadership campaign

Billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, who is one of Britain's richest men, donated more than £4million to Labour when Tony Blair was Prime Minister.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SYREtx

Britain's youngest lottery winner says age limit must be raised to 18

Callie Rogers, from Workington, Cumbria, squandered the life-changing sum by buying lavish gifts for her family and friends and on a boob job.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Kh7jR1

Companies face bankruptcy if they fail to prepare for climate change, Bank of England boss warns

Bank of England boss Mark Carney (pictured) has warned that companies must prepare for climate change or face bankruptcy.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SVb2I0

Our 20,000 new police recruits WILL cut crime says Boris Johnson

The Prime Minister told the high-ranking team that the new project would be completed within three years. Meeting at the Home Office in London, Priti Patel attended in her role as chair of the board.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ZmVMWL

Virgin Money offers homebuyers a 15-year fixed rate mortgage for first time in a decade

Borrowers with a 35 per cent deposit who sign up will be locked into an ultra-cheap rate of just 2.55 per cent. The last time British borrowers could sign up to a 15-year fixed deal was in 2009.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ZpkBRK

Electrician wires up his van to give tool thieves a 1,000-volt shock

Ray Taylor, from Wolverhampton, took the step after losing the expensive equipment over a period of two years and police have said the process is perfectly legal.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2yt9xHu

Pictured: Motorbike fan, 20, is one of six victims in three days of killer batch of Class A drugs

Cian Daly, 20, has been named locally as one of the victims struck down by the drugs within a 10-mile radius of Southend-on-Sea.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YDiaxK

Cassettes make a comeback! Sales of reel-to-reel tapes hit 15-year high thanks to Kylie and Madonna

Kylie Minogue and Madonna have helped the sale of cassettes soar to a 15-year high. Year on year the number sold has doubled and during the final quarter of 2018 recorded high sales.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/3181uwc

Legalise cannabis campaigner 'is employed by Boris Johnson to work in Downing Street'

Blair Gibbs has been appointed as one of the Prime Minister's policy aides, and will leave his current job at the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis campaign group.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LVcWHU

Grease from your FRYING PAN is the latest environmental hazard

Frying pan grease is seen as a little known threat to the environment which is currently being overlooked. Experts are urging people not to wash up greasy pans but put the contents into the bin.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YzgXaO

Russian sailors who died on spy submarine 'could have saved themselves but decided to fight fire'

A group of Russian sailors who died on a spy submarine 'could have save themselves but decided to fight fire' before an explosion killed 14 of them.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SVTECK

Attacks against British Jews soar to record levels

A total of 892 anti-Semitism incidents were reported in the first six months of the year to the Community Security Trust.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YDmIUQ

Harvey Proctor claims he was censored by the BBC during interview about paedophiles fantasist 'Nick'

Harvey Proctor claimed he was blocked from fully answering a question while being interviewed on the Victoria Derbyshire programme yesterday.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2STJ6nV

Rise of county lines drug gangs sees number of teenagers in care homes soar by 20 PER CENT

The count of children aged over 13 living in homes or with foster parents rose more than a fifth in five years, the Children's Commissioner said.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/317P4Eo

Pictured: Under-fire investment fund boss Neil Woodford is seen for the first time in two months

The beleaguered 59-year-old was spotted for the first time when he left this company's headquarters in Oxford on Tuesday evening after an 11-hour day.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2GBn984

Yvette Cooper pressured to launch committee probe into police handling of VIP paedophile case

Labour MP Yvette Cooper (pictured) has refused to commit to investigating Scotland Yard's Operation Midland following retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques explosive intervention.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2yqElbM

The 'Tamworth Five' become Six! Dog that was in the care of missing pet-sitter has disappeared

Freddie, another pug, has now joined Pablo, Maggie, Ralph, Jack and Charlie on the list of those who went missing in Staffordshire on June 23rd while in the care of Louise Lawford.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ST7zcU

Nearly half of GPs have taken early retirement or slashed their hours over pensions row

Pension reforms introduced in England in 2016 have forced senior doctors to cut their hours to avoid a huge tax bill. Campaigners warned the crisis is putting patients' lives at risk.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K9jbpy

BoJo's abodes: How new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made it to the top of the property ladder

Domestic arrangements of our peripatetic PM have been complicated to say the least - booted out the marital home and spending his time between girlfriend Carrie Symonds's flat and houses lent by friends.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K66zzs

Sajid Javid DOUBLES his No Deal Brexit fighting fund to £2billion

Chancellor Sajid Javid turned on the spending taps last night to help Britain in the event of a No Deal Brexit. The funds increase overall No Deal spending by 50 per cent to £6.3 billion.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/333IKja

British Airways pilots' strike gets the go-ahead, sparking fears of chaos at Heathrow

The union did not announce strike dates - but urged BA to 'wake up to reality' as it stressed there was overwhelming support for action unless pilots across the UK receive a better pay deal.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OMPAXp

Prince Charles releases 'survival guide' for rural Britain

Charles has been a passionate advocate of the countryside and set up The Prince's Countryside Fund almost a decade ago to help financially stricken family farm businesses.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Yi7rJK

Ex Scotland Yard chief Lord Stevens calls on Met Police to release full report into Carl Beech probe

Lord Stevens, who as Sir John Stevens was Commissioner of the Met in London between 2000 and 2005, called for ex-judge Sir Richard Henriques's review to be made public in full.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OG7H0K

Alistair Campbell claims some of shadow cabinet agree Jeremy Corbyn is not fit to be Labour leader

Alastair Campbell, 62, who is from Keighley, West Yorkshire, suggested in a tweet that Labour staff secretly agree with him that Jeremy Corbyn is not up to the job of party leader.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YAjQrY

Britain's ten hottest years have ALL occurred since 2002

For the first time, the Met Office looked at temperature records dating back as far as 1884, rather than 1910, but it found no new contenders for the warmest years.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K2VnU5

After judge's bombshell intervention, victims of VIP abuse fantasist Carl Beech demand action

Victims of VIP child abuse fantasist 'Nick', including former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, have called for a fresh criminal probe into Scotland Yard's bungled inquiry.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2yn1ax1

Jamie and Rebekah Vardy fail in bid to trademark phrase 'Chat s***, get banged'

The phrase 'chat s*** get banged' was used by footballer Jamie Vardy in a Facebook post in 2011 and is frequently used by fans on social media. He and wife Rebekah have failed to get it trademarked.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Yb65AG

Priti Patel says Facebook will hurt fight against terrorists and paedophiles with greater encryption

The new Home Secretary blasted the social media giant's intention to introduce end-to-end encryption on Facebook messenger.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Ot5qWT

Airport currency exchanges are accused of ripping off passengers

Families travelling from some UK airports yesterday found a pound was worth just 0.78 euros and less than 0.90 US dollars - close to a third less than market exchange rates.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ZlEKbB

Co-op extends trial of till-free shopping where customers pay as they go with a smartphone

The initiative could see conventional and self-service tills completely disappear from Co-op stores. Customers can pay for items as they go by scanning them with a smartphone.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2STMFKB

One in 12 elderly people fall victim to fraudsters who dupe them out of cash, new research reveals

The number of scam victims has more than doubled in just two years to 803,000 in 2017-18. Age UK studied the Crime Survey for England and Wales and found identity theft was a common crime.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Osa877

Distraught owners say professional dog walker let their beloved pets die rather than run off

Becky Parsons (pictured) hit out at Louise Lawford after being told by police that her missing dogs Pablo and Maggie are dead. It was claimed the dogs were spooked on a walk in Staffordshire.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YAjPnU

'World's fastest seagull' stuns experts by flying 520 miles from the Channel Islands to Spain

The lesser black-backed gull (pictured )travelled 520 miles from the Channel Islands to Spain in just seven days. It was identified from a number ring it had been pictured wearing

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Zhl3l4

Turkish bee that sneaked into UK escapes before officials get chance to swat it

The bee was accidentally carried from Dalaman, Turkey, to Britain last week. It had been buzzing in and out of the Toy family's conservatory in Bristol but has not been seen since Friday.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ZjwcC5

Meghan Markle's guide to life, love and the universe... as revealed in Vogue

The Duchess of Sussex has filled British Vogue - she is the first to gues-edit its prestigious September edition. So what is in Meghan's guide to life, love and the universe?

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YxXhnR

Brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi is charged with aiding attack

Hashem Abedi, 22, will go on trial at the Old Bailey on November 5 charged with 22 counts of murder. His brother Salman Abedi detonated his suicide vest as music fans left the show on May 22, 2017.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2KiblZh

Homeowning dreams of young buyers could be dead within just SEVEN YEARS, new report warns

A report from high street bank Santander found 70 per cent of first-time buyers believe they will never own their own home. The average first-time buyer deposit in the UK was £44,000 last year.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/33bGRkC

Boris Johnson hints UK could remain in EU single market and customs union until 2021

Britain could remain in the customs union and single market for another two years after Brexit, Boris Johnson said yesterday, as he suggested a negotiated deal with Brussels was still possible.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SWQXB1

Crooked British art dealer jailed for up to 12 years by New York judge

Timothy Sammons, 63, illicitly sold an ultra rale catalogue of artworks including Picasso's 'Buste de Femme', Marc Chagall's 'Reverie' and Henri Moore's 'Reclining Nude'.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2MvmE39

Longhill grandmother launched unprovoked attack on paranoid schizophrenic after downing 10 pints

Tammy Goodfellow, 41, launched an unprovoked attack against Charlie Rudkin, who has mental health difficulties, in Longhill, Hull, in June last year.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2yrFdx3

Theresa May shops for jewellery in Lake Garda and leaves thought of Brexit behind her

The former prime minister has been enjoying the summer recess, which started on Thursday, and her newfound freedom since Boris Johnson took over the top job in Sirmione, Italy.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SQHM5b

Couples fear house prices will fall after local Waitrose shuts down

Not only will they no longer have access to their favourite nibbles, but residents of Wollaton, just outside Nottingham, also fear their house values will fall with the opening of the German supermarket.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SSle3K

Boris Johnson FINALLY speaks to Irish PM Leo Varadkar amid Brexit spat

Mr Johnson told the Taoiseach the UK would be leaving 'come what may' on October in a phone call this morning - echoing language used with Scots First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K4QnOV

Naked Brit in his 50s jumped to his death from 150ft Ferris wheel in Italy

Miles Kessler, 32, scaled the tourist attraction in the holiday resort of Rimini in the early hours of yesterday morning.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ymT0ox

Ayia Napa: Lawyer for Briton who 'lied about rape' says she is still the victim

Andreas Pittadjis, lawyer for the 19-year-old Briton, demanded to know who had posted a video of her sexual encounter online. A video of the alleged rape showed her 'asking for the door to be closed'.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LR3Qfg

Baby boy who was not delivered by C-section died because of hospital neglect, inquest finds

Ennis Pecaku's mother Louise Davies was sent home from Basildon Hospital in Essex a day before his birth because 'there were not enough staff or beds' for her planned caesarean.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/330GcSJ

Call in the swat team! Bee that smuggled itself to UK in family's suitcase is to be destroyed

A Turkish bee that was accidentally brought home from holiday by a British family is to be destroyed because it might endanger British species.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/314TtrU

Alastair Campbell tells Labour party he no longer wants to be member while Jeremy Corbyn's in charge

Alistair Campbell wrote a letter to Jeremy Corbyn saying that he would no longer fight his expulsion. He had been thrown out for revealing he had voted for the Lib Dems in the European elections.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LUpsYn

Company bosses should be taken to court by UK's human rights watchdog over equal pay, MPs say

An influential committee of MPs called for the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to be revamped into an equality police force.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OHB6bh

Ex-Arsenal footballer Anthony Stokes back together with girlfriend despite stalking campaign

Anthony Stokes bombarded girlfriend Eilidh Scott with abusive messages and even turned up at her home in Shott, Lancashire, and pestered her mother.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Yfi9Rx

Boris Johnson says Brexit Party are 'an incentive' for EU to re-open talks

Britain's new Prime Minister praised the Brexit Party for their efforts to attack the core of the EU and putting extra pressure on the bloc to accept a deal while he was on a visit to Scotland today.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YnXXYM

Loch Ness Monster hunters claim 12th sighting so far this year

Richard Cobb, 43, of Bradford was staying at a holiday lodge near Loch Ness, Scotland when one night he saw a creature break the surface of the loch.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K2jGkX

'Nick' police searches broke the law, says former high court judge

Police broke the law in the bungled probe into VIP child abuse fantasist Nick (revealed as Carl Beech), a former High Court judge says today.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Yf2PnO

Direct rule could be restored in Northern Ireland to prepare for No Deal Brexit - Dominic Raab

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, effectively Boris Johnson's deputy, said legislation would be needed to get the province ready for No Deal.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SNk5dM

ITV presenter Eamonn Holmes reveals school bus was taken hostage by IRA in Northern Ireland

This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes (pictured as a schoolboy), now 59, was on his way to school in Belfast in the 1970s when a balaclava-clad man got on the bus and poured petrol on the floor.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SJFq8a

Star Trek Klingon star 'is accused of raping and sexually assaulting six female students'

Chris Obi, who played a Klingon in the show, reportedly attacked each of the women as they acted out love scenes during private lessons at his home in Notting Hill, west London.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LMYbH6

Man devours 58 feet of NETTLES to become world champion

Tony Jeyes devoured 29 2ft-long stems to take the title and was one of dozens of competitors to take part in the annual event, held at the Bottle Inn pub in the village of Marshwood, Dorset.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YqINlB

Army major accuses ministers of using soldiers as 'political fodder'

Major Robert Campbell, 46, and his comrades have been repeatedly cleared over the drowning of Said Shabram, 19, in 2003. He is being investigated for the eighth time over the death.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/313WB7m

Britain's top neurosurgeon pays tribute to 'beautiful' Cambridge University student son

Dominic Hamlyn, 24, had been having a late-night swim at the country home belonging to his father Peter Hamlyn outside the Kent village of Crundale, near Canterbury, when he suffered a heart attack.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/32V5vG5

SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: U.S. envoy complains after she is subjected to Donald Trump rant at Heathrow

SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Katie Kane, a member of staff at the U.S. Embassy in London, was subjected to a tirade against the President at Heathrow.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OszcuV

Campaigners criticise decision to leave activist off Meghan Markle's Vogue 'trailblazers' list

Human Rights Watch said it was a 'shame' if Loujain al-Hathloul had been omitted for 'political reasons' because her captors, Saudi Arabia, are an ally of the UK.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2GAslZY

Teenagers from a poor background are falling 18 months behind their wealthier peers in GCSE studies

The most persistently disadvantaged students - eligible for free meals for at least 80 per cent of their time in school - are almost two years (22.6 months) behind by the time they leave secondary school.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YuzUYe

Love Island runner-up Tommy Fury's cousin fights for life in intensive care after being stabbed

Peter Fury Jnr, 28, was stabbed outside The Bubble Room in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, at around 12.20am on Sunday.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ZiUzzK

Almost 40 per cent of students received unconditional offer of a university place this year

Some 38 per cent of youngsters were made such offers in 2019 - up from 34 per cent in 2018, according to admissions body UCAS. Six years ago, the proportion was just 1 per cent.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Zkd2vB

Pound slumps again over fears of No Deal Brexit as Boris Johnson continues to play hardball with EU

The pound slumped to its lowest level for more than two years last night to 1.10 euros and to $1.22 as Boris Johnson's Government stepped up preparations for a No Deal Brexit.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OsVKLX

Carrie Symonds 'has received advice from Samantha Cameron' on life at Number 10

The revelation came as Boris Johnson and Miss Symonds moved into the four-bedroom flat above No 11 previously occupied by David and Samantha Cameron.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2MqfWM2

Savers who invested in Neil Woodford fund told they will be locked out until December

It was announced yesterday that Mr Woodford, 59, was a 'reluctant seller' of shares in his UK Woodford Patient Capital Trust to settle personal liabilities, including a tax bill.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2MqyfR4

Waitrose is to sell a plastic 'egg' that can make your laundry eco-friendly

A 40 per cent rise in demand means British supermarkets are now selling products that will keep your clothes clean without polluting the environment.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2GD57Cn

Boosterism: That's Boris Johnson's new economic mantra as he plans to turbo-charge Britain

Senior City sources say that Mr Johnson's economic credo combines a Blairite enthusiasm for infrastructure spending, coupled with a Thatcherite belief in the power of tax cuts.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OsziTj

Boris Johnson is to hold talks with Nicola Sturgeon to underline his commitment to the Union

Boris Johnson will meet with Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland on Monday before visiting Wales and Northern Ireland this week. He will unveil plans to release £300m for 'growth deals' in the three nations.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SOBF15

Trade union official driven out of her job by sexist bullying is facing payout of up to £1MILLION

Sally Nailard, 54, quit her £47,000-a-year role with Unite after two shop stewards humiliated her with sexist, lewd and aggressive comments.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2MorJKr

Shamed MP Jared O'Mara facing fresh allegations from woman accusing him of sending creepy messages

Jared O'Mara, 37, announced his was resigning his Sheffield Hallam seat after Jennifer Barnes, 20, and Abigail Neely, 28, said his advances were relentless.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YvCXU3

Convicted torturer 'gets within feet of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis'

Darren Benjamin, who was jailed for seven years in 2008, was delivering furniture on July 14 when he saw Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at Kensington Palace.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ylnSWl

Almost five million Britons are living below the poverty line

Almost five million Britons are living deep below the poverty line, a controversial study claims. The poverty line is defined by earnings at 60 per cent or less of the nation's median income.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Op9rvs

Royal Mint reveals 145 million 'old-style' round £1 coins have not been returned

People are being urged to root behind the sofa to find some of around 145million old-style' £1 coins which have still not been returned to the Royal Mint. These old coins have not been usable since 2017.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SNCqaB

Man is hit with £100,000 fine for renting out his London council flat to tourists on Airbnb

Toby Harman, 37, had been advertising his 'cosy studio apartment' with a hot tub in London to holidaymakers on the short-term lettings website since 2013.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2SOQ9ht

Quick property sales have slumped over the last 15 years as UK's housing market has cooled

A report has found that the number of 'flipped' homes - properties that have been sold more than once over 12 months - has plunged around 70 per cent since it peaked in 2004.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K0cQMW

Muslim parents refuse to let children have flu vaccine 'because treatment is not halal'

Concerns were first raised over the spray containing pork gelatine by the UK Vegetarian Society last year, but the issue has been highlighted again ahead of a new nationwide drive.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YlcggI

Hospital patients are eating food that was cooked and frozen up to a YEAR earlier

Around a fifth of all hot meals at NHS hospitals are made at just one factory in Wiltshire, owned by private firm Apetito, where they are cooked in a mass-production kitchen and frozen.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/315qnsr

Savers who invested in Neil Woodford's flagship fund will be locked out for at least another 28 days

The troubled finance manager's Oxford-based £3.4billion Equity Income Fund was suspended 56 days ago because he ran out of cash. The fund is expected to remain closed until the end of this year.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Mo5jck

Victims of PPI mis-selling have just one month left to lodge a complaint

The insurance was intended to protect Britons if they could not keep up with their payments but it was widely mis-sold. The deadline for filing a complaint is August 29

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2OlRwFL

Post office to double up as off-licence after manager says it's the only way he can stay open

Lakhvir Singh Samra said it was the only way to save his Bedminster business. In April 2,500 subpostmasters warned they could close or downsize over the next 12 months.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/312QQqp

Mother of stabbed public schoolboy Yousef Makki hits out at sentence handed to teenager

Yousef Makki, 17, was stabbed after a row with his friends and died in Greater Manchester in March. His mother Debbie, 54, has now spoken about the loss of her clever and sporty son.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YowN45

The EU is 'lagging behind' UK in preparing for No Deal Brexit'

The Confederation of British Industry has warned that neither the EU or UK are prepared for the fallout of a No Deal this autumn. They have issued 200 recommendations for both sides.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K1v8O1

Boris Johnson to create Britain's first department for military veterans

Tory MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer and frontline soldier, was yesterday appointed veterans minister working across the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YcTahy

Firefighters try to rescue trapped man from incoming tide

The unnamed person got stuck between two rocks in the sea near Sheringham, Norfolk while the tide was coming in on Sunday evening. Emergency services were called just after 5.30pm.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YbaP9z

Sir Harold Acton left his estate to academia but 'illegitimate' niece stands to get a share

The dispute over the property in Italy revolves around Dialta Alliata di Montereale, a wealthy 70-something mother-of-five, who lives in California and Hawaii and is married to a Sicilian prince.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Mj4y4e

Designers dogs are for sale to British tourists in Spanish hotspot

Holidaymakers buying dogs abroad and taking them home to Britain risk unwittingly fuelling the dog-smuggling trade. One town in Spain is currently exporting about 20,000 dogs a year.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/32YuN5R

Stowaway bee that travelled from Turkey to UK in suitcase could be a threat to British species

Britain's bees are under threat after a family from Bristol accidentally brought a non-native specimen home in their holiday luggage, experts have warned.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Yse0F4

That's why it's so hard to see your GP: Patient numbers at doctors' surgeries rise by a THIRD

NHS figures reveal that GPs had an average of 2,187 registered patients at the end of last year. Some areas such as Swale in Kent and Swindon have seen 30 per cent rises in patients.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K0LV3C

Shocking pictures show effects of drugs on frail 53-year-old woman addicted to heroin and cocaine

Humberside police released the picture of Lynley Graham after she was sentenced to 18 months in prison when she was found with heroin and cocaine and charged with intent to supply it.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LKHufp

Father of man, 23, in coma after falling from multi-storey car park urges doctors to let him die

A father whose son has been in a coma for three years has begged doctors to allow him to 'die with dignity'. Kavan Maddocks, 23, fell four storeys from a car park in 2016 and is severely brain damaged.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K0LTsw

بابر اعظم نہ اسد شفیق،ٹیسٹ ٹیم کانیا کپتان کسے بنانے کا اصولی فیصلہ کرلیاگیا؟نام پڑھ کر آپ بھی دنگ رہ جائینگے

source

from Pakistani Talk Shows, Latest Pakistan News, Urdu News, Breaking News Pakistan https://ift.tt/2OnDrHU

Akbar announces to become party in case if Shehbaz ‘serves’ legal notice to Daily Mail

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Sunday announced to become party in a case if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif serves legal notice to the British newspaper Daily Mail and its journalist David Rose for accusing him of embezzling public funds in a news story published on July 14.

“Where does the claim of Sharif in suing the Daily Mail stand now?” asked Akbar, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

Akbar asserted that Sharif has only filed a complaint with the administration of the newspaper that his point of view was not taken [in the article], and not refuted the news story.

“It was claimed that a legal action would be taken against me in courts of London, whereas I had said, in a news conference, that I would present evidence in the courts of London,” he said, adding that money laundering was done from Britain.

“Ali Imran had turned fugitive, and Rs1 billion has been recovered from Naveed Akram…according to Daily Mail, millions of dollars were laundered from Britain,” he maintained.

The special assistant to the premier on accountability said Ali Imran was sent money directly from a project of Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (Erra).

“If we talk of corruption, then [the opposition] says that the CPEC is endangered,” he added.

He asserted that Sharif would never go to the court [in the matter], and urged him to fulfill his promise of sending a legal notice to him [Shehzad Akbar].

On July 14, Britain-based publication Daily Mail had exposed alleged money laundering scandal of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif from the UK government aid for earthquake victims in Pakistan.

According to a confidential investigation report seen by Daily Mail, millions of pounds were transferred into the bank accounts of Shehbaz’s family members, including his wife, children and a son-in-law.

It states to have interviewed key witnesses held on remand in jail, including a UK citizen Aftab Mehmood.

Mehmood revealed that he had laundered millions on behalf of Shehbaz’s family from a nondescript office in Birmingham – without attracting suspicion from Britain’s financial regulators, who inspected his books regularly.

Allegedly, stolen millions were laundered in Birmingham and then allegedly transferred to Shahbaz’s family’s accounts by UK branches of banks including Barclays and HSBC, the report stated.

It further said that by 2018, total assets of Sharif family had grown to about £200 million. Among other properties, Shehbaz owns a 53,000 sq ft palace in Lahore, which has its own large security force.

For rehabilitating and rebuild lives of the poor, the DFID gave £54 million from UK taxpayers; and the legal documents allege that Shehbaz’s son-in-law received about £1 million from that fund.

The post Akbar announces to become party in case if Shehbaz ‘serves’ legal notice to Daily Mail appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2yktwrM

Pak Embassy in Kabul restricts visa issuance to Afghans

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Embassy in Kabul has restricted visa issuance to Afghans.

According to an embassy spokesperson, the step has been taken after harassment by a thuggish group outside the embassy.

The group takes bribe from people to grant them access to consular section.

The members of group are holding sticks in their hand and they are also supported by Afghan police who is not taking action against them.

The spokesperson further said that the embassy would now issue visas to senior persons, women, patients and businessmen only.

The complete visa service will be resumed after the police takes action against the group.

The post Pak Embassy in Kabul restricts visa issuance to Afghans appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2MkNnQ0

Ex-PM Nawaz’s adviser Irfan Siddiqui granted bail

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s special adviser, Irfan Siddiqui, was granted bail on Sunday, a day after a judicial magistrate sent him to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand in a tenant agreement case.

Judicial Magistrate Mehreen Baluch approved Siddiqui and his tenant Javed Iqbal’s bail against a sum of Rs20,000.

The duo was released from prison soon after the interior ministry confirmed receiving orders from the court.

Siddiqui and Iqbal were arrested on Friday night and a case was registered against them under Section 188 PPC for violating the Tenancy Act.

On Saturday, Siddiqui and Iqbal were presented in the court of judicial magistrate Mehreen Baluch in handcuffs. The former adviser’s counsel contended that Siddiqui was arrested over a house agreement that he never signed, as the house belongs to his son.

However, the magistrate had approved a 14-day judicial remand of both accused and they were consequently transferred to Adiala Jail.

A copy of the house lease agreement that The Express Tribune has acquired shows that Karak district’s Javed Iqbal and Irfan Siddiqui’s son signed a one-year agreement, renewable for another year. The house was rented on a monthly rent of Rs170,000 with a security deposit of Rs340,000.

PML-N welcomes decision

In a statement after the bail decision, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said the development proves that the people of Pakistan still have a conscience.

Addressing Prime Minister Imran Khan, she said the rule of the “selected and incompetent” will come to a quick end if the people of Pakistan stand together for the truth.

The former information minister also thanked the media for playing a constructive role in the matter.

The post Ex-PM Nawaz’s adviser Irfan Siddiqui granted bail appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2yiH1Z3

Pak-Turkey Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘AYYILDIZ-2019’ concluded in Karachi

F.P. Report

KARACHI: A bilateral ‘EXERCISE AYYILDIZ-2019’ between Pakistan Navy’s Special Service Group and Turkish Navy’s Special Forces, ‘Su Alti Taarruz’, concluded at Karachi.

Personnel from both navies mutually benefitted from the exercise which included Anti-Terrorism Ops, Rescue and Hostage Ops, Counter terrorism in Maritime domain and Intelligence based operations. The exercise is a reflection of strong bilateral military cooperation between Pakistan Navy and Turkish Navy.

The aim of the exercise was to strengthen military relationships, improve coordination and interoperability and exchange of professional expertise in Special Operations Forces’ domain.

This series of bilateral exercise has been regularly conducted between Pakistan and Turkey on annual basis. This being the 12th exercise in AYYILDIZ series, continued for twelve days.

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy strong bilateral relations based on foundations of brotherhood and friendship. Pakistan and Turkish Defence Forces interact regularly on various forums. Both navies have been actively collaborating in various professional interactions including multilateral and bilateral exercises.

Turkish Navy is also a regular participant of AMAN series of Multinational Maritime Exercises organized biennially by Pakistan Navy since 2007.

Professional experiences gained during bilateral exercises have been mutually rewarding and will foster greater bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly navies.

The post Pak-Turkey Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘AYYILDIZ-2019’ concluded in Karachi appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2Mp3zj5

Notices to be issued to 100,000 non-filers: Chairman FBR

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Shabbar Zaidi said on Sunday that the board will send notices to around 100,000 non-filers who own a house bigger than 500 yards or an above 1000cc vehicle, according to a Radio Pakistan report.

The FBR chairman was speaking to media in Islamabad, where he said the non-filers will be brought to the tax net and the date for filing taxes has been extended up to two months so that maximum people could file taxes.

Earlier on Thursday, the FBR refuted speculation pertaining to levying a heavy withholding tax on motorcycles or rickshaws.

A day prior, rumours had surfaced that the FBR had implemented a withholding tax on the registration of motorcycles and rickshaws, hiking up bikes’ registration cost by Rs3,400 to Rs20,900.

In an explanatory statement, the FBR clarified that no withholding tax would be implemented on either motorcycles or rickshaws.

The FBR member also noted that in efforts to increase tax collection, the body’s priority would be to give leeway to the poor people.

The post Notices to be issued to 100,000 non-filers: Chairman FBR appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2yhIMWi

At least seven dead, dozens injured as heavy rains lash Pakistan

F.P. Report

LAHORE/PESHAWAR: At least seven people reportedly died and dozens more were injured in separate rain-related incidents across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), five people including two children and a woman were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Two of the deaths were reported in Shangrila and one each in Buner, Mansehra and Abbottabad. In more rain-related incidents, 18 people sustained injuries including six women and one child.

Heavy rainfall in K-P also caused damage to five houses, two huts and three school buildings. Different areas of Chitral including Tirich Mir and Kosht were closed off for traffic due to flooding.

Over in Punjab, at least two people died and dozens more sustained injuries.

As per reports, a roof collapse in Sargodha killed two children and injured one more. Five more roof collapse incidents were reported in Sheikhupura and officials placed the number of injured at 10.

Incessant rainfall across Punjab has led to power outages in many major cities.

According to the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD), 54 millimetres (mm) of rain was recorded at Tajpura, 39mm at Lakhshmi Chok, 34mm in Pani Wala Talab, 33mm at Upper Mall, 32mm in Farrukhabad, 26mm in Mughalpura and 25mm at Chowk Nakhuda.

There seems to be no respite in sight as the met department has predicted more heavy rain in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur over the next 24 hours.

The post At least seven dead, dozens injured as heavy rains lash Pakistan appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2MjUqZ3

Are the quality standards being met by Nestle?

Are the quality standards being met by Nestle?

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2LHPGgp

Could Baghdad-Irbil end Iraq’s protacted oil dispute?

Could Baghdad-Irbil end Iraq’s protacted oil dispute?

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s federal authorities and the cash-strapped Kurdish regional government (KRG) have relaunched talks over longstanding oil and budget disputes, but observers are skeptical they will reach a genuine diplomatic reset. Here are a few questions and answers to clarify the complex issue. Ties between Baghdad and Irbil have long been strained, amid federal fears […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2ygyaXJ

Taliban reject direct talks with Afghan government

Taliban reject direct talks with Afghan government

KABUL: The Taliban said on Sunday they will not hold direct talks with Afghan government and rejected a statement from a senior minister about plans to hold the such as meeting within the next two weeks, a senior Taliban official said. “Intra-Afghan talks will start only after a foreign force withdrawal is announced,” said Suhail […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2yoztnv

Iran says European naval mission in Gulf would be ‘provocative’

Iran says European naval mission in Gulf would be ‘provocative’

TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday slammed as “provocative” a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships. “We heard that they intend to send a European fleet to the Arabian Gulf which naturally carries a hostile message, is provocative and will increase tensions,” […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2Mkk8wB

Trump must choose between sanctions and profit

Trump must choose between sanctions and profit

US President Donald Trump last week held a 90-minute meeting with 45 Republican senators to discuss various aspects of the sanctions to be imposed on Turkey under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). “We expect,” the senators told Trump, “that you will follow the law and impose sanctions on Turkey without delay.” They […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2YbIBvh

Investors urged to open cinemas in small Saudi cities

Investors urged to open cinemas in small Saudi cities

JEDDAH: The excitement of the reopening of cinemas in the Kingdom has been casting a spell over the people of all ages, making the cinema industry an extremely popular field to invest in. The General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) has called on investors wishing to establish or operate cinemas in small- and medium-sized cities to […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2Yay1Vi

Magistrate ordered the release of Irfan Siddiqui

Magistrate ordered the release of Irfan Siddiqui

PML-N leader and former adviser to Nawaz Sharif Irfan Siddiqui has been granted bail by an Islamabad judicial magistrate. Magistrate Mehreen Baloch approved his bail application on Sunday, a day after he was arrested during a raid at his house. He was arrested for violating the tenancy act and not informing the police that he […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2K6VHA6

Shahbaz tells Punjab CS: AC’s removal from cell to be attempt on Nawaz’s life

Shahbaz tells Punjab CS: AC’s removal from cell to be attempt on Nawaz’s life

LAHORE: Leader of the opposition in National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif has warned the government against removing air-conditioner (AC) from the jail cell of Nawaz Sharif. He said it would be a direct attempt on the life of 3-time prime minister of the country, and also a clear violation of […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2Y6th33

Canada introduced new study-permit processing system

Canada introduced new study-permit processing system

The Canadian government has decided to expand the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme to include international students from Pakistan, enabling them to get a student visa in ‘less than three weeks’. Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen MP, announced expanding the system to Pakistani students on Twitter. Canada, the minister wrote, “is […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2LJFc0b

Israel: Arrow-3 anti-missile system passed live test in US

Israel: Arrow-3 anti-missile system passed live test in US

JERUSALEM: Israel’s US-backed Arrow-3 air defense system, billed as a bullwark against the ballistic missiles fielded by Iran and Syria, has passed a live interception test in Alaska, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday. Jointly manufactured by Boeing Co, Arrow-3 is billed as capable of destroying missiles in space, an altitude that would destroy […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2Yc3ztS

Rise of anti-immigrant parties compounds problems for Europe’s Muslims

Rise of anti-immigrant parties compounds problems for Europe’s Muslims

ABU DHABI: The seemingly unstoppable rise of anti-establishment political forces in recent years has added a new layer of complication to Europe’s immigration question. The results of May’s European Parliament elections revealed the true extent of the popularity of far-right, nationalist parties, all but ruling out constructive debates on the politically sensitive topic of migrants and […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2Mkyz3S

Iranian exiles rally in London to demand regime change in Tehran

Iranian exiles rally in London to demand regime change in Tehran

Thousands of exiled Iranian dissidents rallied in Trafalgar Square in London on Saturday to demand regime change in Tehran, urging new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to get behind their campaign. The event organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran came amid tension between London and Tehran over the seizure of a British […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2YnwH0H

FBR decided to issue notices to at least 100,000 non-filers

FBR decided to issue notices to at least 100,000 non-filers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi said on Sunday that the board has decided tp send notices to around 100,000 non-filers who own a house bigger than 500 yards or an above 1000cc car, according to a report by Radio Pakistan. The FBR chairman was speaking to media in Islamabad, where he […]

Daily Times then DailyTimes.pk

from Daily Times https://ift.tt/2YksiHK

‘Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan to lead Muslim renaissance’

Riyaz ul Khaliq

Experts have welcomed visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan can pave the way forward for development in the Muslim world. “The Islamic world needs a renaissance,” said Huseyin Bagci, an expert in International relations at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara.

“And Prime Minister Mahathir made a right point that these countries at least start new projects which make Muslim world compatible and competitive in Islamic sciences, technology, defense, etc.,” Bagci said. The Malaysian premier arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday evening to kick off his four-day official visit. Corroborating words of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that solidarity among Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan “is necessary for the unity of the Islamic world”, Mahathir told reporters at a joint news conference Thursday that it is crucial to relieve the Muslim Ummah from being subjugated by others.

“That is why I proposed that three Muslim countries should work together. At least these three [Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan]. So that we can speak with a louder voice in terms of many areas; defense, for example,” the Malaysian premier said. Bagci agreed saying the three countries have common values in democracy, human rights and free press. “People relatively feel free,” he said, adding: “[However], there is stagnation in Islamic world… there can be kingdoms like in the U.K. but governments come and go which is not the case in most of the Muslim world.” He noted that Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan stand out from the Arab world.

“It is interesting that why Prime Minister Mahathir did not mention any Arab country,” Bagci said, referring to their dismal track record in upholding human rights. Notably, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia are among the founders of the Muslim-majority D-8 group that seeks to establish strategic relations, increased trade, and more cooperation among its members. However, the group is yet to realize its potential.

On the apparent failure of D-8, Bagci blamed “too much divisions, corruption and stagnation in Islamic world”. “The new mechanism which Mahathir has suggested can bring together even Afghanistan and central Asian states,” he said. Professor Sami A. Al-Arian, director of Istanbul-based Center for Islam and Global Affairs, described the ongoing visit as “historic”.

“This visit by Prime Minister Mahathir to Turkey to meet President Erdogan is historic, as the two leaders have been repeatedly and frequently democratically elected by their people,” Al-Arian said. He said that these leaders have demonstrated over the years “political stability and economic dynamism”. According to Al-Arian, Mahathir’s visit comes at a time when the economic and political challenges faced by the two governments are “enormous in light of the looming global economic uncertainty as well as the geopolitical shifts across the Middle East because of the US trade war with China, and other regional problems”.

“The US sanctions against Iran and the latest tension with Turkey with regard to the S-400 air defense system, have resulted in having other regional powers, such as Turkey and Malaysia, to come closer together to restructure their relations in order to stand up to the pressure being applied against their economy and security,” he added.

The post ‘Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan to lead Muslim renaissance’ appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2YoW0LQ

Selling grand ideas

Khyber Pukhtunkhwa minister for agriculture and livestock Mohibullah Khan, while presiding over a review meeting on research activities at the Agriculture Research Institute of Tarnab, claimed that 16 research centers are fully functional in the province which have evolved and introduced 363 high yield varieties of cereal crops, vegetables and fruits. It reminds about the famous saying of Dr. Adam Smith, father of classical school of economic thoughts. “If wishes were horses beggars may have ridden on them all the time.”

The institutes of agriculture research are redundant and dysfunctional because of dearth of funds, shortage of chemicals, equipments and above all the chronic problem of power outages in the areas where majority of these centers are located. Neither the previous PTI government in the province nor the incumbent one bothered to provide solar systems to the centers of agriculture research and overcome the shortage of equipments and chemicals. In practice the research centers provide the hybrid seeds and fruits’ plants saplings which are being evolved at the Agriculture Research Center of Faisalabad.

If an agriculture scientists succeeds in evolving new variety of cereal crops and fruits against all odds his efforts go waste. The research of Dr.Zarqueraish was not utilised which produced high yield canola seed and olive plants in addition to feasibility of grafting the wild olive plantation that exist in certain areas of Malakand Division. The province is dependent on Punjab for the supply food grains, vegetable and fruits. Its 1.8 million acre fertile cultivable land in the southern districts is rain-fed. It can be put on the road to food autarky only when the centers of agriculture research are made fully functional and water conservation is done by giving priority to the construction of small dams. Grand ideas are no substitute for concrete actions.

The post Selling grand ideas appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2LKPkWi

Fast-tracking Rashakai economic zone

Chairing a review meeting of Industries Department, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed for the completion of pending modalities to facilitate the foundation laying of establishing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Rashakai. The industrial estate is one of the nine such economic zones that are to be set up for the relocation of Chinese industries and some joint ventures with Pakistani entrepreneurs for exports goods producing industries under the umbrella of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Realisation of this initiative is inevitable for the second phase of industrialisation in the country.

Despite the game-changer mantra about CPEC day in and day out by the former Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal work on the establishment of SEZs could not move an inch in the last PML-N government. Although the present government has priortised three special economic zones, including the one at Rashakai, but things are moving at snail pace. The project is yet to be jump-started and its overselling in media will not serve useful purpose. The technology stagnation and neglect of skill development will be major hindrances for materializing joint ventures and opening employment opportunities for locally available manpower. It was two years ago that Chairman State Engineering Corporation had cautioned the entrepreneurs to move forward from the existing second generation technology to fifth generation if they are really interested to grab the opportunity of joint ventures with Chinese entrepreneurs in SEZs. Likewise, he emphasised for skill development of human resource at extensive and intensive scales to enable the locally available  manpower in the application of latest technologies. The previous PTI government in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa had closed the vocational training institutes. The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has not been successful in performing its mandated job. The research and training facilities in public sector Engineering Universities are not state-of-the-art.

The estimated requirement of electricity supply for Rashakai Special Economic Zone is 200 megawatt. It will need installation of a separate Grid Station and high power transmission system. These projects fall within the domain of federal government. How PESCO and NDTC will do this is a million dollar question if the failure in upgrading and expanding the existing distribution and transmission system is any guide? Tripping and breakdown of distribution system and recurrence transmission faults due to overload and distribution imbalances has become a regular feature of power sector. The existing rag-tag power transmission and distribution system is unable to pick the additional load of electricity supply. The Asian Development Bank had sanctioned a loan of $4.5 billion in 2016 for the up-gradation of power distribution and transmission system but it could not be disbursed although commitment charges are being paid on it for the last three years.

Another major impediment in the way of industrial development of the province is the high price of electricity. The provincial government has not been able so far to provide electricity at competitive price from Pehur hydel power station to Gadoon Industrial Estate, notwithstanding repeated announcements in this regard. The province does not have its own transmission and distribution system and the provincial government had to sign an agreement with power division to sell 70 plus megawatt electricity to NDTC. In the prevailing unfavourable economic environment, the upbeat media publicity of Rashakai Special Economic Zone may turn out counterproductive with unexpected political damage for the PTI. It would be worthwhile that provincial government take concrete measures, as far as possible, for human resource development and improvement in technological skill to meet the demand of trained manpower if at all the dream of industrialisation of the province comes true.

The post Fast-tracking Rashakai economic zone appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/30ZzPgQ

SBP injects Rs 1842.250b into market

F.P. Report

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan on Friday injected Rs 1842.250 billion into money market for seven days as reverse repo purchase through its open market operation.

Twenty four bids of Rs 1870.250 billion were offered, of which 22 of Rs 1842.250 billion accepted. The rate of return accepted is 13.34 percent per annum, said SBP release.

The post SBP injects Rs 1842.250b into market appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2K5KHmD

BOI welcome $ 20m Chinese investment in services sector

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Board of Investment and State Minister for investment, Zubair Gilani on Friday welcome the $ 20 million investment in Services sector in the country.

“BOI is committed to support the foreign investment and also provide facilities to the foreign investment through ‘ease of doing business, he said this while meeting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of integrated services company ‘Timesaco’ Donald-Li,said a press release issued by BOI here.

He said the BOI was working on 9, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for provide one window operation facility to the local and foreign inverters.

Minister for State vowed that he will provide all possible facilities to the Information Technology (IT) sector and the government always appreciate to foreign investors.

He added that, information technology has huge potential and in future it will be largest field in Pakistan.

He offered the full support to the foreign investment and hailed efforts of integrated services company ‘Timesaco’ for establish the new taxi service “Buraq” including five other services.

On the occasion, Donald-Li appreciated role of BOI for providing guidelines and other facilities to local and foreign investors.

He also appreciated Minister of State on helping investors for speedy materialization of their projects and to enhance Pakistan’s international competitiveness to contribute economic and social development.

He informed that ‘Timeseco’ have establishing e-services platform in Pakistan.

While he also shared Timesaco’s concept and mission for Pakistan. Donald also expressed his views on investment opportunities in Pakistan and spoke that his company is intend to invest $20 million in e-services sector of Pakistan.

He said that ‘Timesaco’ wants to empower the local investors and to create a working environment especially in IT sector.

He further said that Timesaco offers five different services in Pakistan including taxi service “Buraq”,instant delivery”Fema”and City Freight “Cargo+”.

Initially, these services are available in six big urban centre including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar,he added.

CEO of Timesaco said the company’s main objective is to provide best services in affordable rates.

He said that ‘Timesaco’ offers lower price and more care for customers.

He added that Buraq Taxi service will be very different from other existing players and it will be very profitable for drivers as well.

Both sides, the Minister of State and CEO Timesaco talked on tax reforms and possible reliefs for foreign investors.

The post BOI welcome $ 20m Chinese investment in services sector appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2yrfN2J

Taliban leader Qari Syed dead

Monitoring Desk

FARYAB: An airstrike killed a Taliban group leader Qari Syed and his three militants in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan. The 209th Shaheen Corps in a statement said the security forces conducted the airstrike in Gurziwan district of Faryab.

The statement of 209th Shaheen Corps further added that the airstrike killed Taliban group leader Qari Syed and his three militants. Furthermore, the 209th Shaheen Corps said the airstrike also wounded 2 other militants. (Khaama Press)

The post Taliban leader Qari Syed dead appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2MgVgFX

Pro-govt forces describe how KeranWaManjan fell to Taliban

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: A day after the fall of KeranWaManjan district of Badakhshan to the Taliban, almost 110 members of the public uprising forces who fled to the neighboring Nuristan province said they attempted through many channels but the relevant officials did not pay attention their plight.

The district, which has the biggest deposits of lapis lazuli, fell to the Taliban on July 24.

The soldiers said they walked for 22 hours from KeranWaManjan district to Parun, the center of Nuristan, which shares borders with Badakhshan.

The police chief for KeranWaManjan district, Abdul WaliHussaini, said they fought against the Taliban for nine days, but they were forced to leave the district after their ammunition ended.

“We phoned the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the secretary of Mr. (Chief Executive Abdullah) Abdullah, the Badakhshan police chief, Badakhshan governor and even we phoned Badakhshan MPs, but no one heard our voice,” Hussaini said. 

He said that at least 60 members of the public uprising and police force members surrendered to the Taliban.

“The clash in our village continued for nine days. Then we understood the reinforcement and ammunition will not arrive and then we left the district,” said Zafaruddin, a member of public uprising forces in KeranWaManjan.

“People left the district as they did not have other option,” said Mohammad, member of public uprising forces in KeranWaManjan.

The lapis lazuli deposit in KeranWaManjan district in Badakhshan fell to the Taliban on July 17.

At least 20 security force members were deployed to protect the deposit. Many mineral deposits are located in disputed areas between the security forces and the Taliban in different parts of the country. Reports indicate that the Taliban receive a big amount of income from illegal mining.

“Some members of local police and public uprising forces unit have come to Nuristan,” the Nuristan Police Chief Saber Aryan said.(TOLOnews)

The post Pro-govt forces describe how KeranWaManjan fell to Taliban appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2yrfIMt

Croatian soldier’s body arrives home

Monitoring Desk

ZAGREB: The body of a Croatian soldier who was killed in an apparent suicide attack in Afghanistan has been flown back home. Croatia’s defense ministry says the remains of 27-year-old JosipBriski arrived on Friday on a US C-17 plane from Afghanistan. Family members and top state officials have attended the ceremony at the Zagreb airport which included top military honors for the fallen soldier. Briski died Wednesday after a suicide bomber slammed into his vehicle with a motorcycle.

He and two other Croatian soldiers were initially wounded in the attack, but Briski later died from his injuries.

Briski is the first Croatian soldier killed while serving in the international mission in Afghanistan. A total of 99 Croatian soldiers are deployed there.

Briski will be buried on Saturday.(AP)

The post Croatian soldier’s body arrives home appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2MgLTGk

Two missing, tourists stranded after landslide in Naran

F.P. Report

NARAN: At least two people were missing when landslide occurred on Shahrah-e- Khaghan at different places that also stranded dozens of tourists in the valley. Assistant Commissioner Balakot said on Friday that two people went missing after landslide occurred at tourists’ resorts Jalkhad and Boravai in Naran valley.

Scores of tourists were stranded in the area after landslide blocked the road leading to Kaghan at different places. The tourists remained confined to their vehicles in open sky with acute shortage of food and drinks. The Assistant Commissioner said providing food to the tourists is the first priority but it would need a helicopter as roads were blocked by the landslide at different places. The AC has also directed an alert for all the departments concerned to clear the road as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) appointed sanitation staff for Naran Town and started implementation of bylaws on new constructions in the valley.

Newly established KDA has started sanitation drive in all bazaars and streets of Naran where the staff would clean the areas, collect the garbage and shift it to the dumping point on daily basis.

The post Two missing, tourists stranded after landslide in Naran appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2ygQW1e

UK’s watchdog fines Russian news channel RT

Monitoring Desk

LONDON: The U.K. broadcasting watchdog Ofcom on Friday has fined the Russian-backed news channel RT for $248,500 for “failing to comply” with British broadcasting laws. “Our investigation found that RT failed to preserve due impartiality in seven news and current affairs programmes between 17 March and 26 April 2018,” Ofcom said in a statement.

“Taken together, these breaches represented serious and repeated failures of compliance with our rules. We were particularly concerned by the frequency of RT’s rule-breaking over a relatively short period of time,” the watchdog added. Following the poisonings of Russian dissident Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the British town of Salisbury in 2018, RT and a number of other Kremlin-backed TV channels drew up numerous theories and explanations of who could have been responsible for the poisonings but deflected blame away from Russia.

“We are outraged by the that the British media regulator Ofcom has imposed a fine on us, not waiting for the court decision, which should establish whether Ofcom’s claims on RT are legitimate,” RT said in a press release. “At the same time, the amount significantly exceeds the fines imposed on other media for such serious violations as incitement to hatred and calls for violence, while RT media is subjectively accused by the regulator of “lack of impartiality”,” the news channel added.

RT has been criticized for propagating for Russia as well as hosting right-wing conspiracy theorists in its debates and programs. Earlier this month, RT and fellow channel Sputnik were barred by the foreign office from attending a media freedom conference, citing their role in “spreading disinformation”. The news channels accused the government of hypocrisy with the move being politically motivated. In December 2018, Ofcom found RT to have committed several breaches of the U.K.’s broadcasting code during its reporting on the poisoning of former Soviet spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury last year, a poisoning blamed on Russia. (AA)

The post UK’s watchdog fines Russian news channel RT appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2Mk8q5g

Mahathir, longest-serving elected Muslim leader

Monitoring Desk

ANKARA: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s tightly packed four-day visit to Turkey is being keenly watched. Both countries represent freedom, democracy and rule of people’s will in the Muslim world. Turkish President RecepTayyipErdogan and Mahathir are believed to be twin engines of the Muslim world, who pulled their countries, to the path of growth and transformed a lot of people.

“Only two leaders stand out in the Muslim world who transformed their countries. Prime Minister Mahathir under whose leadership Malaysia’s per capita income went up. The other country is Turkey. We saw the change in Turkey under then Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdogan, where per capita income went up and people’s condition improved,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, while paying tribute to two leaders of the Muslim world. Mahathir, 94, a medical doctor was elected prime minister of Malaysia, after defeating his previous party colleague NajibRazak in May 2018. This was the sixth term, he was elected leader of the country.

Born on December 20, 1925, in AlorSetar, in Malaysia’s northern state of Kedah, Mahathir’s father Mohamad bin Iskandar was a teacher at English language school. Iskandar had nine children. Mahathir started study life at an Islamic grammar school before joining Sultan Abdul Hamid College. During his school days, he won a scholarship to support his studies. He later attended King Edward VII College of Medicine at the University of Malaya in Singapore, from where he graduated in 1953.

He started medical practice in 1957 in his hometown, where he was the only Malay doctor at that time. A year before, Mahathir married SitiHasmah. The two have seven children four biological and three adopted. Mahathir’s political journey had begun during his student days. He later became a prominent face of United Malays National Organization (UMNO) Malaysia’s largest political party. He won his first election in 1964 representing Kota Setar Selatan, in the House of Representatives in Federal Parliament. But he lost in 1969 when he was rerunning from the same seat.

At that time, Malaysia was undergoing racial tensions between the Chinese and Malay. The rift between young doctor-turned-politician Mahathir and then premier Tunku Abdul Rahman grew beyond repair. Mahathir accused the premier in an open letter of “favoring Chinese interests”. Author of 16 books, Mahathir’s famous work has been his 1970 controversial book, ‘The Malay Dilemma’, where he highlighted Chinese domination and plight of indigenous Malays. The book was banned. But, later, led to the fall of Rahman’s government.

He was reelected to the federal parliament in 1973. From there, he never looked back. He became a cabinet minister in 1974 holding education portfolio and rose to become deputy prime minister in 1976. He was elected president of the ruling UMNO in June 1981. After the then Prime Minister Hussein Onn retired from active politics, Mahathir succeeded him in July 1981. He became the first politician from a humble background, to hold the high office in Malaysia. After winning five consecutive elections, he retired from active politics in 2003. But returned to the political arena once again in 2015, forming Malaysian United Indigenous Party (MUIP), which he merged with PakatanHarapan to form a coalition.

At 93, in January 2018, he announced candidature to contest elections and won with a slim majority. Many of Mahathir’s ministers are too young that they were not even born when Mahathir first took office in 1981. The country of 32 million people was transformed into one of the main economics of Asia during his tenure.

He is credited with having led Malaysia’s rapid economic growth, which witnessed coming up of elite projects, including the Petronas Twin Towers, exhibiting his broad vision and ambitions. Malaysia observed an 8% economic expansion from 1988 to 1996. He released an economic plan The Way Forward or Vision 2020 expecting Malaysia to be a fully developed nation by 2020. He privatized government enterprises, including airlines, utilities and telecommunications, which raised money for the government and improved working conditions for many employees.

The North-South Expressway, a highway that runs from the Thai border to Singapore, is considered one of the massive infrastructures that was built under his leadership. Recently during his visit to the U.K., Mahathir attacked western countries, saying that their claims of being borderless is not consistent on the issue of migrants. In his address to the Cambridge Union in June, the nonagenarian Malaysian premier said that the West produced the idea of a “borderless world”, but meant borderless “only for flow of capital.”

“When people started to move, [Western countries] started building walls and barbed wires to keep out people,” he said. Mahathir said his country suffered from a currency crisis during 1997-98, because of a “large quantity of money” coming into Malaysia from abroad pushed up stock values. Turkey and Malaysia enjoy warm bilateral relations since being Muslim-majority countries.

When former Turkish Prime Minister NecmettinErbakan shared his idea of forming D-8, an economic grouping of developing Muslim countries in 1998, Mahathir extended his support to integrate the Muslim economies. Since Justice and Development (AK) Party rose to power in 2002, the bilateral relations witnessed rapid boost. The latest economic figures suggest that the total trade between the two countries stood at the Malaysian Ringgit 9.79 billion ($2.38 billion). The ongoing visit of Mahathir is expected to focus on expanding the defense relations as Turkish firms now stand among top 100 arms-producing companies in the world.

Mahathir takes no qualms in describing Israel a “terrorist nation”. Early this year, he banned Israeli athletes from participating in the international Paralympic swimming championship, hosted by Malaysia. The IPC stripped Malaysia of the right, to host the championship due to its ban on Israeli athletes. “Israel is a criminal state and deserves to be condemned,” Mahathir wrote on his personal blog in January, citing Malaysia’s solidarity with the Palestinian people. “Until and unless the international community is committed to finding a solution to bring an end to the occupation of the land, belonging to the Palestinians, the region and the rest of the world will not have much of a chance for stability and order,” he told Al Sharq Annual Conference in May this year in Kuala Lumpur. (AA)

The post Mahathir, longest-serving elected Muslim leader appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2Y6kdLC

Racist rhetoric could play against Trump’s campaign

Monitoring Desk

WASHINGTON: If US President Donald Trump has waded into his re-election campaign by playing the race card with the undeclared aim of capturing the white and more reactionary base of Republican voters, he has succeeded, judging by their initial response. But this is a high-risk strategy, according to political analysts based in Washington. It could even turn against him and bury his chances of winning a second four-year term if he alienates minorities and centrist segments who still have not found an attractive alternative among Democratic candidates.

Trump has radicalized his remarks in recent days, attacking four Democratic congresswomen, all of them minorities: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (representing New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts) and RashidaTlaib (Michigan). In addition, he praised the crowd at one of his campaign rallies after it launched into a xenophobic chant against one of the congresswomen: “Send her back!” they said. He also equated political criticism with being anti-patriotic and doubled down by stating that if these Democratic congresswomen “are not happy, they can leave”. By doing this, the American leader suggested that the United States is not their country. But the opposition reminded Trump that three of them were born in the US and the fourth, Omar, a Muslim refugee of Somali origin, became a naturalized citizen when she was 17 years old.

Despite the response of the congresswomen and their party, Trump has continued his attacks, especially on social media. On Twitter, he has defined ‘The Squad’ (a term used by the US media to refer to the four legislators) as “a very racist group of troublemakers who are young, inexperienced, and not very smart. They are pulling the once great Democrat Party far left”. “In 2016, I almost won Minnesota. In 2020, because of America hating anti-Semite Rep. Omar, and the fact that Minnesota is having its best economic year ever, I will win the State! ‘We are going to be a nightmare to the President,’ she says. No, AOC Plus 3 are a Nightmare for America!” he said earlier this week on Twitter.

For Juan Carlos Hidalgo, a political analyst at Washington-based think tank the Cato Institute, it is clear that behind the presidential attacks, there is an electoral strategy that is in tune with the concerns expressed by the voters who put Trump in the White House in the last presidential election. “Various studies show that the reason that motivates Trump’s base to go to the polls and support him are mostly racial, cultural and identity issues, and not economic issues,” Hidalgo told Anadolu Agency. Therefore, he said, Trump “is responding to those polls in a way that served him already in 2016 and that he hopes will serve him in 2020”.

But the radicalization of Trump’s remarks has another objective in addition to mobilizing Republican followers. It aims “for people to identify the Democratic Party with its further left wing,” says Erick Langer, an analyst and academic from Georgetown University. It means that the most “uninformed” voter and less interested in the political debate sees the opposition “as socialists who want to redistribute income and increase taxes,” said Langer. The four congresswomen who were the target of Trump’s attacks since last week belong precisely to the most diverse and progressive sector of the Democrats.

Their challenging stands have even led to confrontations with the moderate sectors of the party, including House of Representatives leader Nancy Pelosi. Differences became noticeable long ago over the possibility of advancing with Trump’s impeachment, for example, but they were erased in recent days in light of the president’s offensive against the four young women. Mark Jones, a political analyst at Rice University in Texas, agrees with this assessment. In his opinion, because of Trump’s “radical ideology”, in terms of the American debates, the congresswomen pointed out by Trump “can cause Democratic candidates to lose votes, especially where they compete in disputed districts either to keep their seats or lose them to a Republican”.

But the intolerant remarks of the president, supported by simple slogans, entail risks for the Republican Party, since they could turn off the independent or central sectors that are likely to be those who decide the next election. President Trump’s attacks “are seen as racist by many voters, and that erodes minority support for the Republican Party,” Jones explained. Much will depend on who is the candidate chosen by the opposition for the 2020 elections. “I doubt that moderate voters still have a hesitant attitude towards the attitude of President Trump, but (those same voters) could be in play in case the Democrats choose a very radical candidate for the next elections, a candidate who openly embraces socialist or far-left positions,” said Hidalgo. Such a decision from the opposition, he added, “would put at a crossroads many moderate Republican voters, who while not supporting Donald Trump also do not want the United States to go on a radical policy path set by the extreme left, at least in economic matters”. (AA)

The post Racist rhetoric could play against Trump’s campaign appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2OmDkwf

The Strait of Hormuz hides a grim past

Mehnaz Yaseen

One of the world’s most important shipping routes, the strait was also witness to one of the world’s deadliest aviation disasters. It’s one of the most important waterways in the world and has been in the news for weeks now.

The Strait of Hormuz has been the backdrop for the seizure of a British-flagged tanker, the Stena Impero, the downing of a US spy drone, and attacks and counter-attacks on oil tankers. The body of water connects consumers in Europe, Asia and America to the heart of the Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia. As tensions escalate between the US and UK on one side, and Iran on the other, memories of the strait’s turbulent past have returned to the fore.

Three decades ago, the Strait of Hormuz witnessed one of the world’s worst aviation disasters. Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down over the Persian Gulf by a US naval vessel with the loss of 290 people, including 66 children. The incident has been largely forgotten and is rarely mentioned by US media outlets.

During the 80s, the waterway became the focal point of the war between Iraq and Iran. Baghdad was trying to become a major power in the Gulf when in 1984 the two warring sides began disrupting each other’s oil exports. Dubbed the ‘Tanker War’, Iraq aimed to strangle Iran’s economy, threatening to shut off what Iran called its jugular vein. The US, which adopted for the ‘enemy of my enemy’ approach threw its weight behind Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein against their common enemy in Tehran.

With US intervention, Tehran was under tremendous pressure to make peace with Iraq. But in 1988, something tragic happened that strained the already complex relations between the US and Iran. In a show of support towards Iraq and its Gulf allies, and to protect its viral trade routes, the US deployed a missile carrier, USS Vincennes, to the Persian Gulf. As the eight-year war was winding down, in July 1988 the missile carrier shot down Flight 655 while it was en route to Dubai and over Iranian territorial waters.

Two surface-to-air missiles were launched at the aircraft leaving no survivors.  Memories of the tragedy live strong among several generations of Iranians. Once a year, the country’s state media rebroadcasts the footage of the plane’s wreckage and memorial ceremonies are held to remember the lives lost.

“The US downing of the Iranian passenger plane still resonates with Iranians. The current tensions in the Persian Gulf certainly invoke memories of the tense days of the war and the country’s defenselessness against powerful enemies as well as the population’s resilience,” Reza H. Akbari, Programme Manager at the Institute for War & Peace, UK, told TRT World. The US claimed that its Naval officers mistook the Airbus A300 for an Iranian F-14 fighter jet.

They said repeated warnings were sent to the jetliner, which failed to respond, and thinking of it as a hostile aircraft, the crew acted in self-defence and shot it down. Tehran considers the tragedy an intentional and hostile act but then US President Ronald Reagan dubbed it an “understandable accident”.

“To this day, significant portions of the country’s authorities do not believe the event was an accident, but a deliberate message sent to Iran over its decision to plant underwater mines in the Persian Gulf amid the Tanker War phase of the Iran-Iraq War,” Akbari said. A month later, in August 1988, while addressing a campaign rally, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush said:

“I will never apologise for the United States—I don’t care what the facts are, I’m not an apologise-for-America kind of guy.” Later, on August 19, the Pentagon released the 53-page Fogarty report concluding that USS Vincennes commanding officer Navy Captain Will Rogers III “acted in a prudent manner” and that they were threatened by the aircraft.

Rogers was later awarded the Legion of Merit award for his “meritorious service” and cleared of any wrongdoing, further angering Iran. Rogers retired honourably in 1991. Iran was not ready to give up. In 1989, it filed a lawsuit against the US in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague. The ICJ ordered the US to compensate the families of the Iranian victims. But the case dragged on and in 1996 Iran and the US entered into an agreement.

The case against the US was dropped. Washington “expressed deep regret” and agreed to pay $61.8 million to the victims’ families but never apologised formally for the downing of the plane.

Current hostilities: About 18.5 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day – almost a fifth of the world’s total oil exports. The Trump administration has been exerting a maximum pressure policy against Iran in order to weaken and destabilise the country internally, but three decades later, experts believe, Iran is a different country.

“During those days, Iran’s retaliatory power was certainly no match against the United States.” “The current conditions may be the same, but because of lessons learned during the war, Iranian officials have drawn a red line when it comes to the country’s defensive capabilities, independence, and territorial integrity. “They have spent a significant amount of energy and resources to turn a potential conflict with the US or regional foes into a long, arduous, and costly war for the parties involved.” Akbari told TRT World.

On fears of a direct confrontation in the strait, Akbari said: “The US and Iranian administrations are not after an all-out confrontation, but the continuation of tit-for-tat clashes in the Strait of Hormuz is very likely. This is a dangerous path that may lead to a point of no return.”

The post The Strait of Hormuz hides a grim past appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2Y60v2p

Opposition protest show

The opposition political parties put up a very poor power show of protest what they called the “Black Day” because they perceived that last year general elections were rigged, ignoring the reports of holding the polls in a free and transparent manner by the Commonwealth Observers team and national watchdogs including PILDAT and FAFEEN which closely and extensively monitored the polling process in the nook and corner of the country. The high turnout of voters on the polling day, particularly of youth, is another glaring proof that repudiates the opposition claim.

The JUI (F) leadership had vowed to demonstrate their political muscles with a million march in the provincial metropolis of Peshawar. But to their utter dismay, they could hardly garner less than five thousand people with the support of ANP, PML-N and QaumiWattan Party for a public meeting near motorway interchange although the gathering was addressed by the heavyweights like MaulanaFazluRehman, AsfandiyarWali, AhsanIqbal and AftabSherpao.

The Lahore protest public meeting, addressed by PML-N president Shabaz Sharif, was also not impressive despite the fact that party grabbed majority National and Provincial Assembly seats from the city and cantonment areas in the last year general elections, and the party leadership considers it as bastion of their support. The Quetta show which was arranged by PkMAP Supremo Mahmood Khan Acakzai for PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was thinly attended. The Public meeting at Karachi which was addressed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari could also attract less than expected crowd despite the use of provincial government machinery. However, the provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Puktunkhwa should have not overreacted by erecting roadblocks which created hardship for the people who wanted to carry out their routine activities, and should have left the opposition street power show exposed.

The post Opposition protest show appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2OkTHcQ

Food insecurity

The number of people who live below the poverty line and the ones who are confronted with grave problem of food insecurity has alarmingly increased over the past twelve years. These two most neglected issues during the tenures of elected governments of the democracy clamouring two mainstreams have resulted in mass malnutrition in both adults and children and the stunted growth among children. National Nutrition Survey, 2018 states that more than 50 percent people are suffering from malnutrition, whereas 37 percent households are faced with food insecurity.

The worrying factor that the survey report lime-lights is the partial hereditary dimension of malnutrition in children who are breastfed by their mothers. The reason cited is that the married women in their fertility age give birth to weak children because the mothers themselves could not get necessary nutrants in daily diet during pregnancy phase and breastfeeding years of their babies.

The Prime Minister Imran Khan had made a particular mention of malnutrition and stunted growth among children in his first speech after taking the oath of office in August last year. It raised the expectation level among the people of the country that federal governments will prioritize the solution to tackle the twin menace but they did not know that after the enforcement of 18th Amendment and transfer of 57 percent plus financial resources to the provinces under 7th National Finance Commission Award of 2010 the central government has a limited role in this regard. The Ministry of Agriculture had been devolved to the federating units of the country under this amendment. The worst types of cartels have been established by the feudal and mercantile classes that dominates the two mainstream political parties. It has made almost impossible the availability of nutrition rich food commodities at affordable price to the people of poor and lower middle classes. These cartels have been left unbridled to raise prices and create shortages of food items by making dysfunctional the Competitive Commission of Pakistan.

A federal ministry of National Food Security has been set up by the last PML-N government. But ironically the burning issue of providing food security to the poor people was not included in its mandatory functions. The ministry has been tasked with formulations of plans for agriculture research and working out policy for the import of agriculture inputs. Just three days before the end of the tenure of government, as a political gimmick, first ever national food security policy was announced on 29th May, 2018 with a loud but hollow promise to set up National Food Security Council with a mandated function of ensuring availability of food commodities of daily consumption through a mechanism of increased agriculture production. It is a million dollar question how this daunting job can be done when brute cartels are owned by influential political elite who have greater say in federal and provincial governments’ decision making? Unfortunately, a few prominent faces of food commodities cartels enjoy greater clout in the ruling party PTI as well, notwithstanding Prime Ministers’ worries about malnutrition and stunted growth among children.

Health, education and provision of clean drinking water fall with in the domain of provincial governments. I was expected that transfer of additional financial resources to the provinces under the NFC Award shall be honestly and judiciously utilised on the projects of social sector development but it did not happen and the additional funds were grossly misappropriated. The clean water companies’ scandal in Punjab, the rising number of infants’ and children death in Thar, the drinking water crisis in Karachi, the case of massive embezzlement of public funds by a finance secretary Mushtaq Raisani in Baluchistan reveal how the previous governments remained indifferent to the problems of malnutrition and food insecurity.

Both long term policies and short term measures are needed to address these issues. The strategies aimed at poverty alleviation and growth will provide short term solution as the issue of male nutrition is directly related to the rampant poverty caused by massive unemployment. Decartelization by reactivating and reinvigorating the Competitive Commission of Pakistan can buttress the efforts of fighting malnutrition. Universal education up to secondary level for both genders will help bring down the population growth.

The post Food insecurity appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2Y8Pv4u

Carl Beech's ex-wife speaks out

Four years ago Dawn Beech was watching the explosive BBC Panorama episode featuring 'Nick', who was making claims of child sex abuse. She knew immediately it was her husband Carl.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LLBUJI

RICHARD EDEN: Meghan is so in Vogue! Duchess of Sussex will guest edit fashion bible

RICHARD EDEN: Already heralded as a fashion icon, the Duchess of Sussex is the surprise guest editor of Vogue for its bumper September issue, I can reveal.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ydNxR1

Boris Johnson love bombs the North of England as he promises new generation of rail routes

The new Prime Minister is set to announce funds for a new trans-Pennine rail route that could cost billions. And he is drawing up plans for a major £2bn fund to improve Britain's 'left-behind towns'.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2K8C8XU

Harry and Meghan ban neighbours from talking to royals, asking to see Archie or petting their dogs

The strict set of rules were issued at a residents' meeting for those living near the couple's home on the Windsor estate by a 'well-intentioned' member of estate staff.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/32OYvuh

Sterling hits lowest rate ever against euro for July getaway

British families are facing the most costly foreign summer holidays for decades. Sterling has not been lower against the euro in any mid-summer since the single currency's launch in 1999.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YafeJG

How 'Nick' got £22,000 for a false claim with just a simple form

Carl Beech, pictured in a mugshot released following his conviction had placed a £10,000 deposit on a £34,000 Ford Mustang Convertible - using his compensation cash.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Z9idyx

What HAS Gina Lollobrigida's toyboy done with Lolla's lolly?

TOM LEONARD: All that on-screen melodrama never held a candle to the private life of 'La Lolla', as her adoring nation calls her. Men are chasing her, it is alleged: not for love or lust but sheer greed.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2ycR2Hc

Thugs jailed after killing father who confronted them for vandalising cars could be free in months

Jordan Cunliffe, 27, and Stephen Sorton, 29, have been referred to the Parole Board to consider for release just 11 years after they were jailed. They beat Garry Newlove, 47, to death in Cheshire in 2007.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2LHT8Yn

Mother takes legal action against Czech cosmetic firm after 'botched tummy tuck almost killed her'

Mikayla Whitworth, 30, flew to the Czech Republic for cut-price liposuction and a tummy tuck in 2015. But she soon began vomiting and was diagnosed with sepsis and a flesh-eating disease.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2Y8vPNS

Victims of fantasist Carl Beech call for Labour deputy leader Tom Watson to resign

Victims called for the deputy Labour leader to stand down after Beech was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court today. Watson was accused of 'whipping up a moral panic' over the claims.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YzM2eN

Jacob Rees-Mogg BANS his staff from using 'got', 'very' or 'equal' in new Leader of Commons office

The new Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, issued list of rules just one week into his new role in Parliament. He insists that all non-titled males are given the suffix Esq.

from News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2YlLlFJ

Dengue reaches ‘epidemic proportions’ in Bangladesh

Monitoring Desk

DHAKA: Mohammad Abdullah, who works at a private hospital in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, has been suffering from dengue fever since July 16. His younger brother and mother have also caught the fever. All are now hospitalized. “I work in a dialysis lab of this hospital. I know very well about this mosquito-borne viral disease (dengue fever). But I couldn’t avoid it,” Abdullah, lying in a hospital bed, told Anadolu Agency. He said he is a resident of Shantibag area, which has seen a “very unplanned” development. “Even a little rain creates waterlogging here. Poor drainage and sewerage system takes two to three days to clean the stagnant water. During the monsoon period we severely suffer from water stagnation and mosquitos,” he said.

A record number of dengue cases has been reported in Bangladesh this year, with a total of 8,565 people have been infected by the disease until July 24, according to the latest update from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). In 2018, a total of 7,450 dengue cases were reported. The running month of July alone has seen a massive surge in the reported cases of dengue, with 6,421 dengue patients. Dr. Md. MouzzamHossain, a dengue specialist at the Care Medical College Hospital, told Anadolu Agency that the dengue cases have increased in the recent years due to environmental change and lack of awareness. “This year it reaches to epidemic proportions, breaking all past records.”

He urged the government to take the dengue as a topmost priority issue and immediately sit with authorities of all public and private hospitals to jointly handle the crisis. Mosquitoes carrying malaria and dengue appear more frequently especially in the rainy season, while scientists warn high temperatures and prolonged rains cause an increase in mosquitoes breeding. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, which is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. The infection causes a flu-like illness, and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue, according to the World Health Organization.

Dhaka, a megacity of above 20 million people, has turned into a vast building site, with thousands of new high-rise buildings are under construction. For this massive construction works barrels of stagnant water or reservoirs are also made and rainwater stays pooled in those under-construction sites. Currently, the mega metro-rail project is under construction on the main street from Dhaka’s main airport to business hub Motijheel. Many parts on the street have already been dug for this project. It is seen that rainwater is stagnated in many holes.

The DGHS records also show that more than 90% of the dengue cases in the country were reported in the capital city. “Just for four days ago, I came to Dhaka for some official works and got infected with dengue,” Mohammad Kamal Uddin, an expatriate Bangladeshi, who is under treatment in a city hospital, told Anadolu Agency. “I have been working in Kuwait for the past few years. I have frequently seen rains in that country. But I have never seen such stagnation of water and poor drainage system there like in Dhaka city,” he added. The real number of dengue cases is unclear, and could possibly be higher.

Dhaka’s South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor SayeedKhokon has recently spoken about the treatment of tens of tousands of dengue patients in only the southern part of the city. Around 25,000 patients affected with dengue fever have so far been given primary medical care and the patients who were in critical condition have been sent to nearby hospitals for treatment, Khokon was quoted by the Daily Star as saying on July 22. HasanurRahman, an on-duty doctor at the Islami Bank Central Hospital, told Anadolu Agency on July 23 that during his duty hours on the day, 14 patients came to the hospital and seven of them were suffering from dengue fever. “In the last couple of days, so many dengue patients have come to the hospital for treatment but not all of them could be admitted due to lack of cabins, or beds,” he added.

The Bangladeshi government has decided to launch a weeklong countrywide mosquito killing and cleanliness program on July 25. A 22-member national committee, headed by Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Md. Tajul Islam, has been formed to implement the decision and make the program effective. As part of the weeklong drive, people will be encouraged to destroy all mosquito breeding grounds at their homes. On July 14, the country’s Higher Court held health officials responsible for failing to eliminate Aedes mosquitoes and stop the spread of dengue, chikungunya and similar other diseases in the city.

In its ruling, the court said over 11 people reportedly died of dengue recently. However, local media said the death toll surpasses 25 But, according to the government record, a total of 8 people including a civil surgeon died of the disease. Calling the dengue situation in Bangladesh “alarming”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a quick and effective drive. “The condition would turn epidemic if such a trend continued,” Dr. Edwin Salvador, acting representative of WHO in Dhaka, said on July 21. (AA)

The post Dengue reaches ‘epidemic proportions’ in Bangladesh appeared first on The Frontier Post.

from The Frontier Post https://ift.tt/2K4UIAu