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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    ATHENS: At least four people died and at least five more were injured when a passenger train derailed in northern Greece on Saturday night, railway company TRAINOSE said.
    Photographs on Greek news websites showed carriages with smashed windows and others on their side near a residential area.
    The train was heading from Athens to the second biggest city Thessaloniki in northern Greece when it derailed near the town of Adendro, some 37 km (23 miles) away. Its engine was propelled into a nearby house but the cause of the accident was not yet known, a police official said.
    The driver was in critical condition, TRAINOSE said.
    The Athens News Agency reported about 100 passengers were on board the train and some media said five carriages had derailed.
    Twelve fire brigade trucks were deployed to the area, the fire brigade said and a rescue operation was under way.


  2. Waqas Dar
    SAHIWAL: A suspected robber was killed in an alleged encounter with police in Sahiwal late on Saturday night.
    Police claimed that an under custody suspect of robberies was freed by his accomplices late Saturday. Upon chasing, the suspects opened fire on the law enforcers in Zaildar Colony area.
    Consequently, one of the suspected robbers was killed during fire exchange, while two of his accomplices fled the scene.
    Police said the deceased was the same suspect who was freed earlier.
    They added the suspect was killed in firing by his own accomplices.


  3. Waqas Dar
    NEW DELHI: India signalled it will boycott a summit in Beijing on Sunday on boosting China´s trade links to the rest of the world, setting off a new dispute between the neighbours.
    The two-day summit is expected to be attended by Russia´s President Vladimir Putin, Turkey´s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and 26 other leaders.
    Without announcing a formal boycott, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman highlighted concerns about China´s so-called One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, a massive undertaking to link the country with Africa, Asia and Europe through a network of ports, railways, roads and industrial zones.
    The spokesman also reaffirmed India´s opposition to a Chinese-Pakistani economic corridor.
    "Guided by our principled position in the matter, we have been urging China to engage in a meaningful dialogue on its connectivity initiative," said foreign ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay in a strongly worded statement released late Saturday.
    "We are awaiting a positive response from the Chinese side," Baglay added.
    "Regarding the so-called ´China-Pakistan Economic Corridor´, which is being projected as the flagship project of the... OBOR, the international community is well aware of India´s position.
    "No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
    The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through Azad Kashmir. The two sides have been at loggerheads over Kashmir since India illegally occupied part of Kashmir in 1947.
    India is also concerned because the 3,000 kilometre (1,850 mile) corridor ends in the strategic Pakistani port of Gwadar. India fears the port could become a Chinese naval base facing its navy in Mumbai.
    India has had a series of niggles over the past year.
    China has opposed India´s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the club of countries sensitive nuclear technology, and UN action against a Pakistan-based cleric, Masood Azhar.
    China in turn protested after India last month let Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama visit Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims.
    The foreign ministry spokesman said India had been "formally" invited to the Beijing summit.
    But he said India believes that "connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality."
    Chinese officials had earlier said they expected India to send an official delegation to the summit.


  4. Waqas Dar
    ROSEAU: Devendra Bishoo dismissed Pakistan stalwarts Younis Khan and captain Misbahul Haq in their farewell international innings to leave the tourists struggling at 72 for five in their second innings at tea on the fourth day of the third and final Test against the West Indies in Dominica on Saturday.
    Following the tedium of the first three days, which saw a total of 15 wickets falling, ten have been lost in just two sessions on this penultimate day, heightening the prospect of a tense last-day finish with both sides seeking a series victory.
    Mohammad Abbas claimed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket to trigger a West Indies first innings collapse to 247 all out in the morning session after they had resumed in the relatively comfortable position of 218 for five.
    However in attempting to build on that considerable lead of 129 the visitors got into early trouble. Opener Azhar Ali fell to Shannon Gabriel while off-spinner Roston Chase removed Babar Azam for his third duck in four innings in half-an-hour´s batting before lunch.

    Then after Shan Masood and Younis added 49 for the third wicket in the afternoon, Masood completed a disappointing return Test at the top of the order when he was trapped lbw by Gabriel for 21.
    His demise ushered in Misbah for his last innings but there was to be no fairytale as he attempted to hoist Bishoo out of the ground in the leg-spinner´s first over and succeeded only in getting a spiralling top-edge for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to take the catch and send the skipper back to the pavilion for two to a guard of honour of raised bats from his appreciative teammates.
    Younis looked set to continue the duel into the final session of the day but he also succumbed to Bishoo just before the break for 35, his errant sweep being well caught by Kieran Powell diving at backward square-leg.
    Abbas rattles through tail

    He was also accorded a guard of honour but even as the former captain left the playing area, Pakistan would have been concerned about the prospect of squandering what looked like a dominant position in the wake of Abbas´ effort with the ball.
    Increasingly impressive in his first Test series, the fast-medium bowler took the last four wickets of the West Indies innings for three runs in a four-over spell after an early breakthrough from fellow pacer Mohammad Amir to finish with the excellent figures of five for 46 off 25 disciplined overs.
    Amir raised the visitors´ hopes of earning a potentially decisive first innings lead when he removed Dowrich to just the fourth ball of the day as his lazy stab outside the off-stump dragged the ball back onto the stumps without any addition to the overnight score.
    Forced to retire hurt on 60 the previous evening due to a blow on his right elbow, Chase resumed his innings in partnership with Jason Holder and the pair seemed to be progressing without too much difficulty until Abbas replaced Amir from the pavilion end.
    Chase was bowled off his pads for 69 by a full-length delivery and Bishoo then edged his first ball low to second slip where the ever-reliable Younis came up with his tenth catch of the series. That effort put him into the record books for the most catches ever by a Pakistani fielder in a Test series.
    Alzarri Joseph survived the attempt at a hat-trick but Abbas was not to be denied his first five-for, also bowling Joseph off his pads and then having last man Gabriel taken at short-leg to leave Holder unbeaten on 30.


  5. Waqas Dar
    UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has drawn the attention of the United Nations to India's moves aimed at converting the Muslim majority in Indian occupied Kashmir into a minority to preempt the results of the UN-administered plebiscite envisaged in the Security Council's resolutions to settle the Kashmir dispute.
    In a letter addressed to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, highlighted the Indian attempts to bring such demographic changes to Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IoK), with the hope that it would receive his urgent attention as also of the Security Council and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
    The letter was delivered to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, at UN Headquarters in New York by Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, as the UN chief is on a visit to China.
    It specifically points out the issuance of permanent residence certificates to non-residents, allotment of land to retired Indian army personnel, issuance of land to non-Kashmiris, and the establishment of separate townships for Kashmiri pundits and settlement of West Pakistan refugees in Indian occupied Kashmir, in violation of UN resolutions.
    "The non-implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions is leading to a grave human tragedy in Indian occupied Kashmir," the letter said.
    "It is the obligation of the United Nations to implement the Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and fulfill the promises made with the Kashmiri people 70 years ago.
    "This will not only end the immense sufferings of the millions of people of Jammu and Kashmir, but will also bring peace and stability in South Asia."           
    During the meeting with Under-Secretary-General Feltman, Ambassador Lodhi also pointed to the shutdown of the Internet and social media facilities in Indian occupied Kashmir and the continued crackdown by Indian security forces against civilians protesting oppression in the disputed state.
    The continued Indian oppression and the consequent deterioration of the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir posed a threat to regional peace and security, she said.


  6. Waqas Dar
    Pakistani singing sensation Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recalled his time spent with Qawwali maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for ‘Talks at Google’ session, which was streamed live on May 12.
    Speaking at the event, he said that he vividly remembers and cherishes all the time he was chided by the late Qawwali maestro, adding that “you have to listen to your elders and remember why they yelled at you.”
    Sharing an anecdote, he said that he disliked going to school. However, the days he really did not want to go to school he would go to Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who would be practising music the same time young Rahat had to leave for school.  
    He said that he used to practice music with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan instead.
    Later, when Rahat’s mother would come to chide him, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan used to tell her to not worry as Rahat can go to school the next day.
    The singer was speaking at a session titled,”Sufi Music Heritage Discussion and Peformance”.
    The session which lasted for about 50 minutes can be viewed below. 



  7. Waqas Dar
    Irrfan Khan, who is starring opposite Saba Qamar in her first Bollywood movie, said that the Pakistani actress was always his first choice for the movie.
    He revealed that it was him who said recommended Saba Qamar’s name to the movie producers and directors, according to Indian media.
    Irrfan remarked that before the movie he had seen Saba Qamar’s video on YouTube and liked her work.
    Speaking to ANI, he said “Sometimes the co-actors become very important because your onscreen chemistry plays a vital role for the film. So when I saw her YouTube videos, I recommended her to the director and producer and they really liked her.”
    Read more: Saba Qamar-starrer Hindi Medium’s trailer a lesson for all
    Hindi Medium is a satire on the Indian schooling system. The movie pivots around the life of a middle-class family that crosses all limits to ensure the admission of their daughter in an English medium school.
    The narrative, which is based on a real-life story, brings out the struggles and hardship of people from an unprivileged background in this time and age where the English language is treated as a mark of respect and status.
    The film, which has been directed by Saket Chaudhry of Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Pyaar Ke Side Effects fame, will release on May 19.


  8. Waqas Dar
    Microsoft said on Friday its engineers had added detection and protection against a ransomware attack that had disrupted hospitals in England and infected computers in dozens of other countries around the world.
    "Today our engineers added detection and protection against new malicious software known as Ransom:Win32.WannaCrypt," a Microsoft spokesman said in a statement. It said the company was working with its customers to provide additional assistance.


  9. Waqas Dar
    ROSEAU: Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas claimed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket to trigger a West Indies first-innings collapse to 247 all out before lunch on the fourth day of the third and final Test at Windsor Park in Dominica on Saturday.
    However, the tourists lost two early wickets in seeking to build on a first-innings lead of 129 and will resume after the interval at eight for two in their second turn at the crease, an overall advantage of 137 runs with eight wickets in hand.
    Increasingly impressive in his first Test series, Abbas took the last four wickets of the innings for three runs in a four-over spell after an early breakthrough from fellow pacer Mohammad Amir to finish with the excellent figures of five for 46 off 25 disciplined overs.
    West Indies’ tumble of lower-order wickets from the overnight position of 218 for five and Pakistan’s early second-innings setbacks were in stark contrast to the tedious progress of the match with both teams combining for a pedestrian scoring rate of under two-and-a-half runs per over as only 15 wickets fell over the first three days’ play.
    Amir raised the visitors’ hopes of earning a potentially decisive first-innings lead when he removed Shane Dowrich to just the fourth ball of the day as the wicketkeeper-batsman’s lazy stab outside the off-stump dragged the ball back onto his stumps without any addition to the overnight score.
    Abbas runs through tail
    Roston Chase, who was forced to retire hurt on 60 the previous evening due to a blow on his right elbow, resumed his innings in partnership with Jason Holder and the pair seemed to be progressing without too much difficulty until Abbas replaced Amir from the pavilion end.
    Chase was bowled off his pads for 69 by a full-length delivery and Devendra Bishoo then edged his first ball low to second slip where the ever-reliable Younis Khan came up with his tenth catch of the series. For Younis, who like captain Misbah ul Haq is playing the final match for his country, the effort put him into the record books for the most catches ever by a Pakistani fielder in a Test series.
    Alzarri Joseph survived the attempt at a hat-trick but Abbas was not to be denied his first five-for, also bowling Joseph off his pads and then having last man Shannon Gabriel taken at short-leg to leave Holder unbeaten on 30.
    Any thoughts of a sedate half-hour to the lunch break for Pakistan’s openers disappeared when Azhar Ali slashed at a short ball from Gabriel for substitute fielder Jermaine Blackwood to take the sharp catch at backward point.
    There was further jubilation for the West Indies off the last ball before the interval as Babar Azam’s poor run was extended with his third duck in four innings. Shimron Hetmyer snared the catch at short-leg when the right-hander pushed forward to Chase, whose off-spinners are expected to play a significant role through the afternoon in the home side’s quest to limit Pakistan’s overall advantage.


  10. Waqas Dar
    The surprise success of the first "Guardians of the Galaxy," with its intergalactic gang of misfits and quirky tone, launched Marvel Studios into making action movies starring lesser-known comic book figures that could make audiences laugh.
    Two years later, the bet that comedy could help catapult characters such as the "Guardians," "Ant-Man" and "Doctor Strange" into box office stars has paid off again.
    The "Guardians," led by actor Chris Pratt's Peter Quill, debuted in 2014 with more than $700 million at the global box office. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" opened in the United States last week and has already grossed more than $500 million worldwide.
    "The first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' film allowed us to perhaps go a little bit further, not just in humor, but types of characters," Kevin Feige, chief executive of Marvel Studios, told Reuters.
    Comedy has flavoured Marvel movies since 2008's "Iron Man" featured star Robert Downey Jr.'s cocky one-liners. Many of the studio's upcoming releases, including "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "Thor: Ragnarok," are expected to build humour into their audience appeal.
    The "Guardians" franchise has gone farther by putting comedy at the core of the movie. Audiences fell in love with the roguish Peter, no-nonsense Gamora, the alien Drax who didn't understand irony and the bromance between Rocket Raccoon and tree-alien Groot.
    "Laughter is the way you hook the audience, and then you can scare them, then you can hopefully touch them emotionally deeper than they were expecting to in a film about a tree and a raccoon and aliens that don't understand metaphors," Feige told reporters in April.
    "Humour is the secret into the audience's other range of emotions," he added.
    It's also part of Marvel's strategy to keep audiences coming back for repeat viewings, which Feige compared to the fan-favorite "Star Wars" films or the "Harry Potter" franchise.
    "There's only one way to do that - to make films entertaining enough and have the mythology of our stories rich enough and deep enough that there are things worth continuing to experience," he said in the Reuters interview.
    BIG HEROES, BIG LAUGHS
    Disney-owned Marvel has seven upcoming films mapped out until 2019, including "Spider-Man: Homecoming," a joint production with Sony Pictures due in July.
    The film taps the teen comedy genre in the retelling of Spider-Man's origin story as his alter-ego Peter Parker navigates the perils of high school.
    But comedy has not always paired well with superheroes.
    George Clooney's 1997 "Batman & Robin," which featured goofy jokes, was savaged by critics and was one of the worst-performing superhero films, grossing $238 million worldwide according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
    In contrast, Christopher Nolan's three-part "Dark Knight" franchise for Warner Bros. recast Batman in a gritty light that won rave reviews and grossed more than $2 billion worldwide from 2005 to 2012.
    The success of 2014's "Guardians" proved that Marvel could have a hit with its lesser-known comic book properties, such as pint-sized hero "Ant-Man," played by comedic actor Paul Rudd, and the mind-bending "Doctor Strange," in which Benedict Cumberbatch delivered witty retorts in the vein of Iron Man.
    Even "Thor: Ragnarok" harnessed a comedic talent, New Zealand director Taika Waititi, known for hits such as the vampire mockumentary "What We Do in the Shadows," to take the Norse god in a new direction.
    Feige said Waititi's films have "really gut-wrenching drama in some moments and really hilarious, over-the-top humor in other moments."
    Waititi debuted a short video last year that showed the brawny but dim superhero sharing a house with a computer salesman in Australia and trying to craft emails to Captain America and Iron Man.
    In April's "Ragnarok" trailer, Thor enters a gladiator arena and roars with laughter when he sees his opponent is the Hulk, a fellow Marvel Avenger comrade, shouting "We know each other! He's a friend from work!"


  11. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army on Saturday said that any misadventure by Indian Army across Line of Control will be a miscalculation, shall be responded with full force and could lead to unintended consequences.
    Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Asif Ghafoor on Twitter said that Indian Army has been targeting innocent civilians on both sides of Line of Control in recent past.
    Earlier today, Indian troops committed several unprovoked ceasefire violations across the LoC throughout Saturday, injuring six innocent civilians, including four women.
    ISPR said that three people were injured during Indian firing in Baroh Sector after Nakial Sector.
    The injured have been identified as 58-year-old Zamurd Begum, 35-year-old Shazia Parveen and 17-year-old Muhammad Inzimam.
    “Pakistani troops aggressively engaging Indian bunkers firing on civilians,” according to Pakistan Army’s media cell.
    Indian border forces, without any provocation, also fired across the LoC in Karela, Kotkoterra, Khuiratta, Sabzkot, Baroh, Tandar and Khanjar sectors.
    “Pakistani troops befittingly responded to the unprovoked Indian firing, which began at 0700 hours [on Saturday] and continues till now,” said the statement. 
    The civilians injured in the Indian firing, residents of Sohana village in Kotkoterra Sector, were identified as Haji Muhammad Younis, son of Abdul Aziz, Rehana Bibi, wife of Muhammad Asif and Samina Begum, wife of Tufail Mughal.
    Moreover, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday appreciated the state of operational readiness and high morale of troops, and praised the effective response to ceasefire violations by India along the LoC.
    General Bajwa visiting the troops deployed along Loc in Nakial Sector, where he was briefed on the situation by the local commander, ISPR said.
    On May 10, a civilian was killed while two others injured in another incident of unprovoked firing by Indian troops at the LoC on Wednesday, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria had announced on Twitter on Thursday.
    “We condemn Indian acts of deliberate targeting of civilians,” the spokesperson had said.


  12. Waqas Dar
    Britain's health system has recovered from the disruption caused by a global cyber attack, with 97 percent of the country's health service trusts now "working as normal", interior minister Amber Rudd said on Saturday.
    Speaking after chairing a meeting of the crisis response committee, or COBRA, Rudd said 48 of 248 health service trusts in England had been impacted by Friday's attack, but that all except six were now functioning normally.
    "The response has in fact been very good," she said. "We think we have the right preparedness in place and also the right plans going forward over the next few days to ensure that we limit its impact going forward."
    Earlier, Rudd said the government did not know who was behind the attack, which also hit some companies.
     


  13. Waqas Dar
    ISTANBUL: At least 23 people died and 11 more were seriously injured Saturday when a bus carrying women and children plunged off a cliff near the southwestern Turkish sea resort of Marmaris.
    "Sadly, we have had 20 fatalities and 11 other seriously injured," said Amir Cicek, the governor of Mugla province, calling it a "horrible accident."
    His deputy Kamil Koten said the bus plunged through a crash barrier and fell 15 metres (50 feet) on to a lower road, smashing a car with its three occupants.
    "If we count these three deaths, the number of the dead rises to 23," the state-run Anadolu news agency quoted him as saying.
    The accident occurred near the Sakar Pass on a steep winding road filled with hairpin bends.
    Cicek told NTV television an investigation was under way.
    "The bus´s brakes may have malfunctioned," he said.
    Television images showed the yellow bus lying on its side and bodies wrapped up in cloth lined up next to it.
    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently on a visit to China, said he was "extremely pained" by the tragedy and asked local authorities to take measures to ensure that "such tragedies" do not recur.
    The Hurriyet newspaper quoted Marmaris mayor Ali Acar as indicating an "error by the driver", without giving further details.
    Other media outlets reported that the bus left from the western city of Izmir carrying only women and children who were on a trip for Mothers´ Day, celebrated in Turkey on Sunday.
    Marmaris is one of the country´s main resorts on the Mediterranean and a popular weekend destination for many Turks as temperatures climb.


  14. Waqas Dar
    PARIS: A huge range of organisations around the world have been affected by the WannaCry ransomware cyberattack, described by the EU´s law enforcement agency as "unprecedented".
    Here are some of the most prominent victims, from Britain´s National Health Service (NHS) to French carmaker Renault and the Russian interior ministry.
    NHS 
    The British public health service - the world´s fifth-largest employer, with 1.7 million staff -- was badly hit, with interior minister Amber Rudd saying around 45 facilities were affected. Several were forced to cancel or delay treatment for patients.
    Pictures on social media showed screens of NHS computers with images demanding payment of $300 (230 pounds, 275 euros) in the virtual currency Bitcoin, saying: "Ooops, your files have been encrypted!"
    Renault 
    The French automobile giant was hit, forcing it to halt production at sites in France and its factories in Slovenia and Romania as part of measures to stop the spread of the virus.
    Nissan UK´s unit in Sunderland was hit by the attack, spokeswoman Lucy Banwell said.
    Russian banks and ministries 
    Russia´s central bank was targeted, along with several government ministries and the railway system. The interior ministry said 1,000 of its computers were hit by a virus. Officials played down the incident, saying the attacks had been contained.
    Germany railways 
    Germany´s Deutsche Bahn national railway operator was affected, with information screens and ticket machines hit. Travellers tweeted pictures of hijacked departure boards showing the ransom demand instead of train times. But the company insisted that trains were running as normal.
    Fedex 
    The US package delivery group acknowledged it had been hit by malware and said it was "implementing remediation steps as quickly as possible."
    Telefonica
    The Spanish telephone giant said it was attacked but "the infected equipment is under control and being reinstalled," said Chema Alonso, the head of the company´s cyber security unit and a former hacker.
     
     


  15. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party founder Mustafa Kamal lashed out at Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar over the KIV water project and said the mayor does not know anything about water project.
    Mustafa Kamal was addressing a press conference at Pakistan House on Saturday.
    The mayor does not even know where the water will come from and where it will go in the KIV project, he said, adding that if mayor wants to know more about the project then Akhtar should come to him.
    He further remarked, “I have made the KIV project with my own hands.”
    PSP march on Sunday
    At the occasion, Mustafa Kamal also announced that PSP will march towards Chief Minister House over their 16-point demand on Sunday.
    He appealed his followers to reach FTC bridge on Shahrah-e-Faisal tomorrow.
    He also said that PSP held an 18-day protest outside Karachi Press Club for the rights of the people. “We even held negotiations with the government, but our 16-point demand was not approved,” he remarked.
    “We just want that people are provided with water, electricity and garbage disposal facilities,” he claimed.
    Criticising the Sindh Chief Minister, he said that if the CM should become a counsellor if he likes being the in-charge of the city’s gutter lines.
    The PSP head also met Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) city amir Hafeez Naeem-ur-Rehman and invited him to also join the PSP march.
     


  16. Waqas Dar
    QUETTA: A high-level security coordination conference was held in Headquarters Southern Command in Quetta, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
    Provincial civil and military leadership including Comd Southern Command Lt Gen Aamer Riaz, Provincial Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Mr Sarfraz Bugti, Chief Secy, Additional IG Police and other senior civil and military officials took review of the security situation in the province.
    According to ISPR, participants discussed challenges and expressed their resolve to bring enduring peace and stability in the province through a comprehensive and coordinated joint response.
    Participants also offered Fatiha for the martyrs of Mastung and Gwadar incidents.


  17. Waqas Dar
    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a banking license to the Bank of China, a press release on Saturday said. The bank will commence its business in branch mode after meeting other regulatory requirements.
    The Bank of China is a subsidiary of China Central Huijin, the investment arm of the Government of China. The Bank of China has footprints in 50 countries, 19 which are located across the country’s “One Belt One Road” initiative. At the end of 2015, the bank had a total of 11,633 institutions including 644 in overseas markets.
    The Bank of China is the fourth and fifth largest global bank in terms of Tier-1 Capital and total Assets, respectively. It is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
    The bank will initially bring $50 million to fulfill the Minimum Capital Requirements of SBP, the central bank said in an announcement. The long-term objective of the Bank of China is to increase its market penetration by opening branches in major cities of Pakistan aiming to be one of the largest foreign banks in Pakistan.
    The Bank of China aims to provide differential and specialised banking services to effectively serve the financing needs of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related projects by leveraging on its experience and global technology platform.
    The Bank of China is the second Chinese bank entering in Pakistan. The bank’s entry into Pakistan represents growing confidence of international investors in the country’s banking sector and stable economic outlook.
     


  18. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to hold intra-party elections on June 11.
    The decision was made during a meeting of party’s central committee, which was chaired by chairman Imran Khan on Saturday.
    The decision has been made in response to Election Commission of Pakistan's decision to not allot party its election symbol due to party’s failure in holding intra-party elections as per sections 11 and 12 of the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002.
    Read more: PTI remains no more eligible for allotment of election symbol: ECP
    "Now PTI is not eligible for allotment of election symbol in any next election as provided by section 14 of PPO 2002," ECP officials had remarked, adding that the ECP had withdrawn election symbol of "Bat" for PTI for by-elections in Chakwal.
    PTI had conducted its last intra-party elections on March 23, 2013 and under its manifesto the tenure of intra-party elections was fixed for four years.
    Don’t want repetition of 2013 elections: Imran Khan
    While speaking to the media after the party meeting, Imran Khan said that the elections of 2018 will be different from those in 2013. “We want transparent elections. We don’t want a repetition of 2013 elections.”
    He said that the party is taking all measures to ensure that fair and transparent elections are held. Last time, the party made the mistake of raising voice after the elections. This time the party will ensure beforehand that elections are free and transparent, he added.
    On Panama case, he said that hearing of the Joint Investigation Team, which has been formed to probe PM’s money trail, will be held on May 22. “The entire nation is anxiously waiting for the JIT report.”
    He also remarked that the JIT investigation should be made public. “We should know what is happening.” He also suggested that after two weeks the JIT investigation should be revealed to the public.
    Speaking about Dawn Leaks, he remarked that is a national security issue. “The issue is not just between the government and the army.”
    He also drew a parallel between the memogate issue and Dawn Leaks. He added, “All the parties want the inquiry commission findings.”
    PTI chair also claimed that he has submitted his money trail to the ECP. “My money trail has been with ECP since December [last year].”
    “I have nothing to hide,” he claimed.


  19. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar on Saturday claimed that he was offered high-level posts during Gen (Retd) Musharraf’s tenure and when he did not budge his constituency was divided, but he “did not stumble”.
    Addressing political workers in Chauntra, Nisar said that he carried out significant development work in his constituency, ensured electricity provision in every village and “built roads where [previously] donkeys used to walk”. His opponents meanwhile were cosying up with military dictators, Nisar added.
    “As an opposition leader, I always spoke the truth, never budged, have never been a sell-out,” said the interior minister.
    He said that he set up not one factory or a petrol pump and never did anything which could prove to be shameful for him and the people in his constituency.
    Criticising the “politics of abuse”, he said that no sensible Pakistani would support negative and accusatory politics.
    “Pakistan needs to be rid of politics of abuse to make it strong,” said Nisar.
    He added that turmoil and disorder is not in the interest of the country and democracy.


  20. Waqas Dar
    PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday that the party will continue its battle against anti-democratic forces.
    He was speaking to party leaders in Peshawar, where he arrived on Saturday for a five-day visit.
    Taking at jibe at his political opponent, he remarked that Pakistan is being ruled by a 'Mughal King'. The government is taking loans but we will hold the ‘Badshah salamat’ [king] accountable, he added.
    Government is making everything for three times its actual cost, he claimed.  
    He also said that the elections will be held in the next eight to nine months. “We want neutral and transparent elections,” he remarked, adding “we will win the next elections.”  
    Read more: Zardari promises party workers PPP will form next government
    Zardari is on a five-day visit to Peshawar during which he will meet provincial members of the party, members of the parliament, district heads and address the FATA grand jirga, informed PPP KP president Muhammad Humayun Khan while speaking to Geo News.
    Khan further remarked that PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also likely to visit KP.
    Condolence visit
    Zardari also visited the house of late Haji Adeel, who belonged to Awami National Party, for condolence.
    Speaking to the media, Zardari said that ‘Haji Adeel was a great politician,” adding “I will try my best to walk in his footsteps.”  
    Haji Adeel had made a lot of sacrifices for Pakistan, adding that he never strayed from the path of democracy.
    During the media talk, one of the journalists asked him a question pertaining to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s chairperson Imran Khan’s bribery allegations. Zardari shunned the reporter by saying that he has come to meet the family of Haji Adeel for condolence and people are asking him about corruption.


  21. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday appreciated the state of operational readiness and high morale of troops, and praised the effective response to ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC), an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
    Gen Bajwa said this while visiting troops deployed along Loc in Nakial Sector, where he was briefed on the situation by the local commander, ISPR said.
    Commander Rawalpindi Corps Lieutenant General Nadeem Raza accompanied COAS.
    The army chief also visited parents of Lieutenant Khawar at his home who embraced martyrdom during an operation in Bannu. Gen Bajwa hailed the supreme sacrifice of the officer and his family for the motherland, the statement added. He was accompanied by Commander Rawalpindi Corps Lieutenant General Nadeem Raza.


  22. Waqas Dar
    Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed wooed judges at the prestigious cookery competition Masterchef with her visually appealing and equally delicious platter in the final round to finally win the competition.
    The British-Pakistan, who is a medical doctor from Waterford, told media she has been cooking since 12 and has also won School Chef on the Year competition at 15.
    Judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode were impressed with her three-course final meal, calling the 29-year-old’s dishes “extraordinarily good” and a “class act.”
    Saliha competed with 64 cooks in the competition, finally winning the prize by beating competitors Giovanna Ryan and Steve Kielty in the final round.
    A mother of one, she had to swap on-call shifts with colleagues to make it to all rounds of the contest.
    Here are the dishes that were part of her final meal:
    Venison shami kebab, with cashew and coriander green chutney, chana dal and a kachumbar salad, which she says is in memory of her grandmother's house in Pakistan.
    Kashmiri-style sous-vide duck breast, with crispy duck skin, spiced with dried barberries, walnuts and coriander, a cherry chutney and a duck and cherry sauce.
    Saffron rosewater and cardamom panna cotta, served with a deconstructed baklava with various condiments—a dessert she says was inspired by her childhood love of baklava.

    Photo: BBC


  23. Waqas Dar
    Would you like to eat some shoes? Lol
    Before you feel offended, we are here to enlighten you that they're not the normal but sushi shoes.
    And yes, no kidding here!
    Ever thought you would see Nike slides that look good enough to eat? Well, they exist now.
    All thanks to Milan-based artist and chef Yujia Hu, whose obsessively detailed sushi and onigiri shoes are truly the stuff of tiny art and tiny food lovers' dreams.
    So, do you want to eat the 'shoe' now?
    We can bet you've never wanted to eat a shoe before, have you? That's the power of art.


  24. Waqas Dar
    GWADAR: Unidentified attackers gunned down ten labourers in two separate incidents on the outskirts of Gwadar on Saturday.
    Two labourers are also said to have been injured in the attacks.
    The incidents took place in the Pishgan and Ganth Road area of Gwadar where the labourers were working on construction projects.
    The victims are said to be natives of Naushero Feroze, Sindh, according to sources. 
    Sources added that the site of the incident has been cordoned off by security forces and a sweeping operation is under way. 
    In a statement, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti termed the incident an attack on Pakistanis, saying the perpetrators will be brought to book. 
    Meanwhile, head of the Edhi Welfare Organisation, Faisal Edhi, said their ambulances have departed from Karachi and will be bringing back the labourers' bodies. He added that the convoy includes a cold storage van.  
     
    This is a developing story and will be updated as further details are available. As with breaking news initial reports may sometimes be inaccurate.


  25. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: Indian troops committed several unprovoked ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC) early Saturday morning, injuring three innocent civilians, including two women.
    The Inter Services Public Relations said in a statement that Indian border forces, without any provocation, fired across the LoC in Karela, Kotkoterra, Khuiratta, Sabzkot, Baroh, Tandar and Khanjar sectors. “Pakistani troops befittingly responded to the unprovoked Indian firing, which began at 0700 hours [on Saturday] and continues till now,” said the statement.  
    The civilians injured in the Indian firing, residents of Sohana village in Kotkoterra Sector, were identified as Haji Muhammad Younis, son of Abdul Aziz, Rehana Bibi, wife of Muhammad Asif and Samina Begum, wife of Tufail Mughal.
    Meanwhile, a civilian was killed while two others injured in another incident of unprovoked firing by Indian troops at the LoC on Wednesday, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria had announced on Twitter on Thursday.
    “We condemn Indian acts of deliberate targeting of civilians,” the spokesperson had said.


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