World News: May 2018

Thursday, 31 May 2018

Blurred Lines Between Journalists and What We Cover

By DAMIEN CAVE from NYT World https://ift.tt/2LMMGMA

Tu resumen de noticias del jueves

By Por ALBINSON LINARES from NYT Universal https://ift.tt/2slejEt

This Harry Potter Uses a Bow and Arrow. Not a Wand.

By ALEXIS SOLOSKI from NYT Style https://ift.tt/2xqpS25

Group Text

By NATALIE PROULX from NYT The Learning Network https://ift.tt/2xsIxua

Word + Quiz: solicitude

By THE LEARNING NETWORK from NYT The Learning Network https://ift.tt/2xsCzcK

Cambridge Analytica’s Parent Company Helped Shape Saudi Arabia’s Reform Movement

By DANNY HAKIM from NYT Business Day https://ift.tt/2JfmsUr

What’s on TV Thursday: N.B.A. Finals and ‘A Bronx Tale’

By ANDREW R. CHOW from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/2H6u8TV

Spain Is Next to Test Europe’s Stability as Rajoy Faces No-Confidence Vote

By RAPHAEL MINDER from NYT World https://ift.tt/2siHFmY

Crosses Go Up in Public Offices. It’s Culture, Bavaria Says, Not Religion.

By KATRIN BENNHOLD from NYT World https://ift.tt/2LJoE5a

Trump Meets With Kim. Kim Kardashian West, That Is.

By KATIE ROGERS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2kAvNIs

Stanley Cup Finals: Braden Holtby Bounces Back to Lift the Capitals

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2xt8N7z

Sanchez Goes the Other Way, and Severino Stays the Course, in a Yankees Win

By BILLY WITZ from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2sjNjoz

The Mets Get Some Help From Jason Vargas and a Few Fresh Arms

By JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2IYWipV

In a First for Germany, Hamburg Bans Diesel Engines. On 2 Roads.

By AMIE TSANG and CHRISTOPHER F. SCHUETZE from NYT Business Day https://ift.tt/2smgXtv

Italy, Arkady Babchenko, Whales: Your Thursday Briefing

By DAN LEVIN from NYT Briefing https://ift.tt/2LJq0Ni

‘The Americans,’ at Last, Lets Us Exhale

By JAMES PONIEWOZIK from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/2sghj4X

The End of ‘The Americans’: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys on the ‘Devastating’ Finale

By MAUREEN RYAN from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/2J2TCaQ

Shangla’s boat taxis weather terror’s storm

As soon as the sun hits the mountains of Thakot and Dandai, villagers from Shangla and Battagram dash to the banks of the mighty Indus River to get on with the unfinished business of the day. Half a dozen passenger boats anchored to boulders bob in the chilled, swirling waters. Women with sacks of maize...

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NAB says it has ‘irrefutable’ evidence against Bahria Town

The National Accountability Bureau has claimed that it has collected ‘irrefutable’ evidence against Bahria Town, establishing that the property giant illegally acquired thousands of acres of land in Karachi. On May 4, the Supreme Court had barred Bahria Town from selling or allotting land in its Karachi housing scheme. “The government land would go back...

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World Cup 2018: BBC iPlayer to stream matches in 4K HDR

The iPlayer service will offer 29 matches in higher-than-normal quality, but access will be limited.

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School shooting game Active Shooter pulled by Steam

Active Shooter is removed from the Steam Store a week before its release after a public outcry.

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Google launches solar power service in UK

An energy expert said that the tool "is a good way" to make information more accessible.

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Tesla hit parked police car 'while using Autopilot'

The driver said her Tesla car was using Autopilot technology when it hit a parked police car.

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Apple and Russia face off over Telegram on App Store

Russian regulators have given the company one month to remove the messaging app from its App Store.

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UK drone users face safety tests and flight restrictions

The proposed laws - which also include flying restrictions - could come into effect by July.

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Pokemon reveals four new games for Nintendo Switch

A video games expert said that the releases are likely to "broaden the appeal" of the console.

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Fortnite sued for 'copying' rival game PUBG

The makers of the hit video game are accused of copying rival PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

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GDPR 'risks making it harder to catch hackers'

Tool used by journalists and the police has reduced the information it shares.

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Don't buy tickets from Viagogo, minister warns

Margot James tells consumers to boycott the ticket reseller after it fails to change its policies.

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Nuisance call bosses could be fined up to £500,000

They could be fined up to £500,000 if delayed plans to hold them personally liable are implemented.

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Star Citizen video game launches $27,000 players' pack

Star Citizen's "Legatus" package is only available to players who have already spent over $1000 (£750).

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Airprox board says police drone and jet had 'near-miss'

The drone operator "honestly believed" the 520mph plane would hit the remote-controlled device.

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Facebook to be banned in Papua New Guinea for a month

Papua New Guinea aims to crack down on fake profiles and may make its own rival social network.

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Facebook Live lands Tommy Robinson in jail

A ban had prevented media from reporting on the 35-year-old's sentencing at Leeds Crown Court.

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Twitter 'bans women against trans ideology', say feminists

A women's group says there is "a concerted attack on women's free speech" over transgender issues.

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YouTube stars' fury over algorithm tests

The website says it has been manipulating the subscription feed for some viewers.

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Tomorrow's cities: Google's Toronto city built 'from the internet up'

A disused waterfront in Toronto is being transformed by a firm owned by Google's parent company.

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YouTube deletes half of 'violent' music videos

YouTube says it has deleted more than half of the 'violent' music videos which the country's most senior police officer asked it to take down.

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Dixons Carphone to close 92 stores as profits slide

Shares in the retailer sink almost 21% as it announces closures and says profits will fall sharply this year.

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Busking goes cashless with 'a world first' for London

London introduces a contactless payment scheme for buskers that allows tap-to-pay donations.

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Bulgarians tweeting in Cyrillic confused for Russian bots

The use of the Cyrillic alphabet is one way Twitter tries to identify Russian automated accounts.

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Two French teenagers charged over Despacito YouTube hack

Two 18-year-olds are charged over a hack that targeted the Latin hit and other pop songs on YouTube.

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Google and Facebook accused of breaking GDPR laws

Complaints against the web giants are filed on the first day of the EU's new data protection law.

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‘No more bad days’: Amir aims for ‘best memory’ with series win against England

LONDON: Pakistan pace prodigy Mohammad Amir has had some of the greatest and undoubtedly the worst days of his career in England — sometimes during the very same match.

But fresh from helping bowl Pakistan to a crushing nine-wicket win over England in the first Test at Lord’s, the left-arm paceman hopes he can enjoy the “best memory” with a series win in the second and final Test at Headingley, starting Friday.

Amir, who burst on the world scene as a teenager, got his name on the Lord’s honours board with a six-wicket haul against England in 2010.

But in the same game at the ‘home of cricket’, Amir was caught up in a spot-fixing scandal that led him to a jail sentence and a five-year ban.

That same season, Amir took three wickets for 20 runs in 11 overs at Headingley during a sensational bowling display as an Australia side featuring Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Steven Smith were dismissed for just 88 in the first innings of the second ‘neutral’ Test.

The match, which Pakistan eventually won by three wickets, saw Amir stake a claim to ‘The Ball of the 21st Century’ when an all-but-unplayable delivery that pitched on the middle-and-leg stump of Mitchell Johnson seamed away late to clip the top of the left-hander’s off-stump.

Amir, who helped Essex win the English County Championship last season when he also starred in Pakistan’s outstanding one-day Champions Trophy final victory over arch-rivals India at The Oval, has rarely hit those Headingley heights in Test cricket since his return to the international stage two years ago.

Amir, however, took five wickets — including four for 36 in the second innings — as Pakistan outclassed England in all areas to win inside four days at Lord’s on Sunday.

“It’s a big achievement winning in Test cricket in England against England at home,” Amir said on Wednesday.

“If we win the series I think it will be the best memory of my life,” the swing bowler added.

Pakistan will be forced into a change, with Fakhar Zaman set to replace Babar Azam after his fellow batsman suffered a broken arm facing all-rounder Ben Stokes at Lord’s.

England have recalled opener Keaton Jennings in place of the dropped Mark Stoneman, who managed just 13 runs in total at Lord’s.

“You will only get judged on the amount of runs you score,” said Jennings, one of Alastair Cook’s 12 opening partners in the six years since Andrew Strauss’s retirement.

England made a late addition to their squad, with uncapped left-arm seamer Sam Curran called up Wednesday after Stokes suffered a hamstring strain.

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Adidas takes 12-10 lead over Nike in World Cup shirt deals

BERLIN: Adidas can declare itself the winner over arch-rival Nike in the upcoming soccer World Cup even before the first match kicks off as it is kitting out the most teams.

However, the German sportswear brand, which is also the official sponsor of the tournament, expects only a limited financial impact, partly because this year’s World Cup takes place in Russia, where the economy is in the doldrums.

“The World Cup in Russia does carry lower financial opportunities than the similar event four years ago in Brazil,” Adidas Chief Executive Kasper Rorsted said earlier this month.

“At the same time, we’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a fantastic way of bringing our brand to life globally,” Rorsted added.

Since the last tournament in 2014, Adidas has grown sales rapidly in areas other than soccer, capitalizing on booming demand for its retro basketball sneakers and springy Boost running shoes to outpace Nike, particularly in the U.S. market.

Nevertheless, soccer remains important for the image of the German brand, which has supplied the World Cup match ball since 1970 and has a deal to sponsor the event until 2030.

It also announced last week it will extend its partnership with the UEFA Champions League until 2021.

After Nike kitted out more teams for the first time in Brazil in 2014, Adidas has fought back, this year sponsoring 12 of the 32 participating teams, including strong contenders like Germany and Spain, along with hosts Russia.

Nike, which only got heavily involved in soccer when the World Cup was played in the United States in 1994, is supplying shirts for 10 countries, including Brazil, France, and England.

“The World Cup is such a powerful moment in sport, and we look forward to amplifying its energy,” Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker said in March.

NO IRANIANS WEAR NIKE

While team deals are important for sales of soccer jerseys, more critical for sales of boots is the sponsorship of top players, particularly the likes of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who wears Nike, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, in Adidas.

Nike expects 60 percent of all the players heading to Russia will be wearing its boots, including almost half the German and Spanish team and three-quarters of the Russians, even though they will be wearing Adidas shirts.

An exception is Iran, which faces new sanctions after U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal. Nike says none of the country’s players are wearing its shoes, while Adidas is providing the team’s jerseys.

German brand Puma is a distant third, sponsoring just four relatively lowly teams in the competition, compared with the eight it kitted out in 2014, dented by the failure of its top team Italy to qualify.

Still, Puma Chief Executive Bjorn Gulden says the World Cup has helped its order book for the second and third quarters.

Adidas reported soccer-related sales of 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion) in 2014, when it sold 14 million official match balls and 8 million jerseys, including 3 million for the winning German team.

Sales rose to 2.5 billion euros by 2016 but slipped as a proportion of total Adidas revenue to 13.5 percent from 14.5 percent in 2014. It has not disclosed figures since then.

Nike saw soccer sales fall a currency-adjusted 4 percent to $2 billion for its fiscal year ended May 31, 2017, accounting for less than 6 percent of group revenue.

The World Cup could add about 3 to 4 percentage points to Adidas group revenue growth in 2018, lower than previous tournaments due to the fact it is happening in Russia, according to Piral Dadhania, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

However, Dadhania noted much of the benefit occurs before the event as the jerseys have already been sold to retailers.

“Any incremental boost during or after the event relating to jersey sales depends on the extent to which specific teams progress through the competition,” Dadhania said.

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15-foot long sawfish caught, chopped and sold in Karachi

KARACHI: Fishermen had a big catch between the mouth of Turchan and Khajar creek of the Sindh coast when they netted a 15-foot long giant sawfish on May 26.

Locally known as liara, the gigantic yet dead sawfish was caught by shrimp trawler Al Zahid Ali. But due to the large size and heavy weight of the female large-tooth sawfish, fishermen used a crane to carry it on their boat. They later transported the endangered species to Karachi on a pick-up and auctioned it the same day at Ibrahim Hyderi.

The sawfish was estimated to weigh approximately 1,320 kg.

Sawfish are a critically endangered species and the population of this rarely occurring marine animal is globally threatened with extinction due to overfishing. Three species of sawfish namely knife-tooth (Anoxypristis cuspidatus), large-tooth (Pristis pristis) and large-comb (Pristis zijsron) were found in Pakistan.

There was an abundance of sawfish in Arabian Sea prior to the 1980s but because of the vulnerability of this species, specially the presence of a large rostra (saw) in front of their head, its population rapidly collapsed in Pakistan and since 1985, there are no commercial fisheries in existence.

It is believed that sawfish are practically extinct in Pakistan. However, during the last decade, a Pakistan based World Wilflife Fund (WWF) programme documented a few specimens, incidentally caught by fishermen and reported them to the authorities. Studies reveal that the sawfish inhabits coastal waters, and sometimes ascend rivers.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed all sawfish species as ‘Critically Endangered’ because of a worldwide decline in their populations. Sawfish is also included in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Under the Appendix 1 of CITES, the commercial trade of sawfish is prohibited.

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Minister hails Cabinet approval of Pakistan’s first-ever film, culture policy

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the approval of first ever film and culture policy by cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was a historic step.

Addressing a press conference, she said the government had laid solid foundation for revival of the film industry and preservation and promotion of national culture.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif constituted a committee comprising Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Attaul Haq Qasmi, Jamal Shah, Fauzia Saeed and other experts on culture from across the country and consultations were held with more than 100 experts to finalize the policy, she informed.

She said the new generation was alienated from the country’s culture, civilization and traditions because of the spread of new technologies and due to the rise in tendencies of extremism. “If the difference of opinion is due to some logic and reason, it is not an issue but when the differences reach the level of animosity then it is harmful. Those nations which are not tolerant cannot prosper,” she said. She further said cultural aspect was missing in the old curriculum but this time cultural issues were to be made part of curriculum.

She said films had been given the status of an industry and the film makers could now get facility of financing, adding film academy and studios would be set up, import duty on film equipment would be reduced to three percent, film finance fund was established besides preparation of an archive and database for films and dramas and the suggestion to formulate box office rating mechanism was also part of the policy.

The foreign film makers would get access to breathtaking and scenic locations of Pakistan and would get rebate for their film production in Pakistan, she explained. Pakistani films and dramas would also be exhibited in China, screening of Indian films on Eid days would be stopped and festivals would be held to boost local culture and films.

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‘You’re all going to die’: Parkland school shooter’s phone videos released

WASHINGTON: Nikolas Cruz, the now infamous shooter behind February’s Parkland school massacre, filmed his disturbing plans to attack his former school in footage released by Florida prosecutors Wednesday.

“It’s going to be a big event. When you see me on the news, you’ll know who I am,” Cruz said, filming with his cellphone.

“My name is Nik, and I’m going to be the next school shooter of 2018,” said the 19-year-old, in clips apparently in part filmed on February 14, the day of the shooting, which killed 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“My goal is at least 20 people,” he added, speaking in a calm, nonchalant voice in an outdoor setting.

“You’re all going to die. Pew pew pew pew pew. Ah yeah. Can’t wait.”

Cruz explained his plan to take an Uber taxi, armed with his semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, to his old school. The video also revealed he initially intended to shoot down at students in a courtyard.

“All the kids in school will run in fear and hide. From the wrath of my power they will know who I am,” Cruz said.

“I am nothing, I am no one, my life is nothing and meaningless,” added the shooter, who was arrested soon after the massacre.

“I hate everyone and everything. With the power of my AR, you will all know who I am.”

Cruz faces the death penalty if he is convicted of first-degree murder.

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Kajol lends her voice to the Hindi version of ‘Incredibles 2′

‘Khosa excuses to be Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab’

LAHORE: Former chief secretary of Punjab Nasir Saeed Khosa has excused to accept the office of the Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, sources said.

According to sources, Mr. Khosa was not consulted before his name was recommended for the top slot of the interim setup in Punjab.

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid said the party is taking back its decision to install Mr. Khosa as caretaker chief minister owing to public backlash.

He said a new name for the position will be made public soon after consultation with party leaders.

The opposition leader said the decision to withdraw Mr. Khosa’s name was taken after taking into consideration public backlash and voices of disagreement within the party.

Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recently agreed over the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa as the caretaker chief minister of the province.

PTI’s central information secretary Fawad Chaudhry in a video message on Wednesday said “Mr Khosa’s name has been withdrawn following backlash on social media, public media and within the party.”

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed his surprise over the PTI’s change of heart, saying Mr Khosa’s name had been given by the opposition and finalised after a thorough consultation. “It is beyond one’s comprehension why PTI withdrew the name of its own nominee after finalisation of the process,” he wondered.

He said the issue of caretaker chief minister stood settled as a summary in this regard had already been sent to the Punjab governor that could not be legally withdrawn.

Previously PTI chairman Imran Khan had also rejected the decided nomination of Manzoor Afridi for caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PTI took two days to withdraw its decision of nominating Nasir Saeed Khosa, who had served as federal finance secretary and Punjab chief secretary under Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif from 2010 to 2013.

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Multivitamins have no health benefits: Study

WASHINGTON: We all take multivitamins to provide our body with additional nutrients other than the meager quantity we get from our adulterated foods. But it turns out, contrary to popular belief, common vitamin and mineral supplements provide no health benefit at all.

A study conducted by the St. Michael Hospital, the most common vitamin and mineral supplements taken by people have no benefit claimed by them, such as prevention of cardiovascular disease, stroke, premature death or any other.

The systematic review of existing data and single randomized control and trials published from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and some other very common supplements have no advantage against prevention of cardiovascular problems and early death.

The researchers were surprised to find that these multivitamins have very few benefits to provide. These multivitamins have no major benefits but also, do not harm. The study also says that it is only folic acid and B-vitamins that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

It is more beneficial to rely on a healthy diet after knowing the little benefits these multivitamins provide us with.

The study appeared in Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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About a million people quit smoking in France last year; Here’s why

FRANCE: A new study by the French Department of Public Health has found that one million daily smokers in the country quit the habit in the last year.

Smoking has been a cultural image of France for decades.

Authorities attribute the drop to recent anti-smoking measures and higher taxes on cigarettes.

“This historic decline proves to everyone that it is possible to fight against smoking through coherent and integrated actions,” said François Bourdillon, the health department’s director general, in the report released Monday.

A 2.5% drop in tobacco consumption

According to the study, tobacco kills an average of 200 people in France every day — about 73,000 people per year.

In 2017, 26.9% of 18-to-75-year-olds smoked on a daily basis, down from 29.4% the year before.

That’s a drop from 13.2 million daily smokers to 12.2 million, which health officials attribute to the anti-smoking measures of their National Tobacco Reduction Plan in 2016.

Those steps included a switch to neutral packaging to make cigarette packs look less appealing and a ban on flavors and additives, which were particularly attractive to young people, the report says.

“This is the result of prevention measures that prove their worth, and good news that strengthens my commitment to the … health of all,” tweeted the Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn.

Low-income people are smoking less

The reduction of smoking is a priority in Buzyn’s prevention policy. She also attributes the lower rates of smoking to an increase in taxes on nicotine.

In March, just after prices for a pack of cigarettes increased by a full euro, sales dropped by nearly 20%.

This may help explain why the decline in smokers was particularly steep among low-income residents.

Buzyn says she plans to increase the price to 10 euros per cigarette package by 2020.

Some 1.1 billion people on the planet — about 15% of the Earth’s population — are smokers, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO says that smoking kills more than 7 million people worldwide each year.

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Looking for new way to donate during Ramadan? London mosque now accepts bitcoin

LONDON: Looking for a new way to give money to charity as part of Ramadan? A mosque in Britain’s capital is willing to receive your donation – in bitcoin.

The Shacklewell Lane Mosque in Dalston, east London, has decided to accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in a bid to widen its donor base and cut down on currency conversion fees, mosque leaders said.

“For a donor that already has a bitcoin or an ethereum account, the effort of converting cryptocurrency into say British pounds or dollars can be quite burdensome. The mosque effectively takes the burden on themselves,” said blockchain consultant Lukasz Musial, who helped the mosque set up the technology.

“For the donor, it’s just the click of a button to transfer to an account provided by the charity. From the mosque’s perspective, it opens a new stream of donations coming from all over the world,” Musial said.

Egypt’s Grand Mufti, the nation’s top Sunni Muslim official, said this year bitcoin was not permitted according to Islamic law, Egyptian media reported, but Shacklewell imam Abdalla Adeyemi defended the mosque’s decision.

“Bitcoin is like any other currency. It’s … accepted by a group of people… We ourselves are not trading. We are not involved … we are a charity,” Adeyemi told Reuters.

The mosque says it is one of a handful to accept cryptocurrencies out of hundreds in London and its move is yielding results. It says it is on track to double its donations this year to more than £10,000 ($13,300).

Muslims with the means are religiously obliged to give alms, often calculated based on Islamic texts as being 2.5 percent of their wealth, and many do so during the holy month, a time when Muslim charities are most active.

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Usman Salahuddin likely to make Test debut at Leeds

Usman Salahuddin is likely to make his debut as Pakistan take on England in the second Test at Leeds starting on Friday. He is expected to replace Babar Azam who was ruled out of the team due to an hand injury. The 27-year-old from Lahore played an unbeaten innings of 69 runs in the tour...

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PTI wants to withdraw Nasir Khosa’s name as it foresees defeat, says Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf wants to withdraw Nasir Khosa’s name at the last moment because they know that they will lose in the upcoming election, said Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday. He held an informal talk with journalists in Lahore. “I am unaware of Nasir Khosa’s refusal to act as interim Punjab CM,” he said. “The...

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June to bring cooler weather in Karachi

The intensity of heat in Karachi is likely to go down on Friday, predicts the Met Office. Temperature in Karachi broke its 37-year record on Wednesday. The last time the mercury soared up till 46 degrees Celsius in the city was in the May of 1981. On Thursday, the heatwave in the city ends. Humidity...

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1.2bn children threatened by war, poverty, discrimination: study

More than half of the world’s children are threatened by conflict, poverty or sexual discrimination, Save the Children said in a report published on Wednesday. Entitled “Many Faces of Exclusion”, the study ranked 175 countries in terms of the threat of child labour, exclusion from education, child marriage and early pregnancy. It found that 1.2...

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Anti-Kremlin journalist back from the dead as Ukraine admits set-up

“Murdered” anti-Kremlin journalist Arkady Babchenko appeared alive and well at a press conference in Kiev on Wednesday as Ukraine admitted it had faked his death to expose an alleged Russian plot to kill him. Onlookers gasped and applauded as Babchenko appeared, introduced by the head of Ukraine’s security service, who said the murder had been...

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NY grand jury indicts Weinstein on rape, sex crime charges

A Manhattan grand jury Wednesday indicted Harvey Weinstein on rape and sex crime charges, the next step in efforts by prosecutors to bring the disgraced Hollywood mogul to trial for alleged sex crimes. The 66-year-old was initially charged last week in what was hailed a landmark for the #MeToo movement, nearly eight months after his...

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Our pills don’t cause racism, drugmaker Sanofi tells Roseanne

Pulled off air over a racist tweet, US sitcom star Roseanne Barr has blamed her outburst on a sleeping pill — prompting a swift retort Wednesday from pharma giant Sanofi which stated, deadpan, that its drugs do not cause racism. In a since-deleted overnight tweet, Barr blamed a dose of Ambien for the incendiary tweet...

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Heartbreaker? Smoking causing millions of heart attacks, strokes: WHO

While the link between smoking and a range of cancers is well known, the World Health Organization warned Thursday there was too little awareness of tobacco’s impact on the human heart. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day Thursday, the UN health agency hailed that smoking had declined significantly since year 2000, but warned...

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Taliban ‘talking and fighting,’ says U.S. commander in Afghanistan

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan played down a spate of recent Taliban attacks on Wednesday, saying violence levels were still lower than average as some insurgents talked peace – a situation he described as “talking and fighting.” “You see mid-level, senior-level Taliban leaders engaging with Afghans,” said Army General John Nicholson, adding that a...

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Key North Korea official meets Pompeo in New York

Talks on preparing a summit with the US are under way in New York, Singapore and on the Korean border.

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Top 10 worst excuses for not appointing women executives

A report on boardroom diversity reveals the top 10 worst excuses for not appointing women.

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Crackdown on high-interest lending announced by FCA

Rent-to-own sector faces a cap on prices but the regulator rules out an immediate limit on cost of overdrafts.

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Study casts doubt on 'healthy obesity'

Fat but otherwise healthy women are still likelier to have a stroke or heart attack, a study says.

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Tennis star struggles with Yorkshire accent

German Alexander Zverev admired the reporter's accent so much, he even promised to pay a visit to the county if they ever hold a tournament there.

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Muslim group tells Tories to 'remove Islamophobia from party'

The Muslim Council of Britain calls for "racists and bigots" to be removed from the party.

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Deficit for NHS trusts in England double the amount planned

Higher patient demand and staff costs are blamed for a total deficit of £960m for trusts in England.

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Kim Kardashian asks Trump to pardon Alice Marie Johnson

The star meets the president on behalf of a 63-year-old woman jailed for a first-time drug offence.

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Boy, 12, helps father fight anxiety and depression

Stuart Gumm often suffers panic attacks, no longer drives, and rarely leaves the house.

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World Cup 2018: BBC iPlayer to stream matches in 4K HDR

The iPlayer service will offer 29 matches in higher-than-normal quality, but access will be limited.

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Thameslink compares poor service to Poundland chocolate

Thameslink is threatened with legal action for comparing its poor service to Poundland chocolate.

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Meghan, Dua Lipa and Davidson on influential women list

Singer Dua Lipa and Supreme Court president Baroness Hale also make Vogue magazine's roll of honour.

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The Papers: 'You only live twice'

Exiled Russian reporter Arkady Babchenko is pictured and his fake death plot likened to a James Bond film.

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News Daily: US-N Korea talks, 'excuses' over female boards, and Meghan on Vogue list

Your morning briefing for 31 May 2018.

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Perfecting the pout: Which city is the UK's lip filler capital?

More searches for lip filling are made in one northern city than anywhere else in Britain, research suggests.

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The beach from The Beach closes

Ko Phi Phi, made famous by Danny Boyle's The Beach, prepares close to tourists to protect its beauty.

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Do these photos change your view of pigeons?

This photographer has been on a 10-year mission to teach people that pigeons are beautiful.

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Hay Festival: Bradford schoolgirls' first time review

A group of Bradford pupils visit the Hay Festival for the first time and give their review.

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The mystery of Russia's missing IS brides

More than 2,000 Russian women who lived under the Islamic State group have disappeared.

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Melania Trump tweets 20 days after last public appearance

"Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family," a tweet posted on her account says.

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Why Serena Williams is a real life superhero

The 23-time Grand Slam winner said she felt like a "warrior" at the French Open.

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Meet the Russians turning the turntables on male DJs

How two female DJs from St Petersburg are challenging stereotypes, ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

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Neighbours to show Australian TV's first gay wedding

The long-running soap will air Aaron Brennan and David Tanaka's nuptials in September.

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Eight times celebrities messed up on social media

Following the cancellation of Roseanne's show, which other celebrities have messed up on social media?

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US preacher asks followers to help buy fourth private jet

Jesse Duplantis, 68, said God told him to "believe" for his fourth plane, which is set to cost $54m.

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Twins in school: To separate or not to separate?

Some mothers want their twins kept together, some prefer separate classes and others say "they'll find their own way regardless".

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What could Brexit mean for the UK's creative talent?

From Britain's film industry and political playwrights to touring musicians and Eurovision.

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Vaping - the rise in five charts

Spending on e-cigarettes is increasing. The BBC looks at what's behind the rise.

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Profile: Billionaire philanthropist George Soros

The hedge fund investor turned liberal philanthropist is politically divisive around the world.

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‘The Americans’ Finale: The Damage Done

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YouTube star John 'TotalBiscuit' Bain dies aged 33

Game critic John Bain - known as TotalBiscuit and the Cynical Brit - dies of cancer.

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Call of Duty Kansas 'swatting' death: Two more charged

A man renting a gamer's home was shot dead by police responding to a hoax call.

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Wednesday, 30 May 2018

On ‘Succession,’ a Media Mogul Gets the Conniving Family He Deserves

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Bill Browder arrested in Spain on Russian warrant

The high-profile critic of President Vladimir Putin is arrested in Madrid on a Russian warrant.

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Veteran actor Mustafa Qureshi decides to join PTI

KARACHI: Veteran film actor Mustafa Qureshi has decided to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after meeting a Karachi-based leader of the party on Wednesday.

Just ahead of the elections, Qureshi left the PPP for the Imran Khan-led PTI. The Pakistani actor met PTI leader Khurram Sher Zaman and decided to join the party, reports said here.

Qureshi will make a formal announcement in this regard at a press conference.

He was associated with the PPP for over four decades. In 2014, the actor had expressed its reservations with the PPP, saying it was no longer the party of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,

During that period, he had also expressed his support for the demands made public by Imran Khan during the 2014 sit-in against the PML-N government in Islamabad.

Qureshi had met PPP founder Zulfikar Bhutto over four decades ago and became member of the party since then.

In one interview in the past, the veteran actor said that he was the ideological worker, who was bred on the resistance of General Ayub Khan’s era. “I had seen the wave of popularity created by Bhutto, and supported it against dictatorship.”

Recalling how he met Bhutto, he had said: “I lived in Hyderabad around four decades ago and worked for Radio Pakistan. We were in a hotel for a small meeting where Bhutto was going to speak. I was introduced to him as a radio artist. Instead of shaking my hand, Bhutto gave me hug. Bhutto had so much respect for the artists.”

But after developing differences with the party policies, Qureshi like some of the old party loyalists also took a step back.

“That party [PPP] is not the same anymore,” he said in an interview.

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World Cup 2018 factbox: Iran

Facts on Iran, who play in World Cup group B: Country: Iran Honours: Asian Cup winners in 1968, 1972, 1976 Past World Cup performance: Fifth participation. Best result: First round in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014 FIFA ranking: 36th Main clubs: Persepolis, Zob Ahan, Esteghlal, Saipa Nickname: Team Melli How they qualified: Top of Asian qualifying...

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France bans ‘big screen’ zones for World Cup over terror fears

The threat of terrorist attacks in France has put paid to fans’ hopes of watching the World Cup on big screens in public spaces, France’s ministry for the interior announced Tuesday. “I remind all publicly-elected officials of the fact that ‘big screen’ zones are completely forbidden in public spaces,” said a statement from the ministry....

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Electric car sales up over 50%

Electric car sales around the world rose by 54 percent in 2017, taking global stock across the three-million threshold, the International Energy Agency said in a report Wednesday. In China, the world’s biggest market for electric vehicles, sales also grew by about half — but their market share remained small at 2.2 percent. In Norway...

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ICC opts for tradition, saves toss in Tests

Cricket’s world body on Tuesday decided against scrapping the toss in Test cricket, describing it an integral part of the game. The International Cricket Council was mulling doing away with the flip of the coin during the World Test Championship scheduled to start from July 2019 as part of measures to boost the flagging fortunes...

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US says supports free, fair elections in Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) supports free, fair, and transparent elections in Pakistan, US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert said at a press briefing in Washington.

She said: “The United States supports free, fair, and transparent, accountable elections in Pakistan as we do in other countries around the world.”

Ms Nauert was responding to a question about the current government completing its term on May 31 and general elections announced going to take place on July 26.

She said the US along with other international partners has supported Pakistan’s implementation of its historic 2017 electoral reforms law.

“My understanding is that this is the first time that that law will actually be put into effect for these elections. We hope that the new comprehensive and transparent legal framework facilitates the peaceful transfer of civilian power to a democratically elected government.”

When asked if the State Department carrying out an investigation against a US diplomat involved in a traffic accident in Islamabad and any update thereof, Ms Nauert feigned ignorance.

President Mamnoon Hussain of late approved a summary, setting July 26 as the date for the upcoming general elections.

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Fox News Breaking News Alert

Fox News Breaking News Alert

WATCH LIVE: Trump to speak at Nashville rally at 8 pm ET

05/29/18 7:34 PM

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Missouri Gov. Greitens announces resignation

05/29/18 5:33 PM

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ABC cancels 'Roseanne' reboot after Roseanne Barr's racially charged tweet

05/29/18 1:55 PM

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National Guardsman's body found after Maryland flooding, police say

05/29/18 1:38 PM

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Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to Arkansas abortion law

05/29/18 10:25 AM

A day before term ends, PM counts achievements

A day before the government dissolves, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi grabbed the microphone to recall the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz-led administration’s achievements. The current government’s term ends May 31, after which a caretaker setup will take over the affairs of the country. Former Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk will replace PM Abbasi. The interim government...

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China slams surprise U.S. trade announcement, says ready to fight

SHANGHAI/BEIJING: China on Wednesday lashed out at Washington’s unexpected statement that it will press ahead with tariffs and restrictions on investments by Chinese companies, saying Beijing was ready to fight back if Washington was looking to ignite a trade war.

The United States said on Tuesday that it still held the threat of imposing tariffs on $50 billion of imports from China and would use it unless Beijing addressed the issue of theft of American intellectual property.

The declaration came after the two sides had agreed earlier this month to look at steps to narrow China’s $375 billion trade surplus with America, and days ahead of a visit to Beijing by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for further negotiations.

William Zarit, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said Washington’s threat of tariffs appeared to have been “somewhat effective” thus far.

“I don’t think it is only a tactic, personally,” he told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the group does not view tariffs as the best way to address the trade frictions.

“The thinking became that if the U.S. doesn’t have any leverage and there is no pressure on our Chinese friends, then we will not have serious negotiations.”

China’s Commerce Ministry reacted swiftly overnight with a short statement, saying it was surprised and saw it as contrary to the consensus both sides had reached recently.

The Global Times said the United States was suffering from a “delusion” and warned that the “trade renege could leave Washington dancing with itself”.

The widely read tabloid is run by the Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, although its stance does not necessarily reflect Chinese government policy.

“The Chinese government will have the necessary measures in place to deal with a U.S. withdrawal from any settled agreement. If the U.S. wants to play games, then China would be more than willing to play along and do so until the very end,” it said.

ZTE AND QUALCOMM

Fears of a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies had also receded after the administration of President Donald Trump said it had reached a deal that would put ZTE Corp (0763.HK)(000063.SZ) back in business after banning China’s second-biggest telecoms equipment maker from buying U.S. technology parts.

Still hanging in the balance, however, is San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc’s (QCOM.O) proposal to acquire NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI.O) – a $44 billion deal that requires clearance from China’s antitrust regulators. The recent easing in tensions had fueled optimism that an agreement was imminent.

“On hold now,” a person familiar with Qualcomm’s talks with the Chinese government said on Wednesday, declining to be identified as the negotiations are confidential.

“Trump is crazy. Crazy tactics might work, though,” the person added.

State news agency Xinhua said China hoped that the United States would not act impulsively but stood ready to fight to protect its own interests.

“China’s attitude, as always, is: we do not want to fight, but we are also not afraid to fight,” it said in a commentary.

“China will continue to hold pragmatic consultations with the United States’ delegation and hope that the United States will act in accordance with the spirit of the joint statement.”

‘INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS’

Commerce Secretary Ross is scheduled to visit Beijing from June 2 to June 4 to try and get China to agree to firm numbers for additional U.S. exports to the country.

The deal to reduce China’s trade surplus with the U.S. was separate from the U.S. probe into China’s alleged theft of intellectual property.

A White House official said on Tuesday that the U.S. government plans to shorten the length of visas issued to some Chinese citizens as part of a strategy to prevent intellectual property theft by U.S. rivals.

Citing a document issued by the Trump administration in December, the official said the U.S. government would consider restrictions on visas for science and technology students from some countries.

The China Daily newspaper said the repeated U.S. claim that Beijing had forced foreign firms to transfer their technologies to Chinese businesses was without evidence and was being used as an excuse to facilitate its trade protectionism.

It said technology transfers between U.S. companies and their Chinese partners were the result of normal business practices, not coercive policies.

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Millions of British teenagers banned from using WhatsApp

LONDON: WhatsApp is more than a messaging app for many. And soon after the introduction of strict European data privacy laws, the use of the app has now become age-restricted in the UK.

Users will be asked to confirm they’re 16 when they agree with a new terms of service and privacy policy.

What’s less clear is whether there’ll be any further checks – or if WhatsApp will kick off users it believes to be under 16. Under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on May 25, users have rights about how their data is stored and used.

GDPR is the biggest overhaul of online privacy since the birth of the internet, giving Europeans the right to know what data is stored on them and the right to have it deleted.

WhatsApp, which had more than 1.5 billion users in January, said in a blog post, ‘Our goal is simply to explain how we use and protect the limited information we have about you.’

WhatsApp, founded in 2009, has come under pressure from some European governments in recent years because of its end-to-end encrypted messaging system and its plan to share more data with its parent, Facebook.

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Pakistan’s new envoy to US Ali Jahangir takes charge

WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s new ambassador to the United States Ali Jahangir Siddiqui has taken up his position amid strained ties between Islamabad and Washington.

He replaced Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, who relinquished his charge on Tuesday after serving as Pakistani envoy in the US for more than a year.

Mr Siddiqui reached Washington on Monday night and was greeted at the airport by deputy chief of Pakistan Mission to the US Rizwan Sheikh.

On March 08, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appointed him as Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington.

His appointment triggered strong criticism from opposition parties, mainly PTI. A petition challenging his appointment was also filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which is pending disposal.

Mr Siddiqui is also facing a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 40 billion to the national exchequer through embezzlement.

A day earlier, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner and caretaker Prime Minister, demanding that Ali Jahangir Siddiqui’s appointment should be declared void and of no legal effect.

He alleged that Siddiqui’s appointment was made on basis of his close ties with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Siddiqui, who holds a BA in Economics from Cornell University, US, is the son of the famous banker and businessman Jahangir Siddiqui. He has served as director of Airblue airlines, Lucky Cement, Azgard Nine along with several other companies. In 2014, he was honoured as a Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum.

Besides, he has also served as member of the Privatisation Commission, the Private Sector Advisory Board of the Planning Commission, the Sindh Board of Investment, and as member of the Community Development Board of the Government of Sindh.

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