What Jahangir Tareen Said To Rauf Klasra About Nasir Khosa

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PTI Serves Legal Notice To Anchor Gharida Farooqi

غریدہ فاروقی اپنے کئے پر غیر مشروط معذرت کریں وگرنہ قانونی کارروائی کا سامنا کرنے کیلئے تیار رہیں، افتخار درانی#CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

عمران خان وہ سیاسی قائد ہیں جنہوں نے پختونخوا میں اپنی حکومت کی پرواہ نہ کرتے ہوئے اپنے ڈیڑھ درجن اراکین اسمبلی کو پارٹی سے نکال باہر کیا، افتخاردرانی #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

عمران خان پانامہ کیخلاف مہینوں انتھک جدوجہد کرنے والے تنہا سیاسی قائد ہیں، افتخار درانی #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/VrU9jbcUWx

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

یہ عورت کیسے اس شخص پر کرپشن کا الزام عائد کرسکتی ہے جو اپنا سب کچھ داؤ پر لگا کر کرپشن کیخلاف سینہ سپر ہے، افتخار درانی #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

غریدہ فاروقی کے الزامات صریحاً جھوٹ اور قابل گرفت ہیں، افتخار درانی #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/5VKKhuApXd

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

معافی نہ مانگنے کی صورت میں ایک ارب ہرجانے کی کارروائی شروع کرنے کی تنبیہ #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

جھوٹ اور بے بنیاد الزامات پر بنی ٹویٹ فوری ہٹانے اور سات روز میں معافی مانگنے کا مطالبہ #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

فوری اور غیر مشروط معافی کیلئے قانونی نوٹس بھجوا دیا #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

غریدہ فاروقی کیخلاف تحریک انصاف کا فوری قانونی چارہ جوئی کا فیصلہ #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

نگران وزیر اعلیٰ کی تقرری کے حوالے سے اینکر پرسن غریدہ فاروقی کی جھوٹ پر مبنی ٹویٹ #CaretakerCM #GharidaFarooqi #PTI #BreakingNews

— ATV (@atvpakistan) May 30, 2018

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Nasir Khosa bought bungalow in US: sources

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Shocking Revelation About Nasir-ul-Mulk

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Nadeem Malik Takes Class Of Ali Muhammad Ali Khan

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Imran Khan Ne Nasir Khosa Ke Naam Per UTURN Kyun Lia ??

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Hamid Mir Ne Kis party Ko Election Ka Boycott Karne Ka Mashwara De Dia ??

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Debate B/w Javed Chaudhry & Ali Muhammad Khan

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Pildat Pakistan Kis Ko Support Karti Hai ?? Hamid Mir Tells

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Hamid Mir’s Prediction On Upcoming Election

source

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Mehmood Ur Rashed Ko Nasir Khosa Ka Naam Kis Ne Dia ?? Hamid Mir Reveals

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Imran Khan is a master of U-turn, says Shehbaz Sharif

F.P. Report

LAHORE: President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif has criticized the Imran Khan for his immature politics and adding that if a leader who constantly takes U-turns, how he can lead a country.

Shehbaz Sharif said this while addressing to media persons on Thursday at Lahore Press Club. Chief Minister Shehbaz added that Imran Khan is not rightful persons for the prime minister of the country as he is constantly taking u-turn on every statement and termed Imran Khan as master of u-turn.

Regarding the caretaker CM Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif said that they held discussion with the opposition with good intend and both the parties were agreed on the name of former bureaucrat Nasir Mahmood Khosa for the interim chief minister but later they dismissed the name which shows the mentality of this Niazi Khan.

Shehbaz also criticized the Balochistan assembly for approving the resolution seeking one month delay in the general election.

He added that delay in election is not in the favor of the country and adding that timey election is the solution of all problems facing by Pakistan.

Earlier on Saturday, President Mamnoon Hussain approved a summary sent by the Election Commission of Pakistan recommending that the general elections be held on July 25, 2018.

 

The post Imran Khan is a master of U-turn, says Shehbaz Sharif   appeared first on The Frontier Post.

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Khursheed Shah slams Balochistan Assembly resolution seeking delay in polls

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Khursheed Shah has criticized Balochistan Assembly for passing approving resolution, presented by Sarfaraz Bugti seeking one-month delayed in general elections 2018.

Khursheed Shah said this on Thursday, Shah said that the elections should not be delayed and adding that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will not accept any delay in the polls as it is not in the better interest of the country.

Shah added that it is very unfortunate that the interior minister of Balochistan demanding the delay of polls for one month and adding he didn’t what’s the motive behind this resolution.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) Shehbaz Sharif has termed the resolution as bad omen for the political situation of Pakistan. Talking to Press Club members, he said the future of the country is linked with the fair and transparent elections.

Earlier, Balochistan Assembly had passed a resolution seeking one-month delay in elections in the country. Provincial Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti tabled the resolution.

Pakhtunkhwa Milly Awami Party and Awami National Party (ANP) opposed the resolution and staged a walk out from the assembly after the passage of resolution.

It is pertinent to mention here that the date of the general elections has been decided as July 25. Polls for both National Assembly (NA) and provincial assemblies will be held simultaneously on the same date.

 

 

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Interior Ministry seeks to block ex-dictator Musharraf’s CNIC, Passport

ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry on Thursday requested the National Database and Regulatory Authority (NADRA) to block former President and dictator Pervez Musharraf’s Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). The former President’s passport would become invalid as well automatically if his CNIC is blocked. The Interior Ministry made this request in a letter it wrote to NADRA […]

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ICC believes new T20 leagues are at greatest risk of corruption

LONDON: Global cricket chiefs believe newly-emerging domestic Twenty20 competitions are the tournaments at greatest risk of corruption, following match-fixing allegations made by broadcaster Al Jazeera. International Cricket Council (ICC) officials are due to meet with Al Jazeera management as they look to explore all of the material, including as yet unbroadcast footage of claims against […]

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Usman Salahuddin to replace Babar Azam in second Test against England

Middle-order batsman Usman Salahuddin is ready to replace Babar Azam for Pakistan’s second Test against England at Leed’s from June 1. 27 year old Salahuddin had made two ODI appearances for Pakistan till now and was named in the squad for England tour following his extraordinary performance in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The young cricketer had scored […]

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Interesting Facts about General Elections 2013: Gallup Pakistan Data Analytics Team

This press release is part of a special press release that aims to provide the readers interesting findings from Gallup Pakistan’s electoral database. The database of the past 10 elections has been consolidated from the Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data by Gallup Pakistan’s Data Analytics team and analyzed over the past many years under the able leadership of Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, a political scientist by training from MIT USA.

Gallup Pakistan and Gilani Research Foundation have been working in various projects and activities for the past 40 years which aim to popularize use of facts and figures to understand Pakistani society and the complex behavioral and sociological ties that run underneath.

This particular press release provides an understanding of Pakistan’s 2013 general elections in terms of facts and figures. The need for this arises as we slowly move towards the 11^th general election in Pakistan since 1970.

 

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England call up Sam Curran as Stokes cover for Pakistan finale

LONDON: Surrey left-arm swing bowler Sam Curran has received a late-call-up into England´s squad for the second Test against Pakistan as cover for all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has a tight left hamstring. The uncapped teenager was summoned on Wednesday and is now due to train with England at Headingley on Thursday — with the second […]

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Pakistan, China, Afghanistan agree to strengthen alliance against terrorism

F.P. Report

BEIJING: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan agreed to strengthen their relation and alliance in fighting terrorism in the better interest of the region.

The Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement on Wednesday on its website. According to the statement, Chinese vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuan You, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai, and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tamina Janjua co-chaired the meeting on Monday.

Statement read that the three neighboring countries discussed the relation and exchange in-depth views on political mutual trust and also discussed the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

It added that all the three countries agreed to develop the trust between the three countries and also focused on developing mechanism of cooperation among Pakistan, China and Afghanistan. All the parties agreed to strengthen the communication to enhance the mutual trust.

Pakistan and China mentioned that they highly appreciated the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), with Afghanistan expressing its willingness to maintain a dialogue and the practical implementation of the action plan to promote continuous improvement of friendly relations.

The three nations agreed to continue well-established training and humanities exchanges, they also prepared for a second trilateral meeting, scheduled to be held in Kabul later this year.

 

 

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Chris Pratt sends back much love to Pakistan

Renowned Hollywood actor Chris Pratt on Tuesday took it to twitter expressing much love for his Pakistani fans. Known for his roles in Jurassic World, Marvel Studio’s Avengers Infinity War and Guardians of the Galaxy, Pratt is one of the most loved Hollywood actors in Pakistan. The actor in his tweet said that he hopes […]

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Decision to withdraw Khosa’s name lacked ‘maturity’, we were wrong for not doing our homework: PTI leader Mehmood ur Rashid

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member and leader of the opposition in Punjab’s provincial assembly, Mian Mehmood ur Rashid on Wednesday night apologised for his party’s decision to backtrack from backing former bureaucrat Nasir Khan Khosa as Punjab’s caretaker chief minister, and claimed that the party’s decision lacked ‘maturity’. Speaking in a TV show on Wednesday night, […]

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Can master of U-turn be rightful PM of Pakistan? Shehbaz Sharif

LAHORE:  Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s policy of taking u-turns. While addressing a delegation at Lahore Press Club, CM Shehbaz questioned if it is rightful for a person to even think to be a Prime Minister (PM) when he’s always taking u-turns. Sharif […]

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Philippines to give self-rule to its Muslim minority

Parliament okays new law

Manila

The Philippines moved a step closer on Wednesday to ending decades of conflict on its resource-rich island of Mindanao, after lawmakers approved a bill that will eventually allow self-rule for the country’s Muslim minority.
Lower house lawmakers voted 227 to 11, with 2 abstentions, to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), seen as key to forging lasting peace with separatist rebels and thwarting the rise of Islamist extremism in the nation’s poorest and most dangerous region.
The bill is the result of a 2014 peace deal between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government to end nearly 50 years of conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people and displaced 2 million.
It outlines the process to set up a self-administered territory in an area sometimes referred to as Bangsamoro (nation of Moros), encompassing mountains, islands and jungles that is home to at least 4 million people, mostly Muslim.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who was the mayor of a city on the southern island for 22 years, has stressed the importance of getting the legislation passed and certified it as an urgent bill on Tuesday to get it approved before a house recess on June 2.
The 22-member Senate has committed to Duterte to pass its counterpart version soon, before a panel of both houses combines both drafts in a version for the president’s final approval.
The previous administration met numerous hurdles and failed to pass the bill, fueling resentment and mistrust among many minority Muslims.
Duterte has warned that another failure could be disastrous and play into the hands of extremist groups like Daesh, which inspired a militant alliance to seize Marawi City last year for five months.
The battle for Marawi was the biggest the Philippines has seen since World War Two and stoked wider concerns that Daesh had ambitions to turn Mindanao into a base for its operations in Southeast Asia.
Hundreds of people were killed in Marawi, more than 350,000 were displaced and half the city was left in ruins. Martial law is still in force across Mindanao.
Though some militants who fought in Marawi were former MILF members, the group has denounced radical Islam and has a good relationship with Duterte.
Mindanao, an island the size of South Korea, is the Philippines’ most underdeveloped region, but is home to most of its nickel mines and biggest fruit farms, besides vast tracts of land the government wants to convert into palm oil plantations.
But its notorious clan wars, lawlessness and conflicts with Muslim and communist rebel groups have kept investors at bay. Once signed into law, Bangsamoro will have its own executive, legislature and fiscal powers, but the central government will continue to oversee defense, security, foreign affairs, and monetary policy. —Agencies

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New Jeddah airport goes operational

Jeddah

The first commercial flight to land at the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah has signaled Wednesday a major milestone for the facility, due to open early next year.
Operations are being phased in at the airport, with the commercial flight welcomed by a General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) senior management team on Wednesday.
The airport’s “soft launch” will be completed in four phases to ensure it is fully functional and employees are fully trained ahead of the facility’s official opening early next year.
When it opens the airport will operate 46 gates, but during the soft launch a limited number of flights will be managed through six gates.
Additional gates will open in line with the growth in capacity, with a focus on passenger security and safety.
The GACA’s approach is designed to avoid issues faced by other international airports that opened for operations before they were ready.
Abdulhakim bin Muhammad Al-Tamimi, GACA’s president, said: “The new airport is a major milestone for Saudi Arabia and will help meet the goals of Vision 2030 to support and drive the Kingdom’s economic development. The airport provides a platform that will allow the Kingdom to play a greater role as a regional hub for transport and logistics services, and support the growing number of pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques.”
Referring to the phasing in of operations, Al-Tamimi said this was a responsible approach adopted by most major infrastructure projects in the world.
“Delivering world-class security, safety and customer experience for all our passengers is at the heart of the vision of new GACA and we will achieve this by testing facilities in a controlled and disciplined manner.
“Our measure of success is not to have everything running perfectly on day one but to ensure that we are prepared for the full operational launch in 2019,” he said.
Al-Tamimi expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support of the civil aviation sector and the new airport.
He also thanked Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Abdullah bin Bandar for their help in completing operational requirements at the airport. The new airport will be a world-class resource and “a projection of the Kingdom’s ambitions to the world,” Al-Tamimi said.—Agencies

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Queen Elizabeth lauds Ayub’s academic role

London

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has today recognised Muhammad Ayub, representing Pakistan, as the 54th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of his exceptional voluntary service improving the education and life chances of young people in Islamabad.
As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen – as Head of the Commonwealth – is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country each week in the two years following the summit.
Mr Ayub is a fireman who runs an open-air school for children who would not otherwise be able to afford an education. He first started teaching a group of four children in an Islamabad public park over thirty years ago.
The school roll has since grown to over 250 students, with lessons running free of charge from noon to sunset.
Children are taught a range of subjects including Urdu, English and Maths and thousands of children have taken government accredited exams allowing them to go on to higher education, or secure higher-paid jobs. Ayub has now mobilised a team of volunteers to further support his teaching programmes and to help fundraise for a permanent school-building.—PR

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Dealing with cyber terrorist content needs iron fist policy

Yu Ning

THE police of Hengyang in Hunan Province detained a 35-year-old man on Saturday who
allegedly threatened on a Sina Weibo microblog account to stage a massacre at a train station. One day later, the people’s procuratorate of Changshu in Jiangsu Province arrested a man on charges of spreading terrorist and extremist content online. He allegedly spread a horror video depicting bloody scenes on WeChat. The case is under investigation.
As our dependence on the internet increases, so do threats posed by cyber terrorism. At a time when online terrorism has become a grave challenge worldwide, the two cases deserve our attention.
Terrorism doesn’t merely refer to organized terror attacks. The threat of violence or the dissemination of articles, images, speeches or videos online that promote terrorism or encourage violence are also forms of terrorism. There must be a zero tolerance policy.
Although the US often points an accusing finger at China’s clearing of online terrorist content, Washington itself has adopted a harsh attitude toward those making online terrorist threats. A 22-year-old Texas man was recently released from three years in prison for using fake email accounts, Twitter accounts and internet-based phone accounts to threaten to kill a police officer and her family.
China is a victim of cyber terrorism. Its western region of Xinjiang has been plagued by violent terror attacks in recent years. One of the most important and direct reasons is that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement took advantage of the internet to disseminate propaganda and inspire new followers.
Sixteen terrorists launched an attack in Lukqun, a township in Turpan prefecture of Xinjiang on June 26, 2013, leaving 35 dead. The principal criminal of the gang, Ekrem Usman, confessed that they watched online videos which instigated them to launch jihad.
As the internet brings people closer, a grave reality is that it has also become an increasingly powerful tool for terrorists and made it easier for them to reach more people, share information, coordinate attacks, raise funds and recruit. Not just China but many countries in the world are facing terrorism too rampant, serious and persistent to diminish anytime soon. By no means can we allow the internet to slip into becoming a haven for terrorism.
One effective way is to intensify surveillance, better police what is available online, severely crack down on content that promotes terrorism and strengthen anti-online terrorism legislation. This is what China is doing now.
—Courtesy: Global Times

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Oman cabinet hails efforts of all parties for re-building

Muscat

The Council of Ministers on Wedneasday issued a statement regarding the adverse climatic conditions that prevailed over the governorates of Dhofar and Al Wusta. The statement reads as follows: “In implementation of the continuous attention of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to all that might provide comprehensive welfare for all people of Oman, and in realisation of His Majesty’s keenness to spare no effort in maintaining the safety of citizens and their properties, the Council of Ministers has reviewed, during its session today, the process of government follow-up of the impact of the recent climatic change that prevailed in the governorates of Dhofar and Al Wusta, with a view to bring back things to normal in the stricken areas.
“The Council of Ministers would like to express thanks and appreciation for the efforts of all parties and personnel, especially those of the Ministry of Defence, the Sultan’s Armed Forces, the Royal Guard of Oman, the Royal Oman Police, security apparatuses, the National Civil Defence Commission, the meteorological department and media departments, particularly the Public Authority for Radio and Television, for the great work done round the clock, and the prompt action taken each and every moment, including guidance and public awareness about the nature and developments of the climatic condition — all with the prime aim of saving the lives of citizens and residents, and this has had a very positive effect.”
“The media also has an undeniable role in covering this climatic condition. Indeed, all ministries and units concerned have played a major role in tackling the adverse impact on some facilities, while at the same time gradually resuming the operation of services. “The governorates of Dhofar and Al Wusta sprang to action, and so did the private sector and Oman Charitable Organisation have shown full sense of responsibility while dealing with the developments and the aftermath of the climatic condition. “The Council of Ministers would like to offer its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the climatic conditions in the Sultanate and neighbouring countries and prays for the safety of all.”
Meanwhile, His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, has expressed the government’s satisfaction and its deep recognition of the remarkable response of citizens, which, he said, is testimony to their ability to collaborate in safeguarding the gains and achievements made under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, “May the Almighty God grant him continuous success and support him with His divine care!”—OO

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China’s blue helmets help maintain global peace

Our Correspondent

Beijing

China’s decades-long, steadfast commitment to UN Peacekeeping fully displays its status as a leader in maintaining world peace without favor or bias and no hidden agenda, said Chinese observers on Tuesday, which marked the 70th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping missions.
“Under the mandate of the UN, China has been deploying its blue berets to the most turbulent spots around the world, shouldering an increasing share of the UN Peacekeeping budget, which shows it is fulfilling its responsibility as a world power,” Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Chinese experts predict that the country’s peacekeeping role will grow and will expand its overseas supply facilities at key ports around the globe.
The UN webpage commemorating the anniversary, titled “70 Years of Service & Sacrifice,” notes that more than 1 million men and women have served under the United Nations flag in 71 peacekeeping operations over the past seven decades. More than 3,700 peacekeepers have lost their lives, including 129 who died last year, says the website.
The first UN Peacekeeping mission began on May 29, 1948, when the Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to monitor the armistice agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
China joined UN Peacekeeping operations in 1990, and Chinese troops have been deployed 24 times, involving more than 37,000 personnel. Thirteen Chinese peacekeepers sacrificed their lives during those missions, China’s People’s Liberation Army Daily (PLA) website 81.cn reported on Tuesday.
Currently, 2,507 UN Peacekeepers from China are on active duty in eight locations around the world including 2,419 soldiers and 88 experts and staff officers, and Chinese troops have also trained nearly 1,000 peacekeeping personnel from other countries, according to data provided by the PLA Daily report.
China has also registered an 8,000-strong standby force of UN Peacekeepers, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MOD) in September 2017.
China contributes about 10.25 percent of the UN Peacekeeping budget, making it the second largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping costs. It has dispatched more UN Peacekeepers than any other permanent members of the UN Security Council, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese peacekeepers’ services and sacrifices have been repeatedly hailed by UN officials. “China’s contributions are very important,” Nick Birnback, spokesperson for UN Peacekeeping, told Xinhua recently, noting that “China’s contribution has steadily grown over the years.”
Groundless slander: China’s contribution to the UN Peacekeeping missions is not without detractors, who have impugned China’s motives. The Diplomat, a Washington DC-based magazine on international politics, suggested that China’s emergence as a leading power in peacekeeping serves multiple agendas including fostering relations in Africa and elsewhere.
The magazine described China’s UN Peacekeepers as a national image-building mechanism, designed to improve Beijing’s reputation abroad and modernize its military.
Li Daguang, a professor at the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army, called such reports “groundless slander.”
“As the world’s second largest economy, China is living up to its responsibility in those UN missions. China’s recent ascendency includes responding to UN requests and serves no political or military agenda,” Li said.

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Oman Air’s inaugural flight to Istanbul on June 1

Muscat

Oman Air, will commence its new daily flight from Muscat to the Turkish city of Istanbul on June 1, 2018. The inaugural flight WY 163 departs Muscat International Airport at 8.10pm. Oman Air delegation led by their Chief Commercial Officer Paul Starrs will be received by key officials at the Istanbul Ataturk International Airport.
The new route will be operated by a Boeing 737-800 with a flight time of five hours and 25 minutes. Flight WY163 will depart Muscat International Airport daily at 8.10pm, arriving in Istanbul Ataturk International Airport at 00.25. The return flight WY164 will depart Istanbul each day at 01.25am, arriving in Muscat at 07.25am.
The new route between Oman and Turkey will strengthen the existing vibrant bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries. With the opening of this route, Oman Air’s guests will be able to explore one of the world’s most thriving cities. Intertwining both ancient and modern cultures, the largest city in Turkey, Istanbul is the heart of the country’s economic, cultural, and historical roots, with much to offer Oman Air guests travelling to this beautiful destination.
Oman Air is currently undergoing an exciting fleet and network expansion programme, which will see the airline operate up to 66 aircraft to 60 destinations by 2022. The airline continues to be recognised for its award winning on board experience; winning a raft of industry awards to add to its growing collection.—OO

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Guns go silent on Israel-Gaza border

Gaza

The Israel-Gaza border fell quiet on Wednesday under an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire after the most intense flareup of hostilities between Palestinian militants and Israel since a 2014 war.
Militants from Hamas, the dominant group in Gaza, and Islamic Jihad fired dozens of rockets and mortar bombs at Israel throughout Tuesday and overnight, to which Israel responded with tank and air strikes on more than 50 targets in the enclave.
There were no reports of further fighting after Palestinian and Israeli attacks in the early hours of Wednesday, and both sides appeared to back away from a slide toward a new war after weeks of violence along the border.
Schools opened as usual in Israeli towns near the frontier where rocket warning sirens sounded frequently on Tuesday. Gaza’s streets were filled with morning shoppers and children went to class.
A Palestinian official said Egyptian mediation led to a cease-fire, but the terms of the “understanding” did not go beyond “a restoration of calm by both sides.”
“After the resistance succeeded in confronting the (Israeli) aggression … there was a lot of mediation in the past hours,” Hamas’ deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, said, in a nod to Egypt’s efforts.
“An agreement was reached to return to the (2014) cease-fire understandings in the Gaza Strip.—Agencies

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CPEC developed faster than expected

Beijing

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has developed faster than expected, but political stability in Pakistan will be the backbone of future sustainable growth, experts said.
The recent inauguration of a superhighway project under the CPEC will improve regional connectivity, which will be a positive outcome of the multi-billion-dollar project, Zhou Rong, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
“The development of the CPEC is getting better and better, as improved infrastructure will help link upstream and downstream businesses,” he said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday inaugurated the Sharqpur-Rajana section of the Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway, or M-3, in Rajana Town near the textile city of Faisalabad in eastern Punjab province, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The 138-kilometer section is a vital part of the 230-kilometer M-3, which is being funded by the Pakistani government and built by China Railway 20th Bureau Group, Xinhua said.
“Besides the motorway project, other projects – for example, some power plants – have already begun to deliver benefits to local people,” Zhou said.
He noted that China-backed energy projects had resolved electricity shortages in major industrial cities, which also made those areas much more competitive than previously. The Pakistan Neelum-Jhelum project, one of the most significant hydropower stations in Pakistan, saw its first turbine generator, which is designed to generate 243,000 kilowatts, officially start supplying electricity to the national grid, Beijing-based Economic Daily reported on May 2.
Construction work on the project began in 2008, with China Gezhouba Group Co as the major contractor.
But despite these signs of progress in CPEC-related projects, concern over the overall business environment in Pakistan has been looming, especially after the US reportedly pressured to put Pakistan on a terror-financing watch list, other experts noted.—Xinhua

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Nasir Khosa excuses from taking charge as caretaker CM Punjab

F.P. Report

LAHORE: Nasir Khan Khosa rejected to resume the charge as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab before the general elections of 2018.

While talking to private news channel, Khosa said that he was not taken into confidence before suggesting his name the interim CM slot.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) took another u-turn and withdrew its nominee Nasir Khan Khosa for the post of caretaker Punjab CM.

Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed told media that party would announce new name for the same after holding consultation.

Rasheed said that Imran Khan suggested the names of Tariq Khosa and Nasir Khosa and adding that announcement was made in haste.

Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had termed withdrawal of Nasir Khan Khosa’s name for Punjab’s caretaker CM as a joke.

There is no space to take back Khosa’s name at present”, Sanaullah asserted.

It is worth here to mention that general elections for both National Assembly and provincial assemblies will be held on July-25

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Singapore Airlines to launch world’s longest flight in October

Monitoring Desk

SINGAPORE: The world of aviation is awash with one-upmanship and superlatives – biggest, fastest, most spacious, and anything else that can be crammed into a headline. So it should be no surprise that, this week, the question as to what is the world’s longest flight has pinged on the radar for the third time in just over a year.

This time, the crown is being lifted towards the head of Singapore Airlines, via its announcement of a regular scheduled link between its home base, Changi Airport, and Newark Liberty International – the busy American hub which serves New York from the other side of the state line, in New Jersey.

At a scheduled 18 hours 45 minutes in length, and a distance of 9,537 miles, this “Singapore-New York” connection will be the world’s longest passenger service.

It is due to begin operations on October 11, and will run three times in its first week on the schedules, taking off from Singapore on the Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Daily flights will commence on October 18, when an additional aircraft will be ready.

Its addition to the global skymap will eclipse the route between Doha and New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland, flown by Qatar Airways. At 9,032 miles and 17 hours 40 minutes, this has been the world’s longest flight since it first took to the heavens in February 2017.

It will lose its title in the autumn, but will remain longer than the air-link between London Heathrow and Perth which launched in March of this year. At the time, there were suggestions that this Qantas connection would be the planet’s lengthiest, but it falls just short of Qatar Airways’s offering, at 9,010 miles and 17 hours 20 minutes.

Keen observers of aviation trends will point out that the “new” Singapore Airlines flight to Newark is not really new at all. It is a reinstation of a service which existed earlier this millennium, but was pulled from the timetables in 2013.

Its return will see the first use of the Airbus A350-900ULR.

A variant of the A350 XWB, the aircraft is specially designed for ultra-long-haul flights (“ULR” stands for “Ultra Long Range”), its extra fuel capacity giving it a maximum range of 19 hours and 9,700 nautical miles (11,163 miles).

Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the plane, with seven on order from Airbus.

There is, though, a catch for travellers who wish to fly on a budget. To save on fuel costs, the aircraft will have space for just 161 passengers – and no economy class cabin.

Singapore Airlines will configure it in a two-class layout, with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy seats. Ticket prices will be released tomorrow.

The Singapore Airlines service will not have an economy cabin

“Singapore Airlines has always taken pride in pushing the boundaries,” says the airline’s CEO, Goh Choon Phong. “We are pleased to be leading the way with these new non-stop flights using the latest-technology, ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900ULR.”

“The flights will offer our customers the fastest way to travel between the two cities.”

The airline also has plans to launch a non-stop Singapore-Los Angeles service using the A350-900ULR.

It also serves New York’s JFK airport, and Houston in Texas – although both these connections currently involve a pause, in Frankfurt and Manchester respectively.

 

 

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Nutritional supplements not useful in heart health: Study

Monitoring Desk

WASHINGTON: People who use vitamin and mineral supplements to keep their heart in tiptop shape probably aren’t getting much out of it, suggests a new review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study found that most popular supplements, such as vitamin C and calcium, seemed to provide no benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease or early death. Some even appeared to slightly raise the risk of death.

Researchers analyzed more than 150 randomized clinical trials published from 2012 to 2017. In total, they looked at trials of 15 vitamin and mineral supplements, including multivitamins. The four most commonly used supplements in the US—vitamins C and D, calcium, and multivitamins in general—were found to have no significant effects on any cardiovascular health outcomes, or on the chances of dying prematurely.

Across 43 studies, for instance, there were 2,908 deaths among 18,719 people who took vitamin D, compared to 2,968 deaths among 18,831 people in control groups.

“We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume,” said lead author David Jenkins, a professor in the department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto in Canada, in a statement. “Our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm—but there is no apparent advantage either.”

Jenkins and his team also found there was a very small but noticeable risk of early death from trials of vitamin B3, or niacin, as well as combined supplements containing two or more antioxidants such as Vitamin A, E, β-carotene, selenium, and zinc.

This isn’t the first review to find that most supplements do nothing to help heart health. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a government-appointed but independently staffed panel of experts that guide nationwide screening and preventive care practices, came to a similar conclusion in 2014. But their takeaway wasn’t entirely the same as this new study’s.

Back then, the USPSTF found that taking vitamin B9, or folic acid, supplements didn’t prevent cardiovascular problems. But their conclusion was based on a single study. Looking at other trials, including new research published since 2014, the current review found that taking folic acid supplements was associated with a lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, as was taking supplements that had folic acid in combination with B6 and B1.

Jenkins and his team say there’s still more research that needs to be done in studying folic acid’s possible benefits. Even if it does help the heart, it might not be worth taking in supplement form for people in the US, since many products here are already fortified with it. The single new study after the USPSTF review that found a heart-boosting effect was conducted in China, where most products aren’t fortified with folic acid. And taking it as a supplement might not be entirely risk free, because some research has suggested folic acid could raise the risk of certain cancers.

It’s estimated that around 50 percent of Americans regularly take at least one vitamin supplement, and around 30 percent take a multivitamin. And while most of these products aren’t doing any damage, the researchers think their findings offer a clear lesson on priorities.

“In the absence of significant positive data—apart from folic acid’s potential reduction in the risk of stroke and heart disease—it’s most beneficial to rely on a healthy diet to get your fill of vitamins and minerals,” he said. “So far, no research on supplements has shown us anything better than healthy servings of less-processed plant foods including vegetables, fruits, and nuts.”

 

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Samsung showcases its latest OLED displays

Monitoring Desk

Samsung is showcasing its OLED technological dominance at the SID DisplayWeek by showing off its latest flexible and rollable OLED displays. A big part of the company’s booth at the trade event is dedicated to its automotive OLED technologies which feature a variety of flexible and rollable OLED displays. The products on display include flexible, transparent, rollable and a lightfield display.

Perhaps the most impressive installation at Samsung’s booth was its 14-inch 960×540 rollable OLED panel that has a bending radius of 10R. The impression Samsung seems to be giving off here is that it’s mulling commercializing rollable OLED displays in the not too distant future.

The company also demonstrated its 4.94-inch 360×112 transparent AMOLED panel with a transparency of 44 percent and a 7-inch 1280×800 lightfield display with support for 18 view points through Samsung Display’s binocular disparity vergence motion parallax technology.

For potential automotive customers, Samsung is showcasing its “unbreakable” 6.22-inch 1440×2960 display with an all-plastic design that promises additional durability for an automotive environment.

Samsung also revealed an OLED display that doubles as a speaker for the first time. The technology is similar to LG’s crystal-sound OLEDs. Samsung calls the 6.22-inch 1440×2960 panel its “Sound on display” prototype which was configured as a telephony receiver. That wasn’t the only unorthodox product Samsung Display has at its booth. There’s also one with a force sensor that can work underwater and Samsung is calling it the “Aqua-force” OLED panel. The prototype was a 5.77-inch 1440×2960 panel that can work underwater.

We’ve already reported that Samsung showcased a new 1200 ppi AMOLED display for virtual reality yesterday. It lines up with recent reports that Samsung may be working on a standalone Gear VR headset.

 

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I hope Sanjay sir will like me in ‘Sanju’, says Ranbir Kapoor

Monitoring Desk

MUMBAI: Ranbir who plays the actor, Sanjay Dutt in the film shared how he was a huge fan of the senior actor saying, “I really want Sanju Sir to like me. I can never be the man he is, I can never be the person he is. But in every which way I go about my career, as a person and even through this film, He’s a man I respect a lot, I really look up to him and I really hope that he feels I’ve represented his life in an honest and true way.”

At the trailer launch, Ranbir also shared how he is not as courageous as Sanjay Dutt to put out his life story in the public view. Especially regarding the count of his girlfriends, which is lesser than what is shown of Sanjay Dutt’s in an interesting scene from the trailer of Sanju.

On a funnier note, Ranbir chuckled revealing some secrets from his real life, “I’m shy in real life but when the camera is on, I’m not shy at all. I was nude for my first film. Mera towel gir gaya tha.” He laughs reminiscing his Saawariya days.

Ranbir also shared that he is a romantic at heart and likes doing romantic films. He also clarified that he’s not at all ‘Tharki’.

While an almost teary-eyed Rajkumar Hirani expressed his gratitude towards actor and friend, Sanjay Dutt after he launched the Trailer of Sanju, “What you’ve just witnessed in these 5 minutes, its journey has begun many years ago. It started with a word, with a thought.” Adding further he said, “Thank you to Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) for sharing that one little thought which finally became a film. The journey began and people kept joining us in its path. It’s always a collaborative effort. We live together, breathe together, laugh together, fight together and then the film reached where it reaches.”

Actress Sonam, who plays Sanjay Dutt’s wife in the film, shared that she was only happy to work with Rajkumar Hirani through Sanju, the film.

Actor Paresh Rawal, who plays Sanjay Dutt’s father, Sunil Dutt in the film is a happy man. He shared that he got to work with his favorite actor Ranbir Kapoor and favorite director, Rajkumar Hirani and so it was a win-win situation for him.

 

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Salman Khan to be seen in a double role in upcoming thriller ‘Race’

Monitoring Desk

MUMBAU: Salman Khan’s much-awaited next – Race 3 – is all set to hit the theatres on June 15 and the buzz around the film is soaring high. While film’s trailer and songs are already breaking the internet, here’s a new update on the film, which will leave you super excited.

If the latest reports are to be believed, Salman Khan might be seen in a double role in the film. It was just a few days ago when it was said that there might be two different endings of the film. This new update has left us guessing about more is in store for the audiences.

Helmed by Remo D’Souza, Race 3 also stars Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Saqib Saleem and Daisy Shah in interesting roles. Just today, Salman even took to his Instagram to share the new version of film’s title track Allah Duhai hai. The actor took to his social media handle and shared the teaser of the song saying, “Nashaa .. Teraa .. Nasha tera Nashila Hai !!

 

 

 

 

 

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Disha Patani and Hrithik Roshan likely to make a pair in next movie

Monitoring Desk

MUMBAI: The sexy Disha Patani has become quite a head-turner post the success of Baaghi 2. The film grossed over Rs 100 crore and is counted amongst the successful films of the first half of 2018.

The gorgeous Disha has also been in the news due to her alleged relationship with Tiger Shroff. Only recently, it was revealed that Disha has been cast in the Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra starrer Bharat. And now comes the buzz that the actress is being considered opposite Hrithik Roshan in Rohit Dhawan’s next venture.

A source close to the film told a leading daily, “Rohit Dhawan has been working on the script for a while now. Hrithik is on board and they were on a hunt for the leading lady. For the same, they have approached Disha Patani. The paperwork hasn’t taken place yet.

But the initial talks have happened and from the looks of it, the actress has given her nod. Things will be finalised by next month and an official announcement is slated to happen in June or July. It is slated to roll out in December 2018 or January next year. Sajid Nadiadwala, who is the producer of this movie, wants to release the movie sometime in 2019.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Italy mulls new govt solution to calm turmoil

ROME (AP): Italy’s premier-designate said Wednesday that “new possibilities” had emerged to form a government based on the outcome of the March 4 vote, and that he wanted to give the option time to mature given the negative market reaction to the prospect of new elections. Efforts to create a so-called “political” government failed over the weekend after President Sergio Mattarella vetoed an economy minister proposed by the 5-Star Movement and League, the two big vote-getters in March which had come together to form a populist alliance.

After more than two months of failed negotiations, Mattarella then turned to former IMF official Carlo Cottarelli to form a neutral government made up of technocrats to lead Italy until early elections. The prospect of a new vote fueled by anti-establishment and populist outrage sent stock markets plunging along with investor confidence in Europe’s third-largest economy. But on Wednesday, Cottarelli said in a statement that “new possibilities for the birth of a political government had emerged” during his consultations. “This circumstance, also considering market tensions, has compelled him to wait for further developments,” the statement said.

Officials at Mattarella’s office said the president agreed with the decision. Markets relaxed with the news, with the Milan stock exchange maintaining its upward momentum, up 0.8 percent. It wasn’t clear what shape a political government might take.

Economic analyst Lorenzo Codogno said the re-emergence of a possible political government would likely mean tweaks to the 5-Star-League coalition agreement and dropping the euro-skeptic Paolo Savona from the post of economy minister. Mattarella had vetoed Savona, a former industry minister who has questioned whether Italy should keep the euro, leading to the collapse of the 5-Star-League bid.

“The initiative for a new anti-establishment government … would have to imply a credible pro-European commitment and a commitment to the Italian Constitution, i.e. the fiscal framework, to have any chance of flying,” Codogno said. The head of the anti-establishment 5-Stars, Luigi Di Maio, had proposed a renewed effort to form an alliance with the right-wing League on Tuesday night, backing off his threat of launching impeachment proceedings against Mattarella and insisting that the two blocs still enjoy a parliamentary majority.

“We’re ready to reconsider our position in the sense that if we made a mistake — something I doubt — we’ll say so, but now we should respect the will of the people,” he said. League leader Matteo Salvini said he wouldn’t get in the way of a solution but made clear that early elections were the only way forward.

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US issues new sanctions against Iran – Treasury Department

Monitoring Desk

WASHINGTON: The US Treasury Department announced Wednesday that Washington had imposed new sanctions on Iran. In particular, the US sanctioned six individuals and three companies.

“America stands with the people of Iran, and Treasury is taking action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for ongoing human rights abuses, censorship, and other despicable acts it commits against its own citizens,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

The sanctions target Director-General of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Abdulali Ali-Asgari, Ansar-e Hezbollah leaders Hossein Allahkarah, Abdolhamid Mohtasham and Hamid Ostad, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Cyberspace Council Abolhassan Firouzabadi and Iranian judiciary official Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, the US Treasury Department’s statement said. The Treasury Department also imposed new sanctions on Ansar-e Hezbollah, Evin Prison, Hanista Programing Group, Al-Bilad Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance, Al-Naser Airlines and Dart Airlines, the statement added.

The sanctions come in response to Iran’s censorship, human rights abuses and suppression of recent protests in the country, the statement said.

Ever since Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, the US has been resorting to sanctions pressure against Tehran in what the Treasury said was the US president’s “aggressive campaign” against Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

On May 22, Washington imposed sanctions on five members of the IRGC over their alleged efforts to provide missile support to Yemen’s Houthi militants. Previously, the Treasury sanctioned six individuals, including Valiollah Seif, the head of Iran’s central bank, over alleged ties to the IRGC and the Hezbollah movement, which Washington considers to be a terrorist group. (Sputnik)

 

 

 

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Ukraine and Russia trade accusations

KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters): Ukraine and Russia traded accusations on Wednesday after a dissident Russian journalist and Kremlin critic was shot dead in Kiev, in a killing that sent shivers through the journalistic communities in both countries. Arkady Babchenko, 41, died of his wounds in an ambulance on Tuesday after an unidentified gunman shot him in the back several times as he returned home after buying bread.

Babchenko, a critic of President Vladimir Putin and of Russian policy in Ukraine and Syria, had lived in exile in the Ukrainian capital after receiving threats at home for saying he did not mourn the victims of a Russian defense ministry plane crash in 2016. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said in a social media posting late on Tuesday he was convinced that what he called “the Russian totalitarian machine” had not forgiven Babchenko for what Groysman called his honesty. The Ukrainian president’s office referred reporters on Wednesday to comments by Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who said it was too early to draw conclusions but that there was “an astounding similarity to the methods Russia uses to provoke political destabilisation”. The Kremlin described such allegations as part of an anti-Russian smear campaign. “This is the height of cynicism against the backdrop of such a brutal murder, it is anti-Russian bluster instead of talking about the need to conduct a thorough, objective investigation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said Ukraine had become a dangerous country for journalists and press freedom there was under severe pressure. Babchenko’s killing was the fourth of a Kremlin critic in the Ukrainian capital in two years. None of the others, which Kiev has also blamed on Russia, have been solved. “We think this should attract very tough international reaction which will move the Ukrainian authorities towards active measures to resolve the situation,” said Peskov.

Russian investigators have opened their own investigation into the killing and said they are ready to cooperate with Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), also flatly denied any Russian involvement in the killing.

Harlem Desir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, said he was on his way to Kiev to meet the Babchenko’s colleagues on Wednesday as a slew of Western foreign ministers condemned the killing. “I am outraged by this horrific act,” Desir said in an earlier statement.

 

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Trump shares photo of 'great meeting' with Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian is meeting with Donald Trump at the White House to discuss a pardon for a first-time drug offender. She said in a tweet: 'Happy Birthday Alice Marie Johnson. Today is for you'

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Expose blames London Fire Brigade for a series of blunders in response to the Grenfell Tower fire

The fire brigade response to the Grenfell inferno last June was riddled with blunders, a damning expose claimed on Wednesday.

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Brigitte Nielsen pregnant at 54! Sylvester Stallone's ex announces surprise baby news

The Red Sonja actress shared the news on Wednesday morning when she posted a photo of herself in a white dress as she placed her hands on her large baby bump. She is married to Mattia Dessi.

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Aspiring singer Bethany-Maria Beales, 22, fell to her death from Heron building

An aspiring singer has died after falling from the Heron building in London, sparking a police murder probe. Bethany-Maria Beales was described as a 'shining star' by her family.

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Feminist Germaine Greer says most rape just 'bad sex'

Germaine Greer poured scorn on the idea rape victims can suffer from post-traumatic stress. She told the Hay Festival in Wales: ‘We are told it’s one of the most violent crimes - bull****.'

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'My body is my weapon': New mum Serena Williams opens up on finally accepting her figure

New mother Serena Williams has opened up about finally accepting her curvy and strong figure and how she is proud that her daughter will look like her.

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Meghan Markle Amal Clooney among Vogue's 25 influential women

Vogue's list, known as Vogue 25, features the likes of the Duchess of Sussex, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and pop star Dua Lipa, 22.

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Estranged husband, 28, is charged with murders of wedding planner, 31, and her 11-year-old daughter

Christopher Boon, 28, has been charged with the murder of Laura Boon, 31, nee Mortimer, and her daughter Ella Dalby, 11, after they were found dead at a house in Gloucester.

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Police hunt 'gunman' near Islamic school in Chislehurst in London

Police have been pictured hunting for a gunman near Darul Uloom school in Chislehurst, south-east London. 

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George Michael tributes at shrine outside Highgate north London home finally cleared

Since George Michael died at home in Oxfordshire in 2016, fans have travelled there and to his other house in Highgate to pay their respects with flowers, candles and photographs.

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Oil baron Ely Calil, 72, dies in a 'freak accident' at his London mansion

Ely Calil, 72, was found after apparently falling down the stairs of the multi-million pound property in Holland Park, West London. A close friend said the tycoon 'broke his neck'.

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Sausage dog Trevor blew up to THREE TIMES its size after its windpipe was punctured

Fran Jennings from Lymm, Cheshire, came downstairs one morning to find her dachshund was inflating with every breath as air escaped through his punctured windpipe and out under his skin.

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Tory MP tells Brexiteers to stop harassing her after she repeatedly defied Theresa May

Tory rebel Antoinette Sandbach threatened Brexit supporters that she would report them for harassment after they emailed to complain about how she had repeatedly defied the Prime Minister.

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Vaping E-cigarettes highly addictive and leads to smoking cigarettes health experts warn

In one of the most significant interventions to date, global health experts say vaping is a 'one-way bridge' to smoking tobacco for people lured in by the attractive flavours of e-cigarettes.

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Knifeman is shot dead after stabbing and seriously injuring two people on train in Germany

A knifeman has been shot dead after he stabbed and seriously injured two people including a police officer on board an intercity train in Flensburg, Germany.

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Roseanne AGAIN defends racist tweets

Roseanne Barr wasted no time addressing the controversy over her Valerie Jarrett tweet, writing: 'I'm not a racist, I never was & I never will be.' She also had a new conspiracy theory.

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£100 a month energy bills: As last of the Big Six power giants hikes its tariffs

SSE, Britain’s second biggest supplier, is raising its standard variable tariff and removing a discount for online bills – meaning 2.4million customers will pay an extra £87 a year.

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Hot weather harms children's chances of doing well in exams

Hot weather harms children’s chances of doing well in exams – unless classrooms are air conditioned, a Harvard study has found.

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Residents' anger as NHS staff park outside their homes in Manchester

The parking row has developed in the roads around Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester, which increased its charges in 2016 leading to the current row.

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'If I had that head of hair, I would have been president so long ago,' Trump tells eight-year-old

Jordan McLinn, from Indiana, Indianapolis, left his wheelchair to stand at the president's side as Donald Trump signed the legislation. Jordan suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

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Cosmetic firms like Nars sell make-up with sexually explicit names

Susie Dent believes cosmetic ranges that use X-rated descriptions on their products should be avoided. She discussed the harm the items could cause to young girls as they form their identity.

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Blackburn couple celebrate council making neighbours tear down 6ft Berlin Wall fence around house

Thomas Entwistle, 27, and Rebekah, 24, described the wooden structure as 'like the Berlin Wall', saying it made them 'feel like prisoners in their own home' in Blackburn, Lancashire.

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Why being lovesick is a form of mental illness

Dr Frank Tallis, a clinical psychologist, details his experience with lovesick patient Megan, a happily married woman in her 40s who became obsessed with her dentist, stalking him for around 18 months.

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Goldie apologises outside court after he’s fined nearly £2,500

Musician Goldie said he was 'happy' after being fined £2,463 for attacking Dennis Poole 'like a raging bull' at Glastonbury but apologised to the bouncer and said 'hopefully he can understand'.

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Dutch police shoot axe-wielding man shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as he tries to attack them

Dutch police have shot a man who was shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as he tried to attack them with an axe in Schiedam.

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Russian journalist 'shot dead at his home in Ukraine' turns up ALIVE

This is the moment a room of reporters burst into cheers as their anti-Putin journalist colleague Arkady Babchenko, who they thought was dead, appeared alive at a press conference today.

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Father reveals how he cleared £43,000 of debt in just four years

Ricky Willis, 39, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, revealed how he had to scrimp and save to pay back his debt by setting aside money every month and making 'lots of sacrifices'.

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Melania Trump is spotted in the West Wing after 19 days

Melania Trump acknowledged the conspiracy theories around her disappearance in a tweet but offered no photos of her presence, meaning the speculation will likely continue.

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Motorist faces jail after admitting causing death by dangerous driving

Kieran McGowan, 23, was today warned by Leeds Crown Court that he faces a custodial sentence after admitting causing the death by dangerous driving of 18-year-old student Kate Whalley.

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CJP lambasts federal govt for snail-paced progress on Asghar Khan case verdict

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar on Thursday criticized federal government for its snail-paced progress in Asghar Khan (2012) case. CJP Nisar heading a three-member bench heard the case at Supreme Court’s (SC) Lahore Registry. The bench comprised of Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice Gulzar Ahmed. CJP Nisar lambasted over the federal […]

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Parliament to draw curtains on tenure in historic final session today

ISLAMABAD: The 31st of May 2018 marks a historic moment in Pakistan’s checkered political history, since today will only be the second time a democratically elected government will complete its tenure and hold its final session. The tenure of the incumbent government is characterised by highs and lows, by significant achievements and by run ins […]

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Delimitations in four more districts declared void

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday nullified delimitation in four more constituencies–Kasur, Sheikhupura, Ghotki and Kharan and referred the matter back to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Justice Aamer Farooq was presiding over a single bench of the High Court, which reserved its verdict in petitions that challenged delimitations in six districts […]

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Amid controversy, Nasir Khosa backs out of taking over as Punjab interim CM

LAHORE: Former Federal Secretary Nasir Khan Khosa, who had earlier been nominated as Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister, has on Thursday recused himself from taking up the interim position. Sources claimed that Mr. Khosa had not been taken into confidence before being nominated, which led him to make this decision. Khosa’s nomination was also immediately embroiled […]

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Outgoing govt will not bomb petrol hike on people: Zaeem Qadri

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri on Wednesday night remarked that the outgoing government will not bomb petrol hike as it bids farewell to the public office. Earlier, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had sought an increase in petrol prices from the power division. In light of the OGRA’s summary, Qadri […]

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Trump all set to impose tariffs on steel from EU

President Donald Trump intends to impose steep import duties on steel and aluminum imports from Europe starting Friday, after weeks of talks failed to reach a compromise, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Trade officials from Washington and Brussels had continued discussions to find a solution, such as import quotas, that would convince Trump to […]

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Continuing strike raises fears of military takeover in Brazil

Brazil’s army is often called to help when things go wrong, so it was no surprise to see soldiers deploy during a crippling truckers’ strike. The difference this time: loud calls for the military to take over the country altogether. Truckers launched their action 10 days ago, gumming up the food and fuel supply system […]

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Pompeo, North Korean official share steak, details of upcoming summit in New York

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official met in New York on Wednesday over a steak dinner to try to salvage next month’s summit between the North Korean and US leaders. Kim Yong Chol, considered the right-hand man of leader Kim Jong Un, was the most senior North Korean official […]

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Gaza is at the brink of war, UN warns

The latest escalation of fighting between Israel and Palestinian Hamas has pushed Gaza to the brink of war, the UN envoy for the Middle East warned the Security Council on Wednesday. Nickolay Mladenov delivered the stark warning as the council remained deadlocked over how to respond to the flare-up between Palestinian militants in the Gaza […]

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US to rename military command as tensions with China simmer

The Pentagon is renaming its oldest and largest military command to reflect the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in US strategic thinking, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday. From now on, the storied US Pacific Command, or PACOM, which was formed after World War II, will be known as the Indo-Pacific Command. The name […]

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Over the past 12 years, 28% rise in the proportion of Pakistanis who claim that the law and order situation in the country has improved. 27% continue to opine otherwise.

According to a Gallup & Gilani Pakistan National Survey conducted in the year 2006 (12 years ago) respondents in Pakistan were asked “In your view has the law and order situation in the country improved, deteriorated or is it the same?” In response to this question, 7% said it has improved, 70% said it has deteriorated and 23% said it is the same.

Comparative Picture: The question was asked again in 2018 to enable a concrete comparison. In 2018, 35% said it has improved, 27% said that it has deteriorated and 38% said the law and order situation is the same.

Over a period of 12 years, there has been a 28% rise in the proportion of Pakistanis who claimed that the law and order situation has improved. This figure rose to 39% in 2016 after which declined again by 4 points in 2018. Meanwhile, there has been a 43% decline in the proportion of Pakistanis who claim it has deteriorated in the country and 15% rise amongst those who opine it is the same.

This press release has been made as part of the Gallup Pakistan History Project which aims to release historical empirical polling data to wider audiences. The objective is to sustain and encourage empirical decision making in Pakistan.

from Gallup Pakistan https://ift.tt/2IXlvAJ

Just over half Pakistanis (53%) opine that transgender are not treated with respect in our society. 29% say otherwise.

According to a Gilani Research Foundation Survey carried out by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, Just over half Pakistanis (53%) opine that transgender are not treated with respect in our society.  29% say otherwise.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the four provinces was asked, “Some people are of the opinion that Transgender are not treated with respect in our society, while some think otherwise. What is your opinion on this?” In response to this question, 29% said transgender are treated with respect and 53% said they are not treated with respect. 18% did not know or did not wish to respond.

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OGRA recommends Rs8 hike in petrol price

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) sent a summary to the power division suggesting increase in various petroleum products effective from June 1.

OGRA recommended hike of Rs8.37 per litre in petrol prices, while an increase of Rs12.5 per litre in diesel prices is recommended.

The authority also recommended an increase of Rs8.30 and Rs11.65 in kerosene oil and diesel oil, respectively.

The government in the budget for fiscal 2018-19 recommended an increase of nearly 200% in petroleum levy.

According to experts, the increase is feared to cause a rapid rise in inflation.

Under the Finance Bill 2018, tax on diesel, petroleum, crude oil and high-octane fuel would be increased from Rs10 per litre to Rs30. The same increase would be imposed on the levy of light speed diesel and gasoline, while levy on local liquefied petroleum gas could go up by 328%.

from The Daily Mail International – Leading English Newspaper from Pakistan https://ift.tt/2Jggh2y

Summary of Nasir Khosa’s appointment as caretaker CM can’t be withdrawn: Shehbaz

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has said that the summary of appointment of caretaker chief minister of the province has been forwarded to the Punjab governor and once forwarded, the summary could not be withdrawn.

In his statement, Shehbaz said the provincial ministry of law had forwarded the summary of caretaker CM to the Punjab governor, who would sign it midnight on Thursday (today).

He said the summary would be signed only after the completion of five-year constitutional term of the outgoing government.

“Once forwarded to the governor, the summary is not returned,” the outgoing chief minister asserted.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf withdrew support for Khosa’s candidature for Punjab caretaker chief minister.

The new name will be announced after consultations, said opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mehmood-ur-Rasheed.

The provincial government and opposition on Monday had agreed to appoint Khosa as the province’s caretaker chief minister.

Speaking to media in Lahore on May 28, Rasheed had announced the Khosa’s candidature for the position.

Shehbaz had later said consensus had been reached on the candidate, who is a former chief secretary. He had also praised the Khosa’s personality.

In an exclusive conversation with media after PTI’s withdrawal of Khosa’s name, party spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said the name was withdrawn because public opinion was not in favour of the candidate.

He further claimed that Khosa’s name was at the center of controversy.

“We respect him and he is an honourable person, however, a candidate should not be controversial and at this time Nasir Khosa’s candidature is not appropriate,” Chaudhry said.

Rasheed admits ‘mistake’ in caretaker Punjab CM’s nomination

Later, during his appearance on media, Rasheed said that discussion in public circles and within the party suggested that Khosa was a PML-N affiliate. He said that Nawaz Sharif also praised Khosa, which was why his name had been withdrawn.

The PTI leader further said that they committed a “mistake” with regard to nomination of caretaker Punjab CM and “more seriousness and homework” was required in this regard.

Prior to that, Rasheed said that PTI withdrew support for Nasir Khosa’s candidature after “severe reaction” from party workers.

“The role of non-controversial caretaker government is very important with regard to the forthcoming general elections,” Rasheed told reporters in Lahore.

“There was severe reaction from party workers over the name of caretaker Punjab CM, after which it was decided to withdraw the name.”

from The Daily Mail International – Leading English Newspaper from Pakistan https://ift.tt/2Lbdrt3

PTI withdraws Nasir Khosa’s name for Punjab caretaker CM

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf withdrew support for Nasir Khosa’s candidature for Punjab’s caretaker chief minister.

The Punjab government and opposition on Monday had agreed to appoint Khosa as the province’s caretaker chief minister.

The new name will be announced after consultations said opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mehmood-ur-Rasheed.

While speaking to media in Lahore, Rasheed had announced the selection of Khosa candidature for the position. Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had later said consensus had been reached on the candidate, who is a former chief secretary. He had also praised the Khosa’s personality.

PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry, in an exclusive conversation with media, said that Khosa’s name was withdrawn as the candidate for Punjab’s caretaker chief minister because public opinion was not in favour of the candidate.

He further claimed that Khosa’s name was at the center of controversy.

“We respect him and he is an honourable person, however, a candidate should not be controversial and at this time Nasir Khosa’s candidature is not appropriate,” said Chaudhry.

A public perception was created that Khosa was a close colleague of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, thereby, the former’s candidature had to be withdrawn, said Rasheed.

“After the name was announced, there was a perception that Khosa was [associated with] PML-N. Nawaz Sharif said he had served as the principal secretary with him. There was discussion on this not only within the party but also amongst the general public,” stated the opposition leader.

“After discussions, the party has withdrawn the name given earlier. The new name which will be decided after consulting PTI chairman and party leaders will be sent to the chief minister.”

Rasheed admits ‘mistake’ in caretaker Punjab CM’s nomination

Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mehmoodur Rasheed said that discussion in public circles and within the party suggested that Khosa was a PML-N affiliate.

During his appearance on media, Rasheed said Nawaz Sharif also praised Khosa, which was why his name had been withdrawn.

The PTI leader further said that they committed a “mistake” with regard to nomination of caretaker Punjab CM and “more seriousness and homework” was required in this regard.

Earlier, Rasheed said that PTI withdrew support for Nasir Khosa’s candidature after “severe reaction” from party workers.

The role of non-controversial caretaker government is very important with regard to the forthcoming general elections,” Rasheed told reporters in Lahore.

“There was severe reaction from party workers over the name of caretaker Punjab CM, after which it was decided to withdraw the name.”

Political analysts react to decision

Senior journalist said that reports to withdraw Nasirul Mulk’s name for caretaker prime minister were also being received after objections were raised against the candidate.

“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will not benefit from changing its decisions,” noted Mir. “[Decisions like these] point to a lack of political maturity of a party.”

Mir noted that the timing of the decision was crucial.

“A new candidate will be proposed by evening, after which the chief minister will mull over the new name,” the journalist observed. “The general opinion due to the timing of PTI’s decision will be that the party wants to delay the elections by at least one month.”

Mir stressed that a delay in elections will be detrimental for the country.

Director local TV channel Rana Jawad also criticised PTI’s decision. “The public opinion about Nasir Khosa could not have changed or surfaced within two days,” he said, adding that the party should have the courage to announce the real reason behind withdrawing Khosa’s candidature.

“Political parties tend to make mistakes but it is imperative that PTI must announce the real reason behind backtracking from its earlier decision,” said Jawad.

from The Daily Mail International – Leading English Newspaper from Pakistan https://ift.tt/2JfnwHV

COAS says must carry forward gains of war on terror towards enduring peace

QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the nation must carry forward gains [of the war on terror] toward enduring peace and stability, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The army chief visited Quetta earlier today. He addressed the officers and faculty of Command and Staff College in Quetta.

General Bajwa said the country, through great sacrifices of security forces and the nation, is on a positive trajectory of peace and stability.

“The job is not completed yet and we have to carry forward the gains towards enduring peace,” observed the army chief.

He acknowledged and hailed the contributions and performance of young officers in the operations. General Bajwa advised them to continue excelling in their profession.

Later, the army chief visited Headquarters Southern Command in Quetta where he was briefed about the progress of border fencing along the Balochistan portion of the Pak-Afghan border, Quetta Safe City Project, and the ‘Khushal Balochistan’ initiative.

General Bajwa expressed his satisfaction on the progress of the socio-economic and security initiatives.

from The Daily Mail International – Leading English Newspaper from Pakistan https://ift.tt/2L9RIS7

Those calling for elections delay should be tried for treason, says PM

ISLAMABAD: Laying emphasis on holding the next general election on its scheduled date that is July 25, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said those who may try to delay the next polls should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution.

“The caretaker set-up is bound to hold the next general election within 60 days under the Constitution. Those should be tried under Article 6 who violate this law,” PM Abbasi said.

He was briefing media on the performance of oil and gas sectors during the five-year term of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, whose tenure is set to end today [Thursday] at midnight.

The PM, who was sworn in August last year after the apex court disqualified the PML-N former chief Nawaz Sharif for hiding assets in his nomination papers, defended former PM and said the Sharifs were a well-known business family even before partition.

“Those who are levelling allegations of corruption against Nawaz Sharif and his family are corrupt themselves,” he said in response to a question as to why Sharif did not disclose his assets.

The premier gave an open challenge to the detractors to expose, if they can, even a single financial scandal involving the present government. “We are satisfied with our work. Barking ones will continue barking and we will contest the next elections,” he said visibly irate.

Talking about his own integrity, he said he had more assets when he joined politics 30 years ago. He also offered himself for a trial and refuted the allegation of wrongdoing in the Rs200 billion LNG deal that he struck with Qatar as petroleum minister.

“The PML-N government inked LNG deal with Qatar at the lowest price in the world. The imported gas is cheaper to all alternative fuels in Pakistan and industry and other sectors are using it,” he added.

The PM said when the PML-N came to power in 2013, Pakistan was importing one million tonnes urea but now Pakistan has become net exporting country which exported 0.6 million tonnes urea last year.

“This has all happened due to imported gas in the country which has helped fertiliser units to resume operations, which were shut during the previous regime due to gas load shedding,” he added.

He said Pakistan has imported 176 LNG ships so far in record time.

“Pakistan is working on TAPI gas pipeline project but is unable to start work on Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline due to fresh sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran. So, the best choice for Pakistan was to import LNG and government was able to bring LNG in 20 months,” he added.

He said power plants had shut down in the past due to unavailability of gas but these plants were now operating on imported gas with better efficiency. He said oil based plants had 28 per cent efficiency which was resulting in billions of dollars loss to the country.

“Pakistan can now make annual saving of US$2 billion due to use of LNG in power plants,” he added.

He said the government had planned another pipeline with partnership of China and Russia which would help transport additional imported gas from Karachi to Lahore.

He said Pakistan has become a success story in imports of LNG and foreign companies like Shell and ExxonMobil are interested to set up infrastructure for LNG imports. At present, Pakistan is importing 1.1 billion cubic feet per day LNG.

He said Parco was setting up Parco Khalifa refinery with 300,000 barrels per day at cost of US$ 5 billion. This will be the single largest investment project. Chinese company is conducting feasibility study to set up refinery near Lahore with 300,000 barrels per day capacity at a cost of US$8 billion.

“The foreign investors have come to set up 23 new foreign oil marketing companies,” he added.

Abbasi also claimed that oil prices were still lowest in the region. He justified the higher taxes on petroleum products and said price of petrol stood at Rs150 per litre in India. He said the petrol products were major source of revenue collection and as a rational country, Pakistan should increase taxes.

from The Daily Mail International – Leading English Newspaper from Pakistan https://ift.tt/2Jgg8fw