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ADMIN

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  1. ADMIN
    In a case that has recently sent shockwaves through the country, anti-terror cop Davinder Singh was arrested on January 11, along with two terrorists - that he was allegedly accompanying out of Kashmir for a possible terror strike.
    While the arrest implies a broader picture of shady, illicit networks of power particularly in the Indian Army - it also demands revisiting Singh's storied and very publicised career as a police officer, and particularly his involvement with 2001's Afzal Guru incident. 
    Here's a quick lowdown on Singh's career across the last twenty-odd years.
    1. The Early Years - 1962 to 1994 © Wikimedia/Gowar Wani
    Born in 1962, Davinder Singh has had a long and complex history with Kashmir. He comes from Tral - a small town in Kashmir's Pulwama district that coincidentally happens to be where Hizbul Mujahideen ex-Commander, Burhan Wani is from. It was, and currently is one of the region's major hotbeds for militancy.
    © Reuters
    Singh spent his college years at Amar Singh College - one of the state's oldest institutes - after which he joined the police force as a sub-inspector back in 1994. 
    2. Singh's Rise And Fall - 1995 to 2000 © Reuters
    During this period, Kashmir suffered from serious insurgency threats, primarily from organisations such as the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. Throughout the mid-late 90s, Singh rose through the ranks of J&K's counterinsurgency wing, and operated out of Srinagar, eventually joining the Special Operations Group, or SOG.
    It's said that early on, Singh displayed a great deal of distinction and valour in his work. A CRPF officer recalls how DSP Davinder Singh had bravely fought in an encounter in North Kashmir's Sopore area in the late 1990s - even taking a hit to his leg during an operation in Budgam, just 11 km away from Srinagar. Appreciated by his superiors, he was promoted to the position of Inspector during the late 90s.
    The red flags began to show up, eventually. One of Singh's earliest efforts at playing the system involved a drug-peddler smuggling charas out of the region. After nabbing him, Singh then went on to sell the contraband instead of turning it over to the authorities. There were also stories of extortion, and a bizarre case where Singh carjacked a truck containing timber, which belonged to a relative of former CM, Ghulam Mohideen Shah, as per the reports. 
    While these reports made their way around the J&K Police, little action was taken against Singh. Officials were quoted saying, "It is Davinder Singh's track record in counter-terror operation, which got him immunity. Several inquiries followed no action."
    It was only a matter of time before Singh eventually got involved with terror groups.
    3. The Afzal Guru Case - 2000-2001 © Reuters
    After his experiences as a key inspector in the SOG, Singh developed a reputation for what he described as "torture, interrogation and breaking suspects". In 2000, he managed to get his hands on Afzal Guru, a former militant who was tortured and interrogated at Singh's camp for several days. Singh himself admitted in a 2006 interview that he “poured petrol in his arse and gave him electric shocks,” but Guru did not end up revealing any information. In a letter published several years later, Guru claimed that he was only let go after his family paid the cop a sum of Rs. 80,000.
    The following year, Singh was demoted and transferred to state intelligence from the SOG - a move that happened in the wake of custodial deaths under his command, and a track record of torturing civilians. Within a year, the infamous Parliament terror attack took place.
    © Reuters; Indian Army soldiers patrol around the capital's Parliament House, days after a suicide attack by terrorists claimed the lives of 11 guardsmen on 13th December, 2001.]
    Afzal Guru explained how in 2001, he was contacted by Singh to carry out a "job" - which involved ferrying a man named Mohammed into Delhi and providing him with rented accomodation. It so turned out that this Mohammed was, in fact, one of the terrorists taking part in the attack. 
    Eventually, Guru was tracked down and arrested in Srinagar, sentenced to death and was hanged in secret in 2013 - a move that drew massive controversy from human rights groups across the world.
    Guru's claims against Singh were ignored by the authorities, and Singh continued to roam freely despite an incredibly serious accusation - even if it came from a terror accused. Despite his record, he was selected for a UN Peacekeeping effort in Kosovo, and was eventually promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police by 2006.
    4. The Pulwama Connection - 2017-2019 © Reuters
    One of the major probes currently involving Singh is his connection with militants in Pulwama. Back in August 2017, the cop was involved in an encounter where three terrorists engaged in a 19-hour skirmish with a joint force of CRPF and Kashmir Police units. A total of eight men were killed, and for his voluntary participation in squad, Singh was awarded the Sher-E-Kashmir medal - the state police's highest gallantry award. India Today has claimed their sources suggested that Singh was aware of the attacks beforehand and there was definite cause for suspicion.
    Recently, the INC had suggested that Singh might have had something to do with the suicide-bomb that killed 40 CRPF troops in early 2019. While Singh was removed from his post in the region earlier in 2018, we're yet to see what Singh's investigation will reveal.
    All of which brings us up to speed on Singh's public record - until he ran out of luck this January. 
    Kashmir's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar has slammed Singh for “heinous crimes” and has suggested that Singh will be subjected to the same fate he dealt out to suspected militants back when he worked as a counterinsurgency cop. 
    “He is being treated on par with the militants and has been properly arrested, (and) has been brought under remand and his interrogation is on,” explained the IGP.

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  2. ADMIN
    During the 44th over of Indiaâs innings in the first ODI in Mumbai, Rishabh Pant suffered a head concussion following a Pat Cummins bouncer which struck the batsman right in the helmet and also caused him to lose his wicket.

    While Pant was immediately rushed for medical assistance, the wicket-keeping gloves were handed over to KL Rahul. It was later confirmed that Pant was kept under observation and will not be travelling with the team for the second ODI in Rajkot.
    Update: Rishabh Pant has got a concussion after being hit on his helmet while batting. KL Rahul is keeping wickets in his absence. Pant is under observation at the moment. #TeamIndia #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/JkVElMacQc
    â BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2020
     Now where does that leave the Men in Blue as far as roster selection and batting order are concerned?
    If this situation would have presented itself last month, the answer to this question might have been a lot more than it seems to be now. 
    Back then, an out of form Shikhar Dhawan suffered a big knee injury and was out of action for multiple series. All that while, it was Rahul who opened the innings with Rohit Sharma and he was doing a phenomenal job. We all believed that this top-form Rahul was the end of Dhawanâs time with the team and that the southpaw was going to be dropped soon.
    But in the last two T20Is against Sri Lanka and the first Australia ODI, a healed Dhawan has looked like his old self - confident and very capable of playing under immense pressure. In addition, the left-right combination of Dhawan and Sharma at the top would definitely help India during the upcoming ICC Menâs T20 World Cup. 
    View this post on InstagramFIFTY! A hard-fought half-century for @shikhardofficial off 66 deliveries. This is his 28th in ODIs. #INDvAUSA post shared by (@indiancricketteam) So what happens to Rahul?
    The Mangalore-born has proven himself to be a more than capable wicket-keeper during the Indian Premier League and other domestic tournaments such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and his batting speaks for itself.
    During the Mumbai match on Tuesday, he showed that he does a significantly better job in following the ball from behind the stumps than Pant. His assessment of the trajectory of the ball during David Warnerâs LBW on a Shardul Thakur appeal also helped Kohli save the DRS, something Pant has been specifically bad at, granted the sample size is small.
    If Dhawan and Sharma are fixed as openers, that leaves Rahul with the third and fourth spot, based on how flexible Virat Kohli is. Even though Kohli has said that he isnât all that worried about playing on either of the spots, Indian veteran VVS Laxman decoded why Kohli at 4 wouldnât work. 
    âI donât see this working. Sachin Tendulkar was the best player the world had ever seen. But he never relished batting at number four.â Laxman said. 
    âYou want your best batsman to play maximum number of deliveries and set the game up and finish the game for the team, especially against quality attack. One cannot afford to experiment against this Australian bowling line-up," he said.
    âYouâve got someone like Virat Kohli that has played 230-odd one-day matches and 180 of those have been at No.3 and he has scored almost 10,000 runs at that particular position," he added.
    With Shreyas Iyer sliding to five, Rahul is left with the cursed number four spot, which isnât the best of news for either the player or the team. In his six-year ODI career, Rahul has played a total of four innings at two-down and has only made 52 runs with the highest score of 26, according to HowsSTAT.
    Even amidst the crisis that Team India has found itself to be in, what is certain is that KL Rahul is a far superior batsman than Rishabh Pant. He has the shots, the experience and the patience to make it through a challenging innings that the 22-year-old clearly lacks. 
    Pantâs time away from the field could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the team as this gives them the opportunity to explore a new and improved Rahul at the number four spot of doom. Will he be the one to lift the curse?

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  6. ADMIN
    When I was younger, I would love to spend time with my grandfather, while he would regale me with his "war tales". I would be absolutely mesmerised to say the least, and imagine him bravely fight our enemies, in wars that are only studied in history books now. The brave sons of our soils have fought horrifying wars and when we hear their tragic yet heroic stories, we can't help but have immense pride for our soldiers who risk their lives everyday just so we can sleep soundly.
    © Twitter
    On Army Day today, I would love to pay an ode to all the martyred, brave soldiers who have led some daring missions to protect Indian borders, rescue people and fight terrorists and keep us all safe.
    Here are some outstanding military operations carried out by the Indian Army in the past decade. 
    (1) Operation Surya Hope (2013) Operation Surya Hope was the Indian Army's Central Command response to the June 2013, North Indian floods in Uttrakhand. If you remember the floods that happened in Uttrakhand in 2013, they were devastating, and affected millions. The floods left over 100,000 pilgrims and tourists stranded and killed thousands of people. 
    The operation was commanded by Lieutenant General Anil Chait, the General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC in C) of Central Command. He was succeeded by General Rajan Bakshi, on July 1, 2013, who said the army would continue with the relief operations. The Indian Army managed to rescue a number of civilians caught in the dreaded floods.
    © Twitter
    (2) Operation Maitri (2015) Operation Maitri was a rescue and relief operation in Nepal by the Indian armed forces and the Government of India, in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake. India responded to disaster relief within 15 minutes of the earthquake occurring. The armed forces helped rescue a number of people stuck under debris and also assisted them with medical aid. Over 43,000 Indians and 785 foreigners were successfully evacuated. 
    © Twitter
    (3) India Counter-Insurgency Operation In Myanmar (2015) In June 2015, India announced that it had conducted a cross-border operation against insurgents belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCS-K). The operation took place in Myanmar and it took place in response to the ambush of the Indian Army convoy of 6 Dogra regiment in Manipur. India destroyed insurgent camps and a large number of insurgents were killed during the cross border operation in Myanmar, according to India.
    © Twitter
    (4) Indian Line Of Control Strike (2016) In September 2016, India announced that it conducted 'surgical strikes' against Pakistan-based militants, across the Line of Control in Pakistan administered Kashmir. The surgical strike was successful as the terrorist bases were neutralised. A documented partial footage of the strike was released for the Indian media, in June 2018, as proof for the strike conducted.
    © Twitter
    (5) Operation Calm Down (2016) Operation Calm down was started by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir, in the wake of the death of Burhan Wani in July 2016, which led to unrest in Kashnir because of which more than 90 civilians and two security personnel were killed and many got injured. 
    The operation was started in September 2016 and it was initiated to bring the region back in order, while using minimal force. Connectivity was lost over some regions and schools and shops were shut down for three months and the Army aimed to undo the unrest and try and bring back normalcy in the region.
    © Twitter
    (6) Operation Sahyog (2018) Indian Army launched operation Sahyog to rescue people in flood-hit Kerala in 2018. The Army deployed its men and machinery into disaster relief and rescue operations at Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Idduki after incessant rain and landslides hit various northern districts of the state. The Army was deployed to rescue people stranded in heavy rain and water. They constructed temporary bridges for the evacuation of the stranded people from the isolated villages.
    © Twitter
    Mostly this decade, the Indian Army has focused on a lot of rescue and relief operations in flood hit areas in India and Nepal and maintaining peace in certain areas experiencing unrest in the country. 
    Our Army has shown absolute determination and extreme dedication towards serving the country with their bravery and tenacity, so we can get a good night's rest. These stories and missions mentioned above should be written, spoken and regaled as often as possible to uphold the honour these soldiers truly deserve.

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  7. ADMIN
    Complete restriction on social media continues in the valley. Photo: File  The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday is moving to partially 'restore' internet phone services in parts of the region, six months after they were first blocked by New Delhi when it revoked the special status of the valley, The Hindu reported.
    However, there will be a complete restriction on social media applications that may facilitate peer to peer communication, India Today added. 
    Broadband and internet facilities are to be restored in five districts of the region.
    The order, issued by Shaleen Kabra, principal secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department, further said that the Kashmir administration will establish 400 additional Internet kiosks, directing service providers to provide “broadband facility” to all institutions dealing with essential services, hospitals, banks, government offices, hotels, tour and travel establishments.
    “Prior to giving such a facility, the lnternet Service Providers (ISP) shall install necessary firewalls and carry out ‘white-listing’ of sites that would enable access to government websites, websites dealing with essential services, e-banking, etc. excluding, however, all the social media sites. To amplify, there shall be complete restriction on social media applications allowing peer to peer communication and virtual private network applications for the time being,” the order added.
    The decision to partially restore internet connectivity in the region follows a decision by the Indian Supreme Court last week where it had ordered the restoration of the internet for all essential services in Jammu and Kashmir.
    An indefinite suspension of internet services was a violation of the country's telecom rules, the Supreme Court had said in its orders, directing authorities in occupied Kashmir to review all curbs.
    Last year in December, India had announced it would allow some incoming text messages into occupied Kashmir.
    Officials in Delhi said millions in the restive Himalayan region will be able to receive service messages, including one-time passwords from financial institutions. They will still be unable to send messages, they had added. 
    The August crackdown has drawn international criticism, with diplomats from several countries raising concerns about the sorry state of human rights in the valley.
    Several hundreds of Kashmiri politicians, activists, lawyers and others remain in custody, mostly without charge, including former chief ministers and the mayor of capital Srinagar. 


  8. ADMIN
    Yasir Hussain thanks Bangladesh for Pakistan tourPakistani actor Yasir Hussain has thanked Bangladesh for playing cricket series in Pakistan.
    Bangladesh on Tuesday agreed to play two Tests, three Twenty20 Internationals and a one-off One-day International in Pakistan.
    Yasir took to Instagram and thanked Bangladesh for their decision.
    He wrote “Thank You Bangladesh”.
    The Baandi actor tied the knot to Iqra Aziz on December 28, 2019, and the couple is currently enjoying their honeymoon in Sri Lanka.
    Bangladesh announced their decision after a meeting between Ehsan Mani, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Nazmul Hassan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President at the ICC headquarters in Dubai.
    Also present at the meeting was ICC Chairman Shaskank Manoha, who facilitated the talks between PCB and BCB.
    Bangladesh Tour Schedule:
    24 January: 1st T20I, Lahore
    25 Jan: 2nd T20I, Lahore
    27 Jan: 3rd T20I, Lahore
    7-11 Feb: 1st Test, Rawalpindi
    3 Apr: One-off ODI, Karachi
    5-9 Apr: 2nd Test, Karachi


  9. ADMIN
    Varun Dhawan comes to the rescue of an old woman on a wheelchairVarun Dhawan is one of the luminaries in Bollywood, who cannot go anywhere without gathering up a large crowd of hyped up and crazed fans, owing to which the actor can hardly go anywhere without his bodyguards.
    However, instead of worrying about his own protection, the 32-year-old Student of the Year actor seems to still be keeping an eye out for his surroundings making sure the mob he attracts wherever he goes, does not in any way harm passersby.
    Such was an incident that recently came to light when the actor jumped forward to help a lady in a wheelchair making sure his bodyguards do not trample her.
    An eyewitness speaking to an Indian news agency narrated the incident when Varun spotted an old woman in a wheelchair with her family and upon the realization of her possibly getting hurt by one of his bodyguards, “Varun halted and put an arm up to stop his bodyguard from walking over the woman. Had Varun not put his arm out, the lady would have surely been hurt.”
    The actor had earlier made headlines for the same reason as well when he was at the Mount Mary Church along with his Street Dancer 3D costar Nora Fatehi when a mob had surrounded them with one of the fans getting close to touching the starlet inappropriately.
    “They were walking back from the church when a fan touched Nora and was about to touch her inappropriately, when Varun again put out his hand and stopped the perverted fan from accomplishing what he wanted to do. Varun is always very alert as to what is happening around him,” a Deccan Chronicle reporter cited the incident. 


  10. ADMIN
    Kangana Ranaut was 'demanded' by armed thugs to take selfies with themKangana Ranaut, one of the most outspoken actors in Bollywood, is afraid of no one. Not even armed thugs. 
    Proving just that, the 33-year-old Queen actor during her appearance at The Kapil Sharma Show recalled an incident that left fans taken aback and startled.
    The actor revealed that during the filming process of Revolver Rani, the crew had taken to the unsafe locations of Chambal where they had an encounter with armed thugs and robbers who had forced her to take a selfie with them.
    “We shot the film in the actual locations of Chambal. The director mentioned it’s a risky area and not an ideal place for shooting a film, but we shot there irrespective to make it realistic,” she said.
    “I asked him why he had brought us to shoot in the place. He had just one thing to say that I am brave enough to face them,” she added.
    She further revealed: “We met a group of dacoits when we were returning from that area. They demanded a selfie with me. Kabir, who is a good friend, protected me.” 


  11. ADMIN
    England cricketer Ben Stokes. Photo: AFPDUBAI: Ben Stokes was Wednesday named the International Cricket Council player of the year, capping an unforgettable 2019 for the swashbuckling England all-rounder that included a match-winning knock at the World Cup.
    Stokes was the unanimous choice for the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers trophy - thanks to his unbeaten 84 in a dramatic final against New Zealand in July followed by a brilliant 135 not out to win the third Ashes Test against Australia six weeks later in Leeds.
    Also read: England star Stokes happy to swap 2019 success for father´s good health
    Stokes, 28, said it was a huge honour for any cricketer to receive such an award. "To be recognised and be the person to win that (award) it´s pretty amazing," he said in a video statement.
    During the voting period, Stokes aggregated 719 runs and bagged 12 wickets in 20 ODIs. He also scored 821 runs and took 22 wickets in 11 Tests.
    Also read: Stokes makes case for Test cricket as debate rages over 5-day format
    Indian opener Rohit Sharma was named the ODI cricketer of the year while captain Virat Kohli bagged the Spirit of Cricket award for his gesture to stop fans from booing Australia´s Steve Smith during a World Cup match.
    Smith was returning to international cricket from a one-year suspension for changing the condition of the ball.
    Also read: Stokes calls allegations of physical quarrel with wife ´irresponsible´
    "I´m surprised that I have got it, after many years of being under the scanner for the wrong things," Kohli said in a statement put out by ICC.
    "That moment was purely understanding an individual´s situation. I don´t think a guy who is coming out of a situation like that needs to be taken advantage of."
    Also read: Ben Stokes is the 'Special One' for England cricket, says Botham
    Kohli was also named captain of both the ICC Test and ODI teams of the year.
    In other major awards, Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins was named the Test player of the year and teammate Marnus Labuschagne was declared emerging cricketer of the year. 


  12. ADMIN
    Deepika Padukone's 'Chhapaak' team test acid sale in India with social experimentDeepika Padukone’s freshly-released film Chhapaak holds a powerful social message throwing light on a pertinent issue widespread in India.
    Evidencing the intensity and the severity of the problem, the 34-year-old actor along with the Chhapaak team headed out to do a social experiment that showed how the accessibility of acid in the markets is what fails to eradicate the issue at hand.
    In a video shared by the Padmaavat actor, the team members and the starlet head to the markets to check the sales and find a majority of shopkeepers handing bottles of acid without asking for any valid proof of identification.


    Some of the members were able to get their hands on highly-concentrated acid without showing their ID which the Supreme Court’s guidelines demand.
    By the end of the clip, Deepika revealed that the entire experiment resulted in the team buying 24 bottles of acid regardless of the guidelines by the SC that were made to add barriers to its easy availability.


  13. ADMIN
    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday asked the federal government to explain in writing why it took more than seven days to take a final decision on the removal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
    On December 9, the high court, while hearing Maryam's petition, had set a seven-day deadline for the government to decide on the matter. 
    However, the federal cabinet did not take a decision within the deadline, leading to Maryam filing a second petition in the court on December 21. 
    The federal cabinet had eventually taken the decision to "unanimously" reject Maryam's request on December 24.
    A two-member bench headed by Justice Tariq Abbasi, during a hearing on Maryam's petition today, ordered the government to explain the delay and issued a notice.
    During the hearing, Maryam’s counsel again asked the court to remove her name from the ECL. 
    However, the court asked the counsel to explain why his client's name should be removed from the list. 
    Also read: Maryam Nawaz files another petition in LHC to have her name removed from ECL
    At this, the counsel replied that Maryam wants to be with her father Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for medical treatment.
    After issuing the notice to the federal government, the court adjourned the hearing till January 23.
    In her previous petition, Maryam had expressed concern for Nawaz's health. Furthermore, she had requested the court to allow her to travel abroad so she could take care of him.
    Also read: LHC gives government seven days to decide on removal of Maryam Nawaz from Exit Control List
    She had also said that she was under a lot of stress due to not being able to care for her father at a time when he needed to be closely monitored.
    Maryam and her father Nawaz were placed on the ECL in 2018, following their conviction in the Avenfield reference.
    It is pertinent to mention that on November 4, the LHC had granted bail to Maryam in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.  


  14. ADMIN
    Bollywood stars Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan were spotted together again at dance rehearsals last night in Mumbai.
    The Simmba actress and Pati Patni Aur Woh star twinned in white at the rehearsals. The couple posed for the paparazzi for some adorable photos together outside film producer Dinesh Vijan’s office.
    Katrik and Sara, who will be seen in Imtiaz Ali’s Aaj Kal, were rumoured to be dating.
    Sara and former rumoured boyfriend were also spotted together on Saturday night when they arrived at Maddock Films’ office where they had a meeting with producer Dinesh Vijan before the release of their film Aaj Kal, the sequel of Love Aaj Kal.
    The recent photos of Sara and Kartik are winning the hearts on internet.
    The couple had been the talk of the town for their alleged romance, however, they both had always dismissed dating rumours.
    Following his breakup with Sara, Kartik reportedly began dating Pati Patni Aur Woh co-star Ananya Panday. However, they both have denied the reports.
    Imtiaz Ali’s romantic drama film Aaj Kal will hit the cinemas on February 14, 2020. 


  15. ADMIN
    Dr Sania Nishtar. Photo: File Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar on Wednesday said that nearly 140,000 government employees had been receiving welfare payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Geo News reported. 
    Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Nishtar said that employees of Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Post and Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services had been made part of the programme. The beneficiaries were present on both provincial and federal levels, she said.
    Also read: Govt to take action against 2,543 officers reaping benefits from BISP
    The BISP had been launched by the Pakistan Peoples Party government in 2008 to provide welfare payments to the poorest of the poor across the country. Earlier this month, the government had decided to take action against officials benefiting monetarily from the program. 
    According to official data, 2,543 government officials from grade 17 to 21 were mentioned as beneficiaries under the welfare scheme. A few days before the data was made public, Nishtar had announced the removal of 820,000 ‘undeserving’ beneficiaries from the welfare programme. 
    Also read: Govt to exclude 'non-deserving' people from BISP: Dr Sania Nishtar
    "The notices to BISP officers who had been taking advantage of the programme have been issued already," Nishtar said, adding that all provincial secretaries had been tasked with taking action against the undeserving beneficiaries of the BISP. 
    "Under the directions of the prime minister, the names of the government officers benefiting from the program will soon be made public," Nishtar affirmed. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed his government to make public the names of those reaping 'undeserved' benefits from BISP.
    "The personal assets, including cars and properties, of the beneficiaries of the BISP were analysed and a thorough investigation conducted to remove undeserved names from the BISP," Nishtar added. 


  16. ADMIN
    Photo: FileThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Norway on Monday agreed to “expand support” for Pakistan’s National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), a statement issued by the bank said.
    Under the agreement, Norway will provide $5 million to NDRMF from the unused resources of the Pakistan Earthquake Fund, while ADB will assist the NDRMF.
    The agreement was signed by Economic Affairs Division Secretary Syed Pervaiz Abbas, Ambassador of Norway to Pakistan Kjell-Gunnar Eriksen, and the ADB’s Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department Director General Tomoyuki Kimura.
    NDRMF came into existence in 2016 to provide support in the immediate aftermath of disasters and to invest in disaster mitigation projects in Pakistan.
    “ADB provided the initial financing through a $200 million loan while the Government of Australia contributed a $3.4 million grant. In 2018, the Swiss Agency for Development provided a $1.5 million grant and technical assistance via the secondment of disaster risk finance experts,” the statement said.
    Also read: Signs of economic stabilisation emerging in Pakistan: ADB
    The statement added that currently the NDRMF is fully functional and is financing up to 70 per cent of the cost of eligible projects. The projects are aimed to enhance Pakistan’s resilience to climate change and other natural hazards.
    “It [NRDMF] is structured as a nonprofit, government-owned company incorporated with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan,” said the statement.
    The ADB in July last year had announced that it plans to support Pakistan with indicative lending of up to $10 billion for various development projects and programs during the next five years.
    ADB held a series of consultations with the Pakistani government to "formulate a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), which will guide ADB’s engagement in the country from 2020 to 2024", it said.


  17. ADMIN
    Former South African skipper AB de Villiers. Photo: FileBRISBANE: South African star AB de Villiers is keen to make an international comeback at the T20 World Cup this year, but admits there are no guarantees he will be picked.
    The batting maestro bowed out of representing his country in 2018, saying he was "tired" after a 14-year career during which he was hailed as one of the best players in the game.
    He then made himself available for the one-day World Cup last year, only to be rejected, with officials saying he left it too late and calling him up would be unfair to other players.
    The 35-year-old has now given selectors plenty of time to consider him for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.
    "There's a lot that needs to happen before that becomes reality," he told cricket.com.au after hitting 40 from 32 balls on his Big Bash League debut for Brisbane Heat against Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday.
    "I would love to. I've been talking to 'Bouch' (new South Africa coach Mark Boucher), (new director of cricket) Graeme Smith and (captain) Faf (du Plessis) back home, we´re all keen to make it happen.
    "It's a long way away still, and plenty can happen — there's the IPL coming up, I've still got to be in form at that time. So I´m thinking of throwing my name in the hat and hoping that everything will work out."
    De Villiers won fans around the world for mixing traditional and unorthodox shots, as well as his fast scoring and ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground.
    He played 114 Tests, retiring with an average of 50.66 after smashing 8,765 runs.
    In limited overs, he hit 9,577 runs at an average of 53.50 and in the shortest format made 1,672 runs from his 78 T20Is.
    Boucher and Smith are former colleagues of de Villiers and he said he wanted to work with them again.
    "Absolutely, they're my friends and I played 10-plus years with them internationally," he said.
    "We've been through a lot and it's great to have them involved again, and as I said, hopefully I'll be involved again as well pretty soon."


  18. ADMIN
    Amazon pulls in 'Game of Thrones' stars into 'Lord of the Rings' seriesAmazon unveiled the first cast of actors for its highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings streaming television series on Tuesday, including two Game of Thrones veterans, and said production would begin in New Zealand next month.
    Among the 15 cast members are the British actors Robert Aramayo, who portrayed a young Ned Stark, and Joseph Mawle, who played Benjen Stark on HBO’s medieval fantasy hit Game of Thrones. Others coming to Lord of the Rings include British theater actor Owain Arthur, British-Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi, Australian actor Tom Budge, British actress Morfydd Clark, and Slovak-American actress Ema Horvath, the company said.
    “After undertaking an extensive global search, we are delighted finally to reveal the first group of brilliant performers who will take part in Amazon’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series,” showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay said in a statement.
    “These exceptionally talented women and men are more than just our actors, they are the newest members of an ever-expanding creative family that is now working tirelessly to bring Middle-earth to life anew for fans and audiences worldwide,” they added.
    The TV adaptation will explore new storylines preceding author J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, the first installment in the famed fantasy trilogy set in the fictional land of Middle-earth.
    Amazon announced the cast at a Television Critics Association event where TV networks preview upcoming shows.
    The series still has a “few key roles left to cast,” said Vernon Sanders, Amazon’s co-head of television.
    The company did not reveal details about the roles the actors would play or the storyline.


  19. ADMIN
    KARACHI: The 81st draw for the prize bond, worth Rs 750, is being held in Karachi today Wednesday, January 15, 2020.
    The first position holder will get a prize of Rs 1.5 million while three prizes of Rs 500,000 each have been reserved for the second position holders.
    Similarly, the third prize of Rs 9,300/- will be awarded to each of the 1696 winners.
    The draw results of Rs 750 prize bond will be published on Geo.TV as soon as the balloting is completed.


  20. ADMIN
    Military Observer Group of international body to brief UNSC members on the situation in the region. Photo: FileNEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet on Wednesday to discuss the alarming human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported. According to sources, the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) between Pakistan and India will also be discussed in the meeting.
    This is the second time in less than six months that the UN body is going to discuss the issue of occupied Kashmir. In August last year, the Security Council had, for first time in over five decades, met to discuss the critical human rights situation in the occupied valley.
    The meeting had come about after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the constitutional autonomy of the valley in early August and imposed a military curfew and communications blackout in the area, sending in hundreds of thousands of Indian troops to quell protests. 
    Indian troops beat Kashmir protesters. Photo: FileAlso read: FM Qureshi warns world of Indian troop movement, missile deployment in IoK
    Thousands of people, including the top political leadership of occupied Kashmir, as well as two former chief ministers and the mayor of capital Srinagar, were detained. International media also reported that the detainees had been tortured by the occupying Indian troops. 
    The international community had voiced concerns about the situation of occupied Kashmir in the aftermath of the move by the Indian premier, with several political leaders, including US congresspersons, urging India to lift the blockade and return normalcy to the region. 
    Islamabad had also condemned the Indian move and asked New Delhi to immediately lift the restrictions in the valley, urging India to respect the right to self-determination of the people in Kashmir. In late December, FM Qureshi had penned a letter to the United Nations in this regard as well. 


    Also read: UNSC meets on situation in occupied Kashmir, urges parties to 'refrain from unilateral action'
    In the letter,  Qureshi had warned India of a timely and befitting response to any aggression along LoC, and expressed concerns over military movement and missile deployment in occupied Kashmir, asking the UN to take notice of the issue. 
    According to Qureshi, China had backed Pakistani concerns regarding the volatile situation on the LoC and in Kashmir, asking the UN Military Observer Group posted along the border areas between Pakistan and India to brief the UNSC on the ground realities of the area. 
    As the UNSC meets to discuss occupied Kashmir for a second time in less than six months, FM Qureshi is set to arrive in New York to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande. 
    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande. Photo: Inside MagAlso read: Qureshi to meet UN's Guterres, UNGA president in New York today
    UNSC members voice concern, urge restraintSpeaking to reporters after the UNSC meeting on Kashmir back in August, Chinese ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun had said that members of Security Council felt serious concern regarding the human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir. 
    "The Security Council has just held an informal consultation and listened very carefully to the briefings and reports from the secretariat, including the briefing from the military observer group on the ground, that helped us understand the situation better," said Zhang.
    Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN. Photo: VCGAlso read: Pakistan will play its role for regional peace without compromising national security: COAS
    "Members have expressed that there are serious concerns concerning the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. They are also concerned about the human rights situation there and it is the general view of the members that parties concerned should refrain from taking any unilateral action which might further aggravate tensions," he added. 
    "China holds the view that the issue of Jammu Kashmir is an issue left from history between India and Pakistan. According to UNSC resolutions, the status of Kashmir is undecided and it is an internationally recognized dispute. The Kashmir issue should be resolved through peaceful means."
    Indian SC rules shutdown unconstitutional, diplomats visit KashmirUS envoy to India Kenneth I Juster and other diplomats meets with civil society members during their visit to Kashmir. Photo: PTIThe Supreme Court of India had ruled last week that shutting down internet in occupied Kashmir was unconstitutional in a rebuke for the Modi government. An indefinite suspension of the internet is a violation of the country's telecoms rules, the court said. 
    On the same day, foreign diplomats from several countries also visited occupied Kashmir for the second time since August, however, some European nations and others declined to go after being refused permission to travel independently. 
    The visit came after India came under severe criticism for rights violations in Kashmir. Access to the region for foreign observers, including diplomats, rights groups and journalists, is tightly controlled by Delhi, and even top Indian political leadership is not allowed in the valley. 


  21. ADMIN
    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Photo: File Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will arrive in New York today to meet with the leadership of the United Nations (UN), as the Security Council of the international body convenes to discuss the alarming situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported.
    During his visit to New York, Qureshi will meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
    At a regular briefing on Tuesday, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the UN chief's meeting with the foreign minister, saying it was taking place at Pakistan's request.
    In response to a question, the spokesperson said Guterres had been advocating dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve outstanding problems and that any solution should take into account the human rights situation in Kashmir.
    Read also: Pakistan to facilitate constructive engagement, Qureshi tells Saudi counterpart
    The foreign minister will then travel to Washington where he will meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor Robert O' Brian and other senior US administration officials. He will also have meetings on the Capitol Hill, besides engagements with the media, policy think tanks and the Pakistani diaspora.
    Qureshi’s visit to United States comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran after the former killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad. Iran retaliated by targeting a US troops base in Iraq.
    The foreign minister, in his talks with the US leadership, will focus on Pakistan's diplomatic outreach, which has been undertaken on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan, in the wake of the recent tensions in the Middle East.
    Iran-US tensions: Pakistan urges all parties to exercise 'maximum restraint'
    Middle East peace missionQureshi has already visited Iran and Saudi Arabia, where he met the two countries' leaders in an effort to ease tensions in the region after a US airstrike killed Soleimani.
    The foreign minister embarked on the mission as tensions mounted across the Middle East following the 62-year-old general's death in Iraq and Iran's admission that it shot down an airliner by mistake, killing 176 people on board.
    Read also: Pakistan will not join any war in the region, FM Qureshi tells Iranian President Rouhani
    "Recent developments seriously endanger peace and security in an already volatile region and underscore the need for immediate and collective efforts for a peaceful resolution," the foreign office said as Qureshi left for Tehran on the first leg of his trip.


  22. ADMIN
    'For Sama' directors hope Oscar nod will shine spotlight on SyriaFilmmakers Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts are hoping the Oscar nomination for their documentary For Sama will remind people of the plight of Syrians affected by the country’s nearly nine-year-old civil war.
    For Sama was nominated in the best documentary field on Monday after getting four British BAFTA nods and a prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
    “About three years ago I was in that place where I didn’t know if I would be alive or not and now I’m under all the light, just trying to tell the story,” al-Kateab told Reuters in London on Tuesday.
    “I hope this is a big opportunity to shine a brighter light on the things that sadly continue to happen in Idlib and I also hope that the people of Syria will receive some hope from the success of For Sama,” she said.
    The film is al-Kateab’s love letter to her daughter Sama. Narrated by al-Kateab, it was crafted out of more than 500 hours of footage she filmed over five years, starting as an 18-year-old student in Aleppo witnessing the start of the uprising.
    The documentary chronicles events in al-Kateab’s personal life — falling in love with her friend, doctor Hamza, their wedding, and the birth of Sama — while the conflict rages around them.
    She started filming on a mobile phone and gradually moved onto more professional equipment, while occasionally reporting for British television from Aleppo.
    'For Sama' directors hope Oscar nod will shine spotlight on SyriaThe film includes life at her husband’s hospital — the only one left in the city — and families such as hers who chose to stay in the besieged city.
    Al-Kateab, then pregnant with her second daughter, Taima, and her family were eventually forced to leave Syria for Turkey and later London, where she joined forces with Watts to turn the hundreds of hours of video into a film.
    The first edit was too hard-hitting, the filmmakers said, and needed toning down.
    “It was a big responsibility to tell the world that this is still happening and we can’t let that happen again and again and again. Unfortunately, as we’re speaking now, this is still happening,” al-Kateab said.
    The Academy Awards will be handed out on February 9 in Hollywood. If al-Kateab has her way, now four-year-old Sama will be there with her to share her story.
    “She’s very tall now, she speaks a lot. She is normal like any other child... I hope she will be with me in the trip to Hollywood,” she said.


  23. ADMIN
    Priyanka Chopra roped in with Richard Madden for Russo Brothers' seriesPriyanka Chopra is soaring high in not just Bollywood but also seven seas across as the diva adds another feather to her cap.
    The 37-year-old Quantico actor had turned to Instagram to unveil the big news for her fans of having another exciting project in the pipeline with acclaimed directorial duo Joe and Anthony Russo who helmed the record-shattering Avengers: Endgame last year.
    The project, titled Citadel, will also have Game of Thrones star Richard Madden on board alongside the Baywatch star.
    "Cannot wait to work alongside the super talented @maddenrichard and incredible @therussobrothers on this new series. Get ready! CITADEL will be a multi-layered global franchise with interconnected local language productions from India, Italy and Mexico. It will truly be global content. More details soon. @amazonstudios @agbofilms #CITADEL,” she wrote on her Instagram.


    Variety spilled the beans on how the show will also be having local productions in Mexico, India and Italy with the Indian series having Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK as the developers. 


  24. ADMIN
    New security camera footage emerged on Tuesday showing two Iranian missiles hitting the Ukrainian airliner in Tehran last week killing all 176 passengers and crew on board.
    The projectiles were fired 30 seconds apart and explain why the plane's transponder was not working as it hurtled to the ground — it was disabled by the first strike, before being hit by a second, said the New York Times, which published the verified security camera footage on Tuesday.
    The blurry film, shot from a rooftop in a village four miles from an Iranian military site, shows the Kiev-bound plane on fire and circling back to Tehran's airport, the Times said. Minutes later, the aircraft exploded and crashed.
    Also read: Canada investigators to gain access to plane wreckage in Iran
    Iran had for days denied Western claims that the Boeing 737 had been downed by its missiles.
    Tehran came clean on Saturday when Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh acknowledged a missile operator had mistaken the Ukraine International Airlines plane for a cruise missile and opened fire.
    The incident happened when Iran's armed forces were on heightened alert after launching a volley of missiles at Iraqi bases hosting US troops in retaliation for the killing of top general Qasem Soleimani on January 3.
    Iran has struggled to contain the fallout over its handling of the air disaster and the tragedy has seen hundreds of angry protesters, most of them students, take to the streets.
    New videos circulating on social media purported to show fresh protests on Tuesday evening at universities in Tehran, along with clashes between students and Basij militia loyal to the establishment.
    It was not possible to immediately verify the videos.
    Also read: How is the world reporting the Iranian missile attack on US bases in Iraq?
    Earlier, AFP correspondents said around 200 mainly masked students gathered at Tehran University and were locked in a tense standoff with youths from the Basij.
    Kept apart by security forces, the groups eventually parted ways.
    Around 30 people have been arrested in the protests over the air disaster, according to judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili.
    On Tuesday Tehran said it had made its first arrests over the shooting down of the plane, though it gave no details.
    'Real rift'Recent protests have been much smaller than nationwide demonstrations against fuel price hikes that turned deadly in November.
    But one commentator said the latest rallies showed there was a "real rift between the people and the authorities".
    "I hope that (police restraint) will continue and that no lives are lost, because this could be a catalyst for more protests," Mehdi Rahmanian, director of reformist daily Shargh, told AFP.
    In another sign of growing dissent, a group of artists cancelled their participation in the Fajr festival, held each year on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to Hamshahri newspaper.
    Also read: British ambassador to Iran arrested: UK govt
    President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday Iran's judiciary "must form a special court with a high-ranking judge and dozens of experts... The whole world will be watching."
    "Anyone who should be punished must be punished".
    The office of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke to Canada's premier Justin Trudeau on Tuesday for a third time since the crash, with the latter asking for help from Kiev in liaising with Iranian authorities to help identify bodies of Canadian citizens.


  25. ADMIN
    Farhan Akhtar  is currently prepping for his film Toofan  which is set to release on October 2, 2020. This is probably the reason why you see him in his bulky yet ripped avatar these days. But once in a while, he takes a break from shooting. 

    © Viral Bhayani
    This is when he spends time with his family. Recently, when he had stepped out with his family and his girlfriend, Shibani Dandekar  for dinner, he wore a rather interesting outfit. Firstly, this was a casual dinner so no one was particularly dressed up amongst the lot. However, Farhan Akhtar was seen in pants that were not only quirky but at the same time, relatively more functional than any other pair of pants that we've seen in a while. Take a look here:
    © Viral Bhayani
    © Viral Bhayani
    The interesting element of his pants is the pockets. The pair have extremely long pockets, so much so that a tonne of things can fit in them. Pockets with that kind of space aren't designed anymore, it's luxury to have pockets at all these days in pants. And here we have Farhan Akhar with pockets the size of a bum bag. We wouldn't be surprised if he isn't carrying a bag at all. In fact, the pockets are enough to fit-in both Farhan and Shibani's personal knick-knacks together. In fact, they're big enough to hold an iPad and a phone, among other things without filling up the pocket.
    But seeing the incredible amount of space that these pants hold, we just hope that we're also lucky enough to find a pair of pants with pockets this size for ourselves. 

    View the full article

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