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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    Despite political tensions between the two countries, the players of Pakistan and India continue to enjoy a cordial relationship with each other as the players themselves from both the teams have mentioned it several times.

    The latest example of this emerged when Azhar Ali tweeted pictures Indian stars MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh with his sons.
    Earlier before the Pakistan-India final, pictures of Dhoni with the son of Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed had also emerged on social media.




  2. Waqas Dar
    QUETTA: Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Tuesday said the people of Balochistan question Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's claims of development. 
    "There is only unemployment and hunger in Balochistan," said Bilawal while addressing his party workers and added that the incumbent government does not care about the people.  
    Referring to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Sharif family for alleged corruption, the PPP chairman said Nawaz could be seen panicking after being interviewed by the investigation team. 




  3. Waqas Dar
    MOGADISHU: At least 10 people were killed Tuesday when Al-Shabaab drove an explosives-laden minibus into local government offices in the Somali capital Mogadishu, according to the security ministry.
    The minibus rammed through a security barrier outside offices in the southern district of Wadajir, injuring nine people including the district´s top government official.
    "More than 10 people died in the blast which was carried out by the Shabaab group and nine others are wounded," said security ministry spokesman Ahmed Mohamud Mohamed.
    Most of the dead were civilians, he said.
    "Security guards tried to stop (the minibus) but it managed to get in and the vehicle blew up," local security official Omar Adan told AFP.
    Another security official, Abdi Jilibey, said more than 18 people were injured and that some of the bodies were so badly burnt as to be unrecognisable.
    The attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab militants.
    "A suicide bomber drove a vehicle loaded with explosives onto the district headquarters which was the target, and where district authorities and intelligence officials were meeting at the time," said a statement carried by pro-Shabaab website somalimemo.net.
    Last Thursday, at least 18 people were killed when six Shabaab militants launched a strike on two neighbouring restaurants in Mogadishu.

    After a massive blast from a suicide car bombing, the gunmen roamed the restaurants, killing people they found trapped inside before security forces intervened and killed them.
    The Shabaab group has been fighting for the last decade to overthrow successive internationally-backed governments in Mogadishu.
    It has also launched attacks in Kenya and Uganda, both contributors to a 22,000-strong African Union force in the country.
    Although pushed out of the capital in 2011, the group still controls parts of the countryside and launches regular suicide bombings and raids in the capital against civilian, government and military targets.


  4. Waqas Dar
    PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has launched a technology visa for start-up founders employees and investors to create world-leading companies, reported CNBC.  

    The visa will make it easier for foreign talent to work in France while the new regulation will also support start-ups with money. 
    The fast-tracked procedure will allow individuals to obtain a residence permit in France know as the "Talent Passport". The permit will be valid for four years and will be extended to immediate family members. 
    "I want France to attract new entrepreneurs, new researchers, and be the nation for innovation and start-ups," Macron told CNBC on the sidelines of the Viva Tech conference in Paris.

    "I want this country to become a country of unicorns," the French President added later during a keynote speech on Thursday, according to a translation.
    The French president added that talent often leaves France as the environment in the country is not attractive enough. 
    "The key is training and keeping talent in the country."
    Macron also proposed a European Venture Fund that can support start-ups as they grow. 
    Venture capital investment in France hit $1.6 billion in 2016, while it was $1.7bn in 2015.








  6. Waqas Dar
    ANKARA: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has arrived in Turkey on an official visit, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said on Tuesday.

    On arrival, COAS visited Ataturk Mausoleum and laid floral wreath to pay homage to the father of Turkish nation and penned down his respects on the visitor?s book.
    COAS visited Turkish Land Force Headquarters where he was received by General Salih Zeki Çolak, Commander Turkish Land Forces and was presented guard of honour.
    At the Turkish Land Force Headquarters, COAS was briefed on the regional security situation as well as the Turkish Land Forces and their various undertakings in field of training, defence production and peacekeeping operations.
    ISPR said that COAS was awarded the Legion of Merit in a simple and graceful ceremony in recognition of his services for promotion of Pakistan-Turkey defence ties.
    Speaking on the occasion, COAS underscored the special place that Turkey enjoys in the hearts of all Pakistanis. He dedicated the award to the Shuhada of both Pakistani and Turkish Armed Forces.
    Later, COAS called on chief of Turkish General Staff, General Hulusi Akar and discussed matters related to regional security and the role Armed Forces of both countries play towards peace and stability.
    The two military leaders agreed to further enhance defence cooperation in multiple fields. Turkish military leadership was greatly appreciative of the role Pakistan Army plays against terrorism as well as in peace keeping operations and as a factor of stability in a very volatile region.


  7. Waqas Dar
    WASHINGTON: Google is stepping up its efforts to block "extremist and terrorism-related videos" over its platforms, using a combination of technology and human monitors.
    The measures announced Sunday come on the heels of similar efforts unveiled by Facebook last week, and follow a call by the Group of Seven leaders last month for the online giants to do more to curb online extremist content.
    "While we and others have worked for years to identify and remove content that violates our policies, the uncomfortable truth is that we, as an industry, must acknowledge that more needs to be done," said a blog post by Google general counsel Kent Walker.
    Walker said Google would devote more resources to apply artificial intelligence to suppress YouTube videos used in support of extremist actions.
    "This can be challenging: a video of a terrorist attack may be informative news reporting if broadcast by the BBC, or glorification of violence if uploaded in a different context by a different user," he said.
    "We will now devote more engineering resources to apply our most advanced machine learning research to train new ´content classifiers´ to help us more quickly identify and remove extremist and terrorism-related content."
    Google acknowledged that technology alone cannot solve the problem, and said that it would "greatly increase the number of independent experts" on the watch for videos that violate its guidelines.
    "Machines can help identify problematic videos, but human experts still play a role in nuanced decisions about the line between violent propaganda and religious or newsworthy speech," Walker said.
    Google plans to add 50 non-government organisations to the 63 it already works with to filter inappropriate content.
    "This allows us to benefit from the expertise of specialized organizations working on issues like hate speech, self-harm, and terrorism," Walker wrote.
    "We will also expand our work with counter-extremist groups to help identify content that may be being used to radicalise and recruit extremists."
    A similar initiative was announced last week by Facebook, which earlier this year said it was adding 3,000 staff to track and remove violent video content.
    Google´s Walker said the online giant would start taking "a tougher stance on videos that do not clearly violate our policies," including videos that "contain inflammatory religious or supremacist content."
    He said YouTube would expand its role in counter-radicalisation efforts using an approach that "harnesses the power of targeted online advertising" to reach potential recruits for extremist groups and offers "video content that debunks terrorist recruiting messages."


  8. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has frozen the bank accounts of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) employees for not filing tax returns, FBR sources told Geo News.
    The step has put the salaries of the IESCO employees in limbo. According to IESCO sources, employees would not be able to get salaries if the accounts are not unfrozen in two days.


  9. Waqas Dar
    Bollywood powerhouse performer Deepika Padukone is having a lucky year. First making a transition to Hollywood, the actress has now received a nomination for Action Movie Actress for her film ?xXx: Return of Xander Cage?.
    The actress would be fighting for the Teen Choice Award along with none other than ?Wonder Woman?, Gal Gadot.
    Other nominees are Michelle Rodriguez for ?The Fate of The Furious?, Kaya Scodelario for ?Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales? and costars Nina Dobrev and Ruby Rose.
    The award ceremony would be held on August 13 in Los Angeles.
    ?


  10. Waqas Dar
    Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced Rs10 million as prize money for each player of the winning Champions Trophy team. 
    The victorious cricketers arrived amid tight security earlier in the wee hours of Tuesday, and were greeted with thousands of joyous fans who chanted patriotic songs and welcomed the players with garlands.
    A young Pakistan team stunned the world and created history on Sunday, thrashing an in-form and star-studded Indian side by 180 runs in the Champions Trophy finale at The Oval.


      


  11. Waqas Dar
    File Photo - Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne reacts during a media conference, regarding Indonesia?s military suspension with Australia, in Sydney, Australia, January 5, 2017. REUTERS Australia said on Tuesday it had suspended air strikes into Syria following the US downing of a Syrian military jet and Russia's subsequent threat against US-led coalition aircraft.
    Russia said on Monday it would treat US-led coalition aircraft flying west of the River Euphrates in Syria as potential targets and track them with missile systems and military aircraft, but stopped short of saying it would shoot them down.
    "As a precautionary measure, Australian Defence Force (ADF) strike operations into Syria have temporarily ceased," Australia's Department of Defence said in a statement.
    Russia made clear it was changing its military posture in response to the US downing of a Syrian military jet on Sunday, something Damascus said was the first such incident since the start of the country's conflict in 2011.
    "ADF personnel are closely monitoring the air situation in Syria and a decision on the resumption of ADF air operations in Syria will be made in due course," Australia's Department of Defence said, adding its operations in Iraq would continue as part of the coalition.
    "Australian Defence Force protection is regularly reviewed in response to a range of potential threats," it said.


  12. Waqas Dar
    Photo: File KABUL: Taliban gunmen have killed eight Afghan guards working at the largest American base in Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday, as the US appears set to boost its troop presence in the country.
    The guards were ambushed near Bagram base north of Kabul as they were driving home in a convoy late Monday, said district governor Abdul Shakoor Quddusi.
    "They were all local residents serving as guards at Bagram," he said, adding that two other guards were wounded.
    The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came as the insurgents intensify their nationwide spring offensive against Western and government targets.
    Washington is soon expected to announce an increase in the US military deployment to bolster Afghan forces, who are struggling to contain the insurgency. American military commanders in Afghanistan have requested thousands of extra boots on the ground.
    US troops in Afghanistan now number about 8,400, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago. They mainly serve as trainers and advisers.
    Bagram, around 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Kabul, houses the largest contingent of US soldiers in the country.
    The assault comes after seven American soldiers were wounded Saturday when an Afghan soldier opened fire at them inside a northern military base, the second "insider" attack in a week.
    Analysts say such attacks are expected to increase this year as US troops engage with the Afghan military to double the size of its special forces, considered to be effective in the fight against insurgents.
    The Afghan conflict is the longest in American history, with US-led forces at war since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001.


  13. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Kevin Pietersen believes it was a "poor decision" by England to drop Jason Roy during the Champions Trophy, a tournament he believes the hosts "should have won" in their own conditions.

    Before the one-day competition got underway, struggling opening batsman Roy was given unequivocal backing by England captain Eoin Morgan, who said he would "definitely" stay in the side for the whole tournament.
    But after managing just 51 runs in eight ODI innings so far this season, Roy was dropped for England?s semi-final against Pakistan and replaced at the top of the order by Jonny Bairstow.
    Test wicket-keeper Bairstow made 43 but England, previously unbeaten in the eight-team tournament, collapsed to 211 all out in a match eventual champions Pakistan won by a commanding eight wickets in Cardiff.
    "Everybody struggles, it?s a learning curve," said former England captain Pietersen, who has played alongside Roy at county side Surrey, at the launch of the South African Global League Twenty20 tournament in London on Monday.
    Pietersen, one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, added: "Everybody struggles, it?s a learning curve. He?s a youngster, he?s not going to nail his whole career. You go through ups and downs, he?s a kid.
    "What he?ll learn to deal with is how quickly to get himself out of this bit of bad form. Is he a bad player? No. He?s a wonderful player He shouldn?t have been dropped. That was a poor decision.
    ?Stuck with it?
    "I think they should just have given him a run for the rest of the tournament. I?m not saying they would have won that game but they should have just stuck with it.
    "They were scoring 300 regularly and then you drop a player and you get what you get. It?s not probably because of him getting dropped, because I think Jonny (Bairstow) batted ok.
    "I wouldn?t have done it, but I?m not the coach or the captain."
    The 26-year-old Roy, like Pietersen born in South Africa, returned to form with 92 from 81 balls in Surrey?s One-Day Cup semi-final victory over Worcestershire last week.
    He could return to international duty on Wednesday when England face the Proteas in the opening match of a Twenty20 series at Southampton.
    Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara, who has been playing alongside Roy at Surrey this season, also said it was just a matter of time before he came good for England again.
    "I don?t think Jason was ever out of form," Sangakkara told ESPNcricinfo during a Chance to Shine cricket charity event in London on Tuesday.
    "I would have loved to have seen him play against Pakistan because I think he was one innings, or a bit of luck, away from doing that for England."
    Former Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara, who has himself been in brilliant form this season for Surrey, with a run of high scores including five hundreds in successive first-class innings, added: "But Jason?s energy, his fielding, his ability to change games at the top, he?s a fantastic asset.
    "I think he just needed a little bit of focusing and advice about how to structure his innings in the Champions Trophy. (At Worcester) he came back, took a deep breath, trusted what he knew and batted absolutely beautifully."
    England?s only major limited overs tournament triumph of any kind came when Pietersen was a key member of the side that won the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.
    Hopes were high, however, that a team featuring Morgan, all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Mark Wood could lift the Champions Trophy and so end a 42-year wait for a comparable one-day international success.
    "England are a wonderful young team," said Pietersen.
    "I know that India and Pakistan won?t like it, but in strength in depth in English conditions, England should have won it.
    "With the fire-power they have got and the players they have got, they should have won this tournament."


  14. Waqas Dar
    RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army has initiated fencing along the Pak-Afghan border in the infiltration prone areas of Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber Agencies, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
    Agencies deemed to be prone to high number of infiltration attempts are being fenced in the first phase, while the remaining border areas, including Balochistan, will be fenced in the second phase.
    The Army and the FC are also constructing new forts and border posts to improve surveillance and defensibility in the area, added the statement from the army?s media wing.
    ?A secure Pak-Afg border is in common interest of both countries,? said the ISPR statement.
    It added that a well-coordinated border security mechanism is ?essential for enduring peace and stability?. 


  15. Waqas Dar
    Police in India have arrested 15 Muslims for allegedly celebrating Pakistan?s stunning victory against India in the Champions Trophy finale.
    The 15 people were arrested in the Madhya Pradesh state on Monday over charges of sedition. They were shouting slogans in favour of Pakistan and bursting crackers, police claimed.
    The accused would be presented before the court on Tuesday.
    Pakistan thrashed India by 180 runs to clinch their maiden Champions Trophy title, in a historic victory featuring a quickfire hundred by batting sensation Fakhar Zaman and a magical spell by Mohammad Amir which removed both the Indian openers and skipper Virat Kohli. 


  16. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said on Tuesday that the government is making the state institutions? role controversial, making a reference towards the Joint Investigation Team?s investigation regarding Panama Leaks.

    Khursheed Shah was speaking to media after inspecting the progress of development projects in Sukkur.
    ?The government wants to incite the judiciary and the institutions into saying something,? he said.
    Shah said that Hussain Nawaz?s picture only appeared, whereas, Late Benazir Bhutto used to stand before courts.
    ?We brought these two brothers back from the exile, now they don?t have any margin,? said Khursheed Shah.
    He further said that his party wants the government to complete five years. ?Nawaz should resign for the sake of the country and nation to bring a new PM,? the Opposition leader added. 


  17. Waqas Dar
    Mohammad Amir. Photo Courtesy: Essex Cricket  Champions Trophy hero Mohammad Amir, who destroyed the Indian top three in his fairytale spell in the tournament finale, is all set to make his county debut for Essex this summer.
    The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the fast bowler for featuring in English county cricket later this season. Amir will represent Essex in the NatWest T20 Blast, England and Wales? Twenty20 cricket league.
    Pacer Junaid Khan has also been issued an NOC to play for Leicestershire county this year.
    Junaid Khan bagged 8 wickets in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy ? the third highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Amir claimed 5 wickets, three of which were the crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli in Sunday?s finale. 


  18. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has approved the reduction in electricity price by Rs1.90 per unit on account of fuel adjustment of May.
    A hearing over the request of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) for the fuel adjustment of May was held in Islamabad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of NEPRA Chairperson Tariq Sadozai. The CPPA has requested that the price of per unit electricity be slashed by Rs1.89.
    During the hearing, it was said that the fuel cost estimated for May was Rs6.77 but it stayed at Rs4.87.
    Therefore, the Nepra chairperson approved the reduction in electricity price.  


  19. Waqas Dar
    Photo: REUTERS Oil prices steadied just above seven-month lows on Tuesday after news of increases in supply, a trend which has undermined attempts by OPEC and other producers to support the market through reduced output.

    Benchmark Brent was up 15 cents at $47.06 by 0820 GMT. On Monday, it fell 46 cents, or 1 percent, to settle at $46.91 a barrel.
    That was its lowest close since November 29, the day before the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers agreed to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months from January.
    US crude oil was 15 cents higher at $44.35 a barrel. It fell 54 cents on Monday to $44.20, its lowest close since November 14.
    Both benchmarks are down by around 15 percent since late May, when OPEC, Russia and other producers extended their limits on production until the end of March 2018.
    "Recent data points are not encouraging," Morgan Stanley analysts said in a research note. "Identifiable oil inventories - both crude and product in the OECD, China and selected other non-OECD countries - increased at a rate of (about) 1 (million bpd) in Q1."
    OPEC supplies jumped in May as output recovered in Libya and Nigeria, two countries exempt from the production reduction agreement.
    Libya's oil production rose more than 50,000 bpd to 885,000 bpd after the state oil company settled a dispute with Germany's Wintershall, a Libyan source told Reuters.
    Nigerian oil supply is also rising, industry figures show.
    Exports of Nigeria's benchmark Bonny Light crude oil are set to reach 226,000 bpd in August, up from 164,000 bpd in July, loading programme show.
    "The increasing August export program in Nigeria and the jump in Libyan oil output should pressure oil prices further in the short term," said Tamas Varga, senior analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates.
    "If we get bearish US oil statistics this week, we could see a test of $45 on Brent," Varga said.
    US oil production has been rising quickly this year, feeding the global glut. Data on Friday showed a record 22nd consecutive week of increases in US oil drilling rigs.
    But Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the oil market is heading in the right direction and just needs time to rebalance, the London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Monday


  20. Waqas Dar
    Funeral prayers being offered for the martyred Pakistan Navy personnel.  KARACHI: The funeral prayers of two Pakistan Navy personnel, Syed Hassan Raza (medical technician) and Khalil Murad (leading fireman) ? who were martyred on Monday ? were held on Tuesday.
    According to a press release, the personnel were martyred during a terrorist attack on a Pakistan Navy vehicle in Jiwani, Gwadar on Monday.
    Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, who was present at the funeral in Karachi, condemned the gory attack on the Pakistan Navy personnel and consoled the bereaved families.
    The naval chief expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the incident, saying that such heinous and cowardly acts cannot deter the national resolve of Pakistan Navy to stand against terrorism.
    The admiral added that the sacrifices of the martyred people for national defence and to root out terrorism from the country are highly praiseworthy. He maintained that handful of terrorists cannot succeed in their nefarious design of destabilising the country.
    The naval chief reiterated that Pakistan Navy, in collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies, is committed to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the country.
    The admiral prayed for eternal peace of the martyred souls and grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.
    Two Pakistan Navy personnel martyred in Jiwani gun attack
    Three other personnel were injured in the attack.
    The naval chief also visited the injured personnel at PNS Shifa hospital in Karachi and also met families of the deceased and injured.
    Besides Pakistan Navy senior officials, personnel of sister services, relatives, friends and a large number of people also attended the funeral.


  21. Waqas Dar
    Elmar Degenhart, CEO of German tyre company Continental, poses for the media before the annual news conference in Hanover, Germany March 2, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS Continental said on Tuesday it would join a self-driving platform developed by BMW, Intel and Mobileye with the German auto parts and tire maker handling integration of components and software.

    The costs to integrate hardware, software and data and the accelerating pace of development of self-driving vehicles has sparked a growing number of alliances between automakers and suppliers.
    Continental, the world's second-biggest supplier to carmakers by sales, said it would play a key role in commercialising the new platform, which is to be sold to other auto manufacturers.
    "We can meet the steep demands in autonomous driving through an industry-wide collaboration more comprehensively, rapidly and at lower costs than by going alone," Chief Executive Elmar Degenhart said in an emailed statement.
    BMW already last year joined forces with US chipmaker Intel and Mobileye, the Israeli vision system and mapping expert on the self-driving platform, which is targeted for production in 2021. U.S. parts maker Delphi Automotive has since joined the tie-up.
    In April, Germany's Daimler formed a similar alliance with supplier Robert Bosch [ROBG.UL] to speed development of self-driving vehicles.
    "I think Wendy's woke them up," he said.


  22. Waqas Dar
    A sign advertising hamburgers made with fresh beef is seen at a McDonald's restaurant in Dallas, Texas, U.S. April 18, 2017. Picture taken April 18, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS Joe Jasper, a former McDonald's executive who owns 20 restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, has been deeply involved in the effort. He described the new Quarter Pounder as "the best burger in our industry, but more importantly, (one delivered) at the speed of McDonald's."
    Trouble is, the "speed of McDonald's" isn't as fast as that of many of its competitors.
    The average service time at a McDonald's drive-through last year was 208.2 seconds, according to a study published by QSR magazine, an industry publication. That's well behind industry leader Wendy's at 169.1 seconds, according to the survey. Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts and KFC all beat McDonald's too.
    Claudia Barcenas, assistant manager at a McDonald's off Dallas' Central Expressway, says her counter and drive-through staff inform patrons that fresh-beef Quarter Pounders can be delayed, particularly if the sandwiches are ordered well-done.
    "We have to explain that it takes a bit longer. Perhaps a minute," Barcenas said.
    Whether that's worth it for McDonald's customers remains to be seen as the experiment goes nationwide.
    Juan Rodriguez waited on his lunch break for a fresh-beef Quarter Pounder at the drive-through of another Dallas McDonald's outlet about nine miles from Barcenas' store. At the three-minute mark, the 20-year-old was getting restless.
    "If it's better, I don't mind waiting," Rodriguez said. "But if it tastes the same, then no."
    Tracy Moore grew impatient as she waited for a Quarter Pounder recently in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in central Dallas.
    The burger, made with fresh beef and billed as hotter and juicer than the original made from a frozen patty, is part of the company's effort to serve tastier food.
    But after about four minutes, it was Moore who was steamed. Like other customers who'd ordered the new Quarter Pounder at the restaurant's drive-through, she was asked to pull into a parking space and wait.
    "If it's going to be that long every time, I won't order it. I'd go" elsewhere, said Moore, who hits the drive-through every morning for a Coke and dines frequently at the chain.
    An on-demand Quarter Pounder takes about a minute longer to land in a customer's hands than does the original sandwich, according to restaurant managers and analysts, even though fresh beef fries up faster than frozen patties. That's because grilling begins only after a patron orders. Traditional Quarter Pounders were often cooked up in batches ahead of time.
    Every second counts in the fast-food business. McDonald's drive-through speeds already lag those of some major competitors, according to one widely watched survey. McDonald's does not share such data, but company representatives told Reuters earlier this year that service times have slowed.
    Still, company executives are bullish on prospects for the popular Quarter Pounder, which accounts for about one-fourth of McDonald's U.S. burger sales. At an investor conference last month, Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said the changeover has created fewer complications than expected and that restaurant operators are on board.
    Some industry veterans, however, are skeptical. Richard Adams, a former Southern California McDonald's franchisee-turned-consultant, says convenience is paramount for the chain's patrons, who may go elsewhere if speed deteriorates.
    "Any time the cooking process begins after the customer orders, the service time will be slower," Adams said.
    The fresh-beef initiative comes as pressure builds on McDonald's kitchens.
    FRESH VS FAST
    The revamped Quarter Pounder is the latest move by Easterbrook to modernise the 60-year-old chain and reverse four straight years of traffic declines.
    It's also a direct shot at Wendy's Co, Whataburger and In-N-Out. Those fresh-burger chains are among the fast-food rivals that McDonald's says have siphoned 500 million US transactions from its stores since 2012.
    Easterbrook's introduction of all-day breakfast in October 2015 was a big hit and has helped lift sales. The company's stock price is up more than 25 percent so far this year.
    Analysts expect the fresh-beef push, along with moves to ditch artificial ingredients in popular items such as chicken nuggets, to bolster sales by addressing consumer demand for simpler, "cleaner" and fresher ingredients.
    The Quarter Pounder makeover has won early support from analysts and McDonald's franchisees in the heart of cattle country, where the product has been tested for almost two years in about 400 stores in Oklahoma and Texas.
    Three Dallas-area McDonald's managers who spoke with Reuters estimated the switch has improved their Quarter Pounder sales from 20 percent to 50 percent, albeit aided by advertising and coupons.


  23. Waqas Dar
    NEW DELHI: Australian cricketing legend Adam Gilchrist on Monday credited Pakistan´s adaptability and perseverance in the face of domestic challenges as key to their rout of favourites India in the Champions Trophy.
    Pakistan, once a cricketing powerhouse, has watched its world ranking slide as top teams have refused to tour the conflict-prone country, forcing the home side to play all international matches abroad.
    Only Zimbabwe have visited Pakistan since a 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore which prompted all other major teams to call off tours.
    Pakistan entered the eight-team Champions Trophy in England and Wales ranked dead last, but upset arch-rivals India with a 180-run thrashing in Sunday´s final.
    "Deep in your heart, as a cricket lover, you can´t be disappointed to see a nation like that (win). We all know their struggles of not getting any international cricket back home," Gilchrist told reporters in New Delhi.
    "They are basically a nomadic team which plays abroad. Perhaps because of that, they were able to adjust well in those conditions."
    It was Pakistan´s first international 50-over trophy since winning the 1992 World Cup.
    Gilchrist compared their against-the-odds win to the West Indies´ victory over England in the World Twenty20 final in 2016, despite troubles plaguing their cricket board at home.
    "The only predictable thing about Pakistan cricket is that they are unpredictable," said the former wicketkeeper-batsman, adding the win was a "positive story" for cricket.
    "Pakistan played what seems to be a perfect game of cricket. India, after a very impressive tournament, just got caught out on the big final day. That can happen."


  24. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: The Champions Trophy could be scrapped in favour of staging the World Twenty20 every two years, according to International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson.
    Pakistan thrashed India by 180 runs to win this year´s edition of the Champions Trophy at The Oval on Sunday, with a worldwide television audience of millions watching the stunning final.
    But some officials believe the eight-team event is now too similar to the World Cup which the ICC, controversially, has decided should be contested by just 10 teams from the 2019 event in England.
    India are due to stage the next Champions Trophy in 2021 but Richardson warned Monday it was by no means certain the event would go ahead, with the former South Africa wicketkeeper saying future World Twenty20s could feature up to 20 teams.
    "What we want to do is differentiate our global events from each other so that they can be standalone and create maximum interest every time the event happens," Richardson told reporters via telephone on the eve of the ICC´s annual conference in London.
    "At this stage, the next Champions Trophy is still scheduled for India in 2021. Whether that gets changed, the consideration has been given to changing to two T20s in a four-year cycle which would mean swapping the Champions Trophy for a World T20."
    ICC Chief Executive David Richardson He added: "The fact is that World T20s do attract a lot of interest, they generate significant revenue for the television companies, but most importantly from our point of view they provide us with an opportunity to give more opportunities to more teams.
    "A 16-team World T20 -- even a 20-team World T20 -- down the line is something that we would like to look at.
    "With a 10-team World Cup we´re hoping to increase the competitiveness of matches and the standard of the tournament as a whole.
    "It might not be necessary to continue with two 50-over tournaments going forward."
    This week´s ICC gathering at The Oval is also set to decide whether to grant Test status to Ireland and Afghanistan, with an announcement expected on Thursday.
    "It´s never wise to try and make a call too early, but certainly the applications of both are very well founded," said Richardson.
    "They both, on the face of it, meet the majority, if not all, of the full member criteria that has been set.
    "I´m optimistic that they´ll be given serious consideration to have every chance of succeeding."


  25. Waqas Dar
    Police line up after the Finsbury Park Mosque attack early Monday. Photo: Reuters LONDON: Following the Finsbury Park Mosque attack, many celebrities took to social media to condemn the incident. JK Rowling, who does not shy away from expressing her opinion on Twitter, lashed out at a British newspaper?s response to the attack.
    After the evening prayers on Sunday, a van drove into pedestrians outside the Finsbury Park Mosque, killing one man and leaving ten injured, all who were Muslims. Rowling responded to the event by tweeting a screenshot from the headline of a Daily Mail article which had referred to the aggressor, later identified as Darren Osbourne, as a ?white van driver?.
    The Mail has misspelled 'terrorist' as 'white van driver.' Now let's discuss how he was radicalised. 
    ? J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 19, 2017
    However, Rowling backtracked and removed the tweet, justifying that as ?many rightly pointed out? the headline had been written before charges had been levied against the attacker. ?I was angry at what I saw as victim blaming in their immediate coverage," she added on Twitter.
    She further criticised the Daily Mail for rushing to a judgement without knowing the facts. However, after Rowling?s first tweet, the newspaper soon revised their headline and has now called the suspect a ?terror attacker?.
    Rowling later focused on how the incident was radicalised and went onto share a collage of British tabloid headlines portraying Muslims in a negative light.
    By this she pointed a finger towards the media and public alike who treat terror attacks carried out by Muslims differently than those carried out by followers of another religion.

    The episode, which has left the country in a rage, is now being investigated and has been referred to as a ?terror attack? by British Prime Minister Theresa May. 


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