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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Conor McGregor celebrated his 29th birthday by defending himself against accusations of racism during a media tour to promote his fight with Floyd Mayweather in London on Friday.

    The Irish mixed martial arts fighter went on the defensive at the fourth press conference in as many days with American Mayweather at the SSE Arena, Wembley.
    The pair meet in a light-middleweight boxing contest at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on August 26 in what could be boxing's richest ever fight.
    But the event has received some negative publicity since McGregor said to Mayweather at a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, "Dance for me, boy".
    'Racism still exists'
    "If he feels disrespected, he's an idiot and **** him as well," McGregor told reporters at a press conference.
    "I think it's ****ing ridiculous. I don't understand it. I know who I am as a person. Most realistic people can see that. He's trying to sway something by (saying I'm) disrespecting women."
    Mayweather to quit boxing for good after McGregor bout
    There was no chance of him fighting again after he climbs into the ring with mixed martial arts star McGregor
    Before going on stage in London, American Mayweather criticised McGregor for what he perceived were racists comments made by the Irishman.
    "Racism still exists," said Mayweather, adding, "I've got a diverse team. It's all about treating people how you want to be treated. You have to give respect to give it back.
    "He totally disrespected black women, he called black people monkeys and he was disrespectful to my (13-year-old) daughter."
    "I'm not going to stoop that low to talk about his wife or child. There's certain levels and you don't stoop to or cross. I love everyone."
    Wipeout
    But Mayweather, 40, was just as guilty as McGregor in using insulting terms for women on Friday.
    Their latest trash-talking exchange was full of profanities and insults, just like the previous events in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles.
    Both claimed victory in the war of words.
    "I smoked him in all four rounds," McGregor said. "In the first round, they set me up with no music or anything. The **** you suit I wore went viral. Toronto was a wipeout, a 10-7 round, and New York was alright, and tonight I smoked him so it's 4-0, or 3-1 if you want to be generous."
    But Mayweather, who has not fought since September 2015, believes he got the better of McGregor.
    "I'm the best at it when it comes to trash talking," Mayweather said. "He's not able to push my buttons. He cannot out talk me."
    "There has been a lot of trash talkers (through his career) and at the end of the day, he's not bad."
    "We will rate him number two, I'm number one. He's got heart. You need more guys to be more aggressive to each other, do more trash talking to each other."
    By day four in London, some of the lines had already been heard, but not that the estimated crowd of 10,000 at the SSE Arena cared much. They lapped it up and cheered, but only for McGregor.
    Mayweather ? a five-weight world boxing champion who knocked out Briton Ricky Hatton in 2007 ? was booed loudly by the fans, many of whom were Irish, and he could barely be heard.
    Mayweather, McGregor agree to August super fight
    Neither Mayweather or McGregor have competed this year
    The pair met on a makeshift stage, a boxing ring, in the middle of the venue.
    "This is my first time in a boxing ring, and in six weeks, I run boxing," said McGregor. "Four years ago, I fought in front of 400 people. Now I get to quadruple my net worth for half a fight," he added.
    At one point, McGregor walked behind Mayweather and rubbed his head, before calling him a "bald" profanity and then throwing the microphone in the air.
    Their fight could be the richest in boxing history, making more than the $623.5 million generated by Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao in May 2015.
    Mayweather ? who has earned approximately $700 million in his boxing career, according to Forbes magazine ? is the best boxer of his generation and has won world titles in five weight classes and is looking to extend his unbeaten record to 50-0.
    On the other hand, McGregor ? a UFC featherweight and lightweight champion ? has never had a professional bout and is a big betting underdog, but can still expect to make $100 million from the fight. 
    COVER IMAGE: Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on as money rains down on Conor McGregor during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour event at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough, New York City, July 13, 2017. AFP/Mike Stobe


  2. Waqas Dar
    Rapper DMX turned himself in to authorities on federal charges of tax fraud, according to New York prosecutors.
    The recording artist, whose real name is Earl Simmons, allegedly engaged in a multi-year scheme to hide millions of dollars in income from authorities and owes $1.7 million in taxes.
    Acting Manhattan US Attorney Joon Kim said the performer took in millions from his performances, television shows and songs -- including the 2003 hit "X Gon' Give it to Ya" -- but evaded paying taxes on his earnings by "avoiding personal bank accounts, setting up accounts in other's names and paying personal expenses largely in cash."
    "Celebrity rapper or not, all Americans must pay their taxes," Kim said in a statement. "We will pursue those who deliberately and criminally evade this basic obligation of citizenship."
    Following his arrest the 46-year-old -- known for his deep, rough voice and often dark or violent lyrics -- is due to appear Friday in Manhattan federal court.
    A native of Yonkers, New York, he was charged with 14 counts and could face more than 40 years in prison.
    DMX, who gained fame in the early nineties, has a colourful criminal history. He has been arrested over offenses including drug possession, reckless driving, animal cruelty and failing to pay child support.


  3. Waqas Dar
    Thousands of demonstrators staged protests against President Donald Trump's travel ban, with the largest one in London where some 10,000 turned out. AFP/Niklas Halle'n  WASHINGTON: Donald Trump's administration vowed Friday to appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge dealt a fresh setback to the president's ban on travellers from six mainly Muslim countries and refugees as unfairly excluding the grandparents and grandchildren of people living in the United States.

    Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in a strongly-worded statement announcing the appeal, accused the Hawaii court of having "undermined national security, delayed necessary action, created confusion and violated a proper respect for separation of powers".
    He charged the lower court had "improperly substituted its policy preferences for the national security judgments of the executive branch in a time of grave threats, defying both the lawful prerogatives of the executive branch and the directive of the Supreme Court."
    It was unclear how quickly the Supreme Court ? now in summer recess but able to act on emergency motions ? might be able to respond, and when or if the expanded terms set by the Hawaii judge might take effect. If they do, thousands of potential travellers could be affected.
    The travel ban, which the administration insists is necessary to keep violent extremists out of the country, has faced a series of judicial roadblocks from lower courts.

    But the administration gained partial satisfaction in June when the Supreme Court ruled that it could proceed with its plan to prohibit the entry of some people from countries deemed dangerous, while still allowing visits by people with "a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States."
    The Supreme Court's ruling allowed a 90-day ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and a 120-day ban on refugees to come into force, with exceptions for those people with "bona fide" relationships.
    That June 29 ruling, which capped months of legal wrangling, left unclear the question of just who had such a "credible claim." The Trump administration then provided a list defining that category as including parents, spouses, children, sons- and daughters-in-law, siblings and step- or half-siblings.
    Federal judge weakens Trump travel ban
    Judge rules that grandparents and some other relatives of people in the United States should be exempt from the clampdown
    But the Hawaii judge, Federal Judge Derrick Watson ruled that the administration's criteria unfairly exclude grandparents and grandchildren.
    The decision late Thursday thus expanded the exceptions to the ban, ordering that the list include grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins of people in the United States.
    'Common sense'
    Watson said the government's "narrowly defined list finds no support in the careful language of the Supreme Court or even in the immigration statutes on which the government relies."
    "Common sense, for instance, dictates that close family members be defined to include grandparents," he wrote.
    "Indeed, grandparents are the epitome of close family members. The government's definition excludes them. That simply cannot be."
    The judge also ruled that refugees who have assurances of a placement by an agency in the United States should be exempt.
    White House Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert told journalists the ruling seemed "fairly broad," adding that he would be troubled "if it was as broad as reported."
    The original ban, announced days after Trump became president on January 20, was successfully challenged in lower courts on the grounds that it overstepped Trump's presidential authority and discriminated against Muslims in violation of the US Constitution. A revised version also did not pass legal muster.
    Judges in lower courts had cited Trump's repeated statements during the presidential campaign that he intended to ban Muslims from entering the United States.
    'People have suffered enough'
    Douglas Chin, attorney general for the state of Hawaii, which filed the lawsuit against the Trump administration, welcomed the Thursday ruling.
    "The federal court today makes clear that the US government may not ignore the scope of the partial travel ban as it sees fit," said Chin.
    "Family members have been separated and real people have suffered enough. Courts have found that this executive order has no basis in stopping terrorism and is just a pretext for illegal and unconstitutional discrimination."


  4. Waqas Dar
    LOS ANGELES: Star Wars icon Mark Hamill paid emotional tribute to his "space sis" Carrie Fisher Friday, as both were bestowed with Disney's "Legend" status at the entertainment giant's D23 fan convention.
    Fisher ? who died at the age of 60 in December ? and her co-star have been friends since they played twins Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in the epic sci-fi saga, starting with Star Wars Episode V: A New Hope in 1977.
    "I would love to give my deepest respects for the super-cool space sis I have in Carrie Frances Fisher," a visibly moved Hamill, 65, said. "We were like siblings, the good and the bad. We'd have huge fights ? 'You're such a phoney!' ? but we loved each other."
    Fisher became an overnight sensation in 1977 with her iconic performance as Leia but took on a panoply of roles as an actress, author, playwright, screenwriter, and outspoken advocate for mental health awareness.
    Her last Star Wars movie ? and her last part alongside Hamill ? will be in Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, due for release in December.
    "What a huge thrill it was to come back in The Force Awakens at that time in our lives. There was a comfort level with each other, we could rely on each other, and there was a deep respect," Hamill said.
    "I know if she were here this morning, she would have flipped me the bird at least twice already."
    Disney chief Bob Iger spoke of her "talent, wit, and friendship" and described Fisher's final "Star Wars" performance as "legendary".
    Iger read out a letter from her daughter ? actress Billie Lourd ? who is currently filming the FX series American Horror Story. "May the force be with you always," she wrote, winning an ovation from the audience of around 5,000 packed into the Anaheim Convention Center in southern California.
    Fisher and Hamill were among several Disney figures ? including Oprah Winfrey and Whoopie Goldberg ? honoured at the "Legends Awards" event, currently in its 30th year.
    Adding to the poignancy of the ceremony, there were posthumous awards for Disney directors Clyde Geronimi and Garry Marshall, while Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee made his first public appearance since the death of his wife Joan last week. 


  5. Waqas Dar
    A man walks in front of an ambulance arriving at El Salam Hospital after an Egyptian man stabbed two German tourists to death and wounded four others at the beach of the Zahabia hotel, in Hurghada, south of the capital Cairo, Egypt, July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Aly  CAIRO: An Egyptian man stabbed two German tourists to death and wounded four others on Friday at a popular seaside vacation spot on the Red Sea, after apparently searching out foreigners to attack, officials and witnesses said.

    The knifeman killed the two German women and wounded two other tourists at the Zahabia hotel in Hurghada, then swam to a neighbouring beach to attack at least two more people at the Sunny Days El Palacio resort before being caught by staff and arrested, officials and security sources said.
    It was the first major attack on foreign tourists since a similar assault on the same resort more than a year ago and comes as Egypt struggles to revive a tourism industry hurt by security threats and years of political upheaval.
    "He had a knife with him and stabbed each of them three times in the chest. They died on the beach," Saud Abdelaziz ? the security manager at the El Palacio hotel ? told Reuters.
    "He jumped a wall between the hotels and swam to the other beach," he added.


  6. Waqas Dar
    An old man infected with cholera lies on the bed at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, May 12, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi/File Photo  GENEVA: A cholera epidemic in Yemen ? which has infected more than 332,000 people ? could spread during the annual Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in September, although Saudi authorities are well prepared, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

    The pilgrimage draws 2-4 million Muslims every year, including 1.5-2 million foreigners, raising the risk from diseases, such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika virus, and meningococcal disease, as well as cholera, the WHO said.
    "The current highly spreading outbreak of cholera in Yemen, as well as in some African countries, may represent a serious risk to all pilgrims during the (Haj) days and even after returning to their countries," a WHO bulletin said.
    Dominique Legros ? a WHO cholera expert ? said Saudi Arabia had not had a cholera outbreak in many years thanks to reinforced surveillance and rapid tests to detect cases early.
    "Don?t forget that today, we are speaking of Yemen but they are receiving pilgrims from a lot of endemic countries, and they managed not to have an outbreak, essentially by making sure that living conditions, access to water, in particular, hygienic conditions, are in place," Legros told a regular UN briefing.
    "They are well-prepared in my view," the expert added.
    The incubation period of the disease ? which spreads through ingestion of faecal matter and causes acute watery diarrhoea ? is a matter of hours. Once symptoms start, cholera can kill within hours if the patient does not get treatment.
    But people with symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg because 80 percent of patients show no symptoms, Legros said. "That?s why we advise countries against airport screening for patients. The Saudis don?t do that. It's useless, technically speaking," he explained.
    The United Nations has blamed the warring sides in Yemen and their international allies, including Saudi Arabia, for fuelling the 11-week cholera outbreak, driving millions of people closer to famine, and for hindering aid access.
    The WHO has rolled out an emergency treatment programme, based on the vestiges of Yemen's shattered health system, to try and catch new cases early and stop the explosive spread of the disease.
    The number of new cases has continued to grow by about 6,000 per day, but the number of deaths appears to have slowed dramatically, according to Reuters analysis of WHO data.
    Death rates have slumped from 20-40 in recent weeks to an average of nine per day over the past six days.


  7. Waqas Dar
    People wait at the arrival hall at Terminal 4 of JFK airport after US President Donald Trump's limited travel ban was approved by the US Supreme Court, in New York City, US, June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Joe Penney WASHINGTON: The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a revised directive to airlines around the world in response to requests that it clarify aviation security measures scheduled to begin taking effect next week, the agency said on Friday.

    "This clarifying update will strengthen global aviation security and is a testament to our shared commitment to raising the baseline," said James Gregory, a spokesman for the US Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the DHS.
    An airline official briefed on the matter said the directive gives airlines more flexibility and additional time to obtain explosive trace detection equipment. The official was not authorised to discuss sensitive security issues with the media and requested anonymity.
    The directive includes technical adjustments, agency officials said, declining to release the text. European airlines have been pushing for changes to meet the new requirements, which begin taking effect on July 19.
    The new requirements include enhanced passenger screening at foreign airports, increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas and expanded canine screening. They affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 commercial flights arriving daily in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries.
    On June 28, US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly unveiled enhanced security measures for all foreign flights arriving in the United States, which officials said were designed to end a limited in-cabin ban on laptops and prevent the ban's expansion to additional airports.
    In March, DHS imposed restrictions on passengers carrying large electronics like laptops in cabins on nine airlines, most of which were Middle Eastern carriers, to address the potential threat of hidden explosives.
    On Thursday, DHS removed those restrictions on Royal Air Maroc flights out of Casablanca's Mohammed V airport, leaving just Saudi Arabian Airlines under the restrictions. Gregory said DHS expects the ban to be lifted on those remaining flights by July 19.
    European and US officials told Reuters that airlines had 21 days from June 28, or until July 19, to put in place increased explosive trace detection screening and 120 days to comply with other security measures, including an enhanced screening of airline passengers.
    One issue, European airline officials said, was whether some explosive screening could be done at a central point, rather than at gates.
    DHS spokesman David Lapan said this week that US officials are working with airlines. "Some airports, airlines will be able to get there more quickly," Lapan said.
    Gregory separately denied a report that the new measures could require in-person check in for US flights. "None of the measures impact the ability of an airline to offer kiosk or online check in," he said.


  8. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Several areas in Karachi received first rain of another spell as a monsoon system entered the megapolis late Friday.

    The areas where there it has been raining include Saddar, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Defense, Shahrah-e-Faisal and Gulshan-e-Hadeed.
    According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, a monsoon system has entered into the city.
    It had earlier predicted another spell of monsoon rain in Karachi, Hyderabad and some areas of Balochistan over the weekend.


  9. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Roger Federer's relentless pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon title continued as he beat stubborn Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 6-4 to reach the final for the 11th time on Friday.

    The 35-year-old Swiss was given a tough test by the 11th seed, who beat him in the quarter-finals in 2010, but raised his game at the crucial moments to become the oldest men's singles finalist here since Ken Rosewall in 1974.
    Rosewall, 39, went on to lose to Jimmy Connors but Federer will be a huge favourite to reclaim the title against big-serving Croatian Marin Cilic on Sunday.
    Federer has now reached 29 grand slam finals, winning 18, and he has carved his way through the draw without dropping a set.
    This was his toughest test so far, though, as Czech Berdych put in a solid shift at the coalface to keep Federer on his toes.
    Twice he dragged Federer into tiebreaks but on both occasions he was helpless as Federer simply flicked the switch, conjuring winners at will to move two sets ahead.
    Berdych refused to throw in the towel and even had breaks points at 3-3 in the third set, only for Federer to smash down three aces and an unreturnable serve.
    Federer, who took six months off after losing in the semis last year, broke in the next game and the end came quickly as he held serve at 5-4 to seal his 90th win at the All England Club.


  10. Waqas Dar
    FIR has been registered against AIB for tweeting photo of Modi look-alike Indian police have filed a defamation case against a group of comedians accused of insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the latest incident to raise fears over creative freedoms in the country.
    A spokeswoman for the Mumbai police said on Friday that the force had registered a first information report against AIB over a tweet poking fun at India´s leader.
    "An FIR has been registered against AIB at Mumbai´s cyber police station after due legal consultation," Rashmi Karandikar told AFP.
    The case has been registered under laws against defamation and spreading obscene material online.
    Police received a complaint after AIB earlier this week tweeted a photograph of a Modi look-alike who had been spotted at a train station carrying a holdall and looking at his mobile phone.
    Alongside it they posted a photo of the real Modi´s face but superimposed a dog´s features using a Snapchat filter. They included the hashtag "Wanderlust" in an apparent reference to Modi´s regular trips abroad.
    The tweet went viral on social media but sparked a backlash from Modi supporters and AIB ended up deleting it.
    "Will continue making jokes. And deleting if necessary. And making jokes again. And apologizing if necessary. Don´t care what you think," Tanmay Bhat, one of AIB´s founders tweeted.
    It is not the first time AIB´s jokes have come under the scanner of Indian police.
    In 2015 the popular group fell foul of authorities when they were at the centre of an obscenity investigation over some sexually explicit jokes in a comedy "roast" show featuring several Bollywood stars.
    Last year Mumbai police asked YouTube and Facebook to block an AIB video mocking cricket great Sachin Tendulkar and famous Indian movie singer Lata Mangeshkar.
    Free speech advocates allege that there is a growing climate of intolerance under Hindu nationalist leader Modi, with online trolls feeling empowered to target social media users who express different points of view from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
    This week the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused to certify a documentary film featuring Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen unless some words, including "cow" and "Hindu India", are beeped out.


  11. Waqas Dar
    CAIRO: Gunmen ambushed an Egyptian security checkpoint on Friday, opening fire on a car and killing five policemen in an area just south of the capital, the state-run MENA news agency and the Interior Ministry said.
    Three gunmen on a motorbike attacked police in al-Badrasheen area of Giza province, 30 km (20 miles) south of Cairo, killing two officers and three conscripts in the latest attack on Egyptian security forces battling an insurgency.
    "A police officer who was near the site of the attack exchanged fire with the assailants forcing them to flee," the ministry statement said.
    Witnesses said attackers blasted the vehicle with automatic rifles then took equipment and threw petrol bombs inside the car before fleeing. Residents extinguished the fire.
    No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Egyptian security forces have been battling the local affiliate of Daesh in the northern Sinai area and attacks have spread to other parts of Egypt.
    Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013 in the Sinai Peninsula. At least 23 soldiers were killed last week when suicide car bombs hit two checkpoints in the region in an attack claimed by Daesh. It was one of the bloodiest assaults on security forces in years.
    Daesh has also intensified attacks in other areas, often targeting Coptic Christians. About 100 Copts have been killed since December.
    In May gunmen assault on a group of Copts in a bus traveling to a monastery, killing 29 people and two bombings of churches killed more than 40 people a month earlier.
    Church sources on Thursday said Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians and the Egyptian Catholic church have been told by church leaders to cancel all events, camps and activities outside churches in July because of a security threat.


  12. Waqas Dar
    WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: The top Democrat on the US House of Representatives' antitrust subcommittee has voiced concerns about Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN.O) $13.7 billion plan to buy Whole Foods Market Inc (WFM.O) and is pushing for a hearing to look into the deal's potential impact on consumers.

    The deal announced in June marks the biggest acquisition for the world?s largest online retailer. Amazon has not said what it will do with Whole Foods' stores and other assets, but analysts and investors worry the move could upend the landscape for grocers, food delivery services and meal-kit companies.
    US Representative David Cicilline requested the hearing on Thursday in a letter to the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and the subcommittee chairman. Shares of Amazon were up 0.3 percent in mid-morning trading on Friday.
    "Amazon?s proposed purchase of Whole Foods could impact neighborhood grocery stores and hardworking consumers across America," Cicilline said in a statement. "Congress has a responsibility to fully scrutinise this merger before it goes ahead."
    The deal must be approved by US antitrust enforcers, in this case most likely the Federal Trade Commission.
    Congress plays no formal role in that process but hearings are often used to highlight the possible impact of deals on consumers. The hearing is unlikely to happen without Republican support.
    Amazon and Whole Foods declined to comment.
    Also this week, hedge fund manager Douglas Kass from Seabreeze Partners Management Inc said he was shorting shares of the retailer because of concern about Amazon in Washington.
    Kass said he had heard rumblings on Capitol Hill regarding concern about Amazon's size and clout but did not specify what the concerns were.
    "I am shorting Amazon today because I have learned that there are currently early discussions and due diligence being considered in the legislative chambers in Washington, DC," he wrote in a note to investors late on Wednesday. "If I am correct, word of this could lower Amazon's shares by 10 percent overnight."
    Kass said in emailed comments to Reuters on Friday that he has what he called a ?core? short position in Amazon, meaning a sizeable bet based on a long-term outlook.
    "This has the potential of being the biggest business news story of year,? he said. Kass declined to comment when asked for more details about pressure from Capitol Hill.
    Kass is followed for his bets on declines in companies' share prices. He shorted Marvel Entertainment in 1992 when its shares were in the high $60s, and the company went bankrupt 1-1/2 years later.
    He also bet against big US banks leading into the 2007-2009 financial crisis, shorting Bank of America, MGIC, Citigroup and several other financials that ultimately averaged a 98 percent price decline by the time they bottomed in 2009.
    While antitrust experts have said they expect Amazon's bid to win regulatory approval, some critics argue the deal should be blocked because it gives the retailer a big head start towards domination of online grocery delivery.
    They argue the Whole Foods acquisition will give Amazon an unfair advantage over traditional grocers and new players that might emerge in the market, potentially grounds for the deal to be blocked for antitrust reasons.


  13. Waqas Dar
    Team is financially supported by the American embassy. ISLAMABAD, July 14 (APP): Six Pakistani students and their mentors departed for the United States on Friday to participate in the inaugural FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition, due to be held in in Washington D.C.
    The team, which is financially supported by the American embassy, will work with other teams from across the world to accomplish engineering tasks focused on access to clean water, a news release said.
    American Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Jonathan Pratt met with the team members shortly before their departure and encouraged them to collaborate actively with their counterparts from the United States and approximately 160 other nations.
    "I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to share ideas about how to use robotics to solve some of the biggest problems that Pakistan, the United States, and other countries around the world face," Pratt said.
    Team mentor Ali Syed said the team has been actively preparing for the competition organised by FIRST USA for weeks, after winning a national competition organised by Lets Innovate to represent Pakistan globally.
    "Our team is honored to represent Pakistan on this international stage and to show that Pakistani students have a passion and an aptitude for solving problems through robotics," the team mentor said.


  14. Waqas Dar
    Beyonce's Instagram Pop star Beyonce debuted the pictures of her twins, Sir Carter and Rumi, in an Instagram post on Friday, causing an internet sensation once more in her first public acknowledgement of their birth.
    "Sir Carter and Rumi 1 month today," Beyonce, 35, wrote in the post, which showed her holding her two infants.
    She wore a blue veil and a colorful flowing robe that fell off her left shoulder.
    The picture had been "liked" more than 6.5 million times nine hours after it was posted.
    Social media lit up, with thousands of people expressing their excitement about the trending photo.
    Many happily said it was the first image they woke up to.
    "I wake up to Beyonce holding her two sons," wrote Twitter user Fadia Kader (@FADIA).
    "Good morning everyone. ""For the record, I was one of the first 2,500 people to like her post," boasted Twitter user @benduffie.
    "We basically fam." Neither Beyonce, one of the world´s most popular singers, nor her husband, 47-year-old rap star and entrepreneur Jay-Z, had made any announcement about the birth until now.
    Beyonce´s father, Mathew Knowles, had said in a tweet in June that she was now the mother of twins, confirming earlier reports of the year´s most highly anticipated celebrity birth.
    The singer, one of the most powerful women in the music business, announced the pregnancy on her Instagram account in February this year along with an image of her posing in lingerie and caressing a noticeable baby bump.
    The photo became the most-liked Instagram picture of all time, with 11 million likes.
    News of the twins came less than a year after the release of the R&B singer´s 2016 album "Lemonade," in which she appeared to address long-standing rumors of trouble in her eight-year marriage.
    Jay-Z´s own recent album, "4:44," also dealt with the subject.
    After a successful world tour of "Lemonade," Beyonce became the second highest-paid entertainer in the year ended on June 1, earning $105 million, Forbes said.
    Only Sean "Diddy" Combs, at $130 million, topped her.


  15. Waqas Dar
    WASHINGTON: Honda Motor Co said on Friday it would recall about 2.1 million vehicles worldwide to replace battery sensors due to the risk of fire.
    Chris Martin, a spokesman for the Japanese automaker said the recall would include 1.15 million Honda Accord vehicles from the 2013-2016 model years in the United States, and nearly 1 million elsewhere, to replace a 12-volt battery sensor.
    The company said it had received four reports of engine compartment fires in the United States and at least one in Canada, in areas that use significant amounts of road salt during the winter.
    There have been no reported injuries.
    The automaker has received 3,972 US warranty claims relating to the issue.
    The battery sensors may not be sufficiently sealed against moisture intrusion, Honda said.
    Over time, moisture may introduce road salt or other material into the battery sensor, leading to rust and eventual electrical shorting of the sensor.
    Due to the large size of the recall, Honda said dealers would initially adopt a temporary fix by applying an adhesive to prevent moisture intrusion, and then later replace the sensor.
    The company first received a claim of an engine compartment fire from Canada in 2015 and began investigating the issue.
    In early 2016, it received a claim of a similar fire in China.
    Honda introduced a redesigned battery sensor in June 2016.
    After an investigation of the China incident, the automaker said it initially believed the "future occurrence rate was estimated to be low," but continued to probe the matter after receiving additional reports of fires.


  16. Waqas Dar
    Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shahryar Khan called the performance of women`s cricket team in the World Cup 2017- 'disappointing'.

    In an interview to BBC Urdu, the chairman said that in view of raising the standard of women cricket in the country - new talent must be discovered and taken forward, adding that the team were given special training before the tournament and he is gravely disappointed by the team`s performance.
    He said making Sabih Azhar coach of the team at the eleventh hour did not turn out to be a correct decision as he feels that even the players are not happy with him.
    Khan said that to raise standard in the women cricket increase of players in the domestic system is needed, adding, it is a good omen that girls from as far as Balochistan and Gilgit are coming in the national squad, however still societal issues are big hindrance for women`s cricket in Pakistan as parents don?t allow their daughters to play the sport.


    He added that if there is a group within the team - he will take action against it.


  17. Waqas Dar
    Army chief was apprised of the significant reduction in sectarian killings in the province. -ISPR RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday reiterated his support for Balochistan and said the province was his prime focus, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    ?Balochistan is my prime focus and prosperity of people in Baluchistan at par with other provinces is the main objective," COAS said during his visit to the Quetta Garrison.
    During his visit the COAS was given a detailed briefing on the security situation in Balochistan at Headquarters Southern Command and Headquarters FC Balochistan (North).
    The army chief was apprised of the significant reduction in sectarian killings in the province.
    The ISPR statement added that terrorists in their desperation were now targeting law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and soft targets.
    General Bajwa also appreciated achievements of the Army, FC, police, intelligence and other agencies including provincial administration towards the improvement of the security situation. 
    The army chief also hailed efforts in the socio-economic domain which resulted in the willingness of militants to surrender.
    The COAS also interacted with officers and soldiers and appreciated their morale and motivation. 
    He further said the Army is for the people of Pakistan and shall continue to perform its duty with their full support.
    General Bajwa upon his arrival was received by Lieutenant General Aamer Riaz, Commander Southern Command.


  18. Waqas Dar
    US and French Presidents with - AFP US President Donald Trump, after sharing an awkward handshake with French first lady Brigette Macron, commented her in a rather awkward manner.
    "You're in such good shape. She's in such good physical shape. Beautiful," Trump said to the French first lady.
    Trump then turned to the French President Emmanuel Macron, and said, ?She?s in such good physical shape.?
    It was not the first awkward meeting between Trump and a Macron. Earlier, he shared a tense handshake with the French president during their meeting at the Nato summit in Brussels. 
    Trumps interactions with world leaders, especially his handshakes, have become talking points in the past. 


  19. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Friday issued schedule for Hajj flight operation, which is to commence from July 24.

    The flight operation for departure of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will continue from July 24 to August 26. The first Hajj flight will leave for Madina from Islamabad on July 24, according to the ministry.
    For the return of pilgrims, the flight operation will start from September 6 and last until October 6.
    Earlier on Friday, the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad also issued an advisory for Pakistani citizens regarding prevention and control of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) during upcoming Hajj.
    NIH issues advisory on prevention, control of MERS for Hajj pilgrims
    Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
    MERS is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, according to the advisory.
    The NIH directed all concerned authorities, including federal and provincial ministries of religious affairs to take appropriate measures during the upcoming Hajj season in order to prevent the spread of diseases.
    It said that MERS-CoV can spread from infected people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person.


  20. Waqas Dar
    Pakistan?s bowling sensation Hassan Ali not only earned praise for his performance during the ICC Champions Trophy but also for his now trademark celebration.

    After taking a wicket, Hassan Ali would celebrate in a fashion which he compared to an explosion taking place.
    Hassan Ali celebrates after taking a wicket against England in the ICC Champions Trophy - AFP  The cricketer?s celebration was replicated by fans in Pakistan and one such example is of a student who paid tribute to the bowler during his graduation.

    The video of the student celebrating has gone viral and was even tweeted by the ICC.




  21. Waqas Dar
    Daesh chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - File Photo  WASHINGTON: Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Friday he cannot confirm whether or not Daesh chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, after reports from Syria that the militant leader had been killed.

    "If we knew, we would tell you -- right now, I can't confirm or deny it," Mattis said.
    "Our approach is we assume he's alive until it's proven otherwise, and right now I can't prove it otherwise."
    The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a longtime conflict monitor, said earlier this week it had heard from senior Daesh leaders in Syria's Deir Ezzor province that Baghdadi was dead.
    There was no official confirmation or denial of the news on Daesh-run social media outlets.
    "We'll go after him until he's gone," Mattis said.
    There have been persistent rumours that Baghdadi has died in recent months.
    Russia's army said in mid-June that it was seeking to verify whether it had killed the Daesh chief in a May air strike in Syria.
    With a $25 million US bounty on his head, Baghdadi has kept a low profile but was rumored to move regularly throughout IS-held territory in Iraq and Syria.
    The 46-year-old Iraqi has not been seen since making his only known public appearance as "caliph" in 2014 at the Grand Mosque of Al-Nuri in Mosul, which was destroyed in the battle for Iraq´s second city.


  22. Waqas Dar
    Nisar could not attend the parliamentary party meeting due to personal engagements ISLAMABAD: A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior on Friday claimed that Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did not walk out from the cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister.

    "We should avoid speculations and unrealistic comments with regard to the remarks of the interior minister during a cabinet meeting held on Thursday," said the statement. 
    ?There was no truth in news telecast on certain media channels in this regard,? added the spokesperson. 
    He further said that Nisar could not attend the parliamentary party meeting of the PML-N leadership due to personal engagements and the minister has not attended such parliamentary party meetings in the past.
    ?This aspect should not be wrongly interpreted. The minister will inform regarding his position in the next few days,? added the interior ministry statement. 
    Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he will not resign over opposition demands.
    Nawaz called the joint investigation team (JIT) report a concoction of allegations and stories regarding his family's private businesses.
    "Without any hesitation, I presented myself and family before the JIT," he stated, adding that his family business predates the entry of any family member in politics.
    The language used in the JIT report displays malafide intentions, he said, adding that his conscience is clear.

    "Those demanding my resignation on false and unwarranted claims should first look at themselves," said Sharif, referring to the opposition parties. 


  23. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party leader Raza Haroon on Friday claimed that three leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, including MPA Faisal Sabzwari, had wanted to join the Mustafa Kamal-led party.

    Haroon said MQM-P?s mandate is the same as its founder and added that no one should presume anything after PSP?s recent offer to the MQM factions to work together.
    Sabzwari, however, said Haroon?s statement is as weak as his party?s assertion of a million men march.
    Earlier, the PSP chief had said that the MQM brand has finished and it is time for the factions to work together.  


  24. Waqas Dar
    JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman speaks at a press conference in Karachi. ? Geo News screengrab KARACHI: Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Friday urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take a firm stand on resignation calls from opposition and not to step down in face of it.

    Speaking at a press conference here, the JUI-F chief said how could the ones, who continued to sit in the Parliament despite having resigned, ask others to step down.
    "You are teaching morality to the one who is constitutionally your prime minister," he slammed the PM's political opponents, who contended that he has lost moral authority to stay in power.
    Fazl said Panamagate was not an issue; rather the economic future of the country was being sabotaged on the pretext of corruption.
    "Institutions are being made controversial by giving a perception of confrontation between them," he said, noting that the country can't afford any crisis.
    The JUI-F chief related the present political turmoil to a "Great Game" aimed at disrupting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "CPEC is a game-changer and the United States and India want to disrupt it. We opposed dharnas to pave way for completion of this project."
    He said Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah had been siding with the prime minister to save democracy; he, however, is now siding with the ones from whom he had been protecting democratic system of the country.

    Fazl went on to question as to why have not been corruption cases in KP given hype, asking further, "What service are you doing to the country by devastating your province?"


  25. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division (FEDSD), National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad issued an advisory for Pakistani citizens regarding Prevention & Control of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) during upcoming Hajj,

    Through this advisory, the NIH directed to all concerned authorities including federal and provincial ministries of religious affairs to take appropriate measures during Hajj season in order to prevent the spread of diseases.
    According to the advisory, the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS?CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
    The advisory also focused that MERS-CoV can spread from ill people to others through close contacts, such as caring for or living with an infected person, mass gathering events such as the Hajj provide a basis for communicable diseases to spread easily. In the wake of incidence of MERS-CoV cases in Saudi Arabia, its travel associated international spread and the upcoming Hajj seasons, it is imperative to institute effective prevention and control measures among Pakistani pilgrims. Emphasising the need to have close collaboration on the pattern of Hajj 2017, the National Institute of Health, recommends the following actions:
    Pilgrims with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease and immunodeficiency should consult their Physicians before travelling to assess whether making the pilgrimage is advisable for them.
    Through health education sessions conducted at each Hajji camp in collaboration with the provincial / Area Health Departments, the departing pilgrims must be informed about the following general health precautions to lower the risk of infection in general:
    Frequent hand washing with soap and water, if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
    Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth after touching common surfaces/hand shake with ill persons
    Avoid close contact with sick people.
    Avoid undercooked meat or food prepared under unsanitary conditions, and wash fruits and vegetables before eating them;
    Maintaining good personal hygiene;
    Avoid unnecessary contact with farm, domestic, and wild animals, especially camels
    Pilgrims developing a significant acute respiratory illness with fever, cough or diarrhoea should be advised to:
    Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and discard the tissue in the trash after use
    Minimise their contact with others to keep from infecting them
    Returning pilgrims should be advised through a leaflet to seek immediate medical attention if they develop a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough during two weeks after their return.


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