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Waqas Dar

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  1. Waqas Dar
    Famously known as the ?mini World Cup?, the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 gets underway in England and Wales on June 1, as hosts England take on Bangladesh in the opening game of the eighth edition of the tournament.
    The tournament will be held across three venues: The Oval, London; Edgbaston, Birmingham; and Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff from June 1-18, with India as title defenders.
    The eight participating teams are divided across two groups:
    Group A: Australia, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh
    Group B: Pakistan, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka
    Squads




    geo_embedgallery
    Fixtures



    Thursday Jun 1: England v Bangladesh
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) The Oval, London


    Friday Jun 2: Australia v New Zealand
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Edgbaston, Birmingham


    Saturday Jun 3: Sri Lanka v South Africa
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) The Oval, London


    Sunday Jun 4: India v Pakistan
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Edgbaston, Birmingham


    Monday Jun 5: Australia v Bangladesh (D/N)
    13:30 local (12:30 GMT | 17:30 PKT) The Oval, London


    Tuesday Jun 6: England v New Zealand
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff


    Wednesday Jun 7: Pakistan v South Africa (D/N)
    13:30 local (12:30 GMT | 17:30 PKT) Edgbaston, Birmingham


    Thursday Jun 8: India v Sri Lanka
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) The Oval, London


    Friday Jun 9: New Zealand v Bangladesh
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff


    Saturday Jun 10: England v Australia
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Edgbaston, Birmingham


    Sunday Jun 11: India v South Africa
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) The Oval, London


    Monday Jun 12: Sri Lanka v Pakistan
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff


    Wednesday Jun 14: 1st Semi-final - TBC v TBC
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Sophia Gardens, Cardiff


    Thursday Jun 15: 2nd Semi-final - TBC v TBC
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) Edgbaston, Birmingham


    Sunday Jun 18: Final - TBC v TBC
    10:30 local (09:30 GMT | 14:30 PKT) The Oval, London


  2. Waqas Dar
    LK?Advani (L), Uma Bharti (M) and MM?Joshi (R) were charged with inciting mob violence which led to destruction of Babri Mosque on December 6, 1002. Photo: Hindustan Times  LUCKNOW: A special Central Bureau of Investigation court granted on Tuesday bail to former Bharatiya Janata Party leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi, Union Minister Uma Bharti and nine others for demolition of Babri Mosque.
    The leaders, who have been granted bail against surety bond of INR50,000 each, were charged with inciting violence and instigating violence which led to the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6, 1992. 
    However, the accused pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
    The former BJP leaders have also filed a plea seeking their discharge from the conspiracy charges. The judge reserved the order on that application.
    India?s top court urges negotiated settlement to end Babri Masjid dispute
    Court tells all parties to ?give up? some of their demands in order to reach a peaceful solution.
    Earliers, the CBI court has claimed that it would frame additional charges against LK Advani among other leaders.
    In 2001, the Allahabad High Court had dropped all conspiracy charges against the former BJP leaders. However, the Supreme Court on April 20, 2017, reinstated the charges and directed special CBI court to frame new charges.
    Others accused in the case include BJP MP Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Ritambara, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Ramjanmabhoomi Trust Chief Nritya Gopal Das, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Baikunth Lal Sharma alias Prem Ji, Champat Rai Bansal, Dharma Das and Satish Pradhan.


  3. Waqas Dar
    Irish no-frills carrier Ryanair charted a course to higher profits last year, despite tough trading on the back of Britain's shock Brexit vote, it said Tuesday.
    Net profits banked six percent higher to 1.32 billion euros ($1.48 billion) in the group's financial year to March 31, compared with 1.24 billion euros last time around, Ryanair said in a statement.
    That was in line with the company's forecast range of between 1.30 billion and 1.35 billion euros.
    The number of passengers soared 13 percent to a record 120 million as the company slashed fares.
    "We are pleased to report a six-percent increase in (net profit) despite difficult trading conditions," said chief executive Michael O'Leary.
    He added that those conditions were "caused by a series of security events at European cities, a switch of charter capacity from North Africa, Turkey and Egypt to mainland Europe, and a sharp decline in sterling following the June 2016 Brexit vote".
    "We reacted to these challenges by improving our customer experience, and stimulating growth with lower fares."
    The pound's Brexit-driven slump is reducing the amount Ryanair earns from its key British market once the currency is converted into euros -- the unit of Ireland and which the Dublin-based airline uses to price its earnings.
    Ryanair meanwhile warned over major disruption if Britain did not remain in the "Open Skies" agreement following its departure from the European Union.
    "Lack of clarity on whether the UK will opt to remain in Europe's open skies agreement could cause significant disruption of flights between the two regions for months after Brexit takes effect in March 2019," the company said.
    ?In the absence of such certainty, or direction, we will continue to pivot our growth away from the UK in 2017 and 2018 to capitalize on the many growth opportunities elsewhere in Europe,? Ryanair said.


  4. Waqas Dar
    Jeepneys are seen as an enforcer manages traffic at a busy street in Manila on May 30, 2017. Photos: AFP MANILA: Peter Dallos shouts above the rumble of his smoke-belching engine urging passengers to clamber quickly on to his dilapidated red jeepney.
    Such scenes may soon disappear from Manila´s gridlocked streets as authorities move to phase out the Philippines´ iconic World War II-era minibuses, citing pollution and safety concerns.
    A jeepney driver´s assistant calls for passengers at a busy street in Manila on May 30, 2017. Dubbed ´jeepneys´ and once hailed as the ´King of the Road´ they are a cultural symbol in the Phillipines to rival New York´s yellow taxis -- and for decades they provided cheap and regular transport for millions.
    But under a government modernisation programme, vehicles of this type that are aged 15 years or older will be taken off the streets by 2020 and replaced with a more environment-friendly version.
    A "barker", the person who calls for paying passengers, waits by a fence beside a jeepney in Manila on May 30, 2017 Dallos, 55, slaps the steering wheel as his slipper-clad foot stomps on the gas while he hands over change that is passed down a row of squished passengers fanning themselves in the summer heat.
    "This is like my wife. My jeepney are I together every day. I know what ails it, what I need to do," Dallos told AFP.
    Jeepneys are seen as an enforcer manages traffic at a busy street in Manila on May 30, 2017. "I´m angry because I will lose my job. I will be forced to go home to my province, become a bystander and starve," he added.
    The government admits the plan will be hard to implement, affecting a micro-industry of poor drivers and owners.
    This photo taken on May 22, 2017 shows communters holding on while riding a jeepney in Manila. Dallos has been working 14 hours a day for 20 years to provide for his jobless wife, seven kids and three grandchildren who live in an upland farming province where he has no land to till. He earns around 500 pesos ($10) a day.
    Dirty, inefficient, loved
    This photo taken on May 22, 2017 shows a jeepney plying its route in Manila.  Taking inspiration from the American jeeps left behind after the war, the jeepney is a Filipino invention, where a roof has been added and inside there are two parallel benches.
    They can carry more than 20 people at a time, but run on cheap diesel and are heavy polluters, while the drivers are notorious for violating traffic rules.
    This photo taken on May 22, 2017 shows jeepneys plying their respective routes in Manila. "Our inefficient dinosaur, the (jeepney), must now be relegated to the museum. It is dirty, inefficient, unhealthy," said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.
    The government vows to help owners sell old jeepneys and access loans to buy new models while requiring drivers to undergo safety training, though critics question the cost of this.
    Authorities say commuters deserve a better alternative. They are designing units with engines compliant with European emission standards or solar and electric vehicles with GPS and possibly a ride-hailing app.
    This photo taken on May 22, 2017 shows demonstrating jeepney drivers displaying a streamer against the phase out of the vehicle in Manila. But at eight pesos (16 cents) per journey, jeepneys are the sole affordable option for many.
    "It´s the only and the most convenient way. I can´t ride a taxi because that´s super expensive," medical student Maria Alcid said en route to school.
    For low fares, passengers pay the price of bumping their heads on the ceiling, inching their buttocks into seats, and clinging to the roof while standing on the tiny step at the back.
    And yet for those who grew up riding jeepneys, there is a lot of affection for the vehicles.
    They are famed for their psychedelic designs featuring everything from Mickey Mouse to the Virgin Mary and in provinces even carry people, animals and crops on roofs.
    "Look at my jeepney, its frame is about to fall off but people are still riding it," says Dallos, caressing his rusting dashboard. He adds: "Is there any other choice?" 


  5. Waqas Dar
    It seems like Indian singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya cannot use Twitter anytime soon.
    The micro-blogging site has suspended Abhijeet's new account once again which was made on Monday.
    The singer's account was suspended last week following his offensive comments against some female users.
    Without taking the suspension into his consideration, Abhijeet rejoined Twitter with a new unverified account on Monday and posted a video, where he alleged that people are trying to 'curb' his voice, adding, he will denounce those people who criticise the country and the Indian Army.
    He said, "This is my new Twitter account. Till the time my verified account is not active please follow me on this Twitter account. All other accounts by my name are fake and are trying to malign my reputation." 
    "#VandeMatram I am back #Antinationals can't stop my voice, salute to #IndianArmy. This is my new Twitter account... Rest are fake..." he captioned the video.
    Abhijeet Bhattacharya has made inflammatory remarks in the past against several women users which led to the suspension of his first account.


  6. Waqas Dar
    A British journalist was charged with arms possession on Tuesday after he was arrested at a Thai airport for checking in flak jacket plates and gas masks, standard equipment for media heading into war zones and other hostile environments.
    Anthony Cheng, 46, was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday along with Florian Witulski, a German freelance journalist, before he could board a flight to Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China-based broadcaster CCTV English.
    Thailand's Arms Control Act stipulates that gas masks and ballistic vests are war weapons and those carrying them need a license.
    In August 2015, a Hong Kong photojournalist was arrested at the same airport for carrying body armour and a helmet. Charges were later dropped.
    Cheng was carrying three gas masks and four plates for safety vests, said Somchart Maneerat, a police investigator.
    "He faces charge of unlicenced possession of war weapons," Somchart told Reuters.
    Cheng faces up to five years in prison if he is found guilty, Somchart added.
    A lawyer for Cheng said he had requested bail.
    Witulski, 31, was also detained on Monday night but released on bail of 100,000 baht ($2,900) on Tuesday.
    Witulski told Reuters they were not aware that licences were required for the safety gear.
    "The plates were loose and were taken as check-in baggage as we have done before many times," Witulski told Reuters, adding that he and Cheng had traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times and taken plates with them without being stopped by Thai authorities.


  7. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: England captain Eoin Morgan remained in upbeat mood heading into the Champions Trophy despite a seven-wicket defeat by South Africa at Lord´s on Monday.

    The hosts collapsed to 20 for six -- the first time any side had lost six wickets in the first five overs of a one-day international -- after being sent into bat in overcast conditions and on a green-tinged pitch at ´the home of cricket´.
    England celebrate their series win against South Africa, Lord's, May 29, 2017/Getty Images South Africa´s pacemen duly cashed in, with Kagiso Rabada (four for 39 in nine overs) and Wayne Parnell (three for 43 in eight) running through the top order.

    Jonny Bairstow´s battling 51 helped England recover to 153 all out, a target that provided few problems for South Africa, who made 156 for three.
    England still won the three-match series 2-1.
    Morgan, asked if this result on his Middlesex home ground had dented Champions Trophy hosts England´s confidence ahead of their latest bid to win a maiden major global 50-over title, said: "I´d like to think it doesn´t.
    "Obviously what cost us was that first hour -- a lot of live, green grass on the wicket, but ultimately I thought South Africa bowled beautifully."
    The former Ireland batsman added: "We didn´t play too aggressively -- a lot of our shots were defensive -- so a lot of credit goes to South Africa."
    Test wicket-keeper Bairstow is still struggling to nail down a permanent place in England´s ODI side, despite some impressive recent batting displays in white-ball cricket.
    ´Interesting´ selection
    England coach Trevor Bayliss accepted the Yorkshireman could force his way in come the Champions Trophy, telling Sky Sports: "He´s doing everything he possibly can do. He´s putting a lot of pressure on, and that´s what we want."
    The Australian added: "It´ll be an interesting selection meeting."
    England face Bangladesh in the opening match of the Champions Trophy across London at The Oval on Thursday.
    The venue is the Surrey home ground of England opener Jason Roy, currently struggling for runs.
    But Morgan indicated Roy would remain at the top of the order for the clash with the Tigers, despite Bairstow´s fine form.
    Jason Roy's lean time continued when he fell in the first over, England v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Lord's, May 29, 2017/Getty Images "He (Bairstow) never lets us down -- every time he comes in, he scores runs, and he continues to bang on the door," said Morgan.

    "It´s the hardest thing telling Jonny he´s not playing and he´s done nothing wrong."
    Morgan, however, added: "As regards selection, Jason is our number one pick at the moment.
    "He and (Alex) Hales have been very important to the way we´ve played as a team for quite a long time."
    Morgan said he did not expect to encounter a similarly bowler-friendly pitch at any of the three Champions Trophy venues -- The Oval, Edgbaston and Cardiff.
    "I´d be disappointed if we did, because any team (would have) the potential to win or lose a game on a toss in a major tournament -- which is hard to take."
    England rested a trio of first-choice all-rounders from Monday´s game in Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali, with Morgan expecting all three to feature against Bangladesh.
    "We´re very confident," he said.
    For South Africa, top of the International Cricket Council ODI rankings, this was a timely victory.
    "We´re pretty happy with the way things have panned out for us," said coach Russell Domingo.
    "We knew conditions were in favour of the bowlers ... and you´ve got a chance against England, because they play that expansive brand of cricket."
    Rabada, meanwhile, was optimistic about the Proteas´ Champions Trophy chances.
    "Why not? We´ve got really good players, amazing talent and some experience as well," he said.


  8. Waqas Dar
    Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor is all set to get back to work after a long pregnancy break. 
    The Ki and Ka actress is ready to shoot for her upcoming movie Veere Di Wedding that also stars Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar. 
    To look all fit and glamorous like before, Kareena is spending her time in her gym
    While the actress has already shed 12 kilos of her post pregnancy flab, Kareena is working out really hard to prepare herself for the role of her upcoming film.
    Kareena?s best friend Amrita Arora shared pictures and videos that show Kareena?s hard work. 
    Check them out:






    Kareena gave birth to her first child with actor Saif Ali Khan in December 2016.





  9. Waqas Dar
    Google is testing a way to tie online ads to brick-and-mortar store purchases. Photo: file  SAN FRANCISCO: Google is testing a way to tie online ads to brick-and-mortar store purchases, a move whetting marketing appetites while fueling privacy worries.
    A product currently described as a "store sales measurement solution" was unveiled at a marketing conference this month in San Francisco by the internet giant.
    Google has long been able to determine when users click on ads and make purchases, but linking online and offline habits takes its analytics a step further.
    The store sales management solution is in test mode with a limited number of partners and will be rolled out to more advertisers in coming weeks, according to Google, which touted the tool as being able to answer the long-challenging question of whether marketing campaigns are working.
    Real-world customer email addresses or loyalty plan information can be woven with Google data from services such as AdWords to provide a "complete view" of marketing performance, according to the company.
    Using artificial intelligence, or machine learning, to better analyse and understand consumer behaviour to target ads and promote sales was a major theme of the conference.
    Ad ´holy grail´
    For several years now, AdWords has enabled advertisers to measure visits to real-world stores stemming from online campaigns, according to Google senior vice president Sridhar Ramaswamy.
    "Still, measuring store visits is just one part of the equation," Ramaswamy said.
    "You also need insights into how your online ads drive sales for your business."
    Real-world transactions matched back to Google ads are handed in a "secure and privacy-safe way," with store sales information reported in aggregated and anonymised forms to protect individual privacy, according to the company.
    Tying online activity to offline shopping decisions has been a "holy grail" for advertisers for quite some time, and comes with worrisome privacy implications, according to ACLU senior policy analyst Jay Stanley.
    The capability threatens to intrude on a core tenant of privacy: that people can have dealings with one party not spill over into affairs with other parties they interact with, Stanley contended.
    "This is an evolution, not a revolution; another step toward increased monitoring of individuals," Stanley said.
    "Each step raises the question ´Where does this all stop?´?
    Stanley expected Google to be on its best behaviour when it came to handling the growing trove of information about users, but that even the best of intentions could crack under the "enormous hydraulic pressure of the profit motive."
    "We have the full fury and genius of the capitalist system being driven toward monitoring people in ever increasing detail and companies are competing to do so," Stanley said.
    "It will not stop without some sort of rules in which we as a society express our values through legal protections."
    More tempting ads?
    Google and Facebook dominate the online ad world, and what one does to prove its worth to advertisers is likely to be copied by the other, according to Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.
    The measurement tool being tested promises to give Google a way to assure advertisers they are getting their money´s worth at the firm´s online venues.
    "The big problem is that showing conversion from ad consumption to purchase has been horrible," Enderle said of online marketing.
    "This has been a problem for a long time. Google is trying to make a metric so they get credit for it when you do purchase after viewing an ad."
    Data showing which ads are translating into real sales should mean that the relevance of ads people see online will improve as marketers abandon misaimed or ineffectively tailored messages, the analyst reasoned.
    "You are going to be hit with ads for things that you might actually want to buy, so you are going to spend a lot more money," Enderle predicted.
    Worries about privacy sparked by linking offline and online activities are a decade or so late, because the time to protest was when collection began of the troves of data about people, the analyst argued.
    "There really is no downside to this application," Enderle said while discussing Google´s marketing metrics move.
    "This is the good side of collecting data; it is what else is being done with the data that should be unnerving and that we really don´t know."


  10. Waqas Dar
    Manuel Noriega died on Monday in a hospital in Panama City.Photo: AFP PANAMA CITY: Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega has died at the age of 83 following brain surgery this year, Panama´s President Juan Carlos Varela said on Twitter late on Monday.
    Noriega, who ruled Panama from 1983 to 1989, spied for the Central Intelligence Agency until the United States invaded and toppled his corrupt government, ending a criminal career that saw him working with drug traffickers like Pablo Escobar.
    Noriega was initially sentenced in the United States in 1992 but was serving a sentence for murder in Panama, where he eventually died.


  11. Waqas Dar
    "The Square", a Swedish movie about the curator of a museum filled with grotesquely pretentious conceptual art, beat stiff competition to win the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.
    Critics hailed the movie by writer-director Ruben Ostlund as "high-wire cinema" that veers between comedy and thriller with moments of pure surrealism, though some said it could easily have shed part of its 2 hours and 22 minutes running time.
    The film's highlight is a dinner for the museum's well-to-do patrons, with a performance artist leaping from table to table impersonating an ape in a bizarre, tense and ultimately violent scene.
    Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, who headed the jury of nine people that included Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jessica Chastain, said the film was about "the dictatorship of being politically correct".
    "Such a serious subject is treated with an incredible imagination. It is very, very, very funny," he said.
    "BPM (Beats Per Minute)", a French movie about AIDS awareness campaigners in the 1980s, had been favorite for the award but had to settle for second place, taking the Grand Prize of the Jury, something Almodovar seemed to regret.
    "This is a very democratic jury and I am the ninth part of this jury," he said and fought back tears as he talked of the film's portrayal of "real heroes that saved many lives".
    Sofia Coppola won the best director for "The Beguiled", a remake of the 1971 Clint Eastwood tale of sexual tension between an injured soldier in the American Civil War and the women and girls who take him in.
    Although members of the jury said she was the first woman to win that prize, the history books show that Soviet director Yuliya Solntseva won it in 1961.
    Nicole Kidman, who starred alongside Colin Farrell in "The Beguiled" and "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" missed out on the best actress trophy but was awarded a special prize, collecting the jury's 70th Anniversary Award.
    Best actress went to Diane Kruger for her performance in the German film "In the Fade", playing a woman trying to put her life back together after her husband and young son is killed in a bomb attack. It was her first role in her native German.
    Joaquin Phoenix was named best actor for his portrayal of a psychologically damaged hitman in "You Were Never Really Here" by British director Scottish director Lynne Ramsay, who shared the prize for best screenplay with the writers of ?The Killing of a Sacred Deer?, Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou.
    Video streaming company Netflix, which had two acclaimed movies in competition, left empty handed. Its lack of success should have come as no surprise, given that Almodovar said at the start of the festival that the Palme d'Or should not go a movie that would not be given a theatrical release.


  12. Waqas Dar
    British Airways said it would take steps to ensure there was no repeat of a computer system failure that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend and turned into a public relations disaster.
    BA had been forced to cancel all its flights from Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, and Gatwick on Saturday after a power supply problem disrupted its operations worldwide and also hit its call centers and website.
    The airline was returning to normal on Monday, planning to run more than 95 percent of flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick, with only a handful of short-haul flights canceled.
    BA Chief Executive Alex Cruz said the root of the problem, which also affected passengers trying to fly into Britain, had been a power surge on Saturday morning which hit BA's flight, baggage and communication systems. It was so strong it also rendered the backup systems ineffective, he said.
    "Once the disruption is over, we will carry out an exhaustive investigation into what caused this incident, and take measures to ensure it never happens again," Cruz said.
    Over the weekend, some stranded passengers curled up under blankets on the floor or slumped on luggage trolleys, images that played prominently online and in newspapers.
    "Apologizes all well and good but not enough. BA has lost another loyal customer #disgraceful," tweeted Tom Callaway, who had been due to fly to Budapest.
    The company was left counting the cost of the disruption, both in terms of a one-off impact to its profit and the longer-term damage to its reputation.
    Spanish-listed shares of parent company IAG, which also owns carriers Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, dropped 2.8 percent on Monday after the outage. The London-listed shares did not trade because of a public holiday.
    Flight compensation website Flightright.com said that with around 800 flights canceled at Gatwick and Heathrow on Saturday and Sunday, BA was looking at having to pay around 61 million euros ($68 million) in compensation under EU rules. That does not include the cost of reimbursing customers for hotel stays.
    BA would fully honor its compensation obligations, Cruz said. Of the 75,000 passengers who missed out on flights, around two-thirds would have been flown to their destinations by the end of Monday, he added.
    BA has been cutting costs to respond to competition on short-haul routes from Ryanair and easyJet and recently faced criticism for starting to charge passengers for their in-flight snacks.
    Ireland's Ryanair was quick to seize on the marketing opportunity, tweeting "Should have flown Ryanair" with a picture of the 'Computer says no' sketch from the TV series "Little Britain" to poke fun at BA.
    Ryanair said it had seen a spike in bookings over the weekend but gave no further details.
    The GMB union said that BA's IT systems had shortcomings after they made a number of staff redundant and shifted their work to India in 2016.
    "This could have all been avoided. BA in 2016 made hundreds of dedicated and loyal IT staff redundant and outsourced the work to India," Mick Rix, GMB National Officer for Aviation, said.
    Cruz rejected the union criticism.
    "They've all been local issues around a local data center, which has been managed and fixed by local resources," he told Sky News.
    Several passengers complained about a lack of information from BA staff at the airport. Others said their luggage had been lost.
    The airline said it was working to get reunite passengers with their luggage after many items were left at Heathrow over the weekend, although staff on Twitter warned this "could take some time".
    While other airlines have been hit by computer problems, the scale and length of BA's troubles were unusual.
    Delta Air Lines Inc canceled thousands of flights and delayed many others last August after an outage hit its computer systems.
    Last month, Germany's Lufthansa and Air France suffered a global system outage which briefly prevented them from boarding passengers.


  13. Waqas Dar
    LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday temporarily stayed the planned privatisation of the Allama Iqbal International Airport and adjourned the hearing of the case.

    LHC Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who is hearing a petition filed by Dr Mubashir Hasan against the privatisation of management control of the airport, ordered the Civil Aviation Authority and federal government to file detailed replies on the issue in four weeks.
    The petitioner has stated that the federal government is selling off management control of three major airports of the country ? Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi ? for much less than what it is worth. 


  14. Waqas Dar
    According to PMD, continental air continues to prevail over most parts of the country. Photo: AFP/file The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday forecasted very hot and dry weather in the plain areas of the country in the next twenty-four hours.
    Continental air continues to prevail over most parts of the country, the MET said.
    A shallow westerly wave is present over upper parts of the country.
    Dust-thunderstorm/rain with gusty winds is expected at a few places in Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
    Past weather:
    Weather remained very hot and dry in most parts of the country. However, rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds occurred at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur divisions and Kashmir.
    Rainfall in the last 24 Hours (mm):
    Punjab: Noorpurthal 07, Sialkot (Cantt 06, A/P 05), Gujrat 06, Bahawalnagar 05, Murree 03, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang 02, Joharabad, Rawalpindi 01, Kashmir: Rawalakot 03, Kotli 02.
    Yesterday?s highest temperatures:
    Turbat 53°C, Sibbi 51°C, Lasbella 49, Panjgur, Padidan, Dadu, Jacobabad 47°C, Dalbandin, Nokkundi, Moenjodaro, Hyderabad, Larkana 46°C°C.
    Yesterday record temperature of 47°C observed in Panjgur. Earlier record was 43.5°C on 26th May, 2010.


    Date Courtesy: Pakistan Meteorological Department 



  15. Waqas Dar
    A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle at a popular Baghdad ice cream shop, killing at least eight people, security officials said on Tuesday.
    The overnight attack in the Karrada district in central Baghdad also wounded at least 30 people, officials said.
    The Islamic State (IS) group-linked Amaq propaganda agency said the suicide bomber targeted a "gathering of Shiites."
    IS considers members of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority to be heretics and frequently carries out attacks against them.
    The bomber struck just days after the start of the holy month of Ramazan, during which Iraqis often stay out late shopping or socialising after breaking their daily fast.
    Images and footage posted on social media showed the devastating impact of the blast, which ripped through the crowded area around Al-Faqma ice cream shop, scattering rubble across the street.
    One photo showed cups of ice cream scattered on the blood-stained ground following the attack.
    Brett McGurk, the envoy to the US-led anti-IS coalition, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Iraq.
    "ISIS terrorists tonight in Baghdad target children & families enjoying time together at an ice cream shop. We stand w/Iraq against this evil," McGurk said on Twitter, using an alternate acronym for IS.
    IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained much of the territory they lost and are now fighting to retake the last jihadist-held areas in second city Mosul.
    But defeats on the battlefield have not prevented IS from carrying out deadly attacks targeting civilians, including a bombing in the Karrada area last year that killed more than 300 people.


  16. Waqas Dar
    People protesting on a road near Liaquatabad, Karachi on May 30, 2017. Photo: Geo News KARACHI: The 500-KV Jamshoro Line tripped again early Tuesday morning ? after tripping both Sunday and Monday nights ? throwing almost half of Sindh into darkness, officials at the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) said.
    Cities that faced a major power breakdown include Karachi, Larkana, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Sujawal. Protests were also held in these areas on Monday and Tuesday. Several of these areas are still without electricity. 
    It seems that the relevant authorities have gone back on all the promises made to not carry out load shedding during Ramazan, as Karachi continued to face power cuts early Tuesday morning ? the third Sehri ?, Geo News reported.


    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/e5f12f5d6f03f286a559026fddf39387.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9NS8zMC8yMDE3IDQ6NTk6MjMgQU0maGFzaF92YWx1ZT16SlJyanlsSmNsMk4yeFBOanBIUnpRPT0mdmFsaWRtaW51dGVzPTYwJmlkPTE= style=center]
    Areas impacted by the breakdown in Karachi include Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Post Office area, Liaquatabad No. 10 and C1 area, Lyari, Shah Faisal Colony, Safoora Goth, University Road, Defence View, Jamshed Quarters, North Karachi, Golimar, New Karachi, Gulbahar, Shadman Town, Nazimabad and North Nazimabad, Kharadar, Keamari, Maripur, Gulshan-e-Jamal, FC Area, Garden, Lea Market, Orangi Town, Mobina Town, Ayesha Manzil, Surjani Town, and Malir.
    Back to Stone Age: Power outage in Karachi continues during second Sehri
    A K-Electric spokesperson acknowledged that some areas in Malir and Shah Faisal have no electricity
    Candlelight Sehri: Major power outage in Karachi on first day of Ramazan
    An extra high-tension line tripped, causing generators in Jamshoro and Hubco power plants to shut down, an NTDC spokesperson said








    Spurred by anger and desperation, some citizens turned to protest at K-Electric?s complaint office near Post Office and Liaquatabad No. 10, where they vandalised property and tried to burn down the building. However, authorities reached in time to prevent further damage to the power utility?s structures. The protesters thereafter took to burning tyres, which led to the road getting blocked.
    Several residents also temporarily blocked the Malir 15 flyover.
    Earlier, a spokesperson for National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) said "400 megawatt of electricity will be provided to HESCO in an hour." The official added that 76 grid stations had tripped during the night after the 500-KV Jamshoro line failed. He claimed "moisture" was the reason behind the breakdown.
    Several areas of Karachi have been without power since Monday afternoon.
    ?This is very stressful for us and we are unable to sleep. But when it comes to billing, K-Electric doesn?t take load-shedding into account,? a despondent citizen said.
    ?We have two-hour-long power cuts every two hours,? noted another.
    While K-Electric seems to be quite active on its official Twitter account, its spokesperson refused to respond when Geo News tried contacting them.
    ?Due to tripping at the Extra High Tension line, some areas are currently facing a disruption in power. Teams are working non-stop to normalise the situation,? informed a Tweet by the power utility.
    On the other hand, former mayor of Karachi and Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal also condemned the recent power breakdowns. "Power outages extending over 12 hours is not okay. Unannounced load shedding during Ramazan is worrisome for citizens," he said. 


    Rest of the country in the dark too
    Meanwhile, residents of Khanpur blocked the Khanpur-Taxila road on Tuesday, claiming they have been facing over 12 hours of power cuts every day. The protesters also said the relentless load shedding has resulted in acute shortage of drinking water in the area.
    On Monday, protests turned violent in Malakand Agency?s Dargai area when protesters stormed a WAPDA office and police station, setting fire to furniture and damaging infrastructure and vehicles. Resultant clashes with law enforcers resulted in at least one protesters? death and injuries to several others, including the local assistant commissioner.
    Peshawar has also been witnessing continued protests against load shedding for the past several days, led mostly by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. 
    ?Editing by Haseem uz Zaman


  17. Waqas Dar
    A photo depicts people protesting on a road near Liaquatabad, Karachi. May 30, 2017. Update [8:15 AM]: KARACHI: The notorious 500-KV Jamshoro line has tripped yet again early Tuesday morning ? after tripping on both Sunday and Monday nights ? throwing almost half of Sindh into darkness, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) sources stated.

    Cities currently facing a major power outage include Karachi, Larkana, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Mirpur Khas, Sujawal.

    Relevant teams are, as usual, "working to resolve the issue as soon as possible".
    Original reporting: It seems that the power authorities have gone back on all the promises made to not carry out load-shedding during Ramazan, as the city faced a continued power outage early Tuesday morning ? the third Sehri, Geo News reported.

    geo_embedgallery
    An extra high-tension line tripped once again, putting to test Karachiites? patience as they had Sehri in dark, waving handheld fans, dripping with sweat, and cursing electricity-related authorities.

    Spurred by anger and desperation, some citizens turned to protest at K-Electric?s office near Post Office and Liaquatabad No. 10, whereupon they vandalised property and tried to burn down the building.
    Needless to say, employees present in the office fled the demonstration, fearing for their lives.
    Back to Stone Age: Power outage in Karachi continues during second Sehri
    A K-Electric spokesperson acknowledged that some areas in Malir and Shah Faisal have no electricity
    Candlelight Sehri: Major power outage in Karachi on first day of Ramazan
    An extra high-tension line tripped, causing generators in Jamshoro and Hubco power plants to shut down, an NTDC spokesperson said








    It was when a heavy contingent of police arrived at the scene and tried to disperse the angry crowd that the building was left alone. The protestors thereafter took to burning tyres, which led to the road getting blocked.

    Areas impacted by electric breakdown include Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Post Office area, Liaquatabad No. 10 and C1 area, Lyari, Shah Faisal Colony, Safoora Goth, University Road, Defence View, Jamshed Quarters, North Karachi, Golimar, New Karachi, Gulbahar, Shadman Town, Nazimabad and North Nazimabad, Kharadar, Keamari, Maripur, Gulshan-e-Jamal, FC Area, Garden, Lea Market, Orangi Town, Mobina Town, Ayesha Manzil, Surjani Town, and Malir.

    'Moisture'
    "400 MW of electricity will be provided to HESCO in an hour," a spokesperson for National Transmission And Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) said.
    The official added that 76 grid stations had tripped during the night after the 500-KV Jamshoro line failed, once again. He mentioned "moisture" as the reason behind the breakdown.
    'Stressful for us'
    In addition, some areas reportedly do not have power since Monday, 2 PM.

    ?This is very stressful for us and we are unable to sleep. But when it comes to billing, KE doesn?t take load-shedding into account,? a despondent citizen said.
    ?We have a two-hour-long load-shedding every two hours,? another noted.
    While K-Electric seems to be quite active on its official Twitter account ? offering simply two lines as the reason behind the power outage ? its spokesperson refused to respond when Geo News tried contacting them.
    ?Due to tripping at the Extra High Tension line, some areas are currently facing a disruption in power. Teams are working non-stop to normalise the situation,? KE?s tweet says.
    'All efforts are being made'
    Its response to individuals has been monotonous. ?We regret the inconvenience caused, teams working for restoration,? are the KE team?s consistent replies.
    Even when Geo.tv attempted to get in touch with KE on social media, it received a similar response: ?All efforts are being made for quick normalisation.?
    'Not okay'
    On the other hand, former mayor of Karachi and PSP chief Mustafa Kamal also condemned the load-shedding. "Power outages extending over 12 hours is not okay. Unannounced load-shedding during Ramazan is worrisome for citizens," he said.
    ?Editing by Haseem uz Zaman


  18. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Security forces took into custody three suspects during a search operation near Sango and Umar Lane areas late Monday night, police sources stated.
    The suspects ? Majeed, Aijaz, and Usama Baloch ? are reportedly the henchmen of female drug seller 'Mema', police sources said, adding that a large volume of contraband was recovered from them.
    Another suspect was arrested during a raid carried out in the PIB Colony area last night, police said, adding that weapons were also taken into custody from him.
    The arrestee is accused of firing at Rangers officials back in 2014, injuring two of them and a pedestrian in the process. The suspect is also wanted for various other crimes, including drug-selling and extortion, police explained.
    Clash in the cold
    Men of two armed groups engaged in an exchange of gunfire on Mall Road, Murree, late Monday night, police sources revealed.
    The gunmen were only embroiled in aerial firing in an attempt of making a bigger threat to the other due to clash over a cabin located on Mall Road, security officials mentioned. However, no casualties were reported.
    Mall Road, consequently, has been closed for the time being after police reached the site.


  19. Waqas Dar
    Firdda Kurnia, leader of the metal band Voice of Baceprot, performs during a school's farewell event in Garut, Indonesia, May 15, 2017. REUTERS/Yuddy Cahya3 GARUT: Heads covered in headscarves, the three members of the Indonesian band VoB ("Voice of Baceprot" or "Noisy Voice") do not look like your typical heavy-metal group.
    Formed in 2014, the band of teenagers met at school in Indonesia's most populous province of West Java and use their music to combat the stereotype of Muslim women as submissive or voiceless.
    "Wearing a hijab should not be a barrier to the group's pursuit of its dream of being heavy metal stars," said Firdda Kurnia, 16, who sings and plays the guitar.
    "I think gender equality should be supported because I feel I am still exploring my creativity, while at the same time, not diminishing my obligations as a Muslim woman," she added.
    Recently Invited to perform at another school's graduation ceremony, the trio quickly had fans dancing and headbanging at the front of the stage.
    "I don't see anything wrong with it," said one fan who attended, Teti Putriwulandari Sari. "This also relates to human rights. If a Muslim girl has [the] talent to play the drums or a guitar, should she not be allowed?" she inquired rhetorically.

    geo_embedgallery Besides covering classics by groups such as Metallica and Slipknot, the band perform their own songs on issues like the state of education in Indonesia.

    Muslims make up nearly 90 percent of a population of 250 million, the vast majority practising a moderate form of Islam, although there are some conservative strongholds.
    Not everyone in the town of Garut, where the band was formed, feels the community is ready for them or that their music is appropriate for performance.
    "It is unusual to see a group of hijab-wearing girls playing metal music or even women shouting," said Muhammad Sholeh, a teacher at the town's Cipari Islamic boarding school, adding that religious pop music was popular with many young Muslims.
    "But we're talking about metal here, which is loud."

    An official of a top clerical body said that although the group might trigger a culture clash in a conservative area, he did not feel it broke any Islamic values.

    "I see this as part of the creativity of teenagers," added Nur Khamim Djuremi, secretary general of the Islamic Art and Culture Division of Indonesia's Ulema Council.


  20. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: It seems that the power authorities have gone back on all the promises made to not carry out load-shedding during Ramazan, as the city faced a continued power outage early Tuesday morning ? the third Sehri, Geo News reported.
    An extra high-tension line tripped once again, putting to test Karachiites? patience as they had Sehri in dark, waving handheld fans, dripping with sweat, and cursing electricity-related authorities.

    Spurred by anger and desperation, some citizens turned to protest at K-Electric?s office near Post Office and Liaquatabad No. 10, whereupon they vandalised property and tried to burn down the building.
    Needless to say, employees present in the office fled the demonstration, fearing for their lives.
    Back to Stone Age: Power outage in Karachi continues during second Sehri
    A K-Electric spokesperson acknowledged that some areas in Malir and Shah Faisal have no electricity
    Candlelight Sehri: Major power outage in Karachi on first day of Ramazan
    An extra high-tension line tripped, causing generators in Jamshoro and Hubco power plants to shut down, an NTDC spokesperson said








    It was when a heavy contingent of police arrived at the scene and tried to disperse the angry crowd that the building was left alone. The protestors thereafter took to burning tyres, which led to the road getting blocked.

    Areas impacted by electric breakdown include Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Post Office area, Liaquatabad No. 10 and C1 area, Lyari, Shah Faisal Colony, Safoora Goth, University Road, Defence View, Jamshed Quarters, North Karachi, Golimar, New Karachi, Gulbahar, Shadman Town, Nazimabad and North Nazimabad, Kharadar, Keamari, Maripur, Gulshan-e-Jamal, FC Area, Garden, Lea Market, Orangi Town, Mobina Town, Ayesha Manzil, Surjani Town, and Malir.

    'Stressful for us'
    In addition, some areas reportedly do not have power since Monday, 2 PM.

    ?This is very stressful for us and we are unable to sleep. But when it comes to billing, KE doesn?t take load-shedding into account,? a despondent citizen said.
    ?We have a two-hour-long load-shedding every two hours,? another noted.
    While K-Electric seems to be quite active on its official Twitter account ? offering simply two lines as the reason behind the power outage ? its spokesperson refused to respond when Geo News tried contacting them.
    ?Due to tripping at the Extra High Tension line, some areas are currently facing a disruption in power. Teams are working non-stop to normalise the situation,? KE?s tweet says.
    'All efforts are being made'
    Its response to individuals has been monotonous. ?We regret the inconvenience caused, teams working for restoration,? are the KE team?s consistent replies.
    Even when Geo.tv attempted to get in touch with KE on social media, it received a similar response: ?All efforts are being made for quick normalisation.?
    'Not okay'
    On the other hand, former mayor of Karachi and PSP chief Mustafa Kamal also condemned the load-shedding. "Power outages extending over 12 hours is not okay. Unannounced load-shedding during Ramazan is worrisome for citizens," he said.
    ?Editing by Haseem uz Zaman


  21. Waqas Dar
    Eurozone stock markets were among the few major exchanges operating Monday, showing a rangebound picture in thin business as traders in London and New York took the day off.
    It was "a slow start to the week", noted LCG Senior Market Analyst Jasper Lawler. But he added that markets still appeared solid, retaining, or even extending, most of the gains won over the past weeks.
    "The old adage of 'sell in May and go away' hasn't worked out too well," Lawler said. Losses linked to political upheaval at the White House had already been recouped. "Dip-buyers won out again," he said.
    Frankfurt's Dax index ended the day a touch higher, while Paris was slightly easier at the closing bell.
    'Doze off'

    "The economics agenda is empty today and corporate news is frankly not intense either," said analysts at Paris brokerage Aurel BGC. "Enough reason for European markets to doze off."
    Asian stocks earlier mostly slipped, with few solid trading cues after investors largely shrugged off an early-morning North Korean missile launch.
    The short-range projectile flew for several minutes before landing in waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan -- the latest in a series of launches that have raised tensions over the North's bid to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States.
    The political reaction in Asia was swift as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the launch and vowed "concrete action" with the US.
    South Korea's new president, Moon Jae-In, ordered a meeting of the national security council to assess the launch.
    Japan and South Korea are the nations most immediately threatened by Pyongyang's provocations.
    Most Asia-Pacific stock markets took the launch in their stride, with Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index mostly higher before ending the day flat.
    "The impact on the Tokyo market is limited," Okasan Online Securities' chief strategist Yoshihiro Ito said in a commentary.
    South Korea's Kospi index slipped 0.10 percent and Sydney fell 0.78 percent, while Hong Kong tacked on 0.24 percent.
    Financial markets in mainland China and Taiwan were closed Monday for a public holiday.
    Wall Street was shut for Memorial Day and London for the Spring Bank Holiday.
    The major US indices finished Friday's session essentially flat ahead of a three-day holiday weekend in the United States.
    But US stocks nevertheless held onto gains won after a six-day rally -- meaning the hair's-breadth rise was all that was necessary to see the Nasdaq and S&P 500 break Thursday's all-time highs.
    Fresh economic data Friday showed the US economy was stronger in the first quarter than first reported.


  22. Waqas Dar
    Picture of the car that was shot at in Matani, Pehsawar. May 29, 2017. PESHAWAR: Four people died and one was injured when their car was fired at by unidentified persons near the suburban area of Matani late Monday night, Geo News reported.
    Among the deceased are Matani aman lashkar (peace committee) leader Irshad and his colleagues Waheed, Muhammad Ali, and Imtiaz, police revealed, adding that the injured man ? identified as Mohsin ? was reportedly a friend of the deceased.
    Security officials added that the injured man has been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, while the bodies have been transferred to Khyber Medical College mortuary.
    The firing incident was allegedly based on a prolonged personal enmity, police claimed.


  23. Waqas Dar
    Picture of the car that was shot at in Mattani, Pehsawar. May 29, 2017. PESHAWAR: Four people died and one was injured when their car was fired at by unidentified persons near suburban area Mattani late Monday night, Geo News reported.
    Among the deceased are Aman Lashkar (peace force) ? Mattani leader Irshad and his friends Waheed, Muhammad Ali, and Imtiaz, police reported, adding that the injured man ? identified as Mohsin ? was reportedly a friend of the chief.
    Security officials added that the injured man has been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, while the bodies have been transferred to Khyber Medical College morgue.
    The firing incident was allegedly based on prolonged personal enmity, police mentioned.


  24. Waqas Dar
    QUETTA: The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarters was killed while his nephew injured as a result of firing from unidentified assailants outside a mosque on Jail Road in the wee hours of Tuesday.
    Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri took notice and sought a report of the incident.
    According to the police, DSP Umar Rahman, along with his nephew Inspector Bilal Ahmad, was on his way to offer evening prayers at a mosque on Jail Road when unidentified armed men opened fire on them outside the mosque, causing injuries to Rahman and Ahmad.
    The injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital for further medical treatment, where DSP Rahman succumbed to his wounds.
    The chief minister expressed condolence over the demise of the DSP and condemned the act of terrorism.
    He also sought report of the incident from police officials and ordered law enforcement agencies for the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the incident.


  25. Waqas Dar
    QUETTA: Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarter was killed, while his nephew was left injured as a result of firing from unidentified assailants in the wee hours of Tuesday, outside a mosque on Jail Road in Quetta.
    The Chief Minister took notice and sought report of the incident.
    According to police, DSP Headquarter Umar Rahman along with his nephew Inspector Bilal Ahmad was on his way to offer Maghrib prayers at a mosque located on Jail Road, when unidentified men opened fire on them outside the mosque, causing injuries to Umar and Bilal.
    The injured were shifted to CMH for further medical treatment, where DSP Umar Rahman succumbed to his wounds.
    The Chief Minister of Balochistan expressed his condolence over the demise of DSP Headquarter Umar Rahman and condemned the act of terrorism.
    He also sought report of the incident from police authorities and ordered law enforcement agencies for the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the incident.


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