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ADMIN

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  1. ADMIN
    Photo: FileThe Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast light rain in Karachi on Sunday evening after a westerly weather system entered the country from neighbouring Iran led to heavy rains and snowfall in Balochistan, reported The News.
    “Light rain is expected in Karachi on Sunday evening or night through a westerly disturbance that would cause rains in most of the Sindh province. This system is already resulting in heavy rains and snowfall in the Balochistan province,” Anjum Nazir, a spokesman for PMD in Karachi, said on Saturday.
    Like other parts of the country, the port city is also in the grip of a cold wave although the temperature in the metropolis remains pleasant as compared to other cities and regions of the country, Nazim said.
    Read also: Freezing winds grip Karachi as winter cold intensifies
    The official added that despite gusty cold winds, the minimum temperature remained 12°C on Friday night, while maximum daytime temperature was 24°C.
    “Cloudy/partly cloudy weather is expected on Sunday in Karachi with chances of light rain. There would also be cold winds, but their gust would be lesser than what it is today.”


  2. ADMIN
    Rapper Dave and Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi lead the nominations for this year’s BRIT Awards // PHOTO: ReutersRapper Dave and Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi lead the nominations for this year’s BRIT Awards with four nods each, in a new, slimmed-down list of prizes at Britain’s top pop music honors.
    Both will contest the same categories at next month’s ceremony: male solo artist, best new artist, song of the year and Mastercard album of the year.
    Dave is in the running for his single Location and the album Psychodrama, for which he won the Mercury Prize last year. Capaldi was nominated for his chart-topping track Someone You Loved and his album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent.
    Organizers have previously said this year’s show, the 40th in a series that began in 1977, will feature fewer categories, allowing for more music to be performed on the night.
    They also said they would allow performing acts to “fully take the reins by encouraging them to create and curate performances unique to them”.
    Grime star Stormzy is nominated for best male solo artist as well as for his song Vossi Bop and album Heavy Is the Head.
    The nominees for male solo artist include Harry Styles, who first found fame in the boyband One Direction, and singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. Both are also nominated for their albums Fine Line and Kiwanuka respectively.
    Mabel is nominated for her song Don’t Call Me Up, and also in the best female solo artist and best new artist categories.
    The other nominees for best female solo artist include singers Freya Ridings, FKA Twigs, Charli XCX and Mahalia.
    Coldplay, Foals, Bastille, D-Block Europe and Bring Me The Horizon will compete for group of the year.
    The song of the year contenders also include Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber’s I Don’t Care, Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man’s Giant, Nothing Breaks Like a Heart by Mark Ronson and featuring Miley Cyrus, AJ Tracey’s Ladbroke Grove, Tom Walker’s Just You and I and Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith and Normani.
    Competing to be best international male solo artist are Bruce Springsteen, Burna Boy, Post Malone, Dermot Kennedy and Tyler, the Creator.
    Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Lana Del Rey and Lizzo are in the running for best international female solo artist.
    Singer Celeste has already been announced as the winner of the BRIT Rising Star award.
    The award ceremony takes place in London on February 18.


  3. ADMIN
    This girl will pair opposite Salman Khan in 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali'Bollywood star Kriti Sanon will be paired opposite superstar Salman Khan in his newly announced film Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, reports claimed. 
    Citing sources, entertainment portals have reported that Kriti Sanon will be the leading lady in Salman Khan's first project of 2021.
    The plot or story line of Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali was yet to be released.
    Salman Khan last week announced his next film Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali after Radhe.
    The Dabangg 3 actor took to Twitter to make this great announcement for the fans. Salman tweeted, “Announcing my next film... KABHI EID KABHI DIWALI ....”
    Written and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film is directed by Farhad Samji and will hit cinemas on Eid 2021
    Currently, Salman is busy with the shooting of his film Radhe, which he announced back in October 2019.
    Meanwhile Kriti was last seen in Housefull 4 alongside Akshay Kumar and opposite Kartik Aaryan in Luka Chuppi.


  4. ADMIN
    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on the road to inherit tax payments if they choose to abdicate. Photo: AFPThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on the road to inherit tax payments, greater than they might have expected, if they choose to abdicate from their role as senior royals of Queen Elizabeth II's court, reported Daily Mail.
    The financial impact could very well have "stark implications" on Harry due to amounting bills and taxes post his and his wife, former American actor Meghan Markle's decision to step back as senior royals.
    According to official sources, Prince Harry's visit to Sandringham, next week will be a  "reality check moment" for the 35-year-old, as he will be presented in person in front of the Queen and Prince William. Meghan will be partaking in the discussion via a telephonic conversation, the British tabloid said.
    A source close to the Queen told the Daily Mail that a solution that is "compatible with taxpayers, compatible with reality and compatible with the Queen" is being sought out.
    During the meeting in Sandringham,the prince is said to receive a reality check with potential "double tax" on any commercial income. As well as, taxes on maintenance for Frogmore Cottage, his home in Windsor, if he and his wife abdicate from their role as senior royals.
    The Daily Mail estimates that the overall bill could potentially be over millions of pounds. Prince Harry will also be double taxed if he spends more than 183 days in Canada in one stretch of time.
    As a result of these potentially mounting bills, Harry might have to make a drastic decision, either to give up his UK residency, or limit his time in Canada. If he does not then he might be double-taxed on any and all commercial income he earns, from both Britain, as well as Canada.
    The Duchess of Sussex already pays American taxes on any income she earns overseas as an US citizen and this could potentially add to the overall cost of living, post royal life.
    The couple might also be charged with hefty bills on any kind of funding they receive from Prince Charles's estate and have to pay commercial level taxes for Frogmore Cottage 
    Currently the couple also receive funding, amounting to almost £2.4 million, mostly from Prince Charles.
    A royal source told The Mail on Sunday, "This meeting will give the Duke and Duchess an unvarnished look at the full implications of their choices."
    "Lots of assumptions have been made about how things can work, but this will be the time for workable decisions to be made in the full knowledge of the consequences and implications, however unappealing," the source added.


  5. ADMIN
    IT Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Photo: Geo News screengrab KARACHI: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Sunday announced his resignation from the Federal Cabinet. 
    "We had promised the government that we would help in forming the government and we have fulfilled the promise. However, none of our promises were fulfilled,” Siddiqui said while addressing a press conference in Karachi along with senior Muttahida Quami Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P) party leaders in Karachi.
    "MQM-P is passing through a new phase. It is useless to be in the cabinet," he added. 
    "We did not propose Farogh Naseem's name for the ministry neither we asked for the law ministry." 
    More to follow.


  6. ADMIN
    Queen Elizabeth has summoned Prince Harry to discuss future arrangements for him and Meghan Markle Queen Elizabeth has summoned her grandson Prince Harry for a crisis meeting to discuss future arrangements for him and Meghan Markle following the couple’s shock announcement that they want to step back from royal duties.
    Harry’s father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and his elder brother Prince William, will also attend the meeting, due to take place on Monday at the queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, a Buckingham Palace source told Reuters.
    Meghan, an American former TV actress, will try to join via telephone from Canada where she returned earlier in the week to rejoin the couple’s baby son, Archie.
    Harry and Meghan, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, surprised the rest of the royal family on Wednesday by publicly announcing they wanted a “new working model” that would allow them to spend more time in North America and to be financially independent.
    They did not consult the 93-year-old monarch or other members of the family before making their announcement on a new website, https://sussexroyal.com, a move which hurt and disappointed the queen and other royals, according to a royal source.
    The meeting on Monday will be the first time the senior royals have met in person to discuss the concerns raised by Harry and Meghan.
    Officials had been holding talks behind the scenes since the bombshell statement to try to work out a new arrangement for the couple, and a royal source said those efforts progressed well.
    The consultations, which also included the British and Canadian governments, paved the way for a face-to-face meeting between Harry and the queen.
    The palace source said it remained the queen’s aim to a find a resolution to the crisis in days rather than weeks but it would require “complex and thoughtful discussions” and any agreement would take time to be implemented.
    The split between Harry and the other Windsors is the latest crisis the royal family has faced in a period described last month as “bumpy” by the queen in a televised annual address.
    Such is the global interest in Harry and Meghan that their news has overshadowed a scandal surrounding the queen’s second son Prince Andrew and his friendship with disgraced late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, who hanged himself in jail in August while awaiting trial on federal *** trafficking charges.
    In an emotional TV interview last October, Harry admitted he and William had fallen out.
    The Sunday Times newspaper said the elder prince had spoken of his sadness at the rift. The brothers were close for years following the death of their mother Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997.
    The newspaper quoted William as saying to an unnamed friend: “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that any more, we’re separate entities.
    “I’m sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page. I want everyone to play on the team.”


  7. ADMIN
    "Wife was demanding too much ***", "my wife has got pimples", "I was asked to touch my husband's feet on Karwa Chauth", "my wife didn't cook like my mother" - are you wondering what are these and why I am talking about them? Well, these are some of the reasons desi people gave to get a divorce from their respective spouses.
    Last year, a woman in MP filed for divorce when her husband refused to shave or bathe for 8 days in a row. While you might think it's outright bizarre, looks like it's clearly not because another woman is now seeking divorce from her husband because he stinks.

    via GIPHY
    According to a report in The Times Of India, a 20-year-old woman from Bihar's Vaishali has filed for divorce because her 23-year-old husband doesn't shave or bathe regularly (for nearly 10 days at a stretch to be precise) and stinks. She also complained to the State Women's Commission (SWC) that he does not even brush his teeth regularly and has limited sense of manners and etiquette.
    "We have no children. Even our relationship as a husband and wife is not cordial. Life has no meaning. It's worthless," the woman said in her complaint against her husband who is a plumber by profession.
    One of the SWC members, who earlier thought the reason to be silly, said, "I have given her husband two months' time to mend his ways. If his behaviour is not found satisfactory even after that, we will take appropriate action and refer the matter to the family court for separation."

    via GIPHY
    SWC heard the woman's complaint and asked her husband to mend his ways within two months, else a strict action will be taken against him.
    Wow, women take grooming and personal hygiene quite seriously. So, all you men out there better watch out before giving excuses like, "Aaj thand bahut hai, kal nahaunga."

    View the full article
  8. ADMIN
    It has been more than five months since the Indian cricket team got eliminated at the hands of Kane Williamson and the New Zealand cricket team but the heartbreak continues to stay fresh for many fans of the Men in Blue.
    © Reuters
    From questioning skipper Virat Kohli's judgement to sending an inexperienced batsman like Rishabh Pant and off-form Dinesh Karthik ahead of the veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni to watching the former skipper walking towards the pavilion, disappointed and gasping for breath, the memories of that day will remain in our heads for a long time. 
    @imVkohli today karthik is wrong choice
    And
    Rishabh pant 's shot is not gud at that time

    Or
    Kohli ur decision is bad
    For line up of india team

    Dhoni had came before karthik
    — pratik kumar shah (@pratikkumarsh14) July 10, 2019 But one moment of the game that left quite the impression in all our hearts and apparently in that the wicket-keeper batsman as well was when Martin Guptil fired the ball towards the stumps at the striker's end and hit bull's eye. Dhoni, who was just a couple of inches away from the crease when the bails flew, had to walk off. 

    Many believed that it was at this moment Dhoni saw the end of his cricketing career. Also, many believed that he was crying, but one thing was for certain, India's dominating run at the 2019 World Cup had met a deadend.
    Nearly half a year later, Dhoni was interviewed by India Today's Consulting Editor Boria Majumdar about that very moment and the cricketer expressed his regret. He said, “I keep telling myself, why didn't I dive. Those two inches I keep telling myself, 'MS Dhoni, you should have dived.”
    © Twitter
    Ever since that day, we haven't seen him on the field. He took a two month sabbatical to serve in the Indian Army but that time off the team hasn't come to an end till date. “January tak mat poochho,” Dhoni had said on November 27, 2019. It is January and there is still no word from the Ranchi-born on his future with the national team.
    What if Dhoni had leapt for the safe zone that day? How would that have faired out for the cricketer and the team? Would India go on to win the Cup? Would Dhoni continue to be the main wicket-keeper for Virat Kohli? That one moment of misjudgement will never let us get the answers to all those questions and we will just have to live with the burden, just like Dhoni is.

    View the full article
  9. ADMIN
    Whether your beard gets unruly or you cut yourself while shaving, every grooming step can be time-consuming. No one likes to spend unnecessary time prepping every morning and hence, following a quick routine is just what you need. 
    We have compiled five grooming hacks that are about to make your life easier than ever. Check it out:
    1. Use Olive Oil For Dry Scalp © istock
    Dealing with dry scalp can be daunting but not when there's a home remedy that lets you scrape off the issue completely. Using olive oil is a cure and all you need to do is apply a dab of it on your scalp. Try it for a week and notice the results!
    2. Swap Shaving Cream With Conditioner © istock
    Shaving cream can strip off your skin's natural oils. A quick hack? Use a hair conditioner instead of shaving cream. It helps hydrate your face and moisturises it. Not just that, it puts a full stop to the burning sensation as well.
    3. Use Hand Cream For Hair  © istock
    No, we don't mean you start lathering your hair with hand cream. But you can use it to style your hair when it starts looking unkempt. Carry a small bottle with you at all places and rub a little amount, first on your hands and then run it on your hair.
    This is a great remedy on windy days when your hair is all over the place and is extremely frizzy. Switch up your routine right away!
    4. Use Activated Charcoal For Your Teeth © istock
    If you are looking to whiten your teeth, activated charcoal is your answer. It helps to get rid of stains and whitens your teeth in a jiffy. All you have to do is put it on your toothbrush and scrub it on your teeth. Well, it won't look pretty but once you rinse your mouth, you will instantly reap the rewards. 
    5. Use Lip Balm For Cuts  © istock
    If alum blocks or styptic pencils haven't helped, there are other home remedies that can cover your shaving wounds. Next time, when your face is filled with blood due to razor cuts, smack it with a lip balm. Apply it directly on the wound. It works wonders as the waxy texture seals it instantly. Now, you won't have to hold a tissue paper while you are rushing to work!

    View the full article
  10. ADMIN
    2019 was a pretty decent year for gaming. We got some really good titles, but 2020 is when we're expecting to see some ground-breaking and highly-anticipated games. It's safe to say that 2020 is poised to be a super interesting year for video games.
    Here's a quick look at the top five video games which we can't wait to check out. 
    1. The Last Of Us Part 2
    The Last Of Us was undoubtedly one of the best video games to be out in the last decade. Naughty Dog's uncompromising world of the game offered an experience to gamers unlike no other. And now, with The Last Of Us Part 2, the players are set to return to the same world to take the story forward. The new game will take place several years after the original title in which Ellie is on a quest for vengeance. The game releases on May 29 and we just can't wait to play it.
    2. Ghost Of Tsushima
    Ghost Of Tsushima was teased a long time back and there's been a lot of hype surrounding it ever since. It's being developed by Sucker Punch, the studio behind the open-world action series Infamous. Ghost Of Tsushima is a fictional game set in the 1274 Japan. You'll be playing as Jin Sakai, who's said to be the last standing samurai in island of Tsushima. We still don't have a release date for the game, but it's said to be coming out sometime in summer this year.
    3. Half-Life: Alyx
    In all fairness, Half-Life: Alyx isn't the Half-Life 3 that Valve had promised us. It's a PC VR title that's said to be coming out in March. Half-Life:Alyx is a new instalment in the series, but unfortunately, we know nothing about the story just yet. So, we'll have to wait for the developers to drop more info.
    4. Iron Man VR
    This is the second and the last VR game in the list, but Iron Man VR is something that we've been wanting to play since the moment it was announced. The idea behind the game is to literally be an Iron Man, which looks just as fascinating as it sounds. We'll get to suit up and be the fallen Avenger himself, and that itself has us all excited. The game comes out on February 28, exclusively on PS4 for PSVR.
    5. Cyberpunk 2077
    There's no way we can end the list without adding Cyberpunk 2077. A game with a guest appearance by Keanu Reeves, soundtrack by artists including Grimes, Run the Jewels, and A$AP Rocky, and the fact that it's being developed by Witcher studio CD Projekt Red! What else could you possibly need for a game in 2020? The game comes out in April 16, and we'll definitely have more to talk about it when it comes out.

    View the full article
  11. ADMIN
    For a really long stretch now, the Indian cricket team has been hosting a lot of international teams at home and have been dominating most of them ever since returning from the ICC World Cup 2019 after a disappointing exit.
    While it is a well known fact that defeating Virat Kohli and Co. and home is a mammoth task in itself, the Men in Blue haven't faced significant competition in the past five and a half months. But that was until now, as Aaron Finch and the Australian side visit our land for a three-ODI series starting Tuesday, January 14, 2020. 
    When there are two great teams that are so dedicated and focused on winning & locking horns, sparks are bound to fly. Here's a look back at the five most talked-about controversies that took place between the two titans as they share a rich cricketing history over the years. 
    1. The Birth Of Mankading The year was 1947 and the Indian cricketing team were touring Australia for the very first time. Even though our side lost the series 4-0, our boys didn't fail to make the headlines as Mulvantrai Himmatlal 'Vinoo' Mankad decided to runout Aussie batsman Bill Brown, who had just stepped out of the crease at the non-striker's end, even before he delivered the ball.
    The origin of 'Mankading' pic.twitter.com/EDo6EPzj
    — Sir Fred Boycott (@FredBoycott) August 31, 2012 Even though batsmen were dismissed for moving out of the crease at the non-stricker's end before this incident, Mankad's bold move was the first in Test cricket's history. The then Aussie skipper Don Brandman supported the Indian all-rounder but the Australian media showed no mercy and called him out for “unsportsmanlike conduct”. The term 'Mankading' got branded after the Indian cricketer for the years to come. 
    2. Sunil Gavaskar's Threaten To Forfeit The Match Ahead of the 1980-81 series, India had managed to stain their reputation as they had not won a single match on Australian soil in 17 years and that was something that was eating up the then captain Sunil Gavaskar from inside. Struggling to put runs on the scoreboard, the batsman had an abysmal 19.66 average during that tour and was looking for redemption at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the third Test. Then he finally found stability at the pitch and went for 70 in the second innings. 

    But when umpire Rex Whitehead raised his finger on an LBW appeal against the Indian opener following a Dennis Lille off-cutter, Gavaskar protested that the ball had hit his bat first. Walking back to the pavilion, the Little Master asked his partner Chetan Chauhan to leave the field with him, only to be consoled by the team manager at the boundary. This decision, as Gavaskar told the reporters after India won the match, was the seventh “blatantly incorrect” call made by the officials during the series and he was ready to make some gutsy moves. 
    3. Monkeygate Ah, what's a rivalry with the Aussies without hints of racism in it? The infamous 'monkeygate'  controversy however goes against the historically tainted reputation of the cricketing fraternity from Down Under as Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds accused Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh of racial abuse. 

    The off-spinner was banned for three matches by the match referee but Cricket Australia let go of the case and the Indian cricketer (not wanting a significant loss of money) after Team India threatened to forfeit the series if the ban wasn't overruled. The isolated incident did manage to ruin the relationship between the two cricketing giants for a long time. 
    4. Virat Kohli Lost His Cool At SCG 2012, Sydney Cricket Ground was packed with an animated Australian crowd and knew the right buttons to push to get a reaction out of a young, hot-headed Virat Kohli and went on to 'Flip the Bird' to a bunch of viewers placed behind him when he was stationed at the boundary. Local media ran the story as 'Fingergate' and the future Indian skipper had to defend himself on social media. Nonetheless, Kohli was fined half of his match fee but didn't face suspension. 
    & Virat Kohli's middle finger to the Syndey Crowd?Thax @K_Gwalani for pointing it out.cc: @forudubey @dushyanthechamp pic.twitter.com/8MDY00fYTg
    — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) December 14, 2014 “I really laugh at a lot of the things I did when I was younger but I'm proud that I did not change my ways because I was always going to be who I am and not change for the world or for anyone else. I was pretty happy with who I was,” said the Indian cricketer in an interview in 2018.  
    5. Steve Smith's “Brain Fade” The latter half of the previous decade saw the ascension of Steve Smith as one of the greatest batsmen in the longest format of the game. In a juxtaposition, this period also saw the Aussie cricketer crash his reputation into the ground with the ill-famed 'Sandpaper gate' against the South Africans. But not a lot of people remember Smith's notorious 'brain fade' during the second Test between India and Australia in 2017. 

    When Umesh Yadav got a nod from the umpire on an LBW appeal against the batsman, it was Smith's decision to go for a DRS review. Unsure of the situation, Smith quickly looked towards his dressing room to get some guidance but Kohli let the whole thing unveil in front of him and let the officials know. Caught red-handed, the Australian had to move out of the field with his head bowed in shame and apologised for the “brain fade” that he had during the incident. Kohli didn't buy what Smith was selling and went on to call them cheats.

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  12. ADMIN
    Razer is known for bringing some of the best products at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) every year. Some of their prototype devices like crazy triple-screen laptops have stolen the show previously. 
    So, we were super excited to see what the company brings to the table this year.
    Since mobile gaming has become so popular in 2019 and it's only expected to grow even more in 2020, it looks like Razer decided to do something for the mobile gaming community. 
    They showcased something called the Razer Kishi gamepad, which is one of the best gamepad we've ever seen for mobile phones. 
    Here, check it out -

    One of the best things about the controller is that it connects to the phone directly via the charging ports instead of a Bluetooth connection. It's perfect for low-latency gaming, something which is very crucial for competitive gaming.
    And since the gamepad uses the port, Razer has included a passthrough charging at the bottom right side. That way, you won't have to worry about running out of battery while hitting your targets. This is unique to this gamepad and not a lot of controllers offer that.
    © Razer
    Kishi also comes with a "universal fit", thanks to its gamevice belt on the back. With the help of that, it can fit in both small and XL-sized phones very easily. So, let's just say that any new phone with a USB-Type C or a lightning port will work with the Kishi controller.
    As for the buttons, the controller has the standard shoulder buttons, one D-Pad and four regular buttons basic controls. It's perfect for both current mobile games as well as cloud gaming. 
    Cloud gaming, for those of you who don't know, is said to be on the rise and it looks like we'll soon be able to play our standard console games on our mobile phones.
    © YouTube/ Engadget
    So, imagine racing in Forza Horizon 4 or taking down enemies in Gears 5. Yes, it's going to be awesome. We didn't get a chance to play with the controller just yet, but we just can't wait to get our hands on it and play the games.
    Unlike Razer's laptops and phones, most peripherals make their way to India, so we think the new Kishi controller will also be available soon in the country. 
    We're not sure about the pricing yet, but it should be priced at around $100, which is roughly around Rs. 7,000.

    View the full article
  13. ADMIN
    US President Donald Trump. Photo: File WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States was monitoring Iranian demonstrations closely, warning against any new "massacre" as protests broke out after Tehran admitted to shooting down a passenger plane.
    Iran said earlier it unintentionally downed a Ukrainian jetliner outside Tehran, killing all 176 people aboard, in an abrupt about-turn after initially denying Western claims it was struck by a missile. The firing came shortly after Iran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American forces.
    President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found "missiles fired due to human error" brought down the Boeing 737, calling it an "unforgivable mistake."
    At a student protest to pay tribute to the crash victims on Saturday, Iranian authorities briefly detained Britain's ambassador, in what the British government called a violation of international law. He was later released.
    Also read: US troops knew Al-Asad base was about to come under attack: report
    Trump told Iranians — in tweets in both English and Farsi — that he stands by them and is monitoring the demonstrations.
    "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you," he tweeted.
    "There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he added, apparently referring to an Iranian crackdown on street protests that broke out in November.
    "We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," he said.
    The new demonstrations follow an Iranian crackdown on street protests that broke out in November. Amnesty International has said it left more than 300 people dead.
    Internet access was reportedly cut off in multiple Iranian provinces ahead of memorials planned a month after the protests.
    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded that Iran provide "full clarity" on the downing of the plane. Ottawa says the dead included 57 Canadians.
    Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also offered his condolences and ordered the armed forces to address "shortcomings" so that such a disaster does not happen again.
    Also read: Tehran plane crash: Ukraine wants Iran to punish those responsible, pay compensation
    Tehran's acknowledgement came after officials in Iran denied for days Western claims that the Ukraine International Airlines plane had been struck by a missile in a catastrophic error.
    The Kiev-bound jet slammed into a field shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday.
    The crash came hours after Tehran launched missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike.
    Fears grew of an all-out war between Iran and its arch-enemy the United States, but those concerns have subsided after Trump said Tehran appeared to be standing down after targeting the US bases.
    Protesters 'dispersed'On Saturday evening, police dispersed students who had converged on Amir Kabir University in Tehran to pay tribute to the victims, after some among the hundreds gathered shouted "destructive" slogans, Fars news agency said.
    British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said UK envoy Rob Macaire had been detained.
    "The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law," Raab said in a statement. The US called on Iran to apologise.
    Iran's Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the country's conservatives, said the envoy had been "provoking radical acts" among students. He was released a few hours later and would be summoned again by Iranian officials on Sunday, it said.
    Also read: Iran says US suspecting Tehran shot Ukraine plane by mistake makes 'no sense'
    State television reported that students shouted "anti-regime" chants, while Fars reported that posters of Soleimani had been torn down.
    The aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards accepted full responsibility for Wednesday's accident.
    But Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said the missile operator acted independently, targeting the 737 after mistaking it for a "cruise missile".
    The operator failed to obtain approval from his superiors because of disruptions to a communications system, he said.
    "He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances, he took the wrong decision."
    Justice, compensationIran had been under mounting international pressure to allow a "credible" investigation after video emerged appearing to show the moment the airliner was hit.
    In footage that the New York Times said it had verified, a fast-moving object is seen rising into the sky before a bright flash appears. Several seconds later, an explosion is heard.
    Iran's military said it had been at the highest level of alert after American "threats" and that the plane had turned and come close to a "sensitive" military site before it was targeted due to "human error."
    Rouhani said Iran had been on alert for possible US attacks after Soleimani's "martyrdom."
    Also read: Trudeau ensures Iran plane crash will be 'thoroughly investigated'
    Rouhani added he had ordered "all relevant bodies to take all necessary actions (to ensure) compensation" to the families of those killed.
    The majority of passengers on Flight PS752 were Iranians and Canadians, including dual nationals, while Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes were also aboard.
    Rouhani told his Ukrainian counterpart Saturday that "all the persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice," Ukraine´s presidency said.
    This is Iran's worst civil aviation disaster since 1988 when the US military said it shot down an Iran Air plane over the Gulf by mistake, killing all 290 people on board.


  14. ADMIN
    Elton John blames his diva reputation on cocaine habit. Photo:ABC News Well known singer, Elton John, has been known to have had a rather well-publicized battle with drugs and alcohol addiction.
    John who got sober in the 90s has dubbed cocaine as his "worst decision".
    “Worst decision of my life. I shouted at people. I wasn’t proud of that behaviour because it is not really who I am," the "Candle in the Wind" singer said while speaking to the podcast Awards Chatter. 
    He recalled the time where he tried cocaine for the first time, he stated that he tried it after seeing someone trying it out back in 1974. He didn't know what it was and only tried it because someone told him it'll make him feel better.
    The star went onto reflect upon his past drug habit, stating that it ended up ruining and worsening his reputation within the entertainment industry. “It led a lot of people to say I’ve always been a diva. I am not. Now I don’t take drugs,” he said.
    The 72-year-old added when he initially got sober, he was terrified of getting back on stage, however he agreed to do a charity gig at Grosvenor House in London, and it ended up helping him regain his confidence back.
    He told Variety, “When the day arrived, I was terrified, but I did manage to get through the performance… That show gave me confidence to know that I could still perform sober.”


  15. ADMIN
    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Photo: File Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a one-day visit to Tehran today as part of Pakistan's 'role for peace' in the region, Radio Pakistan reported.
    According to Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, Qureshi will hold talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and other officials on the current situation in the region.
    Qureshi’s visit comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington after the latter killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike on January 3 and the subsequent missile attacks by Iran on US bases in Iraq.
    Read also: PM directs Qureshi to visit US, Iran, Saudi Arabia as part of Pakistan's 'role for peace'
    The foreign minister will then travel to Riyadh where he will hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability.
    During his visits, Qureshi will share Pakistan's perspective on the current situation by stressing the imperative of avoiding any conflict.
    The foreign minister will convey Pakistan's readiness to support all efforts that facilitate the resolution of differences and disputes through political and diplomatic means.
    FM Qureshi will then travel to Washington on Jan 15 where he will meet senior officials of Donald Trump administration to discuss the Middle East crisis.
    US troops knew Al-Asad base was about to come under attack: report
    Qureshi hopes tensions to ease after Iran admits plane crash mistakeOn Saturday, Qureshi in a statement said that Iran owning up to its mistake of downing Ukrainian passenger plane would likely ease up tensions in the region.
    “Iran’s confession of downing Ukrainian passenger plane should ease up tensions as the region can neither endure tension nor can it tolerate war anymore,” he said.
    FM Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan would play an active role to reduce growing tensions in the region.
    Iranian armed forces on Saturday admitted that they unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week and blamed "human error" for the mistake.
    Tehran plane crash: Ukraine wants Iran to punish those responsible, pay compensation
    The plane, which crashed earlier killing all 176 people on board, was mistaken for a "hostile plane" and was hit while enemy threats were at the highest level, according to a press statement published by the official IRNA news agency.


  16. ADMIN
    Rob Macaire was arrested for allegedly inciting' protesters in Tehran angry at the military´s accidental downing of a Ukranian passenger jet. Photo: FileLONDON: Iranian authorities briefly detained Britain's ambassador in Tehran on Saturday, according to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, after he was reportedly arrested during protests against the regime.
    "The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law," Raab said in a statement after the detention of Rob Macaire.
    The minister warned Iran that it was "at a cross-roads moment", and had to choose between "its march towards pariah status" or "take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards."
    Macaire was arrested for allegedly "inciting" protesters in Tehran angry at the military's accidental downing of a Ukranian passenger jet, killing 176 people, most of them Iranian citizens, according to the Daily Mail.
    He was released after around an hour, it added.
    President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found "missiles fired due to human error" brought down the Boeing 737, calling it an "unforgivable mistake".
    The admission was an "important first step", Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier Saturday.
    "We will do everything we can to support the families of the four British victims and ensure they get the answers and closure they deserve," he said in a statement issued by his Downing Street office.
    Johnson added that Britain would work closely with Canada, Ukraine and other international partners to ensure "a comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation and the repatriation of those who died."
    "This tragic accident only reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region," he said.
    "It is vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward."


  17. ADMIN
    Trudeau said he called up Iran's Rouhani, who admitted earlier Saturday that the airliner was mistakenly shot down by missiles. Photo: FileOTTAWA: A "furious" Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded Saturday that Iran provide Canada with "full clarity" on the shootdown near Tehran of a Ukrainian airliner that killed all 176 aboard, including dozens of Canadian citizens.
    Trudeau said he made the demand in a call with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, who admitted earlier Saturday that the airliner was mistakenly shot down by Iranian missiles.
    At a televised press conference, Trudeau said he told Rouhani the admission was "an important step" but "many more steps must be taken."
    "A full and complete investigation must be conducted," he said. "We need full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred."
    "Iran must take full responsibility," Trudeau said.
    The prime minister said he insisted to Rouhani that Canada be allowed to participate in the investigation.
    Tehran plane crash: Ukraine wants Iran to punish those responsible, pay compensation
    Two teams to Iran Three members of a Canadian rapid deployment team were on their way to Iran and should be on the ground within hours to support families of the Canadian victims, Trudeau said.
    Additional team members — two transportation investigators and 10 consular representatives who will help with the victims' identification and repatriation — will follow, he said, adding that the Iranians were working on granting visas.
    The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 2012, complicating their current contacts.
    By Ottawa's count, 57 Canadian citizens, many of them dual Iranian nationals, were aboard the Ukraine International Airlines flight when it crashed January 8 shortly after takeoff from Tehran's airport.
    In addition to Iranians and Canadians, there were victims from Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and Britain.
    After days of delay and amid mounting international pressure, Iran's Revolutionary Guards admitted the plane was mistaken for a cruise missile and was shot down with a short-range missile.
    Rouhani said it was an "unforgivable mistake" that resulted from "human error."
    The incident came just hours after Iran launched a wave of missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike. No one died in the missile attacks.
    Read also: Iran says it unintentionally shot down Ukrainian plane amid soaring tensions after missile strike
    'Shocked and appalled'"I am, of course, outraged and furious that families across this country are grieving the loss of their loved ones, that the Iranian Canadian community is suffering so greatly, that all Canadians are shocked and appalled at the senseless loss of life," Trudeau said.
    "Yes, I'm furious that there are Canadian families that have lost their parents, their children, their spouses," he said.
    "It's a huge tragedy for the entire country and not just for the Iranian community."
    Asked whether Ottawa would demand that Tehran pay financial compensation to the families of Canadian victims, Trudeau indicated that it would.
    He praised the Iranian Canadian community as one that has "contributed greatly to Canada's prosperity."
    "They work very hard. They're very involved and they've believed in this country and the future that they've built here. For many of those families, that has all been struck down out of the blue by a regime that they had fled in the past, that they believed they had gotten away from."
    Read also: Iranian missile brought down Ukrainian jet, says Canada's Trudeau
    The prime minister met on Friday behind closed doors with victims' families in Toronto, which has the country's largest Iranian community (just under half the national total of 210,000).
    The downing of the Ukrainian plane provoked an emotional outpouring across Canada. Candlelight vigils were held in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Edmonton, the hometowns of most of the victims — many of them students or academics.
    The incident was the deadliest involving Canadians since the 1985 bombing attack by a Sikh separatist group on an Air India Boeing 747 in which 268 Canadians died. 


  18. ADMIN
    Fearing a backlash from fans, politicians and religious zealots, Bollywood stars have in the past usually steered clear of India´s fiery politics. But the country´s top actress may have changed that.
    Signalling a possible generational shift, Deepika Padukone waded into a sea of student protesters in Delhi on Tuesday night, evoking loud cheers from the surprised crowd.
    Few had any inkling that Padukone would attend the demonstration at a prestigious university where the left-leaning student body has long been in the crosshairs of India´s ruling party.
    Her appearance sparked a social media war between those wanting her new film boycotted -- suggesting her only motive was publicity for the movie which released Friday -- and others applauding her courage.
    Either way, many said the moment marked a watershed in India´s multi-billion-dollar Hindi movie industry.
    "It was a gutsy move," said Mumbai-based novelist and commentator Shobhaa De, and reflected a "big shift" for Bollywood.
    "Stars today understand that their constituency is young India, and young India respects people who speak up," De told AFP.
    In a country where obedience to elders is all but enshrined in law, young Indians are demanding the right to be heard, protesting against everything from university fee hikes to most recently a new citizenship law criticised as anti-Muslim.
    And in an age ruled by social media, even movie stars are not insulated from the issues that matter to their fans.
    "None of this would be happening without social media," said actress Swara Bhasker, one of the few stars who have consistently spoken out against the government.
    "Bollywood has faced so much criticism on Twitter for not being politically engaged, and much of it from young people who are your target audience," she told AFP.
    "Why would you want to alienate them?"
    Cannot stay neutral
    Another factor is events on the ground since Prime Minister Narendra Modi´s government passed the citizenship law last month.
    Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in demonstrations nationwide, and at least 25 have been killed in clashes with police.
    Last Sunday, masked attackers went on the rampage at Delhi´s Jawaharlal Nehru University, injuring 34 people and sparking yet more protests.
    "Ultimately the film industry is a microcosm of society, and I don´t think images of bloodied students go down well with middle-class Indians," Richa Chadha, another actress, told AFP.
    "Actors are not elected officials but they can sense the mood of the nation," she added.
    A year ago Modi posed for a now-famous selfie with the who´s-who of Bollywood, including Padukone´s husband Ranveer Singh.
    Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan, two of the stars who appeared in that selfie last January, have now both spoken out against the violence.
    "My heart goes out to all the students back home in Delhi," Malhotra tweeted last month, calling it "sad to see violence against citizens for voicing their opinion through peaceful protests".
    "I think we cannot stay neutral in such issues," said Dhawan.
    Awakened conscience
    In contrast to Bollywood´s younger generation, the old guard including superstars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have not commented on the protests.
    They perhaps have learned the hard lesson that sticking your neck out is a dangerous business, risking film boycotts, the loss of lucrative sponsorship deals, or worse.
    Padukone´s last release "Padmaavat" came under fire from religious radicals linked to Modi´s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who objected to her portrayal of the legendary Hindu queen in the epic.
    Mobs attacked the director and vandalised the set. One BJP politician even offered a bounty for the actress to be beheaded, and a Molotov cocktail was lobbed at a cinema.
    On Friday, cabinet minister Smriti Irani accused Padukone of being unpatriotic and standing "with people who wanted the destruction of India".
    "You are damned if you speak up and damned if you don´t," said Chadha.
    Bhasker, who has been the target of vicious online bullying over her views, praised Padukone.
    "For years it´s been easy to malign those of us who spoke up and write it off as a publicity stunt, so to have the biggest female star in the country do it is a huge win in the perception battle," she said.
    "Ultimately though, this moment belongs to the protesters and the students who have awakened this country´s conscience."


  19. ADMIN
    KARACHI: Among some of the ventures that made their debut at the Karachi Eat 2002, MSA's Bake Away proved to be a success story.
    One of the representatives of the home-based venture spoke to Geo.tv, saying the response at the festival had been amazing. 
    "We didn't even get a chance to breathe," she said, describing how busy the stall had been due to the plethora of customers that came its way. "This is the first time we are here. We've never done this before."
    The brains behind MSA's Bake Away, two sisters--one of whom is a baker--"wanted to take it [the home-based business] to a professional level". 
    In response to a question, she said the cheesy corndogs were a hit with customers. "We're also offering fried Snicker's bars and Oreos dipped in cinnamon sugar," she said. 


  20. ADMIN
    Pakistan Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said that Iran owning up to its mistake of downing Ukrainian passenger plane would likely ease up tensions in the region.
    “Iran’s confession of downing Ukrainian passenger plane should ease up tensions as the region can neither endure tension nor can it tolerate war anymore,” he said.
    FM Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan would play an active role to reduce growing tensions in the region.
    Also read: Ukraine wants Iran to punish those responsible, pay compensation
    "On Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s instructions I am going to visit Iran, and we plan on visiting Saudi Arabia and the United States of America shortly after", he said.
    Iran says it unintentionally shot down Ukrainian plane Iranian armed forces on Saturday admitted that they unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week and blamed "human error" for the mistake.
    The plane, which crashed earlier killing all 176 people on board, was mistaken for a "hostile plane" and was hit while enemy threats were at the highest level, according to a press statement published by the official IRNA news agency.
    All 176 people on board were killed when the jet crashed on Wednesday, hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general in an American airstrike.
    According to Iranian media, officials said that the plane had flown close to a "sensitive military centre" and was mistaken for a "hostile target". The statement added that the military was at its "highest state of readiness" amid the US tensions. 


  21. ADMIN
    LONDON:  Discussions regarding future plans for Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are progressing well and should conclude within days not weeks, a royal source said on Saturday.
    The couple, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, blindsided the rest of the royal family on Wednesday by unexpectedly announcing they would be stepping back from their roles to spend more time in North America and earn an income.
    They did not consult Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, or other members of the royal family before making their surprise announcement on a new website, https://sussexroyal.com.
    Officials spent Friday holding behind-the-scenes meetings about new arrangements for Harry and Meghan and things were progressing well, according to the royal source, who added that the aim was to reach agreement within days.
    The source said officials had consulted the British and Canadian governments about the issue of the couple’s future.
    Meghan is in Canada with the couple’s baby son, Archie, and she and Harry are reported to be considering basing themselves in that country.
    Separately, the London Times newspaper reported that Meghan, a former TV actress, had agreed to record a voiceover for Disney in return for the company making a donation to a charity that works to protect elephants.
    The Times gave no details about what Meghan’s voiceover would involve, but said Disney would make a donation to the charity Elephants Without Borders. The newspaper did not say where the information had come from.
    An official spokeswoman at Buckingham Palace had no immediate comment on the report. Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


  22. ADMIN
    LONDON: Record-breaking Liverpool beat Tottenham 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to a yawning 16 points on Saturday as Southampton gained sweet revenge over high-flying Leicester.
    Chelsea and Manchester United secured comfortable wins in the race for the top four but 10-man Arsenal fell further off the pace after a limp draw at Crystal Palace.
    Jurgen Klopp´s Liverpool secured their 20th win in 21 Premier League matches thanks to Roberto Firmino´s 37th-minute goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
    Spurs had their chances to take at least a point as Son Heung-min and Giovani Lo Celso missed the target with the goal gaping in the final 15 minutes.
    The European champions have won 61 points in the Premier League -- the most any side has ever registered after 21 games in a single season across Europe´s big five leagues, assuming three points for a win.
    Their scarcely credible lead over second-placed Leicester means they are almost certain to claim their first English top-flight title for 30 years barring a calamitous collapse.
    "We played super football in their box, but for 90-95 minutes you have to be ready," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports. "We were, but we still have to do better."
    Speaking about Liverpool´s record he said: "It´s special. To win the number of games, to always be ready to fight, that´s what the boys do.
    "The only thing is that you don´t get anything for best starts. The only thing we´re interested in is what we can get in the summer. This league is so strong. We have to be ready."
    - Leicester lose -
    Earlier, Southampton claimed their fifth win in their past six games in all competitions as they came from behind at the King Power Stadium to beat Leicester 2-1.
    Dennis Praet fired the hosts into an early lead, but Stuart Armstrong´s deflected effort quickly pulled Hasenhuettl´s men level.
    Danny Ings then scored his 10th goal in 11 games eight minutes from time and the visitors survived a late scare when Jonny Evans´s header was ruled out by VAR for offside.
    Chelsea put their struggles at Stamford Bridge behind them with a 3-0 win over Burnley, who slid ever closer to the bottom three.
    Jorginho opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Tammy Abraham gave Frank Lampard´s men breathing space before half-time.
    Callum Hudson-Odoi then scored his first Premier League goal by converting Cesar Azpilicueta´s cross at the back post.
    United ended a three-game winless run in style with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial once again leading the way for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer´s men in a 4-0 demolition of bottom-of-the-table Norwich.
    Rashford marked his 200th appearance for the club with two goals and Martial and substitute Mason Greenwood were also on target.
    Solskjaer was delighted with this team´s performance, which leaves them in fifth spot in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
    But after the match he took fans at Old Trafford to task after angry protests aimed at unpopular owners the Glazer family and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
    "As a club we´ve got to stick together, we´ve got to be united, we are a family," said the United boss.
    "I can only say from when I´ve been here I´ve been backed by the owners, I´ve been backed by Ed and they´re supporting me, so for me, make sure they stick together."
    Woodward has become a particular target for supporters in recent months, given the club´s on-field problems and his record in the transfer market.
    - Aubameyang sees red -
    Arsenal are now 11 points off the Champions League places as their revival under Mikel Arteta was halted by a red card for captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
    Aubameyang gave the Gunners a deserved first-half lead but the Eagles levelled thanks to Jordan Ayew´s deflected effort before a VAR review turned a yellow card for Aubameyang into a red for a reckless challenge on Max Meyer.
    Wolves were held 1-1 at home by Newcastle while Everton bounced back from an embarrassing FA Cup exit to a youthful Liverpool side thanks to a moment of magic from Richarlison to beat Brighton 1-0.
    During Spurs´ match against Liverpool, injured Tottenham forward Harry Kane tweeted an image of himself in his hospital bed following successful surgery on his damaged hamstring. He wrote: "First day of recovery starts now!"
    Defending champions Manchester City travel to Aston Villa on Sunday, 17 points behind Liverpool.


  23. ADMIN
    American troops who were at the Al-Asad base where Iran fired a volley of missiles on Wednesday, knew an attack was imminent and had taken precautions two-and-a-half hours before it took place, according to a report. 
    During an exclusive tour of the military base that came under attack this week, a CNN journalist was told that most US troops were either flown out or had been sheltering in bunkers by 11:00pm local time when the base came under attack. At around 1:30am, Iran fired multiple missiles at the base, targeting only the US areas of it that roughly comprise a quarter of the entire area.
    Referring to the incident as a "miracle", US troops--speaking for the first time ever since the attack that sent shockwaves across the world occurred--said some soldiers remained outside throughout the attack as missiles hit targets just a few feet away from their bunkers.
    US troops said they knew Iran would attack the Al-Asad base. However, they weren't aware about the nature of the attack.
    One of the bunkers at the Al-Asad base. PHOTO BY: CNNIran brought tensions to a new high between Washington and Tehran when it fired a volley of missiles at Al-Asad base--just one of two military bases in Iraq that came under attack that day. Tehran said the attack was retaliation for the US drone strike that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
    Iraq Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi said Iran had sent a verbal warning that certain US targets in the country would be hit. A top diplomatic source told CNN that Iraq conveyed the information to US about "which bases would be hit" after the message was received from Tehran.
    The attack, which lasted for two hours, stopped at dawn. That is when US troops came out to ascertain the damage caused by the missiles.
    Ruined remains of a living quarters. PHOTO BY: CNNUS President Donald Trump had visited the base last year to spend time with American soldiers there.
    "We came in, we felt very safe coming in. It was a pretty difficult journey in certain ways, but we felt very, very good, very safe," Trump had said about the base. 
    The Al-Asad military base lies in Iraq's Anbar province. It is one of the oldest and largest military bases that houses American troops.


  24. ADMIN
    KARACHI: One particular vendor at the Karachi East 2020 came all the way from Texas to help his friend try selling sumptuous cookies to Karachiites.
    Speaking to Geo.tv, Ahsan Patoli said he had come all the way from Texas to help his friend Sheza Qureshi set up the Pink Beans' stall at the Karachi East festival.
    In response to a question, Patoli said a big crowd had turned up at the festival.
    "We had some electricity problems at the stall but they were fixed real quick," he said. "A lot of people have come here so it turned out pretty well."
    Sheza spoke to Geo.tv and said it had been a wonderful experience for her.
    "It [the experience at the event] is better than expected," she said. "Honestly, I was very scared. The response has been very good."
    Sheza said among all her items, people bought Tres Leches in cups and Nutella stuffed cookies the most.
    "Our stall is mainly about cookies. Those are my main items," she concluded.


  25. ADMIN
    WUHAN: A 61-year-old man has become the first person to die in China from a respiratory illness believed caused by a new virus from the same family as SARS, which claimed hundreds of lives more than a decade ago, authorities said.Forty-one people with pneumonia-like symptoms have so far been diagnosed with the new virus in Wuhan, with one of the victims dying on Thursday, the central Chinese city´s health commission said on its website on Saturday.
    Seven others remained in serious condition, two were discharged from treatment, and the rest were stable, it added.
    The episode has caused alarm due to the spectre of SARS, or Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which in 2002-2003 killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong, whose economy was hit hard by the epidemic´s devastating impact on tourism.
    The Wuhan health commission said the man who died had purchased goods from a seafood market in the city identified by authorities as the centre of the outbreak. It was closed on January 1.
    The man, who also had underlying health issues including chronic liver disease, died in hospital on Thursday of "respiratory failure and severe pneumonia", the commission added.
    No new cases have been detected since January 3 nor any "clear evidence of human-to-human transmission", it said.
    People in white hazmat suits were seen spraying liquid on the market floor late Saturday, while a number of guards sat outside the perimeter of the facility´s two sections without masks on.
    Chinese scientists investigating the outbreak said last week they believe the pathogen is a previously unknown type of coronavirus, a broad family ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses like SARS.
    Scientists in Hong Kong´s Department of Health said Saturday that genetic sequencing of the virus found in one of the Wuhan patients and published online by a Chinese expert indicated it was 80 percent similar to SARS found in bats.
    Speaking at a news conference in Hong Kong, they said it was too early to conclude definitively that it was a SARS strain, adding that the city needed to stay vigilant.
    "We will remain alert as we believe the epidemic will continue to develop," said Wong Ka-hing, director of the department´s Health Protection Centre.
    Hong Kong authorities have taken a range of precautions including stepping up the disinfection of trains and planes, and checks of passengers.
    - Travel rush looms -
    On Saturday evening, there was little sign of alarm in Wuhan outside of the seafood market, which had been cordoned off.
    Few people at the city´s airport wore masks, and no extra monitoring measures were visible at the airport´s terminals.
    A restaurant on the outside of the building housing the seafood market was still open for business.
    One man, a dry goods seller at the market surnamed Dai, attempted to enter the market around midnight but was turned away by the guards.
    He told AFP he was not worried about getting infected.
    "I haven´t heard that this disease is contagious," Dai said, adding that he believed the illness was caused by a fire at the market in mid-November where items including plastic materials and chili peppers were burnt.
    The WHO said Thursday it was not recommending any specific measures for travellers or restrictions on trade with China, and expressed confidence in the ability of Chinese authorities to contain the virus.
    China has entered its annual Lunar New Year holiday travel rush, raising concerns about the mass movement of people serving as a vector for the pathogen.
    In the world´s largest annual human migration, hundreds of millions will pack into trains, buses and planes to travel for the festival in late January.
    China has not announced any travel restrictions.
    Hong Kong authorities said on Saturday that the number of people hospitalised with flu-like symptoms in recent days after travelling to Wuhan had grown to 60, including seven new cases since Friday.
    Forty-six of that total, however, have already been discharged. None have yet been diagnosed with the new coronavirus.
    City residents worried about the outbreak have rushed to buy face masks from local pharmacies, with many selling out earlier this week, while officials in Taiwan have urged the island´s health and welfare ministry to strengthen quarantine controls.


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