World News: December 2018

Monday, 31 December 2018

‘A large number of PPP MPAs want to get rid of Murad Shah’

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Haleem Adil Sheikh has claimed that more than PTI, a number of MPAs belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) want to get rid of current Sindh chief minister, ARY News reported.

“We want someone to replace (Murad Ali Shah as) CM but a large number of PPP MPAs too want to get rid of this CM Sindh for their are a few PPP loyalists and beneficiaries (in Sindh Assembly,” Haleem Adil Sheikh told ARY News on Sunday.

The PTI leader maintained that there are “three categories” of PPP MPAs in Sindh Assembly; first, the loyalists, the other, beneficiaries and the third, who stayed away from their “corrupt” practices.

“So there is a large number of MPAs who are in contact with us,” said Haleem Adil Sheikh, adding that PTI, which rules in the Center, has other constitutional options too, whether the party exercises it or not.

“Governor rule is an option, whether we exercise it or not,” added Sheikh.

More to follow…

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from ARYNEWS http://bit.ly/2GMN9Qr

Mother of the Hubble: Tributes paid to Nasa scientist

Dr Nancy Grace Roman, the first woman to hold a senior leadership position at NASA, has died at 93.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2SoZ7kp

Russian security agency arrests 'US spy' in Moscow

The FSB security agency says a US man named Paul Whelan has been charged with spying.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CHzCFI

Hearing Loss Threatens Mind, Life and Limb

By JANE E. BRODY from NYT Well https://nyti.ms/2AofpTL

Joyful Headlines About Race and Equality

By ADEEL HASSAN from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2QcRyvw

NASA’s New Horizons Will Visit Ultima Thule on New Year’s Day

By KENNETH CHANG from NYT Science https://nyti.ms/2RqYh9J

Shopping for Tumblers

By TIM McKEOUGH from NYT Real Estate https://nyti.ms/2s0yg2z

The Origins of the Times Square Ball Drop

By RAILLAN BROOKS and ALEXANDRIA SYMONDS from NYT Reader Center https://nyti.ms/2CGuZvr

N.Y.’s New Attorney General Is Targeting Trump. Will Judges See a ‘Political Vendetta?’

By JEFFERY C. MAYS from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2QcY5Gh

Castro Takes Manhattan: Vintage Pictures of the Cuban Conqueror as Tourist

By BILL KELLER from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2QcY5WN

A Little Bit of Excess in a Sensible Package

By GENEVIEVE KO from NYT Food https://nyti.ms/2EVkExw

‘Help, My Boss Has Breasts!’

By CHOIRE SICHA from NYT Business https://nyti.ms/2QZlss9

Superb Oddities: Robert Gottlieb Reviews a Biography of Edward Gorey

By ROBERT GOTTLIEB from NYT Books https://nyti.ms/2Vk7ccd

2018: The Year in Visual Stories and Graphics

By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2GLlDTy

Congratulations on the Promotion. But Did Science Get a Demotion?

By AARON E. CARROLL from NYT The Upshot https://nyti.ms/2RoLapw

Brexit: US ambassador to UK Johnson warns on trade deal

Donald Trump's pledge on trade cannot happen if the PM's Brexit deal goes through, says Johnson.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RukV0O

Bangladesh’s Leader Wins a Third Term but Opposition Contests Results

By JULFIKAR ALI MANIK and MARIA ABI-HABIB from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2CI02qY

Fawad Chaudhry to take MQM leadership in confidence over fake accounts JIT report: sources

KARACHI: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry will meet Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P) leadership and will take them into confidence over the JIT report in fake accounts case, sources told ARY News on Monday.

According to details, the minister, who will arrive in Karachi on a short visit to the province is likely to meet coalition partner MQM-P leadership and will take them into confidence over ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) future strategy over findings Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in fake accounts case which names a number of PPP leaders.

Two days ago, sources told ARY News that Prime Minister Imran Khan has given Fawad Chaudhry a “special task” related to political setup in Sindh province and the minister will travel to the province to meet leaders like Zulfiqar Mirza and Ameer Bukhsh Bhutto.

The minister will meet some other political leaders too and may take them into confidence over the report of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in fake accounts case, sources had added.

It is pertinent to note here that a JIT report submitted in the Supreme Court in fake accounts case on December 24 held the Zardari and Omni groups responsible in the mega money laundering and fake accounts case.

The report revealed that at least 29 bank accounts had been identified as fake which were used for money laundering of Rs42 billion.

Hours after the report was submitted in the apex court, Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a presser claimed that Sindh’s Public Sector Development Program’s (PSDP) suffered due to such practices in the province.

PTI MPAs from Sindh Assembly Khurram Sherzaman and Haleem Adil Sheikh not only demanded resignation from CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah but also claimed that the PTI can topple the PPP government in Sindh.

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Philippines deadly storm and landslides kill more than 60

An official says people did not take precautions as the storm was not classed as a typhoon.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2VkEYy4

IHC reserves verdict on Shehbaz’s appointment as PAC chairman

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reserved a verdict on the appointment of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif as the chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

As per details, the lawyer of the petitioner argued that appointing Shehbaz as chairman of PAC is like “ridiculing the constitution”, thus IHC should dismiss the Opposition Leader of the National Assembly from the top post of PAC.

Appointing corruption-suspect Shehbaz as PAC chairman would influence the inquiry, the petitioner’s counsel asserted, while mentioning that issuing production order for the president of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz to attend the National Assembly session, was also against the law of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The PML-N leader is currently under the custody of NAB in connection to corruption cases.

Shehbaz Sharif was elected Chairman of the PAC in a meeting of the committee at Parliament House in Islamabad on Friday, December 21. The PAC in a move unanimously elected Shehbaz as its chairman.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government conceded the chairmanship of PAC to Shehbaz, almost three months after a stalemate over the key position.

The post IHC reserves verdict on Shehbaz’s appointment as PAC chairman appeared first on ARYNEWS.

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Karachi: Police announces Traffic Plan for New Year Eve

KARACHI: Traffic Police has made its preparations to ensure free flow of traffic at Karachi’s roads on the New Year Eve, ARY News reported on Monday.

A spokesperson of the city’s traffic police, has advised citizens to divert to alternate routes to avoid the traffic rush at the Sea View.

According to the traffic police statement, the heavy traffic will not be allowed entry in the metropolis after 6:00 in the evening.

The parking will not be permitted at Shara-e-Faisal, Abdullah Haroon Road, M.T. Khan Road and other major roads of Karachi, according to the plan.

The city’s traffic police will also take action against the cars and motorcycles with broken or without silencers, the statement added.

Traffic Plan

The traffic police have issued traffic diversion plan for New Year’s Eve tonight in anticipation of revellers heading to Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim and Sea View to usher in the New Year.

A statement issued from the office of DIG Traffic Karachi, has provided the public the routes and diversions to use for the night.

According to the statement, all vehicular traffic coming from Akhtar Colony via Express Way and Korangi will not be allowed to move towards Khayaban-e-Ittehad [for Sea View], but will be diverted to the following route: main Korangi Road, Sharea Faisal, Regent Chowk, Club Chowk, Hoshing Chowk, Teen Talwar, left turn Race Course Signal, Ch Khaleeq uz Zaman Rd, Gizri Bridge, Saudia Signal, right turn Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, McDonalds left Sea View, Village Restaurant, left turn Khayaban-e-Ittehad to their destination. Or Saudia Signal to Khayaban-e-Hafiz to Ittehad to their destination.

Similarly, all vehicular traffic coming from Nazimabad, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Gulshan, New Karachi will use M.A. Jinnah Road, Garden Road, Zaib un Nisa Street, Avari Signal, Sindh Club Chowk, Hoshing Chowk, Teen Talwar, left turn Race Course Signal, Ch Khaleequz Zaman Rd, Gizri Bridge, Saudia Signal, right turn Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, McDonalds left Sea View, Village Restaurant, left turn Khayaban-e-Ittehad to their destination. Or Saudia Signal to Khayaban-e-Hafiz to Ittehad to their destination.

Moreover, traffic coming from Gadap, Bin Qasim, Landhi, Korangi, Shah Faisal, Jamshed Town & Saddar will use Sharea Faisal, Sindh Club Chowk, Hoshing Chowk, Teen Talwar, left turn Race Course Signal, Ch Khaleequz Zaman Rd, Gizri Bridge, Saudia Signal, right turn Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, McDonalds left Sea View, Village Restaurant, left turn Khayaban-e-Ittehad to their destination. Or Saudia Signal to Khayaban-e-Hafiz to Ittehad to their destination. Or Club Chowk to Fawara Chowk, Deen Muhammad Wafai Road, Shaheen Complex to I.I. Chundrigar Road, etc.

Jinnah Bridge to Mai Kolachi Road, Boat Basin, Khayaban-e-Jami, Punjab Colony, Sunset Boulevard Signal, Korangi Road to their destination. Or Boat Basin, Bilawal Chowrangi, Ali Baba Chowrangi, Hyper Star, McDonalds left Sea View, Village Restaurant, left turn Khayaban-e-Ittehad to their destination.

No traffic will be allowed from PIDC Chowk to Ziauddin Bridge towards Lilly Bridge, PIDC Chowk to Club (Club Road), Bilawal Chowrangi to Bahria Underpass, Teen Talwar to Doh Talwar.

All heavy traffic coming from Mauripur Road will not be allowed to move towards Mai Kolachi Road and will be diverted from Jinnah Bridge to reach their destination via Hub River Road and Sharea Pakistan. Small traffic will be allowed from Jinnah Bridge, towards M.T. Khan Road, PIDC, Shaheen Chowk, and onward Sharea Faisal.

All heavy traffic like water tankers, dumpers, trailers, trucks will not be allowed to enter the city from 6pm onwards.

As per the statement, no parking will be allowed on major roads such as Sharea Faisal, Abdullah Haroon Road, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Mai Kolachi Road, Korangi Road, MT Khan Road, etc.

It added that the use of vehicles or motorcycles without or with a broken silencer is strictly prohibited. Anyone found using it will be handed over to police for legal action.

The general public was advised to use alternate routes to avoid any inconvenience and requested to contact Traffic Police Helpline -1915 for any help.

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US judge says Obamacare can stand while appeal is heard

WASHINGTON: A US judge who ruled earlier this month that Obamacare is unconstitutional has said the health care law can stand while his decision is appealed.

In a stay order issued Sunday, Texas-based Judge Reed O’Connor said that while he was confident his ruling would be upheld, it should not take effect until the outcome of an appeal is known “because many everyday Americans would otherwise face great uncertainty.”

That appeal process is widely expected to take at least a year.

Opposition Democrats, who have seen the law survive previous legal and legislative attacks, view it as a signature achievement of former president Barack Obama.

Republicans on the other hand dismiss it as governmental overreach and President Donald Trump made repealing the law a key part of his campaign platform.

In a separate Obamacare case in 2012, five of the nine Supreme Court justices upheld the law. All five remain on the court.

Still, it remains unclear how they might rule in the new case. If the decision is upheld, it could significantly disrupt the US health care system.

The law, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, was premised on a so-called three-legged stool.

It forced insurers to offer customers with pre-existing conditions the same plans at the same prices as the healthy; subsidized the cost of insurance for those in lower-income brackets; and required that Americans sign up for an insurance policy that meets minimum standards.

The last requirement was enacted to prevent a scenario in which healthy people waited until they got sick to take insurance, thereby driving up premiums and creating a vicious cycle of rising costs.

It was accompanied by a penalty for non-compliance, which was eliminated by the Republican-held Congress in 2017 in their tax code overhaul.

The 2012 case was over whether such a penalty was legal — but now that it is gone, O’Connor said in his December 14 ruling, the whole ACA should be stricken down because that provision was “the keystone” of the program.

The lawsuit was brought by 20 conservative states and two individuals, while it was opposed by 17 Democratic attorneys general led by Xavier Becerra of California.

The defendants had asked the court to clarify whether the December 14 ruling was immediately binding, resulting in Sunday’s stay.

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Simmba movie review: Another exaggerated Bollywood masala film

The film gives a very important message towards the end regarding rape

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2EZ7jF4

Rohit Sharma to miss Sydney Test after daughter’s birth

Batsman flies home to Mumbai to spend time with family

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2EYMTet

Rashid Khan plays in BBL fixture despite father’s death

Adelaide Strikers' leg-spinner features in their game against Sydney Thunder

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2EXYcoi

Apartment block blast kills three in Russia

MOSCOW: Russian rescuers were on Monday searching for people trapped under the rubble of a city apartment block that partly collapsed in a suspected gas blast, killing at least three, RIA said.

Russia’s emergencies ministry told the news agency that four people had been recovered alive from the nine-storey building in Magnitogorsk, an industrial city some 1,700 km (1,050 miles) east of Moscow in the southern Urals.

State television said it was unclear how many people were still trapped.

The emergencies ministry said the blast, probably caused by a gas leak, damaged 48 apartments.

RIA said it ripped through the building at around 0600 a.m. (0100 GMT) when many residents were asleep. Monday is a public holiday in Russia.

There have been several similar incidents in Russia in recent years due to ageing infrastructure and poor safety regulations surrounding gas usage.

In 2015, at least five people were killed when a gas explosion damaged an apartment building in the southern Russian city of Volgograd.

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‘Aquaman’ retains its reign in North America

LOS ANGELES: “Aquaman” easily retained its reign in North America for the second weekend in a row, dominating box office charts with $51.5 million from 4,125 locations.

That marks a decline of just 24 percent from its opening weekend of $72 million and brings the DC superhero tentpole past $188 million in the states. Since it’s a busy time of year for moviegoing, “Aquaman” will likely cross $200 million by New Year’s and could become Warner Bros.’ biggest film of 2018. Overseas, the movie, directed by James Wan and starring Jason Momoa, has surpassed $560 million.

There was enough holiday cheer at multiplexes to spread the wealth. Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” held the No. 2 spot with $28 million, a solid uptick of 28 percent to take ticket sales just shy of $100 million. Globally, the musical has amassed $173 million.

Paramount’s “Bumblebee” landed in third place again, picking up $21 million from 3,550 venues, a small 3 percent drop. The “Transformers” origin story with Hailee Steinfeld has made $67 million through Sunday.

Meanwhile, a pair of Christmas Day releases — “Vice” and “Holmes and Watson” — are neck in neck for sixth place. The former, Adam McKay’s Dick Cheney biopic, generated $7.8 million for a domestic haul of $17.7 million. That’s a middling result for a movie that cost Annapurna $60 million to produce before accounting for marketing costs. The latter, “Holmes and Watson,” a comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, brought in $7.3 million during the three-day stretch and $19.8 million since Tuesday. The good news, for the comedy at least, is its Rotten Tomatoes score has jumped from 0 percent to 9 percent. The bad news is Columbia Pictures shelled out $42 million to make the absurd take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Not falling far behind is STX and Jennifer Lopez’s “Second Act.” The romantic comedy saw a gain this weekend, up 11% with $7.2 million for a domestic cume of $21.7 million.

DreamWorks and Universal’s “Welcome to Marwen” continues to have a bleak holiday, dropping to No. 14 with $2.23 million in its second outing. Robert Zemeckis directed the drama starring Steve Carell as a man who attempts to overcome his PTSD. It’s made just $7.7 million, branding it as one of this year’s biggest flops. The movie, based on the 2010 documentary “Marwencol,” carries a $40 million price tag and stands to lose the studio over $45 million when marketing and distribution costs are considered.

A number of holdovers rounded out the top five. Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” nabbed fourth place, amassing $18 million in its third week of release. The latest big-screen adaptation of Marvel’s web-slinging hero, which has received high praise from critics and fans alike, just crossed the $100 million mark in North America.

Fifth place went to Warner Bros.’ “The Mule” with $11.7 million from 2,787 theaters for a domestic tally of $60 million. Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the drama, which saw a 24 percent hike this weekend.

At the specialty box office, Participant Media’s “On the Basis Of Sex” pocketed $690,000 from 33 screens. Felicity Jones portrays a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the biopic, which launched on Christmas Day and has since made $1.5 million. It secured the best screen-average of the weekend with $20,877 per venue. The studio plans to expand to 100 theaters next weekend.

“Audiences across the country truly love the movie — exit polls are in the mid-90s — clearly showing the film’s sheer entertainment power,” said Lisa Bunnell, Focus Features’ president of distribution . “As a woman heading up a studio’s distribution team, a part of our industry that has traditionally been filled by men for decades, I can’t help but watch this film and know that Ruth’s work help make that possible.”

Annapurna and Nicole Kidman’s “Destroyer” also debuted on Christmas Day and took in $58,472 from three locations for a domestic total of $116,000. It scored the second-biggest screen average of the weekend with $19,491.

Elsewhere, Sony Pictures Classics’ “Stan and Ollie,” a biographical drama about comedic duo Stan Laurel and Ollie Hardy, brought in $79,674 million from five screens for an average of $15,935.

A handful of awards hopefuls got a boost over the holiday frame. Annapurna’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” earned $759,579 when it added 60 locations. Barry Jenkins wrote and directed the film based on James Baldwin’s book, and it’s made $1.9 million in its platform release.

Focus Features’ “Mary Queen of Scots” also saw an increase in ticket sales with $2.6 million from 841 theaters in its fourth outing for a North American haul of $9 million.

Another royal costumed drama, “The Favourite,” brought in $2.4 million from 809 locations. Yorgos Lanthimos directed the Fox Searchlight film starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz. It just crossed $15 million at the domestic box office.

Revenues in North America dropped 5.2 percent compared to the same weekend in 2017, according to Comscore, though that’s because last year benefited from the release of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” Even so, the domestic market is up almost 7 percent from last year and over 4 percent from 2016’s record bounty. As of this weekend, ticket sales have surpassed $11.8 billion.

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An American Photographer’s Pilgrimage to the Italian Village of Luzzara

By JOSEPH SCIORRA from NYT Lens https://nyti.ms/2Qd6cCI

The Supreme Court wants to know how 172 names were placed on the ECL without its approval

It took particular exception to the Sindh chief minister's name being added to thelist

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2EYO6T9

CPEC can create 1.2 million jobs: Chinese embassy spox

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the capacity to create 1.2 million jobs.

According to details, the Chinese Embassy issued details related to the status of CPEC and shared that, over the course of five years, 11 projects have been completed while 20 projects are in pipeline.

The total investment on CPEC projects worth $18.9 billion. The embassy told that the ongoing 20 projects are related to energy, infrastructure, Gwadar port and industrial sectors. Further, seven energy projects have been completed which are generating 6900 megawatt electricity, the spokesperson of the Embassy added.

About 75,000 Pakistanis benefited from employment opportunities from this venture, as per the Chinese official.

Moreover, the spokesperson apprised that the projects of CPEC are short-term, mid-term and long-term which will be completed by 2020, 2025 and 2030 respectively.

It is worth mentioning that during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China in November 2018, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to CPEC and agreed to ensure the normal operation of the completed projects and the smooth completion of the on-going projects.

The two sides also agreed to consult with each other on the future path and direction of CPEC, taking consideration of Pakistan’s priority of economic and social development and the demand of Pakistani people.

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from ARYNEWS http://bit.ly/2CG2Rsy

Channel migrants: No easy answers to issue, says Javid

The reasons are often "outside of our control", writes the home secretary in newspaper article.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ApbpTc

Hammersmith stabbing prompts 39 attempted murder arrests

They are being held on suspicion of attempted murder after a man suffered life-threatening wounds.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2GMEHRd

Councils 'failing' to prosecute blue badge abusers

Figures show 62% of councils did not take action against people misusing blue badge permits.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2AhkLAj

Minority take up 'life-saving' free health check

It can pick up preventable heart problems - and more people should be getting the routine check.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BPezPL

Stevenage shed radio DJ ready for BBC local radio slot

After years of "broadcasting" to just his wife, an amateur radio presenter's wish is coming true.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2SovyiV

Lederhosen love among Austria's millennials

Lederhosen and dirndl dresses are making a comeback in Austria.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2AmkSL1

Fishing: New EU rules could have 'grave' impact on UK industry

Fishers can no longer discard fish to avoid busting quota - but that could put boats off the water.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ApOAyD

Syria conflict: Trump 'slowing troop withdrawal', says Lindsey Graham

A top Republican says the president remains determined to defeat the Islamic State group in Syria.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2SrBV5i

South Western Railway strike to hit New Year's Eve trains

Passengers across the South are warned to expect disruption as staff stage a 24-hour walkout.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2R1vxVu

Bangladesh election: PM Sheikh Hasina wins landslide in disputed vote

Sheikh Hasina wins a third consecutive term in a vote marred by violence and claims of vote rigging.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2EWFJbC

'Don't call me brave or heroic for being disabled'

A woman says she is fed up at disabled people like her being described as "superheroes".

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2So7jBA

Michael Simpson murder: Grandparents vow to keep siblings together

The parents of a man killed by his Chinese wife abroad are to bring one grandchild to the UK.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2LMYXBf

Nasa's New Horizons: Final commands given to distant probe

Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft is all set for its dramatic encounter with a far-off icy world.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Tk2vNU

The Papers: Javid under pressure and AJ shows his bruises

There's more front-page criticism of the home secretary over migrants in the Channel, while the Sun interviews battered Strictly star AJ Pritchard.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2rZrNVJ

Female fightback... 2018 in hashtags

A look at the year's most influential hashtags used by women on social media.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RntUB7

2018 in news: The alternative end-of-the-year awards

From the ridiculous to the more ridiculous, here are the weird stories that caught our eye this year.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2s3oDAp

Spoken word poet Dylema: On a stroll through Africa in 2018

Dylema leads us through key events on the continent this year in a specially commissioned poem.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BZzjVp

Africa's key images of 2018: Reunions, tears and big lips

A selection of the best photos from across and about Africa this year.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2GIKAyK

Bangladesh election: Voting disrupted by violence

Clashes between ruling party and opposition supporters have resulted in 17 deaths.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Sv4fni

London violence: How a bloody night became a deadly year

London has endured a year which has seen its homicide total reach its highest level since 2008.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2AmXgFY

In search of Leonard, my martyred ancestor

Eli Melki looks for traces of a relative who was killed at 33 during a wave of attacks against eastern Turkey's Christians.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BMln0I

Bangladesh clothing factories: Are they safe now?

Are garment factories in Bangladesh safe five years after the Rana Plaza disaster?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2s3oVat

Why legalising gay sex in India is not a Western idea

India's decision to decriminalise gay sex has taken the country back to its roots, some historians say.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ApBWzF

The hottest business stories of 2018

Kylie Jenner, imploding retail sales and an endless summer - the most-read business stories of 2018.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RmkN3A

3 Dead and Scores Missing in Russia Building Collapse

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2VkIfxm

Arsenal hope to get back to winning ways against Fulham

Silly defensive errors are causing problems as side has kept one cleansheet in last 13 games

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2EW9456

CNG supply to remain suspended until Tuesday across Sindh

KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has closed all CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) stations until Tuesday across Sindh, including Karachi, ARY News reported.

According to details, the schedule of CNG load-shedding was revised by the SSGC, according to which the gas supply would be halted until tomorrow.

Two days earlier, the trade community of Karachi announced to shutdown the factories owing to gas crisis.

In the recent past, a worst gas crisis hit the Sindh province when after the closure for six days, CNG stations reopened across Karachi as the gas supply resumed to the CNG sector on December 15.

Moreover, people of Karachi on December 21 had complained against gas load-shedding and low pressure in different parts of city.

As per details, as soon as mercury has dropped down, gas load shedding and low pressure has gripped various parts of the city. People living in areas of New Karachi, Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Baldia Town, Liaquatabad, Gulistan-e-Johar, FB Area, Lyari and others are facing problems in the cold weather due to low pressure and loadshedding of the gas.

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Police take four people into custody after four-year-old dies in Hyderabad after eating ‘contaminated’ chips

His twin sister is also ill and has been admitted to the hospital

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2BOxKt1

Solskjaer urges Pogba to stop showboating

Interim manager tells midfielder to recreate 'efficient' performance

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2SopJ5m

Accountability court gave Nawaz the benefit of the doubt in the Flagship reference

The final verdict has been prepared

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2AqGR3c

Legends clash as Federer takes on Serena

Swiss meastro relishing much-anticipated mixed doubles fixture as he prepares to take on America

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2s1WppO

Manchester City come back to beat Southampton as United crush Bournemouth

Red Devils continue their free-scoring form since Solskjaer took over

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2LGY9xr

Sindh High Court grants bail to owner of Karachi restaurant at which two minor kids died

He has been directed to submit a Rs200,000 surety

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2s1WnhG

Millionaire Shah Rukh Khan once stole a car’s tyres and left nothing more than a thank you note

He justified that it was a one-off thing and that he usually doesn't do such things

from Samaa Digital http://bit.ly/2Rub8YC

India on global hunt for top professionals to revive Air India

NEW DELHI: The Indian government is actively considering a global search to fill in top positions at the flag carrier Air India, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said in an interview, according to a Press Trust of India report carried by the Mint daily.

The government has been working on a package for the beleaguered airline after plans to sell a majority stake in the state-owned company failed earlier this year due to a lack of interest from bidders.

The sale was key to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans to help keep the fiscal deficit at 3.3 percent of GDP, a goal which is already under pressure from giveaways to farmers and other welfare benefits ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The airline, which has a debt of about 550 billion rupees ($7.87 billion) according to the report, has been kept afloat for years using taxpayer funds.

In the current financial year ending March 2019, the government will be spending nearly 107 billion rupees to keep the national carrier operational.

Earlier this month, the government sought parliament’s approval for an equity infusion of 23 billion rupees and proposed pumping in 8 billion rupees for a special purpose vehicle set up to privatise the ground handling transport business of Air India.

The report did not say which are the positions the government is looking to fill. The carrier currently has nine members on its board, with senior government officer Pradeep Singh Kharola as chairman and managing director.

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China factory activity shrinks for first time in over two years

Beijing to shut 1,000 manufacturing firms by 2020

BEIJING: China’s factory activity contracted for the first time in over two years in December, highlighting the challenges facing Beijing as it seeks to end a bruising trade war with Washington and reduce the risk of a sharper economic slowdown in 2019.

The increasing strain on factories signals a continued loss of momentum in China, adding to worries about softening global growth, especially if the Sino-U.S. dispute drags on.

Trade frictions are already disrupting global supply chains, fuelling concerns of a bigger blow next year to world trade, investment and shaky financial markets.

The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – the first snapshot of China’s economy each month – fell to 49.4 in December, below the 50-point level that separates growth from contraction, a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey showed on Monday.

It was the first contraction since July 2016 and the weakest reading since February 2016. Analysts had forecast it would dip to 49.9 from 50.0 the previous month.

China is expected to roll out more economic support measures in coming months on top of a raft of initiatives this year. A prolonged downturn in the factory sector, key for jobs, would likely spark further attempts to juice domestic demand.

In November, industrial output rose the least in nearly three years, while earnings growth at industrial firms fell for the first time in nearly three years.

A PMI sub-index on overall factory output prices fell to 43.3 in December from 46.4, signalling earnings erosion. A gauge on overall production fell to 50.8, the lowest since February, from 51.9.

New orders – an indicator of future activity – continued to soften, reinforcing views that business conditions in China will likely get worse before they get better.

A sub-index for total new orders contracted for the first time in at least a year, falling to 49.7 amid persistently weak demand at home and softening global growth.

New export orders shrank for a seventh straight month, with the sub-index falling to 46.6 from 47.0.

TRADE WAR UNCERTAINTIES

Many analysts doubt that Beijing and Washington can bridge their many differences and reach a comprehensive trade deal in the latest round of talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed early this month to a 90-day ceasefire that delayed a planned Jan. 1 U.S. increase of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods while the two sides negotiate.

Trump said over the weekend that a possible trade deal was progressing well, but few concrete details have emerged.

The trade war has resulted in billions of dollars of losses for both sides this year, hitting industries from autos and technology to U.S. agriculture.

“There are many short-term orders from overseas but few long-term orders received by Chinese factories as caution remains amid the trade uncertainties,” said Nie Wen, economist at Hwabao Trust in Shanghai.

“The medium to long-term export prospect is not optimistic particularly.”

Warehouses across the U.S. are bursting with Chinese goods after retailers stocked up before fresh tariffs, suggesting little chance of a near-term export rebound even if a trade deal is reached.

CONSUMER CAUTION

One bright spot in the downbeat data was a modest pick-up in the services sector. The official non-manufacturing PMI rose to 53.8 from 53.4.

While that offers some cushion – services account for over half of the economy – consumers remain cautious.

China’s auto sector has been particularly hard hit. Sales in the world’s biggest auto market are on track to fall for the first time since at least 1990.

“Last December we saw overall China carmakers’ capacity utilisation rate at around 56 percent, but now we estimate it is roughly 50 percent,” Shanghai-based senior analyst Alan Kang at LMC Automotive told Reuters. “Carmakers in general are cutting production.”

China’s stock market tumbled about 25 percent in 2018, while the yuan has lost around 5 percent versus the dollar.

There are also signs China’s booming e-commerce may have started to moderate, with the country’s express delivery sector seeing slightly slower revenue growth towards year-end.

The courier sector raked in 542.88 billion yuan ($79 billion) in revenue from January-November, up 22.3 percent from a year earlier, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday, citing the State Post Bureau (SPB).

That was slower than 23.5 percent growth in the first 10 months, and less than the 24.7 percent clip for all of 2017.

Beijing says China is still on track to hit its growth target of around 6.5 percent, down from 6.9 percent in 2017, but the economy is expected to lose a few more steps next year.

The World Bank predicts growth will slow to 6.2 percent in 2019, still robust by global standards but the weakest expansion in nearly 30 years.

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Almost blind former boxer helps troubled kids to win the combat of life

In some ways, says Portuguese ex-boxer Jorge Pina, the loss of most of his sight was the making of him. “I didn’t lose my sight, I just see things differently,” he says.

Forced to abandon his world title dreams, Pina devotes his time to helping troubled kids from rough neighborhoods stay on the right path by channeling their energy into sport.

“Before, I was a selfish and troubled person from a difficult neighborhood,” he says. “But now I want to help young people, win the combat of life.”

His sight problem developed in training in 2004 and eventually put an end to his boxing career. An operation two years later failed to fix his detached retina and he was left with only 10-percent vision.

But even before he had fully recovered, Pina was asking his doctor whether he could run.

“When I lost my sight I needed something positive, despite my limitations,” he said, still breathing hard from a training run with his sighted guide on a Lisbon athletics track.

“I chose what I was best at: running and sharing,” he said.

The running has already taken him to three Paralympics and he is also aiming to be at Tokyo in 2020.

The sharing saw him set up shop in Bensaude, one of Lisbon’s more deprived neighborhoods, where he operates his own sport association for local kids.

Jorge taught me discipline

In a spartan hall, the former middleweight contender warms up, shadow-boxing in front of a full-length mirror before calling the assembled kids to order.

“Listen up kids, right now — or I’m off!” he growls.

Tall, lean and muscled, 42-year-old Pina still cuts an imposing figure, and the kids, mostly from the local gypsy community, quieten down and listen.

Wherever he goes, the kids attach themselves to him, whether they are taking his hand to guide him or just giving him a hug.

“Jorge taught me discipline and how to channel my energy,” says one regular, 13-year-old Xavier Pereira, after sessions on the punch bag and some pad work.

“Before I met him I got into trouble at school and I didn’t go there very often,” he admits.

Pina has been running such sessions since 2011, also working with autistic kids.

“Jorge coming here really helped us,” says senior social worker Vanessa Madeira. “Our kids learn values and how to live as a community, and that builds trust with the parents.”

And the success of his work has convinced the city authorities to back a new base for his association with 60 percent of the funding.

The new Jorge Pina Association building will provide 1,700 square metres of space for sport and local community activities.

The strength to surpass myself

Partly to help raise the rest of the money for the centre, Pina keeps up his running, with the help of his sighted running partner Helio Fumo.

But he also has to stay in shape for the next Paralympics, to make sure he can make the qualifying times. And for that, he is up early every morning for his training run.

His apartment bears witness to his dedication: the trophies on the shelves; the energy drinks, food supplements, fruit and cereal bars fuelling his next sporting challenge.

Much of what he does today is also informed by his Christian faith.

And backing him every step of the way for the last 10 years is his partner, Raquel Pedro. She makes sure he has everything he needs to pursue his dreams.

At 42, Pina still feels in top physical form and even speaks in terms of the rebirth of his sporting career.

“As a boxer, I saw other people as enemies. Today, I am my own adversary and those who surround me give me the strength to surpass myself.

“I’m happier than I was before.”

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Money laundering case: SC directs govt to review placing of 172 people on ECL

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has directed the federal cabinet to review its decision of placing 172 people on the Exit Control List (ECL) in connection to mega money laundering case.

As per details, a two-judge bench, under the stewardship of Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, heard the high-profile case involving former president Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Taplur, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other Pakistan Peoples Party leaders and businessmen.

On the instruction of the Chief Justice, State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi presented before the court to explain the rationale behind the federal government’s decision.

The top court then ordered the federal government to revisit its decision in this regard.

The Supreme Court granted Zardari and Faryal Talpur a week’s duration to submit their replies.

Approving the request of legal counsels of Zardari and Faryal Talpur, the apex court granted a week’s duration for submission of replies in the case and adjourned the hearing until Monday.

The members of JIT, the Attorney General of Sindh, the Advocate General of Sindh were present in the courtroom.

It is pertinent to mention here that the report of the JIT had pointed to the Zardari Group and Omni Group’s involvement in the mega money laundering scam. Following the findings of the JIT, the federal government on Dec 28 put a travel ban on 172 people, including Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah and other PPP leaders and businessmen.

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Fawad Chaudhry to visit Karachi today amid Sindh’s political tensions

KARACHI: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit the metropolis on Monday (today) as the political tensions of Sindh are escalating in the aftermath of money laundering case against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders.

According to details, the minister is likely to meet political allies in Karachi today. Several ministers of the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader have demanded resignation from the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, after his name surfaced in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report with regards to mega money laundering scam.

The rumors of imposing governor’s rule in Sindh have also been doing rounds amid the rising political temperature in the province.

Chaudhry, however, has dismissed all rumors in this regard and rejected the impression of abolishing 18th Amendment in Sindh.

A day earlier, top leaders including Governor Imran Ismail, State Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi and Haleem Adil Sheikh called on local lawmaker Ali Gohar Mehar to discuss the political scenario of the province.

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Lion kills American woman worker at US wildlife park

WASHINGTON: A lion attacked and killed a young American woman who had just started working at the facility where it was kept, the center said Sunday.

Alexandra Black, 22, was passionate about wildlife and had worked just 10 days as in intern at the facility in Burlington, North Carolina.

“The Conservators Center is devastated by the loss of a human life today,” it said in a statement.

“While a husbandry team led by a professionally trained animal keeper was carrying out a routine enclosure cleaning, one of the lions somehow left a locked space and entered the space the humans were in and quickly killed one person.

“It is unclear at this time how the lion left the locked enclosure. At no time did the lion ever enter a space that was not enclosed by the park´s perimeter fence,” the statement added, expressing its condolences to Black´s family and announcing it would close temporarily.

The lion was killed so Black could be retrieved, the center said.

Black, a recent graduate of Indiana University, had worked a few weeks at the facility home to dozens of animals and 21 different species, its website says.

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Rangers report decline in terror incidents in Year 2018

KARACHI: Paramilitary Rangers have released its performance report for law enforcement in Karachi reporting decline in terror incidents, ARY News reported on Monday.

A spokesman of Rangers has stated that the Rangers conducted 4258 law enforcement operations in Karachi and arrested 2245 terrorists and criminals and handed them over to the police for prosecution.

The special teams of rangers recovered 12 kidnapped persons in the city.

Four personnel of Rangers were martyred in operations, while nine others were injured while fighting with terrorists, the agency’s spokesperson said.

The paramilitary agency also captured 963 weapons and ammunition including 1,04,963 bullets and cartridges of various arms, the agency’s spokesperson said.

The agency’s personnel arrested 209 terrorists in operations, the spokesperson said. Apart of it 240 target killers were also arrested and handed over to police.

Moreover, 228 extortionists and 61 accused of kidnapping were also arrested by the rangers, spokesman said.

Year 2018 witnessed obvious decline in the terrorism incidents in city and two such incidents were reported during the year, the statement said.

During the year, nine incidents of targeted killings, 51 extortion crimes and 13 incidents of kidnapping were reported, the agency said.

The agency captured large quantity of arms and munitions including 53 RPG 7 rocket launchers, 139 heavy and light machine-guns, 1431 Kalashnikov and sub-machine guns, 662 shotguns, 977 repeaters,1584 rifles and 8371 pistols of various type were recovered, the spokesman said.

The Rangers also captured munitions including 2107 crackers and hand grenades, 58 explosive devices, 918 kilograms of explosives. Apart of it 501 equipment being used in explosive devices and 16 suicide vests were also recovered, according to the spokesman.

Moreover, the agency also recovered 114 Avan bombs and other ammunition.

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Brexit sends Britons seeking Irish passports up 22 percent in 2018

DUBLIN: The number of British citizens applying for Irish passports rose by 22 percent in 2018, Ireland’s foreign office said on Monday, more than doubling the total of annual applications since Britain voted to leave the European Union.

Almost 100,000 eligible Britons sought to hang onto their EU citizenship via a passport from their nearest neighbor this year, up from 81,000 last year and 46,000 in 2015, the year before the Brexit vote led to a sharp rise in applications.

Anybody born in the Irish Republic or Northern Ireland, or with an Irish parent or grandparent, is entitled to an Irish passport – a total of about 6 million British citizens. They are able to hold dual citizenship.

Registrations for Irish passports in Northern Ireland, whose citizens can hold both an Irish and British passport as the province is part of the United Kingdom, rose by 2 percent in the year to the end of December.

With three months left until the UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, the draft divorce deal reached between both sides is floundering ahead of a planned vote in the British parliament next month, opening up a range of possibilities from a Brexit without a trade deal to calling it off entirely.

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Nawaz acquitted on ‘benefit of doubt’ in Flagship reference: detailed verdict

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court has issued a detailed verdict in the Flagship Investment corruption reference, according to which former premier Nawaz Sharif was acquitted on the basis of ‘benefit of doubt’.

According to the verdict released today, there were not enough evidences in the case to convict the supreme leader of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz.

Sources informed that the verdict, which is 69-pager, notes that the documents presented by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were also incomplete.

The NAB on Dec 24 decided to challenge Nawaz Sharif’s acquittal in Flagship corruption reference.

Already disqualified for holding public office, Nawaz Sharif was acquitted of all charges in the Flagship Investment case owing to lack of evidences, thus he has been acquitted, the short verdict of the accountability court read.

On December 24, an accountability court announced the verdict in two National Accountability Bureau’s references namely Al-Azizia Steel Mill and Flagship Investment and punished Nawaz to seven years in prison and ordered him to pay $25million and Rs1.5 billion as fine. However, he was acquitted of all charges in the Flagship Investment case.

As per sources, the legal team of the PML-N leader is also gearing up to challenge the verdict of Al-Azizia reference against Nawaz.

Detailed judgement of accountability court in Al-Azizia reference case

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Young girl’s tragic story makes her symbol of Yemen war

Buthaina Mansur al-Rimi’s life has changed drastically since last year — orphaned in Sanaa, the little girl controversially ended up in Saudi Arabia for medical care and has just returned to Yemen’s capital.

Her entire immediate family was wiped out in an air strike by a Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen’s government, using an explosive device Amnesty International says was made in the US.

Images of Buthaina’s rescue and a picture of her swollen and bruised at a hospital trying to force open one of her eyes with her fingers were beamed worldwide.

That international fame saw her become something of a propaganda pawn in the war between Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels and Saudi media.

“I was in my mother’s room with my father, sisters, brother and uncle, the first missile hit, and my father went to get us sugar to get over the shock, but then the second missile hit, and then the third,” she says.

“And then the house fell,” adds the little girl, who says she is eight.

It was the night of August 25, 2017.

The uncle who died was her “favorite”, she says.

Along with her family, eight other civilians — including two children — were killed in a house nearby.

A few days later, the picture of Buthaina attempting to force open her right eye went viral.

The Saudi-led alliance admitted responsibility for the air strike describing it as a “technical mistake”.

But it drew strong international condemnation.

In the week ahead of that strike, 42 people were killed in other air strikes, according to the UN.

A month after her close family was wiped out, pictures of Buthaina appeared in Saudi media showing her being treated in Riyadh.

The circumstances surrounding her move from Sanaa to the Saudi capital remain unclear.

The Huthi rebels say Buthaina, her uncle Ali and his family were “kidnapped” by the coalition and taken to government-held Aden, before travelling on wards to Riyadh.

Saudi media said she was brought to the Saudi capital at the request of the internationally-recognized Yemeni government.

The Huthis’ Al-Masirah media outlet has published stories welcoming them back from the “grasps of Saudi Arabia”.

Mahdi Al-Mshat, head of the rebels’ Higher Political Council, has ordered Buthaina and her remaining family be offered a home and salary, according to the rebels’ Saba news agency.

She doesn’t forget

Buthaina says she is looking forward to going to school for the first time.

Looking healthy, she sits on the floor of her uncle’s home in Sanaa.

She plays alongside her cousins with a doll, braiding its hair.

“I want to go to school and become a doctor,” she tells AFP, her own hair tied in a ponytail.

“I want the war to stop and for us to live in peace… for the children of Yemen to live in peace,” she says.

Both the Huthis and the Saudi-led coalition stand accused by a UN panel of experts of acts that could amount to war crimes.

Buthaina’s return to her home city comes amid a ceasefire agreement in the lifeline port city of Hodeida — part of a peace push seen as the best chance yet of ending four years of devastating conflict.

It has been a long journey back home for the little girl, who became a symbol of Yemen’s war.

Ali says that she still struggles with the loss of her family.

“She doesn’t forget her mum and dad. She feels sad when she sees things that remind her of her parents or siblings… or when she hears the songs her father used to listen to,” he says.

“We tell her to hold on and that they are in heaven… and heaven is a beautiful place.

Ali says that Buthaina is his “flesh and blood” and considers her a daughter.

Holding back tears, he says: “When their house collapsed, I asked God not to deny me from seeing my brother again, but it’s ok. Thanks to him, Buthaina stayed with us.”

Yemen’s war has killed nearly 10,000 people, including 2,200 children, according to the World Health Organization, but other groups say the toll is far higher.

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