Pakistan News Time

GOTEBORG, Sweden — MTV, Finland’s largest commercial television group, owner of flagship channel MTV3, has joined the Oslo-based Nordisk Film & TV Fond (NFTVF) as its twelfth broadcasting partner. Connected to the foundation between 2011-2015, MTV will be the second Finnish member, joining pubcaster YLE. The announcement was made during Sweden’s 41st Göteborg Intl. Film […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2DZBlrl

Stephen Colbert cruised through a live edition of CBS’ “The Late Show” on Tuesday, thanks to plenty of material from President Trump’s State of the Union address and a lively segment with “2 Dope Queens” hosts Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson. Colbert offered his annotated commentary on highlights from Trump’s 90-minute speech to Congress. Among […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2nn4d3k

MADRID  —  Spain-based sales executive Tania Pinto Da Cunha  has joined Pink Parrot Media, a new international distributor, primarily focused on handling CGI animated features. She will serve as its vice president. Created last fall by Marie-Claude Beauchamp, founder of Canadian production house CarpeDiem Film & TV (“Snowtime!,” “The Legend of Sarila”), Pink Parrot will operate […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2FvI5KV

President Donald Trump’s reported paramour and adult film star Stormy Daniels appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday night just hours after Trump finished his first State of the Union speech. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, kicked off the segment by watching the State of the Union address with Kimmel. “Okay, enough of this,” […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2Fy5wDo

Prominent U.S. independent producer, Ivanhoe Pictures is to co-produce ‘Unseen Pages,” a multigenerational drama that will be directed by India’s Jahna Barua. Hailing from the Assam region, Barua is one of India’s top directors who has worked in the Assam and Hindi industries. His past films, including “Ayejo” and “Tora” have collected an unmatched 11 […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2GwQIGk

With stilted, smug delivery, President Donald J. Trump delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. It was an exceptionally cheap speech, one that relied repeatedly on the grief of parents who had lost their children, the appropriated trauma of soldiers and refugees, and flag-waving rhetoric […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2EraJgC

The Democratic Party’s response to President Trump’s State of the Union speech emphasized unity and the strength of the American people without once mentioning Trump by name. The response did not specifically target many of the remarks Trump made in his address, but did extent a hand specifically to Dreamers, the thousands of young immigrants whose […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2GxhMVT

Executives at Fox Sports believe they are close to winning the rights to show the National Football League’s “Thursday Night Football” for at least the next season, a deal that would illustrate the company’s need for live sports at a time when viewership for professional football games are eroding . The 21st Century Fox unit […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2FuGmFr

WASHINGTON — President Trump tried to spread a message of unity at points in his State of the Union address, but from inside the House chamber, what was very apparent was discord and division. Dozens of female Democratic House members wore black to honor victims of sexual harassment and assault. Members of the Congressional Black […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2GuVEeC

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union speech Tuesday night, addressing infrastructure and immigration and touting the economy. Much of Hollywood was not a fan of Trump’s speech, however, or elected not to watch it at all, and took to Twitter to express their contempt for the event or encourage their followers to […] from Variety http://ift.tt/2EsqUdy

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) government’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, in its latest report, has revealed that Afghanistan recorded more poppy cultivation in 2017, despite US counter-narcotics efforts in the country. According to the report, the opium production and total area under opium cultivation in Afghanistan have reached an all-time, up 87% and 63% respectively from the previous year. “The total area under opium cultivation in Afghanistan approaches the area of Rhode Island [a state in US’s New England region],” the report stated. The report asserts that Americans have less information about the ongoing intensifying insurgency in Afghanistan. In its January report, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), John F. Sopko, wrote that the US Department of Defense instructed SIGAR to hold back data on the number of districts controlled or influenced by the Afghan government or insurgents, as well as the nu...

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Hindukush region of Afghanistan, triggering tremors in most parts of Pakistan.  The quake struck 270 km (167 miles) northeast of Kabul in the Hindu Kush mountains, at a deep 180 km, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. While the epicentre of the quake was located 35 kilometres south of Jarm, on Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border Region, as per the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors lasted for around 15 to 20 seconds. It is reported that around nine people have been injured in quake jolts in different cities. The tremors were also felt in India, Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eastern Uzbekistan. ARY News cited hospital sources in Lasbella that a child has lost his life due to quake. Peshawar, Mansehra, Hunza, Lahore, Chakwal and other cities also felt the tremors. The past horror On October 26, a 7.5 magnitude quake ripped across Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing more tha...

SEOUL: South Korea has uncovered illegal cryptocurrency foreign exchange trading worth nearly $600 million, a sign authorities are tightening the regulatory screws on the digital asset that many global policymakers consider to be opaque and risky. The country’s customs service said in a statement on Wednesday that about 637.5 billion won ($596.02 million) worth of foreign exchange crimes were detected. “Customs service have been closely looking at illegal foreign exchange trading using cryptocurrency as part of the government’s task force,” it said, underscoring stepped-up efforts by Seoul to crack down on illegal trade in the digital asset. Illegal foreign currency trading of 472.3 billion formed the bulk of the cryptocurrency crimes, Customs said, but gave no details on what action authorities were taking against the rule breaches. South Korea has adopted a tough stance on regulating cryptocurrency trading as many locals, including students and housewives, jumped into a frenzie...

ABBOTTABAD: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday allowed an application seeking exhumation of the body of 12-year old housemaid Misbah, who died at the residence of the brother of PTI leader and provincial minister Mushtaq Ghani, for postmortem. Misbah, who used to work at the house of Shoib Ghani, brother of the provincial minister, died on January 25 under mysterious circumstances. A fact-finding committee constituted to probe the death of the teenage housemaid approached a magisterial court seeking permission to exhume her body for medical examination to ascertain the exact cause of her death. Subsequently, Judicial Magistrate Aijazur Rehman allowed its request for exhumation of the girl’s body. The probe into the death of Misbah was ordered after rumors of her death owing to physical torture began to circulate. Her body is expected to be exhumed tomorrow for medical examination. The fact-finding body said if the postmortem report established that the girl died of torture, the...

MIAMI: Many parts of the globe may catch a glimpse Wednesday of a giant crimson moon, thanks to a rare lunar trifecta that combines a blue moon, a super moon and a total eclipse. The spectacle, which NASA has coined a “super blue blood moon,” will grace the pre-dawn skies in the western United States, as the moon crosses into the shadow of the Earth and turns blood red. “Weather permitting, the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii will have a spectacular view of totality from start to finish,” said Gordon Johnston, a lunar expert at NASA. Other parts of the world, including Australia and Asia, will see it at night, as the moon comes up in the west. “The last time a complete lunar cover-up took place on the second full Moon of the month was December 30, 1982, at least as reckoned by local time in Europe, Africa, and western Asia — locations where the event could be seen,” said Sky and Telescope magazine. “The last ‘blue moon’ total lunar eclipse visible from the US and North America...

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday issued notices to a number of PML-N leaders on a petition seeking action against them for issuing ‘anti-judiciary’ statements. A bench of the LHC issued notices to deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, PML-N MNA Talal Chaudhry and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for “severely criticizing the judiciary.” The petitioner contended that the ruling party leaders maligning the judiciary in their speeches, which is tantamount to contempt of court. He, therefore, pleaded with the court to initiate contempt proceedings against them and direct Pemra to stop news channels from airing their speeches targeting the judiciary. The petition was filed days after the PML-N’s Jaranwala public meeting where former PM Sharif railed against the judges who were part of the bench that disqualified him for being dishonest. Last week, the court issued a notice to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) as it hear...

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday approved the plea filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel and granted him week-long time to prepare for the case pertaining to determination of the time period of parliamentarian’s disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution.   A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, is hearing a number of petitions filed by members of the parliament, seeking to determine the time period of disqualification. At the outset of hearing, Sharif’s counsel Azam Tarar appeared before the court on behalf of his client and submitted a plea to seek time to prepare the case. The bench accepted the plea and directed him to appear in the case by next week. The hearing was still underway. The petitions revolve around the question as whether the disqualification of elected representatives should be for lifetime or a specific period under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution. After skipping last heari...

ISLAMABAD: Wajid Zia, the head of the apex court-appointed joint investigation team (JIT), failed to show up before an accountability court in Islamabad to record his statement in the assets reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar. As Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed the trial proceedings in the reference, Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) official Sidrah Mansoor, a witness in the case, submitted more documents regarding Dar’s companies to the court. Witness SECP official Salman Saeed sought one hour to submit record of the former finance minister’s assets. He said he had summoned the relevant record from Karachi, which is expected to reach here within an hour. The judge, therefore, called for hour-long recess and is expected to resume the hearing at 11:00am. On Tuesday, witness Sidrah presented the record of three companies owned by Dar, including Gulf Insurance, CNG Pakistan Limited and Pakistan Development Fund Limi...

DUBAI: The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit has launched investigation into a T20 match held in the United Arab Emirates. The video of the match showed the batsmen losing their wickets in comical manner, prompting debate on the social media. The match was a part of ‘Ajman All Stars League’. Highlights from Dubai Star’s loss to the Sharjah Warriors in the Ajman All Stars T20 league began going rounds on the internet, with Dubai’s attempt to chase down a target of 136 quickly raising suspicion. The Star were bowled out for just 46, with the majority of the wickets coming from run outs and stumpings, even despite some comical fielding and wicketkeeping. Shocking footage showed farcical mix-ups between batsmen. At one point, two batsman get in a mix-up in the middle of the pitch while attempting to run a single, but inexplicably neither makes an effort to get back to the crease as the fielder fumbles with the ball, before dismissing one batsman out in the slowest run-out ever seen. “Th...

KARACHI: The teaching staff at Sindh’s public universities is to observe indefinite strike from Wednesday (today) over reappointment of Dr Asim Hussain as the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Sindh chairperson. Asim’s reappointment has earned the teachers’ irk across the province. The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) Sindh chapter has given the strike call against the uncalled for decision of the provincial government. The teaching staff body views Dr Asim’s reappointment as chairman HEC Sindh illegal. The association had earlier observed a teaching boycott in around a dozen public universities in the province on January 24. Fapuasa has been seeking amendments to Sindh Universities Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, which allegedly has deprived the universities of autonomy. The enactment of the act saw protests by the teachers until the provincial government kept the association engaged in several rounds of negotiations for over four years, ...

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi and northern parts of Pakistan on Wednesday afternoon. The quake’s epicentre was Afghanistan-Hindukush region. There are reports of casualties. Besides Lahore, Abbottabad and Murree, tremors were also felt in Mardan, Der Bala, Nowshehra, Lower Dir, North Waziristan and other adjoining areas. This is a developing story …. from Pakistan Today http://ift.tt/2DO9cV3

FRANKFURT : Industrial workers in Germany started 24-hour strikes overnight, affecting companies including automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen and lighting company Zumtobel, amid a dispute over wages and working hours. Powerful German union IG Metall has called for full-day walkouts through Friday, firing the last warning shot before it ballots for extended industrial action that could be crippling to companies reliant on a well-oiled supply chain of car parts and other components. Emboldened by the fastest economic growth in six years and record low unemployment, the union is demanding an 8 per cent pay rise over 27 months for 3.9 million metals and engineering workers across Europe’s largest economy. The union has also asked for workers to be given the right to reduce their weekly hours to 28 from 35 to care for children, elderly or sick relatives, and return to full time after two years. This is IG Metall’s first major push for shorter hours since workers staged seven weeks o...

ISLAMABAD : A high-level Afghan delegation comprising the country’s interior minister and the chief of National Directorate of Security (NDS) has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks on bilateral cooperation, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal said on Wednesday. “Afghan government had requested that a high-level delegation comprising Interior Minister and NDS chief would like to visit Pakistan with a message from Afghan President and for discussions about cooperation between the two countries. Delegation is here and will have talks today,” FO spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted. Afghan government had requested that a high level delegation comprising Interior Minister and NDS chief would like to visit Pakistan with a message from Afghan President and for discussions about cooperation between the two countries. Delegation is here and will have talks today. — Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) January 31, 2018 Meanwhile, a private media outlet reported that Tehreek-e...

NAUSHARO FEROZE:  A female student of grade eight was kidnapped and raped by an individual in Nausharo Feroze. Police said that the culprit abducted the student in Moro area of Nausharo Feroze district, took her to a vacant house and allegedly raped her. The victim girl was shifted to Taluka Hospital Moro for a medical test. The police arrested the accused of rape and after registering a case against him started an investigation.   from Pakistan Today http://ift.tt/2nso14p

SAN JOSE : A conservative Christian congressman best known for his opposition to gay rights remains the favourite in Costa Rica’s presidential election next month, according to a poll released Tuesday night. Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-year-old ex-television host and the only lawmaker from the evangelical National Restoration party, led in several run-off scenarios in the Jan 29-30 survey conducted by OPol Consultores. Election experts say a second round run-off is likely as no candidate is expected to win at least 40 per cent of the vote in the Feb 4 election. A run-off featuring the top two vote-getters would take place in early April. In a hypothetical match-up against Antonio Alvarez of the National Liberation Party (PLN), Alvarado would win with 37 per cent support compared to Alvarez’s 34 per cent, according to the poll. The OPol Consultores poll has a margin of error of 3.3 per cent. Alvarado has even larger leads in potential run-offs with other candidates, including conserva...

The U.S. State Department is calling out Moscow after a close call in the sky over the Black Sea between a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane and a Russian fighter jet. from CBNNews.com http://ift.tt/2DNYdH2

The Defense Department told its inspector general overseeing the reconstruction of Afghanistan to hide what used to be public data on how much of the country is controlled by insurgent groups, according to a new government report. from CBNNews.com http://ift.tt/2rSYkQ8

A minor girl was killed and nine others were injured in Quetta as a 6.9-magnitude earthquake jolted various parts of the country on Wednesday, DawnNews reported. According to DawnNews , the minor girl was killed when the roof of her house collapsed as a result of the earthquake. According to the Deputy Commissioner Shabir Ahmed Mengal, rescue teams have been dispatched to affected areas in Quetta. Several villages in Balochistan felt the tremors of the quake, the deputy commissioner added. "The injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Emergency has been declared in all hospitals", Mengal said. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake is 35 kilometres south of Jarm in Afghanistan, where the shocks were also felt. The depth of the quake is at 191.2km, USGS added. Tremors were also felt in Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. In Peshawar, Lahore and Parachinar, panicked locals r...

WASHINGTON: Historically, the number of districts controlled or influenced by the Afghan government has been declining since 2009 while the number controlled or influenced by the militants has been rising, said an official US report released on Tuesday. “A fact that should cause even more concern [is] about its disappearance from public disclosure and discussion,” says John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), in his report to the US Congress. Mr Sopko’s office, better known by its acronym SIGAR, was set up in 2008, under a congressional mandate, and in 2009, it began sending quarterly reports to Congress on the US involvement in Afghanistan. This quarter, the US Department of Defence (DOD) instructed SIGAR not to release to the public data on the number of districts, and the population living in them, controlled or influenced by the Afghan government or by the insurgents, or contested by both. Read: America’s flawed plan “This worrisome dev...

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the lawyer representing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif a week's time to prepare his arguments for the case regarding the interpretation of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution — the same article under which Sharif was disqualified last year . The case ─ focused on ascertaining the period of disqualification of a member of parliament under the constitutional article ─ is being heard by a five-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. Advocate Azam Tarar, the lawyer representing Sharif, told the bench during Wednesday's hearing that he was asked to appear in court only yesterday evening and asked for three days to prepare his arguments. Accepting his request, the court gave the lawyer until next week. Taking up 17 appeals against the disqualification of lawmakers, the SC had issued notices...

A man in Malakand on Wednesday threw acid on his second wife and his daughter when a heated family dispute took a turn for the worse. The culprit fled the scene leaving the two women severely burnt. People of the area rushed both women to the Civil Hospital Thana for immediate medical assistance. The two women were later shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar after primary care was provided to them. A first investigation report of the incident was registered at the Kandy police station of Batkhaila district. Police is currently searching for the suspect. According to last year's World Health Organisation report, acid violence against women in Pakistan is increasing at an alarming rate, particularly in the southern part of Punjab. It says 450 gender-based acid violence incidents occur in the country every year and a majority of the cases remain untraced. Acid violence in Pakistan came to global limelight after filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s documentary ‘Saving Face’ rec...

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday issued notices to former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah over contempt of court allegations. The notices were issued following a petition filed by Amna Malik on Monday accused Nawaz, Maryam and Sanaullah of inciting hatred against the judiciary in their speeches at the PML-N's Jaranwala rally on January 27. Malik's lawyer urged the court to issue a notice to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority as well for permitting the broadcast of speeches critical of the judiciary. The lawyer requested the court to take action against the nominated parties. The court ordered all parties submit their responses and adjourned the case until Feb 14. The father-daughter Sharif duo have drawn ire for their criticism of the Supreme Court's (SC) Panamagate verdict which disqualified the former PM for failing to disclose a receivable salary as an asset. The PML-N chief and Maryam,...

A high-level Afghan delegation arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday and is expected to hold talks with Pakistani officials today about cooperation between the two countries, according to the Foreign Office (FO). FO Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that the delegation, comprising Afghan Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and National Directorate of Security chief Masoom Stanekzai, was to visit Islamabad with a message from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and will hold discussions about cooperation. Afghan news service Tolo News reported, citing a presidential palace source, that the delegation is to hand over evidence to Pakistan regarding the recent attacks in Kabul. The evidence will be shared with the Pakistan army, the source claimed, without providing further details. At least 11 Afghan soldiers were killed in an attack on a military compound in Kabul on Jan 29 claimed by the militant Islamic State (IS) group ─ the third major assault in the Afghan capital in recent days. On ...

ISLAMABAD: Despite tense ties with New Delhi due to frequent ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and Working Boundary, Pakistan on Tuesday gave its consent for a three-year extension to an agreement with India on Munabao-Khokhrapar rail link. “The government of Pakistan has agreed to extend the agreement of the rail link between Munabao (India)and Khokhrapar (Pakistan) for another three years,” a Foreign Office statement said. The extension will take effect from Feb 1, 2018. The rail link facilitates people-to-people contact that Pakistan believes is essential for improving relations between the two countries, the FO said. The signing of the rail link agreement in 2006 had restored the route after 41 years. The connection substantially reduced travel time between Sindh (Pakistan) and central and southern Indian states. Over 200 ceasefire violations by India have taken place so far this year, resulting in the killing of 12 people, including four soldiers. Since 2003, the h...

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was granted bail by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday after he surrendered in four terrorism cases, DawnNews reported. Following in the footsteps of his party chief and other leaders, Qureshi appeared before the ATC — the first time since being nominated — and requested the court to grant him interim bail. Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, who heard the case, ordered the PTI vice chairman to submit Rs100,000 in surety bonds. The PTI leader was named in cases regarding the 2014 attacks on Parliament House, Pakistan Television (PTV) building, former senior superintendent of police Asmatullah Junejo and violence on August 31, 2014, along with 28 other PTI leaders. He had been absconding for the last three years along with his party chief Imran Khan and other PTI leaders including Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, and Aleem Khan. In November last year, Khan had surrendered in four terrorism cases against him and was granted p...

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee was stunned to know that there were chances of citizens consuming harmful drug residues along with poultry, meat, milk and eggs. During the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination on Tuesday, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council Registrar Dr Alamdar Hussain Malik said farmers were giving ‘growth promoter’ drugs to animals and chickens. He said there were chances that chicken containing heavy growth promoters and antibiotics were reaching the markets. He suggested strict regulations to stop the practice. The meeting was chaired by MNA Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan. Farmers not observing mandatory drug withholding period before slaughtering animals, experts say Member Siraj Mohammad Khan said to increase the weight of animals, butchers also injected water in the animals after slaughtering them. Dr Alamadar said because of two major reasons – foot and mouth disease and drug residues – Pakistan’s livestock e...

ISLAMABAD: Prices of major oil products are set to pass beyond three-year high, with diesel crossing Rs100 per litre mark – highest since November 2014 – amid rising international prices and falling rupee value. However, the government has the cushion to absorb the estimated increase partly by bringing down the 31 per cent general sales tax rate on high-speed diesel (HSD) in view of its direct psychological impact on inflation and transportation costs, an official explained. Currently, the government is charging 31pc GST on HSD and 17pc on other products in addition to Rs8 per litre petroleum levy on HSD, Rs10 per litre on petrol and Rs6 and Rs3 per litre on kerosene and light diesel oil (LDO) respectively. Based on existing tax rates and import prices reported by Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Tuesday worked out an increase of Rs10.25 per litre in the prices of HSD and Rs2.98 per litre in motor gasoline (petrol) for February. The regulato...

KARACHI: The federal government has issued a special permit to Saudi Arabian Prince Fahd bin Sultan Abdul Aziz Al Saud, governor of Tabuk, to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustard during the hunting season 2017-18, Dawn has learnt. Sources said Prince Fahd had caught the media attention a couple of years back when he, according to the wildlife department report, had hunted over 2,100 houbara bustards during his three-week long safari. A resident of colder central Asian region, the houbara avoiding the harsh weather conditions back home migrates southwards every year to spend its winters in a relatively warmer environment here. Owing to its dwindling population globally the migratory bird is protected under various international conservation conventions and its hunting is banned under national as well as local wildlife laws. The federal government, however, issues special permits to kings, rulers, crown princes, princes and other members of ruling families of various ...

A female Muslim religious scholar who led Friday prayers in the Indian state of Kerala last week is now facing death threats, Indian media has reported. The 34-year-old Jamida, the general secretary of Quran Sunnath Society, had led the congregational prayers in defiance of norms which allow only men to be Imams . "It's written nowhere in Islam that women will be barred from leading prayers. We have to wean the religion from the hands of a patriarchal band of Imams and preachers," she told the Hindustan Times . "Quran is not discriminatory against women. People who interpret it do this. There is nothing in the holy book that prevents a woman from being an Imam," she added. After garnering initial praise for her act, Jamida is now facing death threats on social media and otherwise, and has sought police protection. "I have received many threatening calls. On social media, too, people are openly speaking against my decision," she says, undeterred. ...

NEW DELHI: With the budget session of Indian parliament underway, the government is making a strong pitch for the passage of the controversial triple talaq — or instant divorce — bill. The country’s Lok Sabha — the lower house of parliament — had passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 , last month, by a voice vote after rejecting a string of amendments moved by opposition members. The bill was, however, stalled in Rajya Sabha — the upper house of parliament –– where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lacks a majority. Several opposition parties demanded that it be referred to a select committee. India’s apex court had ruled that the 1,400-year-old practice of Muslim men divorcing their wives by uttering “talaq” (divorce) three times as “illegal, sinful and retrograde” in August last year. The country’s five senior-most judges, hailing from five different faiths — Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism — were part of the panel...

Andrew McCabe's departure is fueling speculation about a congressional memo that could soon be released. from CBNNews.com http://ift.tt/2DJMk4V

ISLAMABAD/QUETTA: Just a day after the announcement of the Senate poll schedule, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed a nine-member parliamentary board to finalise candidates as it geared up to win maximum number of seats from Balochistan along with Sindh, whereas a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with its president in the chair on Tuesday discussed its strategy for the election. The PPP is said to be eyeing at least six Senate seats from Balochistan. The PML-N has set a target of three seats, according to PML-N information secretary Mushahid­ullah Khan who said their party meeting “condemned” the PPP for its role in the recent change of Sanaullah Zehri’s government in Balochistan. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari recently chaired a meeting at Sindh CM House as the newly elected Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and his cabinet members called on Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Jan 25. The meeting was considered the beginning of acti...

ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Privatisation has opposed the plan to privatise the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) before the government’s term expires in May. Divesting PIA in haste would create problems for the next government to implement the decision, Mohsin Aziz, head of committee, advised the government on Tuesday. Saleem Mandviwalla of the PPP bitterly criticised the government’s plan and said his party would strongly resist the privatisation of the national flag carrier at this stage when the government is approaching the end of its term. Law requires move towards privatisation, Mr Aziz responds to senators He was of the view that the privatisation must be on hold as possible buyers would lack confidence in the decision and it would become a burden on the next government to implement the decision. On the contrary, Privatisation Minister Daniyal Aziz explained to the committee that the government was following the PIA Corporation (Conversion) Act of ...

لندن:  پاکستانی نژاد برطانوی باکسر عامر خان نے اپنی بیوی فریال مخدوم اور نجی زندگی کے بارے میں نازیبا کلمات کہنے پر پریس کانفرنس کے دوران سب کے سامنے کینیڈین باکسر فل لو گریکو کے منہ پر پانی کا گلاس دے مارا۔ گزشتہ روز باکسر عامر خان اور ان کے حریف باکسر  فل لو گریکو کے درمیان ایک پریس کانفرنس کے دوران اس وقت بدمزگی پیدا ہوگئی جب گریکو نے سب کے سامنے نہ صرف عامر خان کی نجی زندگی کے بارے میں بولنا شروع کردیا بلکہ ان کی بیوی فریال مخدوم اور اینتھنی جوشوا کے تعلقات کے بارے میں بھی نازیباکلمات کہنے شروع کردئیے۔ پہلے تو عامر خان گریکو کی بات پر مسکراتے رہے تاہم جب معاملہ ان کی برداشت سے باہر ہوگیا تو انہوں نے ٹیبل پر رکھا ہوا پانی کا گلاس گریکو کے منہ پر دے مارا اور اس کے بعد ان پر مکے برسانے کی کوشش کی تاہم تقریب میں موجود دیگرافراد نے بیچ بچاؤ کرایا۔ بین الاقوامی میڈیا کے مطابق باکسر عامر خان تقریباً 2 سال بعد ایک بار پھر رنگ میں اتر رہے ہیں اور ان کی پہلی فائٹ 33 سالہ کینیڈین باکسر فل لو گریکو کے ساتھ 21 اپریل کو ہوگی۔ دونوں اسی حوالے سے ایک پریس کانفرنس میں شریک تھے جب گ...

The United States (US) faces a bigger threat from China than it does from Russia, CIA Director Mike Pompeo told the BBC in an interview . Pompeo claimed that there was a "much bigger footprint" of China's intelligence in the efforts to "infiltrate" not only the US but UK and Europe as well. "Think about the scale of the two economies," he said. "The Chinese have a much bigger footprint upon which to execute that mission than the Russians do." The CIA chief alleged that China had designated its spies everywhere including schools, hospitals and the corporate world in order to "work against America". According to Pompeo, China's methods to extract intelligence and exert influence included traditional espionage as well as using economic influence over American companies that were trying to enter its market. This is not the first time the US has accused China and Russia of interference in the country. The US intelligence's...