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Waqas Dar

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  1. Waqas Dar
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows birds at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul.Photo: AFP KABUL: A rare Afghan marsh that was once a royal hunting ground is set to come under the official protection of the UN environment agency, with the aim of saving hundreds of migratory bird species.

    On the long, arid journey to the Caucasus and Siberia, across the Hindu Kush massif, the Kol-e-Hashmat Khan wetlands outside Kabul provide sanctuary for the thousands of storks, egrets, pelicans and flamingos that head north every spring from southern India.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows birds flying at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: REUTERS But after 40 years of conflict and neglect, their habitat is being threatened by the growth in new homes, irrigation systems, rubbish and global warming which is gradually changing the local environment.
    Now the UN has designated the wetlands a conservation site, the Afghan government said on Sunday, as it also looks to help preserve the water supply of the capital.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows birdwatchers on a small craft at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: REUTERS "There are probably more than 300 or 400 species that pass through, though without an accurate count it is hard to be sure," says Andrew Scanlon, head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Afghanistan.
    They are migratory birds and "tourists" who stay for a very short period of time to find food, he adds.
    At daybreak, the marsh comes alive with the morning chatter of the birds hungry for breakfast.
    Binoculars in hand, Scanlon stands atop a tower that dominates the landscape.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows a view over the wetlands from a birdwatching tower at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: REUTERS  In the distance is the silhouette of Bala Hissar, an ancient fortress that defended the city for centuries. Opposite, mud houses and sturdier dwellings made from bricks seem to spring up at random, hurrily erected during wars for tides of refugees and displaced people.
    It was once a favoured place for royals to go hunting, though Scanlon stresses any activity would have been carried out "in a sustainable way".
    But with the invasion of the Soviet army in 1979 and the succession of conflicts afterwards, including the civil war in the early 1990s, Afghans were preoccupied by their own survival and the environment suffered.
    War saw the marshes more or less abandoned until 2005, Scanlon explains.
    ´Everybody is guilty´
    Scanlon says that land grabbing was common in the chaos of the 90s as Afghans fought for survival. The marshes became a sanctuary, providing safe haven and water.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows the lake from the birdwatching tower at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: REUTERS As Afghanistan´s population swelled with the return of refugees after the Taliban were toppled in 2001, he says the situation became a "tragedy of the commons".
    The phrase refers to an economic theory in which individuals act in their own self-interest towards a shared resource but against the common good.
    "Everyone is taking a piece to survive but all together this is a tragedy, it´s no one´s fault but everybody is guilty," he says.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows a birdwatcher looking on at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: REUTERS Taking advantage of the chaos, factional and party leaders built houses on the water´s edge. According to the UN, about 50 hectares of wild land were taken over, which the Afghan environmental protection agency, created in 2005, is now trying to recover.
    "Some politicians are reluctant" to act, but attitudes are changing, said Muhibullah Fazli, the agency´s biodiversity expert.
    The most important thing, he says, is to educate local residents.
    "The problem is the people taking their cattle to graze or cutting the reed, local people also pour their garbage in the river, they don´t know the scientific value of this area," he said.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows birdwatchers paddling on a small craft at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul.Photo: REUTERS Together with Qargha reservoir, Kol-e-Hashmat Khan, a marsh some eight metres deep at its centre, is one of Kabul´s two water sources. But experts are already worried about its falling water levels.
    NGO Afghanistan Youths Greens was ordered by UNEP to organise waste collection and educate the villagers who will continue to live on the shores.
    This photograph taken on May 29, 2017 shows a view over the lake from a birdwatching tower at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland in the outskirts of Kabul. Photo: REUTERS "At the beginning people didn´t accept us but finally we managed to convince them," says the organisation´s director Mohammad Shafaq.
    "I told them what the Holy Koran has said," adds Fazli. "Birds are a community just like yours... they need a habitat and they need food." 


  2. Waqas Dar
    Hyundai Motor on Tuesday unveiled its first subcompact sport utility vehicle (SUV) for advanced markets including the United States, Europe and South Korea, betting on the model to offset sliding sales in China.
    The South Korean automaker also said it would launch an electric version of the Kona small SUV next year and a new large SUV by 2020 in a bid to catch up with rivals in the booming SUV segment.
    Hyundai looks like missing its annual sales target for a third consecutive year due to the unpopularity of its mainstay small sedans and political tensions between Beijing and Seoul which have battered sales in China, its biggest market.
    The automaker previously sold subcompact SUVs only in emerging markets, missing out on strong growth in the segment in South Korea, the United States, and Europe. The subcompact SUV segment is the top-performing segment, growing an annual average of 46 percent from 2010 to 2016, Hyundai said, citing IHS Automotive data.
    In South Korea, the Kona, which is positioned below Hyundai's Tucson compact SUV, features a 1.6-litre gasoline or diesel engine and competes with Ssangyong Motor's Tivoli, Renault's QM3 and GM's Trax.
    Hyundai is targeting annual production of 135,000 Kona models in South Korea next year, after shifting some output of lower-margin Accent cars to Kia Motors' factory in Mexico, a source told Reuters.
    Hyundai and its affiliate Kia in January said they aimed to increase global sales by 5 percent this year, but their combined sales fell 7 percent from January to May this year, hit by slowing sales in China and the United States.
    In China, negative sentiment stemming from Seoul's decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system exacerbated its sales fall in the country, where it is already suffering from a lack of SUV line-ups and poor brand perception.
    In the United States, the automaker was one of the poorest performers through May, with sales down 4.8 percent in a market that fell 2.1 percent. The U.S. safety regulator has launched a probe into whether Hyundai and Kia recalled 1.7 million vehicles in a timely manner.
    In South Korea, its sales were nearly flat this year.
    Kia will join Hyundai in launching its subcompact SUV, Stonic, starting next month.
    The South Korean duo also plans to roll out full electric versions of the Kona next year, another person familiar with the plan previously told Reuters.


  3. Waqas Dar
    Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker gestures as he tours the exhibition stand of the company at the International Tourism Trade Fair (ITB) in Berlin, Germany, March 9, 2016. Photo: REUTERS/File Qatar has asked the United Nations' aviation agency to intervene in an airspace rights' dispute with three Gulf states following an escalating diplomatic row and trade blockade, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.
    Qatar has sent a letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) governing council in an effort to resolve the dispute after Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain closed their airspace to Qatari flights.
    The Gulf state has indicated that it will ask the council to resolve the conflict, one of the sources said, using a dispute resolution mechanism under the 1944 Chicago Convention which is overseen by ICAO. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because council business is discussed in private.
    Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar a week ago, accusing it of fomenting regional unrest, supporting terrorism and getting too close to Iran, all of which Doha denies.
    The biggest diplomatic rift in years among the rich states of the Gulf has disrupted Qatar's imports of food and other materials, although its finance minister has played down the economic toll of the confrontation.
    PM, army chief arrive in Saudi Arabia to help resolve Gulf crisis
    During one-day visit, Nawaz Sharif will hold discussions with senior Saudi leadership
    Qatar says it won´t 'surrender' in Gulf row











    It is not yet clear whether the ICAO council, which is holding regularly scheduled meetings in Montreal this week, would agree to intervene, and how long any efforts would take. The matter is expected to be discussed at council by Friday, said one of the sources.
    "I would not expect any overnight resolutions," he said.
    ICAO spokesman William Raillant-Clark said the agency could not make an immediate comment.
    The UN aviation agency, which is headquartered in Montreal, does not impose binding rules, but wields clout through safety and security standards that are usually followed by its 191-member countries.
    Earlier in the day, the chief executive of Qatar Airways told CNN that ICAO should declare the measures against Qatari air traffic to be illegal.
    "We have legal channels to object to this," he said. "ICAO... should heavily get involved, put their weight behind this to declare this an illegal act."
    Baker said 18 destinations were now out of bounds for the airline.
    He also criticised Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both members of ICAO's governing council, for shutting down the airline's offices.
    He added that he was "extremely disappointed" in US President Donald Trump.
    "(The US) should be the leader trying to break this blockade and not sitting and watching what's going on and putting fuel on (the) fire," he said.
    Trump last week waded into the worst Gulf Arab rift in years and praised the pressure on Qatar, which Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain accuse of supporting Iran and funding Islamist groups, charges Doha denies.


  4. Waqas Dar
    Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the death anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran, Iran, June 4, 2017. Photo: Reuters   Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday blamed the United States for instability in the Middle East and said Washington's fight against the militant group Daesh was "a lie".
    "You (the United States) and your agents are the source of instability in the Middle East...who created Daesh? America ... America's claim of fighting against Daesh is a lie," Khamenei said in a meeting with high-ranking Iranian officials, according to his official website.
    Pakistan hopes gulf countries? impasse will be resolved soon: PM
    ?Hopeful that conflict will be resolved in best interest of Muslim Brotherhood?
    Iran and the United States cut diplomatic ties shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and enmity with Washington has long been a rallying point for hardline supporters of Khamenei in Iran.
    Khamenei has made several statements denouncing the United States since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, while US President Donald Trump has spoken out against Iran in harsh terms since taking office, indicating that he will reverse the previous administration's attempts at rapprochement with Tehran.

    The Iranian leader has accused the United States and its regional ally Saudi Arabia of funding hardline militants, including Daesh, which carried out its first attack in Iran on Wednesday in Tehran, killing 17 people.
    Riyadh has denied involvement in the suicide bombings and gun attacks on Iran's parliament and the mausoleum of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

    Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who favours opening up to the world, has condemned the attacks, without pointing a finger at any country.
    The pragmatist president championed a nuclear deal with the United States and five other powers in 2015 that led to the lifting of most sanctions against Iran, in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
    But the deal has not led to normalization of ties between the two countries that Rouhani hoped for. Trump has frequently called the agreement "one of the worst deals ever signed" and said Washington would review it.
    "The American government is against an independent Iran ... They have problems with the existence of Islamic Republic of Iran...Most of our problems with them cannot be resolved," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted him as saying.
    Khamenei's hardline loyalists, fear that normalization of ties with the United States might weaken their position.
    "America is a terrorist country and backs terrorism ... therefore, we cannot normalize ties with such country," he said.


  5. Waqas Dar
    File photo KARACHI: Law enforcement officials conducted a major search operation in the metropolis late Monday night, rounding up more than 50 suspects, Superintendent of Police (SP) ? City Division, Shehla Qureshi, said.
    The operation, aimed to catch illegal residents and criminals, was carried out in the jurisdiction of City Division's eight police stations and included Garden, Eidgah, Napier, Nabi Bakhsh, and surrounding areas, the police official explained, adding that entry and exit points were sealed during the process.
    Raids in various areas
    Fugitive suspect Azeem was taken into custody during an operation conducted in Baldia's Ittehad Town, police officers said.
    Azeem, the arrestee, already has a case of burglary registered against him in the Ittehad Town police station, security officials added.
    During an operation carried out in Nazimabad here late Monday night, three drug-sellers, including a foreigner, were detained, police stated.
    Cases under the Foreign Act and Drug Act have been respectively registered against the suspects, from whom cash and contraband were recovered, security officials mentioned.
    In addition, two other suspects were taken into custody during a search operation conducted in Karimabad, SP Gulberg Bashir Brohi said, explaining that the arrestees allegedly belong to an inter-provincial bike-stealing group.
    The suspects reportedly used to sell the stolen vehicles in Balochistan, the police official added.
    While tools to break car locks were found in the suspects' possession, police expect to recover additional bikes and cars from them as well, Brohi highlighted.
    State-owned vehicle found
    A state-owned vehicle, which was stolen two days ago, has finally been found.
    Police explained the vehicle ? stolen from the Frere police station's jurisdiction ? was recovered from Malir's Model Colony area.
    Afghan caught
    Police during a search in Baldia Town No. 2 late Monday night arrested an Afghan citizen residing illegally in the area.
    A case has been filed against the Afghan citizen as per the Foreign Act, police disclosed.
    Water tanker accident
    On the other hand, a water tanker overturned on Sarki Road in Quetta on Monday night, crushing two bikes underneath it, rescue sources said.
    Five people, including a little girl, came under the water tanker and were left injured. The wounded were subsequently transferred to a local hospital, rescue officials stated.
    Freight-train bogie derailment
    One bogie of a freight train en route from Punjab to Karachi derailed near Sukkur, causing hindrances in rail traffic, rescue officers said. The down track was consequently closed off and a rescue train was sent off for aid.
    Cellular tower blast
    A blast occurred near a cellular network tower in Sariab, Quetta, late Monday night.
    However, no injuries or fatalities were reported. The cause of the blast, on the other hand, was not determined as of reporting time.


  6. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif expressed hope that the current impasse in the Gulf countries will be resolved soon in the best interest of the Muslim Brotherhood.

    The premier returned to Pakistan early Tuesday from his one-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
    PM Sharif and Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz discussed the emerging situation in the Gulf countries earlier on Monday.

    PM leaves for home after day-long visit to Saudi Arabia to talk Gulf crisis
    PM visited the Kingdom with regard to the prevailing tensions between Qatar and the Gulf states
    The premier was accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.

    Sharif reaffirmed strong commitment of the people and government of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia?s territorial integrity and sovereignty and the safety of Harmain-Al-Sharifain.
    The premier expressed solidarity with the Saudi Arabia and said the Kingdom holds a very special place in the hearts of Pakistanis.
    King Aziz thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and lauded Pakistan for its exceptional success in the war against extremism and terrorism.
    He also reiterated strong commitment and support of the Kingdom for all issues of interest for Pakistan, including matters of its national security.




  7. Waqas Dar
    British Prime Minister Theresa May took the blame for the ruling Conservatives' disastrous performance at last week's elections, as she faced her party's angry MPs on Monday, seeking to ward off any challenge to her leadership.
    "I got us into this mess, and I'm going to get us out," May told Conservatives MPs during the meeting in Westminster.
    May's Conservatives unexpectedly lost their majority in parliament in Thursday's snap general election, causing political chaos ahead of Brexit talks with the European Union set to start next week and prompting calls -- from within her own party -- for her resignation.
    But one MP present at the meeting said there was no discussion of a leadership contest, adding "she's won, she's got to be prime minister".
    The chaos has also weighed on the pound, which has plunged almost two percent since Thursday, and the government may have to delay the announcement of its policy plans to parliament.
    May vowed to stay on despite the poor results, and on Sunday unveiled a largely unchanged new cabinet, which met for the first time on Monday.
    The Conservative Party fell eight seats short of retaining its parliamentary majority, and is now in talks with Northern Ireland's ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) -- which won 10 seats -- to forge an informal alliance.
    DUP leader Arlene Foster is due to meet May on Tuesday for crunch talks, which could force the delay of the government's presentation of its legislative programme to parliament by Queen Elizabeth II, due on June 19.
    "Obviously until we have that we can't agree the final details of the Queen's Speech," said May's deputy Damian Green, referring to an agreement with the DUP.
    'Walk away' with no deal

    Brexit minister David Davis insisted the government still aimed to take Britain out of the EU single market in order "to take back control of our borders".
    He also told BBC radio that the government would "walk away" without a deal if the talks break down on ending Britain's four-decade membership of the European bloc.
    But Ruth Davidson, the pro-EU leader of the Conservatives in Scotland, called on May to "reopen" the government's Brexit plans.
    Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said May's government lacked the credibility necessary for Brexit talks and should delay the negotiations.
    And according to The Daily Telegraph, some of the most senior members of May's team have held "secret talks" with members of the opposition Labour Party to ensure a soft Brexit.
    They hope to force May to make concessions on immigration, the customs union and the single market, the newspaper reported on Tuesday.
    'Dead woman walking'

    May has a busy schedule on Tuesday, hosting a cabinet meeting and talks with the DUP leader before travelling to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron.
    Brexit will likely be on the agenda at the Paris meeting, after May confirmed she will stick to the negotiating timetable.
    "Going abroad and being seen to be the prime minister and talking to the president of France... is a classic move to shore up authority at home," said Colin Talbot, professor of government at the University of Manchester.
    May tried to reassert her shattered authority at the weekend by announcing her new cabinet -- with no changes among her top team.
    In a surprise move, Michael Gove was appointed environment and agriculture minister less than a year after the prime minister sacked him as justice minister.
    After the Labour party made hefty electoral gains by focusing heavily on social issues, May listed areas such as education and housing as top policy priorities.
    May has shown little public contrition for her electoral gamble that backfired spectactularly, but was forced to accept the resignations of her two top aides -- reportedly a requirement by cabinet colleagues for allowing her to stay in office.
    Concern over DUP deal

    DUP leader Foster said there had been "positive engagement" so far.
    "We are going into these talks with the national interest at heart. The union as I've said before is our guiding star," she said.
    Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the government was not looking at a formal coalition but would seek assurances that the DUP would vote with May "on the big things".
    He stressed he did not share their ultra-conservative views on issues such as abortion and homosexuality, which have caused disquiet among many Conservatives.
    The deal has also caused consternation in Dublin, with Irish premier Enda Kenny warning such an alliance could upset Northern Ireland's fragile peace.
    London's neutrality is key to the delicate balance of power in Northern Ireland, which was once plagued by violence over Britain's control of the province.


  8. Waqas Dar
    A continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Tuesday.
    A shallow westerly wave is present over upper parts of the country.
    Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country in the next twenty-four hours. However, rain and thunderstorm are expected at few places in Sargodha, Faisalabad, Hazara divisions, Kashmir and its adjoining hilly areas the MET said.
    Past weather:
    The weather remained hot and dry in most parts of the country. However, rain and thunderstorm with gusty winds occurred at isolated places in Quetta division and Kashmir.
    Rainfall in the last 24 Hours (mm):
    Kashmir: Garidupatta 05, Balochistan: Barkhan 04.
    Today's highest maximum temperatures:
    Dadu, Sibbi, Larkana 46°C, Nokkundi, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Rahimyarkhan, Sukkur 45°C.


    Date Courtesy: Pakistan Meteorological Department 


  9. Waqas Dar
    How do baby birds learn the song unique to their species? Is it drilled into their tiny brains by their parents, or do they hatch pre-programmed?
    On Monday, researchers offered intriguing evidence that the distinct melodies of at least some songbirds are encoded in their genes.
    Flycatchers taken from the nest as eggs, then hatched and raised by a foster family from a different species, consistently harboured a lifelong preference for the tell-tale tune of their genetic kindred, a study has found.
    This can only mean one thing: the ability to distinguish between songs is innate, not taught, said study co-author David Wheatcroft of Uppsala University in Sweden.
    "Song discrimination depends on genetic inherited factors," he told AFP.
    For scientists, bird song is a model for studying the behavioural, neural and genetic mechanisms that drive vocal learning -- the ability to absorb and reproduce language, whether human or animal.
    Songbirds are able from an early age to distinguish between the chants of their own species and those of others.
    Researchers have long been trying to unravel whether this ability is inborn or learnt -- the age-old Nature Vs Nurture debate.
    For the latest study, Wheatcroft and colleague Anna Qvarnstrom swapped eggs in the nests of two flycatcher species -- pied and collared.
    The infants were isolated from bird sound until 12 days after hatching. They were then played recordings of their biological species' song, and the tune of the parents that raised them.
    The baby birds reacted more to their own species' call, the team found.
    This was measured by how much they chirped to beg for food, how often they looking up at the nest opening, and how much they moved around.
    "Nestlings discriminate songs... even when they have been raised completely by parents from the other species," concluded Wheatcroft.
    "This shows that song discrimination does not depend on early experience or learning."
    When the birds reached adulthood, the team monitored which song they decided to perform themselves.
    "They almost universally sing the songs of their own species," said Wheatcroft -- rejecting their surrogate parents' chant.
    "Our study is the first to demonstrate that song discrimination depends on genetic differences across species," the researcher concluded.
    From an evolutionary perspective, the ability likely helps birds identify members of their own species, and to ensure they do not mate with another. Hybrid flycatchers are sterile.


  10. Waqas Dar
    Microsoft on Sunday unveiled Xbox One X -- billing it as the most powerful video console ever made, and escalating a battle with market king PlayStation.
    The $499 product was built with the muscle for seamless play on ultra-high definition 4K televisions and will be available worldwide on November 7, according to Xbox team leader Phil Spencer.
    He introduced the much anticipated Xbox One X, called Scorpio during development, at a Microsoft event ahead of the official opening of the major Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
    Aiming at the hearts of gamers, Microsoft also showed off 42 coming games, with 22 titles being tailored for exclusive play on Xbox One consoles.
    Independent publishers tend to make blockbuster titles available for play on Xbox, PlayStation and personal computer hardware in an effort to sell creations to as broad an audience as possible.
    Keenly-anticipated new games shown off here include a new installment of "Assassin's Creed" from France-based Ubisoft, intended to reboot the long-running franchise by taking players back to the "origins" of the storyline in ancient Egypt.
    Game play on 4K screens, whether they be televisions or personal computer monitors, is expected to be among themes at E3 this week. Enabling ultra-rich visuals also tunes into the budding trend toward virtual reality games.
    Switch supplies tight

    Sony PlayStation 4 has dominated the latest generation of consoles, outselling Xbox One by 2-to-1, according to industry trackers.
    PS4 consoles from the outset could power virtual reality, and Sony sells head gear for those experiences.
    PlayStation has also become the prime driver of revenue and profit at Japan-based entertainment giant Sony, according to executives.
    ?We are selling every single one we can make,? Sony Interactive Entertainment worldwide studios chairman Shawn Layden said of PS4.
    Nintendo's recently-launched Switch has been a winner, with fans snapping up the console and a "Legend of Zelda" game that has become a must-play title for fans.
    Demand for Switch consoles has been so intense since its launch early this year that the consoles are tough to find in stores and Nintendo has reportedly doubled production.
    Switch launched at the start of March and some 2.74 million were sold by the end of that month, according to Nintendo.
    Hot Switch sales also boosted shares of the Japanese company, which ran into a tough patch after it failed to build on the popularity of the first generation of Wii consoles.
    PS4 and Xbox One are both performing better in the market that their respective predecessors, and Nintendo ?is back in a big way? with Switch, according to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella.
    Sony has sold close to 60 million PS4 consoles and will reveal its latest innovations and offerings at a press event on Monday, according to executives.
    "We are in the 4K world already," Layden told AFP. "That is what the future of gaming is going to look like."
    Old games made new

    Microsoft is also courting players by working to make more popular games from earlier Xbox console versions playable on its latest hardware.
    Microsoft also just launched a subscription service for Xbox, letting players pay a monthly fee for access to a videogames library for its console.
    Sony makes a library of videogames available as part of a subscription service for PlayStation consoles.


  11. Waqas Dar
    Rapper turned businessman Diddy was the world's top-paid celebrity in the past year, edging out closest competitor Beyonce, Forbes said in its annual list Monday.
    Diddy earned $130 million in the past 12 months, of which $70 million came from selling a one-third stake in his Sean John clothing line.
    Diddy -- whose real name is Sean Combs and earlier in his career was known as Puff Daddy -- is estimated by Forbes to be worth a total of $820 million even though he has released little music in the past decade.
    But he has pursued a variety of business interests and last year headlined a North American arena tour with other artists on his Bad Boy Records label.
    Beyonce came second at $105 million after her lucrative "Formation" tour, an elaborately staged set of performances that followed her "Lemonade" album.
    Beyonce, who is expecting twins, is estimated to be worth $1 billion with her husband, rap mogul Jay Z, who himself was number 55 on the list.
    "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, who published a series of e-books last year, came in third at $95 million, making her the highest-paid celebrity outside of music.
    She narrowly edged out Canadian hip-hop star Drake, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Canadian R&B sensation The Weeknd.
    Guns N' Roses entered the list at number 11, earning $84 million, after the rock legends' key members Axl Rose and Slash reunited for the first time in 23 years.
    The list can swing rapidly from year to year. Pop star Taylor Swift, who topped the previous year's list by earning $170 million, slipped to 49th place as she had concluded her tour.
    The few non-Western celebrities on the list included Hong Kong martial arts film legend Jackie Chan at number 39 and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at 65.


  12. Waqas Dar
    JEDDAH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left here Monday for Islamabad after a day-long visit to Saudi Arabia.
    Sharif visited the Kingdom with regard to the prevailing situation between Qatar and the Gulf states.

    King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz received the Prime Minister and his delegation ? comprising Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and other senior officials ? upon arrival at the Palace.
    Earlier, as he reached Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister was greeted by Governor Makkah Khalid al-Faisal Al Saud.

    During his stay in the Kingdom, Sharif had discussions with King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz on Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, the issue of terrorism, and the ongoing crisis among the Gulf states at the Royal Palace.



  13. Waqas Dar
    BUREWALA: At least six people were killed, while twelve were left injured, due to a collision between a passenger bus and van, in the wee hours of Tuesday, near Ada Tufail Abad in Burewala.
    According to police, the traffic accident cost the lives of at least six.
    The deceased, as well as those injured in the crash, were shifted to Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital, added police.


  14. Waqas Dar
    Atletico Madrid's French star Antoine Griezmann has extended his contract with the Spanish club by a year, according to press reports in Spain on Monday.
    "Antoine Griezmann signed a contract with Atletico until 2022," Madrid sports daily Marca reported.
    According to As newspaper, "Atletico has revised the player's salary to reward his performance" and made an "economic effort" to convince the player to stay.
    The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Atletico but said earlier this month that he intended to stay at the club.
    Griezmann arrived in Atletico in 2014 for 30 million euros from Real Sociedad, where he started his career in 2009.
    He has scored 83 goals in 160 games for the club, with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2016.


  15. Waqas Dar
    Katy Perry broke down with emotion when describing her depression and offered to bury the hatchet with fellow pop superstar Taylor Swift as she livestreamed her life for 96 hours.
    To promote her fifth album "Witness," Perry invited fans to watch her inside a Los Angeles home for a full weekend through Monday as the 32-year-old singer slept, cooked, did yoga, cuddled with her dog Nugget and chatted with a stream of celebrities who showed up at her door.
    Despite putting her life temporarily under observation with 41 cameras, Perry -- born Katheryn Hudson to conservative Christian parents in California -- said she struggled to handle the attention to her life more broadly.
    "I built up this Katy Perry thing that everybody knows and that's the reason why they're tuning in and it's fantastic, but it's more of a facade," she told the therapist Siri Singh.
    Perry, who said that therapy has helped her, cried at length as she said she struggled with depression.
    "I'm ashamed because of course Katy Perry is so strong, but it's hard because I feel ashamed that I would even have those thoughts and feel that low or that depressed," said Perry, the most followed person on Twitter with nearly 100 million followers.
    "I'm human and I'm living under this crazy microscope," she said, tears smudging her mascara.
    "Look at Katy Perry -- she's so glamorous, she's rich, she's luxurious, successful and, like, Katheryn Hudson -- I didn't have any money, I didn't have any influence, I didn't have anything."
    The former brunette said that her new hairdo -- cut short and dyed blonde -- was an effort to "be my authentic self 100 percent, so it hurts when I don't feel that I can."
    At another point of the weekend, Perry said she wanted to end her feud with Swift -- and broke out into "Let It Go," from the Disney film "Frozen."
    "I forgive her and I'm sorry for anything I ever did. And I hope the same for her," she told Arianna Huffington for the media entrepreneur's new Thrive Global project on wellness.
    "There's a lot of other things out there in the world that people need to be focused on," she said, adding: "God bless her, honestly."
    The two stars' rivalry blew into the open when Swift wrote the song "Bad Blood" after appearing to accuse Perry of poaching back-up dancers.
    Swift, one of the most prominent foes of Spotify, suddenly released her music on all streaming platforms Friday at the exact moment Perry's "Witness" came out.


  16. Waqas Dar
    Qatar's World Cup preparations continue "as normal" and organisers remain confident that stadium construction deadlines will be met, a source close to the 2022 tournament has told AFP.
    Despite the country being at the centre of a diplomatic crisis which has seen Qatar cut off politically -- and economically -- from neighbouring Gulf countries, organisers were unworried, said the source.
    "I think, for us, it's business as usual, we have to continue as normal," said the source.
    "In any construction project there are plans B and C. There doesn't seem to be any issue of getting materials in.
    "I don't think it is something we are worrying about too much."
    Since the crisis erupted a week ago, questions have been asked about Qatar's readiness and suitability to host the 2022 tournament.
    Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others accuse Qatar of supporting extremist groups, a claim vehemently denied by Doha.
    As a result, these countries and allies have severed transport links to Qatar, closing its only land border, airspace and denying it the chance to transport cargo by ship via the UAE.
    The isolation of Qatar -- labelled a "blockade" by Doha political leaders -- also has potentially severe economic implications.
    The closure of the border, which Qatar shares with Saudi, is seen as particularly significant, threatening the import of materials needed by Qatar to complete its $200 billion-plus worth of infrastructure projects in readiness for 2022.
    One construction manager told AFP that they only have materials available for two more weeks, but Qatari government ministers have claimed the country's construction industry could survive for up to a year under current conditions.
    Earlier this year, Qatar revealed it is spending almost $500m every week for football's biggest tournament.
    Qatar is in the process of building or redeveloping eight stadiums for the World Cup. FIFA is still considering whether a ninth venue is needed for the tournament which will take place in November/December 2022.
    The first of those stadiums, Khalifa International, which will also host the 2019 World Athletics Championships, opened last month.
    The crisis has also raised major concerns of yet further instability in the Middle East.
    Another implication is that Qatar has promoted 2022 as a regional World Cup, to bring together fans across the Middle East.
    But it appears that some in the region are not that happy with Qatar hosting, with hashtags appearing on social media such as "UAE will host the World Cup" in the last few days, prompting an angry online reaction in Doha.
    Qatar though has received the support of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who said on Sunday that the emirate would remain as 2022 hosts, and that football's governing body does "not interfere in geopolitics".
    Qatar is in almost daily contact with FIFA but that is normal, the source told AFP.
    However, Infantino's intervention was supported by those in Doha.
    "The statement from FIFA was seen as welcome," said the insider.


  17. Waqas Dar
    Television viewing figures for Sky's live Premier League football matches fell by an average of 14 percent last season, the company confirmed Monday against a backdrop of a huge hike in broadcasting costs.
    Although the drop was partially down on viewers switching to watching games online and more matches being broadcast compared with the previous season, the data published by the Financial Times (FT) and confirmed by Sky indicates a drop in interest for live Premier League fixtures being shown on the pan-European satellite television platform in Britain.
    "As we anticipated, the way customers engage with live sport is changing -- with strong growth in newer, digital-first platforms -- though linear viewing remains important for those big moments that matter," said a Sky spokesperson.
    Sky broadcast the vast majority of Premier League matches shown live on UK television last season that featured the likes of champions Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester City and Sunderland.
    Rival broadcaster BT, the only other company able to show live Premier League matches on television in Britain, suffered a 2.0-percent drop in average viewing figures for the season just ended, the FT business daily added, citing the Broadcasters Audience Research Board.
    "Whilst BARB viewing figures are a useful barometer they don't give the whole picture and are not our measure of success," BT said in a statement Monday.
    "Viewing habits are changing, with many of our customers consuming our content through digital platforms including the BT Sport App, YouTube and most recently in Virtual Reality," it added.
    The Premier League's 20 clubs are currently enjoying the proceeds of a £5.14-billion ($6.5-billion, 5.8-billion euros) UK television rights deal for three years up to 2019 -- a staggering 70-percent rise on the previous agreement. Sky paid the bulk of the total, at £4.2 billion, with the rest coming from BT.
    Recent results from Sky show that its profits have already taken a knock from the huge hike in the cost of showing live football games from England's top tier. At the same time, thanks to the massive increase in clubs' TV revenues, players are seeing their wages rocket.
    Including overseas rights, the present Premier League broadcasting deal is worth £8.3 billion.


  18. Waqas Dar
    A study following more than 1.3 million premature babies born in Florida found that two-thirds of those born at only 23 or 24 weeks were ready for kindergarten on time, and almost 2 percent of those infants later achieved gifted status in school.
    Such very prematurely born babies did score lower on standardized tests than full-term infants, but as the length of pregnancy increased, the differences in test scores became negligible, according to the study, conducted by Northwestern University and published on Monday in JAMA Pediatrics medical journal.
    "What excites me about this study is that it changes the focus for the clinician and families at the bedside from just focusing on the medical outcomes of the child to what the future educational outcomes might be for a child born early," Craig Garfield, the first author of the study and an associate professor of pediatrics and medial social sciences at Northwestern Medicine, said in a statement.
    Researchers analysed the school performance of 1.3 million infants born in Florida from 1992 to 2002 who had a fetal development term of 23 to 41 weeks and who later entered the state's public schools between 1995 and 2012.
    They found that babies born at between 23 and 24 weeks tended to have normal cognitive functions later in life, with 1.8 percent of them even achieving gifted status in school. During the time period the study covered, 9.5 percent of children statewide were considered gifted.
    Premature birth happens when a baby is born before at least 37 weeks of pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    A normal pregnancy term is around 40 weeks, and a preterm birth can lead to serious medical problems, underdevelopment in early childhood or death for the infant.
    The study does not account for why these extremely premature infants later performed well in school, Garfield said in the statement, and did not look at whether their success could be related to extra support from family or schools, or the children's biological make-up.


  19. Waqas Dar
    Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi were on target as Iran confirmed their spot in the 2018 World Cup finals with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Monday.
    It was Iran's sixth win from eight matches in Group A which took the table-toppers to 20 points, while South Korea are second on 13 ahead of their match against Qatar on Tuesday.
    Iran are still unbeaten in the third stage of qualifying and amazingly have not conceded a single goal during the campaign, thus underlining their credentials as one of Asia's football giants.
    On Monday, they recorded their second win over Uzbekistan on the road to Russia, with Rostov forward Azmoun first finding the net in the 23rd minute with a right-footed shot from the left of the box following a through ball from Alireza Jahanbaksh.
    Iran were clearly the dominant side in front of their home fans and could have easily emerged winners with an even more impressive scoreline but for some lacklustre finishing.
    In the 48th minute Taremi drew a foul from Akmal Shorakhmedov, but Masoud Shojaei fired the resulting penalty high over the crossbar.
    The Uzbeks struggled for momentum and failed to break down the famed Iranian defence, eventually conceding their second goal of the match in the 88th minute with Taremi finishing from Azmoun's pass.
    Iran have played in the World Cup finals four times in the past ? in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014 ? while Uzbekistan are still seeking their first ever qualification.
    Samvel Babayan's men, who have 12 points from eight matches, are not yet out of contention for an automatic place but will have to win their remaining two matches and hope other results go in their favour.
    Iran join hosts Russia and five-time champions Brazil in securing a place for the tournament which runs from June 14 to July 15, 2018.


  20. Waqas Dar
    CARDIFF: Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said that during the game against Sri Lanka he told Muhammad Amir that if they take the game to the 40th over Pakistan will win.
    Speaking in a post-match ceremony, Pakistan captain said: ?Thanks to Amir, he played really well. I just told him to play his game and not to worry about the score- that if we took it to the 40th over we would win.?
    He further added that drop catches are part of the game.

    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/fdd76a0259bcdfc15679dffd0a22e4f5.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni8xMi8yMDE3IDY6MzM6NDEgUE0maGFzaF92YWx1ZT1RNUtMRXc2eVZremdVT0Zld2MxSmtnPT0mdmFsaWRtaW51dGVzPTYwJmlkPTE= style=center]
    ?Allah helped us and that's why Pakistan won today,? he said. 

    Speaking on the occasion, Sri Lankan captain Mathews said that the match against Pakistan was a ?see-saw kind of game?. 

    Mohammad Amir (R) celebrates with Sarfraz Ahmed after their victory in the ICC Champions Trophy match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.?AFP Photo ?Credit should go to Pakistan. They held their nerves and are deserved winners. it was a bit of a funny wicket. We hadn't got the runs on the board but we knew we could defend this. And the bowlers did their job, but we didn't hold on to our catches,? he said.
    Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed and tail-ender Mohammad Amir staged a late fightback on Monday to take Pakistan to an incredible three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Cardiff.
    The win has taken Pakistan to the semifinals of the Champions Trophy for the first time in eight years, and will now face England on Wednesday.
    Sarfraz and Amir steadied the ship after the Pakistani middle order collapsed once again in chase of Sri Lanka's 237-run target in the virtual quarterfinal between the two teams.


  21. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/e14a4093bebc211490c2d8f172984220.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni8xMi8yMDE3IDQ6NDE6MjYgUE0maGFzaF92YWx1ZT1kQ0VVbzU4SjE0c0FYUFRjVDh1K05BPT0mdmFsaWRtaW51dGVzPTYwJmlkPTE= style=center] ISLAMABAD: The report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday regarding Hussain Nawaz?s leaked picture neither mentions the name of the individual responsible nor his department.

    The picture of the premier's son was leaked while he was being questioned by the JIT and was taken from a surveillance camera. 
    The report, submitted on orders of the apex court, only mentions that the individual responsible has been removed from his position and sent back to his parent department.
    "The JIT initiated a comprehensive probe and within twenty-four hours of the same had not only identified the culprit but also submitted its report thereon to the Hon'ble Bench," said the report submitted to the court.
    The report added the parent department has confirmed that the departmental inquiry has been completed and appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against the individual.  
    Earlier, the apex court had sought a reply from the Panama case JIT against the leaking of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz's picture.
    Hussain had submitted a petition in the apex court against the leaking of his picture during his first visit to the JIT headquarters on May 28. 





     


  22. Waqas Dar
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington this month, India´s foreign ministry said Monday, as the world´s two-largest democracies diverge on tackling climate change.
    In a statement the ministry said the two leaders would meet on June 26 for the first time after Modi arrives in Washington for a two-day visit.
    "Their discussions will provide a new direction for deeper bilateral engagement on issues of mutual interest," the ministry statement said.
    Trump invited Modi to Washington after the Indian leader rang him in January to congratulate the new president on his inauguration.
    During the call, Trump underscored that the US "considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world".
    But this month, in announcing the US withdrawal from the Paris climate deal, Trump singled out India as a major polluter that he said would gain an edge over the US under the agreement - a charge New Delhi denied.
    Modi vowed India, the world´s third-largest polluter, would go "above and beyond" its commitments, as Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj rejected suggestions India acted disingenuously in signing the pact.
    Ties between New Delhi and Washington warmed during the Obama years as India sought greater foreign investment and trade ties with Western nations.
    But obstacles have already emerged in the early months of the Trump presidency.
    A proposed overhaul of H-1B visas - working permits used by thousands of Indian software engineers to work in the United States - has caused immense concern.
    Modi´s flagship "Make In India" policy, designed to reboot local manufacturing and ramp up exports in tandem with foreign investors, could also run aground on Trump´s "America first" instincts.
    Major US firms such as Walmart and Apple have grown frustrated by regulations and tariffs imposed by Indian authorities as they seek to crack what is a potentially massive market.


  23. Waqas Dar
    File Photo of Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan  ISLAMABAD: The Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident of abduction of two Chinese nationals from Quetta. 
    Chairing a high-level meeting, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed the interior ministry to review, regulate and streamline the process of issuance of visas to Chinese nationals after the unfortunate incident.
    The meeting was attended among others by Secretary Interior, Advocate General, DG IMPASS, Deputy Chairman NADRA and senior officers.

    Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan observed, that there is a need to review the process of issuance of visas to the Chinese nationals coming to Pakistan for various projects and simultaneously to maintain a databank of the Chinese nationals present in various parts of the country. 
    This databank which is to be prepared by NADRA, should be shared with all security agencies, ordered the minister.
    The minister further observed that there is a need to regulate the process of granting visa extensions so as to ensure that the facility is not misused.

    Taking serious note of laxity often shown by the Pakistani missions abroad during grant of visas especially the business visas, the minister directed that all Pakistani Missions are bound to undertake proper scrutiny of visa application forms and must get all necessary details before exercising their power of issuance of visas to the foreign nationals.
    Chaudhry Nisar directed that the the Ministry of Froeign Affairs (MOFA) should be taken onboard and their input be included while formulating new visa policy guidelines for issuance of visas to the foreigners on various visa categories.
    On the security of Chinese nationals present inside the country, the Minister observed that ensuring the security of foreign nationals is a shared responsibility. 
    While the government makes every effort to provide security to foreigners, the visiting foreign nationals are equally bound to abide by the terms and conditions of their visas and inform local authorities about their movements and activities keeping in view the security requirements, if any, the minister observed. 
    The Meeting also reviewed the progress in the registration of INGOs under the new policy framework devised by the Ministry of Interior.
    It was informed that so far 66 INGOs have been formally registered with Interior Ministry.
    The Minister directed Interior Ministry to expedite process of obtaining required information from the INGOs who were yet to furnish complete information so that decision could be taken about their registration with the Interior Ministry.
    The Minister directed that the process of granting formal registration to INGOs should be completed by end of July.


  24. Waqas Dar
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington this month, India´s foreign ministry said Monday, as the world´s two-largest democracies diverge on tackling climate change.
    In a statement the ministry said the two leaders would meet on June 26 for the first time after Modi arrives in Washington for a two-day visit.
    "Their discussions will provide a new direction for deeper bilateral engagement on issues of mutual interest," the ministry statement said.
    Trump invited Modi to Washington after the Indian leader rang him in January to congratulate the new president on his inauguration.
    During the call, Trump underscored that the US "considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world".
    But this month, in announcing the US withdrawal from the Paris climate deal, Trump singled out India as a major polluter that he said would gain an edge over the US under the agreement - a charge New Delhi denied.
    Modi vowed India, the world´s third-largest polluter, would go "above and beyond" its commitments, as Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj rejected suggestions India acted disingenuously in signing the pact.
    Ties between New Delhi and Washington warmed during the Obama years as India sought greater foreign investment and trade ties with Western nations.
    But obstacles have already emerged in the early months of the Trump presidency.
    A proposed overhaul of H-1B visas - working permits used by thousands of Indian software engineers to work in the United States - has caused immense concern.
    Modi´s flagship "Make In India" policy, designed to reboot local manufacturing and ramp up exports in tandem with foreign investors, could also run aground on Trump´s "America first" instincts.
    Major US firms such as Walmart and Apple have grown frustrated by regulations and tariffs imposed by Indian authorities as they seek to crack what is a potentially massive market.


  25. Waqas Dar
    It has been a really long time since real life husband and wife, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya, played on-screen lovers too. Now to their fans? delight, the duo will again be seen together following an on-screen hiatus.

    According to the rumour mill, the two are a part of Anurag Kashyap?s project ?Gulab Jamun? ? hmm, even the name strikes a chord, right?
    Abhishek shed light on the topic, saying a possible new movie is still in the talks and he would prefer the producer announcing things as official, according to a Pink Villa report.
    The Bollywood actor said that the film isn?t directed by Anurag Kashyap, he will be the producer. The project would require a new director, he said, adding that the two parties are in talks over the film and the couple can?t say anything further on the matter.
    Previously, the couple starred together in several films such as Kuch Naa Kaho, Umarao Jaan, Guru, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke etc.


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