pakistan news

As frenzy unfolds on the border of Pakistan and India, Bollywood celebrities have been sharing their two cents on the matter exalting the Indian armed forces for their breach of Pakistan’s air space. However, artists on this side of the border aren’t shying away from calling them out on their hypocrisy. Pakistani star Armeena Rana Khan called out Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra for cheering for the Indian Armed Forces as they breached the Pakistani air space and rooted for war, reminding her that she had been a Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).“Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces” the Quantico actor had stated to which Armeena replied: “WHAT?!!! But aren’t you supposed to be a Good Will ambassador for @UNICEF? Screen shot this everyone and next time she speaks up for peace and goodwill. Let’s remind her of this hypocrisy.”Priyanka had been the global Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since the past 12 years having visited places like Zimbabwe

RAWALPINDI: Soon after Pakistan's surprise to India, video of Pak  squadron leader Hassan Siddiqui making rounds  on the  internet  with  great applause for his valour and achievement as he reportedly  shot down two Indian fighter jets violating airspace along LOC.In response to Indian aggression, Pakistan Air Force  on Wednesday unnerved the enemy force by shooting down their two fighter jets in the broad day light. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot was also taken into custody by troops.The  Pakistani  squadron leader Hassan Siddiqui  successfully achieved the target, recalling the memory of  7 September 1965 when Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam SJ downed nine Indian Air Force aircraft during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, including five Hawker Hunter aircraft on one sortie.Siddiqui, who belonged to Karachi, received a hero’s welcome as soon as his plane touched down after downing  Indian jets which violated Pakistan’s terr

Indian must reciprocate Pakistan Prime Minister's call for dialouge, Pakistan People Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said amid rising tensions between the two nuclear armed nations."Time to de-escalate before it's too late," Bilawal wrote on Twitter a day after Pakistan shot down to Indian warplanes in a escalating confrontation."It is the youth of the subcontinent who will pay in blood and coin for generations to come for the shortsighted decisions of a few today," he said.Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday asked India to come to the negotiating table as war won't resolve issues between the two countries.  from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2IF1eAh

ISLAMABAD: Flight operations across Pakistan will remain suspended till 12:00 am, said Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Thursday, amid soaring tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals stoked fears of a full-blown conflict. All the flights from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad have been cancelled, the CAA said in a statement.The CAA closed airspace on Wednesday after Pakistan shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace over Azad Kashmir. India too had shut down operations at various airports.The air traffic disruption was affecting routes passing through the region that are popular with Western holidaymakers, with an industry body saying that a huge number of flights to Southeast Asia may have to be diverted.Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded in Bangkok on Thursday after Thai Airways cancelled all flights over Pakistan.Twenty-seven flights, the majority to and from European routes, have been cancelled, the Thai flag carrier said, with th

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court judge Justice Mohammad Ayub was left wounded after he was shot by a group of unknown men Thursday morning. According to Superintendent of police (SP) Cantt Qaseem Riaz, the incident occurred in Hayatabad's Phase 5 area, when a unknown assailants shot at the car of Justice Ayub. Justice Mohammad Ayub Khan was appointed as the judge of Peshawar High Court in 2017. Before his elevation, he served as judge of accountability court in Peshawar. He also rendered services as district and sessions judge and remained posted at various stations. Justice Ayub also served as registrar of the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC). from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2tGgtPd

In a brazen response to Indian aggression in light of escalating tensions, Pakistan on Wednesday shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets that violated the Line of Control (LoC), taking Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in custody.The last time Pakistan captured an IAF officer was on May 27, 1999. Flight lieutenant  Kambampati Nachiketa, 26 years old at the time, was conducting airstrikes against Pakistan during the Kargil War on his MiG 27 fighter aircraft when Pakistan's valiant air force captured him after his aircraft caught fire causing him to eject the plane. Nachiketa was found in breach of the Geneva Convention. In an unprecedented move to initiate and establish peace, Pakistan then handed Nachiketa to India safely after he spent eight days in Pakistan's custody, under the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's regime. During his return, Nachiketa was driven across the India-Pakistan border by an air attaché. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Baj

Bangkok: Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded in Bangkok on Thursday after Thai Airways cancelled all flights over Pakistan after Islamabad suddenly closed its airspace in response to soaring tensions with India.Twenty-seven flights, the majority to and from European routes, have been cancelled, the Thai flag carrier said, with three passenger jets forced to return to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday.The cancellations follow a snowballing crisis between nuclear armed neighbours Pakistan and India, which has raised fears of an all-out war.Pakistan shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace, although it later clarified only one Indian pilot had been captured.Thai Airways said nearly 5,000 passengers had been caught up in the cancellations."There are 4,000 from European flights and 700 to 800 from flights to Pakistan," a Thai Airways spokesperson said."We are waiting for permission to fly over other countries," she said, explaining Iran had rej

LAHORE: Samjhota Express could not leave for India Thursday (today)  due to suspension of their operation by Pakistan authorities in wake of  soaring tensions between two  countries.Railways official was reported to have  said that passengers went back to their towns after the Atari bound train was not allowed to leave Lahore Railways Station. The  train was due to leave for India from Lahore at 08:00am  today (Thursday).According to Additional General Manager  Railways Zubair Shafi the decision to suspend Samjhota Express was taken  in wake of prevailing situation  to avert any untoward incident.Pakistan Railways made announcement of the suspension of train service today, citing security concerns due to ongoing tensions. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2tHgpPe

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday handed over dossier to Pakistan with  "details" regarding Pulwama attack. The foreign office said that  the government will give statement after reviewing it.The dossier -which was reportedly handed over to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan- has details about Pulwama attack and its alleged executors.After handing over the dossier, New Delhi asked Islamabad to take  necessary steps in this regard. The dossier was handed over to Pakistan after  Prime Minister Imran Khan's  speech in which he  offered Indian government to hold dialogue for peace and stability in the region.  Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) also confirmed that a dossier has been handed over to the acting high commissioner, adding that  a statement would be given after Pakistan reviews it.Earlier Pakistan shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace in Kashmir and captured an Indian pilot. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2TafVjW

KARACHI: In view of prevailing situation, the government of Sindh on Wednesday  set up the provincial control room in accordance with "the provision of War Book", a notification read.According to the notification, The Control Room will have representation and support from Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PIMA) Sindh and Directorate of Civil Defence."The Control Room has been operationalized for the purpose of preparedness, monitoring, reporting, taking preventive measures and issuing real-time instructions regarding any untoward emergency situation,"it added.The development comes subsequent to a video conference with "the Federal Government at the office of the Chief Secretary Sindh" that took place earlier the same day.  Saifullah Abro the additional secretary for internal security is the in-charge of  The Control Room. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2IESdHG

LONDON: Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai has said that as a Nobel Laureate, UN Messenger of Peace, citizen of Pakistan and a student, she is alarmed by the escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India and is concerned for people living on both sides of the border.“I ask Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian PM Narendra Modi to show true leadership in this difficult time; to sit down, shake hands and settle the current conflict and long-standing issue of Kashmir through dialogue,” Malala said in a post on Twitter.With a hashtag of #SayNoToWar, Malala says, “Everyone aware of the horrors of war would agree that retaliation and revenge is never the right response—once started, it rarely ends.”“Millions of people are suffering today because of existing wars –we don’t need another. Our world cannot even care for all the people currently in peril,” she added.She also asked the international community to support talks between India and Pakistan and to help prevent loss of lives

ISLAMABAD : Leaders of parliamentary parties in the National Assembly (NA) were given an in-camera briefing at the Parliament House on Wednesday over the escalating Pakistan-India tension in the wake of violation of Line of Control (LoC) by Indian Air Force.Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi briefed the parliamentarians of the strategy of government while Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) apprised them of the input of military.The briefing, held at the Parliament House in Islamabad, also had Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in presence.Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari attended the session along with party delegations.Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation included Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Raja Zafarul Haq, Mushahidullah Khan, Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb.Sources said the PPP dele

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani Test cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has saluted Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army for their appropriate response to Indian aggression.Shoaib took to Twitter saying, “The response to aggression is retaliation. A strong one as given by our brave soldiers. Salute to PAF and Pakistan Army.”The former cricketer added “I hope we reach an amicable solution.”Sharing his photo with brave soldiers of Pakistan Army, Shoaib Akhtar said, “As our PM Imran Khan and Military Spokesperson have repeatedly said in past few days that we don’t want war and have suggested several times to sit and talk. But if our sovereignty is challenged, an appropriate response was due.”In a befitting response to Indian aggression, two Indian Air Force fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan for violating airspace on Wednesday, video of which has surfaced online. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2Sv2hmf

ISLAMABAD: Former skipper Wasim Akram has said told India that Pakistan is not your enemy.Wasim Akram took to Twitter saying, “With my heavy heart I appeal to yours, India, Pakistan is not your enemy, Your enemy is our enemy!”He went on to say, “How much more blood needs to be spilled before we realise we are both fighting the same battle.”Wasim Akram with hashtag #TogetherWeWin #NoToWar added, “We need brothers in arm if we want to beat this war on terror.”   from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2GOVu5q

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that Turkey has announced to stand with Pakistan and its people in the pace of Indian aggression. FM Qureshi said the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in his telephonic conversation today assured him that Turkey also declared to oppose if the Indian external affairs minister was given an opportunity to speak at the upcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Abu Dhabi.Qureshi said that the UN secretary general had also telephoned him and while expressing concern over the current situation in Pakistan, assured to play his role in whatever way and manner he could. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2NARRAE

KARACHI: Pakistan has partially restored its airspace, starting with Jinnah International Airport of Karachi.Flight WY324 KHI MCT and EK601 KHI DXB were departed from Jinnah International Airport of Karachi.North East and North Western airspace will remain closed until further notice.This was announced hours after numerous flights were cancelled or diverted Wednesday after Pakistan closed its airspace and India shut airports, as soaring tensions between two neighbours stoked fears of a full-blown conflict.The closures came after Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace.The air traffic disruption was affecting routes passing through the region that are popular with Western holidaymakers, with an industry body saying that a huge number of flights to Southeast Asia may have to be diverted.Pakistan International Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, warned that "flights may be affected due to closure of Pakistan commercial air space". from The

The Governor of Sindh Imran Ismail on Wednesday said in his tweet that he is proud of the defence system of Pakistan and in the way they responded in showing India that our forces are always ready to respond to any violation at LOC.He said Pakistan wants peace as the Prime Minister Imran Khan in his address emphasised adding that the PM has once again offered India peace even after today's turn of events. Imran Ismail said he hopes India will respond to the offer of peace given by the Prime Minister. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2TkKlyW

ISLAMABAD :Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of a strong rain bearing system  expected to approach Balochistan on Thursday night and  grip southern parts of the country on Friday .According to PMD a heavy rain-thunderstorm accompanied by a windstorm (gusting 80-120 km/h) is expected in parts of Balochistan, Sindh ( including Karachi) and Southern Punjab (Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur division) from Friday night to Saturday which could create an untoward situation.All concerned authorities and general public have been urged by PMD to take precautionary measures during this period. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2IBa1TQ

ISLAMABAD: Former skipper Shahid Khan Afridi has lauded Pakistan Armed Forces for treating Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan as per norms of military ethics, saying ‘this is how we treat our enemies even.’Afridi took to Twitter sharing the video of Abhinandan in which he lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Army, saying, “Proud of Pakistan Armed Forces. This is how we treat our enemies even.”Afridi added “The War Hysteria started by India must end now. We are a peace loving nation and the only solution to this is joint dialogue as suggested in speech by our Prime Minister Imran Khan.”Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was taken into custody by Pakistani forces, has lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Army and termed it 'impressive'.In a video, circulating on social media, Abhinandan is holding a cup of tea thanked Pakistan Army Captain and his team for rescuing him from mob.He went on say “I will not change my stance if I go back to my country India.”“Thi

RAWALPINDI: Military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor has confirmed that there is only one Indian pilot under Pakistan Army’s custody.In a Tweet, Director General Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the military, said, “Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan is being treated as per norms of military ethics.”Earlier, in a video, Indian Pilot Abhinandan lauded Pakistan Army’s professionalism and attitude for treating him well.Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday struck down two Indian fighter jets intruding Pakistani airspace, in a valiant and befitting response to Indian aggression. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2Nxt7sN

RAWALPINDI: Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was taken into custody by Pakistani forces, has lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Army and termed it 'impressive'.In a video, circulating on social media, Abhinandan is holding a cup of tea thanked Pakistan Army Captain and his team for rescuing him from mob.He went on say “I will not change my stance if I go back to my country India.”“This is what I would expect from my Army,” he said lauding the professionalism and attitude of Pakistan Army. To a question, Abhinandan said, “I am from down south India and married person.”He also said the tea he was served was so tasty.Earlier, a video was released by Pakistan Army that shows the identity and related details of the captured Indian pilot. "My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan and my service number is 27981," the pilot says in a video statement."I am a flying pilot and my religion is Hindu," he continues. Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday str

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indian Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control on February 26, in Nikial and Khuiratta sectors which resulted in the martyrdom of four innocent civilians and injuries to six others.The civilians martyred included Mottia Bibi, Ms Zarina, Gulfaraz and Ms Shehnaz.According to a Foreign Office statement, Director General (SA & SAARC) Dr Mohammad asked the Indian envoy that India should respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement, investigate the incidents of violations, instruct its forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit, and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB).The Director General (SA & SAARC) demanded that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. According to the statement,

ISLAMABAD: Numerous flights were cancelled or diverted Wednesday after Pakistan closed its airspace and India shut airports, as soaring tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals stoked fears of a full-blown conflict.The closures came after Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace.The air traffic disruption was affecting routes passing through the region that are popular with Western holidaymakers, with an industry body saying that a huge number of flights to Southeast Asia may have to be diverted.Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority and the military said the country’s entire airspace had been closed, with a CAA source telling AFP that all airlines had been notified to "suspend their operations in Pakistan until further notice".Pakistan International Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, warned that "flights may be affected due to closure of Pakistan commercial air space".In India, at least six airports were shut -- Srinagar, Jammu an

After Indian Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was taken into custody by Pakistani forces on Wednesday an old footage of the fighter pilot from 2011 has started making rounds on social media.The footage shared is from a documentary where the said pilot can be seen getting introduced along with his fellow fighter pilots in a an Indian Air Force documentary  released on  May 16, 2011. According to reports, the detained Indian pilot is said to be the son of a retired Air Marshall and was flying an MiG 21 Bison jet on Wednesday that was shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) with the pilot taken into custody.Soon after the attack, a footage of the captive being questioned was also released where he can be heard saying: “My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan and my service number is 27981.” "I am a flying pilot and my religion is Hindu [sic]," he adds further. "May I request for a little information, sir? Am I with the Pakistani army?" he questioned while refusing

Following the escalation in border tensions with India, Pakistani forces are being applauded on social media with the hashtag #PakistanArmyZindabad becoming the number one trend worldwide on Wednesday.After Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian fighter jets in the country’s airspace, the public has been lauding the forces for its timely response and for sending a strong message of retaliation and self-defense across the border.Out of the ten worldwide trends on Twitter, seven were related to the incident that unfolded this morning while #PakistanZindabad remained the top trend throughout where netizens on this side of the world were full of praises for the armed forces of Pakistan with memes pouring in.On the other hand #PakistanStrikesBack, #SayNoToWar and #PakistanAirForceOurPride also topped the charts globally.  from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2NxXu2n

ISLAMABAD: Asking its eastern neighbour to exhibit prudence and sanity, Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said Pakistan and India could not afford any miscalculation and dialogue was the only option to address their issues."I ask India that with same weapon power, can we afford any miscalculation? We cannot, neither I, nor Prime Minister Modi," Imran said in his address to the nation hours after the Pakistan Air Force shot down two MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.Indian Mirage 2000 aircraft had on Tuesday crossed the Line of Control and dumped their payload near Balakot before exiting.Taking the nation into confidence in a live televised address, the Prime Minister said, "Better sense should prevail ....we need to sit down to resolve our issues through dialogue." The Prime Minister said it was important for Pakistan and India to exhibit prudence and sanity as all big wars had happened because of miscalculation.Imran Khan said the major world wars were root

Following Pakistan Air Force brazen response to Indian intrusion into the airspace when it struck down two Indian fighter jets and arrested the pilots, Indian media on Wednesday confirmed that Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in Mirage 21 Bison jet and is yet to return.According to a tweet published by an Indian news agency:"Sources: IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in a MiG 21 Bison jet today, he is yet to return." The Indian Foreign Office also confirmed officially that their MiG-21 jet was shot down and the pilot is missing in action. Meanwhile, leading Indian publications NDTV and Hindustan Times also confirmed Abhinandan's disappearance. As per reports,  Wing Commander Abhinandan is the son of retired Air Marshal of India. Earlier, a video was released by Pakistan Army showing the identity and related details of the captured Indian pilots. "My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan and my service number is 27981," the pilot says in a video statemen

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan does "not want to go towards war" with India, its military spokesman said Wednesday, hours after Islamabad said it shot down two Indian warplanes in its airspace, igniting fears of an all-out conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours."We do not want escalation, we do not want to go towards war," Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, calling for talks with New Delhi.The military spokesperson said Pakistan had no option but to respond Indian aggression.Addressing the media, he said Pakistan was forced to hit back but we did in a responsible way.The Pakistan Air Force engaged six Indian targets and hit them when they were in an open area, he added. "We had made sure that there shall not be any civilian damage and no collateral damage."He added that two Indian pilots had been captured, with one in custody and one in hospital.Ghafoor said the jets had been shot down after Pakistani planes

LAHORE: Six citizens embraced martyrdom on Wednesday in unprovoked Indian shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) as tensions surge between the nuclear-armed rivals.Sources said that six citizens were martyred in Nakyal sector of LoC. Three of a family were among those martyred in the Indian firing.Tensions between the two countries have increased exponentially since India’s act of aggression a day ago. Pakistan responded befittingly today and shot down two Indian fighter jets.Indian shelling from across the border towards civilian population have martyred dozens of people in the past few months. from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2tEjxv0

Pakistan People’s Party leader Sherry Rehman in light of the mounting tensions between India and Pakistan said that we all stand united in this time of crisis for the country. Speaking to Geo News, the former leader of opposition stated that the responsibility falls on India after the attack on Tuesday adding: “They crossed our geographical boundaries and they were apprehended instantly which was rightfully done.”The leader further questioned the neighboring country for terming yesterday’s attack as an ‘act of counter-terrorism’ questioning what terrorism they have been countering.Furthermore, she added that the international response to the situation has thus far been disappointing.Moreover, the leader stated that in this time of crisis, all differences will be set aside and "we would all stand united."On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Senator Mushahid Hussain stated in the wake of the present situation that the entire nation is proud of the forc

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Hanoi: A summit between North Korea´s Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump ended without agreement, the White House said Thursday after the two-day meeting."No agreement was reached at this time, but their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2ICC0T8

New Delhi: -A string of violent escalations have pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of conflict, sparking global alarm and calls for restraint between the nuclear-armed neighbours.Here is an explanation of the events so far, and the possible next steps: What triggered the crisis? On February 14, 40 paramilitaries were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the Occupied Kashmir.It was the deadliest militant attack there in three decades.Kashmir has seen hostilities during three India-Pakistan wars, as well as a limited conflict in 1999. How did India react?Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened a "jaw-breaking" response after the bombing. New Delhi demanded action from Islamabad.On February 26, Indian warplanes crossed the Kashmir ceasefire line into Pakistani airspace, dropping bombs on what New Delhi described as a large JeM camp where militants were preparing to stage more attacks in India.Islamabad confirmed the incursion and the dropping of payloads in undisputed Pakista

Chakothi, Pakistan: Thousands of Kashmiris have fled their homes, some bailed water out of disused bunkers, while others dug in -- determined to see out the latest flare up of hostilities between India and Pakistan.Shelling across the heavily militarised Line of Control which divides Kashmir between the two South Asian countries sent many seeking shelter Wednesday, even before India and Pakistan both claimed they had shot each other´s warplanes down, igniting fears of an all-out conflict.Pakistani officials said four people were killed on Tuesday by shelling from the Indian side of the ceasefire line.The death toll mounts on both sides each time sabre-rattling between India and Pakistan turns into conflict. This time, Kashmiris have watched warplanes fighting overhead and cowered under the shelling.At least 2,000 people left their homes near the unofficial border in the Kotli and Jhelum Valley districts on the Pakistani side, and authorities closed all public schools, said officials. O

Extraordinary political moment even in the light of a passionate presidency, former lawyer Michael Cohen delivered Wednesday a charge of unprecedented violence against his former boss Donald Trump, accused of being a "scammer" threatening, links suspects with Russia and who did not hesitate to buy the silence of former mistresses.In an intense hearing broadcast live for five hours, Michael Cohen drew before a parliamentary commission of inquiry a devastating portrait of the businessman became 45th President of the United States.If he did not provide decisive evidence of a possible collusion between Moscow and the Republican campaign team in the 2016 presidential election, the former Donald Trump loyal spoke of his "suspicions". And reaffirmed that it was in complicity with the American president that he had committed some of the offenses that will soon lead him to prison.The drawn features, the voice sometimes broken, Michael Cohen, 52 years old, ended his hearing w

WASHINGTON: The fast-growing, Chinese-owned video sharing network TikTok agreed to pay a $5.7 million fine to US authorities to settle charges that it illegally collected personal information from children, officials said Wednesday.The Federal Trade Commission said the penalty by the social network, which had been known as Musical.ly, was the largest ever in a children´s privacy investigation.The social network, which has been surging in popularity with young smartphone users and taking over from rivals like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, failed to obtain parental consent from its underage users as required by the Children´s Online Privacy Protection Act, FTC officials said."The operators of Musical.ly -- now known as TikTok -- knew many children were using the app, but they still failed to seek parental consent before collecting names, email addresses, and other personal information from users under the age of 13," said FTC chairman Joe Simons. "This record penalty s

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday met with US President Donald Trump´s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner during the American official´s regional tour to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Erdogan regards himself as a champion of the Palestinians and Turkey has often been vocal in its criticism of the Israeli government and Washington, especially after Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US embassy there last year.Erdogan said late Tuesday that the two men would discuss "economic and regional issues", at the meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara although neither side said Syria was on the agenda.The men were joined by Erdogan´s son-in-law and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, according to Turkish presidency images.Kushner´s visit follows from Trump´s shock announcement in December -- welcomed by Ankara -- that he would withdraw 2,000 American ground troops from northern Syria.Ankara has called for a "s

TOKYO: A baby boy who weighed just 268grams (9.45oz) at birth has been released from hospital in Japan, and is believed to be the smallest surviving baby boy in the world. The baby was born by emergency C-section in August, and was so small he could fit into a pair of cupped hands.The infant was nurtured in intensive care and had grown to the weight of 3.2 kilograms.Born at 24 weeks, the tiny boy spent five months in hospital."I can only say I'm happy that he has grown this big because honestly, I wasn't sure he could survive," the boy's mother said, according to hospital sources. The previous record was held by a baby boy born in Germany in 2009 weighing 274 grams, according to the Tiniest Babies registry managed by the University of Iowa.The smallest surviving baby girl was also born in Germany, in 2015, and reportedly weighed 252grams. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2IF9al9

Turkey is holding the largest navy drill in its history with over 100 vessels on all three seas surrounding the country.The four-day drill, named 'Blue Homeland 2019,' began on Wednesday and will end on March 2. It’s the first time that an exercise includes all three seas and involves air and land forces as well. Participating in the exercise are 103 navy ships in the Black Sea, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.The drill was planned six months in advance in line with NATO rules and regulations.The flotilla included 13 frigates, 6 corvettes, 16 assault boats, and 7 submarines, 7 mine hunting vessels, 14 patrol boats, as well as other navy vessels.Turkey’s indigenous Bayraktar and ANKA Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and jet fighters will also participate in the drill. The Turkish navy has taken significant steps in recent years to increase combat capability, to upgrade its fleet, and become stronger against national security threats. from The News International - World

Nepal´s tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari was among seven people killed Wednesday when a helicopter crashed in the country´s hilly east, officials said.Rescue workers retrieved the bodies of Adhikari, 49, the pilot and five other passengers from a hillside in Taplejung district where the Air Dynasty chopper went down."The respected minister´s body has been identified," home affairs ministry spokesman Ram Krishna Subedi said in a press conference.The minister´s personal bodyguard has been identified as among the dead. The owner of the helicopter company was also aboard but his body has not been formally identified.Subedi said two army helicopters had been dispatched to bring the bodies back to the capital Kathmandu.Two other private helicopters had also been sent to assist but local authorities said snowy weather had made it difficult for the choppers to land.A search and rescue team was deployed to the area after locals alerted authorities to flames and smoke rising from a h

Donald Trump´s former personal attorney Michael Cohen said Wednesday the US president had no medical reason for his military deferment during the Vietnam War, telling the lawyer: "You think I´m stupid? I wasn´t going to Vietnam."Cohen made the claim in prepared remarks released before a public congressional hearing in which he is expected to accuse the president of being a liar and a racist. Trump, who is in Hanoi for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, received a medical deferment from serving in the Vietnam War in 1968 because of bone spurs in his heels.But Cohen is expected to say Mr Trump told his former attorney, and right hand man for more than a decade that there was no real medical excuse behind his deferral."Mr. Trump tasked me to handle the negative press surrounding his medical deferment from the Vietnam draft," Cohen said. "Mr Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for medical records, he gave me none and said there

LONDON : Prime Minister Theresa May while addressing the parliament on Wednesday said that Britain is deeply concerned about the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, and urges restraint from both sides. Pakistan carried out air strikes and shot down two Indian jets on Wednesday, Pakistani officials said, a day after Indian warplanes struck inside Pakistan .“The UK is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urgently calls for restraint on both sides to avoid further escalation,” May told the parliament.“We are in regular contact with both countries, urging dialogue and diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability. We are working closely with international partners including through the UN Security Council to de-escalate tensions.” from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2Srt2YF

CAIRO: A hurtling train crashed, derailed and caught fire at Cairo´s main station on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people in the latest disaster to strike Egypt´s rundown railways.The country´s transportation minister resigned hours after the accident.A train engine appeared to have slammed into the buffers at the end of the track at high speed, sparking a major blaze that blackened the walls of the Ramses station.Firefighters were seen hosing down the charred wreckage of the train inside the station, as security forces guarded the site.Twenty people were killed and 40 injured, the health ministry said.Ahmed Ibrahim, a jewellery salesman, said he was on his way to work when he heard a loud explosion."I ran to see a lot of people injured. I had to carry a young girl with my own hands," he said, apparently still in shock."I saw bodies cut in half. I´d never seen that ... I never thought I´d ever touch dead bodies."CCTV footage circulating online showed the train´s lo

Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif´s resignation on Wednesday, saying the departure of the public face of the Islamic republic´s detente with the West would be against its best interests.Zarif´s abrupt announcement on Instagram late on Monday that he was quitting had sparked rumours of mass resignations in the country´s diplomatic corps and a petition from parliament urging Rouhani to turn it down."I believe your resignation is against the country´s interests and do not approve it," Rouhani wrote in a letter to Zarif, according to the government´s official website.The president cited Iran´s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in praising Zarif´s work as foreign minister."I consider you, as put by the leader, to be ´trustworthy, brave and pious´ and in the forefront of resistance against America´s all-out pressure," he added.In his few public comments after his resignation, Zarif had complained that the work of t

NEW DELHI: Former Indian pilot Ram Parkash has said that shooting down of two Indian Air Force aircrafts was a major setback for IAF.In a Tweet, the former Indian IAF pilot said, “we lost 2 MiG 21 and 3 pilots. Its a major set back for IAF.”He went on to say, ‘I just talked to a wing commander who is there in Indian occupied Kashmir that moral is down after this heavy loss.”Ram Parkash also thanked Pakistan for treating well arrested Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan.“We are thankful to Pakistan as per videos they are treating them well also providing medical care.”Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday struck down two Indian fighter jets intruding Pakistani airspace, in a valiant and befitting response to Indian aggression. The two Indian pilots remain under arrest by Pakistan. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2EhZXKc

KARACHI: Pakistan shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace in Azad Kashmir on Wednesday, a military spokesman said, adding that two Indian pilot had been captured."PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace," tweeted military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor, adding that one aircraft had fallen in AJK, while the other crashed on the Indian side.Following this, #SayNoToWar has become a top trend on Twitter in India. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2HabNc6

NEW DELHI: The Indian government has now officially accepted that Pakistan has shot down MiG 21 fighter jet and added that one pilot is missing.Speaking to media, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, said “In engagement with Pakistan Air Force, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts.”Kumar also claimed that a Pakistani F-16 was shot down by India.However, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor had earlier clarified that F-16 jets were not part of formation that took on Indian aircraft.The Indian spokesperson also confirmed the Pakistani military's statement that  target was hit in Kashmir. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2EAuvIc

Following Pakistan Air Force brazen response to Indian intrusion into the airspace when it struck down two Indian fighter jets and arrested the pilots, Indian media on Wednesday confirmed that Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in Mirage 21 Bison jet and is yet to return.According to a tweet published by an Indian news agency:"Sources: IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in a MiG 21 Bison jet today, he is yet to return." The Indian Foreign Office also confirmed officially that their MiG-21 jet was shot down and the pilot is missing in action. Meanwhile, leading Indian publications NDTV and Hindustan Times also confirmed Abhinandan's disappearance. As per reports,  Wing Commander Abhinandan is the son of retired Air Marshal of India. Earlier, a video was released by Pakistan Army showing the identity and related details of the captured Indian pilots. "My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan and my service number is 27981," the pilot says in a video statemen

BEIJING: China called on Pakistan and India on Wednesday to "exercise restraint" and seek dialogue after Islamabad said it shot down two Indian warplanes in its airspace over disputed Kashmir."What we are concerned about is that India and Pakistan, as important countries of the South Asian subcontinent, can maintain good neighbourly and friendly relations," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press briefing."We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint, take initiatives that are conducive to promoting dialogue, meet halfway and make active efforts for lasting peace and stability in South Asia," Lu said.The reported downing of the Indian planes ignited fears of an all-out conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours. It came a day after India claimed it had struck camps inside Pakistan. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2T2UCR6

Hanoi: US President Donald Trump touted North Korea´s "AWESOME" future if his "friend" Kim Jong Un, whom he meets for a high-stakes dinner later Wednesday, agrees to give up his nuclear arsenal.Trump´s enthusiastic tweet came hours before a second summit in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi to build on their historic first meeting in Singapore last June.In just a few words, Trump encapsulated his fervent belief that only his uniquely personal brand of diplomacy and business acumen can break a stand-off with the isolated, nuclear-armed state that has bedevilled US leaders ever since the end of the Korean war in 1953.Trump, who has previously spoken of the "love" between him and the North Korean strongman, said that by abandoning nuclear weapons the country would very quickly emulate Vietnam -- a communist country once locked in conflict with the United States, but now a thriving trade partner."The potential is AWESOME, a great opportunity, like almost none

HANOI: US President Donald Trump shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the start of their second summit Wednesday and predicted successful talks with the totalitarian state over its nuclear weapons.Trump foresaw a "very successful" summit as the pair greeted each other at the luxury Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi to follow up on their initial historic meeting in Singapore in June.Shaking hands and smiling in front of a bank of a dozen alternating US and North Korean flags, they briefly took questions from reporters before starting one-on-one talks and a dinner.Critics said the Singapore summit was light on concrete results but Trump said the Hanoi talks would be "equal or better than the first" time. Kim said: "I am certain that a great outcome will be achieved this time that will be welcomed by all people."Negotiations were scheduled to resume on Thursday. Earlier, Trump sent a tweet touting North Korea’s "AWESOME" potenti

China has drafted new rules to supervise biotechnology research, with fines and bans against rogue scientists after a Chinese researcher caused a global outcry by claiming that he gene-edited babies.The announcement comes as He Jiankui’s controversial experiment continues to transfix the scientific community, with researchers saying the procedure had the potential of enhancing the learning capabilities and memory of the babies.He announced in November that the world’s first gene-edited babies -- twin girls -- were born that same month after he altered their DNA to prevent them from contracting HIV by deleting a certain gene under a technique known as CRISPR.The claim shocked scientists worldwide, raising questions about bioethics and putting a spotlight on China’s lax oversight of scientific research. Gene-editing for reproductive purposes is illegal in most countries. China’s health ministry issued regulations in 2003 prohibiting gene-editing of human embryos, though the procedure is

Frankfurt am Main: Some 385,000 people worldwide died prematurely in 2015 from air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust emissions, a US study found Wednesday, which singled out diesel engines as the main culprit.Diesel vehicles were responsible for 47 percent of the deaths, it said, but the figure jumped as high as 66 percent in France, Germany, Italy and India where diesels make up a large proportion of cars on the road.The study was carried out by researchers from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) -- the non-governmental group that blew the whistle on Volkswagen’s "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal in 2015 -- and two US universities."The high public health burden of diesel vehicles in Europe underscores the need for world-class emissions standards to be accompanied by robust compliance and enforcement," said ICCT co-author Joshua Miller, calling for urgent action to replace high-emissions vehicles.In the wide-ranging study, researchers l

MADRID: Spain’s former prime minister Mariano Rajoy, in power when Catalonia’s executive tried to secede, will testify on Wednesday in the trial of separatist leaders in a highly sensitive hearing just months before elections.Rajoy governed Spain from 2011 until he was ousted in June last year by a no-confidence vote over a corruption trial that hit his conservative Popular Party (PP). He was replaced by socialist rival Pedro Sanchez.The 63-year-old is due to appear in court at 4:00 pm local time (1500 GMT). Before him, Catalonia’s former separatist president Artur Mas gave evidence as a witness. Mas stepped down in January 2016 before the secession bid but was close to those who led the attempt.He criticised Rajoy’s government and its decision to send police to stop people from voting in a banned independence referendum on October 1, 2017. Images of the clashes were broadcast around the world."I said (at the time): ‘do you really think that the state will be so unintelligent to d

LONDON: The number of British children taking foreign language classes has nearly halved since 2000, a BBC analysis showed on Wednesday, with those learning French and German down nearly two-thirds.The study was published with the island nation preparing for withdrawal from the European Union after 46 years of membership, an isolationist turn chosen by voters in June 2016. The BBC polled students who take standard General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) courses, which culminate in exams around the age of 16.The total number taking foreign language classes was down 45 percent, said the study. German was down the most at 67 percent and French fell 63 percent but Spanish was up 75 percent.The BBC said most schools attributed the drop to the perception of languages as a difficult subject. Shrinking class sizes have led some schools to shut down courses in order to meet strict budgets, the BBC said."If we have classes of 25 in other subjects, it’s really hard to justify small

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari was among seven people killed on Wednesday when a helicopter crashed in the country’s hilly east, officials said.Rescue workers retrieved the bodies of Adhikari, 49, the pilot and five other passengers from a hillside in Taplejung district where the Air Dynasty chopper went down. "The respected minister’s body has been identified," home affairs ministry spokesman Ram Krishna Subedi said in a press conference. The minister’s personal bodyguard has been identified as among the dead. The owner of the helicopter company was also aboard but his body has not been formally identified. from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2T7A7Ti

GAZA CITY: A Palestinian journalist sentenced to prison over a report on alleged graft in blockaded Gaza’s health system defended her reporting as "professional" on Tuesday days before her appeal.In a 2016 report for Al-Araby TV, Hajar Harb alleged that doctors were writing false medical reports to let people leave Gaza for treatment, one of the few reasons Israel allows Palestinians out of the blockaded Strip.In October 2016, two doctors launched legal proceedings accusing her of defamation and "publishing false information", according to Amnesty International. A Gaza court sentenced the 34-year-old to six months in prison and fined her 1,000 shekels ($275, 245 euro) in June 2017, when she was in Jordan for cancer treatment."I did a journalistic enquiry, as a professional," she told AFP. She said medical permits to leave Gaza were "an important subject and among those where suspicions of corruption in Gaza are the strongest." She said journalist

HANOI: US President Donald Trump touted North Korea's "AWESOME" future if his "friend" Kim Jong Un, whom he meets for a high-stakes dinner later Wednesday, agrees to give up his nuclear arsenal.Trump's upbeat message came in a tweet hours before a second summit in Hanoi to build on the pair´s first meeting in Singapore in June. The president risked being distracted by scandal back in Washington, where his former lawyer Michael Cohen was set to describe him as a "con man" in testimony to Congress scheduled for shortly after Trump's dinner ends.Trump, seeking a big foreign policy win to push back against domestic troubles, believes his unique brand of personal diplomacy and business acumen can make history. His goal is to persuade Kim to dismantle his nuclear weapons and resolve a stand-off with the totalitarian state that has bedevilled US leaders since the end of the Korean war in 1953.To lure Kim into radical change, Trump is believed to be co

ISLAMABAD: As another major development in Sino-Pak cooperative partnership in energy sector, China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) is set to construct 1124 MW Kohala Hydropower project along the Neelum Jhelum, officials said here.The AJK area has recently been swept by demonstrations and rallies appealing for “Saving River, Saving Muzaffarabad” against the unacceptable environmental issues in Muzaffarabad city caused by the diversion of Neelum River after recent commissioning of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP).The KHPP is the largest hydropower project being implemented by Kohala Hydro Company (Pvt.) Ltd with the cost around US$ 2.7 billion. KHPP is being developed in private sector under BOOT model and it shall be transferred free of cost to GoAJ&K after 30 years.According to the sources, for all its national importance and interests, a construction period of 6.5 years will provide thousands of job opportunities to local people, Water use charge and taxes will be a huge a