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Bollywood star Shamita Shetty became target of immense verbal abuse with her driver manhandled after she was ensnared in a road rage occurrence in Mumbai on Thursday.According to reports, the Bewafa actor got caught in an accident in Mumbai’s Thane area after a motorbike rammed into her car near Viviana Mall after which the tiff was sparked by the two men on the bike.Reports revealed that Shamita’s driver had gotten out of the car to inspect the damage following the hit after which the two men manhandled him while hurling out verbal abuses for the actor.Following the incident, the Fareb star registered a complaint with the Rabodi Police Station in Mumbai, mentioning the vehicle details of the individuals while also adding that the bikers had threatened the two as well.Police reports revealed that the incident did not result in injuries and added that the bike has been tracked whereas the bikers still remain unidentified.  from The News International - Entertainment http://bit.ly/2FXY

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Hollywood actor Ben Affleck is bidding farewell to the avatar of Batman as reports revealed that the actor will no longer be seen as the Caped Crusader in the upcoming film.A report by Deadline revealed that the 46-year-old actor will not be returning on screens as Bruce Wayne after essaying the character for three consecutive films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad and Justice League. The upcoming film is said to feature a younger version of the character which is why Affleck had to step down from the role.However, the actor has helped in writing the story as he also turned to Twitter sharing the news: “Excited for #TheBatman in Summer 2021 and to see @MattReevesLA vision come to life."The film has been under production with the Matt Reeves taking over the directorial role from Affleck in January 2017.“I have loved the Batman story since I was a child. He is such an iconic and compelling character, and one that resonates with me deeply. I am incredibly honored and

Moazzam Ali is a contemporary artist known for his contributions in the art locally and internationally. His mastery of the watercolour medium and his dexterity in handling the technique draws attention of art lovers worldwide. His current solo exhibition at Artciti Gallery, Karachi was a treat for watercolour fans.He has chosen the transparent watercolour technique for his expressions, and uses other elements such as textures, lines, shapes and light to maintain the transparency of the medium. His compositions show vividness, rhythm, veracity and design of its own. In his nearly four-decade career, Moazzam Ali developed his expertise in this field by travelling around the world to study and research. He is a painter who created his own unique, distinctive painting style influenced by the ‘Thar Desert’. He successfully presents relationship between culture and life experiences. The series of figures show sequences echoing stories. His paintings reflect his artistic expressions in a var

Washington: The government of President Ashraf Ghani is steadily losing its grip over parts of Afghanistan even as American forces intensify their air campaign against insurgent groups, a US government watchdog said Thursday.The latest grim assessment of Afghanistan’s security situation comes as the US pursues talks with the Taliban and urgently seeks a way out of the 17-year war.Numbers provided by Resolute Support, the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan, show that as of October 31, only 63.5 percent of Afghans are living in areas controlled or influenced by the Kabul government -- down from 65.2 percent the previous quarter.According to the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which compiled the data, the decrease came as Kabul’s control or influence over Afghan districts dropped.SIGAR said just 53.8 percent of Afghanistan’s 407 districts are in government hands, and experts on Afghanistan say the number is lower still.Instead of looking at population

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LAHORE: Four officials of the Punjab Police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD)  suspected of killing four people  near Sahiwal have denied  opening fire on the car the slain were travelling in.Citing sources, Geo TV reported the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Thursday interrogated Safdar, Ramzan, Saifullah and Hasnain and when the panel asked them who fired the shots, the policemen denied the accusation.They claimed they had only resorted to retaliatory shooting. And when the JIT asked them who were the car passengers killed, the suspects said the slain became target of firing opened by their accomplices on motorcycles.When the JIT asked them who ordered them to shoot the passengers, the suspect said no one directed them to open fire. Four people were killed and three children were injured when CTD officials of the Punjab Police opened fire on a car on Grand Trunk Road near Sahiwal. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2FZWqmY

Samuel L.Jackson on Thursday took to Twitter to tell India Eisley that he was glad to see her flourishing three days after  "I Am the Night" featuring the 25-year old premiered on TNT."Hey @IndiaEisley1029 sooo glad to see you flourishing!! Missed your face!!," the Pulp Fiction actor wrote.Directed by Patty Jenkins, "I Am the Night" is inspired by the book "One Day She'll Darjeb: The Mysterious of Fauna Hodel authored by Fauna Hodel" Jenkins was also the director of "Wonder Woman " featuring  Gal Gadot.India Eisley plays Fauna Hodel in the six-episode series that tells the story of  the young woman who uncovered the disturbing secrets of the prominent Los Angeles family that gave her up at birth and that just might be connected to the infamous 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, better known now as the Black Dahlia.  from The News International - Entertainment http://bit.ly/2FZXIhM

Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor took a safe turn when questioned about the sexual harassment allegations on director Rajkumar Hirani, saying that we should reserve judgement on the topic.During a presser, the Veere Di Wedding actor was questioned about the buzzing topic of the #MeToo claims surrounding the filmmaker who was also associated as the co-producer of the actor’s upcoming film Ek ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, till the name was dropped after the allegations. “I am a huge supporter of the #MeToo movement and this is a very important question... This is not the right platform because our film is as important as the movement.”, she stated.“I know Raju Hirani very well, I have known him for many years and I have huge respect for him as a filmmaker and as a man. I think we all should reserve judgement and be very responsible before we say anything more on this subject.. Because we don’t need to derail this movement,” she added further.Speaking about misinformation spread through media,

Bollywood film and television producer Ekta Kapoor has welcomed her little bundle of joy into her life through surrogacy.According to a report by Mumbai Mirror, the baby boy was born on January 27 and would be brought home to the Kapoor clan soon.The Veere Di Wedding producer is the second in the family to opt for surrogacy after her brother Tusshar Kapoor also went for the surrogate route with his son Laksshya who happens to be quite close to his aunt.In an interview with Hindustan Times earlier, Ekta expressed her love for her nephew saying: “My life has changed. If there’s anything that’s most important in my life [now], then that’s Laksshya. Every day, he does something new and we all look forward to that. I miss him every time I’m travelling on work. You know, the lakshya (target) of my life now is to look after Laksshya.” from The News International - Entertainment http://bit.ly/2CSiL1P

After raising concern amongst fans and well-wishers with an alarming social media post, singer and actor Mohsin Abbas Haider has come forth expressing gratitude for the support he received.The Na Maloom Afraad actor opened up about his earlier post regarding depression, in a video he shared on Instagram on Wednesday, in which he addressed the issue while also extending his gratitude to all fans and fellow insiders from the showbiz industry who came out to send him love and support.In the video posted on his social media, the actor states: “I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for all those messages of love, concern and support you showed about my depression. We all are suffering in our lives one way or another. Sometimes, we feel like talking about it and it actually really helps. It helped me a lot.” “I’m not the kind of person who would share details about their personal life a lot but I guess when you reach an end, it becomes necessary,” he added.Addressing the comments and mes

Acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson announced Thursday he is working on a documentary detailing the making of The Beatles´ classic album "Let It Be" 50 years ago.The New Zealander said the film was based on 55 hours of never-before-seen footage and 140 hours of audio from the Fab Four´s recording sessions.Jackson said it provided an unprecedented insight into to band´s creative process and their interactions in the studio."This movie will be the ultimate fly-on-the-wall experience that Beatles fans have long dreamt about," he said in a statement."It´s like a time machine transports us back to 1969 and we get to sit in the studio watching these four friends make great music together.""Let It Be" was recorded in January 1969 but not released until May the following year after The Beatles put out "Abbey Road" and subsequently split, making it the final album the band released.The footage was originally shot for a

LOS ANGELES: Bollywood's stylish actress Priyanka Chopra spilled the beans about her and Nick Jonas' millennial love story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.During her second appearance on the popular American talk show, the Quantico actress shared  how her husband Nick Jonas directly messaged her on Twitter and told her that they should connect. She, in the short video clip, can be heard saying, "He DMed me actually. So millennial of us! He DMed me on Twitter, saying: 'I've heard we should connect and uh... I've heard from common friends that we should meet. What do you think about that? I was like, 'just text me'." The couple had tied the knot at Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur on December 1 and 2 . Her thousands of fans across the world got a glimpse of the fun-filled episode through a promo video, which was shared on the official Instagram account of The Ellen Show. Sharing stunning picture of her look for the show on her Instagram, the 36-year-old ac

American television personality Jennifer Lynn "Jenni" Farely also known ass JWoww who came to prminance as cast member of " Jersey Shore" has taken the internet by storm by sharing her personal videos from her relationship with estranged husband Roger  Mathews.One of the videos shared by the "Jersey Shore" star on her website shows Mathews hitting her.  The 32-year old also wrote a scathing letter on her website addressing her her husband.She also went on to post  disturbing videos from security cameras, with one showing Mathew pushing JWoww to the ground as the couple fight while in their kitchen.The husband is also seen holding his crying son, joking about being on heroin and cheating on JWoww. When contacted by ETonline, Mathew 's representative declined to comment on the matter. from The News International - Entertainment http://bit.ly/2HGvKJM

MUMBAI: Bollywood's legendary actress Rekha  hilariously reacted when she realised posing next to Amitabh Bachchan's picture at the celebrity photographer Dabboo Ratnani's calendar launch event in Mumbai.Rekha, who found a spot on the list of trends to attend photographer Dabboo Ratnani's calendar launch, abruptly walked away to change the position when she realised posing  next to Amitabh Bachchan's picture. The hilarious video making rounds on internet  in which   Rekha, dressed in black from head-to-toe, stopped to pose for the shutterbugs but flinched and walked a few paces after realising that Amitabh Bachchan's calendar shot was right behind her.Have a look at the now viral video of Rekha from Dabboo Ratnani's calendar launch event: The video is being shared on social media, mostly captioned using ROFL emoticons. "Oh my, this is so hilarious," wrote an Instagram user while another added, "Epic reaction."However, when she posed with

NEW DELHI: Indian authorities have issued a notice to Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for allegedly smuggling illegal foreign currency.The notice was issued by Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The 'Afreen Afreen' singer has been accused of smuggling illegal foreign currency through India for three years. According to Indian media, Khan had allegedly got Rs 2.42 crore through illegal means of which he reportedly smuggled Rs 1.6 crore. The report further says Indian authorities have also grilled Rahat Fateh for smuggling money. If the authorities were not convinced by Khan’s response, he would be fined 300 per cent of the amount smuggled.The report further says if the singer fails to pay the fine, a lookout notice will be served to him and there would be a ban on him to perform shows in India. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has lended his voice to quite a few popular Hindi songs which include Tere Mast Mast Do Nain (Da

MUMBAI: Bollywood diva Katrina Kaif has said that Salman Khan starrer her upcoming film Bharat has been a different experience altogether.Katrina said shooting for Bharat has been equal parts inspiring and challenging, Pinkvilla reported her as saying. “It has been extremely inspiring, exciting, challenging and interesting. From the moment I started prep for this film till date, it’s been such a journey of discovery and learning.”Katrina went on to say there have been so many moments while filming that “I will always cherish.”35-years-old diva feels that in showbiz, you will always go through highs and lows and since the time she has joined Bollywood, Katrina feels that she has grown and changed immensely as a person. “I joined Bollywood when I was 18 and I’m not the same girl anymore because my life experiences have changed me,” she said.After Aanand L.Rai’s Zero, Katrina Kaif will next be seen in Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat opposite Salman Khan. from The News International - Entertain

MUMBAI: Indian singer Shivani Bhatia was killed in a road accident on Wednesday, Indian media reported.Delhi-based singer died in the tragic car accident on Yamuna Expressway when she was on her way to Agra from Delhi.Shivani's husband Nikhil Bhatia, who was accompanying her, was critically injured. The singer’s car was completely damaged from the side where Shivani was sitting. Shivani Bhatia was known for singing remix songs like Dil Ko Tumse Pyar Hua, Shagan and Neele Neele Ambar Par.  from The News International - Entertainment http://bit.ly/2FYLy98

A cutesy picture of Indian superstar Priyanka Chopra with husband Nick Jonas is going viral over the internet capturing hearts of a million people.The recent newly-weds made everyone's heart skip a beat when they a picture of them playing with an infant made its way online. While Priyanka holds the baby gently in the image, Nick is seen caressing his head as they both look at him dotingly. The picture has sparked rumours that the new couple is eager to make an addition to their family soon. Given the fact that the couple just got married and has been making the headlines ever since, it is making everyone gush all the more over the photo. Nick and Priyanka tied the knot in a lavish multiple-day ceremony at Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel in December last year. They followed it up with glitzy reception parties, held in New Delhi and Mumbai.On the work front, Priyanka will next be seen in Rebel Wilson starrer 'Isn't It Romantic' slated to release on Feb 13 and Shonali

MUMBAI: It comes as no surprise that Bollywood's superstar of the millennium Amitabh Bachchan owns one of the most lavish and sought-after homes in India.Located in Mumbai's affluent Juhu area, the actor's luxurious abode, namely Jalsa, is worth a whopping amount of Rs 112 crores (112 million). The regal residence houses actor par excellence Amitabh, his wife Jaya, son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai and granddaughter Aaradhya. Complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, mirrored shelves, fresh flowers, a good helping of warm, earthy stone and wood to balance out the otherwise clean, modern living space, the bungalow is as glamorous as one can imagine. Amitabh's luxurious living room A look inside Jalsa's regal powder room Jalsa's bedrooms High traditional arches and spectacular paintings inspired by royal heritage greet guests upon entrance. This is adorned in complete unison with the rest of the interiors, that resonate with ornately detailed baroque piece

The CCTV footage of Kashif Mehr's murder has surfaced a day after the Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader was gunned down along with his bodyguard in Punjab.The murders took place in Gujranwala's Wapda Town on Wednesday after armed men entered Mehr's house. The footage shows gunmen fleeing  in white car after firing shots.According to Geo News, one of the gunmen was identified as Mehr Amir, a brother of slain leader's son-in-law.Police said a dispute over money was the apparent cause of murder.Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the incident and ordered the police to immediately arrest the murderers. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2Rs6TJd

Live Stock Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plans to develop donkey farms with an aim to boost country's  exports. Officials said work at two donkey farms was likely to kick off at two places  in Dera Ismail Khan and Mansehra with foreign partnership.They said though Chinese companies have shown interest in donkey farming in Pakistan, the government would want to sign an agreement with a company that is associated with the Chinese government.The officials said foreign companies were ready to make $3 billion dollar investment in the commercial farming of donkeys. "We want to sign an agreement after thinking carefully  because we do not want scarcity of the animals in Khyber Paktunkhwa," an official was quoted by Geo TV as saying.During the first three years, the government plans to export as many as 80000 donkeys to China. In the first phase, sick and handicapped  animals would be exported from KP where 70,000 people use donkeys as working  animal.The authorities said ther

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leaders are visiting former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Kotlakhpat prison today, Geo News reported on Thursday.The Jail authorities has fixed Thursday as meeting day for visitors.Muslim League leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Muhsahid Hussain Syed, Saia Afzal Tarar had reached the prison to meet the party Supreme Leader who has been severing his jail term in Kot Lakhpat Jail.Nawaz Sharif is  serving a seven-year jail term after being convicted in a corruption case known as Al-Azizia reference. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2DJiLD9

OTTAWA: The daughters of Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi, whose blasphemy case spotlighted religious extremism in her country, are now in Canada, a source close to the case said Wednesday.Unconfirmed Pakistani reports earlier claimed the children had already fled to Canada, and speculation was rampant that she would seek asylum in North America or Europe.Canadian officials reached by AFP would not confirm the source’s information.Bibi, a laborer from central Punjab province, was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and was on death row until her acquittal last year which prompted days of violent demonstrations.Under a deal with protesters to end the violence, the government allowed a petition demanding an appeal against the acquittal.But Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa on Tuesday threw out the petition, lifting the last legal hurdle in the case and paving the way for her to leave the country.After the ruling, Bibi’s lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook hinted that his client’s move could be imminent.&qu

ISLAMABAD: Widespread rain-thunderstorm is expected in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan divisions), Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Faisalabad divisions), Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir, while at scattered places in Bannu, D.I.Khan, Multan, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, D.G.Khan, divisions, while at isolated places in Mirpurkhas division.Moderate to Heavyfalls are also expected at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Snowfall over the hills is also expected in Malakand division (Swat, Chitral, Kalam, Malamjabba & upper Dir), Hazara division, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.Tuesday Weather:Weather remained very cold and dry in most parts of the country. However, rain occurred at isolated places in Malakand, Kohat, Bannu, Quetta, Zhob, Kalat, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, D.G.Khan divisions and Islamabad.Wednesday's Lowest Minimum Temperatures:

KARACHI: Rain in different parts of Karachi and its adjacent areas on Wednesday night turned the weather cold.Heavy rain was reported in North Karachi, New Karachi, North Nazimabad. While other parts of the port city, including, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Shara-e-Faisal, Malir, Lasbela, Patel Para, MA Jinnah Road, Saddar, Golimar and Liaquatabad   and adjoining areas received light rain which turned the weather chillier, dampening the roads causing those commuting on motorcycles to slip. Rain caused slushy mess and puddles on roads due to poor drainage to the misery of motorists and commuters.As usual, soon after the first drop of rain fell down, power breakdowns were reported in many parts of the provincial capital.Meanwhile, the meteorological office has forecast more rain, saying intermittent rainfall will continue till Monday night, adding that the weather in the city on Monday would be partly cloudy and the minimum temperature would range between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.A col

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to focus on tax recovery from the big tax evaders and bring the non-filers into the tax net.He was chairing a meeting regarding reforms in FBR at Prime Minister Office.Minister for Finance Asad Umar, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar, FBR Chairman Jahanzaib Khan and other high officials attended the meeting.The FBR chairman briefed the prime minister about the progress on the steps taken to detect offshore assets of Pakistani citizens and the recovery of taxes under the country's laws.Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the ongoing reforms in the FBR were part of reforms agenda of the government.He regretted that the previous governments had ignored removing the weaknesses in the tax system and increasing the tax base altogether.A country where 30 percent of the country's budget was being spent on payment of interest on loans, ignoring loopholes in the present tax system

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the representatives of British Embassy Islamabad along with the officials of British Airways called on Zulfikar Bukhari, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development to discuss the issues of mutual interests.Paul Coventry, Head of Worldwide Airports, John Monks, Director Safety and Security and David Craig, International Risk Adviser were part of the British Airways delegation. British Airways officials thanked the Special Assistant for his continuous support and ask for further cooperation in future. The delegation appreciated the world class facilities being provided at the New Islamabad Airport and told Zulfikar Bukhari that by size and design, the new Islamabad Airport is among the few best airports in the region. Additionally, the Safe City project came under discussion and the delegation expressed satisfaction with the efficacy of the project in ensuring the safety of the capital city. Zulfikar Bukhari aske

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman is expected to visit Pakistan from 14 to 18 February, diplomatic sources have confirmed.Saudi prince, during his visit, will also address the Pakistani nation, the sources said.The diplomatic sources further says that the announcement for the biggest investment in the history of Pakistan is also expected during the visit of Saudi Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. Agreements of over $14 billion would likely be signed during the visit of Saudi prince, the sources added. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2HEiTHZ

Karachi: Night navigation system for the large vessels has been launched at Port Qasim for the very first time in the history of Pakistan.The said goal is one of the major milestones that has been achieved by the ministry only in the matter of five months. "I am thankful to God and my team that has made it possible", said federal minister for Maritime Affairs Mr. Ali Haider Zaidi. Before this the port was being used to get ships docked in the morning only. This will not only help in continued operations at the port 24/7 but also benefit Pakistan in millions of dollars. "This shows that hard, honest and smart work can bring revolutionary changes even in a short period of five months" the minister observed. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2CTpkRH

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan hosted polio workers from Swat, who went viral on social media platforms for performing their duties in extreme cold weather, at Prime Minister office on Wednesday.PM Khan lauded the polio workers and paid rich tribute to them.The polio workers from Swat had won the hearts online across Pakistan and from across world after their snow video went viral on social media platforms.#SalamPolioWorker become a top trend on social media after video of polio worker identified as Inamullah making his way at -13 degree Celsius in over 4 feet snow-covered mountainous area to perform his duty went viral.Although the walk is difficult for him – but it's his courage and commitment for his profession which is perhaps taking him forward.Polio workers have been the backbone of Pakistan's fight against the crippling polio virus. They continue to work throughout the year despite challenging circumstances.Pakistan's polio workers travel long distances to make

KARACHI: Leading charitable organization The Aman Foundation has expressed satisfaction with the investigative hearings process and the resulting report produced by a committee constituted by the honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan, which has clearly concluded that Aman Ambulance was not responsible for Amal Umer’s death.On August 13, 2018, Aman was killed when a policeman fired a bullet attempting to kill a robber, who had looted her family a few minutes earlier in Karachi’s Akhtar Colony area as they waited at a traffic light to attend a concert on the eve of Independence Day. The committee set up to investigate the death of Amal Umar submitted its report in the Supreme Court few days ago.The report was submitted by a six-member committee, which includes AD Khawaja, the former inspector-general of Sindh police, and is headed by Justice (retd) Khilji Arif Hussain. According to the report, National Medical Centre (NMC) where Amal was taken, refused to take responsibility for the death

KARACHI: Sindh government has announced as public holiday on Tuesday 5th February throughout the province on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day.A notification has been issued by the provincial government here on Wednesday.According to the notification, one minute silence will be observed at 10:00 am to honour Kashmiri Shuhada.All officers, autonomous, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of the government of Sindh will remain closed on Tuesday. from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2HP1koq

The Health Ministry and State life has signed a land mark contract for provision of Sehat Insaf Card to 15 Million FamiliesContract was signed for Implementation of Sehat Sahulat Program (SSP) in all districts of Pakistan in line with vision of Prime Minister’s Universal Health Coverage.The contract was signed by Captain (R) Zahid Saeed, Federal Secretary National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) and Chairman State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan.Ministry of National Health Service, Regulations and Coordination, in collaboration with participating provinces and regions, has completed its procurement to expand its health initiative of “Sehat Sahulat Program” in Pakistan. Through this initiative poor families will be provided with free of cost health insurance to secure indoor health care services worth Rs: 720,000/- from empanelled hospitals. The program will provide “Sehat Insaf Card” to 15 million families in the province of Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, AJK,

LAHORE: A family of Sahiwal incident victims on Wednesday refused to appear before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that was scheduled to  hold identification parade of suspects as part of its probe into the killing of four people.Citing sources, Geo News reported that JIT members along with local magistrate arrived at the local jail where they waited for Jalil, brother of  Khalil , and other witnesses but they didn't show up.The TV channel reported that Jalil while talking by telephone said "We will not appear before the JIT".Jalil said he had presented his demands and recommendations which also include formation of judicial commission before the Senate's Standing Committee .He said the committee has also called for setting up a judicial commission." We will appear once the commission is formed," he was quoted by the TV channel as saying.On the other hand, the civil judge has fixed Thursday for identification parade of suspects involved in shooting of the

ISLAMABAD: Senate's Standing Committee on Human Rights  on Wednesday approved a bill that sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18.Presided over by Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the committee also set the adulthood age at 18.During the meeting, Senator Usman Kakar said underage  marriage was the major cause of increasing ratio of deaths. He said the requirement for ID card is set at 18 and same should be fixed for marriage for both male and female.Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said government has no objection if minimum age limit is set for marriage. The draft bill would be presented for debate in the parliament next month before being sent to the cabinet for approval.The minister said  said no legislation would be carried out against Shria lawes. She said rights of male and female invidical will have to be protected  from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2BdfhH9

CHICAGO: A life-threatening deep freeze gripped the American Midwest on Wednesday as weather colder than Antarctica grounded flights, disrupted travel and brought life to a standstill for tens of millions.Mail deliveries were suspended, schools and business closed, and residents encouraged to stay home in nearly a dozen states where temperatures overnight sank into the negative double digits, the worst cold to grip the region in a generation with all-time records still under threat.America’s third city Chicago -- where the morning temperature was -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 Celsius), which felt like -50 degrees (-46 Celsius) with wind chill -- was colder than Alaska’s state capital and even colder than parts of Antarctica.More than 1,500 flights were canceled in the city’s two major airports while rail operator Amtrak scrapped train services from its Chicago hub.The US Postal Service -- known for its commitment to bringing the mail whatever the weather -- suspended deliveries in parts

LONDON: Digital tourism giants Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor are profiting from "war crimes" by offering services in illegal Israeli settlements, rights group Amnesty International said in a report published on Wednesday.The London-based organisation’s "Destination: Occupation" report called on the companies to stop listing tourist accommodation, activities and attractions in settlements in occupied territories, including east al-Quds."They are doing so despite knowing that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, is governed by international humanitarian law under which Israeli settlements are deemed illegal," said the report."In doing business with settlements, all four companies are contributing to, and profiting from, the maintenance, development and expansion of illegal settlements, which amount to war crimes under international criminal law."Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan threatened to bar

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked the US intelligence services as "naive" and "wrong" on the threat he says is posed by Iran."Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Trump said in a blistering series of tweets. "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!" Trump tweeted. Although especially vehement, it was not the first time Trump has publicly criticised his own intelligence services.The broadside, which included separate tweets where Trump praised the success of his policies in Syria and North Korea, followed testimony on Tuesday by top intelligence chiefs that were widely seen as contradicting the president’s rosy assessments.In a hearing on global threats at the Senate Intelligence Committee, the top officials took issue with Trump’s assertion that the Islamic State group has been defeated, and that North Korea can be convinced to forego it

LONDON: Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and Pink Floyd singer Roger Waters were among dozens of figures from Britain’s creative industries urging the BBC on Wednesday to oppose Israel hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.The 50-strong coalition, which also includes filmmaker Mike Leigh and author Yann Martel, said the broadcaster should "act on its principles" and call for the annual competition to be moved over Israel’s "systematic violation of Palestinian human rights"."The BBC is bound by its charter to ‘champion freedom of expression’," the group stated in a letter published in The Guardian newspaper. "It should act on its principles and press for Eurovision to be relocated to a country where crimes against that freedom are not being committed."The largely European song competition, which dates back to the 1950s, is typically held in May in the winning country from the previous year. In 2018 that was Israel and its commercial capita

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s opposition demanded fresh elections on Wednesday as parliament convened for the first time since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stormed to power in a disputed poll her rivals say was rigged.Police said several hundred demonstrators gathered in the capital Dhaka to protest against Hasina and her crushing victory in late December, which reduced the beleaguered opposition to just eight seats.Hasina won a third-straight term and her Awami League secured 96 percent of the vote in an election her critics and international observers say was plagued by irregularities. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies said they would boycott parliament and vowed huge demonstrations unless fresh polls were held within six months. "We have demanded resignation of the government and the dissolution of the parliament, which was not elected by the people," a senior party official, Moudud Ahmed, told AFP."It was a stolen election. It was heavily rigged." The Decemb

ROME: Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday that 47 rescued migrants aboard the Sea Watch NGO vessel could finally disembark after Italy and six other countries agreed to take them in."Luxembourg has joined the list of friendly countries that responded to our invitation (to take the migrants), now we are seven countries," Conte told journalists. "Disembarking will begin in the coming hours."The other countries that have agreed to take in the migrants and asylum seekers, who have been stuck on the Sea Watch 3 vessel for nearly two weeks, are France, Germany, Malta, Portugal and Romania.Their fate has been at the centre of a standoff between Italy’s far-right anti-migrant Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and the German NGO Sea Watch. The aid group on Friday filed an urgent case at the European Human Rights Court against Italy for refusing to allow its ship to dock.Sea Watch took the step because of Rome’s hardline attitude against the mainly sub-Saharan

MOSCOW: A Russian lawmaker was arrested in parliament in the middle of a session on Wednesday in connection with two murders committed eight years ago, an official and news reports said.Rauf Arashukov, a 32-year-old senator representing the Karachayevo-Cherkessia region of Russia’s Northern Caucasus, is a suspect in the 2010 murders of two people and pressuring a witness to one of the killings, according to investigators.He allegedly acted as part of an organised group that included his father, said a statement by the Russian Investigative Committee. Arashukov was on the senate floor when police officers entered and read out a warrant, according to senate speaker Valentina Matviyenko. "He tried to get up and leave the session. I told him to sit down," she told state television.Investigators named the murder victims as Aslan Zhukov, an activist with an organisation representing the Circassian ethnic minority, and Fral Shebzukhov, an advisor to the governor of Arashukov’s Karac

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused military deserters of having become "mercenaries" conspiring from Colombia to divide the armed forces and plot a coup."Military deserters have become mercenaries of the Colombian oligarchy and conspire from Colombia to divide the armed forces," Maduro said, without providing further details, as he led a march of 2,500 soldiers at a barracks in Caracas on the same day as a demonstration called by the opposition.Maduro is in the midst of a standoff with Juan Guaido, the leader of the opposition-held National Assembly who last week declared himself interim president. Washington threw its weight behind Guaido’s claim, having previously termed as fraudulent the May 2018 election that saw Maduro win a second term.Several European powers meanwhile have given Maduro an ultimatum to hold fresh elections or they too will recognize Guaido.To keep up the pressure, Guaido has called mass demonstrations against the government t

BANGKOK: Toxic smog forced hundreds of Bangkok schools to close on Wednesday, as authorities struggle to manage a pollution crisis that has stirred widespread health fears and taken on a political edge just weeks before elections.The Thai capital has been shrouded in murky haze for weeks, sparking social media criticism of the uneven response by the government and prompting rare scenes of residents donning masks on streets and on public transport.Reasons given for the lingering pall include exhaust from traffic, unfettered construction, the burning of crop stubble, and pollution from factories getting trapped in the city.Authorities have seeded clouds to provoke rain, sprayed overpasses with water to catch micro-pollutants and even asked people not to burn incense sticks and paper during Chinese New Year celebrations.The measures so far have drawn derision from many Bangkok residents, while stocks of pollution masks have run out in many shops. But on Wednesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan

OBOCK, Djibouti: The death toll after two migrant boats sank in heavy seas off the coast of Djibouti has risen to 38, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday, with scores still feared missing.Search and rescue teams met with grim scenes of bodies strewn across the beach at Obock, a port town down the coast from Godaria where the vessels had set sail on the Horn of Africa nation’s northeast coast on Tuesday.An AFP journalist also saw cadavers in the water before teams placed them in white body bags lined up on the beach. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the boats capsized half an hour into their voyage.The IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti Lalini Veerassamy told AFP the death toll had reached 38 on Wednesday. "This tragic event demonstrates the risks that vulnerable migrants face as they innocently search for better lives," she said in a statement.Sixteen people were rescued following the sinkings, with one survivor telling Djiboutian authorities ther

NEW DELHI: A top Indian statistics official has quit in protest at a government delay in the publication of a report many expect will show rising unemployment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Such findings, coming ahead of elections due by May, would be highly damaging to Modi, who came to power in 2014 promising to create millions of jobs. P V Mohanan, acting chair of the National Statistics Commission (NSC), told AFP that he quit on Tuesday along with a colleague, saying that the NSC had approved the report in early December."We have resigned because I felt we were not taken seriously. Our decisions have not been implemented... The commission was not playing an effective role," he said. Newspapers suggested that the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report, the first since 2011-12, would reflect job losses in the wake of Modi’s shock demonetisation scheme in 2016.That surprise move saw 86 percent of Indian banknotes become unusable overnight. It was aimed at brin

BAGHDAD: Spain’s King Felipe VI on Wednesday visited special forces helping Iraq fight jihadists, during the first trip by a Spanish monarch to the war-ravaged country in four decades, a diplomat said.The king, whose country is a member of an international coalition battling the Islamic State group, also later met President Barham Saleh. Iraq in 2017 declared victory over IS following a bruising months-long campaign backed by the coalition, which continues to carry out operations against the jihadists.Spain, which took part in the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq that overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein, went on to support Iraqi troops as they battled to roll back IS, which seized a third of the country including second city Mosul in 2014. from The News International - World http://bit.ly/2Uwb74w

HASAKEH, Syria: From detention in northern Syria, alleged Irish jihadist Alexandr Bekmirzaev describes hunger and fear as missiles pounded down on the last shreds of the Islamic State group’s "caliphate"."I thought we were going to die from the starvation," the Muslim convert, 46 this year, told AFP in English, captured after fleeing the extremist group’s crumbling last pocket in eastern Syria. Bekmirzaev said he fled into territory held by Kurdish-led forces, who detained him along with four other alleged foreign jihadists late last month.Backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have since September been whittling down the last IS holdout near the Iraqi border. Brought in for an interview by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) who are still interrogating him, the detainee described watching the IS stronghold collapse around him.The hundreds of suspected jihadists captured by the SDF are usually keen to be sent home.

SEOUL: A provincial governor and close ally of South Korean President Moon Jae-in was convicted and jailed for two years on Wednesday for his part in an online opinion-rigging scandal ahead of the 2017 presidential election.Kim Kyoung-soo was found guilty of colluding with a blogger to artificially generate more than 88 million likes and dislikes on comments on 76,000 news stories. The intent was to rig the algorithms of Naver, South Korea’s largest portal, to give more prominence to stories favourable to then-presidential candidate Moon.In the event the liberal won the poll -- held in the aftermath of the ouster of Park Geun-hye for corruption -- by a landslide. Kim had instructed the blogger -- nicknamed Druking -- to carry out the scheme and had been aware of an illegal computer programme being used, the Seoul Central District Court said.The 51-year-old governor of South Gyeongsang province, who had denied the charges, will appeal but was immediately taken into custody. "I will

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump upped the public row with his own intelligence services Wednesday in tweets slamming them as “naive” on Iran and in need of schooling.The broadside was a riposte to a far more sober but equally emphatic rejection by the intelligence community during congressional testimony Tuesday of many of Trump’s claims to foreign policy successes.Insisting that Iran’s nuclear program remains dangerous, Trump said his intelligence advisors — who believe Tehran is largely abiding by an international commitment to shelve nuclear weapons ambitions — need to be more realistic.“The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!” Trump tweeted. “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!”It was hardly the first time Trump has openly criticized his own intelligence and law enforcement agencies. However, the extent and vehemence of the criticism and the intensely public way Trump expressed his anger,

SEOUL: A provincial governor and close ally of South Korean President Moon Jae-in was convicted and jailed for two years Wednesday for his part in an online opinion-rigging scandal ahead of the 2017 presidential election.Kim Kyoung-soo was found guilty of colluding with a blogger to artificially generate more than 88 million likes and dislikes on comments on 76,000 news stories. The intent was to rig the algorithms of Naver, South Korea’s largest portal, to give more prominence to stories favourable to then-presidential candidate Moon. In the event the liberal won the poll -- held in the aftermath of the ouster of Park Geun-hye for corruption -- by a landslide. Kim had instructed the blogger -- nicknamed Druking -- to carry out the scheme and had been aware of an illegal computer programme being used, the Seoul Central District Court said. The 51-year-old governor of South Gyeongsang province, who had denied the charges, will appeal but was immediately taken into custody. "I will

TEHRAN: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani slammed his critics on Wednesday, defending the political achievements of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal and calling the US an "oath-breaker". "One should not condemn the government or the great Islamic system instead of America -- this is the greatest damage that can be done," he said on state TV. Hardliners have repeatedly hammered the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers since the early stages of negotiations, calling it a fool’s errand and a deception. Speaking during an annual ceremony of allegiance to the late founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Rouhani said: "America has not been an oath-breaker only to us, but also to Europe, China, NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)." from The News International - World http://bit.ly/2DKAudg

MANILA: A grenade attack on a mosque in the troubled southern Philippines killed two people early Wednesday, authorities said, just days after a deadly Catholic cathedral bombing and a vote backing Muslim self-rule in the region. The latest blast prompted worries of sectarian retaliation in the majority Catholic Philippines, with authorities urging inter-faith unity as investigators hunted a motive.The grenade explosion tore through the mosque as the victims were sleeping before dawn on the insurgency-plagued island of Mindanao, which is home to the Philippines’ Muslim minority. Four people were wounded in the attack. Just three days earlier, a bombing at a cathedral on the neighbouring island of Jolo claimed 21 lives at Sunday mass in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group. Authorities warned against speculating the mosque attack was an act of revenge, adding they had no indication it was retaliation for the cathedral bombing. from The News International - World http://bit.ly

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s opposition demanded fresh elections Wednesday as parliament convened for the first time since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stormed to power in a disputed poll her rivals say was rigged. Police said several hundred demonstrators gathered in the capital Dhaka to protest against Hasina and her crushing victory in late December, which reduced the beleaguered opposition to just eight seats. Hasina won a third-straight term and her Awami League secured 96 percent of the vote in an election her critics and international observers say was plagued by irregularities. from The News International - World http://bit.ly/2DNevCr

CARACAS: Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro accused U.S. President Donald Trump of ordering his assassination while his main global backer Russia called on Wednesday for mediation in a standoff deepening geopolitical splits. The fight to control Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, has intensified with new U.S. sanctions and legal moves that may bring the arrest of opposition leader and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido. In an interview with Moscow’s RIA news agency, Maduro, 56, facing the biggest challenge to his rule since replacing Hugo Chavez six years ago, said Trump had ordered neighboring Colombia to murder him. from The News International - World http://bit.ly/2UvT3XZ

BEIJING: The United States accused Russia and China of not fully reporting their nuclear programmes Wednesday and called for more transparency, amid US threats to withdraw from a key arms control treaty. A senior US official made the remarks as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- all of them nuclear-armed powers -- met in Beijing for talks on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Andrea Thompson, US under secretary for arms control and international security, said there were "uneven results" in efforts to advance transparency under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. from The News International - World http://bit.ly/2DKFzCf

ROME: Italian convicts will be able to video chat with relatives via Skype up to six times a month, the justice ministry said Wednesday. “It will be easier for prisoners to be able to contact their children, parents or spouse, while transfers, waiting times and meetings on site will be reduced,” it said in a statement. Calls will be monitored by prison officers who will see exactly what the inmate sees and be able to cut the feed immediately if either they or their relatives behave improperly, it said. The Italian ministry said Skype calls would be subject to the same security checks as standard visits, and users will have to supply not only the address they want to contact but a certificate attesting that it belongs to a relative. from The News International - World http://bit.ly/2UoFlWW

BANGKOK: Toxic smog forced hundreds of Bangkok schools to close Wednesday, as authorities struggle to manage a pollution crisis that has stirred widespread health fears and taken on a political edge just weeks before elections. The Thai capital has been shrouded in murky haze for weeks, sparking social media criticism of the uneven response by the government and prompting rare scenes of residents donning masks on streets and on public transport. Reasons given for the lingering pall include exhaust from traffic, unfettered construction, the burning of crop stubble, and pollution from factories getting trapped in the city. Authorities have seeded clouds to provoke rain, sprayed overpasses with water to catch micro-pollutants and even asked people not to burn incense sticks and paper during Chinese New Year celebrations. The measures so far have drawn derision from many Bangkok residents, while stocks of pollution masks have run out in many shops. But on Wednesday, the Bangkok Metropolita

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has called for a "spirit of flexibility and compromise" in the long-running negotiations to reform the UN Security Council as progress is held up by the insistence for permanent seats on the 15-member body by India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, known as the Group of four.Speaking in the resumed session of Inter-governmental Negotiations (IGN) aimed at expanding the Council, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said the proposal from Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, which opposes additional permanent members, is based on democratic ideals and takes onboard the concerns and interests of all member states, small, medium and large."We hope that this round of negotiations would see the triumph of collective good over the individual ambitions of a few member states," the Pakistani envoy added.Opening the new round, the General Assembly President, María Fernanda Espinosa, regretted lack of progress in the past 25 years towards restructuring

BEIJING: Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday reiterated his country’s firm resolve to safeguard their territorial integrity at all costs."We have the resolve, confidence and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he made the comments at a press conference, in response to the passage of two US military vessels through the Taiwan Strait this week.When asked to comment on the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) recent behavior of trying to seek foreign intervention and professing that the mainland had "suppressed and dwarfed" Taiwan, Ma said Taiwan's DPP administration had constantly fanned hostility across the Strait, obstructed exchanges and cooperation between people on the two sides, and undermined the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. "The DPP has put the rights and interests of people from Taiwan at stake only for its own ends," Ma said.Meanwhile, C

WASHINGTON: US intelligence chiefs contradicted some of President Donald Trump's most fundamental foreign policy claims Tuesday, underscoring a persistent division in his view of the world and theirs.In a hearing on global threats at the Senate Intelligence Committee, the country´s top spies took issue with Trump´s assertion that the Islamic State group has been defeated, and that North Korea can be convinced to forego its nuclear weapons.They also challenged Trump´s claim that Tehran is actively seeking nuclear weapons, the justification Trump gave for withdrawing last year from a multilateral treaty on Iran.And they underscored again that Russia meddled deeply on Trump´s behalf in the 2016 presidential election -- which he has repeatedly denied -- and can be expected to do the same in 2020. The hearing took place weeks after Trump cited a victory over Islamic State to justify his sudden announcement of an immediate pullout from Syria -- a move that alarmed the US defence establis

Rouhani terms US ‘oath-breaker’Ag AFPTEHRAN: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani slammed his critics on Wednesday, defending the political achievements of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal and calling the US an "oath-breaker"."One should not condemn the government or the great Islamic system instead of America, this is the greatest damage that can be done," he said on state TV.Hardliners have repeatedly hammered the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers since the early stages of negotiations, calling it a fool´s errand and a deception.They contend that Iran has gained nothing from the agreement despite complying with its restrictions on the Islamic republic´s nuclear programme, intensifying their criticism after Washington withdrew from the treaty last year.Speaking during an annual ceremony of allegiance to the late founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Rouhani said, "America has not been an oath-breaker only to us, but also to Europe, Chi