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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    SEATTLE: Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled new tools intended to democratise artificial intelligence by enabling machine smarts to be built into software from smartphone games to factory floors.
    Improving programs with artificial intelligence that could tap into services in the internet "cloud" and even take advantage of computing power in nearby machines, was part of a vision unveiled as the US technology titan´s annual Build Conference opened.
    "We are infusing AI into every product and service we offer," said Microsoft executive vice president of artificial intelligence and research Harry Shum.
    "We´ve been creating the building blocks for the current wave of AI breakthroughs for more than two decades."
    Microsoft research has gone deep into areas such as machine learning, speech recognition, and enabling machines to recognise what they "see."
    "Now, we´re in the unique position of being able to use those decades of research breakthroughs," Shum said.
    Microsoft rivals including Amazon, Apple, Google and IBM have all been aggressively pursing the promise and potential of artificial intelligence.
    Amazon on Tuesday unveiled the latest member of its family of devices powered by its Alexa digital assistant, with a touchscreen.
    Also this week, Samsung-owned Harman Kardon announced the release of its new Invoke speaker powered by Microsoft´s digital assistant Cortana and integrating Skype for making calls using the device.
    Meanwhile, Google has been ramping up capabilities of its Home digital assistant.
    Artificial intelligence is getting a foothold in people´s homes, with personal assistants answering questions and controlling connected devices such as appliances or light bulbs.
    Digital assistants already boast features such as reminding people of appointments entered into calendars and chiming in with advice to set out early if traffic is challenging.
    Microsoft´s aim on Wednesday was on businesses and software developers, whether they been students building a fun app or professional technology teams.
    "Microsoft is trying to use AI for businesses to solve business problems and app developers to make applications better," said Moor Insights and Strategy principal analyst Patrick Moorhead.
    "Which is different from Amazon, Facebook, and Google whose primary business model is to mine personal information using AI to sell you things or put ads in front of you."
    Microsoft is taking a unique approach by letting developers customise gesture commands, voice recognition and more instead of making them conform to settings in "off-the-shelf" AI, according to the analyst.


  2. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took on Wednesday suo motice notice of the Sheikhupura incident in which a landlady cut the hand of a 13-year-old boy for refusing to feed cattle in Wahiwala village.
    The Chief Justice of Pakistan took the suo motice after the incident news was reported in the media.
    The CJP also directed Inspector-General of Police Punjab to submit a report on the issue within the next 48 hours.
    On Tuesday, it was reported that a landlady had cut the hand of her teenage domestic help, identified as Muhammad Irfan, for not feeding the cattle.
    Irfan was employed at Rs3,000 per month by the landlady.
    According to the boy’s mother, around 10 days ago, the boy, starving, had refused to feed the animals. On this Shafqat Bibi got enraged and put his hand in a fodder-cutting machine.
    Read more: Landlady cuts hand of minor for refusing to feed animals
    The boy was immediately rushed to the hospital but the doctors were unable to fix his hand.
    Irfan’s family said that they went to file a First Information Report (FIR) but the police kept delaying it. An FIR was finally registered after 10 days on court order, but by then Shafqat Bibi had already obtained a pre-arrest bail.


  3. Waqas Dar
    A picture of a 'witch' that recently surfaced has sent the social media into a frenzy, making people debate whether it is fake or real.
    The social media hype can be attributed to the post singer Faakhir Mehmood shared on his Facebook, seeking confirmation on the matter.

    Following which, the picture went viral and social media users started speculating if it was real and why was the 'witch' sitting on a wall in the middle of the night.
    The picture shows the ‘witch’ sitting on a wall and people standing in front of it and taking pictures.
    Interestingly, it emerged that the picture was from Morroco, not Hyderabad. It was a doll in the picture, resembling a witch to scare thieves from robbing houses at night.
    Although the entire ‘churail’ episode made a good debate on social media, as all of us grew up listening to the stories describing incidents involving supernatural stuff.
     


  4. Waqas Dar
    Snapchat announced that it is reorganising the layout of its creative tools, adding a Magic Eraser and setting the timer to infinity.
    In a statement, Snapchat said, “Today we’re making a pretty big change to the way you create and send Snaps. We’re reorganizing the layout of our creative tools, adding a Magic Eraser (you’ll find this under the Scissor tool), and adding a new setting to the timer: infinity!”
    Explaining the reason for the new change, the company explained, “We’ve all felt the frustration of not being able to fully enjoy a Snap – even after replaying it – and we wanted to give you the option of allowing the recipient to enjoy your Snap as long as they’d like. After your friend finishes viewing the Snap and taps to close it, it will delete as usual.”
    Moreover, there is also a new loop tool for the videos.


  5. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: While hearing the case regarding the illegal constructions in Bani Gala, Supreme Court Judge Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday remarked that the court cannot order the demolition of 200 houses.
    Justice Bandiyal said that if one house is pulled down then the authority will have to do the same for the other 200 houses built in the area as the law is equal for all.
    Supreme Court has directed Imran Khan to submit his reply and have also ordered Capital Development Authority to present report on how many allotments it has issued in the last 20 years and what action it has taken against illegal constructions.
    The courts have also issued notice to the Attorney General for assistance in the case.
    Lawyer of the complainant, Zafar Ali Shah pleaded the case that legally two kilometres from Rawal Dam construction is barred, however, in the National Park which comes under the limit has gone through extensive construction, further adding that buildings of Supreme Court, PM Office and Convention Centre also come under the limits.
    Shah said that the CDA authorities used to take bribes for allowing construction under the demarcated limits, he claimed that the authority has declared as many as 122 homes as ‘illegally constructed’, however, they were built after giving bribes to the CDA officials.
    Giving his reaction to the claim, Justice Bandiyal said: "We all should be embarrassed."
    Lawyers representing CDA said that construction at Bani Gala was started in 1999 by Dr Abdul Qadir Khan.
    Meanwhile, lawyers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan questioned the CDA report, saying that satellite's help can be sought for the demarcation of the area.
    Earlier, construction Imran Khan's Bani Gala residence was declared illegal by the CDA.
    A report was submitted by CDA in Supreme Court which stated that the authority has declared 122 buildings illegal which included Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence.
    It said that the construction was against the regulations of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
     


  6. Waqas Dar
    ROSEAU, DOMINICA: West Indies won the toss and elected to field first in the third and final Test at Roseau as Pakistan look to end the series on a victories note, not only to register history in the Caribbean but to make possible a dream farewell for the retiring duo captain Misbah-ul-Haq and veteran batsman Younis Khan.
    Hasan Ali makes his Test debut in place of leg-spinner Shadab Khan. Shan Masood replaces Ahmed Shehzad.
     
    West Indies are in pursuit of a first Test series success in five years against a team ranked higher and will seek to achieve the feat in Wednesday´s decisive third and final Test at Windsor Park. 
    But despite being routed for 81 on the final day of the second Test in Barbados, Pakistan are still in with a chance of pulling off their first-ever Test series triumph in the Caribbean.
    "It´s a special game for us because we have a chance to make history," said Misbah, focusing instead on the importance of the result for the team.
    Still, the fact that both himself and Younis will be retiring from international cricket after the match is a reality that could not be avoided.
    "It gives us additional motivation and I hope it´s the same for the team as well," he explained. "Sometimes the emotion will come in when you have an occasion like this but it´s important for us to just focus on our jobs and score runs for the team."
    After scoring 58 to become the first Pakistani to go past 10,000 Test runs in the first innings of the series in Jamaica, Younis has tallied just 11 runs in the next three innings.
    In contrast, Misbah was unbeaten on 99 in setting up the first Test win before falling for 99 in the first innings of the second Test, a disappointment he was quick to put in perspective.
    "Ninety-nine is far better than zero, which is what I got in the second innings," he noted. "If we perform up to our potential we can beat any side. We have to get our disciplines right and be at the top of our game."

    Photo: AFP
    Following severe criticism from both camps over the surface at Kensington Oval, there was general acceptance that the pitch for the series finale appeared much better on the eve of the match despite again being virtually devoid of grass.
    "It doesn´t look too bad," was West Indies captain Jason Holder´s guarded verdict.
    "It might be on the slow side to start but hopefully it quickens up as the game goes on."
    With Shannon Gabriel leading the fast bowlers´ demolition of the opposition for just 81 to earn a 106-run win less than a week earlier, no changes are anticipated to the hosts´ bowling attack.
    However the top-order batting remains a concern even if the selectors opt not to tinker with a winning line-up.
    Pakistan had already decided on their final eleven 24 hours before the start but Misbah chose not to reveal it.
    After enjoying tremendous success in the limited-over matches earlier in the tour, leg-spinner Shadab Khan struggled on Test debut in Barbados with match figures of one for 145.
    He is expected to make way for fast-medium bowler Hasan Ali in support of fellow pacers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas.
    Pakistan´s greatest bowling threat remains Yasir Shah though, the leg-spinner´s match haul of nine for 177 in the losing effort in the second Test giving him 17 so far in the series.
    Prolonged showers two days before the match disrupted preparations and despite a scorching eve of the fixture, a forecast for more rain raises the prospect of the elements playing a significant role in the final result.
    Teams:
    West Indies: KC Brathwaite, KOA Powell, SO Hetmyer, SD Hope†, RL Chase, VA Singh, SO Dowrich, JO Holder*, D Bishoo, AS Joseph, ST Gabriel.
    Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali.


  7. Waqas Dar
    A beach that was swept away more than 30 years ago from a remote island off the west coast of Ireland has reappeared after thousands of tonnes of sand were deposited on top of the rocky coastline.
    The 300-meter beach near the tiny village of Dooagh on Achill Island vanished in 1984 when storms stripped it of its sand, leaving nothing more than a series of rock pools.
    But after high spring tides last month, locals found that the Atlantic Ocean had returned the sand.
    "It's enormously significant," Sean Molloy of Achill's tourism office told the Irish Times newspaper, recalling how the popular beach once sustained four hotels and a number of guesthouses on the west coast of the island of 2,600 people.
    "Achill already has five blue-flag beaches, so we are hoping that in time it will be awarded a sixth."
    The island, the largest off the coast of Ireland, forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way, a tourist trail stretching from the south of the country to the north-west that has benefited from a tourist boom in the European Union's fastest-growing economy.


  8. Waqas Dar
    OSLO: Norway plans to launch the first autonomous and fully electric cargo ship next year that the project´s backers said Wednesday will save 40,000 truck journeys per year.
    Fertiliser company Yara International has teamed up with industrial group Kongsberg to build the Yara Birkeland, which will haul fertilisers between three ports in southern Norway.
    With a range of more than 65 nautical miles, the ship will be able to haul roughly 100 containers at a speed of 12 to 15 knots, according to the project´s director, Bjorn Tore Orvik.
    Initially the ship will be manned, but remote operation is expected to begin in 2019 and fully autonomous operation in 2020, the companies said.
    "Every day, more than 100 diesel truck journeys are needed to transport products from Yara´s Porsgrunn plant to ports in Brevik and Larvik where we ship products to customers around the world," Yara´s chief executive Svein Tore Holsether said in a statement.
    "With this new autonomous battery-driven container vessel we move transport from road to sea and thereby reduce noise and dust emissions, improve the safety of local roads, and reduce NOx and CO2 emissions," he added.
    The switch is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 678 tonnes per year, according to Yara, with the electricity used to charge the ship´s batteries coming almost exclusively from hydro plants.
    While Norway is a major oil producer it has been a leader in the adoption of electric cars thanks to generous tax incentives and has experimented with electric-powered


  9. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the resolution of Dawn Leaks issue shows that there is one law for powerful and another for the weak. 
    The PTI chairman took to Twitter to express his views in wake of the recent development in the civil-military relations.
    He said in his tweet that the whole nation needs to know what was ‘settled’ in the matter of Dawn Leaks.
    Imran said that the issue was never about the army and government, adding that the matter was of national security.
    In one of his tweets, Imran Khan gave an example of Hillary Clinton, saying that she said she lost the presidential elections due to her email leaks issue.
    “Here nation kept in dark on how national security breach resolved,” he tweeted.
    Imran Khan reiterated that the Inquiry Commission's report should be made public.
    The PTI chairman's statements came after Pakistan Army withdrew an earlier tweet which had rejected a government notification and said the issue has been settled after implementation of recommendations in the Inquiry Committee Report.
    In a press release issued by its media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations, the Army said the tweet on April 29 was not aimed at any government office or person.


  10. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan said on Wednesday that with the settlement of the Dawn Leaks case, the government has succeeded in saving Maryam Nawaz from being implicated in the controversy.
    While speaking to Geo News, Aitzaz Ahsan remarked that the new notification pertaining to Dawn Leaks is not different from the previous one. He added that the same five people have been held accountable.
    However, the government has saved Maryam Nawaz and her media cell from the involvement in the matter, he added.
    The Pakistan Army on Wednesday withdrew an earlier tweet which had rejected a government notification regarding the Dawn Leaks, saying the issue had been settled after implementation of recommendations in the Inquiry Committee Report.
    In a press release issued by its media wing the Inter Services Public Relations, the Army said the tweet on April 29 was not aimed at any government office or person.
    "Recommendations as contained in Para 18 of the Inquiry Committee Report, duly approved by the Prime Minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn leaks issue," said the ISPR.
    Following the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement announcing the Dawn Leaks matter standing 'settled' the Federal Interior Ministry also echoed the same in a notification issued almost simultaneously. 
    The interior ministry notification reiterated the earlier orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regarding the Dawn Leaks Inquiry Committee recommendations, with an addition that the federal government's action against former Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed had been endorsed by the Inquiry Committee in its recommendations.
     


  11. Waqas Dar
    India seems to have suddenly become a magnet for celebrities worldwide as English singer Ed Sheeran announced a concert in Mumbai – scheduled for later this year.
    The news comes on the same day that Baby musician Justin Bieber landed in the city.
    Sheeran will headline a gig in Mumbai on Sunday, November 19.
    —This is a developing story; stay tuned for updates


  12. Waqas Dar
    TOKYO: Toyota on Wednesday reported its first drop in annual net profit for five years, while it unexpectedly warned that earnings would fall again owing to pricey US customer incentives and a forecast pick up in the yen.
    The company´s top executive also repeated concerns that it was getting harder for Japan´s biggest automaker to keep profits buoyant as sales top out around 10 million vehicles annually.
    The downbeat prediction underscores how the country´s automakers have relied heavily on a slump in the yen in recent years.
    But the currency´s sharp gains in 2016 -- largely driven by Brexit and tumbling world equity markets -- took a bite out of Toyota´s latest results.
    On Wednesday, the Corolla and Prius hybrid maker warned it expected more forex pain, pushing down profits again in the current fiscal year to March.
    Meanwhile, customer incentives in the lucrative North American market hammered Toyota´s operating profit in the region.
    US auto sales have been sputtering, forcing automakers to boost incentives to land customers -- something Toyota´s top US executive has warned is unsustainable.
    "Incentives are trending upward and competition is becoming extremely fierce," Executive Vice President Osamu Nagata told a press briefing in Tokyo.
    "We don´t want to get involved in excessive incentives."
    Overall, Toyota posted a net profit of 1.83 trillion yen ($16 billion) on slightly lower revenue of 27.6 trillion yen in the recently ended year to March.
    That is down more than 20 percent from a record 2.31 trillion yen net profit the previous year.
    Toyota, which lost its crown last year to Volkswagen as the world´s top-selling automaker, expects a net profit of 1.5 trillion yen in the year to March 2018 -- way off market expectations of around 1.9 trillion yen.
    ´Cash cow´
    Toyota´s latest annual vehicle sales ticked up to 10.25 million units from 10.09 million units.
    Demand in North America remained flat, while Toyota registered a sales pick-up in Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia.
    Unit sales dropped in Central and South America, Africa and the Middle East.
    The company launched an internal restructuring last year to make it leaner and boost profits, but CEO Akio Toyoda said Wednesday the firm had far to go in overhauling itself.
    "The main problem is that Toyota has become too big...Profits are set to decline for two years so we´ve lost twice in a row," he told reporters.
    Separately, the automaker announced it would buy back as much 250 billion yen ($2.2 billion) of its own shares, which tends to boost a stock´s value.
    "Japan´s auto sector saw ups and downs in its earnings as the yen fluctuated this fiscal year -- foreign exchange will continue to be a major factor for the industry," said Satoru Takada, a Tokyo-based analyst at research firm TIW, before the results were published.
    "There is also a concern that demand in the cash cow North American market may have peaked as competition there intensified.
    "The Chinese market is growing thanks to tax cuts but the pace is slowing," he added.
    Weakness in the yen inflates the value of profits that Japanese firms earn abroad.
    This past fiscal year has seen sharp moves in the currency, with it surging after Britain´s shock vote to exit the European Union boosted demand for the safe haven asset.
    The trend briefly reversed course after billionaire Donald Trump´s November US presidential election win boosted the dollar against the yen and other currencies.
    Japan´s auto industry is facing uncertainty over Trump´s drive to support US firms over foreign imports, a stance that has raised fears of a global trade war.
    He has targeted Toyota with strong criticism of its ongoing project to build a new factory in Mexico, threatening it with painful tariffs.
    Nissan reports its annual earnings on Thursday.
    Honda last month said its annual net profit jumped nearly 80 percent, largely owing to a drop in costs tied to a massive recall of airbags made by key supplier Takata.


  13. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: In a press conference following the ‘settlement’ of the Dawn Leaks issue, DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor on Wednesday regretted the ‘environment of division’ between the civil and military institutions following the April 29 tweet.
    “What happened after the press release [ISPR tweet] is regrettable,” he said, adding that two sides were pitted against one another, which should not have been done.  
    “We appreciate the government’s move to implement Para 18 of the committee’s recommendations and settlement of the matter as stated in the Interior Ministry’s notification [issued today],” he explained.
    Army is a strong state institution, supports the Constitution, democracy and rule of law as much as any Pakistani.
    The Pakistan Army on Wednesday withdrew an earlier tweet which had rejected a government notification regarding the Dawn Leaks, saying the issue had been settled after implementation of recommendations in the Inquiry Committee Report.
    In a press release issued by its media wing the Inter Services Public Relations, the Army said the tweet on April 29 was not aimed at any government office or person.
    "Recommendations as contained in Para 18 of the Inquiry Committee Report, duly approved by the Prime Minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn leaks issue," said the ISPR.
    "Accordingly, ISPR's said Twitter post stands withdrawn and has become infructuous," it added.
    Pakistan Army reiterates its firm commitment and continued resolve to uphold the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and support the democratic process, the ISPR statement added.
    Read: Army withdraws tweet, says Dawn Leaks issue settled
    Chaman border incident 
    Talking about the border incident at Chaman on May 5, DG ISPR said troops of the Frontier Corps who were accompanying a Census team were on their way to talk to the Afghan border guards when they were fired upon.
    “We did not want an exchange of fire as Afghanistan is a brotherly Islamic country but had to retaliate accordingly in self-defense,” he said, adding that they did not want to initiate action but were provoked. He stressed on the continuation of solving border issues with Afghanistan to avoid such incidents in the future.

    Regarding an alleged incident at the Line of Control, Gen Ghafoor rejected Indian accusations that Pakistani troops killed and mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers. He said Pakistan Army is a professional army and does not indulge in such inhumane practices.
     


  14. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD:  Minister of Defence, and Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that India’s letter to International Court of Justice (ICJ), pertaining to death sentence of Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav, is an attempt to divert attention from [India’s] state sponsored terrorism in Pakistan.
    He tweeted, “Indian letter to ICJ attempt to divert attention from state sponsored terrorism in Pak.Kulbushan convicted of offences against Natl security.”
    On Tuesday, New Delhi instituted proceedings in the International Court of Justice in the matter of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian spy captured and sentenced to death in Pakistan earlier this year.
    Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a Counter-Intelligence Operation from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his involvement in espionage and sabotage actives in Pakistan.
    On April 10, Jadhav was awarded a death sentence by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) for espionage and sabotage. Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa ratified Jadhav's sentencing by the FGCM.
    Read more: Full text of Kulbhushan Jadhav confessional statement
    "The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded death sentence. Today COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed death sentence awarded by FGCM,” an ISPR statement said on April 10. "RAW agent Commander Kulbushan Sundir Jadhav was tried under FGCM under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of official Secret Act of 1923.”
    "The FGCM found Jadhav guilty of all charges. He confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," said the ISPR press release.
     
     


  15. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb termed on Wednesday the settlement of the Dawn Leaks issue a ‘victory for Pakistan’.
    The State Minister spoke to Geo News, shortly after Pakistan Army withdrew an earlier tweet which had rejected a government notification regarding the Dawn Leaks.
    She said that the institutions showed responsibility, adding that the attempt to cause a rift in the civil-military relations has been thwarted.
    The PM showed patience over every sort of commotion raised against him.
    In a press release issued today by army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relation said the tweet on April 29 was not aimed at any government office or person.
    "Recommendations as contained in Para 18 of the Inquiry Committee Report, duly approved by the Prime Minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn leaks issue," said the ISPR.
    The development came after a meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
    The meeting, which lasted for about 1.5 hours, was also attended by DG ISI Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also attended the meeting during the last half hour.


  16. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Pakistan will become an Asian Tiger within the next few years, adding that the country would be a strong regional power in future.
    The PM was addressing a gathering in Nankana Sahib. In his speech, he challenged the opposition members to visit the under construction Motorway.
    The opposition should praise at least something, he said, adding that the political rivals need to witness the evolution the country is going through.
    The previous governments created an electricity shortfall, said the PM.
    “We are bringing electricity again and that also with affordable rates,” said Nawaz.
    The PM said that the public has stopped looking up to opposition parties, instead, they have their sights set upon those who are working for Pakistan’s development.


  17. Waqas Dar
    WASHINGTON: It was more of a leg buster, but scientists have named a spiky, tank-like dinosaur that wielded a sledgehammer tail after the fanciful beast Zuul from the blockbuster film "Ghostbusters" that menaced Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and friends.
    The scientists on Tuesday described fossils unearthed in the northern Montana badlands of the four-legged, plant-eating dinosaur called Zuul crurivastator that was about 20 feet long, weighed 2-1/2 tonnes and lived 75 million years ago.
    Zuul belonged to a group of Cretaceous Period dinosaurs called ankylosaurs that were among the most heavily armoured land animals ever. They were clad in bony armour from the snout to the end of the tail, often with spikes and a tail club that could be used to smash the legs of predators like the Tyrannosaurus rex cousin Gorgosaurus that lived alongside Zuul.
    Zuul is one of the most complete and best-preserved ankylosaur ever found, including rare soft tissue, palaeontologist Victoria Arbour of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto said. Its fossils included skin impressions and keratinous sheaths on the tail spikes.
    In the 1984 movie, Zuul (pronounced ZOOL) was described as an ancient Near East demigod and appeared as a big, horned, vaguely dog-like monster with glowing red eyes, possessing Sigourney Weaver's body.
    The dinosaur's name was inspired by its skull similarities to the head of the Ghostbusters monster, Royal Ontario Museum palaeontologist David Evans said.
    "The skull of the new dinosaur has a short, rounded snout, gnarly forehead, and two sets of horns projecting backwards from behind the eyes, just like Zuul," Evans said.
    Aykroyd, the Ontario-born Ghostbusters star and co-writer, appeared in a video released by the museum alongside the dinosaur's skull, holding a photo of the movie beast.
    "We're so honoured that the Royal Ontario Museum would accord the name of this magnificent creature with the appellation that we called our 'terror dog' in the movie, and that is Zuul, Z-U-U-L," Aykroyd said.
    The dinosaur's tail, about 10 feet long, was an intimidating defensive weapon.
    "The menacing, spiked tail of Zuul is by far the coolest part of the animal," Evans said. "It has a wicked series of large spikes at the base of the tail, then a series of elongated, peaked spines that run the length of the tail club, and it ends in a massive, expanded club."
    The research was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.


  18. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: The Pakistan Army on Wednesday withdrew an earlier tweet which had rejected a government notification regarding the Dawn Leaks, saying the issue had been settled after implementation of recommendations in the Inquiry Committee Report.
    Analysts on Geo News have appreciated the development and hailed it as positive for the country.
    Rana Jawad - Director News Geo News
    “The basic dispute on Dawn Leaks was that in the first notification there was no mention of action against then Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed. As the government believed that the action has already been taken against him hence there is no need to put anything against him in the notification.  The forces believed that from the notification it appeared that Pervaiz Rasheed was exonerated- and that was exactly why the tweet was issued.”
    Shahzeb Khanzada - Analyst
    “It’s a good development. We must move ahead now. With this newly issued notification from Interior Ministry; action against Pervaiz Rasheed, Tariq Fatemi and Rao Tehseen has been endorsed.”
    Talat Hussain - Analyst
    “The question still exists what was the issue about. The initial four recommendations have been again re-issued. The military leadership realised that the tweet was little inappropriate- the action should now be rectified. The matter was hence needed to be finished. The misunderstanding was all about what step would be taken after the tweet.”
    “We have been facing issued from three neighbouring borders, the interior and foreign matters of the country are a matter of concern, but ironically just look at our focus. From now on the civil-military leadership must realise that they both have to play a responsible role.”
    “In this new notification the language is a bit strict but sources within the military circles have informed that no action would be asked to be taken against Dawn`s Editor Zafar Abbas and Cyril Almeida.”
    Hamid Mir - Analyst
    “The settlement is a face saving –however, we should not take it as a victory and defeat for anyone –because Pakistan cannot afford it. Certainly, PM Nawaz have sacrificed Pervaiz Rasheed, people will defiantly ask why Rasheed was sacked; if it’s because he did not stop a reporter from publishing a report. Then it’s unfair.”
    “Rao Tehseen is said to have been sacked because of lack of professionalism? A new debate will now begin on ‘what is professionalism?’ Is it a Principal Information Officer's job to prevent news from getting published.”
    Saleem Safi- Analyst
    "Amidst the challenges the country is facing, Pakistan's worst enemies would want to see civil-military tensions. There have been mistakes committed from government and military in the past; however, on Dawn Leaks issue both the institutions have shown flexibility."
    "I am convinced that Pervaiz Rasheed and Tariq Fatemi were made scapegoat over this issue. But for strengthening the nation, system, such sacrifices are given."  
    "If the new rule games are not made between the civil-military such issues will keep arising from time to time. It is regrettable that the current government doesn’t ensure transparency in their governance, whereas opposition and a certain media sections are always eager for any action against them from military circles."  


  19. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Following the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement announcing the Dawn Leaks matter standing 'settled' the Federal Interior Ministry also echoed the same in a notification issued almost simultaneously. 
    The interior ministry notification reiterated the earlier orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regarding the Dawn Leaks Inquiry Committee recommendations, with an addition that the federal government's action against former Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed had been endorsed by the Inquiry Committee in its recommendations.

    Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had met the army chief and both discussed the Dawn Leaks issue among other things. PM Nawaz and COAS had agreed that the issues surrounding Dawn Leaks would be dealt with amicably. Sources had further said that the meeting was held upon PM Nawaz's wish.
    The April 29 tweet by the ISPR had come hours after the prime minister's office announced that PM Nawaz Sharif had approved the recommendations of the Dawn Leaks inquiry committee.
     


  20. Waqas Dar
    A new dawn, and possibly even a franchise, await the legend of British folklore hero King Arthur.
    Warner Bros' King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, out in US theatres on Friday, revives the tales of the legendary warrior, his famed knights of the round table, and the magician Merlin.
    Directed by Guy Ritchie, Legend of the Sword goes back to the origins of Arthur, played by Charlie Hunnam, as he is plucked from the poverty in which he grew up as an orphan, and becomes a reluctant leader of a resistance against his uncle, King Vortigern, played by Jude Law.
    "Something that has been really, really important in my life, and it's one of the central themes of the film, is a person's unquestionable ability to elevate themselves in life through conscious endeavour," Hunnam told Reuters.
    Arthur is the only one able to wield the magical sword Excalibur from the stone in which it is trapped and, with the guidance of friends and some wizardry from Merlin, the hero finds himself on a quest to save England from the tyrannical rule of a ruthless king.
    While the folklore of King Arthur dates back to the Middle Ages, the story of a civilian uprising is something that can apply to a modern-day audience, said Djimon Hounsou, who plays Arthur's confidant Bedivere.
    "It resonates loudly about what's going on in America or, more importantly, about what's going on in the world," Hounsou said.
    The legends of King Arthur have been adapted into numerous films over the years, from 1953's Knights of the Round Table to 2015's Arthur and Merlin. Ritchie believes it has staying power, saying he has already envisioned several more films for his iteration of the folklore hero.


  21. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Wednesday withdrew an earlier tweet which had rejected a government notification regarding the Dawn Leaks, saying the issue had been settled after implementation of recommendations in the Inquiry Committee Report.
    In a press release issued by its media wing the Inter Services Public Relations, the Army said the tweet on April 29 was not aimed at any government office or person.
    "Recommendations as contained in Para 18 of the Inquiry Committee Report, duly approved by the Prime Minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn leaks issue," said the ISPR.
    "Accordingly, ISPR's said Twitter post stands withdrawn and has become infructuous," it added.
    Pakistan Army reiterates its firm commitment and continued resolve to uphold the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and support the democratic process, the ISPR statement added.
    The development follows a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
    The meeting, which lasted for about 1.5 hours, was also attended by DG ISI Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also attended the meeting during the last half hour.

    DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor is expected to hold a press conference later today. Additionally, a scheduled media briefing of the interior minister was postponed until tomorrow.
    But the Interior Ministry also issued a notification, reiterating the earlier orders of the Prime Minister regarding the Dawn Leaks Inquiry Committee recommendations.
    However, the notification added that the federal government's action against former Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed had been endorsed by the Inquiry Committee's in its recommendations.

    Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had met the army chief and both discussed the Dawn Leaks issue among other things. PM Nawaz and COAS had agreed that the issues surrounding Dawn Leaks would be dealt with amicably. Sources had further said that the meeting was held upon PM Nawaz's wish.
    The April 29 tweet by the ISPR had come hours after the prime minister's office announced that PM Nawaz Sharif had approved the recommendations of the Dawn Leak inquiry committee.
    The order from the PM Office had announced that it was withdrawing the portfolio of Foreign Affairs from Prime Minister Sharif's Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. It had added that Rao Tehsin Ali, the principal information officer at the Information Ministry, will be proceeded against under the E&D rules 1973 on the charges based on the report findings.
    The PM's order had added that the role of the editor of Dawn Newspaper, Zaffar Abbas, and reporter Cyril Almeida would be referred to the All Pakistan Newspaper Association (APNS) for necessary disciplinary action to be taken against them.
    The order also said that the APNS would be asked to develop a code of conduct for the media, "especially when dealing with issues relating to security of Pakistan and to ensure that stories on issues of national importance and security are published by abiding to basic journalistic and editorial norms".
    The English-language daily, Dawn, had published the story on October 6 in which journalist Cyril Almeida had written about an alleged civil-military rift during a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting over the issue of tackling jihadi outfits.
    The story stirred a major controversy last year, resulting in Almeida coming under fire from the military and government and being temporarily placed on the Exit Control List. The inquiry committee which investigated the matter comprised one member each from the ISI, MI and IB, Secretary Establishment Tahir Shahbaz, Ombudsman Punjab Najam Saeed, and an FIA director.
    Later that month, the Pakistan Army's top commanders expressed serious concern over the "feeding of a false and fabricated story of an important security meeting", terming it a breach of national security.
    The government called it a 'fabricated' story and termed the "purported deliberations" during the security meeting as speculative, misleading, factually incorrect, and an "amalgamation of fiction and fabrication".
    Following a preliminary investigation, the government relieved Senator Pervaiz Rasheed of his responsibilities as federal minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage pending a high-level inquiry.


  22. Waqas Dar
    MUMBAI: Justin Bieber mania swept Mumbai on Wednesday as the Canadian pop star hit the town to give his first concert in India in front of 45,000 fans.
    "Beliebers" from across the nation have flocked to the commercial capital to see their idol perform hits like Baby and Sorry on the latest stop of his "Purpose World Tour".
    "I've been listening to his music for five years. I absolutely love him as an artist and I'm very excited to be seeing him," 18-year-old student Rahul Tiwari, who had travelled from neighbouring Gujarat state, told AFP.
    Fans who gathered outside Mumbai's airport got their first glimpse of the superstar when he touched down in the city at 1:30 AM on a chartered flight from Dubai. Indian television channels aired mobile phone footage of Bieber carrying a bouquet of flowers and wearing a pink hoodie, dark shorts, and white trainers as he walked from the airport to a waiting car with his entourage.
    Related: Bieber assaulted a photographer in Argentine, but was he taken to court?
    The 23-year-old is to perform to a sellout crowd at the DY Patil Stadium, a venue more used to hosting cricket and football matches than international pop stars.
    "I'm a big Belieber. He's attractive and makes peppy, catchy music for our generation," 16-year-old Rhea Asrani, who also has a ticket for the concert, told AFP. "I have two huge posters of Justin in my bedroom and I listen to him often. I'm excited for the concert but more so just to see him live on stage," she added.
    The award-winning singer is to start his show at 8:00 PM and is expected to perform for around an hour and a half, according to newspaper reports.
    India media have been abuzz with speculation about the singer's movements while in the country and which of the Bollywood celebrities may or may not attend his concert and after-party.
    Several newspapers reported that Bieber will avoid Mumbai's notoriously congested traffic by taking a helicopter from his hotel in the centre of the city to the concert venue.
    Did you read this: What are Bieber's bratty demands for India tour?
    More than 1,000 security personnel, including 500 police officers, will be at the venue, while Bollywood actor Salman Khan's personal bodyguard is reported to be handling Bieber's security while he is in Mumbai.
    Fans' anticipation has been building since Bieber's team first confirmed the gig date back in February.
    On Wednesday, the Mumbai Mirror tabloid carried a story of 20 Bieber fans who camped outside the city's international airport for three days hoping to catch a glimpse of their idol.
    They carried signs saying "We love you Justin", "Welcome to India" and "Justin Forever".
    "We have not slept for two nights, you never know when he will arrive," said one fan.
    Another added that he hadn't washed for three days.


  23. Waqas Dar
    ISTANBUL: Turkey on Wednesday reacted furiously to a US plan to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters whom Ankara considers terrorists, but the force battling jihadists said the move would hasten the extremists´ defeat.
    The issue risks further stoking tensions between Ankara and Washington less than a week before President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to Washington to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in their first face-to-face encounter as heads of state.
    The Kurdish Peoples´ Protection Units (YPG) is seen by Washington as the best ally against Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria and the prime attacking force in any assault on their stronghold of Raqa.
    But Ankara regards the group as a terror group and the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers´ Party (PKK), which since 1984 has waged an insurgency inside Turkey leaving tens of thousands dead.
    The dispute poisoned ties between Turkey and the United States under the administration of former president Barack Obama but commentators had hoped for a smoother ride under Trump.
    "The supply of arms to the YPG is unacceptable," Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli told A Haber television.
    "Such a policy will benefit nobody," he said. "We expect that this mistake is to be rectified."
    ´Ensure clear victory´
    In a surprise announcement, the Pentagon said Trump had authorised the arming of Kurdish fighters within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) "to ensure a clear victory over Daesh in Raqa."
    The SDF, a US-backed group dominated by YPG but which also contains Arab elements, hailed the move and said that receiving US arms and military equipment would "hasten the defeat" of the jihadists.
    "The US decision to arm the YPG... is important and will hasten the defeat of terrorism," an SDF spokesman told AFP.
    The Kurdish-Arab SDF has been the main faction fighting Daesh on the ground in Syria, but Turkey dismisses it as a front for the YPG.
    It remains to be seen what shadow the issue will cast over the talks between Trump and Erdogan, which have been touted as chance to forge a new partnership between the two NATO allies.
    A high-level Turkish delegation including Chief of Staff General Hulusi Akar, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and Turkey´s spy chief Hakan Fidan has been in the US laying the groundwork for the meeting.
    Canikli said Turkey would take the diplomatic initiative to convince Washington "to do what friendship requires."
    "The argument that a ground operation in the fight against Daesh would be successful only with YPG has nothing to do with reality," he said.
    Both Washington and Brussels classifies the PKK as a terror group but has never regarded the YPG as such.
     


  24. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House on Wednesday and discussed issues including Dawn Leaks, Kulbhushan Jadhav and Pak-Afghan relations.
    The meeting between the Army Chief and the PM is the second one within a week and is significant in light of the prevailing civil-military relations in the country.
    Sources revealed that in the meeting, which is said to have lasted around an hour and a half, the controversy surrounding the Dawn Leaks’ notification and Kulbhushan Jadhav came under discussion, among other issues.  
    COAS Gen Bajwa was accompanied by DG ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, while Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting. According to sources, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar also joined in during the last half hour of the meeting.
    Sources added that the PM was briefed on the latest developments regarding RAW agent Jadhav as well as issues related to the border situation with Afghanistan.
    Earlier today, speaking on the sidelines of a seminar in Islamabad, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said the Foreign Office will issue a statement on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case in the next few days. 
    “We are analysing the Indian petition and the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) authority [on the case],” Aziz said.
    According to a press release issued on Tuesday from The Hague-based ICJ, India requested the United Nations' judicial organ to provide relief "by way of immediate suspension of the sentence of death awarded to the accused."


  25. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan should not delay the cases questioning funding to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawyer, Akram Sheikh.
    He was present at the court during hearing on Wednesday of disqualification requests of PTI Chairperson Imran Khan and a party leader, Jehangir Tareen.
    The requests were submitted by PML-N's Talal Chaudhry and Muhammad Khan Daha.
    During the hearing, the chief election commissioner asked the PML-N lawyer if the cases were pending at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. To which, Sheikh said the cases — of money trail for Imran's Bani Gala residence and foreign funding for PTI — are pending at the ECP as well as SC, but should not be adjourned for an indefinite period.
    He added ECP should take control of their own plans.
    However, ECP adjourned the case till June 5.
    'We are being singled out'
    While speaking to the media, PML-N's Daniyal Aziz said they were being singled out.
    "The speaker references [seeking Imran's disqualification] were dismissed for being cases raised before the elections [of 2013]," he said outside the election commission office on Wednesday. "But the cases filed against the prime minister before the elections are still being heard."


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