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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    Filtering tools will improve over time. SAN FRANCISCO: Instagram on Thursday said it is using artificial intelligence to filter nasty comments and spam at the popular Facebook-owned photo-sharing service.
    The move comes as Facebook and other internet companies work to curb trolls, hate speech and the spread of violent ideology on their platforms.
    "Many of you have told us that toxic comments discourage you from enjoying Instagram and expressing yourself freely," co-founder and chief executive Kevin Systrom said in a blog post.
    "To help, we´ve developed a filter that will block certain offensive comments on posts and in live video."
    Written remarks will otherwise appear as usual at Instagram, and users can opt to turn off the new filters.
    The offensive-comment filter will launch first in English, with other languages eventually added, according to Systrom.
    Instagram said that the filter scanning for spam is designed to work in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
    "Our team has been training our systems for some time to recognize certain types of offensive and spammy comments so you never have to see them," Systrom said.
    "The tools will improve over time."
    Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube this week announced the launch of an anti-terror partnership aimed at thwarting the spread of extremist content online.
    The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism intends to share engineering, research and knowledge to help "continue to make our hosted consumer services hostile to terrorists and violent extremists," the companies said.
    Each of the technology giants has been working individually to prevent its platforms or services from being used to promote or spread extremist views.


  2. Waqas Dar
    Uzma Yousaf will attempt to become the first female climber to scale Spantik peak - File photo   ISLAMABAD: Pakistan?s Uzma Yousaf is set to make history when on Sunday when she will attempt to scale the 7,027 metre high Spantik peak in the Spantik-Sosbun Mountains sub-range of Karakoram in Nagar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan  as the sole female climber. 
    Also known as Golden Peak, the mountain has gained significant popularity amongst expedition climbers recently.
    ?I have been in love with climbing and adventure activities since my childhood but I?ve not been able to go on much expeditions,? the 43-year old mountaineer, who started her climbing career by scaling 6,050 metre Mingling Sar in October last year and 5,098 metre Rush Peak in February this year told media here on Saturday at a local hotel.
    ?My expedition will inspire other Pakistani women that with determination and passion challenges can be overcome and dreams materialized,? she said.
    Uzma, who did not get any proper training to ascend the dangerous mountains, said this would be her solo expedition.
    ?I?ll not be accompanied by other mountaineers. I did not invite or request others to be part of my voyage as I want to show the world that what Pakistani women can do,? she said, adding that she wanted to ascend Pakistan?s all top mountains.
    Her husband Yousaf Akhtar, who is the financer of the expedition, believes Uzma can achieve her dream.
    ?She is really a talented lady. Though she has not been trained like other mountaineers, she has been making meticulous preparations for this climb for the past several months,? he said.
    ?I?m proud of her and wish her a safe and successful expedition,? he added.


  3. Waqas Dar
    PTI's legal team was headed by lawyer Shahid Gondal. -Geo News SARGODHA: A six-member legal team of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday recorded incarcerated MNA Jamshed Dasti's statement. 
    PTI's legal team was headed by lawyer Shahid Gondal and will submit a bail petition on Dasti's behalf. 
    Dasti, while recording his statement with the legal team, said he was arrested on June 8 and brought to the police station. 
    The jailed MNA claimed that there were snakes, scorpions and mice in his jail cell and added that he was first kept in Multan Jail and was then transferred to a prison in Dera Ghazi Khan. 
    Dasti also told the legal team that the jail authorities deprived him of sleep for many days and he was not fed during Ramazan. 
    Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah earlier had constituted a medical board to probe Dasti's claim of being tortured.
    The medical report by the board found no visible marks of violence, however, expert advise was sought from a cardiologist, physician and dental surgeon on complaints of chest pain, epigestrim and toothache.

    Chief Justice Lahore High Court also took notice of the MNA?s alleged torture and demanded a report on the matter from the sessions judge Sarghoda and the anti-terrorism court.

    The judges will send their report after visiting the jail on June 30.
    The MNA was put behind bars by the Punjab police for forcibly opening a canal gate in Muzaffargarh on May 28, following which the irrigation department lodged a case against him.  









  4. Waqas Dar
    MORO: Former President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif?s abysmal attendance in the assembly.
    While addressing an event in Moro, the PPP co-chairman said the premier had been present in only four sessions of the assembly in the past four years.
    "Mian Sahib you called yourself the leader of the House and prime minister but even Muhammad Khan Junejo attended the Assembly sessions more than you," the former president said making a reference to former Prime Minister Junejo's short-lived, turbulent journey in office. 
    Zardari, who raised concerns about the PM?s attendance in the assembly, said such a precedent would only lead to worse attendance in Assembly sessions by future leaders.
    Talking about the Kashmir issue, he said that the Kashmiri cause is very close to the nation?s heart.



  5. Waqas Dar
    England's Gary Ballance/AFP file photo LONDON: Batsman Gary Ballance has been give a chance to revive his England Test career after being named in the squad for next Thursday´s first Test against South Africa.
    The Zimbabwe-born 27-year-old has battled his way back into contention with a superb season for Yorkshire in the County Championship after being dropped following a torrid series against Bangladesh last October.
    "Gary Ballance could play his first Test since October," said England national selector James Whitaker.
    "He has been in fantastic touch with the bat in the Championship averaging over 100. He deserves to be included and we feel that he will add maturity and experience to our middle-order."
    Ballance´s county team-mate Joe Root will lead the side for the first time since replacing Alastair Cook as skipper in February, although the Essex opener retains his place in the squad.
    Senior bowler Stuart Broad was included after shaking off a heel problem, while uncapped Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones could make his Test debut at his home ground with Chris Woakes and Jake Ball ruled out through injury.
    Roland-Jones, 29, made his one-day international debut last month at Lord´s against Ireland and is joined by Mark Wood, who earns a recall after almost a two-year hiatus.
    "There is great excitement around the first Test of the summer and with the start of a new era under the captaincy of Joe Root this is an exciting time for English cricket," said Whitaker.
    "Toby Roland-Jones is a player we have been monitoring for quite some time and deserves his chance after a strong couple of seasons with Middlesex in red ball cricket.
    "He came close last year when he was named in the Test squad against Pakistan in July.
    "Toby has been in good form this campaign and his ability to seam the ball along with the fact that he can score useful runs down the order gives us a number of options."
    Squad
    Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Liam Dawson, Keaton Jennings, Toby Roland-Jones, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood


  6. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has handed over a list of 546 Indian prisoners to the latter country's high commission, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria.
    According to a section of the India-Pakistan Joint Statement, May 2008 ? pertaining to the consular access agreement ? both the countries must exchange lists of prisoners twice in a year, said the spokesperson.
    He added the agreement required both the countries to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July, respectively.
    The Indian government will also hand over a list of prisoners to the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi.



    On January 6, Pakistan freed 219 fishermen, Zakaria said.


  7. Waqas Dar
    Ukraine's state security service (SBU) said on Saturday that the Russian security services were involved in a recent cyber attack that hit Ukraine, saying the aim was to destroy important data and spread panic.
    The SBU also said the attack, which started in Ukraine and spread around the world on Tuesday, was by the same hackers who attacked the Ukrainian power grid in December 2016. Ukrainian politicians were quick to blame Russia for Tuesday's attack, but a Kremlin spokesman dismissed "unfounded blanket accusations".
    "The available data, including those obtained in cooperation with international antivirus companies, give us reason to believe that the same hacking groups are involved in the attacks, which in December 2016 attacked the financial system, transport and energy facilities of Ukraine using TeleBots and BlackEnergy," the SBU said.
    "This testifies to the involvement of the special services of Russian Federation in this attack."


  8. Waqas Dar
    Sana Mir (L), Mithali Raj (R)  LONDON: Pakistan, looking for their first win of the ICC Women?s World Cup 2017, are all set to clash with unbeaten archrivals India in Derby on Sunday.
    Sana Mir-led Pakistan will look to replicate the historic Champions Trophy success of the Men in Green against India, after having lost to South Africa and hosts England in their earlier two games in the tournament.
    Pakistan Women lost a closely-fought game against South Africa by 3 wickets and took a 107-run beating by England Women in their second match. Some positives included a superb inning of 79 by opener Nahida Khan against the Proteas and a sure-footed unbeaten fifty by opener Ayesha Zafar against England.
    India, meanwhile, have won both of their two games in the tournament so far.

    Ayesha Zafar kept Pakistan afloat with a half-century, England v Pakistan, Women's World Cup, Leicester, June 27, 2017/Getty Images  Pakistan?s all-rounder Asmavia Iqbal has backed her team to beat India and get off the mark in the tournament.

    ?Playing against India there is always pressure. It is a big game but I am very hopeful of doing much better against India,? she said in an ICC media release.
    ?We beat India in India in the last T20. I believe in my spinners that they will bounce back and take wickets, and we will win the match.
    ?Ayesha batted well and gained confidence, which is important before the game against India. We are looking forward to the next game.. In Pakistan they say that you have to win against India, it is very important. We took some positives (from the game against England).
    ?Our fast bowling did well, Ayesha played well. But there are many areas to improve, especially fielding, which is letting us down. If we field well, we can beat any team.?

    Kainat Imtiaz rejoices after trapping Sarah Taylor in front, England v Pakistan, Women's World Cup, Leicester, June 27, 2017/PA Images  In ODIs, Pakistan have never beaten India in nine attempts, but last year the Girls in Green claimed a historic two-run victory in the ICC World Twenty20, on Indian soil.

    India captain Mithali Raj, speaking ahead of the big clash, said India would not be taking any game lightly.
    The Indian spinners led the way with seven wickets between them during the match against West Indies, and while Smriti Mandhana did a brilliant run-out of Stafanie Taylor ? before hitting an unbeaten century ? Raj was frustrated at some late fielding lapses from her team.
    Smriti Madhana celebrates her century with Mona Meshram against West Indies/Getty Images ?We need to work on our catching, fielding is very crucial and it can win us matches.
    ?We still have a couple of games more before we can look to the semi-finals and looking at how Sri Lanka has played and how Pakistan has played, every match is going to be crucial for us.?
    Squads
    Pakistan: Sana Mir (captain), Asmavia Iqbal, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Javeria Wadood, Kainat Imtiaz, Marina Iqbal, Bibi Nahida, Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Yousaf, Sidra Nawaz and Waheeda Akhter
    India: Mithali Raj (captain), Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Mansi Joshi, Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Smriti Mandhana, Mona Meshram, Nuzhat Parween, Shikha Pandey, Punam Raut, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma and Poonam
    Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite and Shaun George
    Match referee: Richie Richardson


  9. Waqas Dar
    NEW YORK: The wait may be over for the names of the twins of music power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z. Signs point to the names as Rumi and Sir.
    The pop diva and rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, have filed to US authorities to copyright "Rumi Carter" and "Sir Carter," ensuring no one else profits from the names to sell anything from fragrances to music.
    The filings with the US Patent and Trademark Office come from an identical California address to an earlier application for the name of the couple's five-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
    Jay-Z and Beyonce and their representative have not commented on the twin's names or even confirmed their birth, although Beyonce's father acknowledged her delivery over social media.
    Gossip site TMZ first reported the copyright filings and noted that they were dated Monday, the same time the parents were said to return to their Los Angeles home with the twins.
    Rumi is the name of the 13th-century Persian poet who endures as one of the best-loved writers of the Sufi spiritual tradition, with verses that celebrate love, joy and tolerance.
    Jay-Z on Friday released his 13th album, "4:44," in which he alludes to Persian poetry on the song "Marcy Me," which describes his upbringing in a public housing project in Brooklyn.
    Appearing to liken his rhyming skills to the literary tradition, Jay-Z raps, "Sufi to the goofies / I could probably speak Farsi."
    The choice of "Sir" is less obvious, although the two names raise speculation that both children are boys.
    News of the twins -- first revealed when a pregnant Beyonce showed her bare baby bump on Instagram -- has delighted the two stars´ fans, some of whom expect a musical dynasty along the lines of the Jacksons.
    Blue Ivy has already appeared in music including on Jay-Z latest album, in a song in which the rapper vows that his family will carry on his business empire and help represent African Americans.


  10. Waqas Dar
    Photo: File The Daesh group of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) lost five senior leaders in an airstrike in the northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan on Friday, Khama Press reported.
    According to local security officials, the airstrike was carried out by foreign forces based in Afghanistan.
    Provincial security chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi said ten Daesh loyalists were killed in total during the airstrike.
    He said the main commander of the terror group for Jawzjan province Mullah Abdul Ahad ? known as Hezbullah ? was among those killed.
    Khashi added that other Daesh leaders killed in the airstrike have been identified as Mohibulllah, the commander of the terrorist group for Sardara village of Darzab, Mahboobullah, the commander of the terror group for Batu village of Darzab, Sadruddin, the commander in charge of the logistics of the terror group, and Faiz Malang, another commander of the terror group.
    According to Khashi, the airstrike was carried out late on Friday in the vicinity of Maryazi area of Qosh Tapa district.
    The anti-government armed militant groups including Daesh loyalists have not commented on the report so far.


  11. Waqas Dar
    Stephen Curry - AFP file photo  LOS ANGELES: Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has clinched a new five-year deal worth $201 million, the richest contract in NBA history, ESPN reported on Friday.
    Curry, who recently helped the Warriors to their second NBA Finals crown in three years, is the first player to break the $200 million barrier, ESPN said, citing the player's agent Jeff Austin.
    News of the agreement wipes away any uncertainty concerning the future of Curry, who had been on a four-year contract worth a relatively modest $44 million until his new deal.
    Despite being one of the league's highest profile stars, Curry had languished way down the pecking order of the NBA's best-paid players.
    According to the basketball-reference.com website, Curry had been the 82nd best-paid player in the league, earning just over $12.1 million last season.
    That figure is dwarfed by the league's highest-earner, LeBron James, who stands to earn $33.3 million next season and $35.6 million in 2018-2019.
    According to a survey of the world´s best paid athletes released earlier this month by Forbes, Curry had earned an additional $35 million in endorsements to go alongside his $12 million salary.
    However, his new deal would make him the world's fourth highest paid athlete -- in terms of annual salary and winnings -- placing him behind Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo ($58 million), Barcelona´s Lionel Messi ($53 million) and the NFL´s Andrew Luck ($47 million) on Forbes' 2017 list.
    'Never count another man's money'
    Curry's existing contract had been agreed when there were still doubts about his long-term fitness, with the player thought to have issues concerning the durability of his ankles.
    However, those doubts have been obliterated during a series of dazzling seasons for the Warriors that have helped him become a four-time All-Star.
    He was named NBA Most Valuable Player during the Warriors' championship winning run in 2014-2015 and the following season became the first player in history to win the award in a unanimous vote.
    He averaged 25.3 points per game this regular season and has led the league in three-point field goals for five straight seasons.
    That remarkable run of scoring included 402 three-pointers in 2015-2016 -- a single-season record. No other player had passed 300 threes in a season before Curry.
    In an interview earlier this year, Curry had shrugged off his disparity in earnings with the NBA's best-paid players.
    "One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man's money," Curry told The San Jose Mercury News.
    "It's what you've got and how you take care of it. And if I'm complaining about $44 million over four years, then I've got other issues in my life," he said, referring to his current deal.
    Curry also revealed he had been aware he was way down the list of NBA high-earners when he signed the deal in 2012, but was happy simply to have the security of a long-term contract.
    "My perspective was, ´Man, I'll be able to take care of my family with this. Blessed to be able to know I'll be playing at least in the NBA for four years and see where it goes from there," he said.


  12. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/45f5462e1aead9ecfd1dfcf019d2c109.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ny8xLzIwMTcgOToxNzo1NyBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPW5SODF3Z01EZ2lxOEVudU5Ha3hlWXc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center] NAWABSHAH: An oil tanker caught fire after it overturned near Qazi Ahmed town on the National Highway on Saturday.

    The tanker was carrying more than 1,000 litres of petrol, the police said.
    ?The tanker is ablaze and the fire brigade has yet to reach the site of the incident,? police personnel told Geo News. 
    The police has cordoned off the area according to latest reports.
    192 people lost their lives in a similar incident when an oil tanker overturned on the National Highway on June 25 -- a day before Eid was to be celebrated in most parts of the country. 
    Death toll from Bahawalpur oil inferno climbs to 192
    JI chief Siraj-ul Haq calls for SC to take suo moto notice of the tragedy
    A large number of people were charred to death on the spot as the overturned oil tanker exploded into an inferno. They included passers-by and residents of a nearby area, who had gathered to collect oil that was leaking from the tanker. 



  13. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/35079aaf4553fe2eb4ad19582dd54534.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ny8xLzIwMTcgODo0MjozMiBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPTNibUprZW8zWjN1SXUvTXNEVnI2Zmc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has called on his fellow countrymen and women to read CIA operative Raymond Davis? memoir, which released on June 27, 2017 and has stirred intense debate across Pakistan and worldwide.

    Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Imran said, ?This book should be read by Pakistanis to understand why we are treated with so little respect internationally.?
    ?The book is a shameful account of how our top political & military leadership collaborated to let a cold blooded killer, responsible for 4 deaths, go scot-free,? the PTI chief added.
    Raymond Davis ? the CIA operative who sparked a diplomatic row after gunning down two men on the streets of Lahore in January 2011 ? has penned his side of the story for the first time in a memoir titled 'The Contractor: How I Landed in a Pakistani Prison and Ignited a Diplomatic Crisis'.
    According to Davis, John Kerry, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, former ISI chief Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha and Husain Haqqani helped in his release from the Kot Lakhpat Jail.
    Raymond Davis releases memoir on 2011 killings, diplomatic row in Pakistan
    The CIA operative tells his side of the story for the first time since he sparked a diplomatic crisis by gunning down two men in Lahore in January 2011
    Apart from the ISI chief, several other officials of the intelligence agency were present in the court at the time of his release, he notes in the book.
    The violent episode escalated into a diplomatic crisis, making front-page headlines across the world and straining ties between Islamabad and Washington, as US policymakers pressed for diplomatic immunity for Davis and pushed for his immediate release.
    According to an Amazon.com introduction, the book offers "an up-close and personal look at the 2011 incident in Lahore, Pakistan, that led to his imprisonment and the events that took place as diplomats on both sides of the bargaining table scrambled to get him out".


  14. Waqas Dar
    BAHAWALPUR/LAHORE: Two more victims of Ahmedpur East oil tanker fire succumbed to injuries on Saturday, taking the death toll from the horrific incident to 192.
    According to focal person Dr Amir Mahmood, one of the injured died at Jinnah Hospital Lahore while another succumbed to the burns at CMH. So far 62 bodies have been handed over to the families after identification. 125 victims have been laid to rest after collection of their DNA samples.
    Siraj calls for SC to take suo moto notice
    Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj-ul Haq on Saturday visited families of the victims of the tragedy in Ahmedpur East and assured them of every possible help.
    Addressing media on the occasion, Siraj urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the incident.
    ?Government institutions cannot be relied upon for investigation. The Supreme Court should take suo moto notice and investigate the tragedy [itself],? he said.
    The JI Ameer insisted that many lives could have been saved if the administration had acted responsibly.
    ?This tragedy occurred due to poverty and deprivation. The government is to blame for the deprivation in this area. Many lives could have been saved if there was a burn centre in Bahawalpur,? he said.
    152 burnt to death as oil tanker catches fire in Bahawalpur
    Scores injured in fire that broke out after oil tanker overturned and crowds rushed to collect fuel
    ?Both the prime minister and [provincial] chief minister visited here but no burn centre was announced,? he added.
    The incident took place on a route of the National Highway on June 25, a day before Eid was to be celebrated in most parts of the country. A large number of people were charred to death on the spot as the overturned oil tanker exploded into an inferno. They included passers-by and residents of a nearby area, who had gathered to collect oil that was leaking from the tanker. 


  15. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/8f0da0c4d5a97d488b25a07907d4367e.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ny8xLzIwMTcgODoxNzo1MiBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPXMyRlBCL2ozU3lqeFplNUM4VHhEU1E9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center] ISLAMABAD: The Panama Papers case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has summoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's cousin Tariq Shafi on July 2.

    The team has reportedly prepared questions to be posed to different members of the premier's family.
    Elected governments not allowed to govern consistently: Saad Rafique
    Certain foreign powers want Pakistan to become the next Syria or Egypt, says railways minister
    PM Sharif?s son Hasan Nawaz has been summoned by the investigation team on July 3 and his elder brother Hussain Nawaz will appear before the JIT on July 4. Maryam Nawaz is scheduled to appear before the team on July 5.
    The summons also asked the respondents to bring forth relevant documents related to the Sharif family's financial assets.
    SECP?s record tampering proved
    Informed sources said that heads may roll as the SECP officials though confirm that the probe against Sharifs? sugar mills was actually dropped in 2013
    The JIT, formed on May 6 in light of the Supreme Court's April 20 judgment in the Panama case, was given 60 days to complete its probe. However, since the original deadline was falling on a Friday, and with the JIT taking a day off on Eid, July 10 has been decided as the deadline to submit its final report. 


  16. Waqas Dar
    Department of Homeland Security emblem is pictured at the National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) located just outside Washington in Arlington, Virginia September 24, 2010. Photo: Reuters   The US government warned industrial firms this week about a hacking campaign targeting the nuclear and energy sectors, the latest event to highlight the power industry's vulnerability to cyber attacks.
    Since at least May, hackers used tainted "phishing" emails to "harvest credentials" so they could gain access to networks of their targets, according to a joint report from the US Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
    The report provided to the industrial firms was reviewed by Reuters on Friday. While disclosing attacks, and warning that in some cases hackers succeeded in compromising the networks of their targets, it did not identify any specific victims.
    "Historically, cyber actors have strategically targeted the energy sector with various goals ranging from cyber espionage to the ability to disrupt energy systems in the event of a hostile conflict," the report said.
    Homeland Security and FBI officials could not be reached for comment on the report, which was dated June 28.
    The report was released during a week of heavy hacking activity.
    A virus dubbed "NotPetya" attacked on Tuesday, spreading from initial infections in Ukraine to businesses around the globe. It encrypted data on infected machines, rendering them inoperable and disrupting activity at ports, law firms and factories.
    On Tuesday the energy-industry news site E&E News reported that US investigators were looking into cyber intrusions this year at multiple nuclear power generators.
    Reuters has not confirmed details of the E&E News report, which said there was no evidence safety systems had been compromised at affected plants.
    The activity described in the US government report comes at a time when industrial firms are particularly anxious about threat that hackers pose to their operations.
    Industrial firms, including power providers and other utilities, have been particularly worried about the potential for destructive cyber attacks since December 2016, when hackers cut electricity in Ukraine.
    US nuclear power generators PSEG (PEG.N), SCANA Corp (SCG.N) and Entergy Corp (ETR.N) said they were not impacted by the recent cyber attacks. SCANA's V.C. Summer nuclear plant in South Carolina shut down on Thursday due to a problem with a valve in the non-nuclear portion of the plant, a spokesman said.
    Another nuclear power generator, Dominion Energy (D.N), said it does not comment on cyber security.
    Two cyber security firms said on June 12 that they had identified the malicious software used in the Ukraine attack, which they dubbed Industroyer, warning that it could be easily modified to attack utilities in the United States and Europe.
    Industroyer is only the second piece of malware uncovered to date that is capable of disrupting industrial processes without the need for hackers to manually intervene.
    The first, Stuxnet, was discovered in 2010 and is widely believed by security researchers to have been used by the United States and Israel to attack Iran's nuclear program.
    The US government report said attackers conducted reconnaissance to gain information about the individuals whose computers they sought to infect so that they create "decoy documents" on topics of interest to their targets.
    In an analysis, it described 11 files used in the attacks, including malware downloaders and tools that allow the hackers to take remote control of victim's computers and travel across their networks.
    Chevron Corp (CVX.N), Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) and ConocoPhillips (COP.N), the three largest US oil producers, declined to comment on their network security.


  17. Waqas Dar
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a special midnight session of parliament to launch the new goods and services tax (GST) which he called "good and simple." Photo: AFP   India on Saturday launched its biggest ever fiscal reform with the government promising a stronger, less corrupt economy while businesses are nervous about the new tax.
    The goods and services tax (GST) replaces more than a dozen levies imposed nationally and by the 29 states. It aims to transform the nation of 1.3 billion people and its $2 trillion economy into a single market.
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a special midnight session of parliament to launch GST which he called "a good and simple tax."
    "With GST, the dream of one India, great India, will come true," the prime minister said.
    "GST is a simple, transparent system which prevents generation of black money and curbs corruption," said Modi who jolted the country last year by withdrawing more than 85 percent of India's bank notes from circulation in a clampdown on under-the-table dealings.
    "The system gives opportunity to honesty and people who do honest business."
    But the prime minister, who has put huge efforts into the economy as he targets re-election in 2019, acknowledged that it would have teething problems.
    Jammu and Kashmir state has refused to sign onto the one tax regime. And GST has sparked protests by traders, while the main opposition Congress Party boycotted the launch ceremony.
    - Tax rules confound -
    Businesses are nervous about the imposition of GST, which sets out four different rates of between five and 28 per cent instead of the one originally envisioned.
    The GST rule book runs to more than 200 pages and last-minute changes were still being made late Friday.
    Textile traders and other sectors went on strike ahead of the launch and many businesses say they are unclear about what to charge.
    The Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, a national traders association that claims 60 million members, called a one-day strike Friday to protest the GST.
    Many are worried because while returns have to be filed by computer, they do not have or do not understand computers.
    "Since August last year we have put forward our demands on GST but the government has never responded," national secretary general Vijay Prakash Jain told AFP. "We told the government, either fix this, or we will strike."
    Most economists agree the reform -- first proposed in 2006 -- is long overdue, but warn the initial shock to the economy is likely to drag, rather than stoke growth, as businesses adjust.
    Credit Suisse managing director Neelkanth Mishra warned that "the next few months will be a period of uncertainty in which no company would want to invest, that slows down the investment cycle and acts as a drag on the economy."
    Rating agency ICRA said that while GST would lead to an increase in compliance in some sectors, it would also reduce the competitiveness of the informal businesses who are expected to lose out to the formal and organised players.
    "Although it is still far from perfect, we realise how much better it is than the myriad taxes we've been subjected to over the last several decades," said Pratik Jain, Partner and Leader Indirect Tax, PwC India.
    "The old India was economically fragmented. The new India will create one tax, one market for one nation," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.


  18. Waqas Dar
    File: Photo  SRINAGAR: Two civilians including a woman were killed and many others injured on Saturday after Indian troops opened fire on peaceful protesters in Islamabad district of Indian occupied Kashmir, the Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported.
    People took to the streets after Indian troops launched a violent cordon and search operation in Dialgam area of the district.
    The troops fired bullets, pellets, and tear gas shells on the demonstrators killing two civilians, Tariq Ahmed and Tahira Begum, and injuring many others, the KMS said.
    Eyewitness told members of the press that Tariq and Tahira were hit by bullets.
    Massive protests continue in the area at the time of publication.
    Meanwhile, authorities have restricted mobile internet services in the district and imposed curfew-like-restrictions in Dialgam.
    The authorities have also announced the closure of educational institutions in the district to prevent students from staging demonstrations against the killings.


  19. Waqas Dar
    Former Pakistan head coach and captain Waqar Younis has clarified his opinion of the Women?s Cricket World Cup after his earlier comment on the tournament?s format sent Twitter into a frenzy.
    The former paceman had suggested earlier this week that the Women?s World Cup be reduced to 30 overs, from its current 50-over format.
    ?@ICC What abt having 30 overs Cricket World Cup 4 Women???Like Tennis 3 sets rather then 5 #Suggestion I feel 50 overs r few 2many #WWCUP17,? he had tweeted on Thursday.
    The tweet stirred a hot debate among cricket fans, with some quick to criticise the cricketer over what they considered ?discriminatory? comments regarding the women?s format. Others, meanwhile, offered their support for Waqar?s suggestion, calling the 50-overs women?s cricket ?too boring to watch?.
    Waqar then took to Twitter again to clarify that his statement in no way meant any discrimination or prejudice towards women.
    ?Lesser overs mean faster pace,, more audience,,competitive Cricket,,no discrimination or prejudice toward Women #AlwaysRespectWomen #WWCUP17,? he posted.
    The ICC Women?s World Cup is currently underway in England and Wales, with the final scheduled to be held at Lord?s on July 23.


  20. Waqas Dar
    Facebook logo is seen at a start-up companies gathering at Paris' Station F in Paris, France, January 17, 2017. Photo: Reuters 1 Facebook Inc said on Friday it was changing the computer algorithm behind its News Feed to limit the reach of people known to frequently blast out links to clickbait stories, sensationalist websites and misinformation.
    The move is another step by the world's largest social network to weed out spam, a battle Facebook has fought for years but that gained urgency after hoax news stories spread widely during last year's US presidential campaign.
    Facebook said the change would reduce the influence of a "tiny group" of people it has identified who share vast amounts of low-quality public posts daily. Only about 0.1 percent of people who share more than 50 posts a day fall into that category, the company said.
    The change would affect only links shared by those people, not their photos or other posts, the company said.
    "Our research shows that there is a tiny group of people on Facebook who routinely share vast amounts of public posts per day, effectively spamming people's feeds," said Adam Mosseri, Facebook's vice president for the News Feed, in a blog post.
    Ahead of the November 8 US presidential election, Facebook users saw false news reports saying Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump and that a federal agent who had been investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was found dead.
    The algorithm behind the News Feed determines which posts people see from friends, advertisers and other sources, and the order in which they appear depending on how users responded to previous posts.
    Facebook, which has two billion monthly active users, frequently tweaks the computer code behind the News Feed.
    The latest tweak will have a negligible effect, said Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor who monitors social media, in a telephone interview, adding that Facebook needs to hire more content moderators.
    "Communications platforms used to employ a whole lot more humans, but what we've been led to believe now is that technology will solve everything," Grygiel said.
    In May, Facebook announced a change that would give lower prominence to links that lead to pages full of deceptive or annoying ads.
    A change in August was designed to deemphasize stories with clickbait-style headlines.
    Friday's change will de-prioritize links from specific spammers, Mosseri said.


  21. Waqas Dar
    Turkey's defence minister Fikri Isik (right) and Qatar's counterpart Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah (left) sitting together with delegations prior to their meeting in Ankara/AFP ISTANBUL: Turkey on Friday said the rights of Qatar must be respected as it hosted the defence minister of Ankara´s main Gulf ally which has been left isolated by Saudi-led sanctions.
    Khaled bin Mohammed al-Attiyah met with Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik at the defence ministry in Ankara, the state-run news agency Anadolu said on Thursday.
    The meeting came as Ankara, which has stood by Doha throughout the crisis, resists pressure to shutter a Turkish military base on the emirate that Qatar´s neighbours want to see closed.
    Qatar slams Saudi refusal to negotiate
    Riyadh has laid down a list of 13 demands for Qatar including the closure of Al-Jazeera
    In the talks, Isik said that "the current issues between the (Gulf) countries, who are brothers, must be resolved soon on the basis of a sincere dialogue and respect for Qatar´s rights."
    Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain announced on June 5 the suspension of political, economic and diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremist groups.
    Doha denies the claims. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the allegations are baseless and offered Ankara´s full support.
    Turkey has provided food and other aid through hundreds of planes and a cargo ship, although Ankara´s attempts to mediate between the sides have so far come to nothing.
    Crucially, Ankara is also setting up a military base on the emirate that is set to give Turkey a new foothold in the Gulf, sending in a first deployment of two dozen troops.
    Arab states send Qatar 13 demands to end crisis, official says
    Four Arab states boycotting Qatar over alleged support for terrorism have sent Doha a list of 13 demands
    Last week Riyadh and its allies issued 13 demands to Qatar for resolving the crisis, including the closure of the Turkish military base and the Doha-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera.
    Erdogan hit back at the Saudi-led demands, saying the sweeping demands were "against international law" and saying that asking for the withdrawal of Turkish troops was a "disrespect to Turkey."
    Yet Ankara has also been careful not to directly criticise Riyadh and previously urged the kingdom to lead attempts to solve the crisis.
    US President Donald Trump spoke with Erdogan on Friday by telephone on the crisis, the White House and Turkish presidency said.


  22. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: The British princes, William and Harry, will attend a private service today (on Saturday) to re-dedicate the grave of their mother Princess Diana on what would have been her 56th birthday.
    The service will be at Diana´s resting place on the Althorp Estate, her family´s ancestral home in central England, where the princes will be joined by William´s wife Kate and members of Diana´s family. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, will conduct the ceremony. 
    Diana, first wife of William´s father and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles died aged 36 in Paris on August 31, 1997, after the limousine carrying her and lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed in a tunnel as it tried to escape paparazzi who were chasing them on motorbikes.
    She was buried on a leafy oval island in the grounds of Althorp amid an outpouring of grief across the world. With the 20th anniversary of her death approaching, both William, 35, and Harry, 32, have spoken publicly about the impact that losing their mother has had on lives.
    In an interview published last week, Harry said the decision to make him walk behind her coffin as the funeral cortege slowly made its way through the packed streets of London when he was a child had had a lasting impact.
    "My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television," he said. "I don´t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don´t think it would happen today."
    Both princes have become prominent mental health campaigners, encouraging people to speak openly rather than bottle up their emotions, and William said in April the shock of losing his mother still lingered.
    "You never get over it, it´s such an unbelievably big moment in your life that it never leaves you. You just learn to deal with it," he said.
    Meanwhile, Harry said he had come close to a "complete breakdown" on several occasions and had sought counselling in his late twenties to help deal with the grief of losing Diana.


  23. Waqas Dar
    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh AD Khawaja. Photo: File The Sindh government on Friday issued a notification withdrawing powers of Inspector General of Police (IGP) AD Khawaja to decide the transfers and postings of senior police officials in the province.
    Approved by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the order empowers the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department of the provincial government to issue the transfers and postings of SPs, SSPs and equivalent officers with direct approval of the chief minister.
    "Chief Minister Sindh has been pleased to approve that the transfers and postings of Superintendents of Police (BS-18)/ Senior Superintendents of Police (BS-19) and equivalent shall be issued by the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department," reads the order issued by provincial Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon.
    According to the notification, the order is in accordance with Rule 9(2) of the Sindh Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1974.
    The government's order of August 9, 2016, whereby powers were delegated to the IGP for transfers and postings of SPs and SSPs "is hereby cancelled/withdrawn", reads the order.
    Issues between the provincial government and IGP Khawaja surfaced last year, when the latter was sent on ?forced leave? in December.
    In April this year, the Sindh government ?surrendered? Khawaja?s services to the federal government as it appointed Additional IG Abdul Majeed Dasti as the force?s top boss.
    However, the Sindh High Court (SHC) suspended the provincial government's notification for Khawaja's removal.


  24. Waqas Dar
    Flooded roads in Balochistan/File photo QUETTA: At least 12 people lost their lives in rain and flood-related incidents across Balochistan, as monsoon showers lashed different parts of the province as well as country.
    20 houses were also destroyed as a result of the downpour and resulting flash floods.
    Streams and drains on Koh-e-Sulaiman faced flooding, prompting closure of roads at various locations in the area.
    Deputy Commissioner Lasbella, Mujeeb Qambrani, told APP that the flashflood water accumulated near Pathar Colony, Jangi Goth, Zehri Goth and Marri Goth and swept away 17 people and several houses.
    Four die in rain-related incidents across Karachi
    Karachi hit with the first monsoon rain of the season
    Edhi personnel and government rescue teams recovered nine dead bodies including three women, two children and four men from the flash floods. They also rescued some locals alive from flooding water after hectic efforts.
    According to the Met Office, heavy rain started on Thursday night in Hub area.
    On the special directives of Commandant FC Awaran, Colonel Junaid Akbar, Frontier Corps (FC) personnel provided relief including food and other items to affected people and also established Basthi Camp near Grid Station Hub for the victims.
    FC personnel also started efforts to search dead bodies in the flash floods.
    The Regional Cooperation for Development Highway (RCD Highway) Quetta-Karachi was opened for restoration of traffic which had been closed due to flash floods earlier near Winder and Hub area by the Motorway police.
    Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to take emergency measures for the safety of the citizens during the monsoon rains in the province.
    The minister has also ordered PDMA to provide relief to the victims including tents and food, and to shift citizens living near streams and drains to safe places.
    With additional input from APP


  25. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Self-proclaimed defence analyst Zaid Hamid is on the run from the court after levelling false and baseless allegations against the Jang/Geo Group. Hamid is continuously ignoring legal notices and is not ready to face the court. He is not ready to appear before the court to defend the false allegations, which he levelled against the Jang/Geo Group.
    As a result, the local court has started legal proceedings to declare  Hamid a ?wanted? person. The court has already issued advertisements against Hamid in newspapers. If he would not appear before the court, even after reading those advertisements, then the court would declare him a ?wanted? person and confiscate his property under Section 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
    As per the details, Hamid and Mubasher Lucman had levelled false and baseless allegations against Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Jang Group of Newspapers Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. In this regard, an application was filed in the sessions court for legal proceedings against Hamid. The application adopted the stance that Hamid called himself a ?defence analyst?, while he was an extremely non-serious and non-reliable person.
    In this application, the court was told that on January 1, 2010, Geo and Jang Group started a campaign, ?Aman Ki Asha?, in collaboration with the Times of India. The aim of this campaign was to bring both countries (Pakistan and India) and its people closer, create a path for flourishing peace and make mutual efforts to uphold peace in the region. This campaign got national and international acclaim. The Geo and Jang Group also started a campaign, ?Zara Sochiye?, to curb social injustices from Pakistan. This campaign was started to bring a positive change in the Pakistani society because social injustices had compartmentalised the entire society into various groups.
    It was also mentioned in the application that these campaigns were completely non-profit and non-commercial, targeting to bring social reforms and making efforts to uphold peace. For ?Aman Ki Asha?, no country?not even India?had provided financial support to the Geo and Jang Group. However, the positive endeavours of Geo and Jang Group were targeted by negative groups to do propaganda against these campaigns.
    Hamid, a ?self-proclaimed? defence analyst, levelled false and baseless allegations against the Geo and Jang Group and started a campaign against them. Hamid not only used the conventional media to fan the flames of negativity against the Geo and Jang Group, but he also used Facebook and other social media avenues to accuse the group of obtaining funds from India to do these campaigns.
    On July 15, 2013, Zaid Hamid, on Mubasher Lucman?s programme on a private TV channel, accused that the plaintiff had taken funds from Indian organisation Doordarshan and a private NGO to run ?Aman Ki Asha? and ?Zara Sochiye?. Zaid Hamid also misrepresented the report of the Supreme Court?s Media Commission by altering the facts in the report. He went on to falsely claim that there was proof of Indian funding present in the report. Hamid had hidden the real facts of the Media Commission?s report and presented the distorted facts. The then chairperson of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had declared all allegations against the Media Commission?s report completely baseless.
    The above-mentioned accusations against the plaintiff were part of the propaganda campaign. The motive of levelling such grave allegations against the Geo and Jang Group was to hurt their credibility and popularity.
    For levelling groundless allegations, Hamid was also sent a legal notice but to no avail. He was also given a chance to seek an unconditional apology from the plaintiff for those fake accusations.
    In the application, the stance was adopted that crimes of such extreme nature fall under the law; therefore, the plaintiff prayed to the court that legal proceeding should be started against Hamid and Mubasher Lucman under sections 500 and 501 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
    It must be clear that the sessions court had sent legal notices to Hamid several times. However, he failed to present himself before the court. Therefore, the plaintiff had filed an application before the court to declare Hamid a ?wanted? person for his continuous absence from the court even after legal notices were sent to him. The court has begun its legal course of action with respect to this application.
    It is worth mentioning here that an application has also been filed in the Islamabad High Court against Zaid Hamid for dishonouring the Geo and Jang Group. In this application, the court was informed that Hamid had levelled baseless accusations against the Geo and Jang Group.
    In ARY?s programme ?Khara Sach? on October 25, 2013, Lucman had wrongly accused Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Jang Group of Newspapers Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman for having a connection with India?s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
    Hamid was also present on this show. He also wrongly accused the Geo and Jang Group of treason. He also said that in this regard, the relations of Geo Group and RAW and Indian intelligence agencies will come to the forefront, adding that this will become even a bigger scandal than the Memo scandal, highlighting how a media group?s journalism turned into rebellion.
    Hamid also levelled these erroneous charges on the plaintiff using social media simultaneously. On the other hand, Hamid was not able to produce any evidence before the Islamabad High Court in this case. As per the current situation, advertisements against Hamid have been given in national newspapers. If Hamid would fail to appear before the court now, he will be declared a ?wanted? person and his property will also be confiscated.
    It is important to note that Mubasher Lucman is facing the trial in Karachi?s local court in this case. He is appearing before the court. It is also worth-mentioning here that ARY has already lost the legal battle in a UK court in this regard and a heavy fine was also imposed on ARY. In the UK court, ARY had accepted that it had no evidence for the allegations levelled against the Geo and Jang Group in its programmes.
    This story was originally published in The News


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