Siasat Wala Blog

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a statement today emphasised the importance of a cleaner and greener environment, ARY News reported on Thursday. The Minister said that one of the biggest reasons for the blockage of drainage systems in the country were plastic shopping bags which are bio-degradable. Qureshi is set to kick-off an environment-friendly campaign aimed at the eradication of plastic shopping bags from the capital, the campaign is set to be held on August 14. The Foreign Minister also said that the environment was a responsibility of each and every individual of Pakistan and it must be safeguarded and protected. Read More: Plastic bags to be banned in Islamabad: NA body State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul on Monday announced to slap ban over usage of plastic bags in Islamabad from August 14, it was reported on June 17. “Plastic bags would be banned in the federal capital from August 14”, she said while addressing a ceremony i...

KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi has termed electrocution deaths in the city during recent rainfall as criminal negligence and said that the power utility will be questioned about it, ARY News reported on Thursday. Commissioner Iftikhar Hussasin Shalwani said that in a meeting at Commissioner Office tomorrow the K-electric will be questioned about the incidents of electrocution. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has demanded explanation from the KE about electrocution deaths in city,”We will also ask questions from them and will take legal action,” Commissioner said. K-electric will also be questioned about 40-hours long outages in city areas during the rainfall, he said. “When some city agency asked about some work it holds other institution responsible to perform that work,” Commissioner said, highlighting the need of a centralized authority for the city. He said city agencies had worked in the post rainfall situation in the city and restored the roads for m...

ISLMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued notification of successful candidates in recent tribal elections for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the merged tribal districts. According to the notification issued by Pakistan’s prime electoral body, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Anwar Zaib Khan has been declared as the winner from PK-100 Bajaur –I. PTI’s Aimal Khan secured the seat of PK-101 Bajaur. On PK-102 Bajaur-III, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) candidate Sirajuddin was declared successful with 19,088 votes. According to the notification ANP candidate, Nisar Ahmed was declared a winner from PK-103 Mohmand-I. Independent candidate Malik Abbas-ur-Rehman was declared the winner on PK-104 Mohmand-II. Citing the notificationof PK-105 Khyber-I constituency, the independent candidate Shafiq Afridi has been declared successful. Bilawal Afridi, another independent candidate won PK-106 seat Khyber-2. Independent candidate Muhammad Shafiq won the PK-107 Khyber 3. JU...

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry taking to the social media today (Thursday) lamented the no-confidence motion against chairman senate Sadiq Sanjrani, ARY News reported. Writing on the micro-blogging website Twitter, the minister said that all of this exercise was to save the ill-gotten wealth of the political leaders, this is all a part of “ Abu Bachao Muhim ” said Chaudhry. Chaudhry’s tweet further read that the initiative would prove useless and the government and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were unphased by the efforts of the opposition. The Minister also claimed that the only difference Chairman Senate’s removal would make would be on the Senate itself, he said that Sanjrani was the man who was responsible for maintaining balance in a tough environment. Read More: Sadiq Sanjrani confident of getting through Senate showdown He continued that whatever the fate of this no-confidence motion may be, the balance of senate has been meddled wi...

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will present former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi before an accountability court as his 13-day physical remand expired on Thursday (today) in liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) scandal. Khaqan Abbasi was taken under custody by NAB team while en-route on Thokar Niaz Baig road on July 18, over liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) scandal. The former premier will be presented before the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir, where the extension in his physical remand will be sought. Read more:  NAB explains why ex-PM Abbasi was arrested The former prime minister is facing charges of corruption and awarding a LNG import contract at exorbitant rates in 2015, which caused big loss to the national exchequer. Sources said that he had granted a tender worth Rs220 bn to a firm in which he himself was a shareholder. NAB sources said that Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded a LNG import and distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violatio...

For the first time in its history, the Miss Venezuela contest will not publish the 24 contestants’ waist, bust and hip measurements, organizers said — as Pageants face criticism for their primary focus on physical appearance. The event, which will take place in Caracas on Thursday, has been running since 1952 and has an enviable record on the international stage, having produced seven Miss Universe winners and six in Miss World. Traditionally, the contestants’ vital statistics have been publicized — with a 90-centimeter (36- inch) bust, 60-centiment waist and 90-centimeter hips long considered the ideal. This year, contestants will still parade on stage in swimsuits and evening gowns, but organizers say they want to fight stereotypes about what an ideal woman looks like and hence will not reveal their measurements. “A woman’s beauty isn’t 90, 60, 90 … It is measured by each one’s talent,” said Gabriela Isler, the pageant’s spokeswoman and Venezuela’s last Miss Universe winner in ...

In a stunning photo, a wildlife photographer has captured a sea lion falling into the mouth of a humpback whale in what he calls a “once-in-a-lifetime” moment.   Chase Dekker, who is also a marine biologist, took the spectacular shot during a whale-watching boat trip off the coast of Monterey Bay, in California, last week. “I get to see a lot of crazy stuff but never this,” said the 27-year-old who has been taking pictures of wildlife for nearly a decade. He said he was on a whale-watching boat trip on July 22 when he noticed a group of humpback whales on a feeding frenzy. As the animals were munching on anchovies, an unlucky sea lion failed to get out of the way in time and ended up inside the whale’s mouth, Dekker recounted in interviews and an Instagram post. He said he quickly grabbed his camera and began snapping pictures of the incredible moment. “I was ecstatic because I captured a moment I may never see again,” he said. But rest assured, Dekker said, the whale ne...

Diet is already a key part of managing diseases like diabetes and hypertension, but new research adds to a growing body of evidence that it could help cancer treatment too. The study, published Thursday in the journal Nature, found restricting intake of an amino acid found in red meat and eggs significantly enhanced cancer treatment in mice, slowing tumour growth. “These are very strong effects, and they are effects that are as strong as we would see with drugs that work,” said lead researcher Jason Locasale, an associate professor at Duke University’s School of Medicine. “What this study is showing is that there are many situations where a drug by itself doesn’t work, but if you combine the drug with the diet, it works. Or the radiation therapy doesn’t work well, but if you combine… with the diet, it works well,” he told AFP. The study focused on restricting intake of the amino acid methionine, which is key to a process called one-carbon metabolism that helps cancer cells grow....

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad is scheduled to visit Pakistan on Thursday (today), ARY News reported. According to diplomatic sources, Zalmay will hold meetings with the civil and military leadership during his visit to Islamabad. Mr. Khalilzad will meet Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office in today’s after, after which he will depart for Qatar in the evening ahead of talks with the Taliban. The US envoy’s visit to Pakistan is being considered very important, as he will later proceed to Qatar to hold talks with the Taliban and try to remove differences over certain complicated issues including differences over a timeframe for the withdrawal of foreign forces. They had started negotiations in October last year to find out a political solution to the American longest war. Both sides had last briefly met on July 9 and later decided to take a break in the seventh round to consult leaders for a final decision....

KARACHI: Four persons were killed as their motorcycles were hit by a speeding car in Sea View area of Karachi, ARY News reported on Thursday.  According to rescue resources, the youngsters were heading towards the seaside, when their motorcycles were hit by a car, killing two of them on the spot and injuring two others. The bodies and injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where the injured succumbed to their injuries, increasing the number to four. Among four dead, a body was identified as of Samiullah, 18. The deceased were residents of Korangi. Earlier in the month of April, two students of grade 10th passed away in a road mishap while they were returning home on a bike after appearing in matric exams. The incident took place near Memon Goth area. Two other young boys got badly injured in the accident. Police said the motorcycle slipped owing to overspeeding. Read More:  Road accidents kill eight in Dadu, Karak The dead included Haroon and Kashif, both of them 1...

KARACHI: The US Dollar saw a further decline in the open market against the Pakistani Rupee falling a further 30 paisa, ARY News reported on Wednesday. The dollar reached Rs 160 in open market today after a depreciation against the PKR, the greenback has observed steady downfall since the beginning of this week in the interbank and open markets. The US dollar observed a loss of 3 paisa against the PKR bringing it overall worth to PKR160.55 in the interbank market on july 29. Read More:  Karachi commissioner takes notice of illegal hike in milk prices Earlier, The net addition to external public debt during fiscal year 2018-19 was only $2.29 billion, which is the lowest in the last three years, said the Economic Affairs Division in a statement on July 26. The total external inflows during FY 2018-19 were $10.186 billion, including grants of $330 million, while external loans obtained by the government during the year were $9.85 billion with the government making pay...

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down bail petition of an accused arrested under gas theft allegation, ARY News reported. A bench of the apex court headed by Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, rejected bail plea of an accused from Lakki Marwat, who was arrested for allegedly stealing gas to generate electricity. Accused was stealing gas to generate electricity for sale, Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed during the hearing. The accused aimed gun at concerned officials when they visited him for inquiry, the judge further said. A power generator was also recovered from his house, Justice Ijaz added. “Lakki Marwat suffers 18 hours power load shedding and keeping a generator in such situation is compulsion for power consumers,” defence counsel argued. The accused was selling electricity to the whole neighborhood, Justice Qazi Ameen remarked. He will be awarded 14 years jail term if the charge of gas theft proved against him, Justice Azmat Saeed said. Fourt...

Apple  iPhone sales dropped to less than half of quarterly revenue for the first time in seven years, but CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday described the change as successfully diversifying away from a single product and forecast results above Wall Street targets. That strategy proved especially useful in China, the world’s largest smartphone market. Investors feared a drumbeat of negative shipment data from the Chinese government and analysts meant problems for the iPhone maker. Apple’s greater China sales, which had gone into a near free fall earlier this year, dipped only slightly, assuaging concerns that trade tension were undermining Apple’s standing in one of its most important markets. Shares rose 4.25% after hours. Moribund global mobile phone sales have led Apple to focus on accessories like the Apple Watch and growth in music, apps, gaming, video and a credit card coming in August. In mainland China, Cook said the overall number of Apple device users had grown in the fiscal thi...

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) joined heads today over the increase in prices of roti (flatbread) in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Wednesday. The Committee decided that a subsidy worth rupees 1 billion would be awarded to small bakers on gas consumption used to bake the dough. While gas prices for small bakers have also been reverted to what they were on June 30, 2019. It is being hoped that the subsidy will aid in reducing the price of the roti to come back to what they were before the price hike. Commercial bakers and Resturants cannot be facilitated by the subsidy, the ECC decided. The ECC also decided to impose a 10% tax and duty on cotton export within the country. The ECC in a meeting on July 17 reviewed the overall economic situation of the country. The ECC session also considering continuing wheat export or impose a ban on it. It is to be mentioned here that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research had recommended imposing a ban on the...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the horrific bomb attack on a passenger bus on Kabul-Herat road, in Afghanistan on Wednesday. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal said “our hearts go out to the innocent victims, many of them women and children.” He prayed for the deceased and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. The spokesperson said such inhuman acts of violence against innocent civilians are condemnable. He said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Afghan people deserve complete peace and tranquility in their country, the statement read adding that, “Pakistan stands together with the government and people of Afghanistan in the efforts to comprehensively defeat and uproot the scourge of terrorism in our region.” Earlier today, Reuters reported that dozens of passengers, mainly women and children, were killed in western Afghanistan when the bus they were traveling in h...

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Ali Haider Zaidi taking to social media today (Wednesday) sent a few questions aimed at Sindh government and it’s lack of coping with a day of monsoon rains in the megacity, ARY News reported. The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs tweeted his dismay at the “lack of delivery and incompetence” on the part of the Sindh government and it’s official on the micro-blogging website Twitter. Ali Zaidi lashing out against the incumber provincial government and it’s stakeholders said: “Will @SaeedGhani1 pls answer the following as well: 1- Why is @BBhuttoZardari not in KHI? Too busy plotting against Fed Govt with Fazlu & Maryam? 2- & btw @SaeedGhani1 does not take media to #PS104 b/c it will expose his lack of delivery & incompetence! But don’t worry I will.” Will @SaeedGhani1 pls answer the following as well: 1- Why is @BBhuttoZardari not in KHI? Too busy plotting against Fed Govt with Fazlu & Maryam? 2- & btw @SaeedGhani1 ...

RAWALPINDI: Reacting to beefed-up ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC) by India, the Pakistan Army said on Wednesday that it will take all measures to protect innocent civilians from Indian firing. The military’s spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor, said on Twitter that, “Increased Indian Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) indicate their frustration due to failure in IOJ&K [Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir].” Increased Indian Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) indicate their frustration due to failure in IOJ&K. CFVs are being & shall always be effectively responded. Pak Army shall take all measures to protect innocent civilians along LOC from Indian firing deliberately targeting them. — DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) July 31, 2019 “CFVs are being & shall always be effectively responded. Pak Army shall take all measures to protect innocent civilians along LOC from Indian firing deliberately targeting them,” the Director-General of Inter-Service Public Relatio...

ISLAMABAD/PAKISTAN: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart and sister of the former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari submitted a plea in the court of law seeking postponement of her physical remand, ARY News reported on Wednesday. According to details, the request states that a session of the Sindh Assembly is to take place on August 5 while Talpur’s physical remand ends on August 8. Read More: Faryal Talpur’s physical remand extended till July 29 Talpur who is a member of the provincial assembly in Sindh and has production orders issued in her name for assembly appearances has claimed that she is lawfully allowed to attend the proceedings. Talpur has argued that the appearance would interfere in the physical remand and court orders and hence to avoid a clash the dates need to be postponed. The court has issued a notice on the matter to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the court has sought comments from the anti-graft watchdog on the matter. The Pakistan Tehreek-e...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest over unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC). An innocent civilian was martyred while nine other civilians, including women and children, sustained serious injuries in Danna, Dhddnial, Jura, Lipa, Shardda and Shahkot sectors along LoC on Tuesday. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal said the Indian forces along the LoC and Working Boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with heavy mortars and automatic weapons which still continues. He said the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights laws. “The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.” The spokesperson urged the Indian side to respect the 2...

KARACHI: The ongoing spell of rains in Sindh and parts of Balochistan has increased the water level in Hub Dam to 307 feet, citing officials ARY News reported on Wednesday. The Managing Director of the Water Board has said that recent rainfall in the catchment area of the Hub Dam has increased the water graph in the reservoir to 307 ft, which is further increasing with the inflows from the catchment area. Increasing water level in the dam will improve the water supply in District West and other areas of Karachi, which receive water from the reservoir. The increasing water level will help to ensure water supply to the city for two years, the official said. Karachi gets 100 gallon water daily from Hub Dam. In a spell of rainfall in the catchment area of Hub Dam in Balochistan and Sindh in February this year, had increased the water level at the lake of the dam by 20 feet. The catchment areas of Hub Dam is spread over hundreds of kilometres in Balochistan and Sindh. Owing to the l...

HONG KONG: Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters blocked train services during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, causing commuter chaos in the latest anti-government campaign to roil the former British colony. What started three months ago as rallies against an extradition bill that would have allowed people in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China for trial, has evolved into a wider backlash against the city’s government and its political masters in Beijing. Protests have occurred almost daily, sometimes with little notice, disrupting business, piling pressure on the city’s beleaguered government and stretching its police force, which some have accused of using excessive force. Activists blocked train doors, playing havoc with services and forcing hundreds of people to stream out of railway stations in search of alternative transport. “We don’t know how long we are going to stay here, we don’t have a leader, as you can see this is a mass movement now,” said Sharon, a 21-year-old mask...

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump warned China on Tuesday against waiting to complete a trade deal with Washington, just as negotiations began in Shanghai to resurrect stalled talks with Chinese officials. “My team is negotiating with them now, but they always change the deal in the end to their benefit,” Trump tweeted. “China is doing very badly, worst year in 27 – was supposed to start buying our agricultural product now – no signs that they are doing so. That is the problem with China, they just don’t come through.” The negotiations are the first face-to-face talks since Trump agreed to a truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping at June’s G20 summit. Washington and Beijing have so far hit each other with punitive tariffs covering more than $360 billion in two-way trade. The US economy “has become MUCH larger than the Chinese Economy is last 3 years,” Trump boasted. The US president suggested that China “should probably wait out our Election to see if we get one of the Demo...

Bollywood actor Govinda revealed that he was supposed to star in Avatar but he rejected the offer for one of the highest grossing movies of all times. The 55-year-old actor made an appearance on Rajat Sharma’s Aap Ki Adalat and shared that he was offered a role in director James Cameron’s 2009 hit movie but he refused because he was not ready to shoot for 410 days and did not approve of using body paint. He also claimed that he suggested the blockbuster’s title to Cameron and told him that the film would become a huge hit. “I gave the title of the film ( Avatar ). It turned out to be a super hit film. I told him (James Cameron) that the film will do really well. I told him that I feel it will take seven years for him to complete the film. He got angry. When I said so, he asked, ‘How can you be so sure that I won’t be able to make Avatar for seven years?’ I told him that what he was imagining was something almost impossible,” Govinda said on the show. Avatar enjoyed the title of...

SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred three more Kashmiri youth in Bandipora district. The troops martyred the youth during a violent military operation at Baktur in Gurez area of the district, Kashmir Media Service reported. An Indian army officer while confirming the killing said that the operation was still going on in the area. On the other hand, unknown persons hurled a grenade on an Indian police party in Sharifabad area of Tral town. Official sources said that the grenade exploded with a bang but nobody was hurt in the attack. Soon after the incident, Indian troops cordoned off the area and launched searches to nab the attackers. Meanwhile, a dead body of a 35-year-old man, Abdul Gani Wagay, was found at Yar Kalampora in Shadimarg area of Pulwama district, today. Reports said that some locals spotted the body at Yar Kalampora and immediately informed the police.   The post Indian troops martyr three youth in occupi...

HERAT: Dozens of passengers, mainly women and children, were killed in western Afghanistan early Wednesday when the bus they were traveling in hit a roadside bomb, officials said. “A passenger bus traveling on the Kandahar-Herat highway hit a roadside bomb. So far at least 28 killed, 10 wounded,” said Muhibullah Muhib, the spokesman for Farah province. All were civilians, mostly women and children, he said. Farooq Barakzai, a spokesman for Farah’s governor, confirmed the toll but warned it may rise higher. There was no immediate confirmation from the Taliban that it was behind the attack. It came one day after the United Nations said civilians are being killed and wounded at a “shocking” level in Afghanistan’s war, despite a push to end the nearly 18-year-old conflict. Casualties have dropped 27 percent in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year, which was a record, but nonetheless, 1,366 civilians were killed and another 2,446 injured. The UN brande...

KARACHI: Pakistan Railways’ latest signal system stopped working due to a glitch in the rainy weather leaving trains to a standstill, ARY News reported on Wednesday. Railway tracks at several places came under the water after heavy rainfall across the country. After heavy rainfall a portion of four to six kilometers of the railway track from Hyderabad railway station, has submerged under the rainwater making the electronic system of the railway signals dysfunctional. The glitch in the signal system has hit hard the arrival and departure schedule of most of the trains, railway sources said. Trains completing Karachi to Hyderabad travel of two hours within five to six hours. Pakistan Railways have cancelled departure of a number of trains to upcountry including Pak Business Express and Millat Express. The passengers of these trains have been accommodated in other trains, railways officials said. Moreover, the schedule of Tezgam, Pakistan Express, Allama Iqbal Express and Karakoram...

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said the government saved Rs5 billlion in the expenses of hotel and transport during the Hajj operations of this year. Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore, he said the government is returning the money to pilgrims which was saved in the expenses of hotels and transport. “Owing to increase in expenses of Hajj, it was expected that the number of applications would be less, however, banks received record Hajj applictions,” he said. The minister said from the next year, the facility of Road to Makkah project will be extended to Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other airports. The number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan is the highest in comparison to the entire world. Two days earlier, the spokesman of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said in a statement, 129,000 pilgrims including 93,000 of government and 36,000 of the private scheme have so far reached the holy land to perform the sacred religiou...

KARACHI: Owing to monsoon rains, the Lath Dam near Super Highway has overflown and the floodwater has entered K-Electric’s KDA Grid station, located at Gulzar-e-Hijri Scheme 33, causing a massive breakdown in the megapolis.  In a series of tweets, the Karachi’s sole power supply company said, the monsoon downpour in the city on Monday and Tuesday caused the Lath Dam near Super Highway to overflow. “The floodwater entered K-Electric’s KDA Grid station, located at Gulzar-e-Hijri Scheme 33, one of the most critical grids of KE’s 220kV grid and an interconnection point between KE and NTDC,” K-Electric tweeted. Overflow of Lath Dam creates critical situation at KDA Grid (1) Monsoon downpour has caused Lath Dam near Super Highway to overflow. The floodwater has entered K-Electric’s KDA Grid station, located at Gulzar-e-Hijri Scheme 33, one of the most critical grids of KE’s 220kV grid.. — KE (@KElectricPk) July 30, 2019 As an emergency safety measure, K-Electric was forced to su...

ISLAMABAD: The number of taxpayers in Pakistan has increased by 700,000 over a year’s period, according to statistics shared by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). As per the FBR’s stats, the total number of people who filed their tax returns rose by 700,000 to a total of 2.154 million. Of these, some 700,000 are salaried people. The FBR further said proposals to impose fixed taxes were being mulled to bring the small and big business owners into the tax net. Read More:  FBR notifies revised duties on imported, local vehicles Hailing the rise in numbers of people filing tax returns, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry tweeted on Sunday that so far 2.1 million people had filed their tax returns, which was the highest in the FBR’s history. “FBR has projected a target to enhance these returns numbers to 4 million for the tax year 2019,” he wrote. Earlier on July 14, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Shabbar Zaidi had said the last date for filing tax returns for ...

KARACHI: The weather system which brought first monsoon rainfall of the season in Karachi and other parts of Sindh has weakened, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in a statement. The weather is partly cloudy in parts of the port city with chances of drizzle in the next 24 hours, according to the weather forecast. The maximum temperature in the city will remain between 31-33 degree Celsius while humidity will be 75-85 pct in the morning and 60-70 pct in the evening today, met office said. Another rainy system According to PMD another weather system will bring monsoon rains with wind-thunderstorm in upper and central parts of Pakistan from Wednesday (Today) evening to Friday. Strong monsoon currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to penetrate upper parts of the country from today. A westerly wave is also likely to interact with monsoon currents on Thursday and Friday, which bring widespread rains and wind-thunderstorm with isolated heavy to very heavy fal...

The body of a billionaire Indian coffee magnate who went missing amid financial troubles was found by a river in southern India, police said Wednesday. V.G. Siddhartha, founder of the Cafe Coffee Day chain that beat Starbucks at its own game in India, was last seen Monday next to the Nethravathi river near Mangaluru and reported missing soon after by his chauffeur. Authorities launced a major search operation, and a fisherman found the body on the bank of the river. “Siddhartha’s body was found early this morning,” Sasikanth Senthil, deputy commissioner of South Karnataka police, told AFP “We have sent his body for post mortem analysis now and are awaiting results.” The body will be handed over to the tycoon’s family after legal formalities are completed, said Sandeep Patil, Mangaluru police commissioner. Patil said an investigation was underway to determine whether Siddhartha took his own life. Siddhartha — whose family have been in the coffee business for 130 years — opened...

Smilyana Zaharieva knew she had a gift when she saw her audience tremble or cry during her performances. Now an official Guinness world record confirms that the Bulgarian singer has one of the most powerful voices on the planet, which can stay pitch perfect despite being as loud as a rock concert. Zaharieva says she burst into tears when she received the official Guinness world record certificate last month, confirming she had achieved the loudest mezzo-soprano vocal note. “When I saw the monitor reading 113.8 decibels, it surprised me,” the 48-year-old told AFP of her record-setting attempt last September. Tough requirements  Irish teacher Annalisa Flanagan holds the world’s loudest shouting record with 121 decibels (dB), but there was no previous singing record. The lively Bulgarian from the southern city of Plovdiv faced a series of tough requirements. Zaharieva had to sing in a quiet studio and go over 110 dB, the average human discomfort threshold, with the sound meter ...

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Senate on Monday failed to override President Donald Trump’s vetoes of legislation passed by Congress that would have blocked the sales of certain weapons to Saudi Arabia. In the first of three separate efforts to overturn the Republican president’s vetoes, supporters failed by a vote of 45-40, well short of the two-thirds needed. Five of the chamber’s 53 Republicans joined Democrats in voting to override Trump. The vote tallies were similar in the two subsequent roll-call votes to override vetoes of legislation blocking additional weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. In May, the Trump administration said it would go ahead with more than $8 billion in military sales, sidestepping a congressional review process. The legislation would have blocked the sale of Raytheon precision-guided munitions and related equipment. Congress’ effort was aimed at attempting to pressure the Saudi government to improve its human rights reco...

KARACHI: After intermittent rainfall Karachi now facing situation of urban flooding, ARY News reported on Tuesday. The military troops have reached to the assistance of civil administration in relief work in the port city. A flow of floodwater gushing out from Thado Dam in Gadap has reached to M-9 highway and a track of the motorway from Karachi to Hyderabad was completely closed due to flash floods. The rainwater from Thado Dam has also reached near the Sabzi Mandi of the city, according to reports. The gushing water has also affected the office of the Motorway and entered in three villages. The people of the area fearing that if the water flow not diverted it will reach to Sohrab Goth. The water spilled out of Lyari river, which is brimmed with water after rainfall and entered in several houses adjacent to the Lyari Expressway. Floodwater from Saadi Town has entered in villages adjacent to the Northern Bypass. Around 100 people have been stranded in floodwater in Rasool Bu...

American doctors are recommending cough and cold medicines less often amid a growing recognition that these treatments may be ineffective and lead to serious and potentially fatal side effects, particularly for young kids, a U.S. study suggests. Recommendations against use of cough and cold medicines in young children have become increasingly common since 2008, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised against giving over-the-counter cough and cold dugs to kids under age 2. Soon after, drugmakers advised against cough and cold drugs for kids under age 4 and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended against these drugs for kids under age 6. To see how these recommendations have impacted doctors’ prescribing habits, researchers examined data representing 3.1 billion pediatric visits over 14 years, from 2002 to 2015. They looked at prescribing of cough and cold drugs with and without opioids as well as antihistamines. Compared with 2002 to 2008 – the period before recom...