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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek?e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Wednesday reiterated demand for resignations from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for alleged money laundering, as the damning report by the Panama case JIT revived the opposition?s calls for the PM to step down.
    Addressing a press conference in the capital, PTI?s Asad Umar said it was in the best interests of the Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar to resign, given the quagmire they are facing.
    ?The Prime Minister has been the chairman and paid employee of his son?s company. The documents and affidavits the Sharifs submitted to the JIT proved to be fake,? Umar said, adding that the Sharif clan would not have ?faced this embarrassment if the PM had resigned 15 months ago?.
    Imran demands resignation from Nawaz, Shehbaz, Dar, Sadiq
    Qatari letter has been proven to be fake, says Imran
    Taking aim at Ishaq Dar, the PTI leader called on the minister to step down from his ministerial position.
    ?Dar sahib, your statement in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, given under oath, proved to be true. You appointed your friend as the SECP chairman, and he is now facing an FIR on the Supreme Court?s orders.?
    ?Do you really want to hold on to your position, Dar sahib? For how long will you keep defending, facilitating looters?? Umar questioned.
    The PTI leader then went on to say that Dar, by hurling ?personal attacks? at Imran Khan, had instead ended up boosting the PTI chairman?s respect among the public.
    ?Dar sahib, you said that Imran Khan used to sit outside your office for donations. He did it for the sake of the poor, not for himself,? Umar remarked.
    Responding to a question on how the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project might be affected by a regime change, if any, Umar said all political parties support CPEC.
    ?CPEC is not dependent on any government. China remains the closest friend of Pakistan, irrespective of who is in power here,? he assured.
    Twitterati take aim at font ?Calibri? after JIT report
    The good old font Calibri became a top trend on Twitter
    Taking another jibe at the Sharifs, Umar said in today?s age of social media, it was only a matter of time before someone confirmed from Microsoft that the font Calibri was made available for public use only in 2007, and not before.
    The 'Calibri controversy' emerged after the JIT report revealed that PM Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz had submitted a declaration regarding offshore companies, Nielsen and Nescoll Limited, dated 2006. The JIT found that the declaration was typed in a font (Calibri) that was not publicly available till 2007.
    PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood, also addressing the conference, said the Prime Minister had lost the moral capacity to rule in the aftermath of the revelations by the JIT report.
    ?I pay tribute to the JIT for their bravery and professionalism. Their efforts in preparing the detailed report are commendable. Anyone who attempts corruption in the future would think 20 times before doing it,? he said. 


  2. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/668ac85bf0e9dbd47acb8017d75eebbb.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ny8xMi8yMDE3IDk6MDA6MzcgQU0maGFzaF92YWx1ZT1lbkNRTStHWUNpZWJud2ZtRjI4bi9RPT0mdmFsaWRtaW51dGVzPTYwJmlkPTE= style=center] KARACHI: The Muttahaida Qaumi Movement ? Pakistan (MQM-P) has challenged the result of Sindh Assembly seat PS-114 in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

    The election was won by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Saeed Ghani by bagging approximately 24,000 votes while MQM-P?s Kamran Tessori received over 18,000 votes.
    MQM-P Chairperson Farooq Sattar had alleged rigging in the constituency following Ghani?s victory. The party has petitioned the ECP to halt the declaration of the election result until verification of thumbprints and till a recount takes place. The petition alleges that the election result of the constituency was changed at the last minute.


  3. Waqas Dar
    Nawaz Sharif embraces Shehbaz Sharif in celebration following the Supreme Court's April 20 verdict ordering the formation of the JIT. Photo: Geo News LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for the federal capital on Wednesday where he is expected to hold a one-on-one meeting with brother Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    According to sources, during the meeting, matters related to the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report will be discussed. Nawaz and Shehbaz will also discuss challenging the JIT report in the Supreme Court, which hears the case post-report submission on July 17.
    The prime minister is also expected to be briefed by his close aides and legal experts today, after back-to-back similar briefings since Monday, when the JIT report was submitted to the apex court.
    On Tuesday, a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided that the premier will neither resign no dissolve the assemblies.
    Legal team assembled
    Also on Wednesday, sources revealed that the Sharif family has acquired the assistance of four leading legal experts of the country to help draft its reply on the JIT report to the Supreme Court.
    Khawaja Harris will head the team of lawyers, which also includes Amjad Pervez, considered an expert on cases related to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
    Sources said the JIT report includes a list of 28 cases against the Sharif family that are in NAB. Moreover, two cases are in the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and as many with the Federal Investigation Agency, according to the JIT report. 


  4. Waqas Dar
    Photo: File NEW YORK: Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") on Tuesday affirmed the Government of Pakistan's B3 issuer and senior unsecured ratings, and maintained a stable outlook.
    The decision to affirm the rating ?balances credit-supportive and -constraining factors,? the report said.
    The investors' service firm stated that the country?s medium-term growth outlook is ?strong, supported by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project to address critical infrastructure constraints, and the continuing effects of macrostability-enhancing reforms started under the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program in 2013-16.?
    The research report, however, pointed out that the government's borrowing burden remained high and fiscal deficits were relatively wide, primarily driven by a ?narrow revenue base that restricts development spending.?
    Pakistan?s foreign exchange reserve adequacy was reported stronger as compared to the past few years; however, the firm said it was still vulnerable to an increase in imports.
    Domestic politics and geopolitical risk were cited as two significant factors that continue to represent a significant constraint on the country?s rating.
    According to the rating report, the decision to maintain a stable outlook on Pakistan's B3 rating reflects ?broadly balanced risks related to these two sets of factors.?
    Moody's has affirmed the B3 foreign currency senior unsecured ratings for The Second Pakistan Int'l Sukuk Co. Ltd and The Third Pakistan International Sukuk Co Ltd.
    Pakistan's Ba3 local currency bond and deposit ceilings remain unchanged. The B2 foreign currency bond ceiling and the Caa1 foreign currency deposit ceiling are also unchanged. These ceilings act as a cap on the ratings that can be assigned to the obligations of other entities domiciled in the country. 


  5. Waqas Dar
    MELBOURNE: Sleep could be a key player in reducing the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an Australian study published on Wednesday has found.

    The research, compiled by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI), found that the symptoms of ADHD were exacerbated in 70 percent of children with the disorder who struggle to sleep.
    Melisssa Mulraney, the lead researcher, said that making simple adjustments to the bedtime routines of children with ADHD could make a significant difference.
    Mulraney said that the research indicated that children with ADHD who had consistent routines were less anxious at bedtime and found it easier to sleep.
    "The children that had the good habits were less likely to argue around bedtime, they slept for longer overall, and they were more alert and less sleepy during the day," she said.
    "Even if you are not sleeping well, even without ADHD you are not concentrating and paying attention.
    "Researchers will now undertake a trial of 300 children to establish if programs developed by psychologists and pediatricians can change sleep habits of children and alter their behavior.
    "Our body clock, our circadian rhythm that makes us feel sleepy is influenced by external cues like daylight, temperatures and timing of meals," Mulraney said.
    "If you have a set routine: brush your teeth and then read a book, then the body starts to get used to that routine and you start to feel more sleepy simply by going through the routine.
    " Mulraney said she is optimistic that solving sleep problems can change quality of life for the better by altering behavior, academic achievement and ADHD symptoms.


  6. Waqas Dar
    Photo: File ISLAMABAD: The Federal government has arranged $8 billion to upgrade its railway line that runs from Karachi to Peshawar, said Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday.
    Addressing a conference in Islamabad, the minister stated that the government was paying special attention to the development of railways, which he believes will enhance Pakistan?s regional trade.
    Rafique further said that development of railways will help exploit the full potential of the Gwadar port and aid transportation of goods to landlocked Afghanistan and other Central Asian states.
    Earlier this year in May, Pakistan and China signed a framework agreement for the upgradation of the railway track in a ceremony in Beijing.
    The Railways minister, who was part of the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, stated that this was a ?significant step? for Pakistan Railways as people from all provinces of the country would benefit from the agreement.


  7. Waqas Dar
    Balochistan MPA Abdul Majid Achakzai pictured driving the speeding car that killed traffic sergeant Haji Attaulla. 2 QUETTA: The judicial remand of Balochistan MPA Abdul Majid Achakzai ? whose speeding car killed a traffic sergeant last month ? was extended by three days on Wednesday.
    The anti-terrorism court hearing the case also reserved its verdict on Achakzai?s bail plea.
    Traffic policeman Haji Attaulla succumbed to injuries after Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party MPA Achakzai allegedly ran him over while he was performing his duty near Quetta's GPO Chowk.
    Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on June 28 took suo motu notice of the incident and summoned a detailed report from the Balochistan police.
    After reports of a comprise with the MPA surfaced, the deceased traffic policeman?s son denied any such agreement.
    Slain policeman's son denies pardoning Balochistan MPA Achakzai
    Uncle, grandfather were misled into signing blank paper, claims son
    ?Neither have we reached any agreement nor are we willing to compromise,? Attaulla?s son Moazzam said. 
    During his judicial remand, two other criminal cases surfaced against the MPA in which his remand has been ordered by the court.


  8. Waqas Dar
    Kashmiri protesters throw stones towards Indian forces during clashes in Srinagar on July 8, 2017 - AFP  SRINAGAR: Three Kashmir youths were martyred during a crackdown by Indian forces in the Budgam district of occupied Kashmir, Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported on Wednesday.

    A complete shutdown is being observed for the fifth consecutive day against Indian atrocities with residents of Shopian stating that dozens of villages have been attacked, people beaten and property damaged.
    According to reports in the India media, internet services remain suspended in Indian occupied Kashmir. The suspension comes as Hurriyat leadership has reiterated its resolve to continue its online ?Kashmir Awareness Campaign? urging people to put up posts highlighting the Kashmir dispute.
    Internet services had been restored for a brief period after being first suspended on the first death anniversary of Burhan Wani.
    The brutality of Indian forces in occupied Kashmir has escalated since Wani was martyred on July 8, 2016. Over 100 Kashmirs have been martyred by Indian forces and thousands have been injured.
    Pakistan has continuously raised concerns over the brutality of Indian forces in Kashmir at international forums.  


  9. Waqas Dar
    Photo courtesy: Malala Fund official Twitter
    Education and rights activist Malala Yousafzai has urged her fellow Pakistanis to speak up for their rights, as she celebrates her 20th birthday today, July 12 ? which has been declared as ?Malala Day? by the United Nations.
    In a special message delivered through Geo News, Malala has called on her countrymen and women to pay the utmost importance to education.
    ?On my birthday today.. this is my message to all Pakistanis: believe in yourself, speak up for your rights, [acquire] education because it is very important for the future of Pakistan. It is only through education you can change the future of your country and take it forward,? she said.
    ?My message to all parents is, if you can give something [precious] to your children, it is education. Through education they can progress and contribute to their country and family.?
    Malala also demanded that the government give priority to education.
    ?I ask the government to spend on education, to fulfill its promise of allocating 4% budget to education. The government must ensure that all children are given the opportunity to acquire education, so that they can make their country proud.?
    Birthday tributes have poured in for the young Nobel laureate from around the world. In his message on Malala Day, Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif said Malala Yousafzai has set an example of bravery and courage for all women.
    He said that the struggle of Malala for the promotion of education and elimination of terrorism is a beacon-house, and that she thwarted conspiracies hatched to push the country into darkness and backwardness.
    Malala has emerged as an ambassador of peace and knowledge all over the world, he added.
    Ziauddin Yousafzai?, Malala?s father, tweeted picture of an adorable birthday card written by her mother.
    Last week, Malala announced she would be celebrating her 20th birthday with internally displaced girls from conflict-ridden areas in the Middle East on her Girl Power Trip.
    Malala, who was shot by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists in 2012 in her hometown of Swat, Pakistan, joined Twitter only a few days ago where she informed her followers about her plans.
    Born on July 12, 1997, Malala rose to fame by authoring a blog as a young student while Swat was under occupation of militants in 2007.


  10. Waqas Dar
    Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that despite all efforts Imran Khan can't come to power through a backdoor.
    A statement released by the CM alleged that all expectations of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief are interlinked with the report of the Joint Investigation Team probing the Panama Leaks case which is surrounded by conflicts and controversy.
    "Ever since Musharaf's rule, Imran Khan has tried to find artificial braces in politics," Sharif said. "I wish he could have trusted the democratic process instead."
    The statement went on to state that Khan got an opportunity to serve people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but "this is not what they [PTI] do."
    Sharif remarked that he was waiting for Khan to live up to his claim of filing a reference against him.
    He alleged that there is nothing to Khan's politics if "lies and abuses" are to be removed from it. 


  11. Waqas Dar
    The spread of Congo virus is feared around Eid-ul-Azha owing to the massive movement of animals. Photo: File ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health and the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) held a meeting on Tuesday regarding the development of a strategy to curtail the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), following a recent surge in Congo virus cases.

    The consultative meeting aimed to develop a strategy for the prevention and control of the virus, which has infected and subsequently killed many people in Pakistan, said a statement issued from the institute.
    In the meeting, representatives from the federal and provincial human, health and livestock departments deliberated the latest situation with regards to the Congo virus in Pakistan and presented their recommendations.
    Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, the executive director of NIH, remarked that with the absence of an effective surveillance system and community participation, the public health system cannot work efficiently.
    He added that there was a dire need to establish an effective inter-sector coordination mechanism among relevant stakeholders, especially public health, animal health and environment agencies.
    Ahmad also stated that efforts are currently being made to establish a real-time integrated disease surveillance and response system (IDSR) in collaboration with technical partners.
    It was reported that at the end of the meeting, the participants developed comprehensive strategy in which they designed a contingency plan for prevention and control of the disease and also identified the roles and responsibilities of the concerned authorities and departments.
    Experts claim that the Congo virus is a deadly disease which is spread through tick bites found on animals. People who deal with dairy farming and livestock are likely to get infected and carry the virus. As the infected person can infect other people, strict precautionary measures are necessary.
    Mostly cases of CCHF are reported from March to May and August to October and there is an increased risk of CCHF virus transmission during Eidul Azha due to the tick infected animal?s exposure and massive movement of animals throughout the country.
    So far, 11 cases of the deadly virus have been reported in 2017 in the country.
    In May this year, a patient admitted to Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital, in Quetta, on suspicion of Congo virus passed away.
    Doctors had stated that no blood samples could be withdrawn from the patient before his death, emphasising how critical his condition had become.


  12. Waqas Dar
    A man types on a computer keyboard in front of the displayed cyber code in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017.  AMSTERDAM: The Dutch Senate passed a law early on Wednesday giving intelligence agencies broad new surveillance and other powers, including the ability to gather data from large groups of people at once.
    The Senate's approval was the last hurdle for the "tapping law," which was moulded into its current form after years of debate and criticism from both the country's constitutional courts and online privacy advocates.
    The law, which was passed with broad support, will go into effect this month after it is signed by the country's monarch and circulated in the official legislative newspaper.
    Online rights group Bits of Freedom warned the Netherlands' military and civil intelligence agencies will now have the opportunity to tap large quantities of internet data traffic, without needing to give clear reasons and with limited oversight.
    They also object to a three-year term for storage of data that agencies deem relevant, and the possibility for them to exchange information they cull with foreign counterparts.
    The government argued that the powers are needed to counter threats to national security in the modern era, and their use can be tested by an oversight panel.


  13. Waqas Dar
    Shapoor Zadran was voted Man of the Match for his 3/29/ICC  LONDON: Afghanistan were given a traditional British welcome as their first-ever appearance at Lord´s was cut short by rain in a one-day match against a Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) XI.
    The star-studded MCC side managed 217-6 from a rain-affected 40 overs, setting the tourists 227 to win from their 50 overs.
    However, the covers came on for the final time five overs into the reply, with Afghanistan 31-1, meaning no result could be reached.
    The MCC has been very supportive of Afghan cricket, not least through the charity Afghan Connection.
    Through this joint initiative, 100 cricket pitches have been built all around Afghanistan for children, with many cricket camps held around the country.
    "Afghans love cricket so much,? said Sarah Fane, founder and CEO of Afghan Connection in in a news release.
    ?But they hardly had any equipment. So Afghan Connection made a delivery to the national team and began supporting grassroots cricket around the country for the young.
    "Within a year MCC began backing Afghan cricket through Afghan Connection?s projects. Since 2009 this has led to 100 cricket pitches being built, serving well over 100,000 Afghan children, as well as provision of equipment and coaching for them."
    The match represented a landmark occasion for Afghanistan, less than a month after they were granted international Test status, but the weather put a dampener on events in London.
    The MCC side were captained by Brendon McCullum, the former New Zealand skipper, but he could only muster five runs, before being caught behind as the home team struggled at the start.
    Former Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq also fell early, caught behind on seven, before a stand of 150 for the third wicket between Sam Hain and Nottinghamshire´s Samit Patel ensured the hosts could post a respectable score.
    Noor Ali Zadran was the only Afghan wicket to fall in their five overs, before the heavens opened once more, this time bringing an end to the match as rain stopped play.


  14. Waqas Dar
    Photo: File  More than one-fifth of young adults who stream shows like "Game of Thrones" or "Stranger Things" borrow passwords from people who do not live with them, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, a finding that suggests media companies are missing out on significant revenue as digital viewership explodes.
    Twenty-one percent of streaming viewers ages 18 to 24 said they had accessed at least one digital video service such as Netflix Inc, HBO Now or Hulu by using log-in credentials from someone outside their household at some time. Overall, 12 percent of adults said they did the same thing.
    Subscription revenue is likely to come under scrutiny starting next week when TV industry players begin reporting quarterly earnings. Netflix, the dominant streaming service, releases its results on Monday.
    Up to now, Netflix and other streaming networks have accepted some password-sharing, but they may face pressure from investors to change course if new sign-ups slow substantially, Wall Street analysts said. Revenue growth at Netflix is projected to drop from 31 percent in this year's second quarter to 19 percent in the second quarter of next year, according to Thomson Reuters.
    "If Netflix goes from a 30 percent revenue growth story to a 10 percent story, there is absolutely going to be more focus on their leaving money on the table," said Justin Patterson, an analyst with Raymond James.
    Netflix declined to comment.
    Respondents to the Reuters/Ipsos survey said they borrow passwords to save money on video subscriptions, which can be cheap on their own but add up with multiple services.
    Donielle Bradshaw, a live-in nanny in Smyrna, Georgia, said she uses her 28-year-old sister?s password for Hulu, and her 32-year-old brother?s password for Netflix.
    "I feel like since we are family, it?s OK," said the 22-year-old Bradshaw, who estimates she watches four hours of shows on weeknights and 10 hours a day on weekends.
    If companies cracked down on password sharing, Bradshaw said she would be willing to pay for her own Netflix subscription but is not sure about Hulu, which is owned by several media companies. "I binge a lot of shows on Netflix. I don?t think I could do without it," she said.
    Companies say they accept some sharing as a way to promote their programming to potential customers, but they also take steps to curtail blatant freeloading.
    Many networks limit the number of people who can watch programming at the same time. Netflix, for example, allows two to four simultaneous streams per subscription, depending on the plan, and charges more for the higher number of streams.


  15. Waqas Dar
    Ravi Shastri MUMBAI: Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri has been handed the job of India´s head coach until the 2019 World Cup, a year after the 55-year-old was left disappointed at being pipped to the post by Anil Kumble.
    Shastri will replace former captain Kumble, who stepped down as coach last month after falling out with captain Virat Kohli despite enjoying a successful run during his year in charge.
    The Indian cricket board (BCCI) also named former India seamer Zaheer Khan as the team´s bowling consultant, while former batting great Rahul Dravid was appointed as batting consultant for overseas test series.
    Shastri, also a renowned TV commentator, was appointed India´s team director in August 2014 with Duncan Fletcher as head coach.
    Fletcher´s term came to an end following India´s semi-final defeat at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
    Last year the BCCI formed the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising former players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who chose Kumble for the head coach position ahead of Shastri, who had also applied.
    "Shastri has been the team director in the past, and brings with him a wealth of experience, both as player and as coach," the BCCI said on Tuesday.
    "Khan is a contemporary cricketer who assumed the mentoring role to a young fast bowling unit even during his playing days with India.
    His inputs will be of immense value to our young fast bowlers, who have shown tremendous potential in the last couple of years.
    "As the Indian team is to play test cricket overseas in the next two years, Rahul Dravid?s expertise as batting consultant will be immensely helpful for youngsters."
    Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan Kumble´s original contract expired with India´s Champions Trophy campaign, but the former leg-spinner had been tipped to get an extension after leading the country to 12 victories in 17 tests with one loss.

    The BCCI invited applications for the role last month and Kumble, India´s most successful bowler, re-applied.
    He later stepped down saying his partnership with Kohli was "untenable".
    Shastri had not initially applied for the position but put in his name once Kumble was out of the equation.
    He was among five candidates interviewed by the CAC on Monday to fill the vacant position, along with Indians Virender Sehwag and Lalchand Rajput, Australian Tom Moody and Englishman Richard Pybus.
    The first challenge for the new coaching set-up will begin later this month when India tour Sri Lanka to play three tests, five one-dayers and one Twenty20 international.
    The new coaching staff of Indian Cricket team will take charge before India?s series against Sri Lanka and has been appointed till the Cricket World Cup 2019.


  16. Waqas Dar
    Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews walks back after his team lost the five-match series, Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, 5th ODI, Hambantota, July 10, 2017/AFP COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews has stepped down amid intense criticism over his side´s series defeat to bottom-ranked Zimbabwe on home soil, an official said Wednesday.
    Mathews met with chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya to discuss his future with the team before a one-off Test against Zimbabwe beginning Friday, said an official with Sri Lanka´s cricket board.
    "He has quit the captaincy from all three forms of the game," the official said on condition on anonymity, referring to Test, one-day international and twenty20 formats of cricket.
    Sri Lanka's direct World Cup qualification in doubt
    Sri Lanka are ranked 8th in the latest ODI rankings
    An official announcement of Mathews´ resignation was expected later Wednesday, the official added.
    Mathews took the brunt of the criticism levelled at Sri Lanka´s cricketers in the aftermath of their 3-2 series loss at home to minnows Zimbabwe on Monday.
    Mathews described the shock defeat as a low point in his career and a "hard pill to swallow".
    It compounded woes for the struggling side, which entered the series without a coach after Graham Ford´s sudden exit following their poor showing in the Champions Trophy last month.
    Sri Lanka´s sports minister delivered the squad an ultimatum after that performance, ordering players get in shape or face the boot after declaring them unfit to compete on the world stage.


  17. Waqas Dar
    People's Liberation Army troops. Photo: Reuters/File  BEIJING: Ships carrying Chinese military personnel for Beijing's first overseas military base, in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, have left China to begin setting up the facility as China's rapidly modernising military hones its global reach.
    Djibouti's position on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean has fuelled worries in India that it would become another of China's "string of pearls" of military alliances and assets ringing India, including Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
    China began construction of a logistics base in strategically located Djibouti last year that will resupply naval vessels taking part in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia, in particular.
    This will be China's first overseas naval base, although Beijing officially describes it as a logistics facility.
    State news agency Xinhua said in a short report late on Tuesday the ships had departed from Zhanjiang in southern China "to set up a support base in Djibouti".
    Navy commander Shen Jinlong "read an order on constructing the base in Djibouti" but the report did not say when the base might formally begin operations.
    Xinhua said the establishment of the base was a decision made by both countries after "friendly negotiations, and accords with the common interest of the people from both sides".
    "The base will ensure China's performance of missions, such as escorting, peace-keeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and west Asia," it said.
    "The base will also be conducive to overseas tasks including military cooperation, joint exercises, evacuating and protecting overseas Chinese and emergency rescue, as well as jointly maintaining security of international strategic seaways," the Xinhua report.
    "Not military expansionism"
    The People's Liberation Army Daily said in a front-page commentary this was a landmark move that would increase China's ability to ensure global peace, especially because it has so many United Nations peacekeepers in Africa and is so involved in anti-piracy patrols.
    China would not seek military expansionism or get into arms races no matter what happened, it said.
    "These promises will not change because of the construction of the overseas logistics base," it said.
    The state-run Global Times said in an editorial on Wednesday there could be no mistake that this was in fact a military base.
    "Certainly this is the People's Liberation Army's first overseas base and we will base troops there. It's not a commercial resupply point. It makes sense there is attention on this from foreign public opinion," said the paper, which is published by the official People's Daily, said.
    However, China's military development was about protecting its own security, it said. "It's not about seeking to control the world."
    Djibouti, which is about the size of Wales, is located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on the route to the Suez Canal. The tiny, barren nation sandwiched between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia also hosts US, Japanese and French bases.
    There has been persistent speculation in diplomatic circles that China would build other such bases, in Pakistan for example, but the government has dismissed this.


  18. Waqas Dar
    Following the ongoing public scrutiny on the font 'Calibri' subsequent to the release of the Panama case Joint Investigation Team's report (JIT), online encyclopedia Wikipedia blocked public editing of the article on Tuesday.
    Twitterati take aim at font ?Calibri? after JIT report
    The good old font Calibri became a top trend on Twitter
    The JIT, constituted by the Supreme Court, submitted its report on Monday.
    The 'Calibri controversy' emerged after the JIT report revealed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz submitted a declaration regarding offshore companies, Nielsen and Nescoll Limited , dated 2006. The JIT found that the declaration was typed in a font (Calibri) that was not publicly available till 2007.
    As social media warriors from both sides of the divide jumped in the debate, everyone kept quoting Wikipedia to back their assertions about when the font became available.
    As a result, Wikipedia was quickly flooded with edit requests from users:
    Therefore, the online go-to encyclopedia has now consequently protected the Calibri Wikipedia page "from editing until July 18, 2017, or until editing disputes have been resolved".





  19. Waqas Dar
    Floyd Mayweather has vowed to quit boxing once and for all after he emerges from retirement for next month's cross-combat showdown with Conor McGregor.
    The 40-year-old former welterweight king, who retired with a perfect 49-0 record in 2015, said Tuesday there was no chance of him fighting again after he climbs into the ring with mixed martial arts star McGregor.
    The two men are to face each other at Las Vegas's T-Mobile Arena on August 26 in what could become the richest bout in boxing history.
    Mayweather, who has already made an estimated $700 million during his two-decade career, is set for another eye-watering payday against brash UFC star McGregor.
    But irrespective of the result next month, Mayweather says he has already decided it will be his last fight.
    "I'm not the same fighter I was 21 years ago. I'm not the same fighter I was 10 years ago. I'm not even the same fighter I was two years ago," Mayweather told reporters at the Staples Center.
    Mayweather said he had discussed his plans to quit for good at a meeting with advisor Al Haymon earlier Tuesday.
    "I spoke to Al and told him. Today we had a meeting," Mayweather said. "I can't push my body, it's gruelling. Training camp is gruelling. I can't do it any more. Training camp is rough. It has to be my last one.
    "After taking a couple of years off I was okay. But then we ended up somehow making this fight happen. "Now I really know that this is it. Deep in my heart I know this is it."
    'Tough competitor'

    The build-up to Tuesday's event saw Mayweather face headlines that he has filed for an extension to pay his 2015 tax bill.
    However he brushed off questions about his finances when asked.
    "We ain't trippin' on that," he responded.
    For boxing purists, Mayweather risks blemishing an otherwise perfect record with a tawdry final episode that has been disparaged as a cynical circus-like stunt.
    Mayweather however waved away suggestions that if he was to win, and retire with a 50-0 record, there would be an asterisk against his last fight.
    "The last time I checked he's still a professional fighter," Mayweather said of his lightly-regarded opponent. "He's a stand-up fighter. He never took a loss fighting straight up. I can't overlook that, because one shot can end your whole career. He's a tough competitor but it is what it is."
    Mayweather forged his 49-0 record on the back of phenomenal speed and defensive reflexes, often being criticised for his unwillingness to go to toe-to-toe with opponents.
    Another boxing masterclass could well be in store for McGregor, but Mayweather is unfazed by the possibility that the Irish brawler may deploy mixed martial arts tactics if he struggles to lay a glove on the American.
    "That's the referee's job," Mayweather said. "My job is to go out there and be a boxer, be a fighter. I'm pretty sure the referee's going to be fair and fun.
    "I'll leave all that up to the referee. My job is to go out there and fight against the guy that's across from me.
    "The fans demanded the fight. McGregor wanted this fight, I wanted this fight. August 26, it's going to be blood sweat and tears from the opening bell."




  20. Waqas Dar
    The 92 Premier League and Football League clubs recorded combined revenues in excess of £4.4 billion ($5.7bn, 4.9bn euros) in the 2015/16 season, according to consultants Deloitte.
    English topflight clubs generated record revenues of £3.6bn, a 9% increase, in the final year of the league's 2013-16 broadcast cycle, the firm said in its annual review of football finance. Revenues will continue to rise in the 2017/18 season, the review forecast.
    Wage costs rose to 12% to £2.3bn and the Premier League showed little sign of austerity, with its 20 clubs recording a third consecutive season of operating profits in excess of £500m in the 2015/16 season.
    Dan Jones, partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said top clubs did well out of European competition.
    "In the 2015/16 season, the 'big six' clubs participated in the group stages of UEFA competitions and benefitted from improved UEFA broadcast rights deals, which resulted in an increase in distributions to participating English clubs of around £100m," he said.
    Deloitte forecasts "total Premier League clubs' revenues to rise to over £4.5 billion in 2017/18."
    Newly-promoted Huddersfield Town will benefit from the windfall "with clubs standing to earn a revenue uplift of at least £170m from promotion to the Premier League, rising to over £290m if they survive one season."
    The Premier League continues to boom after competition between Sky Sports and BT drove the overall value for domestic TV rights for the 2016-19 cycle to more than £5.14bn over three seasons.
    In other findings, the review said the size of the European football market reached nearly ?25bn in the 2016/17 season, a 13% increase from 2014/15, with the aggregate revenues of clubs in the 'big five' European leagues topping ?13bn, a 12% increase.


  21. Waqas Dar
    US pop superstar Madonna on Tuesday took her four adopted Malawian children back to their home country for the opening of a paediatric hospital wing that her charity has built.
    Standing alongside President Peter Mutharika, she unveiled a plaque to mark the completion of the 50-bed facility in Malawi's second city of Blantyre.
    The Mercy James Institute of Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care -- named after one of her children -- has taken two years to build and includes three specialist operating theatres.
    It is the first health unit for children in the southern African nation, and will double the capacity for paediatric care at the Queen Elizabeth hospital.
    Earlier this year Madonna, 58, adopted twin girls from an orphanage in Malawi, where she has been a regular visitor for several years.
    Twins Estere and Stella, four years old, joined her other Malawian children, Mercy James and David Banda, both aged 11.
    "I am a freedom fighter and a feminist with a rebel heart... so I would not accept the word 'no'," a smiling Madonna told a crowd of well-wishers as she described the challenges of adopting the children.
    "I never gave up or backed down. I fought for Mercy and won," she said, adding the hospital was built because "children should never die of terrible diseases we can easily cure."
    Madonna, who set up her "Raising Malawi" charity in 2006, joined in with local dancers to celebrate the opening after a one-hour tour of the hospital, which was decorated with national flags and bunting.
    The wards have been designed with murals including images of Nelson Mandela and archbishop Desmond Tutu, while US actor Leonardo DiCaprio was listed on a wall as a major benefactor.
    Mutharika cut a blue ceremonial ribbon, and held it up to the cheering crowd.
    Mercy James gave a short speech saying it was "a great honour that the centre will save many lives," while David Banda joined a performance by an orphans' acrobatic dance group.
    'A chance of survival'

    Madonna has not always been welcomed with open arms in Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, where some activists accuse her of using her wealth to short-cut the adoption process.
    In 2013, she was stripped of her official VIP status by then president Joyce Banda's government, which accused her of being "uncouth" and expecting gratitude for her adoptions.
    President Mutharika has since moved to repair the relationship.
    On Tuesday he praised Madonna for building "the first and best child care centre" in Malawi and described her as a "symbol of motherly spirit."
    The singer, who divorced film director Guy Ritchie in 2008, now has six children after adopting her twins.
    Court documents detailed how the twins were taken in by an orphanage supported by Madonna's charity.
    Their mother died soon after childbirth, their father left to marry another woman, and their grandmother struggled to look after several children.
    "Malawi needs such kind-hearted people to prosper," Malita Ndau, a 20-year-old woman selling doughnuts in Blantyre, told AFP.
    "Malawian children will now have a chance of survival because of this hospital."
    But some Malawians said the hospital highlighted the country's failures.
    Malawi should "be ashamed for begging from her to build this facility because we have failed to tame corruption," said Mumbo Phiri, who sells second-hand clothes.
    The new hospital wing opened to patients last week and has already performed its first surgery.


  22. Waqas Dar
    The image of a distraught James Rodriguez being consoled by Brazil's David Luiz after a brutal World Cup quarter-final defeat in 2014 still resonates today.
    Rodriguez had given everything for Colombia, scoring six times - including the goal of the tournament against Uruguay - inspiring his country to the last eight for the first time.
    Shortly afterwards, Rodriguez became Real Madrid's latest "Galactico" and the fourth most expensive player in the world.
    Yet, as is often the case at a club with the highest of expectations, things did not quite work out for Rodriguez at Real and the 25-year-old joined Bayern Munich on Tuesday on a two-year loan deal.
    It went well initially in Madrid, with Rodriguez providing the ammunition for Cristiano Ronaldo to break many scoring records.
    Rodriguez created six goals for Ronaldo in his first season at the Bernabeu and despite breaking his foot the Colombian scored 13 goals and contributed 13 assists in an impressive debut campaign.
    "He has surprised all of us," then Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said at the end of Rodriguez's first campaign. "He is a top-quality player and has gelled very well with the team.
    "He has gotten used to playing in a deeper role which requires him to cover more ground. That is what has surprised me most. Others need more time to get used to this playing style."
    But things started to go wrong with the arrival of Rafa Benitez as Real boss. Rodriguez was in and out of the team, causing friction between the two men.
    When Zinedine Zidane replaced Benitez in 2016, things did not improve and an 11th European Cup triumph seemed to justify the Frenchman's decision to leave Rodriguez on the sidelines.
    Last season, Zidane continued to use Rodriguez fleetingly, but this did not diminish his effectiveness. Despite only starting 13 games and making nine substitute appearances, in a variety of positions, Rodriguez averaged more key passes per game than any of his teammates.
    Bayern also have an embarrassment of attacking riches, but no real recognised number 10. Thiago Alcantara and Thomas Mueller have been deployed just off the striker, but both are more effective elsewhere.
    Linking up again with Ancelotti, who favours deploying a deep-lying forward, could be the spark Rodriguez needs to replicate his form in his first season in Madrid under the Italian.


  23. Waqas Dar
    File KARACHI: Various areas of the metropolis experienced persistent drizzle overnight on Wednesday, Geo News reported.
    The weather turned pleasant after parts of the metropolis received light showers throughout the night.

    Areas, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Federal B. Area, Malir, and surroundings felt the cool as light rain washed over the city.
    The overnight rain caused several roads across the city to flood up with water.
    According to Met office, the process of light drizzle could continue for next 24 hours, however, there is no chance of heavy rain in the metropolis.
    Moreover, dust-thunderstorm and light showers with gusty winds are expected at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Dera Ismail Khan, Sahiwal, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department.
    Light rain was forecasted for this week in some locales of Sindh and Balochistan.
    Heavy rain forecast in the north
    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted heavy rain in certain areas of northern Pakistan as well as Islamabad itself.
    The expectation for Tuesday through Thursday remains of light showers in various locales of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, and southern Punjab.
    Rivers and canals in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Islamabad, alongside some areas of KP and Kashmir, are predicted to overflow due to the monsoon rains.
    Consequently, this is expected to flood the low-lying areas of Sindh and Punjab, as well as some parts of Balochistan.
    There is also a risk of landslides in Malakand, the Hazara division, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.




  24. Waqas Dar
    Novak Djokovic criticised Wimbledon officials for making the "wrong decision" in postponing his fourth round match to Tuesday after he eased into the quarter-finals a day later than expected with a 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4 win over France's Adrian Mannarino.
    The contest was held over after the marathon battle between Rafael Nadal and Gilles Muller concluded late on Monday.
    Djokovic was due to follow Nadal on to Court One but the Spaniard's four hours 48 minutes defeat by Muller did not finish till 8.35 local time, which meant the Serb's match could not be completed before dark.
    The Serb, who had been stuck waiting for the end of that battle only to be sent home, said it would have been better to have moved his match to the, by then unused, Centre Court.
    "I just think it was a wrong decision not to play us last night, because we could have played," Djokovic said.night, because we could have played," Djokovic said.
    "I think the last match on the Centre Court was done before 7pm. Having in mind that Centre Court has the roof and lights, we could have played till 11pm.7pm. Having in mind that Centre Court has the roof and lights, we could have played till 11pm.
    "We went to the referee's office before eight. (We were told) there were security reasons (for not moving the match). That was the only excuse... that we were getting."
    On Monday, the All England Club said: "30,000 people still remained in the grounds, and therefore moving the match would have created a significant safety issue."
    "Obviously I was not happy not to play last night," Djokovic continued. "We were kept for two and a half hours in the dark, in a way, without knowing what we are going to do. So you were on your toes warming up, cooling down. (The) referee's office was completely indecisive.
    "It was frustrating last night. But I quickly just turned the next page and just focused on what I need to do today. I've done it in straight sets. That's all that matters."
    When the match did get under way, light rain led officials to close the roof over Centre Court, but despite his frustrations Djokovic came out strongly and easily won the first set.
    The second-seed took a 3-0 lead in the second but Mannarino broke back in the seventh game and took the contest to a tie-break. Both players struggled to hold serve but Djokovic won five of the last six points to triumph.
    The Serb, who will face Czech Tomas Berdych in the last eight, got his nose in front with a break in the third game of the third set and never looked in danger from then on.
    The only worry for Djokovic was the pain from his shoulder, which required medical treatment during the third set.
    "We'll see. It has something which has been dragging back and forth for a while, but I am still managing to play," he said.


  25. Waqas Dar
    File Czech Karolina Pliskova rose to the top of the WTA rankings without striking a ball on Tuesday as results at Wimbledon saw her overhaul Germany's Angelique Kerber.Germany's Angelique Kerber.
    By a quirk of the points-based ranking system the 25-year-old rose to the summit -- the 23rd player to do so -- thanks to Simona Halep's quarter-final loss to Johanna Konta.system the 25-year-old rose to the summit -- the 23rd player to do so -- thanks to Simona Halep's quarter-final loss to Johanna Konta.
    Romanian Halep would have become world number one had she beaten the Briton but went down 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 6-4.
    Bizarrely Pliskova, seeded three at Wimbledon, lost in the second round to Magdalena Rybarikova but her consistent results this year, including reaching the French Open semi-finals, means she will be number one when the rankings are updated on Monday.
    "Although right now I am not celebrating a victory on the court, I have become the world number one. And this really means a lot to me. Actually, I can?t even realise what I have achieved," Pliskova wrote in a post on Instagram.
    Despite never having won a grand slam tournament, the Monte-Carlo based player becomes the first Czech to be number one since the rankings were introduced in 1975.
    Czech-born Martina Navratilova, who won 18 singles majors, became number one in 1978 but was representing the U.S. by then.
    "Karolina is an exemplary athlete on and off the court and she truly deserves this fantastic moment in her career," WTA CEO and chairman Steve Simon said in a statement.
    Pliskova has won three titles this year, in Brisbane, Doha and the Wimbledon warm-up event at Eastbourne.
    Kerber, who spent a total of 34 weeks as world number one, needed to reach the Wimbledon final to have a chance of hanging on to the top spot, but was beaten by Span's Garbine Muguruza in the last 16 on Monday.
    For Halep it is a case of try and try again.
    She would have become number one had she beaten Jelena Ostapenko in the French Open final and faltered again against Konta on Tuesday after coming within two points of victory.


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