Siasat Wala Blog

LOS ANGELES: Divorcing Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a final agreement over the custody of their six children, Jolie’s lawyer said on Friday, after more than two years of often bitter negotiations. “A custody arrangement was agreed to weeks ago, and has been signed by both parties and the judge,” Jolie’s lawyer Samantha Bley DeJean said in a statement to Reuters. “The agreement, which is based on the recommendations of the child custody evaluator, eliminates the need for a trial. The filing and details of the agreement are confidential to protect the best interests of the children.” Representatives of Pitt had no immediate comment. Jolie and Pitt, once one of Hollywood’s most glamorous couples, separated in September 2016 after a more than 10-year romance and two-year marriage. Jolie, who filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, had been seeking primary custody of their six children, three of whom are the couple’s biological children

SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft Corp’s stock market value closed above Apple Inc’s for the first time in eight years on Friday as the Windows maker benefited from growth in cloud computing while Apple was hit by investor concern about iPhone demand. Shares of Microsoft rose 0.6 percent to end the week at $110.89, putting its market capitalization at $851.2 billion. Apple shares fell 0.5 percent to $178.58 on the day, adding up to a market value of $847.4 billion. The two stocks jostled for the top spot over the course of the week, with Microsoft’s stock market value exceeding Apple’s at several points in intra-day trading but not at the close. Both companies’ market capitalizations were calculated using outstanding shares reported in their most recent 10-Q filings. Apple’s market capitalization overtook Microsoft’s in 2010 as Microsoft struggled with slow demand for personal computers, due in part to the explosion of smartphones like the iPhone. After Satya Nadella took over as chief ex

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday said, first time in country’s history ‘people friendly’ policies are being made, ARY News reported. In his statement, Usman Buzdar said PTI’s policies are aimed to provide relief to the people of country. Visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has put the country on the right path.“The government has sincerely worked to implement the reforms agenda in its first 100 days”, the provincial chief executive continued. He reiterated that the provincial government will play a leading role in materializing the national development targets set by Prime Minister Imran Khan. On November 29, the Punjab chief minister had said that public service is prime agenda of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government. He was talking to PTI’s MNA Ramesh Kumar who called him on at chief minister’s office in the Punjab’s provincial capital. Read More:  Apna Ghar Project to create new job opportunities in housing sector: Buzdar Usman

BUENOS AIRES: The United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, will see Saturday if they can find a breakthrough to exit a spiraling trade war as their presidents meet at a tense G20 summit. With markets watching nervously, US President Donald Trump has described the Buenos Aires summit of the 20 leading economic powers as a deadline for China to meet his demands or risk even further pressure. The summit itself, with leaders from France, Russia and Saudi Arabia among those attending, has been struggling to carve out any accord on fighting climate change while hot-button disputes such as Ukraine loom large. Trump, who has already slapped $250 billion in tariffs on China, sounded upbeat about making progress with his counterpart Xi Jinping after weeks of dire warnings. “We’re working very hard. If we could make a deal, that would be good,” Trump told reporters Friday as he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the first of the summit’s two days. “I think they wan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will leave for Lahore on a day-long visit on Saturday (today). According to details, during his visit, PM Khan will chair a session of the Punjab cabinet. The provincial government is expected to brief the prime minister on its 100-day performance and future objectives. Sources privy to the government informed that Punjab government will explain the premier on its targets related to issuance of health cards to 17 districts, a structure of local government, establishment of mini secretariat in Multan and steps pertaining to social and economical development of a common man in Punjab. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on November 29 presented its 100-day performance report in a ceremony titled  “Bunyaad Naye Pakistan Ki ”  in Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Center. Addressing the event, Prime Minister Imran Khan on pledged to improve the taxation system, boost exports, introduce programmes to alleviate poverty an

KARACHI: The mercury goes down by six degrees Celsius in Skardu, as a cold and dry weather spell reported in most parts of the country. Skardu reported the coldest place in the country with minus six degree temperature. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecast mainly cold and dry weather on Wednesday. The dry and cold weather will continue for a few days, weather pundits said. The temperature in Quetta also dropped to the freezing point, while the mountainous regions received light rain and snowfall. According to weather reports, a shallow westerly wave was affecting northern areas of the country. Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitra, Dera Ismail Khan, Murree, Dir and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir also experiened dry and cool weather. Cold and frosty winds blowing in Barkhan and other parts of northern Balochistan, while Qalat experiencing intense cold and frosty weather, according to reports. The weather will remain cold and dry in most parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, S

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A key operative of outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed in fighting with police near here, ARY News reported on Saturday. Police killed a key commander of banned TTP in an operation at Gira Alam Khan in Dera Ismail Khan, local police officials said. The slain terrorist was identified as Hakeem Khan alias Hakeemi, officials said. Police on an intelligence tip off launched operation against the terrorist who was hiding at a house of Alam Khan village near here, police said. In shootout Hakeem Khan alias Hakeemi was killed. A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), hand grenades and large amount of munitions seized from the possession of the terrorist. Last month a most wanted terrorist, Mohammad Abid, involved in Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak and attack on police vehicle, was shot dead in a joint operation by the law enforcement agencies. Counter Terrorism Department CTD and police in Bagowi North on the outskirts of DIK conducted a joint operation which was re

SRINAGAR: Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, has termed  Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement about Kashmir, as a realistic assertion. In his statement issued from Srinagar, Ali Gilani said, Kashmir is a disputed territory and it is not an integral part of India. Terming the Pakistan’s premier’s statement about Kashmir, a realistic assertion, Mr. Gilani said that Kashmir is the bone of contention between Pakistan and India since the creation of the two countries in 1947. The PM while talking to the Indian journalists, yesterday, had pointed out that Kashmir is the only core issue between the two countries as the solution of this problem is possible provided the leadership of both the countries show intent in this regard. He had said the resolution of Kashmir dispute will benefit the whole sub-continent as it open the region for trade and economic activities He had reiterated that both the countries should break free from the shackles of the past, saying:

WASHINGTON: The Pan-American Health Organization on Friday reported a big jump in measles cases in the Americas this year, with Brazil surpassing crisis-hit Venezuela as the nation with the most confirmed cases. As of November 30, the region has seen 16,766 confirmed cases — but more than half of those have been reported in the last month, the UN agency said in its regular update on the situation. Brazil now has nearly 10,000 confirmed cases — but more than three-quarters of them were reported since last month. The vast majority of cases have been reported in Amazonas state, the PAHO said. Thirteen people have died of measles in the vast South American country. In Venezuela, which is in the throes of a major economic crisis that has led to widespread shortages of medicine, there have been more than 6,300 cases confirmed this year — and more than 70 deaths. The Pan-American Health Organization is the regional arm of the World Health Organization, which on Thursday signalled a more

ISLAMABAD: Significant improvements were observed in General Elections 2018 as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) fully exercised its power under Elections Act 2017 to observe the rules and regulations, claimed a report on Friday. According to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report, senior representative of the organisation Mudassar Rizvi claimed that the commission has calmly managed many issues including delimitation. Rizvi said that the procedure of submission of nomination papers also improved while a significant reduction in the prevalence of procedural irregularities was observed between general elections of 2013 and 2018. According to the report, the enactment of the Elections Act 2017 provided fresh impetus to the ECP for improving the enforcement of legal and regulatory provisions in General elections 2018. The report said that the proportion of violations in polling stations also decreased from 100% to 38% between the last two general elections. It said

KARACHI: Eight outlaws were taken into custody in a combing operation of Sindh Rangers and the police from various areas of Karachi. As per details, eight outlaws were held, in a combing operation by Sindh Rangers and the police from city’s areas of Memon Goth and Essa Goth, in the wee hours of Saturday night. During the operation betel nut, machinery to make ‘Gutka’ and illegal weapons were confiscated from arrested law-breakers. In another operation of the LEAs, on November 20, in the metropolis, as many as 12 suspects were held in Bhangoria goth of Karachi’s area of Azizabad . Around 104 houses were searched and 12 suspects were taken into custody during an operation in the area. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central Karachi while briefing the media had said, three stolen motorcycles were recovered  from the nabbed suspects. The two law enforcement agencies have been conducting raids in different parts of the metropolis in order to maintain peace and law and order in

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, who presided over the end of the Cold War and routed Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi army but lost a chance for a second term after breaking a no-new-taxes pledge, died on Friday at the age of 94, a family spokesman said. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, lived longer than any of his predecessors. His death at 10:10 p.m. Central time was announced in a statement issued by longtime spokesman Jim McGrath.   The post Former President George H.W. Bush dead at 94 appeared first on ARYNEWS .

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday arrested Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rai Ijaz Ahmad over corruption charges, ARY News reported.  According to reports, Sindh police’s top cop was detained from Shahrahe Faisal area of the metropolis. Ijaz, who is former Lahore chief traffic officer (CTO), is facing charges of misappropriation of Rs700 million in the police funds while he was posted in Punjab, NAB said in its statement. “More arrests to follow after Rai Ijaz’s detention in the scam”, said NAB’s spokesperson. However, the anti-graft watch, has also arrested suspended district accounts officier of Gujrat, director budget food department Lahore and others accused in the scam. NAB Lahore, had earlier issued Ijaz’s arrest warrants; however, he had escaped when anti-graft officials had raided his house to make the arrest. His father is also nominated in the same case whereas ten other police officials allegedly involved are already in NAB custody. Th

NEW YORK: Pakistan urged urgent action at the United Nations (UN) to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and ensure that all UN resolutions are implemented to make way for an independent and contiguous state of Palestine. Speaking in the General Assembly on Palestine and the Situation in the Middle East, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, said that the time had come to bring an end to the tragedy of Palestine and reinvigorate hopes of peace and mutual co-existence in the Middle East. Declaring that the question of Palestine was about the commitment of international community to abide by the principles of the UN Charter, Ambassador Lodhi said that the unresolved Palestine dispute represented the world’s collective failure to protect the fundamental rights of all human beings, including their right to self-determination. “The dark shadows of occupation and oppression”, she said, “have lengthened over time and have not only betrayed the hopes and aspirations of ge

ALASKA: A powerful earthquake shook southern Alaska on Friday, prompting a tsunami warning for Cook Inlet and disrupting traffic and television transmissions in its largest city. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck just south of Point MacKenzie, Alaska, with an epicenter seven miles (11.4 km) from Anchorage, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It had a depth of 26.7 miles (43 km). The National Weather Service initially said there was no tsunami danger, but a few minutes later the agency said on Twitter that there was a warning in place for Cook Inlet, which links Anchorage with the Gulf of Alaska. There were no initial reports of any damage or injuries. Traffic in midtown Anchorage came to a standstill after the quake and CNN reported that television station KTUU, an NBC affiliate, was knocked off the air. CBS said its affiliate KTVA was also off the air. “Thought the house was going to come apart,” Anchorage-based climatologist Brian Brettschneider wrote on Twitter, posting a pict

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: World leaders including a beaming Vladimir Putin welcomed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday at the G20 summit. In an image that quickly went viral online, the Russian leader and the prince both beamed and clasped each other’s hands like long-lost friends. The embrace came amid reports that Russia and Saudi Arabia have reached a pact to cut oil production when the OPEC cartel meets on December 6 in Vienna, to help shore up collapsing crude prices. The ambitious 33-year-old prince was also seen chatting with US President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka, and shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the start of the two-day meeting of the world’s top economies in Buenos Aires. The French presidency said that Macron spoke to the prince about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Saudi Arabian-led offensive in Yemen, where millions are on the brink of starvation. Macron told Prince Mohammed that European

TARTU: In a nondescript brick building on the snowy edge of Estonia’s second city Tartu, soldiers in camouflage tap silently at computers. They are troops manning the 21st century’s front line. With its harsh lighting and partitioned desks, the room could be any soulless office. But this is NATO’s “cyber range” and these men and women are running the alliance’s biggest cyber warfare exercise, an electronic defensive drill dubbed Cyber Coalition 2018. The activity is taking place just 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border with Russia, seen by the West as the biggest cyber threat after a string of attacks blamed on the Kremlin. Targets have included world sports bodies, the US Democratic Party and the world chemical weapons watchdog in the Netherlands. NATO says such assaults are becoming more “frequent, complex, destructive and coercive”, and are launched not just by state actors like Russia, China and North Korea but also by criminal gangs intent on extortion and “hacktivists” l

KARACHI: In pursuance of Council of Common Interest (CCI) decision, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday constituted Sindh Population Task Force to devise sustainable development goals strategies to tackle population growth. According to the notification issued on Friday, the Sindh Chief Minister will be the chairman and health and population minister will be the cice-chairman of the task force. It is pertinent to mention here that the task force will devise short term (2020), medium term (2023) and long term (2030) strategies for stabilization of population growth. The body will review report on population dynamics affecting economic development in the province and take policy decisions so as to reduce fertility and to increase uptake of family planning. Read More: CCI decides to constitute task forces to check population growth The Council of Common Interest (CCI), on November 19, had decided to constitute national and provincial task forces to check rapid growth

LONDON: The spread of polio must still be classified as a public health emergency because, while progress has been made towards wiping out the disease, that progress is fragile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. “We are so close to the elimination of polio, but we have to use all of our international tools to achieve this end,” Helen Rees, chair of the WHO’s international emergency committee, told reporters on a telephone briefing. “The ongoing situation continues to require that a public health emergency of international concern should be applied.” Latest WHO figures show there have been 27 cases of wild polio so far in 2018 – all of them in Pakistan and Afghanistan where the contagious viral disease is endemic. Rees said the WHO was “very concerned” that this number was higher than last year, and urged governments against complacency in the battle to eradicate the paralyzing disease. “Finishing this job remains an absolute emergency,” she said. The polio viru

Three fragments of rocks retrieved from the moon by a Soviet space mission in 1970 were sold for $855,000 at a New York auction on Thursday. Sotheby’s auction house said the “moon rocks” are the only known documented lunar matter in private hands. They were offered for sale by an unidentified private American collector who purchased them at auction in 1993 for $442,500. Sotheby’s said the buyer on Thursday was another private American collector, but the name was not disclosed. Read More: NASA chooses nine companies to bid on flying to Moon The auction house said ahead of the sale that the fragments, ranging in size from about .079 inch x .079 inch (2 x 2mm) to .039 inch x .039 inch (1 x 1mm), could fetch up to $1 million. The lunar samples originally belonged to Nina Ivanovna Koroleva, the widow of former Soviet space program director Sergei Pavlovich Korolev. They were presented to her as a gift on behalf of the Soviet Union in recognition of her husband’s contributions to the p

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday directed to complete the merger process of tribal areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the earliest for the benefit of tribal people. “Tribal people have rendered great sacrifices for the country,” he said while addressing a meeting in Peshawar. The president said tribal areas had been given exemption from taxes for five years and investors should take full benefit of it. Earlier, he was briefed about introduction of reforms in tribal areas. Read More: Tribal elders from Fata visit China Arif Alvi was informed that election for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from tribal districts would be held in May next year. “Delimitation for this purpose is in progress and will be completed by the end of next month,” he said. The president was told that a committee of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has been constituted for restructuring administrative setup for tribal districts.  It will submit its report within fifteen days. He was also briefed about the

SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday claimed that the whole country will become the stronghold of his party, ARY  News reported. Addressing a public meeting in Sukkur, in connection with 51st foundation day of his party, Asif Ali Zardari highlighted the sacrifices rendered by his party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for democracy in the country. The former president said that there was no difference between the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his assassinated wife Benazir Bhutto. He said that PPP will reclaim the whole country and added that Bhutto remains alive in the heart and mind of every Pakistani who believes in democracy. On the occasion, Asif Ali Zardari said that anti-Pakistan forces hatching conspiracies to break the country but PPP will not let any conspiracy succeed in its evil designs. Read More: Support me if you want politics for labourer, people’s rights: Bilawal Earlier, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had sai

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested a suspect involved in child pornography after registering a case against him. The FIA Cybercrime Circle registered the first case involving child pornography on a complaint lodged by a citizen,Khalid and subsequently nabbed accused Hamza from a Karachi neighbourhood. According to a FIA spokesperson, the accused was involved in sexually harassing children by uploading their immoral pictures and videos on the internet. He is also accused of blackmailing children to extort money. Objectionable photos and videos were seized from the possession of the accused. During his interrogation, about 10 victim children aging between 10 and 13 came to surface, said the FIA spokesperson. He said efforts are underway to arrest other accused involved in such felony following information provided by the arrested accused. The post FIA nabs man involved in child pornography appeared first on ARYNEWS .

Marriott International said on Friday that hackers accessed about 500 million records in its Starwood Hotels reservation system in an attack that began four years ago, exposing personal data of customers including some payment card numbers. Shares fell 5 percent after disclosure of the hack, one of the largest in history, which prompted regulators in Britain and at least three US states to announce plans to look into the attack. The hack began in 2014, before Marriott offered to buy Starwood for $12.2 billion in November 2015, acquiring brands including Sheraton, Ritz Carlton and Westin to create the world’s largest hotel operator. The company closed the Starwood deal in September 2016. Passport details, phone numbers and email addresses of some 327 million Marriott customers were exposed, according to the company. Credit card data may have been taken for other customers, it said. “What makes this serious is the number of people involved, the intimacy of the data that was taken an

KARACHI: Police on Friday recovered an 11-year-old boy from Cantt station, who was abducted from his hometown last month and recover a kidnapper.      Speaking at a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pir Mohammad Shah said that a  police party on a tipoff conducted raid at the Karachi cantonment railway station and recovered the child, who was kidnapped from Korangi last month. He said that the 11-year-old child, Sheraz, was kidnapped from Zia Colony area of Korangi on October 23 and added that the suspect was identified as Raja Muj. The kidnapper compelled the child for drug peddling, said the police officer. Read More: Six-year-old ‘abducted’ from Bilal Colony found safe in Liaquatabad It is pertinent to mention here that a six-year-old child who was allegedly abducted from Bilal Colony had been found safe in Liaquatabad area of Karachi on September 26. The child named Huzaifa was allegedly kidnapped by armed riders from outside his house in Bilal Colony a

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the European Union have reiterated their resolve to jointly combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The understanding came at the seventh round of Pakistan-EU Political Counter-Terrorism dialogue in Brussels. Pakistani side was led by Director General Counter Terrorism Ahmad Farooq and the EU side by its Director for Security Policy Pawel Herczynski. They stressed for a comprehensive approach to terrorism, based on the rule of law and protection of human rights and for enhancing cooperation in dealing with violent extremism in all its aspects, including preventing and countering radicalisation and addressing the root causes. The parties furthermore underlined their joint commitment to regional peace and stability. Read More: UK acknowledges Pakistan’s extraordinary achievements in counter terrorism The EU side appreciated Pakistan’s increasing efforts in fighting terrorism and emphasised the need for increased engagement on preventing and coun

SIALKOT: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday visited formation of Sialkot Corps during its winter collective training exercise. COAS witnessed the final phase of the operational exercise by an Infantry Division, according to a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). He appreciated battle procedures and operational proficiency of the participants. Speaking on the occasion, the army chief said that the military cannot afford to ignore preparations and readiness for conventional response despite our commitments in the ongoing Operation Radd ul Fasaad. “Our experience of sub conventional operations  adds to our combat worthiness. A professional Army being well trained, equipped and practiced deters war,” the ISPR quoted the army chief as saying. COAS said he takes pride in leading an army which by the grace of Allah Almighty has served the nation by successfully combating terrorism and is prepared to respond to any conventional threa

Facebook Inc’s Instagram said on Friday it launched a new feature dubbed “Close Friends” allowing users to share their stories with a smaller group of people. The new feature, which will appear on the user’s profile in the side menu enables Instagram’s more than 1 billion users to create a smaller group of friends and share stories exclusively with the group.  “If you’re on someone’s close friends list, you’ll see a green ring around their photo in the Stories tray and a green badge when you’re viewing their stories,” Instagram said in a statement to Reuters. Facebook has been focusing on Instagram, its fastest-growing revenue generator, as the social networking website’s core platform has come under fire from regulators pushing to improve information safeguards for individual privacy, to combat addiction to social media, and to stop misinformation or fake news. In October, Instagram appointed long-term insider Adam Mosseri as the head of the photo-sharing app following the high-p

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday gave one week dead line to concerned authorities to finalize a new legislation to effectively deal with the offences related to money laundering. Chairing a high level meeting at his office, PM Imran also directed to further strengthen the existing laws to effectively check hawala hundi and other illegal practices that were negatively impacting the economy of the country. According to a statement released from the ministry, he also approved a package to further incentivize remittance through legal channels. It was decided during the meeting that State Bank of Pakistan, being the regulatory authority in the banking sector, would take action against elements who were involved in facilitating opening and operation of fake bank accounts in the country, reads the statement. The meeting also decided that necessary amendments would be introduced in the existing laws including Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 to further strengthen these laws fo

SRINAGAR: Chairman of Hurriyat Forum Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has asked the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give peace a real chance by positively responding to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan’s repeated offers of engagement. Addressing a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, occupied Kashmir , Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “Narendra Modi should positively respond to Imran Khan’s repeated offers of engagement so that both could build trust and give peace a real chance.” He said that military approach to issues could never succeed but human approach to them as witnessed in the opening of Kartarpur Corridor was the best way forward. The Hurriyat leader urged the Indian government to stop the killing of Kashmiri youth and blinding them by pellets. Read More: Indian journalist eulogises Imran’s peace overture, slams Modi govt’s ‘irresponsible’ response He said that India should show the maturity of a democracy “they claim to be” by engaging with Pakistan and Kashmir an

PESHAWAR: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday offloaded two members of National Assembly, belonging to the tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from a flight at Bacha Khan International Airport, ARY News reported. According to ARY News reporter, FIA offloaded the two legislators Mohsin Dawar and  Ali Wazir from a Bahrain-bound international flight at the Bacha Khan airport when they were trying to flee abroad.    Sources said that the two legislators were stopped at the airport as their names were placed on the exit control list. According to unconfirmed report the two MNAs were taken into custody for investigations. It is pertinent to mention here that MNA Mohsin Dawar had played a suspicious role when the body of Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Khan Dawar, who was abducted from Islamabad last month and found dead in Afghanistan handed over to Pakistan authorities. The sources said that it seemed that Mohsin Dawar and Imtiaz Wazir, the head of Afghan delegation a

BUENOS AIRES: The leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada on Friday signed a huge regional trade deal to replace the old NAFTA, denounced by President Donald Trump as a killer of US jobs. “This is a model agreement that changes the trade landscape forever,” Trump said at the signing ceremony in Buenos Aires, on the sidelines of a G20 leaders’ summit. Trump said negotiating the deal known in Washington as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, had seen the leaders take “a lot of barbs and a little abuse.” But he insisted that the “incredible milestone” would aid US workers, especially in the auto industry, while putting in place “intellectual property protection that will be the envy of nations all around the world.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was less effusive about the renegotiated pact, but said the USMCA would resolve the threat of “serious economic uncertainty” that “would have gotten more damaging.” While praising the “historic” nature of the deal, Tru

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday expressed disappointment at India’s negative response to Pakistan’s peace overtures, saying one-sided efforts to normalise ties between the two neighbouring countries will not yield results. Interacting with Indian journalists in the federal capital, the premier said India needs to respond to Pakistan’s peaceful gestures in order to move ahead to address the longstanding disputes souring bilateral ties. He reiterated that both the countries should break free from the shackles of the past, saying: “We cannot move forward if we continue to live in the past instead of leaving it behind and learning from it.” “Our conflicts are impediment to development of the region,” said the premier while responding to a question put to him by a journalist. “There is no people-to-people animosity, but the governments in both countries have issues,” he said and added Pakistan is making efforts to improve ties but unfortunately India is not reciprocating

SUKKUR: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said if masses wanted the politics for the rights of labourers and common men then they should support him, ARY News reported. “In sha Allah! I will fight anti-people forces with support of people. We will collectively defeat them,” he said while addressing a public gathering in Sukkur on the ocassion of 51st Foundation Day of Pakistan People’s Party. On this occasion, the PPP chairman expressed his resolve to follow the ideology of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and philosophy of former PM Benazir Bhutto. He vowed that the party would keep striving for strengthening the democratic institutions, the supremacy of the Parliament and a workable justice system and rule of law. Bilawal Zardari said the PPP had offered the 1973 constitution, gave Pakistan status of being invincible through nuclear programme, remedied the wounded Pakistan in 1971, drove India to reach the historic Simla Accord, made

MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen on Friday announced that their government will provide grants to people to start their own business. Addressing a joint marriage ceremony in Multan, Jahangir Tareen said that their government is not a traditional government and claimed that they will deliver as per promises. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the South Punjab secretariat next year and added that the issues of the local people will be resolved in their own area. The PTI leader said the new secretariat will be functional in July this year and added that the complication on path of new province will be resolved soon. PM Imran lauds his team’s 100-day performance, promises wide-ranging reforms It is pertinent to mention here that addressing an event organized to highlight his government’s performance in its initial 100 days, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on November 29, had pledged to improve the taxation system, boost exports,

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swiss authorities to obtain information about assets and bank accounts owned by Pakistanis in Switzerland. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar inked the MoU with the Swiss officials. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on its official tweeter handle said: “A step ahead in bringing back looted wealth; Pakistan and Swiss governments have signed an MOU enabling exchange of financial information on bilateral basis which will enable Pakistani authorities to seek Swiss bank account details of Pakistanis.” It further said: “A high level delegation led by SAPM on Accountability @ ShazadAkbar has also negotiated the up-gradation & implementation of automation of exchange of information on bilateral level and also additional protocols and MoUs for expediting Pakistani requests on preferential basis.” A high level delegation led by SAPM on Accountibility @Shaza

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Friday said the country needed a strong and independent judiciary as an institution. Addressing a law conference in Islamabad, he said the rule of law was imperative for a successful democratic system. The information minister said the government believed in strengthening of institutions. He urged the superior judiciary and the Law Commission to evaluate ideas to improve judicial system in Pakistan. Read More: CJP Saqib Nisar says judiciary ‘guardian of democracy and constitution’ Fawad stressed the need to revamp lower judiciary such as the civil and the district courts. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar in a statement in July said that despite all the criticism, judiciary stood as a guardian of democracy and the constitution. The chief justice maintained that judiciary had to act against mafias because of the leadership vacuum in the country otherwise he, as a juror, detested judicial activism. The top

KARACHI: Parents of a 12-year-old student are moving from pillar to post to get “justice” for their child who they claim was brutally tortured by one of his teachers at a private school.  Shahmir, a student of grade eight in Karachi’s Aisha Bawany School, claims that on November 16, his teacher used a cane to beat him resulting in severe injuries on his hand and head but police has not even registered a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the incident. Shahmir’s father, who is an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), told ARY News that he had his son’s medico-legal examination done at a hospital but the school management used their influence to get the medico-legal officer (MLO) was changed. “The teacher told my child that he should change his statement (before police) and only say that he fell from his desk,” her mother told ARY News. Normally, in such cases, police demands a medico-legal report before registering FIR but Shahmir and his parents are still waiting for that to be r